Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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I Continued from las! j.-tso. 1 Pickens Richland 38 8>(M 7.IIU0; Spartanburg 11 l.KH) ]0,i?i0: Sumter 13 1,3<K) l.-'iooi t* n - SX) j Wtuiamsburg j fVork To tii Is 613 8S1.KK) For tliirteen bar-rooms; n<? report as u> .. llnxcu bflr-roouis i?l fiarii?tru *,UItil. JXo report. THE SALE OK LiqUOK LEGALIZED BECAUSE j OF THE MONEY THAT IS IN IT. When attention is thus directed Jo the fa<-t that most of our municipalities are re'iev< <i, altogether of taxatiou for municipal purpos : es by the money derived from the eale of li- j qnor.it will be seen why so many towns| which have tried the non-licensing system, j when they found liquor sold anyway and their municipal taxes drawn from property.! The nuisance without the benefit caused a revulsion of sentiment, and however reloc-j tanly. the sale of liquor was again lega-j ized and taxed. where the money should go?the way to abate the whiskey nuisance. In ray last annual message, I oaiieq at-1 teution to the injustice of allowing the towu? to license the nuisance and derive therefrom an income at the expense of the county and State: and urged, as a step looking to the| practical suppression of tiiC liquor traffic,,' tiiat all money derived from this sourcej should go into the county and Suite treasur-j les. while leaving the question as to the i*su- j Ing of licenses to a vote of the municipality j just as it is now. I have seert no reason to j change my opinion as to this being the simplest and tno^t practicable way to accomplish : the end des'r?-d. When it is known that no benefit will accrue t> the towns by lhe li-! censing of bar-rooms, public sentiment in them win rise in arms to suppress the nui sance which increases municipal taxes, and every man will be mors- or less interested m seeing the law enforced. Tue people of these towns will not be at the additional expense of a police force to maintain oruer or repre-* disorder produced by drunken men who obtained their liquor surreptitiously. On the other hand, yon ^ee thai the absolute refusal to license the "aleof liquor will cause an increase iu the taxes of the counties amounting to one-half mill; and it may as well be understood now that unless the prohibitionists themselves organize soine detective agency | to take out warrants and prosecute those j who break the law. theState itself will bave j to provide something of the kind or the law j will be a dead letter. All this will increase taxes, and taxpayers had just as well understand it- If the promiscuous and improper use of liquor can be stopped there will be a reduction In the number of crimes committed and a decrease in the court expense. THE NEGRO AS A BALANCE OF BOWER. Another danger, which we cannot be blind to. will be the probability ol a desperate political struggle between the prohibitionists a'd tbe anti-prohibitionists two years hence. ..hi. ?n rnwni to the nesxo as the balance <f power; tor in every town and connty whore this question has b- en fought out at the polls, that has been the effect, and when applied to the state we may look for a like result. Having thus discharged my duty frankly I and without Has, sind presented the question j as it appeals to me, I leave it with j-ou. and j will cheerfully approve any law you may I enact. BARROOMS UNDER THE GUISE OF CLUBS. j Before dismissing this subject I would call I your attention to t l>e effect of the decision of; the Supreme Court in regard to the '-ale ot liquor by so-called "social and literary" club-, it having been decided by that court, In the case of the Columbia Club, that a license for the sale of liquor was not necessary for such associations. The result has heert ihat charters have been granted by the Secretary of State i a several instances for the organ iza- j tion of such clubs; and it is. gene rally tinder-1 stood that they are barrooms in the guise or t under tbe nanreof Clubs, and are maintained j against 'he will of ^ie communities jn which ' Hamburg. There are a few complaints in rpgard tor the Infringement of the law prohibiting the sal, of liquor on Sunday,and notably in the town of Hamburg, opposite the city of Augusta, which abuse became 6t> great and notorious that, after repeuteu oompiainis, 1 commissioned a-State constable to 1 n vestlgaie l he matter, and several arrests were made. This place (Hamburg) whi e nothing more than the glint* t! its former self, with a very small population. j still retains it charter of ineori oraiion. The j remedy against such abuses, which are notj likely "to be restrained by public opinion, would be to repeal the charter, and this I j recommend. AGRICULTURAL HALL, AC. I have already aliuded to the fact that the Eroperty feuowu as the "Agricultural Hall" as not been sold, avid I deem It my duty to set forth the reasons why a sale has uot been consummated. The property was put up at auction on the first day of February, 1S92, and was knocked down to W. H. Lyles, bsq., as attorney, for ?16,100. ine name 01 me teai (juji.m.m ??<not disclosed at the sale. On the next day, at a meeting of the commissioners of the sulking fund, a deed was presented them for signatures without the name of the purchaser: Mr. Means the cle; k of the board, reporting to us that Mr. Lyles was not prepared to communicate the uame, and had requested him to have the deed sigDed in blank. This was contrary to our custom, but. as we were not expecting fraud, the commissioners present at the meetiug, five in number, complied with the request. Several days later Mr. Lyles cave to the Secretary of State the name of the purchaser, one J. W. Alexander, of .North Carolina, and submitted for approval the mortgage required under the terms of the sale to secure the credit portion (two-thirds) of the purchase money. This paper was not correctly drawn, and the matter was postponed. On the 16th day ot February, Mr. Lyles. accompanied by Mr. Muller, came to me state House.and, Mr. Tindal, Secretary of State, being absent from the city, he presented the mortgage to the State treasurer.and.alter persuadit ghirti to receive it, together with a check for the cash portion of ttie purchase money, go; possession of the J deed to the property, tie also obtained an or- J der from .Mr. Means, a ciera. iu iueumreui uiti Secretary of Stae, directing theStale's tenant in possession of the building to surrender the possession to Mr. Lyles as attorney of the purchaser. Mr. Lyles and Mr. J.S. Mailer, claiming to be attorneys l'or the purchaser, then re-1 tired from the treasurer's office lora moment j but immediately returned and made to the] State treasurer a tender o( what is known as "Revenue Bond Scrip" in payment of the credit portion of the purchase money. In the] terms of sale it was stipulated that the pur-j chaser would be allowed to anticipate the payment of this ctedit portion if ne so desired. 'Ihe teuder was, of conn?e, refused by the State treasurer, and then .Mr. Lyles drew from bis pocket a written notification of the tender and his intention to refuse to pay the! balance or interest thereon. Being promptly informed of this transaction, I saw at ouce that a conspiracy had been formed by these attorneys, and others iuter-l ested iu "Revenue Bond Scrip," prior to the purchase of the property ; and thai the pur-| chase had been made in bad faith and tode-l fraud the State and force he- into lite court, to ii,a -"li.tiii-,,{ ihn ".-erin." Jn tliisemer-l gency, the Secretary 01 state and the Attorney General being absent from the city. I acted promptly ; instructed Mr. Means to rescind the order for possession, and. in behalf of the Secretary or State, to see to it that the property be held until the Secretary oi State, the cus I todiau. should return to Hie city. This duty was entrusted to J. W. Coulliette, then the watchman of the State House and grounds, to whom I issued an appointment as chief State J constable. In this matter I acted as Governor) ot the Slate and tr officio chairman of the | Boardof Commissioners of tbeSinking Fund, deeming it my duty, if possible, to thwart this conspiracy, the parties to which had dis-1 closed their purpose from the neginning ol j tne transactiou to practice a fraud on the peo pie of the State. This, the facts abundantly I prove. I On the same day possession of the property j was demanded by Mr. Lyles, as attorney, and refused oy Mr. Coulliette. Some correspondence theu followed, and copies of the letters are here given: Columbia, S. C\, February 17lh, Isfrj. To His Excellency K. it. Tillman, Governor State of South Carolina : Sir: On yesterday, as attorney lor Mr. J. W. Alexander, of Lincoln ton, N. C., I completed the purchase of the building and lot adjoining, situated on the west side ot Itichardson street in this city, between Gervais and Lady streets, known as the "Agricultural Hall," and to-day I called at the building, still acting as attorney for Mr. Alexander, and found it locked. Upon knocking at the door Mr. J. \V. Coulliette opened it from within and. upou my stating thai I bad come to take possession of the building. Informed me that he had orders from you to prevent my entering and to refuse to sa. render possession of the building to me. I demanded to see hisnu I thority if it was in writing. Ho handed me a o commission, executi d by yourself asGover-t nor of the State, to him* to bold during your t< pleasure, but it did not state for what purpose c he was appointed, and I write to know if he s was correct in his statement that \ ou bail in- ii sirucied him to refuse the possession of the n building to me. About the close of the con-. g versation between Mr. Couliiette and myself, v .Mr. David C. Means, the cierk of the Hoard of a Cotntuissionersof the Sinking Fond.come up, n and upon my exhibiting to Mr. CouiHette the s orders iriven on vesterdav to the occupants of t the building to recognize me. as the represen-; c t; ?11 v<* of >1 r. Alexander, as their landlord, lie I n (Mr. Mean*) informed ine that, in pursuance i s of instructions from you. he had revoked the: ji orders. 1 beg to know if be was correct in , v making this statement. n Respectfully, W. H. Lyles, ik Attorney for J. \V. Alexander, j ti Dictated?A. ti i <r State of South Carolina. jf, Executive Chamber. : n Oolumb'a, s. C.. February 17th, 1K92. J jj \V. H. Lyles, Esq , Attorney, Columbia, S. C.: ^ Sir: In reply to your letter of this date, )e ocL-irttr trhoihornr n/*fr Mr fV\nH1ptfP hfid tlPOn , ?. instructed by me to refuse possession of the j p building known as Agricultural Hall to you., I{ I reply, yes; he is instructed to hold Dosses-1 slon for the state?galn6t anyone claimingjg, the property. And Mr. Means was also ln-jg strueted to revoke the order to the tenants in j (i the building to recognize you or any one as j j( owner except the State. Respectfully, j B. R. Tillman, Governor, j,) Columbia, S. C., February 17th, IsHl'. ! tl To His Excelieucy B. R. Tillman, Governor of j n South Carolina: jv Sir: Your letter ot this date stating that C Mr. Couiliette and Mr. Means were actiiig un- i tl der your instructions in the matter referred it to in my letter of this date has been handed ! b 10 me. { w On behalf of Mr. Alexander, I desire to no- | P llljr >uu turn lie U'MIMUnn JrV^UI UK. Li'in l< IJ "Ui " i ?" ranted by your official position, and will con- j t< sidfr you individually liable for any damages I ihat he may suffer tiiereby, and wiil proceed I Ci accordingly. Respectfully, Wm. H. Lyles. I f State of South Cakoi.ixa, Executive chamber. | j Columbia, S. C., February 17th, IS**?. I f \V. H. Lvles, Esq., Attorney : Sir: Your letter of this dale informing me j that you consider my actiou in refusion to { surrender possession of Agricultural Hall i , ' unwarranted by my official position and ! , will eon-ider me individually liable for dam-; . age?." received. I desire to notify you that 1, j as Governor, am chairman of the Sinking Fund Commission, and that, acting lor the commission, I have refused to consummate ' the sale of the property or deliver it to you iu * my daal capacity. I am resisting an attempt to swindle the I Slate out of SlO.oOOof deferred payments and j d to prevent litigation. Xoone knows better than yoarse'f that the Revenue Bond Scrip u whiM? von tAnH^r?>H for t hp hulunuP dllP i? I " J vv"**v* x M *v* v"v ?% ? ??* ** ~I fj worthless: and if my action in resist!ug the| * initiatory step to bring in question the settlement of the State's debt by the Bond Court [ and saddle several miliions of illegal Radical I nouds on the taxpayers is "unwarranted by j n my official position," J cheerfully assume the | responsibility and all individual liability,and j will leave the question to be decided by the w courts. Respectfully, .. B. R. Tillman, Governor. n On the 20th of February the Commission of the Sinking Fund held a special meeting, approved t he action which had oeen taken, and instructed the Secretary ot Stale to retain'the ?' custody of the property. ? Suit has been brought by J. W. Alexander sj again9t me and Mr. Coulliette, as individuals. in t he United States Court, and litigation is 11 now rending tor the possession of the proper- Cl ty. for damages, and "for the value of ihe use i and occupation thereof.'', " Whatever mav be the results of this suit to I me personally. I am confident that the court 1 and jury will not award to these conspirators 81 possession of property that belongs to the 8 State, and of which I am not, aud-bave never " been, in possession, or force the State toen-j1 gage In a tedious and vexatious controversy |1 in the Uniied States Court to teff the validity j? of the "Revenue Bond Scrip." :. The State is . v not a party to this suit, and cad not be made a pari.v Co anv suit wiihouiJ^yroTrKeTiT. anfft^ ,i i"""'71 haslbeen passed c j upon by ilar own court, which declared inval- c id this debt created by the infamous Radical I government in South Carolina. j THE DIRECT TAX. . 1 t Last April there was paid into the State s treasury $"221.71126 of direct tax collected irom t our Deooie lust alter the war and for the dis-! t t tribution of which an act was passed at the | < last session of the Legislature. I appointed j ! the Hon. T. J. Klrkland, of Camden, commis- s sioner. to copy the records at Washington and \ | to prepare duplicate schedules for the use of t I the masters at Beaufort aud Charleston. The r | task was dfficult and laborious, requiring pa- c | tient researcit and pains-taking care. With ; i what diligence and accuracy he executed the , c work Is shown by the fact that, although there 1 t I were more than 6,000 names, taxes, costs and 1 s p naltiestobe copied, but one mistake has; been called to my attention thus far. Of thisn amount 2,010 claims, amounting to SI62,280.90. j t up to October 81, have been paid. The labor | ( imposed upon the master in equity of Charles- s ton, Mr. Miles, has been very heavy, and a \ corresponding amount of work was done by g my private secretary and the clerks in the of- r ficps of the comptroller general and treasurer, t requiring the employment of extra clerical I assistance, for which I have paid out of the fund. One per cent, of the amount returned to the claimants have been withheld for the . payment of the expenses of disbursement. f The compensation. $600, authorized to be paid I to Mr. Miles is totally inadequate, and I rec- j j, omrnend that he be given $300 more. j Mr. Kirkland's research among the records!, at Washington disclosed the fact that there i !| was due an additional amount of nearly $20,- v OOOof interest, costs and penalties. But the authorities declined to pay it to him, and ij mndeatrip to Washington for the purpose} of inducing the Secretary of the Treasury toj comply wnn meiaw. ne reiusea, anu ji whs j b my purpose to commence suit iu the Court of: g Claims, but since then the Attorney Generalj t of the United Slates has filed an oponion ! t that the mouey must he paid. As soon asfc this was known I instructed Mr. Kirkland to j c return to Washington and set about, making It up the accounts, and he is now engaged on j f this work. The amount paid him for his work 11 last spring was $400 UDder the act?much less c than it was worth?and I recommend that he z be given an additional sum, of Si,000 out or j i; the interest, <feo., that he shall obtain. Their balance in tlie treasury to the credit of this t fund belongs to two classes of claimants, t Many of the Items, several thoustand in num- i v ber. are too small to make it worth while to 11 bother with their collection, and there will <3 likely be a considerable amount which wili | < never be paid out. After six years this will c belong to the State. The other class is being U subjected to an outrageous scheme of robbery j t on behalf of the heirs of J. B. Campbell and a j i in* firm in Washington, who. under agree-1 ment made with the claimants more than j twenty years ago for 30 per cent. ot all sums recovered, now step forward and claim this 30 per cent., although directly barred by the law, granting this money which they never did anything to earn. Upon the flimsiest techaniC"! grounds an appeal was taken from j the decision ot the Master, and the case beard j in 1 he Circuit Court in Charleston, the decision 1 ot which was declared final by the law pro j vidingfor thedistribution. Thejudgeot that; court decided that there were no grounds ol appeal, and now these legal cormorants have : appealed to the Supreme Court of the United j States on some trivial pretext or other,, solely ! with the view of wearying the patience of the j claimants and forcing them to a division, and j this they have succeeded in doing in a large! oumberof cases. The very terms of the act under which the State accepted this trust for-1 bids the payment of one cent of this money ! to any of these parties, and I strongly recommend that the General Assembly authorize me to demand of the master in Charleston j ?omp< of !iml the amounts due to the! parties thus situated, that I may pay them; what is due without awaiting the issues of t lie I ^ [ trivial appeal to the United States Supreme k Court. [ PENSIONS. | t \ I desire to call youi attention to the follow- j ing extract from my last message; ' In the report ol the Adjutant and Inspeet-1 or General, he suggests that a small tund be | provided for the publication, in pamphlet j form, of the rolls of such companies and regiments as are not complete. The purpose is that these may be distributed in the territory j from which the men were enlisted, so that the j t survivors may have some data to be guided j s by iu supplying the missing names. It " I should be a matter of State pride, and I ^ I of justice to the dead and living alike, { t i to that everything reasonable be done to ( nut on record in the archives of the gov-j. ; ernment at least the narae of every man who ] * i wore the gray. I therefore urge consideration ; t ! of the Adjutant General's recommendation, i He is a zealous and efficient officer, and being i a gallant Confederate soldier himself will use ' ; every reasonable etlort to finish this necessary j i work." In this connection I would call your at ten! lion to the matter of pensions for Confederate : j soldiers and widows. Since I have been Gov- , j ernor several pitiful cases of the destitution j I of disabled Confederate soldieis have been,' | brought to my attention. They hail no ad* j quale means of support, and the pension,disributed on a per capita basis, waslnsutliele'Jt r> keep them from suffering. It is an inher-i nt vu-t* ot any pension system that there j hall be abuse of the State's bounty, and there i s not t tie slightest doubt in. the world that, nany persons in South Carolina are to day < ettlngapro rata share of pension money j those claims to it are doubtful ; while there ; re others more worthy not receiving any or; ot enough. But if we grant that every pen-! ioner is entitled to what he or she gtts and hat the list could he enlarged It the .State ould afford It, there are certainly some car ?s! lore meritoi ious-tllati others" and there! hould be some method provided looking to a 3st discrimination in favor of thise. To pre- j ent abuse of the States bounty, and, at tlie1 nine time, provide for those most needy, I now of no class of men to whose judgment ndfeeiiue 1 would sooner entrust the dis-j ribuiionof the pLUapce the State is able to i ive than to the Confederate soldiers. And I) rge that the present system of passing upon 10 applications for pension be abolished and nit the Confederate survivors in each county I e requested to form an organization in which very sui vivor shall he enrolled, to which the i hole matter be intrusted. There are many ensloners who can easily do without the pitmeet bey receive. { There are a considerable nurnoer who must j otothe poor house unless they get more.j everal attempts have been made at different j mes to found a soldiers' home in the Ktatej > give to these" heroes a comfortable resting \ lace till they '-cross over the river." Whether , is better to provide such a home or to leave j uese war-worn men among friends and j eighbors, is for you to decide. I think thej eterans would prefer the latter; and if the j on federate soldiers of each county will take] tie matter in hand and give it ttie attention j . deserves, their 'organization, which might; t; nmup pitwiiuiniiu u.-nui in uiauj 'ays, and especially In the collection and reservation of data for the future historian, an be of great service in Smoothing the path > the grave of their le.-s fortunate brethren, feel satisfied that if this scheme is properly arried out the soldiers, who are also taxpay-i rs. can be safely trusted with the money, and | it becomes nee.-ssary, the amount can te icrensed. Tbey>ro rata share of each county iiould be on basis of the number of ex-C'outderate soldiers in that county. makioN'S TOJIB. A joint resolution to provide for the re pal rig of the torn b of General KnncM Marlon. 1 Berklefy cuutvty." and appropriating $300 ie?efor, was passed by the last General As?m?>ly, and the duty imposed on me of seethe work properly dope. J-'eeling that I rmld rely on hi* judgment and taste, I reuested tire Hon. W. A. Courtney, of Cbarles>n. to visit the grave and prepare such specicatious as would enable me to curry out tbe i dsh o! the Legislature. He reported the conitiou of the tomb to be such that there is no ossihiiity ot repairing it, but that a new imb would have to be provided if ll were to eilect any credit on the State; and advised je that this could not be done in a creditable ray, approaching the one which has been artially destroyed by a failing tree, with tne loney i rovided. With the assistance oi Mr larbot, of Charleston, he kindly designed a uitabie tomb, with bronze tablets for the lnsriptions, estimating the cost at about $600, | rith which sum an enduring and indestructi-1 ie tomb^conld be purchased, and I recom-| lend the appropriation ot that amouut for; bis pious and patriotic purpose. In this connection I desire to direct the at-j ?ution of the General Assembly 10 the pain- > il dearth within the walls of the State House t memorials, mementoes, pieiures-or othec. Duvenirs of South Carolina's great dead. No Ittic wi llic UllCiliai (UlltCVU >"" Vt I IV. I V V* IU IUV levolutionavy War as much as ours, and, exepting Virginia, I might add, in theConfedrate War. Upon the soil of none were so lany revolutionary battles fought, aiid none arnished a brighter galaxy of brave 'and pa riotic-officers in borh ibese wars. From ome cause the history of South Carolina's hare in ,tho6e. days and those heroes has ever been written in a fitting way, and 'ime's ravenous tooth.has leit us little except heir names/ Then, doming to a Later period, ur annals jpse adorned with brllItorit orators, account or record of-their lfv^^^^Hrninders >1 how they looked7. There of tour mintlngs in the Senate fi.umnM gy hall of he representatives of someof'of^^ror worthes. and one Georgian, who lept valuable aid to he State at a most critical period, but here ho oot.alntrnA r*mls_ ThR' lrhmrv walls, no ;tairs, and all other rooms are bare,' and the housands of visitors from this State dtid ot litre who ahnuallyfnspfect the,.State' Qapitol tannotflnd any "counterfeit presentment" of south Carolina's great m.enl .It may be conddered extravagance to attempt to supply vhat every lover of the State would wish to >ee supplied, but I take it that there can be 10 diffVrance of opinion as to the value and lesirability of memortals of the men who tave illustrated our history. A people who lo not respect tbelr ancestors cannot hope to >e respected by their posperity, and sentiment it last is the mother of patriotism. The promptness, without caviling, with vhlch your predecessors gave money to copy he records England Jbearihg upon Soutn Carolina's history, leads me to suggest that a mall annual appropriation be made to protide paintings of the men whose virtue and greatness we have heard extolled, but have lever read, because their lives have never >een written. Then visitors to the State douse may see at least, "Some frail memorial still erected nigh" o teach our youths both how to live and die or South Carolina. One thousand dollars a year given to me state House Commission and an Invitation 0 the descendants and families of these great Carolinians to present such pictures would in 1 short while relieve the painful blankness chich now exists in our Capitol. REGISTRATION*. The act of 1882 requiring and providing a ystetn ot registration of the voters of this State, by reason of its provisions, has brought ibout a condition of affairs which becomes noreand more the subject of complaint and I ^satisfaction. The loss of certificates, 'he hange of residence without transfer on the >ooks, trie inability to register where one ailed to avail himself of the privilege within he first year, have resulted In the virtual lislranchisement of a large number of citiens. Then the mutilation of the books by ise and the names of dead men on the lists nake it necessary to provide for a new reglsration or a revision, with such changes in he law as will restore the franchise to those vho have never registered. I direct your atention to the matter, assured that you will lo whatever is wise and proper. Under the instruction now placed upon It the taw is learly unconstiuuonal, rn that men are not illowed to vote though qualified, because hey had not availed themselves of the privlege In 1882. conclusion. I feel it to be unnecessary, but will neverheless remind you that the stringency of the imes demands the most rigid economy. .Niglardlicess is not economy,and I would not be o understood, but the straitened condition of he people forbids the smallest expenditure hat Is not absolutely nee- ssarv. I trust I hall have presented for thy signature an act ubMituting salaries Instead of fees for couny officers, putting the fees into the treasury. inrt mutiny o rpiJiiftinn nf C'-jImHpk n'l nlon.f he line to a figure corresponding to the inireased purchasing power of money and the lecreased abilily of the people to pay. The aving will be little, but we have reached the joint where even a small economy is of maerial importance. The laborer is worthy of lis hire, and our salaries are not at all extravigant, but men who seea the offices for salarydone are unworthy to bold them, and men in he public service should not receive more han similar service commands In private >usiness life. Pledging you my hearty co operation in vhatevcr you may attempt in behalf of the state and Its people, and praying for theblessngs of an All-wise Providence upon your la>ors, I welcome you to the Capital, confident hat your work will merit and receive the veil done of our joint constituency. R R Tillman (?nvprn nr Medical Science. The Pall Mall Gazette tells of a decor on a man-of-war who had a very simple method of treatment. He vould tie a piece of tape around the vaist of the complaining mariner, and command him to him to declare whether his pain existed above or below the ape. I f above an emetic, and if beow a dose of salts, followed as a mater of course. People do not weigh much in heaven fl-irv toL-o tAirrt.rniu tn f filter whptl hey ought to go with full grown oxen ind sheep. Ho I'atioiit with tlie Living sweet I'riftiil. when tli>>o an<! I art L'<>ne UfVortil earth's weary labor. When snmli shall In- oar need .ifgrace From Comrade or from n.ighbor; l'a-.si<l nil tin- ftrlf.-. the toil, the care. An i done with ail the sighing? What tender truth shall we have gained, Alas! by simply <lySnir'r 'Tis en<v to he gentle when And easy t<. discern the be>l Thioiigh memory's glamor; But wise it were f>>r you and nit*, Kre l?ve is jcist forgiving, T<? take the tender lesson home? Be patient with the living. - -Good Cheer. Aunt Abigial Chest of Drawers A TRI E STOK V. Harriette Rea, in Christian Register. The room was low studded, and the chest of drawers came nearly to the top. The mahogany was dark with age, the handles were brass, the base was spindle-legged, with acoin-shaped projections breaking the iine. lie ileum the five large drawers were a collection of smaller ones, three on each side with a deep space or cubhoard in the centre. This was enclosed by a door, ornamented with a brass knob and a quaint little knocker. The cupboard was like a tiny porter's lodge, and enveloped the whole piece of furniture with an air of mystery. It warded off intrusion, and suggested the propriety of lifting tiie knocker to ask permission of some shadowy spectre if ono might venture to examine more closely this genuine adtique. The owner was evident'y proud of liar n>KSM<iinn ninl vc<a foriTiit nnp ihiv that it had a history a true one. She told it to U3 with the keen interest that age finds in rehearsing the story of its youth. It was over a supper of Hyson tea, butter-cracker toast, pound cake preserved citron, served upon a round table, before the open fire. The china was white, with green sprigs, and had been kept without a pieak for sixty years. A teapot stood on the hearth, waiting to supply a second cup. The talker slipped occasionally into oldfashioned forms of speech, butevioently she endeavored to avoid them. ''I always wanted a chest of drawers; and, when I went to work in the factory, I determined to have one. I don't think much about gettin' married, and havin' a parlor of my own. I itist wanted that. "Old Judge Pettingell had died, and hi& niece was williu' to sell everything that belonged to Mis' Judge. I offered her twenty-five dollars for this chest, not knowm' whether' twas cheap or not; but! meant to have it. iSo.l worked hard; and every quarter's payment I put by a little money in a silk purse, all by myself,*g^ih^|jHM|j^j enough. , "When I tker "Tnfit, TW"l pie; *aoi? sjjo opnHtqjj i was silly, au<Jp.c/- bett>?ua'3* }? ^ISSBiy ; money in thc^bank: but but mother, j she looked at it, and her eyes shone, iaud I used to see her standin' up be: fore it, and openin' and shuttin' the | drawers. i "Then I gotacquaiuted with my first : husband. I always called him Hiram, I?j ? T .. .i.:, .1^.. ... ctilU jl uu tu tuia uaj. vvc weic 1 married; but I wouldn't take away the chest from mother while she lived. 1 | kuew she set store by it, as I did. I "After mother died?father went ; first then I brought it home, and this china. I set the drawers up where they stand now. "Four or five years went by. Hir| am and I were happy together, and then he was taken sick. We hadn't ' any children. He used to say that he j must make his will; but he put it ofT, and put it ofi" and by and by died without doin' it. "I never thought that anything I bought myself could belong to Hiram. II knew I should get my thirds, and that they would give me the house. I | supposed the furniture was mine. ] "The day after the funeral, Hiram's two brothers came in with a lawyer. Tli?ntd pvprvthinor vnlnnltle had {"of j to be sold at auction. I could bid 'em I in if I wanted to: but all the property ! had got to be 'pra'sed in order to see how much I ought to have. "Then they went round the rooms, saying what this thing was worth and that thing was worth, and pretty soon ; they came to the chest. The lawyer : whispered to Hiram's brother, but I heard him; 'This is worth considera: ble.' "I almost screamed out ; 'You can't {touch that. I earned every cent of it in the factory, and paid for if, and brought it over here.' "The lawyer answered pretty sharp; ; 'Well, ma'am, that don't make a bit ot A i t < /so W q tovur \*<\n r-wmnirht here belonged 10 your husband. That's the law of the land.' "Ezekiel, Hiram's youngest brother, stood close by, and he put in, 'Why, Abigail, you can buy back what you want now if we give permission.' I was mad, and to 1 just let the auction i go on: and when the day came, I bid brettv low on my things. Whe neighbors were real good, ami never tried to bid against iue. When it came to that chest of drawers, I just spoke up loud, so everybody could hear and said, 'it's a burnin' shame for me to have.to buy what's already my own ; ajidjf men folks have made sueh a Jaw, they ought to take it back, and make another.' Then I bid twenty-live dollars, and paid for the ! chest over again: for I knew Ezekiel | would get all he could for :t. "Tliora Tviu inct uiwiiiirli frrwn >11V A UV/iU "UO J UCt V li'/Upil i lUiit ilij thirds to keep the house and garden, but Hiram'e brothers had ail rest of the land. They sold it to Mr. Jones, our nearest neighbor; and I shut up niy house, and went back to work in the factory. 'Twarn't very long before Mis' Jones died. I used to think, while the looms were goin', about our two houses, and the kitchens with nobody there, as it used to be ; for Mis' j Jones was a real bleasant woman, and we were always neighborly together. | "One day, about a vear afterward, I went up home to look over my things. I suppose Mr. Jones saw the light, for he came over to make a call. : J was mighty glad to see an old face : for 1 had been real lonesome, and I jdid want to hear about everything. "Before he went away, he asked me to marry him. Mis'.Jones had gone, . he hadn't any cliiidren, and he said ' he'd just as soon come here and live as ' not. You see his house was an old one ana he thought he could use if for another barn; while Hiram and I had flexed up this one until it was 'most as nice as new. "Perhaps I hadn't ought to have done it is so quick, for Hiram had only been gone about two years; but I was all alone, and it seemed so good iw iiiniK i?i nouse ouce iiuhc, .so T said 'Yes,1 and we were married in three weeks from that night. "We lived happy together for fifteen years, and I never thought anything more about money matters, nor how things could get mixed up. We kept on prospering Mr. Jones had the name of bein' a good farmer, and 1 always knew how to manage my part. We both worked hard, but we didn't jowea cent, and kept puttin, money i into the bank. I "One dav Mr. .Tones took an awful cold, and went right into lung fever. He did't liven week, an' never knew anyboby after the second day. When the funeral was over, I began to remember, and to think what might happen again witout a will: for Mr. Jones had a nephew, Jacob, who was an awful graspin' man. "He came in the very next day, and we looked over all Mr. Jones's papers but we couldn't find any. Then Jacob spoke right up, 'Mis Jones, you can have your thirds, bin you can't have no more, for, legally the rest goes to me.' "Mr. Jones had been a real kim husband, and I felt awful lonesome anyway. So I just broke down, ant began to cry. Jacob got up, and weui out, but I knew he'd come back, anc he did the next mornin,' and broughi a lawyer with him, They said we didn't need to have an auction, and they'd give in a good many of my things ; but the best, of 'em must hav* a price fixed, and them Jacob put. hi> hand on that chest of drawers and said, 'This thing is worth more than it was at first, but I'm willin' to let it gc for twenty-hve dollars !' I d got some money laid by me, and I waited until things were settled. Then I broughl it out. and paid dowu for all I had. He and the lawyer were standin' right there, and I had all I could do to beat it. I was so wrought up I s'pose 1 said more'n I ought; but I did nol speak my mind to Jacob. I told hin: he needn't ever darken my doors agaii for he was no better than a thief. J said the law ought to help widows when husbands died so sudden the} hadn't 110 time to make a will; but, i it didn't, their relatives had no neei to take advantage of it. "Mr. Jones was worth considerabh property, and so my thirds gave nn the house and garden over again, an( money in the bank enough to kee] me besides; but I never had any cal to invito Jacob here after that fina settlement. * 4'Well, 'twaru't more'n t^n veal againbefore, one cold winder ltigjfl BKras sittin' here reaLaa>KrS|H beaijjj^-fai^k aticl ||||jWaoor. I opened it, and inter Smith, who jived in anothe the town. "He was a widower, though his wif hadu'f been dead more than si: months. I never thought what he'< come for. He always seemed to he i well-meanin' man. 1 hadn't anythinj against him. "He took a seat by the tire. It wa pretty hot; and he kept pushin' hi chair back until he got beside tha chest, and then he couldn't get n further. "But before ong he took hold of on of the handles, and began to work i back and forth ; and then he burst out " 'Mis' Jones, don't you think yoi and I could get along together? We'r both pretty bnesome.' "I shouldn't have flared up as I did if I hadn't seen him holdin' on to tha handle ; but it all came over me how had to suffer, and I just rose right ur and I said : Mr. Gmirn, rve oougnt auci pan for that chest of drawers three times I'm goin' to own it as long as I live and no man is ever goin to have '! claim on it again !" "lie understood, for the folks all ove town had heard about my tilings. H got right up and said : 'Good-nighl Mis' Jones. I guess I'll be goin'. M; horse don't like to stand long.' " "He warn't to blame; but barree the door after he'd gone, and then said to myself: " 'Abigial Jones, you are a widoi . once more, and you'll stay a widoi the rest of your days ' " It is wonderful how the Christian rc ligiou has enlarged and enriched, nc only human experience, but also hi , man language. It has introduced ne\ words and new conceptions of things and given a higher meaning to ol words and old ideas. Its new win has been poured into new bottles, an in many cases it has changed tb water of a mere earthly language int J the wine of a heavenly speech. By th the introduction of Christianity int many a dark pagan country, the ol 11 words by which they expressed thei notions of man's duty and of God's r( I lations to them have been purified an raised to a higher level, and have a fulness and depth of meaning whic thev never conveyed to the native ii | their heathen condition. When Di . Wenger, the distinguished translato , jof the Bible in India, pressed his Hin doojpundit for the Bengal word for "coi science," the pundit was in perplexity Maud finally answered, "What is not ii a country lias no name there." Ther i was no word in the ancient Greek Ian guage to express what Peter meant b; humility, and " therefore the won which he coined to signify his mean ing is one of the new words which w owe to Ch istianity: for it is Christian ity that has brought {he new thinj which it represents into the world. ,J Miss Elder.?Well, I maintain tha women can do anything that men can Mr. Gassam?Oh, no. The auction j eers business is one women cannot g ,into. Miss Elder?Nonsense. She'd mak , every bit as good an auctioneer as man. Mr. Grassam?just imagine an un married woman getting up before j crowd and exclaiming, 'Now, gentle ? men, all I want is an offer!" ' The girl who marries for mone, | usually lias a look on her face afte ; marriage that indicates that she is hav I ing trouble in collecting her salary. How I)o Tliey Grow ? 1 his is only a blade of grass: y But how does it grow? Does any one know? The seasons come and the seasons pass. And with every year the grass we have here, so green and bright in the sun and rain; Ani! fh**n if w hr-.vvn wl?i*n th<? ?rw\w m..c But young in the spring again. This is only a little girl: But how does she grow? Does any one know? With her hair of gold and her teeth of pearly i . From a baby Wee will grow to he A maiden as fair as a blooming rose. But no one can say, as day follows day. How a blade <>t gras or a little girl grows. ?Reformed Church Messenger. ? 1A ? J ? - * -arw ji4?u<h(IIIK tutWhen Fred, Ilufe and Ham (short for Hamilton) went out into the country to visit their Aunt Sarah, they had 1 "no end of a good time." Aunt Sarah was a conscientious, careful; nervous soul, who compiled a number of rules 1 and regulations for the benefit of her young kinsman, and then worried herself perpetually because they paid no heed to them. The rule requiring them to be in , bed bv nine o'clock was a narticular ? J source of irritation. No sooner would the poor lady chase them up the frout stairs, than down they would come by the back ones, and out they would scud into the darkness, to be followed by such reproachful exclamations as. 'Come in this minute, you naughty boy9, What are you hiding in the wet grass for, trying to catch your death of cold? Rufe, you're old enough to know better; I'm ashamed of you all," and a great deal more of the same sort. This game of hide-and-seek was occasion ly rendered more exciting by Aunt Sarah's invoking the aid of the hired man, Timothy Warren. Timothy was a man of few* words and nu meruus ueeus, ana ne was vvarraniea ' not to cea^e his labors uutil be deposited three hotly chased and soundly * cuffed boys into their respective bedrooms the doors of which were immediately afterwards locked. on suc^ occasions Aunt Sarah would observe, "Oh, I'm so much obliged to you, Timothy. I'm afraid I never could haye caught them all by myself." And Timothy, gazingat his mistiess's ' ISO pounds, would respectfully answer, 1 "I reckon ye couldn't marm." ' But one day Aunt Sarah's married 1 ister Bertha came to make her a visit, ' snu expresseu nerseu in mis way: _ "I declare, Sarah, you're all worn f out and haggard looking, tagging after 1 those boys. Now you go ana visit Cousin Phebe a week and get rested. ? I'll stay here and manage the boys." d "You don't know what you are in 1 for," said Aunt Sarah solemly. ' "I'm m for having a good time," re} torted Aunt Bertha, merrily ^jjaSp 1 AdljMpit well during the first day of^^-?--^ 3*8 reign. As night advanced? his aunt, ayd res??Ct? go to bed. know," replied the lady i ngo when you like." ly, when repeated to the so amazed them that they r in a body. s "Aunt Sarah always made us go to J bed at nine," observed Rufe with the a severe air of one who would grieve to ? see domestic discipline relaxed. "All right," said Aunt Bertha with s a yawE, "go at nine if you want to." 8 "But dou't we have to go then?" 1 asked Ham anxiously. 0 "Certanly not. I don't care when you go to bed. You can stay up all e nigbt if you like." t This was astounding. "Have you no consideration for our health?" asked u Fred. e "Why shou'd I?" inquired his aunt. "If you're sick you'll have to stay in ? bed ftill you [get well, and that will t teach }tou more common sense than a I thousand considerations for your >> health." The .long evening dragged wearily a away; with no rules to break, existence seemed t^> have lost its charm. 1 "Aren t you going to have {a single a rule Aunt Bertha?" Fred|mournfully inquired. r "Yes she responded composedly; e "the rule that any boy who is not up '? in time for breakfast must go without y his breakfast." ,vveij, i guess witn no sleep ana.no d breakfast, we'll go home looking pretty J thin," growled Rufe. "Oh, just as lyou like about that," v said Aunt Bertha. "You know you N can have all the sleep and all the breakfast that you want." And in a few days the boys drifted of their own accord into the habit of going to bed early.?E.W., in House^ keeper's Journal. Riding on the Platform. 5 The beit illustration that I ever d heard, showing the disadvantage of e living as a Christian outside of the j Church, was given me by a young e convert whom I had recently received 0 into the church. e I expressed my pleasure and grati0 fication at the step he had taken, he (j replied: [r I had not made up my mind to join when I came to meeting tonight, but j | while you were talking I thought it v | was liko buying a ticket to Chicago, and then riding on the platform. I n | thought I might aswell go inside. . | The young brother unwittingly in ' his illustration ^ave an unanswerable. certainly a most sensible argument in Q favor of Church membership.? Mesr senger. ' - - o e Why we \ee<I Two Ears. i- Sound travels by waves, radiating y from a central poiut of disturbance, 3 just as waves radiate when a stoue is H thrown iuto still water. So far as the f, hearing of each individual is coneerned - j ed these waves move in a direct line e! from the cause of the disturbance to j the ear. This being the case, the im1 pact is greater in the ear nearest the Vnti/ u lioronn u*Iiqq fnto 1 _ j CV U IJV4, i.' v/ ?? j C* J/V A cw IJ T? * ilMO tv/ u?ft t' ly lost the hearing of one ear cannot ' j locate the direction of a noise to save ' his life, even when the center of diso turbance is quite near. Blind persons learn to estimate distances in asurprise ingly brief period after losing their a sight, but experts on diseases of the | ear say that persons who are wholly - deaf in one ear can never iearn the dia; rection from which a sound comes. H ? Brandon Banner. | There is not a desert in human life y that has to be crossed, on which the .. /.nn ifr? V* onf i n itiAy?/i! 1 fvo rvAtl'Ai* :i j^uii |n;uis neat in UJCI vucoo j/\jrrc;i '-[wherein he who looks for it cannot 1 find the shadow of a rock. I