Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Paladins of South Caro Milledge Luke Bonhai James Henry Rice, Jr. My first sight of Governor ?iam was early in 1878. He had up from Edgefield to visit hi the present Gen. Milledge Lip Bonham, then ill with pneui Always a striking figure, straight, imposing, a born m: man, he appeared to my boy's as a paladin of Romance; nor that childish impression ever me; it abides to this hour for essentially true. Governor Bonham's father told, came to South Carolina Maryland or Virginia settling at Jacksonboro, on the Edist place that had attained a ce prestige because the legislature there during the Revolution, c to a laudible zeal on the part < members to avoid being hanged, father later moved to Mount Wi then Edgefield district, now cul into Saluda county. When young Bonham became licitor he prosecuted two white < seers for murdering negroes, al' a popular diversion with gentr that region, and convicted 1 both being hanged. Governor Bonham married daughter of Colonel Nathan Gr of Edgefield, who was the com and solace of his life until its c Married when in her sixte year, Mrs. Bonham was the mo of a large family. Marked by sin city and beauty, her character adamant graced every station, shed over her surroundings a diance and charm. Her taste true and exquisite. Fit mate for distinguished husband, she furnis an example of what may be dom any situation by an uncomproi ing force of character, joined to manly sweetness. In society which might not im ly be compared to the most brilli circles in Parisr she herself was central figure. Plain in manner ? without a shadow of pretense, was queen of home and sovereign the hearts around her. General (afterwards judge) St uel McGowan, an admirer of G ernor Bonham almost to fatuation, thus spoke of HA Bonham to my father, on returni from a visit to the Bonham ho near Edgefield: "She is a wonderful woman, a the governor calls her Patie (1 name was Patience)," and as t general spoke, his eyes lighted w: fire and enthusiasm. This was the impression produc on all who knew her and came wit in her influence. Joining in her gi .hood the Baptist church to which h father's people belonged, she lived consistent Christian and died in t faith wherein she was born. I can now see the erect form the governor as he sat at meat, wi Mrs. Bonham gracing the foot of tl table, the cheer being enlivened wi wit and delightful converse. Never harsh word, never a shade of diffe ence there, but one unbroken char that drew the guest into that mag circle and made him one of the far ily. There was never more perfe< understanding between man ar wife. Their married life was an idy' After the battle of Bull Run ge< eral Bonham returned from Virgin: to become the governor of the sta! and ruled it during the momentoi: war years. At this time everythin was in his hands. There was prac! cally no check. The finest tribute <; Governor Bonham"s character tha could be paid is the fact that ? came out of office without a dollai What would not a modern, practice politician, a man of the people, hav done with such an opportunity? Th thought is staggering. In 1878 Governor Bonham wa made one of three railroad commis sioners, the office being createi largely for him. Members of the gen eral assembly, then composed o high-minded, honorable men alive t* obligation, voted for the measure ai a part return for distinguished an< unselfish service to the state in th( time of stress. Said General McGow an: "I voted for it and would have vo ted for it if it had sunk the state oi South Carolina to the bottom of th? Mediterranean sea!" We did not always wear the liverj of shame, the white-hot brand had not then seared public Conscience. Governor Bonham told me that he did not study at college until he at tended a commencement, which was held before a. general assembly. The ?dat of the occasion, the way in which youn? speakers acquitted themselves ar..d the plaudit of the au dience so roused him that the next session he buckled down to work and was graduated with second honor. The lost time prevented his attain ing first honor. One memorable nightduringmy boyhood, it so happened that the gov-ernor and I were left alone at his home, all the family having gone out except Mrs. Bonham, who was engaged with the household affairs, With that famous twinkle in his eyes, the governor asked me: "Son do you read the Bible?" I told him that I did. "Well, then," he said, "you re I member about Noah, do you not? He was a human and interesting person, for after having been out in the ele ments 40 days and 40 nights, when Noah struck dry land, he planted him a vineyard, grew grapes and made some wine in order to settle his ner ves, which had been upset by his ex posure. Was not this a very human thing for Noah to do?" So on, from man to man in the Bible, he went, winding up with Si mon Peter, whose human side made irresistable appeal to the governor. Withal I was so charmed that sleep was forgotten and it was mid night before the flight of time was noticed. Looking back at it I marvel the more. Here was a man who had served through the Seminole war, the Mexican War and had served in the confederate war, then was war governor, a man who had lived more [romance and adventure than pres ent day writers can invent, who yet could give a whole evening to a boys entertainment and do it with such grace and ease that the boy was swept away into dreamland and fairyland. The versatility of his tal ent was infinite. There were carping , critics, of course, who called governor Bonham a politician. Nothing was further from the truth. His one weakness was a love for his kind. He loved the common man. Were he in Washing ton, among the great of the earth, thj?Common estci?tizen of'SoutfiiCaro lina would have been received on equal footing by prince and ambas sador or they would have had to an swer to Governor Bonham on the spot. He would have fought for his fellow countryman, have lent him his last dollar, merely because he was a South Carolina citizen, and therefore equal to the best people on earth. Born a partrician, a patrician he remained to the end of his life. It is one of the sad aspects of the" pres ent world upsetting, an almost hope less aspect, that in the popular mind no man can be acceptable unless he wallows in filth, looks with lenient eye on dishonesty or bows himself before idols of popular fancy. An inherent quality of aristocracy is its tender regard for the weak and low ly. The ward boss in a city, who steals a fortune in his upward ca reer, would drive over his former associates were they in the road. A gentleman never did, never could do, such an act. He treats with courtesy and consideration even the servants who minister to his wants. Governor Bonham never descend ed; he lifted others to his level. Be tween the two things there is an im passable gulf. One proceeds from a man of exalted mind, who loves his fellow man and seeks to benefit him. The other proceeds from a heart es sentially vile and false, which plays men in order to use them for self aggrandizement. Brilliant, courageous, true to ev ery "trust, this great hearted gentle child of light, strayed into the dark by a life of devotion. He was a true Paladin, a Knight of our Table Roung. Charlie was cashier in a bank in a country town. He had beon engaged to May Brown, but, alas, a rift came in the late! They quarre vd. "And i-lei.se remember," said May in tearfully haugh ?/ tones, as she handed back the ring, "that when we meet again we meet as perfect stran gers. A few days later the fair maid entered the bank to get a check cash ed. Of course, Charlie was on duty. He took the slip of paper, eyed ifc back and front, and then, instead of counting out the money, hmded back the check. His time had come for revenge ! "I'm sorry, madam," he said cold ly, "but it is against the rules of the bank for the cashier to cash checks for strangers. You must get someone to identify you!"-Chicago Herald Cheap Money For Farmers. The Edgefield National Farm Loan Association has $3?,000 to lend to farmers at five and one half per cent, for The Federal Land Bank of Columbia. Applicant may file application not later than Sept. 1st. next, for this al lotment. B. E. Timmerman, Secretary-Treasurer. Farm Loan Association, Edgefield, S. C. 8-2-3t i Our State Shot Putter It has remained for a South Caro lina woman to do what no South Car olina man has done-win honors in an international ? athletic contest Not only did Miss Godbold, of Estill a graduate of Winthrop college last year, break a world's record at Paris contest in putting shot, but she was thc outstanding star of the Ameri can team, winning a greater number of points than any of her American sisters. She flung the shot a distance of more than 20 meters and did with either hand, showing remark able ambidextry. By comparison with Ralph Rose's or Pat McDon aid's shot putting of 55 meters Miss Godhood's record throw does not seem excellent, but it must be re membered that she is a woman and that women can not near approach man in the field events of sport. No other woman has done so well with the shot. Rarely does an athlete qualify both in field and track events, but Miss Godbold proved to be a runner of some ability as well as an expon ent of muscularity. Ralph Rose or Pat McDonald probably could not sprint 300 or 1000 meters in a day but Miss Godbold finished fourth in both these contests although she had not had special training for the competition. Some of her cohorts who were expected to scintillate in the running matches fell by the way side. Had they come up to the expec tations the American team would have finished first instead of second in the meet. So far as The News athletic know ledge goes no South Carolina man has represented the United States in Olympic contests. The honor of Miss Godbold is therefore significant be cause it was not only an achieve ment for her to be eligible to com pete in Paris, but it was an accom plishment of the first magnitude to break a world's record and to be the individual star of the meet upon her first appearance. Miss Godbold has brought fame to the state as well as to herself and to Winthrop col lege. If her career should ever lead her into matrimony she will doubt less be able to wield a rolling pin in a convincing fashion. The Layman's Viewpoint. I read in many newspapers and magazines that the church is losing its influence, and I believe this to be true. It is true because the man in the pulpit has not developed as rap idly as the man in the pew. Years ago, when the people were ignorant and superstitious* the preacher and the doctor were the great men of the community, and their opinions were swallowed whole. Preachers of today are doubtless just as able as those who preached in earlier generations, but the folks out in front have been to school and have learned to think. Most of them think they know as much as the preacher knows.. Some of them think they know more. This is a condition, not a theory; and the only way to restore the wan ing influence of the church is to fill the pulpit with men big enough to demand the respect of the men in the pews. All men, everywhere, respect brains; and while the Book speaks of the foolishness of preaching, I cannot believe that God desires preachers who are foolish. How, then, shall we obtain great preachers? Well, how do corpora tions obtain great executives? This is a practical age, and a salary of $3,000 hires a three-thousnd-dollar man. So with one thousand dollars and twenty thousand dollars. One price buys a jitney and another price buys a Packard. And congregations that scold because their preacher is n't much and ftnen travail to raise six hundred dollars wherewith to pay him give me a large three cornered pain.-Robert Quiller in Baptist Courier. Widow of Quarles Will Sue County. McCormick, Aug. .23.-Through her attorney, F. A. Wise of the local bar, Janie Bell Quarles, the widow and administrator of Herbert Quar les, negro, has formally made de mand upon the county of McCor mick for the penalty of $2,000 for the alleged lynching of Herbert Quarles in June of last year. Herbert Quarles was the negro, who it was alleged, criminally as saulted a highly respectable white woman as she went to a mail box near her home about one mile from Plum Branch. The negro was hunted for two days and one night and when found admitted having committed the crime and ;was put to death. The widow now makes demand up on the county for a penalty of $2, 000 and states that unless the mat ter is compromised suit will be in stituted for the full sum. The Infatuation of ] Dacey By MURIEL BLAIR I?. 11)21, Western Newspaper Union.; Wherever he looked, whether at lovely sunset scene or some radiant picture, he saw a sheen of gold red hair, a cheek the hue of a rose leaf and eyes as tender as the softest moonlight. It affected the heart like enchanted music. The hushed dreams of youth were awakened and hia pulse bounded at the alarm. He sat now-he, Norman Dacey young, rich in money but dissatisfied of soul, telling the story of it all to his closest friend, Eliott Hughes. As he spoke his subdued tones reminded of a poet traversing some sweet and ten der lay, for into his barren life had come a purpose-to find one woman he had seen and to tell her that he loved her. "Two months," he was saying, "and it seems like two years. It was just beyond the village that the team took fright at a passing automobile. I was thrown out. It was the gash from a deep cut that was the most serious, was stunned. Then between that and the hospital there was one supreme moment. It was when I saw her." "You have told that, Dacey," broke In Hughes In a tone of slight raillery "She was lovely as an houri and all that" "She was simply a girl, an Innocent, beautiful girl," resented Dacey grave ly. "A man stood at a little distance, probably a relative. She had torn a scarf from her throat and was trying to staunch the blood from my wound. I recall one look Into those pitying soul-like eyes. Then the blackness of death again. "And nothing of the girl since?" questioned Hughes. "Nothing," replied Dacey. "Well, I am at least glad to see your mind roused out of the torpor of your habitual ennui, Hughes. If you can take any interest in pursuing this ex travagant phantom, keep lt up. Let me see, though-I believe you told me that the accident was costly to you In more ways than one?" "You mean the trifle I lost?" < served Dacey. "You call five hundred dollars in money a trifle!" "The money does not trouble me," replied Dacey carelessly. "I may have lost it before the accident." The friends separated, Hughes to go home to his wife to smile over "the ridiculous infatuation of Dacey," the latter to still more determinedly seek lome trace of the mysterious unknown whose bonny face was with him every where. After that he spent days and then weeks In a constant effort to trace down the hoing he could not dismiss from ??is thoughts. And then one chill blustering November night, as he sat In the library of his lonely home, he saw a forlorn form appear before the casement and falter there. He saw a wan, agitated face and dripping, storm-beaten garments. In an Instant he had drawn open the window, and she?, the lady of his dreams, tottered bato the room and fell to the nearest chair, where she drooped like a wilted flower. She raised her eyes at last to mur mur his name, to draw from her bosom -the pocketbook he had lost. "You are Mr. Dacey," she faltered. "This is yours, I must go." "No! No!" cried Dacey, blocking the way. Then he saw her reel with a terrified cry. The windows behind Dacey opened and a rough-looking man intruded-the man he had seen once before with the girl. "Ah, I have found you, have I, Glo ria?" hissed the intruder. "You had that all of the time." The speaker made a dive for the pocketbook. Dacey put out his strong arm. "Do not harm him," pleaded the girl piteously. "He has kept me a pris oner, he has nearly starved me be cause I would not give up the pocket book which I wrenched from him. But he is my brother-and it was all his cruel lust for gold." "Take it and-go," said Dacey to the brother. With a gloating cry of joy the man sped from the room, holding the cov eted money to Iiis breast like a wild beast clasping Its prey. Dacey re closed the windows, pressed a button in the wall and told the servant who answered to summon his widowed sis ter. "Sit down, please," spoke Dacey, as wondering Leah Davelin entered the room. "I have a story to tell." How sweetly soft he told It! How the sympathetic tears caine to his lov ing sister, how. the eyes of the breath less, marveling Gloria Burley seemed to take it all in as if lt were some beautiful dream. Abruptly Dacey left the room, the woman he loved in the friendly charge of his sister. It was a new Gloria, revived, whom he met the next day the happy day, the day of his life Im memorial that he asked her to become his wife. Strikingly Original. Flap-Why does the umpire call strikes? The batter doesn't strikiq anything. Fan-I know, but all strikes end in walkouts.-American Legion Weekly. So to Speak. .Th?- motor stalled and we wert blocking tvaftii! at the foot of the hill/ "'?je^ what happened?" "A cop hauled us up.': -Louisville Courier- Journal. THE FARMERS BANK OF EDGEF?ELD, S. C. Is Depository for Public Funds of Town of Edgefield, of County of Edgefield, of State of South Carolina and of the United States in this District. The Strongest Bank in Edgefield County SAFETY' FIRST IS AND WILL BE OUR MOTTO Open your account with us for 1922. At the same time start a Savings Account with us, or invest in one of our INTEREST BEAR ING CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT. Lock boxes for rent in which to keep your valuable papers. All business matters referred to us pleasantly and carefully handled. WE SOLICIT YOUR BUSINESS _,_ .zs;-1 M ; I YA 11:< I >( ? >:< ; VA I >:< I IArj >:< I >:< j ri TVA IVA! f& Barrett & Company (INCORPORATED) COTTON FACTORS Augusta ..... Georgia ARRINGTON BROS. & CO. Wholesale Grocers and Dealers in Corn, Oats, Hay and all Kinds of Feeds Gloria Flour and Dan Patch Horse Feed Our Leaders Corner Cumming and Fenwick Streets On Georgia R. R. Tracks Augusta, Ga. YOUR PATRONAGE SOLICITED ?J9m See our representative, C. E. May. 1785 1922 COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON Examinations at the county seat for the Edgefield County scholarship, Friday, July 7, at 9 a. m. Subjects: English grammar and composition, American history, algebra and plane geometry. Four-year courses lead to the A. B. and- B. S. degrees. Special two-year pre-medical course. A course in Commerce and Business Administra tion is featured. Expenses moderate. For terms, catalogue, and illustrated folder, ad dress HARRISON RANDOLPH, President Orv King's Kew Discwen KiL? S THE COUGH. CITES THE LUNGS 1 Abbeville-Greenwood Mu tuai Insurance Asso ciation. ORGANIZED 1892. Property Insurred $17,226,000. WRITE OR CALL on the under signed for any information you may desire about our plan of insurance. We insure your property against destruction by FIRE, WINDSTORM, or LIGHT ND?G and do so cheaper than any Com pany in existence. Remember, we are prepared to prove to you that ours is the safest and cheapest plan of insurance known. Our Association is now licensed to write Insurance in the counties of Abbeville, Greenwood, McCormick, Edgefield, Laurens, Saluda, Rich land, Lexington, Calhoun and Spar ta ri burg, Aiken, Greenville, Picke ns, Barnwell, Bamberg, Sumter, Lee, Clarendon, Eersh?w, Chesterfield. The officers are: Gen. J. Fraser Lyon, President, Columbia, S. C., J. R. Blake, Gen. Agent, Secretary and Treasurer, Greenwood, S. C. -DIRECTORS A. 0. Grant, Mt. Carmel, S. C. J. M. Gambrell, Abbeville, S. C. J. R. Blake, Greenwood, S. C. A. W. Youngblood, Dodges, S. C. R. H. Nicholson, Edgefield, S. C. J Fraser Lyon, Columbia, S. C. W. C. Bates, Batesburg, S. C. W. H. Wharton, Waterloo, S. C. J. R. BLAKE, General Agent. Greenwood, S. C. Six Per Cent Loans. I hereby announce to the farmers of Edgefild County that I am now prepared as the Attorney for The First Carolinas Joint Stock Land Bank of Columbia, S. C., to file ap plications for loans at 6 per cent straight. No commissions, no stock taken by borrower, loans promptly made, and ea<y terms. Don't confuse this bank with The Federal Land Bank. J. H. CANTELOU, Attorney. Edgefield, S. C., July ll, 1922.