The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1912-10-23
WADE HAMPTON RIDES TODAY.

commenting upon recent editorial
in The Daily Mail on the matter of
circus history In South Carolina, mis-
understood one statement that we
made.
The Observer inferred that All
Fields conversion to democracy was
due to THE finest exhibition of horse
manship he ever saw, given right in
the ring by no less parsonage than
Gen. Wade Hampton" We may have
got our comparatives and superiatives
mixed, but the meaning that we in
tended to convey was that Mr.. Field
had never seen in the ring-either in
the old tan bark days or in the mod
ern saw-dust days-any finer exhibit
ton Of horsemanship than that Of
Gen. Hampton.
In the good old days before the
large plantations were barred by the
scythe Of war, Gen. Hampton had as
fine stable of racing horses as ever
was bred in this country. He was
thoroughbred himself, and was in the
saddle as soon as he could walk.
1t was natural for Hampton to be
rider, for his grandfather before him
was one of the most famous riders
and masters of woodcraft in the then
virgin country. And Col Wade
Hampton, the second of the name.
rode all the way from New Orleans to
ino
but taking no rest himself and brought
the joyful tidings of the annihilation
of Packenham's grand army by the
forces commanded by that eminent
South Carolnian, Andrew Jackson
The ride of Col. Hampton is a suita-
Bile and deserving subject for an epic
The Wade Hampton whose memory
we revere most greatly, conld. though
manned, sit horse as gal!antly at 50
as most young troopers now can do
In the prime Of life. And there was
never more glorious sight, we have
been told, than Wade Hampton riding
at the head Of his column going into
charge. The most wonderful broad
swordsman that this country has ever
produced, he has hewed his way
through a circle of valiant foes, and
dashed away to safety.
He was a beautiful rider and was
always grandly mounted He was as
much part of the movements of his
steed as if he were a satyr. The
horse, perhaps. too fiery for others of
the bravest of riders, nstinctively
knew its master and curvetted proud
ly to be mounted by such a man. But
it was when the trumpeter had Civ
en- the stirring notes of the charge
that Hampton was supermoral He
was noble presencs at all times, but
in battle an orihamme.
In his youth his father had had a
race course east of Columbia, where
the Epworth orphanage now is, and
some of the greatest horses in Amer
lea have been there. No rider of the
plains was more skillful than Wade
Hampton, for with the ease and grace
OF grand dame of the ballroom he
could ride magnificent animal at full
speed, pick up hat from the ground
and never show signs Of exertion.
1t was this great riding, not the
broadswordsman of many sanguinary
conflicts, not the dashing cavalier OF
the ante-bellum Columbia, but the
calm, self contained, fearless, citizen,
the man of all hearts in South Caro-
lima quietly riding to and from his
home that won the admiration of our
friend.
And Hampton rides today. His
glorious figure is perpetuated in
broze upon the grounds of the cap-
tol Of the state which he so much
helped to save. And his spirit rides
on, his great, noble spirit, of honor
and candor, Of business and fairness,
and South Carolina will ever follow in
the example that he has set. of kind
ness and of forgiveness. Wade
Hampton rides today. His great heart
pulses no more but his great life
record is an inspiration to cheer the
hearts OF all South Caroinians at the
time when we feel depressed His
stout heart never falled.-Anderson
Daily Mail.