The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1897-06-17

come. Those good people are not
in hurry about anything except once
a year, and that is on the race track.
They trot around that and talk politics
and discuss Tillmanism and the dis
pensary on the way. What fine old
gentlemen met. Ariper scholar than
Colonel Simons, a son of William Gill
mer Simons, can hardly be cound. A
handsome man and a pleasant and
earnest talker. Then there was ex-
Governor Haygood-General Hay
good, the hero of Petersburg. His
solid, massive, benevolent face made
an impression on me that will endure
as long as I endure. But who would
have thought of finding there a brother
of Mrs. Lincoln-Dr. Todd, q leading
physician and surgeon, friend to the
south, lifelong Democrat. He has
domiciled there ever since the war and
commands the respect of that people.
l knew his younger brother, who was
an unterrifed rebel and was an aide
de-camp on Joe Johnston's staff. Is it
not singular that all of Mrs. Lincoln's
kindred were loyal to the south during
the struggle? L remember that one OF
her nieces presented flag to the Sell
ma Guards when they started to Nir-
ginia. I wonder if Mrs. Lincoln's kim
dred were all traitors and guilty OF
treason.
But I am home again and happy
not that I was unhappy while away,
but feeling of rest and repose comes
over me here that cannot find abroad.
1 would never leave home if there was
not pressure of necessity, and l
count the days and the hours when L
shall return.
There has been another birthday In
the family and I was bound to be here.
My wife, Mrs. Arp, shall not close her
sixty-fifth year without my presence.
1t is is all over now-the morning kiss
and a ten-dollar bill slipped under the
breakfast plate was the best could do,
and I don't know yet which was most
appreciated. She will spend that
money on some of the children or
grandchildren. Strange to tell, but it
is true, one of our neighbors has the
same birthday and is the same age
and invited my wife to dine. Of
course she accepted and found there a
goodly company of matrons. There
were nine of them and they were
over 600 years old. No, 1 don't
mean that; I mean that the sum OF
their several ages was 600. Some OF
their ages had to be guessed at, for
they were widows. They talked prin-
cipally about ante-bellum days and the
times "when niggers was" and about
the falling of the stars and when
matches and steel pens and cooking
stoves and kerosene oil first came and
about the old nigh swung carriages
their fathers owned and how the steps
folded up in the door and were let
down like staircase and little mig
stood up behind and big mig set up
before on dickey and was proud OF
belonging to equality folks" Then
one OF the moSt ancient VI theee nia
irons said that kind of riding was all
right and ladylike, but as for her, she
never intended to ride bicycle, no in
deed-not unless they invent side
saddle arrangement, said another.
It was goodly company and no
rude man need apply. They discuss
ed no gossip and had kind words for
everybody and closed the happy COM
munion with prayer--a good, humble,
grateful prayer by one of their number.
My wife says it was day to be re-
membered and she has invited them
all to meet at our house on her next
birthday and spend another centennial.
Amen and amen, say I, and may the
good Lord take none of them away
BILL ARP in Atlanta Constitution.