The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-05-18
,ast Saturday afternoon the editor boarded

pressed us an being unusually we'll prepared
for the coming crops.
The lands were OF varyIng soil and rlchnes
Some OF the country reminded us of the gar
den spot of the earth through which Capt.
Williams runs his train between Abbeville
and Hodges. We all know the beauty and
the grandeur OF the landscape through which
that iron highway passes In season. its
spreading hills and far reaching fields of
snowy cotton, are only equalled by The sweet
fields of living green that cover the fertile
bottoms. The beauty and the grace of the
curves of the purlng rils together with the
chatter OF the babbling brooks, make scene
to please the eye and to satisfy The soul.
We refer to the charming scenery along
Capt. Williams route. with which we are all
acquainted, to more easily escrlbe the scenry
along the great Iron highway to Atlanta.
There are places between ASbeville and At
lanta that are more beautiful than the inter-
veniug land between Abbevlle and Hodges.
The number of fruit trees along the Seaboard
are legion. Almost every farm has good
orchard.
Not until we had nearly reached Atlanta
did we speak to anybody after bidding MIR.
lespie Smith goodbye at Calhoun Falls.
When the lights of the distant city were
to be seen pesring through the darkness, an
old man came and sat down on the seat In
rear OF our seat. He commenced his conver-
sation with: This is first train that 1 have
been on in along time, where cou dn't get a
drink of water" l assured him that he
would not have long to wait, and thinking Of
the Journals pictures OF heavy rains and
Slyn cd aim,
new depot had been finished He looked
dazed and said he didn't know. In little
while he said, 1--WE will soon be in the car
she'd" He said he owned valuable property
in Atlanta. In 1872. be gave Sl,S00 for lot,
paying 500 cash, and settling the remainder
at $40 month. He had been offered $4,000 for
1t, but he had the title 10 the property made
In the names of his wife and children, and
could not we'll sell 1t. He said, 1T will never
be worth less than 1t is to-day. am disabled
and the income from 1t. supports me-"
When the train stopped, we went to the
Kimble House, but was too late for supper.
and went to q restaurant for steak. The
kimbie House is good house, but We
thought Atlanta had outgrown that old es'
tablish ment. and so We moved to the Pied-
mont Hotel, at noon on sunday
Sunday morning we boarded street car,
and stopped at DR.. Broughton's taberp acle,
where worshippers had already begun TO ar
rive. The building is very plain affair, bat
large enough 10 seat great company. The
choir about sixty in number took seats in
rear OF the preachers reading desk. The
musicians were In front of the choir-all fac.
,po ba ap6ienre The Instruments were. 81
piano, a cornet, two ordinary fddles. and a
regular bull fiddle. After humping and
tightening the strings, gentleman looking
something like our own Thomas Grant Per-
rIn but more atteuua and more elongated
came TO the front, and with rod and both
hands made various and continued signs
The music started up and it was good music,
too. After giving US voluntary, some else
then called out seventeen" and later on
"thirty.seven" was announced.
While the young gentlemen were tuning
and humping their fiddes we could not help
from wishing that they might not be good
tiddlers. An irreverent gentleman once said ::
He never knew good fiddler that was worth
a-(a blank is left here. The word might
shock the nerves.)
A brother In the audience was asked to say
a prayer. He Informed the Lord and those
OF us present, that DR.. Broughton was alb.
sent, etc.i etc.
Then another actor came on the stage. He
asked everybody to join In singing: "The
old time religion to which the audience re-
sponded with JUNCTION, and with great unani.
nifty of action.
n.I,, ,,i, tlao 81 nod
that he was not preacher, but that be would
read the greatest sermon that was ever de-
livered. A copy Of that sermon may be found
in one of the old books about every house.
About the first thing that was done. was
the taking up of collection. We put In a
quarter. When the music and the singing
was finished, we felt ashamed at our small
contribution and felt like we ought TO have
given S.. When the whole performance was
over we thought the quarter about fit the
case.
After "lunch"-they call the twelve ocloc =
feed, lunch, at the Pledmont-we started out
for Grant Park. Mr.. Lamar Richey. OF this
place, was on the car, and we boys spent the
remainder of the afternoon together. After
seeing the cyclorams Of the battle Of Atlanta,
we strolled around little. and then struck
out for Oakwood cemetery.
At night this editor stroled down one OF
the streets, and asked policeman If there
was church In the neighborhood. We went
into Trinity Methodist church, and in the
vestibule met cordial welcome from a good
brother who wanted to give US a good seat
high up in the sanctuary. His cordiality and
hi. civ IaT} 10
think that he had possibly mistaken the
country editor for preacher.
AT this church we found a great organ-no
plano, no tiddles, no cornets, and only four
singers.
The man in the pulpit took for his subject
"Small Things and he made much out Of it..
Let no man suppose for an instant that we
went TO Atlanta for devotional reasons. We
went to Atlanta to see the beautiful store
fronts Of the best part Of the city, and we
went TO church to see good people and their
way of conducting service When in q
strange city no place is more interesting than
the churches. If for no other reason, the
sight of the handsomely dressed pretty wo.
men would ten times overpay the time and
trouble of going to church. We noticed an
almost entire absence of those horrid buttons
which some women pin on to the back OF
their dresses The only exception, as far as
we noticed, was girl who stood in front Of
us at the depot while waiting to take the train
for home. She had two OF those buttons on
her dress. After q while she turned her face,
which revealed the fact that she was colored
woman.
Saturday night we strolled along the street
where the prettiest of the show windows are
to be seen. Sunday morning we did the same
thing. After supper on Sunday night-they
call that meal dinner" at the Piedmont-we