Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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MM, SHERIDAN & SIMS, Proprietors. SunscnirrioN. Ono Year.SI.50 Six Months.1.00 Ministers of the Gospel.1.00 A 1>V EUTISKM KNTB ? First Insertion.'..?1.00 Each Subsequent Insortlon.50 Liberal contracts made for ;i month, and over. JOB OIFiFIt!??? 13 PURPOSED >TQ DO ,Ar*I'.KINDS OF Job I?riiitiiig OUR SCHOOLS. EXPERIENCED TEACHERS?PROPER AIM OF CONVENTIONS, ETC. ffb the'School Commissioner : Looking forward to tho Teachers' Convention, feeling deeply interested : in the matter of Primary Schools, and, having had seven years' experience in teaching, the seven yeais covering an interval of fourteen, I think I may claim to know something of "Old 1 Fusid ?chools/'T therefore take the liberty: of addressing you on the mat ter, .in advance of what may be said in the coming Convention. I fear there is a fatal error so far '_prevjjien.tr on the question of cduca ^t|onJ The Primary Schools have not been fostered willi the care that is necessary'. If any attention has ' ibeen-given, to the piney.woods schools, it lias been more as a matter of form than any persistent effort, and such ?would have been almost unknown, had it not been for the advent of wandering teachers?so-called?some . good, many worthless, settling down to this free and easy way of living, because the territory was found to be unappropriated by competent person?. I fear that the efforts of the Con vention may drift into aiming at the jnpou when the piopcr mark is on the horizon ; and allow me to say that you, sir, having charge of the interests of the Primary Schools of this count}', should try to devote the advantages that may arise from this gathering to the many benighted and /unre.claimcd sources of this, so to! speak, educational stream. It has heretofore been the practice ? for.parents to send off their children to somo much advertised institution at an expense of several hundred . dollars yearly, when at the same time tj^at amount of money would have employed an unexceptionable teach er 'in ' the neighborhood school bous?'. This suicidal practice is still rfgoing on without diminution, except fhrbtighi liniincial inability: ?* *f 1 ? J' JJaye incidentally mentforied or H^rmetH^nVimpcrtant question as r?s? educational river. Let mc follow out the idea?colleges, seminaries, vil lage schools, &c, make a salutary current of intelligence, but our isola ted country territory is but a dismal syyamp of comparative ignorance. All ?syjtkin the sparsely settled districts is pool, sluggish inertness, miasma of intellect, and fog which the lukewarm attention of our Legislatures has so far only partially succeeded in dissi pating. : Jf this Egyptian darkness is to be dispelled, let the Legislature or the Superintendent, or the Commissioner or who ever could move in the mat - ter, begin at tho source of this stag nation. Let the ground, swamped by these dark pools and dead water of this neglected back-woods, be opened \o the sun, that the stream may be ""bright, clear and continuous with the broader current and wider banks be yond. Docs a farmer say, my corn is too small, I'll wait until it gets taller he roic I mould it? No?the reverse? jie knows that the moulding is as nec essary to make the car as the latter . forking. Docs hp say the outlook of my side crop is so satisfactory that I will bestow all my means and jabor on it?my credit as a planter will be guarded by it. No, he knows |hat a few acres of superior crop will not give character to the plantation, but that tho barren spots, the hill sides, the shady grass covered nooks, ?,nd tho rocky places must have each its share of at ention as well, other wise, the true story will be told by a half filled crib and pitiful looking stock. Jt is to be hoped that some of those wbb may be at the Convention will have well considered plans of a meth od, for running the public schools, that will give the masses, white and black, the opportunity to learn to read and write especially ; and as much moro a3 possible. Wc have a right to expect this from a conven tion of teachers, and it is to be hoped tho attendance of the people them selves. This should not be a one sided affair. It should be as much in favor of a class which our govern ment wishes to educate but which may not bo represented, as the more fortunate class which will be repre sented. It is to be hoped that wc may 'have somo honest, straight-for ward suggestions for the good of all the people ; as little Buncombe ex hibited, and as little pent-up elo quence aired, as the make-up of the gathering will permit. I have, sir, the previously stated claim to bo heard, and with your permission I will lake the liberty of stating the obstacles to the working of the pres ent system. One good step in Iho right direc tion should be to ignore the spread eagle style of teaching which is alto gether in an atmosphere above the wants of our pine*-' woods inhabitants. And yet teachers that, although they may not know what is the "Monroe Doctrine," are willing to come down from Hie genteel dignity of an easy chair to the lower atmosphere requir ed to lead little through the mazes of Webster's speller. An cnthusintic teacher may say to young men of capacity, learn so and so, and they may do it, while he is occupied with other matters ; but for the millions, the gentle, dove-like cooing of woman is the most suceess But, alas! until parents lake Ibis matter in band and interest them selves in it, it is feared that this most limber of.supports the public school system will be an illusion, and dead en in man}' places, what might other wise be done by private enterprise. Orakoguuro, May 2G, 187U. A Mutual Aid Society. Editor Orangeburg Democrat: Religion, Government, Education ?the three representative interests of all nations?what is Orangeburg doing to encourage them? The inin Inters meet in conference, tlio politi cians in convention, and is education then, of such minor importance as not to require a similar consultation and co-operation of those upon whom rests this responsibility? Evidently it plays no inferior part in spreading the gospel and moving the wheels of government; conse quently it should have a system per fectly formed and put into execution with the same zeal that characterizes the other public interests. With others,' Twill be glad to sec the first measures adopted to-morrow, and hope the teachers of Orangeburg will form a permanent club or convention ?a mutual aid socict}', as it were, which will meet quarterly or of. ener, and thus enable them to encour age each other, and olfer sug gestions as to improvement in the methods of teaching. Such a socie ty, I am convinced, will be pleasant as well os profitable. Only a few days ago, a large audience in a neighboring county was entertained by a teacher's asscmb]}*, in which the reading of an essay, followed by sev eral addresses, was highly appreciat ed. Orangeburg, possibly, can boast of a little talent which could be exer cised and improved in this manner, and the quarterly convention with its debates, essays and addresses, would be eagerly anticipated by Iho hard worked "pedagogues," who will doubtless appreciate it as a delight ful opportunity to enjoy with kindred spirits "the feast of reason and flow of soul" there afforded. And by and by, when the counties arc organized and in good working order represen tatives from each can meet in a State Convention, and thus give a new im petus to "the glorious cause" in winch your correspondent is enlisted with "the moving hosts." Death of Rev. Wm. Brooker This faithful minister of the gospel departed this life at bis home near Blackvillc, in Barnwell County, on May 2:2, aged seventy-two years. For two years previous lo his death, Mr. Brooker had been afflicted with paralysis, being, we believe, unable I at any time during that period to at tend to ministerial duties ; but hav ing zealously labored for forty-seven years in the cause of the Master, the meed of "well done, good and faith ful servant," was already awaiting him, and ho lingered almost impati ently for the summons to be sounded. He was for twenty-two years Mode rator of the Edisto Baptist Associa tion, and for eight years held the same position in the Barnwell Asso ciation. Indeed he was a Baptist j "landmark" in Orangeburg and Barnwell Counties, and was well known lo many in Edgcfleld and oth er counties of the State, llo leaves several children, if we mistaken not, and among them is our esteemed fel low-citizen of Ridge Spring, N. W. Brooker, Esq. But 'tis well with the I fathor.?Edgcficld Monitor. ful. M. L. B. Migkon Etta. Excursion on tho Santeo. Vance's EjJRhy, May 3011?, 1879. Editor Orangeburg Democrat: On the 27th, the people near the Santeo were treated with an excur sion down the above mentioned river by the polite captain of the steamer Louisa. The day bright and calm, with cio'.f-h breeze to cool the fair young uiaV 'ens' cheeks, that helped to make up the party. At any early hour bey six o'clock, folks were on the roads to the nearest landings. Your correspondent reached Waco at eight o'clock, about an hour ahead of lime. 1 amused myself with the wild ilowcrs that grew in profusion on its banks. At last the booming of a cannon was beard down stream. This was the signal to let all know that tho boat was near at hand. Then, Messrs. Editors, came the "tug of war." The "boat is coming," was repealed and re-echoed from mouth to mouth. Mothers gathering up their j wandering offsprings, father's giving their beasts forage lor the da}', beaux j receiving their belles lo take on board, lunch baskets, shawls, saehcls and everything portable. By the time everything was ready, up glides the L/cauliful steamer like a "thing of life, with her gallant captain to welcome nil on board. After slopping at several landings, the commander was requested to go dowu stream, which he did to llic dis tance of twenty-live miles. .Soon after gelling on, nil were treated lo bananas, iced lemonade, cordials, and lager?the hitter fully patronized by the sterner sex. The greatest object of interest was a pet monkey named "Jack. The steamer touched at Ma rion's Point and then turned up, and after a few hours, stopped fordinner. The meal was on snowy table cloths spread on the ground, and was as all country dinners arc?-a plenty of good things. Everybody seemed re freshed, and at four o'clock the stcaaicr was homeward bound. !No dancing, but'social games of "scveu up" and "euchre' were played by the young folks. At six o'clock we reached Waco, and liev. J. B. Plait was requested lo return thanks to the captain for so much real pleasure and enjoyment, and which w:s done as only a minister can do, touching the inner chords of affection, and remind ing us thai earth is not all sorrow. The captain responded in very suita ble words. Thus closed n most charming day, long to be remember ed as an evergreen in the memory of those who honored the hospitable commander with their presence. No accident occurred lo mar the pleas ures of the day. We are promised! another soon, ami I hope to be more j prepared to inform you of everything in order. John Joel. Country Girls. The farmers' daughters are soon to be the life, as well as the prido of this country?a glorious race of wo men, which no other land can show. We seek not to Hatter them ; for be fore they can become this they will, have to make an earnest effort of one or two kinds. There are some who j deprecate their condition ; and some who have a false pride in it, because they demand more consideration than they merit. A want of intelligence upon all the subjects of the day and of a refined education is no more c>:-< disable in a country than in a town bred girl, in these days of many books and papers. Many girls arc discour aged because they cannot be sent away from home to boarding schools ; but men of superior minds and knowledge of the world would rather have for wives women well and properly educated at home. And this education can be had whenever the desire is not wanting, A taste for reading docs wonders; and an earnest thirst after knowledge, is al most certain to attain a draught from the "Pirinn spring." There is a far mer's daughter in this very room in which we arc writing?a beautiful, re fined, and intelligent woman?in whose girlhood books were not so plenty as now, and who obtained her fine education under difficulties which would have discouraged any but one who had a true love for study. A country shopkeeper said : "Here, my friend, those balls of butter 1 bought ol you last week all proved to be just three ounces short of a pound.' And the farmer innocently nnswcicd : "I don't see how that could be, for I used one of your pound bars of soap for a weight." LETTER PROM FLORIDA. good 'words for t1ih democrat?a i1ugk fish story. Mikksvili.k, Fj.a., Mny 2G. Editor Orangeb?rg Democrat: "When will wonders cense?" said r > old Singe driver who had 6evcn ".u/ r? .-sen 'eis and no bandbox. So . . la lew days buico upon rc c. ivi" . your paper, for I was under the impression that no sano naan eould bo found with Democratic grit enough to publish a paper in Orange burg that was not of tho "bloody shirt" faith and order, so hopelessly Republican have I considered your county. "Would wish you success from tho very bottom of my heart, but my heart is so nv.tilaled from the effects of early love on the Edisto! that it would hardly be equivalent to the prayers of the wiciied. But, jok ing aside, Mr. Editor, I am much' pleased to sec a decent paper publish cd once more for the benefit of those j I appreciate so highly as I do the j citizens of your county, and hope the) will all patronize it from South Edisto to Sanlce, and I further hope you will make it a paper worthy their patronage. "Set a rogue to catch a rogue" is said to be gpqd philosophy, setting fish?Bike?to catch fish seems to be quite as good, if Middlcpcn Pike's luck is a fair specimen. One hun dred nice perch in two hours is not to bo grinned at by babies heforc teething. "Who can heat it?" asks Pike. Well, Mr. Bike 1 will sec your pile and go a few better, as the poker player says. During the wjnlcr of 185U the mill pond ol Mr. .Jacob Itfc Michael?better known as the "old hunter"?froze over and remained so fop a week or more. This was on Cooper Swamp, in the Fork of Edis to. The "Old Hunter" slipped a plank out on the ice, picked a hole through i^antV baited the fish for several ^ly^^vjlh bread, &c,, keep ing the ho'e open for that purpose. When the weather mode^fed a Hille, he invited your humble servant to take a fish, well knowing I'd accept, no discount being on mc at that game. "Now Tom," says the Old Hunter, "you walk out on that plank (you will find it more pleasant than standing on the ice) fish in that hole, and as you catch, sling theni over here, Bl remain on the dam, take oil', bag the fish, and rebait for you. Nice arrangement, thought i, and with a vim went at it. Wc soon had over one hundred bagged, and, ?joing iL at the rate of scvcuty-fivc per hour, when one large one fell from the I hook on the ice. "Look out," said j the Old Hunter, or you'll loose that ; fellow, and its the lai gost one! caught yet." 1 leaped off the plank j to secure it, and failed, not to break j through, but to get the lish. I soon ! wanted warmer clothing, so T quit fishing and made for the back door of the Old Hunter's Cabin (front and I rear doors being open and biting dogs tied when friends were about. Had the lish continued to Bile as they had for the last hour, I certain ly woidd have caught one hundred and fifty or more in two hours, had 1 not "walked oil* the plank." Fortu nately for me, the 'gators were in ''winter quarters," or h might have fared worse than did Jonah when he walked oil'into the McMterancan Sea, for there was some large ones in that pond. In conclusion permit mc; to sav that with a rille gun of Mr. Win. Izlnr's I killed twenty-six squirrels in twenty-seven shots in four hours by the watch near Cannon's Bridge on South Edisto. Can you heal that j Mr. Middlepcn Bike? Mr. Editor you will, no doubt, be somewhat astonished, but I hope not offended, as the young gents say in their first epistles to new-found sweet hearts, at seeing this communication from a stranger in this isolated part of "Uncle Sam's'' domain. Upon in quiry you will find that I was once no stranger in your village, though one to you. Uncle Ton. Miss Matlio Ireland and Miss No ra Holland were stricken down by a lightning Hash while riding on horse back at Adam's Creek, N. C, Miss Ireland and horse wcro instantly killed. Miss Holland was pnralfocd on one side and almost totally blinded. A writer on style says : "It is the fashion in France for ladies to take their tea in bonnets ami ?lovcs." One objection to this is that some of the new bonnets do not hold much more than a lump of sugar. Inquiries. Editor Orangeburg Democrat; Permit me to congratulate! you on tho success of the Demokrat, not withstanding the paper did assume the name since the Democrats came into power, yet it is a live paper, and one that is eagerly sought after and read by .many, especially since you have been publishing such interesting Jotters from "J. C. II.," of tho Fork, and "J. W. S." of St. Matthews, both of whom seem to be practical farmers. I propose to write you any thing on farming, although I have been trying for thirteen years, and have never yet learned how to make cotton to buy corn and bacon, and don't care much to know. I have bad six years' experience with the pea as a manure ; all of which 1 could give you, and perhaps it might interest und be of some*profit to some of your many readers, but I forbear, as I don't pretend lo know how to farm. As I have not seen any thing in your paper in two weeks from cither UJ. W. S." or the man in the Fork, wliow as burning or spoiling for n light, and fearing something serious had happened, 1 determined to write to you asking a little hir formation generally: First, has any body ventured near enough to the man in the Fork to pour cold water on him, or did he Hud somebody in the same humor? Second, If the man is still safe and sound, and don't burn up before fall, would he not be delighted if he should just for one time try "J. \V; S.V plan and put his pea vines through the same process of manufacture, and take out all that foreign matter such us milk und butler, &c, and get his manure in a pure slate, then apply lo cotton ; next turn cotton land to corn, with twenty bushels of cotton seed per acre, harvest corn and then put in oats. Third, If the tap rool of the pea can brjng so much plant food to the surface, what would be the result if the pea should turn the other end down. Fourth, One of your business men told me some time ago, he had five thousand bushels of Moburn rice, and did not want any more. I have been making inquiries about this new varie ty of rice, and can't find any body that has ever scon or heard of it. Some one told me that the man with the five thousand bushels, passed through the State with Sherman's army, and I have concluded that he was so accustomed to bearing the command burn more, that it had become a byword with him, and at that time be put the cart before the horse, and got iL Moburn. If my conclusion is wrong 1 am sorry for it. Do you know of such a vari ety of rice ? Fifth, Which has done the most J harm to the Slate, life insurance companies or Sherman's army? Sixth, If County Commissioners should build a fence to protect the Court House, what would be wanted to protect the fence. Seventh, Which would be most [honorable, to pay the County debt first or build a costly iron or stone fence around the Court House? Eighth, Did the man who put such heavy moulding in the Court room without any support but the base laths, intend to kill somebody, or did bo want a second job, or bad he' no better sense. Ninth, If a young man calls to sec his duleina and a calf is inside the gale and the watch dog hearing the gate open and runs out and bites the calf for the young man, who is to blame, the young man for looking like the calf or the dog for making the mistake. Tenth, I have heard that Provi dence Township hears the honor of having payed up taxes best of all last year. But Middle Township can boast of an educated fish, he even |8pouts Latin. No wonder, after tak ing in so many perch at one time. I have heard fish was great brain food for man, but did not know it would act in the same way with fish. "Mid ' dlepen Pike" thought of you, Mr. K 1 tor, at the time. Is not this an insin uation that ho thought you needed n little of this particular kind of food ? it looks so. I make these inquiries in a sort of a private way, as 1 know you don't keep a column in your paper to an swer correspondents, but if you think you have not lived enough on fish to answer them correctly, and can find one corner in your vnlunblc paper to spare, you can publish the same. Yours as ever, Nemo. Be:.ow the Fork, between the RlVEits, May 20th, 1879. P. S.? Fish arc in demand. You will see from this I was not raised on lish. The Chufa. Editor Orangcbury Democrat: I fear that many who have tried the chufa and failed, will be discour aged too soon ; hence this article. It will be seen that the excrement of bogs fed entirely on chufa will bo dry and hard with tho indigestible hulls. They require some other soft ening food ; there should be potatoes, pindcrs, or peas in tho same enclos ure, and an easy access to water when they choose.. The chufa is ex ceedingly uncertniu as to coining op, hut all that is wanted is hot weather, and a damp soil and atmosphere. Soaking will help, the same us with rice and some other seeds, but with a cold dry spring, such as wc have just had, there is no wonder that there is so much complaint. Don't plant chufas until you can do with out a fire and a blanket at niirbt. Seed are easily spoiled by being kept in bulk before thoroughly dry ing. Bushels of them have been lost by neglect of this precaution. Now for a suggestion : Chufas can bo transplanted almost ns caaily as planting the seed at first. A warm soil, kept moist and soft in tho spring will afford millions of setts, which can be dropped into a hole and a step on them is all that is required. May they not be set in a rich soil, say a foot apart each way for a green forage or pasture. Tho blades aic as tender as lettuce, and will spring up again as quick ns nut grass, and af ter they get a start 'tis not likely that crap grass will make much head way. M. L. Baldwin. May 22, 1879. Tell Your Wife. The following advice is well worthy of acceptance, but we would add a little more to it in the form of a sug gestion, that in case you have no wife?get ono: "If you are in any trouble or quandary, tell your wife all about it at once. Ten to one her in vention will solve your dilliculity sooner than all your logic. The wit of women has been praised, but her instincts a*c quicker and Ijcener than her reason. Counsel with your wife, or mother, or sister, and be assured light will Hash upon your darkness. Women arc too commonly adjudged verdant in all but purely <vomanish affairs. No philosophical student or the sex thus judge them. Their intu itions, or insight, are the most sub tle, and if they can't sec a cat in the meal, there is no cat there. I advise a man to keep none of his nlhiirs a secret from his wife. Woman is far more a seer and a prophet than man, if she given a fair chance. As a gen eral rule, wivjs confide the minutest of their plans and thoughts to their husbands. Why not reciprocate, if but for the pleasure of meeting con fidence with confidence? I am cer tain no man succeeds so well in the world as he who, taking a partner for life, makes her the partner of his purposes and hopes. What is wrong of Jus impulse or judgment, she will check and set right with her almost universally right instincts. And what she most craves and most deserves is confidence, without which, love is never free from a shadow." Murdered. Wc have received intelligence that a man named Saundcr3 was delibe rately shot a few days ago, just west of Broad River, on the Union County side, upon the most frivolous pretext, by a tramp who for some time had been infesting that neighborhood. His name our informant is not cer tain about, but thinks it was given him as Edwards. He is described as a being a small man with a scar on his face. At last accounts sixty men were hunting him in tho western part of this county.?Rock Mil Herald. A man named Murray, in a drunk en freak at St. Louis, climbed over the sido of a bridge and fell a dis tance of seventg-fivo feet to tho ground below, merely dislocating a shoulder and inflicting flight inter nal injuries. When picked up he be gan cursing some imaginary person whom he thought had pushed him off a sidewalk. WAS IT iRUBDER! A JMSrORSrKD CASE OF HAVE AND Ml'-H DER WltyCII THE COUONEli'S.JUltY D0E8 NO'JL' ENDORSE. ?On last Monday morning .our town was rife with the report that a young colored girl had been outraged sod murdered Sunday afternoon tby a negro trump on Mr. .Wiley Skeorn'ji place, about four miles from town. The girl's name was given as Marga ret Alice, and the tramp was descrL?* ed so minutely in the report that it was even alleged by some that a ne gro answering that description was seen in Camden early Monday morn ing. The scene of the alleged mur der .is a plum orchard, a little dis tance from the bouse of Dick Bailey, tiie step-father of the deceased. As soon as the fact was reported to Coroner Good ale, he proceeded to the place with a jury to hold an im quest. When they arrived, tho body of the girl had been carried from the piuin orchard lo Dick Bailey's house. As the whole affair is surrounded with a mystery, to which the vcrdicj; of tho jury does not give any solution* we give below tho substance of tho testimony : Mary Walker, a sister of the dead girl, elates that she and deceased went to the pjnm orchard Sunday afternoon. \Vhile thorp a short, thick-set negro man camo to them and seized hold of her sister. She went to the rescue, whXBn tho man kicked her and scratched her face. She then ran to the house for assis tance, and Dick BaUey went back with her. They then found Marga ret lying on the ground dead, with her mouth filled with sand. She looked back while running to the house, and saw the man sitting astraddle of her sister. Dick Bailey testified that he heard cries in the orchard, and proceeded^ there ;n company with Billy Cook. They met Maiy Walker running \0; wards them, who told them \bfi story given in her testirnony. jlje and Billy Cook went around tb6 "orchard in opposite djrectJona, and in one place saw the barefoot track of a man. They foundAleeeased lying on her back, her mouth tilled with sand and her clothe^ thrown up and body exposed. Tliere were also evidences of a scuffle: He saw no man. ..,* ?? ,1 Billy Cbok's evidence was similar to that of Dick BaiH,ey, with tho ex ception that lie says when the girl was being carried to the house, blood ran out of her mouth. Dr. Barucb, who mado the f)ost mortem examination, stated that hp found the membranes of the bruin of the deceased deeply congested, but no evidence developing any cause of bu tuen death. This closed the testimony, and the jury, after some consultation, render ed the following verdict : ."That the deceased came to her death from causes uuknown to tho jury.V We learn from the Coroner that on Tuesday morning Dr. Baruch ad dressed a note to him, stating tliafi, he had given the case further consid eration, ami if tho jury could bo brought together again, he would like lo make another statement, say ing, however, that be did not'know that what he might state wou^ ljavo any intluence to change the verdict. Coroner . Goodala decided that he could rot open the case again," ain't the matter will therefore stand just as we have reported it, unless it opened for investigation by other means. The fact remains that the girl met with a sudden or violent death, aho} these proceedings have not furbished, the means of its solution.?Camden Journal. Judge Levi Branson, a highly es teemed citizen of Bartow count}', Ga., remonstrated with two of his colored men for ill-treating a mule, when they menaced him to such an extent, following him into Iiis house, that he look up a revolver and shot at them, killing one ins'iwlly and se verely wounding the other. A jury rendered :i verdict of justifiable homi cide. Alonzo Luce had been attentive to Lucy Wyinan, in Cnnaseraga,, N. Y., for some time, and an apparently successful enndidato for her hand 5 but wheu he proposed to her was re jected, which so infuriated him that he drew a pistol, and remarking "There will bo a hereafter for yOu," shot her fatally in the head. Ho 1 then fired a bullet into his own braiu.