The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1900-05-30
PINE GROVE GRADED SCHOOL.
Closing Exercises Congressman Norton and
Others Speak Honor Roll.

Those who are constantly croaking
about the amount of money expended
in education should have gone to Pine
Grove with US last Wednesday and
there, they would have received such a
practical demonstration of what educa-
ton has done and is doing. that the few
paltry cents they pay in taxes would
not be so grudgingly handed over.
The occasion was the closing eXer-
cises of the Pine Grove Graded School.
the pioneer graded school of the county,
twenty-five miles from the court house,
in section heretofore regarded crude
and undeveloped. y few public-splrlted
men awoke 20 the necessity OF educat-
inc the masses. and by inceSSant efforts
succeeded in having established a
graded school.
Those who travelled through that
section ten venrs ago and who travel it
now can appreciate and realize the
wonderful progress made by these peo-
pie: how the crudeness of the past has
been softened into refinement. and how
uncouthness and Indifference has been
changed into culture and progress.
Everywhere you go in that section can
be discovered the refining influences of
education, in the building of dwellings.
churches and school-houses, manners,
customs and dress. About the only
thing we saw which was not changed
was the hospitality and warm-hearted
attention to strangers: this character
istic of Salem people IS bred in the
bone" and education, fashions and Gus
toms will never change it.
The crops from Manning to Pine
Grove are somewhat backward with
few exceptions. Tobacco in spots IS
good. especially that portion of Mrs. NJ.
L. Shannon'S which can be seen from
the road. esquire" Fleming and W..
J. Turbeville have brag patches close
to the road. but there are others VINO
claim even better tobacco than those
we have mentioned. Cotton, corn, oats
and wheat are in fairly good condition:
We arrived at the hospitable home OF
our host. Mr.. w. J. Turbeville, about
dark. and as we drove up there came
out to meet US a drove of candidates
who were so smiling and clever that 1t
was with difficulty that they persuaded
us TO permit them to take out our
horse and carry our baggage into the
house. These fellows were so persist
ent in their attentions that it would not
have surprised US had we been asked to
allow them to polish onr shoes, they
seemed so anxious to do something. but
when we saw they were doing every
body else the same way we came to the
conclusion their cleverneSs was only a
temporary affair. and that when the
primary was over they would resume
their old time don 't-give-a-durn-1or-
vOu-mannerS.
Professor AIcLaurin and Miss Laven-
der had very elaborate program and
when we reached the School-house, In an
instant we saw that 4 good time was IN
store for everybody, if the lowering
clouds which were hanging black and
heavy overhead would permit. The
piazza of the school-house was con-
verted into stage. the sides were
closed in with cloth and the front was
tastily draped: everywhere was deco
rated with flowers and green. wei
come was conspicuous syn on the
background. This was unnecessary, as
the actions of the people spoke more
fervently than did the pretty letters OF
Giving green" Three notices were
interviewer on the drapcry in front.
Patience. Self-Reiance and Perse-
verance.'' The stage presented a
UNIQUE appearance, the audience sat IN
the open air. The children were beau
tifullv dressed and the manner IN which
they performed their parts was indeed
creditable not only to them but to their
teachers. who must have devoted much
patience and perseverance in training
them. Dialogues. recitationS. declama-
tions and music was the program car
ried out and it would be doing an IN
Justice to undertake to make special
mention of any one, for they all ana
well. The evening was an enjoyable
one. with the exception Of some inter
ruptions Of short duration caused by a
passing shower. but the crowd OF about
500 put up with the slight annoyance
: good humoredly.
: At the close of the evenings eNer.
cises Professor McLaurin announced
, the presence of Congressman James
Norton who had come from Washing,
ton to be with them and would deliver
the address the next day, and Senator
4 WHO NOUiN( tllSo CIV SAASAAA - Sest'A
Thursday about 10 o'clock the crowd
began gathering. candidates very con-
spicuous, shaking hands here ana there
and on our way to the grounds we Sa"
a man with baby in his arms, WITH a
candidate for sheriff begging him to let
him carry it: one of his opponents was
q short distance Off with his eye on an
, other baby in lady'S arms, and max
inc ready to grab it if the other fellow
was given the baby to carry. As II
was, he got chance to pick up bun
die the lady with the baby dropped, ,anc
{ carried it until the lady wanted to take
: the child away from the noise 20 put II
to sleep THAT was her eXcuse), then be
gave up the bundle. lifted his hat anc
walked off in an opposite direction
wondering if anybody saw him witt
that bundle.
After going through with another
program consisting of dialogues, music
recitations, etc., Professor McLaurir
announced that the school exercise:
were at an end, and that the address
would be delivered in the church,
:, beautiful edifce with a seating capaclt.
= of about 500 and modern in its apposnt
- mentS. Congressman NORTON, oeHduo!
Applet. County Superintendent Well
:. and Rev. Whitaker were decorated
y with the colors of the school-blue an(
yellow. and escorted into the church b,
;. handsome usherS who wore sashes o
!, blue and yellow. The exercises begal
= with beautiful and appropriate praye
: bv Rev. Whitaker, and then Professo
McLaurin introduced Senator Appel
as the first speaker.
Mr.. Applet. in consideration OF tn
~ fact that Mr.. Norton had come Ions
e distance to address the school. made hi
!. speech briefer than he otherwise woul(
;; have done He, however, took occa
/. sion to allude in gratifying terms to th'
progress the people OF Salem wer
making on educational and agriculture
: lines and urged them to keep up tn