The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-06-10
Audersp,t gntettigenter.
Pearl Spring Church and School House.
Correspondent GreenviNe Enterprise an

Correspondent Greenviue Enterprise and
No,rntaileer.
About one hundred yards from the
Piedmont Manufacturing Company's
land, on ths Anderson side of the Salu-
da River, may be seen several heaps of
moss.grown bricks and stones in close
proximity to each other. A thick growth
of bushes and saplings hide these heaps
from the unobservant eye. Some fifty
yards away, oozing out of the slime and
underground Of flled.up gully, may
also be seen the limpid waters of a living
spring. A very unattractive place, would
be the first thought of the careless passer
by; and yet memories most tender and
sacred cluster about this spot. Here
many of the old men and women in this
vicinity caught their first glimpse into
the storehouse of knowledge. Here
many began to walk in the peaceful ways
of religion. Here the youth and maid
plighted their troth at the alter Of God
and began life's journey as husband and
wife. And here the last sad scenes that
loving hearts can enact in behalf of the
cherished dead were performed. Tor
yonder heaps of stone and brick were
once part Of those temples of religion
and learning known to our gray-haired
citizens of this vicinity as the Pearl
Spring Church and school house; and
yonder spring, now grass overgrown and
almost obliterated by the mud and sticks
washed over it by many summers and
winters rain, was the famous "Pearl
Spring." from which cooling and refresh
ing beverage was drawn to slake the
thirst of the crowds who were gathered
about 1t in "auld lang syne."
THE SCHOOL HOUSE
was erected during or about the year
1887. 1t was built of logs with chin
ney at one end. The first teacher was
gentleman by the name of Robert Moore,
who, as far al we have been able to learn,
gave good satisfaction. Other teachers
of some note were Spencer Moore, Rich
ard Murphy and Charles Murphy. If
you wish to see the eye of old veterans,
who attended this school, light up with
fun and animation, ask them about the
old days and see what the result will be.
1t used to be the custom here as we'll as
at other places, when the term closed to
turn out the teacher. There were at
least two events of this character that
occurred at Pearl Spring School House
which are worthy of being reproduced on
paper. The first one was under the ad-
ministration of Mr.. Spencer Moore, and
was told to us by one of the actors, Mr..
Asbury spearman.) 1t seems that an
agreement had been entered into BY Mr..
Moore and the scholars to this effect: If,
on the next and closing day, the scholars
would succeed in keeping the teacher
out of the school, he promised to give
them treat, but on the other hand if he,
the teacher, succeeded in gaining en-
trance the scholars were to treat him.
To this all gave consent. Early before
daylight the urchins, some of whom were
not very smaN, gathered at the building
and found it unoccupied. Thus far they
held the victory in their own hands-the
problem before them was how to hold it.
They formed g Gordon guard" about
the school house hundred yards away,
so near to each other that it was impos-
sible for any one to get by without being
observed, thus every point was covered
with enough idling about to rally at
the first call for help to repel the inva-
der. Of course there were plenty of
outsiders who came to look on and see
how the fun would turn out. Several
hours passed away and no schoolmaster
appeared he was suspected to be lurk-
ing about somewhere, but just where no
one knew. While all were waiting pa.
tiently, an incident occurred to divert
their attention somewhat. Squire w.
A. Williams, from white Palms." drove
up in his carriage, accompanied by a
gentleman and two young ladies. They
alighted and went into the school house.
Of course the young men would natural
ly wish to see who the young ladies were,
so those who we're not on guard crowded
in. After while one of the young
ladies arose, struck an attitude, and in
tones most decidedly untsminine, cried
out: "Why didn't you keep the school
master from coming in ?" The boys were
thunderstruck, for 10, and behold the
being before them clad in woman's attire
was the master himself. Of course they
felt crestfallen at being completely out
witted. The pedagogue soothed their
rufled feelings, however, by producing
a jug from the carriage and circulating
its contents among the crowd. That the
said contents were not the crystal liquid
gushing forth from Pearl Spring, but
rather of the nature of something spelled
"purl," was evident from the fact that
some of thu boys soon grew quite happy
and we're in condition that made them
care very little whether school kept or
not.
The second turning out was during the
administration of Mr.. Richard Murphy
this happened some years afterwards.
Among the actors were several persons
who are now we'll known planters in this
vicinity. The boys we're determined to
be on hand this time. Instead of watt
ing until morning several of them went
to the school house and stayed through
the night. One who had been out hunt
ing that afternoon brought his rifle along
with him. They built good fire in the
fire place and whiled away the hou4, of