The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1920-02-26
ALGENON p. GUESS.
Prominent Denmark Citizen Sue.
cumbs to Pneumonia Attack.

Last Saturday morning at 1:30
o'clock Algenon P. Guess, a promi-
nent Denmark citizen, died at his
home following an illness of a week
of influenza and pneumonia Mr..
Guess was stricken with influenza
upon his return from a business trip
20 Columbia a week previous to h;s
death. Pneumonia set in a few days
later and all efforts to stay the hand
Of death were futile. The remains
were inferred Sunday at the Den
mark cemetery, the funeral being in
charge of the Orangeburg comman-
dery of the knights Templar, of
which he was a prominent member.
The funeral was largely attended by
relatives and friends, including a
number from Bamberg.
Mr.. Guess is survived by his wild
ow, who was Miss Rosa Straight, of
Rock Hill, before her marriage, and
two small children, Algenon, Jr., and
Frank. His mother, Mrs. J. G. H.
Guess, also survives him. His father
died about a year ago. He was 80
years of age, and was prominently
identified with the affairs of his COM
munity. He was elected mayor of
Denmark some time ago, and was
serving in this position when he died.
Editor The Herald:-It is not my
intention to write a eulogy on the
life and character Of my departed
friend just because l am filed with
inexpressable sadness as 1 strike the
keys of my typewriter; but, rather,
to bring to the notice of his many
friends the varied characteristics that
made the young man so justly, very
popular.
About twenty-five or three years
ago, 1 came to this little town to take
charge of the public schools. The
place is not very far. from my old
home in Orangeburg county, but far
enough to make the village an entire
ly strange field to me- The people
were in many respects different from
these of my home community and
public sentiment moulded along quite
different lines. l was told that the
school boys had tossed the former
school teacher out of the window
and the reputation of the childhood
of the community was decidedly be-
low par. I distinctly remember the
full face of tiny little boy with most
wonderful dancing eyes that appar-
emily took in the whole world at one
glance. I was enXious to learn the
name of the little boy and find out
all about his parents. The school was
rapidly organized and the pupils
properly assigned to their classes.
AS matter of curiosity l set about
to find out something more of my
attractive lad, after the
school. machinery was in full swing.
1 found him in the primary depart
ment, a pupil of one of the greatest
teachers South Carolina has ever
known, Mrs. Julia Day, who has long
since died. At a glance, fixed my
eyes upon the little boy and made
my way to him just as he was passing
out of the door of the school
room. 1 asked the little fel-
low what was his name. His re-
sponse was quick and 1 ever after
wards remembered the name of AL
genon Guess.
Content to know the name of this
fascinating, mischievous boy, turn
ed my attention to the thousands of
demands Of a poorly organized COM
because public sentiment was
not yet born here to WELD it's pow
erful influence. Public sentiment had
to be made outright. The embryo of
it was tucked away during those days
and Denmark to me was truly named
- Behind the Times - because
the people were not properly inter-
ested in children and beautiful ideals.
My, how the times have changed!
The wonder and thrills of modern life
greet us on every side.
About two months after school had
opened Algenon Guess and another
lad were sent into my room; the
former, charged with the crime of
deliberately tripping the latter while