The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-07-10
AZ ooL. BACON saw IT
The state Compaign Meeting at Edge.
field---A Rich and Rare Account
From tho Pen Of . Rich and
Rare Old Gentleman. Z

The following account Of the state
campaign meeting at Edgefield, from
the Edgefield Chronicle, written in
Col. James T. Bacon's inimitable.
style will be read with great inter-
estrby the people Of the state, throw
ing a side light on the campaigl
that cannot fail to charm.
Edgefield' g state campaign meet
ing took place day before yesterday
and was really in many respects more
Of social than political affair.
Our court house was crowded to ex-
cess and perhaps more than half the
people were ladies. Not only the ladies
Of our town and vicinity came out,
but also many from 10 and IL miles
away, especially from Trenton. Be-
fore 10 a. m. dozens Of privileged old
men, heads Of tribes, and dozens Of
ease loving young men in wet shirts,
had entrenched themselves in the best
places in the court house saying to
themselves. "Soul and body take
thine ease" But they had reckon
ed vainly. AS fair women in white
and LILAC gowns and pink roses began
to pour in, the ease loving men were
peremptoritly and ignominiously
routed. Chairman Rainsford is an en-
inently courteous and chivalrous man,
and he, allowed no man to sit while
woman stood. It was a delightful
scene. We always rejoice to see ease
loving men routed. ,"And they began
with shame to take the lower seats. I"
The ladies stuck manfully-we call
attention Of Mrs. Virginia DuranI
Young to the expression-until all the
eight governors had scattered price
less pearls Of wisdom. The only can
didate, however who got bouquet
was the Hon. Joel E. Brunson who re-
ceived it with the smile of cast iron
skeleton. The Hon. John C. Sheppard
was the vicarious bearer of this bou-
quet. Imagine the master of an an
cient Phoenician feast presenting
flowers to the skeleton that said,
"To this thou must also come" Like
great many other little incidents
of the morning it was very funny.
And there were other cast iron skele-
tons. And a few like "Brother Graf
ford' and Butler Hare were roly-
poly, and all the eight governors be-
gan by energetically and laborious-
ly complimenting "the ladies'" Most
of them did it like an elephant plant
ing their feet in bed of roses. Gov.
Manning, we perceived that women
love him instinctively and at a glance,
did rise to the height of saying I" fair
and noble women.''
When the last governor Herr
Crafford, had gracefully subsidized,
with the wave of a turkey tail fan, it
was l O'Clock, and the ladies rose
in body and modestly retired, fol-
lowed by the cicus performers and
the rabble. And then followed more
scenes that were more social, social
financial than political. The Episco-
pal ladies sold ice cream and sher-
bet beneath the trees near the court
house steps. In the broad hall. of
the floor of the court house the free
library ladies, at table a mile long,
sold delicious dinners, with cucum-
bers. And under some French Null
berries hard by two renowned bar
'ecue chefs sold fragrant ribs of NUT
ton, fatal onion sauce and hash of
20 horse power. It was a very gay
and brilliant scene, iridescent in fact.
And all of these vendors purveyors
sold all their wares and could have
sold great deal more. The state
campaigners were in trouble, in fact
in bitter and inexpressible anguish.
They dared not slight either one of
the life giving food institutions. The
Episcopal ladies, the free library
ladies and the barbecue chefs had
them all marked, tagged. They had
to go from one of the cabattoirs to
the other, and pay out coin at each
receipt of custom. Consequently the
cast iron skeletons were uncomforta-
bly, full of mutton, hash, onion sauce,
chickenpie, potato salad, ice cream,
sherbet, and two egg cake. We know
that many Of them died on the way
to Saluda. But the world will never
be wiser or worse. The candidates
seemed to be amorous and flirted fur
iously and most unlawfully with the
"fair ladies'" Men away from their
old wives, or young, will do it. Edge