The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-11-30

log rolling or plunderipg-tbey are "fne
old English gentlemen" I asked these
visitors what was their politics, and one
said of the other, my friend, Mr.. H., is
vile tory" and Mr.. H. replied, my
friend, Mr.. B., is nawsty liberal" The
ladies of the party kept US continually
amused with their surprises. The ne
groes were source of wonder and per-
plexity. "It must be the African climate
that has made them black" said one,
"and they will surely turn white in course
of time. I notice some that are turning
now. Ny wife called in our cook "Auut
Ann" as We call her, and introduced her
all round.
Aunt Ann made courtesy,
The danes made bow.
Aunt Ann was very much amused at
them and said afterwards, "Dem folks
'cum cross de big water. I see some of
dem folks once before and dey mighty
hard to please. How dey like my cook
ipg?" "Splendid," said my wife. "They
said they never found such nicely cooked
chickens in England"
Aunt Ann gave grdnt of satisfaction
and went on with her work. There was
dish of potatoes on the table sliced and
sugared ever so nice, but they bad never
seen any before, and declined to try them.
They discussed the potato, however, and
said they would like TO see one. A good,
large yam was brought in, and one of the
gentleman cautiously examined it and
said: "Well, suppose that the potato is
inside of this, and you have to break it
it open, do you not?" A dime was
handed one of the ladies in change, and
as she inspected it she said, "You call
this 'one dimmy,' do your How many
pennies is it worth ?" She spelled the
word dime with two syllables and 8
French accent on the last.
They we're nice lsdiss-smart ladies'
and discoursed beautifully on England,
and government and politics and reli-
gion, but they found many things and
many customs over here that they hadn't
read about in their books. The gentle
men cut enough walking sticks in their
travels to fill buggy. One of them had
himself measured for saddle in Eng
land, and had it made to fit, and brought
it across the water in q box that was
made for it. 1t cost him EGO, and keeps
on costing, for he has to pay freight on it
everywhere it goes. he has never used
it but once and soon got tired and ex-
changed it for seat in surrey. He is
an old foxhunter and knows how to ride
in England.
And now I would like to pay them
back. would like to visit their country
and see how they live. Of course I
wouldent know exactly how to conform
to their ways and customs, how I would
enjoy my own mistakes and surprises.
England is century aheadof us in many
things. Her people are more solid-solid
In thoughts and opinions, and especially
in religion and government; why, one of
these gentlemen who visited us lives in q
house that was built before Columbus
discovered America. The very antiquity
of everything gives the people conf
dence. They love their government and
their Church. Our newspapers write
gushingly about "crumbling thrones snd
tottering dynasties," but 1t only makes
an Englishman smile. They still wonder
that our government has lasted 80 long
and stood the shock of great civil war.
A government will last as the people love
1t. The people will love it as long as it
is fairly and humsnely administered. A
monarchy is just as secure as republic
if the monarch is kind and loving to bis
subjects. "When the wicked rule the
people shall mourn" but they won't
mourn long nowadays-they will fight.
BILL ARP.