The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-10-27
That Ten Dollar Meal Ticket.

That Ten Dollar Meal Ticket.
The good people of Columbia are pre-.
pairing to put the big pot in the little one,
kill a chicken and churn, for the entertain.
ment of President Taft on the occasion OF
his coming visit to Columbia.
For this purpose the city Of Columbia
had already raised two hundred dollars,
more than a week ago. The committee
having the matter Of entertainment in
charge conceived the plan Of sending out
invitations to numbers Of prominent men
throughout the state inviting them to come
down and dine with Mr.. Taft and at the
same time requesting a check for SO.
The following is a copy Of the invitation
sent to Senator Tillman and others, asked
to participate in the luncheon:
Columbia, s.. c., Oct. 9, 1909.
Dear Sir: It gives US much pleasure
to extend to you an invitation to the lunch
con given in the honor Of the president OF
United States on his visit to Columbia,
Saturday, November 6. The number OF
plates is limited to 800 and we are compelled
to ask that if you find it possible to attend
you will let us know by October 90, or ear
lier. No tickets will be issued after that
| day, and tickets will be issued in order OF
responses received, up to 300. II you will
return this letter, together with your check
for SO, by that date, October %, a card OF
admission will be at once sent you. There
are no complimentary tickets and 10 tick
cts will be reserved.
"Very cordially,
JAS. A. Hoyt.
"Chairman Invitation Committee.
Columbia is to have a big break down"
but every fellow who cuts the pigeon
wing at the frolic must help to pay the
fiddler. That is about the situation in a
nut shell.
Once upon a time not many miles from
AbbevilIe there was held what is known in
common parlance as a "frolic." This par
ticular 'frolic" was given in honor Of a
visitor from a neighboring county, and in
vitions were issued in profusion Of which
we received one, with the assurance that
besides the frolic there would be lemonade
and cake.
Not suspecting that any untoward cir
cumstance would arise, we went, we enjoy
ed the frolic, ate the cake and drank the
lemonade. We had not been advisd that
that a collection would be taken up to pay
for the cake and lemonade and when the
hat was passed around to that end we felt
like a broke bargain hunter at a sherifs
auction. We did not have q nickle, and so
had to pay for our lemonade and cake with
q promise.
Now Columbia has said to half columns
length Of prominent men throughout the
state. "Come to the frolic boys" but bring
"scad" to pay for your lemonade and cake
How much better is this than to be caught
like this editor was-without the "sead."
Senator Tillman takes umbrage at fair
Columbia for inviting him to her party
and putting him on notice that he would
be expected to pay for his lemonade and
cake!
The senior senator is so impetuous and
does so many foolish things. Fair Colum-
bia did not urge him to attend, she simply
invited him stating the condition OF the
invitation-viz, the ok. for the meal ticket,
and the senator talks as fhe would not go
at all-tut, tut, tut!
Why suppose the senator had been caught
as we were-at the frolic and not a nickle
in our pockets and the hat being passed
around! Then he would have had room to
quarrel but now-why he knows what he
is up against. He should be glad that. he
has all the information-We didn't.
Ethics of the old time Break down." as
senator Tillman we'll knows admitted Of a
collection being taken up topay the fiddler
and straw beaten, but there is no written
or unwritten regulation, precedent, or ad-
vice, governing the matter Of lemonade
and cake.
It seems possible that the senator might
classify his meal ticket under the general
head Of 'Fiddler," and see the event througe
without side tracking from what he pre-
sumes to be the proper course to pursue
under the circumstances.
Senator Tillman ought to be glad Of the
opportunity Of breaking bread beside Will
liam Howard, and what is a little $40 check
to be making such a row over it? Why
there are thirty or forty others invited and
not one of them has kicked on the meal
ticket.
Any how, somebody must pay the Fid-
dler.
The ladies Of the Associate Reformed
Church will serve dirneron saleday in the