Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-07-30
NO. g..

|
and improve their condition. The
government spends millions Of dol
lars on the improvement Of rivers
and harbors. They are the high
ways and depots Of the water, and the
development Of commerce justifies their
| improvement: but the necessity Of i'm
proving the highways Of the land Is no
| less. The biggest tax you pay, Is your
horse, mule, buggy and wagon tax.
You do not appreciate 1t so much be-
cause in its nature it comes as matter
Of course; but small part of the same
money expended in the improvement Of
| the public highways would render 1t
unnecessary and bring about saving
that would help to make the country
| rich. I saw an illustration Of this down
at Beaufort the other day, in a wagon
piled up so high with white bags that
could not realize that the load could be
anything else than cotton. I was as
| tonished when they told me it was
flour, and was able to appreciate the
wonderful saving Of wear and tear.
Then again, the better mail service the
government Is giving US through the
rural free delivery system warrants US
in still further improving the roads,
and the fact that people are moving to
| town.in order to get the benefit Of more
convenient educational facilities, Is an
other hint. Give them better roads,
along with other conveniences that will
enable them to remain on their farms.
While much has been said about our
duty to the Confederate soldier, I want
to say that I yield to none In
my veneration, regard and gratitude
for these old heroes who fought for
your home and mine. Let us provide
liberal pensions for them in order that
they may spend the balance Of their
days in peace and contentment In the
hearts Of their families. Let us make
the old soldiers realize that they have
appreciative friends In the brave yeo-
manry, the young men and the young
women Of South Carolina, and let US
give them the fat Of the land In un-
stinted measure.
| Now before my time limit expires,
said Mr.. Ansel, suddenly changing from
serious discussion while his kindly face
lighted up with beaming humor, will
have to tell you, why I am being called
BRO. Crofford" in this race. Several
Of my young friends have asked me
about it and promised to tell them the
story. It was like this: There was a
good old parson who had served his
congregation faithfully for many years
and who had decided that there was no
more good that he could accomplish.
His name was Crawford, Of course; but
time and affection had corrupted 1t into
Brother Crafford. Well, he had decided
that he should seek new field; but be-
fore going announced farewell ser.
vice. The little old church was crowd
ed for the occasion, and overwhelmed
with the feelings and "reminiscences Of
his long years Of service, he put his
whole soul into the effort and preached
as he had never preached before. Af-
ter the service the deacons walked up
to the pulpit, one by one, took the old
parson by the hand, and. too full for
further utterance, bade him Farewell,
Brother Crafford!" Then came the
leading male members of the congrega-
ton saying, Farewell, Brother Graf
ford" Following these came the good
sisters, wiping their streaming eyes
and saying Farewell, Brother Graf
ford!" And so 1t went on for an hour,
the old parson hearing nothing but the
words Farewell, Brother Crafford," )" as
the members Of his long loved flock
filed up one aisle and down the other:
At length all had bade him farewell
and left the church. Overcome by his
pentup feelings, he remained awhile to
reflect; but at length passed out Of the
church. Taking last look at the pull
pit 1t seemed to be saying, Farewell
Brother Crafford," and as he passed
down an aisle, each Of the empty pews
appeared to give expression to the same
sad refrain. Walking out into the open,
he mounted his old gray horse and
passed through the streets listening to
the familiar old houses as they bade
him Farewell, Brother Crafford."
Thence on through lane Of trees skirt
ing the road, the soughing breezes made
the branches say Farewell, CraEord."
His mind having thus been sunk into
reverie, he was not prepared for stray
hog that suddenly jumped from the
side Of the road and said "ooph! ooph!"
And neither was the old gray mare any
better prepared. She gave mighty
jump forward, leaving the old man on
BILE. At length he gathered himself up
and looked ahead over the long stretch
of dusty trail that led to infinity be-
yond, and among the things still in
sight was the old gray mare passing
out OF sight beyond the hill. 1t seemed
to be saying "F-a-r-e-well, Bro. Graf
ford! Farewell, Bro. Crafford!"
loud laughter and applause]. And so
my friends, calculate that on the day
Of the primary election, after the votes
have been counted, these other candl.
dates will find Ansel so far in the lead
that they can see nothing but his dis
appearing coat tails. [Long continued
laughter and applause].
| DIR. w. H. Zimmerman,
OF Edgefeld, was introduced by Chair
man Brice as the handsomest man in
the United States, and was received
with good natured laughter and ap-
/ plause which did not quiet down until
Mr.. Brice raped for order. DR.. Tim
norman is we'll known to most Of the
people Of the state who have attended
the campaign meetings during the last
half a dozen years. He Is anything but
handsome. He would be recognized
anywhere as an original Of the COM
monty accepted typical caricatures Of
Brother Jonathan; but he Is not at all
sensitive about his personal appear
ance. On the contrary, he delights to
make joke of it; but his frank, pleas
ant manner invariably counterbalances
the slight that nature seems to have
otherwise intended to inflict.
| After the audience had had its fun,
DR.. Zimmerman began his remarks
with an expression Of the pleasure ne
| felt at again meeting the yeomanry or
York county. He referred to Mr.. An
sells Brother Crafford story, went for
ward to the day after the primary and
pictured himself as the rider of the old
gray horse, bidding farewell to the 9TH
er candidates lying in the dust with
| Brother Crafford. [Laughter]. My
friend Hayward congratulates himself
on being a South Carolinan. Mr.. Hey
ward married in Virginia. I was born
in South Carolina and married twice
in this state, and, therefore, claim that
while he Is only half South Carolin-
ian. 1 am doubly South Carolinian:
Then again he prizes the distinction Of
having been endorsed by his own peo-