The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-11-30
CORONATION OF FESTIVAL QUEEN.
A Brilliant Ceremonial Witnessed by n
Immense Throng That Filled the
Opera House.


ence, each one eager to wituesS the
coronation of the Queen of the Festl-
val and to participate in the ceremo.
nies as loyal subject and admIrer OF
the chosen Queen.
The Festival committee and the
State and county officials we're grouped
on the stage in semi-circie in the
center OF which was placed the throne
of the Queen. The Queen, Miss jew
ell Burdell, attended by her Maids of
Honor, Misses Marie Noise and Rosa
lie Moses, was escorted to the stage
surrounded by retinue. The Queen
was presented to the audience by Mr..
Neill O'Donnell and escorted to her
hrone, the audience standing the
while
The Queen was crowned by Maj. Fl.
Frank Wilson, who then delivered the
following coronation address, which
was as follows:
This is the crowning event in Sum-
ter's Fall Festival. 1t crowns our
beautiful city with halo of gladness
and Joy. 1t crowns the Festival Com
mittee with the welcome news Of COM
plete success. It crowns as fair a
queen as ever swayed a sceptre, or
wore a regal diadem. In the olden
times when cities we're vailed around
With adamantine rock, crested with
turrets, and battlements and towers,
and ponderous iron gates at night, Sc
curely locked, shut in the city and its
people, and shut out the world be
yond-to be the keeper of the clty's
keys simply meant free egress from
aud ingress to the city. The Honora-
ole Mayor of the City Of Sumter has
formerly turned over to the President
Of the Festival the keys of the city
giving thereby, not only free ingresS
to. and eeress from the city, but Civ
ing as we'll hearty and cordial well
ONE to the hospitality of her people.
If it happeus that we are unable to
entertain the thousands of friends
bo have come to share this festival
W elk with Us, it will not &c for lack
# hospitality, but because the city Is
axed, by the kindness OF its friends
beyond its capacity to entertain.
there is not a home within the city's
limits, the latch string Of whose dool
not on the outside, bidding friend,
and visitors come and welcome. There
not a man, woman, or Child, l
might say, within cur bounds who
,oes not feel keen, abiding interest,"
ia the success of this festive occasion
nd who is not willing to spend ane
,e spent in its interest. Sumter's las
'ail Festival was held in Octobe'
1885,. In the ten years since then sb
aas grown, from small town of 4,OW
oeople, into one of the most prospe-
rous, and progressive cities in tb'
tate. This growth is the outcome
olely of the push, the industry, the
snergy, the progressive spirit OF he1
citizens. Her mercantile establish
ments are abreast of any in the state,
md [ might say wihcut ezaggeratlon,
will pear comparison with those o.
:ities many times larger in popula-
on. The diversity of her manufac'
oring enterprises outranks any city
f her size in the South, and her rail
road facilities makes her the best rail-
road center in the State. King Cot
ton, the South's great staple, is help
ing to forge her to the front, alreads
this season she has marketed $1,000
bales and will before the season closes
market 10000 bales of the heecy sta
pie. Over such city, and the people
who have made it, and during this
festive week, over the thousands OF
her invited guests, who come to enjoy
this gala season with US, your Majes-
ty is called to reign, and am COM
missiened by your true and loyal sub
iects to place upon your brow the dla-
dem of royalty, and to proclaim you
the chosen queen of Sumter's Fall
Festival. The President of the Festival
with the keys of the city in his keep
ing, is but your loyal subject, as are
we ali. 'Tis yours to command, it's
ours to obey. Under your just. he
nign and righteous reign, our beauti-
full, progressive city is to enjoy fes-
tive season beyond the expectation OF
the most optimistic of your loyal sub
jects. During this season of festive
merry making we pray your gracious
majesty to temper Justice with mercy.
The quality of mercy is not strained,
1t droppeth as the gentle rain from
heaven
Upon the place beneath; it is twice
blest:
1t blesseth him that gives and him
that takes:
Ills mightiest in the mightiest: it
becomes
The throned monarch better than his
crown:
His sceptre shows the force of tempo
raj power,
The attributes of awe and majesty,
Where. 10th sit the dread and fear
,<ings;
But !, a1cy is above this sceptered
sway:
1t is an attribute to God Himself;
And earthly power doth show likest
Gods,
When mercy seasons justice. .
There is one matter, your Majesty,
that needs immediate utterance.
''They say, best men are moulded out
of faults;
And for the most, become much more
the better
Forl being little bad. -
We pray your majesty do issue now,
and have your heralds proclaim