The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1917-04-18
.LAURfNS SCHOOLS
DISPLAY PROGRESS
AND PATRIOTISM
Annual School Fair Held
Friday.
LONG PARADE
DAYS FEATURE
Annual County Sch0CI Fair Held Tn
der Clear Skies. InurcnS Wins Tr0-
ply Cup and Defamation Contest.
(By Charles II. Garrison.)

ply Nup ana DccullNttOn contest.
(By Charles II. Garrison.)
Under clear skies, four thousan Nd
school children marched Friday to the
tune Of My Country 'Tis of Thee,
while at the close of the parade said
to be the most successful one in the
five years existence of the Laurens
county school fair, every one stood
with barred head as the oath Of allcgi-
ancc to the flag was taken.
The event was the fifth annual
school fair and attention to athletics
and elOqucnce was surpassed by that
OF Patriotism, as half Of the children
in line waved on high an American
flag, while all chccrcd Justify as only
a school child can cheer. As The pro
ccsSion wound its way TO the graded
school campus, there to be dismissed
the band struck ZIP the soul-Stirring
song OF "DiXic' while there wen, ~
such a mighty Chorus of cheers from
thousands of young throat, as 10 rock
the foundation OF this historic city. In
the memory of The oldest inhabitanI;
nothing else so inspiring had ever
been pulled off, and adding TO tho
patriotic spirit so prevalent Was tie
thought Of tho Traynham Guards. The
local military company, Who only q
lew hours before had been called 10
the colors and wore then m0biiYing
in their armory Il stones throw away,
From the standpoint of attendance,
the jair was not up to the mark o;
former years, but this was accounted
Tor by the fact that the farmers OF
l'anrcns. living up TO the command OF
the nation, were at home busy with
DloW and teams, helping 10 win The
war by feeding the nation" Although
there were but few adults in the city.
the school children were there in
abundance, there being twcnty-oight
schools represented in the parade.
From early morn until noon, buggics
and automobiles were streaming into
the city from all parts Of the county,
bringing bright-cycd children cagcr
10 take part in the events OF the day,
but no less eager to join their voices
with those of the nation and to rally
round the Stars and Stripes. On al
most every vehicle, whether propelled
by motor or the more conservative
horse, iloatcd a large American flag,
which never failed to attract attention
from those seeing it.
The first events in the day were tho
defamation, reading spelling and
composition contests Of the grammar
grades. These were held in the grad
ed school building, the teachers of
the county acting as judges in the
various contests. The winners, as had
been announced, were to be given
ribbons, but this feature was withheld
until the close Of the parade. Dozens
OF the smaller children took part in
these contests and the class OF work
done was said by the judges to be ex-
ceptionally high class, considering the
age Of the participants
Headed by the Clinton Mill Band,
the gigantic parade started the line
of March promptly at 1890. There
were in the line of march approxi-
mately four thousand children, repre-
Senting twenty eight schools in all
parts of the county. The line of
march was composed of the follow
ing schools: Laurcns city, Laurcns
mill, Watts Mill, Trinity Ridge, Pros
pect, Woodrow Wilson, Bailey, Oak
Grove, Ekom, Ianford Youngs,
Friendship, Ebenezer, Bethany, Gray,
Sonrt"Owings, New Harmony, Clinton
city, Clinton mill, Mountvillc. Lisbon,
WadsWorth, Central, Sandy Springs,
Musgrove. Langston and Ora. The
paraden formed on the campus of the
graded school and went up Church
street, down Main street, across the
public square, down Laurens street
and thence back to the starting point.
The entire line Of march was about a
mile, being in a square and affording
the best opportunity Of inspection for
the crowds who lined the sidewalks.
Returning to the starting point, the
procession wound in, one column be-
Continued on Editorial Page.)