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Wednesday, Jan. 6. LOCAL AND PERSONAL, Mr. James E. Hart has been en joying the holidays at home with his family. Mrs. Ellie Brooks Jones of Co lumbia is visiting her sister, Mrs. F. F. Moseley. Radiopticon illustrations on prayer and self-denial at Methodist church Thurday night at 7:30. W. D. Ouzts, Jr., came down from Clemson and spent the holi days with his home folk. Mr. J. Gordon Thomas, of Lynch burg, S. C., wa? a visitor in Edj;e field during the holidays. Mrs. F. W. P. Butler of Colum bia was the guest of Mrs. S. McG. -Simkins several days last week. Mrs. Hugh Warren of Atlanta, spent the holidays here with her sister, Mrs. R. G. Shannonhouse. Mrs. Bessie Jones Miller of Co lumbia and Mrs. Sidney Miller of , Trenton were visitors in Edgefield Tuesday. The Corner Store thanks its friends for the patronage of 1914 and extends cordial New Year greetings. Misses Lillian Currell and Sarah Cain of Columbia and Miss Sallie Mae Tillman of Trenton were guests ?f Miss Helen Tillman last week. Mr. and Mrs. Warren Paul with their children, spent the holidays at Johnston with Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Hubbard. Married, December 27,1914, by Bev. J. R. Walker at the Method ist parsonage, Mr. Ben Bryant and Miss Effie Turner, both of the Har mony section. Mr. M. D. Lyon the popular and very efficient salesman at the store .f Mr. R. lu ?Dunovant, spent part of the holidays with friends? in the Colliers section. Married, Thursday, December 17, 1914, by Rev. J. R. McKittrick, Mr. Joseph M. Herin and Miss Mattie Lon Lowrey, both of the Meeting Street seotion. The School Improvement associa tion will meet Thursday afternoon at 4 o'clock. All members are urged to be present, a? business of special interest will be considered. The regular monthly meeting of the Edgefield chapter, U. D. C., will be held Tuesday afternoon, January 12, at the home of the president, Mrs. J. H. Nicholson. Hon. and Mrs. W. H. Nicholson came down from Greenwood and spent several days last week with relatives in town and with Mrs. Nicholson's mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Nicholson, out at "Cedar Grove." Mrs. JameB S. Byrd has been "moved from the hospital in Colum bia to the home of her.parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Fitzmaurice, and is steadily iraproviug. She wilt be sufficiently able to return to Edge field in about two weeks. Dr. and Mrs. J. E. Green, of Harlem, and Dr. and Mrs. F. P. Byrd, of Batesburg, have the New Year brightened by the birth of a boy yesterday at the Green home at ^Harlem. A wide circle of friends will heartily extend felicitations. Augusta Herald. Messrs. Julian and Charlie Key came over from Columbia and spent a part of the holidays with then parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Key. Both of tbese gentlemen hold responsible positions in Columbia, having steadily risen in the business world since they located in the capital city. The friends of Capt. T. L. Martin gave him a cordial welcome when he came among us on business yes terday. He made one of the best conductors that the Southern has ?ver had on the Aiken branch, be ing very popular with the Edge field people and with the traveling public generally. ! Our young friend, Calvin Mor gan, visited his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Morgan, during the holidays, bringing his pretty bride with bim. For several years be has been holding a lucrative positit n in Georgetown, having recently mar ried a Georgetown lady who is a "member of a prominent family. Mr. Stephen Darlington came over from Georgetown and spent the holidays in Edgefield. Governor Blease has commuted the sentence of Mr. William Rear den, who killed young Mr. Cobi about threo years ago, from a life terra to 10 years. He has about sev en more years to remain in the peni tentiary. Rev. P. H? Bussey who in addi tion to his work as pastor is teach in g near Hartsville spent several days here last week at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Ouzts. He also spent ?orne time with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Bussey, Sr. Mr. B. E. Tim merman has re ceived the appointment as rural mail carrier for the route that leads from Cleora eastward through the hByrd and Berea communities. He will enter upon his duties about the middle of the month, and" later he will move his family to Cleora. Phone us your orders for any thing you want to eat, quick ser vice and prompt deliveries. Collett & Mitchell. Miss Rainsford Entertained. Miss Elizabeth Rainsford gave a progressive rook party Thursday evening, to which a large number of young people were invited. While no prizes were presented as a re ward for 8upeiior skill, yet the game proved to be as spirited and exciting as if some incentive of great valne were held out to the players. A salad course was served by the popular young hostess McKendree School Christmas Miss Rosalind Ouzts who teaches the McKendree school furnished a Christmas tree for her pupils dur ing the holidays. The children as well as the grown-ups were delight fully entertained. A real live Santa Claus in the regulation Christmas costume cuvered with snow deliver ed the presents and furnished no little amusement to the attendants. Pastor of McKendree. * The editor of The Advertiser was pleased to learn from Mr. J. M. Shaffer while he was in town Mon day that the Rev. M. M. Brabham is now pastor of McKendree church. He makes his home at Ninety Six and drives down twice each month, the first and third Sundays, to con; duct services. Mr. Brabham was greatly beloved while he was pastor in Edgefield and bis friends here will be pleased to learn that he is now serving the McKendree flock. In Honor of Miss Tompkins. Tuesday evening Miss Allene Smith entertained a number of friends with bridge in her home on Main street in honor of her couein. Miss Emily Tompkins, the occasion being the celebration of her birth day. A large number of young peo ple were honored with invitations and as there were many expert card players among them tho game prov ed to be very interesting. At the close of the contest ambrosia and fruit cake were served. -\ Sunbeam Christmas Tree. It was an appropriate thought which suggested the giving of a Christmas tree to the Edgefield Sunbeams. Sunbeams, and Christ mas trees, and light and sunshine and joy and happiness are all play fellows in this world, and are not associated with doleful, gloomy and sombre shadows. When they give the command the shadows flee and clouds disappear, and <*o after all the cheer and hope and courage of this world is the natural and the normal thing, and the only reason there is anything else is because we do not sbed abroad enough of il to overcome the darkness. On Tuesday after Christmas day at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Mims, Mrs. Mamie Tillman, the leader ol the Sur.beam Society gave to the 75 children under her super vision a pleasant surprise, having sent to each one an invitation a few days before. Although the after noon was cloudy and the rain bad been continually falling for several days there was nothing of that on the inside. With so many Sun beams and a Christmas tree, there could be nothing but brightness and cheer. The tree was the customary hol ly, adorned with all sorts of gay and festive decorations, and covered with presents for each child, dolls and horns and appropriate gifts for the older ones, and to each present was tied a bag, red and bright, with a star on one side, and these were filled with nice things to eat. The children enjoyed this surprise great ly, and it will be an occasion long held in happy remembrance. GOOD ROADS. Mr. G. D. Mims Presents Plans For Improving Highways of Ed ger i ld County. Sug gests Mass Meeting. Editor The Advertiser: By request, I write without refer ence to the Statute or Code, a skeleton of wha? I conceive to be some of the necessary changes in the general road law, allowing us to break away from the old antiquated system, and make a beginning on the improvements. of our public high ways. How far I have missed the mark in this important matter will be seen by better trained eyes than mine. Be it enacted by the General As sembly of the State of South Caro lina, assembled in session, that the office of Supervisor, sub-Supervisor, and all offices subordinate thereto, in and for the County of Edgefield, and State aforesaid, be and the same is hereby abolished. And all Acts and parts of acts creating said offices are hereby repealed. Be it enacted by the General As sembly of the State of South Caro lina, in session assembled, that the office of Public Highway Commission, in and for the County of Edgefield, State aforesaid, is hereby created, with the following authority, duties House, before, during or after the SECTION I. Article 1. The office of Public Highway Commission for and in the County of Edgefield, State aforesaid, shall be constituted of three (3) resident and lawfully qualified citi zens, who shall be recommended and appointed by and in mass meeting of the lawfully qualified citizens of said county, by a yea and nay vote. The Grand Jury of said county shall confirm the appointment of the can didate or candidates for said office, and transmit the credentials thereof to the Governor of the State for his official signature and seal. Article 2. The officials constitu ting the office of Public Highway Commission in and for said county, shall each give a valid bond in the sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500) in the manner as provided in the Re vised Statute of the State. Article 3. The term of office for each of the three (3) officials of said office shall be six (6) years, except as hereinafter provided. Article 4. In the creation and first installation of the officials of the office of Public Highway Com mission for and in the County of Edgefield, one (1) shall be appoint ed and commissioned for a term of two (2) years, one shall be appoint ed and commissioned for a Term of four (4) years and one shall be ap pointed and commissioned for a term of six (6) years (the full term). One successor shall be appointed ev ery two years thereafter as herein provided. Article 5. The compensation of each of the three officials constitu ting the office of Public Highway Commission for and in the county of Edgefield, shall be Three ($3.00) Dollars per day for days while in ac tual service of the county, and Ten (10c) cents per mile of distance one way from the home of said of ficial to the office, measured in the most direct route. Article 6. The official service under the provisions of this Act shall begin January 1st 1917. Article 7. It shall be the duty of the chairman of the Democratic Ex ecutive Committee of Edgefield County, to call in mass meeting'all qualified voters in said county, to meet and assemble at the Court and emoluments, to-wit: regular county Democratic conven tion, for the purpose of appointing one or more officials or their suc cessors to the office of Public High way Commission for said county, every two years. Article 8. All official records in the office of Public Highway Com mission shall be subject to, and under the jurisdiction of the Grand Jury of thc county as provided in the Re vised Statute and Code of the State. Article 9. It shall be the duty of the officials of the office of Public Highway Commission for the Coun ty of Edgefield to employ and com mission a competent Highway Civil Engineer for a term not to exceed Six (6) years, at a salary not to ex ceed Fifteen ($1500) Hundred Dol lars per annum. Article 10. It shall be the duty of the Public Highway Commission to meet in session at their office once each month to perform the du ties incumbent upon said office in the manner prescribed by law regu lating the official duties of county Su pervisor. SECTION 2. Article 1. The applicant or appli cants for Higkway Civil Engineer shall make application to the Pub! Highway Commission. Each appl cant for said office shall furnis suitable and satisfactory referenc to establish the thoroughness of a] plicant's technical education an training, the efficiency by service an experience to qualify applicants fe appointment to said office. Article 2. It shall be lawful fe the Public Highway Commission t recall and dismiss the County Civ Engineer upon evidence artd proc of the inefficiency in practical sei vice, er the wilful negligence of o: ficial duties, or cruelties and impos tions upon subordinates. Whereupo the Public Highway Commission sha declare the office of Civil Enginee vacant. Article 3. It shall be the duty c the Civil Engineer to furnish an maintain, at his expense, all ir struments and such other meehan cal devices and equipments as ma be necessary in the performance o his official and professional dutiei And to furnish and maintain th means of his travel. Article 4. It shall be the duty o the Civil Engineer to make sui veys of public highways, bridges an such other surveys as may be direct ed by the Public Highway Commh sion. Also all necessary plots, prc files, detail drawings, estimates an specifications that may be necessar; in the construction and maintenanc of the public utilities of the countj Article 5. It shall be the duty o the County Civil Engineer to direc and supervise the construction am maintenance of all public highways bridges and culverts in the Count; of Edgefield. Article 6. It shall be the duty o the County Civil Engineer to direc and supervise the work of the Coun ty Chaingang, upon the public high ways, bridges, culverts and drains o: the public highways of the county. Article 7. It shall be the duty o: the County Civil Engineer to appoin and employ guards, foremen anc such other persons as may be neces sary in properly guarding and pro tecting the county chaingang, while performing the duties; of labor, anc otherwise, as provided by existing laws of he State for the care anc the punishment of convicts. Article 8. It shall be the duty oi the County Civil Engineer to direct and supervise all the work of build ing, or repairing, public highways, bridges, culverts and drains that maybe built or repaired under sbe?lftl contract, by resident, or non resident contractors, for the county of Edgefield. Article 9. It shall be the duty of the County Civil Engineer to keep a record of all work under construc tion by contract, together with the relative cost and progress thereof in the county. And make reports to the office of the Public Highway Commission once each month, or as may be required by said commission. SECTION 4. Article 1. It shall be lawful for the County Civil Engineer to employ local assistance in making purveys upon the public highways, and pro posed public highways in the county, and issue claims for such service or. the office of Public Highway Com mission. Article 2. It shall be lawful for the County Civil Engineer to change the plans and specifications of any work under construction by special contract or otherwise, without the knowledge or con sent of the Public Highway Commission once during the prog ress of construction. Provided, said change does not involve an increase or decrease, exceeding ten (10) per per cent, of said contract, or the strength, durability and the efficien cy of the work so changed. A full report of said change of construction shall be filed by the engineer in the office of Public Highway Commission within three (3) days after said change has been made. Article 3. It shall be lawful for the County Civil Engineer to make a report of violations of contract by any contractor, or contractors, of the building, or repairing, of public highways, bridges, culverts, drains, or other public work for and in the County of Edgefield, to the office of Public Highway Commission of said county. SECTION 4. Article 1. It shall be lawful under this act for any township within the County of Edgefield, to hold a special election, under the rules and regula tions of the Democratic Primaries of said county, for the purpose of a special highway tax levy, on all taxable property in said township, provided, that said special levy shall not exceed Five (5) Mills on the dollar of the assessed valuation of all the taxable property in said town ship, except vehicles, which shall be subject to taxation as follows: Au tomobiles and all self-propelled ve hicles shall be subject to a special highway tax of Fifty (50c) cents per rated horse power. And all animal irawn vehicles shall be subject to a special highway tax of Fifty (50c) :ents per horse of their size and :apacity. Article 2. It shall be lawful, for che County Auditor of Edgefield County to make entries and nota tions of all special highway tax levies as may be authorized by any ar all townships within said county as herein provided, and in a manner similar to the special school tax. Article 3. It shall be lawful for bhe Treasurer of the County of Edge field to collect the special highway tax for any or all townships within the county, and make special entries thereof, and disburse the same oniy upon warrants properly signed by the officiais of the Public Highway Commission. Article 4, It shall be lawful for che officials composing the office of Public Highway Commission in the County of Edgefield to employ a clerk, whose duties and salary shall be as prescribed by existing lav/s regulating the duties and salary to the clerk of supervisor for the County of Edgefield. Article 5. It shall be lawful for the Public Highway Commission for the County of Edgefield to receive written proposals for the delivery of all materials for repairs, the con struction and completion of all bridges, public highways, culverts, drains, buildings and fences belong ing to said county, consisting of lumber, metal, brick, stone, gravel, sand, clay, cement, lime. Also all wagons, carts, scoops, (drag and sulky), scrapes, plows, rollers, en gines (steam or gas), stone crushers, motor trucks, also all hand tools and livestock, feed and merchandise nec essary in maintaining the public utili ties of the county, and award con tracts for the same. Article 6. It shall be lawful for all, or any part thereof, of the mate rials numerated in Section 4, Article 5, to be subject to inspection by the Public Highway Commission, or County Civil Engineer who are here by vested with the authority, to ac cept or reject the whole, or any part thereof before pay warrants are is sued. Article 7. It shall be lawful for the County Chaingang to be em ployed in the construction of modern public highways, Provided, said pub lic highways are re-surveyed by the County Civil Engineer. And, Pro vided further, that the actual cost and expense of the chaingang shall be charged against the special high way fund of said township while so employed. SECTION 5. Article 1. It shall not be lawful for any official of the County of Edgefield to transfer any part of the special highway fund assessed and collected in any one township,- to any other township. Article 2. It shall not be lawful to build any wooden bridges in the County of Edgefield exceeding Fifty (50) feet of the entire structure. Article 3. It shall not be lawful to build any wooden trestles, gang ways or approaches to bridges in the County of Edgefield. Article 4. It shall not be lawful to build any bridges in the County of Edgefield, exceeding Fifty (50) feet of entire structure, on founda tions or piers, other than stone, concrete or brick. Article 5. It shall not be lawful to build any culverts, or drains un der the improved highways of wood or metal. Article (>. It shall not be lawful to build or construct any drains across the surface of the improved public highways in the County of Edgefield. Article 7. It shall not be lawful for any official of the County of Edgefield to apply any part of the special highway fund assessed and collected as provided in Section 4, Articles 1 to 3, inclusive herein, to repairing, or improving the original public highways of the county, ex cept where the original highway becomes a part of the improved public highway, under the direction and surveys of the County Civil En gineer. Article 8. lt shall not be lawful to build any public highways under the direction and surveys o*f the County Civil Engineer, and open the road to the public traffic, without a durable and impervious center drive way not less than twelve (12) feet wide. Now, Mr. Editor and gentlemen, all over the county. After read ing the foregoing, you will readily discover that the author is only a "Cross Roads Lawyer." My idea was to construct the foundation of an amendment to the road law, and of sufficient clearness in design to warrant the attention and action by the people in recommending a change of our public highway system. After favorable expression and action has been taken by the people in mass meeting our friends, Hon. J. Wm. Thurmond and Hon. J. C. Sheppard will go over the proposed amend ment, and add all legal technicali ties, and hammer it out into legisla tive shape. In the foregoing proposed amend ment, one of the first things that may catch your attention is, that the of fice and administration of our high way system has been rescued from, the quagmire of routine politics,, and elevated to that higher atmos phere, where the office seeks the man. And further: Our public high ways and bridges will be in charge of a trained and experienced build er. This is strictly a day of special ists. We can hardly conceive that one of our good and worthy farmers could convert himself from an ex^ pert tiller of the soil to that of aa expert road and bridge builder| such efforts result in failure every-? where. You will notice further that the operations of the proposed law is local, dealing with the ^matter ot taxes and road building in/the coun ty, township by township; to make it general for the whole^cbunty would be too ponderous at/the beginning and the whole structure would col lapse of its own weight And no tice again; that the means of raising the special road funds is founded on what is regarded as the principales of universal justice, which means that the agents of damage or destruc tion should be held to some extent responsible for the damage; there fore we, should tax the vehicles for the benefit of the roads. Another is, that well built and beautiful highways always create and enhance valuation of the real estate all along their route, and jus tice in this case would demand that the created should- respond to the well bein of the agent of creation, therefore, we should tax the real estate for the benefit of the roads. You will notice further that each, township will receive the full bene fit of the special tax in building im proved highways, and none of the special fund will be thrown into the mud-holes of the dreadful old roads. We are all aware of, and keenly feel the financial pressure, caused in part by the European war, and in. part by the tremendous drop in th? price of our cotton. We are in part, responsible for the latter, because we made too much of a good thing. But, we owe profound gratitude to President Wilson and his official family for keeping us out of interna tional_complications, for it is .surely; more healthy for us to face five and six cents cotton than powder and balls. The object now is to get the proposed amendment and change of law through the legislature at this session, that the legal machinery will be ready by 1917. By that time normal conditions will be restored, and we can take hold of the work of building some good roads, and bring our old county out into the lime light of progress and prosperity. Think of what actuated the mind of the poet, who wrote the words "Never, no never, say fail." Let's get together and make a move, time is flying, and we have none to spare in this matter. Life is too short not to live while we live. Now listen to this please: Just as soon as you read this, drop Hon. B. E. Nicholson a letter or postal, asking him to call a mass meeting at the court house not later than January the 20th (this month). This will give him some grounds to act upon, see? Don't fail to do this. And again ; never let it for once enter into your heads that we are not going to do somethin to im prove these old roads, and our con dition in the rural districts, for we are. And when the day comes to. meet and indorse a change in our road system by suitable resolutions, don't hang back and fail to come, under the assumption, oh, there'll be a plenty without me. No such thing. Just lay aside your little du ties for one day, and bulge out through the mud. We can wade or swim back home. This is too impor tant a matter to be neglected any longer. If you will lend influence in bringing your neighbor with you, and meet me at Edgefield on the oc casion, yours truly, as well as some greater lights, will mount a goods box, and you will "hear something drap." Bro. Nicholson, blow the alarm and sound the gavel. Yours truly, G. D. MIMS. Clark's Hill, January 1, 1915. Due to the fact that I am agent for the Ford car, and having all repair parts in stock and a first class mechanic, can afford to do first-class livery cheap. Edgefield Auto Repair Shop. tc.gcVs nm LIFE PILLS The Pillls That Do Curo.