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Straps and ^acts. ? A rumor is spreading in Paris thai the Debeers miuing company hoarded diamonds worth six million pounds in the cellars of the company at Kiraberley before the war, in order to raise prices. The story goes that the Boers have promised to divide a certain portiou of these spoils among their troops wheu Kimberley falls, and that this accounts for the rush of voluuteers from all quarters of the globe for the Trans vaal. It is believed in Paris that the inspiration of the military generalship of the Boers emauates from Berlin. ? A London dispatch published yesterday morning tells of a terrific assault that was made by the Boers on Ladysmith last Tuesday. Although there are but few details, the fightiug seems to have been the bloodiest aud most desperate that has occurred. The Boers captured an importaut British position in the morning and held it nearly all day ; but were finally driven from it. Other positions were several times taken and retaken. The Boers were finally repulsed, at about dark, at the poiut of the bayonet, aud during a heavy rainstorm. General White reports that the Boer loss is heavier than his. On account of the tremend ous expenditure of ammunition that must have been necessary by the Ladysmilh forces, London fears the re suit of ibe next attack. ? By the will of Caroline Brewer Croft, who died in England nearly two years ago, says a Bostou dispatch of January 2, a sum amouutiug to nearly $100,000 has beeu placed in the hands of the corporation of Harvard University, to be used iu the investigation of that still mysterious disease, cancer. Mrs. Croft was the daughter of the late Gardiuer Brewer, a successful merchuul, and a man of much benevoleuce and public spirit. Her first charitable efforts impressed upon her the horrors of incurable disease, and for mauy years before her death she privately appropriated a large aunual sum to the treatment of cancer. Her aim was to discover the cause of the diseases and provide some remedy. As the wife of Arthur Croft, a wellknown Euglish artist, she bad been absent from this city for mauy years previous to her death. ? A Lincoln, Neb., dispatch of the 3rd instaut says: Colonel Bryan returned today from his six weeks' rest in Texas fully restored to health. He paid a compliment to the active imagination of the Texas correspondents who depicted him as huntiug tame panthers and riding ostriches about the streets of Austin. He said he had heard *?' UI? r .? %?* Kottt'oon Kim. UOlUlUg UI . uinu.v self aud National Chairman Jones, aud declined to discuss the gossip regarding a probable change in the chairmanship. He said he believed that the "financial policy of the administration, as outlined in the house currency bill, and its flat footed declaration for the gold standard meant the alienation from the Republication party of thousands who had hoped for the redemption of the party pledge to restore bimetallism, as well as many whose business iuterests are meuaced by the bank trust." ? A Mafeking dispatch of December 26 to the London Times, tells of a terrible tight that occurred about two miles from the town on that day. It seems that the Boers were giving a great deal of trouble from a stroug position at Gametree, aud it had been determined to try to dislodge them. Every arrangement was made during the night for a sortie, with the help of an armored train, and the attack was made at daybreak. Tbe Boers were found to be ready. The British advance wus met by a storm of Mauser aud Martini bullets that literally swept the ground. The chargiug British suffered terribly. More than twenty were killed outright within a few moments, and many others were wouuded. But notwithstanding this, the desperate valor displayed was something remarkable. Several officers actually went forward and stuck their revolvers into the port holes of the Boer fort, and were killed there. With all this, the attack was a failure. The Boer losss was but slight, while that of the British was very heavy. ? Chicago Tribune : It is not generally known that Uncle Sam furnishes bis legislators with bath tubs and other accessories of cleanliness ; but it is nevertheless a fact. In the basement of the capitol are located the congressional bathrooms, where the statesmen cleanse their cuticle at tbe expense of the people. On the house side there are fifteen tubs, while on the senate the number is somewhat smaller. They are patronized by the statesmen at all hours of the day. Attendants are provided at the expense of the government. The fact that the bathrooms are almost constantly occupied indicates the extent to which the privilege of the free bath is appreciated. Senators and members who live at hotels, where an extra charge is made for a bath, usually wait untill they reach the capitol to enjoy this luxury. Not only are the statesmen furnished free baths, but barber shops are provided for their use. These are well patronized, as no charge is made, and the barbers turn many an honest penny. They receive good salaries from the goverumeut, aud at the same time get lips from their patrons. ? Lieutenant J. C. Gilmore, of the Gunboat Yorktown, who was captured by the Filipinos at Baler, in April last, and was rescued last week by a detachment of picked men under Col. Luther li. Hare, of the Thirty-third volunteer infantry, tells a horrible story of l?w ei??!it months' exnerience. It ..... 4 seems that at the time the Americans were captured, the Filipino organization was in very good shape and the treatment accorded was good. Aguinaldo was especially kind and humane. After a while Gilmore and party were transferred to the jurisdiction of General Tino, and from that time their existence was made almost unbearable. When Tmo's command was on the verge of disorganization, he ordered a lieutenant to take charge of the American prisoners and shoot them. The lieutenant, however, disobeyed the order and set the prisoners free; but refused to allow them a sin le rifle. The Americans waudered through the wild country, uuarmed mid at the mercy of savages until n found by the rescuing party. They f were several times, in the custody of t savages and Filipino soldiers, and the ireatment they received was unmerciful. With Gilmore were quite a number of Americans who had been s captured at different times. At the t time of their rescue they were build- t ing rafts with a view to trying to t make their way to the sea down { the Alabut river. Lieutenant Gilmore thinks the Tagals are the 1 most brutal people he ever saw, and * he does not think that the war will ? end so long as one of them is left alive. 1 An American named Brown, who was ( a preacher at Honolulu, gave the party a great deal of trouble at different times by betraying plans of escape to the Filipinos, with a view to securing special favor for himself. The entire , party were very bitter against Brown. { i ?ltc %rltville (Enquirer. < ^ t YOItKVILLE, S. C.: 1 __ t WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10,1900. < ? The Columbia Slate looks upon the agreement of the Europeau Powers to maintain the open door in Cbina as a vindication of its "reasonable, peaceful means" idea. It does not think that the English-American-GermanJapanese combination, or American proximity to China in the Philippines, had anything to do with the matter. In fact, it seems to believe that iu this case the laws of cause aud effect were entirely suspended. It reminds us of the little boy who maiutained that the moon is more serviceable to us than is the sun, because it gives light at uight, while the sun only shiuesin the daytime, when no light is uccucu. r ? We have at hand a copy of the ( message that Governor MeSweeney sent to the general assembly yesterday ; but it was received at too late j an hour to admit of a comprehensive j review. The most interesting portion is that part devoted to the dispeusary. The governor believes in the retention of the present system as the best that j has been devised ; but recommends the | abolition of state and county boards of control, as now constituted, and the substitution of state officers for the state board, and that county boards be ( composed of supervisors, auditors and mayors of county seat towns in which there are dispensaries. If there is no dispeusary in the county seat town, ( then the mayor of the largest dispeusary town in the county will be the third member of the board. The gov- ( ernor does not like the local option ( idea of settling the whisky question, , because of the consequeul confusiou aud strife. Although unable, at this time, to reproduce in full his remarks, so far as we have been able to consid- ( er them, they strike us us very sensible. ? Commenting upon what the Rock Hill Herald and Thk Enquirer have bad to say with reference to county ' politics, the Lancaster Ledger suggests | the following : There is another class of politicians to be against, overlooked by onr esteemed ' contemporaries, and that is the candidate i who seeks to be elected by lying on his | opponent or circulating lies by saying, j "I beard so atid so," or "They say so and , so is the case." We believe in an honorable, open straight forward race?a man > running solely 011 his merits, and not try- < ing to obtain votes by villifying his com- < petitor or telling lies 011 him?behind his back. ' Yes, and we say amen to this too. 1 The evils referred to are real ones, and 1 we would be glad to see them rerae- 1 died ; hut while we may theorize on ' the subject, we are unable to discover any practical check. For instance, if < the object of the voter be to choose as ' his caudidate, the most virtuous, able, < aud patriotic among those offering, it < is right and proper that he should 1 make every possible inquiry into char- < acter and reputation, especially as af- 1 feeling the qualities desired. Iu any < given number of people there are al- J ways individuals who are not as hon- ' orable and upright as are their fellows. I These invent and circulate most of the 1 more damagiug slanders against good 1 men, and the fact that very bad men s often have the reputation of being < good men except where they are best < known, helps to the acceptance of < the slanders without proper inquiry. J It is a fact that truth will always wiu ' iu the long run ; but an ordinary county campaigu does uot generally afford ' as much time as is necessary, and these s lies frequently do irreparable damage < kofttfo f?nn h? corrected. Theoulv ' wt,vlv %,IVJ way in which the value of campaign i stories can he determined, is by each 1 individual citizen making it his busi- I uess to undertake to trace each and i every one to its source, as soon as he ( hears it. This, however, few are will- s ing to do. The too common rule is to i fight lies with lies, making of political 1 campaigns unlicensed saturnalias of ( moral rottenness. If the steady, t thoughtful, upright Christian people of c the country want to put a stop to this a condition of allairs they can do it; I but they cannot do it with a word, a They have to go deep down into a dis- a agreeable mess from which most of t them have been disposed to hold aloof. 1: They must take means to check cam- f paign lies and punish the liars. They t ust set up the truth?the truth as set sc orth in the Ten Commandments and at he gospel?as the inexorable arbiters, ta nd permit of no deviation from it un w ler any consideration, persoual friend- \\ hip, social prominence, family conuec- m ion, previous good reputation, busi- w less necessity, or anything else. Un- w il steps of the kind indicated are tak- ol m, the evils complained of will coniuue, and the responsibility will rest vith those of us who complaiued j, igainst them without doing our very test to dischurge what appears to be >ur plaiu duty in the premises. ^ u JUDGE AND JURY. p The very remarkable tongue-lashing \ ivhich His Honor 0. W. Buchanan tl idministered to the Spartanburg jury, c* vhich made a mistrial in the Meares ? ;ase the other day, will no doubt revive more or less consideratiou at the ^ lauds of the people of the state. It Vi >ught to. it According to the Spartanburg Herlid, which made the report of Judge ? Buchanan's remarks, reproduced else- (I vhere, the jury is understood to have jt ieen eight for conviction and four for h icquittal; but this fact has no legitinaie connection with Judge Buchau- al in's remarks, which are only to be ^ :onsidered as a tirade of abuse against ^ [2 men for failure to agree upon u tl /erdict. On their face, at first glance, ai he remarks of Judge Buchanan aplear to have been generally the veil-directed outburst of a righteous . ndignation against men whom he had y eason to believe were wilfully con spiring to defeat the ends of justice; u >ut upon a more careful investigation rom the viewpoint that should have )een occupied by his honor, we ohlerve what appears to be a total mis 3) :onception of the functions of a judge, a ind the unwarranted abuse of a little s< jrief authority in incompetent hands, ft There are strong arguments in favor ^ )f Judge Hudsou's proposition to allow * line members of a jury to render a t| /erdict. One of these is that while it tl say not be impossible to find one man it )n any jury who is willing to make a a xiistrial, it is more difficult to find two ? ind still more difficult to find three. i e But this is not the present law. Each M luror arrives at an individual opinion, a ind the agreement of twelve individu n il opinious makes the verdict. It is 1 admissible for a juror, who is not absolutely satisfied as to the facts, to yield bis lack of conviction to the conviction ^ cf the majority ; but it is not right for t, a minority juror to surrender well- b grounded conscientious convictions to h the majority opinion merely for the J1 sake of arriving at a verdict. The t minute he would do such a thing he ^ would perjure himself. Therefore, un- t der the present system, mistrials must t necessarily occur, and if they occur y honestly?and this must be assumed in e the absence of almost impossible proof c to the contrary?they areas legitimate c as a verdict. This is in accordance p with statute laws. h We shall not undertake to say whether it is probuble that those four 1 "not guilty" jurors were holding out ^ because of a desire to protect Profes- y sor Meares, for notwithstanding oaths d or any earthly considerations, such d things are not only possible; but they ^ are often done. And here truly is the a weakness of not only the jury system ; ? but of all human justice?the weak- b ness of humanity. But what right? ti concrete or abstract?has Judge Bu- a chanan to assume that these jurors are perjurers? If he actually knew them to be perjurers, then it would have been his duty to have said so N and told how and why he knew. Iudeed he should have instructed the solicitor to lay the matter before the grand jury. Under the circumstances, h although protected by his office from ri being held to account for bis hurailiating language, he had no legal or mor il right to indulge in us use. ^ We are not speaking here with un3ue feeling; but are trying to look at h die case in all of its bearings. Then v io not let us lose sight of the fact that t was not at the minority jurors that the judges remarks were aloue direct- l( id. The whole jury was accused of ack of mauhood. Those who wanted ft to convict aud those who wanted to E icquit were put into the same catego- ^ ry. According to Judge Buchanan's peculiar ideas, if the the miuority a-as not willing to surrender to the ai Majority, then the majority should have surrendered to the minority, for aft- c< ;r all the issue was not justice, the character and reputation of plaintiff ^ ?r defendant?hut merely a verdict. His statements leave no escape from :his conclusion. k And we are given a plain intimation dial the idea of the verdict was to * save expense. We ..re told that the j lost of the trial was $450, and the fact |, s cited to us that even if the defend- <j int had been convicted, he would C lave only been placed under a $800 r< lond. According to the judge, then, " ifter all, the principal issue was one of jr lollars and cents?not that the county 'f ihould stand ready to bankrupt itself B n order to insure justice to its citizens; tl )ut that jurors should only look to the R :beapest way out. In its application 111 o our judiciary machinery the idea is :ertainly new and novel; but perhaps, ti ifter all, it is not altogether inapplicu>le to the especial case of Judge Bnch- rti man. From the record he has made di is a presiding judge on the bench and ec inder the review of the supreme court, w mndreds of lawyers all over the state at lave long since come to the conclusiou b( hat his place could be better filled by bi ime one of the best $300 magistrates, ? id in our opinion it would be a capi,1 idea if the next general assembly jj ould institute some kind of a change. le do not suggest, of course, the prootion of a $300 magistrate; but we ould like to see the substitution of a ell-equipped lawyer who is capable F properly filling the place. MISTRIAL IN MEAKGS CASE. o inlge Buchanan Indulge* In a Tirade Again*! the Jury. After remaining in the room from Wednesday afternoon at 5 o'clock T ntil Friday morning at 11, the jury larged wiLh the bastardy case against '' rofessor Meares, reported a mistrial, correspondent, giving an account of le trial, says that Judge Bucbauan illed the jury out of their room at 11 'clock Friday morning, and when ley announced that there was no ossibility of reaching a verdict, he egan to speak to the jurymen in a ery novel and plain-spoken manner i regard to the case. Their inability i agree, he stated, was a matter of R luch regret, and that nothing brought i much reproach upon the adminisation of justice as a mistrial. The iry had spent three or four days iu anging out, and had cost the county bout $450, whereas even a verdict gainst the defendent would have put pon him a bond for only $300.; that le jury had spent more money by G anging on and fooling around thau ie amount that would have beeu exited by a couviction. i "You, gentlemen," said the judge, G! probably will be the first to speak ghtly of courts and to say that jusce cannot be gotten ; that the lawers fool around in the courts and dely justice, while the truth of the mat- jj ;r is the lawyers, the solicitor and the aurt do their duty, and you men have ot the manhood to do yours. You ave no one but yourselves to blame >r the miscarriage of justice. The ate and the defendant are entitled to verdict and you have acted like a it of school boys locked up three or d >ur days, when you should have greed upon a verdict. If the public ^ -ould cultivate a higher standard of bligation and men were to understand lat when they take an oath to do aeir duty, they should do it honestly T )stead of frittering their time away nd vaccilating by reason of a feeling f kindness for a neighbor, or some incied thing in the evidence, more xact justice would be done, and there ^ . ould be no more reproach upon the drniuistration of justice through the eglect of the jurors to do their duty. 'hey seem to think it is a sleight of se and thing when they should go on a '? irv. A man taking an oath to per jrm a duty on the jury should meet Vl is obligations as he would bis promise " d pay a note. Jurors don't do it, and ^ eeause of the fuct that we have to ave jurors to try this sort of cases, ustice is not done. h< "I want to burn that idea into you, entlemen, that justice has miscarried J this case, because you did not have 'e he manhood to carry out the law and al he obligation you took. And I want S ou to know I know it, and I want very juror to understand when he ?e omes into the court where I am to 1C reside, and takes an obligation to deide a case and does not do it, that I itend to tell him about it and make it bl ot for him. ,m "Another jury may have to go over 1? his same thing because of your lack 1 f manhood and nothing else. It is p ecause you all did not understand our own oath and did not keep it to ecide this case according to the evi- ^ ence. I want you to understand that V know it and everybody else knows it, e nd when it becomes a matter of op- D! irobrium for juries to make a mistrial Vl verybody will reproach them for it, ef ecause they did not keep their obliga- ?l ions they took to agree on a verdict m nd further the administration of jusice." m SHARON SHAVTNOS. oten About People?A Marriage Today? Health of Community Good, orrespondenee of the Yorkville Enauirer. P1 Sharon, January 8.?Mr. James N. loss and family, of Arkansas, who m ave beeu here for two weeks, visiting fo ?latives and friends, leave today on aeir return home. W( Miss Alice Ross, of Columbia, who as been here for a week visiting ac iends, returned to Columbia today. be Miss Aunie Caine, of Lewisville, Ga, di as returned home after a two month's w< isit to her sister, Mrs. Grier. be Mrs. Adams, of Rock Hill, is visiting wj er daughter, Mrs. Byers. W. C. Thompson, of Lockhart, is in 88 awn. Cards are out for the marriage of de Ir. J. H. Bigham and Miss Nannie pu [ope, at the residence of Mrs. M. M. [ope, on Wednesday at 10 o'clock. ^ There is no sickness of any conseuence in this section and Dr. Saye is en aving a holiday ; but he does not look ta 3 if he is enjoying it. hu Mr. R. C. Ratchford, of Union an aunty, is visiting here. an Mr. J. M. Sims and Mr. J. B. Ross rpj ent down to Chesterfield county ist week on buisness connected with av teir railroad work. an - an or Caiitiifn Sliell'M Place. ID) The Washington correspondent of 'he News and (Courier savs there is a ot fight going on in Washington for ie census supervisorship made vacant 01 y the death of the late G. W. Shell. ^ n the one hand Senator Tillman and ev ongressmen Wilson and Latimer have pu jcommended Mr. J. Thomas Austin, es well-known politician of Greenville, ^ nd on the other Senator McLaurin as recommended ltev. A. J. S. no homas, editor of the Baptist Courier. m< oth sides are doing all they can ; but th; ie statements of the correspondent be idicated that Messrs. Tillmau, Wilson aft ud Latimer seem to have the adjutage. lie Cotton Market. ft) The New York contract market is wi ither sick as compared with last Kri- scl iiy. May contracts were then quot- Tli 1 at 7.44. Yesterday's 11 o'clock call a. as 7.28. The reporter was advised an noon that on the local market the art fst cotton could not be expected to 1 ing over 71. op .OCAL AFFAIRS, of NIJKX TO NKW ADVERTISEMENTS. ' , C. Strauss?Has just received a supply >f table chinaware which he is giving 80 ivith every cash purchase of $1.30 and jpward, and gives a list, together with he price of extra pieces, and the amount >f the cash purchase which entitles you :o the various articles mentioned. He speaks of underwear and ladies'union mils, and has a few pairs of $2.50 and oi $3.50 shoes which he is offering at 81.50 .p i pair. He has a gold ring which was picked up in his store a few days ago. ill iera House?On next Friday night the ,1 Original Nashville Students combiner! with Gideon's Big Minstrel Carnival, sa ind composed of "45 minstrel kings," ,t will appear in Yorkville. B. McClain?Has a corn mill for sale, id ind says for you to see him at once. i? ,m M. Grist, Agent?Says that on the 1st of January, 1900, the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co. of Newark. N. J., -p was 55 years old. He says also that during that time its record has been one in [>f generosity of its policy contracts. w hisonant & Castles, The Leaders, Hickory Grove?Says for those who have not c< settled their accounts to come forward md make arrangements at once. They have cooking stoves and furniture, and m have flour, corn, oats and hay on the road. Also a few horses and mules on band which will be sold for cash or ni on good paper. r. ook Hill Buggy Co., Rock Hill?Says mill me reason uiey sen ineir uucgies ui ?. 3uch close profits is because tbey make tc *o many in a day. Last year tbey averaged a complete buggy every 42 g< minutes and 14 seconds. Their buggies 0| are sold in Yorkville by Messrs. Glenn it Allison. I? B. McClain?Offers to rent the store- w room between the Sutro mill and Beard . & Carroll's store. J( rist Cousins?Have just received a .bar- w rel of open kettle new crop New Orleans molasses and a barrel of Georgia ti ribbon cane molasses. Also have the (,| genuine Heinz catsup, lenn & Allison?Want to know if you 3? have seen their stock of horses and 0( mules and say that to be convinced of _ the superiority of the selection, all you ? will have to do is to see them. They sell buggies, wagons and harness and . guarantee everything they sell. " is. M. Starr <S Co., Leading Druggists? s, Say that you can keep the skipper lly from injuring your meat if you will get tl omttA i\nm/lorfld Knrar fmiri thpm Rnfl A use according to directions. 'inthrop Society of Winthrop Coilege? 11 Will give an entertainment in college a, auditorium next Friday evening at 8.1ft ' o'clock. The price of admission will * be 25 cents. ']' r. R. S. Peck?The Charlotte eye specialist, will be in Yorkville, at the Par- 11 ish hotel, on January 18th. ji r. M. Kennedy, Agent?Says that his . stock has been replenished, and he now has good tlour and molasses. He wants t, to furnish you with Lamm's tailor-made , clothing. D , B. McClain?Says that he can otfer you n some bargains in mules and horses. w ABOUT PEOPLE. Mrs. M. VV. White, has returned s< om Lindsay, Lancaster county, Mr. R. Latta Parish, of Yorkville, is been elected as orator of the e mior class of South Carolina college, n r commencement next week. 0 Miss IdaScoggins, after a two weeks ^ isit to her sister, Mrs. E. A. Crawford, iturned to ber home ut Hickory r' rove on Monday. Mr. R. E. Montgomery and family h ive removed from the Robertson f> Duse, opposite the Three C's hotel, to d te Boyd house on Lincoln street. Representative Thomas F. MeDow, ft Monday night for Columbia to tend the sessions of the general asinibly. Mrs. McDow will spend most het time during Mr. McDow's ah- c< nee with her relatives and friends n i Charlotte. Mr. J. Q. Wray, formerly of \ork gj >unty but for several years past doing . jisness in Union, has opened a general ercbandise store in Yorkville. He assisted by Mr. T. E. Dean and his ti other, Mr. D. L. Wray. d Mr. J. F. Carson left yesterday for si aff'ney City, where he is to take a |? jsition as salesman in the store of the aflTney Manufacturing company. Mr. arson has had four years' of excel- Cl nt training in the mercantile busi- n ;ss under Mr. H. C. Strauss, of York- fa lie, and he goes to Gaffney well- w juipped to take advantage of any V( iportunity of further promotion that ight fall in his way. And Mr. Car > is a young man to whom opportuties for promotion will surely come. ttl m RUSHING THR WORK. tl Upon securing from the town coun1 a franchise guaranteeing the desired m otection last Thursday night, Mr. T. ol McClain set to work, on Friday y< orning, to establish the long-wished- 01 r electric light plant in Yorkville. gi During Friday and Saturday, holes pi ere dug along all the principal streets, se id the long cypress poles that have bi en on band for several weeks were tc stributed all over town. All the ol ark had been carefully mapped out hi forehand, and the expedition with d< bich it was pushed was certainly d< tonishing to the natives. It is doubt- a{ 1 as to whether any other similar un- ry rtaking in Yorkville has ever been of ished with such admirable energy. ej The lighting system will extend se )m a point a few yards beyond the in d of the water main on King's Moun- or in street, down Congress street, a indred yards south of Sutro mill, th d on Liberty street from the jail to th d beyond the O. R. & C. railroad, ci rere willjalso be wires along Cleveland ht enue, Madison and College streets, th d probably also up Lincoln street, ar d wherever else there may be a de- w ind for light. fa The present operations are entirely of th reference to commercial lights a r home and business purposes, al- re ougb the poles are being set and ar ery arrangement is being made to ye t in the arc lights for public purpos- th as soon as the public indicates its pi sire for them. As operations are be w being pushed, many of the com- fr< ?rcial lights will be shining in less Tl an 1U days, ana me arc nguis win gi on hand within a very short time en er a favorable election. de As has already been explained, Mr. co iClain's proposition to the town is of furnish 15 arc lights, in accordance th what is known as the moonlight th ledule, at $60 per annum per light. le< ic lights are to be operated until 1 ge m. on all but clear moonlight nights, th d as many more as may be desired ye } to be furnished at the same price. lo< far as is known not the slightest re| position hus developed to auy purt lus I his improvement, and judging by e general anxiety for the installation (lie lights, there seems to lie no reu n to anticipate any opposition. ALMOST A LYNCHING. Quite an ugly atfuir, which came ;ar resulting in a killing, occurred it at- the York Cotton Mills lasl hursday morning. It grew out o le failure of a Negro to remember lat he does not occupy exactly th< line plane of the whites?or possiblj le fellow had begun to cultivate new eas on the subject. Anyhow a shar| sson was administered. It seems thut a Negro named Hovii hompson has been employed in lh< ill as a sweeper. His occuputioi us the removal of the waste that i: )nstanlly accumulating, and the do ig of other odd jobs iu and about iht ill, especially during the day shift. At changing time, morning ant ight, with all the operatives goin| ora and returning to work, there ii ways quite a jam at the big eutranci > the mill. Thompson, it seems, hat sneral instructions to go iu aud ou f the mill by another entrance, or a :ast wait until the changing rusl as over. For sometime he had beei lining in the rush at changing tim< ith others, and the matter had at acted pretty general disapproval 01 te part of the operatives, although i ems that none of them had takei cession to call it to the atteution c uperiutendent Grimes. The crisis occurred Thursday morn ig. When the whistle blew, Thomp in undertook to force bis way int ie mill between and past two girlt l young boy saw the act und spok p sharply. Thompson replied in th< 1 . L _ U- * f .M uu ime luue, utiu uie uuy went III! hul resently knives were drawn aw hompson had a race through th till to the outside, his pursuers slash ig at him all the while will nives. When run to hay, he attemji -d to defend himself with a sitck ut one of the pursuers produced istol and he begged for naercy. Ther as a conference as to the best thin; > be done, and as the result, Thomp - ~ ?? it..:*tt JII WUS LUIU lu gib auu bu icuian got." Thompson was quite severely slash il during the chase and fracas. Th< lost serious injury was a long slasl u the side of the face. It was do angerous; hut several stitches wen rquired in the dressing. There has been no further distur rur.ce since this occurrence, and s< ir as the reporter is able to learn, til itficulty will not he renewed, so louj s this precedent is properly regarded AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK. The agricultural outlook for tin oming year is occupying the ultentioi ot only of farmers and supply men ut of all other busiuess and profes ous who try to do more or less look ig ahead. As compared with conditions at thi me last year, the situation is quit iflerent. Then, although there wen ill a great maoy unpaid bills, all thi irge farmers and many of the smal nes, had plenty of stock and suffi tent corn, meat and other supplies ti in them until the next crop, and thi ict that cotton was low and raoue; as scarce, was not an especial incon enience. This year, along with thi nail crop of cottou, there have alsi enerally been small crops of con nd other forage, and there are not si lany independent people in the coun v. The guano problem is receiviDj lore or less attention at the bands o f both farmers and merchants. Ai et the dealers have not fully settlet [i prices. They have had to pay t reut deal more this year than tbej aid last year, and they will have t< ill higher. These facts are settled ut as to just what prices will be ba: be determined by the development! ' the immediate future. Some trade: ive already been made with the un irstandiug that the goods will be Hivered at any time, and the price ;reed upon on a mutually satisfacto basis later on. This arrangement course, is only possible where there cists a proper confidence betweec ller and buyer; but under the exist g conditious it seems to be the onl> le that is practicable. The farmers, of course, have not yel oroughly made up their minds upoi ie guano question. Mauy have de ded that they will use guano; tbej ive decided upon how much, and iey have made purchases. Others e in doubt. There are many whc ere hard bit by the peculiarly un vorable seasons of last year, and some these believe that they will stand good chance of getting this yeai turns from guano that was put out id which failed to yield results last ;ar. There are others who believe at the guano ot last year is cometely lost, aud if tbey are to get any nefit from guano this year, it will be om such as may be put out this fall, be hope of results from last year's lano is warranted by past experiice; but of course that experience pends upon the seasons aud other editions not only of last year; but this year also. The supply merchants, especially ose who had made fairly good coitions this year, seem to be of the neral opinion that we are now on e verge of an unusually prosperous ar. One of the roost experienced :al supply merchants said to the porter a few days ago, that while it year the rule was to sell on au ' average of only about $60 to the plow i on lime, including guano, this year, the limit will probably be raised to $75 or more to the plow. In the supplies to he sold this year there will be included a great deal more corn and 1 meat than was sold lust year; but very ' likely uot nearly so much flour. VVben 1 asked for hisreauou for ruising the limf it, the merchant said, in a general way, that of course supply men who sell ' goods on credit, have to take chances ' and he governed by circumstances. ' He believed that all indications point > to better limes ahead, aud he had a conviction that even with a 12,000,000 8 bale crop of cotton next year, if such e a thing be possible, prices will not 1 average more than a cent a pound 8 lower than for the preseut crop. Tbia ' then will warraut a greater risk than B was taken last year. The unusually large wheat acreage i is cutting a considerable figure in the ? year's prospects, aud if the crop comes 3 up to expectations, it will help out the 3 mid-summer situation wonderfully. t THE TRADE IN EYES, t The reporter had a talk with Mr. i Thomas W. Speck, the jeweler, a few n days ago about the eyeglass business, e The talk grew out of an iuquiry as to . the general status of the spectacle t! trade. To tbe great surprise of the t. reporter, Mr. Speck said it was not n very good at this time, and then came >1 the very natural question, "Why?" "The principal reasou for the dullness in the spectacle trade," said Mr. i Speck, "is because there are so many u peddlers doing business throughout the j. country. They come pretty near supr plying the local demand,, and they e leave very little for the stationary i. dealer to do. j "All of these peddlers profess to e thoroughly uuderstand optica. Some i. of them really do know their business h pretty well, while others kuow absoi. lutely nothing; but from my observa; lion all of them understand how to get t from 300 to 1,000 per cent, profit out e of a pair of glasses that would go over g the counter of a regular dealer at . about the same percentage :of profit u that he would charge for other ordinary eoods. "Not a great while ago," Mr. Speck e related by way of illustration, "a good It natured aod evideutly well-to-do old t lady came iu from the southern part of e the county, and handed me a pair of spectacles, which she wanted fitted - with new glasses. At first glance, I ? [j saw that the frames were brass, and e the glasses were of the cheapest and it commonest kind made. I was able to I, suit her eyes with new glasses without difficulty, and while I was engaged in the work she told me a funny story, e It was like this: u " 'Not long ago an optician came by ^ ; our house with an assortment of spec- $ * tacles, and as mine were getting a lit tie "far," I looked over what he had. One pair suited me very well and I 8 decided to take them. He offered to e let me have them for mine and $5, 8 and promised tbut he would be back 8 within a week, and if the spectacles 1 did not suit, he would make it good. - And would you believe it, the man has 0 not come back yet.' e "I remarked to the lady that, of Y course, the fellow had not come back, - and that was not the worst of it. He 8 had uo idea of coming. As a matter 3 of fact, the brass framed glasses that ) he bad traded for a gold pair aud $5, 3 would have been high at 50 cents, - eveu if they had been suitable to the lady's eyes. ; "So," concluded Mr. Speck, "with t f transactions like this happening every 3 day, it is easy to understand why the 1 trade of stationary dealers in speclai cles is uot especially brisk. With so t many innocent and coufiding old peo> pie to be imposed upon by first one ; peddler and then another, it is quite 3 natural that there should be enough, a in ?ho fipld t,n come nrettv * l^uu.v.o ... ? r ? 3 near supplying the demand." , IRISH POTATOES. . Some few years ago The Enquirer . made a considerable effort to awaken , a proper iuterest in Irish potatoes in > this section; but generally the effort I i only met with temporary success. . However, the subject is still an imporr tant one, and the conditions for the development of the potato crop are I much more favorable, i Of course, almost every family that . has a garden and almost every farmer > in the country, raises a little patch of 1 Irish potatoes; but generally these i patches are hardly sufficient to supply i the table needs during a few weeks of the summer, and it is only au occa> sional individual here and there who I ever thinks of raising potatoes for the market. In fact it is safe to say , that 75 percent, of the potatoes raised , in this country are dug and cousumed > before they are fully matured, aud not Gve potato raisers out of a hundred are able to put home raised potatoes i on his table two months after the plowing of his patch, i Ttiat potatoes may be raised and , saved in this section there is no question. It is well established that aoy gardener who understands even the rudimentary principles of his busi- 3 ness, can easily raise two crops a year; and with less attention than is demanded by a corn crop, he can raise as many bushels of potatoes to the acre as of almost any other crop known. Not ouly this, if the proper means be used, both first and second crop potatoes may be kept from one seasou to another, Of course, potatoes caunot be kept with as little trou