The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-04-04

that this was any of our business, but
at Waycross and Jcsup and all along
the line men and women were board
ing the car like there vas a carnival
on hand and by the time we arrived
we could hardly get into the depot for
the people. In the course Of time we
got the lcavings Of dinner and took
car for the Central depot, which was
to be our headquarters until . p. III.
From there We radiatcd down toward
the DeSoto, following the crowds that
were gravitating that way. Seeing
how they were massing on the broad
sidewalk just opposite the hotel my
wife said: "Lct us stop here by this
telegraph pole. 1t was a fortunate
selection for with the big pole behind
her and the curbstonc before her she
couldcnt be crowded to any extent.
In half an hour the crowd was inn
mensc and would have moved her from
her moorings but for the pole. /
braccd her on one side with two solid
feet and firm corporosity. Expan-
sion was the word and I expanded.
All sorts and sizes and colors swarm
ed around US, but my wife stood solid
to her post. Another half hour pass
ed, but still there was no Dewey sign
and began to feel little tired in my
legs and to draw long breath once
or twice in a while. Sometimes |
would bend one knee little for rest
and then change to the other. The
street was kept clear by the mounted
police, SO that the military could have
distance to march in platoons, but the
military did not appear. Another
half hour passed and we heard the
solemn beats Of Il drum far away, so
braccd up my knees for another effort
IN the meantime fine carriages adorn
ed with flags and bunting and bcauti-
full ladies and swell gentlemen passed
and rcpassed, but no soldiers. was
nearly ready to drop to the marble
flagstonc OH which we stood, but my
wife stood as firm to the telegraph pole
as Cassabianca did to the mast. About
this time little hcathcn Chincc APP
pearcd at the big plate glass bay win
dow and the small boys chcered him,
for he was Dewey pet that he brought
from Manila-a lad about twelve
years old and as good looking as
Chinee ever gets to be. My wife said
that was sign, forcrunner, and sure
enough Mrs. Dewey soon appeared'and
parted the lace curtain and gazcd upon
the crowd and smiled. I was not
looking that way and my wife nudged
ne with her elbow and said there she
is, but she had disappeared and saw
another lady in another window drink
ing cup Of tea, and remarked she is
older than thought she was aud
more thirsty, and vas then informed
that I was looking at the wrong win
dow. Still there was no sign that the
show was going to begin and drew
another long breath and sighed.
"Can't you stand it little longer?"
said she. 81 am almost dead," saidI.
II would give $40 to be out Of this and
sit down somewhere. It was then 5
! o'clock and we had stood there three
/. solid hours. My wife endeavored to
/; distract ny s..ent;on e-om myself to
tho flags and to the small boys who
/ had climbed to the copings Of the
windows and up in the trees, but
fell like / was at funeral and was
the corpse in the coffin. At last, at
last, Mrs. Dewey came again to the
window and removed the lace curtain
and the Admiral came with her and
waved his hand to the outside multi
tude, and everybody shouted. The
important crisis which were to have
arriven had arroven. There was the
great Admiral in full regalia and there
was his wife, radiant and smiling
dressed in silver satin waist that
was modcstly low cut in the breast
works, and my wife could see dia-
monds sparkling and Jewels shining
from her hair to her waist, but I
couldent, for the window was not
raised aud all that we saw was through
glass darkly, and my eyes were never
shined much by diamonds. The Ad-
miral was sick and the doctors said
the air must not blow on him. About
this time the thrilling notes of the
brass band came over the cast wind
and chccred the multitude and my
wife nudged me again and said, 'Iscnt
that beautiful?' "Tolerable," said
/, for my knees were in trcmblc and
[ was considering how could stand
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