Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-11-09


food was simply perfect; but not the
least striking feature was the thor
oughness with which the army Of wait
ers had been drilled. They cleared
away dishes and brought in additional
courses with a celerity that was re-
markable and without bungle Three
kinds of costly wines were served, and
while many Of the guests drank freely
1t was noticeable that many merely
tasted 1t and others did not touch II
at all. The president. 1t is understood
never drinks in public, IL at ALL With
the last course came cigars and cigar
cites, and then the speech of the pres
ident, which is printed in full else
where in this issue.
1t has been reported that the presi-
dents voice went back on him out ir
Texas; but he has recovered It, He
speaks with slow deliberation, and with
wonderful distinctness. Every person
in the room could hear every word he
said, and there was no trouble in TAX
ing in his exact meaning, whether hu-
morous or serious, and every word he
said was enjoyed immensely. HIS most
striking characteristics seem to be his
never failing good humor and his frank
open sincerity Of expression. There
was not suggestion of politics in any.
thing he said, his whole attitude being
merely that of an ideal gentleman
talking to gentlemen among whom ht
thought Of no difference.
AS soon as he concluded his speech
the president was escorted from the
dining room to Mayor Rhetts automo.
bile and nobody had any other ides
than he was to hurry to Mayor Rhett';
home to bed. 1t developed next morn.
Ing, however, that he took spin ovei
a considerable portion Of the city. II
came about like this. While rolling
along at smart speed toward the res
idence Of the mayor, the president re.
marked that the air was fine. Mayor
Rhett suggested that 1t was plentiful
and that he might have some more ol
1t. The president was agreeable, ant
nothing more was said about the mat.
ter until they got back to the house
Then after the secret service men haG
gone to their hotels, Mrs. Rhett having
been spoken to in the meantime, the
president, Mayor Rhett, Mrs Rhett anG
Capt. Butt went out and got into the
automobile again. They went spinning
into the upper part Of the city along
the Meeting street road and back dowr
to the Battery. and had a regular lari
of 1t. It is said that the president
chuckled over what would be the dis
comfture of the secret service men
when they found out next morning
what he had done.
The presidential party appeared al
the station next morning shortly before
8 o'clock, and was Joined there by SEN
ators Tillman and Smith. The recep-
tion committee was still on hand tC
see the party of, and after the presi-
dent had bade his friends goodbye
he took his position on the rear plat
form and continued to wave his hat as
the train pulled out.
There were crowds Of people at al
the stations to see the presidential train
go by and there were stops at Sum-
merville, Dorchester, Pregnall, st
George, Branchville, Orangeburg and
st. Matthews, at which places the
president made brief speeches from the
rear platform. In every case the peo-
pie were lined up in friendly eagerness
and invariably they greeted the presi-
dent with cheers. There were several
thousand people at the Oransebure
station, and the stop here was a little
longer than at other places. The negro
pupils Of Clafiin college were ranged
along up the track north of the sta
'tion, some five or six hundred Of them
but there was no stop for them. They
could only see the president standing
on the rear platform as the train was
pulling out.
1t was very nearly l o'clock when the
train reached Columbia, and thousands
Of people, including several companies
Of militia were on hand waiting to see
the president. The approaches to the
depot mad been roped off as at Charles
ton and the militia and police held
back the crowds so as to keep the way
open. The presidential party was
quickly loaded into automobiles, and
taken out to the fair grounds, the
president constantly raising his hat in
recognition to the rounds Of cheers.
From the fair grounds, the party was
escorted back to the Capitol, where a
delightful luncheon was served in
first-class style to some $50 or more in
vited guests. The president made an
other pretty speech at this luncheon,
and what he said is printed elsewhere
in this issue.
Later in the afternoon, the presi-
dents party left for Augusta, Governor
Ansel and Senator'S Tillman and Smith,
who had come up from Charleston,
continuing on to Georgia by special in
vitation Of the president. The presi-
dent, who spent part of last winter
in Augusta, calls that place home. He
remained there during Sunday and
yesterday, and left today for Sumter
and Florence, and from the last named
places he will continue on up through
North Carolina and Virginia to Wash
ington.