The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-11-26
THE NEWS OF PROSPERITY.
Interesting Talk With Mr.. Nichols
An Octogenarian-NeW Cotton
3 Chopper.

respondent had the pleasure to talk
with&uncle Andrew Nichols an octo-
genarian. Uncle Andrew was 81
years old on last Monday, Nov. lSta.
In talking with him he says he re-
members seeing in his boyhood days
al old revolutionary soldier named
Getsinger who made ais home with
David Rankin, the grandfather OF
Jack. and Henry Rankin. In has
boyhood days he said there were
no buggies or vehicles Of any kind
and no mules. People went to
church and Sunday school on horse
back or on foot. The first vehicle
he ever saw at St. Lukes church
was a two wheeler called gig and
was owned by Capt. Nathan Hunter.
In his younger days he said there
were; no courts such as we have now.
Court only sitting about once year
and then only Hor a week or so. All
petty offences were tried by magls-
trates and no negro cases were car
ried to the "big court" Tae whip
ping post was in vogue and the lash
was applied to compensate for out
ragged Law. Horse stealing was
capital offence and he remembers
one white man who was found gull
ty and sentenced to be hung, but had
his sentnece committed to a GER
tain number; Of lashes, so many to be
given each week until the full quota
was 4eceived.
Your correspondent recalls that
when boy sne- saw a number OF
carses of poetry (doggerel) composs~
ed by one>Bify Files who had stolen
a horse and was hanged for it. HUI
man life was cheap in those days. A
man worth no more than a horse.
Uncle Adnrew says that the max
ing "both ends meet" is harder
now. taa1 in the good old times be-
fore the war, and that there are. 81
people now to where there was five
then. Conditions have changed and
the people have changed with them.
He was gallant Confederate sold
ier and was ON the i'll fated vessel
that sunk in Charleston hanbor IN
1862, in which go or more men were
drowned: The Captain was drunk
ard9went contrary to orders and got
in orange Of Yankee gunboats and
they opened fire on them. The Cap
tain had forethought enough to run
his bot aground or all the soldiers
would have been lost. He speaks OF.
this catastrophe with corrow at the
great los Of life that could have been
prevented so easily.
Uncle Andrew had a birthday din
ner and reception but he said ne
would have been plowing if it had
not been too wet. Although 80 years
old we can say that he works every
dav aid enjoys it. We wish him
many happy returns OF his natal day
and congratulate him on having
passed so many milestones in life's
highway.
One Of our citizens is on the road
to fortune if not to fame and per-
haps both. Mr.. F, E. Schumpert
has been at work for months on a
cotton chopper that is practical and
one that will do the work needed by
the cotton planters Of the south. At
ter much experimenting and trial he
has perfected what promises to be
the very implement our cotton plan
ters have been waiting for for years.
He has filed his application and he
expects a patent in the near future.
Mr.. schumpert has quite turn for
inventions having patents for other
inventions. We wish him success in
the fullest measure.
There will be thanksgiving SER
vices by Grace congregation on
Thursday at II O'Clock a. m. A col
lection will be taken for the benefit
of orphan home at Salem, Va.
Gifts in kind such as canned fruits,
shoes. stockings, wearing apparel
and dry ooods of all kinds will be
received bv Mr.. A. NJ. Lester, who
viii soo tn the packing Of the goods
and forwarding.
: nrmhar of the 'boys and girls" I"
from college are expected home for
THANKSGIVING.