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SHOCKING FAMILY TRAGEDY. A Pennsylvania Farmer Kills Two brothers and Tries to Kill Sister and Sister-in-Law. Worked into a frenzy as a result of an altercation with one of his brothers, Benjamin Franklin Wes singer, living on a farm several miles from Pottsville, Pa., Monday afternoon shot and killed his two brothers and attempted to kill his sister and a sister-in-law, and held a large posse of policemen at bay for nine hours before he was cap tured. The tragedy occurred on the farm of the father of the men. The dead men are Louis Wessinger, aged 27 years, single, and Frederick, aged 25, who leaves a widow. The fratricide is 45 years old. Having realized what he had done and, fearing arrest, Benjamin decided to barricade himself in the barn. He went into the house, got a shotgun, several revolvers and ammunition and then took up his position in the barn. When Sheriff Smith appeared on the scene a ruse was planned to capture the man. Another parley was held with the murderer and he agreed to let the two farm hands bring him his supper. The men were instructed to watch their op portunity, seize him by the arms and shout what would be the signal for the deputies to rush in. This they did and a terrible struggle took place. The murderer is a powerful man, but the force of numbers was too much for him, and he was tied hand and foot before he could fur ther use his weapons. Wessinger is believed to be in sane. His mind is said to have been failing for some time. He had nothing to say regarding the tragedy, except that he exclaimed: "I am bewitched." December Designer. "Mother Love," always a touch ing theme but never more sacred than at this season, is exquisitely pictured in reproductions from noted paintings in the December Designer, and "The Bethlehem Star," a full page illustrated poem by Aloosius Coll, carries out still further the beautiful idea. "Christmas at Bear '1," by Lillian C. Paschal, is a ing story of the West, while art of Gold," by Ada Marie ic, is another holiday romance, but in different vein. That well known portrayer of happy childhood Mrs. Gabrielle F. Jackson, coni trinutes the Christmas story for yon; folks, entitled -How Swipes Playedc Santa,'' and Dr. Sarah A. French Battey gives suggestions for " -Holiday Tableaux, Home Made,'' accompanied by charming illustra tions. '"Nooks and Dens,'" by Mary Kilsyth, pictures and des cribes the artistic furnishings of odd andl pretty rooms, and "A Christmas Sock Social'' and "'A D)oll Party'' will be of great assis tance to the Sunday school or young folks' club in search of attractive entertainments for this season. "Observances of Christanas," by Phebe L. Humphreys, tells The DJesigner readers wh y the Christmas tree, the Yule log and the holly wreath form part of the celebration, and "*Mistletoe and Holly," by Cora S. Damy, is a prett y holiday drama into wvhich a hv-e story is skillfully woven. "Toilettes for Gala Occa sions,' '" Fashions and Fabrics,'' ''Fads anid Fancies'' and ''Fashion Notes for Men'' all have their share of the Christmas element, and every department in general, btut ''The Kitchen Kingdom,'' in particular, is fairly btubbling over with it. "Dainty Edibles as Christmas Gifts,'' by Eleanor Marchant, and "'Christmas Bonbons'' by Al ice Chittenden, are among the good things the latter contains. " 'For Litdle Folks Fingers,'' by M. Good row Richardson, suplpl ies simple Christmas fancyv work gaan,eeo sufficient to keep a regiment of tots out of mischief for a few hours at least. New Idea Woman's Magazine. Have you ever asked yourself, in your quieter moments, "What was the happiest day of my life?" A group of clever and celebrated women have formed a symposium for the December number of the New Idea Woman's Maga zine and have given their several experiences during the one happiest day of their lives, and the result is exceedingly interesting. This issue is the Christmas number, and the spirit of the holiday season prevails in its pages. Valuable suggestions for gifts, for feasting and for house decoration are in evidence, and many ideas are ad,anced. The number is also exceedingly rich in good fiction and verse, and is enter taining frotii cover to cover. SPANKING MACHINE. Almost Kills its Inventor While he is Making a Test. Anoka (Minn) Cor Chicago Ameri can. - Harvey Miller, a farm hand, working for J. E. Reynolds, a pros peroutis farmer at Cedar Point, a few miles west of here, was spanked almost to death by a machine of his own contrivance. Miller who is an inventor, dis covered a "mother help" machine. It consists of a series of phono graphs to be set in each room of the house. On pressing a button any one of the phonographs desired will call out: "stop that, Robert, and be a good boy.'' Or will yell out: "If you aren't a good boy manma will whip you." Thle device is worked by electricity and is supposed to relieve the mother of much running to and fro after her offspring, and to make the latter behave. Miller has also a graduated spank ing attachment. The person to be spanked is strapped flat down on a board, while a strong hardwood paddle operated by an electric motor does the work. Two dials control the mechanism. On the dial are printed ages from 2 to 16, so that the force of the blows can be regu lated accorded to the age. On the other are the words. ''light, fair, good, hard, serious,' 'to correspondI with the offence for which punish mnent is to be inflicted. M iller had finished tne mechanic ismi last night, andc atfter v'ainly at temiA)ting to secure a friend to try it had himsel f strapped down ont a board while a number of friends operat ad the works. The padldling wrata5rted at 2, slight, and gradual ly turned on until age 16, set ion's was reached. Miller was by this time roaring for mercy and promising to bie goodl while the onlookers were rolling ont the floor, boub)led up in laughter, not knowing that Miller, th'e in ventor, had been terribly punished. Millet 's strength was rapidly failing when his friends noted his con'ditiont, butt not b'einlg familiar withI tie machine were unable to make it stop1. Miller had lost cotnsciousness when somteone releasedi the buickles of the strap)s which held him down and resteed hinm. Miller's first act otn regaitnitng his senses was to destroy the "mnothers help." Better Than Pills. The question has been asked-In what way are Chamberlain's Stomach and Liver Tablets superior to the ordinary cathartic andl liver pills? Our answer is-They are easier and more pleasant to take and their effect is so gentle and so agreeable thatP1 one hardly realizes that it is produced by a medicine. Then they not only move the howels but improve the appetite and aid the dige.stion. For sale at 25 cents per bottle by WV. E. Pelham & Son, New-| berry, S. C., and Prosperity Drutg Co., Prosperity,v. C.( LETTER WRITING. to Decline an an Art Caused by the .Modern Newspaper. The wonderful development of the newspaper may be looked upon as a very potent factor In the decline of let ter writing as an art. The letter no longer can be regarded as primarily the carrier of news. The expression of one's opinion about great contemporary events is indeed still left to the letter, but , how much of anl incentive to friendly correspondence is lost by the fact that every part of the world knows of important happenings almost Bimultanleoisly is not to be lightly es Uimated, says Gunton's Magazine. The stimluilus to writing that comes from having "news" to impart is done away with, and it Is not always that even the gifted letter writer can afford to lose that incitant. It is only the corre spondent par excellence who knowi how to attain the perfection of his art by writing delightfully of nothing, If indeed that may be called nothing which affords him a means for the em ploynent of his delicate perceptions. For the saving quality of the genuint letter is in the ability of its author tc put himself Into it. If he writes about trivial things he does It with a gracc of interest that disguises the triviality. He must not make his little fishes talM like whales, but he should, as Gold smith himpelf knew how to do, makc his letters of perpetual Interest be cause of the aptness of their style tc the simplicity of their thought. The Delightm of Nudity. I cling to that perhaps fanciful theo. ry that no primitive instinct of man IF altogether lost. It is modified, ampli fled. refined; that is all. With all ou culture we are barbarians still. Mar is a clothed savage. And now an again he delights in doffing the cloth ing and returning heartily to savagery How delightful the feel of the brin3 breeze and the boisterous wave on th bare pelt! Mr. Mdward Carpentei rails at the, I think, eleven layers ol clothing that intervene between oui skins and the airs of heaven. Wal Whitman revvled in his nude sun bath What a treat, too, soinetlimes to ge away from the imilticoursed dinnel and to bit" downright audIbly int< simple food in the fresh air and to lal water noisily from the brook! Well walking perhaps Is the primal in stin.et. aivient as Eden, where the Lor God walked in the garden in the coo of the day. And if my theory is cor reet walki:uL will persist till in recov ered pardisc. man walks with hi iatiker again. No mechnnical contriv ance for locomtion wvill extirpate th, tribe (if tourists, of tfhose who wall from love (if w\alking.--Arnold Haul tain in Atlantic. Such nird Come Iliit. There used to he in a store oi Nintl avenue, New York, a very valuable en nary whose owner and teacher, th wife of ti- German proprietor, r, fused an offer of $500 for it. Sonicme as one entered the place there can from a corner in the rear a liquid peu of inusic so sweet and high and cles that it sounded like a piccolo withou the metallic shrillness of that instru ment. II a snmIl wicker cage a bi>lc and yellmv canary waltzAx< round an< roulta. ne lipr it. and as it danced I san- :im :.I- (if "Lauterach" from be ginning to iend without ia false quan tity, withuit missing or changing note'. Whe ~n t he solo was finished th bir-d whi:sked up to Its perch, trilled a imiprov\iit ion and t hen biegan the mel odly nignint, .ireakingj oiff ini the milddlt warbl!lniz a little in self wIlled fashio1 and lien linishinlg thte aui-. it was hen ut ifulI: and unmihque pe(rformlanice. P hibadelphia Ledger. Smnoking in fluankM. In ever-y bank in New York there a i'lule auga ist stmokinog, anad it Is doubt ful if any dlepositor' or vlsi tor ever say a coil of' tobnec(o smoke siftinag thriougl thec atmnosphere in the big countinj lioss-that is. no visitor who is ex eluded fromu t he building priomnpt: w.e ithe ban0liitk clOsos. But if the curn (Ius (0( cou lliCqueeze their way throug those closald po'tiks in the afternooi they would he tr-eated to a v'ery differ eat sight. Thhe rules agait smorking in all thi b)ig banks of the city apply only dur ing banking hours, After the dloors art closed( and locked one ec.n trnsforn himuself Inuto a hunman volcano wvitl perfect fre'doan-andl he does. Ani "he" is legion. - New York Tlimes. A PerMonal 1Bill of Fiape. A squir- of' Andi(over once hired hrother of Patrick, who was in his em ploy. 'The terms were rnidt- withi Pa he(f('re( his l,uother's arriival, and t following conversation ensued: Sqiuire-I'll pay your brother one fift; a day. P'atrick. Pa trick (bowing and smniling)-Yi( sor; yis. sor; and will lie ate himself o will ye ate him, sor-? The squire thought that D)ennis ha< better ('at hhnmslf-Lippincott's. Min sobIrie*ty. A g'n tlenoan who'ui had gravi e dot)li as to a 'ierivanmt's sobiriety one day ne test lhii:t'd 'l !!ea-ross t he floor' am Thiei ftllow\ ltooked'l it fhli hu m :i hilt, Itei ati hi. 'niployi'r. andl s'ni "'No jokes, now, sir. ~~ Whit-lihim 4< von wnte to + walko, ?." CO LUBgAg V= J O~EABC AIR LINE - NORTH SOUTH - Two Daily Pullman Vesti Between SOUTH an FIRST-CLASS DININ The Best Rates and Rout Via Richmond and W Norfolk and Steane Nashville, Memphis Louis, Chicago, New Points South and Southw< and Jacksonville and a and Cuba. POSITIVELY THE SHORT NORTH A N fie-For detailed information, man reservations, etc., apply board Air Line Railway, or Passenger Agerit, Columbia, C. F. STEWART, As SAVANN/ * *, ER THE LIN THE L41 r TELINI t ON THE SUMMI UTHERK SMaled I 81I l I I W (Roa Ii)ow . gn 31 p'm ... " ITaure-n-- , I F i 1 1 4 \f.i. .i TIl.lr .n . -- Ketwreen A nd ersonl ny td WR). 2 A RRIVE. LI-A vy. :3 '1 10 II Wi......... HeIo ........... 'U 3( y - 2 48 9833...A n e rson F. I....) . 340 . . ; ..... 2i6... s A ndI-rsion.....3 491 ..... 909..........en ver......3 594 ..... 9 2........Autn........... 4 0.5 .....855.....Penleto n.......4 I! ..... 847...........h rry........4 18 ..... 8 44.......A a m ............ 4 21 .. . 8 28~ .... Jor dania .Junc t...4 '43 --... 20'...... .W t U L.n......... 5. . All reguiliar tr,ain,s fr(;nn IleItitn to WValbaht. W have prevede(l ( o1*lver trains of am n ein y ni (vin fin the oppos19f01ite directf ton unles oth~01I tir (erwho~ xpeciflied by ira.in ordter. Will alim(,lo'p It the following sitations toi take on and let ofiillssengers4: P'ht nny'% .,y .ininen and1( Sand r i g. I .J. IR. AN Ii 11110N. SulIerinennt r MFG. CO. w )A D RAILWAY. SEAST -- WEST. buled Limited Trains J NEW YORK. 1G CAR SERVICE. 3 to all Eastern Cities ashington, or via -s. To Atlanta, , Louisville, St. Orleans, and All ,st-To Savannah 1l points In Florida EST LINE BETWEEN D SOUTH. rates, schedules, Pull to any agent of The Sea J. J. Puller, Travellng S.C. st.Gfeni. Pass. Agt., H, GA. FOR BUSINESS, FOR PLEASURE, FOR ALL THE BEST CR RESORTS i Summet Re3ort Foldn 're. to Any Address. p. Hi. HARDwIcx, W. H.ATLvsON, .en'i Pass. Agenh. Ast. Oen'l Pass. Agt. ASNINOTONI, D. C. AThANTA, OA. lit1thOlIndl.\ciirt IllIind. hl'ti( in f.l(eet. Siin be .J1 . , 1903 STfATIIONS. ) 410 ain. L,v At bin'ia (s.A.!,) Ar. 8 50o pmn .0 50 11r1 A tho117' (1 pm Jll Ii flinm lb tontli F 17 pmi 2 '1% pjn A1ibhevilIte 4 05 urm 22 11m5 Greenwood 3i 35 1)m1 2 15pus_ Ar Cttotot ('ln'r) hvy. 2 45 pmf (C.&W.O.) 0 0I9 am Lv Ilteitn - Irirms Ar 4 0 pm11 2 '. pmn "par-i o , S ;' pxr 2 2 prn G roem 1p 3 21, pim 1 2 pirn WJ .ur-vh.., 2 :L', pm y .7'i D '' 2 rl riA' 1p'y in i'.( pm Xn 7 10 1' . 42 hf5 6550 1 4'nirl I to 746 430 -( ' 105 7dii 4410 Sa1 s 100 726 405 o'" r12 46 79 3r:s45 'Iat-''.' i232 941 305 95061 . 7- H1100 l20 55>iF, 2161 0 a : 1' :: W bita 1to i Ii i4e 5, 50 2 (0 l's 04 4 17 H'du,en,t,ino !64 5-4l 1 504 55 Ia .7 1 ;7 f r'no i 46 ,28 182 1 50. a 4 2< Lokphart.. 11 40 61 il 109 11 IIi 4 40 Co: nu ia 11 26 5 (JO 1 00 A. C. 1,. 4 'oblimblia (Union Station) 4 45 11 20 pm am 4 65 Lv'Cohrnibin (A .e.L.)Ar I 10 (6 20 Hlilmter 9 54: 9I 210 Ar Chaurlestton Lv 7 IA rllinft 53 and 52? arrive andit depart from w uioni depot. 'rainl! 22 'ird t- from A. C. b,. freight depot, JIst (hervnis sit rent or Ittes,T'[Imo1 Tabdle, or flirt he fr inf orma ni cll on aniytL Agent, or write1 to (4. C1tILDS4 TP. M. EMElISON P'reslIent. TIraftur ManatgEr! ir. LIViN(JMTON, Hi. M. EMElI8ON * 8ot. A gt. G4en'i Frt. & PRas Agt. himbhis. . _I W'iurnma..l, N. 0.n