University of South Carolina Libraries
&jje ?tt|)Ht?tt at? Mjpn. WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1894. The Floctoatiori of Silver. From Harper's Weekly. Keseph, or the white meta), as it was ca'led by the Hebrews, has known endless fluctuations, yet has never ceased its vain rivalry with gold. Solomon was the first appar? ently to discredit it, and when silver grew so abondant in the Holy City - that it was almost as plentiful as the stones of its streets, he very naturally refused to receive it as currency. He would take nothing but gold, we are told by Josephus, for his merchandise, but paid away his depreciated silver to Egyptian traders for a chariot and a pair of horses. On this he rode out in state in the morning to his country seat at Etham, a paradise of rivulets and gardens Nothing could be bought or sold at Jerusalem for silver, say8the historian, and only gold was valued. The Greeks, when they first visited Spain, made their anchors and com? mon utensils of silver. The white metal lost its value. But this could not continue long, f jr the richest sil? ver mines at last grew unproductive, and in the seventh century B. c. the metal bad once more risen to a higher price. It could once again compete with gold, at least at a distance. The first form of money was in stamped bare or ingots, with the weight certi? fied by an official seal. The earliest known ingots were of gold. But about 700 B. c. Mr. Headus tells us money was first coined, and in the British Museum may be seen a Baby? lonian stater of electrona, a mingling of gold and silver, apparently the oldest coin in existence. Silver was for a time the common currency of the Greeks, but at last they adopted a gold standard. The fine gold pieces of Philip and Alexander have become the models of all later coinage. At Rome the 'earliest money was of bronze ; then silver came in as the standard ; and when it grew too abundant, the Roman emperors borrowed the gold coinage of the East. Tha Roman solidus was worth, in gold, a sovereign or a balfeagle. But nowhere did silver money fluctuate more widely than at Rome ; in the Hannibalic wars the currency was constantly debased ; in moments ! of danger money was. hoarded. But the victories of Caesar and bis general robbery made it so plentiful at Rome that land doubled or trebled in price , and money sank in value. Under I Augustus, in the quiet of peace, it is probable that silver was worth about one-tenth its weight in gold. With the decay of the empire a debased currency filled the world with dis? aster, and aided in the general destruction of commerce and the arts. Silver iu the Middle Ages rose in value with rarity, and was at times ' almost on an equality with gold. In Richard the First's time in England four shillings would buy a cow, a bull, or a horse for ploughing, and tenpence a sheep with fine wool. Yet again, with the conquest of Mexico and Peru, money fell, prices of labor and land increased; but the rapid growth ei trade and commerce at the same period revived the demand for an honest currency. Silver and gold moved on to together, and kept up a certain ratio to each other that was never greatly disturbed. It is only recently that the immense yield of our Western mines has nearly equalled that of ancient Spain when silver sank into discredit. But it will no doubt soon revive again, lt cannot take the place of gold in the opinion of mankind-the source of value. But it will always hold a subsidiary position that no other metal can fill. Nitrate of Soda for Gardens. j Nitrate of soda is not designed as a fertilizer fur the large field crops alone. It acts beneficially on the small gardens, j and for nearly all of the small vege- j tables and ??mall frnits. There are many garden soils where potash and j phosphoric acid need to be acted upon j by nitrate of soda to combine them in ! the growing crops. Ir is difficult to tell how much such elements are in the j soil, and how mach nirate of soda is required, but with a little experiment one can readily determine this. Ordi- j nariiy from 100 to 200 pounds applied i to one acre of garden soil will answer all purposes, and most remarkable ! results are obtained. This amount j will not injure small fruit or vegetables, j but will often make them flourish better than any other application. Strawberries often thrive on good j soil after the application of the nitrate, j although previously they seem to have bad a straggle. The same is true of vegetables that appear to starve on ! very rich soil. The trouble with the soils of such gardens is that they have all the necessary manurial elements prc-, sent, bot they are not in a condition for the plants to make use of at once. In applying nitrate of soda to the garden it is always better to weigh oat the amount desired, and then mix it with fine soil or sand about five times its quantity. Mix this thoroughly, so that in spreading it io the garden an ! even distribution will be obtained. | The nitrate of soda deposited upon the j leaves of tender plants might injure them, or if it came in direct contact in j large quantities with the stalks or ! roots. Consequently in applying it to any growing plant it is better to scatter the mixtur? between the rows, so that | DO part of it gets OD the leaves. The next raia that comes will wash the nitrate into the soil, and the chemical process will begin immediately, ic is a good idea to hoe or rake the garden right after applying the mixture, as the nitrate begins actiou more quickly theo, as it gets incorporated into the soil immediately. There are many advantages obtained from the use of ottrate of soda on soils that are rich with vegetable material, bat it should never be used as a perfect manare. It is only & suplement to the others. It performs its best fonction when applied as a top dressing wheo the plants are ap and growing. It stimulates them into new growth, and it will often basteo their maturity by one or two weeks. Ic is the commoo experience that crops, both of garden and field, that have been forced by nitrate of soda have a strooger tendency to resist parasitic diseases, tod io wet, damp seasons these crops are the last coes to yield to the attacks of fungi. Nitrate of soda will o ever exhaust the laod, bat will simply make available the material io it. Continue to feed tho land with proper barnyard manures, aod the citrate of soda will prepare their plant food for immediate ase. Try it oo yoor strawberries, vegetables aod other garden crops.-S. VV. Chambers, io Americao Cultivator. Fverybody thought last year's cotton ;rop was a small one, and yet seven million bales have been marketed aod the receipts for ooe-third of the year, sp to Sept. 1st, still to bear from. The bimetalio coofercoce DOW beiog jeld io Loodoo for the purpose of .eacbing ao international agreement by which silver cao be restored to its place is a money metal, has demonstrated joite conclusively that sentiment io Favor of the free coinage of gold aod silver at a ratio to be fixed by commoo igreemeot betweco all the great com? mercial nations of the world is rapidly growing io Europe, aod especially io England aod Germany.-New Orleans States. When Baby was sick, we gave her Castoria. When she was a Child, she cried for Castoria. When she became Miss, she clung to Castoria. When she had Children, she gave them Castoria FOR -FULL ASSORTMENT BEST NEW GARDEN SEED, -FULL LINE Prat Dis aili Chemicals. CALL ON J. S. HUGKSON & CO., Monaghan Block. MAIN STREET, Feb 8. SUMTER, S. C. Many Narrow Escapes And Thrilling Incidents CHARACTERIZE A YANKEE IN GRAY And make it one of the most stirring stories ever written by M. QUAD That master of the story teller's art It is Copyrighted and Illus? trated and will be printed in serial form IN THIS PAPER h. D. JOHNSTON, SUMTER, S. C. -THE Practical Carpenter, Contractor and Builder, WOULD RESPECTFULLY inform the citizens of Sumter and surrounding country that be is prepared to furnish plans, and estimates on brick and woodeo buildings. All work entrusted to bim will be done first class. SATISFACTION GUARANTEED. Aug 19 THE WASHINGTON HAND PRESS heretofore used by The Watchman and Southron, will be sold low for Cash. It will print ac 8 column paper. The Great Farm, Industrial and StocJc Journal of the South. ONE YEAH FOR SI. Sample copies will be mailed FREE on ap? plication to THE CULTIVATOR PUBLISHING CO.. Bor 415, Atlanta, GA. REMOVAL. LEVAN'S BARBER SHOP bas been, removed to the room over Mr. B. J. Barnett's store, in bia new building on Main Street. Thanking my friends for pa9t favors I solicit their continued patronage in my new stand, where I am better prepared ( rve them with satisfaction to them, as weo myself. Respectfully. JOSEPH LEVAN. Dec. 6-4. Y. M. C. A. Until farther notice, the Reading Room of the Y. M G. A. will be opeo daily from 8 30 to IO P. M. Dailies, weeklies, monthlies, will be found there. Also, the Library from the S. L. [. bas been removed to the rooms of the Y. M. 0. A. An earnest invitation is extended to all to visit the rooms and take advan? tage of the reading matter. OTTOF.WEITERS, WHOLESALE GROCER, AND LIQUOR DEALER, OFFICE AND SALESROOM : 183 East Bay, Charleston, S. C. Nov. 7-0 J. F. W. DeLORME DEALER IN Agent Toilet Soaps, Perfumery and all Kiwis ot Druggist's Sundries Usually Kept in a F*lir&t Class X>ru.s Store. Tobacco, Snuff |and Cigars, Garden Seeds, also Paints, Oils, Varnishes, Glass Putty, &c., Dye Stuffs. Physician's Prescriptions carefully compounded, and orders answered with care and dispatch. The public will find my stock of Medicines complete, warranted genuine, and of best quality. Call and see for yourselves. Night Calls Promptly Attended To. Densmore, THE WORLD'S GREATEST TYPEWRITER, The Machine that took the only award for Typewriters at the State Fair, Nov. 8,1893. 'NO MACHINE COULD BE ANY BETTER, TT IS PERFECT.' Private statement of one of the Judges. THE ONLY AWARD WAS ALSO MADE -TO US FOR TYPEWRITER SUPPLIES. i County Agents Wanted. J. W. GIBBES & CO., GEN. AGENTS, COLUMBIA, S. C. The '94 Model just out is Unrivalled. NOA. 29. I wish to state to the Farmers of Sumter and Clarendon Counties that I have gotten in a car load of McCORMIC REAPERS, SELF-BINDERS, MOWERS and HAY RAKES. It is a settled fact that theMcCormic Co., makes the lightest draft nod most durable Grain and Grass cutting machinery made in this or anv other country. Our prices Hre verv low and terms easy. Write to me fur caralogur, which will be mailed to you free of charge. Il contains cuts of all machines and gives tull descriptLns of them. GEO. F. EPPERSON, Agent. SUMTER, S. C. Mch 21 Office at Epperson's Livery Stable. A LS H & [.?MPANY THE LEADERS, -Have a New Feature HA Bargain Counter,! ! ?M: lil . O _ On which will be placed all remnant lots of SHOES In which most of the sizes have been sold. On this counter from time to time will be placed Some exceptional Drives. Don't fail to come and look over, you might find your size, and if you do not we will sell you a pair from the shelves almost as cheap. We have a full stock and we must sell them. Our line of Dress Shoes for Ladies and Gents will please anybody. WALSH & CO., Monaghan Block - Sumter, S. C. April 18. for Infants and Children. " Castoria is so well adapted to children that ! recommend it as superior to any prescription :.uown to mc.'1 IL A. AKCHZ*, IL D., Ill So. Orford Ct., Brooklyn, Y. **Thc use of 'Castoria i? so universal and i:s merits so well known that it seems a work of supererogation to endorse it Few are the intelligent families who do not keep Castoria within easy reach." CARLOS 3IARTT:;, D. D.. liew York City Castoria cures Colic, Constipation, Sour Stomach, Diarrhoea, Eructation, Kills Worms, gives sleep, and promotes di? gestion, "Without injurious medication. "For several years I have recommended your 4 Castoria,* and shall always continue to do SD as tb has mvariablyproduced beneficial results." EDWDI F. PARDEE, 31. D., 125th Street and 7th Ave., New York City. TEE CENTAER COMPA>T, 77 MEEBA*. STREET, NEW YORK CITY. SCHWERIN & CO. New Orleans Molasses In Barrels, Half Barrels and Kegs. Flour, Sugar, Coffee, .Crackers, Meat, Lard, Cheese, Starch, Soap, And everything nice in the Grocery Line WHOLESALE AND RETAIL. Call and See Us. Our Retai Department is Comp ete. Schwerin & Co. Feb. 7._ JE WE LR 1*. Watches, Diamonds, ? Sterling and Plated Silverware? LARGE STOCK SUITABLE FOR WEDDING PRESENTS. . Cocks, Optica Goods, Fine Knives, Scissors and Razors, Machine Needes, &c. FOLSOM. SIGN OF THE BIG WATCH. ESTABLISHED 1868._ SumtgT? S. C. A Modern Work of reference for the Home9 Library, Office or Schoo . 15 Roya Octavo Vo s., 50,000 Tit es, 125 Doub e Page Maps, 150 Doub e Page I ustrations Cash or easy payments. Write for terms to CHAS. H. CHAPMAN, P, 0. Box, 195, Charleston, S. C, General Southern Agent. Feb 14-1 LOW FOR CASH. A CAR LOAD OF Fine Buggy Horses. ~ A Full Line of OLD HICKORY WAGONS, BTTGG-IES. CARRIAGES, HARNESS, WHIPS, ETC. Ali!? FOR SAME LOW FOR CASH. W. 91. GRAHAM. Jan. ll. I RETAIL, White Corn at 75c. per bushel in sacks, Mixed Oats, at 55c, '? " " 44 Ship Stuff, at ?1.25 per 100 lbs., in sacks. Choice Timothy Hay, $1.20 per 100 lbs., in bales. Cotton Seed Meal, at $1.30 per sack. Cotton Seed Hulls, at $4 50 per ton in bulk. Lime, $1.25 per barrel. I ALSO SELL Rosendale and Portland Cement, Plaster of Paris, Cow Hair, Fire Bricks, Flue Pipe, Sewer Pipe, And Other Building Material. Special Prices on Large Lots. H. HARBY.