The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1906-05-23

lands anu tcStoOn5 were placed Whcr,
ever q place could be found and q tell
pyramid Of flowers was most artist
cally arranged on q table occupying
the centre Of the stand.
During the day the ladies were
greatly complimentcd on their handi
work and Hampton was touched BY
this expression Of their sentiment aud
patriotism.
Bright and early on the day Of the
meeting people wcr" seen streaming
into the city from all directions.
Every available vehicle was brought
into rt1lisi,inn regardless Of appear.
anccs. All railway trains were filled
70 their utmost capacity. 1t was cs-
timateI that there were 900 people
present. The procession Was two
miles long and was headed by the
pcndleton clubs, uniformed in red
shirts. These took the eye Of the
crowd and before the day was over
every woman in the county had to set
to work to make similar garment for
some mau or boy.
AS the procession prepared to move,
some young men rnhitched the horses
from Hampton's carriage and, taking
the pole 10 their own hands, drew it
to the stand. This also pleased the
crowd and again and again the welkin
rang with "Hurrah for Hampton"
Many distinguished guests were
present and there we're several speak.
ers.
When Hampton rose to speak the
cheers were 80 prolonged that it was
several moments before be could
make any attempt to be heard. Then
all was perfectly quiet for the people
were anxious to hear what Hampton
would say: He had no reputation as
speaker and nothing surprised his
most intimate friends 80 much as the
abilities; which he displayed in that
campaign. He had tho direct and
simple oratory of the soldier. He
used no rhetorical expressions, no
grandil0quent phrases, neither did he
tell jokes or seek to amuse, but went
straight to the subject in hand and
his words we're convincing from their
simplicity and earnestness. He used
pure and flexible English aud his
speeches read as we'll as they were
spoken. Though the gist Of his argu-
ment was necessarily the same his
speeches were always varied. He
had the happieat faculty OF ssising
upon any little local incident or ira.
dition and using it with most dra.
matic effect.
His voice had q resonant quality
and though he seldom spoke above .
conversational tone, he could Ia dis.
tinotly heard by the vast crowds that
faced him. Prof. Mears Davis stated
that Hampton so!d h:: the. On one
occasion he spoke to IL acres Of bug.
gy umbrellas. -
Those who had no experience Of
these meetings can never conceive Of
the intensity Of tue e1oiiemout aud
enthusiasm which prevailed.
The campaign Of '76 was, in rea|i.
the climax Of the many dramatic
events that have occurred in the State.
Nsver before in her history was there
exhibited such depth and intensity Of
feeling, such vividness Of color, such
picturesque scenes, such transeendent
issues. The humiliation Of defeat in
just cause, the poverty and suffer-
ings which they had undergone, the
sudden release from enforced inaction,
the importance Of tho issue at stake
and their determination to win or die
10 this contest had wrought the pco-
pie up to point Of frenzy.
The appearance Of Hampton among
them aroused all their enthusiasm.
His splendid. physique, his soldierly
bearing, his approved courage, hi 8
| noble dignity, the earnestness aud
simplicity Of his speech bespoke 4
i