The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-08-30
the Salem Picnic Kindness of the Alder
mans,

The cotton cruwCrS OF Salem had i
nicnic last Friday at Coles Mill, or
rather at Horse Branch church which
is close by, with the finest flow of arte-
sian water in Clarendon There was
a fine iovial prosperous looking mass of
humanity numbering about 1000 souls,
and everybody living anywhere in the
vicinity seemed to feel that it was his
or her duty to forget self and look after
the comfort and pleasure OF everybody
else. The grounds are especially
adapted to picnic purposes, nice shade,
good water. and nearby the woods
where the bibulously inclined can 60
and take drink away from the public
gaze, but in this connection the writer
will say that he did not see a single
drunk man, uor man, woman or child
who did not seem to be enjoying the
day. A very noticeable thing which
came to our observation was the fine
horses and vehicles. the handsome
women, and the latest fashion in dress,
everything went to show that Salem IS
the most prosperous section of Claren-
don, and has made very rapid progress
within the past few years: Quite a
large party went from this depot, and
throug gh the generosity OF the Alder
mans, although unprepared to furnish
transportation on account OF their pas
senger cars being in the hospital to be
made ready to go over the road on reg
ular schedule on the lst, put them
selves to inconvenience to keep from
disappointing the crowd: two box cars
were fitted up with chairs and made as
comfortable as possible, the crowd put
in charge OF that big-souled Forest Col
Inns, and away we went to the picnic.
All along the road at the various sta
tions picnickers were picked up and IN
about one hour from the start the
crowd was safely landed within few
hundred yards Of the picnic grounds,
where a tremendous crowd had al
ready assembled, and Congressman j..
E. Ellerbe of Marion was speaking.
We did not hear much OF this distln-
guished eertleman's speech, because
he was about finishing when we arrlv-
ed. The people however were loud in
their praises of his speech, and many
of them said they wished he would
come into the fight next summer and
run for the United States Senate. At
the conclusion of Mr.. Ellerbe's speech,
Hon. Luther Green, in very graceful
and thoughtful speech introduced Hon.
E. D. Smith, the associations State
president. We cannot begin to do Mr.
Smith justice by attempting to say
what be did say because, he has the
happy faculty of forcing attention. and
it would be folly to attempt to listen at
his eloquence, and forceful argument
and at the same time undertake TO take
notes Of his speech. Smith makes a
shoulder-hitting sledge-hammer argu-
ment full of wit and hu1nor, pathos and
the soundest advice. He says what ne
believes, and believes what he says,
and if he could divide himself up to Get
into every township, he would so or
ganize the people that the combined
wealth of the spectators could never
again disorganize them.
Upon the stage were seated, besides
the speakers, Revs. Guest and Younge.
DR.. I. N. Woods, Hon. Luther Greeu,
Mr.. E. D. Hodge, the county president,
and others. After Mr.. Smiths speech,
DR.. Woods eloquently announced din
ner.
1t was genuine old time character
istic Salem dinner, barbecue, chicken,
ham, mutton, rice, potatoes, cakes.
custards, pies, puddings, ice cream,
lemonade and everything else that
could tempt an appetite, ours was
tempted very very much.
After dinner there was more speak
ing. Dr. Woods discoursed on the cot
.o,, c;+,,o@;o, oo6 +o11 l,;c hoo o,,ar- tbot
he had evolved this movement in his
own brain, and that be has been push
ing it along ever since. lie wanted
the warehouses to be built, and made a
strong plea to hold up hands of the
officers OF the association.
President E. D. Hodge also spoke,
and he had his whole heart and soul in
the cause. He too, urged the people to
obey the command of the association.
Orders would soon be issued from
headquarters and he would obey them
or die in the attempt. Mr.. Hodge got
warmed up, and if he continues speak
ing at these meetings he will soon win
fame as an orator.
The speaking over, the boys went to
the baseball, the men walked about to
shake down their dinner, and the wild
overs and widows went automobile
riding Why the widowers in Salem
have got the young chaps skinned
ablock, got them beat to standstill.
Well, no wonder, they cannot afford
to buy diamond rings, nor can they find
the means to cut swell, but the wild
overs and the hazel-eyed widows are 1T.
The picnic over, we made the jour
ney home and everything was as merry
as marriage bell until we left Sar-
DINA, when the devil got into the steam
pipes Of our engine and the thing would
not hold steam, not even could the boys
with a satchel full of "fresh collars" in
duce the engineer to keep his steam.
It was expected that we would reach
Alcolu in plenty of time for the down
been for this unlocked for accident.
We arrived at Alcolu just in time to be
too late for the train, and by the time
some of the party hit the grit the tramp
instinct struck them and away they
pulled over the crossties for Manning,
and Mamma: the weariest looking set
of hobos that ever went down the pike.
Had they waited, the most of them
could have ridden, as Captain D.
W. Alderman and his sons very gener-
ously offered to send them in his auto
mobiles and carriages, but the hand of
Providence was there, the bulk of the
crowd had hiked, which convinced US
that the Lord takes care Of his own and
makes no provision for hoboes. The
writer was among the blessed benei-
ciaries of the Alderman bigness of
heart, and he brought US to Manning in
a jify, and then went back and picked
up some of the stragglers. AS we
passed the pilgrims enroute on the
ankle excursion. we shed a tear of SYM
pathy for their blistered feet, but orr
seat was too comfortable to exchange
with them, and besides, judgment said
we mustn't.
It was very kind in the Messrs. AL
derman to give the party a free ride to
the picnic, but their generosity was un-