The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-07-13

The Anderson Daily Mail always
writes good humoredly and is ever en-
tertaining, but when it proposes to
make joke at Charleston's expense 1t
takes the cake.
Poor old Charleston What has the
good old city done, that it should be
patronized by country editor at the
foot hills of the Blue Ridge?
The idea of country editor assum-
ing to encourage the citizens of the old
town who are famed by the sea breeze,
is funny enough, but when a rural
editor "endorses" great metropolitan
newspaper like the News and Courier,
a horse would laugh, if he read the
piece.
!. Of course no man of kindly nature
would deprive Charleston of the pleas
ure of reviewing her glorious past,
even if she reminds us of things
which are past and which were glori-
Gus. For degenerates who occupy de-
serted halls or live in the shadow of
their monuments to departed greatness
there is no pleasure which equals the
contemplation of the distinction of their
ancestors. Who will deprive good,
though innocent citizens, of the
thought that pigmies may spring from
giants. Except for the kinship, how
would we recognize the likeness be-
tween weakling and greatness 1t
would indeed be wicked to make sport
of weaklings at time when Others
are heroes in the strife.
Instead of poking fun at Charleston,
and instead of gllttering generalities,
why not be silent on the subject of
former greatness or say nothing about
it?
What has Charleston done to devel-
ope the State?
Please name some Of the glorious
achievements of the city at which the
Anderson Mail is poking fun?
Has that city invested anything to
build up the town? If 80, what was
it? Didn't the city fight against the
progress that would bring the iron
rails to the water? Was not that
fight organized in the interest Of the
old drays? Didn't Charleston cling
to the horse car, and oppose the elec-
trio car?
Did not Charleston invest great
sums of money to build up other
States?
With all of Charleston's obstructive
methods, what has she achieved, ex
cept TO delay the irresistible progress,
which must yield to the demand.
"There is," says the Daily Mail,
"nothing for anybody, i'll or out of
Charleston, to feel ashamed of or to
make sport Of" Charleston will, Of
course, see the irony of this statement.
It is indeed a clean city that has
nothing in it for which good people
may feel ashamed. Shame is rel
ative term. or an indefinite or inde-
scribable sensation. Some people glo-
ry in their shame as seen by others
Others parade their shame by shame
less exhibition.
In Charleston, we have no doubt,
there is a division of sentiment on
some subjects. The blind tigers of the
city are no doubt proud Of their
achievements in defying the laws O.:
the State. A number of good citizens
are pleased, and a number of fairly
good people in and out of Charleston,
no doubt feel more or less indignant
that rebellious city should allow its
citizens to violate the law with impu-
nifty.
Talk Charleston ~ Oh, yes; talk
Charleston, when there is anything
commendable to talk about, or when
the old city has taken one single step
in the march of progress.
Towns, like people, with record in
the past, are not the progressive towns
or the active business men of the
time.
1t has been said that few first class
funerals are the best things for old
towns. Whenever towns, with re-
cord, do anything it is at the instance
of new men. The old set with a
proud past are satisfied to let the
world wag as it will. AS rule, rich
people and society people do very little
for town.
We would be ever so much obliged tc
the Daily Mail if it would site some of
the glorious deeds of Charleston of
which the whole state feels pride.
If the Mail would do so, those ugly
newspapers which have been lambast.
ing Charleston would put their hats
under their arms and join the chorus
Essentially and personally Charles
ton is no better nor any worse than
other parts of the state. That gloriou!
record of the past is the incubus. L
acts like the old man of the sea, anC
keeps the people from rising to th'
standards of the past, or prevents then
from joining the presession.
Here is one of the many funny
pieces that the Mail writes
uTalk Charleston - The New and