The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-08-18
VISITS LETHE SCHOOL AND
MAKES ADDRESS TO THE
PEOPLE
Would Enlarge
School for the Poor
Movement on Foot to Secure Appro-
priation for Education of Poor
Children of Abbeville District.

Governor Richard I. Manning
came up from Columbia Wednesday
evening, and Senator Allen John
stone. from Newberry. They spent
the night in Abbeville, and on Thurs
day attended the picnic at Lethe, and
while there inspected the magnificent
estate left by the late DR.. John De
La Howe for the support and educa-
ton of the poor children of Abbe-
vile District. =
Just now movement is on foot
to get an appropriation from the
state in order to enlarge the work
now done at Lethe. 1t is believed
by the trustees that, if the school
were opened to a certain number of
poor children from each of the coun-
ties of the state. and kept open for
twenty-four of these children from
Abbeyille District, according to. the
plan of the testator. great work
might be done. With this end in
view. the Governor and a delegation
from the Senate and House were
asked to come to the school and look
over the situation. The delegation
present, consisting of the Governor,
Seator Johnstone, and Representa-
tive burst, of Greenwood were shown
over the whole estate by Rev. Mr..
Blakely and the Abbeville law
makers. They were impressed with
the value of the estate and some good
may come from the visit. Some
plan should be worked out for set
ting more out of this magnificent ;:j}t
to the poor children of Abbevi!ie
county than has been gotten out Of
it in recent years.
In addition to looking over the
farm these gentlemen greatly en-
joyed the day spent at Lethe. Some
fifteen hundred people, consisting of
old men and young men, old ladies,
good-looking young ladies, boys
girls, and babies, assembled on that
morning for day of pleasure, and
day of pleasure it was. We heard
a great many old men say that it was
the first opportunity they had ever
had of seeing a Give Governor. :"
Governor Manning, Senator john
stone, and Superintendent of Educa-
ton Swearingen, who arrived during
the day, made excellent addresses to
the people assembled. The people
were greatly pleased with the Cover
nor, and he with them
At about 2 o'clock fine hash and
picnic dinner was served on the
shaded grounds in front of the school
building. Everyone got good din
ner and enjoyed it. On the grounds
some of the young men of the
neighborhood operated a soft-drink
stand. where drinks of lemonade, CO.
ca-cola, etc., and ice-cream were
served. The stand was run in up
to-date fashion by a polite set of
young gentlemen who treated every
one with consideration.
The people of this section are a
remarkably good people. They all
live in fellowship and brotherly love.
They all want to improve the oppor-
tunities for the young and they are
united in any movement which prom
ises something along this line in their
community. They love Lethe and
iCFSlC IiiS iHSlIioIy VI VIC COIlSluST-
ate patriot who gave so generously
to them and the county. The young
gentlement are handsome and gal
liant; the young ladies beautiful and
modest. 1t is a community where
you may go if you wish to feel at
home while being treated as one of
the guests of the occasion. There
was no sign of strong drink in the
crowd; not thing happened to mar
a day of pleasure. The people of
Abbeville who attended will welcome
another opportunity to visit the farm
of the generous benefactor of the
poor children of Abbeville District.