The Abbeville press and banner. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, March 16, 1887, Image 4
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The Press and Banner,
ABBEVILLE , S.C.
Wednesday, March 16, 1887.
The Spasm Abont Teacher*' Salaries.
The salaries In Abbeville range from ten to
twenty dollars a month. It will be nara ior
the scuool authorities of that connty to get
good teachers at such figures. The tendency
of the reduction In salaries will be In the direction
of driving good men and women out
of the profession, reducing the teacher's calling
to a mere expedient for making money
when other means fall, and, of course, Impairing
the efficiency of the common schools.
The "teaching capacity" of a man or a woman
may not bo affected by poor pay. Nor Is It
true that the interest of the teacher In school
work Is certain to be abated by the consciousness
of Insufficient compensation. The fact
that the teachers of Abbeville did as faithful
work at small salaries as they have done at
larger ones goes only to prove their conscientious
devotion to duty and their right to better
treatment than the Press and Banner now
seems disposed to accord them. The danger
to the schools in Abbeville, aB a result of the
cutting down of the teachers' pay, lies chiefly
in the certainty of driving talent out of the
business and leaving it in the hands of parties
who cannot earn a subsistence at anything
else. This would soon result in a waste
of all the money spent on the Abbeville
school. An incompetent teacher is dear at
any price. The competent ones are going to
quit the Abbeville schools Just so soon as opportunity
presents Itself.?Columbia Record.
What the Press and Banner has said about
the teachers of Abbeville county working for
twenty dollare a month from the public runa
Is a solid fact. When we say that the same
teachers, in the main, now work for 820 who
were paid 540 Is also a fact. That the teachers
of Abbeville county are, as a rule, giving
abundant satisfaction to the patrons of the
BChools is another fact. That twenty dollars
a month for the teachers is, in many instances,
a God-send, i6 another fact That as
a rule, the learned professions are poorly paid
is also true. What per cent, of the lawyers,
doctors, preachers and editors, can pay their
bills to-day.
In our opinion, nine-tenths of the people
who try to make a living by their education
make very little money. While in the
other learned professions there are many who
have a very limited credit, yet we are not acquainted
with a single teacher who does not
pay bis bills, and who has not credit as far as
he wants.
The idea of a man taking up one of the
' learned professions at S20 a month, "merely as
an expedient to make money" is preposterous.
Those who work at the business for this
omoit nri<u> 1ava fh?ir nrofe.oslon and follow
tbe business from the highest and purest motives.
But let the pay be increased to 850 or
175 a month and then these mercenary creatures
of whom tbe Record speaks, will apply
by the dozen, and may have no higher ambition
than to receive the high salary.
The situation lu Abbeville county Is about
In this way. A large majority of the teachers
are ladies, and they are good teachers?fitted
by nature and by education, to train little
children. Onr Female Colleges have seut
their gi;. nates into nearly every neighborhood.
These young ladies in many instances,
are spirited, and prefer a little of that glorious
privilege of being independent. Rather than
be a tax on their fathers for every ribbon and
erery flower which they wear, they are glad
to get a situation as teacher which will pay
them one dollar a day for five hours work.
They nor their brothers can make as much by
twelve hours bard work In the home or on the
term.
We trust that this spasm in behalf of the
teachers and against the children, may pass
off. We think the public has been disgusted
with this ceaseless and never-ending talk of
higher pay to teachers and less education for
tbe children. Even at }!0a month the children
in many sections get almost no good of
the public schools.
A Word to the Baptist Courier.
In our remarks two weeks ago, to the BopJ,_J
?"? *"* o ntf tntanHnn nf lm. I
UN twar.ci , v*o uiovmnu u?.j 11*wumkvu v
puting Improper motives to the editor of thnt
Journal, and have violated unwittingly?If
our article can be so construed?the amenities
of Journalism. But in any event the Courier i
editor has been avenged. That paper Is now 1
more than even with the Prcsi and Banner in
the matter of a lack of Journalistic amenities.
The Courier closes Its remarks by the expression
of the opinion that we would make ,
amends In our better moments. In reply to
this we would say that, even In our very
worst moment?, we never dreamed of saying
anything of our friend which was susceptible
of the construction which he has put upon
our article. i
His counsel and admonition may have beeu
Intended only for friends, his temperance allies,
on the ground that his enemies, the
^ liquor dealers and their friends, were beyond
the reach of "moral suasion." But, at any (
rate. If the Courier wonld write Its pieces so ,
plain that simple folk like the Prew and -Banner
could understand Its position, that paper
might have less reason to complain of us. If i
the flies of the Courier doesn't show sys
ujiiiuuu auverse criuciaujN ui iuo rruuiuiuuu .
party for several months past, then we are
mistaken. If it has once in that time reproved
the liquor men for any actual violation
of the law or for a wrong done to the
Prohibition party, we do not recollect the fact.
In Abbeville county the prohibitionists
have been denied thelprlyilege of voting
on the license question. Did tlie Cour.
ier take notice of lhat fact? Does the
Courier think the Legislature has treated the
temperance people in Abbeville county in a
fair and proper manner? If not when did it
protest? Our candidates for the Legislature
promised to see that the people should be allowed
to express, by ballot, their will as to
the licensed sale of whiskey In this county.
Five of the six that were elected made no effort
at all. so far as we are Informed, to fulfil
-? - their engagement or promise to the voters.
Does the Courier recognize in,this nothing to
criticise?
As matter of fact, we would be glad if
our friend and brother would let us know
what "methods" the Prohibition people have
adopted that are objectionable, and that doserve
his frequent lectures.
Since the "honors are easy" on the subject
yjk juuuiuiiobiu auicuui^H, may we noi nope i
for harmonious work Id the future for the j
advancement of the good cause of temperance,
and that good humor may hereafter <
prevail between the frlenda of a lifetime?
The Cumberland Gap Railroad.
There Is a rumor to the effect that those 1
towns and townships that voted uncondltlon- 1
ally a tax for the benefit of the Cumberland
Gap road will now be required to Issue their
bonds to raise money to complete the survey
from Eastatoe Gap to whatever point may be
selected la Kentucky as the terminus of the
road. This survey to cost 510,000. This, if
true, will no doubt be gratifying intelligence
to the friends of the road, as well as to the 4
generous voters who have contributed so liberally.
There Is another report to the effect that
President Bowen said at Troy that he
had but little hope for the success of the enterprise,
or words to that effect This, if true?
is rather discouraging. We know nothing of
the truth of these reports, and vouch for none
of it.
It seems to us that taking of money from
South Carolina to survey a road in the moun*
tains of Kentucky or North Carolina would
be contrary to all previously conceived no.
tions of expediency or propriety, and therelore,
we are Inclined to the opinion that there 8
must bo some mistake nbout the report ns to I
t ie Issue of boDdg by Troy, and the townships r
from there and along the line to AikeD. c
The "conditions" may save Abbeville and
Due We?t from harm, but we do not see how *
the towns ou the lowor end of the line are to
protect themselves In case It should bo deter- t
mined to compel the issue of their bonds. r
? m b
The Laurensville Herald' exhibited com- d
meudable enterprise in publishing the testimony
In the Allen Cunningham case. h
' . jlElK *' -ii-- . ? ' S'tc-t . ..
MWM???1^????
v Of conrse, the Record would not "deny poor
people any teacher nt all" under nnycircura
atanoes. we are even unwilling to approve
expedient that seems calculated to put. Incompetent
teachers in charge of the schools?
the schools that are for the education of rich
and poor alike. We want to see every school
In South Carolina run nine or ten months In
the year, under the conduct of a teacher who
makes teaching a profession, and who cannot
he hired for twenty dollars a month. We
want to see the teachers of South Carolina
recognized as important factors In malntalnlug
and advancing civilization of the State.
If these results can be accomplished by pay*
* 1 ? ? ? Akkntillla nlon f hoil \pp
ing leHcucm uu iuo nvuc*iu?
shall Join with the Prett and Banner In applauding
the recent action ot the school authorities
of Its county.?Columbia Record.
We deny that our teachers ere incompetent.
We have teachers that give abundant satisfaction
to the people.
Wo deny most positively and most emphatically
that the public schools have been "lor
the education ol the rich and poor alike."
We think tbat we can prove that the people
about the towns always have schools, and
that the poor In unfavored sections have
not always had them.
We think we can prove thot the school
fund.has been used for the pay of those exalted
teachers of which the Record speaks, to
teach the languages and other higher branches,
contrary to law, while the doors of the
same school house have been shut to other
children who were seeking a primary education.
So far we are informed, no poor man In this
section has been excused from paying his poll
tax. but we think we can prove that some of
our poor children have been barred out of
the public schools.
The Record's theories may sound very nicely,
but they do not outweigh I he facts.
If the Record wants to see the teacbcrs Important
factors In maintaining our civilization,
it is not to be done by placing
Id position a lot of educated Impracticable
mercenary teachers who follow the business
merely for the money they can make out of
It.
.Judge Mclver.
Tbe ably written article in reference to the
Supreme Court of this State which is copied
from the American Law Record, is well worth
reading. It pays a deserved tribute to the
Bench, and does nothing more than Justice to
a member of the Supreme Court, whose ability,
legal attainments, and solid worth have
commended him to the attention of tbe author
of the article to which notice is asked.
Reduction of salaries is theorder of the day
in Abbeville. The school C? mmissloner in
that County was elected on the cheap basis
and reduced the pay of first-grade teachers to
?20. We do not know how it is with our
neighbors, but it is hard in thlB County to
secureftnt grade teachers when tbey are paid
830 per month.?Laurens Advertiser.
If you have any scarcity of teaehcra in
Laurens, send this way to get deficiency supplied.
We have excellent teachers, who
would be glad or a thirty-dollar Job.
Mr. A. C. Jones has sold that excellent pa
per me jyewverry rteraw emu n rui hj mucn
H. Aall and Vm, P. Houseall. Mr. Aull is
well known to our people as a teacher, and
Mr. Houseall is a practical printer of much
experience.
Mr. D. B. Johnson has retired from the
editorial control of^the Carolina Teacher, a
monthly magazine largely devoted to the In.
terestB of teachers In securing larger salaries
and in enabling them to do better work.
So mnch of our copy was delayed until yesterday
evening that we And it impossible to
get It all lu the paper this morning.
The Literary CInb.
The Abbeville Literary Club met last Friday
night at the house of Major A. B. Wardlaw, J.
S. Perrln, Esq , in the chair, and Frank Gary,
Esq., acting secretary. This was the annuel
meeting, and officers were elected as follows:
President-W. L. Miller.
Vice-President?B. S. Barnwell.
Secretary?Frank Gary.
Treasurer and Librarian?A. B. Wardlaw.
Committee on Essay* and Places of Meeting
?W. C. McGownn, O. T. C'alhnun, H. C. Cason.
Commlttecon Periodicals?J.C.Klugh,T.P.
Cothran, Hugh Wilson.
The retlilng Treasurer and Librarian made
a report snowing a very satiBiaciory cuuuiuuu
of the club, both as to the finances and the
membership of the club.
It being known that Mr. J. C. Klugh, the
regularly appointed essayist for the evening:,
would be unavoidably detnlned away from
the meeting. Mr. Benet had been asked by
several members to read the address which he
recently delivered in Charleston. Consent Inn
to do so, he reud extensive extracts from that
admirable address which has received so
much favorable comment from the peopteand
the press. Instead of attempting to furnish
any synopsis of the address ourself, we will
append what the Sumter Advance says of the
speech:
"Mr. \V. C. Benet, of Abbeville, delivered
the annual address before the graduating class
of the South Carolina Medical College In
Charleston, on the 4th instant, and to Judge
from the synopsis of the address as published
by the Newt and Courier, It was such an effort
as might have been expected from him. His
subject was the "problem of the time"?the
relation of capital and labor.
"Of course Mr, Benet did not solve the problem?we
consider It beyond the ken of mortal
man to do that now. The problem is one that
will have to be solved as events unfold themselves.
This Is a period of great unrest the
world over, and the relations of labor and
capital are very much strained. The causes
for this state of affair* were plainly pointed
out by Mr. Benet.
"The last half centurv has witnessed th*
most wonderful progress in Inventions, and
especially In labor-saving machinery. These
have helped the few to pile up colossall fortunes,
and to form gigautlc corporatlous and (
monopolies.
"The result has been that instead of theconditlon
or the laboring classes being Improved,
It has been made worse. Avarice seems to
have seized upon the minds of the people and '
Instead of our unparalelled progress In the industries.
the arts and sciences, elevating our 1
civilization and making us happier and bet- {
ter, It seems to have bad the opposite effect.
Mr. Benet argues with much force, that oui .
standard of civilization to-day. is not as high
is it was a half century ago?that while we .
lave made wonderful progress In many
things, our standard of civilization has If any:hlng.
been lowered. Hecalls upon the younp ,
men of to-day who will have to shape the des- .
Jlnles of the next generation, and make the ,
civilization of the beginning of the twentieth
jentury, to consider well the great responsi
aititles that rest upon them. Society, the
world over, is passing through a transition .
itate, and in the greatchanges thatare taking
place, the young men will be the chief actors,
we have not space to follow Mr. Benet fur,tier,
but we agree with him that the America
people should call a halt, and ask themselves
the question, where are we drifting? .
Wiiere will avarice lead us if unchecked? ,
VIr. Benet is one of the most profound thlnksrs
of the day, and his voice of warning and
idmonltlon should be heeded."
The reading of the speech occasioned much
somment, being diversified in expression according
to theopinlonof the individual memjer,and
all combined made It one of the most
jleasant of the club meetings. Mr. Miller,
Vir. Parker, Mr. Caaon, Judge McGownn,
rudge Cothran, Mr. Calhoun, Mr. Gary, Mr.
rempleton, Mr. McGowan, aDd others took
part In the discussion.
ANTREVILLE'S SEASONABLE REQUEST,
Interesting Dots from the Town
Without a Railroad.
Autreville, S. C., March 12, 1887.
Editor Preu and Banner:
Asa few dots from this section would be of
interest, I send the following:
This place is ou an average about twelve
miles from a railroad, yet wo are doing a*
well ns many of our brethren who are more
favored. All we ank Just now is a mall route
from Abbeville Court House and malls three
iimesaweek. We have a very heavy mall
fit this post oIHce and we think it a shame
that we have to wait until Saturday for our
papers. Give us a lift, Mr. Editor.
Iinr vnnna friAnrio Mr Man VVHIIaiyii nn/1
Miss Lucia Seawrijjht were happily married f
>n last Thursday, Rev. Mr. Betliea perform- t
ng the ceremony. Much happlDess to them, t
Miss Rosa Fouche Is again at her post. Miss t
rouche richly deserves the reputation that she c
ias won as a teacher and disciplinarian. I
Mrs. James Trlbblo has been very sick I
wain. She Is better now. c
The new Methodist church at Bell's Cross n
loads has been framed, and will soon be ?
eady for the shingles. t
With the exception of an occasional stray t
ase the measles have entirely disappeared. r
Prof. W. C. Bell is visiting his father Dr. I
Jell. We understand that ho is doing well at c
Wangle. t
Our sister town Lowndesvllle can boast of li
be best town on the Savannah Valley Rail- r
oad. Ii
Wakefield & Erwin liave Just received a >
enutiful line of everything to please the la- o
lcs. p
The prospect for a grain crop Is flattering, c
"Mac," won't you and "East End" shake tl
and* and be good. "COO." e:
AN HONOR TO THE STATE.
*
ASSOCIATE JUSTICE HENRY McIVER SUSTAINS
THE FORMER HIGH REPUTATION
OF THE BENCH OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
Hi* Hljfli' Character, IIis Good Mnnner?.
His Exact Learning, nnd IIIn
Careful Attention Have Brought
Him the Highest Rewards of His
Profession.
American Law Record.
j.ora uampiieu, aunongn oucn criticised ior
having mistaken his vocation, wlien lie entered
upon a literary career as a biographer,
never rendered creater service to the profession
of the law than when he wrote the lives
of the Lord Chancellors and Chief Justices of
England. To the profession In America, particularly
was the work of Lord Campbell ol
unquestionable value, prejudiced, as has been
charged, or imperfect though it he. The
writer of this paper was just beginning to enter
upon tho study of the law when the"Lives
of the Lord Chancellors" appeared, and he
well remembers the impression that it mado
upon the profession. It was purchased and
read everywhere with avidity; men who were
mere names to the laymen and to the lawver
as well, stood out from the canvas ond we became
acquainted with the manner of men
whose opinions were daily cited in our courts.
Even Lord Eldon, who was great at a late day,
as a living equity judge, pronouncing opinions
in the Illgh Court of Chancery, was to
many a dry authority and nothing more.
The great Lord Hardwlck was cited everywhere
as authority as a Judge, but as a man
he was hidden between the billloussheepskin
covers that envelope our law learning. We
know more of the history of the lltlROnts
whose cases he decided than we did of the illustrious
judge who decided them. Of Lord
Mansfield, and later of Lord Thurlovv, and
later still of Lord Brougham, we know more,
and only know more because they were orators
and politicians, who, each in his day, figured
conspicuously before the public eye. It
will not be denied, we think, that a knowledge
of the life and character of the man
whose opinions are cited are of the highest
value, not only to the Bur. hut lo the Bench,
whose Judgment we are seeking to convince.
And In this country, where law books on all
subjects nave multiplied, am wnere reports
have accumulated to an inordinate extent,
and where many courts of last resort are dally
glvlne law to the world, it becomes of the
utmost importance that the Judge whose
opinion is cited should be known and his
learning and character fully understood. The
opinions that come from these numerous
courts look equally imposing In print, and In
the main they a-nind equally as well when
read. Butwnat is the weight of an opinion
as authority? Who delivered it? What is
the reputation of the Judge as a lawyer?
What was his reputation at the Bar before he
was promoted to the Bench? In what particular
branch of the law was he distinguished ?
These are the questions concerning which we
all wish to be Informed. In this connection
the truth might as well be spoken; and in
this day when the election of Judges by the
people, and worse still, by a party, Reerns to
be the approved method; wnen their terms
of office aro cut down to the space of a few
years, the profession Is fast losing their former
reverence for the utterances of courts as
such, and lawyers constantly now cite cases
not because they are the decisions of a court,
but because upon any given question It Is the
opinion of a particular Judge, known for Lis
Integrity, his independence and his learning
How often In the experience of every lawyer
does the Interrogation come from the Bench
with the Inquiry, "Whose opinion Is that?"
And what great weight does it carry, If in citing
a South Carolina case one can answer that
It Is the opinion of Harper; or If citlngaNew
York case we can say it is the opinion of Kent
or Walworth; or If citing a case from the Su
preme Court of the Unitod States one la able
to say It Is the opinion of Marshall or Storey.
And If, perchance, one Is relying upon an
English authority, how much greater Is tlint
authority If one can say that It Is the opinion
of Lord Mansfield, or more recently, the opinion
of Lord Eldon.or of Sir William Grnnt.
And how disappointing Is ltoften to the court
if the reply Is that it Is the opinion of Lord
Ersklne, or of Lord Brougham, whose reputations
as Judges have not kept pace with their
reputations as orators and men of letters.
Hence we feel the advantage of having some
knowledge of the lives and public services of
the distinguished Judges who may now adorn
the bench In the several states of the Union.
And among these are few who deserve a high- i
er recognition than the upright and learned i
Judge whoRe name appears at the hoad of this
sketch. We are well aware that the Judiciary
of South Carolina has not of late occupied the
same high rank that It certainly did thirty
years ago when the rule In South Carolina
was to put your)a judges upon the Bench and to i
elect them for life, thereby enabling them to i
become educated by a system of Judicial train- <
Ingand fitting them for theexaited office they i
were called upon to exorcise. By this means 1
we always had the advantage in this State of '
an old and experienced court, while we secur- I
ed the other great advantage of having con- '
llnually an Infusion of young, vigorous and '
ambitious life; thus combining the energy of '
the younger men with the wisdom of tried 1
experience and matured learning. Could we I
but Impress this great truth upon the people <
bow great would be tlndr reward! Could we J
but make them feel that a great court Is not i
for the benefit of the Bar but for the benefit of '
the people themselves, whose dearest rights i
are suspended In the balances! The ancient i
and well-tried system of South Carolina, to I
u-lilrh \v<? havfl rpfprrpd. rmssed nwav with i
the reconstruction of the Judiciary which followed
In the track of war, and for tho next
ten year* the courts of the State fell far below
their ancient standine. They lost for a time
tho recoct and confidence of thg profession
it home, and to a still greater degree failed to
command the respect of the profession
abroad. This was a humiliating calamity!
But happily this untoward condition of
things could not and did not continue; a
change came In 1876, slncc which time the judiciary
of South Carolina may claim a fair
comparison with that of any sister state for
its Integrity, its learning and Its painstaking
industry. Letone but read carefully the cases
as they have appeared between 1876 and 1886
In Sband's Reports, and the fact will conspicuously
appear. And no one has contributed
more to this happy result than Mr. Justice
Mclver, as the following cases, takeu at random,
will abundantly testify: Montgomery
vs. Scott, 9 S. C., 20; State vs. Butts, 9 S.C., 153 ;
Snider vs. Robertson. 9 S. C., 213; Simons vs
Bryer. 10 S. C., 'i'A ; Caldwell vs. Barnett, 22 S.
C., 1: Davidson vs. Moore, S. C., 192; Calvo vs.
The K. R. Co., 28 S. C.f 32b; Davidson vs. The
R. R. Co., 2-3 S. C., 53; Walters vs. Kraft, 28 S.
C., 578; Gardner vs. Gardner, 28 S. C, 558; Habftrnieht
vs. Rawl <fc Wlehaln. In Southern T.nn\
Timet (not yet reported), which cases at once
cover a large fleld of Judicial Investigation,
and manifest the varied skill and learning of
[\n accomplished Jurist and scholar. These
remarks will prepare for the sketch wo now
propose.
Henry Mclver was born on the 25th of September.
1826. near the villas of Society llill,
* community of many social advantage*, in
Lhe present county of Darlington, in the State
if South Carolina. Ho whs of Scotch ancestry,
his great grandfather Ilodrlck having 1m
migrated to this state shortly after the battle
if Culloden. His grandfather, John E. Mclver,
married Mary Ann Williams, the sister
>f David R. Williams, for some time a mem- J
tier of Congress and Governor of the State.
His father, Alexander Mclver, married Mary
llamford, the daughter of Enoch Hamford, of
Jonnecticut, the first Professor of Languages
ill the South Carolina College, the state Instl- I
Lutlon at Columbia, and was afterward a prac,lclng
lawyer of repute, In partnership with
ils brother-in-law, the late Joslah J. Evans,
for many years one of the Judges or the IjRw
^ourt of Appeals of the State, and a United
States Senator as the colleague of Mr. Calhoun.
It will bo noted that Judge Mclver
jame from a worthy and dlslingulshed stock,
uid is none the worse for having a strain of
Lhe colder Puritan blood of New England,
mingled (as was often the case in the early
Jays of the century) with the warmer temperiment
of our Southern latitudes. We have j:
svldence of this happy connection in the cool J
lodgment, warm manners and hearty com- ?
panionehip of their distinguished descendant. <:
In October. 1836, the father of Judge Mclver, t
lilmself a distinguished lawyer, removed to p
the old town of Cheraw, where the son has ?
ever since resiueu, seeKing no ponucai preier- j
ment, but devoting all the energies of bis fine -I
mind and suporior attainments to his profes- U
slon. In autumn of 1843 young Mclver was I:
matriculated as a student In the South Caro- n
Una Collego, from where he was graduated In '3
December, 1846, with distinction In a large u
class. To his credit be it said, he taught q
school during his college vocations, thus aid- t
Ing to defray the expenses of his college o
jourse, and to that extent assisting his lather, a
who had a large family dependent upon him. t
[n January, 1K47, he commenced the study of t
the law in his father's office, and in December t
jf the same year by rensc n of his superior en- t
lowments and groat diligence was admitted ii
to practice In the law courts of the State, and t<
to the following year was enrolled as a Solicitor
In the Courts of Kquity. As soon as he a
ivascalled to the bar he entered intoa co-purt- 5
lership with his father, who was then the n
State Solicitor or prosecuting officer on the w
;astern circuit. Shortly after tlie yonng prac- p
:ltloner commenced Ills career atthe bar. the n
lealtli of Ills father became so much Impaired ti
hat he was unfitted to discharge thearduous it
luties of his office, and the son as his deputy ?
terformed those duties with satisfaction to il
he public and credit to himself until the 10th ?
>f July, 1R50, when his father died, and the t)
on was now appointed Solicitor by Governor
ieabrook to fill the vacancy until the close of si
lie next session of the Legislature, the Solictor
being then elected Ly the Legislature, and Jt
lot by the people as now. At tne election In
Jecombor, 1850, Mr. Mclver did not become a tl
andidnte for the office.'yielding to ono who, fc
>y reason of his larger experience at the Bar, e<
ie modestly supposed was better fitted lor the
losltion. In 1853 tiie new incumbent died, cl
paving again vacant an unexpired term, and ni
Ir. Mclver, still a very young niun. was a sec- a<
nd time appointed by Governor Manning to It:
erform the duties of the office until the sue- a
ecdlng session of the Legislature, at which ag
Ime he was duly elected Solicitor of the castrn
circuit for the term of lour years, and was Si
. ' ? ? *' v> - -
? ??mmmam^??w^?i?
successively elected at the expiration of the
second term In 1857, 1861 and 1866, holding tbe
lucrative office until 1868, when, under tb i reconstruction
acta of Congress, the entire ? tate
Government was reorganized- As we have
sulci, the subject of this sketch has always devoted
himself exclusively to his profesi Ion,
having engaged In no oilier occupation or pursuit,
and having no taste for political Ufi, be
has never been a candidate for or a member
of any legislative body. He was chose.i to
represent his fellow-cltlzens without solicitation
on his part hi the Secession Convection
called by the State In lb'60, and la 1865 he was
analn chosen to represent them In the con vention
called under what Is now known oa the
reconstruction policy of President Andrew
Johnson; and to both he was chosen without
desire on his part. He was not prominent In
the public deliberations of these two bodies,
but as ft member of their committees he performed
his lair share of the delicate and Important
worn entrusted to them. When the
war that resulted from the act of secession
was begun, though, having neither a taste nor
a turn for military life, he thought it his duty
to defend the principles for which his State
contended, and under a conscientious conviction
of their rightfulness, he entered the
nrmy, and continued In military service until
the close of the war, a reminder of which he
to-day carries upon his person, having been
severely wounded in battle twice In the name
day. let, notwithstanding his valor aul admitted
worth, he never attained a higher position
than the modest rank of Captain, At
the close of this protracted and frightful conflict
be found himself without high titlei as a
soldier, without means, with a country Impoverished,
with business at a standstill, with
the courts, the forum of his ambition anil success,
closed, the future dark, uncertain and
well nigh hopeless. But he did not detipalr.
He wisely concluded that the only coure j was
to submit, hopefully and cheerfully, to tlie Inevitable.
He accordingly devoted the gummer
and autumn of 1E?5 to a careful review of
the la* (his practice having been Interrupted
for four years), and when the courts were reopened
In the spring of 1886, he found hi mself
equipped at all points and fully prepared for
the large and lucrative practice that lm Mediately
flowed In to him In the counties of Chesterfield,
Marlborough, Darlington and Mi,rlon.
It may be that he wan out of place in political
and military life, but at the Dar he was truly
the master In his own domain. His ad Iress,
his bearing, his Industry In the preparation
and the logical presentation of hlscaset and
his easy eloquence at once placed him In the
front rank of the profession. Hence, when
the control of the State Government in 1876
Rnssed once more Into tbe nanas 01 idb ini>eigent
elements of society, where under any
system of good government it rightfully belongs,
Mr. Mclver came to his own. O.i tbe
19th of May, 1877, he was elected Associate
Justice of the Supreme Court of South ( arollna
to All ont the unexpired term of Mr. Associate
Justice Wlllard, who had Just ther been
elected Chief Justice to All out the unexpired
term of Chief Justice Moses, then recenl ly deceased.
The terra of Mr. Justice Wlllurd as
Associate Justioe would have expired cn the
31st of July, 1878. and accordingly at the regular
session of Legislature on December1,1877,
Mr. Justice Mclver was unanimously elected
Associate Justice for the full term of six (rears,
beginning on the 1st of August, 1878. The
term ot Chief Justice Mosps, deceased, would
have expired on the 29th of July, 1880, mid accordingly
at the preeedlug session of legislature
in Decombcr, 1879, an election ww held
for Chief Justice for the term of six yea 's and.
Juflirc Mclver was unanimously elected.
We now enter upon a chapter In the life o:.'
Judgo Mclver, which must ever reflect credit
upo > hi in as a man and as nn unselfish patriot.
Tbe rlpht to hold the election at that time
whs strongly disputed by the then ChltT Justice
(Willard). who claimed that hyvlitueof
his election as Chief Justice In May, 1<77. he
was entitled to hold the office for tho full term
or six years, to wit, until May, 18M3, ant! that
lil* tenure was not- limited to the unexpired I
term of his predecessor.. The Leels ature,
however, took a different view, as thewordii
of the Constitution clcarly warranted. >0 wit,
that Wlllard was elected and could only hold
office for the unexpired term, and the refore
the General Assembly proceeded to held the
election In December, 1S79, to fill the vrennoy
that would occur In the office of Chief J ustlce
oft?h Af iniv loan Tho plprflnn of
Judge Mciver as Chief Justice would, of
course, leave the office of Associate Justice
vacant at that date; aud upon mature deliberation
the conclusion wan reached that the
Legislature had no power to fill the vacancy
at that time?In advance?which would occur
In the office of Associate Justice when he (Mciver)
should accept t he office of Chief Justlcu
In August, 1880, which would then become vacant
under the theory upon which the Leglslature
had acted ; and that therefore the titlu
to the ofllce of one who should then bo elected
Associate Justice to fill the vacancy occasioned
by Judge Mclvcr's acceptance of the
office of Chief Justice In August, 18W, might
well be questioned. The valldltyof Ate election
as Chief Justice was beyond question,
but the title of the person who should be elected
In the place of Associate Justice Mciver
would not only be questioned, but would, In
the opinion of the Attorney-General, be very
questionable. This, of course, would have
smbarrassed very much. If It would not have
thrown an Inseparable obstacle In the way of
the proper decision of the question which Jt
was then known Chief Justice Wlllfird Intended
to make as to his own tenure, and
which he afterword did make unsuccessfully.
I'he practical question to Judge Mciver was.
whether he should merely for"the additional
honor and emolument incident to the office of
Chief Justice, expose the State to the hazard
3f having its most conservative element?the
udieiary?at a most momentous crlslu dlsorianlzed,and
its authority called In question.
I'o such a predicament there could be but. one
inswer from any right-minded, patriotic man,
md Judge Mciver wcu such a man. Accordingly,
he addressed a letter to the Legislature
Jeclining to accept the office of Chief J ustice,
\nd the present Chief Justice Simpson wus
sleeted In his slead. Since that time; to wit.
uecemner, iw?, judge *iciver uasiigain oecu
re elected unanimously to the office of Associate
Justice for the term of six years from
ihe 1st of August, 1884, nnd Is now engaged In
the discharge of the duties of thnt office.
Such Is a brief outline of the life, character
ind public services of one who has lit every
iray adorned the profession. In private lire
le unites the advantages of an Imposing per>on,
remarkable colloquial powers and! genial
nanners. At the Bar he pressed home his
:auses with earnestness,eloquence and ability.
On the bench he Is at once dignified,
courteous and patient. Judge Mclver may be
laid literally to hear a cause. He naver inter-upta
counsel In argument except brielly, and
>ccaslonally to fix his own understanding of
i fact. No matter how full the printed notes
)f the argument may be, he rarely follows the
printed page (except when necessary for an
uithorlty), but keeps his attention fixed upon
rounsol engaged in presenting thocaie. Ho
levcrantleipates the argument (a* Is too often
lone) by suggesting difficulties, for he takes
t Tor granted that these will bo mot ar.d oversome
at the proper time and In the proper
jlace. He gives the same earnest attention to
he diffident young debutante that he does to
he venerable senior. To the younger mem>ers
of the profession every where Ju>lge Mclver
teaches by example that declamatory
tarangues to the populace are not necessary
OBuccess; that political life to a lawyer Is ofen
a snare and a pitfall; that high character,
;ood manners, capable aud exact learning,
vlth a careful attontlon to business, will lend
nore surely, step by step, to the highest regards
of the profession.
PHILIP C. ASHLEY.
'HE VERDICT OF THE EDGEFIELD JURY
Iff JONES'S CASE.
2ight of tbe Jurors Thought that
" the Family Exterminator "
Ought to be Handed?Two Considered
the Crime Mannlaugbter, and
Two Thought the Killing: of Old
Nan Presilfy no Crime at ell?A
Compromise Verdict.
newt ana Lxmrxcr.
Edgefield, C. H., March 18.?The Jury em>anelled
In the case of the Slate against R. T.
ones lor the murdor of Edward Pressley, Sr.,
t the conclusion of Judge Norton's able
barge, at 5 o'clock on Saturday evening, relred
to consider what would be ajust and
roper verdict to mete out to the perpetrator
>f such a crime. The Court waited on the
ury until 11 o'clock F. M., at which hour the i
uage had them brought In and Interrogated
hem as to whether they desired any further
nstructlon to assist them to arrive at an
greement. The foreman replied that tbe
lllflculty they were experiencing In reaching
unanimous conclusion did notarise from a I
luestion of law. Jud^e Norton reminded ]
hem that three days of the Court bad been .
iccupled in the trial, and to go over the case \
Kalu would Involved a very great expense to i
he county. Therefore, ho would have to ask l
hem to retire to their room again, and when |
hey agreed upon a verdict, whether during
hat night, Sunday, Monday or any time durtig
the session of the Court, bo would be glad t
o receive it and discharge them. t
At 4 o'clock thlu morning the Judge was
roused from his comfortable couch by a con- *
table, whornme with the snrnrlslnfr lnfor- c
nation that the Jury had agreed. Messengers
ere seen hurriedly going from place to ]
lace, arousing from their slumbers the counel
and others who were interested In the 8
rial. Jones, at that early hour of the mornug,
was also sleeping soundly, and he, too, /
as awakened and told to dress. He received ^
ae announcement tlmt the Jury had agreed f"
lth no observable excltenicnt or anxiety, f
ut rather cooll v remarked, "It Is manslaugh- n
jr." He evldontly felt that his neck whs
ife. He was confident of a mistrial. 1
At 4.20 the Court was ready to receive the r
iry and their verdict. The clerk road slowly,
Uuilty," and a puined expression darkened '
le countenances of tho prisoner's attorneys e
ir a moment. Then the sentence was finish- J
I, "of manslaughter."
The first rote of the Jury in their room disosod
the fact that eight of them were fur J
mrder, two for manslaughter and two for
qulttnl. All subsequent balloting re-ullcd 11
i the same vote until five minutes to 4, when . V
compromise verdict of manslaughter was f(
[reed upon, f
Jones's counsel will carry the case to tho i
ipreme Court ou technicalities. u
..? -ALL
ABOARD FOR ATLANTA.
]
SOMETHING OF A RAILROAD WHICH WILL
BE BUILT.
. t
1
The Georgia, Carolina and Northern 1
Railroad. J
A meeting of the stockholders and friends of l
this contemplated line of railway whs held at i
this place last Thursday. i
W. H. Parker, Esq., was called to the chair, <
and bu.slness was at once entered Into. 1
The articles of consolidation were ratified <
without debate and by a unanimous vote. i
A meeting of the stockholders and new dl- i
rectors will be held at Athens, Ga., on the 7th I
of April next, at which time and place Gen. |
Hoke said that the book* of subscription ?
wmilrl hp rpnnftnpil Ainl thannmnnnv wlil<?h ^
he represents will subscribe at iea?tone-half (
of the capital stock, and the balance would be
subscribed by friendly persous and places
along the line.
The subscription books had been closed
some tlmo since to prevent unfriendly subscriptions
of stock, b.v which the enterprise
possibly might have been defeated.
Gen. Hoke made a plain and forcible statementof
the policy of the management, which
was Indeed gratifying to those wbe were present.
The road is being rapidly located, and after
the meeting at Athens the construction of the
road will be begun at once and pressed rapidly
forward from both ends of the line.
It is the purpose ol the managers to build a
line of easy grade, not to exceed, if possible,
fifty feet per mile, and as nearly an air line from
the points named In the charter as Is '
possible to construct a road; which is Intended
to be of the best material and equipment,
so that It can be operated as successfully at a
schedule of forty miles per hour as any other
road in the State is now run at thirty miles
an hour.
This line is the shortest that has been or
will ever be built between New York and
New Orleans, and all intermediate points.
The manner in which Gen. Hoke has transacted
the business so far, has shown not only
to Abbeville, but to all points interested, that
he is In earnest, and besides that he is competent
and trustworthy.
Abbeville may lndulze the hoDe that her
day of deliverance Is near at hand.
That our people may better understand the
situation, we will state that the proposed railroad
lines In North Carolina, South Carolina,
and Georgia, the whole making a line from ,
Atlanta through Athens, Georgia, and the
towns of Abbeville, Greenwood. Clinton and |
Chester In the State of South Carolina, to a i
point on the Carolina Central Railroad at or |
near Monroe in North Carolina, have now i
been consolidated. j
1. The name of the consolidated road Is the
Georgia, Carolina and Northern Railway. i
2. All the rights and franchises of the individual
or separate roads have been merged In- .
to the consolidated road. ]
8. The number of Directors is thirteen, viz: i
R. F. Hoke, Raleigh, N. C. i
T. E. McClure, Chester, S. C. I
Julius Mills, Chester, S. C. i
W. A. Shand, Clinton, S. C. i
W. B. Bell, Clinton, S. C. (
C. A. C. Waller, Greenwood, S. C. i
L. W. Perrln, Abbeville, S. (1
W. G. Chllds, Columbia, S. C.
A. H. Hodgson, Athens, Ga.
A. L. Hull, Athens, Ga.
C. A. Collier, Atlanta, Ga.
R. J. Lowry, Atlanta, Ga.
HokeSmlth.Atlanta.ua. I
4. The following are the first officers of the ]
consolidated company: i
R. F. Hoke, President. i
A. L. Hull, Secretary and Treasurer. f
5. Thaannual meeting ha*been fixed for the 1
first Thurcdny In April of each year. t
o. i utt uruuien ui v(JiiaU!luuiiiJii iiittjr ue ?
amended by a three-foarths vote of stockhold- t
ere.
7. The capital stock Is one million dollars,
divided Into shares of one hundred dollars.
Stock in new comoany to be issued in lieu of
stock in any of the three companies respectively.
The capital stock may be increased to
six millions.
8. To provide for the completion and equipment
of its line, the company may issue first
mortznge bonds to tbe amount of not more
than twenty thousand dollars a mile, bearing interest
at not more than five per ceitf. per annum,
payable seml-aunually.
0. The bonds to be secured by mortgage.
10. The business office shall be In Atheus until
April, 1889.
Change of Schedule on the Piedmont
Alr-Llne, Richmond A. Danville
K. B.
A change In the movement of the trains
and throught cars of the Richmond A Danville
R R., will go into eflect Sunday, March
3th, at 8.00 A. M.
The New Orleans Fast Mall will leave Washington
at 11.20 A. M., Charlottesville 8.35 P.
M., Lynchburg 5.50 P. M., Richmond 8.00 P.
M., Danville 8.50 P. M., Greensboro 10.40 P. M..
Salisbury 12.30 A. M., Charlotte 2.25 A. M. arriving
at Atlanta 1.20 P. M.. Raleigh 0.80 A. M.,
Goldsboro 11.20 A. M. Also arrive Montgom- c
ery 7.15 P. M., wobile 2.15 A. M., New Orleans v
7.10 A. M. c
The Southern Express will leave Washing- c
ll.Oo P. M., Charlottesville 8.00 A. M., Lynch- ?
burg 5.15 A. M., Richmond 2.80 A. M. Dnuville R
7 Ufl A AC i 1 n K, . ?-/-v ft 4 Q A VI QnllnkM*.. .
I.W XX. UICCIIOUUIU 9.^9 XI. 1U.| OUiJOUUl J Ij
II.23 A. M. Charlotte 1.00 P. M., arriving In E
Atlanta 10.40 P. M., Columbia 5.12 P. M. Au- a
gusta 9.28 P. M., Raleigh 1.50 P. M., Goldsboro t
4.40 P. M. t
The Western Express will leave Washing- j
Ion at 5.80 P. M., arriving at Charlottesville v
tQ.05 P. M. and Lynchburg at 1.00 A. M. Louis- \
Nellie via Che?. & Ohio Ry. at 7.10 P. M.,Cln- f,
cinnati via Kentuchy Central Ry. 6.00 P. M., s
Bristol via Norfork & Western R. R. at 9.05 c
A. M? Chattanooga at 6.45 P. M., Memphis at a
6.15 A. M.t and Little Rock at 12.65 P. M. c
The Washington p'ast Mall will leave Atlanta
8.40 A. M., Augusta 9.20 A. M, Columbia n
1.08 P. M., Charlotte 6.45 P. M.. Goldsboro, 5.00 ?
P. M. Greensboro 9.55 P. M., Danville 11.40 P. a
M., arriving at Richmond 6.40 A. M., Lynch- i,
burg2.05 A. M., Washington 8.10 A. M. 8,
The Northern Express will leave Atlanta R
7.00 P. M., Charlotte 5.15 A. M.. Salisbury 6.46 Cl
A. M , Goldsboro 11.50 A. M., Ralelght 4.35 P. d
M. Greenboro 8.32 A. M? arriving at Char- ?
lottesvllle 8.50 P. M., Alexandria 8.00 P. M., ?.
Washington 8.23 P. M. 0
Additional trains between Washington and e
Lynchburg will be run as follows: Leave
Washington 8.30 A. M., arriving Lynchburg l
8.80 P. M., with through connection with Norfolk
& Western R. R. for Bristol, Knoxvllle.
Cleveland, Rome, C'alera, Montgomery, ana V
New Orleans. Leave Lynchburg 5.05 A.M., B
arriving Washington 12.01 P. M. Also, leave G
Washington 5.30 P. M., arrive Lynchburg 1.00 Ii
A. M., with through connection via Norfolk S
<fc Western R. R. lor Bristol, Chattanooga, S
Memphis, etc. Leave Lynchburg 3.00 P. M.,
arrive Washington 9.40 P. M. These additional
trains afford through Pullman Bleeping Ci
Car servk-c between Washington and Little ?
Rock and Washington and Now Orleans. 18
Pullman Sleeping Cars Southbound will be P
run between New York and Atlanta on tne 11
New Orleans Hist Mail, and Northbound on =;
the Northern Express. 11
Pullman Sleeping Cars, Washington to ?'
Montgomery and Washington to Aiken, will 11
be run on the Southern Express and Wash- 81
lngton Fast Mai!, and no these trains between a
Richmond and Greensboro, and also between P
Greonsboro and Raleigh. 8<
Pullman Sleeping Cars and through Coaches J;1
between Washington and Louisville on the *
Western Express.
h
" m ei
Mr. W. C. Benet dellevered an address to
the graduating class of the Medical College at
Charleston last Friday on the "Problems of &
the Time" Mr. Benet is a charming and origi- ?
nal speaker and never falls to delight his "
audience.?Greenwood Tribune. 8'
w
CI
Rev. J. A. Porter, pastor of the John- hi
ston circuit, met with a painful accident H
on Monday evening. The afternoon ser- ln
vice of the meeting now going on at the ai
Methodist Church had jnst closed, and ni
Mr. Porter stepped up on the back of one Pl
of the pews to pull down the window ^
sash, and in doing so his loot slipped and fU
he fell across the pew, breaking one of in
his ribs and inflicting other injuries, but b<
none, we trust, of a serious nature. But
under the most favorable conditions he
can hardly be expected to be out inside fli
of a week.?Edgefield Monitor. ti<
The Methodist Episcopal Church now J*
baa ?1,700,000 invested in publishing interests,
on which there is no indebted- wi
nesa. The Western establishment had a in
net profit from sales last year of over ?r
5107,000. The New York Book Concern
reported an actual net cash profit of Cn
fl 17,000 from Bales during the past year, ai
In accordance with an act of Congress bu
rade dollars will be redeemed at par by
;he government until the 1st of next
ruly, after which time they will have
>nly bullion value. .
The dwelling of J. D. McCall, near poi
Florence, was burned March 7. Loss foi
laid to be about $10,000. ?u(
It Is estimated that 200,000 men in no
3reat Britain are deprived entirely of filc
sunday rest by the carrying on of ^
Sunday traffic. The Anti-Sunday of
[Yaveling Union, with headquarters f
n London, is doing what it can to
prvtf>r?v thf> ovil hv Mio rmlilinatSnn nfilni
mmerous tracts urging Christian ?UI
everywhere to discourage Sunday
ravel. t
Newark, N. J., March 12.?Frank dei
-f. Scott, cashier of the publishing j
Irni of Webster & Co., of New York, car
ras arrested at his home here to-day chc
r>r the embezzlement of $20,238 from m?
he firm. Ho was committed to jail in Dro
efault of $4,000 bail. Ian
: S&. - . . .< ".- ; -v- : ;r
' ' "_ ' ' - ; \?j
;. . '. ; <- .
A DRAIN ON OUR PURSES.
THE FAT OF TEACHEKS.
What the "Newberry Observer" and
tbe "Columbia Becord" Have te
PATRIOTIC SENTIMENT.
Eloquent Extract from Mr. Benet's
ltecent Speech In Charleston.
1 ount you happy In being Southerners,
ions of the Southern Confederacy, that shortlived
nation, that rose so white and fair and
'ell so pure of crime; and which. In Its brief
Ife showed that the age of chivalry is not
lead. I will not speak of the war; the time
a not yet; the thrilling tragic events aro too
recent for calm consideration, the time too
near for Just and true perspective. The Southern
cause wa? lost, but the Southern life survived,
and It Is as sharers In that life that I
:ouut you fortunate,and call upon you to do
ill In your power to preserve and porpetuate
ill the characteristics of that Southern lifeis
lofty patriotism; its devotion to duty and
principle In scorn of consequence , Its society,
to bright, so sparkling, so refined, so gentle
?et so ;proua, whose doors a golden key
:ould never open; Its love of letters; its simple
tastes in urban life und rural; its wlnlome
women with voices ever soft, gentle and
ow, and Its high-bred men, ever courteous
tnd deferential to woman; its kindly relations
between rich and poor, between master
ind servant, between neighbor and neighbor;
its (Unlike to garish display of wealth, and Its
Creedom from the worship of Mammon: and
let us not forget Its unwritten code, by. which,
lor woman iusulted or wronged, sister, daughtesorwlfe
condign punishment Is Inflicted,
uid not by the courts. To the past partrlar;hal
life of the South we owe not a few of
these virtues; to the patriotic young men of
Lhe South we look for their perpetuation,
iluce that patrlarcbat life has fled.
'Buj,' you ask, 'what of the New South?'
A.h. yes we hear men speak, these days, of the
New South.' It is an epithet of recent coinage,
which bears the mark of no Southern
mint. It lies not well in the mouth of a
Southern man.
Albeit lushlon Is forcing It Into common
use, and at dinners and banqueU? not in the
South?it Is found on the list or the regular
toasts. In one sense, and In some external
and non-essential particulars, there is a new
3outh?new in the abolition ol slavery, and
ew in the export and Inauguration of
tome Important industries?manufactures,
coal, Iron; but in her true nature and characteristics
let us hope site Is the same old South
of your fathers. If you would be true to the
land of your mother who gnve you birth, you
will try to preserve here that type of man
Known H8 me "somneriier, witu an mat ine
term connotes?the typical Southerner who.
for some, of his faults and for some of his
virtues, will hardly be accepted as the "typical
American," but who, by you and by me,
will be the more lured and honored tho more
be resembles the fine old Southern gentleman,
one of the olden time. And that type
Is exemplified In one whose name f utter with
reverence, almont with adoration?Robert E.
Lee, the typical Southerner, the typical
American?of whom Chaucer would nave
mnz:
"He was a very perflgbt gentll knight;"
-of whom Lord wolseley has Just said: I'
believe be will be regarded as not only the
most prominent than In the Confederacy, but,
is the great American of the nineteenth century
whose statue Is well worth to stand on
in equal pedestal with that of Washington,
ind whose memory Is equally worthy to be
snshrlned In the hearts of all his countrymen."
Farm Notes.
Southern Cultivator.
After the winter's sleep, typical of death,
.he resurectlon of spring Is about to begin,
rhe sun, rising higher and higher lo the
leavens, is pouring down bis rajs more di ectly
upon tbe earth, warming its surface,
ind waking plants from their winter sleep.
Han, no less than tbe Inanimate objects
iround biro, feele the quickening impulse
ind is Impatient to put seeds in tbe ground
ind do bis part in reclothlog tbe earth with
rerdue. Happy they who can place them- 1
lelves in complete harmony with nature,
vho never waste their strength in unequal
?ntest with her Inexorable laws. One of the 1
ending objects of tbe Cultivator la to eatab- 1
lsb and preserve this barmony between its 1
eadersand material world in which they
lve, to enable them to see how cold aud heat, 1
aln and sunshine, earth and air, when right- '
y understood, may all be conducive to man's 1
velfare; bow co-operation with tbe forces ot 1
lature may-lighten his labors and Increase !
bear productiveness, whilst antagonism with 1
hem, not only increases bis labors, but ren- 1
lers them unproductive aud frnlllees.
Now the three leading features of nature '
vhlch confront the farmer this month are a '
ow temperature, compacting rains and high ]
rinds, whatever he plants or prepares to 1
ilant, he must have a constant eye to tbese
blngs. First, as to cold. Seeds need heat to '
oake them germinate. Where will they And '
be most of it, near tbe surface or at greater
lepth? If a cold body is placed before a lire, 1
eblcb becomes warm sooner, its outer surnce
er its interior? Has not the beat to trav1
through its surface before it can reach Its
nterlor? Is it not perfectly clear then that
he surface is tbe first to become heated? ,
low at the end of winter, tbe earth is to be
egarded as a cold body. As long as tbe 1
lights exceeded the days In length, tbe earth
ras losing more heat than it received; in oth- j
rworils, erowlnt colder. As tbe sun comes .
lorthward and tho days become longer, the <
u not only throws more heat upon the .
rth, but projecta the heat more perpendlcu- ,
any upon its surrace, so mat less or the heat j
lauces off, or Is reflected from its surface, \
nd more of it is absorbed or goes to warm It. j
'be earth, then, In spring, in its relation to ,
he sun, is like a cola body held before a Are. <
is surface first becomes warmed and after- ,
cards the heat penetrates deeper and deeper. ,
Vhatis the obvious inference to bo drawn 1
rom this? That in early plantings, seedB .
houid not be buried deep in the soil. On the
ontrary, that they should be placed Just as
,s near the surface as the requisite moisture
an be secured. ,
Again, as it Is desirable that seed come up <
romptly when planted, lesscompactlng rains t
nd baking winds crust the earth over thcin 1
nd hold tnem down, one should always bear ,
q mind the teinpejatures at which different J
eeds will germinate. A table of the lowest j
verage temperatures at which some of our {
ommon cultivated plants will germinate is ,
resented. These figures have been learned j
-om actual experiments. It is to be regret- j
3d that the temperature of germination of
thers of our crop plants, like cotton, peas,
tc., cannot be given;
OWEST AVERAGE TEMPERATURE OP GERMINATION.
yheat 41 degrees
larley 41 .
inrden Pea 44.5 " '
udlan Corn 48 " (
cunei XJLUU
quasi! 54 "
From tbe above we may draw the following '
inclusion: That In any given locality the ^
verage temperature for tbe month of March
150 degrees or above, corn may be safely
lanteu during that month; If It Is lower t
nan 45 degrees It would be uu wise to put the f
;ed in the ground. Now, If a farmer has a
lermometer (as every one should) and reards
the highest and lowest temperatures of t
le air each day (say at two o'clock and at r
inrlse), and strikes an average of all, be can <
pproztmate quite closely the average temerature
of tne upper layer of the surface n
)1L In many localities the avetage temperaires
of the ulfferent months can be learned C
om observations already made by signal ofce
and other observers. True, experience
s pretty well settled about the right time in
ich locality when a particular crop should e
o planted, but seasons vary a good deal, and i
le average temeraturo oi" the first or second
all of March may vary three or four degrees,
n Invariable date for planting cannot be :
xed, and Instead of the hap-hazard way of
aessing that "It will do to plant corn." It P
oald be better to learn definitely ana ac- a
jrateiy that the soil was wajm enough to
ring it up promptly. Farmers use trees as
lermomuiers?piuni corn, mey say, wnen o
le "dogwood blossoms," or when the "pop- i
x leaf 1b as large as a squirrel's car." These
e useful slgus. but why not use tho tber- &
lometer Itself aud determine the matter
111 more definitely. Gardeners and florists
gulate the temperature of tbelr greeu- g
Dusts by thermometers; why should not a f*j
rmer use the same Instrument, In his call- i.
i<j, whenever It Is practicable? He mny not
3 able to heat the soil, except to a very limed
extent, by fermenting manures, but he ?
in And out when tho sun has heated it suftiently.
A good stand of corn Is a matter of 6
st importance; replanting Is very objec- n
anable. Every precaution, therefore, (inuding
attention to temperature) should be
ken to have tbe crop come up promptly and y
liformly. r
It was said above that a farmer could not
arm up his land, but he can do something 91
tbe same direction by planting early corn f(
i southern slopes, because the sun's heat
lis more perpendicularly upon their surces.
If a farmer wants part of his corn p
op to mature very early, ho can select for it f,
southern slope, with rather light textured 11
it dark-colored soli. C<
h
Do Away with Pit Pens.
iVe see from the JPress and Banner tliat the ,
uncll of Abbeville has passed an ordinance ic
bidding the penning of hogs during the rt
mmer months and we would suggest to our He
iincil to follow its example. There can bo
doubt that pig pens are the cause of much
knees, and while such an ordinance might ?j
jve Inconvenient to some they should be "
lllng to make sueh a sacrifice for the good A
the town. til
)ur health is far more valuable than our 1
; pens and it wo wish to possess the former
must commence by doing away with the t)<
ter. Let the ordinance bo passed and let
rcitlzeua cheerfully acquiesce. ^
'he man who doesn't tnko a newspaper on I
: plea that he has ho time to read it, evi-J 1,1
itly sleeps too much. CI;
ustatthis season all persons should be ch
eful about their health. With the sudden I
inges tbcro is danger of taking pneu-j
nia. | til
Lost farmers say that the cow pea is ; lo
ifltable crop, easily cultivated, beneficial to aI1
d, and good for man and beast. I
Sny.
Newberry Obterver.
Referring to the salaries fixed by tbe school
board In Aobeville County, It occurs to us
that this may not be so bad as it first appears.
Onthecontrary.it may be an excellent arrangement.
we can readily see how It ooultl
be i nude so.
We cun illustrate the method by supposing
that a county has 90 teachers and a uet school
fund of S10.U00. If the average pay of teachers
be 930 r montb, the funds woalu keep the
schoolsopeu not quite fou.'months; If twentyfive
dollars a month, the schools would ran
four and a half months; If twenty dollars,
nearly six months; If fifteen dollars, nearly
eight month8-the smaller the salary per
month, the longer the school would continue
open. It Is very easy for tbe school board of
any county to know how many teachers are
needed for their county, and tnelr respective
grades. When they meet, let them determine,
the first thing they do, bow long the
schools should run. They should then ascertain,
us they can do pretty accurately, the
amount that will be available for teaehers'
salaries. Having ascertained (1) the number
and grades of the teachers, (i) toe amount of - .
funds available, and (3) tbe length of the
term, they can then fix the monthly salaries
accordingly.
They would probably find that thU arrangement
allow* a small salary per month
for the teachers, But they must remember
that tbe schools are not Intended for tbe benefit
of teachers, but lor the good of the children.
The nsual way is to decide first what the salary
ought to be, and then make the school
term conform to it; but that 1s reversing tbe
matter, How long xhould the school term be?
ought to be the first question; and all others
should be made to conform to this.
Of course this would greatly reduce the
monthly salary of the teachers?at least, of
that portion of their salary which comes from
tliescboot fund. But It will not reduce tbe
total amount the teacher receives for tbe
term. There is a certain amount to be expended
for teachers. If 810 a month will ran
a scbool^our months, $20 a month will ran it
eight months?in either case the teacher gets
SloO from the school ftand; while the children
get twice the amount of schooling in one case
that tbey get in tbe other.
But, says one. we can't get good teachers at
820 & month. No; and we can't get good
teachers at 8100 a term either. Bat wnen you
have only 8160 for the term, is it not better for
the schools to extend pver eight months than
over only fonr?
We take occasion to correct an error Into
which tbe Newt and. Courier baa fallen, ip nay- ?
lng "820 per month, for the tbree to fonr months
the schools are kept open, means a
salary of 860 to 880 ft year." The schools are
kept open as long as tbe money lasts. The
higher tbe teacher's salary the shorter the
term, and vice verta. If, therefore, $30 a
month would exhaust the fund in three
or four monts, 840 a month would exhanst It
In a month and a half or two month*.'- So
that, In tbe case meutioned, tbe salary?
though not sufficient?would be the same
whether the schools were kept open two
months or four moths?that is the teacher
wonld get tbe same amount front the Stale.
It Is very likely, however, that with a salary
of 820 a month tbe schools can be kept open ? ?
longer than three or fonr months. There is
no doubt they can be kept open twice as
1 - * MA ? O 4 n A AM<<
1UU? m CSV it IllUii LLi UB M <rtv a lUUUUi?BUU
that is tbe Important fact. v
Before tbe war the State did not pay tbe
teachers a cent; but we bad good teachers
then. If we had good teachers when the
State did not help as at all, It seems that ^
we ought to have even better teachers If
the State pays 820 a month toward their
talary. The patrons of the scbool can add
enough to what the SJate pays to give the
teacher a sufficient salary.
It Is perfectly patent to anybody that teach- '
era cannot be paid a sufficient salary for a full
school term with the school fund In order to
lieep the schools going for a full term. The
usual way Is to e.ibauBt tbe fund In three
or four months, by paying what the school
boards regard as a sufficient salary per
month; at the end of that time tbe ''live
schools" are closed and private schools are
;losed and private schools are opened in the
same school-house by tbe same teacher. The
patrons must then pay all along through the
term, the teacher crediting the patrons with
what he gets from tbe public fund? This
would certainly bo tbe better plan?better for
the schools, better for the tcachere.
The Colombia Record's Comment* on ,
the Above.
Columbia Record.
The Newberry Observer of this week has a '_1
timely and thoughtful article upon the Important
subject or teachers' salaries.
The Observer la of the same opinion as tho
Record touching tbe necessity of Increase in
liue sciiuui IUUU, uui buni&n luut ouuu luureusc
ihould be brought about by private oontribu*
:lons, rather than by local taxation. If the
. ontrlbntlons were a reliable source of revsnue,
and If every man would give according ->
jo his means, the plan suggested might work
i-ery well. Bui the universal experience la
:hat contributions fall just when they are
nost needed. Salaries pledged upon the V
alth of such contributions are seldom paid
jlttaer promptly or fully. The teaoher becomes
discouraged, of course. Those who
lave paid well cotne to think that they ought
iot to do their full part while others rail.
\nd so the schools languish and die. Once
lead, it 1h hard to re-establish them.
The easiest way. the fairest way, to supplement
the general school fund is by local taxaHon.
The taxpayers can primarily arrange
he rate of taxation lor themselves, and the
aw supplies the machinery for enforcing its s.
payment
One good result, at least, seems to have folowed
the redectlon of teachers' salaries In
Abbeville. The defects In our system of oomnon
scnools are brought under consider**
ilon, and suggestions are made with a view to
mprovement. Good is sure to come oat of v
;bc discussion.
If you want a powerful preacher,
juit talking about him and go toprayug
for bim.
The Rev. A. W. Moore, of the late
Centenary, has been elected principal .
>f a school at Waterloo.
Last week the Pickens postoffie was
obbed of three registered packages
iraountiug to about $42.00.
Both houses of the Nevada Leglslaure
liave adopted resolutions dis
rancnising Mormons in mat oiare.
It is said that there is a larger num)erof
Jews in Palestine than at any
leriod since the days of our Lord.
Frauk W. Foster, Town Clerk and
treasurer oi Greenfield, Mass., i9 a
lefaulter to the extent of over $14,000.
In India 25,000 prisoners were libirated
February 16, as an act of clemency,
to commemorate the Queen's
Jubilee.
Dr. J. B. McFerrin, of Nashville, is
n such a weak state of health that his
oany friends feel great uneasiness
bout him.
Bishop Duncan preachy last Sunlay
to large congregations in Cliareston?morning
at Bethel?evening
t Trinity.
Ninety-nine men and women have
rm#? as missionaries to foreifirn fields
rom the United States during the
ist three months.
The Russian government has decidd
to prohibit the importation of patnt
medicines, the published list of
rohibited article contains 800 items.
The largest artesian well in the
rorld is said to be at Jacksonville,
'la. It pours out the enormous
tream of 7,000,000 gallons in twenty>ur
hours.
The resolution to submit to the peole
a constitutional amendment, makig
a law for women suffrage, was
Diicurred in by the Rhode Islaud *
[ouse by a vote of 52 to 7.
The Philadelphia Times comforts it;lf
with the hope that it may "hereFter
be possible for a 'man to
>ok at the picture of a battle without
mdering himself eligible to an undesrved
pension."
George Haitiwanger, a conductor on
le Air Line Railroad, was killed in
tlanta Saturday night. He fell from
le footboard of an engine and was
Drribly crushed, but lived several
Durs after the accident.
The American watering-places are
sponsible for more domestic infelici2s
in this country than all other
Jugs combined. Society Is soartitial
there that no sure judgment of
laraeter can be found.
No man or woman should consider
emselves too great to beseech the
west of the human race to be good j
id to do gooc. ^
y~r ' - > ' -J . \