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. r? on 8 mwion and suburbs Has | gp ' ^ "W" X TT T H, T T :^Hr T" r ^ -yr ijr- ymr y / % 5 union and suburb? has | I ! I LJ L1 I ^T:'-I:;'-I 1 1\ I r!^ 1 |\ 71 V I Flvo Large Cotton Mill*, Knitting i Lights Thrtu Hanks wuh %gxit>- w fl m 1 9 V 1 I I I W / S ??| ^^9^. S "'"I willi PliHit, A fllj LJ 1\; 1 v^yAi 1 IIVIIL O. ?n VQI" LV- N? 5" ^ V,. ^ 11 CENTS '*. ! Makes the Farmers hapjj o * place to deposit your surpi The best Safe'that Money protecte<iagainst Burglary large Firm and Individual protect oup customers) luteiy secure. We soLic Wm. A. Nicholson AN OLD-TIME CHRISTMAS IN THE UPCOUNTRY. Men Men Shot Muzzle-Loading Muskets. whlGh were Often Bewitched -How the Yankees Kissed. Spartanburg, December 2.? These days, when crowds of men, women and children are crowding the stores in which Christmas goods are displayed and preparing to make the holiday pleasant for the children, bring, to the memory of older 1 j , people Christmas in the former ?> times. Even many, of the humblest homes receive a visit from Santa Claus now. . Seventy-five years ago there were no Christmas trees, no giving of gifts, no church services in commemoration of the day, no toy stores, no decoration of the homes, no kissing under the holly and mistle- j toe, and no popping of firecrackT T~ 4-~ 1 OTA *.1 ? _ I cio. up l?j jlchjv uiiuie wao nut a town of any size in Spartanburg district, except "the village," as Spartanburg was called. The best people lived in the country. At Limestone Springs there were a few families that settled there, 1835 to 1840. There were few stores in Kie country. Goods were at i\r/t hauled from Augusta, Charleston and occasionally from Philadelphia. Clothing, shoes and house furnishing goods were not kept in stores^ Firecrackers, torpedoes and all the accompaniments of a modern Christmas celebration were unknown. CLOSING THE YEAR'S WORK. It was always a rush to finish the year's work on the farms before Christmas. Shoes were made, and the new clothing was ready for Christmas morning. Generally the children and negroes did not get their new shoes 'till Christmas. If they had no old ones they went barefooted. The last work was to cut and haul in a supply of green wood and lightwood or rich pine. In one family the father said to his boys that they might have Christinas as long as they could make a back log last. Remember that the chimneys were 8 to 10 feet wide and it took two hands to put on the wood. The old man was named Buice, who^ave holiday as long as a back log lasted. The boys had been tooled a time or two by trying gum and poplar. They put their heads together, and early in September they cut a black gum about a foot in diameter and put it in a creek to soak. When Christmas came it lacked much of being dry. It required four stout young men to carry it. When a week was out the back log was as good as ever. It seemed to be planted for the summer. The old man hah to give in and acknowledge that his boys were too smart for him. Instead of firecrackers and torpedoes to announce the coming of Christmas the ordinary guns were used. Only powder charges were put in. Tne boys of this day could not load or shoot the guns used 75 years ago. The quiet way of announcing Christmas was for an early riser?2 to 4 o'clock?to fire a Sun. He would be answered by is nearest neighbors, until all i i the neighborhood had hailed the day with the explosion of gun powder. But there was little funin that. It was too tame. The usual plan was for two or three persons to get toffpthpr and niiipf.lv slin nn tn n neighbor's house and fire a salute with the muzzles of the gun in a crack of a log house or under the door. The men in the house, $ they had guns, would put on '*rk of Court * ' us is^ w^Trrmo-^vNK. s can Buy- 4;lwhich -is also c by )Jnsu?lnce, arid our Resources (all of which d ake your deposits abso- v IT YOUR BUSINESS. a ? & Son, Bankers, ^ HMMBHanrnMBBasI their clothes and join the party, k and by daylight there would be 0 a lively crowd. Wine and cake n were not handed as they went o from house to house, but a taste n of corn whiskey was taken now t and then. Often they would n have "a stew" after the shoot- a ing of the Christmas guns. A n stew was made by pouring whis- tl key into a pot and adding spice, ginger and other condiments and c hrincrintr if fn a hr?il If woo ry I o o vv m MVIM AV M UO sweetened according to taste, g After the morning celebration 0 the men would divide into parties fi and go out to hunt such game as b was to be killed. The shooting b of squirrels was a favorite sport. T Very often several dozen would V\ be killed by a party of hunters, vv They never shot quail, or par- 0 tridges, "pathridges" as they e were called then. The principal p guns were rifles. There were a n few muskets that came down from the Revolution, and a few English single-barrel shotguns, the barrels being 48 to 58 inches FJ long. All locks were flint and tsteel. Hunting was the princi- V pal outdoor sport. The hunters > ^ of that day shot off hand. Their ? rifles weighed 9 to 12 pounds, I ? but they would have . been1 ^ ashamed to shoot with a rest. .Jj CALVIN WHIT. - * Some of the hunters of that C day believed in witchcraft. Cal- \ w vin Whit was an old-time shoe- : h maker. Tall, straight, very*! v, muscular, he weighed about 200 si pounds. He was a great marks- s man. He liked hunting better w than anything else, unless it was h fighting. The writer when a1 li small boy saw him shoot twice ti at a squirrel and miss. He gave tl nis neaa a snaKe ana saia: "My a gun is bewitched." He spoke n with the assurance of one who e knew it. He put in the charge a of powder and the bullet and cut h his patching. He took from his u pocket a silver coin and cut off c a small piece with his knife and n placed it on the bullet and g rammed it home, saying, I will v bring you down. With steady a aim he pulled trigger and the h squirrel dropped with a hole t through his head. The teachers ii of psychology can explain why n that piece of silver removed the t spell from the gun or marksman. , n It certainly did the work. j n Very often in the old days d quiltings were given during p Christmas week. The young o people would come in from the h neighborhood. The girls would quilt during the day and the young men would come in before night. When the quilt was a finished and taken from the c frames some of the bolder boys J would wrap it around a girl's head and he would not release " her until a kiss was secured. It 3 had to be taken bv force, of e course, for the girls were always s opposed to such fun. At one of ' these quiltings a school teacher ? from the north showed how the ? yankees kissed. He selected a pretty girl and her beau and, ? placing two chairs back to back * in the middle of the room, he * caused the^two to be seated. After explaining the difficulty of 1 kissing in that position, he said < it was easy enough when one * knew how it was done. Just as ^ the young man's mouth was wa- * tering with expectation, the \ ; yankee stooped down and gave 1 the handsome girl a kiss to be \ 11 remembered. It took the young 1 man sitting with his back to her J some time to find "where he was 1 , at. V H 1 GAMES IN THE OLDEN DAYS. 1 l 1 L} naying tnimoie, sister moeoe, ' , twisti-fication and other innocent i I amusements were enjoyed. Oo- | 1 c&sionally there Would be a regu- j ar khake down," or COUOtty lance. There was generally k iddler in the neighborhood, wlx0 vas always short on string^ &nd unes, but he made thingsnvely. The Christmas dinners and uppers consisted of turkeys, hickens, sausage, spare ribs ,nd game. Cakes and pies were bundant and the people in that lay carried good appetites around nth them. Canned II sorts oi store eatables were /anting. Another antogbment jM' the1 - tneri - was shooting etches. There were no clay ligeons then and breech-loaders /ere unknown. Even the term 'calibre" was never used and if L. had been no one would, have nown the meaning. The bore f a rifle was designated .tfer the umber of Jbullets to the f*hin 1 f lead. The prize at th&ie latches was generally a be^f, nrkey or money. The sho$tif!jii latch was generally at a skbrc^ nd many of the shooters weref lore than "half shot'' before he close of the day. It is said that at one of these Ihristmas gatherings north of laffney, about 1840, the crowd ot hungry. There was a bushel r two of eggs in the store. A re was built out of doors and a ig pot put on and about half a ushel of eggs emptied into it. hey were boiled thoroughly and rith the addition of salt they 'ere devoured. It was told of ne of the men that he ate 40 ggs and drank whiskey in proortion and was ready for more ext day. THE PLANTATION CHRISTMAS. J The nearest approach to the lodern celebration of Christmas efore 1840 was on the plantaons, where tlgpre were 20 ip P negroes of more. The wago'r? >qre hitched up early in Deceit er, and cotton and flour arried to Columbia, Augusta ,?g ;?S??nhS? as )&CK6r0i| RiICp' d handkerchiefs were bought, hristmas morning the negroes rould assemble at the "big ouse" and catch all the family rith "Christmas gjjft." The hoes were then handed out, a tout pair to each one. The 'omen received the red bandana andkerchiefs and the men got a ttle tobacco. An extra quanity of flour was given out, and he older women received sugar nd coffee. Frequently these egroes would bring gifts of ggs and chickens. They generll.v had four days to a week's oliday. They were allowed unsual liberty those days, and ould fiddle and dance as late at ight as they pleased. The nero boys would unite with the fhite boys, and when they got fter a rabbit they were sure to ave it. With all the dogs on he place and all the boys yellng, "Molly Cotton-tail" stood o chance at all. There was one hing in favor of the old Christlas celebrations. There were io "dark lantern carousals and ebauches." . The drinking was mblic, and if men played a game f "seven-up," it was not betind closed doors. CHRISTMAS ON HORSEBACK. There was another kind of musement in the old days not onfined to Christmas especially. 1amnr urmfav axtami'nnr^ i'r*irif .iiv tvn^ nniv\/i V/ y v^iini^o mvituu oung men to rove around, ['here were no club rooms or pecial meeting places. As iverv one owned a horse and addle, they would mount and ide around the neighborhood, joing from house to house, sometimes they would get 'pretty full" after riding in the :risp, cool air an hour or two, ind they would make as much loise as a band of Comanches. rhey had so much vitality and buoyancy that they could not be :onfined to the chimney corner ieven nights in a week. So they would ride around as a sort of ?afety valve. They never did iny harm and there was no malce in their frolics. As one of :hem expressed it, they were "just riding about and cussin' md having a good time." ' There were few books and papers, and no public meetings. Militia musters and church meetings wore the only public gatherines. rhe eld way of celebrating Christmas may have been severely simple, but there was a ruggec honesty in the methods. Tner< IES FOR FARMERS. olinlans Go In and Win. i, of Marlboro County, in Years Ago, Raised the p ol Corn on one Acre er Raised in the United December 23rd.? me fifteen years ago na won the prize for yields of corn in the es on one acre, and ion has been of contefit to the State, s late day inquiries from time to time . Drake's achievenational contest was the American Agriand the same concern ttaow arranging for another 1 even greater contest. Prof. G. Johnson, the able editor the Agriculturalist, who visitCommissioner Watson here , last winter, has written the commissioner about the coming contest, and the latter is exceedingly anxious to see South Carolina participate, and accomplish even < more than she did a decade and ; a half ago. Commissioner Watson says that it will be impossible to provide for the State pyizes out of the small appropri t|on given his department, but We intends to take the matter up , ^Lth the fertilizer manufacturers i and bthers who should be deeply ] interested, and will endeavor to ! get them to make contributions ! toward the necessary prize money. The letter of Prof. Johnson to Commissioner Watson is of special interest. He writes as follows: i "I wish to call your attention ; ,to one of the greatest contests [that has ever been inaugurated for the development of cereals I and the amount of crops raised i 4?n the. farms of this country, i Your people should take a per- ] sonal pride in this matter as it 1 will be remembered that the i largest corn crop ever produced 1 on a single acre was grown in ] South Carolina in the American i Agriculturalist contest of fifteen i years ago. We believe that no < single event ever produced so i large an amount of advertising < for South Carolina and its re- i sources. In fact, there is hardly 1 a week that passes, but that we have some inquiry about this < great contest, and the remark- 1 able results produced by Capt. < Drake in Marlboro Connty in i your State. I have on my desk at the present time a letter from . Dr. W. L. Davenport, of Mead ovvview, Va., asking about this great crop. He wants all the < details. 1 am sure that your < State will come along at the top of the list, and we are especially anxious at this time to have our friends in your State take hold of this matter, showing their loyalty and local pride, and I ask you to lend all the support you possibly can in your special capacity to land South Carolina at the head of the list in this great contest. "I trust arrangements can be made to set aside $500, the same to be distributed in prizes to be arranged by yourself and the farmers in South Carolina, who score the highest number of points in this contest. We believe that nothing can be done | that would be of greater interest I and value, and we will do everything in our power to push the matter in a public way. By sei curing $500 or more for this work, the fact would be an nounced in our manual, and the publication of it would be of great value to South Carolina farmers. I am sure that the | n - n -- _ i _ i i ' uovernor 01 your ocaie wouia t , endorse this idea, and why not i have a Governor's prize? We have headed the list with $6,000 I in prizes ourselves, feeling that, . the results will warrant it. I Many large fertilizer concerns, , implement manufacturers, etc., ' are offering additional prizes , along these lines, thus making it j possible for the individual to win : from one to a dozen prizes. I , was not as much style and parade f as there is now, and there were - no forced courtesies and gifts 1 given with grudging.?Charles i Petty, in News and Courier. IF. M. FARR, President. T H I Merchants and Plante Successfully Doing Busines: la the OLDEST Hank in Unto a IB hus a capital and surplus of $ M 3 9 Is the only NATIONAL Hank it n Iiuh paid dividends -inounti H jg gj pays FOUR per cent-, inter* H wC is the only Hank in Union itn H B lias llurjflar-Proof vault, nm J B B pays more taxes than ALL th | WE EARNESTLY SOLICf f i For instance, a South Carolina wer farmer may win our grand trib sweepstake prize, and in addition tool any grand prize that your State givi may ofFer, besides the grand bag prizes of the fertilizer concerns, deli providing the crop was raised by pre; their product; the grand prize will from the implement manufactu- vail rer from whom he purchased the mar implement with which he culti- wen vated his crop, etc. a m "In adddition a large number of live stock men are interested, and are offering freely their prizes to persons in their State, who score the largest number of points. As an illustration a large breeder of Jersey cattle has offered a thoroughbred registered ** Jersey heifer calf to the person the securing the largest number of Mr. points in the contest from his Mjs, State. I think you can clearly . , see the great good that will come from this contest." *<un Commissioner Watson would tenc like to hear from fertilizer man- witl facturers, those who manufac- jjQn ture farming implements, breeders of cattle and others in this 11 State, who would be willing to ten( make contributions to the $500, tive the amount necessary to have afte South Carolina properly repre- ~ra] sented in this contest. He thinks r5 that this amount should easily be tne raised by voluntary subscriptions mos from such sources, and that it dim should be assured in a week's -inc] time. He asks that he be notified by any concerns desiring to . * subscribe, as at this season it is Ada impossible to address each con- mar cern separately. If the amount and is promptly subscribed a conference of the subscribers and representative farmers will be called to arrange all the details as to ln what prizes should be awarded buii.i within the State, also as to the to ix handling of the fund so subscrib- excit ed, and as to the conditions of tho i the several contests. It may be mentioned that the NVor! American Agriculturalist publi- (l ^ publications, in which the matter will be exploited, cover the entire * En country, and have a circulation of 230,000.?August Kohn, in 0r tii News and Courier. t hiol Oral A PRETTY CHRISTMAS TREE. r.ion, liaiit! Bogansville Sunday SGhool and Parham hu)v School Unite in a Christmas Tree. .u<Ue ( By unanimous consent it was lie agreed, and the children, parents, teachers and officers of the ll0t:u Bogansville Methodist Church Sunday scnooi, and the pupils oi Parham School taught by Mrs. Sallie Hyatt joined forces, and a niul Christmas Tree they had in the turn Church Monday night. The tree was was a large, beautiful holly, full of red berries, all among the bright green leaves. Upon this ,"1 tree was hung all of the Christ- ( iMI mas presents and tiny Japanese ^(nl, lanters were suspended, most brilliantly illuminating the varied ,0('k gifts in varied hues, in lovely vsx.r contrast with the foliage of the mmi holly tree. Before distributing are the presents an elaborate pro- i>usi gram wrs rendered by the pupils si"1' of Parham School and the Sun- ,lis day School children. A number ,u' ' of very pretty and appropriate . 1 songs were sung, alternating with some exceedingly interest- fr,? ing and well rendered recitations i,ns by the children of both schools. i>i<>s Mrs. Hyatt gave a charming ad- how /luAOa nrvAM f n a anKi Artf a-P K?,1 ui con ufjwu uic ouujcct UA. ^UUCcl- ,,i,u tion and Sunday school work 1,ot which was greatly enjoyed by c,oa all. Then a committee of ladies began the distribution of presents which had been hung upon upon the tree, and each child, WC1 was made happy. Then the q"lJ name of each child was called , and a bag of nice apples was |v, given each one. The apples acr J. D. ARTHUR, Cashier. | rs National Bank, | s at the "Old Stand." ? 'io\(ioo. n ; in Union. u tiK- to S&W.400. 2 s?i on il?'i>ostt}?. ipooti'il by nil nlliccr, B I Safe with Time-Lock. J ic Ranks in Union combiti'-ii. 3 r YOUR BUSINESS. | e purchased by a liberal ccnution of the neighbors and it c two barrels to go around, ng each child a little paper of apples. This was the most ghtful evening spent by all >ent. Harmony, sweet good and Christmas cheer preed, and nothing transpired to the pleasure of any, and all it home happy and merry as arriage bell. A PRETTY HOMF. WEDDING. Lillic Adams Becomes the Wife of Mr. Louis Scales. 'ednesday, 1 o'clock p. m., at home of the bride's father, F. M. Adams, Adamsburg, 3 Lillie Adams was married dr. Louis Scales, Rev. J. R. derburk officiating. The atlents were: Mr. VVm. Bently 1 Miss Mary Vaughan, Mr. nie Adams with Miss Corrie tly. The marriage was atTed by a lage number of relas and friends. Immediately ir the marriage ceremony a nd reception was tendered by father of the bride, and a t sumptuous and delicious ler was served. The bride groom are well known and 7 popular young people of the msburg neighborhood and ly were the congratulations kind wishes expressed for r future happiness. The Hltclit of Wny. the early clays of western railway ling, days not so long gone by us s out of memory, there were many ing racei between rival roads for possession of important mountain ?s. Such a race, says the World's k, was that l et ween the Santa l"e the ltio (.Iraude roads for the right ray through Kuton pass to New loo and the southwest, glneers an.I const ruction gangs ;ed in mad haste to get to it ahead leir rivals. Tin* viotorv foil t?? ii?> ' of the Santa 1*V. Wliou tile llio ide cohorts arrived they found hir.t ( :? in 0110 of (ho big g >rgos, shovol in !, slicing earth from sin S.tKM) foot >"liat nro you doing hove?" they (I. onstrueting a railroad." ho replied, turned another shovelful of dirt, pod (ho tool and hitched up his y cartridge holt. ny one who Interferes with the a l'e does It sit his own risk," he quietly. rst the ltio tirande men laughed, then they rage-.l, and then they ed and went away. Their road cut off from the south forever. \ Until In nullities. o take a hath sit. Titlis, in Hussinn rasia, is to court a never to bo foren experience," says one who a s. I he masseur who presides the toilet of his patrons is a weird ing figure, llis head is shaved, a is twisted around his waist, and feet are dyed a beautiful red. You seized by tills individual, rubbed, ted face downward on a marble , find his feet in your spine and hands upon your shoulders. Then grinds liis feet up and down your i. They are round your neck, on r head?everywhere! Then ho Km lightly off. and in a moment, a a linen hag tilled with soup, he squeezed clouds of perfumed buband you are hidden In them from I to foot as completely as If you fallen .into a snowdrift. You are absolutely bruised, but you are n."?Kansas City .lournal. A fltirtKnln llnnti. [low did the manager get all those nen out of that burning theater so ckly?" Fie went on tbe stage and announced t a man down at the entrance was lug away samples of baking pow*1