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EA S 18e5 tritbBRRw. G ESTABISHED 1865. NEWBEIRRY, S. C., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1890. PRICE $15 A YER THE RADICAL CONVENT110N. Brayton Squarely Beaten for State Uhair man-Trying to Nominate a State Ticket-Platform Adopted. [Evening Record, 19th inst.] After a continuous session from 10 o'clock yesterday morning until 1.53 this morning,'during which not even a recess was taken, the State Republican convention has adjourned sine die. After once starting on the contests yesterday afternoon, and the conven tion continued with them until every Miller delegation had been seated. Each case required a long time f6r its disposal, and it seemed as if every meam ber of the convention made a speech at some time during the evening, and the members charged each other wIth being bought and sold, and being trai tors and such like. Sam Green then tried to introduce a motion putting newspapers under the ban of secrecy as to their proceedings, but it was received with derision. MILLER DENOUNCED. Just as the motion to go into tempo rary organization was made, A. Walker, of Sumter, a-mulatto Braytonite who had heretofore been supporting Miller, rushed to the front, saying that he would bet 21,000 on Elliott beating Tom Miller in the Seventh district. He then turned to Miller and, in bitter tones, said: "I believe you to be the root of all this trouble, and I tell you here I'll spend all my money and give all my time to stamp you down until nothing is left of you.'" Miller smiled, and with their hands clasp'ed the two men sealed the com pact. 0 SOME FLOPPING. When the nominations were being made for temporary chairman, Saxon, one of 1rayton's strongest men, flopped over and seconded Small's nomination. Then Miller made another of his light ning flops and made Smalls decline while he nominated Murray. Murray was elected and was conducted to the chair by Miller and Saxon amid wild cheering. As he took the chair hesaid he believed the strife to be all over now. Charles H. Spring, of George town, was nominated permanent secre tary and the assistant secretaries were made permanent. AFTER T1 E STATE TICKET. A committee of nine was then ap pointed, and the motion was made by Sam Green, of Beaufort, to appoint a committee of five to ccnsider the advi sability of putting out a State ticket. Confusion then reigned supreme for a while, and the chairman characterized the amendment asa "dilatory motion." The committees were finally appointed, however, the Millerites being given the mnjorities. WEBSTER STATE CHAIRMAN. In making the nominations for State chairman the race question was brought .up, and things got into confusion again. Crumn, of Charleston, nominated E. A. Webster, referring to his ancestry and paying a glowing tribute to the worth of Brayton. Mdorris made a general speech on the race question, saying that the night befbre the Millerites had gathered around a black flag and now they had gathered around a white flag. "Consistency, thou art a p)riceless jewel," he said. Saxon urged the elec tion of a negro and nominated Prof. J. W. Morris. VILLAINS, SCOUNDRtELS AND BLACK LEGS. Here S. E. Smith, the candidate for Congr.ss in the Third district, took occasion to denounce the proposition to call a new cotivention in his district to reconsider his nomination as infa mnous and that the makers of the prop osiLion were "infamous villians, scoun dIrels and blacklegs who were willing to murder him." Webster was then elected by a vote of 9(i to:24. Thomas E. Miller was elected vice chairman. THE EXECUTIVE cOMM3ITTEE. Two members at large of the State Executive Committee were then elect ed, Deas and Smalls. There were seven candidates. The convention then subdivided into districts to select three members each of the Executive Committee from each district. The following were named and elected: First District-T. M. Freeman, J. H. Fordham, - Brown. Second-S. E. Smith, Fred. Nix, A. WV. T. Nicholson. Third-H. B. Hendricks, S, Jones, C. WV. Whitmire. Fourth-C. G. Garrett, - Means, --Pryor. Fifth-J. B. Smith, .4. B. Boykin, H. L. Shrewsbury. Sixth-Louis Jacobs, E. H. Coit, . E. Wilson. Seventh-J. B. Johnston P. H. Sperry, G. H. Reed. THE P'ARTY PLATFORMf. The following platform was adopted: "The Republican party of South Caroli: na in convention assembled reaffirms its shaken confidence, unswerving fideli tv and unwavering trust in the National Un ion Republican party with its proud, en during monuments, its noble patri ots, illustrious heroes, and sainted mar - tyrs, showing its faith by its works,I ~' thereby endearing it to those who ib,ve Jjustice, regard mercy and rev-ere truth. "That, with its miission incomiplete, its moral influence unimpaired1, its vital forces intact, we earnestly and solemn I: pledge ourselves to renewed zeal an'd redoubled energy in its support with the firm conviction and abiding faith that other grand and glorious achieve ments will yet be attained to the last-: ing credit of our commnt country and the prioe of American citizens. "We denounce and condemn in un measured terms the suppression anc prostitution of the ballot in Souti Carolina, together with the unlawfu and iniquitous methods used in defeat in- the true will of the people, thereby denying to them a fair and honest rep resentation in the affairs of the govern iment, both State and national. That the continuance of the unholy systen, which denies to the citizens the fre* and untrammelled exercise of his most sacred right, the elective franchise, should be frowned down and brought to a summary end by the Aniericau people that a fair and just representa tion may be had in all sections without regard to race or party, to the full and complete satisfaction of all concerned. "We hold that liberal education ih imperatively necessary and essentially important to good citizenship, and must materially effect the government under which we live and that proper and adequate advantages can only bt secured to the children of this State by liberal aid from the general govern ment, surrounded by necessary safe. guards for the fair and equitable dis bursement of whatever sum may b appropriated. That the advantage. now offered by the State is totally inad equate and deficient, the school terni being of entirely too short a duratioii to ensure beneficial results and th( teachers in many instances being in competent makeshifts unworthy to b( entrusted with the duties and responsi. bilities of so sacred and important v calling. "That we enter our solemn protesi against the public schools being used for the furtherance of political end and the demand that they be freed from such influences, and be held oper to honorable and fair competition with out regard to party principles or ract prejudices; that the people should hav( the indisputable right of making a se lection and choice of the educators o: their own children, baring as they d< a proportion of the taxes and tht responsibilities of citizenship. "We do heartily endorse the admin. istration of Benjamin Harrison, and feel confident that his positive utter. ance and firm advocacy of the fullesi protection to every American citizer in the free and untrammelled exercis( his civil and political rights will b sternly maintained and defended. Thai his sympathy with all measures look ing to the material interests of th( masses meets with our fullest approba tion and affords entire satisfaction. "That we endorse the financial policy of the administration as wise, econom ical and safe, and must inspire the con fidence of capital and labor alike and insure encouraging growth and pros. perity throughout the vast domain o: this country. "We fully endorse and heartily ap prove the course of the honorabl( Speaker of the House of Representa. tives of the United States, supportet by his adherents and co-workers in th< vindication and defense of the princi ples of RMpublicanism, in the fitting re buke administered to those who fraud. ulently and corruptly obtained theh seats in Congress to the detriment o the true will and free expression ol opinion of thepeople, and we hail witli satisfaction and pleasure the promp1 and decided action on the part of thE House of Representatives in such cases. "That we note with regret the fail ure on the part of the United States Senate to pass the Blair educational bill and the Lodge election bill, botlh of which we held to be of momentous importance and necessary to the ad vancement and elevation of the masses and for protection in the exercise 01 their political rights. That we looked with the assurance of hope for the pas sage of such nieasures, and would urge that they be made special orders for the first in'- of the next session. "While we recognize the importance and necessity of civil service reform,we hold that the great issues remaining unsettled are paramount and must be fairly and squarely met to ensure per manent peace, tranquility and pros. perity throughout the country, and secure to all classes equal and political rights. "That with faith and confidence ir the party in power and the stromig sense of justice of the American people we look forward to a bright future and a free enjoyment of the privileges oi citizenship. That there is a remedy for the existing evils we feel assured and that it will be applied in justice we look forward to with confident expec tation." ASK(ING HASKELL TO rWN FOR G;OV ERNOR. The commitee to-consider the ad visa bility of making a State ticket reported recommending that the matter be re ferred to the Executive Committee. A resolution to table was made and Deas off'ered the following: In order to secure a just, liberal and impartial administration for all the people of the State, regardless of party or color, the members of this conven tion hereby determine to support at the 1p01ls as their choice for the Govern orship Judge A. C. Haskell, of this city, and that the State Executive Committee be instructed to carry out the wvishes of the convention in this respect. Morris wanted a ticket nominated from the floor. Smith, Purvis and others spoke on the matter, some favoring the Haskell resolution. Nix caine up here again, and said il the Millerites had any ticket made up of Independents, etc., he intended tc see it nominated before they adjourn ed. - After much wrangling, and a fiery speech by Purvis, the matter was final. ly referred to the executive commit tee. The rep)ort of the committee on rules was then received and adopted, after some wild scenes. END)oRSING OFIcE-SEENER.. By this ti me a good many menmbers had left, and a large majority of them were asleep in their seats. Then it was that the Millerites got together and commenced to introduce a series of resolutions endorsing Rc publican office-seekers. Most of them were rushed through. Deas then made the speech that was the sensation of the convention. He said now was the time to act: all the trouble came from the illiterate whites, and he wanted a decent ticket, Repub lican or D)emnocratic, which they could vote for. Richardson, of Sumter, agreed: thought the straightouts should make the overtures. Nothing was finally don wih he asellresluion a Prof. Norris and others created so much trouble as to be called obstruc tionists after an announcement that the executive committee would meet this moruing. Sam Green, in an amusing manner, moved to adjourn, and at 1.53 this morning the convention adjourned sine die. THE "HUB-TREASURY" PLAN. Inportant Circular of the Wagon Makers' Alliance of Georgia. (Augusta Chronicle.] As our government is not a govern ment for classes, but for all the i eople alike, and government P.id should, and doubtless will, be accorded to those engaged in mechanical arts as soon as to those pursuing agriculture, the wag on makers of Georgia, profiting by the advanced thought of the farmers, have also formed an alliance. Impressed with the wisdom and profound business knowledge displayed in President W. L. Peek's circular to the farmers, I, who have the honor to be President of the Wagon Makers' Alliance, consider the time opportune also to issie a cir cular, modelled after President Peek's, to said named association. I respect fully request that you will. publi%h the same in your paper. W. L. C. HOLD YOUR WAGONS: Wagon Makers' Alliance of Georgia. September 9th, 1890. The great decline in wagons and the unprovoked and wicked tightness of the money market, and the unregene rate disposition of buyers of wagons to get them as cheap as they can, induce us to advise you, unlessyou can realize $100 net for your wagons, to hold them. Mind, we only advise the sale of wagons for $100 during September; after that, held your wagons for $200. Always hold your wagons on wheels -ready to be rolled without delay into the warehouses which the Federal government will be asked to build for them in every c'unty producing lifty wagons. IWe hope that in the near future we will get adv.ances on our wagons with out interest through our famous Wagon Hub-Treasury plan. WEELWRIWir L. CHEEK, President Wagon Makers' Alliance of Georgia. The Platform. [Pickens Sentinel.] The platform adopted by the con vention is sound to the core on the principles of the Democratic party. The State is certainly to be congratu lated on this. But in the twelfth para grath these words are used. "We demand that a constitutional convention be called to give us an or ganic law framed by our own people. We believe the present law a standing menace to our civilization and to our educational institutions, and that.we cannot obtain any great relief from our burdensome taxes till this is dlone, an we have lost faith in the power to amend the present Constitution so that it will answer the requirements." Because our present constitutioni was not made by our people does not hurt it nor us a particle. That is all senti 'nent. Let us talk business. Our peo pIe have been using this constitution now fourteen years. They have been in the entire possession of it as their own. They have made several im portant and necessary changes in it when they saw fit. They have re fused to change it in several important matters. It is theirs ; if not by ca tion or inheritance, it is by possession and use. We cannot see why any one should think that the constitution is a stand ing menace to our civilization. 'What section or article in it is a "menace ?" Point it out. Prove it. Strike it out. Our educational institutions have pros pered under the "menace." Who wants to give the educational institutions any more financial support than they have been getting? They are doing well. The constitution does not fix salaries, and the amour t of expenditures. It is by no means the cause of the "burdensome taxes." There -is an easy, cheap and safe method of amendment. Why should any one lose faith in this power? Those who have lost faith in it are few. WVho made our constitution any how ? Radicals, negroes and scala wags ? Not by any means. It was made by the best Statesmen that Mas sachusetts and Ohio ever produced. The radicals just adopted it for South Carolina. They did not compose and write out but a few lines of it. They did not have sense enough. But we have nothing to do with its past. What does, it promise for the future ? We had better bear the ills we have, than fly to others we know not of, at a cost of $100,000. But at this season of the year, the dlelegates did not have time to stay there and discuss measures at their own expense. If the delegates had been getting five dollars a day and mileage, there would have been some lively debates .on the convention clause. If we can not give two good reasons against it to every one for it, we will be bound to take the oath against duelling. If you feel "out of sorts," cross and peevish take Dr. J. McLean's Sarsapa Iriila; cheerfulness will return and life will acquire new zest. The circulation of the blood--quick ened and enriched-bears life and ener gy to every portion of the body; appe tite returns; the hour of rest brings with it sound repose. This can be secured by taking Dr. J. H. McLean's Sarsapa rillo. A Time to Dance. As some of the young people of the church, assisted by some of the older ones, have made the dancing party the order of the night and to compose a dis turbed conscience have referred us to the language of theWise Man, "A time to dance," we have concluded to ex amine and see how much the passage contains' for their accommodation. Popular thought and popular opinion is neither law nor gospel, but the child of habit and the child of sin. They tell us that the young mind must have something to feed upon, and must be entertained by occasions of amusement; but is there not enough in the religion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the life-work of a truly devoted and consecrated child of God to en gage all the powers of the young mind? The mind should have wholesome food, and every part of our time should be wisely and profitably spent. But what about the time employed in danc ing, and when is the proper time to dance? In the very beginning we are confronted with a difficulty in respect to the time for dancing. Although the text declares that there is a time to dance, yet when that time is it does not determine. This point if possible should be set tIed, for it would be as criminal no doubt to dance at the wrong time, as to neglect to dance at the right time. We shall all agree, I presume, that there are times when it would be en tirely out of place to dance. We could not suppose for a moment that the Sab bath day would be a suitable time to dance, nor at the house appointed for the dance, when one of the family is very ill, nor at a funeral, nor while the earth is rocking from a quake, nor in a thunder-storm. Nor would it be pro per to dance at the time of some gene ral calamity. But suppose the very day to be as certained, is the whole day or only a part of it to be devoted to this amuse ment, and if only a part, which part? In the morning or in the afternoon? Which part do you think would be the proper time? For with the impression made upon the mind with reference to the evil effects of night meeting, no one would pretend to say that the night is the time to dance-the time referred to in the text. But allowing the time to be ascertained, be it in the morning, afternoon or night, there is still an other difficulty in the text. Is the text a command to dance, or only a permission? :Or is it merely a declaration of the fact that, as men are constituted, there is time when all the events alluded to do, in the providence God, come to pass? If the text be a commavd, is it of universal obligation,-and must old men and maidens, young men and children all dance in obedience to the command? If a permission, does it imply a permission to refrain from dancing if we choose to do so? Or if it is merely a declaration that there is a time when people will dance, and .when they do dance, as there is a time when people die, then we might as well take the first eight verses of the chapter and show in what consist the evil of those practices of hating and making war, and killing men, for which it seems there is a time as well as a time to dance.* There is still another difficulty in the text. We are not informed as to the kind of dancing we should engage in. It is simply declared, " A time to dance." If it is a custom to be in dulged in, then it is certainly a matter of no small consequence to the true Christian. We should know something of the Scriptural manner as well as the Scriptural time. Now, to avoid mistakes in speaking on this important subject, we have con suIted quite a number of:passages in the Bible which speak of dancing, which we submnit for general inspection: Exodus, 1.5: 20: "And Miriam, the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. This was on account of the overthrow of the Egyptians in the Red Sea." Judges, 11: 34: "The daughter of Jephtha came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances." This was also because of a victory over the ene mies of Israel. Judges, 21: 21. "The yearly feast in Shiloh was a feast unto the Lord, in which the daughters of Shiloh went forth in dances." This was done as an act of religious worship. 2 Sam. 6:14, "And David danced be fore the Lord with all his might." In the time of David dancing was a reli gious rite, and in extreme cases it was a part of the Jewish services. Ist Sam. I8: 6, "On account of the victory of Saul and David over the Philistines, the women came out of all the cities of Israel singing and dancing." Psalm 149:3, "Let them praise his name in the dance." Psalm 30:11, "Thou hast turned for me my mourning into danc ing." The deliverance here spoken of is recovery from sickness, and the dancing an expression of religious grat itude and joy. Exod. 22: 19, "As soon as he came nigh unto the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing." From this it appears that dancing was a part also of idol worship. Jer. 31: 4, "Oh virgin of Israel thou shalt again be adorned with tby tablets and go forth in the dances of them that make merry." This passage predicts the re. turn from captivity, and the restora tion of the Divine power with the con sequent expression of religious joy. Matt. 11: 17, "We have piped unto you and ye have not danced." That is, neither the judgments nor the mercies this generation. Luke, 15: 25, "The prodigal son was received with music and dancing." Matt. 14:6, "But when Herod's birth day was kept, the daugh ter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod." In this case dancing was perverted from its original object to purposes of vanity and ostentation. From the preceding quotations it will sufficiently appear, that dancing was a religious act, both of the true and also of idol worship. That it was practised e.clusively on joyful occasions, such as national festivals, or great victories. That it was performed by maidens only. That it was rendered usually in the day time, in the open air, on the high ways, in the fields or groves. That persons who perverted dancing from a sacred use to purposes of amusement were deemed infamous. That no instances .of dancing are found upon record in the Bible, in which the two sexes united in the ex ercise, either as an act of worship or amusement. That there is no instance upon record of social daRcing for amusement, except that of the vain fellows, devoid of shame, of the irreligious families de scribed by Job which produced in creased impiety and ended in destruc tion, and of Herodias which terminated in the rash vow of Herod, and the murder of John the Baptist. Can it be that Christian parents with homes in a Christian community, in sight of the house of God, with every opportunity for doing good and living right and who have been warned so many times by sickness, accident and death, would open their doors to the dance and thus invite idolatry into their homes, and the only apology for the dance is that it introduces their daughters into society by inviting and responding to a like invitation. Re member that socieiy is just what you make it, good or bad, demoralizing or christianizing, just as you will have it. Christian people, members of the Re demeer's church, leave off this evil practice, ask God to forgive you and do so no more. In all kindness, WM. A. JULIAN. OPPOSES HOLDING COTTON. Col. Livingston, of Georgia, Discusses the Project. ATLANTA, Sept. 18.-Col. Living ston expressed, this morning, his views on the scheme to concentrate the cot ton crop of the State, or of the South ern States, at one point, in a gigantic warehouse, which will hold twelve million baes or more, and to get ad vances on the cotton from Europe, at the rate of thirty-two dollars a bale. The astute Allianceman said: "The advance of thirty two dollars a bale on cotton, would, of course, be a very desirable thing, as about sixty four million dollars would at once come to our people. The only thing that will relieve this stringency, is the shipment of cotton to Europe, and the return of money to this country. This is being done as fast as possible, and the farmer is the only person who suffers in consequence or makes any sacrifice. Now, outside of this, I think the concentration of cotton in one big warehouse would not be a very wise thing for the farmers. There are three serious objections. First, the insurance would be intolerable, and I doubt if any companies could be found that would care to take the risk on cotton where a million b'iles were stored, and if they did the rates would be enor mously ihigh; second, -The transporta tion would be a heavy item of expense, especially where the cotton had to be carried a long distance; third, the bales would have to he overhauled in order to dry out the green and damp cotton, and just think what an expense it would be to handle 1,000.000 bGds. And there are other objections to the concentration of cottor, it woulc not be best for trade, for the point where cotton is stored would be benefittedi at the expense of other sections. What commercial advantage there would be in the selling of a million bales of cot ton, the point at which the cotton was stored would have it. Then, cotton warehouses are liable to be misman4' aged, like banks, and if a manager of a warehouse, with a million bales of cot ton, should become tangled or embar rassed, there is no telling what disas trous results might follow. My advice to the farmers on this question is this: Put your cotton in the hands of your merchant, if you are indebted to him, not to be sold, but as a security' for the debt, and let him draw on the cotton to relieve his own indebtedness." Too Much Politics. [Alliance Record.] We are sorry to see so many Alliance papers taking such an active part in politie.s. Politics will never build up the waste places of our country, or put money in the pockets of the people. A Pedigree Ruined. [Savannah Times.] Poor but proud South Carolina's gub ernatorial chair, which is an aristo cratic piece of furniture with a pedigree running back to the Tuileries, is to be occupied by a farmer, and not only a farmer, but an Alliance farmer, and not only an Alliance farmer, but a one eyed Alliance farmer at that. If you are run down-have no energy, and feel very tired all the time -take Dr. J. H. McLean' Sarsaparilla. It will impart strength anu vitality to your system. FACTS FOR THE FARMERS. Home Rule in Ireland and the Unlied States-The Sub-Treasury Hin l Contrasted [From the Macon Telegraph.] Ireland, perhaps the most unhappy country-in the world, has been strug gling for a century for home rule, and because she has not got it has grown poorer and been deserted by half of her people. In fact, a great majority of the people of Irish blood live outside of Ireland. The lesson should be an im pressive one, especially in the United States, where the people from the be ginning have been most tenacious'in their hold on the righ ts of local self government; but apparently it is not. The drift toward centralization and away from home rule, which began during the confusion of the civil war, still continues-in fact, has hardly been checked. For a long time the South resisted this tendency. She was the losing party, and naturally stood in oppos'tion to a movement which was a result, in part, at least, of her defeat. But lately she manifests a disposition, or rather a willingness, to be led pas sively into it. The most remarkable thing about the change is the fact that this disposition is manifested by the very part of the Southern community which has heretofore been most jealous of the right of local independence and most indifferent to the seductive pro mises held out by a paternal govern ment. The sub-treasury bill, so-ealled, is the most extreme form which paterna lism has yet taken in this country. If it were to become a law, it would in. evitably develop in a very short time into a system under which the central govern mentwould absolutely be beyond the criticism or influence of the citizens. The law would add many thousands to the number of Federal officials, already far too large, and put the business of the people practically in control of those officials. We know already that almost without exception government officials are unquestioning servants of the administration in power, and that they exert a potent political influence. Already the distribution of the offices is regarded as the most important and most difficult task of the President and his advisers. If the number of offices be largely increased and the Federal government be made the warehouse man and factor of every farmer in the country, the administration may do what it please and extort an endorse ment at the next election. No constitu tional bar could limit the action of a government so powerful. With their cool, second thought a feaction against this bill will come among the farmers themselves. We believe it is already manifesting itself. They will not deliberately destroy the party which has been the bulwark of local self-government and of personal liberty for no better reason than that they wish to try an experiment which is condemned as unwise and dangerous by every man in the United States who has a reputation for statesmanship to lose.- They will pause and try to hit upon "something better." THE FUTURE OF THE TARIFF. Changes Visible to the Leading Derno cratic Journal of the Southwest. [From the St. Louis Republic.j Every intelligent and disinterested American would welcome any just set tlement which would take the tariff permanently' out of p)olitics and allow 'the business interests of the country to pursue an independent course un 'impeded by the changes in partisan control of the Washington Govern ment. It would seem at present that we are further than ever from such a tettle ment, but the appearance may be en tirely deceptive. The sectional aspects of the issue are undergoing a very marked change. The high tariff rate~ could not have been maintained as it has been but for the civil war section alism. The agricultural States of the South objected to it as a war tariff un just and uncessary in time of peace. It was urged on that sectional line, and its victories have been won on that line. There is no apparent change in the attitude of the Southern States, but there is a very great real change. In reality they been steadily adapting ~themselves to the conditions created by high-tariff taxation, and-they will soon be in a position to profit by them as long as they exist. This shifts the line of division for ~tariff sectionalism. When the changed attitude of the Southern States makes itself felt--as it necessarily will--the South as a section will be virtually out 'of the fight. Southern States may acquiesce and fall in with one side or the other, but the issue will be on new lines. The old sectional alignment of the electoral college~ may hold until 1892. It can hardly hold after that. When the Western agricultural States once assert themselves they will have power to dictate the terms of set tlement. The probability is that the settlement will be on the basis of taxa tion by government only for necessary purposes of government. When such a settlement is reached it will stand, and the tariff wvill drop out of politics and stay out as long as the country is at peace. Hopes to Make ils Mark. [From the Philadelphia Record.] It is reported that one of the nomi nees for the Legislature from a district south or South street can neither read nor write, and that in signing a check he makes his mark A MAN WHO DIDN'T STRIKE. Sixty Years a Switchman on the Central He Once Defied Two Regiments. [From the Albany Express.] Down at Stuyvesant, on the Central Hudson road, there is stationed a switchman who has been at his post ever since the first train passed over the rails, and had been in the compa ny's employ before that, almost from the day when the first tie was laid and the first spike driven. This man did not strike when Lee's order went over the wires on the even ing of Aug. 8. He is not made up of that sort of stuff of which they are made that blindly followed the beck and call of an autocratic leader. Old Patrick Sweeny remained at the post which he has faithfully guarded for nearly sixty years now. Although he is wholly illiterate, his mental powers have a natural vigor that is remarkable. Once the compa ny issued an order diiecting that all switchmen who could not read or write were to quit its service. Pat got a boy in his shanty to teach him how to read the numbers of the engines so that he could report the time and number of trains that passed his flag shanty every day. The old man had apparently passed the age when the mind can yet be turned back and made to grasp what it has outgrown, for he discharged the boy, but his ear was still keen. In less than a month he had learned the num ber of every engine on the road by the sound of the bell, and never made a single error in his reports. This is vouched for by the people who have known Sweeney half a century. He does not know what fear is, and a story is told how he once defied two regiments of soldiers because he knew what his duty was and they did not. It was in April, 1862, during war times. Sweeny was at his post on the road, was then double tracked north of Stuyvesant, but had one track between that town and New York. Fifteen car loads of soldiers on a special train, bound for New York, reached Stuyve sant early oie morning, and Sweeny, who was on the lookout, stopped the train, because the train which had im mediately preceded it carried no signal to give warning that 'the special was behind it. It was before the days of block signals and much depended on a remembrance of orders as to how trains were to be run. The command ant of the troops could not understand why the train had to come to a stand still. Leaping from the train he began making inquiries and found Sweeny standing at the switch, which he had locked. "What does this mean?" thundered the officer. "Don't you know these are Federal troops, under orders from Washington to proceed to New York without deldiy? What do you mean by stopping this train without orders?" Eweeny pointed his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the single track.. ' "The train ahead carried no signal for yez," said he, "and there bees and up train on its way." ''Unlock that switch instantly,"~ commanded the officer, drawing his sword. "Not a moment's delay now. Unlock it!" "I'll not," said Sweeny, and the words were scarcely out of his mouth before a dozen soldiers, in obedience to an order, hustled the switchman into his shanty. One thrust, his bayonet into the boards alongside of Sweeny's neck. The others pinned him in a similar manner under the arms. Half a dozen others placed the muzzles of their loaded muskets wihin a few inches of his head. "Give up that key and let this train proceed," was the command, and while no threat accompanied it the switch man knew that the next order would be to pull the triggers. He never flinch ed. "Not one wan foot does this train move," he said, without a tremor. "I will give you one min-" At that moment a shrill whistle was heard, and before the officer could finish his order the train for Albany came flying along at the rate of forty miles an hour. Sweeny's watchfulness had prevented terrible disaster. He knew well that the first train should have displayed signal flags to indicate that there was another following. Had he permitted the train carrying the soldiers to proceed there would have been a frightful collision at about Stockport, where a curve through a rocky cut shuts out two hundred yards ahead. It didn't take either the officers or the men long to realize what a narrow escape they had made and to appreciate the bravery of the switch man who was ready to give up his own life rather than permit a thousand men to put theirs in danger. Famous Sam Sloan was President of the Central in those days, and when he heard of Sweeny's courageous conduct he sent him a check for a generous amount and summarily discharged the engineer and crew of the train that had run through without a signal. Anud, strange to say, no strike was or dered because of their discharge, nor was President Sloan asked to specify reasons. The Favorite Poet of the Fifty-first Con gress. {From the Troy Press.] Scott is the poet whose writings are most in favor with Congressmen who put poetry into their speeches. A bout the time most of the present Congress men were boys everybody quoted Scott. The habits of the man are formed in boyhood. A POWERFUL SUNSTBOF. It Puts an Illinois Girl to Sleep and" Can't be Awakened. O [From the New York Star.]-: On the farm of Andrew Peacek four miles Northwest of Capron;il a young lady twenty years of Sere sides with her brother. She eame t this country from Sweden about fou weeks ago, and shortly after herarri her brother 'observed something peca liar in her actions. Up to her arriva in America she had been-feeling wel: but after staying a short time At her brother's home she imagined thatshl4 was the object of persons who wered6 termined to do her personal injury. All efforts to banish these thoughts from; her mind were of no avail. She then went to sleep, and she had slept the usual lengtb of tim her brother tried to arouse her; andA this he was likewise unsuccessfu - Medical aid was summoned, and up the present time nothing has been . complished toward arousing her. The-. only thing that can be assigned for he peculiar condition is that in here at the time she did, which was terribly .hot week, she receivedsrsn stroke. VOLCANOES IN THE BLUE RIDGE Seven Peaks. from whfchAeavy "Cloudse Black Smoke Pour Forth. ASHEVILLE, N. C., Sept. lO-Re ports received here from a number of citizens in the neighborhood of ]ee Three Creek, a tributary of the -ftwa nee River, twelve miles east of 4hs city, state that, for the third timesince the Charleston earthquake, smoke has for some days been regularly emitted in a considerable volume from seven mountain peaks of the Blue Ridge chain. The peaks have come to be designated "the seven smoking oYn tains." The occurrence has excited the. entire region in which the smoker - visible and many of the people are alarmed. - J. W. Boone, a highly respecabla-' citizen of the Bee Three Creek neigh borhood, has given the citizen of thW place an account of his observa?onsof the phenomenon. He says thatfor.tie past two weeks, each morning about 9 o'clock, vast columns of black smoke, rising to a heightof about 300 feet, have-. issued from Watch Knob, Rocky Knbb -" and five other Blue Ridge mountain'-. peiks which are visible from-. BIu Tree Creek. Some people of the negh borhood visited the mountains an found that the smoke -as it issued from the peaks bad a strong sulpharic odor. Boone says that these peaks were first observed to be smoking in Octo ber of the year of the Charleston Earth quake. That year the smoking lasted two weeks. It then ceased until ~last year, when for three weeks, beginning in September, the peaks were-again In a state of activity. This year the phe- I nomenon lasted two weeks, and has been witnessed by more than 200 peo ple, many of whose names Boone z gives. An effort is being made to have?rpf. C. D. Smith, the geologist of Maon-z County, and Gen. T. L. Clingman investigate the matter, as many people have become so alarmed that they say they will leave the nighborhood. The Fatal Ring. [From Vanity Fair.)] I was told a singular tale of a ring while on a recent visit to' the Paris - Morgue. For near 100 years a certain family of working people in Paris have ended their lives by suicide. From * father to son, from mother to daughter, Ki has been handed a plain gold ring, and on the finger of each of these suicides has been found this trinket. It has been called the fatal ring, and only last year it made its appearance on the fin ger of a young man-the last of the - Z race. The ring was buried with the corpse. The cupidity of not even the most grasping bodyfinder,could be tempted to the possession of ti'fmi nous golden circlet. An Old Joke Changed. [Memphis Avalanche.] Old Joe Brown, of Georgia, had a way of keeping very dark in politics until he got down to work in conven tion. He was usually a delegate when there were any conventions to be held, but never a candidate, When on his way to the convention which nominated him some attempts were made without success to find out who he was for. His wife was on the train, and a friend of one of the delegates cautiously approached her. Mrs. Brown without thinking what effect her answer might have, said slowly, "Well, Joe allowed he'd take it himself this time." The Chewing-Gum Habit. A prominent New.. York physician told me a few days ago that the con stant chewing of gum has produced week minds in fourteen cases of young girls now unaer treatment, the cou stant movemlent of the mouth causing too great a strain on the head. The quality of the'~blood depends much upon'good or bad digestion and assimilation. To make the blood rich in life and strength-giving constitu.t ' use Dr. J. H. McLean'sSasprla2 It will nourish the proprieties o~~~$ blood, from which the elementp of - tality are drawn. - 1If you are suffering with weak orin flamed eyes, or granulated eyelides, ,K you can be cured by using Dr..JAEk MLean's Strengthening EySalv