University of South Carolina Libraries
Miss Florence Mims Writes of Thanksgiving Dear Advertiser: I can think of no more appropri?t place to spend the Thanksgiving sea son than in New England, and n more fitting spot than si town like thi -where the customs and influence o the village elders have not been tot overrun with the city's mad prog Tess. Today is almost as mild as spring and tomorrow is the first of Decem "ber. I would call this Indian summer if I was quite sure that the mellov autumn season had not already pass .ed. I have never been able to tell ex actly when it comes. It must be i .sort of American myth, of which, in deed, we have few enough, as w< . "have few enough traditions. It is in the after years that a per son has time to dream and imagint and become retrospective, and so il is with a country. We are young yet over-busy with making customs, and it will be the great-great grandchil dren of those living in this generation who will call present forms, tradi tions. And anyway, it was around the open fire that old stories were told, and deeds of valor recounted. In the firelight glow one has a sixth sense, a keener vision, and inspiration to poetry and romance. The modern ra diator is no more than a cold storage plant for any such idealism. I want progress, progress of mind, but it is as though we were trying to force the future to us before its time, as though we saw life through spy glasses, more wonders yet to come paramount in our thoughts. At the same time we seem to be magnifying, as it were ,things material. The old New Englander slept in four poster beds, and the rooms were large enough to hold them. Now the great masses sleep on cots, and the rooms are built to suit them. Apart ment houses on apartment houes stretch down the street, all joined to gether, because there must be room, not for light and air, and green grass, but for more and yet more apart ment houses. At the city limits are great manu facturing plants, and the quaint vil lages and the well filled barns of mi nute farm houses have been swallow ed up in the whirring wheels of progress, deserted for money. It is an endless round. We are blind to small joys and sim ple pleasures. Our forefathers rode in stately coaches, and had time for thought and meditation, perhaps even for prayer, as they rode along the highways, inspired by autumn landscapes and spring's "brook glad dening meadows." That is not a preposterous idea. What time for thought does a street car give? A crowd of people madly rush on, grab a seat or swing upon a strap and thus they are satisfied. If I were discussing the subject of mod ern progress with a stern materialist, I might have no good reason to offer against it, no sound arguments to bring forth. Being a woman, I am "a creature of impulse, instinct and in tuition," and supposedly not a sound exponent of logic. I have my own private ideas of that, howeevr. Every now and then some happy circumstance shows me a cross sec tion of the past. I have a little- shaine in my heart set all apart for the wor ship of the days when the beauty and the chivalry danced the minuet, when the gentlemen took time to practice graceful bows. In that day courtesy was the eleventh command ment, and I wonder if the essence of courtesy, consideration for the oth er person isn't also a part of the thought that prompted all command ments? I have seen some young peo ple (though not in the South) jerk their caps off in speaking, as though the caps had done them a wrong, and the owners were taking this means of wreaking vengeance. What is the observance of a courteous custom without the spirit that should prompt it? .Some days ago I saw Sheridan's old fashioned play "The Rivals." We have seen to it by our modern fash ions that no lady can courtesy to a gentleman now-a-days. In tight skirts, we are forced to stand up right. Then, when there is no bowing and little smiling, there is not much incentive to a gentleman to kiss a lady's hand, or to observe other graces once in good taste. What will this practical age come to next? Will we soon be eating con densed food, containing all the neces sary properties of nutrition, as I have heard of some already doing, to save laying the cloth for tea? In those dimly forgotten days of long ago, our grandmothers knew more than we of the gentle art of home cooking. Hot cake was not an unknown dish with which to comr plete the meal. I know of hot cakes by hearsay and "its reputation is entirely agreeable to me," so are all the other customs of the past. No, there is one exception. The good gen tlemen of the days of yore found an elaborately carved snuff box quite in dispensable. They dusted the contents from their coats with laced sleeves. I accept the past minus the snuff. They had duels too, at sunrise, I believe. That I could forgive, but not the snuff. I must be getting old myself, for I began to write about Thanksgiving Day, and my thoughts played a trie* upon me. They know my weak point. I remember too well two years ago today when I stayed at home from church. There was no Thanksgiving ?service to attend in the little mining town of Aurora, Minnesota. The in habitants w^re .not the descendants of the Pilgrims, or even of the same nationality with them. One year ago today, I attended a Thanksgiving service in a Methodist church in Oklahoma. The Baptist preacher was the speaker, and chose for his text something so remotely far from the subject at hand, and talked so at length on the Philistines or the Israelites that I longed for a simple story of the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth. We are far enough away already as a nation from any right com memoration of this day. This morn ing, it was with a sincere spirit of thankfulness that I entered the Con gregational church at Northampton, where the union service was to be held. Several true-to-type New Eng land ministers sat on the platform, and. we sang appropriate songs from "The Pilgrim Hymnal." I waited im patiently for the lovely story of the first Thanksgiving day as celebrated by that brave group pf hearty pion eers. Here, surely, I thought, they made a point of repeating from year to year what seems to me, the most fascinating story in American his tory. It never grows old. In it is the element of hospitality, of friendship with the Indians, of abundance of the harvest time, of Thanksgiving and good fellowship. But the minister chose a different text and though his speech was good, I said over to myself the story of that first gathering on the "bleak New England shore." The west was too far away from the scene both in point of time and of place, and the East too near to it, for interest. I heard a lecturer make a rather interesting statement the other day in regard to the Indians in the early days. When they were invited for a visit to the white people, they stayed on and on with never a thought of leaving until the food was all con sumed. So, he said, the settlers ar ranged among themselve to accom modate the Indians for only a limit ed time, supplied food l'or a certain season, and when the eatable disap peared, the Indians did also. Several of us were discussing Thanksgiving the other day, an Eng lish girl, a Massachusetts girl and I. The English girl wanted to know how Thanksgiving originated. I had nev er given the subject of an interna tional Thanksgiving any thought be fore. I did not realize somehow till then, although I might have known it, that we are the only people who celebrate such a season. My friend from Massachusetts explained the origin of the day, and I thought it would be an excellent thing of every country would set apart a day for especial national returning of thanks. The other countries have a very dif ferent history from ours, and would most probably set apart a day when they were victorious over some great enemy in battle. It seems to me that Thanksgiving Day is much more important than the Fourth of July or any other patriotic day. These patriotic occasions com memorate a stepping stone in our na tional life, and so does the last Thursday in November, but this day recalls to mind, not only the people's victory over privation and cold and famine, but an especial recognition of God in their midst I hope that as the years -go by, its true significance will grow upon us, for this is a tangible tie that binds us to those gray days whose bright ness was the rock-firm faith of such people as John and Priscilla Alden. FLORENCE MIMS. Northampton, Mass. Draper Hotel. 1 Woodrow Wilson Foundation Fund. Editor Edgefield Advertiser: I will greatly appreciate your giv ing publicity to the following' tele gram I have received from Govern or Wilson G. Harvey: "National Committee Woodrow Wilson Foundation desires comple tion of work by December 20th ?or final announcement on Wilson's birthday December 28th. South Car olina lagging more than any .state Must raise quota. Proportion for Edgefield county is only three hun dred dollars. As a patriotic service will you raise this amount by Decem ber 20th." The Woodrow Wilson Foundation is a million dollar fund that is being raised for educational purposes by citizens of our country who love and honor Woodrow Wilson, who is now confined to his home, his health hay ing been broken by his great service for peace and humanity during the late war. .- ??. I feel sure that some of our, citi zens will wish to contribute soajfe thing to this worthy cause and I. will be glad to receive and transmif '.to the Governor any contribution frgm citizens of Edgefield county. Respectfully, JAMES 0. SHEPPARD. December 6, 1922. Joe Tolbert and Harding. President Harding has sent the nomination of Joseph W. Tolbert to be United States Marshal for the Western District of South Carolina. We are not surprised; we would hot be surprised at anything President Harding would do after his recess ap point of Tolbert, whose original ap pointment the Senate overwhelming ly of the President's own political party, had refused or failed to con firm. The President knows, a swell as he knows anything, *hat Tolbert is in no sense fit for the office for which he has ben named. He has been advised of the objections to him that would condemn him in the opinion of any honest man charged with the appoint ing power. He knows, or the facts have been concealed from him, that the appointment of Tolbert is not ac ceptable to ninety-nine per cent of the people of his State. He knows that Tolbert has no respectable fol lowing in this State. Why he persists in disgracing his own office by naming this man for any office of profit or trust in South Carolina is one of the many things about Mr. Harding's ad ministration of his office there has been no satisfactory explanation.-.::, - Tolbert has not been . confirmed. Senator Dial and Senator Smith, .of South Carolina, may be counted up on to fight this appointment to the finish. They will take the case, their case, the case of their people and state, the case indeed, of good people in all the States, and fight the con firmation of Tolbert, and, defeated in the Committee, they will take it to be their disposition, to the floor of the Senate in open session and expose there for the information of the par tisan spirit, the sectional animosity, the determined abuse of authority by the President of the United Sates. Let him take the responsibility of making this appointment, if he will! but, taking the responsibility, he must at the same time accept the infamy. -Spartanburg Journal. Summons For Relief. (Complaint not served.) The State of South Carolina County of Edgefield Court of Common Pleas. The Bank of Johnston, Plaintiffs Against B. W. Wright, J. F. Wright and B. C. Wright, Defendants. To the Defendants above named: You are hereby summoned and required to answer the complaint in this action which is filed in the of fice of the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, for the said county, and to serve a copy of your answer to the said complaint on the sub scribers at their office at Edgefield, South Carolina, within twenty days after the service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service; and if you fail to answer the complaint within the time aforesaid, the plaintiff in this j action will apply to the court for the relief demanded in the complaint. SHEPPARD BROS. Plaintiff's Attorneys. Dated Nov. 28, 1922. Test: P. L. COGBURN (Seal) Clerk C. C. P., E. Co., S. C. To the above named Defendants: You will take notice that the origi nal summons and complaint in the above stated cause are now on file in the office of the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and General Ses sions, in and for the county of Edge field and State aforesaid. SHEPPARD BROS. Plaintiff's Attorneys. AUGUSTA, GA., 1 A Jewelry Gift is not only 1 dim its memory nor fade its simplest Jewelry Gifts you THAT LAST." Sugget GIFTS FOR A WOMAN Mesh Bag, Pencil, Toilet . GIFTS FOR A GIRLS : Watch, Dinner Ring, Ear C GIFTS FOR A HOM!?: ments, Vases, Clocks. ? GIFTS FOR A MAN: < Scarf Pin, Belt Buckle, Pen GIFTS FOR A BOY: Pocket Comb, Military Bru? GIFTS FOR BABY: Bi Silver Spoon, Gold Locket, Good News ?Letter From Rehoboth. Dear Advertiser: Since we are cut off into the "baby county we do not get much news from the west side, but we still love the mother counts and our Edgefield friends. We have had such a delightful fall, so full of sunshine. We love sunshine, still we have need of the shadows, and "into each life some rain mus'; fall." Our roads are fairly good for the time of year. We are glad to report Mrs. T. B. Culbreath improving so much and back at her accustomed place in our church with a smile for everyone. Sorry to hear of Mrs. Jennie Cheatham's illness through her broth er who has recently visited her bed side. Mrs. Mason, nee Miss Eliza What ley is visiting her home folks. She is soon to move to Anderson. Miss Leonora Whatley is home and doing fine from her painful but not serious automobile accident near Clemson college, where she was visit ing hsr sister, Mrs. Mason. Mr. Eddie Strom gave a family dining Thanksgiving day. Mr. and Mrs. E. S. Strom were up from Edge field, also Mrs. Sampson Strom from McCormick' and Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Strom and family. Mr. J. P. Talbert and family also dined with Mrs. Strom. Glad to see Mrs. Kathryn Hughey able to be out. She is looking well. Miss Annie Mae Culbreath was at home for Thanksgiving. She is holding a responsible position in Greenwood. Mr. D. D .Morgan and Mr. Marion Traylor have been to an ear special ist in Augusta and are improving. Miss Carrie Blackwell is spending the week-end with friends at Reho both, making Mrs. Kate Moultrie's headquarters, her old boarding place when she taught here. Miss Jessie Kelly went home for Thanksgiving; she will be back for school duties Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Ousley, Mr. and Mr3. Eugene Paul and Eugene, Jr., are visiting relatives here. Mrs. S. B. Strom is looking well and able to be out again. Our community is saddened by the untimely death of Dr. Carl Har mon. We all enjoyed the letters from Rev. J. T. Littlejohn, Jr., and Mr. Mellichamp. Both seemed like letters from home folks. Our prayers and good wishes are with them and their families, also Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, who are in Louisville, Ky. As the harvest season and Thanks giving were drawing near our good friends Mr. and Mrs. R. D. Seigler planned for a number of our older people and few younger ones includ ed to help make merry. It always shows a true Christian spirit to make pleasure and comfort for the old peo ple who are often neglected in thought. Mrs. Seigler is well known and loved in Edgefield as well as in our community where her bright Christian life gives light. The day dawned fair and beautiful, cold but not windy. As we all gathered, all along the way buggies and automobile faUing in line. Drawing nearer the appointed place, the clean yards, the stately oaks and sunshine gave a festive spirit. The smiling faces of our kind host and hostess and even the children joined in the welcome. Sitting around a cheerful oak fire chatting, everyone NEW LOCATION OF ELE & CO JEWELERS 008 BROAD STREE! asting but of ever-increasing ic ; beauty. Your children's ch select this Christmast. Gift ?frons for Gifts Thc : Diamonds, Necklace, Thi Articles, Dress Pin Sets. Pearls Beads, Bar Pins, Ls )rnaments, Vanity Case, Manii Silverware, Candle Sticks, Pi 3igar Cutter, Match Box, Ti eil, Signet Ring, Watch Fob, Cuff Links, Tie Clasp, Wal ;fies, Set .Ring, Vest Chain, iby Ring, Baby Necklace, Bal Silver Fork, Silver Cup. ---? nw limul-mi mi II i ii had the Thanksgiving spirit of cheer fulness and jokes were passed. The announcing of dinner gave a hush for a little while, the older peo ple being served first and the rest enjoyed some good music. Mr. Cal Seigler brought along his violin. Mr. K. D. Seigler says he is going to raise up a band of his six sons. The house was decorated with pot ted plants. The long table in the din ing room fairly groaned from its load of good eats. Mrs. Seigler is a fine cook. At either end of the table was a large dish of turkey and. baked chicken, dressing, macaroni and chicken pies, cranberry sauce and 0! Mr. Editor, I can't remember all, only the huge stand of fruits on a beautiful centerpiece, hand embroid ered in daisies. Last, but by no means least came the jelly a,nd whip ped cream. After dinner, Mrs. Seigler played for us on the piano, and her little 3-yeard-old daughter, Dorothy sang several songs beautifully. She has an unusual voice for her years. As the sun was sinking in the west j ? Wi mw % CHRiSTMAi * SHOPPING is made easy at this store, \ several months' plannii have brought you a splend selection of bright, new He day merchandise-here nc for your choosing. There are Gifts for everyb* Grandma-Gifts that m appreciation. Our Toy Sect derful display of playthings Courteous service and caref u and every facility is here to i this Christmas simple, plea QUARLES & VARIET f - LARGE S FRUITS ANi We have made large pur candies, nuts, raisins, etc., f our stock will be constantly express every day. Let u Claus will make his headqu We can supply you with reasonable prices. If we haven't got what y you. Edgefield FF I MPANY r, THONE - 953 itrinsic value. Time cannot ildren will cherish even the s of Jewelry are "GIFTS it Last imble, Brooch, Jewel Box, Lvalliere, Bracelet, Bracelet cure Set. cture Frames, Table Orna e Clasp, Lodge Emblems, Watch Chain. ;ch, Knife, Fountain Pen, jy Bracelet, Baby Pin Set, we turned homeward, feeling- thank ful for the good friends and all of God's blessings. Thus ended a per fect day. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. P. P. Doolittle,' Mr. and Mrs. S. B. Strom, Mrs Mary Brooks, Mr. and Mrs. R T. West, Mrs. Katheryn Hughey, Miss Mary Luda and J. D. Hughey, Jr., Mr. Abe Gilchrist, Mrs. Kate Mason, Mrs. Tiny Jordan, Mr. Cal Seigler, Mr.. C. I. Jay, Miss A. L. Morgan. "OLD MAH)." WANTED: Several good Jersey milch cows, fresh to pail and milk ing around 30 pounds daily. Subject to T. B. test. . P. B. DAY, JR., Trenton, S. C. FOR SALE: Thirty Duroc Jersey pigs bred from the best Duroc strains in America, all entitled to registra tion, weighing from 50 to 75 pounds. J. B. TOMPKINS, Edgefield, S. C. ady-from Baby to can the utmost in ion has a most won? for the youngsters. 1 attention await you nake your shopping sant and satisfying. - TIMER! AN V STORE TOCK OF ) CANDIES chases of all kinds of fruits, br the Christmas season, and r replenished by arrivals by s have your orders. Santa arters with us. fruit cake material at very ou want we will order it for uit Company |