The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1895-08-01
THE PICNIC
AT ROCK RIDGE.

Twenty-Five Hundred People Meet
and Spend a Delightful and
Profitable Day.
MAJOR GUTHRIE SPEAKS
And Interests . Large Audience for tive
Hours-Be Discusses the Fsnsncsal Is
sus-Prof. Irby Talks Agrieuitars-A
Great Dinner-Good Jokes &c.
Rock Ridge Academy and vicinity
was an enthusingly interesting place
on Friday, July 26th. For eight years
this has been a point at which the
good people of Will on and surround
ing counties have held annual gath
erings and picnics, and thousands Of
people are annually present on these
occasions. 1t is periodical reunion
of sterling farmers with their fami-
lies and friends at which views are in
terchanged, acquain .ances renewed
and friendships cemented; and all this
is happily facilitated by the presence
of ladies who add that charm and de-
| light, that can come only through
them, to the general tenor OF the as
semblsge.
The number of people at this last
meeting was estimated at 1850, and
the earth by be searched in vain to
find a more whole-souled, gentle, gen
erous and hospitable folk. Sinceri-
ty and kindness seemed to exist in
kind of halo around the groves in
which the people were gathered, and
no indiyidual-nO matter who he was
nor from whence he came-was per-
mitted to be a stranger for an instant.
This writer reached the groves of
Rock Ridge by a drive of fifteen miles
through the country from Elm city
with State Senator j. L. b. Hoover.
There is no necessity for a passport
of any description to travel through
/, Wilson pleasantly, but if there were
no better one could be had than the
presence of the Senator. He is in the
full confidence of all his people regard
less of class or political utilization.
He is a master of pleasant badinage
and gives and takes it among his ex-
tensive acquaintance with gustO and
jolhty that vivify the we'll springs of
the heart, and that proclaim with
penetrating elOquence that he is the
friend of the people among whom he
! lives and that they are his friends.
The country drive disclosed many
r extensive fields Of fourishing looking
, corn, tobacco, ETC., while apparently
, for every mile huge, compact modern
tobacco barns were in full blast, pre-
poring the golden leaf for market
Tobacco culture is comparatively new
in Wilson county. The first tobacco
2 barn was built in 1880 and the first
t test of the adaptability of the soil for
Q tobacco made. 1t was surprisingly
8 successful, and now the planters OF
9 that section are raising crops OF from
five to one hundred acres. The llgh,
character of the hand produces the
best grades of fine mahogany and vel
: low leaf-dark heavy grades being 81
i uncommon as not to count for any
s thing in the product. The furnace
q fires are now burning in the barns, ant
f in a few more days the markets vii
q be busy handling the Wilson leaf. Blu
for the exactiOns of this industry a
this time on the care and the attention
of the planters, the attendance at tn
9 picnic would have been one THOUSAND
} more.
IS Approaching Rock Ridge, vehicle
e of all kinds fell into the procession
it They sprung out of by-roads-came u
l. cross -roads-turned out from woods
paths, and came from every sort Q
opening which would let vehicl
:" through. The Academy groves wer
- early filled with them, and then the in
pouring people exempted anothe
grove about half mile distant an
soon filled that one. Many of thos
u present had driven twenty-five mile
II to get there. The counties of Wayn
Il Nash, Johnston, Durham, Franklil
II Wake and Wilson were represented
80 the assemblage.
% DR.. II. F. Freeman was master c
r ceremonies for the day, and abou
q, eleven o'clock he mounted the stan
t. and announced programme. In
b., people of Wilson county have learne
q. that when DR.. Freeman gets ready
" saw something, he has something
say: and as soon as it was understood
that he was on the stand there was
n great movement and closing up in tn,
W direction. He announced, among oil
II er things, that Mai. w. A. Guthrie WI
ll present and would make the forenOo
~ address. He referred to the major
70 such complimentary terms as to act'
is ally bring the blush of modesty in
ed the face of that gentleman, who is Il
ut silver-tOngued peoples tribune OF ii
a day.
20 to attempt synopsis Of Maj. Guthrie
- speech. 1t was nearly two hours
length and not word OF 1t was lO
er This fact tells more plainly what
m was than description of many wore
We 1t was devoid of harshness. 1t W
.or frank and open. Facts and argumeI
Mt were dealt in, accompanied by prac
nd cal illustrations of the money OF
day and the way it is manipulate
The speaker had provided himself wi
the various kinds of coin and cure
CIV. and all facts stated concerning
we're proven by the presence Of t
a" currency itself. 1t could be earnest
hoped that this identical speech mic
ese re made all over North Carolina. T
h writer heard one man say at TO
~ o'clock IN the afternoon 81 could ha
nn+ listened to Guthrie till now and I
lost interest"
At the close of Maj. Guthrie's spec
= Senator Hoover made few remal
~ with reference to newspapers and
xhr necessity of keeping informed throu
ss hS them: and then DR.. Freeman ags
Vi" caught the crowd by announcing Il
there was plenty of dinner on
,hhy grounds for everybody.
.n Gosh all Hemlock! What q sprea'
, eaa Barbecued pig, lamb, roast chick
the ham, p.oN0s, pc, ~ 2ho ~
INV ladies who were present, and they d
pensed with lavish hands while til
axe kind, sweet faces beamed an I'M
Jul pressible welcome. Oh! what a fe
INV that was! What appetizing War
w., ,nS Life was a joy-a glory-a gra
y for sweet song for the day.
Jokes? Well yes. Senator Hoo
nh, was hit hard. Some rascally g
lars iIlehu 'oiu aoouo ~" 49,. 80,