The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-12-09

Last Friday night week ago Mr.. Harden
read an essay before the Literary Club, on the
subject of possibilities and Probabilities
rhe essayist Is q man OF culture, and is al.
ways an interesting member, Whether as
reader or critic, and his pleasant way OF pre-
Senting bis views is always pleasing.
The essay elcited considerable discussion,
and each member seemed TO have an Idea OF
nis own as to what were the probabilities and
the possibilities Of the citizen in achieving
success.
What was meant by success was not clearly
defined. and therefore the attaining OF ones
possibilities must be regarded as an indefinite
quantity.
II man went into politics success was one
thing, while II the citizen went into the Sci
snces, or into literature his efforts were meas
ured by another rule.
II he went into any one of the various pur-
suits. a different rule must guide the Judg'
ment of each.
If be was engaged in the practical every day
business of earning dollar for the support OF
himself and family his degree OF success
could be more clearly estimated.
1t was held by some that many attained the
measure Of their possibilities, but others again
contended that in the every day affairs, there
we're more failures than successes One men,
Der contended that not more than one IN
three hundred were success In the ordinary
pursuits. The probability, then. was thal
when q man was born into the world that be
would be failure, no matter what his poss,'
Olllt10S. In LQlS pOSltlOQ ne luOueuJ thdb VIC
might look to the neighbo and citizens OF
this city for proof Of the correctness OF his es'
innate.
Il we go back for sixty years. and mark, up
that has been born in this town for that pc.
riod OF time. the reader will no doubt be sur
prised at the great number OF children tnal
have been born amongst US, and for W nom 10
account can now be given. A man Is an In
hnitesimal part OF the com muuity. and II may
be truly said Of Q majority Of us-"out OF
sight, out OF mind"
STRANGERS OR ADOPTED CITIZENS, IN
CHARGE OF THE TOWN.
There are today more than hundred men
In active business on their own account In the
different pursuits. These men employ large
number of others at salaries. but OF these lat.
ter we are not speaking, for the reason that as
a rule, they are on the Threshold OF their ca
reers. We are speaking OF men who are older
and are al the head OF business on their own
account, and In their particular lines.
or the sixty merchants of all kinds doing
bu siness In Abbeville, but four Of the number
are native born citizens Of Abbeville.
or the five physicians, not one was born In
Of the three dentists. two were not born in
Abbeville.
The president of the cotton mill was coup.
The Superintendent and bosses OF the cotton
mill came from abroad.
The president OF the cotton ginnery and
roller mill is Georgian. although he came to
Ahbevtlle to get wife.
The manager OF the oil mill came from Sa-
vannah.
The local agents of the railroads at this
pisb Sharon % furnished us with an EXPRESS agent.
The president Of the furniture factory came
amongst ua some twelve wears ego.
The president Of the Farmers Bank was
born on his fathers farm in the county.
The mann bar9 of the Bar are not native born
citizens.
The owner OF stark's livery and sale stable
came to US few years ago.
The jewellers of the town were furnished by
other communities.
The president and manager Of the ware.
house are not natives.
Our Congressman came from Cokesbury.
The keepers of our hotels are not natives OF
Neither OF the editors were born in Able.
vile.
The principal Of the Graded school was not
Our postmaster was furnished b" Mount
Carmel.
None of the five preachers were torn ii Alb
beville.
The churches are run by new men, while
the native born citizen is scarce com modity.
The secret organizations are led by others
than native born citizens.
Our cotton buyers are adopted citizens.
A large per cent. of the statesmen In our
stores came from other communities.
Our beef markets are conducted by men
who were attracted TO the place.
Our tailor was furnished TO US by the city Of
Anderson.
Calvert & Nickles. dealers in wagons and
buggies, came to US.
Neither the Mayor Of the city nor his police
force were born In town.
We had to send of to get good baker.
The plumber Is q new man among US.
The electric light people are new citizens
and not to the manor born.
o E,npona n 10
with us, was born In Cox kesbury.
The Probate Judge, the County Treasurer,
the County Supervisor were born outside Of
Abbevile.
The place Of the nativity OF the officers OF
the Abbeville- Greenwood Insurance Com.
pany is not AbbevilIe.
The Judge Of the Eighth judicial Circuit
lives at AbbeVille. He was born in Green
wood county.
The manager OF the Lumber Company is
not native born citizen.
Ihe city magistrate Is an adopted son.
The secretary of Congressman Aiken came
Cane.
Except A. w. Jones and DR.. s. G. Thomson,
II any native born citizen has built fine
house, we do not recall.
Except r. E. Cox, If any native born citizen
has taken the lead, or contributed any consid.
cradle money TO the establishment OF any in
dustrial enterprise, the fact has escaped our
II any native born citizen holds bond OF
Indebtedness by the town, we are not inform
ed, or If informed, we have forgotten the fact
The architects and skilled mechanics who
have built our cotton mill and other indus
trial enterprises, and who put in shape our
hne houses came from other places.
Except 4; q Cox, c. P. Hammond, w. c.
McGowan. l.. W. Parker, A. w. Smith. and
Capt. L. w. White, we do not recall the
name of any native-born citizen who contrib
uted dollar to the building Of the cotton
mill.
Except r. E. Cox and G. P. Hammond, no
n native born citizen contributed cent to the
capital stock of the furniture factory, if we
are not In error.
If any native born citizen OF Abbeville took
q dollars worth of stock in the warehouse the
fact is not known to us, or is forgotten.
The old Abbevile had two little prin ting
or five printers. Now four times as many