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CAMDEN, S. C., FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, J 891 ! sabbatii school m. r Webnational lesson fok nji; r DECMBEB 27. 1891. B ' ' ^ . Q???tion ? Wbut message did the sisters of* ,i send to Jesu?2 Answer Lord, lehold, he whom.? Thou ;:*>v?st * ;Jt. . Q- ? How did Jesus tell His disciples of the <walo0f Lazaru>? A- ? Our friend l^azarus skepeth; but I go *??? I may aw-ike him oat of $loep. ? What did Martha say to Jesus when . He curia to Bethany ? A- ? Ix>rd, if Thou hadst been here, my - Wofcher had net died. Q-~-What did Jesusrop'.y? ~ ' o" ? ^ brother shaii risa again. ' ^Q* ? How did Jesus show Hi? sympathy for s ?? sisters*' A.? Jesus wept. f , Q? How did He raise Lazarus from the dead? A.-FIe cried with a loud voice. Lazarus, forth. And he that was dead catnn **tb. i ^at ^ perdict concerning A. ? And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, draw ali men unto Me. ? ? How did Jesus teach His disciples humility? A. ? He poured water ioto a basin and waah#d the di?cipie?! leer. Q.? What as?uras-ce did Jesus give His ?sc?pies. ..A.? In My Father's houso fcs many min ions. 1 go to prepare a place for you. Q. ? What did Jesutf give a? the test of -friendship for Him? A. ?Ye are my friends, if ye do wha.tHo ?ver 1 command you. Q.? What did He tell them about His de Jp?raire* ? A.? It is expedient for you that I go away; ^.ior if I go not away, the Comforter will not *"<conie unto you. but if I depart I will send Him unto you. \9 Q. ? How diii Jes-us begin His prayar? '* A. ? Fattier, the hour is come: glorify Thy that Thy Son also may glorify Thee. r Q.? What did He ask for His disciples? I A.? Holy Fathar, keep througk Thine own name those whom Thou hast given Me, that they may be one, as we are. Q. ? W here did Jesus go after His prayer for His disciples? A? He went forth with His disciples over the brook Cetron, where was a garden, into which He entered. Q.?Who guided His entmies to the place? A.? Judas, having received a band of men and officers trom the chief priests and Phar feee>. cometh thither with laaterns and torches and weapons. ' \ Q? What did the band; do? A ? They took Jesus, aad bound Him, and led Him away to Annas. Q. ? 'JuiJ^Ud Pilate say to th* Jew3 after be iiad Q _ ,4bey all cry out when Pi laic -r& released Hira? p^#Vith Him. away -wiiSi Him, Yhal^ did Pilate finally do? delivered Him unto them to be rwhatwa, then done? \ AT~They crucified Him. and two otters with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in th* midst. Q. ? What occurred on the third day after the<leathof Jesus? A.? He r Jse from the dead. q .?To whom did the risen Saviour first appear'' A.? He appeared first to Mary Magdaline. Mark 16:0. Q. ? What message did He give her? A.? Go to My brethren, and say unto than, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father ; and to Mv God, and vour God. Q.? To'whom did Je*us appear at the Saa of Tiberias? A.? He showed Himself to seven of His discipfc*. W hat direction did He give them? A.? Va>t the rtst oa the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. ? \V hat followed when they had done thi>? A.? Thoy took a great multitude of fishes. ? IVesiizirTutftH' 1 eaeher. MRS. CLEVELAND ILL Indication That the Health of the Ex President's Wife is Shattered Lakkwood. Dec. 17 ? It is learned j that Mrs Cleveland has not, as was hop- i ed, derived real benefit from her stay j here. She is, in fact, hardly so well as when she arrived ten clays ago. A train- ' ed nurse is stiji on duty. Mrs. Cleveland takes manages daily and livflfc exclusively on milk and wine. When she and her distinguished husband drive out, Mrs. Cleveland is rauifled in furs, cloth leggings and wraps and her husband's strong right arm is at h- r back for support. She looks [like a ghost; col- | orless, blue- lipped, hollow eyed, and with sunken cheeks Not a soul is admitted to the cottm^e. Mr. Cleveland sits in the window all day long, except whan he and Mrs. Cleve land are away for their brief outing. The baby, wrapped to the chin, and in her little carriage, is taken out e$ch day by her nurse She seems very well, fresh and cheerful. The temporary and other residents of th's quiet little hamlet, have come to the conclusion that Baby Ruth Cleveland is as secure from prying eyes in the hands of her nurse as she would be in care of her accomplished mother. In confirma tion of this belief this interesting story is going the rounds of the village. The other day the nurse was pu-hing the perambulator about the sunny corn er of the North W?w>ds drive, near the Cleveland cottage, when a aealous re . porter of a New York newspaper, who lad been lying in wait several days ap peared with his Kodak charged. He watf anxioua-ifor just such an opportunity to get a j i tt|re of the baby. The report er hastened fyong the drive, carefully concealing hil camera under bis overcoat. He took a roundabout way, and. as he faced the perambulator, snapped the * Kodak. Baby Rush's nurse, hwever, was on the alert, and saw the reporter advancing. She also detectei the uucatural size of his coat on one side and was supicious. Just as the camera was withdrawn from its hiding place, the pretty fur covenet j was thrown over the baby's face. The ^ reporter was able to reproduce the cover let and it is said to be a very iVr pic ture. Silled His Brother. Rockingham. N. C., ^ Special.] ? Snow Sifgletary was shot by his brother Lee, near Old Hundred, in this county on Sunday night. Snow did not livy but a few moments, as the ball from his broth er's 32 cal. pistol pierced his heart. The murder it seems, was unprovoked and no cause is assigned for the cold blooded act." 22 years of age aodjs'slSHJkt.fcrp They are sons qf !oe hard working and ?*syecteb?e ^aq. ' . it: ->? it 'Biahiop Gaiieher Dead Nsw Orleans. La ?Bishop^ ?alieher i? dead. He wa? much loved by all wh?-> knew him. During the late war he was a brave soldier.* His eloquent remarks at the city hall over the body of Jeffer -*oai D*vis will loag -be remembarwi DECEJIBE6 DOINGS. , The Latest Newa From a Trio of States. _ Interesting News Items From Many Points in Our Own and Neighboring States. s VIRGINIA. v .I. E. E Meredith is elected Congressman j io the Eighth District to succeed Gen. Lee, deceased, with about the same ina I jority as his predecessor. A colored woman one hundred years and one day oid was hurled in Clareraont last week. : Robert E. Cocke and Mis3Miry Scarce, C i Danville, eloped across the Carolina line TL".ivlay and were married at ! Pelham. \ The Grariri Lodge of Masons, which I convened \Tuesday in Richmond, is meeting in tie 113th aunual convocation. The State if Virginia owns about a | million and a i half acres of oyster lauds . ; The question of managing these oyster. beds so ih/t they shall yield a proper t revenue >0 the State is to be taken up by the Vis^inia Legislature now in session. Gen. Scott Shipp, superintendent of the VirgialpT^liliUrry Institute, is making arrangements to build a memorial hall to Stonewall Jackson. The estimated cost of the building is $40,000, $10,000 of which, it i3 said, has been secured. The revival of some of John Randolph's duelling exploits recalls to many Virgin ians the beauty of his famous plantation, Roanoke, which was situated near the confluence of the Roanoke and Staunton rivers. It contained 7,00J acres and was divided into quarters, each designa ted by a name of its own and managed by its own overseefr On a-tommanding eminence overlooking these smiling val ley??and well-timed hills tke mansion house reared its ample proportions. In June, 1846. by the provision* of Ran dolph's remarkable will, all the slaves were freed. Even in those days there were will contests, but the slaves at last got theit liberty and made their way to Mercer county, Ohio, where homes had been purchased for them. NORTH CAROLINA. The new union passenger depot at Raleigh is being finished. The cotton receipts at Raleigh (local) this^season to date are 15,538 bales against 26,013 last season. At Shore's Ferry on the Yadkin rive Thursday the wire broke, letting the boat and its cargo float down the river. The stream was swollen and" the ferryman in his endeavor to save the men and team which were crossing over, sustained pain ful and perhaps fatal injuries Both arms were broken; besides being <>ther- j wise bruised. /] News is received of a heart-stricken family at Ladford on the Roanoke and ; Seaboard railroad. Ped Turner, an ea- ' teemed citizen, a son and daughter all died one morning of pneumonia and an other child the following day. The wife and mother dit d a few days ago. At Elizabethtown James Johnston, colored, was hanged in the presence of 3,000^-oeople. Johnston committed a criminal assault on Florence Sutton, a colored girl ten years old, and then mur dered her. He confessed the crime when arrested, but protested his inno cence on the gallows. The wood pulp mills at the fails of the Neuse have begun work. There has been expended on these mills, and on the new plant for the paper' mills there, $22,000. The company owning the property pro propose to open yerv valuable and exten sive granite quarries at that place, aud to secure a branch railway from the Raleigh & Gaston, some three miles in length. The water power is very great. The tur bine at the wood pulp mills is 350-horse power. SOUTH CAROLINA. A survey is being made by Major Lee, of the Eastern Barnwell and Western Railroad towards Walterbor^. It is said that this road will be built*^ A bill was introduced in the Legisla ture Thursday, to require railroad coin i panies to furnish separate coaches for white and colored passengers. The America. U. S- lighthouse supply | steamer, touched at Charleston a few days ago, on her anuual tour of South Atlantic lighthouses to which it carries the yearly supplies. The steamer has a ! capacity for 100,000 gallons of oil. i The total taxes for York county this year will amount to considerably more than $100,000, and cot more than $2^000 has * been collected up j to this time. T%e steamship .Yemasse0, which arriv ed m Charleston from N. Y. last week, broqght the first Instalment of iron for ! the lew "West End Electric Railway ; [ Conjpany. Cr ssties have be^a hauled j to She corner of Spring and Ashley j j streets, and the work on the new lice ! ? Mas begun. 1 U reve The reeent two days' communication, j at Charleston, of the Most Worshipful j Grand Lodge of Ancient Free : of South G&rolica showed by the very large attendance that the Masonicsspirat has a deep root in the entire State. The ?mount of business transacted in the two days' session was surprising, bu: the e<h [ cient cfficera had so systematically map ped out the line of work that there wa>-w-, necessary delay. The next annual com munication will be held in Charleston. As the result of the confession of a ne gro named Henry Suber, to the effect that he murdered Thornton Nance some months ago, ten persons who had oetn sentenced to hang October 24th last, at \Greenville, but whose execution was ; s^yed by an appeal to the Supreme Court winnow be released. Suber confessed thatTiealone committed the deed and ^that he makes a clean, b-east of it. lie does not want to see ten innocent men j Suffer for his crime. OTHER STATES. Florida is probably the best timbered j State in the Union. Out of about 38. 000.000 acres, only some 3.000.000 are . induced in farms, the rest^ineteen twentieths, exclusive of the area covered by lakes an rivers, being covered with heavy forests. Judge Ridley,, of the Criminal Court, of Nashville, T/nn., a few days ago dis- j I charged the grand jury because they had j disregarded his instructions in regard to | indictments. The Judge had instructed j ? them to include in one indictment all ' parties daubed with gambl nif. but they i r returned. separate indictments sgsi::st j each, saynrg that the Attorney General j h ' : : ' i;'> . ?-! i had instructed them to do so. The : Courfcrefused to receive tlie indictments, i discharged the jury and refused to he^r I the Attorney Generals explanation. The great bridge in course of construc-- 1 tion over the Mississippi rivei *t Mem- j phis, Tenn., is to be5*Completed by May j 1 of next year. Already a programme j for a demonstration upon the formal i opening of the bridge is being discussed, i and the occasion will doubtless be made j one of the most interesting in the history of the city. ?* ? An interesting little war story has Gov ernor Jones, of Alacama, for its hero. At the time Gordon va s resisting Sherman's advance, j Jones, .then a staff captain, was deliver j ing a message from his chief, when he ' sa\t a little child, clad only in night I clothes, hiding ia terror behind a frame house in the direct tracks of the bullets : from each army. Jones rode forward, I took the child on his hor.:'e and galloped back with her to the Confederate line. When the Union forces saw the act they ceased firiog, and there was an impromp tu cessation of hostilities until the child had been carried to a j^oint of safety. 8TTNBEAM3. William Jackson, of Ellsworth, Me , h s lost six wives within the past 55 years, the last having died a few weeks since. It is stated that in 1800 the number of persons killed in India by snakes was 21,412, while the number -of^snakes slaughtered was 510,65th The mandolin, banjo, and glee clubs of Harrard University will give juublic performances during a Western t<Hir in the last week of the year. It appears that Sir Edwin Arnold tick lei the fancy, raised the pride, and touched the heart of the Bostonians by saying that they speak the English speech better than the people of any other American city. At Santa Rosa, in the republic of Uru guay, 200,000 vine shoots were planted this year. Next year there will be twice as many planted. They grow luxuriant ly and bear abundantly in that pait of -Uruguay, and are profitable to their own ers. . - The Australian city of Melbourne, which was founded less than 50 ye^rs ago, has already a population .of nearly half a million. and stands fifth among [ the cities of the British empire. It is now ! a great shipping port, and its jlum quar- ' ter is small. ? It appears by the report of the treasu- j rer of Yale College, which has just been j published, that the gifts received by the j college during the year covered by the i report amounted to the large sum of j $343, 305. The gifts ranged fr<.>m $100 to $50,000. In Athens, Ga , a system of electric railway and a system of electric fire alarm have been established this year^ In the coming year a new system of street pav ing ^nd a new system of waterworks are aatablished. The introduction of actories of many kinds is to be en ed there. Judge Crisp's father and mother wore members of a Savanuah dramatic com pany in the days before the war, and the future Speaker, then a youth, sometimes appeared on the stage in minor roles. His brother, Henry Crisp, who died about ten years ago, was au actor of promise, and had at one time been <on nected with Jno. T. Ford's company in Baltimore. Judge Crisp is said to have Had a fine stage presence, but however that may be he is certainly a prominent figure now on the national stage. It is not very often that a preacher of ^national reputation is met at a published appointment by a congregation of one But that is what happened to the famous j Pareon Br. wnlow ? the Swift of aprovin . cial age and place. It was before the j war, when he was about equally venom ous against the Baptists and abolition ists. The fame of h:s controversy with botti filled several States. Somehow, | though, when he stepped into the pulpit of a Methodist church in Clarksville, Tenn., notoriously a Methodist town, he' found himself with just one auditor. The sexton even bad gone away after open ing the doors and ringing the bell. The parson looked about him for a minute, I then lifted his hands and said, ''Let us I pray." The prayer was long and fervent ?but nobody came. At the close of it the j minister sang a hymn. Still there were no more listeners. Drawing a long breath the preacher said, "Sister, we will j be dismissed,'' then repeated the bene- j diction, grabbed his hat and overcoat, I and took the next train home. A CALL TO COTTON PLANTERS To Meet and Consider the Reduction j Of Cotton Acreage. Montgomery. Ala., [Special, j ? Coin- i misdoser Lane, of the Department of ; Agriculture, of Alabama, has issued a circular to every State Agricultural Com missioner in cotton growing States for the purpose of calling a convention of farmers of the cotton growing States, for the purpose of considering the cxpedien- > cy and practicability of decreasing the i acreage of cotton in the South. He says: "Being/ deeply impressed with the ! conviction' that this demand is most im perative and action ought not to be de i laved. I respectfifly ask immediate con sideration and through you, of coltou growers, in reference to the subject and I the urgent necessity ci uu eariv meeting ! I for the purpose of discussing hiw. if pos ! sible, arriving at sorr.e conclusion that i will accomplish the desired result." ! He names the city of Montgomery, J Ala., as the most available place, and j Wednesday, the 6th oi January. 1892. as j the time of the meeting ?,i the conven i tiou. , ? j THOMAS INTEREST HAS CONTROL | Of the Richmond Terminal and a ' Secret Meeting is Held Without Final Action. >'e* York City, [Special.]? A report was prevalent that the Thomas interest in Richmond Terminal Company Lad been steadily absorbing stock for some time, and that having acquired a con - | trolling interest thty had notified t he | parties now in control that they desired i to call a meeting for a special election ! according to the by-laws of the company This report was confirmed when it v.-.rs ! learned that secret merting had been ht Id. I and the meeting adjourned without ac tion to m^et aua'n t ii?* f< ? j !<>w i d*v. Alter the jueetuc; Di"><r r,,"v Tifin^,- , Wonnser. Jfoor.autl 51 .he?i a eon- I j fercnce. fhr jresalx oo-.sM ?n.nt'he teamed. I : . ' t ?' ' \ ALLIANCE COLUMN. Colonel Poik Interviewed About the Indianapolis Meeting. * Something Like the Sub-Treasury Bill Seems to Work in Russia. Washington, D. C.? The Post has the following interview with Col. Polk, on his return to the city from Indianapo lis: Col. L. L. Polk was being con^Tatula ted.at the National ou his re-election to the Presidency of the National" Farmers' Alliance at tl\e late Indianapolis conven tion. ' "The jkrtisan press, as usual, misrepresent el our meeting," he said. "Was the Indianapolis meeting har monious V i "Thoroughly so; and it will be pro ductive of vast benefit. There was no effort- to carry tile Order into any politi cal party. TheX)cala demands were in dorsed unanimiAislv by all of the* thirty four.jStates rep&fesented. and alco by the delegat-s from ^he F. M. B. A , which practically merges it and the- Alliance into one harmoniotH^organization." "Is there to be fty political action, then next year." \ "Well, the meeting of February 22d will decide about tha|t. It will be a grand convention, conjposed of twenty ilvc delegates at large for each order or organization represented, and one addi tional delegate for every 10,000 members of each order. The delegates at large will be selected by the organizations, but the others by a direct popular vote. The convention will probably be held at St. Loui* or Cincinnati. "I don't care to anticipate its action, but something of importance will come out of it. The old parties seem to be on the verge of coalescing. Read the edito rials in the Democratic newspapers fa voring the returu^of John Sherman to the Senate. Doesn't that look like coalition ? I suggest that the Democrats should nominate next year Cleveland and Har rison, and the Republicans Harrison and ( leveland. In that way Wall street w .uld be certain of compassing its eDds. for both parties are under its domi-"" nation." SEEMS TO WORK IN RUSSIA. The Charleston News and Courier has j the following despatch from Washington, ^ D. C. : Consul General Crawford, of St. Petersburg, has sent to the department of S:ate a report on the system now in use in Russia (resembling certain plans incorporated in the platform of the Far mers' Alliance in this country) of making advances on farmers' grain stored in ware houses or delivered to officials of the railways of the country. Mr. Crawford eays the advances on grain may be made by any railway com pany on account of the Imperial Bank of Russia, authorized by the ministry of finance. They must not exceed 60 per cent, of the value of the grain at the nearest market place, except in cases of loans of six weeks or less, when an 80 per cent, advance may be obtained. The usual interest is 6 per cent.,, payable in advancc with further small charges on account of a sinking fund and commis sions to railroads. The loans range from six months to one year, and if they are not repaid at their expiration the grain is sold at auction by the railroad company. Grain may also be sold if in danger of deterioration, or if it is feared that the value will not cover the loan and expen ses of storage. The railroad companies bear the entire responsibility for the loan' by the bank, and are required to meet their liabilities within seven days of set tlement of a loan or auction sale of gnvmt In calculating the percentage of advance the cost of transportation to the point ?f destination is charged as^>?l of the loan. No distinction is made between farmers and middlemen in makiug advances, the loan being made only on the grain. In conelusion the consul general says: ''This scheme *ent Jnto effect June 14-26, 188S, and at the present day it is generally adopted throughout the country, and business is carried on under it on a" very large scale. I should also add that the scheme gives great satisfac tion to the farmer?, very many of whom declare it has been an csseutial feature of successful farming in liussia. " ****** The Alliance in Louisiana is doing as well as it can under the circumstances Its growth has been obstructed somewhat by unavoidable circumstancis. yet the brethren are in earnest, and are deter mined to place the Order on vantage ground in the near future. It is a dim cult State to organize, and those who have stood in the front have had a hard struggle. Within the pa*t year a State organ, The Vidette, has been started, and a most excellent paper it is, which will dou'-tless aid materially in the prosecution of the work of reform. The Alliance in this State are fighting the lottery swindle, and as a result are meeting with all the opposition that a moneyed corporation can bring to bear. It is expected that the Order will succeed, which will place it on a high road to permanent pros perity. ****** That was a-" very good answer given a gentleman byfcx President EliasCarr, of N. C .when the man remarked ttat such leg islation as the A1 ianct proposed would make him get only ^0 cents for a dollar. Bro. Cnrr suid that wouldn't be as bad as the farmer getting only fifty cents on the dollar for products of the farm. ****** At a mass-meeting of 20.000 working men held at Dammen. Norway, resolu tions v, i re passed, demanding that the government should buy the land of the Country, distribute it among the laborers ? and advance than the money necessary to work it. y ' ******?? There are 12.000.000 workmen in thh country adding to its wealth at the rate of ?7 pet-day, but they get less than fl c!*.ch. Who gets the other $*> ? Knights | of Labor Journal. ? ****** Four hours1 daily work is sufficient to support any person if social conditions are ? Benjamim Franklin. Virginia, "Mother of Presidents,"' is mother as well of Speakers of the National House of Reresentatives, since she has furnished as many sons for that honor as have New York, Ohio, Maine and New Jersey combined. For '.hirtv-nine oviC of one hundrrd and two years the Speaker's chair has been hi led r^y either a Virginian or a Kentucki*^/ FLORIDA'S TRAGEDY. A Whole Family Was Extermi nated. Defenseless Worn en and Children Brutally Murdered by Ruth less Hands. Looking for the fiends. J acksqs ville, Fla., [Special.] ?The latest developments in the horrible trag edy at Ne>v /-Smyrna, in which Mrs. L. D. Hatch (formerly of Maine), her young son, Miss Adelaide II. Bruce, of New York, and Frank Packwood, Jr , sged four, only make the case more mysterious than ever. The scene of the murder is a beautiful and romantic spot, seven miles below Smyrna, or half way between Smyrna and Oak Hill. A grewsome fatality seems to h ive clung to it, for it was here that the Shives family? father, son, wife and baby? were murdered by the Indians iu the w?r of 185G. The house where this later day murder was perpetrated is on the sito of those ruins. It stands on a shell mound Thirty feet above the Hills boro river, and commands a magnificent view of the two graceful sweept Of that stream. W'UEUE THE DEED WAS D^E. On this mound are two bouses; one hous; of two rooms was used, for a din ing room and kitchen. hou#e of the same size twenty steps away i^Where the deed was committed. These nouses are shaded and surroutided by ancient ce dars, fir trees, oaks, palmettos arid palms, back or west of the house is h dense ham mock with a fiat pine and beyond. Saturday at 10 o'clock in the morn ing, the murder was discovered and a honible picture it was. On her back by the window in a pool * of blood, Mrs. Hatch lay with a pistol ball wound on the inside , corner of her left eye. Her face wal blackened with powder. Th : other tjpdies lay near hen. When the crash came she had evidently, been near the window. When thp mnrderer entered, her little son, frenzied with fright, had probably fled asachDd would %pd had sought refuge in the bed clothes of a lounge at*the end of the room. He Was torn from these, shot over the left ,feye and his throat cut from ear to ear. THEIR AWFUL WORK COMPLETE. On the bed lay the body of Miss Bruce, \shot. through the faca and her bead terri bly bruised by blows from a gun stock, the shattered remains of which showed *fhe force of the murderous blows. She had been beaten all over the body. Nearby lay pretty Frank Packwood with his throat, cct. Mr. Packwood had gone to Orlando, : in South Jlprida, the day before The murderers probably watched hi*, de parture. i ^ A posse of one hundred armed men have Leeu out since. Saturday morning, but no trace of the murderers has yet been secured. It -vas lirst thought that the crime was the work of tramps, but this delusion was subsequently dispelled by finding a trail leading around the yard to the north and then through the hamarock, south to the rmd, a path that none could travel unles^B was familiar with the country. Mr. packwood ha<? susp:cNin$, and will give them to the coroner's jury only, when it is expected that several arrests will be made. FEDERATION OF LABOR. i Annual Meeting 6f The American Body For The First Time In The South. Birmingham, Ala., [Special.] ? The : annual meeting of the American Federa tion of Labor ? the first ever held in* the . South ? was called to order at 10 o'clock ! Hi the in ruiug at Krswell's Hall by j President Samuel Gompers. Nearly one i hundred delegates from every part of the i United States and Canada were inattend ! mice. The meeting will occupy the en t- , ? V 1 * ! tire week. A fund has been raised by the local { labor men and the merchants of the city j for the entertainment of the visitors, and i near th : close of the conventional grand banquet will be t' nden d to thedeelgates at the Florence Hotel. The feature of the meeting will be a number of excur sions given by ra- 1 roads to mines, fur naces, and other industries id tbe vi cin ty. f The executive committee arrived here several days ago to audit the accounts and prepare the annual reports, which were submitted. Une of the important matters that will come up will be the question of recognition of working cards b.tween the Federati n of La', or and the Knights of Labor, as suggested by the latter. While there are no matters of paramount importance tocorae before the convection much work will be done. The morning addresses were made by Governor 'J homas B. Jones on behalf of the State of Alabama, City- Attorney J. J. | Banks on behalf of the city of Birming j ham and Samuel K. Freeman on behalf of i local labor organizations. Presi : dent Gompers responded Organization was affected and the usual committees were,ap pointed. President Gompers, in his annual re i port, reviewed the growth of the organi j zation. He set forth the history of the ; eight-hour movement which it had been proposed to put intc effect by the miners j on the fir; t of last May, and expressed his chagrin at the failure of the move ; ment. He impressed upon them the im portance of the movement, ? and cited : many instances where it had been a local ? success. The president recommended ; the election of a delegate to visit the Trade Union Congress of Greal Britain i and the Trade Union Congress of Ger many, to be held in 1892, and other3, la ? bor organizations. He recommended ; hor'diug an International Labor Congre s ; at Chicago September. 1892, or in May, j 1893. He recommended the personal ' visitations of the -representative of the American Federation to all parts of the world in order to insure representation at th* Chicago convention. He oppoieft^ political action as a body, and urged national legislation miking the first Mon day i^1 September, ' labor day, a legal : holiday in the territories as it is in most of the" States. The secretary's report j showed that during the year 254 charters were issued to unions in thirty States and ten national unions. ? ' The Anti Free Pass Law. I i Columbia. 3. C.? Tbe House has passed the anti-free pass bill, which was previously passed by the Seoate, prohibit ing public officers; from. xttauniog free passes. / 'r\ r THF. KEY OF CHRISTMAS LAND. Who has the key of the Christmas jLar.i? Where the bonfire shinier \ And the holly twines, j ? Carollers sing? a merry band ? j And stars are bright o'er that fair strand? Who has the bey of Christmas Ijand* Light are the hearts in" Christmas Land; In cach group you meet There are faces sweet. Bosoms youag and guileless are thare. And brows not yet wrinkled witfc cnre? Who has the key of Christmas Land? j Dear baby hcarte in Christmas Land, W e wont to be near, ' And join in your cheer When the tree with its strange fniit bends, And you Twait for what Santa teads? "Who has thelcey of Christinas Land! ? Love bat the key of Christmas Laad, Oh ' come, Cherub Love, With wings like the donre, Spread over hearts thy light or peace, ^ Sow for a harvest full of increajfc ? Open the gates of Christmas Land. Open the gates of Christinas Laud; There is much to do ! , , \ And the days are few. * Bid all men set Charity free; ' By thy gi ace, let us see there be ' Rone of God's poor in Christmas Land. ? William Lute. A MAD CUMSTMA& BY E. PHILLIP^ OPPKNOaiil. .* ! | If there it one thing more than another when a bachelor commences to doubt whetherhie state of single blessedness is the most desirable form of existence it is at Christmas time. The joys of the sea sou are essentially domestic joys; And every one is either' looking forward to convivij# meetings with a circle of rela tions and friend^ or a happy reunion with his own family. At such | a time a middle-aged bachelor with no | relations feel* rather out of itt I Now, although I must plead' guilty to ten >tears of bachelorhood, I sever was onfc of the misanthropical type., I was single (observe the past tense) j not from principle, but merely from forte of cir cumstance, and I was never addicted to shutting myself up with my bcioks ancla cat, and growling cynical remarks at the* pleasure seeking world, /tin the cpn trary, I am of a somewhat jovial disposi tion, and was always fond of society. Christmas time I liked to spend at a jolly country house, and could turn ? my mind to charades, dancing, rompic^ with the ^ villagers ' or children, conjtfring and many other accomplishments. In fact, I may say with fine modesty tliat I once heard myself described by a couatry hostess as an ' 'extremely useful sort of man." "WITH MY SACK TOWARD TUE EJiOIK^.' . T!ie idea of spending Christmas in any solitary room?, with only ray landlady and her domestic to talk to was a con tingency which I had never contem plated for a moment; but last year I was very ncaily brought face to face with it. I generally had at least two or three luvitations to select from, and chose the one where I should be likely to meet the most interesting set of people; but on this occasion my usual invitations did ^irot arrive. j The Har woods, with /whom I had spent the Christmas be/or o, had lost a child, and were iu mourning; the llouldens were wiutering at Nice (Mrs. Houloen was delicate) and at Houghton Grange both the girls were married, and the Christ mas house parties were things of the past. These were my stock invitation ; a^4 Z& I recollected others among ray cample of acquaintances to whom some thing or other had happened since la?t year it slowly dawned upon me that if j I desired to avoid a Christmas in Lon i don I had better make arrangements to : remove myself either to a northern hy j dropathic establishment which I had j occasionally honored with my presence, - ! or to a Brighton hotel, where I was sure ' of falling in with some pleasant com 1 pany. Just as I had arrived at this j melancholy decision, however, a letter i arrived which afforded mo the greate-t ! satisfaction. It was an invitation to ! spend a week*or two with my old friea i, | Fred Ilalleton, at his place in Leicaster i shire; and with the vivid recollection i before me of a ?pleasant Christmas spent at Gaulby Ilall some three years ago, 1 lost no time in penalng a cordial a?ent to the welcome invitation . A few divs later beheld me, followed by a porter carrying my various impediments, ou the 1 platform of St. Pancras, prepared to 1 make my journey down to I^it-sier by ! the h&lf-pait three Manchester aiV'l Liv I erpool express. The Pulimii was j crowded; wnn a pack noisy achoo' boys, so 'I eschewed Ji and selected a-i empty first-class carriage. I took pos j session of my favorite corner seat, with i my back to the engine, and wrapping j my leg round tnv knet-s uiiJ unfolding a newspaper glided away from the city ! cf smoke in a remarkably good humor, partly inspired, no doubt, by a capital vJunch, and partly by pleasurable tntici pations of my forthcomius visit. Fred met me at Leicester station, and I s^w with regret that he was look : ug pale apd ill aod much thinner. than when I bad ;?een him last. He seemed pleased to see me, however, and greeted me warmly. During our drive to Gaulby I hazarded a few remarks, with a view to ascertain < ing what sort of a pirty there- was col } lected at the Kali; but I got nothing de finite out of him. lie wa* quite unlik:. i his -old self, and I came to theconcluM.or: | that he must be ill. As we drove <io t;: i avenue Iiefc-ped out the window Zj sraz *?!'": * at the tine old mansion, and :t struck me at oace hs looking cold and uninviting, white the "rounds were oertaialy very much neglected. Something Beetned wroig ifU round, and I began to feel al most sorry I had come. We overtook Mrs. Hailston at the hall door, jiutre turned from a walk. 81k was as gracious " P^wut as the had ever been to me, but I /accied that I could detect in I r.r?T.-d appearance something f the ill being which seemed to exist Around her. "N e all three entered together, and the momcat we passed through the door I ? hfn??* that my exPect?"ou? of a jolly Christmas party were doomed to dis appointment. . There a ere no decorations about, oalyoae looking servant and apparently nothing stirring" I felt sure something was wrong, but at acj rate I coaled my*lf with the reflection hat I had iost little by coming, as it had ^?IC? here and the hot*. %j,t . ju the win j did | ?WfrI?.<**er'ul ? I followed the I flerraQl upstairs, along 8ffainCftnH th*' Passa^3' upstairs ' a ? tfoiwl * long corridor ~ west U i ne reaChe<i mj r0?m ia th? s west winjj. wcre correct* When I scended, after prolonged and careful toilette, my host was lounging about, in a shooting jacket tod he and his wife were the only occupants -of the room. I was the only guest. < rie.^m?nffyory: *efious to say to jou, Neillsan, he laidjslowly (Neillson ? my name). ?Um going to make a confidant of you. If I may, old nun." hea<i listened. " YoU havens noticed anything par/ tocqlar about?r wife, I don't suppL - Xy ; ^ ^ I admitted j[ bad thought her strangely silent, and apparently having anxiety weighing upoa her mind? He laughed, a phort unpleasant laugh, and leaned over to me confidentially "1 rely upon your discretion, you know, ^eillson. I wouldn't have it known for the world; but mF wife is mau. j a 4,Mad ! ' I stared at him incredulously. "Yes, mad, -^he repeated impatiently. "It was the sun in India last year that did the misehief. She would expose herself to it.. The doctor-whom I have consulted advised me to send her toa I ; private asylUm. but I haven't the heart to do it. She's perfectly, harmless, you know; but, of course, it% au aw.'ul trial to me." I stammered out an expression of si m j P**f; To tte truth,! scarcely knew what to say. I was bewildered at this painful explanation of the gloom which reigned over the house. ' Presently Fred closed his eyes and left; me to digwt this strange and unweleome piece of v news I am naturally somewhat selfish, and be fore very long my sympathy wa* diverted m some measure from jrfy host to mV self. It occurred tg mi tha; it was by^ no means aj pleasant prospect to be a guest in a house the mistress ot which was mad. It was not altogether kind of Fred to invite me, I thought, under the circumstauces, without some explana tion of his wife's state. I began to fee! quite ar injured man. I wai q jitc tired or ray own company, and Frcl was fast asleep. So I opened ine floor sofcly and made my way down to the hill. As 1 passed ao open door >Irs. Ifallttoa ap peared and beckoned me in. I had no alternative but to obey her invitation. t4l'ji GOING TO rill'C K HEIt DOXN." 1 t4Mr. Nci!k}n," she said . in m agi I tated tone, "as you are going to stop. ; }ierc for a day or two. there is some : thing connected with this household I which jou ought to know. lias my ! husband told you anything?" j, I bowed aud told her gravely that I ! knew all, and that she had mv profound j Cot sympathy. | She sighed. "PerOaps you are surprised that I i should ask whether Ftx*d hal told you," she said, turning a little a way from me. ! ,;It seems ??ran^e, doesn't it. that one | should be mad and be conscious of it? It only comes on in tits, and they are | terrible. ^ She shuddered, au \ so, to tell ^he truth, did I. ?'Such a phase of madness is probably not incurable," I vcaturel to suggest j timidly. "Incurable! of course it is not iocur i able," she answered, vehemently. I edged a little toward the door. ] had no experience in talking with luna tics, and felt anything but comfortable in my present position. Mrs. Hailaton was beginning to look very excited and dangerous. "Of course if you are fr!ghtene3, Mr. Xeiiifion," -ue said* little contemptuous !y, "you uas leave us whenever you please. These CU.d^aotcome oa often, \ but they are * any thing i things to witness when \ on." J "I should imagine to," I awented, de ! voutly hopiug a tit was not then pend : in g. Soon I managed to make ray adieu, and Triihtasjgh of relief found raystif once morm So t'.i3 h Wt 'I m;i<i my wrj to Euii room, but he hai gone to bed, turn seeing it ^viJ? n?ariy 11 o'cloS'-i, I decided t:>:r> to bsi, *a'*? . . prec^led by a servant (i co tUi never ; have found the w it myself), f mounted again the wide stairs an I thr>a lei the numcrrrjs pa^1 whici lei to my room It WH* at the end of h Wide cor- I ri dor. ";j < (h-r -i le of which" "Were six doo:j. ? "Joe" any oae sieep tmhere?'' I a?'<ed the man a5 ce bade m? fc ;0d night. "% : He pointei t<j a door eraOtfyo room,tslr,' Iwk mioe. "That is Ihe ! matter's replied ; ancl th^ om *t tfee bottom ed it Mrs. Hallrtoh's. f j No one 6k* in this part 0* tjhe hcwse. Thsbervonts* rooms are 4|1 in; ihe iorth wing/* I am generally able to sleep'at what* ever hour I retire; ibfct it ww ?^rij, lot the fire looked temping; no, instead itftniediately undressing, I ^changed- mj. coat for a s aoking jacket, and, liglxtl a pipe, macle myself comfortable in easy chair. 8oqn I hoard Mrs.<fiaUatortj light footsteps aacetii the ftairs, and the j door of her roam opja atufdoee, ?wf! Uttle while afterward Frt&^^edjqfe side my door te bid jme a night, and theaentcted the cite, j ?, j > -4- - ' f v How Ion .5 1 tat 1 here I osnnoi I . fell into afheavt dose, and woke up with f sudden start iV was the uneasy co unusual had my The feet and fllckerin burned out, me that , no qne but while I semes I blood run cole I am WL me,-: j fearfulljr a flames ot m - coi to _ the tbert rwitfc a wound which within I wffled It was the half j in agooy ,a til if cane from room. F(i to move; the door, and j hi knocked at.hef I tried tbe Listening 'or die; it moment, 1 und of a woman gaac rushed bacjc nlopg t$ Fred's room. j The door N unlocked, and fthrew it moment Line poi "Fred!" there, nor had I; cried; but! . the "ty burning is tho right was what tho wall, hot7 candie. was table, and the $ooin hole 'before secret co seo_ ing. it must Head into Mil room, I caught up the ing almost Rouble ba candle Mid : alf ran, half reached Its found myself in 00m. I ttood npru haif eng^^tott I The room was empty. along, it,, extremity latonv i glanced vround.j:J|HBL. |r f ^ f window dire&ly opposite to me Will and at my eye* fell upon it I good, rifled with a ItJuu sickening horror^ the candle drOjiped with a crash my 1 nerveless flogew. : There 1 miniature balcony outside the trk and on this stood Fred Hallaton, ing in tin embrace, :whlch?rat 0 not oi love,; the tainting form wife. The tioon wss shining fr' face, ghostly and demoniacal, 1 raging fire of the madman in his < and the imbecile grin of tho lotutltD his thin lips." Ia a moment the '" dashed upon me, and as I stood gaping and horror struck burst into a tit of wild hesawmea*d ??Ha, ha, ha I 'You N joke! See what a grounds! don't l? afraid, you dissyfj It's 1 wMtf Does tlie height make made her;!^ Andri^i# ? motioned to! the insensible Agtire of his wife, whom' he still held ctMped^jsi jflE arms. uD'i yon know w ha am going to do with Aer? I'm going ttfTeJj&k hat down there/' and he pointed tp j&tgqiy dea b-jlow. j "4. mki woman 1 use to anyone. ICome and leu hand." ! ?; 1 ? v Meclpnictlly I ruthed to and Eiimeto wrench from hie gtasp the fainting form of his wit a ifiatb hiaj imbecile gfin vanish! his e;es filled with a nalignaot ( he let go bis grasp of hsf wife and 1 at nt; like 4 tiger cat. It waO that I wrestled with hf armr were around infe and he^d me I w.;re in !a vice. | 1" tried to^?hov^t help,* hut my tongue cleaved to tlw 1 of Diy mout'.), and H faint gur^liix 1 all the sound I could command. K? and nearfer we drew to the p arf edgv, until at last Iv^ofld see the: belcw, stuidod with llowerbeda like pntlern of Some fiw^y Wsiirk^or Uau Hall win built bigb, and we were on tlfif;1 third story. I kit his hot breath in qtjf^ "WITU JIEH ums H/IHD IK uc ? 1 ' JfT' faci, and c|<i?ht his diabolical U triumph as be slowly forced waird a^iost the outside raltyj creiked jiad swerved with n? aod thejn jmy stru^ilnjf feet set , part withi the enrtb, as with a wild : j*?U ?oU: i ? Mi;: * 'Leiccfcter! Leicester !'? I openwRijr . eyei aud Pat up with a start. 'fltepispef had slipped from ray fingers, and th# traia \\as slowly sicmin^ into Lsietiter station, and thvr*, stodin:? upoa the platform, smiling and m'.rMtj loordtjg the v;ry picture of ht-s'.rh, was Fred 11*1 Atoa. * /T* Tsr.t Chriit.cu p*:ty at Gidby Hall ' tiie most tujimUe I was crer at, . ! and the people (the liftuje vr.w crfimtued ? j full of v.titora) tli*} most enfVuuuiog and . agreeable I ever merj There was oM youn< [tersoa especially ? a Miss Alica . Prat; sou she was then ? Akh waom Ig?? - on re. n irkably well. I never enjoyei a risit >j much in my life as I did that one, nor a ride so much as one afternoon ! when Miis Pratison and I. after a capital* i run. rode hom> to^c'her with her Httto ? hand in mine and o.:r hordes very eloac together. Nexf Christmas if AUctsj I doesn't of meat* to have ?joH, | little ho -j*? party of my own.