The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1904-11-02
It has been the invariable rule in a

majority. if not il ell The Southern
States, for the blacks and whites living
in the rural districts to visit the
neighboring village, town, or city on
Saturday. And this disposition is es-
pecially noticeable when the 1st Mon
day, or "salesday" comes at the county
seat. Some are prompted by idle
curiosity, others by desire to make
purchases, others because Of the sale
of property at the Court house, while
others 60 to trade stock, or "ywap.'
And there is hardly county seat in
the section of country referred to, that
has not what is commonly known as
"Bone Yard" d,"--gsnerally large
vacant lot where everyone with any
thing Of the horse or mule flesh or
bones, gathers to trade.
There has, however, come change.
An innovation has taken place. Small
towns are asking for the crowd to
come and traders like near place
hence the ''Horse-swappers Conven-
tion." The idea is said to have orig
mated in the mountainous section Of
one Of the Southern States. It seemed
to "cstch," and such things are now
popular. They are called together in
this way. Traders in section Of
country get together and determine to
hold convention" They Of course
contribute enough to dofray the ex-
penses Of printing, advertising, etc.
Because the crowd that usually at
tends is large one and spends money
freely, merchants generally contri-
butte. In every instance the town re-
fuses to charge license.
A few days after Christmas the
writer happened upon one of these
conventions in Southern State. It
was at-well, for the sake Of the story,
say Macusville. Now before the war
Macusville had been quite place
Ever since the territory had been OBJ
tanned from the Indians by treaty, it
had been the county seat until a
neighboring town had grown and set
on foot an agitation looking to q
change Of the seat of justice. That
agitation grew, resulting in hot con-
test and the success of the agitators.
The county seat changed, Maeus-
ville's halcyon days were of the past.
The town began TO ''swimp up" aB one
of its citizens expressed it. The old
white succeed Court House that stood
at the Southern end Of q beautiful rec
tangular park, was purchased by q
Farmers Society. The court room
where SO much eloquenoe had been
heard, became the meeting place Of
the farmers, and in the autumn, o
place for their exhibition Of agrieul-
tursl products.
When the writer visited Muousville
at the time referred TO. it seemed chat
the whole section OF the country for
miles around, had been flooded With
printed circulars of che most brilliant
color, at che top of which was cut Of
man ON the back Of horee, supposed
to be running at gait. The rider
had long horn to his lips, and from
it were supposed to sound che words:
"Comel Comet printed in large let
ters. Underneath appeared the fol-
lowing:
HORSE
SWAPPERS' CONVENTIOF.
At Mscusville,-
December 29th, 30th. 81, 1903.
COME AND BRING YOUR RIPS
WALLER DOGS AND FIGHTING
ROOSTERS, OR ANYTHING
YOU CARE TO SWAP. EX-
CHANGE OR BARTER.
A-vill be loaded for "Bear."
President.
.::...... Secretary and Treasurer.
1900 a
Managers:
'sH.. ....'' ~
(Tn penciD Free Stable.
#Thie had reference to the dispenser.