Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

\ If Tot Don't Read THE CHRONICLE Too Don't Get The Newa. h THE CHRONICLE Strive* To Be a Gean Newa* paper, Complete, Neway and Reliable. VOLUME XXV CLINTON, S. C., THURSDAY, ApSlL 30,1925 NUMBER 18 LAURENS COUNTY HISTORY RE-ENACTED IN PAGEANT Three Hundred School Pupils Recall County’s Early Days in Two Brilliant Performances. Thousands Witness Scene. Laurens, April 25.—One of the fin est historical pageants ever seen in South Carolina was given Friday at Laurens by the Laurens county de partment of education, including more ttyan 300 children representing every public school in the county. It was a magnificent success in every respect and was seen in the afternoon and at night by thousands of citizens. ^It was planned, organized and directed by Miss Kate V. Wofford, county su perintendent of education, with the loyal and energetic cooperation of the school teachers and pypils of the coun ty, as well as a number of other citizens. The pageant was given in the Lau rens baseball park. Pine trees were used to' make an attractive and effec- tice background. The symbolic prelude consisted of a dance of the Four Seasons with the Spring Maidens predominating, thus giving to Laurens county its fine cli mate and weather, and second, a dance of the birds and flowers, the first creatures to inhabit the county. These ^ dances were of exquisite beauty, and the colorful and Appropriate costum ing added much. The opening solo dance by a little girl was wonderfully well done. The episodes were announced by Duckett Young of the Laurens high school, who was fittingly arrayed and who spoke so clearly and distinctly that he was easily heard. " The first episode was the coming of the white man to Laurens county. In this, John Duncan, the first settler, with a company of other settlers met a band of Indians and exchanged vows of amity and good will. Nearly one hundred children were in this scene, most of them as good Indians. The second episode disclosed an at tack by the Indians on Jonathan Downs and a group of settlers. Ex pecting trouble, the whites made camp fire*, rolled up their blankets so that they , looked Hke sleeping men, and withdrew into the ambush. The In dians crept upon the encampment and were quickly routed by the deadly fire of the concealed whites. R. P. Todd, Laurens high school student, well took the part of his ancestor, Jonathan Downs. The actors in this scene were from Hickory Tavern school. The third episode represented the massacre of a dozen patriots during the War of the Revolution by “Bloody Bill” Cunningham and some of his Tories. On promise of mercy, the pa triots surrendered, only to be murder ed instantly. The fourth episode .related to the formation of Laurens county in 1785 when it was cut off from the old Ninety-Six District. The scene was a celebration at the home of Charles Allen. Laurens high school boys took the part of Allen, John Hunter, Thom as Wadsworth and Jonathan Downs. The folk dances of the early settlers were admirably given by several groups of children, the dances having been the Highland Fling for the Scots, Sellenger’s Round for the English, and the Irish Jig for the Irishmen. One of the most popular features was the next interlude which indicated the peace and prosperity of the county' from the time of its formation to the War Between the States. This was a plantation scene in which slaves pre sented old-fashioned clog dances and the whites gave the stately minuet. The clog dancing was exceptionally fine. The fifth episode showed the patri ots accused of taking part in political riot under arrest by Union solliers. The scene represented them as they were about to depart to be. imprisoned in Columbia. Lawrence Kilgo, repre senting the Rev. J. R. Riley, pastor of the Presbyterian church, presented to the actors the same Bible that was given the group of patriots who in 1872 were carried off to prison. The patriots represented were Major John A. Leland, Dr. Thomas McCoy, Capt. A, W. Teague, Beverley Potter, Capt. Alex McCarley, Enoch West, Capt. R. E. Richardson, B. F. Ballew, W. T. Finley, Samuel Bolt, Watt Allison, W. E. Black, James M. Hudgens, Sam Oliver, and John N. Wright. The actors in this scene were students of the Laurens high school. It is inter esting to note that Major Leland in his book, “A Voice from South Caro lina,” in which he relates the experi ences of these imprisoned Laurens men, says that among their most con- stant visitors at the jail were Dr. James Woodrow and Mrs. Woodrow, uncle and* aunt of Woodrow Wilson. Major Leland records that on one oc casion he was allowed to attend the Presbyterian church* under guard and hat then he heard a splendid sennon >y the Rev. Dr. Joseph R. Wijson, lather of Woodrow Wilson, who was hea living in Columbia. Episode six depicted a gathering of Laurens county Red Shirts on the eve ti the election of Wade Hampton to the governorship in 1876 and the seiz ure of the state government from the carpetbaggers, scalawags and ignor ant negroes. This was a stirring sight and must have appealed strikingly to such of the real Red Shirts who were present. In the scene the leader of the mounted band made a telling speech and then detailed his men to duty at the various precincts. They rode off shouting, “Hurrah for Hamp ton!” The final interlude was an inter pretative-dance-showing the Spirits of Discord and Reconciliation as each strove for the mastery in the county, the latter winning and making a re united land again. The seventh episode represented a party given by the Clinton high school girls for the young men of Clinton about to take part in the World War. During this came the presentation of handsome national and state flags to the young soldiers. Some of the R. 0. T. C. students at the Presbyterian College of South Carolina took the part of the soldiers and carried them selves in a thoroughly military way. The last episode was “the land that is to be” in which the Spirit uf Pro gress and her attendants took a view of the past ,and of the future. , In this final spectacle were massed all the actors in the various scenes and they made an.imposing array. They sang impressively Timrod’s “Caro lina” and “Onward' Christian Sol diers.” The music rendered by the Win- throp College orchestra added much to the occasion. One of the most meritorious achievements of the pageant was the costuming which was exceedingly tasteful and appropriate, as well as symbolically and historically faithful. The whole complicated and difficult undertaking moved with the precision of a machine, having started and end ed on time. There Vas much favor able comment on the successful man ner in which the-pageant was carried out and upon the thorough training which the participants evidenced. No detail was neglected in the mak ing a spectacle which reflected tre mendous credit upon all who had part in it and upon the county and state. . The Laurens pageant must be set down as one of the very best ever given in South Carolina. KIWANIANS ENJOY FINE MEETING Union, Newberrysand Clinton Clubs Have Jolly Good Time At Inter- City Meeting Held Here. “Good Fellowship”—that was the keynote of the inter-city Kiwanis meeting held last Friday evening at the Clinton Hotel. Kiwanians, seventy in number, from the Union, Newberry and Clinton clubs, united for the happy occasion and the meeting was permeated with a fine spirit calculat ed to bring the towns closer together and to create a spirit of interest and cooperation between -the respective members of the three organizations. The attendance was excellent, only one member from Union being absent and only three from the local club. A good sized delegation was also present from Newberry. Soon after assembling, the Kiwan ians marched into the dining hall, where a bountiful spread was prepar ed and highly praised by the visiting Kiwanians. The meeting was in charge pf Claude Jolly, president of the Union club, and he and his “crowd*’ presented one of the clever est programs that it has ever been the pleasure of the local club to enjoy. The pleasure of. the evening was added to by several musical selections by Miss Benet Godfrey, sponsor of the Clinton club, and Mrs. H. L. Kennedy, and Miss Ruby O’Shields, of the Union club. The Union quartet made a de cided ‘hit and led the audience in a number of catchy Kiwantan songs. While the program had its serious side, it was also interspersed with laughter and fun, several of the stunts pulled by the visitors taking the house by storm. Gordon Hughes made an excellent address on “The Value of Inter-City Relationship,” in which he spo]^ of the fine spirit of cooperation now ex isting between competitive towns and pointed out some of the lasting and worth-while benefits to be derived by the communities. “The Purpose of Kiwanis” was dis cussed by Dr. Eddie Reaves, and he made an address that captivated his audience. A happy talk, on the subject of “Good Nite” wad made by Dr. John Matheson, who proved himself a de lightful after-dinner talker. Prof. 0. B. Cannon/president of the Newberry club, and W. W. Harris of the local chib, made talks also, the latter expressing Clinton’s delight in having the first inter-city meeting held here. Mr. Joseph B. Johnson, superinten dent of Barium Springs, N. C., Presby terian orphanage, and a member of the Statesville Kiwanis club, was the guest- of Dr. L. R. Lynn, and made a happy talk, expressing his pleasure in being present and bringing greetings from his club. A Clinton Kiwanian, Gilbert Blake ly, the club’s youngest member, was awarded a prize in a suit case stunt that was competed in by Bob Johnson of Union, Pat Wise of Newberry, and C. W. Stone of the local club. ' The foqr gentlemen were ushered into the dining hall, each carrying a suit case and a fashionable loud-colored para sol. At the signal of the president, they were advised that the bags con tained wearing apparel and were ad monished to unlock the cases and pro ceed to “put on” the contents of eafch bag. Soon opened, they revealed a conglomeration bf ladies’ wearing ap parel, the skirts following the present style of brevity with a shortage of sleeves and other material. The first one to “get in’” his costume and pres ent the finest feminine appearance was awarded a prize, a handsome “lingerie” gift which was captured by Gilbert Blakely. Ed Smith called Dr. John Sterler of the Newberry club to come to the front and receive & prize in recogni tion of his services'to his club. After a few happy remarks, a waiter con taining a glass uitcher and glasses was presented the Doctor and just as he reached to receive the gift, it purposely fell and smashed into a thousand pieces. ' Other similar stunts were enjoyed during the evening. An invitation was extended to hold the next inter-city meeting in Union on the evening of May 14th, and it was accepted. With the singing of the Kiwanis luncheon song, the meeting came to a close, being pronounced by all as an enjoyable occasion—one calculated to stimulate the clubs in their work and to bring about a closer acquaintance and friendship among the respective memberships. Nerves AH Unstrung? Clinton Folks Should Find the Cause and Correct It. Are you all worn out? Feel tired, nervous, half-sick? Do you have a constant backache; sharp twinges of pain, too, with dizzy spells and annoy ing urinary disorders? Then there’s cause for worry and more cause to give your weakened kidneys prompt help. Use Doan’! Pills—a stimulant diuretic to the kidneys. Clinton folks recommend Doan’s for just such troubles. Mrs. T. R. Simpson, rear of 19 S. Thornwell St,, Clinton, says: “I had a great deal of trouble with mf back, especially mornings. - Ir became de pressed and every bit of energy seem ed to leave me. I had dizzy headaches and often black specks appeared be fore my eyes. My kidneys were in a weakened state. All of these troubles kept me in a nervous, irritated condi tion. I used Doan’s Pills and they relieved me.” Price 60c, at all dealers. Don’t simply ask for a kidney remedy—get Doan’s Pills—the same that Mrs. Simpson had. Foster-Milbum Co., Mfrs., Buffalo, N. Y. LI crdJ c£±l crjJ t=U~EE±J t— 1 lc5.' cnif crLTEEEJiEHJcEirn ^isiJraisi^i=ii^i=dlr=lfa=lr=Jr==lr=ln=li=l r =li=li=Ji^=lrsliiB|i=di a a a a a s a a a a a a m a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Ii al a a ai a Hi a down With your Hoosier you get all these * * U down Hoosier Mount Vernon Dinner Set During this sale you receive with your Hoosier this beautiful Mount Vernon Dinner Set. It is attractive enough to grace any table. It is a set you will be prpud to own. 10-Piece Cutlery Set 14-Piece Glassware Set This is Hoosier's high-grade Fourteen useful glass contain- domestic science cutlery set ers for coffee, spices, etc. which regularly sells for $6. They come as regular equip- You can get it with your ment with your Hoosier High- Hooster Highboy. boy at no extra cost. ‘ ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER- YOU MUST HURRY r i Remember, we have only a limited "number of these Hoosier Cabinets for this special dollar- dawn sale. Don’t wait. You may be disap pointed. Come in and select your Hoosier while these liberal terms and these special in ducements prevail. £ m ' WHAT THIS GREAT OFFER MEANS TO YOU * * If you ever intend t^-buy a kitchen .cabinet this is ydilr big opportunity. With every ^Highboy and Beauty Cabinet bought this week we are giv ing—at no extra cost—a wonderful set of dishes and the sets of glassware and cutlery shown here. Come in and see the Hoosier for yourself. See these fine sets that are being given with it. Then—if you desire—just pay a dol lar down. Your Hoosier will be de livered to your home with the three gift sets. ), Sale Closes Saturday, May 2 S. M.& E. H. Wilkes & Co. LAURENS, SOUTH CAROLINA