The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-08-04
A VIVID SNAPSHOT
OF BUSY La GRANGE:
Its Sturdy, Prosperous and
Happy People.
THEY COME FROM FARMS
Many Have Gone Forth to High Places
in the World.
PLEASURES OF COUNTRY LIFE PORTRAYED
Ye Old Time Corn Shocking, the Jug and the
Song, PuIi, & Fodder. The Debnam'
Kinsey scsool at La Grange
Splendid Institution.
(Staff Correspondence.)


times the newspaper man, wishing to be
helpful in writing of towns and commu-
mites builds upon little. Sometimes
with the pen of an artist he takes
common site. whose background is prom
issing and drawing upon his artistic
talent, he presents to the reader
builded town that in fact is largely inn
aginary. Yes. even the newspaper man
sometimes oyerdraws the picture and
makse much ado about little. but ne
means we'll. In this hurried reference to
IaGrange. IL can but do justice to the
town. the community, the people and in
terest the reading public / shall feel
have but performed a common duty. This
is by no means a first visit, nor are any
conclusions reached without some knoWl-
edge of facts. During the past two de-
cades I've had splendid opportunities or
observation and give it as my honest
opinion that here exists one OF the best
small towns in North Carolina. The sur
rounding country is dotted with fertile
fields that will yield abundant harvests
of those crops that make well filled
barns and pantrys and bullying pocket
books and good bank accounts, all OF
which have hand in the makeup OF
prosperous, happy people. The towns
folk hail from the farms round about
and are a hospitable, Industrious one.
Indeed, it may not be amiss in passing
to state that most towns are but the
result of a coming in and nesting near
Of a people who have for one reason or
another tired of country life. and there
should and does exist among we'll INFORM
ed people strong tie between the popu-
lations Of town and country, for they are
hut neighbors.
IaGrange was first named in
honor of splendid country
man being known at one time as Nose
ley Hall. the home of the first chief JUS
tice Of the State, the late Edward Nose
lev (The township yet bears the name
Moseley.) This was the home, too OF the
first Governor off the State of Florida,
besides many bright and honored ones
have gone forth from here pointing with
pride to the little town. made up OF peo-
Die coming in from the country. that
gave them birth, wherein, the first rudi->
ments Of knowledge were implanted in
their fertile brain.
From Moseley hall, have gone forth edu-
Gators. patriots, jurists, statesmen, finan-
yiers and men of mercantile talent. who
have made their mark in their respective
worlds. and these recall in memorys
musings the time when their bare feet
made imprint in the sandy fields OF the
present town. Not so many cOuntrymen
had then collected together, but, they
were folks from the country none the less,
and these all love, in thought, to dwell
upon the pleasures and perplexities that
cluster, like punches of grapes, around
the farm life in the days gone by. They
recall the chopping OF grass. the killing
OF corn, the pulling Of fodder, the dig
ging of Eaters, the shucking OF corn,
the going to mill, swimming and fishing
while taking their time. love to think
of corn shucking days | always lived in
town, but my father was reared on the
farm and my mother was a farmers
daughter and from them l first learned
of farm life and of corn stockings, and
when / was town boy, large enough to
take in a good thing when / heard OF It,
I went to the country and took in corn
shucking and was fascinated Great
feasts they were For miles around the
people gathered in the early evenings
and the fun and work soon began. Whlie
one man walked the piles. dozens, ana
sometimes hundreds. sat at the 1oot OF
the great heaps and shucked and sang
songs, and sang songs and shucked. Ever
and anon there was passed around 1T
tie encouragement that went kerchug as
1t came from the old brown jug in those
days of old fancy l can almost see
'Trojan's' mouth a watering-and then
followed the greatest spread OF good ola
country grub ever saw. l almost wish l
was a boy at corn shucking again.
But lest l be charged with DEPRESSING l
will push these thoughts aside.
LaGrande is now flourishing town OF
900 souls. about 70 per cent. OF whom are
connected with the several church organ
izations here. The Baptist, both Mission
airy and Primitive, the Methodist. both
Episcopal and Protestant; the Presbyte-
rian and the Disciples each have house
OF worship, and the Holiness. or Sancti-
ficationists, an organization. There are
some twenty-seven mercantile establish
ments, some of these carrying immense
stocks of general merchandise. one bug
gy factory, one bank, one weekly paper.
(the SentineD, two tobacco warehouses.
two prize houses, Ca stemmery contem-
plated for this season, two livery stables,
two hotels. numerous wells of good water.
lots of pretty girls, three physicians, one
dentist pretty good baseball team and
decidedly one of the best schools in the
State-The Debnam- Kinsey School-mil-
itary, literary scientific. business and
music. Famous in the past as an edu-
cational center, having had within its
limits institutions Of learning which have
drawn their patronage, it is none the less
so now with the splendid advantages Of
fered. The Debnam- Kinsey School pre-
pares for college. fits pupils for success
full business courses. qualities teachers for
teaching, has good music department. 1t
faculty Of experienced teachers. its board
ing accommodations, it's healthy location
and its moral atmosphere are advantages
most desirable when selecting a seat OF
learning for your boy or girl The facul-
ty is representative of Richmond Col
lege, Wake Forest College, Orangeburg