Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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CIKCl'K STORIE8 Of the Long Ago a* Related by Co lumbia Newspaper Man. William Hanks, Columbia corres pondent of the Charleston News and Courier, had the following Interesting yarn in that paper laftt Monday* Speaking alnnit eircuse#. We have had two here thin year and both were good. Small hut genteel. Interesting. Robinson's and Spark'?. l>o you know why John Robinson's Circus has al ways been so popular in South C aro lina? 1 looked up a Reference in Jul ian Selby'a lively and entrancing hook of sketches "Memorabilia," but I couldn't find it there. Mr. Selby whs ' the editor of the Columbia Phoenix, came out of the ashes of the Sherman carelessness with lire, and continued even until after Wade Hampton was inaugurated governor. You bet those were no easy times for a democratic home and fireside newspaper in South Carolina. Mr. Selby's book Is bubbling over with story and anecdote, but I dkln't find this one. >s However, I know from hearsay, Big Tom Pope told me, in fact, that old John Kobinson, the governor he was called, came to South Carolina in the heat of tho campaign of 1876 and gave negro voters tickets to the circus in exchange for their registration certifi cates. That made a democratic vic tory in this state possible. For he got rid of thousands of potential voters in that way. ?" From the same source "Big Tom" Pope who was Col. A. C. Haskell's right hand man in tho riotous timos in Richland county in 1870, I learned about the Pullman and Mayberry cir cus going broke in Columbia, at the old fair ground on Klmwood avenue. The stock was auctioned off there and many a gay sport in Columbia had a ring performer for his mount in those days. The press agent of that show was Al. G. Field, i moi Mr. no id m later years. He confided to me that his name was Hatfield, hut he hail taken Field as a stage name and he was glad <tf it, for some of his folks had got in bad in Kentucky in the Hat field-McCoy feuds. Those were his own people ? close kin. Al. Field was a great admirer of General Hampton and told me how he loved to sit and watch the General ride down Main street of Columbia. This circus also helped' the demo cratic cause by lending its "bi^ top ' to old Zeb Vance when he was lead ing the democratic forces against the gifted republican, Suttlo, in North Carolina. Speaking of circuses and sich, I witnessed the route of John. Robin son's circus by i little bit of a man, didn't weigh ovei KM pounds, "perhaps K>C. It whs n t Koek Hill in 185)0 or thereabouts. The Rev. R. O. Pierson was conducting a revival meeting. The t<>v\:i ;; i' . 1 1 1 \ worked up. He was doing miiik' ama/.ing preaching. He advised the jwople-not to go to the circus. And they didn't. That circus pulled up and left town without offer ing a night performance and Rock Hill couldn't tfet a circus to come there for years after. One of the funniest ?. ircu^ stories I ever heard was told me by. Hary Mc f'mw, the clerk <<1 the state supreme court . and a wonderful raconteur '.f I kimw what oiu ss. A little hitsy i iivus went to Lancaster .iu.st when the lii^l crop wms made aftii the civil Contempt Decision Stirs Public Otarftes L Crat* (aboee) Ootnp trofler of tJ?e CUy of New TotIl, through s decision o< the U. 8. So preme Court muxl nerw fdity day* In jail for oont?Hri|>t of court nnicaa public opinion now rallying bo hdb support fore** a pardon. Betaw la Jiilofi Mayer, of New York, whose decision. almost three yean ago, was apto!4 by the hl*t>er court, l'romincnt man declare It oomplete violation of the principal of free speech and free press war. There wasn't much moiwy in tho CUUnt) y and the people woro circus hungry. They managed to 8cra|K* up enough two-bit piecos to get under the top, At the conclusion of the perfor mance a clown appeared and made a srJever little speech about the war be ing over and the north being willing to forgive the Kouth, and asked if some southern gentleman would come down into the ring and drink a toast with him. His eyes were directed to ward a distinguished looking gentle man perched up in the middle section, and made somewhat conspicuous by his silk tile hat, which had been doing service even before its owner had gone off to do valiant service for the Con federacy some five years before. The invitation in the clown's man ner was so personal that the fine type uf southern chivalry was magnetized, even against his will, and with a courtly bow, he said, "The South ac cepts the courtesy of your offer." He proceeded into the arena with his high hat under his arm and his frock tail coat proclaiming him to be a member of the bar, and he was a darn good oae, mo Harry tells me, As this kindly old gentleman waited in expectancy, willing to take a drink publicly in the matjter of burying old scores between the* north and the south, that sorn swoggled clown up, and ending the bottle, took all of its contents, wiped his mouth on the back of his h&m), threw the bottle down. No greater insult to the southern flag was ever offered. No sirree. The judge was right there with the come back. A part of his paraphernalia was a faded but otherwise hale and active umbrella. After clearing his throat to make sure of the pitch of his voie?, the ex<Confederate officer let out a roar that could have been heard above a tamion volley and donouneed that clown in words picturesque and ample. It was one of the greatest speeches ever heard in Lancaster village and throughout its length and breadth there ran one simple theme -"blue bellied Yankee," with, apostrophizing adjectives that told the rascal that the judge knew all about his dubious parentage. But he didn't have to use the umbrella. ?\>r as soon as they had rallied from their superfaction, the young men of Lancaster made an unmistakable movement toward a rail fenco, and their itinerary included it buckot of tar and a feather pillow. Whereupon the clown stayed not upon the manner of his going, but -he went. Just a few jumps ahead of thai rail. That was too rough a joke to be ptliiled in South Carolina ? and that is one clown that never tried it again. JUDGE JAMES W. DeVORE. . ? "Did-He-Do-It" in Question .Put To Juror* in Him Charge. Columbia, Nov. 26. The lawyers and jurorn in the recent term of court in Richland county were very much taken with the quaint personality of Judge James W. DeVore, of KdgeAeld, who was presiding here for several weeks. The judge had not been here for some time, and he said that every time ho came to Columbia to hold court somebody jumped up some new quustion of law to be settled. This time it was Whether or not an attor ney could have a privileged conversa tion with a prisoner at the state pen itentiary, He granted the request with considerations. The lawyers call the Edgefield jurist, "Did-he-do-it." They don't call him that to his face, to be sure. The ySStSi^n?!T ?: ~ ' ? ? ? . ? - judge has a unique and to the jurort, plain way of 'putting a proposition, "Gentlemen, the defendant is charge with murder. The state says that h? did. Did he do K? I am requested w. charge you so-an-so. I will do so. -^-Did he do it? That is not a matter of law but of fact for you to deter mine. Did he do it,!" And that little interrogation makes a juror think. Judge DeVore is a graduate of Wash ington and Lee and in his youth wrote considerably. ^He started out to throw ? shadow over Irvin Cobb. The titk of one of his works is? "I am Some what of a Liar, Myself." That book i* quite rare, for they do say that th? judge when he came to the bench r?. gretted the passing moment of frivol ity and has tried to lay hands upon ?U outstanding copies and to destroy them. Did he do it?-rCorreftpondence of William Bankfc. Miller -&r Khoads . ? - . ? .?< 'mm l.l'ffc ?y.i; ?? - f ? t >? .? 1 fm I. ? , V - best Christmas we have ever had /"EAR by year the list of our loyal friends grows, and If Christmas becomes a bigger event as more and more of our friends come here to do their Christmas shopping. This year we are better prepared than ever to make their shopping pleasant, comfortable and satisfactory. We have bigger stocks, more room and more employees to serve them. How fortunate it is that this holiday season finds us estab lished in our new store. What a brilliant sight to look out over the great expanse of roomy aisles and orderly counters, v'?i all stocked with exquisite new things! What a splendid setting for your Christmas shopping! Christmas is a glorious time at Miller & Rhoads. The store is aglow with the holiday spirit. A glimpse at the lovely things, brought from almost every country on the globe, will thrill you with the joy of giving. Counter after counter of the most delightful suggestions for Christmas gifts will make your shopping trip an adventure in happiness. Always a Christmas feature at Miller & Ithoads is the gift tables. Gifts are arranged according to price. On one table arc gifts for $1. On another, gifts for $2. On still another, gifts for $.5. and so on. On one of these tables is a gift for just the price you want to pay. It's a simple matter to shop from these tables. If you know about how much you want to spend for a gift, but don't know just what to buy. these tables will save you the trouble of searching from department to department. Find the table to fit your purse, then pick your gift. Each table has :m astonishing variety of things selected from all over the store. If you are doing any of your Christinas shopping in Rich mond. come in and see the new store with its magnificent Christmas display. A walk down the aisles will disclose 3 hundreds of happy ideas for gifts, something to suit every conceivable taste and disposition. The aisles are wide and roomy; there is no crowding. You can make your selections in comfort without feeling rushed. If you are puzzled about what to buy for mother, father, husband, wife, brother, sister or friend, ask our salespeople. They could make a thousand sensible suggestions. Making up a Christmas list is a delightful pastime for those who fill it with the pretty and useful things from Miller & Rhoads. Shopping at our Christmas gift tablet is the lost word in con ve mence. Hifts are grouped accord' ing to puce. All the gifts on one table are the same price Suggestions fpr Christmas Gifts Leather Good* Jewelry Handkerchief* Belt* Hosiery Toilet Article* Cahdy China Silver Sut Class ook* Stationery Enfravinf Undergarments, ' Knit, Silk and Muslin DrMMI Blouses Pars Infant*' Wear Shoea Sw?atert Negligees Lavage Art Needlework Men's Fnrnlshings H e pay the parcel post charges on all gifts sent directly from the store to out-of-town points. All gifts are carefully wrapped and insured against loss. RICHMOND, VA.