Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOL-UME XXXVII. LAURENS, SOUTH CAROLINA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 8, 1921. NUMBER 21 uun vmyyy opyrig (Continued from Last Week.) As he grew older, his insatiate cu riosity enabled him to expose unnum bered weaknesses, indiscretions and social misfortunes on the part of ac quaintances and schoolmates; and to every exposure his noise and energy gave a hideous publicity; the more his victim sought privacy the more persistently he was sodight out by Wallie, vociferous and attended by hiliriotus spectators. But above all other things, what most stimulated the demoniac boy to prodigies of sat Ire was any tender episode or symp tom connected with the dawn of love. Florence herself had suflered excru clatingly at intervals throughout her eleventh spring, because Wallie dis !overod thqt Georgie Beck sent her a valentine; and the humorist's many, ninny squealings of that valentine's affectionate quatrain finally left her unabie to decide which she hated the inor(, Wallie or Georgie. That was the worst of Wallie: he never "let up"; and in Florence's circle there was no more sobering threat than, "Il tell Wallie Torbih !" As for Henry Rooter and Herbert Tiings worth Atwater, Jr., they would as soon have had a head-hunter on their trail as Waille Torhin with anything in his hands that could incriminate them in an implication of love-or an ac. knowledgement of their own beauty. f c o? il -lifid life Is inters woven with blackmail; even some of the noblest people do favors for othea people who are depended upon mot to tell somebody something that the no blest people have done. Blackmail is born into us all, and our nurses teach us more blackmail by threatening to tell our parents, if we won't do this and that-and our parents threaten to tell t1l3 doctor-and so we learn I Blackmail is part of the daily life of a child; displeased, his first resort to get his way with other children is a threat to "tell"; but by-and-by his experience discovers the mutual bene fit of honor among blackmailers. Therefore, at eight it is no longer the ticket to threaten to tell the teacher; and, a little later, threatening to tell *any adstit at all is considered some thing of a breakdown in morals. No toriously, the code is more liable to Infraction by people of the physically weaker sex, for the very reason, of course, that their inferiority of mus 'ele so frequently compels such a sin, if they are to have their way. But for Florence there was now no such temptation. Looking toward the de molition of Atwater & Rooter, an ex posure before adults of the results -of "Truth" would. have been an effect of the sickliest pallor compared to what right be .accomplished by a -eareful use of the catastr-ophieWallie 'Torbin. All in nil, it was .a great Sunday for Florence. On Sunday evening it was her privileged custom to go to 'the house of her fat, old .great-uncle, Joseph Atwater. and remain until nine *o'clock, in chatty companionship with Undle; eseph -and A unt Carrie, his * ifA, "nid a 'ei' ther relatives who were iu'the habit.fdropping in there nl ~Siqad ,exeiligs. In summer, 1emonade and cake wore frequently *pteodded ; in the autumn, one still found cake, and perhaps a pitcher of clea' neWv Cideir; apples were always -This eVeniing was glorious; there wvere aplps and cider and cake and -wsalnuts; p -erfectly cracked, and f4 'lar'ge .open-liearted box of candy. -Naturally, )tllese b~einig the circum *stab ; Ilerliert was among the gg4t~ rid, though rather at a die av~ tge, so far as the conversation as oncefthed. not troubled by the * dg# The reason he was at a bot~est(Qial disadvantage was elosqly 'connected with the iiisual *supply- of refreshments-; Uncle Joseph 'and' Aunt' Carrie, had foreseen the coming of keveral more Atwaters thdna usual, to talk over the new affairs of their beauttut relative, Jutla.,Se-. Woen moreo thoroughly italked ovet', tian s ~'ee Jpllia's that evening, thoughjail - the time by means of various symbols, v" since It was thought wiser that fler bett and Florenco should not yet be -told ref 'Jutira's engagsent, and Fior ene's parents were not present to ~onfes4 thielr lndrscreton. 3Jlia was S oo0thTa1rki6ngto lfustrations by ;-11 Myet*rS t-,1921- byi BStyndicateInc, makeshifts were employed with the most knowing caution; and all the while Florence merely ate Inscrutably. The more sincere Herbert was as placid; such foods were enough for him. "Well, all I say is, the traveler bet ter enjoy herself on her travels," iaid Aunt Fanny finally, as the subject appeared to be wearing toward ex hAustlon. "She certainly is in for it when the voyaging is over and she arrives in the port she sailed from, and has to show her papers. I agree with the rest of you; she'll have a great dead to answer for, and most of all about the shortest one. My own opinion is that the shortest one Is going to burst like a balloon." "The shortest one," as the demure FlorQco had understood .from the Uhrst, 'was her Ideal-none other than Noble Dill. Now she looked up from the stool where she sat with her back agitist a pilaster of the mantelpiece. "ntIle Joseph," she said--"I was just thiking. What is a person's reason?" The fat gentleman, rosy with fire light and cider, finished his fifth glass before. responding. "Well, there are persons I never could find any reason for 'em at all. 'A person's reason I' What do you mean, 'a person's rea son,' Florence?" "I ipean like when somebody says, 'They'll lose their reason,'" she ex .p1 4. , 'Has. everybody got a rea Son,' aid if they haie, what is-1t, and how do they lose it, and what would they do then?" "Ol, I seel" he said. "You needn't worry. I suppose since you heard It, you've been hunting all over yourself for your reason and looking to see if there was one hanging out of anybody else, somewhere. No; it's something you enn't see ordinarily, Florence. Losing your reason Is just another way ol saying 'going crazy!' ". "Oh," she nuirnvired, and appeared to be somewhat disturbed. At this, Herbert thought proper to offer a witticism for the pleasure of the company. "You know, Florence," he said, "it only means acting like you most al ways do." le applauded himself with a burst of changing laughter which ranged from a bullfrog croak to a collapsing soprano; then he added: "Especially when you come around my and Henry's newspaper building I You certainly 'lose your reason' every time you come around that ole place I" "Well, course I haf to act like the people that's already there," Florence retorted, not sharply, but in a musing tone that should have warned him. It was not her wont to use a quiet voice for repartee. Thinking her hum b~le, he laughed the more raucously. "Oh, Florence!I" he besought her. "Say not so! Say not sot" "Children, children!I" Uncle Joseph remonsitrated. Flerbiert <banged his tone: he beo enme seriously plaintive. "WVell, she does act that way. Uncle Joseph : Whe she c'omes around there you'd btink we were runnin' a lunatic '4yinmif the wny sho takes on.- She 'ioli-rs and bellers and squalls and 1mtiwks. Thle le'ast little teeny thing 'm uh-n't like flhoult the '-way w~e run m,' pa per, shte comes .flappin' over hiere' tnid goes to screechin' around, .'u c'ouldl he~ar her out at poorhouse "Now, no0w, 1lerbeirt," his Aunt Fan y Ilatetrpos9ed. "P'oor little Florence !lt sainhig aniythiug impolite to you ': right now, at airy rate, Why don't .mi h) a little sweet to her just for Ii~ if ounortuna~tte expression revolted I iq'h cou sinly mi'ilncss In Herbert's m "'lie em ilt (le sweet to lher?' "i ("ih(t'd, withI poigniant Incredulity, fli':tkrii Jcandor mnade -iain how arly Aunt Fanniy Inspired piim. "I st exacitly as soon be a little sweet ni$aiator," he asserted i such i4 .is b~tterness on, thil 'subgct. "Uti 'ihtsaid Aunt Carrie, iffri" iterbertinstedl.,O ~'morquir'. I'd ,rather, :tp either of 'to, bee'nte, anyway, they don't mnalk m;. ulb Boise, -Why, you' just ought c heair aher," ,e went -on, growinr~ mre andi more severe. "'You ought itjust conte aroundI our newspape tiliding any afteranoon you please, at 'r -school, when Henry anid I are iin' to doour work in, ai~yway, some pe'ace. Why, she Just squawks and squalls and squ--" "It must be terrible," Uncle Joseph interrupted. "What do you do all that for, Florence, every afternoon?" "Just for exercise," she answered dreamily; and her placidity the more exasperoted her Journalist cousin. "She does it because she thinks she ought to be runnin' our own news paper, my and Henry's; that's wily she does it I She thinks she knows more about how to run newspapers than anybody alive; but there's one thing she's goin' to filnd out; and that is, she don't have anything more to do with my and Henry's newspaper. We wouldn't have another single one of her ole poems in it, to matter how much she olfered to pay us! Uncle Joseph, I think you ought to tell her she's got no bnsiness around my and Henry's newspaper building." "But, Herbert," Aunt Fanny sug gested, "you ight let Florence have a little share in it of some sort. Then everything would be all right." "It would?" he demanded, his Volce crcking naturally, at his age, but also under strain of the protest lie wisliel it to express. "It woo-wiud? Oh, my goodness, Aunt Fanny, I guess you'd like to see our newspaper Just utter ably ruined! Why, we wouldn't let that girl have any more to (1o with It than we would soine horse l" "O, oh I!" both Aunt Fanny an( Aunt Carrie exclaimed, shocked. "We wouldn't," Herbert insisted. "A horse would know any amount iore how to run a newspaper than she does; anyway, a horse wouldn't make so nuch nolse around there. Soon as we got our printing press: we said right then that we made up our ini(ds Florence Atwater wasn't ever goin' to have a single thing to do with our newspaper. If you let her have any thing to (o with anything she wants to run the whole thing. But she might Just as well learn to stay away from our newspaper building, because after we got her out yesterday we fixed a wiay so's she'll never get in there again I" Florence looked at him demurely. "Are you * sure, Herbert?" she in quired. "Just you try It I" he advised, with heartiest sarcasm; and he laughed tauntingly. "Just come around to morrow and try it; that's all I ask I" "I cert'nly Intend to," she responded, with dignity. "I may have a slight surprise for you." "Oh, Florence, say not sol Say not so, Florence I Say niot so I" 'To be continuea.) CLINTON NEWS * * * Clinton, Dec. N.-Miss Julia tolnOr of POlzer, rupent the week-end with Ms. J. I. Coleman. Aliss Margaret Sadler, of Clemson, spent several days last week with Dr. and Mrs. R. E. Sadler. Mrs. "eece Young delightfully en tertained the Tuesday Club last Aveek. After a pleasant hour of sewing, the hostess served a delicious salad Dourse and hot .tea to the following guests: Mlesdames J. F. Jacobs, Jr., B3. H. Boyd, M. G. Woodsworth, W. C. Bailey, 'W. ff. -Owens, Jr., L. 1. Dil.. lard, John T. Young and Miss Mai-y Dillard. Mrns. Clair -Hays retur-ned last Fri lay fromi Dillon -whei-e she was the guest of Mrs. James Spr-unt. *Dr. and -Mrs. Jas. R. Copeland en tertained the followving 'guests at a linner -party last Wednesday evening: M!r. and M1rs. J. I. Coleman, M1r. and Wirs. J. A. 'Chandler, Mr. and Mi-s. J. 7'. Jacobs, Jr., Mr. and Mirs. W. BI. Dwens, Ji-., and .Mr. and Mi's. Joe P~hinney, of-lLaurens. Mrs. A. M. Copeland is the guest of der sister in Clio. Mr. and Mrs. Guy Pitts 'entertained a. number of their friends at a dinner [ar'ty last Friday evening. Mrs. W. P. Jacobs and sons spent last week in Sliartanburg with her nether, Mrs. Shockley. Mr. and' Mrs. II. .H. Boyd and Mir. And Mrs. Reeeo Young spent .last i'hursday in Green'ille. Miss (Edna 'Clayton, of Fountain Inn, inpent the week-end with Mrs. Hugh simpson. 'Mrs. JulIa Griffin .entertained a iumber of her friends last Wednes lay at a spend-the-<day party. A povly four coures dinner was served. Mfr. and Mrs. J. F. Jacobs. Sr., Mrs. ~. P. JacobW, 1Dr. and Mrs. S. C. IHays it'd Miss Clara Ducketet spent sevei'al 1ays'Iast. elit in Charleston. Mrs. Ela 'Smart, of .Atlanta, is the fuest of 'Mrs.. Johns Spratt. Mr. and Mrs. B. M. Gpratt, of Chtes Or, spent several daye last week with fr. and Mrs. John Spnntt and Mr. nd * * e e e. ...... * INW PROSPECT SCHOOL NEWS * November 25 saw the end of the third month of work for Now Pros-1 pect school. The following are on the honor roll: First Grade-Manwell Ferguson, Welyn Ferguson, 1red Fi'ley. Second Grade-Tom Smith Finley, W'ayland Finley. Third Grade-Ira Bell Culbertson Bruce Wofford. Fourth Grade-Mary SB. Madden,. 1Il lian Moore. Fifth Grade-Lynt Wofford. Sixrth Grade-Lowrio Beacham, Fr ry Lee Madden. Seventh Grade-John Bolt Culbort son. Advanced Seventh Grade-Frances Finley. The school enjoyed two days holiday for Thanksgiving. Miss Zelle Crisp visited friends and relatives in Gaff ney during the holidays. Out of forty-seven children enrolled the attendance for the month averaged forty-five. The following have been perfect in attendance for the three months: Lowrie Beacham, Harold Brown, Merle Brown, Edith Coggins, Eunice Coggins, -Henry 'Lee Madden, Mary 13. Madden, Lilliani Moore, Nell Moore, Orrah Moore, Nell Thompson, Bruce Wofford, Lynt Wofford. On Wednesday afternoon, Dec. 14, the mothers and fathers are to be In vited to observe the twork of the school room in the regular reading classes. At two o'clock of the same afternoon there is to be held a "get together ineetinig" at which time talks w'ill -be made by R. T. Wilson, Superin tendent of Education, and H. W. Gasque, Superintendent of Laurens city schools. It Is to be hoped that every patron will take advantage of this dpportunity to beconit better ac quainted -with the work of the school. The problem of what yot That difficult problem ca have given us the chance matters not who the reci ection of gifts that will I Do your Christmaa shopj Willi irs Is., MEMBER FEDERL RESERVE SYSTEM OF BANKS The CHARACTER of the MEN as well as their financial responsibility had to be round 0. K. before we could become a member of the FEDERAL RE SERVE system of banks. Being a Member Bank of this National System means that our bank is one of a vast, strong CHAIN of banks linked together for the protection of our depositors. When your money is in our bank you can GET it when you WANT it---because we can take our se curities any time to our Central Reserve Bank and get MONEY. We add 4. per cent. nterest Make OUR bank YOUR bank The Enterprise National Bank N. B. DIAL, President C. H. ROPER, Cashier The lift Problem SolvedI will give for Christmas is sometimes a difficult one. n be solved with ease and correctness when you to show you our many appropriate Xmas gifts. It pient is, our display affords a wide and varied sel e highly "in order"---appreciated. >ing early before stocks become depleted. am Solomon