The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-07-19
MUCH ABOUT NOTHING.
Big Notes by the Editor in Reference
to Very Small Matters In COnnec.
aIo., WIfh IN Tain to Afhens.

ton With u Trip to Athens.
Hearing that good job press was for sale
at a low price in Athens, the editor OF the
Press and Banner went to that city last
Arranging Wednesday night with Mr.. Fish
er, the hight Gatchman at the q ,C. u N. de-
Dot, to be walked up In time TO take the four
O'Clock train, we lay down TO sleep. Day,
light came and we had not been called, and
we thought that the train had passed. In 9
little while. however, Mr.. Fisher came, and
announced that the train was three quarters
OF an hour late-that we would have good
half hour In which 10 meet the train; that ne
had waited to give us as much sleep as posi-
BILE.
We dressed as quickly as we could and as
We landed on the sidewalk we saw Mr.. Ham
mond Goming with the basket OF pigeons
which were to be liberated, and we resolved
TO see them off, even If we missed the train
Joining the procession we followed 1t to the
brow OF the hill at the "Rutledge House.
There Mr.. Hammond cut the strings WniCa ,,'a
held down the lid OF the basket. while Tue
birds exhibited signs of nervousness. Wneh
everything was In readiness tor raising tne
lid, Mr.. Hammond asked, What time Is atT
Some one pulled Out ms "stch M ana s"ie
said, "5:40." when the lid was raised. and the
six pigeons rose and flew "as one man." lit
tie north of sun rise. and. after second
an exceedingly short time they were over the
hills and far away toward Philadelphia, from
which city they had been sent by express.
The former basketo OF pigeons, seven In num-
ber, with single exception, returned to
morning OF the second day; two were longer
on the road two were out two weeks and Que
day. Tie other bird was shoit by u hunter
This by way of parenthesls.
When the birds were out OF sight we hur
ried down 10 the depot and found General
and Mrs. Hemphill aud number OF young
ladies waiting for the train. Besides these
there were u few others In readiness tC
take the train, If they lik ed II, when 1t came
After remaining there awhile we learned
that the train had passed Chester only thret
quarters OF an hour. Feeling the want o
break fast and coffee, we came back 10 the
hotel, where the NJ Misses McCanis hurried VI
20 bite" When we had eaten brea kfast VIZ
were much better equipped for the Journey
and set off for the depot again.
About eight O'Clock the train came. seinl
In charge OF that polite and courteous CON
ductor, Mr.. John Cothran, who hasn't lost 1
day from his train In u year, and who hal
run his train for ten years so successfully THAI
no passenger in his charge has been hurt ir
all that time.
The ladies all kissed each other while the
gentleman grabbed their baggage, aud we
were soon on the train, moving rapidly to
ward Atlanta. On the way 10 Athens Il
stopped only al Elberton, where the eng lnet
were changed. and some tinkeiing was done
10 the under-gearing OF q coach.
Mrs. Hemphlll and one other lady, made
up the female passengers. Mrs. Hemphil
was going to MoreIand In Coweta County,
Georgia, on trip 10 see her brother-in.law
Rev. John L. Hemphill. General HeInphil
went with her rs far as Atlanta, where hs
met bis brother, and put Mrs. Hemphiil ir
his care. THIS is the first trip. that Mrs
Hemphill has taken since her marriage, twen
W years ago. Good luck 10 her and the little
ones who went with her.
Athens was reached at ten o'clock-three
hours late. Several vehicles Of more or les,
yuI lpll A N MI
v ore standing at the depot. We heard one
man hail some one as Professor" Another
Justify cried out, Doctor" Our attention
was directed In another direction, but we rec
ognized that the voices were pitched Ok j
calling some one In close proximity, but took
no thought that they wert addressing the edi
tor OF the Press and Banner until some or the
drivers in q more pathetic tone than the res
cried out, "Colouel." Looking around aftel
this, q full line of hackmen beckoned to a.
with arms extended and estimated at from
two TO four feet In length. They immediate
ly understood that we did not want vehicle
hotel In great numbering hack at all ode
time of the day, we spread our umbrella and
proceeded up the hill towards the Marchanu
hotel.
streets were sunny-almost without shude
Wandering along up toward the "wuteI
stand" or whatever else you might call tn.
great iron cylinder that had been set on end
An old woman, in the story which was telling
her neighbor, gave evidence of the greatest
distress OF mind. Her John had been miss
ing ever 30 long, and she could get no i1dings
Of him. He never would stay at home when
he had any money, but would spend both hi'
time and his money at the old drinking "a
loon.
Further on the way up town we passed 9
number OF men working The street, and NIL
Ing the gullies In the sidewalk. About hal
dozen Of these men were in chains. Every
one struck bis pick at the same time.
After registering at the Merchants Hotel
we set out for the o1ice OF the Athens Ban
ner, where we met as warm welcome as any
man could wish. The Banner Is one OF the
old Institutions of the city, aud IL one OF the
papers which Mr.. Larry CAN'T once edited:
From the Banner office we went To the office
Of the "Woman's Work ," and we spent lit.
Tie time there very pleasantly. Al each o
these offices we caught on 10 plans and meth
DDS which were new TO us. In this way, the
trip was both pleasant and profitable. But
we failed 10 find u Job press.
At dinner we met Capt. Cloud of the g.. c.
& n. railway, and or course we did not neg
lect TO pump him on the question OF the
shops. He said that he would be In Able
willie this week, with q view 10 making ar
perhaps next week. He said, however, thai
there was hitch In the removal of the Laur.
inburg shops; that the machinery belonged
" another branch of the system, and objec
tion was raised.
This editor rode over the street lines OF rail
way. and saw the best part of the city-the
finest houses and the prettiest grounds. 1t IL
Il city OF magnificent distances and ele
CANT homes. :.
II is city Of some ten thousand inhabit
ants. and many evidences OF wealth were
We were told that the G.. c. l. N. had In.
or 1t now goes TO Atlanta. The distance is
only sixty seven miles, and three trains pass
daily between Elberton and Atlanta.
There are several manu- featuring establish.
ments at Athens, namely: Two Iron foun'
dries and machine shops; two large cotton
mills; Two paper mills, and jug factory.
Returning 10 the hotel we met Capt. Cloud
again, when we walked about the city fol
way bridge which spans the river. It's track
is eighty-tive feet above The water, and the
span across the channel must be over Two
hundred feet In length.
Stopping In the shade, We viewed the steel
bridge with wonder and admiration. Capt
Cloud says the building or iron bridges has
been reduced TO science-that there IL now
no guess work about II. The architect OF the
span and ascertaining the weight OF the trains
10 be run over IL, knows the exact size that ev.
cry piece OF steel must be, together with the
number and size OF all the bolts. When the
piece Is subject 10 9chemical test. and If any
piece fails to come up 70 the requirement, II
is thrown out, and q better piece Is substi.
tuted. Every joint and every bolt is careful.
ly examined as the bridge Is being built, and
II, upon the severesL test, the bolt is weak or
loose or otherwise deficient, big chalk mark
is put around II, and the builders must drill
II out. The bridge does not yield, even under
the pressure OF the heaviest train.
1t was now nearly time for the Atlanta
train to- leave the depot,
Captain Cloud went 10 the depot and this
editor renamed on the grass in the shade
weary and tired. enjoying the delightful
breeze that came.