University of South Carolina Libraries
DR. TALMAGE- SERMN. SAVING WISDOM COMPARED TO A PERFECT CRYSTAL. Zeligion Superior to a Crystal in Exact ness, in Transparene;. In Symmetry and in Beauty-Soulis of Sinners the Crystallization of Mercy. NEW YoRK, April 19.-The eager ness to hear Dr. Talmage's sermons at the Chiistian Herald services on Sun day evenings in this city continues un abated. As usual there was this even ing a dense mass of people waiting out side the Academy of Music long before the hour for commencement and every seat in the huge building was occupied in a few minutes after the doors were opened. Dr. Talmage had preached to an immense audience in the morning in -Ithe Brooklyn Academy of Music.' His -text was: 'The crystal cannot equalit" Job. xxviii: 7. Many of the precious stone of the Bibles . have come to prompt recognition. But for the present I take up the less valua ble crystal. Job, in my text, compares saving wisdom with a specimenof topaz. An infidel chemist or mineralogist would pronoance the latter worth more than the former, but Job makes an in teligent comparison, looks at religion and then looks at the crystal and pronoun-es the former as of far superior value to the latter. exclaiming in the N ords of my tpxt, "The crystal cannot equal it." Now, it is not a part of my serwone design to depreciate the crystal, whether it-be found in Cornish mine or Hartz mountain or Mammoth Cave or tinking among the peadanta of the chandeliers. . The crstal is the star of the mountain; . if it is the queen of the cave; it is the ear drop ot the hills; it finds its heaven in the diamond. Among all the pages of na -tural history there is no page more in 'teresting to me than the page crystallo r graphic. But I want to show you that Jo' was right when, taking religion in e-ne hand and the crystal in the other, -he declared that the former is of far more value and beauty than the latter, recommending it to all people and to all ages. declaring: "The crystal cannot equal it." In the first place I remarl that religion is superior to the crystal in exactness. That shapeless mass oferys tal against which your accidently dashed . your foot is laid out with more exact ,ness than any earthly city. There are six styles of crystallization and all of them divnely ordained. Every crysLal -has mathematical precision. God's geometry reaches through it, and it is asquare or it is a rectangle, or it is a rhomboid or in some way it hath a math .etntical figure. Now, religion bea.s r that in the sin ple fact that spiritual ac cnrracy is more beautiful than material accuracy. God's attributes are exact. -G'ods decrees exact. God's manage ment of the world exact. Never count ing.wrong, though he counts the grass blades and the stars and the sat ds and '-the cycles. His piovidences never deal ,ig with us prcpendicularly when those jprovidences ought to be oblique, nor ateral when they ought to be vertical. Everything in our life arranged with ou any possiblity of mis'ake. Each elIfe a six-sided prism. Born at the jij t time; dying at the right time. are no -'happen-so's" in our the If I thought this was a slip universe I would go crazy. God as not an anarchist. Law, order, symn Smetery, precision, a perfect square, a -perfect rectangle, a serfect rhomboiu, a ~perfect circle. The edge of God's robe of government never trays out. There are no-lo'se screws in the world's ma ~chiery. It did not just happen that blapoleon was attacked with indiges. at Borodmo so that he became in om tet for the day. It did not just Ilpflthat John Thomas, the mission aron a heathen island, waiting for an ~uftand orders for another missionary ~tnt, received that outfit and those or 40Es in a. box that fioated ashore, while dais ship and the crew that carried the box were never heard of. The bark -img of F. W. Robertson's dog, he tells M -a,,led to a line of events which brought 'him from- the army into the Christian C3ninisfry, where he served God with wor'*renowned usefulness. It did not merelr-bappen so. I believe in a par ticular providence. I believe God's ge ometry may be seen in all our life more innatifn11y~ than in c- ystallography. Job was right. "The crystal cannot equal it. sAgain I remark that religion is supe rior to the crystal initransparency. We know not when or by whom glass was Mirst discovered. Beads of it have been 5!foundin the tomb of Alexander Severus. WiVses of it are brought up from the ruins Min Herculaneurai. There were female eilarments made out of it 3000 years -ao-those adornments found now at tached to the mummies of Egypt. A great many commentators believe that bay text-means glass. Wha' would we o.whotthe crystal? The crystal in hewindow to keep out the storm and l~-nthe day-the crystal over the watch iifendling its delicate machinery, yet alowing us to see the hour-the crystal thjiie telescope by which the astrono mer brings distant worlds so near he can inspect them. Oh, the triumphs of the crstals in the celebrated windows of BzRuen and Salisbury? But there is nothing so transparent in a crystal as mn our holy religion. It is a transparera ~relgion. You put it to your eye and you see man-his sin, his soul, his :detiny. .Yoa look at God and you see sowmething- of the grandeur of his charac ter. Itisa transparent religion. Infidels tell us it is opaode? Do you know why .they tell us it is opaque? It is becarse jthey are blind. The natural man receiveth not the things of God because they are spiritually discerned. There is no trouble with the crystal; the trouble is with the eyes which try to look through it. We pray for vision, Lord, that our eyes might be opened. When the eye-salve cures our blindness then we find that religion is tannnsparent. It is a transparent Bible. All the mountains of the Bible come out; Sinai, the mountain ot the law; Pisgah, the mountain of prospect; Olivet, the moun tain of instruction; Calvary, the mioun tarn of sacrifice, All the rivers of the Bible come out; Hlidekel, or the river of paradisaicalbeauty; Jordan, or the river of holy chrism; Cherith, or the river of prophetic supply; Nile, or the river of palaces; and the pure river of life from under the throne, clear as crystal. While reading this Bible alter our eyes have been touched by grace, we find it all transparent and the earth rocks, now wth crucifixion agony and now with jugment tenor, and Christ appears in some of his two hundred and tif ty-six titles, as far as I[ can count them-the bread, the rock, the captain, the comn mander, the conqueror, the star, and on nd beyond any capacity of mine to re hearse them. Transparent religion! The providence that seemed dark be fore becomes pellucid. Now you find God is not trying to put you down. Now you understand why you lost that child and why you lost your property; it was to prepare you for eternal treasures. And why sickness came; it being the pre cursor of immortal juvenescence. And now you understand why they lied about you and tried to drive you hither and thither. It was to put you in the glori ous company of such men as Ignatius, who, when he went out to be destroyedJ by the lions, said: "-I am the wheat and the teeth of wild beasts must first grmnd me before I can become pure bread for Jesu Crst+." or the compnonf enh men as Poiycarp, who. when standing In the midst of the amphithaatre waiting for the hons to come out of their cave, and destroy bin, and the people in the galleries jeering and shouting, "The bons for Polycarp," replied: "Let them come on," and the-i stooping down to ward the cave wl c :e the wild beasts were roaring to gei o i, "Le tl-em cotue on," Ah, yes, it is persecution to put you in glorious company; and while there are many things that you will have to post pone to the future world for explanation, I tell you that it is the whole tendency of your religion to unravel and explain anti interpret and illumine and irradiate. Job was right. It is a glorious trans parency. 'The crystal connot e qual I remark again that religion surpasses the crystal in its beauty. That lump of crystal is putunder the magnifying glass of the crystallographer and he sees in it indescribable beauty-snowdrift and splinters of hoar-frost and corals and wreaths and stars and crowns and eas :ellations of conspicuous beauty. The fact is that crystal is so beautiful that I can think of but one thing in all the uni vcrse that is so beautiful, and that is the religion of the Bible. No wonder this Bible represents that religion as the day-break, as the apple-blossoms, as the glitter of a king's banquet. It is the joy of the whole earth. People talk too much about their cross and not enough about their crown. Do you know the Bible mentions a cross but twenty-seven times while it men tions a crown eighty times? Ask that old man what he thinks of religion. He has been a close observer. He has been culturing an resthetic taste. He has seen the sun rises of a half a century. He has been an early riser. He has been an admirer of cameos and corals and all k"-ids of beautilul things. Ask him what ie zhinks of religion and he will tell you. "It is the most beautiful thing I ever saw." "The crystal cannot equal it." Be intiful in its symt.etry. When it presents God's character it does not present Him as having love like a great protuberance on one side of his nature, bat makes that love in harmony with his justice-a love that will accept all those who come to him, and ajustice that will by no means clear the guilty. Beautiful religion, in the sentiment it implants! Beautiful religion in the hope it kindles! Beautiful religion in the fact that it pro poses to garland and enthrone and em paradise an immortal spirit. Soiomon Iays it is a 1il. Paul says it is a crown. The Apocalypse says it is a fountain kissed of the sun. Ezekiel says it is a foliaged cedar. Christ says it is a bride groom come to fetch home a bride. While Job in the text t-kes up a whole vase of precious stones-the topaz and the sapphire and the chrysoprasus-and he takes out of th's beautiful vase just one crystal and holds it up until it gleams in the warm light of the eastern sky, and heexclaims, "The crystal :an not equal it." Oh, it is not a stale religion, it is not a stupid religion, it is not a toothless hag as some seem to have represented it; it is not a Meg Merriles with shrivelled arm come to scare the worid. Itis the fairest daughter of God; heiress of all his wealth. Her cheek the morning sky; -her voice the dance of the sea. Come and woo her. The Spirit and the Bible say ccme, and whosoever will let him come. Do you agree with Solomon and say it is a lily? Then pluck it and wear it over your heart. Do you agree with Paul and say it is a crown? Then let this hour be your coronation. Do you agree with the Apocalypse and sav it is a springing fountain? Then come and slake the thirst of your soul. Do you believe with Ezekiel and say it is a foliaged cedar? Then come under its shadow. D-> you believe with Christ an *say it is a bride-groom come to fetch home a bride ? Thea strike bands with your Lord the King while I proaounce you everlastingly one. Or if you think with Job that it is a jewel, then put it on your hand like a ring, on your neck like a bead, on your forehead like a star, while you look into the mirror of God's word you acknowledge "the crystal can not equal it." Again, religion is superior to the crystal in its transformations. The diamond is only a crystalhzation:of coal. Carbonate of lime rises till it becomes calcite or aragonite. R~ed oxide of copper crystallizes into cubes and octachedrons. Those crystals which adorn our persoas and our homes and our museums have only been resurrected from forrais that were far from 'ustrous. Scientists for ages have been examining theses wonderful transformations. But I tell you in the Gospel of the Son of God there is a more a onderful transfor mation. Over souls by re-ason of sin black as coal and hard as iron, God by his comforting grace stoops and says: "They shall be mine in the day when I make up my jewels." "What," say you, "will God wear jew elry ?" If he wanted it, he could make the stars of heaven his belt and have the evening cloud for the sandals of his feet;~ but he does not want that adornmtent. He will not have that jewelry. When God wants jewelry He comes down and digs it out of the depth; and darkness of sin. These souls are all crystallizations of mercy. He puts them on and He wears them in the presence of the whole universe. He wears them on the hand that was nailed, over the heart that was pierced, over the temples that were stung. "They shall be mine," saith the Lord, "in the day when I make up my jewels." Wonderful transform a tion! "The crystal cannot equal it" There she is, a waif of the street; but she shall b3 a sister of charity. There he is, a sot in the ditch; but he shall preach the Gospel. There, behind the bars of a prison, but he shall reign with Christ forever. Where sin abound ad grace shall much more abound. The carbon becormes the solitaire. "The rystal cannot equal it." Now, I have no liking for those people who are always enlarging in Christian meetings about their early dissipation. Do not gr into the particulars, my broth ers. Simply say you were sick, but make no display of your ulcers. The chief stock in traide of some ministers and Christian workers seems to be their early crimes and dissipations. The number of pockets you picked and the number of chickens you stole make very poor prayer meeting rhetoric. Besides that, it discourages other Christain peo ple who never got drunk or stole any thing. But it is pleasant to know that those who were farthest down have been brought highest up. Out of infernal seridom into eternal liberty. Out of darkness into light. From coal to the solitaire. "The crystal cannot equal it." But, my friends, the chief transform ing power of' the Gospel will not be seen in this worid and ;not until heaven breaks upon the soul. When that light falls upon the soul then you will see the crystals. Oh, wh it a magnificent setting for these jewels of eternity ! I Some times hear people representing Heaven in a way that is far from attractive to me. It seems almost a vulgar Heaven as they represent it with great blotch es of color and bands of music making a deafening racket. John represents Heaven as exquisite ly beautiful. Three crystals. In one place lie says: "Her light was like a precious stone, clear as crystal." In another place lie says: "I saw a pure river from under the throne, clear as crystal." In another place he says: "Before the throne there was a sea of glass clear as crystal." Three crystals! John says crystal atmosphere. That means health. Balm of eternal June. wind! No rack of storm, clouds. One breath cf that air will cure the worst tubercle. Crystal light on all the leaves. Crystal light shimmering on the topaz of the temples. Crystal light tossing in the plumes of the equestrians of heav en on white horses. But "the crystal cannot equal it." John says crystal river. That means joy. Deep, and ever-rolling. Not one drop of the Thames or the Hudson or the Rhine to soil it. Not one tear of human sorrow to embit ter it. Crystal, the rain out of which it was made. Crystal. the bed over which it shall roll and ripple. Crystal, its innite surface. But "the crystal cannot equal it." John says crystal sea. That means multitudinously vast. Vast in rapture. Rapture vast as the sea, deep as the sea, strong as the sea, ever changing as the sea. Billows of light. Billows of beauty, blue with skies that were never clouded and green with depths that were never fathomed. Arctics and Antaretics and Mediterra neans and Atlantics and Pacifies in crystalline magnificence. Three crys tals. Crystal light falling on a cystal river. Crystal river rolling into a crys tal sea. But "the crystal cannot equal it." Oh, says some one, putting his hand over his eyes. "can it be that I who have been in so much sin and trouble will ever come to those crystals?" Yes, it may be-it will be. Heaven we must have, whatever else we have or have not; and we come here to get it. "Hc~w much must I pay for it?" you say. You will pay for itjust as the coal pays to become the diamond. In other words nothing. The same Almighty power that makes the crystal in the mountain will change your heart, which Is harder than stone, for the promise is "I will take away your stony heart and I will give you a heart of flesh." "Oh" says some one, "it is just the doctrine I want; God is to do everything and I am to do nothing." My brother, it Is not the doctrine you want. The coal makes resistance. It hears the resurrec tion voice in the mountain and it comes to crystallization, but your heart resists. The trouble with you, brother, is the coal wants to stay coal. I do not ask you to throw open the door and let Christ in. I only ask that you stop bolting and barring it. Oh, my friends, we will have to get rid of our sin. I will have to get rid of my sins and you will have to aet rid of your sins. What will we do with our sins among the three crystals? The crystal atmosphere would display our pollution. The crystal river would be bef'uled with our touch. The crystal sea would whelm us with its glistening surge. Tranbformation now or no trans formation at all. Give sin full chance in your heart and the transformation will be downward instead of upward. In stead of a crystal it will be a cinder. In the days of Carthage a Christian girl was condemned to die for her faith, and a boat was bedaubed with tar and pitch and filled with combustibles and set on fire and the Christian girl was placed in the boat, and the wind was off shore and the boat floated away with its precious treas ure. No one can doubt that boat landed at the shore of Heaven. Sin wants to put you in a fiery boat and shove you ol in an opposite direction-oft from peace, off from God, off from heaven, everlast ingly off; and the port toward which you would sail would be a port of darkness, and the guns that would greet you would be the guns of despair, and the flags that woid wave at your arrival would be the black flags of death. Oh, my brother, you must either kill sin or sin will kill you. It is no wild exaageration when I say that any man or woman that wants to be saved may be saved. Tre .iendous choice! A thousand people are choosing this moment between sal vation and~ destruction, between light and darkness, between heaven and hell, between charred ruin and glorious crys talization. Much Ado About Nothing. LAURENs, April 15-Senator Irby's irritation at the invitation extended by Prof Evans to Col Haskell to make a literary address before his school in June has not been previously mentioned in this correspondence because it was thought that subject might injure Laurens's chances ror getting the girls' industrial school. In a conversation this morning Col Irby stated to me that his sympathies had been enisated with the town to get the industrial school and that he had in tended to work for it; that the town had asked him to use his influence and that he was doing so. but, feeling that the townl endorsed the action of Mr. Evans, he had given notice that he had with drawn his Influence and would have nothing more to do with it. He further said that he does not intend to fight the efforts to get the school, and that all differences between the town and him self in regard to the matter had been healed, declining, howevrer, to state the grounds of the treaty. It is presumed, therefore, that Senator Irby wiil work with the citizens generally to get the school located here. While politics will of course be en irely ignored, Col. Haskell has hosts of friends who will give him an enthusiastic welcome when he comes to Laurens. News and Courier. Moca Kid Nine Men. R OCKINGHAMJ, N. 0., April 10.-This morning a rather startling story comes to light about John B. Mocca, the Ital ian storekeeper, who was murdered in Charlotte Saturday night. The story was told by Dr. J. D. Westervelt, Jr., of Gaffney City. Mocca lived there for several years, and consequently Dr. Westervelt knew him well some years ago. Mocca told him-in fact, he made no secret of it the reason he came to America was be cause his hands were stained with the blood of nine of his countrymen, ai'd he came to America to seek rest and quiet. ness. Mocca said that twelve years ago he was a merchant in Italy, and late one night, when the streets were almost de serted, ten men came in his store to rob him, lHe defended himself with his stil letto, and killed nine of them in the room,where they attacked him, the tenth one fourtunately escaping. Mocca said that the sight of nine dead bodies lying in blood upon one floor was such a horrnble sight although he killed them to save himself it was ever before him. There was no case made against him and public sentiment generally en dorsed and applauded him for ridding the country of the murderous thugs, but he closed out his business as early as pos sible and left the scene. Beats His Wite to Death. WHITE PLAINs, April 16.-Jesse Lockwood is one of the oldest residents of Purdy's Station, and during his three score years here he has been greatly re spected. He has been afflicted with the grip of late, which is said to have made him temporarily insane. On Saturday last he took a club and bdat his wife so severely as to cause her death. Believ .ng that he was commanded to do so by the Lord. She is sixty-one years of age. Lockwood is sometimes cailed a relhgi ous crank. He is said to have rung the church bell of the Methodist Church a few days ago, at the same time pro claiming that the Lord desired him to make a human sacrifice of life by killing his wife. ________ Milis for Senator. PRINCET ON, Ny., April 16.-Roger Q. Mills, of Texas, while visiting friends here, stated that he would not stand for re-election to the lower house of Con r ess that he was serving his last term. owever if the people of his State de sire to keep him in public life, they must send him to the United States Sante. A BLUNDER OF THE LAW. ONE MAN HANGED FOR ANOTHER MAN'S CRIME. On his Deathbed Bird Confesses that he Killed Hawkins, for the lurder of whom White was Hanged In Spartan burg. ASHVILLE, N. C., April 16.-The hanging of Tom White, a white man, in Spartanburg about twelve years ago for the murder of Pet Hawkins, a colored man, will always be remembered as a remarkable execution. It happened just at a time when the white and colored races were decidedly at daggers' points, but which had no influence or bearin on the case. The idea of a white man being hung for the killing of a negro was rather repulsive to a great many people who had suffered under negro domina. tion and misrule, but the law took it; course and the man was executed in the county jail. But he suffeied the penal ty of a crime with the commission o: which he had nothing to do, and whic: was laid to his account by the man wh< did the killins. The facts of the case were about aw follows: Pet Hawkins and Tom White. both of whom were under the influenc< of whiskey, had a quarrel, which result ed in a row. This was quieted, how ever, but the two antagonists were stil angry. White was of a raLher wander ma disposition, possessing nothing bu an abundance of "shreds and patches,' and lived around the bar-rooms. Pe Hawkins, the colored man, was o' a sim ilar disposition. For some reason an other white man, named Dick Bird, be came involved in the quarrel, and, a will be seen later, played a prominen part in it. Shortly afier the first rom the two white men went into a bar room which then stood in Church street, an< afterw irds Pet Hawkins and a crowd o colored satellites came into the same bai room. Tom White was rather drunk perhaps in that peculiar condition wher whiskey has the effect of deadening tho senses, although the man can still stant up and fight. It is believed that White was too druni to know anything when the shooting oc curred. Hawkins and the white men go into a row, and during the melee law. kins was shot and killed. A pistol wa found in White's hand, and lie was ar rested as the murderer. When the tria came on Bird was the principal witnesi against White. The circumstantial evi dence was so strong that White wa: found guilty, and was sentenced to bi hanged. All along White professed his inno cence, and declared that he had no killed Hawkins. When the executioi took place. just b'efore the cap was pu over his face, White said: ''I am an in nocent man, and I am now to suffe death for another man's deed." He wa executed, and there was a good deal o talk about his last words; but nothin was ever done to terret out the othe of whom White -poke on the scaffold. Dick Bird soon afterwards left Spar tanburg and went over to Polk County in this State. where he got into somi trouble and then went over into Mc Dowell County. Last year he si:kenet and died. While on his deathbed h made a fcll confession of his crime ir permittIng Tom White to be banged fo the murder ofPet Hawkins. Bird wen on to say that he killed Hawkins, bu put the ~blame on White; that the evi dence, taken altogetner, was agains White anid that he had permitted him ti be hanged for the murder, although he had nothing to do with it. This will startle some people in Spar. tanburg, perhaps, but there are somi who beard of the confession some timi ago. Whether the confession was writ. ten out I have not been able to learn but the facts above were obtaine< from an excellent source. My inform ant is one of the best known men ir Polk, in this State, and Spartanburg ani Greenville counties in South Carolina rHe is a detective and knew Bird ani White, well, and is sure of his facts. News and Courier. Governor Hogg Very Mad. AUSTIN, TEns, April 17.-Bad bloo( has generated between Governor Hogs and several members of the Legislature Itis all because the Governor went homi to Tyler to vote last Monday, insteadoj voting at the Capital. Yesterday afternoon a resolution wai passed, with a preamble setting forti that the Constitution requires the Gov. ernor to reside at the Capital during thi session of the Legislature; that thui made the Governor a legal resident 0: Austin at the late election; that, insteac of voting here, he voted at Tyler, ani he was therefore subject to prosecutior for illegal voting. The resolution itsel: is as follows: "That his Excellency, Governor Jas Ste phen Hogg, be and is hereby author ized to reside at the city of Tyler during the term of his office, and his said resi dece there shall begin and date fron the 6th day of January, 1891, and tha1 his residence at said place be, and the same is hereby validated from the saic 6th day of January, 1891, and that thi: resolution take immediate effect." This was meant to be insulting, ani is so considered by the Governor. He has notified Senator Johnson, who wrote the resolution, and Senator Harrison who introduced it, that he "holds then personally responsible." The interven tion of friends only prvented a person al encounter last migt, and it is gener ally believed that there wvill yet be seri ous trouble. Preparing for War. ST. PETERSBURG, April 15.-In spiti o the peaceful utterances of govera ment officials everybody knows thai Russia is making extensive preparationi for war, and that her rivals are, on theil side, making counter preparations for great struggle which must sooner oi later take place. Russia has been spend ing enormous sums is construction oi strategic railways, and in this and othei ways arrangements for the transporta tion of large bodies of Russia~n troops tc the Austro-German frontier is almost completed. This movement of Riussiar lorces towards the frontier of Germany and Austria would, four years ago have required six months' time, while by the use of the new strategic railroads a month's time is all that is necessary for the vast concentration of troops, which is looked forward to in possibly the near future. A Frightful Collision. CLEVELAND, 0., April 18.-A fright ful wreck occurred on the Lake Shore Railroad at Kipton station, about forty miles west of Cleveland. early this evening, in which six postal clerks and two engineers were killed. The fast mail, No. 14, bound east, collided with No. 21, Toledo express, just as the latter train was about to pull on to a siding to let the fast mail pass. The fast mail was running at full speed and the force of the collision was so great that 1,oth engines, three mail ears and one baggage car were completely wrecked. Nearly All Recovered. LoNDON, April 15.-It has been an nounced that up to date there had been recovered the bodies of 451 of the pas engers of the British steamer Utopia, which on March 17. while on a voyage from Italian ports for New York with 700 Italian immnigrante on board, ran in to the bow of the British ironclad Rod ney, lying at anchor in Gibraltar bay, and sank soon afterward. There are still sixty-four victims of the di-aster to -The Wentlier and the Crops. The following weekly weather crop bulletin of the South Carolina weather service, in co-operation with the United States signal service, was issued Satur day: The following has been compiled from the weather crop reports received at this station: The weather for the past week has been very favorable for farming operations, and in nearly every section it has been allthat the farmers could wish. The temperature and sunshine has been above the average-the nights have been warm, and therefore benelicial and conducive to thegrowth of all crops. There has been but little rain and con fined to a few localities. No disasterous results reported except in thie Johnston section of Edgefield County, where a heavy rain and hailstorm occurred, doing considerable.damage to the fruit and vegetable crops. Farm work has progressed rapidly since last report, and the larger propor tion of the corn crop has been planted, and that portion up is growing and in a healthy condition. A considerable area of the cotton crop has been planted, and if the present con dition of the wfeather continues a few days longer nearly the entire crop will have been planted. The small grain crops never looked more flourishing at this season of the year, and the prospects now are that the yield per acre will be unusually large. All apparent danger from cold weather having passed, the fruit crop, which was somewhat injured by the recent cold snap, will be an average one, as the fruit in those sections producing the largest and finest quality have not been materi ally injureo. The truck farmers have experience little or no damage from the cold. Vegetables of all kinds are in a satifactory condition; the yield of Irish potatoes will be decreased, caused from imperfect stands. The season has been so backward that farming operations have been greatly re tarded, but the weather is now so pro pitious that farmers are working with a will and hope to have their crops planted in due season. The Cleveland Interview. C ST. Louis, April 23.-State Treasurer Lou. Stevens returned from New York last night. When asked this morning about the published interview between himself and ex-President Cleveland in reference to the position of Cleveland on the silver question and the next Presidential campaign, Stevens said: "I regret very much indeed that so much has been said about the matter, and that I have been placed in so un pleasant a position in regard to it. I had not the slightest idea that Cleve land would have any objection whatever to use being made of what he said in the State from which I came or else where." Stevens was asked if the reports that have appeared were accurate. He re plied: "Not by any means." I did not write a line of the interview that ap peared in the New York papers, nor did I see it after it was written until it ap peared in print. If it had been submit ted to me I would have struck out fully one-half of it. It contained much that Cleveland said, but also what he did not say, and if I had known just what its f tenor was to be I would have removed many of the embelishments. Cleveland did not annonnce himself as a candidate at all, but spoke as a private citizen. When I asked him what he would do in case he was President and a free coin age bill was presented to him, he laughed and turned the question by saying that it was a long time until 1894. I would prefer not to particularize the mistakes in the cecount of my interview with him further than to state that if it had been submitted to me I would have struck out about one-half of it." T. M'Cants Stewart. NEW YoRK, April 23.-Mayor Chapin, of Brooklyn, appointed T. Mc Cants Stewart, the colored lawyer, a member of the Board of Education, in plac~e of Dr. P'hihp S. White, deceased, who was also a leading colored citizen. Mr. Stewart was born in South Caro~ina about thirty-six years ago, and was ed ucated at the Howard University at Ed inburg, Scotland. On his return from Europe he became a professor in a col leae in South Carolina. and subsequently a ~Methodist minister. He was in charge of the Sullivan Street Methodist Church in this city for a short time. Retiring from the ministry, he went on a business and educational mission to Sirra Leone, in Afri,.a and on his return studied law and was admitted to the bar. He has been successful as a law yer. He obtoined an absoulate divor.e from his wife a few months ago. Formerly he was an ardent Republi can, but he became a Democrat a few years ago, and during the last mayoralty campaimgn in Brooklyn he worked hard for the election of Mr. Chapin. He is in great demand as a stump orator. It is expected that he will take an active part in the debates in the Board of edu cation. He received a handsome com pliment from Surrogate Abbott not long ago for skill in conducting x case before the Surrogate. A Bustle for a Bank. GRE.ENsBURG, Pa., April 23.-Miss. Maggie Schutt, of Derry, this county, died last week. Misi. Schutt's relatives had been puzzled to know what she did with her money. She lived like a per verse old maid, and indulged in no lux uries or frivolities. Three days after her funeral two of the young women of the house concluded to clean up the Iroom occupied by Miss. Schutt. Mrs. ,Jennie Bennett unearthed a large, well-made, heavy bustle of tick ing. With the remark, "Well, here it goes, Kate," Jennie threw it into the lames. Taking a second thought she pulled it out again. "it seems awful heavy fo)r a bustle," said she; let's rip it o)pen." WVhen turning it over to in sert the scissors a piece of green paper was seen sticking out of a hole in the seam. The green paper was a bright 20 bill. Scissors were thrown aside and deft fingers took their place. The whole thing was ripped open. There was a feminine scream. There lay tens, twenties, fifties, and nestling in the bed of greenbacks were shining gold eagles and double eagles, and some silver coin. The find netted $9,000. The money will be divided between her two sisters, with a neat reward to the girls who discovered it. The old bustle will be covered with tinted satin, decked with ribbons and .handed down to generations. Cenuipede in a Coffee Pot. ITTLE RoCK, Ark , April 21.-Ne ws has ust reached here from Baxter county that a family of live campers, named Baldin, from Trennessee, en route for Texas, died in awful convulsions. The citizens suspect that a band of Gypies who had been poisoning cattles in adoining counties, had poisoned the spring near which the family had camped, and lynching of the band has teen imminent and only postponed by the counsel of the cooler-h ea-ded. who insisted that they must wait until they had proof positive. T1his wise counsel prevented a deplorable tragedy, as yes terday morning the remains of a large centipede was found in the coffee pot out of which the campers had drank, and this deadly poison undoubtedly caused their death. A Yonng Lady Eqiual to Her Task. PITTsBUino. April 22.-Miss. Wilma Schuck, of Alleghe~ny, has sprung into notoriety by horsewhipping John Kay lr. Sne alleges that Kaylor had been circulating stories derogatory to het character, and she made several at tempts to induce Kaylor to retract. but he ref used. Rev. Father woi-lfel. of St. Leo's Catholic church, determined to settle the matter, and he called both to his residence. The attempt at peacemaking failed dismally. Once outside the rectory Miss. Schuck went at Kaylor and .gave him a sound thrshing with a blacksnake. VICKSBURG RO$TMASTERSHIP. )pposition to Hill's Appointment Una. bated -Threats of Lynching. JACMsON. Miss., April 16.-The con 'erence of prominent citizens of Vicks )urg and Jim Hills, the recently ap )ointed colored postmaster of Vicksburg, lid not take place today as expected. Eill asked for such a conterence, hoping .hat some arrangement could be made. md expected the committee to meet him ere today. From prominent citizens of Vicksburg it is learned that it was not deemed advisable to hold such a con ference, as nothing could come of it, and that the only thing to do under the cir cuinstances was to let affairs take the regular course. Many prominent peo ple of Vicksburg regret the unfortuaate condition things have assumed, but could not, with the deep feeling of the popu lace, guarantee that Hill would not be harmed in case he undertook to take charge of the office. On the contrary, gieat fear was expressed that he would be. Hill was seen today by a United Press reporter, and asked what he in tented to do about the matter. He re plied that he did not know, but felt dis appointed that the conference meeting he asked for had not been held, and could not understand why his communi cation had not been answered. He still has hopes of such a meeting, and tbmnks all differences could be reconciled in some manner satisfactory to all parties. He said he had no desire to thrust him. selt upon the public of Vicksburg against their protest, but believed many of the best citizens there thouaht the only prop er thing now was a peaceable submis siou. He said he had no desire to call on the United States Government for protection and sincerely hoped that a re sort to such measures would not be nec essary. Mayor Booth, of Vicksburg, called on Governor Stone today and per sonally ecknowledged rezeipt of the Governor's letter counsel ing modera tion on the part of citizins, advising against extreme measure of any kind being resorted to, and suggesting a com mittee of the cooler heads to talk the matter over with Hill. it was reported that Booth would present the Governor a petition to sign asking Hill to resign, but it is not thought he did so or that the Governor had ansthing new to add tc his letter. There is No Shortage. CAmDEN, S. C., April 16.-The buga boo of a "shortage" in the school com missioner's office has proved to be 2 farce, as predicted in this correspond ence. The vouchers in the office of the clerk have all been compared with warrants or school claims, paid by thi treasurer, and everything has beer found correct. So it there is anything wrong up to date it is the compliea tion which have been in existence foi several years, and which are said to bi nothing more than that the schoo: funds were not kept strictlv separatf from other moneys. There is no "short age" anyhow. It is pretty hard for 9 y(ung officer, who has always tried t( do his duty. as ex-Commissioner Clarl has, to be accused unjustly of having i shortage in his office, and the accuser: should be more particular next time. Eiddled with Ballets. GREENVILLE, S. C., April 16.-Jame: Iolliday, a white man, instantly kille< John Crews, colored, four miles fron Central, in Pickens County, yesterday The two men had a disnute at a sawmill which Crews had been operating well and refused to give possession to Holli day, who had leased it. Crews strucl Holliday with a monkey wrench an< threw a weight at him. Hollidy had a shotgun loaded with buckshot and fired Crews was riddled with bullets. Th< coroner's jury exonerated the slayes who surrendered himself to the sherif of Pickens County.,State. JOSEPH F. RHAME, AT TORNEY AT LAW, MANNING, S. C. JOHN S. WILSON, Attorney and Counselor at Law, MANNING, S. C. A. LEVL MANNING, S. C. pirNotary Public with seal. GALL EN HUGGINS, D. D. S., pfrVisits Manning every month or tw< professionally. BRUNSON HOUSE, SUMTER, S. C. First class accommodations and exceller table. Convenient to the business portioi of the town. 25 cents for dinner. J. H. DIXON. Proprietor. JOB PRINTING. T HE~ TIMES OFFICE IS FITTED UP II a manner that warrants it in soliciting your patronage for job printing. Send u: your orders which shall have prompt atten, tion. Prices as low as the cities. Satisfac tion guaranteed. Keep us in mind. Manning Shaving Parlor. H AIR CUTTING ARTISTICALLY EX ecuted, and shaving done with besi razors. Special :attention paid to shampoo ing ladies' heads. I have had considerabl4 expeence in several large cities, and gear antee satisfaction to my customers. Parlo: next door to Manning Times. E. D. HAMILTON. A. s. .7. PEaRYT. H. Ri. SIMiN. R. A. PRIN~GIE Johnston, Crews & Co., -WHOLESALE JOBBERS OF DRY GOODS, Notions and Small Wares, Nos. 49 Hayne & 112 Market Streets, CHARLESTON, S. C. FORESTON DRUG STORE, FORESTON, S. C. I keep always on hand a full line of Pure Drugs and Medicines, FANCY AND TOILET ARTICLES, TOILE'I SOAPS, PERFUMERY. STATION ERY, CIGARS. GARDEN SEEDS, and such articles as are usually kept in a first class drug store. I ae just aidded to my stock a line of PAINTS AND OILS, and am prepared to sell PAINTS, OILS LEAXD, VANISHES, BRUSHES, En quantities to st.it purchasers. L. W. NETTLES, M.D., Forstn, S. C. ADGER SMYTH1 11 ..). zz 'Ga apenIKM' SMYTH & ADCEOR, Factors and Commission Merchants, Noxrthi .ALa~an~i 'WharfE CHARLESTON, S. C. OTTO F. WIETERS, WHOLESALE GROCER, Wholesale Dealer in Wines, Liouors and Cigars, No. 121 East Bay, Charleston, S. C. OTTO TIEDEMAN & SONS, Wholesale Grocers and Provision Dealers, 172, 174, and 176 East Bay Street, c I-.A R ..'H rTO , s. c. ESTABLISHED 1844. Charleston Iron Works, Manufacturers and Dealers in Marine Stationary and Portable Engines and Boilers, Saw Mill Machinery, Cotton Presses, Gins, Railroad, Steam boat, Machinists', Engineers' and Mill Supplies. 8ltRepairs executed with promptness and Dispatch. Sendfor price lists. East Bay, Cor. Pritchard St., Charleston, S. C. P"ERCIV.AL MFG-. CO. DOORS AND BLINDS 478 to 486 Meeting St., CHARLESTON,S. C. THE BEST AND THE CHEAPEST. Al gods guaranteed. Estimates furnished by return maiL Large stock, promp; spments. Our goods do not shrink or warp. Geo. E. Toale & Company, MANUFACTURERS OF AND WHOLESALE DEALEES IN Doors, Sash, Blinds, Moulding, and General Building Mat er Office and Salesrooms, 10 and 12 Hayne St., CHARLESTON, S. C. OLD CLOTHES MADE NEW. SEND YOUR DYEING TO THE CHARLESTON STEAM DYE WORKS, All work guaranteed. 310 King St., CHARLESTON, S. C. SMOKE HENO CIGAR, THE BEST NICKLE CICAR SOLD. B. A. JOHNSON, Sole Agent, Manning, S. C. SOL ISEMAN, Wholesale Grocer, State Agent, 1.8...st av. Caar e f.. . o. M. Drake & Son, BOLLLMANN BROTHERS, -WHOLESALE BOOTS,SHOES, & TRUINKS. Wholesale 235 Meeting St., CHARLESTON, S. C. Lergest stock, best assortment, lowest prices. S. THOMAS, Jn. J. M. THOMAS. Ste en Tomas Jr.& ~157 and 169, East Bay, W.&TJoIN F.,WCNARLESTON, S. C JEWELRY, SILVER & PLATED WARE, JOHN F. WERNER & CO., Spectacles, Eye Glasses & Fancy Goods. .miWatches and Jewelry repaired by Wholesale Grocers comnpetent workmen. --AND 257 KING STREET, CH ARL ESTON, S. C. Provision Dealers. ESTABLISHED 1836. 164 & 166 East Bay and 29 & 31 Carrington, Thomas & Co., Vendue Range, -DE ALERS IN_. OHARLESTON, S. C. waan,-.A. Mc COBB, Jr. JEWELRY, SIL.VERWARE AND FANCY GOODS, General Commission Merchant No. 251 King Street, AiN DELER In CHARLESTON, S. C. LIECEETPLSEPAIAR.FE CH ARL ES C. LESLIE BRCSANFIELYADPAS Wholesale & Retail Commission Dealer inAgnsfrWiesElshotadCmn. FHIAISI-IINGR. Consgnmnt, o, pclt3 eggs, dalAm r kinds of country produce arc re'.pectfuy $2.$0 solicited. Office Nos. 18 & 20 Market S't., E. of Ea st Bay CHARLESTON, S.C. B.T CG IN A.S.Bow.RoT P .AS No.226, 28 &NO 230R Metng S.teet, U W HUE6C~CYO A ECT *T.LUIS.O. ALLATEX BRHECKS A.NOD FIRE CLAY, L~A LAS W. E BRON '~___ _TERAND CEATRL H. L AgeOs.orMhin'nEnlisPrtlndCeC.t c6AHAN, BROWN ~ 19 & EV9th les Choletn, a.nC Ie room. HUot au nd or bahcl COLUMorA, S. Cu.drspriino ootsShoes nd Clohing, reo le E.Ps, a ef ot ot Hol Loru Mnoemntn n. he r omodatn Nos 22, 28 &230MeeingStrethopes >y strc t tention t he wat of hist pans"oEri share of patronae. NTARETNRRProprietor. Manager.