The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-04-15

OF court, who owened all the land
between the home of Mrs. Russell
and that of Mr.. Press Cheatham and
whose residence stood on the site
now occupied by the home Of Mr.. r.
M. Haddon, built the first steam
Touring and grist mill ever erected
in this part of the country. So great
a curiosity was it considered that all
the little boys and some grown-up
ones for miles around in the country
would come here especially on Sun
days to- see it. ~ u
I recall an amusing incident which
occurred shortly after this mill went
into operation, in which the writer
was made the butt-end of the joke.
1t happened in this wise. Having to
take turn of corn to the mill to be
ground and it threatening rain, my
mother made me put on one Of my,
fathers old coats, and being quite
little fellow was almost completely
enveloped in the coat. At that time
Mr.. Henry Allen and family lived in
the house just across the street from
the mill, which later on was occupied
by Mr.. M. P. DeBruhl and which
stood on the lot now occupied by the
home of DR.. c. A. Milford.
In front of this house was buggy
il which were seated on the day in
question, two little girls, one the
daughter Of Mr.. Allen and the otehr
her cousin, whose given name was
jamie. This little girl is, still living
in this place but, of course is an old
lady now. She. has living with her
four grown children, two sons and
two daughters. AS I passed these lit
tie girls in going down to the mill,
JAMIE sang out "hey little. boy, amt
you got on your daddy's oYercoat?"'.
How mad ], was no one can form an
idea, but being, e little country chap,
7 was afraid to open my mouth.
Such a thing as that could't hap
pen now, as the country urcihns have
got to thinking, that they are as good
as the to-, l chaps, and If little town
girl should undertake to poke fun at
a boy from Edgewood or Antreville,
he would be very apt to sass her,
back-which goes to show how the
Country has progressed in the last
80 years.
I have since often wondered on
meeting the author Of my great NOR
tif1cation on that memorable occasion, !.
If she remembered the circumstance.
At the risk of shocking the nodes
.ty of some of the more prudish Of
your readers, shall relate rather
amusing incident which occurred in
town about the time of which I write.
There CAME along circus, some
thing not so common then as now,
and of course everybody went to see
the performance. M
Among other things which were
done, one of the actors put both feet
back of his chad, which was regard
ed as most wonderful feat. At that
time DR.. Mcneil Turner, who for a
long time was pastor of Upper Long
Cane church and afterwards Of the
Presbyterian church in this place,
was teaching a school for young girls,
Several of his pupils were from the
country and boarded with him.
Among the later was young girl by
the name of Lynch-Sallie Lynch,
daughter of DR.. Lynch, who lived IN
the Antreville section. After the girls
returned to their rooms from the cir
Gus, some of them concluded that
they would try and see If they couldn
not do as the circus man had done.
Miss Lynch, being an active, wiery
girl, succeeded, but having done SO
she was unable to disentangle herself
and. the other. girls becoming fright
ened ran down stairs and told Dr..
Turner of the matter who had to 90
to the relief of Miss Sallie.
Another amusing incident which
came within my knowledge about
that time was as follows:
A certain rather prominent man
whose home was not far from the
public square, made a social call
down on lower main street one night
accompanied by his wife. Of course,
as was customary at that time, there
were more or less of liquid refresh
ments dispensed by the host. About
eleven o'clock, as this gentleman and
his wife were coming along the side
walk on the opposite side of where
now stands the post office building, on
their way home, there was a cow ly-
ing on the side walk (cows were suf-
fered to run at large at that time')
Seeing her and no doubt feeling
pretty sprightly, the gentleman SAID
to his wife "watch my agility" and
he thereupon ran an jumped astride
the old COW, which of course immedi-
ately rose and after running some dis