The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-01-21
The Manning NOrtll.S0uth and WeSt.East
iOnS

EDITOR MANNING T1MEs:-Dear lSir:-Sev.
eral errors with regard to lengths OF
stretches" or distances between consecu.
tive guiding points, found their way into
nv last communication. The fault lay in
my figures I shall not attempt to correct
them in this article, nor is it really Of mo-
ment to do so now; for, at this stage Of the
argument, an error of few miles, more or
less, is of comparatively little importance,
the object of the discussion being to call at
tention to the advantage of the lines sus-
gested. Our maps are only approximately
correct; surveys must be relied upon to give
distances with accuracy. Maps are good
general, not minute, guides.
But how can the proposed enterprise be
inaugurated, carried on, and pushed to
completion An important question, this!
Some of the genuine old English ''Falry
Tales" are really fables in disguise. and
contain world of practical wisdom locked
up in their morals. One of them represents
its hero, the brain of the enterprise, as set
ting forth accompanied by Sllvertongue,
Strongback, and Goldberg, and other at
tendants. Upon Silvertongue he relied tor
all the wind-work Of every kind. He could
play upon an audience, lashing it into a
rage, exalting it to the highest pitch Of en-
thusiasm, or soothing it to rest He could
coniure up borean blast that would sweep
the rivers dry or freeze them over, whistle
up cyclone, or call the zephyrs to his
sighs Silvertong1e was his man Of nego-
tiation. of persuasion, of business generally,
so far as business was confined to mind
word work Strongbsck was the man of
muscular labor; he could fell forest, turn
a river, level a mountain, fill up a valley,
build over a sea. Goldberg was the mex
haustible purse, veritable mountain of
gold, supplying his wants and desires of
every kind so far as the means could be
found and were purcbasable.
Well, if tongue-work, muscle-work, and
homework were needed in Fairy Land,
how much more among us poor mortals OF
earth! Men have to be interested, excited,
aroused to action, kept at it. encouraged,
stimulated; they have to be persuaded, ne
gotiated with, and held up to their contracts.
Who so competent for this work as the
daily and weekly press along the proposed
routes? The press is really the SllVertongue
of all the great and worthy public enter
prises of modern times. 1t interests people
and capital. calling together the Goldbergs
and Stfonsbacks, and uniting them in har
monious cooperation for the general bene-
fit of all concern ed-of the whole country
Now, Mr. Editor, my work in this behalf
is about done; shall probably soon return
to my distant home towards the setting sun,
never more, perhaps, to see my native State.
Won't you take up the story, try to interest
the "press-gang" all along the routes, and
to arouse the people to action for their own
good in the matter? Success will require
iteration and re-iteration, cline upon line,
precept upon precept, here little and
there q little patience, persistence, and
unfaltering perseverance. These are the
special gifts of You gentlemen Of the press,
and what you cant accomplish, others may
we'll abandon Won't you lay your hands,
your hearts, and your heads to the work?
if so, it will be done; and your reward, it
will be great. JOHN NJ: RICHARDSON.
Manning, S g., Jan. 10, 1891.