Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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lewis m. gkist, Proprietor.! ^tt litirtpcitkitf Jitmilg ftttospagtr: jfor % promotion of % political, Social, ^gricultaral anb Commercial Interests of % Sonffe. |terms---$3.oo a year, in advance. VOT, QR. YOEKVILLE, S. O., THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18. 1877. NO. 43. fHtc idler. "SERVING THE WRIT.": The small dapper figure of 'Squire Butterfield was seated iu his office one cold Winter i morning, and the 'Squire was vainly trying j to comprehend a pile of law books. These books had been left by opposing attorneys in some case tried before him, and from the cases therein cited, he was expected to make op his decision. Had it been any other question?geography, astronomy, mechauics or what not?the 'Squire would have settled it at once. He bad the most thorough confidence in the ability of 'Squire Butterfield to settle anything; but now he was perplexed. The more he studied the more he lie became convinced that the plaintiff had the law on his side; and so had the defendant; * * 1 .1.! and that both sines naa ampiy pruveu men case. In this bewildering state of mind be concluded to take a sort of middle course, at once satisfactory to himself if to no one else, and he had just written upon the docket, "Case dismissed for want of jurisdiction," when the tall, thin, somber figure of Mr. Grimp appeared in the doorway. Now Mr. Grimp was an awfully solemn man. Arrayed in the blackest of broadcloths, the stifiest of neckties, the whitest of shirt fronts and standing collars, with features cold, austere and severely serious, Mr. Grimp somehow ever suggested unpleasant thoughts of funerals, grave clothes and coffins. He was professedly a very religious man, too?very. In prayer-meeting, class meeting, and on other occasions, his monotonous, sepulchral, raetalic voice was frequently heard speaking of the "shortness of life," the "certainty of death," and about "becoming food for the worms," and such other cheerful subjects. Cold and passionate himself, he had no mercy for the weakuess or frailty of his fellows, exacting the most formal religious observance in others, and the last penny due him by his debtors. Aud he was rich. "I have called, Brother Butterfield," began Mr. Grimp in slow, measured tones? "I have called to see you about a little matter that has been on my mind for some time: a matter I hesitated bringing before the courts, as I think the Scripture rule should be generally followed about 'going to law bel* Al :..?i 9 J 99 lore me uiijuei, onu? "Humph !" And the 'Squire Btraighted himself in his chair, and ran his hand through r his thin locks until each individual hair stood out a bristling protest. "I reckon I ain't a bit more unjust than any on 'em. If you're hintin' that way, why in Sam Hill didn't you take your case afore some spiritoo al court an' done with it." Mr. Grimp colored slightly. "I think you misunderstand me, Brother Butterfield. I only used the expression in a general sense, without allusion to you, who I know to be a man with clear ideas of justice, or else the community had not placed you in so responsible a position." The 'Inquire*8 testineas at once disippeared, the smile came back, and he bowed in complacent acquiescence. "But to return to my business," continued Mr. Grimp. "You doubtless know Mrs. Barney ?" "What, Widow Barney?" and the complacent look instantly gave place to an unusual flush on the questioner's face. "Yes; I believe she is a widow. Her husband?poor man?became somewhat involved before he died ; but may we hope in a bet ?' iM.r.i-i/1 that ho hnn disenvp.red the thintts of "V o earth to be but vanity and vexation of spirit. Like us all, Brother Butterfield, he brought nothing into the world, and it is certain he carried nothiug out." a* - "I s'pose not, as you got the hull on't," answered the 'squire, although misinterpreting Mr. Grimp's moralizing. "Ahem! Ah, yes! I presume you allude to the foreclosure of the mortgage I held on his place. It was truly unpleasant for me to do, but duty to my children, so lately deprived of a mother, impelled me. As the Scripture says: 'If any provide not for his own, especially for those of his own bouse, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.' " "Better had some keer for other folks' orphans as well," muttered the 'Squire; but Mr. Grimpdid not hear, and proceeded : "Well, at the sale of Mr. Barney's place, I bought it in, and sioce then I have let Mrs. Barney have it at a nominal rent?at a mere nominal rent, I assure you Brother Butterfield. And it is about that I have called." "The long and and short on't is, she hain't paid the rent and you want her put out ?" "Well?yes, and no. I wish steps taken in that direction, but not to extremes. I would like a process issued, but have final measures kept in abeyauce, as I think the matter may be amicably arranged." "That is, you want some scarecrow to hold over her, to bring her to terras ?" suggested the 'Squire, looking keenly at his visitor. Mr. Grimp nodded. "You will attend to - it, Brother Butterfield?" he said. "I'll 'tend to it," said the 'Squire. Then Mr. Grimp, bowing solemnly, said j "Farewell, Brother Butterfield," and passed j out into the sunshine?his figure almost too! thin and dried up to cast a shadow in the bright sunlight, yet sufficient to cast moral shadows aud unbappiness over homes and lives arouud and about him. For a moment following Mr. Grimp's departure, the 'Squire's face was full of conflicting emotions. He arose from his chair, and his small boot-heels clattered on the office ; floor as he paced hurriedly to and fro. "The old skinfliut!" he muttered. "Jest as if I didn't see through him like a book ! He wauts to convart the widow into Mrs. Grirap number two, an' if she ain't williug? may be she's refused hira already?he wants me to make her think she'd better be. That's what he wants. Hal ha! I reckon there's i a widower that widow Barney or any other | womau would jest be proud to git; he's not a thousand miles off, neither"?and the 'Squire paused smilingly before a small mirror, adjusted his collar and smoothed the few hairs carefully over the bald spot on his head. "Not so old, after all ; and a sight better looking than old Grimp ! Guess he didn't know p. who he was coming to, did he? And he wants me to sarve a writ on widow Barney. George ! I'll sarve it myself, and git in ahead of him! Big joke it'll be on Grimp! Ha ! j In the main the 'Squire was correct in his nnrritntinna Tn epmil-ft thfi livelv. DrettV. Sen- i . I sible young widow as a helpmeet in place of the "late lamented," was precisely what Mr. Grimp desired. He had, at different times,! made advances in that direction, but receiving only negative replies, he concluded to try a little mild coercion and "bring her to her senses," as he inwardly called it. Now, singularly enough, the 'Squire also was a widower, aud he, too, was matrimonially iuclined toward the widow Barney. He had never made any propositions to that lady, thinking in his conceit he had only to offer himself to be accepted at once, and she would be glad of the opportunity. But there was incentive to immediate action. There was a chance?it might happen? that the widow, being ignoraut of the 'Squire's iutentions, might possibly throw herself away on Mr. Grimp ? The 'Squire did not like the thought, aud as above intimated, he resolved to serve the writ and "pop the question" at the same time. He would not delay about the matter either. He would do it that very evening?that be would; and then see the longitude Mr. Grimp's face would assume. The idea pleased him greatly. He chuckled | over it all through the day ; chuckled over it on his way home in the evening, and at teatime chuckles interspersed themselves throughout the meal, much to the wonderment of the old housekeeper. Indeed, her looks betokened so much curiosity that the 'Squire noticed it at last, and after he bad swallowed the last morsel and laid down his knife and fork, he said : "Mrs. Crandal,I'm goin' to git married." "Well, now, really!" exclaimed the old woman, almost dropping the tea-cups in surprise. "May I be so proud as to ask who she may be ?" "Widow Barney." "What! Widder Barney ? Sakes, now ! When ye goin' to be married ?" "I don't know yet; haven't asked her. Goin' to do it, though, to-night." "Mebbe she won't have ye," observed Mrs. Crandal, rather doubtfully. "Won't have me? Me!?'Squire Butterfield ?" exclaimed the 'Squire, surprised out I of all measure at so extraordinary a sugges j tion. "I'd like to see the woman that wouldn't | jest jump at the chance?jest jump at the chance J" "I dunno," said the old woman, shaking her head with mournful credulity ; "these 'ere widders are very onsartin?'specially the | young ones?an' there's no tellin' what they'll do. 'Sides, there's that young lawyer, Tom Harwood, seeing her about a good deal." "Oh! that amounts to uothin'," said the 'Squire, complacently. "He boards at her house, an' takes her to meetin' an' singin'school jest out of politeness." Mrs. Crandal made no further remark, but proceeded to gather up the dishes, and the 'Squire went to his room to gather himself into his Sunday clothes. He decided not to call too early upon the widow, lestshe might not be ready for visitors, and, therefore, he delayed until the clock struck the hour of nine. Then a tall hat, drab trousers, a blue, brass-buttoned "swallowtail," an overcoat?and 'Squire ButterBeld contained somewhere within?passed out to the road. It was a clear, cold, moonlight night; no one was out on the street, and the bright home-lights from various windows shone upon a face assured and posuooQod na miirpd alnnc. No "faint heart" to "win fair lady" did be carry ! Not at all. But with a firm, confident step, he passed over the crisp, well-trodden snow that creaked loudly under bis feet. It was not a very long walk, and he soon reached his destination. The widow's house was a small, two story frame, quite back from the road, and surrounded by a forest of shrubbery and fruit trees. From the gate a path wound up to the house under these trees, and the 'Squire bad to move cautiously, as the moon gave but faint light through the foliage. He reached the house safely, however, and glanced up at the second story, the corner room of which was used by the widow as a sitting room. He saw it was well lighted, the window-curtains not yet down, and he was about turning toward the door when some one?a man?came to the window and looked out. For the first time, the 'Squire paused, irresolutely. Who was that man ? Was it Grimp?and had he got the start of him, after all ? He didn't wish to see Mr. Grimp?at least not then and there. He stepped back a little to get a better view, and waited for the face to appear again. But it did not. Then he moved round to the end of the house and looked up at the window on that side, but with no better result. If he only knew who the man was; knew certainly that it was not Grimp, he would be satisfied. His eye rested ou the low back-kitchen, directly below the end window. If he was only on that, he could look into the room unobserved by anyone. It could do no harm, either; and he did so wish to know who that man was! The more the 'Squire thought about it, the more convinced was he that it was Mr. Grimp?but then, maybe it wasn't. He would find out! He became more resolute then, and looked about for some aid to his purpose. This, after some search, he found in a small ladder, which he placed against the kitchen and began to ascend. He got up the ladder without trouble, but found the roof so coated with ice, that he had to move with extreme caution. However, the window was reached at last, and, looking in, he saw only the widow and Tom Harwood sitting by the fire. "There !" muttered the 'Squire in disgust, after making the discovery ; "I never thought ofhim! Whyin Sam Hill didn't I remember he was here, and saved all this trouble ? Nearly spiled my best clothes, too!" He turned about and was preparing to go back, when a movement down in the shrubbery arrested his attention and downward progress at the same time. For a minute or two be remained perfectly still; then he peered carefully over the roof's edge. He saw a man standing below among the trees, but who he was the 'Squire couldn't make out. Howbeit, whoever he might be, he seemed to be scanning the upper front window very closely. Indeed, this view did not seem to satisfy him, and like his "illustrious predecessor," he too, passed round back of the little kitchen. The 'Squire became alarmed. He would be discovered now, certainly! What should he do? He glanced about hopelessly until he caught sight of the chimney?a large, old- j fashioned one, running up from the kitchen, close against and on the outside of the main building. With a quick movement he scrambled to his feet into the shadow of its deep corner and stood close against the wall. "Maybe," he thought, "the man will go away pretty soon ; confound him !" But the stranger seemed in no hurry to leave. On the contrary, he moved about a few minutes and then, to the consternation of our friend on the roof, he began to asceud the ladder. Ifever 'Squire Butterfield perspired in his life he did then. Although it was a cold night, he was in a profuse sweat from head to foot. He gritted his teeth, clenched his hands, bit his lips until the blood came, but nevertheless the intruder made his way ! slowly, but surely, up the slippery incline, j "Goodness gracious! What in Sam Hill shall I do?" murmured the 'Squire iu his desperate fear. I'd give anything, yes, anything, if I was safe at home. I wish that all the widows were in Guinea. I wish?" But the sentence never was completed. ; The ice?alas, the treacherous ice on the roof! Unexpectedly, suddenly, without premedita-1 tiou or malice aforethought, the 'Squire's feet j 1 shot forward from under him, and with accu- i racy of aim and swiftness of motion seldom surpassed, he bore down upon the stranger. That individual's hold was very weak and uncertain at best, and he was illy prepared for such an onslaught. Therefore, when the 'Squire struck, he too assumed au unexpected onrt twitli n?x?pd over the roof to liJWillCKlU HI, uuu w/n, _ getlier, the strauger descending feet foremost into the rain barrel, and the 'Squire making : sad havoc with the widow's grapeviues and j arbor. j For a moment the stranger remained with| in the barrel, and the 'Squire among the vines where he had fallen, both too amazed and i confounded to know what to do. But only i for a moment. Then they extricated themselves and stepped out into the moonlight, | the 'Squire with coat torn clear up the back, and the stranger very wet and dripping. And thus and there, face to face, they met. "Brother Butterfield 1" "Mr. Grimp I" There was a momentary silence after these exclamations of astonished recognition. Mr. Grimp was the first to break it. "Will you allow me to inquire, Brother Butterfield, what you were doing on the roof of my house, at this late hour ?" "Sartainly you may, Mr. Grimp. I came? because?that is?I came to sarve that writ of yourn," answered the 'Squire, relieved to find some excuse. "Ah !" "Yes ; an' I'd like to know what business you had up there, Mr. Grimp ?" "I came to see you serve it," said Mr. Grimp, with a perceptible tightening of his thin lips. "Well," said the 'Squire, rapidly recovering his composure, "if your writ don't stick better'n you did on that 'ere roof, it won't amount to nothin' ; that's all." What reply Mr. Grimp would have made to this thrust is not known, for just then the door opened and Tom Harwood and the widow, alarmed by the noise, came out. Both the 'Squire aud Mr. Grimp would gladly have avoided an interview; indeed they turned to hasten away, but were too late. The widow recognized them at once. "Why, Mr. Grimp! and 'Squire Butterfield, too!" she exclaimed with the most charming of smiles. "Why, I thought it was burglars, or horse-thieves, or something, and I was so frightened. And, why, Mr. Grimp I 1 4. - 9 To ? roininrr jou arc rcai net, aicu u juu ? *?# or snowing ?" And she held out her little hand to catch the falling drops. "No, inarm, 'taint snowin', or rainin' either. Ye see, Mr. Grimp was jest showin' me the water privileges about the place, an' tryin' to see how much a rain bar'l would hold," responded the 'Squire, sarcastically, pointing toward the aforesaid barrel. "Brother Butterfield, will you bo so kind as to attend to the business on which we came?" said Mr. Grimp, sternly. "Sartainly I will. Here, Widow Barney, is a writ from Mr. Grimp, notifyin' you to give up these 'ere premises." "I will take charge of that," said young Harwood. rather haughtily. "I will call upon you to morrow, 'Squire, and settle the matter. I would say, also, Mr. Grimp, that the time for redemption not having expired, the mortgage and costs on this lady's place have been paid in to the County Clerk, and you will not be troubled in caring for it further." After that?well, Mr. Grimp made some indistinct reply, and the 'Squire very profuse and incoherent apologies. Then they took their leave as best they could, feeling very awkward, mortiffed and humiliated. They did not go home together either, nor ever after speak of that evening's experience to each other. However, a month later, when Tom Harwood married the widow, the 'Squire was observed to shake his head mournfully and murmur: "If it had'nt been for old Grimp corain' jest as he did that night, things would have been different. Widow Barney never would have married that conceited young Harwood, never!" As for Mr. Grimp, his face and hiB prayers grew longer day by day, and the Sunday following the marriage, he spoke feelingly of "this vale of tears," the "vanity of human expectations," and the "uncertainty of earthly things," and when the collection was raised for the poor, he sadly gave a torn bit of currency which his grocer had refused the day before. IpsMllattWusi |UMi?g. CAPTAIN JAMES HENRY. Some time ago, in a "Sketch" beaded a "Trip to Charleston," we incidentally mention-., od a ficrht. whifih took nlace between some one and Capt. James Henry, whose nickname was, as we were informed, "Big Jim." Mr. J. H. Henry, a grandson of Captain James Henry, has kindly furnished another version of that affair. From the kind spirit of Mr. Henry's letter, we feel satisfied that he does not regard us, as in any degree whatever, designing to injure, in the least particular, the memory of his grandfather. Mr. Henry will please accept our thanks for the information which he has furnished, and pardon us for making it public. It is true that the incident is not of any great importance; but it gives us some insight into the manners and customs of the country, seventy five or eighty years ago. Mr. Henry's version of the fight which we mentioned, is as follows : "Capt. James Henry, John Brison.and some others whose names are not remembered, had gone to Charleston, and on their way back camped, on the night before the fight occurred, near Yorkville. At an early hour in the morning, Capt. James Henry set out for home ou foot, leaving the rest of the company to follow. The arrangement was that Henry would go home and have a hot breakfast prepared for the company, when they arrived at his bouse with the wagon. "Near where John Quinn now lives, Henry met a wagon aud three men. They were on their way to Charleston. All were strangers to Henry, and Henry was a stranger to them. Two of them, as the sequel will disclose, were wickedly mischievous, and perhaps not very brave. These fellows halted Henry and told him he had either to tight, to run, or to taae a whipping. Henry told them that he was not in the habit of either running or taking whippings, and if they would fight, he would go back with thera until he met his company, and he would give them satisfaction. This was agreed to, and near where Mrs. Eli$a ANeely now lives, Henry's party was met. Here Henry and one of the two fought, and Henry soon made the fellow tell the news. Heflot only thrashed him, but he made him tell his name, which he had, up to this time, concealed. "He was a North Carolinian by the name of Mackintire. One of the three North Carolinians was a civil man. He told the company, after the fight was over, that his two companions had agreed, when they left home, that they would run every man they met on their road to Charleston. Before this, they had caused several men to run. hub, uu uuuui-, was, to them, fine fun. They enjoyed it hugely. It furnished them fine sport to see a man ruuning for life, but Henry cured them of this mania." Robert Lathan. Giving Advice.?Advice is a first-rate thing when the persou giving it knows what he or she is talking about. But there are volumes of advice and counsel which are utterly useless, because it is simply the result of an uncontrollable desire to say something?what, makes no difference, Advice, j to be worth anything, needs to be matured in {the mind before it is uttered. It is altogethI er better, however, as a rule, to attend to i 1 1 _ * ...1 _ i > \ : your ousiness anu iei oiner people s aione, unI leas you are invited to interfere. Public men | are especially the victims of the advice given. All men and women in the world think themselves called upon to give a man who happens to be in public life, a sort of advice, seemiug entirely to lose sight of the very important fact that any who has miud enough to attract any considerable share of public attention, probably has enough to manage his own affairs. Get your own affairs in good shape and keep them in it, and do not waste so much of life in lookiug after other people. wwmmmmmm? THE NUMBER SEYEN. When God created the world he rested on the 7th day. There are 7 days in the week, 7 letters in the name of Jehovah, 7 syllables in the Mohammedan formula of prayer?la ill allah. As the flood was to begin on the 7th day aud continue 7 weeks, Noah selected 7 pairs of clean aDimals and birds, male and female, and gathered them in the ark. On the 7th day the dove returned with its message. Every one is familiar with the 7 fat and 7 lean kine; the 7 fruitful and 7 barren ears of corn, 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine. Jacob served 7 years for Rachel, and was cheated with Leah and served another 7 years, and received his reward. Seven days he was followed by Laban, his fatherin-law. (That was before the unhappy days of mother-in-law.) When Jacob died, bis son r i i . J ?? L- ? T J? iiosepn lamented ior uhu i unyo. uvciy i >,u year the Israelites permitted their fields to remain idle and untilled ; this was called the "Sabbatical year." At the siege of Jericho 7 priests with 7 trumpets (trombones), went around the walls of the city, and at the 7th blast the walls fell. (We have no such dangerous wind instruments in our days, although there would be little difficulty in finding "blowers") Seven times ten years were the Israelites held captive in Babylon. Seven times ten Hebrew scholars translated the Old Testament into Greek for the Alexandrian Library. There were 7 times ten members of the High Council of Jerusalem, not counting the high priests. When Peter asked, "Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother; is it enough 7 times ?" Jesus replied, "I say unto you, not 7, but seventy times 7." "A just man falleth 7 times and riseth up again.?Prov., xxiv : 16. "When thine enemy speaketh fair, believe him not, for there are 7 abominations in his heart."?Prov., xxvi: 25. There are 7 attributes of the Almighty, 7 gifts of the Holy - m i /? n Lin oat, ( psairas or penance, i buppiicntiuuo in the Lord's Prayer, 7 words of the cross, the Catholic Church has 7 sacraments. There are 7 wounds of Christ on the cross. In Revelations there are 7 angels with 7 golden chalices filled with divine wrath ; also 7 lamps with 7 flames are mentioned there. Who does not know of the "7 sleepers," the youthful Christian martyrs who escaped in a cavern near Ephesus and fell asleep and slumbered undisturbed for 200 years. There are 7 wonders of the world, 7 wise men of Greece. The Mohammedan's paradise contains 7 heavens. Rome has been governed by 7 kings, likewise Prussia, for the 7th is now emperor Wilhelra. During the 7 years' war under Frederick II., history mentions 7 important battles. The war in Spain between the Carlists and Christians lasted 7 years. The Franco-Prussian war lasted 7 months, and the 7th regiment was first to distinguish itself. ' On the 28th (4 times 7) of September, 1870, Strasbourg surrendered; on the 18th of October, Metz, and on the 28th of January, 1871, Paris. Rome is built on 7 hills ; so are Constantinople, Nurenburg, Bamburg and Lisbon. Ancient Thebes, also Athens, Bagdad and Morocco each had 7 gates. Seven cities claimed the honor of being Homer's birthplace. There were 7 steps leading to the tomb of Darius, the Persian King ; 7 n Ft I L steps to soioraon s inrone; i arms or urauuues to the lamp in the temple at Jerusalem ; 7 wicks in the perpetual lamp (eternal flame) to the rites of the Greek Church. The river Nile has 7 mouths (but still remains discreetly silent about its source). There are 7 Canary islands, 7 Ionian islands, 7 colors in the rainbow ; there are 7 tones in the musical scale, 7 precious metals. Pleiades, one of our most beautiful constellations, number 7 stars. There are 7 cardinal virtues; three of these are, Faith, Hope and Charity, "and the greatest of these is Charity." The Duke of Wellington has 7 Marshal staffs. The Pope is priest of 7 churches. The human head has 7 openings. The entrance to the celebrated dome at Cologne has 7 pillars set upon 7 pedestals, surmounted by 7 statues. We might continue to enumerate for a column or more, and after we have exhausted our memory, some 7th son of a 7th son, might predict a new set of 7 wonders arising from the Centennial era.?Rev. Dr. Steiner. "A NEW WAY TO PAY OLI) DEBTS." The method adopted in Virginia to collect a tax on the sale of spirituous and malt liquors, is meeting with commendation from every quarter. It is known as the Moflett register or bell punch, by which a record is kept with the view of collecting a tax on each drink. The liquor seller ib required oy iaw to register each man's drink, which is done by touching the machine, and a bell sounds the requiem of departed spirits. The purchaser has an in* terest in observing that the law is complied with in every instance, as the additional tax comes out of his pocket, and failure on the part of the saloon keeper to register a drink, not onlycheats the State, but adds largely to his own profit, which the buyer is not anxious to accomplish, as a general rule, The tax upon drinks is two and a half cents for spirituous liquors, and one-half cent upon malt beverages. It is estimated in Virginia that the sum of $600,000 will be realized from this source within the first twelve months. Doubtless the yield will be greater in ftiture years, as there is a tendency among saloon-keepers to oppose the law as an interference with their business, and the notoriety of the little punch has caused many persons to adopt the plan of drinking at home, where the tax can be avoided. When the novelty of the arrangement wears off, these sensitive individuals will return to their former haunts, and the income of the tax gatherer will be largely increased thereby. The opposition of the saloon-keepers, under the practical operations of the bell punch, has fast dwindled away for a perceptible reason. As the seller is required to pay the tax into the State treasury, the cash system is rigidly maintained, and there are no scores to be collected from doubtful customers. This feature commends itself to the good spnse and selfish interests of the saloon-keeper, who Jo nn mnra tunppiod nopr thp frpnnent Imnnr. IO MU UJUiu u VI * ivv* V? W *..w - tuuities of moneyless visitors. The proceeds of this tax in Virginia will be applied to the extinction of the public debt, and it has occurred to us that a similar law iu South Carolina would relieve the tax payers of a vexed and troublesome question in providing for the interest on the bonded debt. Basing the estimate of the sum likely to be realized in this State upon the amount stated above for Virginia, it may reasonably be inferred that the annual sum of $300,000 would flow into the coffers of South Carolina, were the bell punch introduced here. This estinaations of value as a tax gatherer may be accepted as approximately correct, if we concede that the patriotic citiaens of Virginia are as ' - l- !- *'?: fnii limtirla aa t.Kfl i moderate in tnoir ucohc iui mxjuiuw ?u v>?w population in this State. There is nothing compulsory in the payment of the tax, as every citizen lias an option about patronizing the institution ; and then there is a satisfaction to the patriot that he is assisting to relieve the commonwealth from one of its heaviest burdens. He beoomes a public beuefactor. In all seriousness, we think the proposition deserves the careful scrutiny of the General Assembly, and the member who will champion this novel method of taxation, deserves to be immortalized as one of the just gods, who "of our pleasant vices make instruments" to yield a profit to the State. The invention owes its name to the originator, Dr. Moffett, who has patented the insignificant punch which is now yielding such an immense revenue to Virginia. Doubtless he would feel an inestimable gratitude for the introduction of the machine into other States, and the suggestion to correspond with him will at once impress itself upon ambitious legislators, who are Beeking a plan for the amelioration of the burdens with which their constituents are environed.? Columbia Register. CAPTAIN OWEN HAILE. Captain Owen Haile, of the Seventh cavalry, whose name heads the list of killed in Col. Miles' desperate fight with the Nez Perces, near Bear Paw Mountains, on the 30th ult., was abeut thirty-six years of age and the son of Hon. Z. E. P. Haile, of Troy, N. Y., in which city he was born. Through his mother's family he was connected with the Vanderheydens, the original possessors of the land upon which stands the city of his birth, and many others of the old Dutch denizens of the locality whose descendants have con . i i . .1 _r xt_ triDutea so mucn 10 me prosperity 01 me section. Scarce twenty-one years of age when the war of the rebellion broke out, he abandoned his studies and enlisted in a regiment known as the Northern Black Horse cavalry, organized by Col. A. J. Morrison, at Troy, in the winter of 1861-2, and was immediately afterward made a non-commissioned officer. The regiment proceeded to Washington early in the latter year, when at the suggestion of the late Vice-Fresident Wilson, then Senator and Chairman of the Committee on Military Affairs, and others in authority, who were under the impression that the war was nearly over, it was mustered out of the service, never having been armed or mounted. Sergeant Haile then entered the Seventh regiment, New York volunteer cavalry, known as Dodge's cavalry, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major. Dead cavalrymen, which General Hooker pronounced so rare when he was in command of the Army of the Potomac, became plenty enough soon after the organization of the detatched regiments into a corps by that distinguished officer, and Sergeant ^ U?1a mltsv man a 1 tea tro f A Ka fit iTJLOjWI liaiu, nuu nao ai n?jo w uu juuuu mm the front, was on the 9th of May, 1863, made a second lieutenant, and on the 19th of October, 1864, was promoted to first lieutenant, which rank he held until the conclusion of the war, having been meantime promoted brevet captain for gallant conduct. By no means the least in the gallant corps which Sheridan < led, he took part in all those terrible raids which made "Little Phil" so famous, always escaping without a scratch, and from his magnificent physique, early trained in the school of the athlete, enduring every hardship with ease. His regiment was mustered out on the 9th of November, 1865, and Lieutenant Hale i returned to his home prepared, like the great mass of the volunteer soldiers, to take up the duties of a civilian. He soon found, however, that the channel of bis life as a soldier had become too deeplywom to abandon it easily, and he had no difficulty in obtaining an appointment in the regular array, being made first lieutenant on the 28th of July, 1866, and assigned to the Seventh cavalry. On the 1st of March, 1869, be was promoted to captain. Since his entry into the regular service, Captain Haile has passed most of his time in the Indian country, serving with Sturgis and Custer, passing unscathed through innumerable fights and skirmishes, to meet his fate from an Indian bullet at the foot of the mountains.?N. Y. Herald. A VIRGINIA RECLUSE. Nearly a century ago there lived in the town of Charlottesville, a young man who played a prominent part in society circles. He was an accomplished dancer, dressed in fashionable style, and was the central figure at balls and parties. Upon one of these festive occasions, a wag who was present attached a bundle of rags to the coat tail of the youth, and with this absurd appendage to his otherwise faultless apparel, we went through i the mazes of the dance with the < BEAUTIFUL BELLES OF THE DAY. When he discovered the trick that had been 1 played upon him, the young man was so deep- ' ly mortified that he ever afterward eschewed 1 society and lived the life of a hermit. Aban- 1 doning the gay world, ne betook himself to a small building which stood on the site of { the present residence of Mr. James Dolin, ! and commenced the sale of whisky. The door of his den was fastened with a log chain, ! and was never opened wider than necessary ; to admit the quart bottle of a thirsty customer. At first he bought the liquor by the jug and retailed it by the pint, but as business grew brisk, be purchased a barrel, and finally, when the price of whisky got down to twenty cents per gallon, be was enabled, by bis rapid accumulations, to fill his cellar. He lived thus for many years, never leaving the premises, in daylight, except at the May term of the County Court, when he would emerge from his den, clothed in a drab swallow-tailed coat, reaching nearly to the ground, and a pair of leather breeches, walk to the court house, procure his license, and return to his hole. After night he would visit the pump near the oourt bouse, and some people said that on dark nights be would extend his walks into the country. About forty years ago, one rainy morning, when a customer knocked at the door of this singular inqiviqal, then an old man, there was no response, The door was forced open, and the solitary occupant was fouud to be dead. A committee of citizens was appointed to examine the premises. The cellar was found well stored with liquor, mellowed by AGE, and beneath the ground, buried in earthen crocks, $8,000 in specie were brought to the surface. Probably, with a prophetic vision of broken Charlottesville banks, he was a hard money man In the strictest sense of the word. A log of wood, upon which the head of the miser rested, and a blanket, covering his 1 stiffened limbs, constituted the furniture of < the miser's home. His only ledger was a ? slate, upon which was fouud a statement of the amount of cash on hand, which tallied ( with the contents of the earthern jars. The < name of this old man was John Yeargen. t There are many of our citizens who remem- < ber him well, and whose mouths water when 1 they think of the superior liquid refreshments 1 purchased for $1 a gallon through the crack ] in the miser's door. There were no Moffet ? bells to ring in Johnny Yeargen's time.? i Charlottesville Chronicle. 1 The Seminole Indians.?From a merchant j who resides in South Florida, I gathered, a day or two since, some interesting information relative to the Seminole Indians. They ] frequently visit his store in small parties to | exchange their wares for supplies. A square i drink of fire water is the indispensible pre- 1 llmjnary of every barter. Smoked deerskins I constitute the principal articles brought into ? the settlements. They sell these one at a i time, never deviating from this practice by i disposing of them by the dozen or bundle. I The warriors use hunting shirts, and are some- 1 limes arraved in fringed lecrpinBrs. A eraudv 1 - - #* T':~o " oo ? o-' ?r o? v shawl, of glaring color, is wrapped, turbanlike, around their heads. They use small ponies, and when accompanied by their squaws, the women are always pedestrians. Breech-loaders are as yet unknown, and the old fashioned, long stocked rifles constitute their weapons. They appear kind to their wives and children, frequently making them presents before attending their own recjqire-: ments. Many understand (he English language anc} the value of greenback currency. Silver is never paid out to them, as the shrewd traders are well aware of the fact that coin will be lost to circulation, being invariably converted by these children of nature into bracelets and various ornaments. It iB almost impossible to obtain a current censas of these savages, as they inhabit the almost impenetrable recesses of the Big Cypress and Everglades, and are never seen in large bodies. Rumor has it that they still hold severeral negroes as slaves, being in blissful ignorance of the act of emancipation.?Florida Correspondence Savannah News. A CARPET-BAGGER'S CONFESSION. The wittiest, and in some respects the frankest, speech made during the Ohio campaign, was that of Gen. George H. Sheridan, a Louisiana carpet-bagger. He gives a racy account of bis application for office and what of it thus: "I wanted to be collector of the Port at New Orleans. I could not see how we could make a success unless I was appointed. Hayes asked me if I knew who would be a good man. That was a delicate question to ask, and I asked for reflection. He gave me time for reflection, and that was the only thing he did give me. I knew that the collector should be a man with an interest in the business of the city, a man of integrity, of good moral character, ability above the average and a Republican. I thought it over carefully, and came to the conclusion that I could come nearer filling the bill than any man I knew in the State. I had an interest in business, because I had paper out at that sime. I knew I was a man of integrity ; my moral character was as good as a somewhat tropical man might develop in a somewhat tropical country. I was sure I had the ability. I was a Republican?was once a Representative in Congress from Louisiana; it was but a short time. I was elected for two years. I was in for four hours before the Congress to which I was elected was adjourned; didn't have time to make a record, voted on both sides of every question, called out repeatedly, 'Mr. Speaker,' told one member he was a thief, another he was a liar, looked at the ladies in the gallery, spit tobacco, went in the committee room to look at some documents, borrowed some money and went home. I considered at the time that I made a pretty good average record. For these reasons, I thought I ought to be collector. President Hayes was very cordial?lie 18 a very coraiai man. When I spoke to bim be said, 'Sheridan, I will make out the commission at oncebut he made a mistake and got a name I bad not thought of. I thought at that time, is this what I made 127 speeches for, or the same speech 127times? I told Mr. Hayes howl felt. It moved him very much?moved him to advise me to pull down my vest or to go West, or something of the kind." General Toombs.?General Toombs, of Georgia, in the course of a conversation with a reporter of the New York Sun, said it was bis opinion that the electoral commission was made up in New York, and that the inspiration which decided Congress to go into an arbitration of the Presidential contest, came from Gramercy Park. "When the House of Representatives had an undisputed majority of seventy members, and when the country well knew that Tilden had been elected President by a large majority of the popular and electoral vote, aud when the country was so anxious for a change of administration?and the power lay with n/iMnr tn aronnfo fVio nonnla's will go I UlJVJ A/OIIIVOIUVJ W VAVVUHV VUV ^/WV^/IV W If MW expressed at the ballot box in effecting the chaoge?I can but believe that Mr. Til'den not only favored the settlement of the question at stake by a commission, but that he preferred its settlement that way because of the great flnancial interests of the country which would have been seriously disturbed in the event of any trouble. Then Grant was in a measure responsible for the result. He quartered troops around Washington?and what for? To intimidate Congress? No doubt. Tilden, I believe, would rather have ' seen Hayes inaugurated than to have the credit and the business interests of the country injured by any public revolt." Gen. Toombs thought there was a great deal of mystery about the way the electoral commission managed the Presidential lottery. Bradley had not sufficiently explained his connection with the commission, and Judge Field might tell more about the business if be would. "Hayes has a queer set of Cabinet officers around him," said Gen. Toombs. 'They all seem to be men who have no folowing to speak of, and little influence. And Key?I often wonder where Hayes picked bira up. He is by no means a representative >f the Tennessee Democracy. Nor has he uuch ability." A Legend about Coffee.?There is a legend about coffee?a legend of which a pious Mussulman is the Hero. The Mussulman used ;o get sleepy during his devotions, and so he prayed to Mahomet, who came to his aid. Mahomet sent him to a goat herder, who took i hint from his goats. He observed that when ;hese animals ate the berries of a particular ;ree, they got frisky and excited?bounded ibout all the night, in fact. The Mussulman \r tko h int a to the r>nfTpo herrtAfl alanf. lpflfl J\J\J U UUU MIMV) MVV HMV VWMVW ?WWW| ind, no doubt, prayed better. That was the legend. That coffee, howevir, was sold in the streets of Cairo toward the and of the sixteenth century, is not a matter , if legend, but of history. In fact, it was not inly sold, but it was forbidden to be sold. A.n Arabian historian recounts that in the pear 1538, a oafo was attacked by the author- ; ties, and the customers who were found on die spot hurried off to the prison, from which ;hey were not liberated till they had each received seventeen strokes with a stick, for the encouragement of others! And, in faot, this aid served that purpose so exceedingly, that ive-and-twenty years afterward, the town of Jairo could boast of more than two thousand ihops where coffee might be bought. From Cairo to Constantinople was in those lays a necessary transition, and the new drink )nce established in Europe soon made its way ;o the East. It is reoorded that the first cup )f coffee known to have been prepared in Prance, was handed to Louis XIV. to drink, [t was a royal beverage in those days?a pound of it cost about 826. But this extravagance of price must have abated soon, for iot long afterward several shops were opened or its sale; and in 1647, Thevenot, giving a 7ery seleot dinner party, offered each of his quests, after their wine, a cup of coffee. Blunt But True.?There is said to be a poung man in the Missouri penitentiary whose sarents, at their death, left him a fortune of $50,000. There is where his parents made a fctal mistake. If they had taken the precau* :ion to invest that sum in a small dog and iliot him, and then had simply left the young nana jack-plane or a wood saw, with printed ustructions how to use it, the chances are ;hat, instead of being in the penitentiary, he would to day have been gradually but surely working his way up to a handsome competency j *nd an honorable old age. But ever since the lays of Adam f.nd Eve, parents have made it i point to toil and struggle all their lives in Drder to realize a sufficient sum of money to purchase, when they are dead and gone, their 30ns each a first class through ticket to the devil, and it is qot muoh to oe wondered at that sq many of their sons, reared in vice and idleness, as too many of them often are, have qo higher ambition than to invest their inheritance in just that sort of transportation. Virginia Gentlemen.?The statement that the better class of Englishmen, like that distinguished French abbe (can't for the life of us recall his name,) was making us a visit in the early days of our national history, he happened to be dining with some Washington celebrities, of whom John Randolph of Roanoke, was one, and the place of whose residence was not known to the foreigner. The question was put to the abbe: "And how were you pleased with the South ?" "Exceedingly; but 1 confess to having been a little disappointed?! have heard so much? in the Virginia gentlemen." "Perhaps you were unfortunate in your circle," broke in Randolph with a sneer. "You did not come to Roanoke, for instance." "True," said the abbe, covering his evident ? - 1 - - - I L!- 1 annoyance at tne ruae tone wun ms usuai calm smile. "True; the next time I visit Virginia I shall certainly to go Roanoke." "Gentlemen," answered Randolph, emphasizing the word, "do not come to Roanoke unless they are invited." It was a cruel thrust, but the abbe took it in the same placid manner; and lifting his gray head, paused for a moment to give due emphasis to his words, and then replied, looking inquiringly at the guests: "Said I not, Messieurs, that I was disappointed in Virginia gentlemen ?" ? e . Hints foe Lovers.?In the first place, it is an imposition on any well bred girl to keep her up later than half-past 10 o'clock, when you have the opportunity of seeing Jier often. If you always leave her with the wish in your heart that you had staid longer, you gain so much. Never run the risk of wearying her with your presence. Be just as earnest and straightforward as in your honorable dealing with men. Impress your friends with the worthiness and seriousness of your love, so that vulgar and senseless bantering will appear to them as such. Love is religion?the supremest happiness; wear it manfully and proudly, but holily. Woo a woman bravely. If there is anything humiliating to a woman, it is to have a lover, whom she wishes to honor, weak and vapid, ever yielding and half afraid of her. She longs to tell him to "act like a man 1" The man who conceals or denies his love for fear of being laughed at, is a coward. A love that has no divinity in it is not love, but passion, which, of itself, has nothing ennobling. That was a beautiful inscription on an engagement ring: "Each for the other and both for tipd." Black and White.?Jefferson noted seventeen points of difference between the black and the white man. They differ in color, in their hair, and in the shape of their bodies. The black man bas less beard than the white man. He perspires more profusely. There is a slight difference in the arrangement of the lungs, by which the black has more exbaling force than the white. The black man requires less Bleep. His love is more ardent but less imaginative than that of the white man. His grief is more transient. He reflects less. His reasoning powers are decidedly inferior. His memoiy is equal to the white man's, but not his imagination, which is dull in the extreme. The black has less originality. He has no turn for the arts of painting and sculpture. He has as good an ear for music as the white man, bat no skill in composing. And, lastly, the black has no poetical tendencies. +- ? ? Sunshine.?Did you ever notice what a different aspect everything wears in the sunshine from what it does in the shadow ? And did you ever think what an analogy there was between the Bunlight of the cloudless skies and the sunshine tbatgleams into the darkened chambers of the human soul ? How bright and beautiful are the golden beams that break the riven clouds to lighten up the world again after a succession of dark and stormy days. How nappy and now peaceful are the blissful words of hope and cheer that touch the heart and fill the soul with emotions of peace and joy after a long period of sorrow! They are none living who do not, in a greater or less degree, have an influence over the earthly happiness of others. The sense of contributing to the pleasure of others augments our own happiness. Unselfishness, Christian charity, and loving-kindness are sunbeams of the soul. New-Mown Hay.?A day or two ago, a family carriage containing four ladies halted, and one of the females snuffed the air and cried out: "Ah! how delicious is the scent of that newmown hay 1" "Ah 1 ah 1 ah 1" the rest of them exclaimed, as they elevated their noses. A man in his shirt-sleeves was leaning over the fence, but they did not see him until he cried out: "I begs your pardon, ladies, but the old horse fell into the ditch there three days ago and died, and I didn't find the body till an hour ago. I've sent for a team to haul it away, and I'm sorry about the smell. Drive along a little, and you'll get to windward of the corpse I" Losing Friends.?Never cast aside yonr friends, if by any possibility 'you can retain them. We are the weakest of spendthrifts if we let one friend drop off through inattention, or let one push away another, or if we hold aloof from one petty jealousy or heedless Blight or roughness. Would you throw away a diamond because it pricked you? One good friend is not to be weighed against the jewels of all the earth. If there is coolness or unkindness between us, let us come face to face and have it out. Quick, before the love lit T (? ? . i i grows cold i juue is 100 soon u> quarrei in or to carry black thoughts of friends. It is easy to lose a friend, but a new one will not come for the calling, nor make up for the old one when he comes. "Tired" Razors.?Barbers often assert that razors get "tired" of shaving, and that they will perform satisfactorily, if permitted to rest for a time. It has been found by mi* croscopic examination that the "tired" razor, from long stropping by theBame hand, and in the same direction, has the ultimate fibres of its surface or edge all arranged in one direction, like the edge of a piece of cut velvet; but after a month's rest these fibres rearrange themselves heterogeneously, crossing each other, afld presenting a saw-like edge, each Sin /aIIaht am/] llamaa All nr* uure aupuuiuug ito iCJiiuvr, auu ucuw tuuiu^ the beara instead of being forced down flat without cutting. The Nelson (Ky.) Record says: This is an age of progress. James Parton, the biographer, married his step-daughter; John Downs, of Nelson county, married his stepmother ; but it was reserved for Dode Chesher, of Walton's Lick, Washington county, to outstrip them all in a matrimonial feat. Last week he married his grand-mother. Dode Chesher is twenty-five years of age, a son of the well known Baptist preacher, and grandson of William Chesher. Some years since the latter died, leaving a widow of forty-five summers, and now his grandson has done, probably, what no man ever did before?married his step-grandmother. For Sore Throat.?Gargle milk as hot as the throat will bear it. Chloride of potash, sold in a powder by druggists, is a good reme- * dy. It may be occasionally taken l>y putting it. a L L.1J -1. UU tut! lUIJgUH tit) UJUCU Ut) oue uau UUIU iretween two fingers, and gradually swallowing it j."