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Straps and <gact$. ? A bill has been introduced in the Kentucky legislature which provides that where a suit is brought upon a life insurance policy, heretofore or hereafter issued, no de'euse based upon misrepresentation in obtaining the policy sued on shall be valid unless the defendant shall deposit in the court in which the action is pending for the benefit of the plaiutiffs, all premiums received on such policy, with interest on same from date on which they were paid to the insurauce company. ? New Orleans State: It is reported that David Bennett Hill has declared himself in favor of fr.ee silver - n' ? -? * ??-? KIo of aner mature reucunuu iu ms icu^Hvav Wolfert's Roost, aud in 1000 will support Wm. J. Bryau for the presidential nomiuatiou. It must he confessed, however, that the people of this country care nothing for Mr. Hill's politi cal status, for the reason that he is an ambitious aud trimming politician who is now seeking to emerge from the retirement to which be was relegated in the last campaign. He has been on both sides of the financial question and is liable to flop again. ? If all the public building bills introduced iu this congress were passed by both houses of congress and signed by the president, it would take $30,000,000 of the government to foot the bills. But the significant part of the item is that from present appearances the house will not vote for a single new public building at this session, al though there has been some talk of taking up a few bills for localities where the need is most pressing. The house committee on public buildings and grounds has considered only one bill up to date, and that was not for a new project. Only for an appropriation for a building that has been authorized. ? Czar Reed has one commendable trait?fraukuess. When he-learned that the committee on territories was inclined to favorably report bills for the admission of Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma as states, be told the members flat-footed that it was useless for them to do so, as he did not intend that those territories should be admitted, so loug as be bad the power to prevent and the present conditions continue to exist. He added that it u-assimnlv a Question of gold against silver, it being well known that each of the territories named would send two silver men to the senate, if they had the opportunity. ? Two months ago a St. Louis physician removed the stomach of a man. The operation was "highly successful but the man died. A few days later two. Milwaukee physicians removed the stomach of a woman. The conditions were very unfavorable. The patient had been operated on about six weeks before for cancer of the stomach, and had never recovered from the effects of that operation, "It was an almost hopeless case, and the woman died four hours after her stomach wus taken out." Commenting on the two iucidents the Atlanta Journal wisely remarks that they "seem to show that it is useless to attempt this operation unless the patient is capable of euduring a very severe strain." It is well said. ? Gustave Rolle, 60 years old, attired in evening dress, silk hat and kid gloves, knelt upon the grave of bis wife in Forest Heme cemetery, Chicago, last Wednesday afternoon, in a howling blizzard and shot a bullet through his brain. When Rolle called at the cemetery, Superintendent Hawes was surprised to notice that he wore a dress suit. "You're rather well dressed for a day like this," said Hawes. Rolle replied that he had an appointment to attend an entertainment in the evening, aud after speaking pleasantly with Hawes for a few minutes, he went into the cemetery. The grave of Mrs. Rolle is several hundred feel from the office, ami R-tlle was soon lost to sight in the blinding snow storui. Hawes was sitting in his office when he heard the report of a revolver. He went into the cemetery and proceeded toward the Rolle lot. As he reached the grave he saw Rolle stretched upon the mound. ? Kansas City Star: The "war news" of the political dispatches from Europe must, perhaps, be discounted largely, in view of the fact that the London stock market is comparatively unaffected. If war was as imminent as the newsgatherers intimate, the financial pulse would exhibit unmistakable symptoms ol disorder, whereas, in fact, consols are steady. Relations between Russia and England are somewhat strained, if the reports are correct; but there seems to be no doubt that their conflicting interests in China will be reconciled. What has been effected seems to be this, that Russia has been forced to say whether she holds Port Arthur in fee or only ou a sort of lease, as Germany holds Kiao Chou. Her relations with Corea and Manchuria have even been the subject of a plain talk, aud a responsible British minister has used the word "war" in defiuing the means England would employ, if need he, to keep the ports of China open to the world. ? The typhoid epidemic, which is laying low many of the inhabitants ol Philadelphia, continues to sweep ovei nearly every portion of the municipality ; but 5 of the 38 wards beinj.1 reported as free from the scourge. The deaths from the fever last week numbered 23, an increase of 6 over those of the preceding week, and there was au iucrease of 11 in the new cases reported, the total being 212, as compared with 201 in the preceding week. I)r. A. C. Abbott, the chief of the bacteriological division of the bureau of health, iu speaking about typhoid fever, said : "While I haven't the least doubt but what the water from the Schuylkill river is contaminated and more or less polluted with sewage and matter capable of causing typhoid fever, yet it is equally certain that the degree of the pollution varies." Dr Johu Guiteras, the well-known expert in contagious diseases, when interrogated in relation to the typhoid epidemic, said : "I ana in hearty accord i with Dr. Abbott, professor of hygiene at the University of Pennsylvania, and the head of the bacteriological bureau of the department of public safety. I can endorse everything he has said on the matter. Without a question the epidemic is the result chiefly of water pollution. Our water supply has death lurking in every drop, and it is an outrage that nothing has been done to improve its quality and purity. Understanding, as we pnysicntus uu, that the source of a water supply should be absolutely pure, we also realize that under all circumstances all water should be filtered." (The ^(orlniUc (gnquirrr. YORKVILLE, S. C.: SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1898. ? Comptroller General Epton is not satisfied with his defeat by the general assembly, and says he will appear before the people this summer in the primary. ? Representative Richardson, of Tennessee, said in the house the other day, the Cleveland "panic" and the -M.cK.miey "prosperity" are so much alike, that it is impossible to tell one from the other. Mr. Richardson is pretty nearly right. ? It is understood that H. G. Ewart, of Hendcrsonville, X. C., will be appointed United States district judge for the Western district of North Corolina. He is a native of Columbia, S. C., and a son of Mrs. Mary A. Ewart, the author of "Ellen Campbell, or King's Mountain," published in The Enquirer a number of years ago. ? Although the pension payments now amount to about 3150,000,000 a year, there is no doubt of the fact that under an honest construction of the law, less than half that sum should be paid. The free coinage of silver would not do anything to purge the pension rolls; but it would virtually cut the aggregate amount that is paid for pensions in half. ? A Negro schoolteacher at Fort Motte has developed a case of "smallpox," and the Columbia Record wants to know whether the disease is of the Greenville kind, whether it is "elephant's itch," whether it attacks white people, and whether vaccination is a preventive. The Record, like a great many other people about, seems to be wonderfully skeptical as to the quality of the smallpox that is now doing business in this state ; but still nobody would be inclined to monkey with the disease unnecessarily. ? The Spartanburg correspondent of The News and Courier describes the Epton-Derbam contest in the senate the other day as being only a preliminary skirmish between the Archer and Ellerbe followings for the governorship. That UiAro is something in all this. there is no doubt; but if the result has any special significance, the victory should not be ascribed entirely to Senator Archer. There were others who had interest in trj'ing to turn the governor down. ? The following from the Anderson People's Advocate, is the most sensible and just comment on the result of the Xewbold trial that we have seen: The acquittal of Xewbold, in our judgment, is another unfortunate verdict, and we cannot understand how the jury arrived at it in the face of the testimony. That he had no intention of killing Turner is clear; but tlutt he was reckless in the use of firearms and criminally indifferent to human life is equally clear. True he was in the discharge of his duty ; but no officer, not even the high sheriff, is justified in making an arrest for a simple misdemeanor with a drawn pistol in each hand. It strikes the average man as a curious proceeding to stop a mule by tiring a pistol in his front. Better a thousand times that a thousand gallons of illicit liquor should have escaped his clutches than that an innocent life should have been sacrificed. There was undoubtedly criminality in Xewbold's act, and officers and private citizens shouid have been taught a lesson against criminal carelessness in the use of firearms. i It is a sad and sorrowful piece of business all through. THE LOUD BILL. 1 There is nendimr in the house at this I time, ii measure known as the Loud bill, - and which is giving the sample copy advertising publishers of the country a 1 great deal of uneasiness; but which, we ^ think, in justice to the government, newspaper readers, and legitimate publishers, should become a law. | Under the postal laws as they now . stand, newspapers are allowed the right > of the mails in the counties in which ? they are published free of charge?that is for bona tide subscribers?and outside of the counties in which they are published, they are required to pay postage at the rate of one cent per pound. Under the I law as it now stands, sample copies are mailed in the counties and outside of the , counties at pound rates. Sample copies | are really not entitled to go free in the | counties in which the newspapers are 1 published : but the law in this respect is ! not strictly enforced. The object of the Loud bill is to restrict the benefit of pound rates to bona fide subscribers?to purchasers of newspapers?and do away with the free sample copy business, except at full second class postage?one cent for two ounces. The "sample copy" advertising journals of the country, as we have already stated, are very much worried, and are trying to stir up the publishers of country newspapers to write to their congressmen to vote against the Loud bill. One of the arguments along the line indicated is the following, which is now being published in a gratuiously distributed Washington pnoiicauon : According to the provisions of the bill the only ones entitled to receive newspapers at pounds rates are "subscribers who voluntarily order and pay for the same." After the time paid tor expires, good lawyers say, the pound nite would stop, and publishers would have to put a cent postage stamp on each copy sent thereafter. This would break up half the country newspapers. The bill also requires every publisher "before depositing such mail matter in the postoflice to separate the same into United .States mail sacks, or bundles, by states, cities, towns and counties." Heretofore the postmasters have done the assorting of mail; but under this bill a sort of miniature postotlice would have to be established in every publisher's otfice in the country. Although we note that the South Carolina Press association seems to be somewhat worried over the matter, we think their worry is entirely uncalled for. The bill, rather than otherwise, is in the interest of the country newspapers, and in the interest of the newspaper reading public. For instance, take the very point that is made in the quotation above. "After the time paid for expires, good lawyers say, the pound rate would stop, and publishers would have to put a cent postage stamp on each copy sent thereafter." This is nothing but right. If the subscriber wants the paper after the time paid for expires, be will pay for it again. The publisher has no right to send the paper unless the subscriber orders it, and that be should be required to put a one cent stamp on each copy is right and just. This not only protects the government, but it protects the individual. It is a fact that many publishers continue to send papers after the time paid for expires, and why? It is their hope that they may, in some way, be able to worry out of the subscriber another subscription. If the subscriber takes the paper out of the postoffice, or somebody takes it out for him, then he is often confronted with the alleged law, out really "bluff," that he is bound to pay for it. If, however, the publisher were required to pay one cent a copy for each paper sent after the expiration of a subscription, there would be fewer misunderstandings along this line, and the result would be better all around. No, as we understand it, the Loud bill is all right. Sufficient pressure can, no doubt, be brought to bear on congressmen to kill the bill, and we presume that such will be the outcome; but no letters will be written against the bill from this office. We v;ould rather see it become a law. ? The Archer crowd is reported as carrying its fight against Governor Kllerbe to extreme lengths. When the governor appointed Auditor Epton, of Spartanburg, to be comptroller-general, he also appointed Mr. Brewton to be auditor. The Archer people are now working to prevent the confirmation of Brewton's appointment by the senate, and the understanding is that if they succeed and the governor re-appoints Mr. Epton to his old place, an effort will he made to prevent the confirmation of this appointment also. Strange and wonderful are the politics of the politicians. - ? ? - - MKKK-MKXTK1N. Judge Lewis E. McComas has been elected United States senator from Maryland to succeed Senator Gorman. The Anglo-French dispute over territory near Lagos, west coast of Africa, is still unsettled. The Ohio river is greatly swollen and is causing damage to the towns and cities along its bank. Three people were killed and several were severely injured in St. Louis last Wednesday by a windstorm. Thomas E. Watson will he the Populist candidate for governor of Georgia this year. There is a big fight in progress among the students of the Kansas university over the liquor question, the crusade having been started by the young women. It is charged that some of the young men drink liquor before attending the university entertain meuts. J. I). Bowersock, a wealthy citizen, urges the young women to leave the university hall in a body if the smell of whisky is again detected. The preachers of New York city have started a crusade against the keeping open of stores on Sunday. The Kentucky house of representatives have adopted a resolution asking Senator Lindsay to resign, on the ground that he is not a Democrat. Thq objection to him is on account of his gold views. The senator is not likely to accept the invitation of the house. United States deputies are doing what they can ? ? ??-?* Htn iiinmliorc r\f Hio tnnh u*lin recently burned the two Seminole Indians. The Monarch Cycle company has engaged Hob Walthonr, of Atlanta, the champion bicycle rider of the south, to ride this season with Tom Cooper, until recently the champion of the world. The distillers of Kentucky are trying to form another combination for the purpose of raising the price of whisky. At a convention to be held at an early date, the sporting editors of the metropolitan newspapers are going to try to agree not to publish any more interviews with prize lighters until after the lighters have signed contracts to light. Tillman Excise Kill. Attorney General Barber and Mr. J. P. K. Bryan appeared before the judiciary committee of the United States senate last Wednesday, to argue for aud against Senator Tillman's whisky bill. The judiciary committee asked the lawyers to submit printed briefs in support of their respective positions. LOCALAFFAIRS. INDEX TO NEW ADVERTISE MEN' IS. Probate .Judge McCorkle?Gives notice that W. W. Lewis has applied to him for letters of administration on the estate of Mrs. Martha K. Gilbert, deceased. Grist Cousins?Will sell you a cobbler's set for 35 cents, from 25 to 50 cents cheaper than the same articles have been sold in Yorkville heretofore. They can also furnish you with nails, leather, etc. They offer you a good coffee mill Ibr.'JS cents. They repeat what Mr. Otinand has said about the Olixer plows. They want to sell you evaporated fruits, saner i A 1 l? 1 ? 4l..l.n .1, ktuul hiiu pii'kien, hiiii aiiiinunftvi;im.i\ers at 15 cents a pound. W. B. Moore ?k Co.?Offer you two pounds of cheese for 25 cents and 10 pounds for 81.00. They also have plows and harrows, matting and window shades, furniture and house furnishing goods, farm hells, blacksmith tools, aoors and sash at factory prices, warranted shears and scissors, razors and other shaving implements, chairs, folding-bed lounges, sideboards, book cases and china closets, paints and oils and harness oil. They also have undertakers' supplies of every description. FOll HOUSEBREAKING. Jim Garrison, colored, who is a wellknown local sneak thief, was committed to jail on Thursday afternoon on a warrant sworn out by NV. \V. Lewis, Esq., and charging him with housebreaking. The crime for which the Negro was arrested was committed on Thursday afternoon, and was an atrocious one. He tried to rob the Gilbert residence, just vacated by the death of Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert. The Negro was detected by a servant in tho employ of Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Dobson, who live next door. The servant saw Garrison trying to break open a window of the Gilbert residence, and, through Mrs. Dobson, called the attention of Mr. Dobson to the matter. Seeing that he was watched, Garrison loft the bouse; but was followed up by Mr. Dobson, who, after satisfying himself that there could l.? niiotol/o nnfirtort Mr. T.pwis. who has charge of the property, with the result mentioned. Garrison was sent to a reform school, near Washington, several years ago, for breaking into the Ynrkville postoffice. Since his return he has been on the chaingang, and there have been numerous thefts and burglaries about Yorkville, as the result of which he has been constantly under suspicion; but he has generally succeeded in escaping arrest. The facts in the present case can be so clearly established as to make conviction certain, and if it were not for the fact that the extreme penalty for the crime is limited to one year, Garrison would, no doubt, be removed from his present field of operations for quite a while. THE KILLING OF WELLS. The Cleveland Star of the 17th instant publishes the testimony taken at the preliminary, inquiry into the killing of Mr. Win. Wells, near Grover, on Januarys. The testimony of John Ratchford, who is charged as an accessory, is as follows: John Ratchford, a mulatto Negro, the only eye witness to the tragedy, was sworn and said that he was with Mil Sadler the day Wells was shot. Near Camp's still house they met Bill Wells, and Sadler asked Wells for a drink, which was refused. Sadler saw Wells' pistol, which was in his jacket, and Wells had his hand on it. Mit then caught his hand and jerked, it with the pistol, out of Wells' pocket. Wells asked Mit to give his pistol back and Mit replied that he was not going to shoot it. He unbreeched it and a bullet dropped out, which he picked up and replaced, rebreeching the pistol. He again asked Wells for a drink. Wells replied that he had no whisky and asked for the return of his pistol. Mil refused to give it up and went walking off, Wells following and begging for his pistol. Mit then shot him. When he shot Wells fell. Sadler shot twice in quick succession. He was about 15 feet from Wells when he shot. I was in front all the time looking back. Was looking back when the shooting was done, and saw nothing in Wells's hand. After the shooting Mit came to where I was and I asked him if he had killed Wells. He said, "Yes he had killed the d? s? of a b?." Mr. Camp was coming and Mit said let's wait and see what he says. We went back to where Wells fell and found the pistol. Mit picked it up and gave it to Mr. Camp. Wells had gotten up in tho meantime and had gone back some 10 steps. When Mit saw Mr. Camp coining he started around the hill towards South Carolina. ABOUT PEOPLE. J. B. Bell, Esq., of Gafl'ney City, was in Yorkville Thursday. Miss Essie Stewart is visiting in Yorkville, the guest of Mrs. H. II. Beard. Miss Annie Watson left last Thursday morning for Rock Hill, to visit friends and relatives. Miss Luna Healan, of Blacksburg, is visiting in Yorkville, the guest of Miss Mary Sehorb. Mis-es Minnie Livingston and ?Ethcl Radclille, of Charleston, are visiting in Yorkville, the guests of Mr. and Mrs. G. T. Radclille. Mr. R. A. Patrick, of White Oak, was in Yorkville for a short time on Wednesday, having stopped over here on his way to visit friends and relatives in tho Blairsville neighborhood. Mrs. >S. M. Jones, of Chester, passed through Yorkville Thursday morning on her way to Tirzah where she was summoned on account of the serious illness of her father, Mr. E. H. Brown. Rev. Thus. E. Gilbert, of Watcrbury, Conn., came to Yorkville on Tuesday morning to attend the funeral of Mrs. F. A. Gilbert, which took place on Wednesday afternoon. He left again for Waterbury on Thursday night. Chester Bulletin: Captain <>. A. Hamlin resigned his position as conductor on the Carolina and North-Western Saturday. Captain Hamlin has been conductor on the Narrow Gauge for thirteen or fourteen 3'curs, and in that time has made many friends who hold him in the highest regard. lie has leased the Merchants' hotel in Lenoir and will personally conduct it. Mis many friends in Chester wish him unbounded success in his new field of employment. Galfnoy Ledger, Thursday : Beginning tonight at 7.30 o'clock, the ltev. W. G. Neville, of Yorkville, will hold a series of services in the Presbyterian church of this eity. The services will continue for several days. Mr. Neville is a middleaged man and has been in the ministry sometime. He comes well recommended and will doubtless entertain as well as instruct those who accept this opportunity to hear him. A cordial invitation is ox- : tended to all to participate in these ser- i vices. ' RAILROAD SCHEDULES. i Yorkville is very had off just now in t the way of railroad facilities, and in consequence there is a growing discontent 5 among the business men of the town. ( The fact is, the situation is very serious, f and rather than otherwise, it is becoming 1 more so. Without any southern eonnec- i tion, coming north, the northbound Caro- i Una and North-Western passenger train is now practically useless beyond Chester. 4 mu- r\ i> r> ,1nau .irvf * 1 1115 u. IV. (V V M IJ1.TM.vu, reach here until about 12 o'clock, and gives our people few important connec- i tions elsewhere. The northbound train, i in a like manner, is without much value as to its connection with other roads. < The town is, therefore, completely hot- ' tied. ] The appeal of eitzens of York ville and t other places along the line of the road I was mentioned recently, as was also the t reply of the Narrow Gauge authorities thereto. The position of the railroad peo- > pie is anything hut satisfactory, and the t general feeling among the.business men .< of the town is that they cannot yet afford to let the matter drop. 1 Among other things, a mass meeting < has been suggested. It is proposed to in- ; vite the railroad officials and the railroad ^ commissioners, to discuss the situation, ) and see if there cannot be found some plan t of relief. Whether there would be any t result, of course, cannot be predicted ; i but that something will have to he done, j and thut soot), seems to be pretty certain, t t LOCAL LACONICS. I Trice of Cotton. The best price that is being paid for cotton on the Yorkville market, still ranges in the neighborhood of 5g. 1 Superintendent of Cliaingang. The county board of commissioners, at their meeting last Tuesday, re-elected Mr. C. F. Gordon to be superintendent of the , chaingang for the present year, at a salary | of $30 a month. j Probably Infanticide. I A child of Emeline Bratton, colored, ' cnea near xirzan yesieruay uuuur ?u>pi- i clous circumstances, and when The Enquire r went to press, Coroner Brian was < holding an inquest. Dr. T. B. Hough ] bad been summoned to make the post mortem examination, etc. ] Fire 111 Kock Hill. ! The warehouse of the Roddey Mercan- j tile company, in Rock Hill, was destroy- i ed by fire last Tuesday night at about 9 < o'clock, along with several Negro tene- ] ment houses. The loss was in the neigh- I borhood of 82,500, which is fully covered by insurance. ] Candidates a Coining. ' The reporter has picked up the names ' of quite a number of probable candidates for office this summer. So far as is known, i no definite announcements have been made, and, of course, to mention names t at this time would hardly be the right thing. < Smallpox In Charlotte. Charlotte has a smallpox scare. The i Observer, of Tuesday, reports that two Negroes have developed the disease; but j a pest bouse and a house of detention s have been established, and as the doctors say, the malady is of a "mild type" and no special alarm is felt. Death of Major C. Q. Petty. Gastonia Gazette, Thursday: Just as we go to press, we learn of the death of 1 Major C. Q. Petty, which occurred early this morning at his home near Bowling s Green. He was a good man, a brave soldier, and a useful citizen whose death , will be sincerely mourned. A more ex- J tended notice will appear in a future * issue. < Condition of Mr. Brown. The condition of Mr. F. H. Brown, of ' Tirzah, is not so serious as was at first I supposed. Mr. Henry Massey writes I from Tirzah that Mr. Brown's illness was i from an attack of cholera morbus, in- ] stead of heart trouble, as reported, and he 1 is now up and able to be about. The \ many friends of the old gentleman will ( be glad to know that his condition is no , longer considered dangerous. , From Up the Road. ( The Lincoln Journal of yesterday refers j to the recent burglary of the C. it X-W. ( depot at Yorkville as follows: The "People's Own Gonger' had the tables ' turned on it Friday night. Thieves broke ! into and robbed the depot at Yorkville. 1 We have not learned the amount of loss- 5 es; but the "P. O. G." will soon make it 1 up by disregarding the guaranteed rate f on a few bills of lading. It is funny, < though, to see the "P. O. G." the victim I of its own game. S Delegation Divided. i Rock Ilill Herald, Wednesday : The i York delegation is said to be divided on | the proposition to impose a J mill tax on < the property in Catawba township for the ( purpose of improving the roads in the , township. They have in their possession , a petition signed by !)4 Catawba taxpayers , asking for such a levy, while the names j of four taxpayers appear in opposition. The petition was signed when cotton was | bringing more than 2 cents a pound more than it is at present. We believe thesenti- 1 merit of the same taxpayers now is largely against the levy for the present. J Tlrzali and the Dispensary. The election called by the town council ' of Tirzah to test the sentiment of the ' voters on the dispensary question, was 1 held last Tuesday. There are 13 qualified * voters within the borders of the muniei- r pality. Of these all voted but 2?9 against i the dispensary and 2 to retain the institution. Mr. W. T. Massey instituted a spe- 1 cial election during the day to test the \ sentiment of the people of the surround- ( ing country on the questions of prohibi- t tion, dispensary, or high license. It was ^ raining all day, and there were not many t people in the town. In all 23 votes were cast, of which 1 were for the dispensary, 5 for high license, and 14 for prohibition. There was no special authority, of course, ( even for the election that was held by the town council, and as to what will come of the matter remains l'or future develop- i ments. CHAT FROM CHEROKEE. Notes About People?In Favor of Prohibition?Kev. It. P. Smith's Good Work. Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer. Etta Jane, January 24.?Miss Mamie Crosby lias returned to her school after a short visit to her home at Sharon. Rev. Mr. Isotn, of the M. E. church, preached an interesting sermon at Messopotainia yesterday. His text was Prov. cvili, 22: "Whoso findeth a wife, findeth i good thing." He had a large audience, who, no doubt, believed every word be (aid ; hut there were those present who would like much better to try it than to *= ,ake his word, or even the Bible's, for it. On Wednesday of next week, February !, the C. E. society will meet at Saletn hurch to celebrate its third anniversary. Suitable religious exercises will beheld, jegining at 12 m. Those friendly to Christian Endeavor work are cordidly incited to attend. A young lady asks this question, 'Where does the new moon rise?" In ,he west, of course. * We have some folks about here who ide more like Texas "eowooys" man native born citizens. In speaking of the smallpox scare, vaccination, etc., the other day, our friend 'Bill" Wilkerson told about Torn Mc- ? Keown in the time of the war, getting a ?:ab from some woman on "Sandybranch" from which be was vaccinated, md the result was he broke out all over. m Our people, who pretend to think or tpeak for themselves on political measures, favor complete prohibition as a solution of the whisky problem. We have received a letter from Rev. R. P. Smith, formerly pastor of Bullock's 2reek church; but now evangelist of Mecklenburg, (N. C.,) presbytery, in ivhieh he gives a summary of his work 'or 1S97. His many friends throughout he scope of The Enquirer's circulation will be glad to learn of his success, ivhicb they will find in his church paper, published at Gastonia, N. C., where he low lives. He is one of the most active nen in his church work of which we know anything. Sigma. LETTER FROM HICKORY GROVE. Prexbyterlan Church to be Built ? The School Ix Growing?1The.Boiler Milt Sold. Correspondence of the Yorkville Enaulrer. Hickory Grove, January 27.?Rev. James Russell, evangelist of Bethel presjytery, has purchased a lot here, and during the coming summer, will give out he contract for a nice church building. We welcome the Presbyterian brethien ;o our town. Rev. Thos. Dixon, Sr., of Shelby, N. 0., has been called to the pastorate of the Baptist church at this place. The trustees of the high school, at their ast meeting, decided to enlarge the jchool building at an early day. Professor Slaughter is already cramped for room, and new pupils are being enrolled iaily. An elegaut new piano has been purchased for the music department of ;be school. Mr. Sam Robirtson, of this place, and Miss Lizzie Jenkins, of Grover, N. C., tvere married yesterday, Rev. J. H. rhacker officiating. Mrs. Thacker is seriously ill at the loine of her son, Rev. J. H. Thacker. Postmaster Allison is suffering from ;be effects of vaccination. Mr. Thos. McQuistou, of MorniugSun, Dhio, is visiting at Mr. J. N. McDill's. Mr. Sam McDill, Jr., of Chester, is visting Mr. T. P. McDill. The entire plant of the Hickory Grove Milling company has been sold to White- ' tides <fc Mitchell. x. . BRYAN AT ERSKINE. Strong Efforts to Induce Hlin to Acoept * the Recent Invitation. Associate Reformed Presbyterian. The newspapers in this state, and some in sister states, have been very :ordial in expressing the hope that VIr. Bryan would accept the invitation sent to him to serve as the auuiversary )rator at the next commencement in Erskine college. The members of congress, too, from this state, have not jeen wanting in commending the mater to Mr. Bryan. Senator Tillman, n the course of a letter urging Mr. Bryan to accept the iuvitatiou, says : 'If you ever intend to accept any invitation in South Carolina, you could not go into any part of it where you would be more royally welcomed, or where you could impress yourself more fully on the people of the state. Due West is a community of highly r ntelligent, moral and influential people, and I hope you will had yourself ible to accept the iuvitatiou." The epresentatives in the house united in sending a joint letter, iu the course of which they say: "The friends and graduates of Erskiue college are of Jecided influence in South Carolina, ;o say nothing or otuer states in uie south where they are numerous and nflueuual. You have never yet been nto South Carolina, and, if it is possiile for you to go into the southern ountry on such au occasion, we have jo hesitation in suggesting that tlie invitation from Due West is one you " night well accept. And we say this ivithout reference to the gratification t would he to us personally for you to mine iuto our state, where you would lave, you may be sure, a most cordial veleome." We understand, too, that our friend, Mr. J. Altheus Johusou, who, when a student in college, was a member of he literary society upon which, this ,-ear, devolves the selection of thecomnencement orator, has interested himtelf in seeking to have Mr. Bryan iccept the invitation extended by his ilina mater. Altogether, Due West and the colege boys are quite hopeful that they vill have with them at the next comliencement the far-famed orator from he west, whose magnetism and personil enthusiasm haye so ofteu thrilled ludiences iu other parts of the country. TILLMAN OBJECTS. ?alls the Washington Post Down For Unfair Criticism. Sometime siuce Senator Tillman ised some strong language in an executive session iu Washington, of vhich a garbled report leaked out into - j: tie press. ine proceeuiuga ui iuo ixecutive session being secret, Senaor Tillman cannot state what was ictually said ; but he does object to editorial denunciation based on such garbled reports, and has written the Washington Post the following letter : Editor Post: The Post is one of the airest and ablest edited papers pubished in this country. Its news ser