The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, May 13, 1908, Image 1
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VOLUME XXIII. LAURENS, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1908. NUMBER 41
CLINTON HONORS THE
MEMORY OE HER
HEROIC DEAD.
Fitting Memorial Day Cer
emonies Were Held on
Last Friday.
ORATION MADE DY
KEY. J. K. MCCAIN.
Other Notable Addresses Were Delivered.
Members of Two Camps the
Guests of the Local Chap>
tcr U. D. C.
Clinton, May 11. Last Friday was
Memorial Day in Clinton and the old
soldiers for whom it was set apart en
joyed to the full every attention shown
them, '("he ladies of Stephen ?. Lee
Chapter U. D. C. prepared a bountiful
dinner and served it at 12 o'clock in the
City Hall. The main hall had been dec
orated with ivy and magnolias and on
the walls were a dozen life-size por
traits of Confederate generals. At a
long table were seated fifty veterans,
members of Camp R. S. Owens, and
their guests of honor. The Rev. W. P.
Jacobs was at the head of the table
and asked the blessing. In an adjoin
ing room long tables joined in horse
shoe shape were arranged for the mem
bers of Camp Mace L?ngsten Sons of
Veterans. At this table were served
more than a hundred "sons" and visit
ors. At half past one o'clock a proces
sion was formed on the public square
under the direction of Dr. W. A.
Shands, commander of Camp R. S.
Owens and master of ceremonies.
The order of this procession was:
The Veterans, Sons of Veterans, col
logc pupils, public school pupils, private
school pupils, Thornwell Orphanage
pupils.
The children carried very pretty
wreathes which were placed on the
graves of veterans.
The Rev. C. Lewis Fowler had been
invited to speak at the graves and he
made an eloquent address, dwelling at
length on the fact that it is a reunited
country, and asserting his love for the
stars and stripes. He paid a tribute to
the "courage and endurance of south
ern men and women during the civil
war.''
From the . raves the procession
moved to a handsomely decorated stand
in the church grove. On this stand were
seated the ladies and gentlemen who
had parts in the program. Dr. Shands
announced that the Rev. Mr. Hodges
would oirer the invocation. This was
followed by the singing of "Maryland"
by the school children. Miss Ellene
McCaslan then recited an ode, "Our
Dead," which was composed by Mrs.
Dendy in 186(>, and contained the names
of many comrades of the veterans
present.
Dr. Shands then introduced the ora
tor of the dav, the Rev. J. K. McCain,
of Columbia. He spoke of the old days
and the lost cause in a way that drew
tears and "rebel yells" from his hear
ers. Through a long address his audi
ence; gave him the closest attention and
their hearty approbation of his speech
was evinced by repeated hand-clap
pings. While recognizing that it is a
reunited country and rejoicing in the
fact, Dr. McCain does not condone or
keep silent about the wrongs of the
South.
He paid beautifully worded tribute to
Die dead, the women of the Confederacy
and the private soldier. He spoke of
l he money wasted in marble shafts
while veterans were spending their last
days in the poor-house. He expressed
opposition to emmigration and voiced
the cry: "The South for Southern
people."
The Rev. Mr. McCain is an "unre
constructed rebel" and proud oLit, and
^ judging from the enthusiastic r?-cption
be had Friday, he spoke to a congenial
audience.
Other features of Friday's exercises
1 were two songs from the school chil
dren, "Dixie" and the "Southern
Girl;" the reading by the Rev. Dr.
Bean of a feeling memorial to those i
members of Camp R. S. Owens who
have since last Memorial Day joined
their comrades on the other shore, and
the presentation to three veterans of
crosses of honor.
At the request of Mrs. A. M. Cope
land, president of the Stephon D. Leu
Chapter, the Rev. .1. F. Jacobs made
CROSS HILL NEWS LETTER.
Child Bitten by Mad Dor. Other News
Notes and Personal Items.
Cross Hill, S. C, May 11. Last Tues
day a dog owned by Mr. Carrol Nance
attacked his three-year-old little boy
and bit its band very badly. It also
tried to bite a negro and a mule. The
dog was promptly killed. .Mr. Nance
took his child to Mount ville and had the
mad stone applied and it adherred to
the wound, indicating that the dog was
mad. Mr. Nance took the first train
to Atlanta to have the child treated at
the Pasteur Institute It is hoped that
any bad results may be avoided. Mr.
Nance took the head of the dog and
after it was examined it was the opin
ion of experts that the dog had hydro
phobia. And yet people in this town
keep dogs about their homes as if they
thought there: was no danger. Mirabile
dictu!
Tho entertainment by the school Fri
day evening was quite a success. The
young people and children acquitted
themselves creditably and the large
congregation present enjoyed the exer
cises very much. All the teachers have
I been re-elected except Miss Martin.
She did not offer her health would not
permit. Miss West, of Newberry, and
Miss Griftin, of Clinton, were elected
teachers for the primary department
which makes one additional teacher.
Mrs. Mary Bradley and little son, of
Jackson, Ga., are visiting her mother,
Mrs. N. E. Boyce.
The social event of the week was a
Swastika party given by Mr. and Mrs.
N. B. Davenport in honor of Misses
Addison and Barre. About thirty guests
were present. Delicious refreshments
were served during the evening. Sou
venirs of the evening were cards in the
Swastika design.
Memorial Day was observed last Sat
urday afternoon. Mr. II. T. lloljins
worth was Master of Ceremonies and
Mr. M. T. Simpson read the roll. Bach
grave was marked with a little Confed
erate flag and decorated with beautiful
dowers.
Mrs. N. I. Williams was called to
Walhalla Saturday on account of the
death of her sister, Mrs. J. .1. Norton.
Mrs. Norton's girldhood was spent at
Cross Hill, she being the daughter of
the late Dr. R. E. Campbell. Her
many friends here will be sorry to hear
of her death.
Miss Lulie Leainan is quite ill. She
does not improve as her friends would
wish.
Dr. J. D. Austin, of Clinton, was in
town professionally last Friday.
Common Pleas Court Adjourns.
The court of common pleas adjourned
Saturday after the two weeks' session.
Only two cases were disposed of since
the last publication of the proceedings.
These were:
Mrs. Rosalce Sullivan vs. John Moore
for the recovery of a tract of land.
Mrs. Sullivan had deeded this tract to
Mrs. Alice I'. Crier for life holding, but
on the death of Mrs. Crier tin- land was
sold twice, being at the time Ol the
suit in the possession of .Mr. T. A. Mc
Carley. Mrs. Sullivan sued for the
recovery of the land which she claimed
was to revert to her at the death of
Mrs. Crier. The jury decided in favor
of the defendant.
The last case was M. T. Chancey vs.
W. B. Putnam. The verdict was for
the plaintiff to the amount of $105.66.
Union and Laiircns Pare Well.
Mr. McCowan, the Washington cor
respondent for the News and Courier
in writing about the Federal appropria
tions this year, has the following:
"Union and Laurens show up better
than any of the other South Carolina
towns this year. Mi-. Johnson, who
represents the 1th district in congress
has both Union and Laurens in his dis
trict. He gets $50,000 for . ach of them
in addition to this Orcenvillo recently
got $KO,000 for enlarging her building,
and Spartanburg, under recent Act,
got $60,000, and now has one of the
best equiped and most commodious
pOStOfflce buildings in the south.
the speech of presentation. His speech
was gracefully worded and exceedingly
appropriate to the occasion. He said
that it was from the ha .ids ol the
queens who bestowed them that badges
of honor were most valued, and asked
that the daughter.; themselves make
the presentation. Be then called for
ward Misses Mary Hunter Litt le, Eltone
MeCnslan and Lydia Honry, and asked
them to deliver crosses to Dr. Frank
Davis, Mr. A. M. Copeland and Mr. II.
?. Adams. Mr. Adams made a very
clever speech of acknowledgement.
Tho usual roll calls and resolutions
ended the program of the day.
MEMORIAL DAY EXERCISES
WERE HELD HERE SATURDAY.
Under the Auspices of the Daughters of the Confed
eracy Annual Tribute is Paid the Memory of
Honored Dead. Address by Mr. McSwain.
Memorial Day was fittingly observed
in Laurcns last Saturday, May 9. The
principal exercises of the day were
held in the city opera house under the
auspices of J. B. Kershaw Chapter,
United Daughters of Hie Confederacy,
and concluded at the city cemetery,
followed by a bountiful dinner which
was served for the benefit of all vete
rans present. The programme of exer
cises included the annual address, popu
lar war songs, appropriate music and
the decoration of soldiers' graves.
Veterans and their sons and daugh
ters were here from all parts of the
county to pay tribute to the memory of
the honored dead and when the exer
cises were opened the opera house was
well filled, the audience containing a
large number of children, some of
whom participated in the ceremonies.
Hon. C. C. Featherstone presided and
presented the Rev. Chas. F. Rankin,
pastor of the First Presbyterian church,
who opened the exercises with a beau
tiful invocation. This was followed
with a song, "Bonnie Blue Flag," by a
select choir from the graded school;
recitation by Miss Gertrude Wright;
musical solo by Miss Louise Copeland;
"Tenting on the Old Camp Ground To
night," by a male quartet.
In appropriate remarks Mr. Feather
stone then introduced Hon. John J.
McSwain, of Greenville, who delivered
a most eloquent oration, paying a splen
did tribute to the valor of the Confed
erate soldiers, living and dead, and to
the devotion of the Daughters and Sons
in commemorating the achievement of
those who have joined the silent ma
jority and of those yet spared to us.
It was a beautiful address, a portion of
which appears below. Mr. McSwmii i:;
a native of Cross Hill, this county, and
a most worthy and prominent son of a
distinguished Confederate soldier.
After the address Mrs. Jas. IL Boyd
sang very sweetly "Our Boys in Gray,"
which was followed by a committee of
young ladies pinning crosses of honor
on a number of veterans. Benediction
by the Rev. J. D. Crout, pastor of the
First Methodist church.
Forming in line the assemblage,
headed by the veterans and followed by
citizens and school children, marched
to the city cemetery, where, after the
roll call of the honored dead whose
ashes repose within the "silent city"
by ( apt. John M. Hudgens, the children
were delegated to decorate the graves
of these soldiers of the Confederacy
and thatot a Union soldier who sleeps
under the same sod.
Returning to the citv a bountiful din
ner was served all the veterans over
the Palmetto Drug store, one hundred
and seventy-five of the "boys" as they
liked to be called on these occasions,
partaking of the dinner which had been J
provided by their hostesses, the U. D.
c.'s of Laurens.
Later in the afternoon the honored
guests of the day were entertained at j
the opera house for an hour or more by
a special performance given by Mana
ger Romait as a courtesy to the veto- i
rans. This courtesy as well as all other (
attentions shown them during the day
woro greatly enjoyed and appreciated.
Out of respect to the occasion the
county dispensary closed from 9 a. m. i
to 1 p. m.
Mr. McSwain said in part: "It Is well ;
to remember: "Today is the child of
yesterday. Nothing in the past is dead
to the man who would know how the|
present came to be what it is. We !
have gathered to rehearse a great chap
tor in American history. We have come
not here to sing proud peans to a tri
umphant cause. This gathering is not
prompted by any hope of reward, and
the strength of the memorial organiza- ?
tions here represented consists not in
the cohesion of plunder. Rather are
we knit into solidarity by the sinews of
sorrow and bound by the cables of ca
lamity. .
"But sometimes, on occasions of this
kind, we hear the carping voice of dis
sent, asking the reason for keeping
alive the memories of that torrific time
of blood and carnage. They toll us that
"The fields forget, the battles fought.
The trenches wave with golden grain;
Shall we forget the lessons taught,
And toar afresh tho wounds again?"
"They tell us that all over our rounitod
country tho old flag of Washington ia
hailed an tho emblem of liberty and of
love for country; they tell us that
slavery was a blight to all society; they
tell us that State sovereignty meant
national dependence; that secession
meant disintegration; that nullification
was social suicide enthroned over law.
Why then, they ask. harrow up the
horrid visions of such a period and put
their poison in the mind; of a new gen
eration.
"We are not here to dispute over
these propositions. Such objections arc
founded in an absolute misconception of
the purposes of this occasion. We hold
that all great deeds of high endeavor
in pursuit of a (iure purpose should not
perish from the minds of men.
"We are not sailed upon to defend
secession save to assert that its princi
ples are as pure as prompted patriot to
bare his breast in the cause of his coun
try. We once more assert, because the
world seems prone to forget, that the
South did not secede and fight primarily
to preserve the institution of slavery;
the right of State authority was funda
mental, and all the other questions,
such as slavery, free trade and finance,
were but as examples of the real issue.
The South, preserving the spirit that
prevailed throughout the nation when
the union was formed, regarded the
States as the original and final reposi
tories of all the powers of government.
"Thus a great issue of constitutional
construction was framed. For full
three score years the battle was waged
in the forum of debate. Bach side be
lieved itself right and was sincere.
Finally passion, pride and prejudice
combined to disenthrone reason and
both sides appealed to arms. Here
again both were sincere. Both armies
appealed to the same God t>> vindicate
the justice of their cause.
"Upon this basis all men may join us
in this annual tribute to our heroes, for
upon this point all men must agree that
no other age or land ever witnessed ar
mies whose daring, discipline, courage
and devotion surpassed the hosts that
followed Lee. On this occasion we do
not seek to revive the now well-nigh
dead embers of sectional hatred. To
day we might mingle our voices with
the gathering hosts all over this great
nation in one common chorus:
'Under the sod and under the dew.
Waiting the judgment day;
Tears and love for the blue,
Love and tears for the ; ray.'
"The reason they fought and died the
heroes they wert; is not far to seek.
Remember they were no mercenary
hirelings, goaded on by greed for gold.
Always poorly fed, half sheltered and
clothed and never paid, they waged a
war for pure principle that lifted them
out of the low groveling things of gain
into the realms where martyrs bless the
flames that proclaim their constancy to
a conviction of truth.
"Again, the Confederate armies
waged no war for conquest. They
went not forth to lay the heavy hand
i of usurpation upon a BUbject people.
1 Unlike Alexander of Asia, unlike
Caesar in Gaul, unlike William In Lng
land, unlike Napoleon in Germany, un
like Cornwallis in America, the com
peers of Robert E. Leo fought, upon
their own soil to beat back tho invading
bands of a hostile section. Unlike
these martial examples of blood and
terror, striving to subjugate other peo
ple to their despotic will, our fathers
you good gray heads, whose lives
heaven has lengthened out to this glad
day ?you were content to on joy in peace
the God-given right of self-government.
Yet when a hostile foot was planted on
your soil you dared to repel with a pa*
triot's wrath the rash intrusion of a
bigoted and misguided section. This
sentiment stirred the hearts, steadied
the nerves and steeled the arms of the
men who achieved the victories, undor
went the hardships and endured the
agonies that gave them undying glorj .
Along the lines when forth to the fray
they rushed with the fury of friends,
from breast to breast there passed the
silent yet determined exhortation:
'Strike till the last armed foo expires,
Strike for your homes and your tires,
Strike for tne green graves of your sires,
God and your native land.'
"The world marvels at. the dash, the
daring ami the desperation of the thou
sand mad charges made by tho men
whom we have come to honor. The
reason is simple; our fathers did not
fight by proxy. Kuch man, rogardlcss
of wealth or station, shouldered his
musket, and when duty called there
MR. THOMAS P. SENN DEAD.
tiood Citizen, Faithful Soldier and
Loyal Churchman.
Mr. Thomas F. Senn, a veteran of
the late war, died at his home near
here last Sunday morning and was
buried at the Rocky Springs cemetery
Monday afternoon. Mr. Senn was
sixty-two years of age and is survived
by Iiis wife and six children who are:
Mrs. .1. A. Traynham, Messrs. Miles,
Anderson, Lee and Kemper, ami Miss
Hetty Senn, all of the county.
The deceased was a good citizen and
a consistent member of the Rocky
Springs Presbyterian church. He was
a faithful soldier, having served
throughout the war in Bowden's com
pany, McGowan's brigade. 13th South
Carolina regiment.
Laurcns Is All Right.
The Greenville News of Sunday has
this to say about a Laurens county
man:
"Mr. E. l). Dixon, a former resident
of this city, but whose home is now
near Clinton, in Laurens county, was
in the city yesterday. Mr. Dixon was
for a number of years a member of the
city police force and made an excellent
officer. He moved to Laurens county
about ten years ago and is prospering |
in his new home.
"Mr. Dixon says that the cotton in
1.aureus county was not hurl so much
by the frosts but that the cold wind
has injured it very much. He says that
there is very little cotton being held in
his section. 'I have been a subscriber
to The News for many years and would
feel lost without it,' said Mr. Dixon.
'I take five other papers but I would
rather do without all of them than The
News.' "
Fourth Division Association.
The union of the -Itli Division of
Laurcns Association will hold its next
meeting with the Mountville Baptist
church on Saturday and Sunday, May
!M)lh and 31st inst. The churches com
posing this union will filea.se take notice
ami send full delegations. The follow
ing is the programme:
Saturday, May 30th.
10,00 Devotional service led by the
Moderator.
Enrollment of delegates.
10.30 Exegesis. The bread of life,
?b.hn 6: 50-58. W. P. Brown, Rev. VV.
P. Turner, Rev. C. Lewis Kowlcr.
11.30- Sermon by Rev. J. A. Martin.
I ntcrmission.
2.tio Distinctive characteristics of a
Christian life. 2 Cor., 6th chapter.
Rev. Brock, G. VV. Proffctt, w. c.
Wharton.
3.00 (a) Saving power of the church.
Malt. 5; 13-16: (b) Lack of this power.
Rev. 2d and 3d chapters. Rev. .1. A.
Martin, .1. II. Wharton, Rev. C. Lewis
Fowler.
Sunday, May 31st.
10.00 Player ami song service led by
W. P. Culbcrtson.
10.30 Missions. Rev. Brock.
11.00 Lnymon in the evangelistic
work. Rev*. .1. A. Martin, Rev. W. P.
Turner.
11.30 Missionary sermon by Rev. C.
Lewis Fowler.
W. P. CULBERTSONi Sec.
Some men always make a show of
saluting the llag, and many of them do
not care a rap about the principles for
which the old banner stands.
was he. When on (Sott ysburg's ensan
gui bed plain charge after charge was
unsupported, and ended in disaster,
I here was not a man dismayed, even
'though tho soldier knew some one had
blundered.'
'Theirs not to make reply, theirs not to
reason why,
Theirs but to do and die.'
"But what concern is all this to us of
a new generation? Bvoh though our
fathorS Wore good soldiers and true yet
finally yielded in defeat, why not let us |
encourage the forgetting of such a dire '
calamity? Such a base suggestion
might host be repudiated with Silent ,
contempt. Hut let. us say this m ich:
Though that struggle did end in sad
defeat for the South, though well nigh 1
a million husbands, fathers, brothers
and sons found tho courted privilege of
death for their country, though billions
of long boarded wealth went up in
smoke, though the wail of the widow
and orphan mingled In mournful chorus
with the consuming flames as they
licked out of existence thousands of
once happy homes, yet from out of and
above the din of this maelstrom of
death then' risos n crown of glory in
offnblo that rests upon the brow of
every dying hero in gray and upon
every worthy son of such n sire.
Though there be 'tears for grief of the
father, for a mother's anguish tears;
but for him who died for his country,
glory through the endless years.' "
YOUNG MAN YIELDED
TO IMPULSE OF
DESPAIR?
Full Particularsof llaskell
Coptf' 'id's Death at
Slatesville, N. C.
REASON ANN Hi N Kit
PGR SHOCKING UT.
Deceased Was (he Youngest Son of Ctipt.
J. W. Copcland and a Member of
Very Prominent I.aureus
County Piimily.
Clinton, May (2. This entire com
munity was shocked lasl 'l ue day nighl
by tho ilia's of the tragic death of Mr
George llaskell Copcland, son of ('apt.
J. W. Co|>ctand, of Statesville, N. C.
At lirst it was reported thai the dis
charge of the pistol was accidental, bul
there is now no douhl that the iinforlii
nate young man ended his own life.
Although he was but a lad ho was old
tor his years and had the misfortune to
have fallen deeply in love. The ohjeel
of his affections was married al almost
the oxnet hour he died the fatal I hoi
and left on her wedding journey with
out knowing the consequences of her
conduct.
As may he supposed, the young man
had been subjected ton groul deal of
teasing which he had borne fairly well
and no one of his relatives realized how
severe had been the blow, lie spent
most of the afternoon driving with his
brother-in-law, Mr. I). J. Craig, and
after returning from the drive joined
Ids family, who worein the sitting room
wailing for supper to he announced,
When it was ready ho tilted hi chair
back and said that he did not feel like,
eating. The family were shocked with-*
! in a very few minutes to hear i pistol
shot and rushinp to the sitting room
they found him in the position in which
they had left him, a pistol in hi hand
and a wound in In. lefl breast. The
bullet, penetrated the henrl and im
bedded itself in the chair. Tho doctors
are of the opinion that death was in
stantaneous. His father was til tin
time at. Alkalilhia Spring , where he i
kept by business most of his time. He
drove twenty-five miles through the
country to get home lit OnCO. Iiis 1
tor, Miss Corrie Copcland, a rheinbi rbf
the senior class al Converse collejgo,
was summoned home. His brother, Mr.
.1. W. <lopcland, Jr., and h aunt, Mrs.
W. A. Shands, lefl Clinton oh it ttiitl
night, t rain and reached lab ville the
next day. Tho other members of the
family were his sister and brotlicr-in
law. Mr. and Mr. I). J; I ??. and hi
sisters, Misses Knlhcrinu and Kllii
Copcland. These were idl in (I lidu ? .
The shooting was done with a citli
hro Colt revolver, winch had boon bor
rowed by Mr. Copolahd a ho'r'l Linie
before on account of a burglar scare.
There is absolute!;. n>> rec on for h<
Moving that the deed pl'ei L< i.
It i- supposed that ho yielded to it mo
nn ntary impulse of despair; a?id hap
pening to have t he \v< apon on his pi i
son used it without seednd cohsid ra
tion of tho gravity of his act.
Tho yOUng man was of exempli)r;
moral character, had no bad habit.,, and
there was no other reason tobethotiy i
of for his death than the unhappy ter
mination Of hi love affair.
Capl. J. W. Copeland moved from
Clinton about eighteen years a o bul
he has kepi up his businc ,h connections
here and ho and the other inembi is of
the family have made frequent trips
hack. About eichl year ago hi i on.
J. W. Copcland, .Jr., settled h< round is
one of the most public spirited, popular
young men in the city. <?n all of those
accounts this tragedy ca t a gloom over
< 'Union.
There hud been KohiC tall, of llaskell
Copoland's attending the I't'Csbytorlah
college here next year and the young
crowd was keenly interested in him,
hoping to know him hol i i i'.
Nothing has ever called forth more
sincere expression of sympathy from
the people of this community.
Attorney Ryland P. IrnynhHiir.
Mr. Ryland I*. Trnynhuint son ot'Coh
?lames II. Traynhani, ftftd a popular
young man of this eit> . ha- bo?jfl ad
mitted to tho bar of South Carolina.
having successfully passed the exami
nation before tho Supreme Court at
Columbia last Thursday.