Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, June 27, 1872, Image 1
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YOL. 18. YORKYILLE, S. C., THURSDAY, JUNE .27, 1872. , NO, 26.
' ' * i J 1
m frfee Jfatg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
AN HEIRESS IN HER OWN RIGHT.
^ BY EMILY J. ROMEO.
m CHAPTER XII.
% AN OLLA PODRIDA IN WHICH THERE IS AS j
' LITTLE OF THE PLOUGHSHARE, AS IN CHAP- j
TER XI.
"To grow lovely at duty?to make our actions !
rebound upon ourselves?is the hardest, but the
noblest part of all."
Before going on with the dry details of
every-day cares and perplexities, felt by
those who, from the summit of fortune, sank
into unexpected difficulties and privations,
we will give an incident which occurred
shortly after the boys returned home, and
had a greater effect on future events than
was dreamed at the time.
It was Sunday evening. The whole family
were gathered in the parlor or around the
windows on the piazza, and one and another
had related incidents which had fallen under
his observation during the war. Mr. Ellison
had closed quite a tribute to the women of
Virginia, when Mr. Elliott began?
"You all unite in praising the courage and
bravery of the women of the border States ;
but I can give an instance of greater heroism
that happened right here, than any you have
related?one which the modesty of the heroine
has kept from being told, till it seems
doing her injustice to let it remain a secret
any longer."
Grace made a deprecatory movement, but
her father would not heed it So she slipped
into a seat where she was half hidden by one
of the window curtains, and Mr. Elliott went
on?
"There was a hard-headed father who
would not think this State could be overrun
like others?who thought the enemy had but
to touch its soil to be annihilated?and who
^ would not listen patiently to any one who
differed from him, till he received a visit
from an old college chum, whom he loved so
well he could not quarrel with in his own
house for believing things entirely dissonant
from him, though he did dissent considerably.
The result of the visit was that a
daughter of the wrong-headed man thought
it very probable an army might pass through
here as easily as through Georgia. So she
went to work to learn every island and spot
for miles around, which might be used as a
place of temporary concealment She explor
ed every bay, swamp, island ana nammocK,
and followed every by-road and tangled path
till she knew all its bearings. She had the
plate, jewels and heirlooms of the family
buried here and there, and for a few weeks
was as busy as any engineering corps. She
arranged a set of signals, in case of emergency,
and was ridiculed and laughed at for her
efforts and perseverance. But her reply was,
'I hardly expect to ever have use for my
newly-acquired knowledge; but, father, if it
should be needed.' And with that she would
have her way; for no one could say what
unexpected dangers might arise.
"Events proved the wisdom of her plans
and forethought. Sherman's army came as
sudden and numerous as a cloud of locusts ;
and nothing but one of those providential
circumstances which show that good deeds are
never lost, saved the place and family from
wanton ravage; while the father, knowing
himself unable to do any good, and unwilling
to be taken prisoner, was hiding in the swamps
and taking care of the horses. A neighbor
was his only companion. It was the second
night of camping out; they had not been
molested, and danger was scarcely thought
of, as an old and favorite negro had come with
supplies and messages purporting to be from
the family, but in reality as a spy; yet some
slight precautions were taken, in case unfriendly
parties might come upon them. In
the middle of the night a signal was heard
which sent a thrill of horror to one heart, and
on answering it, who should it be but the
f daughter, who, aided by one of the enemy's
men, had gone all the way through the darkness
and dangers to warn her father that the
negro had betrayed him, and a party were to
attack him at day-break. Now, do you won
der that I think my Grace a greater heroine
than any lady in Virginia?"
Exclamations of surprise and questions for
full particulars followed in rapid succession;
and Grace herself had to tell it all over before
they would be satisfied.
Conway's tears fell freely. She reproached
herself for the way she had treated Grace
after her receiving Captain Clinton's parting
9alute; and now it turned out to have been
one of the most delicate acts of honor and
reverence.
Mr. Ellison and Russell complimented
Grace in the highest terms. Arthur called
out, "Bully for you, cousin Grace?you're a
trumpand all made some flattering remark,
except Jack, who took both her hands without
a word.
"T kolioxm ko xoonfa tn lriec tthii " pripd
Arthur.
Grace looked up, and Jack did press his
lips to her forehead. A hush fell on the
room, and Arthur felt as if he had said something
out of place?a new thing for him.
The look and kiss haunted Mrs. Elliott,
and she said to her husband that night?
"I do hope we are making no mistake in
regard to Grace. I am afraid Arthur is too
coarse for her."
"O, Arthur will do well enough. He's
good hearted, and will have polish and softness
after his camp ways wear off."
Mrs. Elliott was not satisfied. "I don't
think Conway cares much for Jack. I wish
they had been left to their own choice without
so much intriguing by older relatives.
They would have been happier, I'm sure."
"It would have been just as it is now, if
they had. Arthur has always been fond of
Grace, and claimed her, and Jack has to fall
back on Conway, or marry some girl without
her charms; for there isn't her equal in the
State, except Grace."
"But suppose," said Mrs. Elliot, "Jack and
Grace are better suited for each other than?"
"0, nonsense! They are all suited well
enough as they are."
Mrs. Elliott said no more. Arthur was a
favorite with her husband, and he could see
no fault or failing in him; but she joiued
Grace in putting Arthur off, when he began
to talk of a positive engagement and a speedy
marriage.
wr "You wouldn't be so cold if it was Jack,"
said he, roughly, one day.
"I look upon cousin Jack as my future
brother-in-law," replied she with dignity.
"I'll be hanged if he looks on himself in
that light/' and seeing that he had hurt and
offended Grace, he tried to make friends;
i only, however, to render his cause more hopeless
than ever.
He tried to sound Jack as to when he was
going to end his engagement, but received a
short answer.
"It was no time for a man to think of
marrying, when he didn't know as he'd have
a cent of property to live on, and no profession
or means of earning even the bread
he ate."
"You're a fine fellow to talk of having no
property," retorted Arthur, who had always
felt a little sore that his step-father's will had
not left his property at the disposal of his wife,
for Arthur's benefit, and so Jack's portion
was the largest.
"I shan't be the only one to talk it, if negroes
really are free, as is probable."
"What do you call thousands of acres of
land, bank stock, railroad stock, and a dozen
other kinds of stock ?" said Arthur, angrily.
"I call the land all the real property I
own. The stock uncle Elliott disposed of in
such a way it is doubtful if it's worth a picayune.
With our habits and way of living, I
don't think we are on the high road to wealth."
"Hang it!?don't begin to croak. The
idea of such fortunes as ours being gone is
preposterous. We're all upset just now, but
things will straighten out before long, and
then I reckon I'll pay myself off for some of
the good things I missed during the war."
"Don't be too sure of it, Arthur. Things
don't settle down into their old channels after
a civil war, and the negro question may cause
trouble yet. We may be entering upon more
gloomy times than any we've passed."
"Why don't you turn preacher, Jack?
You'd beat uncle Ellison. He's been dingdonging
in that same straiu?'negroes gone?
depreciated currency?always distressing times
in every country after a war?young men
should be doing something'?and a dozen
things still more disagreeable. He even
threw Tom Wright up to Russell and me.
If it had been any one else, he'd have heard
from us; but we all take any thing from
him."
"Well, he couldn't have thrown up a better
fellow, I'm sure. I wonder I never thought
of taking him for a modeland Jack picked
up his hat and was off down the road, without
a single whistle, shout, or merry song, as was
his usual custom.
"Well, Jack may go crazy and believe in
poverty, hard work and living by 'rules of
duty,' as he calls it; but he'll not put his low
notions into my head, I'll be bound," muttered
Arthur. "Our property all lost but the land; I
I shall have to see it to believe it." And he J
lighted a fresh cigar and stretched himself
lazily in one of the large easy-chairs.
Mr. Elliott had sent two or three letters to
his overseer, requesting him to write what he
was doing, how the crops were, with other
particulars, and to forward his replies by
certain negroes named, that he wanted to
come down immediately for house servants.
After a loDg silence, he wrote again and
again ; but no answers came, and he concluded
to go up and see how things were getting
along?a proceeding some men would have <
carried into execution weeks before?but Mr.
Elliott did not like traveling, unless he could
go with every convenience and luxury at his
elbow. Riding horseback or in a carriage
and stopping at night in strange places, was a
great hardship, and the railroads were repaired
only part of the way on his route.
He returned from his trip gloomy and
depressed.
His overseer had done the best he could ;
but crops were late, some of the negroes were
gone, some worked badly, and affairs generally
were not going on so smoothly as was to be
desired. One letter only had been received ;
- ' ?* ?5* 1- 1- I J
Due toe negroes sent wuu a repiy iuu uut
thought best to obey orders, and had stopped
to idle and half starve on the road, till they
could make their way to Charleston. The
city had such attractions that many negroes
thought it greater happiness to live there in
want, than on a farm in comfort.
A new set was selected to go down as
house-servants, and four of them arrived in
due time, to the relief of the ladies of the
house, though they were far from being as
efficient as the well-trained ones of other days.
Some of the relatives Mr. Elliott visited
were getting along very well. Some had
receiyeu a call from Sherman's army and lost
a great deal; while others had been in Columbia
and shared the hard misfortunes of
the burned and devastated portions of that
beautiful but unfortunate city. How they
lived was a mystery, and yet their complaints
were not so loud as those of the families who
had only lost a part of their provisions and a
few of their household conveniences. They
sighed to go back to their old homes, many
nf which were burned or in the hands of
negroes and yankees on the islands; or they
wished to leave the country and live under a
different government. No one was settled
and contented; and taking the whole bearing
of matters, public and private, into consideration,
Mr. Elliott was not the only one
who had cause for low-spirited apprehensions.
Winter came, and the negroes were brought
down and engaged for the following year.
The crops made had not paid plantation and
family expenses; but credit was good, and
Charleston merchants were glad to advance
supplies on the promise of payment during
the coming fall. That some men did make
good crops and cleared themselves, by using
great economy, is known; but many, alas!
with the best intentions, fell behind thousands
of dollars. The negroes did not work.
Family expenses were often on as magnificent
a scale as before the war, and those who
wished to retrench did not know how.
There was more loud and bitter talk on
political subjects than sober views and discussions
on getting business into such settled,
regular channels, that employed and employers
could both have their rights; that incomes
and outgoes could be computed with
a degree of certainty, and family expenses
brought within just bounds.
It is easy enough to have one's wants increase
and adapt themselves to a great income;
but it is difficult?very difficult, indeed?to
leave those artificial wants and go from affluence
to narrow, limited means.
Russell and Arthur thought there would be
enough for them to do in riding round the
plantation and superintending whatever Mr.
Elliott had generally attended to, and leave
him to enjoy himself at leisure; but Jack did
I not want to do that. He wished to hire
I
j hands and go on his own place, or to go into
j some business in the city. He thought he
\ should lrke country life best, but was young
, enough to give on$ year to some other purI
suit, and see if he really understood the bent i
of his own genius. He wished to do somej
thing or be something for himself.
Mr. Ellison approved of Jack's plan; but
Mr. Elliott fumed over it some time, before
, lending his influence to get him a good sitl
uation.
"If Jack wasn't an Elliott he was a con;
nection, and from just as good a family, and
i there was no use in doing anything beneath
I him ; but then Jack always did try to be
different from other young men in his station."
But all Mr. Elliott could say did not move
I Jack, and the first of the year found him
working for a salary, and a very handsome
! one, too, for one who knew the value of money,
j Jack did not know it, for he was partly spoilt
I by prosperity and association with rich spendthrifts;
but he promised his uncle Ellison
nnt tn run in deht. to live within his salary,
and to keep an exact account of all his expenditures.
"It was like his early school-days," he said
laughingly, "when he had an allowance, and
was not permitted to spend one dime more, no
matter what happened."
CHAPTER XIII.
the "ruined spendthrift" who had lost
everything and still was proud, claimed
kindred there, and had his claims
allowed.? one of the "i don't see
why's."
"Though victuals and drink were the chief of iter diet,
Yet this old woman could never be quiet."
It seemed as if, with four or five servants,
there would have been little to do; but it
was not the case. They neglected so many
things, did others so badly, and were so slow
and indolent, Conway and Grace still had
many extra duties to perform. Neither could
sit down to sew or read with the house in disorder,
and the more they did to keep the
house neat and orderly, the more the servants
thought they ought to do. The house wa3
always full of company, now. It was one
uncle, with his family, to spend two or three
months, while he arranged business preparatory
to carrying them to the city; and another,
whose house was not finished when he
expected; or, it was some cousins on a few
weeks' visit; and when there seemed to be a
little pause in the arrivals, who should appear
but cousin Tim Elliott and his sister, Letitia.
These two were relatives, who had squandered
a large patrimony, and then settled down as
hangers-on to their more wealthy kin.
Always to be supported and waited on,
never by chance doing any thing for themselves
or any one else?boasting of their for
mer glory, and proud of their connection with
a great family?they were no more than tolerated
dependants?the fag-end of a good
family, without the virtues of their ancestors
or the good qualities of their contemporaries.
They had circulated, as it were, among their
relatives, living most with those who allowed
them the greatest privileges and the most
spending money. Growing more selfish every
year, and more exacting in their claims, it
had been a relief that they had chosen to go
up the country, when "cousin Claude" had
decided to remain at his pine-land place.
A few soldiers had passed where they were
refugeeing, and though they destroyed but a
few dollars' worth of things, no one was louder
in complaining of losses than they. With
the first opportunity, they had hastened down
to "cousin Claude's," and, as if conferring a
great favor, declared their intention of never
leaving again.
Mrs. Elliott felt it was more than she could
bear to have them always; but as Mr. Elliott
left it with her to decide whether they should
stay or be pensioned off, she concluded to
bear with them a few months, and try and
have their stay productive of as few disagreeable
incidents as possible. Even Stuart
and little Alice felt their presence a weight
and restraint.
Cousin Letitia did not have a pleasant disposition,
and it required a great deal of patience
and forbearance to get along with her
peculiarities and irritability. Some of the
Elliott kin would not let her stay with them,
but Mrs. Claude Elliott had a great deal of
Christian charity, and felt sorry for the poor
old lady who had no home and so few friends.
Miss Letitia was one of the "I don't see
why's." It was, "I don't see why," from
morning till night. "I don't see why this
chicken "7as fried so brown or, "I don't see
why they didn't cook it a Jittle more." "JL
don't see why the rice was boiled so soft, or
the hominy so stiff." "I don't see why tke
milk has so Jittle cream now-a-days." "I
don't see why there are so few eggs." "I don't
see why every one else can have so many
new clothes, and I have to take up with so
few." "I don't see why brother Tim and I
should lose our property, and all the other
Elliotts grow as rich as Croesus." "I don't
see why that little fly-away, Grace Archie,
must refuse brother Tim, to fall in love with
that poor Ellison boy; and why he should
grow rich and influential, and poor Tim meet
with nothing but bad luck." "I don't see
why people should say I begin to look old?
I'm sure it's more for spite than any thing
else." "I don't see why Alice should object
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to ray ieeumg nei wih,rcud , uuu A v.^^. w
why Stuart was so rude as to say uncle Ellison
was his teacher, when I wanted to hear his
j lesson." "I don't see why the servants don't
j answer me as soon as the others," etc. She i
i was old Miss "I-don't-see-why" with a great
many people behind her back.
Brother Tim was perfection in her eyes,
and it was tiresome to hear her repeated I
! praises of his wonderful virtues and graces, i
j Tim was one who thought money and family
I were all a man needed to carry him safely
J through this world, and a3 to another one, it
j gave him little concern. He had read a little, |
I talked a great deal, and come to the concluI
sion that what he didn't know wasn't worth
' knowing. It never entered his head that his ;
i charming company was not a full equivalent'
| for the victuals he ate, liquor he drank, cigars 1
I he smoked, and clothes he wore. Pompous i
J and conceited, he was no noisy brawler, and j
I his affection for Letitia was a good trait in ;
his character. She worshipped him, and he |
| looked with a lenient eye on her increasing
sourness and irritation.
If we say little of these two ancient hangerson,
it must still be borne in mind they were
settled upon the Elliotts, a burden in many
respects, and a daily, hourly trial to the patience
of one or more of the family.
I The year wore on, and Mr. Elliott's plan
tation expenses had sunk him some twentyfive
thousand dollars. He was an honorable
man, unused to running in debt, like some,
and when he found, with all his efforts, he
had fallen far behind the year before, he did
the best he could ; but not willing to sell land
at a great sacrifice, mortgaged it to his creditors.
Of course, it took but a fraction of his
laud, aod time was given to redeem it. But
a man of sense begins to feel times are growing
pretty tight when real estate has to be mortgaged
for debt. It did not console Mr.
Elliott to learn that men no richer than himself
had lost twice as much; it only gave
him cause for graver fears. He found some
difficulty in raising meaus to begin the next
year as he had planned, but succeeded at last,
and hoped to be more fortunate in a crop and
getting work done than during the past twenty
months. But he had a harder lesson to
learn than he anticipated.
[to be continued next week.]
[Copied of the Enroir** contalnfne the previous chapters of
this Story can be furnished to new subscribers.]
fpMtttmwMUi Heading.
From the Greenville Enterprise.
SKETCH OF MONT T. J. WITHERS.
by ex-governor b. f. perry.
Judge Withers was a man of distinguished
talent and ability. His intellect was as keen
and bright as a Damascus blade, and he wielded
it on all occasions, in public and in private,
most effectually. Every word that fell from
his lips in conversation, on the Bench, or in
public speaking, had a telling effect. No one
was ever left in doubt as to his meaning when
he discussed any question. He bad moral
courage in a high degree, and cared not whom
he pleased or offended. He was very sarcastic
and bitter in his denunciations of men
and measures. No one ever possessed less of
the demagogue than Judge Withers. No one
ever more conscientiously did what he thought
was right, regardless of consequences. He
was in bad health all his life, and somewhat
misanthropic. He never courted popularity,
and scorned the base means which others resorted
to for this purpose. The high public
offices which he filled were conferred on him
for his talents, ability and honesty, and not on
account of any personal popularity which he
possessed. There was a spice of malice in his
composition which delighted in wreaking itman
onrl monwirpq TTft WAR
as open as the day, and if he disliked any one,
he snowed it in a manner not to be mistaken.
Frankness was his characteristic.
Judge Withers was born in York District.
He told me his parents were "poor, obscure
and honest." In early boyhood, he displayed
great promise, and became the protege of
Judge William Smith, who was, at that time,
United States Senator. He was well educated,
and graduated in the South Carolina
College with high distinction. Immediately
after his graduation, he took charge of the
Columbia Telescope, and edited that paper
with great ability, for two or three years. In
the meantime he read law, and was admitted
to the bar. He was a fierce nullifier, and
when Governor Miller was brought out by the
nullification party, in opposition to his old
patron, Judge Smith, he resigned the editorship
of the Telescope. He would not abandon
his political principles, and he could not
enter the canvass against his old friend and
patron. He therefore, actuated by the most
honorable motives, stepped aside, and took no
part in the contest. Governor Miller was, at
that time, the only man in South Carolina,
who could have beaten Judge Smith. He did
beat him a few votes, which gave encouragement
and success to the nullification party in
South Carolina.
Judge Withers commenced the practice of
1 1 ? J ? J aaamima/) n
1BW ?fc Vv&UlUtJU, UllU BUUU ttU^UMCU a lUbiatni.
practice and a high reputation as a lawyer.
He was soon elected Solicitor of his circuit
over Chancellor Dargan, who was the opposing
candidate. The duties of this office he
discharged with great ability and impartiality.
His health became bad, and he resigned the
office, after he had filled it for many years,
and was several times reelected. He contined,
however, in his profession till he was elected
Circuit Law Judge of the State. He first
took his seat on the bench at Spartanburg,
and delivered a most admirable charge to the
grand jury. When court adjourned for dinner,
I complimented him on his self-possession
in taking his seat for the first time on the
bench. He said to me, "I was utterly confused
and embarrased, but the beauty of it
was, I let no one see it."
As a Judge, he was always clear, able and
learned. On the circuit he despatched business
with great promptness, and his opinions
in the Court of Appeals will compare well
with those of any other Judge. He acquired
considerable reputation as a writer whilst editing
a paper, and it increased through life.
There was great force and point in his style
as well as beauty of composition. His speeches
at the Bar were always logical and lucid,
sometimes fiercely denunciatory. He was a
very high-toned and honorable man, and no
one was more apt than himself, to denounce
and expose all meanness and dishonorable
conduct. He seemed to take great pleasure
in doing so, where he might sometimes have
passed it over without notice. He was by nature
very passionate, and his ill health made
him irritable and peevish. This sometimes
occurred on the Bench, and made him appear
wanting in proper courtesy.
In the trial of a case at Anderson for retailing
without license, the Hon. J. P. Reed was
defending, and Judge Whitner, then Solicitor,
was prosecuting. The Town Council had refused
to grant any license to retail spirits to
any one. This measure became very unpopular,
and defendant set it at defiance, hoping
that he could appeal to popular prejudice,
and be acquitted. The Solicitor, in order to
prove the retailing, put the defendant's counsel
on the stand, who stated that he did, on
some occasions, call for a drink, and paid defendant
for it. In the argument of the case,
the defendant's counsel declaimed forcibly
and at great length on the injustice of the indictment,
under the circumstances, and argued
an acquittal as a rebuke to such petty tyranny,
&c. In charging the jury his Honor said,
"There is only one question, gentlemen, for
your consideration in this case, and that is,
whether the defendant's counsel who proved
the retailing is to be believed on his oath?
If you think him worthy of credit, you will
find a verdict of guilty, otherwise your verdict
will be not guilty. Give the record to
the jury, Mr. Sheriff."
The Judge told me of a piece of malice and
passion on his part, which I did not think altogether
well founded. He was going" from
Camden to Sumter court in an old sulky. It
was late in the evening and raining very hard,
the weather, too, was quite chilly, and he
thought he would stop for the night at the
next house. He drove up, and the gentleman
who was pacing back and forth in a long piazza,
took no notice of him till he asked if he
could get to stay all night with him. The
gentleman replied promptly, that he did not
keep a public house, and continued his promenade.
This cold, inhospitable reception nettled
the Judge, and he said to the gentleman,
"I did not mistake your residence, sir, for a
hotel, but I thought your kindness and humanity
would prompt you to give shelter in
such weather as this, to a wet and suffering
j fellow-creature like myself. If there had been
; a public house any where on the road, I should
i not have called on you." By this time the
j gentleman ascertained who he was, and very
I politely asked him to light, and said he would
j be happy to have the pleasure of his company
j for the night. "No," said the Judge, "I will
i drive in the night through the rain to Sumter
Court House, before I will take shelter with
such a man as you are," and he drove off.
"This fellow," said the Judge, "was a wealthy
man, and a shining light in the Presbyterian
Church. He afterwards became a candidate
for the Legislature, and I took great pleasure
in telling about his inhospitable conduct,
which damaged his election considerably, and
he was defeated."
Judge Withers was, for a number of years,
a member of the Board of Trustees of the
South Carolina College. He told me, that a
young brother of his was represented to him
as being very talented, and he determined to
educate him. He gave him money, and sent
him to the South Carolina College. The
young man thought he needed a great deal
more clothing, <fec., that he had money to
purchase. Therefore, he opened accounts
with sundry merchants in Columbia, who all
sent their bills in due time to the Judge for
payment. His brother had given him no notice
of his indebtedness, and the Judge was
shocked at the amount of these various bills.
He immediately sat down and drew up a bill
for the board of trustees to request the Legislature
to pass, making it indictable and punishable
with fine and imprisonment for any
merchant to sell goods to a student of the
College, on a credit This bill provided further,
that if any lawyer should sue on, or attempt
to collect any such accounts, he was
also to be fined and imprisoned, and, perhaps,
stricken from the roll. When submitted to
the board of trustees, the extraordinary features
of this bill excited some mirth, and the
Judge could get no one to second his motion
for sending it to the Legislature. The Judge
was so much disgusted with the reception his
bill met in the board of trustees, that he swore
he would never attend another meeting of the
board, and never did to my reraembrauce.
Judge Withers married the sister-in-law of
Governor Miller, a Miss Boykin, who owned
a valuable plantation in Kershaw District,
and a large number of slaves. His treatment
to the slaves, and management of the plantation,
was so kind, indulgent and humane, that
it displeased some his neighbors, who said it
was a bad example in the neighborhood, and
demoralized the slaves on the other plantations.
This determined the Judge, as he told me
himself, to sell out and invest the proceeds in
bank stocks and bonds and mortgages. With
all of his temper and irritability, Judge Withers
was a very kind-hearted gentleman, and
most indulgent and affectionate in all the relations
of life. His house servants did pretty
much as they pleased, and he did not pretend
to watch over them. On one occasion, he
told me that his carriage-driver, in whom he
placed great confidence, was caught in a theft,
and he thought it was a good opportunity of
having a general confession of all his roguery
and rascality. He asked the fellow if he had
not been stealing his corn and fodder, and selling:
it. ' The boy declared that so far from
having done so, he did, on one or two occasions,
when the Judge was short of fodder,
steal a few bundles of one of the neighbors to
feed his horses with!
Judge Withers was elected a member of the
Southern or Confederate Congress, and assisted
greatly in framing the plan of Government
adopted for the Confederate States. I received
from him whilst in Montgomery, along
andjnost cordial letter from which I will
make a few extracts: "I am engaged in a
calling, at present, which is to me wholly novel.
I never dreamed of being a member of
Congress, especially one to make a Constitution,
and then laws under it Circumstances
seemed, to a majority, to demand imperatively
the exercise by this Congress of the legislative
power for a time, a short one I hope. I
have no taste for this kind of life, no penchant
for office, no art in concocting and executing
the schemes in which politicians delight and
thrive. * * * * I never had a doubt
on two points as to yourself: First, that you
would unflinchingly maintain your opinion to
the last: Second, that when the last came,
that is, when the State overruled your opinions
and took a final step, you would travel with
her. I heard, you so declared in December,
and it did, in no wise, surprise me. I was sure
I knew you too well to believe you one of those
prophets, who, having predicted a course taken
by his country to be unwise, hazardous
and evil, you would, to maintain his prophecy,
work to fulfill it. * * * You will have
seen before you read this, that Davis is assigned
to the Presidency, and Stephens to the
Vice-Presidency. Both elections were unanimous,
and the election of the latter will prove
to you that this Congress is not proscriptive."
On his return to Camden, he wrote me: "My
liking for active service in State affairs does
not increase, though it may grow on what it
feeds on. I am now in the ways of tough politicians,
and you know it is hard to learn an
old monkey new tricks. My place is about
the hearth-stone as I think, and I strongly
suspect my colleagues in political adventures
will give the same testimony."
In August, 1865, Judge Withers wrote rae
a long letter enquiring as to the duties of a
Judge under the circumstances in which our
State then was. lie commenced his letter by
stating, "I can avow, with all candor, that I
am glad the Executive power for this State
has been placed by the Executive of the United
States in your hands, for I think I know
you have those elements of true manhood in
your composition that will work out to individuals
of merit, and to the public, which
makes up what is left to the State, all the
good which we can expect in the unhappy
circumstances in which we are placed." At
the close of his letter he says: "I am in a very
inconvenient condition to discharge judicial
duties outside of my house. I have not a dollar,
and know not where to get one. My
estate, i. e. what was my estates, is in the
hands of others, and I have much reason to
apprehend they intend it shall remain there.
I mean the most of them. At present, they
seem to commend starvation to me, with that
philosophy, not unnatural to a full stomach,
when contemplating an empty one. I fear a
stern and high morality, in respect to contracts,
will not again be seen in your day and mine.
God preserve us against the leprosy of stoplaws
or pine barren laws, gotten up by rogues :
to cheat honest men."
Judge Withers was a man of great wit and
humor, and most scathing searcasm. He told j
me an amusing incident between him and the j
pastor of his church. The Rev. gentleman
applied to him to receive into his house, a
young lady for twelve months or so, whom he
represented as amiable, accomplished and
pious, really a most lovely and charming person.
The Judge said to me, the idea of making
a stranger a member of his family, was
what he could not think of for a moment.
He hesitated what to say, and at last, the idea
suggested itself of turning the application into
a TTo forvliorl rrarv CApinimlv "Afit T
U JUUV. **V AV^/Il^Vt |V.J WV**VMW?J MM ?.
see what you are after; you want to make mischief
between me and my wife." The clergyman
was so much shocked at his interpretation,
that he simply bowed and passed on to
seek quarters for his protege elsew here.
Jude Withers was a gentleman of ordinary
height, delicate, slender, with Grecian face and
features in character with his mind, sharp and
keen. He was a great talker and talked well.
1ST There is a very fatal epidemic among
the horses in Georgia.
DEATH OF THE ELEPHAST ROMEO.
Chicago, recently, was the scene of an event
the occurrence of which will excite interest
in almost every city, town, or village in America,
being do less than the death of the celebrated
performing elephant "Romeo," the largest
and most valuable of his species ever
brought to this country, and more famous
than any who have gone before him. Without
an elephant the most extensive of menageries
would be regarded as a total failure, and
in the possession of "Romeo" Adam Forepa
ugh has been for years been envied among
showmen. The animal had been ailing for
several weeks, the disease being located in his
for^ feet, which for some unknown cause, had
become affected with inflammation, resulting
in acute pain and which had been noticed by
a rapid wasting of flesh. On Tuesday last it
was determined to have an operation performed
upon "Romeo's" feet, and Dr. Boyd, of the
Chicago Medical College, was entrusted with
the undertaking.
An examination developed the fact that
numerous small bones of the feet had become
broken, detached, and dead, and accordingly
these bones were cut out, the process being accompanied
by the loss of several gallons' of
blood. No danger on this account was anticipated,
and it iSoelieved that the death of the
patient was not hastened from this cause, as
to an elephant the loss of a couple of buckets
of blood would be about equivalent to an ordinary
attack of the nose-bleed on the part of
one of the human kind. It was observed that
"Romeo" was suffering the most acute pain,
and it also became apparent that the inflammation
was rapidly extending upward toward
the breast. For the first time in two weeks
he laid down on Thursday night, his symptoms
of distress being so marked as to convince Mr.
Forepaugh that he was about to lose the most
valuable feature of his show. Early on Friday
morning the proprietor visited the menagerie
tent, and found "Romeo" lying in the
same position, his colossal flanks heaving with
quick, short gasps, his eye fixed and filming,
and the further extremity of the trunk cold
and pulseless. The sound of Mr. Forepaugh's
voice calling him by name was recognized by
the dying mastodon, and he attempted to raise
his head in response to the touch of his owner's
hand, but his strength was departed, his
life was ebbing fast, his head dropped back
upon the ground, and after a few weak, convulsive
struggles, he had ceased to breathe,
and all that remained of "Romeo" was a. monstrous
heap of inanimate flesh.
The circumstance occasioned a profound
sensation among the attaches of the show, who
gathered about the spot and sorrowfully surveyed
the huge carcase. Aside from the great
hnancial loss?estimated at $50,000? he had
sustained, Mr. Forepaugh was deeply moved
by the catastrophe, as he regarded "Romeo"
as the most valuable elephant in existence,
attributing to him a degree of intelligence almost
human. He had made a study of the
animal's peculiarities of dispooition, and had
succeeded in establishing the most affectionate
relations with him. "Why, dash it," said the
great showman, with a curious quiver of the
voice and a suspicious aversion of the head,
"he knew more than any trained horse I ever
owned. He knew he wasn't right these last
few weeks, and when I'd go up to him and
say, "How do you get along, old fellow, he'd
reach out his trunk and take my hand and
put it on his forelegs, as much as to say,
"There's where it hurt's me; can't you do
something to help it ?"
And then the disconsolate proprietor went
on to enumerate "Romeo's" shining qualities;
how he would do any conceivable trick in the
ring?stand on his forelegs or hind legs, turn
on a pivot, waltz, go lame, kneel down, walk
over his keeper's body, taking the nicest care
not to touch a shred of his clothing with his
nnnderous foot?in short, do anvthiner which
you could possibly think of asking an elephant
to do; how, when the wagons would get stuck
in the mud, old "Romeo," with the power of
a hundred horses, would get behind and push
them along with the greatest of ease; how,
when he was sulky and savage, and they had
thrown him down upon his side, he would lay
there a day or two before he would give up,
but finally would weaken, and with his pleading
eyes fairly beg to be released?and so on
with a volume of interesting reminiscences.
"Romeo" has an eventful history, having
killed five keepers since his advent in Ameriica,
besides destroying any number of fences,
barns, garden patches, cornfields, orchards,
etc. He was purchased by an agent of J.
Mabie, in Calcutta, about twenty-five years
ago, having been taken from a brick yard,
where he was being used in grinding clay.
The price paid for him was $10,000 in gold,
and he was brought to America along with
nine others. In 1852, while south of New
Orleans, he killed his keeper, known as "Long
John," whose successor, "Frenchy" Williams,
shared the same fate near Houston, Texas, in
1855; a third, Stewart Craven, was killed in
1860 near Cedar Rapids, Iowa; the fourth,
Bill Williams, was sent to his last account in
Philadelphia, in 1867, and the fifth, named
McDevitt, in Ohio, in 1869, completes the list
of "Romeo's" victims. In the winter of 1863
he made himself disagreeably conspicuous in
Chicago, by tearing to pieces the building in
whin.h he was oonfined. on the site of the
present City Hall, and was rushing out on the
street in a reckless manner, greatly to the
alarm of the inhabitants, who brought out a
cannon with which to cope with the formidable
monster, but he was recaptured before further
damage was done.
Similar depredations have been committed
by him in various places, and his grim hide
now bears the scars of numerous bullets and
red hot irons used to subdue him. His left
eye was shot out in 1865; near Philadelphia.
He was bought in 1863 by Adam Forepaugh
at an auction sale of Mabie's Menagerie, $25,000
being the price paid. He was held to be
worth at least twice that sum, Mr. Forepaugh
having been offered $10,000 a year for the nse
of him five years. His weight, when in full
flesh, was 10,153 pounds, and he stood 11 feet
11 inches high. He was supposed by competent
elephantine chronologists to be about one
hundred years old.
The body has been donated by Mr. Forepaugh
to the Chicago Medical College, where
the mounted skeleton and stuffed skin will be
placed in the anatomical museum. Scarcely
had "Romeo" breathed his last yesterday
morning when Mr. Forepaugh, with characteristic
energy, sent a telegram to his agent in
New York authorizing him to draw upon Jay
Cooke & Co. to the amount of $30,000, and
direoting him to proceed at once by the first I
steamer to London and purchase the wild and j
ferocious elephant caged in the British Zoological
Gardens, preferring an untamed specimen
because, as he queerly expresses, he will
be "less stupid and more ambitious" than one
which has been thoroughly subdued.
Woman's Hair.?Dr. Benj. Godfrey has
written a book on the "Diseases of the Hair." j
j He says that a woman's hair may grow to the
length of six feet, and that a young lady of'
Massachusetts refused a thousand dollars for i
her "cranial covering, which wtas only an inch
i short of this measurement." Four hundred
hairs of average thickness would not cover an
inch of space. The blonde belle has about
one hundred and forty thousand filaments to
comb and brush, while the red-haired beauty
has to be satisfied with eighty-eight thousand;
the brown-haired damsel may have one hundred
and nine thousand, the black-haired but
one hundred and two thousand. Few ladies j
consider that they carry some forty or fifty
miles of hair on their head ; the fair-haired j
may even have to dress seventy miles of thread
of gold every moraine, a uerman experimentalist
has proved tnat a single hair will
suspend four ounces without breaking, stretching
under the process and contracting again.
But the hair thuB heavily weighted must be
dark brown, for the blonde breaks dowu under
two and a hjlf ounces.
speec? of senator ransom.
In the United States Senate, on the 10th instant,
Mr. Buckingham, of Connecticut, made
a few remarks in opposition to a pending bill
removing the disabilities of ex-Gov. Vance,
which elicited from General Bansom, of North
Carolina, the following eloquent speech :
One word in reply to tliq Honorable Senator,
from Connecticut Let me say that I
have formed the acquaintance of that Senator,
and have been impressed with bis courteous
bearing to gentlemen on this door and his
apparent desire to do right But let me tell
hof Sonoinr th? npntimpnts which ho has iust
muu >jv,ul?w. wv"? ? . '; 1 ? - - j
given utterance to are not ,jme,sentiments to
cultivate the peace and harmony of the country,
or to exalt its character in the opinion of
.the world. Let me say to the Senator and to
the country that this great Republic cannot
'afford to be wanting in magnanimity.
I recall no instance in the history of civilized
nations when the character of the interest
of a people has suffered from the exercise of
magnanimity, that highest virtue in individuals
and States. I must say that the Senator
does not comprehend the genius and temper
of the people of the South. They are a brave,
generous, fair people, and the spirit and principle
of honor are, as they have ever been,
very dear to their hearts. It is true they took
up arras against the Government, and for four
years manifested, under unspeakable trials,
their devoted virtues, that if they did not
make their efforts successful, at least vindicated
them from dishonor. The war is over.
The people and States of the South have in
good faith acknowledged their allegiance to
the Government of the United States; nothing
but injustice, suspicion, and distrust on the
part of the North can interfere with the harmony
so essential to national prosperity.
The South desires peace and justice, liberty
and equal rights; a constitutional government
With these the Union will be perpetual. It
is true, Mr. President, that with the people of
my State and her Southern sisters I took up
arms against the Government, and stood faithfully,
I trust, by their fortunes until all hope
was extinguished. Nor do I blush to name it
here. It is not proper, nor have I the desire,
to discuss the right or wrong of these events
which have now passed into history. I prefer,
greatly prefer, as our people do, to unite with
all patriotic men in healing alt our wounds
ana bending all our energies to promote and
secure the peace, happiness, and honor of the
whole American people. And let me here in
my place say that if danger should from any
quarter threaten this country?if war with
England, with France, with Spain, with any
of the great powers of the earth should unhappily
come?I trust I should be found standing
with my gallant friend the Senator from
Missouri (Mr. Elair) and the equally devoted
Senator from Illinois (Mr. Logan) in defending
the honor and the flag of the country.
And let me say to the Senator from Connecticut
that if you will do the South justice,
and trouble should unhappily come upon the
country, you will find brave spirits among that
noble people locking their shields with the
gallant men of the North in defence of the
common home and soil, and that the same
high courage and heroic devotion and unshaken
fortitude which have ever characterized
our people, will be again displayed under the
flag that Washington first unfurled. Let me
again say to the Senator from Connecticut
that this great Republic will best cherish its
honor, its great name, and its mighty destiny
by the exercise now of justice, magnanimity,
generous and affectionate confidence toward
the people of the South.
Fbesh Grapes at all Seasons.?The
Stockton (Del.) Republican says: "We once
knew a gentleman who supplied his table with
fresh grapes from one season to another. His
plan was to gather when quite ripe, the largest
and finest bunches of grapes, and pack them
in sawdust, using in place of boxes, common
nail kegs, which he purchased for a trifle at
hardware stores. After carefully packing the
desired number of kegs, he buried a lot in a
trench dug in high dry ground beneath a shed
where the water could neither fall nor soak in.
Before using the sawdust, he carefully dried
it either in the sun or in an oven until it was
entirely free from moisture. We never witnessed
the packing process, but we know he
always had the grapes, and in this way he told
us he preserved tnem. After being buried
for months the grapes were as sweet and finely
flavored as if just gathered from the vines.
The process is cheap and may be easily tested.
If it will preserve the grape a new and profi-*
table business may be built up. Bunches of
fresh ripe grapes in the spring would be a
novelty, and being that, would command a
high price. We hope that some of our grape
growers will try the experiment."
, The New Wheat Crop.?The Knoxville
Press and Herald says: "The reports from
all parts of East Tennesse agree in representing
the present harvest of wheat one of the
largest that has been gathered in this section
of the State, and the quantity as fine as was
ever grown on the soil. There have been only
a few transactions yet in this year's product.
Mr. P. M. Williams, of this city, has purchased
/lalinumj son 1 of nf.Tlllv A fpw phnipfl
1U1 CWIJ UWilTQinouj ABV V? v y w -- .? ??
crops at one dollar and fifty cents per bushel.
Another large and very choice lot was sold,
delivery optional with producer, at $1.55.
This was purchased for milling purposes."
4^.
You are in a world of care and suffering?now
laboring under the embarrassments
ot Doverjy, now afflicted with the disgrace
and ingratitude of children, now pining in
the infirmity of disease, and now oppressed
by the insolence of power. Hold fast to religion.
It will console you amid the ills and
perplexities of life; it will be unto you as the
shadow of a great rock in a weary land; it
will bless you in the last of your days, and
conduct you to theglories of an eternal world.
Lime for Poison.?A standing antidote
for poison by oak, ivy, etc., is to take a handful
of quick lime, dissolve in water, let it stand
half an hour, then paint the poisoned part
with it. Three or four applications will never
fail to cure the most aggravated cases. Poisou
from bees, hornets, spiders bite, etc., are instantly
arrested by the application of equal
parts of common salt and bicarbonate of soda,
well rubbed in on the place bitten or stung.
I?" A little boy of tender years in court was
asked if he knew the obligation of an oath.
He quickly answered that he did. "What is
it?" said the Judge. "Itis to tell the truth,
1 ? it.; I 1. ?? (ITT
ana Keep noiuiug uac&. uuw u?u yuu
know this," was so sooner asked, when the
boy with a face beaming with joy and satisfaction,
and in a clear distinct voice said,
"My mother learned me."
? ? I
Greeley is a printer; Brown is an editor
; Grant is a tanner; Wilson is a shoemaker.
Greeley can set the type, while Brown
writes for the paper; and Grant can tan the
hides for Wilson to keep on cobbling.
There are two reasons why we don't
trust a man; one because we don't know him,
and the other because we do.
Quicksilver has been found near Austin,
Texas, and the indications are that it exists
in large quantities.