Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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y I i ' ^ ^ ISSUED SEMI-WEEKL^ ^ i. m. grist & sons, Publishers. I % djfamitg $eirapager: 4or (lie promotion of the political, jSocial, agricultural, and Commercial gnterijsts of the ^eogie. {""SroEKA "J&? ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVILLE, S. C., SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1901. NO. 72. ? ; ? , ?: | " ~~ T NOTLIKEQ By Frederick Van Author of "The Urotherhood of a 81n, Copyright, 1901, by Frederic Van Rensse CHAPTER VTI, 1 A WOMAN IN THE QUESTION. I w TISLE'S horse had not home j I L* I him much more tiian a mile t fmp?an1 when out of the semidarkness HWM Id front of him loomed a figure. also on horseback. At the same Instant the stranger accosted him by uttering a shout which might. In that clear, still air. have been heard at the ranch. "Can you tell me If there Is a human habitation near here?" he asked as soon as Lisle, pistol In hand?for strangers were not always friendly In that wild country?rode up to him. "There Is one, sir." replied Lisle. "Are you In trouble?" "1 should say so." was the petulant response. "Do you know a ranchman in this region by the name of Craig Thompson?" ( "Voo _ oI*?* mt?TT trail InrloaH " "Is It his house that is near here?" "No. He lives 30 miles away, but my father's bouse is about a mile distant. Will you go there with me? In Jie morning I will guide you to Thompson's ranch." "Thank you. young man. I accept your hospitality most gladly. My daughter will be especially pleased, for she is frightened to death at the prospect of spending the night ou the plains, with nothing bnt the stars for a counterpane." "Your daughter!" exclaimed Lisle. "Yes. my daughter. I don't wonder that you express surprise at finding two strangers alone at night in such a place as this and one of them a woman. It Is all because of her obstinacy. It's woman's mission to get men Into trouble. She would come out here today. I could not prevail upon her to wait until we could get a guide. She never rode a horse In her life, so I found and bought au old wagon, which lias done ~ nothing but break down ever since we c started, aud now it has gone beyond repair." How much more of an explanation he would have voluuteered Is uot known, for at that lustnnt they were both Interrupted by a clear voice calling to them out of the darkness, and presently Lisle saw approaching them a figure such as he had never seen before. not even lu his most vivid hours of imagiuiug?the slender, willowy, perfectly clad figure of a woman fresh from the hands of her modiste. "1 could uot remain alone in that horrid place, with all sorts of eyes staring at me out of the darkness." she said as she approached. "Who have you got with you. papa? I hope It is not one of those dirty Indians." "A gentleman. Erna. who has offered to assist us. This is my daughter. sirMiss Eruestiua Thomas. 1 am Thomas O. Thomas of Kansas City. May 1 ask what your name is?" t Lisle raised bis broad brimmed bat t from bis head with a courtesy that was e Instinctive while he replied: "I am the son of Richard Maxwell, r who owns this ranch. I am quite sure v that my father will welcome you. al- \ though It will be the first time that a <] woman has ever entered our house." "If the night were darker, so that 1 t could not see you. I should say that g you were a woman yourself." retorted 1 Miss Thomas. "Is your father a worn- t an hater, Mr. Max wen?" "1 believe so." replied Lisle calmly, j "Have you not another horse, Mr. t Thomas V" g "No; I stripped the harness off the i only one we had to search for assistance. We left Belmont this morning t with the only conveyance that could be procured, and we've been hopelessly lost ever since we started. It comes n of permitting a woman to run things for you." t "You were nearer Thompson's ranch 5 when you started than you are now. \ You have come past it." said Lisle, n leaping from his horse. "If yourdaugh- | ter williet me assist ber to mount my horse, I will lead the way to my ta- t ther's house. It is not far." "What! Ride on that saddle? Sit f astride, like a man? I guess not! I'll c walk." exclaimed the young lady In dismay. "Ilow far is it?" v "More than a utile." 6 "Well, that won't hurt me. I walk n farther than that in one afternoon's chopping at home. But how are we g going to take all my things?" c "We will leave them where they are j till morning," said Lisle. "They will v not be disturbed. If you are ready, we i will start on." < "But I can't go a step without some < of my tilings. Can't you put my small- < est trunk on your horse?" < "I am afraid not. We can wait while 1 you open it. however, and take out . whatever you think is necessary." "We will not do anything of the kind." Interposed Mr. Thomas. "The trunks cau stay where they are till moruiug. and Erna can stay here or come with us, just as site pleases. Start along. Mr. Maxwell, ami we'll follow." Lisle was accustomed to absolute authority on the part of fathers, and lie obeyed. "Come, then." lie said, leaping lightly Into the saddle. "When we have risen the next ridge, the house will lie in view. There is a light In the library, aud we will be aide to see It. 1 will ride on. then, aud prepare my fattier for your coming. Miss Thomas uttered vehement protests against abandoning her "things." but her father was obdurate, and she had uo choice but to follow them. THER MEN. Rensselaer Dey, 99 Onnlltv ?? Etc. laer Dey. . iVhen the crest or the next rise of jround was under their feet. Lisle >ointed out the light and said that he vould ride on, which he did without In he least heeding the many objections aised by the young lady. In truth, he vas Glled with dismay concerning what lis father would say In view of the irospect of receiving a woman Into be house, and furthermore he wished in opportunity to consider what his >wn conduct should be toward her In uxtaposltion with all the prejudice hat had been instilled into his mind igainst her sex. lie knew already that le did not like her. She was very dlf'erent from anything that he bad ever ieen before, but he remembered that he light In which he had viewed her vas very Imperfect. He paid no atention to her calls for him to return. The light of the bouse was in view, rhat was enough. He had never been aught that It is customary to show vomen more consideration than men. He supposed that they should be as jelf reliant as men. and this one. he nentally decided, was a baby, afraid >f the dark and doubtless of ber own shadow. He had the same contempt .'or fear of any kind that any man of lis training would have bad. and he thot o irnninn trnq nri. as was Justly proud of ber hair, sne r had often been accused of bleaching It, v but she had" the satisfaction of know- c lng that It was not only natural, but r that its tint could not be counterfeited v by all the chemicals In the world, and 0 Lisle studied It In amazement. He be- j, lleved that If It were permitted to fall t to its full length It would have reached c to the ground, as Indeed It would, or ( very nearly so. He thought It must be very heavy to carry around, and he t wondered If she slept with It that way. ( While be studied her the anger in j ber face died out altogether and gave c place to an expression of genuine amusement. 1 "This is the first time," she said " presently, "the very first time, In all d my life that 1 ever posed as a curiosity, t I rather like it. Go on. 1 am sorry that ' I did not think to provide myself with ? a catalogue. Perhaps, though, 1 can as- j slst you verbally. What are you look- i lng at now?my boots? They're twos. c' manufactured by Smith & Brown, Main -] street, Kansas City; quality, of the fin- r est; shape, the latest; style, unexcep- 1 tlonal; finish, superb; handsome and j; warranted; price, $7.50. What now? Look at them closely; 1 wear fives, s My, how cold your hands are! They're v like ice. See how warm mine are. Oh. (t the rings! Did you think they were t corns? They slip off and on?so. One r of them?this one?is an engagement ;j ring, but I shan't marry the man who x put It there. How* old are you, air. Maxwell?more than 77" "I am 18." Lisle still kept his eyes fixed upon her, changing his gaze from point to point In search of new surprises and further marvels. lie was mentally comparing her to himself, and he thought that there were many points of similarity which he had not at first discovered; also that they were decidedly unlike. To him she was a human paradox. "Are you really?" she exclaimed. "1 should have said that .vou were much younger. ' I am 18, too; but. then, you are only a boy. That accounts for the difference. Roys don't amount to much." "I have been taught that women do not," replied Lisle gravely. "That conies of having a woman tfater for a father. It's awfully stupid of him. It will be all the worse for you when you find out what women really are. They'll lead you a dance. Oh, 0 how 1 would like to have you in Kan- ' sasCity! Shall I turn around? Would c you like to study my back?" e "If you please." - - 8 narlly excusable for entertaining It. Richard Maxwell was standing on he veranda when he rode up. He knew hat Lisle bad ridden away In the larkness. and he was watching for his eturn. but he was not prepared for he announcement that bis son had to nake. It astonished, perplexed and ingered him all at once, but no trace >f these emotions expressed themselves is he said calmly: "We will make them as welcome as tcssible." It did not occur to Lisle to return to he unbidden guests and complete the bllgatlon of an escort, and. having J He raised his broad brimmed hat. urned his horse Into the corral, he ook a seat beside bis father and a wattid their coming. "Had you not better retire. Lisle?" nurmured Richard Maxwell presently vheu the dark forms of the approachng guests could be discerned in the llstance. "No. sir. 1 much prefer to remain intil these people arrive. 1 wish to ee what a woman of our own kind ooks like. Is It the manner of dress hat makes the difference?' "Dress and training. Let me beg of ou. Lisle, not to permit your curiosity o express itself to either of our guests. Such couduct would not be geutlemany." "You do not like to have this woman lere, sir?" questioned Lisle. "No. Emphatically 1 do not." "I could not do otherwise than to i8k them to come." "Certainly not. Their being here, lowever. need not necessarily briug ou in contact with them or with the vonian. I will send Jack over to rhompson's with them In the mornng." "I have already promised to go. faher." "I have other duties for you to perorm. It will make no difference who nta n<j lltnlr The strangers arrived soou aftervard. Mr. Thomas came up with outtretched hand, for he had dismounted ind was walking beside liis daughter. "Your son has been our savior." lie aid cordially. "We should have been ibliged to pass the night in the open f he had not found us. and God knows vhat would have become of my daughter before morning. I have been en3eavoriug ever since your son miution;d your name to me to recall it. 1 have meeeeded. I think we have had some rorrespondeuee in the past. Mr. Maxtroll. I am the Thomas of Thomas & Armstrong, Kansas City. Mo.: hides, aoofs and pelts. This is my daughter, Ernestina. I hope that we may uot put you to any inconvenience, but 1 an assure you that your house is a rodsend to us now." "You are welcome. Mr. Thomas. Pleased to meet you. Miss Thomas. I regret that there is not a woman in my 'stahlishment: so. if you will permit ne. 1 will show you to your room myself." "If you would show me to the dining oorn. it would be more to the point. I im siinplj famishing. As for going to i sleeping rv.oin. I much prefer to regain here for a little while. The night is heavenly no\> that I am not dying ivith fright." said Mhs Thomas rapidly. She disposed herself In one of the )ig easy chairs and continued, almost (vithout pause: "it is strange that you liaven't a woman about you. llow do you do your cooking and mending? Who makes the beds and?and does J otber things that a woman ought to do for you? Your son says that you are a i woman hater. I don't think there is i any sense in that. Oh, dear! I'm com- ] pletely done up by the terrible experiences we have had today." i "We are provided with efficient servants, Miss Thomas," said Maxwell i calmly. "Lisle, will you find Ah Sin t and tell him to prepare supper for our i guests?" "A Chinese cook!" cried Miss Thom- i as. "How lovely! Is he chambermaid j too? 1 have heard that they are ex- < cellent servants and that they are real ly prererrea to women in 1013 01 pmueo. Papa never took me with blm on one of bis trips before, but I Just wouldn't let blm go without me tbis time. An hour ago I would have given the world to be back again in Kansas City, and now I wouldn't be anywhere else than here If I could. What a pleasant room this one is!" rising and passing unceremoniously through the open window. "This is the library? Your son mentioned It to us, but I did not suppose that anybody had such a thing as a real library In this region." She began an Inspection of the bookshelves, which she continued with verbal approvement of the bindlugs until her eyes rested upon the piano. "Well, I never!" she declared vehemently. Then, raising her voice, she called out "Who plays upon this?the Chinese cook?" "No." responded a quiet voice directly behind her. "My father and I play upon It" "Why, Mr. Maxwell! How you startled me! I did not hear you come in. Whoever would have" expected to find a piano here? Why, you are really quite civilized, are you not?" She raised her eyes to Llsle's when she asked the question, and her eyes and face were much more perfect than her manners, ror mey weir eniuio.ic, j but when they encountered the wide ( eyed stare with which Lisle was regarding her her glance sank In confu- y sion, and the red blood suffused her j throat and cheeks and brow. Then, ( because be continued silent and because y she knew that he was still watching her, she became angry. , "One would think that you never saw a woman before!" 6he exclaimed. "I never did," was the quiet reply. . "What?" Miss Thomas forgot her confusion f and her anger at the same instant. "What did you say? Say it again, 1 please." she exclaimed after a short y pause. "You are the first woman that 1 ever saw. Miss Thomas." said Lisle In the same quiet tone. He was perfectly self contained. He regarded the beautiful creature before him with exactly the same emotions that be would have felt if be had been standing before a cage in a menagerie, viewing some rare 1 specimen of capture from equatorial Africa. He was studying her physique without approval, mentally rejoiced a that his own in no way resembled It T That slender waist which be might r have spanned with bis fingers, found ( no likeness in his own. That swelling t bust prominent beneath the tight fit- t ting tailor made waist appeared to r him like a deformity. The tightly E drawn skirt of brown cashmere seem- |j ed to him as though it would be a decided Impediment to walking, and he r realized at once why Its wearer bad t declined to mount his horse. Her hair 0 filled him with wonder. She had >s thrown aside her hat, and he saw upon r her head the most remarkable specta- t cle be bad ever witnessed. Miss Thorn- a "Well, I never! There, how do yoi Ike that?" Her figure, though slight, was whai sny man would have pronounced be witching, but It did Dot so Inipresi Lisle Maxwell. "I do not think that I like It," he sale eflectlvely. She wheeled around with a sudden less that startled him, but she onlj stared. For once she had not words with which to express her sentiments. "Do you wear a wooden Jacket be ieath this one?" asked Lisle, touching ler waist gingerly with the end of one jf his fingers. She hurst out laughing then?Jus i low. rippling laugh that was full oi melody and so replete with amusemem :hat Lisle smiled back at her. "Upon my word, you are original!' she said at last "No; the jacket, as pou call it?and It isn't at all a lmc name for It?that 1 wear underneatl .tu nn/t I r? rirtt m (1 Ha f\t tttnriH T .LIJ3 UUtr 19 uui Uinuc vi WUUU, I uuu wonder that you ask. though. Did yoi never hear of corsets?" "Never. What are they?" "They are instruments of tortun ivhlch every woman Is condemned t< wear. I don't know why unless It li because our Mother Eve once stole at ipple and ate It. You've heard abou ihat, haven't you?" "Instruments of torture," murmuret Lisle seriously. "You do not seem t< suffer." "Oh, we get used to them. If yoi nad been nice to me out there In th< Jark and had brought my trunk her< >n your horse. I could have shown yot i pair. They are mostly made of steel.' "Steel! They must be bullet proof then." "Well. I am not so sure about that md I haveu't any curiosity on tb< point. Dave you quite finished study ng me, do you think? Are you satis led?" "I ought to be. but I am not. Hav* [ offended you? If so. I beg your par Jon." "Offended me? Not a bit. You'n :oo original to give offense. I'll mak< japa stay over tomorrow, and you oar study nie to your heart's content Wil :hat please yon?" "Yes. I wish that I might see yot without"- He paused Irresolutely. "Well, go on. Without what?" "Without your Instruments of tor ture." "My Lord!" she gasped. Her fae? jecame crimson and then white wltl mger. She turned haughtily away, am :he next instant disappeared tbrougt he window. TO BE CONTINUED. SttiSfcUannjuss Heading. COLUMBIA MILL STRIKE. 'he Trouble Wan Not Smoothed Over a* Stated. The Columbia State, of Tuesdnv. wai uthorltv for the statement that durlnf jabor Day an agreement had beei eached by the management of thi 'olumbla cotton mills under whlcl he striking operatives would go bacl o work on Tuesday morning, and tha 10 questions would be asked with re ard to their unionism, the question a ssue. When Tuesday morning came a largi lumber of striking operatives presen ed themselves at the mill offices ant ithers nroceeded to their looms ant plndles. As fast as they could, th< iroper authorities Interviewed the re urned operatives and asked then bout their unionism. Those who ad nltted connection with the union an< i*ho avowed their Intention of beln> ;ulded by union rules rather than mil ules were told that their servlcei rere no longer needed, and The Stati f Wednesday morning had the follow ng statement from the board of dlrec ors of the Richland Cotton mills, thi Jranby Cotton mills and the Olympk 'otton mills: At a meeting of the board of dlrec ors of the Richland Cotton mills, th< Jranby Cotton mills and the Olyrnph 'otton mills held this day. the follow ng statement was adopted for publi ation: During the entire controversy be ween the mills and certain of thelj iperatives who had been discharged t has been the policy of the board o lireetors of these respective mills no o appear in the public prints, nor t< nterfere with the officers to whom thi nanagement of these mills had beei ntrusted, except in an advisory way ''or this reason, up to this time, noth ng has appeared from the board o lireetors in an official capacity. In the account which appeared ii 'he "State" of this morning of th< iromised settlement of these difflcul I CM miner llie t-upiiuu, snirmc octrnin u ie Settled." occurs the following state nent, vise: "This satisfactory solution of an is ue that had such serious possibilities cas brought about by the wise ant onservative determination of the gen lemen composing the directorate o he three mills. There was no forma neetings nor any formal action at all The logic of the position assumed bi I'he State in its editorial columns was esterday brought home to the met vhose brains and money are responsi >le for the presence of the mills here ind through them the active manage nent was advised to receive the strik rs when they should return to theii laces without demanding that the} orswear allegiance to any organiza ion." And again, in the editorial of th< ame issue, the following statement iz: "Our surmise that the board of di ectors of these mills were not respon ible for the edict against tne employ nent of union operatives proves t< lave been correct." These statements do our managemen m injustice; and in order to correc he impresion which may be produced re desire to say that there does no low exist, nor has there ever existed ipon the issues Involved, any different >f opinion between the board of di ectors and the managers of the mills. From an editorial statement in Th< State, it appears that the editor of tha aper undertook to act as a go betweei or the contending interests, and tha n the strength of the expressions oi mplied views of individual, member f the boards of mill directors inter sted, advised the strike leaders t< lend their men back on Tuesday morn j ing, assuring them that everything was lovely. Then before there were any j further developments, The State printed an editorial intended to act as oil j on the troubled waters, felicitating the city, the strikers, the mill owners and j itself upon the wise solution the editor had been Instrumental in bringing about. Lo and behold, however, . when the operatives presented themj selves, it developed that the thing had not been smoothed over in accordance . with the representations, and the sitj uation had changed from a "walkout" , to a "lockout." The statement of the mill managet ment as published above was issued in P order to disabuse the mind of the public p as to the bad faith that would have seemed to have been apparent had the situation been allowed to stand In the 3 light that had been thrown upon it as j the result of the utterances of The 3 State. p At last accounts all three of the j mills involved were running with non11 ?!/-??-? holn* Kitf no f n -fiiat hnw mimVl they lack of being full handed cannot ? be stated. It is understood that sever) al hundred union operatives are out; 3 but the mill management has been i exerting Itself to supply the places of t these operatives with non-union people. They are not willing to give out any 1 Information, however, as to the sucj cess with which they are meeting. 1 CONDITION OF COTTON. > ~ AnKoit In Considerably Below the j Ten Year Average. t The cotton conditions for the week ending September 3, according to the weather bureau, are unfavorable. Another generally unfavorable week i for cotton. Continued complaint of rust . and shedding are received from the . greatest portion of the eastern and central sections of the cotton belt, while ? Oklahoma and Arkansas report injury . from premature opening. In Texas the early cotton continues to open and a is being rapidly picked; but the late ? crop is greatly deteriorated and in a innl oinffl wrlfVi nnmnl olrito i\f miof | IULai oiaig n ivti v<viiij/iutiii>o w*. * uwv 1 and shedding. Picking, while retarded in Georgie and portions of Florida, is , in progress in nearly all sections, and with favorable weather will soon be general. The monthly report of the statistician of the department of agriculture ? shows the average condition of cotton ) on August 24, to have been 71.4 as com1 pared with 77.2 on the 25th of July; 68.2 l on September 1, 1900; 68.5 on September 1, 1899, and a ten years average of 74.9. There was An impairment of condl. tion during August amounting to 18 points in Texas, 10 in Oklahoma, 8 in Arkansas, 7 in Alabama, 4 in Virginia, . 2 in Louisiana, and 1 point In North Carolina and Florida. On the other hand there was an improvement dur1 ing the month in Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Indian Territory and s Missouri, amounting to 3. 5, 3, 1. and 4 points respectively. In Mississippi * there were no appreciable changes in conditions. A condition below the ten year average is reported in the majority of the t states. The deficiency is 15 points in Texas and Arkansas, 6 in North Carolit na. 3 in Tennessee and Virginia, and 1 in Alabama and Florida. Oklahoma the condition is 10 points below the average of five years, and in Missouri j 6 points below the average of the eight j years for which statlstlce are available. On the other hand, the conditions in Georgia, Mississippi, south caronna and Louisiana are 4, 13, 5 and 4 points above their respective ten years averj ages, and In Indian Territory 1 point above the average for Ave years, j As compared with September 1, 1900, conditions at the close of August were less favorable in Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma to the extent of 21, 4 and 10 points respectively, and were more favorably to the extent of 28 points In Mississippi, 20 in South Carolina, 12 in 1 Georgia, 11 in Alabama and Missouri, 10 in Louisiana, 9 in Tennessee and e Virginia, 8 in North Carolina, 7 in i Florida and 4 in Indian Territory. The averages of condition in the states are reported as follows: Vir. ginla 82; North Carolina 82; South Car- ' r olina 80; Georgia 81; Florida 78; Ala bama 75; Mississippi 88; Louisiana 80; [ Texas 56; Arkansas 61; Tennessee 73; 3 Missouri 75; Oklahoma 68; Indian Ters ritory 76. l m 1 THE NEWS IN CHEROKEE, f Free Ferry nt Howell'*?Negroe* 1 Talking of Moving to Pennaylvap I nln?Religions Service*. 3 Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer. Etta Jane, September 2.?This morning the weather looks as if farmers s might go to gathering their fodder. 1 That pulled last week was entirely lost j or badly damaged by the wet spell. 1 A strong petition has been gotten up . by the people of this county asking for ^ a free ferry at Howell's. It will be 1 presented in due course of business to - the board of Cherokee county, at its next meeting on the 1st Monday in Oc- ( " tober. For several weeks the water r has been too high, most of the time, to 7 cross with the Mat, and the mud set" tling in the landings has given a great , deal of extra work for the ferryman. , Several of the colored people about here are speaking of moving to Penn' sylvania this fall and winter. There is nn ,innh> hut that manv of them will i go, now that they have lost the greatest part of their crops. [ Next Saturday, Prof. J. Frank ] Vaughn will close his singing school ( t at Messopotamia church. The public ( are invited and the ladies are requested . "m to come and bring well filled baskets. , Much of the cotton is rotting on the | a stalks, and a good deal of the corn \ t blown down is souring in consequence | 1 of so much rain and wet weather. | t There are some sections in this county ; r from which favorable reports come , 3 concerning the crops, but they are . . few and far between. \ } Dr. Lionel Black, son of Dr. John G. ] . Black, of Blacksburg, is located at , WJIklnsville for the practice of medicine. Fortunately we have but very little sickness during the summer. The recent meetings at Abingdon Creek church, (Baptist) have been attended by an outpouring of the spirit, and we trust much good has oeen done. Rev. S. T. Creech Is conducting a very Interesting meeting at Foster's chapel. Mr. John Foster, who lost his wife a few weeks ago, and moved with his little children, to Glendale, has returned to his old home with them. Letters from different places In the west Inform us that those sections have suffered from dry weather as much or more, than we have from the wet this summer. Mr. Sam Lee has been unwell for several days. He has a bad cold and cough. Mr. John Estes, Sam Strain and Miss Kthe>l Strain \v#?nt tn PHftnn Inst w<?pk on a visit. An abundance of first-class hay has been destroyed along the river and creeks by the high water this summer. The sugar cane mills are starting up, and the molasses making will begin. Some farmers think It better to feed their cane and buy molasses than to make It up. We understand that Mr. W. S. Wllkerson has added to hls.plant some Improved machinery and will make up cane on a large scale this season. He always fixes for any work he has to do and does It right. Miss Agnes Wylie, of Hickory Grove, is teaching at this place. She has a fine school and her patrons and scholars think well of her. Rev. J. P. Marion was unable to fill his appointment at Salem yesterday on account of the high water in Broad river. He will hold a communion meeting there, embracing the 5th Sabbath of this month. J. l. s. HOODTOWN NOTES. Condition of the Crops?A Wire Fence Accident?Personal Mention and Other Notes. Correspondence of the Yorkrille Enquirer. Hoodtown, September 2.?An unusually severe electric storm passed over this section last Monday night. The rainfall was quite heavy. The wind was high in some places; but although a great many were uneasy for awhile, but little damage was done, except corn blown down. Corn has been damaged some on Bullock's creek by the recent freshets where blown down. Early cotton is generally good where properly cultivated. However, but little has been made recently as the forms have been shedding freely. Late cotton bids fair to be very light, owing to the sa me cause, especially on gray lands. Early cotton Is opening a little In spite of the Incessant rains. Fodder pulling has been greatly retarded. What has been taken up Is generally damaged considerably. Several will probably try the shredding process, if the weather does not clear soon, as It will soon be too late to save much fodder. Mrs. S. M. Feemster, of the Bullock's Creek neighborhood, had a fine cow drowned In Bell's creek, a little over a week ago, while that stream was swollen. One day last week while another cow was licking its tongue through a crack of their barn, a mare belonging to Mr. W. T. Feemster, seized the protruding tongue and bit It off, necessitating its immediate sale for beef. Mr. W. R. Hayes lost a good mule about two weeks ago. I did not learn what was the cause of the death, though indigestion was doubtless a considerable factor. Mr. W. McCaw Dowdle had his fine horse so badly hurt in a wire fence last week, that he gave it to a Negro on the place to get rid of It, considering it useless. The flesh and tendons on the front side of one of the hind legs were severed into the knee joint, the joint opened up and the leg nearly straightened. One wire had. been broken, and it was thought one end had become entangled about the horses leg. A swampy place in the pasture near by, probably assisted in the damage by its struggle to get out of the wire. The protracted meetings are over in this section. Picnics are over, I suppose, and with fair weather the farmers will soon have enough to engage their attention for awhile at least. Messrs. W. G. Hays and W. G. PlexI'O paid a visit to Lancaster county last week. There was no preaching at Shady Grove yesterday, as Bullock's creek was too much swollen for the pastor to-cross. Rev. Mr. Davidson, of Gaflfney, has been called to the pastorate of Shiloh church. Voce. VENEZUELA AMD COLOMBIA. The tutted Stolen Offers Some Very Important SuKKCxtiona. It is ascertained, says a Washington dispatch of Tuesday, that on August 24, during Secretary Hay's recent visit to Washington, a telegraphic message was sent to the ministers at Caracas and Bogota, directing them to inform jthe Foreign Secretaries of Venezuela and Colombia of the distress with which the president had heard of the likelihood of a distur bance of the relations between tnose two republics. Adverting to tne possibility of the Influence of the United States being exerted to compose the pending questions, the ministers were directed to say that, while the relations of this government with both nations ure equally intimate and friendly and every opportunity is taken to show the ?ood will we bear them, an offer of the president's kindly offices to arrange any differences which may exist between Colombia and Venezuela would be ineffective without the acquiescence of both. Nevertheless, Inspired by the sentiments which are common to all the governments of the American republics, the United States would sincerely deplore a breach of the arnica ble relations that at this time happily exist between the sister nations of the' Western World, and would especially regret any action by either of them which might menace the security of transit across the isthmus of the neutrality of Its territorily and thereby constrain the government of the United States to consider its responsibilities and functions under existing treaty engagements with Colombia. / The text of Mr. Hay's telegram has not been made public. It is understood that an acknowledgement of Its receipt i has been made by the Venezuela govt ernment; but its purport has not been . made known, although It is said to be friendly in tone, and while charging invasion by Colombian forces on the Venezuelan border and referring to the temporary suspension of diplomatic Intprpnnroo tt'Vi! r?V? Via a nnnnrroH fha way appears to be open for explanations. Venezuela has not declared war against Colombia. No acknowledgement has been received from Bogota, but this is supposed to be due to the reported delays in telegraphic communications between Bogota and the coast stations. Colombio also, it Is said tonight, has made response to the note of Secretary Hay. While Its contents are not 6btainable, the statement Is made that it is conciliatory in character and expresses an earnest wish thA war with Venezuela may be avoided. Such a result, it is stated, would be a cause of general regret to the people of Colombia. Colombia, it is stated, stands ready to accept the friendly intervention of the United States to avert war and reposes full confidence in the latter country. ANDREE AND HIS COMPANIONS. It la More Than Four Years Since They Disappeared. There is no longer any hope of Andree's return. Scientific men in this country and experienced ice pilots and whalers agree that he could not have survived three months. They place no faith in any of the messages and signs alleged to have come from , him. It was Just four years ago, July 11, 1897, one clear afternoon, when the wind was in the right quarter, that Andree summoned his companions without ceremony, cut the ropes that detained his aerial carriages and soared away into the Arctic sky. Whatever may be thought about the prudence and scientific practicability of a voyage to the North Pole In a balloon, there was never so sublime an exhibition of human daring, Indifference to danger and death as that given by the young Swede and his devoted companions Fraenkel and Strindberg.* Having convinced himself and them that there is a steady current of air, like the trade winds of the tropics, from the boundaries of the Arctic Circle to the Pole, they staked their lives on their faith, built a balloon and attempted to make the voyage. It must have been a remarkable scene when they departed. Andree had waited for favorable weather nearly two weeks after the arrangements were complete, and was becoming very Impatient, when as he came from dinner on the afternoon of the 11th of July, he noticed with gratification that all the conditions were favorable. He hastily called his assistants, who made rapid preparations for departure. Within half an hour everything was ready. Andree shook hands with all the bystanders in a most solemn manner, thanked them In a few hearty words for their Interest and assistance, stepped coolly into his car, called Fraenkel and Strindberg, who were saying goodbye to their friends, and cut the ropes with his own hands. As the last cord was severed and the balloon rose heavenward, he leaned over the edge of the car and shouted: "Greetings at home to Sweden!" The three aeronauts wavea men caps until they disappeared into an unknown world where the north wind comes from. The scaffolding built by Andree's balloon and the cables he used for his workshops still stand on the edge of the fjord awaiting the disposition of their absent owner?a melancholy reminder which appeals to the sentiment of the Norwegians, who will allow them always to stand as a monument to Andree, Pjraenkel and Strindberg? Chicago Record-Herald. EASY "SURE THINGS." Some Proposition*! That It la Safe to Bet Afrafnat. There are many things which at first thought appear to be easy enougn of accomplishment that it is pretty safe to bet a man he cannot do. Must people know that the human hands are not strong enough to break a new laid egg if the hands are clasped and the egg laid endwise between the palms. It is said that the pressure required to break an egg in this manner amounts to tons. Among other safe bets is a wager that a man cannot rise from a chair . without bending forward or putting his feet under the chair or outside of it. Many a man will back himself to give another a start of 50 yards in a dash of 100, provided the man having the start hops all the way. But no runner, however swift, can give that amount of start to an ordinary man. For the first five yards they go at practically the same pace. Therefore the runner, to go 95 yards while the "hopper" goes 45, would have to run more than twice as fast, and it would be a weak man who could not hop 45 yards at a pace equal to 20 seconds for 100 1? (V,?( moan that the yuius, auu uiai Humu ....... runner in order to win would have to beat all previous records. If a man boasts that his penknife is particularly sharp, ask him to cut with ' one stroke of the blade one of those yellow ribbons, mostly of silk, which come around bundles of cigars. In 999 cases out of 1,000 the knife is not sharp enough to do this. It'will cut through all the ribbon but the last strand, and that will pull out long, and the more he tries to cut it the longer it will pull out. It is safe to bet any one except a blind man that he cannot stand without support of any kind for five minutes at a stretch if he is'thoroughly blindfolded without moving his feet. If he does not move his feet he is pretty sure to topple over in about a minute.