The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1901-05-15
Mcdonald Erruan Picnicks Near Jordan.

One of the sweetest little villages in
South Carolina is Jordan, down IN the
lower part of Clarendon. Your cor
respondent speaks from personal obSer-
walton, for We were there last week.
Just at this season of the year, when
nature is clothing everything in bright
spring attire, Jordan insensibly re-
minds one OF a sweet, lively school girl
just entering her teens.
THE village is roomy and nicely
shaded. One of its most prominent
features is the academy, which is a
very large building and would do great
credit to q considerable town. The
school is large one. with Mr.. F.. h.
Hall of Fairfield as principal and Miss
Beulah Burgess of Jordan as assistant.
The late J. NJ. Sprott, who was a
member OF the constitutional cnnven-
ton. lived near Jordan.
Not only is the village d sweet one.
and not only are the young ladies OF
this section sweet looking, but the peo-
pie are very intelligent. indeed it is one
OF the most intelligent communities we
have struck in our travels Over the
State. Thursday night we had the
pleasure of attending a meeting of the
Epworth league. and part Of the pre-
ceedings were essays and remarks from
both sexes on distinguished Americans.
These essays displayed spirit OF re-
search most commendable. and we sin
cerely wish other villages would pat
tern after Jordan in making investiga-
tions into American history.
your correspondent attended a picnic
Friday which was held several miles
off at the home of Col. S. Warren Mel
son-a place that is admirably adapted
to such an occasion, aud is situated
near the yellow water OF ''broad San
tee"
The Nelson place is of itself more
than ordinary interesting. The land
was granted in 172S to three Nelson
orother's-cousins of the colonel's
grandfather. The residence was built
in 1928 and burnt in 1898. Another
handsome residence is now being erect
ed. The surrounding country breathes
of Revolutionary memories. Nelson 5
ferry, so famous in the historic strug-
gle, is about FIVE miles off. and the Mel
son place is about three miles from two
crossings, both of which bear the name
of Cornwallis crossing-one is situated
on Wyboo and the other on Taw Cav.
1t may also be mentioned that both
those old Revolutionary warriors, Sum-
ter and Hampton, were married hve or
six miles from this place.
Your correspondent talked q good
deal with Colonel Nelson, whose man.
ners and bearing unconsciously reminds
one Of the courtly ''old school" gentle
man He is full of interesting remin-
iscences and not only does he spring
from Revolutionary stock, but was the
first man from Clarendon county to en-
ter the Confederate service. He was
on General Bonham's staff and was ad-
iutant Of Nelson's battalion from its
formation until it's close. 1t may also
be mentioned that Colonel Nelson is
one OF the few men now living who
served in the legislature during ante
bellum days. having been first elected
to that body in 1852. nearly half CEN
tury age.
Of the picnic itself we must say few
words. 1t was a very sociable occasion
and was e from that stiffness so often
characteristic of picnics. The crowd
spent the day partly in visiting the
river and walking over the pretty and
spacious grounds of the Nelson home.
Before breaking up some of the ladies
sang good deal and commenced with
that popular air, IA sweet bunch OF
daisies.'' The singing sounded sweet as
it hoated on the spring breezes and it
added interest to that delightful picnic
held near the banks of old Santee, q
river made famous in Revolutionary
annals by the exploits Of ''Marion's
Men, and whose name has been made
classic by Bryant's matchless poem.
Mcdonald Furman in The State.
Privateer. Sumter Co., May 6. 1901.