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y ??^ ^ [^~l RFi' 1 ISSUED SEMI-WEEKLT. l. m. oust & sons, Pabii?he?.} % ^amilj) JgTeurspapcr: 4?r the promotion of the political, Social, ggricultural, ?n4jE?mai^rt?I_|nt^(te of the people. { TEKMmmo1e^qV nL'0E^?>lcg' ESTABLISHED 1855. YOEKVILLE. S. C., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1901. NO. 69. i NOTLIKEO By Frederick Var Author of "Til? Urotherlioo of a. 81r Copyright. 1901, by Frederic Van Renss CHAPTER IV. A LASSO DUEL. f n )ICHAKI) MAXWELL did not I Jf^ I however, seud his son away, but be did the next best thing from his standpoint of the circumstances?he kept him constantly at his side ou one pretext or another, so that Lisle bad very little chance to follow out any inclinations that were original with himself. His father's watchful, restless eyes and keen intelligence anticipated everything which might have embarrassed bis theories or created Interrogation points In the "Say, Lisle," he said, "do you rememboi Jim Cummingst" mind of tbe youth, and day after day passed without Incident other than those of such constant occurrence that they bad ceased to be noticeable. It was rarely, too. that Craig Thompson found an opportunity to converse with his young friend, for whom he had conceived such a strong and unaccountable liking. One day. when the work of sorting and separating was nearly completed, Craig rode over to Maxwell's camp and asked for Lisle, and one of tbe men having pointed him out. at Borne distance. where he was riding slowly toward tbe slope of the mountains. Craig gave chase and soon came up with him. "Say. Lisle." be said as soon as they were side by side, "do you remember Jim Cummlngs?" "No; 1 never heard of him." was the repiy. "Well, be thinks be has beard of you. 1 thought be bad gone east, but he's sbowu up here, and he's looking for you." "Looking for me? 1 don't know bint. Who Is be?" "He's the fellow that worked for me that you winged?the one who said that yon were cut out for a girl and all that Remember now?" "Yes." "He's minus a bit of one of his ribs, but he's about as good as ever, and he's a bad egg If there ever was one. He'll hurt you if he gets a chance. That's what I wanted to tell you." "1 do not fear him," said Lisle haughtily. "Who said you did? Not 1. I would not be here preaching to you if 1 thought that you were afraid. Rut I want to warn you about this fellow. He hasn't made any breaks, and he won't, because he knows that if I had a handle to take bold of that would prove that he was looking for you I'd make mince meat of him in uo time. He hasn't said anything; uot a word; not be, but he stands around aud watches you out of the corners of his eyes and grins use a bloody coyote, so that 1 know that he's up to something. All that 1 wanted to say on this matter is for you to keep your eyes peeled so that he cau't get a chance to take you uuuwares. The games will be coming on in a day or so now. and tlieu is when you must have your peepers behind as well as in front of you. The hoys like to have the games mixed up with a tight or two. and if Cuuimings gets a fair chance at you and opens the hall in what these cusses call a gentlemanly way It would not do for uie or for Dick Maxwell to take a band in. for if we did we'd have seven or eight outfits going all at once, and there'd he a graveyard started here that a dozen eastern doctors could not till in two years. All you've got to do is to keep your 'trinkets' in good working order, so that you can use any of them at short notice. Do you know him hy sight V" "Yes?that is, I will remember him If 1 see him." "All right; that's all. I'm going back now." He went away then, and Lisle rode on. speedily forgetting everything that Craig Thompson had said, for his mind was busy with other problems that naa been suggested to it by his sojourn in the Smoky valley and which were destined to tax to the utmost the explanatory powers of his father. The day soon came when the work of the round up was completed, and the time for play arrived. There was a broad stretch of level ground near the center of the valley, and that was selected for the place where exhibitions of skill in horsemanship and the use of various weapons were to take place. The men. nearly 200 all told, lined up on either side of the selected ground. Some remained lu their saddles, others stood leaning against their horses, and others, still, tethered their animals some distance away and stood In groups, discussing the events that were about to take place or busied themselves arranging for succeeding ones. It was a wild and beautiful picture, and even the cattle grazing along the slopes raised their heads oftener, sniffed the air more frequently and mur ITHER MEN. i Rensselaer Dey, d of" 8Ilenoe," "Tlie Quality ?,** Etc. telaer Dey. I mured tbeir muttering bellows In a I deeper tone, as though the excitement of anticipation had communicated itself to them. , The first entertainment on the pro- | gramme was a foot race, and Richard , Maxwell was requested to measure off the distance to be ran. This he declined to do, whereupon Lisle volun- , teered to act. His services were ac- f cepted, and he dismounted from his , horse, leaving it in the care of one of | his men while he started off alone down that stretch of open ground. , Craig Thompson saw him leave his , horse and go to the center of the | ground, where, after marking the point , of beginning, he began to pace the distance for the contestants to run. , "The fool!" muttered the old ranch | man. "If I haven't lost all my judg- | ment. this Is just the chance that Jim ( Cummlngs will take." I Nothing occurred, however, until ( Lisle had paced the 150 yards and fac- j ed about to return. Then, up at the ( bead of the line, a horseman was seen , to detach himself from the surrounding ( group, spur his horse Into a gallop and , dash at full speed straight toward the solitary figure in the center of the tour- nameut ground. He was bending well , forward in bis saddle, his right arm < was raised above him, coiling and j nHotlnf lik-p n lnni? nnd slnewv ser pent was the loop of his terrible lasso, more feared on the plaius as a weapon of offense than all other known implements of warfare. Lisle saw and recognized him Instantly, and if he had not the loud shout that went up from the spectators would sufficiently have warned him. for there was not a man there who did not know the meaulng of such an act. An old grudge wus to be settled. A long standing feud was to come to an end one way or another. A duel to the death was to be fought in their presence, and. although everybody could see that the advantage was unfairly on one side and that the man on the grouud was practically at the mercy of the other, that vras regarded as his own fault one that he should not have committed while an enemy was near $t hand, oue with which they could not and would not iuterfere. Many of them were aware of the Incident of the shooting affair between Cummings and Lisle Maxwell, and now they were to witness the final act. The "code of the plains" permitted the man attacked in such a manner to make use of any weapon at his command. aud the unerring marksmanship of the youth was familial- to every man there. Every one expected to see him pull his revolver and curtail hostilities with a single shot. ; At the instant when Lisle discovered that he was an object of attack he J glanced toward the spot where he had i left his father. He saw him start for- I ward as If to run to bis assistance, and < he 8aw Craig Thompson, who bad 1 hastened to bis side as if he antlcl- < pated the move, seize him around the < 1 * - 1 ?.??1TT o n/1 ha /iaiiM ( UOliy 21IIU UU1U II11U Ut ill i j i uuu ut v.vu*v? . imagine what the ranchman 6ald, although of course he could not hear It "Keep back. Dick; keep back! The kld'll be enough for him. and besides the boys would put a rope arouod you before you bad gone a dozen steps." That was what he did say, and afterward be retained his grasp upon Richard Maxwell's arm. fearful of what he might do in the excitement that was to come. Lisle smiled, well pleased. He realized thoroughly the danger of his position. but he was not afraid. As he turned his eyes back again toward his antagonist he drew his revolver and I raised it, but as he glanced along the barrel he saw that if .he tired there was Imminent danger that the bullet might pass through or beyond Its objective point and injure one of the spectators who formed the group around his father. He thrust it back again Into his belt and drew his kulfe. smiling when he heard a cheer go up from the crowd In admiration of his coolness and bravery. Then, plauting his feet wide apart, he waited. He knew that If that fatal loop once settled around his shoulders he would be dragged down to certain and horrible death. Cummings knew it, too. and so did the men who looked on. There was n hideous grin of exulta- i tlou on the face of the horseman while be rode slowly toward his intended victim. There was no need for haste. The lad could not escape. The loop of the mounted man's rawhide lasso coil-ed and twisted, writhed and hissed i above and around his head as he advanced to the attack, and Lisle stood with upraised Unite awaiting him Twice Cutnmings rode all the way around him. toying with the lasso and Jeering in an ecstasy of fury, circling' to the left and decreasing the radius with each turn, playing with his inteudiHl victim, and as he circled Lisle continued to face him, never tak<i..{ ids eyes from the hand that held the rope. Then Cummings perceptibly Increased the speed of his horse, describing the circles still more narrowly. Hiding madly at last, he approached nearei and nearer to his Intended victim, the deadly rope never ceasing to writhe and twist above Ids head, as if it were possessed of life and hatred and was eager to fall upon its prey. Suddenly ids arm straightened out, and The loop was released from his grasp. At the same instant Lisle leaped into the air. The rope struck him upon the head and fell harmlessly aside, and another cheer went up from the spectators. Cummings laughed and dashed away, gathering the lasso quickly for another throw. In a moment he was ready, and the circling began anew, while Lisle, seemingly as cool as ever, faced him steadily and with unflinching courage. Three times the horseman made the turn. Then Lisle saw him rise In his stirrups. The deadly loop left his bund. It seemed to hang In midair over his head in serpentine curves which changed their forms with every fraction of those perilous seconds which seemed like hours. Lisle made no further effort to dodge. He knew that such tactics must soon become futile; that ultimately the rope must encircle him. It were better that It should do so now while be was fresh and still master of every faculty. lie remained perfectly still and waited until the loop was almost upon him, and then, with a quick motion, he placed bis hands in the position that one asBumes when in the act of diving?together and directly above bis head? and so permitted the coil to eucircle him. It fell true and accurately. The horse ridden by Cummings was pulled back upon his haunches, and then. Impelled by the cruel spurs and tight rein of Its master, it wheeled and leaped away. As the coil tightened around him Lisle managed to seize the rope beyond the knot with his left hand. His right band still grasped the knife. Then came that awful Jerk. He was dragged from his feet headforemost to the earth. As he fell he succeeded In shortening his left arm and reaching jut his right hand, which had not loosed its hold upon the knife. The keen edge touched the tightened rawhide, ind it parted. Instantly lie was upon his feet again, rhere was blood upon his face, but he lid not know it. He turned and ran with all his speed toward the nearest group of spectators. A howl of derision went up from the mob. It thought that he was running iway. But that mob did not know Lisle Maxwell. "Somebody's horse!" he shouted as he ran. "Lend me a horse and a *ope!" A man spurred toward him, dismounted aud thrust the bridle Into his jrasp. It was Craig Thompson. But Lisle did not see him. He ouly saw the horse. In an instant be was In the saddle with Craig's lasso firmly In his ?rasp. He was shaken and breathless jy the ex*perlence through which he His arm straightened out and stiffened with deadly aim. aad just passed, but he was upon equal ground with his antagonist now, and tie gloried In the consciousness of his jwn superior ability. Something new had awakened within him, and he lashed Into the arena, eager for the combat. Not half a minute had passed jlnce the cuttlug of the lasso, and yet Summlngs had found time to tie an>ther loop and was riding madly back i f?o In Tho hnnllrn* nt thp ernwd rhanged again to cheers. It was not to be cheated of Its sport after all. The Sid was game. He would not run iway. Warily, though rapidly, the antagolists approached each other, guiding dieir horses elliptically. Swiftly and dlently they rode round and round, their riatas twisting and hissing like soiling snakes in the air above them, rhe flrst throw must be ;he last, for if jne failed the other would succeed. Both knew that Strategy alone could nark the victor in that strange duel. Both made the cast at the same instant Both were true. Cummings' irms were pinioned at his sides, but Lisle, with admirable forethought, kept bis right hand poised in the air, so that :he lasso in settling over him caught tnd held only his left arm against his )ody. The horses, trained by long practice, knew quite as well as their riders the parts they had to perform, rhoy remained stock still, strainiug jpon the ropes and holding them taut. The tableau lasted only an Instant, aut it was a fraction of time that was draught with tremendous excitement, l'ben Lisle's free hand dropped to his misters. It leaped up again, the arm itraightened out and stiffened with leadly alui, there was a loud report, md Jim Cummlngs pitched headlong from his saddle to the earth. Ills horse, frightened, started away. Lisle would lave been dragged down and killed ?ven then had not his right arm been free. He dropped the pistol and seized the reins, digging the spurs Into Thompson's horse, chasing the other, and rldng thus madly he succeeded In thrusting his one free hand Into one of his pockets. When lie drew It forth It contained a clasp knife. lie opened the blade with his teeth and cut the rope. While the cowboys were cheering and throwing their sombreros luto the air, liring their pistols and otherwise testifying to their joy and relieving the pressure of suspense under which they had labored, I'rulg Thompson rode out to Lisle and met him. "Kid," he said, and his voice was husky with emotion, "I'm proud of you! Hang me if I ain't! Just make a speech to them fellers now. short and to the point." But Lisle scarcely heard him. He cantered to the center of the ground and raised his right arm to enjoin silence. When it was achieved, he rose In his stirrups and turned bis bead c' slowly from side to side uutil be took u In all who were tbere. Tlieu be spoke c' In a clear, ringing voice wblch every * one beard. A "If there Is any other person here a who thinks that I was cut out for a g woman and spoiled In the making, now is the time to speak," be said, d Dead silence followed his words, and 81 after waiting sufficient time be raised M bis hat, saluted them all and cantered ^ to his father's side. Rut the only words ri that greeted him where he expected the greatest praise was the calm an- r| nouncement: ? "We will take the trail In an hour, T Ida Soi> tlmt vnii nru pundv Vmi A may Invite Mr. Thompson to aecompa- w ny us If he cares to do |o." Aud then E without a word in reference to the v combat Richard Maxwell mounted his '? horse and rode away. P TO BE CONTINUED. 11 g ^liocrliancous pending. J WEST AFRICAN COTTON. RpKlnnlnx to Look an If the German 8 Experiment Will Prove a Soccexi. S< The New York Commercial says Gerg many has a bigger cotton country in Africa than we have In the United T States, and with encouragement many of the American Negroes will go there. The Daily News was the first paper to call attention to the Importance of j, the cotton growing experiment started . In west Africa last winter by the Ger- . man government through American ^ Negroes selected by Booker Washing- . ton. 1 One crop is nearly made and it has been heard from. The New York Commercial prints the following: A brief account of the efforts of the American pioneers can be given here. Superintendent Calloway bought in New York plows, hoes, cotton planters, a cotton gin, a press and American cotton seed, ties, etc., and sailed with them SI on November 3, 1900, reaching Togoland nearly two months later, after a t brief stay in Germany. The following letter has reached Tuskegee Institute and will be read with interest, as it ^ sums up the present situation: "Lome, Tooo, West Africa, 0 May 15. 1901. "Mr. Booker T. Washington: "My dear principal?We left America, w as you know, on November 3. 1900, for G the above named place. After many b hardships on the ocean, we at last got to the long-looked-for place, where* we saw and are still seeing strange things. n I "As to my work here: I am getting t' along very well. I find it very hard, v, however, to get material to work with. a This country, like all other unsettled countries, is yef without modern ma- u chlnery. The sawmill, the cotton gin n and in fact, all modern machinery, is jj yet to be introduced. Some of this ma- ? chinery we hope to have in operation before our time is out here. P "TXTKa? tvo rno T.nm<i XVP thOUCht n we were at the end of our journey: but we had yet 100 miles to go In the 'bushes.' as they call It out here. Tt P may sound hard: but we had to walk a this distance, carrying with us such Sl thlnes as we thought would supnly our needs until we could pet settled. The trip was made In four days. By the t< 14th of January, we had about settled a where our farm should he. We began s work, clearinp away with the help of , the natives. ?md In a short while the a site for our new home was selected. n "We have cleared more than 100 acres tl of land and a part of the same Is planted In cotton, corn peanuts and other thlnps. and some of the cotton a has more fruit on It now than many c of the farmers will make on their whole b crop In America. There Is no doubt . about the prowlnp of cotton here, for 11 It has been demonstrated already. Six p months apo men passed this place without paying any attention to It, for It was nothing but a field of bushes and elephant grass: but today one Is attracted by the number of buildings, c the prowlnp of cotton and other products. also the pulling of the plows by horses and men guiding them. "While Mr. Burke and Mr. Robinson are busy with their farm, T am at work A trying to pet the plnhouse ready to eln the cotton when It Is gathered. T find the natives like to work, and will work if they pet plenty of 'chop' (food.1 as 'l they call It: hut they are not able to do fi much hard work: they soon give out. i( 'I remain, yours trulv. ' S. L. Harris." s Superintendent Calloway writes: "The natives do not differ very much from the uneducated Negro of the black belt of the south. I believe the Africans have a better disposition. " Color Is about the same. If I did not " know that I am in Africa I could easily a believe myself in Alabama. The natives are just as anxious to have clothes b and to be educated as American Ne- s' groes. Many of them want to come to America. They do not seem to be lazy, p but they cannot do a great deal of work w on the food they now eat, which is e principally rice. There is at Lome a native who runs a seven-room boarding house. He also conducts a large busi- e ness for a German who lives in Ber- fl lin." tf Whether or not Germany succeeds in becoming a rival to this country in cot- t( ton raising, some Afro-Americans be- a lleve that the German emperor has pointed the way to solve the American Negro problem. There are thousands c of expert cotton farmers among south- " em Negroes, and if encouraged by of- a fers of transportation and subsistence " till their start in Africa was made, '{ they would readily leave the black belt, c' and the congested districts of this country. ? With these letters before it, The Hl Commercial remarks: s "Afonriliner to statistics of the state ? department, Germany imported from K the United States in 1899, 1,168,351 bales 's of cotton, for which she paid $37,407,809, and in 1900 this had increased to ? 1.483,483 bales, costing Germany $68,932,- P 915. This was nearly a seventh of the total American product. tl "Now it happens that Germany has b an African dominion amounting to 925,- P 000 square miles, which is a third larger P than the total area of the cotton-producing states, 670,415 square miles. This b African territory is said to be fertile, e well watered and not too hot for cot- -A ton. Hence, It is apparent that Ger- w many might become the rival of the 81 United States in growing cotton if she It ould overcome difficulties which are ti sual in Introducing new crops and s ould also protect the health of those rho are to serve as pioneers. Then a .frica possesses a labor supply that e! dds to its cheapness, docility and ei reat endurance. n "As early as 1856 cotton was intro- ei uced and raised successfully on the o lave coast of Africa. During the Civil ar the price of cotton became so high u lat English merchants of Manchester G lised a fund to encourage the cultiva- li ion of cotton in west Africa, hoping to a Ival the United States. Nothing came o f this project, however. o "The former efforts to grow cotton in a .frica have been made with white men w ho do not thrive in the torrid zone. E Imrspnr Wllllnm ontlno unnn thp ad- n Ice of some merchants and a consul I this country, decided to make the ex- si eriment with descendants of Africans lc i this country who are expert cotton ei rowers, and for whom the climate y rould present less danger than it would ti ir white men. Therefore, a year ago, e: looker T. Washington was asked to o: ame for this service three of his ex- le ert graduates from the Tuskegee In- a titute and also a capable Negro to v. ?rve as superindendent. tl "J. N. Calloway, bom in Tennessee, a b raduate from PIsk University, and for tl ?n years instructor in agriculture in z' uskegee Institute, was selected as su- w erintendent. A salary that would p lake a politician smile was given him, u esldes all his expenses. Sheppard L. tl [arris, Jno. Robinson and Allen Burke, k U graduates of the Tuskegee Insti- g ate, and each knowing well several tl rades, including architecture, carpen"y. agriculture, blacksmithing and n airying, were the assistants chosen, b 'heir salaries were also good. They ii II know all about cotton raising. a "The greatest secrecy has been en- ei lined about this enterprise. The perons engaged in it have been forbidden p j relate any facts about their opera- fi ion; but from special sources of infor- p rntion it has been learned that great ri access is being attained, and that oth- n r SKiueu r^egTO iarmers win ue quieuy tI iken to start other plantations. t< "The region of the present experl- a lent is Togoland, north of the Gulf of u Guinea, and the scene of the American h lave trade. Togoland is the smallest T f the four German territories. The o thers, Kemerun and German South- o rest Africa on the west coast, and g lerman East Africa on the east coast, c esides being larger are more temper- tl te In climate. Togoland is about 400 p illes north of the equator, and lies be- c ween the gold coast on the west, & rhich is a dependency of Great Britain, t nd Dahomey on the east, which is t< nder France. The area is 33,000 square p illes, a little larger than South Caro- t na, and the estimated population is ,500,000. On June 20, 1899, the Euroean population was 118, of whom 113 :ere Germans. t "Togoland was declared a German rotectorate in 1884, and is governed by n imperial commissioner, assisted by a ecretary, an Inspector of customs and committee of local merchants. The own of Togo has a population of 8,000, nd the military and police service con- ^ Ists of seven Germans and 250 natives. raize, yams, tapioca, ginger and baanas are cultivated to some extent by he natives, most of whom are of the ^ y we race. Cocoa, oil plams, caoutchouc nd dyewood grow in the forests. Two t able connections with Europe have een established. Togoland imported , l 1900 J819.927 in goods, the largest sinle Item being cotton fabrics. ^ f| DOWN IN SOUTH AMERICA. S g omprehenatve Explanation of Con- a <lltIon* Anionic Oar Revolattonarv Neighbors. s itlanta Daily News: 0 Hon. "William L. Scruggs, long time n nvoy extraordinary and minister plen- ^ jotentiary to Venezuela, nas kindly urnished The Daily News with the fol- ^ >wlng explanation of the situation in outh America, where the disturbances a re so important as to have called for Q he dispatch of warships to Colon, from j. his country and Europe: Stated in a few words, the "true in- Q ,'ardness" of the Venezuelan-Colomian-Eeuadorian embroglio seems to be ' bout this: w Each country is divided in sentiment y two great political parties, the "con- . ervative" and the "liberal." The conservative, or ecclesiastical arty, favors the reunion of church and ^ kate, restricting the suffrage to a litrary and property qualification, and rnger tenures of public office. ^ The liberal, or radical party, would limlnate all forms of eccleslasticism ^ rom state affairs, establish and maintiin a state system of non-sectarian and perhaps wholly non-religious) sys- ^ ;m of pfiblic instruction, and make II political officers elective for short ^ ?rms by universal suffage. In each of the countries named, hurch and state have been nominally, ' not actually, separate for more than v quarter of a century; yet in each, he Roman Catholic has ever been, and i still, tacitly or expressedly, "the re- t) agnized cult of the nation." Nominalr, the written constitution of eacn uarantees the utmost freedom of concience, and the utmost liberty of wor- t] hip. In reality, however, there is but jf ne church, one creed one form of reliion in either country, and in neither i there room for any other. Among he educated classes there are plenty tl f agnostics and indlferentes; but no tl rotestants. The chasm between the ri lith of the middle ages and the skep- ? cism of the nineteenth century is not k ridged over by any system of philoso- w hy or any new interpretations of the it iible. si In Venezuela the government is, and cl as been since 1872, in the hands of the o; xtreme liberal, or anti-church party, p nd so was that of Colombia up to 1885, p hen, by political c^gppromise, the con- w srvatlves obtained a place In the cab- a let, and afterwards the Indirect con-'ti rol of the executive power, which they till retain. In Ecuador, where the populace have Iways been more fanatical. than in Ither Colombia or Venezuela, the govrnment has been, and is still, liberal in ame; but In name only. The real powr is, and has always been, the secret r open influence of the church. Venezuela has been in almost contlnous "revolution" since the death of General Crespo In 1898. Andrade, his nmedlate successor as president, was n amiable but weak man; Incapable f commanding obedience of the "revlutionary" element, or inspiring the annaence ui ine masses, wun wnum ne as never in touch or sympathy. < fence his speedy overthrow, and the 1 ccession of General Castro. 1 The country is still in an effervescent tate. "Revolution" after "revolution," )cal or general, have been chasing ach other in rapid succession for three ears past. Castro, a liberal of the ex'eme order, profiting by Andrade's sad xperience, has never sought to appease r make terms with the conservative ' >aders. He prefers to stand or fall 1 lone. Hence the antipathy felt to ards him by the powerful conservave element, not only at home; but In oth Colombia and Ecuador. Hence he crossings from Colombia into Veneuela from the borders of Los Andes, 'hich the Colombian government is 1 owerless to prevent without stirring p a "revolution" at home. Hence, also, he crossings from Ecuador into Coimbla at Pasto. which the Euadorian overnment is powerless to prevent for he same reason. The real issue then (or so far as there lay be a real issue involved) seems to e rapidly veering round to that of 1862 i Columbia, that of 1871 in Venezuela, nd that of 1869 in Ecuador, namely ccleslasticism versus civicism. Be the outcome what it may, it is ractic'ally only a family quarrel; and urther than may be necessary for the rotection of life and property of their espective citizens or subjects, foreign ations should keep "hands olt." Up a 1830, those three countries were uni- 1 ;d under one government, and if, by ' ny contingency, they should again so 1 nite, it would be a harbinger of new 1 ope for the South American continent. 1 'hus reunited, they would be a nation 1 f more than twelve million people, all f one common origin, history, lanuage, traditions and religion, and oc- 1 upying an area of rich territory larger han the whole Europe, and a geograhical position of commanding commer- ' lal possibilities. Separated, and contantly fighting each other or among hemselves, they are a tempting prey o European powers, and owe their resent autonomy to the Monroe docrine alone. THE PENSION ROLL. I t Continue* to Grow Larger With Each Panalng Year. The recent report of Pension Com- ] lisslioner Evans has provoked much omment both at home and abroad, , nd caused many a citizen to wonder / here pension expenditures are to stop. , 'hirty-six years after the Civil war we re burdened with a pension roll which i crries nearly a million names and re- ( uires an expenditure of $140,000,000 a ear. ( How strange seems now the predic- | Ion of James A. Garfield, uttered in he house of representatives nearly 25 i ears ago, to the effect that henceforth j enslon expenditures would diminish, i 'ime has rolled on and today there are our times as many names on our penIon rolls as there were then, and the overnment pays three and a half times s much money for pensions. Since 1861 our expenditures for penIons have amounted to the stupenduus sum of $2,763,350,033, or nearly as j luch as our entire coinage of gold, all er ana copper since ine iounaauon 01 he government. We talk much about the great standig armies of European nations; but 0 people has, or ever had, a standing rmy the maintainance of which cost s much annually as our pension roll? 140.000,000 a year. We have the largest standing army n earth, in our one million pensioners, n army larger than that of Great Britin, Italy and Austro-Hungary comined. Instead of decreasing our pension list 1 growing constantly. Last year it lost 43,586 names on acount of deaths and discoveries of rauds; but 47,792 names were added 3 it. Claims for pensions on account of the 'ivil war continue to pour in and there re 50,000 applicants for pensions on ccount of the Spanish and Filipino ;ars. The last battle of the Revolution was aught one hundred and twenty years go. and there are still nine pensioners n account of that war on the rolls, idows and daughters of Revolutionry soldiers. The pension list, huge as it is now, :ould be costing the country much lore but for the fearless and deterlined efforts of Commissioner Evans 3 lop off the frauds he found in it, nd to prevent the addition of others. What pension expenditures will be ext year nobody can foretell; but that hey will be larger than they are now i a safe prediction.?Atlanta Journal. Newspapers and Politics.?Watch ie official who is always criticizing he newspapers. There is something stten about him, and he is afraid it ill ho ovrinQorl Vnn wnillri hotter also eep an eye upon people who don't ' ant the papers to criticize their favores in office. They are not safe; they | upport men for office whose record or i rtaracter they fear can't bear the rays j f a search light. Nine-tenths of the y rattle about the falsehoods of news- i apers is started by interested persons i ho are trying to discount statements J bout matters that will not bear inves- J gation. This is evident from the fact J that the better the foundation for the statement the more vehement Is their ienunclatlon. The honest, clean official challenges scrutiny. His honest and patriotic supporters wish him vindicated If he Is faithful; but If he Is not they wish to know It. Every newspaper s far more Interested in maintaining a eputation for truthfulness than It Is n slandering any man. Most newspaper men are Intelligent enough to know this. The most highly respected, and the most Influential, as well as the most successful newspapers In this state to3ay are those which have, at one time ir nnnthpr been mnst spvprplv dp bounced by politicians and their heelers, and sometimes good honest people have been misled Into condemning them. The time-serving, politically ?oody newspapers that are always on the band wagon with the dominant element and affect a consuming zeal In / iefense of successful politicians against illeged slanders are despised, at least by those they have served and are soon repudiated by the people whom they have tried to mislead.?Chester Lantern. SAMPSON AND SCHLEY. A Naval Captain Telia of the Origin of the Trouble Between Them. Captain Jas. McQueen Forsyth, U. S. N., who had charge of the naval station it Key West during the Spanish-American war, spent last Sunday in Kansas City, on his way from San Francisco to his home in Philadelphia, and the Kansas City Times quotes him as saying: "While we have been instructed by the navy department not to discuss the merits of the. case, every one knows that the navy looks upon the controversy as an unfortunate affair. We believe there was plenty of glory for all concerned. The fact that a junior man was placed in command above his senolrs is responsible for the whole business. Sampson was a captain and the 17th ranking man of the navy. "fio one ever thought of him as the successor of Admiral Slcard, and I VA1(A..A kA /%# 1 A klm uuh i ucncvc lie ever niuugia ui it 111111self, but he was familiar to the people of Washington and they decided to place him in command. Of course the officers who outranked him did not like It. It is not to be expected that they would, but Washington said Sampson and that settled the matter. "Schley was among the officers outranking Sampson and he was thrown directly under the Junior's command. He naturally felt the promotion more than the others. "The battle of Santiago was one of the most brilliant in history. Regardless of who was responsible for such effective execution, _ there was glory enough for both Sampson and Schley. The controversy only serves to dim the brilliancy of the victory, and it is greatly to be deplored. That any one should question the bravery of either man is particularly unfortunate, and the belief Is wholly unjustified." Captain Forsythe, who will be retired on September 25, has been associated with Admirals Schley and Sampson at different times during his long life in the navy. When he left Key West he took command of the battleship Indiana. Later he was chief of staff to Admiral Watson, in charge of the Asiatic squadron, and for the past several months was second in command at the Mare Island yards at San Francisco. Captain Forsyth left for St. Louis tonight, where he will remain a few days before proceeding to Philadelphia. CONTINUOUS ADVERTISING. Why a Successful Merchant Keeps Everlastingly at It. One of Boston's big1 department 3tores recently published the following In the midst of its large display ads. in the Sunday local papers: "Many customers have said to us: Why do you advertise continuously? We always come to your shop when we [lesire to buy goods.' We believe that Is true with thousands of our patrons, particularly the large number who have charge accounts: but we wish to increase this long list, and our announcements of new articles and fabrics opening frequently are intended as a source uf information from time to time of what is particularly new and desirable is well as what is exceedingly reasonable in price. "Many lots have to be disposed of at a. great loss on account of excessive 3tock, injudicious buying or change of fashion. At such times the prices quoted are so very low that we want the information of these opportunities known far and near, both to our regular customers and the great public. "So if you read our advertisements In the light of valuable information about our store you can send messengers or come yourself, confident such may be relied upon, and if you are made a satisfied customer we have accomplished our purpose, for a satisfied customer is the best advertisement known to us." In other words, this business concern keeps continually before the public because it has something to say in a business news way every day in the year. The amount of capital invested in these great shopping emporiums is arge, and it is an absolute necessity that the goods purchased be turned >ver as quickly and as often as possible. It has been demonstrated that Deriodical advertisement will not do. It is all very well to talk about reguar customers who would visit the store whether the concern advertised >r not; but how long, think you, would hey continue in the role of regular cus:omers? It is safe to say ninety-nine out of ivery hundred shoppers gain their information about a merchant's wares from the newspapers. The enterprisng and successful shopkeeper is perfectly well aware of this fact, and he vould as soon think of trying to do justness on the "once in awhile" advertising plan as he would of attemptng to make a success by opening his shop whenever he happened to feel in :he mood to transact business.?Fourth Estate.