The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-11-22

to fix the day and the compensation
for loss Of time and waste Of tongue
I had never heard of Pelzer, nor coult
/ find it on my ant.iuatea map. Blu
I did find it on one of latel date, ant
supposed it.was some little village tina
had cotton mill and dam on the Sa
luda and some tenement houses
Nevertheless, I accepted the call, fo
the offer was liberal. The next mai
brought a similar invitation from
Piedmont, another mill town, only siz
miles from Pelzer.
So I journeyed from Atlanta to
Greenville, and there changed cars for
my destination, which is only twenty
miles away. 1t was night when ]
reached the place. My good friend, !,
Mr.. Padgett, who is the democratic
postmaster. took me to his house. ]
had not seen the town. for it was quite
dark. 'sWhat is the prospect for an
aulience?" inquired. Every good, "
he said. 81 think you will have sew
eral hundred people out to hear you -
"Why, how large is your town? What
is your population "About 1000, "
he said. T was amazed. A town
twice as large as Gainesville and l
never heard of it, and it is not on my
map. he explained by saying it was
only twelve years old, and had four
large cotton mills that employed over
1900 operatives, and consumed nearly
100, 600 bales Of cotton, and the com
pany owned some 5000 acres of land,
and all the houses and stores and
churches and several .1iles of the riv-
er. ''Did you advertise me pretty
well?" / inquired. "Oh yes" he
said. eve church folks told it to ev-
erybody we met, both in the town and
in the country, and they all said they
were coming" Publish it in the
papers?" said I. s;No, no. We have
no papers here, and no printing Office.
We didn't have a poster or hand
bill, but We talked it good deal.
Well, I listened and wondered, and
my confidence was shaken. After a
bountiful supper and little mixing
up with the children, We went to the
large church where I was to hold
forth, and found it already pretty well
filled. In brief time I stood before
more than 500 people, and was in
spired to make my best effort, for |
had an orderly and attentive congre-
CATION, and we all fell in love with
one another. I have never had
more gratifying lecture occasion.
Next morning was spent in viewing
the city and the mills and library.
The merchants carried immense stocks
in large stores, and there were many
nice residences for the managers and
the heads of the various departments,
but they were all built and are owned
and leased by the mill company. This
company owns and controls every foot
of land and everything that is on it.
Captain Smythe, Of Charleston, is the
king, the czar, big hearted and
brainy man, and everybody respects
and loves him. His the son Of that
celebrated Presbyterian minister of
Charleston, who during his minister
az life was notable man in religious
circles. I remember that he was one
Of my fa.lers friends. 'sWho isyour
ma bor?' said I. We have none; 70
mayor nor aldermen, no municipal
CORPORATION, no marshal or police.
Captain Smythe runs the town.. Ev-
eryBody who comes here for employ
mentis investigated carefully. His
must be good or he cant
stay. We have no lawyers nor edi
tors; don't need any. We allow them
TO come in and look around" Did
you know that I was lawyear?' said
I. "Oh, yes; but we learned that
you had quit the practice and reform
ed, and so we invited you
''I don't see any negroes about
here,' said I. ''No, we don't want
them. They are few, but they live
outside. Some of them cook and wash
for us, but Captain Smythe don t want
us to mix with them or depend upon
them. He wants everybody to depend
upon themselves as much as posi-
BILE. ''And so you have ruled out
lawyers, editors and negroes %
eyes," said he, land there are no sa-
looms or blind tigers or cigarettes.
How about doctors?' I asked. ooh,
of course, we have doctors; yes, we
have two doctors and one dentist and
four preachers, all select, and one
photographer. The company has
good public library aud pays man to
keepit.