The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1909-08-09
! Notable REUNION
Old Scholars Gather at Old
Spring Branch Academy ard
Feast on Good Things, Both
Sriritual and Material Coed
Schools in Upper Robson
and Some Who Taught Them.

OTlTltuai ana NiuteItai NSOIO
Schools in Upper Robson i
and Some Who Taught Them. .
70 the Editor Of The Robe-ouian /,
Ever since John Gilchrist, ST., i
went over to Scotland, in the
Of the last century, Il
for agraduate from Edinburgh to
teach his son John the Latin and /
Greek languages, there have 1
been good schools in upper Robe I,
son. | speak particularly of Blue
Springs township, as | am bet
ter acquainted with that section.
Rev. Hugh McLaurin at a later
period taught q classical school
uear what is now Millprong.
Rev. Hector Mclean after that
taught large school near his
residence, which a number Of |
boys from Rladen county at |
tended. There We're other fine /
schools taught by classical schol- |
airs in different portions Of north /
Robson, of which | have not
now the date.
All this is merely prelude to
a description Of d reunion of the
old scholars of old Spring Branch
Academy, held recently on the
site Of the old building. Col.
Jas. c. Davis, fresh from Prince
ton College, had charge Of this
school about the year 1850, then
on the high tide Of its prosperity;
and those old students of his,
and Of other teachers who fol-
lowed him, met in a glad re-
union to compare notes and eX-
change "reminiscences Of other
and happier days. The Williams
Sumter Company, Of this place,
ran q free excursion to within a
few miles Of the place, where
cars were met by a committee,
which, with carriages, buggies
and wagons, conveyed US to the
grounds, three miles distant.
The ride through the plantation
, Of the Messrs. Purcell, Alderman
and others was one Of unalloyed
pleasure and delight. Maj. Hall
remarked that he had rarely
seen better crops. The country
, is high and slightly rolling, and
:. those large plantations filled the
major with delight.
Arriving on the grounds, we
found a large crowd already as
! sembled and ready for anything
that might happen. Speeche:
were first in order and we hat
them galore, and had not Capt
h T. M. Watson, who actet
y as chairman, knocked all OF then
a down at the end Of Is minutes
: might be running yet; and theI
!. we'd have lost the pleasure 0
y one Of the incest dinners, sucl
S as no one but a thoroughbrtt
: country housewife knows how I
IL get up.
s After dinner, anecdotes an,
"reminiscences entertained tn
), older people, while flirting an
loVe-malting took charge Vi! tn
n younger and unmarried portion
There are no better prOpl
O. than these McNeills, Mem Illans
~ Purcells, Aldermans, McBryde.
~ Curries and others who inhab
~, W. this territory, and who have rt
y tanned their sense and bette
judgment and stayed on the
farms, instead Of running
q town with tie excuse of ed
'' eating their children, equal
!. the excuse that some give (
going to a circus.
IN But there comes an end to {
things, as we'll as to the pape
lie and We all parted with the r
solve Of making the reunion &:
annual affair. Too much prai
'er can not be given to the exec
"n lent committee Of arrangement
consisting Of Andrew Curri
Ike W. B. Mcmillan, sW. H. M
he Nair, W. Peden, Hector NJ
IN Neill, D. S. Alderman and Ale
lst Purcell; and last, but not leas
lis chiValric Jim Williams, who +
nd the excursion.
)y- SNYDER,
Pod Cnpinrs NJ n g.