The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-07-29
Through the County.

1t is indeed q great pleasure 1or
us to now and then lay down our
stick and rule and 60 into the coun-
try and enjoy the, kind hospitality OF
the people. in their homes, shake
hands with friends and acquaintances
and breath the fresh and pure air
of the country. One of these occa-
sions was presented by the supervi-
sors of R gistration and we took ad-
vantage of it by making the rounds
with them, and We had q delightful
time during the trip. Everywhere
we went we found crops to be in an
excelientcondition, the farmers, mer-
chants and people happy and con-
tented and cheeful over the bright
outlook ahead. Our people have
passed through a fearful and trying
ordeal The beginning of the recent
panic caught many of them in an al
most deplorable condition. The Gus
tom then being to obtain advances
from factors and merchants to raise
crops and pay when they were harS
vested, or to borrow money from
money lenders at an usurious rate OF
interest, they were deeply in debt
and with an impaired credit, the out
look for such was indeed gloomy and
it is no wonder that they became dis
heartened and discouraged. But out
of their misfortunes good has come
to them. In the school of experience
they have learned several import
ant and valuable lessons by which they
have pro6ted and their condition has
been greatly improved, and the end
of the hard times. the silver lining to
which can now be seen, will find them
better off financially than they have
ever been. An inspection of the
crops as they now stand growing IN
the fields will show that one Of the
lessons learned is the value and i'm
portance of diversified crops. They
have seen the folly of planting only
one crop and depending upon other
people for the supplies they consume.
They have learned that they can raise
better article of, food for man and
beast at less cost than the farmers OF
any other section of the country, and
they have, as rule, put their expe-
rience into practice, so that hereafter
their barns and smoke houses will be
at their own doors. The result of
the hard times has taught them that
= they are the producers and that their
:avocation was intended by the Gre
ator to be the basis of all wealth and
that instead of being q mere foot
: ball to be kicked and buffeted about
; at pleasure by her sister industries
agriculture should be the
central figure in the group of indus
: tries, supported on. one hand by
finance and on the other by COM
merce in order that all classes of peo-
pie of this great country shall be in
prosperous and happy condition.
In furtherance of the objection to
take agriculture out OF the degrad-
ing position she has been occupying,
to remove the shackles which have
bound her energies and remove from
her body the teaches which have been
sucking her life's blood, they are
.devoting much thoughtful attention
to political and economical questions
to correct through just and equitable
laws many evils under which agricul-
ture is suffering. These are some of
the things that we found
engaging the attention of the
+. people on our rounds.
At Lewiedale it was our good for
tune as well as pleasure to share the
hospitality of Mr.. Donly, the senior
member of the live and progressive
mercantile firm of Donly & Sesse.
He has lovely home, conveniently
and comfortably arranged and ele-
gantly furnished with the comforts
that a refined and cultivated taste
could suggest. His family is re-
fined and interesting and his hospi-
tality is unbounded. From the up
stairs of his residence can be seen
one of the most magnificent and beau
tiful landscape scenes that We have
seen in many day. Stretched before
you for miles around is the surround
ing country, showing hills and dales,
fertile valleys and winding streams,
green woods and cultivated fields,
vineyards and orchard, which are re-
lived here and there By the busy scenes
of farm life.
After a pleasant afternoons drive,
e.. we arrived at the cheerful home Of
our old friend, Mr. John G. Able, who
is one of Lexington's most honored