Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-10-31
X. M. M. s. REUNION

The reunion of the cadets Of the old
Kings Mountain Military school at
Columbia last Wednesday night was
the one particular meeting Of the
many meetings that have been held
in Columbia this week that Is Of
most local interest. The Columbia
State Of yesterday has the following
account of the proceedings:
Perhaps unique among all the re-
unions Of college men ever held In
South Carolina, was that which took
place last night at the Jefferson hotel.
Gatherings Of alumni Of institutions
still comforting degrees are, in meas
ure, commonplace, but seldom is
there gathered "old grads" Of an in
stitution q years closed.
Over a hundred ex-cadets OF King 8
Mountain Military school last night
did honor to its venerable ex-precep-
tor, Colonel Asbury Coward. Men or
from AZ to 60 years, met around a
common board and recounted Incl
dents Of school life long dormant In
the multitudinous recollections OF az
ter events.
For some time a committee of
graduates Of Kings Mountain Mill
tary school has been planning a re-
union Of students Of that institution,
which eliminated in the dinner yes
terday evening. Under the chairman
ship Of James Q. Davis, commit
tee consisting Of John G. Mobley OF
Winnsboro, D. c. Ray, G. M. Ber-
ry and P. T.. Youmans Of Columbia
arranged the pleasant evening.
ha hao nf
the absence Of the Rev. John o. Will
son, D. D., Of Greenwood, who was un-
able to attend by reason Of Ill health,
a prayer was offered by r. M. Cooper
Of Wysacky, who referred feelingly
to the associations which endeared to
the other each one present.
At the conclusion Of the dinner, ID.
&c. Ray of Columbia, presented Col.
Coward, on behalf Of his fellow stu
dents, a handsome silver service. Mr..
Ray was introduced by ]. Q. Davis.
Mr.. Ray read to his fellow graduates
the tribute Of Gen. Longstreet to Col.
Coward, as expressed in his last com
munication to that officer, In which
he spoke of the invaluable services
rendered the Confederacy by the COM
mander of the Fifth South Carolina
regiment. On the reading OF the in
dorsement Of approval by Robert Z.
Lee, the ex-cadets broke into ap-
plause. Mr.. Ray then read several
letters from absent students OF King s
Mountain Military school, conveying
their best wishes for their fellow
alumni and their respectful regards
to Col. Coward.
Col. Coward was visibly affected as
he rose to accept the gift Of his old
students. II can't talk to you except
as to boys" he said. IF my words
could express the feelings Of my heart,
their echoes would resound for aye,
and II my tears now so near the sur
face, were permitted to flow, they
would fill to the brims these beauti-
full vessels. This expression OF your
esteem leads to one of the most beau
tiful thoughts Of my life: that in your
minds have been weighed In the pal
ance and found not wanting.
1T is a vain effort to express gratl-
tude for this manifestation of your
loyalty and affection. Concrete ex-
pressions are meaningless, but the
warm glance Of your eye and the
fact that you say that my efforts nave
been an inspiration to you In your
lives are my most pleasing memories.
Col. Coward then spoke Of the deep
impression made upon him by the
example of the life of Arnold, per-
haps the most honored principal the
great English school Of Rugby claim
ed. He then briefly sketched the his
tory Of Kings Mountain school from
its inception in 1854, when as youths