Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-08-05
KHAKI AID MUSLIN.
Thirty-Second Annual Picnic of
the HuSSars-A Ne Plus Ultra.

Ing 1Or tQe urSC Ilue tue
world renowned Lanham Spring
picnic, we set out on Thursday
morning last with another one of
Edgefeld's dead game sports, hav-
ing this historic spot-where the
Hussars have won 80 consecu-
tive social conquests-as our des-
tination. All went swimmingly
till we began to climb the bumpy,
rutty, rocky, rooty, quilted and
horny hills oflHorn's .Cr eek. These
highways, byways, or whatever you
call them-let US not dignity them
with the name of roads-proved to
be too much for a frail vehicle of
the rubber tire pattern. A deep
gully, a sudden twist, loud rattle
told the tale-a broken buggy.
Out on the ground we leaped, and
being a time when necessity failed
to be the mother of invention, we
trudged along for mile amid alter
mating sand, rocks and gullies in
quest of a vehicle-just any old
thing. After becoming dust be-
grimed, perspiration besmeared
and footsore, ready to fall by the
wayside, along came two good Sa-
maritans, Messrs. M. P. Wells and
John R. Tompkins, who took us
under the shadow of their wings
and again all went swimmingly.
Supervisor Selfis a big man but
the 'goblins will git him" if he
does not have a rock piling and
gully filling up and down the
mountains of Horns Creek before
many moons.
At last, after a journey OF ten
miles, 80 called, we were, although
a little the worse for wear, on the
spot. And beautiful, though Sc
questered, spot it is. AS we ap-
preached, gazing admiringly upon
the panoramic view of this mucG-
talked-of rendezvous, natural
amphitheatre, sweet strains of
music and sounds of revelry by
day reached our ears. The crowd
-usil g the word with much en-
phasis-had gathered from two
states. The "saad-lappers" of
Carolina and the "crackers" of
Georgia were there, all i'll picnic
attire-the breeziest their ward
robe afforded--with go-easy, 60
lucky, just-anything-for-fun air
prevailing. The crowds that an
pually assemble at Lanham
Spring are unique in that they
are more digniied than are crowds
that gather on other similar oc-
casions. The young people are
gay but never frivolous and the
older ones enter heartily into the
spirit of the occasion with becom-
ing grace.
We had often heard of the hos
pitality and the splendid manner
in which the Hussars, srue to the
traditions of their fathers and
grand fathers, conduct these an.
nual functions but the half had
never been told. One has to be
an attendant, a guest of the com.
pany, to really form an adequate
idea 81 Of The charming spifit and
-Is Boon as one SETS loot upon The
grounds he, feels. that he is .amone
friends who welcome his coming
into their midst. This alone,
without the many pleasures Incl
dent to such an occasion, would
make the hours of the day speed
rapidly away.
The Hussars, in preparing the
great feast that was spread upon
the long tables, either over esti-
mated the crowd that would be in
attendance or thought those pres
ent would have large appetites and
still larger capacities, for there
was more of the feast remaining
after all had been fed than re-
mained after the feeding of the
multitude upon the loaves and
fishes. Not only had the fatted
calves been slain but sheep and
swine had been slaughtered in
great numbers and prepared to
suit the kings taste. Those who
attend the Lanham Spring picnics
always expect and are never disap-
pointed in getting a royal dinner.
The music, which was 80 ell
and inspiring even to
the elderly, was furnished by a
band of six pieces from Augusta.
The old as well as the new dances
we're engaged in so that all who
desired to do SO could participate.
The dancers were happy in loves
smbrac and with light hearts and
lighter feet tripped gracefully
over the marble-like floor. The
oaviliol, which is very comforta-
Die and substantially constructed,
vas a little crowded at times but
ome of the young people econo-
nized space by dancing in con-
picuously close proximity. Thus
III went we'll and the occasion
vas pronounced the most pleasant
me that has ever been held.
Of Capt. N.G. Evans and his faith
ul committeeman, who put self in
he back ground and worked like
'rojans to enhance the pleasure of
heir guests, too much praise can
lot be said. One does not longer
7onder that 1.-The fame of Lanham