Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1910-09-07

Williams, Mr.. and Mrs. p. Il. Will
liams, Mr.. and Mrs. NJ. L. Miller,
Mr., and Mrs. j. B. Duncan and Mrs.
J. l.. Miller, all Of Return, visited
the Oconee county poor farm. After
three hours drive we reached the
Barm. The steward being out, we
drove to the barn, took out our
horses, put them In the ample stalls
and went to the house.
|. The first thing our eyes rested on
when we reached the farm was
nice new residence, which was well
under way. This we were more than
glad to see. 1t made us think that
the county was looking to the inter-
est and welfare of those in It's
charge. After close inspection of
the building we proceeded to make
the rounds to see the people there.
In the first room we entered we
were shown dead man, who had
died the day before. In a few min
utes a hack was driven up by col
ored man: then at the hands Of col
Ored convicts the corpse was borne
to the hack and soon driven away
by the hackman alonc-not a per-
son to go with them, not a person
to shed tear for him, not one to
say ''ind word about him--to be
driven I've miles for burial by
one lone man. Friends, think Of it!
We were told there that near rel
l. 4 u
she was seen to draw more than
$4,000 out of one,of the prominent
banks only few days ago. Wealthy
being! | cannot call her person or
human. hardly think anything
with human heart could let a loved
one die in the poor house without
money and without friends enough
to escort him to the cemetery, and so
on through this world spending
money for the pleasures Of life
There may be heart there, but
nothing but the wonderful love and
grace Of God can ever cleanse it.
But we must pass on. The next
room visited was where two sisters
Gold maids) were living. This scene
was calculated to cheer our hearts
bit-to see these sisters there
with smiles on their faces, looking
pleasant and happy even under their
adverse circumstances. After p'ss-
ing few words with them we pas
ed on to House No. 2, as we shall
call it, where we found three old
men, all Of them very feeble. We
did not learn all the names, so we
leave them blank.
The next was House No. 8. which
was occupied by two colored people.
one Of whom was an old woman,
said to be more than hundred
years old---a pitiful-lookipg old wo-
man, but she talked interestingly
and seemed 10 be IN good heart. No.
4 was then visited, and here there
were five or six persons. This was
the most pitiful looking place Of all.
Among its occupants were Mr.. and
Mrs. Burns, Mrs. Burns being wholly
unable to help herself in any way,
and her husband having to watch
she were a child TO us he seemed
TO be scarcely able to care for him
self And to make it worse, he can
scarcely hear. When his wife needs
him she must wait until she catches
his eye and then tell what she wants
by signs. Two Of the other occu-
pants Of this house are Sisters-both
invalids, unable to help themselves,
being cared for like infants. What
we saw there was enough to touch
the hardest heart and bring tears to
the eyes.
And We mus, say in conclusion
that the hardest thing Of all to un-
dcrstand is, why people OF means
poor house and live their last days
in sorrow and pain and loneliness,
and go to their graves accompanied
by one lone hackman, when they
could be kept at some home, rccciv-
ing attention at the hands OF some
relative or friend.
Failing to give our reason for
going there at first. as ] should have
done, will say just here that after
dinner was over, and before. taking
our leave for home, we took our
boxes and baskets and went to every
room, giving each occupant a nice
plate Of our ratiOns, for which We
received the hearticst thanks from