The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1903-10-14
The Ooening.

One of the events of the seasen was
the .'Opening'' at Jenkinson's depart
ment store last Wednesday evening.
The store was artistically arranged, and
the decorations were superb. The dis
Dlav of dress goods and trimmings was
credit to the management and the
clerks. There was tremendous crowd
drawn:hither by the Charleston band(?)
an AGGREGATION of 'Cha'ston niggers"
who had represented themselves as ac-
complished musicians, and had secured
Recommendations from some friends of
Mr.. Jenkinson, but who turned out to be
worse than nest Of eggs deserted by
hen that had set on them whole sum
mer. The music was disappointing and
the singing of these ''Cha's 'ston" fakes
was excruciating, not only to those who
visited the store, but to Mr. Jenkinson
himself, so much so that he gave them
their time and ducats before the con-
tract was completed: no more "Cha's-
ton niger" for Jenkinson.
Every department, in this immense
establishment was dressed IN its best
attire. not excepting the ladies a2d
gentlemen who serve the trade. 1t Is
difficult to describe the scene on that
evening, but when we say the store
presented a scene of lovliness, we mean
that the opening was i great success. 1t
accomplished what Mr.. Jenkinson de-
sired-bringing out the multitude to
see what he das accomplished as mer-
chant.
The main attraction was in the milli-
merry, presided over by ladies whose eN-
perierce make them adapted to know
Just whether the''hat is on straight" or
if the colors suit ''my complexion" and
If the shape makes me look bewltch-
ing" These ladies are artists IN shap-
ing hats to make a beautiful look more
beautiful, and in taking out the sour
ness of an ugly woman's face, and act
ually when they get through with an
ugly woman. she can look square into
a pan of real fresh-laid milk without
danger of curdling it. This depart
ment was filed all the evening with
we'll dressed ladies, with merry voices,
and the solemnest looking men we have
ever seen: the men enjoyed the beauty
of the hats, and the joyful promises to
buy about as much as nervous Great
ure enjoys having tooth drawn by a
''painless'' toothsmith. One man came
out of the millinery department with
suicide in his eye. a cigarette between
his fingers. and he did not stop until
be got right in front of the cornet play
er He lighted the cigarette. and just
as the ''Cha'st coon" was about to
hurl him into eternity with a blast OF
"Hiawatha" we rushed in and saved
the fellow by taking him out OF the
side door into the fresh anywhere there
was chance to get beer in case any
thing should happen. The poor fellow
as the fresh air hit him, gave a gasp and
asked US ''did she decide to take it, Eve
asked him what? He said, 'that Sl5
hat which the lady with the continental
soldiers uniform was trying with no
mercy on me. to SELL" l relieved him
by telling him the purchase was sub
ject to his approval, and he smiled one
OF those leering smiles which men are
prone to, when saved from desperate
act, and state of uncertainty.
The occasion was enjoyed by those
who like to look at well-arranged
store, where almost everything can be
found, and where the proprietor and
his corps of assistants are anxious 70
please.