Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1920-08-18

s1otSsAuaH, UuI ledTHeu IN Cne deep
est regions of science, history and
especially that most important SUBJ
ject, agriculture.
His picture is that of well form
ed, large man of handsome face and
high brow and at glance one can
see that God had set the marks of
genius upon his intellectual and gen
tie face. This remarkable man has
left the foot prints of his greatness
upon the sands of time.
Upon an eminence stands his
home-a stately mansion three
stories high, with about 1S rooms,
each room being over 20 feet square
and hall in the centre 20 feet wide
and over so feet long. "he inside
finish is elegant. He has two separate
libraries, one on the second floor, as
large as public library, containing
many thousand volumes, even now,
and up above the alcoves are busts Of
many of the great men of the past.
On one side the busts of Caesar,
Alexander and Napoleon. On an
another, Demosthenes, Cicero, Hen
ry Clay, John C. Calhoun and
Shakespeare, also a host of others.
His library down on the basement
floor was mostly scientific works and
laboratory and here he spent his;
time in his latter days.
In the parlor you can see copies
of the finest paintings by the old
masters of Rome. Solid mahogany
furniture and silver plates in the din
ing room. And the whole house re-
minds you Of palace Of some noble
man. Out in the front abound all
sorts of trees, hedges, vines and
flowers, and an avenue of gigantic
magnolias leading off for over a
quarter of mile.
This great building though nearly
a century old stands out in perfect
preservatism as it was built of tim
Der now unobtainable. Mrs Julia
Richland who lives in this large
home showed US some china cups Of
the most beautiful, design which she
took from a solid mahogany side
board and said that no servant ever
was allowed TO handle this china, THAT
Mrs. Hammond would have a silveE
piggen of warm water brought to :
the table after a meal and would
wash it herself.
Governor Hammond was a sue
cessful business man and amassed a
fortune by farming. We have never
been able to understand how man
who had made failure in the man.
agement of his private business
could be expected to attend success
fully to public affairs. The greatest.
achievement of Gov. Hammond was
the organization of the Beech Is
land Farmers Club" He believed
that man who made two ears of
corn grow where only one had grown
before was a great benefactor. Gov.
James NJ. Cox, our next president,
said in his late speech Agriculture
is the basis of industry because upon
it depend the good supply" This
Beech Island club was formed in
1853 with the following as leading
charter members:
]. H. Hammond, H. r. Cook, S. ].
M. Clark, A. w. Atkinson, ]. j. Da-
vies, P. w. Whatley, G. B. Mills,
Johnathan Miller, cwho lived to be
1O2 years of age) E. S. Hammond,
R. Bradford, w. H. Atkinson( who
was Gen. R. E. Lees private>secre-
tary during the wary G. w. S..
Twiggs, Goode Bryan, Lamars, Dun
bars, Fairs and many others. And
later William Gregg, j. F. Fair, W..
R. Eve, M. D., Dunbar Lamar, D. j.:
Walker and w. L. Mayson. This;
club meets on the first Saturday in
each month and has never missed
but one meeting during all these
years. They meet in the same club
house, good substantial building
nesting amid the shady trees in
lovely dale. The club has no officers,
only secretary and treasurer ap-
pointed once year. At each meeting
some one is chosen to preside and he
selects some subject connected with.
agriculture for discussion at the
meeting next ensuing, and appoints
some member to open the debate
The chairman shall call on every one
-..o,+ for h;c oninion nm the sub