University of South Carolina Libraries
m "" == =? ========== = ^ == * " j == == = ? = lewis m. grist, proprietor. ^tt JitiiEfrctttient Jfamilj} ||ctosjjaj)f r: Jfor f(g ^rtDtofiflii of tjje political, jsorial, Agricultural ani Communal Jnttrtsls of fju Sootji. | terms?$2.00 a year, in advance. "VOL. 34. YOBKYILLE, S. P., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1888. ]STO. 49. (Eboiff ferini. ANGRY WORDS. Angry words are lightly spoken In a rash and thoughtless hour; Brightest links of life are broken By their deep insidious power. Hearts inspired by warmest feeling, Ne'er before by anger stirrSd, Oft are rent, past human healing, By a single angry word. Poison-drops of ca&and sorrow, Bitter poison-drops are they, Weaving for the coming morrow Saddest memories of to-day. Angry words, oh, let them never From the tongne unbridled slip; May the heart's beat impulse ever Cmeck them, ere they soil the lip! Love is mnch too pure and holy, Friendship is too sacred far, For a moment's reckless folly Thus to desolate and mar. Angry words are lightly spoken ; Brightest thoughts are rashly stirred ; .Brightest links of life are broken By a single angry word. . THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. The message of Governor Richardson was read before the General Assembly on Tuesday of last week. It is a lengthy paper, and refers exclusively to State questions. Discussing the State debt, he first speaks of the redemption of $420,692.26, and reviews the action taken in floating the blue bonds. The amount of deficiency stock and bonds gives a total funded debt of $6,699,127.99. The consol bonds and stocks amount to $6,002,170.26, payable 1893. The State treasurer still has on hand $5,187.73, deficiency stocks and bonds yet to be redeemed.* He recommends that immediate steps be tkken to accomplish the redemption of stocks and bonds that have not been bought !n and are in the speculative market endangering the credit of the State. An act is recommended compelling the holders of fundable bonds and stocks to bring them in. He recommends that the act of the last session in reference to forfeited lands, delinquent lands, and the enforcement of the collection of taxes be allowed to remain on the statute books just as it now stands. The enrollment in the public schools for 1887-88 shows an increase of 18,417 pupils. There isalsoagain of 14,036 in the average attendance, and proportionate gain in teachers and buildings. It is an evidence that the teachers are more thoroughly prepared for their work. The people are B pending a UIUCII larger aujuuui ui uiuucj for school houses than ever before in the history of the State. Many towns of 500 inhabitants have expended $2,500 on their buildings, outside of improved furniture and apparatus. The larger towns have erectea houses costing in some cases, as much as $10,000?notably, Winnsboro and Rock Hill. Spartanburg has just taxed herself $12,000 for this interest. Greenville, during the year, has invested $18,000 in buildings which will adorn the city. With every modern appliance they will bear favorable comparison with those of any city in the Union. The graded schools of Columbia have proved object lessons for teachers and visitors from every portion of the State. They are not^Swfyffarn Tsh i ng flret-claas facilities for the instruction of her own children, but are drawing citizens from surrounding counties, thus adding to the permanent population and increasing taxable values. Charleston maintains her high standard, and it is beyond controversy that her schools, under the present very accomplished superintendent, Mr. Archer, and his able and faithful assistants, are equal to any in the country. It is worthy of notice that the number and quality of school houses in the country have greatly advanced. Reference is made to the excellent work of the Memminger school in Charleston, to the Normal College in the State University, to the Winthrop training school and the appropriation for scholarships in it. The message pays a high tribute to the women of the State, and advocating advanced female education, the Governor recommends that in this age of progress, phonography, telegraphy, photography, etc., should be taught the girls. The message speaks in the highest praise of the State University, with its forty-two advanced courses of study, and the College of Agriculture with tweuty-three teachers and eleven courses. There are now 221 students in the College. In regard the establishing of an agricultural college the message says: me wisaom ana necessity 01 esiaonsning a high class institution of learning, devoted exclusively to instruction in the sciences pertaining to agriculture and in all the technological studies and arts germane to this most important and fundamental pursuit of man, has, during the past three years, excited great interest among the people of this State, and enlisted in its behalf the warmest advocacy and earnest efforts of many of our best and worthiest citizens. This question is one that demands for its solution no investigation of principle, as it involves none, but simply considerations of policy as affecting the wishes and vital interest of a large and important portion of the people of the State. The decision upon this much-agitated subject, arrived at by the last Legislature, after its mature and elaborate discussion for weeks, has been disturbed and unsettled by the introduction of a new factor, viz.: the liberal bequest made to the State for the establishment of such an institution by a distinguished adopted citizen, the Hon. T. G. Clemson, at his demise during ? the spring of the present year, coupled with certain conditions, which, under the terms of the will, must attach to its acceptance by the State. Naturally, therefore, the whole matter has again been brought before the people and fully and exhaustive ly discussed in both the state ana county campaigns immediately preceding the general election. There can then be no doubt whatever that you, the chosen Representatives of the people, are in accurate possession of their views and wishes, and, being of all vocations in life, and more largely of the agricultural class than any other, are prepared at all points to determine wisely this much-vexed question. While fully sensible that the whole responsibility of this determination rests with you, I would most respectfully call to your attention a few considerations in regard to this subject as necessarily affecting any conclusion to be reached. There can be no doubt, if it is the well ascertained desire of the agricultural class of the State that such a college should be established, that there should be measures at once taken to that end as a just recognition of their importance in numbers, intelligence and the value of their productions. The farmers constitute the very bone and sinew of the land, and upon the result of their labors rests all other industries, which must, therefore, be always best subserved and most effectually promoted when the occupation of farming is most successfully and intelligently conducted. Admitting the necessity of thorough education and technical instruction to the followers of this primal as of any other pursuit in life, which surely no one in this age of progress can question, the duty of providing the means for such education and instruction becomes imperative, if not already existing. Considerations of economy become secondary where results are to be so amply compensating for the money expended. If, therefore, in the judgment of your honorable body, in addition to the splendid opportunities offered by our mag niflcent and superbly equipped University for theTeauirement of agricultural knowledge in all its departments, from the most I rudimental to the most scientific in character, there be need of further facilities in this direction, it would be both just and wise to accede to the demand for a separate agricultural college, and proceed, by such steps as prudence would dictate, to establish such an institution as would accomplish the purpose sought, and be a credit to the State. But this, I am clearly of the opinion, should be done without injury to, or the least disturbance of, the organization of a single institution now existing. There could be no wisdom in, and therefore no excuse for palling down one institution already established upon the broadest and most enlightened hasis, and accomplishing a wondrous work towards the intellectual advancement of our young men, to erect another comparatively experimental in its system, and far narrower in its field of instruction and usefulness. Nor should the building of a separate agnnnU.iMl nnltanra <tonond nnnn fnfl llVUIblliai wuygv( U^^/VUU U|TVM ?*UV ww?anoe of the CletpBQjl.pE any other bequest, for-the State of South Carolina is not as poor as so^e would represent her to be, and. by a careful husbanding of her resources, and the honorable maintenance of her credit, she will, in the next few years, be amply able to build and support such a college without a dollar's increase of taxation. The refunding of her debt at the reduced rate of interest, she has the right to expect by the wise management of her finances will result in the annual saving of a sum?$120,000 at least?that will be more than sufficient to build, equip, and support, in the most effective manner, a first-class institution. In this connection I would suggest the further utilization of our experimental stations for the purpose of agricultural education, by gradually converting them into preparatory schools, where the manual labor of the pupils could be successfully employed in the cultivation of the farms and the conduct of experimentation, while securing for themselves, by their own efforts and without cost to the State, the inestimable advantage of a technical education. They would thus become superb feeders to our higher institutions, and the most worthy, industrious and proficient among the pupils might be awarded scholarships in our State University as an incentive to ambition and exertion. I cannot, in fairness and frankness, pass from this subject without a brief expression of my views oh the matter of the "Clemson bequest," already alluded to, which, I presume, will be brought before you in some shape for your consideration. Its acceptance or rejection upon conditions with which it is incumbered is a matter solely for your determination, and in which no executive officer has either voice or vote. But my sense of duty compels me to say that while I would rejoice to see the State in possession of so handsome a property and so large a donation, especially hallowed as it is by theclustering memories of her grandest and greatest son, I am decidedly of the opinion that it would comport neither with her true interest nor sovereign dignity as an independent Commonwealth to hastily and formally accept it before the validity of the will is clearly and judiciously established, and before a positive and unquestioned ascertainment of the facts is had, that the institution, when established, shall be, and forever remain, under the supreme and sole control of the State. The Citadel Academy is referred to in the most complimentary terms, as also the Clafiin College for colored people, and for both these institutions the necessary State appropriations for their maintenance is recommended. The institution for the deaf and dumb and the blind is spoken of in praiseworthy terms. The superintendent's report shows 102 pupils enrolled. The financial statement is clear and concise. Special appropriations', asked for colored pupils ana water supply, are recommended. Of the Department of Agriculture, the message says: The duties with which it is charged are of vital interest to all the people of the State, and the manner in which these duties have been performed amply justifies the wisdom of our Legislature in establishing this department of the State Government. During the year just closed the department has continued the experiments on the two agricultural experiment stations, located at Darlington and Spartanburg ; conducted State and county farmers' institutes; inspected and analyzed commercial fertilizers on sale in the State ; super\ .oed the phosphate interests; investigated contagious diseases among domestic animals, and adopted measures for their prevention; enforced the fish laws at various points; established observation stations, where climatic data are collected, and sent' daily weather indications to the numerous display stations under its control ; issued monthly reports containing matters of interest to the farmers, and weekly crop bulletins; collected, compiled and published statistical information; published pamphlets, maps, &c., showing the resources and industriesof South Carolina; placed on exhibition at the Augusta National Exposition a splendid collection of the products of the State, and conducted an extensive correspondence. These are all matters of great importance, and they are fully treated in theannual reports of the board and commissioner. The commissioner urges the establishment of river observation stations, where the rise of streams may be promptly noted and flood warnings given for the benefit of stock raisers and farmers. The recent disastrous floods prove the necessity for such stations. The commissioner calls attention to the defects in the fish laws and shows where they should be amended. He also endorses the recommendation of the special assistant of the department regarding changes needed in the laws regulating phosphate mining. All of these matters will doubtless receive your favorable consideration. The department of agriculture asks for no appropriation from the Legislature. It is supported entirely by the privilege tax on commercial fertilizers, and its finances are so managed that the income from this source is sufficient to meet all of its expenses. Its good work is apparent and is more appreciated the more it is investigated and understood. The experimental stations, as now established, comprise the following: A central scientific staff at Columbia, with the necessary offices and laboratories, and three farms, one at Spartanburg, one at Columbia, and one at Darlington. The nr\nnr form f*r\n foino QflA tho m M rl I o JC44 1X1 V,V/UCC*A AAO VVV UV^lOO, U1C UJiUUIV, farm 120 acres, and the lower 227 acres. Each farm is supplied with stock, implements, and machinery, including engines, gins, presses, mills, cutters, Ac. Besides the work of preparation required to bring these farms into proper condition, a large number of field tests were planned and cbnducted. There were G5G experimental plants in cotton, 420 in corn, 5G in wheat, 48 in oats, and about 50 in miscellaneous crops, such as grasses, clovers, peas, soja beans, millets, sorghum, Ac., or upwards of 1,200 in all. Each test was carefully duplicated and repeated on each farm. The checking and verification thus obtained give great weight to the results. About 50 different varieties of cotton were tested. In the laboratories at Columbia, analyses were made of typical soils of the State, of farm crops at different stages of growth, of different manurial materials, Ac. Numerous varieties of commercial seeds were examined to determine their purity and vitality. Itust, cholera and other diseases of plants and animals were studied, and an elaborate series of meteorological observations bearing upon the physical properties of soils was begun. An account of some of these tests and analyses has been given to the public in quarterly bulletins, and the operations for the entire year will be fully discussed in the annual report, which will appear in accordance with the requirements of the Hatch Act, on the first of next February. The penitentiary is discussed at length, and the condition of that institution is regarded as more satisfactory than it has been for years. The convicts number 843 colored and 51 white. The condition and prosperity of the Lunatic Asylum are given, and the question of a separate institution for colored people is urged. The expenses are as low as can be if the standard of the institution is upheld. Reviewing the work of the Railroad Commission, the Governor says: The board of railroad commissioners have been v^ry active during the past year in the discharge of their duties, as is evidenced by their annual report. An important decision, which is appended to their report, in regard to what is Inter-State commerce, has been recently rendered by-the Supreme Court of the' State,' and it is perhaps well just here to eirmhasize a suggestion made in my last message, viz.: that the powers of the railroad commissioners be enlarged so as to enable them to require railroads within South Carolina to regulate their rates of freight within the State so that the public shall derive the greatest benefit possible consistent with the railroad corporations. A different condition of things exists now from that which obtained when our railroad law was enacted, and if the law as it now stands is strictly enforced by the commission in instances affected by this decision, it would operate to the detriment of a large section of the State. Roads are now being run from the upper part of the State to our seaboard through other States, and they are operating freight tariffs which are contrary to both the letter and spirit of our law, but rather than to permit these lines to divert what should be the legitimate trade of our people to Earts of other States, the commissioners ave (as stated in their supplemental report) allowed the roads within South Carolina to maintain the same rates as the Inter-State roads alluded to in anticipation of legislation on this important subject. I would further recommend that what was made a rule by the commission, under authority of an Act of Assembly, which was subsequently ^repealed, be now incorfjorated as a part of the general railroad aw, viz., that railroad companies be required to give at least three days' public notice of all changes of passenger schedules before the same go into effect. The recent combination of so many Of the extensive systems of our southern railroads under one gigantic corporation, threatening the eventual absorption of all our roads east of the Mississippi and south of Mason and Dixon's line, is a subject well deserving of your impartial, thorough and careful consideration. While exercising a liberal and most cautious regard to the true interests and real independence 1 of railroads, now becoming absolutely indispensable to every community thatasDires to keeD abreast with the amazing progress of the age, the representatives of | the people, should take care, by such decisive and prompt legislation as may be necessary, that the supremacy of their will shall be maintained inviolate, and that the control of their own business, commerce, travel and general welfare, be kept strictly within their own hands, to be managed in their own way, and according to their own pleasure. Considerable space is devoted to.tbe fjtate militia, which the Governor says is now being placed on a better footing than ever before. 1 On the subject of pensions the message, says: < i?> ? ' I' I respectfully call the attention of the General Assembly to that portion of the comptroller general's report which refers to pensions, and the'recommendations made therein by the pension board. The total number of applications filed in the comptroller's office during the year and up to 30th of September is 2,623. The pension board approved 2,025 of the applications filed; 1,492 of these were in favor of widows of soldiers who lost their lives in the service of the State, or Confederate States, and 533 in favor of soldiers wounded in said service. The board disapproved 598 applications, of which 371 were for soldiers, and 227 for widows. The great amount of work entailed upon the comptroller's office by the unexpected number of applications, the correspondence consequent thereupon, the number of books to be kept for the comptroller and pension board, and the large number of warrants to be issued monthly made it necessary to employ a clerk to carry out the work imposed upon the comptroller and board by the Pension Act. Major Wade H. Manning was appointed clerk by the comptroller and board, and there being no funds to pay said clerk, upon their application, I have paid Major Manning $300 out of the civil contingent fund, and for his services as such clerk, I concur in the recommendation of the pension board, that he be paid such an amount as will make his compensation $100 per month for the time he has been employed, and that the office be made a permanent one. Attention is further directed to the letter of the pension board, in the comptroller's report, in which it is asked that a county board of pensions be organized to hear in the first instance all applications for pensions. The board is apprehensive that gross frauds have already crept in, and may continue to creep in, if such system is not adopted. The applications now on file in thecomptroller's office could be reconsidered by said county boards, and then returned to the comptroller-general to be again submitted to the State board; or new applications should be required. The expenses, too, of enforcing such Pension Act, by reason of the great number of applications, have grown so large that I recommend that warrants be issued to pensioners quarterly instead of monthly. To pay the pensioners whose applications were approved I borrowed $50,000, as authorized by law. This amount has been expended as follows: Pension appropriation, $50,000 00 Money borrowed, 50,000 00 Expended. April 30 there was paid, $7,240 00 May 31 there was paid, 7,040 00 June 30 there was paid 0,000 00 July 31 there was paid, 9,075 00 August 31 there was paid, 0,080 00 September 30 there was paid, 6,003 00 $40,088 00 Balance unexpended, 312 00 Total $50,000 00 The State Agricultural and Mechanical Society is referred to in complimentary i terms and the impetus it gives to industry commended. i The State House and appropriations therefor are discussed, and also the proposed survey of the Savan?h river in view of recent floods. Ths latter subject is i regarded as worthy of consideration in . view of its relation to important agricultui ral interests. Concluding his message, the Governor says: 1 I have thus presented for your informa: tion and consideration as full and clear a : statement as possible of the condition of the State in all the departments of her Government, with suggestions of such , measures as have appeared to my mind , expedient or necessary. In doing this I have endeavored to discharge faithfully, i and with loyal heart, my whole duty unr der the Constitution, and now invoke upon your deliberations the guidance , and blessing of the Divine Wisdom, the 1 only true and unfailing source of peace, 1 happiness, prosperity and progress to peoi pies and nations. i J. P. Richakdson, Governor. Reading, Far the Terk^JUe Enquirer. REMMSCENCfcy^WESTERN YORK. It is Dot the ptflpoie of these reminiscences to speatfowtof men and measures in Western York^LQetteral incidents are to be related on pttuMTBelds, whicTf occurred during tbe~paf!o&we claimed Western York as our home,rind which are still fresh in our memory, and therefore considered as legitimately entitled to a place in our work. It Is tdo often the case that worthy deeds ardPwpt hidden until the actor is dead, and then they eorne out in full fruition. Our appreciation of the living should equal our respect for the dead; and thus we cancel a debt of gratitude to rrnr fpllnw mnn. V* Dr. J. Rufus Bratton, of Yorkville, requires no introductkm to the reader at our hands. For maqy..^ears before the war his name was a Sjftiovtym of..medical skill and popularity. Ip <leat>diMe cases he was the conftfiep^al friend and professional adviser withyfej^^feraTas Dr. R. T. Allison, Dr. ^nRMP^n^Ht and many others whose names are Handed down as a legacy to Western York. In about 1856 or '57 during a battalion muster at Carroll's old field, near Sharon Church, John Ramsey was kicked in the head by a mare belonging to Charlie Cassiday. His skull was fractured and for several days or perhaps weeks, his life was despaired of. Dr. Bratton was called in ostensibly for the purpose of trephining the skull and relieving the brain from its pressure. The patient finally recovered, and is still living, near Hickory Grove, where he eDjoys usual health of both mind and body. At the breaking out of the war Dr. Bratton entered the military service, as assistant surgeon of Jeokinais Regiment, Fifth S. C. Volunteers. He remained with his command during the first year and until the establishment of the Winder hospital, in 1862, when he was put in charge of the 4th division, as full surgeon. His nerve and skill soon won for him the confidence of the authorities, both medical and military. He stood second to no man in his profession. The first time I remember seeing him was in August, 1862, in Richmond, Va. Our command had just reach?U_i -!i? ? 1 Ofrvi., cu timt ui\jy uu uui w txy iu jum jucc o aiuy in its historical first Maryland campaign. The city was full of soldiers. The rattling wheels of the artillery, the clattering hoofs of the long lines of cavalry horses, the heavy and uniform tread of the infantry, to say nothing of the hurrying vehicles and noisy news boys crying on all sides the morning papers, was an occasion to be remembered. For the short time I remained amid this chaotic mass of humanity my time was principally devoted to looking after the effects of my deceased brother. Having met with that cold and unwelcome "bluff" too often experienced in a soldier's life, a friend suggested that I apply to Dr. Bratton for relief in the premises. My hasty return to Winder to see the man whom I didn't know was a disappointment. He was out of the city. Passing down one of the stfleets of that modern Mecca I met Dr. MfoQ W. Smith, who1 was then preparing Jo'enter as an assistant under Dr. Br St ilk While we were standing on the sidemifc be mid: "Yonder is Dr. Bratton, fijw." In front of me I saw four or five oflror* riding along the street. Stepping tofhurd them I called out: "Dr. Brattofl.*| ]At thai moment one of them made a heltka I advanced toward him. Reining AMfeme t$ oi*e side, 1^ found myself confronted by* fine looking, black-eyed, darl^ haired man. The soldierly etiquette With which he returned ray military salbtatimjconvlnced me that I wis then in theory nee of a representative South9rne#i/W*W?ig Is Dr. Bratton, I presume." "ijpl, s|r," "Well, Doctor, please excuse me far addressing you so familiarly." "Certainly, sir, certainly," cuiH ho ""nnnliif. irifwth? nf Inst, .Tune. my brother A. W. S.la member of Co. A. 12th S. C. Regiment, diet! in Winder hospital, 4th division, ward No. 96, and I have just been there to get his effects that 1 may ship them home, to Yorkville, S. C., before our command leaves this city, and I was told by the officer in charge that I must get an order from his captain or other officer commanding his company before he can possibly deliver them. Capt. L. M. Grist, I' learn, is wounded, and I don't know where to get any information of his whereabouts." "To what command do you belong?" was his reply. cr . "Holcombe Legion-, cavalry, Co. D, Capt. McKissick." "Well, come back, and I'll see if I can assist you in the matter." I retraced my steps to the hospital, and by the time he reached his office I was there, too. After asking me to be seated he began talking in a familiar way, not very often met with among the Confederate dignitaries. Turning to his desk, with a few strokes of the pen he wrote an order to the officer in charge of the baggage room to deliver the baggage in question to me. It is unnecessary to1 say that this semiofficious dignity of the baggage room had raised the Irish on a previous visit to his apartment. I handed,him the note and with a "hang dog" appearance he got the knopsack and asked me to sign a receipt for it. In less time than I have been telling it, it was done. Turning to him I saM: "Are you satisfied now ?" Being answered rather roughly and affirmatively, I said: "If you will walk outside the guard lines with me, in (less time than two minutes I'll fix you up for a furlough." I returned to thank Br. Bratton for his courtesy toward me. I found him in his office surrounded by his assistants. He arose from his seat and met meat the door and with cordial grasp of the hand that a sunburnt soldier could properly appreciate he asked meitUMKLOin. I explained the object of my visit and he most frankly assured me that he had cone nothing but a plain duty. As he stood before me, in the prime of life and the perfec?? ? 4 U A Knff Ana Kn. I null U1 umiiiiuuu, uiu uutiuuo iiiav ucdecked his uniform coat which hung so gracefully from his manly form, reminded his auditor that he, too, was a representative of the Palmetto State. j. l. s. . ? WITH THY MIGHT. Who are the boys that succeed in the world ? This, my yoiing friend, is a very important question for you to answer. Shall I answer it for you ? As you and I are strangers, let me say that I have had thousands of boys under my care as a teacher, and that I know who succeed in all the noble walks of life. I have watched these successful boys in the school-room, in the store, in the college, on the farmeverywhere. One trait of character is possessed by all of them in a greater or less degree, viz.: they bring all the powers of their mind to the task until it is mastered. They do not allow their minds to wander off, now UDon this subject, and then upon that; but with an iron will and an unconquerable determination, they give the task to be performed, whether of the head or the hand, undivided and close attention till the work is done. This power of concentration is the secret of one scholar's success over another in the same class. How you study is of greater importance than what or how much you study. I have in my mind now several of my old scholars who are eminent as lawyers, physicians, ministers of the gospel, civil engineers, builders, merchants and farmers, all of whom were noted in school for their undivided and close attention to whatever had to be done, either at their desks in preparing their lessons, or in the class-room at recitation. I remember one of these boys in particular, although it is nearly thirty years since he was a student in ray school. I can see him now at my desk, working at a difficult problem In algebra or arithmetic, or trying to translate a sentence in Latin or Greek. It mattered not what the study was, he always entered upon it with the same resolute determination to master it in the least possible time. He seemed to bring his whole body, as well as all the powers of his mind to the accomplishing of his task. Now he would extend one leg, and then the other; now run his finger through his hair, and then perhaps twist his nose, his eyes meanwhile intently fixed upon his book, and he saw nothing, heard nothing, until that lesson was thoroughly prepared. He never failed at recitation. That boy has been for several years one of the most prominent judges in this country, and one of the governors of New Jersey.?[The Pearl. PETTY SUPERSTITIONS! Each new generation asks, When will the world have done with its superstitions? Why sh'ould people cling- to strange beliefs in evil Influences, beliefs which, for the most part, had their rise in ripinninns nf heathenism, centuries after the Christian religion has had full sway in the civilized world? We know that many strange and bloody superstitions have faded away in the past two centuries. "Witches" are no longer put to death, and incantations are no longer practiced in civilized countries; but a thousand petty beliefs in lucky and unlucky things survive these darker superstitions; and these, though they are proved false every day, continue to influence the minds of people of no little intelligence. In some parts of the country the receipts of the railroads are smaller on Fridays than on other week days, because so many [ people fear some harm if they start on a journey on that day. Very many people, | who would be ashamed to confess that they are influenced by this notion, hide it under some pretence, and perhaps convince themselves that they are guided by some other reason, in refraining from traveling on Friday, than their superstition; but the proof is plain thai the influence of the day is feared. A great many people have a fear of certain numbers, .d a belief in luckiness of other numbers. If they stopped to think about it, they would be ashamed to be influenced by so unreasonable a feeling. They do not, however, stop to think. Sufierstition is simply a form of letting very gnorant people, who lived long before us, do our thinking for us. mr 1_ j Many men, wnu are mcreuuiuus auuut most things, have little tricks to bring about good fortune, such as turning a chair around before they sit down, carrying coins with holes in them, keeping a certain coin as a "pocket-piece," to bring good fortune, or a horse chestnut to "keep off the rheumatism." Inasmuch as rheumatism is a disease of the blood, it is impossible to understand how a nut carried in a pocket could "keep it off." The distinguished archaeologist, Dr. Henry Schliemann, is said by his friends to possess many superstitions, one of which leads hira to be very careful always to put his-Wrt'Wtocklilg and shoe on before the right, to put his left leg into his trousers, and his left arm first into his coat-sleeve. His practice is the opposite of that of a great many people who believe that it Is "luckiest" to put on the right stocking and shoe first. People who are superstitious would find much trouble, probably, to make their own superstitions agree with other people's. . s r- - One superstition which influences many is the fear of changing or turning a stocking which has been nut on wrong side out. If the stocking has qmce been put on that way, it must be lefy or else it will make the day unlucky. If the stocking possessed intelligence and power enough to bring people bad luck under any circumstances, it should do so when it is not turned, in indignation at being left wrong side out! One of the mostextraordinary individual superstitions of the present time is that of an Italian marchioness, who carries about with her a bottle in which is imprisoned an insectof the sort called a "multiped"? a wood-worm with many feet. This lady, who is not considered insane by those who know her, never does anything involving risk without taking out this bottle and holding it in her hand. This is simply the fetichism of the African negroes, and nothing more nor less. Among the French it is considered ratheT dangerous to talk of railroad accidents while on the trains, for fear the talk will bring ou another accident. If this superstition was founded on a reason it must be because the locomotives and cars do not like to hear their misdeeds and mistakes spoken of! A custom which prevails in Europe is the covering of all pictures and mirrors with cloths while a burial is taking place from the house. The hundred small superstitions, such as fear of evil consequences from the spilling salt, from the breaking of a looking-glass, from the howling of dogs at night, and many more such trifling circumstances, are passing away, no doubt, but they still have a strange power over many people who do not believe in them, but who are thoughtlessly influenced by them through a sort of habit. Such a habit may be destroyed by a little serious thought when one is tempted to yield to a foolish impulse of the sort, and by really following out certain cherished "signs," and ascertaining whether they came true. A little faithful study of these signs, on one's own account, without taking the mere word of others, is pretty sure to convince of the falsity of all superstitions. UNDER GUARD OF HIS HONOR. An old local history of Pennsylvania, now out of print, contains the following anecdote, which gives us a new incident in Washington's life. During the "whisky insurrection" in Western Pennsylvania in 1792, the leader, Bradford, acquired a powerful influence over a wealthy farmer named John Mitchel, and drew him deeply into his conspiracy. Mitchel was a young, enthusiastic man, with a beautiful home, a wife and one child. The conspirators believed that information of their plans had been sent from the little village of Washington, in Pennsylvania, to the President. Bradford persuaded Mitchel that the letters containing this information were in the mails, and must be seized as an act of military necessity. Robbery of the mails was then an offence punishable by death, but Mitchel, convinced that he was risking his life to serve his country, joined by two other men, stopped the wagon on a lonely road between Washington and Pittsburgh, and carried the mail-bag to Bradford's house. It was opened, the damaging letters were taken out, and the rest were returned to the post-office at Pittsburgh. When the insurrection was quelled, all the leaders escaped excepting John Mitchel, who rode into camp, and, finding Genpmi Mnrpffln. cave himself UD. "I have been a fool," he'said, "I see that plainly. I am ready to bear the punishment of my folly." General Morgan, who knew that he had been deceived by Bradford, was annoyed that he had not made his escape with him. He believed Mitchel to be at heartan honest man, and, with the rest of the county, liked and respected him ; but knowing that if he was brought to trial, the punishment would be death, he determined to give him a chance to escape. "You cannot be tried here," he said. "I will give you a pass to Philadelphia. Report yoursell there." "I am to have a guard ?" "No, none." The General turned on his heel and walked away. He intended and expected Mitchel to fly as soon as he had reached the wilderness, but the young farmer's honor was a stricter guard than soldiers would have been, and drove him without flinching to his death. He bade farewell to his wife and child, and started alone on horseback to Philadelphia. It was a three weeks' journey, at any hour of which he could have escaped. He reported himself as a prisoner, was tried, convicted and sentenced to be hanged. When the news reached General Morgan, he sent a special messenger to the President, wUh .an account of the facts in the case. Washington, it Is said, was deeply touched, and at once sent, a full pardon to Itf /% MAf n?*n fn W* 1 a JLTJL1IUI1C1, Willi a UiCMOgC %fKJ 1 utui u lyj no wife and child, and Jte keep clear of conspirators for the rest of his life. TOUCHING CONFIDENCE. The aifairs of Montenegro were conducted in a very peculiar fashion when Lawrence Oliphant visited it, some years ago. On arriving at the little town of Cettinje, the capital of the principality, he found that it contained no hoteit bnt that rdom was made for the rare stranger at lodging-house containing one or two spare bedrooms. Having been in one of the chambers, he found it simply furnished, and, as there was no table, his dinner was spread upon a large chest which it contained. Whiie he was enjoying his repast, the door suddenly opened, and a stalwart Montenegrin stalked in. Says the traveler : He addrressed me with great politeness in his native tongue; at least I gathered from his manner that he was polite, for I could not understand a word he said. I rose, and bowed with much ceremony, addressing him fluently in the English language, upon which he drew an immense key from his pocket, and pointed to the lock of the chest, thus giving me to understand that he wished to open it. In order for him to accomplish this, it was necessary for me to remove my dinner, an operation which was speedily performed. As he seemed a frank and engagihg sort of person, without any secrets, I looked over his shoulder while he opened the chest, to see what was in it. To my astonishment, it was full to the brim of bags of money. Not only this, but my strange visitor opened one of them, 1 3 i. . I lf..I ~ C 1,1 ana poured out a imuuiui ui yuiu. When he had counted out what he wanted, he tied up the bap: again, replaced it, locked up the chest, helped me, with many Sclavonic expressions, which I have no doubt were apologies, to spread my banquet again, and, with a final polite salutation, vanished, leaving me alone with the untold treasure which he had thus revealed to me. The absolute confidence placed in me, an utter stranger, appalled me, and I went to sleep vainly trying to unravel the mystery. It was not solved until next day, when I acquired the information that the chest upon which I had dined contained the entire. finances of the principality, and that the Montenegrin who had unlocked it, and vacated his chamber in my behalf, was its Chancellor of the Exchequer. Not My Business.?A wealthy man in S? itouis was asked to aid in a series of tendSp'eitance meetings, but he scornfully refused. - After being further pressed, he said: "Gentlemen, it is not my business." A few days after, his wife and two daughters were coming home in the lightning-express. In grand carriage, with liveried -attendants, he rode to tne depot, thinking of his splendid business, and planning for the morrow. Hark! did some one say, "Accident?" There are twentyfive railroads centering in St. Louis. If there has been an accident it is not likely it has happened on the ? and Mississippi Railroad. Yet it troubles him. "It is his business" now. The horses are stopped on the instant, and upon inquiring he finds it has occurred twenty miles distant, on the ? and Mississippi. He telegraphs to the superintendent: "I will give you five hundred dollars for an extra engine." The answer flashed back, "No." "I will give you one thousand dollars for an engine." "A train with surgeons and nurses has already gone forward, and we have no other." With white face and anxious brow the man paced the station to and fro. That is his business now. In half an hour, perhaps, which seemed to him like half a century, the train arrived. He hurried toward it, and in the tender found the mangled and lifeless remains of his wife and one of his daughters. In the car following lay his other daughter, with her ribs crushed in, and her pfecious life oozing slowly away. A quart of whisky, which was drank fifty miles away by a railroad employe, was the cause of the catastrophe. Whn Harps sav of this tremendous ques tion, "It is not my business?" His Real Worth.?The fact that the wearing of "cloth of gold" or "cloth of frieze" has nothing to do with a man's real standing is one which often receives public recognition. There are so many clear-sighted people in the world, that the true gentleman is, in the majority of cases, prefered to the pretender. A well-dressed young woman recently entered a street-car which was pretty well crowded, and mostly with men whose apEearance was indicative of having done a ard day's work. In a moment one of the men was on his feet with the remark : "Here is a seat, miss." "Oh, you are very kind, sir," she said, "but I would much rather stand; I am not tired, and I know you must be; so please keep your seat." "I can stand better than you can," persisted the man; "so please take take the seat." The young woman looked as though she disliked to offend the man by refusing to accept the seat, and seemed undecided as to what she should do. A flashily dressed fellow standing beside her said : "Go on ; take the seat. That old snort is only a laborer in some brick yard. Sit down ; don't mind him at all." Giving the fellow a look thatshowed her extreme disgust, she replied : "He may be a laborer, but he is a gentleman, sir, and you might follow his example with profit," and turning to the workingman, with "Thank you, sir," she took the proffered seat.? [Phi ladelphia Bulletin. Tiie Wife's Lecture.?Said she: "I want the chance to supply you with your drink. I want to sell to you and save the profit. I am compelled to go in rags and have the poorest to eat. while the saloon keeper's wife has the grandest shawls and bonnets and sijk dresses, with fine furniture and the best for the table. Let me sell to you, and I will have all this. I will get a keg of beer or a cask of whisky, whatever you may prefer, and sell to you at so much a drink?the same price you pay the saloon-keeper." The experiment was tried for a while, when the husband himself saw how much money he had been throwing away, and concluded not to make any further purchase of any one. But his wife had already gained a nice I niul /IroQaonH/ithopcnmffipfd nf her UWUIICl unit Utvuouuu vvuvi vv>M>v>.w w. life. Bar There is a paper house in Atlanta Ga. No wood, brick, iron or other material is used about the building. It is a neat little store, painted sky-blue, and was erected by a Freuchman, who is agent for the paper of which it is constructed. The rafters, the weatherboarding, the roof and the flooring are all made of thick, compressed paper boards, impervious to water and as durable as wood. The house cannot catch on fire as easily as a wooden building, because the surface of the paper is smooth and hard. } A riUiXEEK WOMAN'S EXPLOIT. Some years ago there lived on the shores of Lake Umbagog, in Maine, a bold and powerful hunter and trapper by the name , of Stone, who carried 011 his business even I to the boundary line of Canada. While attempting to cross the lake from Upton Shore, on skates, one evening when' the ice was new, he broke through the ice, and, after a fearful struggle, was at last drowned in shoal water near shore. His cries were heard by several persons, but were taken for those of a wild beast. After her husband's death Mrs. Stone, who was as fearless as he had been, bravely kept on with the hunting and trapping eAueuuiuua IU ouppun tici icwgu laujiijr. One day, in company with her oldest son, Squire, she crossed the lake to Mettalleck's Point to pick berries, as she often did, and took with her a gun and some small shot. Soon after landing they met face to face a large bear dragging a trap and clog. They fled to a sale distance to consider the matter. "What shall we do, mother?" asked the lad. jtt: , uDo?"?aid the mother, "why, kill him, of course!" "But how?" inquired the boy. "You cau't kill him with small shot in a week." Mrs. Stone made no reply but proceeded to kindle a fire in the hollow oCfi large flat rock. When she had heated the rock sufficiently she placed a portion of her small shot in the hollow. When it was melted she took her pipe and filled it with the molten lead which soon became a slug. But the slug was too large for the bore of the gun. Accordingly she placed it on the rock, and seizing a flat stone rolled the missile beneath it till it was reduced to the right size. Then loading her piece they approached the bear as near as safety would permit. The boy stepped in front and the mother, resting the gun on his shoulder, took deliberate aim and fired, and sent the slug directly to the heart of the beast. Very Green Peas.?JJen are usually the historians of a country, and their works are apt to overlook the part taken by women in making history. For years after we had become a great nation, only tradition chronicled the deeds of the women of the Revolution, or told how much thuv wnffororl fn train np?pp *nrl nrnsnprifcv v,,vj vs" vw r*-- r*wt"""v for their children's children. Mrs. Fremont preserves, in her "Souvenirs of my Time," one of these old traditions, which tells what that war brought to her great-grandmother, who carried to her grave "King George's mark," a long cut on her forehead from the knife thrown by an Indian in the British service. One day several English officers, of the brutal Colonel Tarleton's command, rode up to her house and demanded food for themselves and their men. She politely requested them td dismount, saying ft would take an hour to prepare dinner, and sent them to the bedrooms to make their toilet. At dinner, she appeared in her best damask gown and petticoat. One of the officers, a surly, ill-bred man, seeing that the peas were very green?they had been boiled with lettuce to add to.their green color?rudely exclaimed: "I believe, madam, you mean to poison us; that is the meaning of all your fine airs !" The lady made no reply, save to send for her youngest daughter. Taking the little girl on her lap, she quietly fed her with the peas. Then turning to the officers, she said, with impressive dignity: "You may feel safe now, gentlemen*,. Whoever eats A ^ at my table, invitea'or not invited, hnQ my best. My husband, my young sons^ my brothers, are all in the Rebel army, and I pray for their success and your defeat, but you will receive no harm from me." \ Something About oil jlamps.?ah who nave experience in the use of coal oil lamps must, sooner or later, learn that the condition demanded for their burning without smell is that the wick shall be turned up so as to obtain a full-sized flame without actual smoking. It is commonly supposed at first that by keeping the flame low all objectionable odor is prevented ; but the contrary is the case. Something more may be learned by first charging a lamp with a measured quantity of oil, burning it with the flame at full size r^r a given time, and ascertaining the lossoi oil, then making a second experiment with the same lamp, same quantity of oil burning the same time, but with wick turned low down so as to have but a fraction of the amount of light supplied during the first experiment. On measuring the loss of oil this time, it will be found but little less than in the first case. Therefore, in turning down such lamp flames, we obtain no such saving of material as in turning down a gas flame. The reason is that with the low flame a considerable quantity of the products of incomplete combustion are making their escape into the air; and these are not only offensive to the sense of smell, hut are also injurious to tne neaitn. Too Much Starch.?A traveler in Cuba, after a vivid picture of the plague of fleas to which she was subjected, goes on to speak of one of her smaller tribulations. The operations of the toilet are sometimes still further retarded by the necessity of rubbing the starch out of any articles needed from the last week's wash. I have not yet succeeded in convincing Paula, the laundress, that when I say "No starch," I mean precisely that, and am prepared for no compromise whatsoever. The Cuban practice is to starch all garments, without exception, to the utmost degree of stiffness. How they manage to wear them, I cannot imagine. The sensations of a foreigner are best described by a certain Herr Wagner whom I met in Havana. "The first time that I sat down in a clean shirt from a Cuban laundry," said he, "I thought I must have landed on a pile of broken crockery. And when it became necessay to put on a Cubanized night-shirt, I sat up till two o'clock in the morning, trying to rub the starch and the crackle out of it. As for pockethandkerchiefs, you might as well use sand paper!" Metropolitan Journalism.?Great Editor (Metropolitan newspaper:)?You are back from Indianapolis, I find, and I am glad to see you, for this mighty nation from Maine to California, from Michigan to Texas, is breathlessly waiting for anything and everything regarding the President-elect. Quick, tell me what you have found out. Staff Correspondent (settling himself and glancing over his notes)?Well, sir. Gen. Harrison wears a 7\ hat, a 6* shoe, has one bunion, no corns, pays $27 a dozen for his shirts, keeps one horse, uses linen handkerchiefs, smokes three-for-a-quarter cigars, uses bay rum on his hair but no oil, weighs 180 pounds, measures f> feet 7*, likes Thackeray, Scott and Elipt, prefers colored servants, carries wooden toothpicks, wears rubbers all the winter, and never goes out in the rain without an umbrella. "Glorious ! You have done nobly. ^ Write it out?two columns 1" ^ aer The custom of life insurance companies relative to payments of policies where death occurs from suicide has changed materially of late years. In the early days of life insurance such claims were never paid, and there is a provision in most policies issued heretofore that the claim shall be void if the deceased dies by his own act. But at the present time all large companies issue a policy which is absolutely incontestible for any cause whatever (not excluding fraud in the application) after three years. They take 1 the ground that suicide does not happen frequent enough to make it an element of risk, and further that, so far as fraud is concerned, if they do not discover anything of that nature in three years they are not likely ever to do so.