The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-05-12
PICNIC At PLEASANT GROVE,
MESSRS. j.. ii. HAYNSWORTH, T.. 1.
REARDON AND j.. FRANK
WILLIAMS MAKE AID.
DRESSES.
School Closing Is Made Occasion of
Merry Gathering, as Well as Time
fOrI Instruction Of Farmcrs-YOung
Teachers See That All Enjoy Event.

~ 1AAs n Inv AINSlII,
Pleasant Grove School, one Of the
smallest but progressive rural schools
OF Sumter County closed it's scholas-
tic year Thursday with one Of the
most delightful picnics of the season
which was attended by several hun
dred of the patrons and pupils of this
institution besides a number of invit-
ed guests from Lee and Sumter coun-
ties.
To Jay hat the picnic was a most
delightful affair would be putting il
mildly indeed. Pleasant Grove school
district is peopled by men, women,
and children famous for their hos
pitality, Inc Fridays reception and
treatment Of the many fortunate In,
vited guests served to emphasize the
kind Of welcome extended by the biz,
hearted people of this section Of the
Game Cock county, Sumter.
This was a typical country picnic
in every respect. Everybody felt at
home. The young folks enjoyed
themselves in many ways There was
string band music, songs, games, etc.
The old folks had a delightful, but
busy time entertaining each other and
laying out the hundreds Of appetizing
things to cat.
The tables were set in the shady
and delightful grove from which this
school and the church derive their
names.
1t would require much space and
time to give an adequate description
Of the magnificent and bounteous bill
Of fare which the guests were served
with. 1t is sufficient to say that the
patrons of Pleasant Grove school were
the hosts. That insures a satisfactory
guarantee of a splendid picnic dinner.
II President Wilson. Secretary Will
liam Jennings Bryan, and other not
ed optomists could have partaken of
this varied and delightful dinner they
would have splendid grounds for pro-
claiming anew that permanent pros
perity had never been retarded in
Sumter county. q.
Misses Sally Ellis and Nan Watson,
the popular, efficient, and ~hospitable
teachers of this school exhibited the
most delightful spirit of welcome
imaginable, and they contributed
largely to the pleasure Of the guests
and their pupils. te
After dinner a great many of the
men. women. and school children as
sembled in the church to listen to sew
eral addresses. Rev. j. F. Sanders pre-
siding over this meeting. MI. San
ders made a short but interesting and
appropriate address and introduced
the speakers.
County superintendent Of Educa;
ton J. III. Haynsworth was the first
speaker. He dwelt interestingly and
somewhat at length upon the many
themes incidental to education and
pointed out clearly the Importance of
cooperation between teachers, patrons,
and pupils for the highest possible de-
gree Of efficiency in the schol sys-
tenn. He gave timely advice to the
pupils.
f.. 1. Reardon, Secretary Of the
Sumter Chamber Of Commerce. fol-
lowed Superintendent Haynsworth in
a talk which he termed "a Message
from the People Of Sumter to tho
People OF the Rural Districts. The
executive officer Of the organized bust
ness interests Of Sumter told Of the
great interest which the business men
and other citizens Of Sumter felt in
the rural schools OF this county, and
I'm the development of the agricultural
districts, and the health, happiness,
and prosperity Of the country people.
He emphasized the fact that We are
interdependent upon each other. and
pointed out how the city people APP
preciated the importance of prosperity
upon the farm as necessary to gen.
eral prosperity and the very existence
Of the nation.
Mr.. j. Frank Williams, resident of
the Sumter County Farmers Union,
and Farm Extension Demonstration,
was the last speaker. Mr.. Williams
talk was replete with many practical
suggestions along the lines of general
and rura' school agricultural endeay-
or. He also told in an interesting
way just how it pays to make farm
life attractive for the boys and girls,
and wherein it is financially advan-
tageous TO the young men and women
of the country districts, and to the
nation at large to equip the boys and