The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-04-17

intention at her State reunion of Confed-
crate veterans of taking to her hearth
and homes certain part of these brave
heroes who have on previous occasions
of the kind been quartered in large
buildings and fed en- masse.
On occasions of State reunions this
mode of entertainment was inexcusable
inasmuch as the number accepting a
city's Hospitality was never excessive,
not really so large as the clergy and
| lay delegates to South Carolina Meth
odist conference, numbering as they do
nearly four hundred, and the small
towns of the State entertain them sump-
tuously at the homes of the citizens:
but upon the approach of State re-
union of veterans the city extending
the warmer invitation to enter her hos
pitable gates mot homes, mind youl will
hasten to appoint numbers of commit
tees to quarantine the gallant old gen
tlemen in immense sleeping halls and
rally them around long tables sumpe-
uously served with cold>food.
This systematic and wholesale enter
tainment of those they effect to honor
smacks very much of business man
agement and with an eye to business, in
olher words to draw a big crowd and
boom the town for the least money.
This holding US off at arms length I
will charitably attribute to the fear that
we still have the camp itch. It will be
conceded that those who entered the
Confederate army in 81 are now bor-
dering on go years and it is to be sup
posed that man at his time of life
would leave the comforts Of home
however humble to be entertained in a
manner that he is deprived of his very
sleep, for it is impossible to sleep with
hundreds of men in the same apartment
many of whom are talking, walking
and smoking by details the entire night,
and electric lights blazing in their
country eyes. Under these circum-
stances a-large number of the camp I
have the honor to command abandoned
one On one accession on the second day
and left for home, not being able to
stand two nights of it consecutively.
Another just ground of complaint is
holding the column in line before
beginning the march an lncalcula-
BILE time. On one occasion two hours
it was said to be by parties who referred
to their watches, and their aged and
weary limbs must support their bodies
or else sit down upon damp curb
stone. An interesting question is how
many years longer are they going to be
expected to stand in line and march for
hours through the streets on exhibi-
ton? VIII the day ever come when
they will be elevated to the distinction
of riding in trolley cars in the process
sion?
Possibly Columbia means to make
departure in this direction also.
/ have written with great frankness
and candor, but with equal earnestness
and truth what have desired for some
time to give vent to, for as wounded
veteran dating from first Manassas to
and the commander of |
camp, in a measure responsible for
their care and comfort on these occa-
sions, feel authorized to call attention
to real discomfort with view to MAX |
ing the reunion really enjoyable.
The generous and hospitable citizens
of Columbia have solved the problem
for all future time, for her natural and
gracious example will be followed by |
every city who henceforth entertains
the veterans.
DAVID W. BRAILSFoRD.