r
* ' * . '
ISSUED TWIOB-A-WEBK?WEDNESDAY AXS SATURDAY.
i. m. grist * sons, Publishers, j % jfamilii Jleinsgager: |[or iha promotion of the political, Social, Agricultural and d[ommeijciat Interests of the ?outh. { TERsd?>lI'w^theee ce;JAncb
voT.TTMTil 4-3. YORKVILLE, 8. C., 8ATUEDAY, MATtCH 6, 1897. NUMBER 19.
ROB Mc<
BY MARTHA McCTJ
Copyright, 1896, by the Author.
Synopsis op Previous Installments.
In order that new readers of The Enquirer
may begin with-the following installment
of this story, and understand it
just the same as though they had read it
all from the beginning, we here give a
l ot-nrtnaia nf nortion of it which has
\ already been published :
A Chapter I.?Life in Walnut Creak, in
B Tennessee, centers around Topmark's
store. Magnolia Tubbs, a mysterious
B newcomer in the neighborhood, not without
attractions of a coarse type, is a nocturnal
caller on Topmark.
Chapter II.?Mrs. Topmark dies from
the poison of herbs brought to the store
WS by a charm working Negress, ostensibly
H to kill mice. Gossips and a managing
W mamma are trying to bring about a match
r between Topmark's niece, Alice Wiafold,
and aristocratic Colonel Talbot's son Jack.
But spirited Rob McGregor, heiross of
Roscoe, has been before Jack's eyes from
\ childhood.
\ Chapter III.?Topmark covets the
Roscoe acres, which are heavily mortgaged
and adjoin his own. Rob is the
mainstay and comfort of her widowed
and blind father.
Chapter IV.?Jack Talbot is a frequent
callei at Roscoe. So is the newly made
widower Topmark. Jack proposes to
Rob and meets with a good humored repulse.
Chapter V.?Magnolia Tubbs holds a
mysterious land claim of value, and Topmark
seeks to control it.
Chapter VI.?Alice Winlold places a
stumbling block in the path of true love
by telling Rob that Jack has proposed to
her.
Chapter VII.?Mrs. Talbot prevails
upon Jack to act as the escort of Alice
Winfold. He does so reluctantly, but
ends in trifling with her while his heart is
f set upon Rob McGregor.
Chapter VIII.?A series of mysterious
persecutions of the people of Roscoe
inaugurated by the theft of Rob's favorite
saddle horse, Lightlady.
Chapter IX.?Jack drives Alice Winfold
to the great annual church meeting.
Rob is there in the company of Topmark,
having arranged it to spite Jack Talbot
for his supposed double dealing. She believes
Alice Winfold's story.
f>xr iiwpD Y ?All the rrmasins have it
tbat Jack Talbot and Alice Winfold are
engaged, but Jack again proposes to Rob.
She cleverly evades the question.
CHAPTER XL
At Monday night's supper tab!' Mrs.
Talbot said to Jack, "Son, if yon have
not made other plans, will yon go with
me tonight to church?"
"With pleasure,'* Jack said, making
a great ado over the heat of his coffee.
"You surely don t think I prefer anybody's
company to yours, mammy? How
shall we go?on horseback?"
"Yes, that will be best," Mrs. Talbot
said, smiling fondly on her boy.
Jack made a grimace, but masked it
with a pretense of swallowing awry.
His mother's simple wiles were plain
to him. She meant to go by Mrs. Winfold's
place and make Miss Alice bear
them company. To object was for him
out of the question, and thus ho would
seem to keep on with what he could not
deny went far to justify Rob in the
way she was behaving toward that confounded
old fool Ben Topmark.
This, be it understood, is an exact
quotation from young Mr. Talbot's mental
phraseology. Though be had been
in a fever ever since the night before, a
glimmer oi light ana commonsen.se naa
pierced his love clouded understanding.
Rob was all be had believed her. There
was certainly something more than girlish
coquetry back of her seeming transformation.
Even in her faults she was
noble. He would go to her, face the
thing out, and not leave her until he
had got to the bottom of it
Not at once, of course. Cerintha
Payne was there for the meeting, which
might last two weeks and was certain
to hold for one. But until he could thns
see her he would take care so to aot
that she should not be able again to
fling Miss Wiufold in his teeth. After
all, it was no more unreasonable that
she should feel aggrieved by his devotion
to the neighborhood paragon than
that he should grow furious over seeing
her the object of Mr. Topmark's devotion,
though she must know how little
a free agent her lover was. She had
laughed with him times without number
over his compulsory gallantry, but
that was before. What if she had
found out that she really did care and
was thus exigeant because of the knowledge?
There was comfort untold in the
thought. Yes, he would be careful?
show himself as friendly and kind as of
old, until Rob was once more solitary
at Roscoe. Though widowers did strike
a tremendous gait in the lovemaking,
he had not much fear that this particularly
tormenting widower coulci carry
off Rob under his eyes in the space of
one revival. Perhaps the man really
meant nothing serious?it might be he
had chosen Rob in the giddiness of a
first emancipation, but would let his
vagrant fancy range to somo one more
suitable when it came to serious thought
of matrimony.
Therefore it was trebly irritating to
find himself again constrained to seem
to do the thing he had vowed to leave
undone. But it was not worth while to
growl and look black over it when he
knew so well the dear mother had his
best good so at heart. When they were
mounted und riding away, he talked to
her gayly of the things he knew she
best liked to hear. He could and would
give her newfrooks and china and paint
the house anew, ho said, now that the
worrying debts were so near done with.
The twins, Frank and Billy, should
have a oollege course too. He might
even hope next year to take his mother
upon the tour they had so_often planned
3REG0R
rLLOCH WILLIAMS.
among the Virginia kinfolk whom Be
had never seen.
There Mrs. Talbot stopped him, saying
half shyly: "Mayhe yon will make
it a bridal tonr, son. Yon are the best
son any mother ever had, bnt becanse
of that we must not be selfish and never
let you think of anything of your own.
Yon are 25?quite old enongh to marry.
Indeed, my dearest wish is to see you
mnrriflri well."
"I could not marry a woman less a
lady than my dear mother," Jack said,
touching her free hand lightly, "and if
I get one who is as much a lady I must
marry well. But, mother, dearest,
please remember I could not be happy
with an angel if I did not love her with
all my heart."
"I never saw an angel, but am sure I
don't want one for my daughter," Mrs.
Talbot said, smiling demurely. "All I
ask is that your wife shall be sweet
tempered and a woman of sterling
character and good sense."
"Which her name it is?Winfold.
Eh, mammy?" Jack said lightly, trying
to fetch a compass to his point of
objection. Mrs. Talbot sat straighter in
her saddle.
"Jack, how can you?" she said, as
near to stern reproof as she conld possibly
pitch her gentle voice. "Alice is, I
admit, very near my ideal. I never saw
her equal anywhere. But, dear me, to
think of your taking me up that wayl
If she knew it, it would half kill her.
She is so modest ana delicate snewouia
never be seen in company with any Talbot
again."
"Beg pardon?hprs and,yours," Jack
said contritely. "It was awfully like
Teddy Barton, that speech of mine. But
I ain't quite sorry I made it, for, mammy,
dear, I've had a sneaking notion
you did want Miss Alice for a daughter.
I'm ever so glad to have found out my
mistake."
"I have not said you were mistaken,
son," Mrs. Talbot answered, and in
spite of the dusk Jack saw that her faoe
grew pink. "But I love the dear child
too well to insult her delioacy by speaking
as if?well, as if she was only waiting
to be asked. I do feel toward her
very much as toward a girl of my own.
She is so sweet aud mild, so unlike
many girls?for instance, that poor,
wild child at Roscoe."
"Let's not speak of her if you please,
mammy," Jack said quickly. They
were by this abreast of the Winfold gate.
Jack flung it wide, and his mother rode
through, but before she had got half
way to the inner gate hoofs came toward
them, and Nina called through
the dusk:
"Here we are, Miz Talbot, an here
you are, at last! I'm so glad of it I
wanter shout."
"Oh, do hush, Ninesy!" Miss Win
fold implored. "You all know how to
take her, though. If you didn't, I don't
know what I should do," she went <5n
in her most oonfiding tone. "You know
how wild she is, without meanin any
harm"?
"Yes, I'm wild. I've got ter be," Nina
admitted, with an air of the most
admirable candor. "Why, jest look at
youl You're or reg'ler old nobody.
You'd never have n beau ef it wa'n't
fer Miz Talbot. An there's Rob McGregor,
with One' Ben an all of 'em,
jest crazy"?
"Ninesy, you are the crazy one! Do?
don't talk 60," Miss Winfold implored,
but Jack's laugh drowned her supplication.
"I don't blame you, Nina," he said,
reining bis horse beside hers. "Let's
begin being wild right now and ride a
race to church. Our elders and betters
can keep each other company, and it is
time we young people had a show."
"Ob, you mustn't, Ninesy 1 You
shan't"? Miss Winfold began. She
might as well have spoken to the wind.
Nina was riding alone for almost the
first time. She felt equally the indignity
of having been kept in the place of
a small girl after she was a very big
one and the intoxication of having Jack
for her owu special gallant. With a
gurgling, triumphant giggle she set her
horse off at a gallop. Jack, keeping well
beside her, leaned across and caught
her reins.
"You hold on. I'll keep him in the
road," he said, noting how Nina wabbled
in her Eeat. He did not mind leaving
the others behind. It could not be
very far. His mother rode as light and
free as upon her wedding day, and, as
to Miss Winfold, truth is he did not
much care if the pace he set did rnffle
both her temper and her unruffleable
locks. He was so hurt, so full of doubt
that was torture, any sort of fooling
was relief. It was more than impossible,
he felt, to endure quietly the painfKfif
CO VlOQpf. hlfl TMltih. So
he kept the horses remorselessly to their
sweeping gallop until they came to tho
foot of the hill whose top was crowned
with Bethel church.
There, as ho halted for tho others to
come up with him, he saw and heard
that which made his teeth set, his nails
clinch till they dug into the palm. It
was a mighty inoffensive sight withal
?merely four riders soberly pacing
along the dusty highway, going two and
two, and evidently so wrapped in discourse
with one another they had no
thought for the rest of the world.
Cerintha Payne and her minister
came first. Ten yards back of them, sit'
ting as light as thistle down upon Mrs.
Payne's amoffng mare, Rob rode, with
Mr. Topmark at ber elbow, the very
moral of snnuy content How was Jack
to comprehend that the oollocation was,
so far as it concerned Rob, wholly accidental?
She had set out in company only
of Cerintha and Cerintha's lover,
meaning to keep herself wholly and
amiably in the background. The three
had encountered Mr. Topmark some little
way beyond his own gate, and it
was the most natural and neighborly
thing in the world for him to bear them
company the rest of the "way.
If Rob had but known it, the encounter
was not nearly so accidental as it
looked. Though after his cavalier die
missal Mr. Topmark had not dared to
seek Rob's society outright, by canning
questioning of sucb black folk as came
from Roscoe to the store that day he
had found out her purpose of going to
church and had plotted to join her.
Things had fallen out to a nicety as he
had planned. He had disarmed suspicion,
he felt, by his well acted surprise
over the sight of Miss Payne and his
feint of wishing to ride beside her.
"Mr. Topmark, have you no conscience
whatever?" Rob had said over
that, pretending to whisper, but with
an arch glance at Cerintha and the minister.
"That's worse than playing dog
in the manger. If that is your game,
just wait till we get past you. Then you
can come along by yourself?though, if
you can behave like a Christian, we
shall be glad of your company."
"I'll be good, better'u a lamb, ef you,
say so," Mr. Topmark had returned,
smiling fatuously. Rob had laughed
outright.
^'Don't you think you area trifle mature
for a lamb," she had asked, "rather
horny and woolly? If you had said
He heard that which made his teeth set,
an elephant, now! Oh, they do look so
good humored and big, yet people say
there's no counting on them. Is it that
way with you, Mr. Topinark? I mean
are you most dangerous when you look
most innocent? If you are?well, I had
better begin to say my prayers. "
"You air the dang'ous one. You air
that!" Mr. Topmark had said, dropping
still farther behind the other two.
"Lord love you, Miss Rob, I ain't got
no notion er sp'iliu the preacher feller's
ride. I won't lay nare straw in his way.
I know how it is myse'f, an ef I didn't
I'd do jest anything in the world you
said I mus'. Try me now an see ef I
won't"
"Take care!" .Rob had answered,
with a little, reckless laugh. "I am a
mighty fine hand to bargain when it's
for somebody else. If you mean what
you say, it may cost you something.
But I bear a conscience. You may take
back yonr word if yon choose."
"I won't that!" Mr. Topmark had
made haste to say. "Ask jest what yon
like. You'll git it er else I'll break er
trace. Yon see, I'm tryiu ter make it
give an take between us. One er these
days, in short. I'll be askin yon fer
8ometbin?somethin I wunt the wnst in
the world."
"Ob, ho! So yon are not generous?
only want to trade!" Rob had said,
langhing more than ever Mnch as the,
man repelled her, tl.ere was a certain
intoxication in the sense of power over
bim. Besides, she was very human and
fallible, this poor Rob. Socially she
owed Mrs. Winfold a long long score.
It was not strange that she felt a sort of
hulf elfin delight in befooling and making
a mock of Mrs. Winfold's brother,
the man of men in that good lady's
eyes. Then, too, the man himself was
so crassly idiotio he had no right to
consideration when in every action he
invited mockery. There was no danger
of hurt to aught save his vanity, for in
the hardness of youth which tolerates
no falling bplow its ideals Rob hud instantly
decided that a man so ready to
be consoled could not possibly have a
heart.
"You ought to have kept that part
secret," sho had continued. "1 have not
tho least scrhplo left now that I know
you are bargaining. You shall swear to
do as I bid without knowing in the least
what you are Bwearing to."
"Anything whatever unless it's ter
keep erway from you, "Mr. Topmark
had said gallantly, and again Rob had
laughed outright as she said with a
pout that took all sting from the words:
"That was ouo of the things, as you
bar it I must make tho other one harder."
"I'm your's ter command," the widower
had returned, trying to take her
hand. Sho had snatched it nway, saying
as she drew to the other side of the
road, "Oh, you have got to givo Brother
Walton a new horse, bridle and saddle
the day he marries Ccrintha."
"Agreed, agreed!" Mr. Topmark had
almost shouted. "I like ter hear tell of
weddiu's. I do, now, fer true. I'll do
that an mo'. I'll iugago tho brother ter
marry us an givo him er hundred dollars
cash fer tho job. Auj what's mo',
yon shall have the finest horse in the
state ter make npfer losin Bonnybel"? |
"Thank yon! Bat how came yon to ,
know I had lost her?" Rob asked, with |
a keen look. "I charged Uncle Allen
not to tell, and he is the only one be- (
sides myself that knows she and her
colt were stolen from the pasture"?
What Topmark might have answered
she was destined not to know. Her
qnestioning was cat short in the most ,
surprising fashion. Jack, in wait at the
roadside, had caught Topmark's last
speeoh and reined in his own horse so (
sharply the beast reared a trifle. Mr. ,
Topmark rode at him, saying as he laid t
a hand on the creature's neck: "Hello,
Jack! Wliar's the rest er the fam'ly?"
Rob knew then he must have overbeard,
and she grew cold and sick in
the knowledge, though underneath her
qualms there was a strain ol burning
triumph in the thought that he was
sneering, even as she had been made to
sdper. But the mood passed quiokly.
By the time she was seated in the amen
corner, whence Cerintha could look undisturbed
at her idol in the pulpit, she
was as miserable a woman as ever lifted
desperate eyes to a heaven blind and
dumb.
Miss Winfold, snug at Mrs. Talbot's
elbow, said in that dear woman's ear
as they looked over the assemblage:
"Really, I begin to comprehend Uncle
B^n's infatuation. I never did think
Rob McGregor a ravin beauty, but posIely
tonight she is dazzlin."
TO BE CONTINUED.
i^isalkncousi grading.
THESE AKE LAWS.
Titles of the More Important Acts of the
General Assembly.
An act to amend the act to create
a school district of Yorkville, in York
couuty, and enable it to organize a
system of free schools, to levy a tax
in support of the same and to purchase
and hold property, and the act amendatory
thereof relating to the election
of trustees and their duties.
Tsvint manltitinn antiinpiTa tho r?i_
UUIUl ICOUIUilUU VV auvuvtiKW vuv Ml
rectors of the penitentiary to furnish
15 convicts to Winthrop college and 20
convicts to the regents of the asylum.
Joint resolution constituting the governor,
attorney general and comptroller
general a commission to adjudicate
the claim of Thomas J. Mackey for
services alleged to have been rendered
in prosecuting the claim of the
state against the United States for rent
of^the South Carolina Military academy.
Making it a misdemeanor for any
state or county officer to receive any
rebate on school books or supplies or
advertising.
The administration dispensary law.
To require an additional graduated
license fee from certain companies doing
business in this state.
The income tax bill.
To require any insurance company
or association to be possessed of $100,000
surplus, or in lieu thereof, to have
$100,000 on deposit with some state
for the benefit of all policy holders, or
in lieu, thereof, to deposit with state
treasurer $10,000, said securities to be
subject to any judgment as a lien on
such securities, and providing a penalty
for the violation of the provisions '
of this act.
An act to amend an act to incorporate
towns of more than 1,000 inhabitants.
An act to provide for a laborer's
lien.
To require all state institutions to
pay for transporting, clothing, guarding
and for medical treatment of all
convicts received by them under acts
or joint resolutions of the general assembly,
and to give receipts for their
work.
To amend section 2064 of the revised
statutes of 1893, changing the
time for executors and administrators
to account to the probate judges.
To provide a penalty on railroad
companies owning, leasing or operating
competing railroad lines within this
state, and to provide for the recovery
thereof.
To amend an act to require contractors
in the erection, alteration or repairing
of buildings to pay laborers,
sub-contractors and material men for
their services and material furnished.
To further prescribe the terms and
conditions upon which foreign corporations
may do business within this
state.
To provide punishment for laborers
after they have received supplies.
To require commutation tax to be
expeuded in townships where collected.
To facilitate the settlement of estates
of testators.
To amend an act to regulate the dieting
of all prisoners before and after
conviction when in the fustody of the
supervisors and sheriffs of the state.
To amend an act to regulate the
schedule of passenger trains in certain
cases.
To make corporations liable for damages
resulting to land owners from the
wrongful obstruction of water courses.
An act providing punishment for la- t
borers who violate either written or i
verbal contracts after having received ]
supplies. i
To prohibit secret Greek letter fra- i
ternities or any organizations of like s
nature in state institutions. i
To amend an act to establish local
boards of health in the cities and incor- i
porated towns of the state and to de- 1
fine the powers thereof. 1
To require the sinking fund commis- 1
sion to lend funds to the several coun- t
ties i
To provide compensation for members
of county boards of assessors
while serving as members of county
boards of commissioners.
To require common carriers to pay
damages for goods damaged.
To establish Bamberg county.
To establish Cherokee county.
To establish Dorchester county.
To amend an act to authorize elections
in cities and towns for the purpose
of issuing bonds.
To require certain officers to keep
in itemized account of their income by
virtue of their office, and to require
them to make annual report of the
same to the county supervisor.
To provide for the election of cotton
weighers.
To prohibit trusts and combines.
To require the supervisors of the
state to publish quarterly reports.
To prevent employment of other
than convict labor on state farms.
To establish Greenwood county.
To provide for the collection of past
due railroad taxes and for the distribution
of the same.
An act to amend the criminal statutes
relating to disturbing public worship.
An act to authorize the holding of
special elections in cities and towns for
the purpose of issuing bonds for corporate
purposes.
To apportion the road fund.
An act to define the jurisdiction of
magistrates.
To provide for the removal of county
officers in certain cases.
An act to authorize municipal corporations
to issue coupon bonds for
the purpose of refunding bonded indebtedness
existing at the time of the
adoption of the present constitution.
An act to render uniform the mode
cf taxation in towns and cities in accordance
with the present constitution.
An act to amend the new county
law and provide new voting places in
certain contingencies.
To provide a penalty for disobedience
to the regulations of the interstate
railroad commission.
An act to amend an act to regulate
the election of mayors and wardens.
Authorizing the railroad commissioners
to require all railroads to erect
depots.
To amend the county government
law as far as it relates to working
roads.
To authorize the deposit of money
in proceedings in the courts in lieu of
bonds.
To prohibit the carrying of concealed
weapons.
To exempt Confederate soldiers and
3ailors from taking out licenses as
bawkers or peddlers.
To protect the Mongolian pheasant.
To provide public school pupils with
books at actual cost.
To provide for the transportation of
bicycles as baggage.
To authorize sheriffs to purchase
and keep bloodhounds.
To amend the law relating to pensions.
To regulate the licensing of distillers
in this state.
To further provide for the return
and assessment of property for taxation.
To regulate traveling medicine ven
Jers in plying tbeir trade.
COTTON IS KING.
The Sooth's Great Staple In No Danger
From the Power of Money.
Abbeville Press and Banner.
The Yorkville Enquirer is generally
^ so nearly in accord with our
)wd views that we seldom feel disposed
to dissent from its utterances,
Put we think our neighbor is off the
track on the question of the round
Pale, and the matters leading up to it.
That paper evidently approves a
trust or combination among the farmers
whereby the production and price
>f cotton may be controlled. From a
farmer's standpoint, tbut idea may
commend itself to their favorable consideration.
But when the ghost of a
trust appears to pack and control the
crop, that is quite another thing.
From the standpoint of The Press
ind Banner, a trust is a trust, regardless
of who may form it. If a trust is
formed to squeeze money out of the
people, we fail to see wherein it is
commendable in one set of men, while
ethers are blamed for doing exactly
!,he same thing.
The round bale may be approved by
railroad men and spinners. The round
Pale may be approved by farmers?
md we think they will approve it.
The round bale may be a good thing
from every standpoint?and we doubt
aot that it is.
Please read again the paragraph
'rom Chicago, on which The Enquir?
_1 _ 1?nM?;AlA
&K S arucitJ is uuacu. iuat aiuuc
sears internal evidence of having been
written by some ore who either does
sot know what he is talking about, or
ilse is careless of his statements
If these machines are not put into
;he hands of the ginners, how are the
swners of the patent process to be
senefitted ? Does anybody suppose
,hat the railroads will transport cotton
n the seed to New Jersey to have it
sacked in a round bale ? We do not
snderstand how any idea that there is
i saving of transporting cotton in the
jeed could be maintained except by a
nan who has wheels in his head.
The idea of saving nearly $3 a bale
s the merest moonshine. The average
sale is about 400 pounds. The charges
or ginning and packing such a bale
would be $1. The cost of bagging and
;ies would be $?. The round bale
nan does not claim that the cost of|
ginning can be reduced. The present
cost of packing the present square
bale after it is ginned is next to nothing?or
about the expense of packing
the round bale. The cost of bagging
and ties could not be greatly reduced
by the round bale. If such cost should
be reduced the farmer would lose in
proportion to the reduction?his bale
would weigh that much.
The chief advantage of the round
bale is that it is more compact and requires
less carroom in which to ship a
given amount. Then will the railroads
ship cotton in the seed to New
Jersey, or to widely separated cities
for packiDg.
The cost'of ginning, packing and
transporting a bale of cotton to Liverpool?as
now packed?is perhaps $3.
The idea that any trust composed of
speculators can put down the price of
cotton is about on a par with the idea
that the farmers can form a trust to
raise tbe price of the staple.'
Withiu the past few, years there
have been many theories for benefitting
tbe farmers without work, and
many schemes for fleecing him have
been devised. The agitation of any
idea that the great mass of the people
may make themselves rich by undertaking
to work a rabbit foot on tbe
the public has done much harm to the
farmers. Such action may deceive
some of them, or cause them to relax
Borne of their energies in producing
their crops.
The people of the south are peculiarly
blessed in the fact that they have
almost a monopoly in furnishing the
world's sdpply of the best cotton.
Cotton is the best money erop iv the
world, and is certain to bring the ready *
cash every day in the year. The
money is sent to the cotton fields, and
no sane man thinks of parting with it
until be has received the cash.
The miners are not so fortunate.
They must sell their iron ore on a
credit. The manufacturer of iron,
wood and other material must go
abroad and seek a buyer for bis goods?
and be must sell them on a credit, and'
take the chances of collecting his bills.
Not so with the cotton producer. fie
gets the ready cash and runs no risk.
The western grower of corn and
wheat does not get a price for bis product
which would induce the cotton
raiser of the south to haul .it to market,
even when he could find a buyer.
The raiser of western hogs, western
mules, and western horses must incur
the risk, expense and waste of time to
bring his product to the door of the
cotton raiser.
Cotton seems really to be a royal
king, to whom the earth pays its ready
tributes. Those people who may want
the staple must send the money with
which to move it, and the western man
must bring his product to our doors if
he would fill his pockets with the golden
harvest of the southern cotton field.
All the talk about forming combinations
to decrease the product or to
force its price from its legitimate place
is demoralizing and injurious to our
farmers. The true way to do is to
reduce unnecessary expense in its production,
and to increase the crop sufficiently
to make good the reduction in
price.
The farmer who has cotton to sell,
can prosper and have money. No- !
body would go to the non-producing
cotton farmer to borrow money or to
sell anything.
As every farm and every farmer is
different in some respects from every .
other farm and every other farmer,
the same details will not suit for ev?-ry
farmer in this country, but there is
one general principle that will apply
to all, namely: Make all you can,
with as little expense as possible.
rtT?.u u _.?i ?u:n UA
WHO UUy OUUli i UJC OC5 IU1D l/UO .cuvt ?
gettc and intelligent citizen need have
no fears of combines or trusts.
Moltke and the Landlord.?
Once while traveling, Moltke, the German
general, came to Zurich, and
walked to the hotel. As the headwaiter
saw bis gaunt figure stalking
in, wrapped in a wornout dusty cloak,
carrying an old leather satchel, he
measured bis wealth by his looks, and
ordered the assistant to show him to a
small room in the uppermost story.
Moltke followed without remonstrance.
As he was making himself comfortable
in the attic, another assistant came, as
is customary there, to ask the silent
stranger his name and rank. These
created no small consternation in the
office of the hotel. The consequence
was that a few minutes later mine
host, with a retinue of "Kellner," all
in full dress, appeared at the attic
door to inform bis excellency that a
better room had just been vacated in
the "Belgate." "Give that to my servant,"
replied ' Moltke, "when he
comes with our carriage. This is
good enough for me." And he remained.
$1,000 For a Chicken.?At the
Birmingham, England, poultry show,
the Earl of Ellesmere paid $1,000 for
a gamecock. The gamecock, a fine
black-red, is said to be one of the most
perfect of its kind in existence. It
has a wonderful reach, is almost perfect
in shape and size, while its fine
tail is one of its best points. It has a
fine ancestral record of prizes and
triumphs, and is a heavy winner itself.
9 a ^ a
#??* Blackbirds are unusually abundant
in Georgia this year, and the su
perstitious think they must oea -sign"
of something or other. Recently an
immense flock of these birds, over a
mile in length, passed over the town
of Carrollton.