The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-03-05
Bamberg-SOme Impressions.
Try DIR. y. F.. MAHBARB.

BY DIX. y. T.. MAHBARB.I
One day while was making tour OF
this State, I happened to be journeying
through the section which embraces BAN
berg and Barnwell counties; | came to
crossroads and seeing the names of the
towns to which the various roads led,
painted on a cross board, I noticed that
of Bamberg on one side; had often
wished to 60 to this place but the oppor-
tunity had never presented itself until
now, so inquiring Of Bob, my servant, If
he thought I would like Bamberg he re-
piled: "Sah, 70 sho will like dat place,
hit am de purttiest leetle city ever 20
seed" With this assurance from Bob, we
drove for Bamberg, According to Bob,
and l found him generally correct, we
had a six mile drive before us. During
this drive I was posted by my servant on
the points of interest to be seen in the
town. remembered that Bamberg was
widely known for its fine artesian water
and that it was often termed the "Artesian
City," 1t was not long before we were
entering Bamberg, and my first impres-
sion was that it had a very busy air about
it and found out later that my impress
sion was correct one, for it proved to
be one of the busiest little places l had
ever struck. The first building which at
tracted my attention was the cotton mill,
this building alone, with all its noise,
gave the town a city-like atmosphere.
We drove up Main street towards the
courthouse intending at first to drive
about the town that same afternoon, but
being tired I thought best to wait until
the morrow. So asked Bob to drive to
some feed stable where l might get a
place for my horse to stay for few days.
As Bob said there were "jist lots Nv places
to put your horse" 1t was while going
to the Stable to put up my horse when |
noticed sign over a door which read
"The Bamberg Herald" instantly | turned
to Bob and said, "why, Bob, this is quite
a little city, with its cotton mill, news
paper, and beautiful court house it should
be progressive town" "Yassir, hit sho
is sgressive, hits got moin one newspaper
too, for de Bamberg County Times is
printed jist round de corner up dere, den
dere's de oil mill, de iron works, de wagon
works, besides dat desc people here be-
lieves in edication, dey's got mighty
purity school house up dere on de hill dey
call hit de Fittin School, believe, and
hit sho is fittin one Yoo haint seen
none of dem tings yit; 700 jist wait and
befo 700 left dis here town 700 will think
it am de real article" and / was destined
to agree with him. After had gotten a
place for my horse started back towards
the court house; I had walked about three
blocks when I noticed for the first time, a
sight which did my very. heart good, 1t
was one of those artesian wells OF which
I had heard so much. l followed the eX-
ample set for me by some little boys, and
perched myself up on the cement basin
and took my first sip of Bamberg arteslan
water. I say sip for it was but sip that
let get in my mouth that time. l really
can't say that enjoyed the first taste, for
it was far from pleasant one. l have
since come to think that the water is as
agreeable to ones taste after having taken
several drinks as it is disagreeable the
first time. I was destined to have love
for Bamberg artesian water which would
ALWAYS remain. with me. Bob having
conducted me to hotel, (and let me say
here that I was very much pleased with
the one I stopped at), I gave him little
money and told him to have my horse
ready for me at nine O'Clock the next
morning. Bob did not tarry long after l
had given him the money but with a
'yassir, boss" he started down the street
and I noticed that he turned the same
corner as the one on which the arteslan
we'll was. I learned that Bob having be-
come accustomed to the water, visited a
place further down where something
even stronger than artesian water was
kept. 1t was hard for me to conceive OF
anything stronger than that water at
that time, but it was not long before l
should see that there was something
stronger and that Bob had gotten hold OF
some of it.