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* ? _ _ ? l ? ==1============^==^=========^=========================== ? ' ^ Z^wWAL^glfaMil^g, Horticulture, Domertie Economy, Polite Literature, Politic* and the Current Eewt qf the Day. VOL. XXV.?NEW SERIES, .- , J * ^^S^^^fcsOTTTH CAROLINA, ERIDAY. AUGUST 17,1894. NUMBER 33. .it __ ^ :_ ~~=- JL' * - ' '? ' ^ " --Ll 1 - - - fl,M - _ _ ? Tbcro are 1787 separate railroad companies in tlio United State*. Tho population of Massachusetts is nearly as largo as that of all tho other New England States combined. Tho German Eiupcror has advise 1 tho universities to establish rowing clubs, after the English model. Americans own sixty-four steel or iron steamship^ of a gross tounago of 197,108 ton-, sailing under foreign flags. Railway construction in tlio United States for tlio six months ending Juno 30 was f?'2.3.'25 miles, built l?y ttfty0110 lines in twenty-live States. Colombo let! with fifty-four miles ; South Carolina added fifty miles; Florida, forty-eight; West Virginia and Louisiana, forly-eiglit; Pennsylvania, forty-two, and New Jersey nul Texas each thirty-four. A peculiar solution of England's problem in India may ovolvo before many years, predicts the Now York Independent. There is a growing tendency among Indian p.duces to marry European wives; and the result is likely to bn that, many of iho States now governed by thorn will in course of time pass into the hands of Eurasian rulers. If it should become tlio rage among the Rajahs and Nawabs to have European wives as it now is to have European horse trainers, etc., then tho heads of tho great native States will before long bo of mixed race, and such a state of things would put a new phase on tho political destiny of the couutry. The American Register, of Paris, is authority for the statement that the I .. t.. ~ e a ?ivauuiiunuir> m i^utTu > icionu aro either now in possession of, or will in the natural course of events oomo to occupy, sevon thrones?those of the British Empire, the German Empire, the Russian Empire, the Kingdom of Greece, the Gran t Duchy of llesse, , the Duchy of Saxc-Colmrg and GotUn, < and the Duchy oT Haxe-Meiuingou. 1 1 According to this the Anglo Saxons may shortly come to uuiversal rule in Europe, as its language is coming to j . l?e the universal language of the world. 1 Possibly in tliis way, muses the Trenton (V T.) American, the universal | Republic, so long predicted by dream- i civ, may be established. * ] The United States Court of Choy- \ eniie has just rendered a decision of ' great interest to insurers, as it invalidates the clause found in most policies, that no agent has authority to alter tic clauses printed on a policy. It appears that a Mr. Henderson went , to an agent thoro and applied for an i insurance uii his life, statin''that ho 1 was afraid of heing shot by an enemy, who, he reason to believe, was ( looking for liiin. The agent tol?l him < he would give him a policy covering ' his case, and Henderson paid him the premium. Shortly afterward he was killed by the enemy, as he had antioi- 1 pated, and the company refused to J pay the insurance to the widow, as the policy contained a clause expressly exempting the company in caso death \ resulted from the doings of some party with declared hostile intent. Tho 1 court mivs that the clause tloefi not 1 i count, and that tho money must he paid. The Chicago Herald relates tho fol* I lowing: "J>r. Walter Kcmpster, who was one of the Government experts in i f til H i>nu fri?t-I niwl \ulu\ l>nu ltooo 1 on the stand several days at Ashland, "Wis., in a murder case, has inado n , sousatioiial statement relative to the assassin of President Garfield. It has always been elaimcd that the prosecution in the Guiteau ease was merciless and that the resources of the Government were combined to take his life, justifiably or not. Dr. Konipster states that so far from the truth is this assertion the Government instructed its own experts to find Guitcnu insane if possible, in order that it should not fp> into history that a President of the United States had been shot in time of peace bv a responsible man. Each export studied (iuitenu for himself and without knowledge of tho conclusion reuelu: I by any of his colleagues. Dr. Keinpster furl her alleges that after his competent ami disinterested examination by two specialists showed that tin- brain of the assassin was free from symptoms of insanity. Dr. Keinp.ster's statement ought to put at rest th" widely held belief that there was viii lietiveness on the part of the Federal prosecution toward the wretch who inflicted upon tho history of the United States ho foul a blot.' DEM OCR A TIC CONVENTION. North Carolinians Declare for Silver 16 to 1. Balbioh, N. C.?At the 8tato Democratic convention here, J. C. Buxton, of Forsyth, was temporary chairman. Lieut. Gov. Daugliton was made permanent chairman. JamcH H. Pou, of Stnithfield, is elocted Stato chairman, and will himself select the secretary. The old central committee was re-elected, with the following now members: S. A. Ashe, W. W. Fuller, J. P. Young, F. M. Simmons, E. J. Hale, H. Z. Herrick. TLATFonM ADOPTED. Tho Democracy of North Carolina submit to tho voters of the State the following declaration of principles, namely: "Itesolved, first, That wo re-affirm the doctriues of the party oh enunciated by tho Chicago convention of lNfl'2; and desiro to signify as follows wlmt is the construction placed by us upon the section thereof relating to silver, namely: We hold it is the duty of tho lawmaking department of the government now in tho liauds of tho Democracy to tako immediate steps to restore by legislation equal privileges o? silver with gold at the mints by free ami unlimited coinago of both gold and silver at tho ratio of 16 to 1, such being the ratio of coinago which heretofore has held in tho United States. "Resolved, second, That we urge upon tho said law-making department of tho government the abolition of tho unconostitutional and prohibitive tax of ten per cent, upon tho issue of State banks. ' Received, third, That, in view of tho depleted condition in which the lato Republican administration left the Treasury of the United States, presenting as it did such a lameutable contrast to tho overflowing condition in in which it was delivered by Mr. Cleveland's first administration to itsRepublican successor, we urge upon said law-making department the immediate enactment of an income tax. "Resolved, fourth, That wo emphatically approve the tariff doctrine enunciated by the Chicago platform. "Resolved, fifth. That while we are opposed to the slightest quulifieafion, in favor of the Federal government, ??f the repeal of the lb per cent, tux on State bank issues, we nevertheless advocate as matter of State policy such regulation and restriction of issues of banks chartered by North Carolina as will secure sound currency. "Resolved, sixth, That vo admire tho courage and lofty patriotism ot the L'resident, and that we most heartily commend his prompt and effective action under the law for the suppression i?f the efforts of alien Anarchists to disturb by force ami violence the true relations of labor mid i-ioiil il lev -.liir.lv sfl'ort to secure tlie enactment of tariff reform lis culled for in the party platform, hIk prompt approval of the hill repealing tlio Federal election laws, the notable reduction of the expenses i?f the government under tliis administration, and the freedom from scandal which has heen such i marked feature nf his return to tin-head of nlVatrs. " 'liesolved, Tlnit we favor the nholition, ah soon as practicable, of the intcriiul rovenue tax on spirits and tobacco, and if this cannot l*e done that tljo harsh and unjust features of the law for its collection he moditied. STATE MAT runs. "We point with pride to the record if the Democratic party in North Carolina, and endorse the present State administration. "For eighteen years this party has liad full control of the State government. It has administered it with the greatest economy, and at r.ll times with nyo single to the best interests of all iho people. "Coming into favor at the end of the reign of debauchery and crime, it addressed itself to the work of rehabilitation, and its record is one which challenges public admiration. It has rebuilt our public school system, cs tabhshed asylums fur the care of our unfortunates, administered justice, promoted our public works, fastened every public enterprise, reduced taxation, and in all respects justified the confidence of those who have trusted it. rt has afforded security to life and property, protected both capital and labor in its rights and done all that ffovcrmnent can do for the people. No scandal has attached to its administration of public affairs. We congratulate our citizens upon their well reposed trust in it. Wo congratulate them upon the friendly relations existing between the races, upon prospects of bounteous crops. With this record before them we appeal t<? them for a vote of confidence this year in the Democratic party. "Whereas, since the Democratic party of North Carolina Inst assembled 1 11 CO ll YCIIIIOII, OOUlll II1IS ('III I lllt'l I 111)11. Zclmlon 1$. Vance, the. State's most illustrious citizen, it is by this convention. "Resolved, flint, appreciating his conspicuous abilities and his Ion" and most honorable public services, profound sorrow is expressed on account of the calamity which has falh u upon the State in the event referred to. We admire, the. noble life, public and private, of this eminent citizen and refer to it ns the noblest exnmplo of North Carolina manhood." I ll K HIIjVEK 1'1/ANK rilKBUF.n. There whs great eheeriiig at {ho announcement of tlio silver plank. Tlio Convention by an overwhelming vote defeated the primary question. NOMINATIONS. It. TT. Battle, Ksip, of Wake, offered a resolution in behalf of the Wake delegates that theeonventioii nominal'* by neehuuat ion for Chief .1 uatiee, .lames K. Shepard; for Assoeiate Justices, Walter Clark, fainea ('. .MeKm* and Armistcud Burwcll. A motion wan made to add the name ol Samuel McDowell Tate for Treasurer. Mr. Battle accepted the amendment and his resolution was unanimously adopted. Kope Elias, Esq., of Macon, made a motion that tho six nominations for Superior Court judges be ratified. This was also adopted by acclamation. CUT IN WAGES IN NEW ENGLAND. The Manufacturers Claim That They Wert Forced to Reduce ffo^es on Account of Low Prices of Prints. Fall. Rivbr, Mass.?Th6 reason for the reduction of tho operatives wages /otcd by the Cotton Manufacturers' Association, which afTceted 20,000 mill hands, are the falling oflf of tho market price for prints to 2j, 1 per cent, off, nnd tho poor demand for goods even at that figure. A reduction will nlso take place in the fine goods. l'avment for tho latter is reckoned on ft little bettor basis than tlioprint cloth standard The cut-down c?mo in tho nature of n surprise, although it was known at tho meeting last week, at which the sclieino was adopted that will virtually nullify tho effect of the weavers particular bill, tho matter of cutting clow^ wages was talked over. Still, it was also known that tho mills that lmvo been discussing the advisability of reducing wages since last February. According to the mill men's claims, the cause of the action was tho fact that 500,000 pieces were sold last week at 21 cents, 1 per cent off. This was the lowest price -over known in the trade. BOTH SIDES WIN VICTORIES. The Japs Take Seikioan and Yashan--Chinese Win a Naval Victory. Yokohama, Japan.?Additional battles have boon fought between the Japanese and the Chinese, and the latter havo been defeated. Seikioan hna been taken by the Japanese with trifling loss. The Chinese loss, in this engagement, was 500 killed. Tho enemy fled in tho direction of Kosliiu. The Japanese are in possession of Yaslian. An imperial ordinance, just issued, permits Chinese to reside in Japan on condition that they engage in peaceful purposes. The greatest excitement prevails hero, at Tokio, and at other large towns, an a result of the victories of the Japanese troops. Humors, however, nro current here that Japanese naval forces have been defeated in an engagement with Chinese warships. china will not give tp iif.r suzerainty over corea. Shanghai, China. ? It is officially reported from Tien Twin that tho ef forts of Greut Britain and Russia to bring about a peaceful settlement o! the disputes between China and Japan have failed. China is willing to pay an iudemnity, but she refuses to surrender her suzerainty over Corea. The Chinese government has closed the Amping and Takao light houses ou the Island of Formosa. THE ALABAMA ELECTION. Oates' Majority Over 25,000~-Democrats Have the Legislature. Montgomery, Aha.?Complete returns from every county in the State, make the Democratic majority 2(1, 165. Oates being elected Governor over Kolh, the Populist-JefTersonian candidate. The official count in the eouuties takes place Saturday, ami the result will not bo changed materially. The Democrats have at least 22 members of the Senate, out of 33, and (11 members of the House out of 100. Birmingham, Aha.?Captain R. T. Koll), the defeated candidate for Governor, is at his headquarters here with a number of leading men of his party. He claims the State by 18,000, and ac I \ A.. - t ? A _ 1 iiim-it i'ciiiui'rmK 1/1 iiunu, and says that "The frauds of Cliis year are more notorious ami shameful tliau those of 1892. SOUTHERN INVENTIONS. Washington, I). C.?Patents lmvo been granted to the following meritorious Southern inventions: Coffee boiler, Jno. W. Carpenter. Bridgowater, Va. Car eonpling, Jno. P. Kirk, Austin, Texas. Means for oiling loose wheels or pulleys, Meredith Leitch, Covington, Va. Fruit, drier, David E. Sampson, East Bend, N. C. Truss, Jno. W. Snead, Gainesville, Oa. Car brake, Michael McNultv, Norton, Va. Rubber stamp, Geo. A. Pickup, Shelbyville, Tenn. Ice cream freezer, Lloyd Sr Jeff Wallace, Peoria, Tex. Combined bit and mouth opener, lv. N. Harris, Hickory, N. C. Thinks United States Will Split IIkumn, Gkkmany. ? A curious prodietion on American affairs is made in a National Zcitung editorial. The writer's conclusion is that Anglo-Saxon and German races are losing their dci 1 _ ?T_: it*niliiniiimiliniui'!i on iuu uuiuu 8 II till ll'S. The influx of Catholic Irish and Italiiins, us well !ih other Latin elements, he thinks, will nt no very distant date lend to the crisis? feared now by somo American politicians?in which tho 1 Union would be divided into three ' lh publics, one on the Pacific, another 1 on the Atlantic, and the third on the I Onlf of Mexico. i Senator Daniel's Son Killed by a Fall. ' I. v sen iiit no, Va.?The eight-year- , old son of Senator John W. Daniel was thrown from his horse and died from his injuries. Me was dragged n con- , siilcrahlc distance by the animal and | Ins skull fractured and arm broken, I BAST FIBERS. THE UNCUL TIVATEO ONES OF THE UNI TE0 STATES. The U. S. Department of Agriculture Issue Something Very Interesting on Fiber Culture. Rt I)A FIBER. Sida is another genus of malvaceous plants found in both hemispheres,their bast being rich in liber. A beautiful example of the liber of Sida rr(unat known as "Quecsland hemp," was rereeeivod by the Department in 187G from the CjucciiKlnnd collection (l'hiliid el phi a Exhibition), Accompanied by another specimen from Victoria labeled Sida r/inmliifolia. Tbo first mimed was prepared by Dr. Guilfoyle, who states Hint the has established ilHolf in Melbourne, and is of very quick growth, seeding freely. He regnrda the liber as suitable for tine paper and for the manufacture of cordage. The sample of A*. rhombifolul iavory white and lustrous, the filaments tine and even. In a portion of the sample the ribbon-like character of the bark is retained, tilled with delicate indentations, giving it a lacelike appearance. These ribbons of liber break easily, but a twisted card of the liner prepared liber, the size of cotton wrapping-twine of the shops, broke only after repeated trials with the hands. The fiber was prepared by Alexander McPherson. This specie's grows in India ?>>'! the V.aik yields "abundance of very delicate flax-like libers,".which Dr. Roxburgh though might bo advantageously used for many purposes. Forbes Watson, iu the Descriptive Catalogue of the Fast Indian Department, International Exhibitions!, 1H1V2, pronounces the fiber similar to jute in appearance, "but considered to be int rinsically so superior that it is worth from #5 to $<? more per ton, and he places it next that fiber" iu order to attract to it the attention which it deserves. A", r/ioinbifotiit abounds in many portions of South America. Tn Venezuela it is called / '.sruhft. Dr. Ernst states that it is very common in that country, growing wild in all localities. "The fiber is readily extracted and is line and strong." Experiments with the liber of A*. r/ioinbi/o/iu demonstrated the fact that a card one-half inch in circumference would sustain a weight of 400 pounds. In speaking of Dr. Koxbonrgh's spccimcntu, lloyle says "the fibers are from 1 to 5 feet in length, and display a fine, soft, and silky liber, us well adapted for spinning m jute, but. i?>?.iiitely superior." The speeimeiitsof (Queenslaud lienip in the Department collection are very well prepared, ami quite strong; the liber, in color, is grayishwhit*'. The Victorian sample, while strong, is dark colored, and has been poorly cleaned. As far baek as 1889, the Officer of Fiber Investigation received from South Carolina statements regarding .S'. rh'imhij'nliii, which, on the authority of .1. 1'. Porclicr, of Kutawvillc, iu that State, had been known as a weed throughout that region for many years, at least since 1880. Later, when visiting Charleston, my attention was called to tin* plant by Dr. I'nnkuin, who stated that it had made its appearance in comparatively recent years, and was now a common roadside weed. As it was early in dune, the stalks hud not sufficiently matured to give particular evidence of value as a liber plant, although later some good handprepared samples of the fiber were secured. ' Learning that Hon. G. D. Tillman, <?f Charles IIill, S. C.t lm<l cultivated the species us a forage ]>lant, I wrote to liiin for statements regarding it,and in time received n reply, dated October 10, 181)0, from wilicli brief extracts have been taken, as fellows: I have several acres of this plant growing for pneturo only. It is neither lit for hay nor for soiling, but it is a good pasture plant for cuttle, sheep, and hogs. Horses do not seem to relish it much, while cattle in particular appear to like it and thrive on ii jiiiiioni Jin ? 11 jin it | m mi ?" ji j ill (i cnn cr lfjrxjtcd'za striata). The plant has a wonderful top root and ft large leaf, besides the habit, where left to reseed itself, of standing very thick on the land nnd shading almost every inch of the surface of the soil. For these reasons I have thought it must be nil excellent green manure plant, nnd am trying some experiments to test it as such. It looks very much like Ijcrpede/ft w hen young, comes up early in the spring and remains green till frost. It spreads rapidly in waste clay land along fence rows, in brier patches, etc., but on account of the seed being much larger it does not spread nearly so fn^t as f.eapedezn. I never have seen it growing on sandy soil. It ft fleets hard pun altogether, either clay or compact gravel. 1 do not remember seeing a sprig of S. rhomttifolia until about four years ago, when a small jof it first appeared in the back yard of my resi(Icnce, whence it has spread over tlio yard, covering an acre or more land, anil scattering sprigs of it are appearing here and there at nmneroua localities over the large plantation. Last summer I saved d or 1 bushels of seed, and in the fall scattered thein about in waste places and in uiy pasture, with what result I can not tell, us I have had no opportunity to make in examination on account of having been detained at Washington all the year. I was so much interested in the plant for pasture and green manure that when I came on at the opening nf the present session, last December, 1 bought a sprig of Sida with me to submit to l)r. Yasey for identification and name. I ant glad to hear from von now that my mucilaginous pet Sida, "when planted thickly and allowed to mature, produces a line liber," a virtue i did / , ? *not dream it posHosecd, although Iliad often obaervcd the great toughlieas and strength of its bark. In cauvnssing the Second Congressional district and traveling about the State last jrtint, I discovered the plant flourishing in the waBto places of the streets in nearly every village and town. I aUo found it thriving in the luuos and along the roadside of the forest lands In the Tertiary formation, or "low country" of South Carolina, whero a clay subsoil prevails, and wherever thero was moisture its well ns clay (in a shallow ditch, for instance) encllsci arato sprig of thick-growing Sida won 3, 4, and sometimes 5 or (5 feet high. One strik ing peculiarity of the plant is that a single sprig growing by itself will buneh, or rather braueh out from Hi stein iust above mound, so as to re semble a squatty thicket of many short limbed shrubs? with only one root, however?but when the sprig grown thickly, each from its own root, the plants ere straight end without limbs, or knots, on tho stems, except ?t the very top, ft lid lis tough us hickory, boxwood, or pcrlinps nuy other wood. The popular mime of #V. rho in hi folio in Lower Carolina is "TeaPlant," and there ttrC millions of acres of land with clay subsoil in thiitsectioll of the Stat well adapted to its growth, much o which can be cheaply irrigated if nee cssftry in caso the plant should provcommercially useful ns a fiber yielder About this time it was leaf It ed tier Mr. Voluev D?it???ing, of Atlanta, 'in., had been experimenting with the Sidi. for its fiber, and nu interesting cor teMpondtJdCe followed. Heed of ?S'id, rc.fu.sa was imported by hint from Australia in March, 1800, and plnntc in April. The seed was nearly ii weeks in germinating, and the plant, grew very slowly during the next si> weeks after making their appearance Their growth was rapid in August am September, however, and some goo, stalks, measuring almost fi feet i length, were obtained. No fiber fron these stalks was received by the IV pnrtment, although a lot of the stalk' wore shown in tho fiber collection n the Department at the Chicago Kx position. In a communication to Mr Dunning from the Technological Museum, Sidney, some interesting statements regarding this species nr. made the plant being called "Piidd^v Lucerne.". Extracts are as follows. Paddy Lucerne just as frequently goes by file name of Queensland hemp, nml is fust becoming ?i noxious weed in 1 lies coastal districts of New South Wales and Queensland, although it thrives most in the wanner latitudes, i. p., as far scutll as Jtiehnioncl and Florence. Its botanical name is Sida I'/iomtjifotia (refund). Linn., and it belongs to the natural order Mutrumr, a natural order notorious for the number of useful fibers it contains. The fiber is somewhat like jute, but it nppeara even superior to that well-known article. One plant is closely allied to the Sufrf Uariala of India (Si da r/ioniftnidtt, lloxb.), tic filter of which was described as "delicate llax-likc fibers of great strength." It appears to be in every respect superior to jute. The better known fibers of India ltosella hemp, (lliitisrux naftdarijt'a) and Ambaree or brown hemp (11. can Haitians) are both of them closely allied to our fiber, and the plants flourish in similar situations. The plant in Queensland grows from 3 to H feet in hight, and the value of the filter has been stated from ?150 to $'200 per ton. S. rvfuna is one of the verities of S. rhotufti/olia, of Linu, six being recognized in India. Another variety which has been experimented with in India with good results is the V. rhoinlnii(l< ft. It lias been demonstrated by experiment in that country that Sidn fiber is superior to jute, that under hydrolysis, or blenching and cleaning with alkali, "it loses a very much smaller proportion of its weight is therefore less easily disintegrated by the action of water, and is consequently more durable." The fact that its stalks nre not more than half the length (or size) of jute is a disadvantage, compared with jute, as indicating a much smaller yield. George Watt, of the llevenuc and Agricultural Department of India, was of the opinion, a... .. ..4. n..,i ..... .......... . .......... ...O, ...... the properties of the Shin fiber rccommen<U*(l it as worthy all the time and expenditure necessary to ascertain whether or not- all its advantages nre counterbalanced, from the money standpoint, by a less acreage in yield. Thirty years ago the liber of "S'ufcf bariafa" (?V. rlinmlxxli(l'(i), as produeed in India, was considered worth from $2<r> to inure per ton than jute. Tn a report on the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of 1880, the special advantages of Sidn fiber over jute are stated to be: The fineness of the fiber ("it is not half as coarse ns jute") as well as its purer quality, enabling it to be spun into finer yarns than jute, which would bring it into uses that jute has never been able to reach. It takes dyes better than jute, and is a better color in its raw state, being described as "a beautiful silvery w hite." My own conclusions regarding tlic cnliivution of Hie j>lnnt on Ann rienn soil based it poll tlic result of limited experiment, it is true, and from examining stalks from difleroilt localities ? would lend me to sl.it that. tin* plnnt is too slow in { rowtb, to make it of commercial value us a liber plant Audit is doubtful if the bust will yield us readily to treatment us jilt", for when steeped in water it is said to require almost double the time necessary to properly macerate the jute bast. (To bo continued.) Col. Tazewell Ellett lias been none tinted for congress by the Democrat of the 3d Virginia district, centenn, in Richmond. PI#1r NEWS ITEMS, ' Congressmen Ch.ns. L. Moros, of tlio 4th Georgia, and Carter Tate, of tlio Oth Georgia districts liave been renominated by the Democrats. The new flouring mills nt Raleigh, N. C., arc named the "Farina," and the capacity will be 100 barrels daily. A tobacco factory is being built at Ihirliugton, 8. C. A meeting of colored Republicans of Richmond county, On., at Augusta, endorsed Senator Walsli for re-election to the Senate, and condemned Atlanta negroes for opposing a government appropriation to the Atlanta exposition. Robert Mntkins was banged nt Darlington, Friday, for raping Miss Mary l'liillips. To show the extent of the melon trade in Wake county, N. C., it may he stated that one grower has eight acresin cantaloupes, ileliassold 0,000 in Raleigh and half the crop has not been pulled. The terrible drought in tlio West lino cut short the corn crop several hundred million bushels. In three days tho price in Chicago advanced twenty cents n bushel. As the Smith's corn crop is safe, and iik it will be about 500,000,000, bushels, an incrense of twenty cents a bushel would menu all increase in value??fabout :$100,000, Olio. Jiverything Bccms to favor the South this year. The Santce River Cypress Lumber Co. has been incorporated at Columbia, S. C., with a capital stock of $d00,000, and will operate a plant. Georgia's first lade of cotton of this season's crop sold at Ainericus at 10Jo per pound. The probabilities are that ex-Secretary Stephen U. Klkins, of West Virginia, will oppose Hon. William L. Wilson for congress in his district. At Durham, N. C., A. W. Graham, of Oxford, wns nominated for Congress in the fifth district by tho Democratic convention. At Kalcigli, N. C., a negro wns arrested and lined for kissing a colored girl; she had him arrested 011 tho charge of theft. A cigarette cast away by a small boy iu the pavilion of the Philadelphia Hall Club caused a loss to the insurance companies of $120,000. A big fire in St. Paul, Minn., destroyed $120,000 worth of property, Including a bridge belonging to the city. STORM AT LEESBURC. VA. A Tempernce Tent Blown Down with Disastrous Results. A speciul from Leesburg, Va., says a destructive wind, rniu ami lmil storm caused a serious loss of life ami limb at the temperance mass meeting at I'urcellville. The largo tent, sheltering about 2,500 people, was blown down. In its fall John Nichols; of Philainont,. was killed; Mrs. l>nnbar, Mr. Kehooley, Mrs. Peacock and snvoral others Were severely hurt, while Mrs. Samuel 1>. Leslie had her back severely injured, ami it is thought she will die. Trees were uprooted, carriages blown over and destroyed, and much property in the neighborhood injured. A Big Fruit Farm. In Loudoun County, Va., is one of the largest fruit farms in the country. It contains 00,000 vines, 4.">,000 pencil trees, 8,000 quince and pear trees, and several hundred English walnut and' Italian chestnut trees. The enterprise began as the experiment of two broth; era who hclicvett unit ine nomnri. Virginia country was admirable suited to tlie growing of fruits. They liriit bought 500 acres of liitnl on Loudoun Heights and the lirst season planted it peneli orchard. This was in 18.X7. Since that time they have increased their holdings steadily, and their fruit farm promises to rival the largest ranches on the Pacific Const. A Woman Acrona/t Killed. Nakhvim.k, Tbnn.?A horrible tragedy was witnessed hy a large crowd of spectators at Cllendale Park near this city. Miss Lulu Hnndall, of l>etroit, Mich., who has for some time past been Ill H K1IIK I'HlllMUl aKCCllMnllK WHS almost instantly killed. She ascended safely to about '2,0(10 feel altitude. When the signal was given, she out tin- parachute Iposc. It opened and she descended safely until she was alum! 75 feet from theground when theparaehutc drifted into a tree with sneh.foroe that she whs thrown against a limb and her hold broke loose. She foil to the ground, and, though physicians were summoned, died soon after the fall. The remains were,sent to Detroit. A Masonic Picnio a Great Sictcss.'' ' Mocksvim.p, N. C.?:The Masonic picnic was a succi'ss. There 'wis.^ ':tn immi.ncn ?r?u<1 M H i It I: hilir'llll. of Spartanburg, H. 0., dt-livered u i*iiiih!i?><I, scholarly address on ??Tusonry. Capt. Clias. F. McKesson, of Morganton, apoke to the Confederate veterans and inado a ttri? impression oil the audience. His talk war. tilled with practical, rolid thoughts and tic people were delighted with hint. Ahont $700 will he sent the Oxford Orphui , Asylum. . ? Carlisle Encourage <i Abo it Col J. Washington, 1). C.?Secretary Carlisle is a good deal eneournged regarding the Treasury outlook hy the eessn tiou of exports of gold during the last, few days, the increased receipts of the yellow metal and the prospect of an early settlement of the tnrill' contest. Former Starts ofy/Ohn Sims Hare a Reunion. . Ttai.v, Tj?x.~Arctluion df ex slavea took place at the old Sims homestead; About two miles and a half northwest of Italy, on the 25th ult. This reunion was instigated over ft year Ago by Gilbert Sims, nil old ex-slave nnd now a prosperous and contented citizen of Italy, for the purpose of bringing together all the former slavos of the lamented John Sims and their descendants for social intercourse nnd to talk over the times of long ago'. About twenty-five of tho ex-slaves were present and about 250 of their children nnd grandchildren. Tho descendants of John Sims to tho number of about 100 were present, and also about 200 more white people, either old settlers or their descendants. Anderson Brack, colored, now of Waco, marie a speech, in which he allnrieri to the kindness of his old master and reviewed the good old times of long ago. He said lie was now looking forward to the bright day of promise for his race. Will Burnett, a young descendant of one of the old ex-slaves, spoke on tlio advantages of education and tho advances that were being mnda by tho colored people, and complimented thein on their strict adherence to law ami order. Ho talked very feelingly to tho young people, advising them to l>o honest, honorable, law-abiding eiti /?>???., loyal to home and to tho Government. One old ex-slave said: "Would to God old master could have been spared to see this day." Modern Unguents and Sal re. Various elegant preparations have superseded tho coarse uugueuts and salves of former times. It would bo impossible iu our limited space to give a just idea of tho wonderful improvements that have been made iu this branch of pharmacy. Perhaps one of tho most notable improvements is tho preparation of an animal fat, called lanoline, which is now used as the basis of a largo number of oiutincuts. Unlike lard, which lias generally been employed for this purpose, it never turns rancid; and it has the valuable nronertv of being readily absorbed by tho skin, and pouetrating with friction to its deeper layers; therefore, it becomes a most efficient vehicle for conveying medicines through the skin. "When mixed with mercury and rubbed into the pores, it has caused the peculiar metallic taste of the drug to bo perceptible in the mouth three minutes after its application. Tn its impure crude form, this fat was known to the aneient Greeks, and employed by them in medicine, being extracted from tho wool of sheep. The chemist has now purilied it, and made it one of tho most useful agents that, we possess for applying medicines to the skin.?Chambers's Journal. S/'inners Kick on Closely Woven Bagging. New Yoiik City.?Tn spite of the . present low price of cotton bagging, there seems a disposition among sonic Southern merchants to supply tho planters with second-hand materials of various kinds for coveringee halei:. " ' 1 -1 1. -it. V . . a.4 1 1 r?|)l IUH'l'S llllll CXjmnerb, IIUUI ill mm South, urc giving notice that they will refline to receive cotton unless covered in the regular way. Their condeninatioii especially applies to close-woven taiga or hugging which, ns one spinner writes, "Take water more easily, hold it longer and cause great damage from staining and rotting cotton next to tliu 1 lagging." Ten Boys KilleJ by Lightning. A l)e Kalb,Tex.,special srfya: About it o'clock a crowd of boys and men inct in a small prairie nine miles south of town and were playing baseball. A shower came up .during the game, and they all ran to a large oak. I igntning struck the tree and ten worn killed outright?John Jacobs, Walter Atliley, Tom I3)unchurd, Will Huntley, John Jackson, Chris 1'etty,Will Walsh. AI unit a do/.cn of the boys were hurt and it is thought sumo of them will die. ? Left an Orphan at 84 fears. Woonmuv, N*. J. ? William Lynch, a laborer on the farm of Jacob Murphy, of Worrell, Gloucester county, is H-t years old. He wns recently left an orphan by the deatli'tVf his father, who was over 100 years nf*i?ge. Lynch can till perforin a good, day's work, and thinks nothing of walking to Alcyon I'ark and back, a distance of 14 miles, when he wants a little recreation. Wyoming Democrats. The Wyoming Stat e'Dftmoernt ic convention met af Cheyenne. Their platforin contains , no reference to tho Cleveland administration, but adopted free and unlimited eniniton of silver at the rutin of 1(5 to 1,' denounces tho Denioorntic supporters of tin* tarilF bill, ami pronounces tho > Wilson bill only it partial fulfillment of tho promises of tho hint. J)emofratio national convention ami ilechires in favor of electing Senators by popular vote. ? Din Tin Plain M/nr'sr in Ito Sinrifiri "' J "? - ? ?? PiTTBrnmo, Pa.?Genorul Manager Oliver, of tho Oliver Iron, and Steel Company, is authority for tho statement that the South Fifteenth itreet .plant of the company will soon ho turned into one of the largest tin plain works in tho world. The Capital stock will, it is said, he $500,000. It is expected that the plant will he in operation in a few months. Tn Sydney, Australia, it is th? fashion to keep tho hodios of the dead till Sunday in order to insure a largo attendance at tho funeral.