The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-12-25
SUMTER.

The people of Sumter, city and
county, may well feel proud of the
position they take in the gallery of
pen paintings Of the counties, cities
and towns Of the State prepared for
Tile News and Couri.r by its special
artist, Mr. j E. Norment. Their
part in the thrift, prosperity and
progress of South Carolina is most
important, and it suffers no deteriora-
ton in the hands of the experienced
and skiilful descriptive writer, whose
article is the piece de resistance OF
our columns to-day Sumter, Of
course, is proud of it's origin and
history. Nobly in war and peace has
it illustrated the intelligence, courage
and magnanimity of the famous Rev.
olutionary hero, from whom it takes
it's name, but it is not 80 much with
the past that MIR. Norment deals as
with the present, it's indomitable en-
ergy, it's intelligent enterprise, it's
hustling business, its untiring in
dustry, its steady progress and it's
increasing prosperity True, he tells
of the glorious achievements OF. Sum
ter's sons in the Revolution, in the
Mexican war and in the war for
Southern independence, but he dwel!s
with interesting detail upon the cot.
ton factory, the telephone factory,
the electric light plant, the iron
works, the water works, the fire de-
partment, the railroad facilities, the
mercantile establishments, the church
es, the schools, the newspapers, and
the handsome and comfortable hcmes,
which are the salient features OF a
live and growing city. He also
speaks of the fertile lands, the thriv-
ing plantations of cotton, tobacco
and grain and the wonderful orchards
and vineyards and the magnificent
forests of pine, oak, cypress and
sweet gum, which are the pride Of
the county
Mr.. Norment's description Of the
charms of Sumter as place Of resi-
dence should be read by everyone,
and to call special attention to it, we
reproduce i: here. Mr.. Norment
says:
"The city Of Sumter makes a most
pleasant impression upon visitors and
when impressions deepen into con.
viction because of fuller knowledge,
then indeed is the charming city
seen in it's truest and best light 1t
has many attractions peculiarly it's
own and is rare type of beautiful
young city of our Southland Fresh, /,
vigorous and growing to-day, NOV
ing and keeping in line with all
modern things, she has caught from
the past that softly shaded back
ground of culture and grace which
belongs to some places only by right
of hereditary possession. One of the
greatest of these charms to me was
the homes of Sumter. Never have I
seen so many quietly beautiful homes
in a town of this size and what
greater charm can anywhere be
found. Old homes and new ones
were seen on many of the principal
streets, and nearly every yard-most
of them were large and sbady-was
worth stopping to look at. They
were filled with flowers and even on
this I'd day Of December saw roses.
chrysanthemums and violets in full
bloom and beauty in these yards.
Passing the telegraph Office on this
same day saw dispatch stating
that freight traffic was entirely sus-
pended in the North and West be.
cause of storm and sleet In these
yards were the handsomest magnolia
trees l have ever seen and they were
almost everywhere Tall evergreen
oaks and magnolias were so thickiy
scattered in so many directions that
a.