From Days Gone By December 24,1914

December 24, 1914.

    Miss Lillian Bartlett, one of Wrightsville's most popular young ladies of the town, wrote a piece for the newspaper. "The rhetoric is excellent and the pathos beautiful.", stated the editor. It was entitled "The Old Man And His Violin." Its a very touching story.

    It was a cold gray afternoon in November, and a stiff wind was blowing that fairly chilled you to the bone. I was coming down the street at a rapid pace, and as I reached the front of a drug store, I noticed that a few people had gathered there, and I wished to see what had drawn their attention and went into the crowd. Before them stood an aged man, with the frost of many winters on his head. His snowy locks were tossed by the wind and in his shaky hand he held a violin.

    As I came up, he raised it to his shoulder and drew his bow and began playing such sweet and plaintiff music I had never heard before. It would have stirred a heart of stone. All that listened to him were spell-bound. He played until the wind had numbed his fingers so that he could play no longer. He had his hat sitting on the ground in front of him; the crowd put in a few dimes and nickels and moved on, but I saw that he was an aged man; that his suit was thread-bare, and his shoes were mended in many places. I walked up to him and asked him where he intend to sleep that night. "I don't know" he said in a faltering voice. I have no relative anywhere in the city." My heart warmed towards this folorne old man and I said to him. "Come with me." I put my hand on his arm and led him away, and I never can forget that old man if I live to be as old as "Methuselah."

    When we reached home, a bright fire was burning on the hearth, and the table had been laid, and we went to the table, and after having satisfied our appetites, we fell into conversation, and this old man told his sad story.

    "As a boy, I came of wealthy parents, I being the only child, my parents were very ambitious for me, and wanted to give me all advantages possible.

    They sent me to school and also gave me music on the violin and piano, and I was a shirtless kind of a boy and did not care for my books, but I was fond of my violin, and advanced rapidly. At the age of 18, I had finished college, or had gone through, no one knows how. My father put me in his office, in hopes of learning me some kind of business, but I had no talent for business; all that I cared for was to play on my violin.

    My father soon realized that I was a worthless dreamer, and he told me that if I did not do better that he would make me leave," Here he stopped and looked into the fire, his features twitched as though the memory was painful even now. Finally he resumed his story. "An opera came to my home town about that time, and the violinist had been sick and laid off.

    I knew that I played the violin fairly well, and applied for the place: strange to say! I got it. I never said a word to my parents, but packed a few of my belongings in a grip and took my violin, slipped to my mothers room and kissed her for the last time. I stole quietly out and took the train that night I never saw my parents again. I broke my mother's heart, God bless her! no boy ever had a better mother."

    Although he was an old man, the calling to mine of his mother, caused tears to course down his withered cheeks and I could not refrain from brushing a tear from my eyes. The old man concluded his story by saying: "I went on the stage and played before crowds of people. At first I had a hard time, and wanted for something to eat many times, but I decided, as I had chosen this profession, I would make my father and mother proud of me and so I saved my money and studied hard, and by saving and many self-denials, I had money enough to go to Germany to study. I went there and finished up my course and after many trials, I became famous and words renown and I was proud of my success.

    I then went back to my home town with the determination to tell my father and mother of my success, and ask their forgivness--but alas! when I reached my home, I found that my father had been under the sod for three long years and that my mother had been dead for five years, and this was my home-coming. My father left me a good fortune but I was a spendthrift and soon ran through with it; then I was thrown on my own resources again and lived high, never thinking of a rainy day, infact, I could not be satisfied anywhere, any length time; I never cared to marry, and finally my popularity as a violinist subsided, as I grew old, and I could no longer get places and it went from bad to worse, until this is why I am poor, with no relatives, no one to take an interest in me, no one left but my old violin." patting it gently. "And I long to rest now in the old cemetery at home by my mother and father, and I hope the day is not far distant when I shall."

    His story was finished and, as it was late, I asked him if he didn't want to rest, and he replied "yes" and I saw him to his room.

    The next morning we found him with a peaceful smile on his thin face, and we knew that he had passed to that great beyond, and he looked happy in his last rest. I have always treasured that old violin, as it is a reminder of that forelorn old man."

From Days Gone By Dec. 17,1914

December 17, 1914.

    A farm house on the plantation of Dr. Bascom Anthony near Orianna was totally destroyed by fire last Saturday afternoon along with three bales of cotton and 150 bales of hay, stored in it. The flames had gained such headway before it became known, it was impossible to save any of the contents. The loss, estimated at $400 is total as he had no insurance and the origin of the fire remains unknown.

    There will be services at the new Brown Memorial Baptist church next Sunday at 11 am and 7 pm, also Sunday School at 3 pm. Rev. Buckholts will preach at both services. The dead oak trees around the church will be cut into firewood and sold Saturday at auction to the highest bidder for cash. Also the leftover building materials will be sold at 1pm. Sheriff Rowland will be auctioner.

    The Scott Banking Company released their statement of condition at the close of business December 4, total $44,366.94. A. L. Hatcher has been appointed Judge of the Wrightsville City Court to succeed J. L. Kent. Col. & Mrs. Russell Daley have moved to their home on West Elm street where they will do their housekeeping. Mrs. C. E. Brinson held a Parlor Recital at her home on West Elm for her music class.

    Rev. Reese Griffin, the newly appointed pastor of the Methodist church arrived this week from Nashville, Georgia and is settling in to the parsonage. At a recent meeting of the local board of trustees of Warthen College the resignation of Rev. J. C. G. Brooks as president of the college was accepted, and Rev. J. S. Campbell, vice-president was elected to the presidency.

    Mr. Elmo Hayes is improving from his illness of grippe. Mrs. L. J. Davis was called to the bedside of her father, Mr. Trawick who is very sick. While superintending the making of lard, Mrs. S. M. Johnson was painfully burned by the hot lard splashing in her face and on her hands.

    Married Wednesday morning near Scott, while sitting in an automobile, Miss Laura Bateman of Milledgeville and Mr. John W. Wilson. Mr. Scrap Carter, J.P. officiated. It was a "Gretna Green" affair. The bride is a boarding pupil of Warthen College and the groom is the son of Mr. Charles Wilson of Wrightsville.

    Dear Santa, I want you to bring me a toy automobile and a box of fire poppers and some roman candles and some nuts and fruit. Your friend, Hoke Jenkins.

    Dear Santa, I am a little girl four years old, and I live on North Marcus street. I want you to bring me a beautiful doll, one set of dishes, some toys, and fruit, nuts and candy. I hope I haven't asked for too much. Don't forget mamma and papa. Your friend, Sarah Jenkins.

    BOY LOST! $25.00 REWARD. A small boy, about the size of a man; barefooted, with his father's shoes on; had an empty bag on his back containing two railroad tunnels and a bundle of bung-holes. When last seen he was making towards Burns Bros. to get some of those Christmas Goods, Toys, etc. at prices that will tickle your palate. Big closing out of business sale still going on.

From Days Gone By Dec. 10,1914

December 10, 1914.

    Mr. W.A. West, living near New Home church sustained a serious loss last Saturday night by having  15 bales of cotton burned on his premises. The cotton had only a few days been placed in a lot only a short distance from the house, and sometime during the night caught fire and the entire 15 bales was practically destroyed.

    Mr. West knew nothing about the fire or his loss until going out Sunday morning to feed his stock, when he was dumbfounded at the discovery. This is a severe loss for Mr. West in which he has the deep sympathy of his friends and the community.

    Rev. J. C. G. Brooks goes to Adel as the appointments were read out by Bishop Warren A. Chandler at Dawson. He was located in Wrightsville where he has been president of Warthen Institute during the past two years. Prior to that he was pastor at the Methodist church at Ashburn for four years.

    The friends of Mr. W. H. Chivers were glad to see him on the streets of Wrightsville again after a protracted serious illness at his home near town.

    Mr. Lucillous Blankenship, the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Blankenship died suddenly Tuesday night at his home in the city after an extended illness of tuberculosis. He spent some time at Madison, Florida with the hope of recuperating his health but it availed nothing. He was an excellent young man.

    Married in the city Sunday evening, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Meredy Davis on Belmont Avenue, Miss Mary Duggan and Mr. Ed R. Spell. The bride is the daughter of the late Doctor Duggan and is an estimable young woman. The groom is an excellent business young man.

    The various banks released their statements of condition: The Bank of Wrightsville, $217,451.25; Exchange Bank, $141,251.93; Citizens Bank of Kite, $70,099.82; Bank of Adrian, $53,369.32.

    A. L. Hatcher, Attorney at Law, is now in a position to handle loans on improved farm lands at a reasonable rate of interest and attractive terms. Mr. H. J. Young has 48 and one half acres of land for sale, lying three miles north of Wrightsville on the public road to Tennille. It has a school and church a quarter mile from it. Twenty-eight to thirty acres in cultivation, reasonable good buildings and good well of water.

   

From Days Gone By Dec. 3, 1914

December 3, 1914.

    About 5 am Monday morning an alarm of fire got our citizens together in a jiffy, when it was discovered that W. F. Dent's bottling works on the west side, was afire on the inside of the building. Our reliable firemen were on hand very promptly, as usual, and soon had the blaze extinguished. Walter Orr carried a small stock of groceries in the front of the building. What amount of damage was done, or the amount of insurance carried was not learned.

    Mrs. Carl Claxton is recovering from her bout with pneumonia. Mr. & Mrs. J. F. Renfroe announced the birth of a daughter, born Friday, November 27th at Sandersville. Mr. Dewitt Brinson left for Cordele where he will take a special course in a few studies at Professor A. F. Ware's prepatory school before returning to the university.

    J. B. Harrison, Jeffersonville's telephone manager says they will have electric lights by the first of January, 1915, if he lives. H. M. McCall the optometrist from Atlanta will be here for one day only on December 8th.

    Sunday night at 6pm train No. 22, known as the Shoofly, running between Macon and Millen, while running at a high rate of speed, plunged into a trestle that had been undermined by the high water, two miles west of Toombsboro and seriously injured a number of people. Among them were Messrs. Herschel Lovett and H. C. Tompkins who were returning from Macon.

    Mr. Lovett escaped with a few minor scratches, but Mr. Tompkins had three ribs broken and otherwise bruised about the body. The Wrightsville & Tennille train was sent at once to the wreck, and brought the injured to Tennille. Mr. Tompkins was taken to Rawlings' Sanitaruim at Sandersville, where he remained until he was able to return home. Both are at home now and able to tend to their places of business again.

From Days Gone By Nov. 26,1914

November 26,1914.

    The City Warehouse on South Marcus Street, which stored nearly 2,000 bales of cotton, caught fire Tuesday around 1:25 pm. The fire department responded promptly making a record run, and extinguished the burning cotton with only thirty-one bales damaged. The firemen had it under control in just twenty minutes. The Dixie Cotton Company and J. K. Livingston Cotton Company owned all the damaged bales and they were fully insured.

    The public school at Wrightsville opened this week at Warthen College. All pupils who entered were required to pay $2.25 upon entry. The Wrightsville Scouts enjoyed an outing Saturday with scoutmaster, Rev. L. P. Glass. The hunting season opened on Friday and the woods have been full of "Nimrods" ever since. It is said there is more game than has been in years.

    Mr. J. H. McWhorter and family have moved to the E. J. Sumner house on corner of Marcus and Idylwild Drive. Mr. W. L. Thompson and family will move to the Hooks house on West Elm Street. Mr. R. R. Frost has declared bankruptcy.

    Mr. W. C. Chester brought some of the largest Florida yams grown on his farm. Mr. Henry Hammock had two bottles of some very fine toothsome new syrup.

    The minutes of the Mount Vernon Baptist Association were being distributed. The Association is composed of twenty-three churches with 2,800 members whose average contribution for all purposes was $.64, Beulah reported the largest per capita contributions, $16.57 per member, 30 cents per member was the smallest per capita contribution reported by any church. It has 21 Sunday Schools with total enrollment of 1,681 with average attendance of 833. Eight churches have Women's Missionary Societies with total 115 members with contributions of $355.60.

    Mr. W. C.S. Hutchinson of Kite responds to the cotton delima agreeing with Mr J. H. Rowland. He stated if we would make our hog and hominy at home and plant less cotton. Every farmer should plant more corn, peas, potatos, vegetables, wheat, oats and make plenty of hay and plant less cotton for two years, we would be better off for it. We would make more money and not have to work our women and children so hard.