The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1895-03-26
OLD TIMES IN GREENVILLE.
nEooLnEorloNs OF AN OLD MAN

THE following article from the pen
of gentleman still living was
printed ten or twelve years ago in the
Greenville Enterprise and Mountain
eer, and describes tho experience of
candidates half century since.
Between thirty-five and forty years
ago, one Friday evening In August or
September, 1 saw Col. p. E. Duncan,
who asked me to come to William Bal
lenger's the next morning and go with
him to Masons Muster-ground.
morning we started. At every house
we passed he would call and ask II the
gentleman was at homo. II he was
not, he would leRve word that p. E.
Duncan had called to see him. II he
was there, Mr.. Duncan would tell him
that he was still candidate for the
and wished to be romem-
bored. Wfheiiii we we We're nearly at the
underground we called at aC~ffss-heensa, g heas
and a woman came to the door. He
asked, as usual, for the gentleman,
stating that p. e. Duncan had called.
She replied: my old man has gone
you up here to-day. All the men
round here gwine to vote for you. +"
He thanked her for such good news !;
but 1t was just as he expected. We
reached old William Johnson's, whose
daughter promised to have dinner
ready for us when we left in the even
ing.
When we got to the muster-ground,
there was q full crop OF candidates
busy. Duncan made for the suffers
stand, where he was met by several
old acquaintauces. Soon the air re-
sounded with, Hurrah for Duncan
,1,f>Slx n,,l l,,;,, L. of
Duncan's treat ~ After q little while
the captain had the men called into
line. Some one proposed not to drill
another said: "Call roll and dismiss"
And third said mo use in calling
the roll unless we muster. They could
not court-martial any one else for not
doing co." They dismissed, in order,
as they said, TO give the candidates a
fair chance, this being the last tip
they would have at them. Election
eering now began In earnest.
Major Henry Smith, u candidate for
the Legislature, when a small man
with black head (hair) and front
tooth out, came to us with Jacob Pom
der. He said: "Mr. Smith, you are get
ting on nifty we'll up hero. We are all
gwine to vote for you. 1 has boen
1ectioneering nifty hard for you.
think you will be 'lectcd this time, sure.
Yes, know you will; for the ones that
giNs this box is always 'lected: Don't
so," so" says Mr.. Ponder. Black head
then says: "Mr. Smith, | want to
ask little favor Of you, but hate to do
it. Mr.. Ponder here is in a nifty pinch
for money. I owe him one dollar and
q half for an ak, and want to get you
to lone me money till the Election. l.
will be sure to pay you then. Ize got
q nifty good crap, but hain't got any
money now, and Mr.. Ponder is in such
a pinch. Mr.. Ponder, you knows Ize
got nifty good crap.n Eyes, you
a'' have & good srap,p era % says Ponder: der, And @
ny my debts" "so far as I know You I al
ways have" says Ponder. ".But 1
have no money till 1 sell something"
says Black head. "and Mr.. Ponder
needs it 80 bad, or l would not ask
YOU" "Yes," says Mr.. Ponder. "I
need the money very bad" Smith
took out his purse, and said the leat
he had was i've dollars. Black-head
spoke very quickly, saying he would
get Esquire Whiten or the sutler to
change 1t. Smith handed him the bill.
He (Black-head) was gone long time.
Smith would look towards the stand as
IL he th0ught--gone gone!
AT this time Col. Cox and Johnny
Henson joined us. l now saw Black
head coming back, bringing q tall,
short necked man with hiro. Each
had some money In his hap'la. The
former said: "Mr. Smith, / was
good while getting the change, but /
always keep my word. Mr.. Smith, let
me tell you something. About two
weeks ago we had big shooting match
way over on Classy, whore we shot for
two beeves. I recon there were SOW
shortnecked man, he said Don't
you think there was that many there,
than hundred" "And, Mr.. Smith"
continued Black-head, "they were
hollering for all to come up and drink
Duncan's, Wares and Thompson's
treat. Niles, he comes to me, and
asked IL did not think we ought to
set out some for you. told him yes,
by all means. Niles said he had two
gallons there so he get it out and hol-
Tered for all to come up and drink
Smiths treat. You ought to seed
some of Smiths treat 1t done you q
heap Of good, Mr.. Smith. Don't you
Niles, az know it did" 'Mr. Smith,
Z told Niles would see you. know
cd you would pay for 1t, and while
Z was getting the change, Niles come to
me to see you about 1t, and while 1 had
the change / just give it to him-one
dollar and half. Now, Mr.. Smith, he
is got the money in his hand yet you
can let him keep It., or he will give 1t
to you. ] told him IL you did not pay
him, l would; but i knowed you
would" Smith turned his eyes to-
wards Niles, who carried his hand to
his pocket with the money. Smith
saw. the job was up, and replied 81
reckon 1t is all right "Yes,n says
Black-head, there is old uncle johnny
Henson. He knows 1t is all right, or
would not say 80 - Henson replied /:
/ know nothing about your shooting
match" "Well, uncle johnny, you
know me.n mo" says Henson, 81
know nothing about you.n Black
head turned to Mr.. Smith saying
Here is your change. And, Mr., Pom
der, here is your one dollar and half.
Nov, Mr.. Ponder, call on you to be a
witness that owe Mr.. Smith one dol
lar and 9 half. Mr.. Smith, be- sure to
he here the day OF lection, and will
"e sure 10 pay YOU Come coon In the
,0rning; for me and Niles Is gwine tc
tork for you that day Niles stood
ty me ell the while. Seeing that
<ed Jmy doubts about the shooting
.tch, no touched me on the side, and
rared that Ahere was no harm IN