The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-02-17
The Dudes and Bachelors in Trouble in
Tr-5cville.
Editor The Manning Times:

determination 10 Eet lldilleu IL lcS9A-
bic. On Saturday morning two OF
them, Bachelor No. and Bach clor No.
2 came together to discuss the all I'M
portant question of matrimony. but ar
rived at no conclusion until they called
their friend, our Dude. who cheerfully
offered his services as cnaperone.
The following program was suggested
by Dude: Bachelor No. l was to go to a
neighboring village on Saturday and
bring q young lady to spend Saturday
aud Sunday with a friend in our COM
munity: the entire party with Dude as
leader were to so calling both Satur-
day and Sunday evenings. Bachelor
No. did his part as well as could be
expected. The three men are very
loyal to their church. so they decided
to 90 to preaching Saturday evening
before calling They consulted with
our pastor in regard to the length OF
the services, and being assured that
they would be short they went TO
church. Dude always prepares for an
emergency, so before entering the
church he called the bachelors to one
side and told them that they would all
! take back seat so that if the services
were long they could leave without dis
! turbing any one. Agreeing On a GER
tain signal, they entered the church
and took a seat near the door. Now
the Dude and Bachelor No. are very
important part of our choir, Dude hay
ing sweet soprano voice and the bach
elor deep, mellow bass voice. AL
most as soon as they had taken their
seats they were called into their ac-
customed places in the choir.
After the preacher had talked for
some time Dude gave his signal to
leave the church. Bachelor No. was
to go out at the front door, Dude and
Bachelor No. were to go out through
the pastors study. When the signal
was given, Bachelor No. got up and
walked out the front way: Dude made
an attempt to go out through the study,
but On entering it he found the outer
door locked. He walked back to the
door and signed to the sexton to bring
him the keys. Having secured the
keys he made desperate effort TO
leave the room. but 10. he was so nerv-
Gus that the key would not tit. After
working Faithfully FOR at least five
minutes, to the amusement OF the con-
gregation, he once more breathed tree
air.
In the meantime Bachelor No. ?
made an effort to leave, but on getting
on the outside of the church. by the
kindness of the cool wind, he was in
formed that his head had no protection.
He knew that he would either have to
90 back after his hat or call or the fair
one hatless. so he went in search of his
hat. Securing his hat he followed his
companions The way these men left
the church created quite q sensation,
and also caused the parson to forget his
sermon. After things became quiet
the preacher began a missionary SER
mon, emphasizing the need OF home
missions.
The remainder of the evening passed
off very nicely, or at least in the eyes
of the bachelors and Dude. They met
early next morning and discussed the
questions at issue. 1t was agreed that
they would adhere to the first plan: so
early Sunday afternoon Bachelor No. !
started on his trip to CARRY his friend
to her home. Dude and Bachelor No.
2 followed and were to call as soon as
Bachelor No. l tool; his departure.
After seeing the fair one safely home:
Bachelor No. returned to his home
thinking that after all life IS worth liz
ing. In the meantime Dude and Bach
elor No. 2 were at the home OF the fair
ones, Dude talking for dear life, Bache-
lor No. , taking in everything that was
said. At last time came for preaching,
so the ladies went to get their hats.
Dude said to the bachelor. Just watch
me and do as I do He then secured
his gold-headed cane. his long-hewlng
overcoat, his slnoke-stack beaver and
gave the bachelor the signal to do like
wise. All went well until dude started
on his homaward march with his fair
one. The sidewalks were narrow, the
night was dreadfully daIk, the rain was
coming down in torrents. All OF sud-
den Dude lost his head, or rather his
feet, he was soon lying IN q small
stream OF water calling for help. Bach
elor No. thought that he must do as
Dude did, so he Immediately left his
girl and fell in on top of Dude and be-
Gan to call for help. OF course this
frightened the ladies, so they immedi-
ately began to yell at the top OF their
voices for help. The citizens OF the
little town rushed into the streets ex-
pecting every moment 10 meet band
of burglars. When they reached the
scene and learned the trouble. lights
were secured and the POOR boys were
released from their watery prison.
When speaking Of the fated night,
Dude said, '"rhat old bachelor was to
blame for the whole thing" Bachelor
No. said, ''All of you may take the
advice OF the Dude if you wish. but as
for me and my house we will seek aG-
vice at other places"
Miss Fannie Lavender is very Ill
with pneumonia.
Mrs. Guess has been on the sick list
for some time, but is slowly improving.
The Timrod Literary Club is doing
good work. The last two evenings
were devoted to Longfellow. Among
the poems discussed were 'Evangel-
ene." ;'Building of the Ship" THE
BRIDGE THE Old Clock on the
Stairs, )" ''Footsteps Of an Angel, 1.-THE
Day Is Done" Mrs. Guess led these
meetings and made them very pleas
ant and interesting. At the next meet
ing the following poems will be dis.
cuSsed: ''The Raven, "'Anuabel Lee" ;"
THE Bells" Mr.. Guess will read q
paper on THE Gold Bug" Miss Ma
bors will have charge of the meeting.
Misses Hughson. Lyde ard Player
spent Saturday and Sunday at Mr..
Jehu Smiths.
Messrs. r. H. Coker and D. l..
Greene spent Tuesday and Wednesday
in Timmonsville.
Mr.. S. c. Turbeville has purchased
new machinery which will be here in a
few days and will be placed at his old
stand.
1t is probable that our hamlet will
have 4 brick mill in a very short time.
There is also a movement on foot to
erect an oil mill. These industries will
be quite an addition to our community.
Cur people are wide awake to the best
| io+oro-tc of tl,ic cectiO,1. If Uo116 ha