The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1893-12-19
SOUTHERN SCENES AND INpGs
TRY.


-
The Tiilmans OF South Caroiina-
Beech Island al an Ideal Home for
the Southern Planter.
Newspaper correspondents at Wash
ington periodically entertain their
readers with clever descriptions OF
how Congressman eat. They did not
the famous Davey Crockett. When
that notable pioneer returned from
the national capita. to his Western
home, he was asked as to the dining
punctilio of Washington. He said
THE Representatives cat dinner be-
tween 2 and 3 o'clock, The Senators
feed between 5 and g." One of his
inquisitors asked when the President
dined.. Crockett scratched his head
musingly, but replied with prompt
ness: "Oh, he don't eat dinner until
the next day ~ or all our presidents,
Arthur was the most fastidious and
epicuread. l suspect that high living
more tina the ingratitude OF his party,
FASTENED his end. Cleveland is what
Sir Walter Scott called "a good
trenchman." He would probably fare
better, physically, if he exercised more
n ate less.
~ DlOSU dSCStlC HILL Il SNcT huSW III
Congress was George d. Tillman, OF
South Carolina, who lived somewhat
like an ancient Spartan. He cared
nothing for dainty meals and preferen-
TALLY chose the simplest food. He
avOWed that the less he ate the bet
ter he felt" He never wore an over
! o or undcrshirt in the rigorous
winter, and maintained phenomenal
health. His mendicaments we're
apples and lemons. He disposed of
the former in vast quantity, and
the latter as natures sovereign remedy
for bodily congestion. He was II of
the b%rainicst mon who ever entered
public life, and one of the most
original, studiOus, profound, philOso-
phic. He hated throngs and kept q
swallow-tailed o more as u curiosity
than any thing else. Invitations to
swell dinners were lost upon him. He
remained in his room and filled his
capacious mind with information upon
many subjects. There is probably no
man in America who knows more
about metallurgy, and the same state
ment may be made concerning his
acquaintance with the political history
of all nations. He was nothing of u
courtier and was the only Congress-
man who never put his legs under the
Presidents mahogany, though every
member Of the House and Senate is
perfunctorily requested to do SO once a
year. His speeches were few. but
they werc singlurly characteristic,
and he was the master of his theme.
BY some freak of politics he is now in
retirement, but the day may soon
arrive when his State will demand his
prodigal talents, unshakable honesty
and valuable experience.
The present governor of South Caro-
lima is Il younger brother of George d.
Tillman. Benjamin Tillman, in u
brief period, has risen from obscurity
to national fame. Not long ago he
was II poor struggling farmer, who
had a hard time in support of a con-
were not even suspected except by his
elder brother, who predicted that, if
opportunity served, Ben would eclipse
the rest of the family. He has become
Il wonderful eNtempcraneOus orator,
and yet | can remember when he mis-
trusted his own powers, and had to
read his remarks. His leadership in
South Carolina has been gained
against odds that would have appalled,
almost any other man, and, as Cover
nor, he has still to combat the most
'PDoOlUloI, Il HAS
every element of puissance except
numerical proportions. But the facul-
ties Of Governor Tillman appear. to
grow with contention. His speech at
st. Louis on the silver question was a
revelation to northern mon who were
~prejudiced against him. and hostile
editors frankly declared that. in the
future of great parties, he must be
counted us Il portcntous factor. He is
| Nj. n Ia Ht- 40, va SNl - -.
maintain the G~othenburg system of
liquor dispcnsation, as the minimizing
OF drunkenness. 1t is Il hard rubagainst
the freedom of the individual, but has,
l believe, produced some excellent
results FOR temperance a logged OPP
position to 1t. in some quarters. has
prevented a thoroughly fair trial, but
the governor is undismaycd. If he
can carry the people with him on this
subject it would be q pronounced
triumph, and ether States, may make
a similar experiment. 1t is always
dangerous for q ruler to interfere with
peoples drink, b. the Governor may
be certain of IS following. The
career of such IL man will be curiously
watched, and nobody can tell what
fortune has in store for him.
Last Sunday | drove with q kinsman
of mine to Beech Island, Sou Caro-
Una, IL noted v!cinage of augusta.
The O leading toit is on the Georgia
8 dc of the river, Il level macadam.
On either side are vast swamp planta-
tions which produce magnificent
crops of corn, oats, cotton, grass, and
Whatever else may he success fully
produced agriculturally. When 1
told some friends in Maryland that
grass on these plantations was har-
vested seven times II year they were
i~ncrcdulouS, but it is true. Alfalfa is
the most generous forage plant, but
the gathering Of Vetch, Johnson and
Bermuda grasses in succession is not
far behind it. Planters here tell me
that they have garnered 100 bushels of
corn or oats to the acre. There is
danger of an overflow Of the river, but
a total loss of crops is very seldom ex-
pcrienced. Dairying is carried on, in
one instance, %proiitably. Hogs are
bred in cheap abundance. One Of my
kinsmcn raises immense tlocks OF
turkeys almost without cost, and his
secret is to let them have their FREQ
dom from the time they are Matched,
and never to- cOddlc them. On the
banks OF the Savannah river there is q
splendid grove OF oaks, enc of which is
rcputed to be the largest in the world.
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