The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-02-10
A VISIT TO LANCASTER.
W. S. Thompson Quite Sick-F0lks
Go to Columbia to See Play.

We will not say it was many years
since We We're up in Lancaster lest
some one will say "Hagood is aging"
Nature is unconventional enough to
blurt it right out, and in more ways
than one. A sassy old rascal he is to
just stand on your toes and tell you
to your face You are aging" And
Father Time, relentless Time, cruelty
so, notes our years with creases.
wrinkles and gray hairs. Some of us
call him an old liar and try to prove
it with massage, hair dye, ETC., for
which we get paid in creaks, twitches.
rheumatics and failing sight. AL
though we step nimbly, appear supple,
with erect carriage, it is abroad "Hs
Is aging" 1t is a half insult for one
TO speak of you as old Jackson, and
you attribute it to lack of culture. ETC..
and so on. You are in the humor to
lay it on. A capital piece of linguis-
tic labasting. No donubt you are i'm
just the right humor to excel in that.
Who claps you on the shoulder and
says Young man, you are looking
splendid" or You are looking better
than ten years ago." is agreeable.
companionable. But,
Many a year is in it's grave
Since l crossed this restless wave,
And the evening, fair as ever,
Shines on ruined rock and river"
That is what l felt as 1 passed up
into Lancaster the other day, and oh.
the changes that had come in one or
another form. Very few Of the pso-
| pie that I knew were in their old
beats, many having gone 'the way of
all the earth" Lancaster is a place
| of downright grit and in wet weather
red, sticky mud abounds in abund-
ance. Did you ever note how queerly
shaped it is especially the northwes-
tern part. 1 have it from ancient
citizens that the surveyor loved the
"tickler" and ran that part of the
| line from one grocery TO another that
finally. for want Of a chain which he
had pawned to replenish the tickler,
he finished the survey with a grape
vine. While speaking of Van Wyck i'm
the presence of young lady she
said why, that is the jumping Off
place to nowhere when remark
ed that it was nearly the birth place
OF one Of Americas great men "old
Hickory" the Sharp Knife" as the
Indians called him. with which IL
Illuminating remark the discussion
closed.
Once. in 1882 1 think, there was
riot in Lancaster. (~~7
The negroes were out in great
shape and force, but Lancaster's grit
| quelled it in short order. Old man
John Bailey was on the jury trying
case in the court house with Mack
ey on the bench. When the shooting
began he grabbed his hat, rushed for
the door, replying to the judge, who
told him to come back, "Oh, my boys
are out there" In a few minutes the
court room was empty, and in a few
more the town was clear of negroes
Lancastrians are a clever, great
hearted people, whom one is pleased
to know.
The whole country from Camden to
the North Carolina line has developed
wonderfully. But 1 must stop else
some one will call me old.
Rainy weather has operated against
church and Sabbath school work as
well as against other things, but yes
terday Supt. I'astings Freeman was
in his place at Bethesda church with
fair attendance OF the Sunday
school.
We learn that our good neighbor.
Mr.. w. S. Thompson, is quite sick. We
hope he will come around all right in
few days.
Messrs. j. L. and C. J. jackson. r.
M. Hildebrand, B. F. and Percy Myers.
j. r. Atkinson and wife, and DR.. M. s.
klrke ran over to Columbia Wednes-
day' January 9th, to see the play.
The Shepherd of the Hills"
Mr.. and Mrs. Russell Atkinson and
FAMILY dined with Miss Caroline Din
Nlns on Sunday, January 81.
Messrs. r. E. Atkinson and Charles
Dunlap spent Saturday, January 80, in
your city.
"Hagood."