The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-09-29

day morning at 9 o'clock. They failed
to do it. Nothing was heard from
them until Wednesday afternoon at
o'clock, too late to make the necessary
preparations, although tentative ar
rangements had been made several
days before. Being too late to prepare
barbecue, one Of the local restaur-
ants was advised Of the expected ar
rival Of the boosters, though no def
mite information could be given as to
the number to be expected as the Co
lumbia secretary had refused point
blank, SO we are informed, to author
iZe any specified number of plates to
be prepared. The result was what
might have been expected at any
place under the circumstances, some
went away hungry. We regret exceed
we must submit, in all fairness, that
we much submit, in all fairness, that
the fault lay in Columbia.
Whether or not the Columbians we're
pleased with other phases of their re-
ception here, we have not learned. We
know that there were not very many
out to receive the boosters, as no invi-
tation had been extended by the Co
lumbians to meet them. The people Of
this city, probably a least bit too con-
servative, are accustomed to be guild
ed by the generally accepted social us
ages and hesitate to 90 where they are
not invited. If our people had been ad-
vised through the regular channels of
public communication Of the Colum-
bians' desire to meet our people, not
only would our merchants but our la
dies would have been delighted to
come out and give them a public and
cordial reception. In the absence Of
any such invitation, only the veriest
few, who happened to be on the public
square at the time, were present to
hear the pleasing addresses Of the
Columbia citizens. That is about all
there is to the whole business, Dut as
a sidc-light on the general booster
idea, we present an editorial in yester-
days Ncwberry Observer, as follows:
They say Laurens gave the visiting
boosters a lemon on Thursday.
"Why not? There was a gang of one
hundred and eleven people from Co
lumbia, and on the same day another
gang Of boosters were there from
Greenwood pulling for Laurcns'
trade.
Laurens needs her own trade The
trade gained to Columbia or Green
wood is lost to Laurcns
but they say they want only the
trade that I4aurcns cannot supply.
Isn't it reflection on Iaurens to say
to her face that her merchants don't
handle tirst-class goods? That her
people have to send off to get clothing
and hardware and other merchandise
And how is town ever going to keep
frst-class goods if her people won't
buy them but send off for them?
mo doubt some such thoughts as
these ran through the minds Of the
L.aurcns people the merchants cs-
pccially-whcn they saw two sets of
boosters in her midst the same day
drumming for her trade.
They say it is only South Caro-
Ina First idea. Thcn what was the
idea when the Augusta boosters came
across the Savannah recently and
visited South Carolina towns?
"Of course if Laurcns merchants, or
NcwNcrry merchants, or other mer-
hants, do not handle frst-claSs goods
he" people cannot be blamed for send
ing OFF to get them; but it is mighty
Door policy, and poor encouragement
to home merchants, il people send
away for things they can find at home.
SO there's a reason why Laurcns
should not be particularly cnthusias-
tic over the coming Of the boosters !;
and if LaurcnS people sympathiZcd
with the feeling Of the merchants, it
is tl!at much to the credit Of the Lau-
rcnS people-for it shows that they are
homc-buycrs and home builders.
Buy at home.
At home means your own town. y
HEALTH AND HAPPINESS DEPEND