The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1922-05-02
THINKING AND WRITING
OF DAYS OF LONG AGO

was young. Yes, those days when |
went courting. There must be a
great deal of difference in the present
way of courting and the courting
when l was young.
The fact is, the people were not
graded up in so many different class
es then as they are now. l am going
to tell you that love, virtue and mod
esty stood for something in those
days.
We would have our little social
plays and dances in harmless way.
All the country dances were what we
called square old promenade-all.
There was not much hugging, turning
around and twisting connected with it
then.
/ One of the grandest little plays l
thought was "Hog Drovers." 1t was
long play and finally wound up in a
song that said: Here we go around
the rosy bush this cold and frosty
morning. Indian pudding and
pumpkin pie show me where my true
love lie, that I may see her before |
20, and tie the knot |. O." That ty-
ing of the knot ! thought was the
most fascinating little thing in the
world. 1t was a kind Of entangling
the arms of the boys and girls around
their necks. There was general
feeling of happiness that made the
'by-standers say, ''Pretty little thing,
], wish it was me-" In fact some who
said that have gone on to heaven.
About twelve or one o'clock the
girls would begin to hunt their shawls
and bonnets to go home. And the
boys would get their lights and ac
company them home. The travelling
then was all done pretty we'll by the
works of nature. And everybody
went home with a heart full of JOY
that lasted for a long time to come.
l have often wondered if my old
''missus" ever thought of those old
happenings. And sure enough, one
night when everything was still she
began to tell me of things that had
said along in those good old days, and
she said that they were just as fresh
in her mind as if it had been yester-
day. I told her was proud to know
that she was keeping her mind re-
freshed with that everlasting JOY and
happiness that prevailed throughout
our land SO years ago. -.
Yes, so years ago we didn.t, have,
SO many laws. The country people
knew bat very little about legislation.
There was no factio2al strife IN the
Democratic party. There w2s no mud
singing ana wire ral-ag ovc5 .'5::.'
job. :aA-..ac
In fact there are ten officers of the
law now as there were then. People
were elected to officers then upon
their own merit and not upon the de-
merit of others. And it was some
honor to hold an Office then. 49,,
There were, no rural police, no
speed cops, no farm and home, DEM
onstration agents and no prohibition
laws, no chaingang, no reformatory.
The old people in those days reform
ed their children with the ten COM
mandments. There was no compul-
sorry education law. And if a man
had spoken of woman suffrage l ex-
pect he would have been hung.
The third commandment was
strictly obeyed. That says, "Remem-
Der the Sabbath day to keep it holy
Six davs shalt thou labor and do all
thy work" This is enough said with
out quoting the rest, to show us that
God didn't mean for US to run Sun
day trains and work in all manner OF
machine shops, cotton mills, coal and
oil mines and the day ne has set apart
to worship him. There are hundreds
and thousands of poor laborers who
hardly know when the Sabbath day
comes. These are sad facts. And
isn't it getting time for the disciples
of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
to begin to take hold of the situation
and warn the people of that great day
when the general roll is called up
yonder.
T. J. W.
April 26.