Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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ISSUED SEMZ'WEEKL^^ L. k. ohi8t8 soms, Psbiiihen. j % jjfamilj fltirspaprr: 4or the promotion of the political, Social, Agricultural and tfommrrrial 3nUrests of the {Itoplj. ^}T8RM/iNotEcopT,BrivKNc*2^Ncg' ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKYILLE, 8. C., FRIDAY 8EPTEMBER, 1, 190.5. ISTO. 70 ELLEN C. O KING'S M N Written for the Yorkvllle Enqi CHAPTER V. There happen sometimes, aocldenta In life from which it requires a degree of madness to extricate ourselves well. v LA ROCHKrODCALD. Long and lingeringly did little Bessie Craig look out Into the moonlight. Sadly and almost tearfully she watched the waning moon, and felt he would not come. Yet, still she paced the little walk, and softly she would open the gate and pfeer anxiously out. At length, weary with hope deferred, she ran for a little distance, down the road. Suddenly her eye brightens and her form grows more erect; surely she heard voices. Then a shade of disappointment steals over her pretty face?It could not be Bowen?he would come alone, and she wanders on In thoughtless dreaminess, wondering what delays him. Ere she was aware the voices approach: a turn of the road will bring the speakers inio signi, and for the first time, she feels that she has gone too far. The road, straight now as an arrow, and the bright moonlight, will surely discover her. She hesitates but a moment, when plunging into the bushes, which line either side of the road, she hastily concealed herself. "Ha!' said one, "what is that? I surely heard a rustling!" They stoplied and listened, and Bessie feared the beating of her heart would betray her. "It was only a squirrel," replied the other, ."I hear nothing." v "There It Is, again," said his comrade, as a cracking branch broke beneath her. Again they listened. "Pshaw!" replied the other, "you would be frightened at your own shadow?it Is only a squirrel In the trees. I'll swear you expect to see the Whig cavalry bust on you as they did . this morning. Come on, man, and don't I be such a coward." ^ "No!" replied the first speaker, still listening, "let us wait awhile and see what'll come of It?It'll do no harm to watch." 'Watch away, then. I'm going for water; I'm most dead with thirst. That house ought to be about here somewhere. Where In the mischief has It gone to" "Don't be In such a confounded hur, ry, Tom; I'll go in a minute?let's see if anything turns up. If Ferris thought we had let any one slip past us to the Whig camp he would think nothing of stringing us both up." "What's got Into Ferris anyhow, lately? H? was bully enough before, but he's a' perfect bull dog now," replied his comrade. "Why he got hold of % some cock ana ouu siory aooui me Whigs rising in the upper part of the state, beating Cornwallls with one hand and Ferguson with the other, and with one foot in Charleston and the other in the mountains, making a clear sweep of the state. He's such a cursed braggart nobody believes him, and his temper, never very sweet, is now worse than the devil's." "Well, I hope tonight's work will put him in better humor. They say the captain is to pay him handsomely if they catch the Whig trooper." "Yes, to the tune of five hundred or more. Ferns would sell his soul for gold. You know he was bought out of thp Whig ranks, and If they catch him, It will go hard with him?traitor and ^py both." "Tlje captain's mighty anxious about Davie. If it was Marlon himself, he s could not run more risk. Why, he's almost in the hornets' nest. I don't see the use of running one's neck into a halter for a paltry Whig major." "You don't! I reckon If you saw a girl with land and niggers and gold, more than you could count. In the case, and nothing between you and her but a 'paltry Whig major,' you would understand it." "? "Phew! That's the way the wind blows. Is It? Well, I reckon he's got to trap him. Well, I reckon he's got him. hard and fast, tonight." "Yes. Ferris has worked like seven devils. He's got some private spite to settle in the matter, too. Elllck Bowen. the majoFs captain, has got the better of Ferris two or three times, in a fight: and not only that, but he blames Bowen for taking his girl from him. and he hates him like thunder. Now, Ferris knows that it will most kill Bowen for anything to happen to the major; so as he can't reach Bowen, he'll have his vengeance out of whatever will hurt him worst." "How did Ferris know that Davie would be there tonight?" ? 'He didn't know it at all: but after we got whipped today, he recrossed the river and dodged after the Whigs, thinking Bowen would stop to see his sweetheart, who lives about here somewhere and I heard him say he would shoot him if the ball passed through the girl's heart. But Bowen didn't stop, and while Ferris was dodging for him. who should ride past but Ma" Jor Davie. Ferris says he had his fin ger on the trigger to pull, but ne stopped?thinking it would hurt Bowen worse to find him hung?so he won an hour or two's respite, and exchanged a bullet for a halter. "Well, come on, let's go. I don't care If they hang him as high as Hainan. Where Is that house? I'm most famished for water." And the parties moved on. Bessie waited until after their footsteps had died away. Then plunging Into the woods, she hastily ran, under their shades, and reaching the back door of the cottage, found she had outrun the Tory sentinels. It was the work of a moment to empty every drop of water from the pail, while In breathless haste, she detailed to her father the events we have Just narrated. ^ "Now, dear father," said she, "do not wait to expostulate?do not deny me?saddle a horse quickly?leave him In the woods at the back of the house?make what delay you can In going to the spring for water, and leave the rest for me." "Bessie, lassie, what would you do? You could not go to the camp to MPBELL R [0UNTAI1V Jlrer, by Mrs. Mary A. Ewart. night. Bide you here, and I'll away." "No. no! father?better meet a whole regiment of Wh:.gs unprotected, than a Tory trooper. Do not ask me father. It w'll not do." Andrew looked at his fair young child and felt it would not do. "Let me go with you then, daughter; it'll not do for a young thing like you to go alone." "Don't you see. father, you must be here to detain them. Quick! Quick! father, they are coming. Don't let them know I'm here." "How can I help it, child?they will soon know a woman body is about;" and the father looked with pride around his humble cottage. "Tell them I am gone out?anything; but they must not see me," replied the maiden, in hurried excitement, as she felt the necessity of each moment. "I cannot tell a He, Bessie," replied the old man sadly. "Nor do I ask you. father, dear," said the maiden, tenderly, "Say I am gone to see a friend, for oh!" she murmured, "Is he not the dearest and best." "My child"?said the father, hesitatingly. "Hush. hush, dear father," said Bessie, Interrupting him; "did you not give me to the cause of liberty, and oh! think of the loss Major Davie would be to our country. Think how Captain Bowen would rnourn for his friend," said she. with the rich color mantling her cheek. "Think how he would chide us for giving him no warning. Think of the minister's blessing, dear father," said Bessie, entreatlngly. "Right, my balm, right; I'll saddle the roan mare, she Is the swiftest and surest, and I'll put her In the shade of the big oak by the road, and may Qod bless you my little lassie," Bald the old man as he tearfully kissed her pure brow and rested his horny hand In her golden curls. "Strange," muttered he, as he hastened away, "the child I dandled on my knee, who so often toddled after me. should teach me my duty; the little woman! God guard my Margaret's bairn." Bessie had scarcely time to tie a handkerchief over her brown curls, and running out of the back door hide In the shadow of the wood, when the shaking of the gate and the loud call of the men. told her that she had just escaped. Andrew wan In no hurry to hear them, ana not till he had saddled the horse and placed the bridle In Bessie's hands?for he had no time to lead it farther?did he answer. Then, as if coming from the spring, he came on singing. In louder tones, as he approached the house, the beautiful Psalm. "The Lord's my Shepherd." "You old Psalm singing puritan you. are you going to keep us here all night? Confound you. come along and give us some water." But Andrew did not hear, or did not heed and singing louder than ever, moved about the house as if intending to close it. "You cursed old hypocrite, if you don't bring us some water, I'll crack your doting skull for you: what in the devil do you stand gazing for" said one, as Andrew peered Into the moonlight. "Are you wanting anything, gentlemen?" said Andrew, with one hand raised to his ear, as If for the first time hearing the commotion. "Now listen to that will you? Wanting anything! when we've been standing here hollering for the last half hour. Give us some water, will you? you deaf post you," he yelled. Slowly Andrew descended the steps and walking as slowly down to the gate, very politely asked? "Are you wanting anything, sirs? My hearing Is no so gude as It was In lang syne, and I thought maybe you might be calling." "Be calling! be calling the devil! I have stood here yelling till my throat is well nigh cracked.. Give us some water, will you?" he cried, at the top of his voice. "Oh! water! certainly, gentlemen, walk In. I'm not so deaf but I can hear that. I would na like to be without water myself such a night, but come In, come In, and bide a while." "No we can't leave the road," said the man, surlily, "bring us the water." "Oh! come In and sit a bit," said old Andrew, opening the gate. "It's early In the night yet. though this good moonlight we don't light candles? come In and rest ye." "No," replied the other. Impatiently, "we can't come In; for heaven's sake, bring us the water." "The water! oh! yes," replied Andrew, as If he had just heard of It. "Sure, yes, I'll bring ye water, and gude fresh water it Is, but will you na come In?" and he stood with the opened gate. "No." thundered the one called Tom, and with oaths, so Impressive, that Andrew thought It would be no longer safe to wait: so turning, he went up to the house, but Bessie had taken care to leave no water there, and with the empty pail In his hand, the old man slowly returned to them. "Gentlemen, you'll have to come In; there's no water, and if ye'll but Just bide on the steps a moment, I'll gle ye a cool drink as ever ye tasted." Now, Andrew was anxious to get them out of the road, for he feared Bessie would emerge from the wood ere she passed Its turn. "I see no help for it, Tom; let's go In and rest. I suppose we will get the water by waiting for It." Just as they entered the gate, a distinct sound of a horse's hoof struck upon the ear. "Hark! what Is that?" said Jones, the other sentinel: but Andrew judging correctly that Bessie had mistaken her distance, cleverly clicked the gate almost at the same moment, and bawling like a deaf man sometimes does, said? "How far Is It do you say? Well a matter of some hundred yards, perhaps not so much, or perhaps more; It much depends on my own feeling; If?" "Will you hush?" said the excited trooper, who tried, but In vain, to catch the sound. "Will I bring it? Of course HI bring It," said Andrew, laughingly, as If highly amused. "Do ye think I canna bring a pall of water; deed but I can, and twa of them if you like." "The old fool! If It was anything It's gone now; I don't hear a sound do you, Tom?" "No, I doubt If I heard it at all, for I he banged the gate so. I thought It might be that." "I believe for my part, the fellow Is more knave than fool," said Jones. "Did you not notice how he started" "No, I did not notice anything," replied his thirsty companion. "I believe the next thing you'll notice a leaf falling, or which way the wind blows, and argue that It Is a sign of approaching Whig cavalry. Hurry your old bones now, and bring us the water, and do not stay all night." Anarew, now pretty wen uiisureu ui Bessie's safety made the trip to the spring in a reasonable time. The troopers had evidently been conversing on the probability of any one passing, for their first question was if it were "possible for any one to reach the Whig camp by any other road than this?" "Not unless they strike out through the wood," said Andrew, in reply. "And would It be possible for one on horseback to get through?" "Not unless they are willing to take the fate of Absalom," laughed the old man. "Where's your wife and children? You have got some women folks about you, ain't you?" "My wife sleeps in the churchyard," replied old Andrew gravely. "Well, where's the children?" said they, for a moment awed by the old man's manner. "I have but one girl," replied old Andrew, gruffly. "Humph! I though as much," they said. "Too many woman's knackeries about here to deny that. Well, where is she?" "Gone to visit a friend." "A friend! What friend? How far from here?" "Look ye. sirs, when ye tell me who made my business yours, I'll talk to you about It," replied the old man, indignantly. "Hi! you're up there, are you? Well, I tell you, a civil question requires a civil answer, and I'll make the business mine, if I see fit; so keep a civil tongue in your head, you old Scotch rascal, or maybe you'll have no head to hold It," and rising the unwelcome visitors departed. But It is time to see how little Bessie Is speeding on her journey. Giving the rein to the horse, she did not again draw it. until within the Whig camp. It was not until challenged by a sentry and demanding to be conducted Into the presence of the commanding officer that she felt the awkwardness of her position. As she rode through the camp many a curious look was turned towards her and many an exclamation of admiration fell upon her ear. "Who is commanding officer?" she said to the guide. "Captain Bowen," he replied. Bessie involuntarily checked her horse. "Take me to some one else." said she hurriedly. "I cannot go to him." "I guess there's no one else I can take you to; and you need not fear him. Miss, for a truer gentleman never lived." "I know that." said little Bessie, proudly erecting her head, "but Is there no one else I could give my Information to, and let me go back home?" said she. timidly. The trooper smiled. "No. Miss, there is no choice now but to go to headquarters. Yonder he Is now." Bessie looked and easily discovered Bowen among the tall mountaineers by whom he was surrounded, from his superior height. He was standing with his cap in his hand, the fire light throwing a strong reflection on his handsome face, laughing lightly with his brother officers. Bessie saw the guide approach and give her name; she saw, too, the startled looks of pleasure and smiled; saw the succeeding looks of doubtful wonder, and Involuntarily she blushed deeply, and a sigh trembled from her breast. But she had no farther time for thought. Bowen was himself approaching. "Bessie." said he, "you here! What is wrong?" and he held out his hand to take her from the saddle, but instinctively the woman drew back. "Captain Bowen," said she distantly, while a burning flush mantled her brow and was gradually succeeded by a death like pallor, "I come at the call of duty, bearing Important news. Major Davie Is In danger; perhaps even now in the hands of the enemy," and she rapidly detailed the conversation she had overheard, only refraining from the portion which referred to herself. "Ha!" replied Bowen, "this must be seen to; it will be necessary to detain you a few minutes," and he touched his cap respectfully, while Bessie thanked him In her inmost heart for the delicacy which led him to treat her as a stranger. Ordering a sentinel to take her to a retired part of the camp, he hastily communicated with his brother officers, and almost Immediately the trumpet sounded to arms. The camp was now a scene of bustle and confusion and Bessie wondered If order could ever be bought out of such disorderly elements as the mass of busy and excited troopers presented. The tramping of steeds, the rattling of sabres and muskets, the call of the officers, the shouts of the men, all mingled, made a din quite novel to little Bessie's ears, and she smiled as she caught herself listening to catch the sound of Elllck's voice above It all. While the troop was getting In readiness, Ellck snatched a moment to speak with Bessie. "You are a brave little woman. Bessie." said he, after assuring her there was no one by to notice them. "If it Is as you say. I have no doubt you have saved Major Davie's life. I cannot tell you how proud I am of you for It." "Are, you. EUIck?" said she, lifting her blue eyes to his face In Innocent wonder that such a stalwart specimen of manhood as the brave trooper be fore her, should be proud of such a mite of a body as little Bessie Craig. "Indeed, I am, Bessie," said he laughing at her wonderment; "you are fit to be a soldier's wife." "Oh! Elllck, do you think so?" said she, every feature beaming with satisfaction; "do you know I thought of that? I feared you thought me a little coward woman, and I was glad to prove that I was not afraid to do my duty; still It was not all for that I did It. I would have done anything to save Major Davie." "And why Major Davie, Bessie?" said Bowen, "you do not know him." "But you do, Elllck, and the men said you loved him, and his death would hurt you." Ah! there was the secret of It all. "Vnu nrp a verv woman. Bessie." said he warmly; "but the men are ready and I must be away. God bless you. Bessie; a guard will see you safe home after we leave," and he sprung to his saddle. Bessie watched him take his place at the head of his men, heard him shout "forward." and In a moment, she was alone with her escort. TO BE CONTINUED. iHiscfllanrotis grading. THE NEGRO AND THE RAZOR. How the Dread Weapon Came Into Use and How He Usee It. "If Commissioner McAdoo really gets the negroes of this town to give up their razors," said a southerner, "he will accomplish something like a miracle. The razor has been the negro's weapon for a good many generations. His use of It for offence and defence goes back to the days of slavery. Firearms were forbidden to the slaves, and they naturally took to a weapon that was easily concealed and that had an innocent use. "The razor was Just the thing. The slave always had the excuse that he needed his razor for shaving; so that the master could not reasonably deprive him of It. As a matter of fact, the slave hardly expected to use the razor against his master. It would not have been an effective weapon in an uprising. It was, however, and still is effective in a private quarrel. It is literally true that In winter time the negro carried his razor in his bootleg. I suspect that many a negro made for himself a special pocket In the bootleg to carry the weapon. "It is hard for the white northerner to understand how the razor can be an effective weapon. But the negro does not wield his razor, from the handle. He turns it back, so that he can grasp the thick of the blade between his finger ends and his palm. Thus he gets the use of the whole cutting edge. The weapon makes a long, but not a very deep wound. On this account razor fights are seldom fatal. There is plenty of bloodletting, and a nose or an ear may be taken off. "I hear that the Italians, frightened by the punishment bestowed for carrying the ordinary concealed deadly weapons of their race, have learn ea rrom tne negroes 10 carry razors. As likely as not the Italians will find some way of making the razor an effective weapon for their purposes. Some negroes know how to use it with great effect, and the temptation to slip the weapon Into the hip pocket on going out for an evening stroll is likely to be too strong for them even in the face of the effort to enforce the law against carrying concealed weapons."?New York Sun. LAST OF A FAMILY OF GIANTS. Death of Thomas Litts, One of Ten Remarkable For Their Strength. The last of the old Litts family, one of the most remarkable families in the state says the New York Sun, has gone with the passing away of Thomas Litts, who died in Montlcelio on July 20. He died suddenly from the effects of the extreme heat while at work in a field near his home. He was 80 years of age, and for the last half century had been one of the most commanding and prominent figures in Sullivan county because of his size and wonderful strength. He was sergeant in the 143d regiment of New York Volunteers. and was the strongest man in the regiment. Every member of the family of ten, five males and five females, was as strong as a giant and the wonderful feats of strength performed by them won for them almost national fame. Thomas Litts, while attending the old-time logging and haying bees, on different occasions had been known to pick up a barrel full of cider and drink from the bunghole. A brother carried a barrel of pork on his back a mile without resting on a wager, the pork being the wager. In the days of his young manhood Thomas Litts weighed over 200 pounds and was an athlete. Even the daughters were more powerful than ordinary men. It is said that one of the girls has also been known to lift a barrel of cider by its chimes and drink from its bung. She once saw three or four able-bodied men attempt and fall to place a heavy mill iron upon a wagon. She threw them right and left with her hands, telling them to get out of her way, and then unassisted and with ease, lifted the iron to Its place on the vehicle. In his young days one of the broth cia w tta tuiiaiuci cu n11 rAyci i v? icunvt, and sporting men from a distance came to measure their skill and strength with his. One of these was a famous wrestler of the city of New York. When he called young Litts was not at home. Seeing Miss Litts, he made known his business to her. "What." exclaimed she, "wrestle with mine brother!" and she eyed him as if taking his calibre. "Why, you are foolish. Go back and save your money, for I can throw you mine self." She continued to jeer and banter him, and finally dared him to the encounter In such a way that he accepted her challenge. He found her strength and skill too much for his science. Her feet and ankles were protected by the drapery which surrounded them from the advances of his heels, but they found no obstruction when she attempted to trip him. She sent him to the grass twice with such celerity and force that he retired from her father's dooryard vanquished and crestfallen. He returned to the metropolis without delay, believing that if Sullivan county produced such girls it was folly to contend with the men. Four of these giant brothers died unnatural and violent deaths. Benjamlne was run over by the cars, William was poisoned by his Jealous wife, Charles was killed In a mill by being caught in the shafting, and Thomas by sunstroke.?New York Sun. MUM VS. \WM\l Why Editor Observer Skinned Editor of Standard. ANSWERlifLIBELSUlT In Hit Antwtr, Editor Caldwtll Seti Forth How Editor McKolway Had Abuaod and Baited Him Past Endurance, and How All That He Had to Say In Hia Famous Editorial Had Been Deliberately Provoked by the Praachar. Following is the answer of Mr. J. P. Caldwell of the Charlotte Observer, to the complaint recently filed against him by Editor McKelway, of the Presterian Standard: Answer. The defendant, answering the complaint of the plaintiff, alleges: 1. That the allegation contained In section one of the complaint, that the plaintiff Is still a citizen of the State of North Carolina and the county of Mecklenburg, Is true, .vrl this plaintiff Is informed and believes, that the other allegations contained therein are untrue and denied. 2. The defendant admits the allegations contained in paragraph two of the complaint, that plaintiff was and is now a Minister of the Gospel, regularly ordained, but, as to whether he was and is In good and rezi.l;.;* standing and regularly accredited in and with the Presbyterian denomlration. to which he belongs, this defendant has no knowledge or Information sufficient to form a belief, and so denies the same, demanding strict proof thereof. This defendant admits that the plaintiff is the editor of the newspaper or Journal styled the "Presbyterian Standard," but he denies that such newspaper or Journal, as conducted by the plaintiff. Is a religious paper. As to the truth of the allegation contained in said paragraph, that the plaintiff Is the Southern Secretary of the National Child Labor Committee and the purpose of said organization, this defendant has not sufficient knowledge or information upon which to form a belief, and so denies the same, demanding strict proof thereof. 3. The defendant admits the truth of the allegations contained In paragraph three of the complaint. [That the defendant company is a corporation.] 4. The defendant admits the truth of the allegations contained In para grapn iour 01 inc uuinpiuiui. [That the aforesaid article was published In the Observer and Chronicle.] 6. The defendant admits the allegations contained In paragraph five of the complaint, that it did print and publish a cartoon or pictorial caricature, as described In said paragraph, but it denies that said cartoon or pictorial caricature had any reference whatever to the plaintiff. 6. The defendant denies all the allegations contained In paragraph six of the complaint, except that this 'defendant did compose, print and publish and cause to be composed, printed and published' of and concerning the plaintiff. In said two newspapers, the articles set forth In paragraph four of the complaint. 7. The defendant denies every allegation contained In paragraph seven of the complaint, except that said article or editorial was printed, published and circulated of and concerning the plaintiff. 9. Defendant denies the truth of the allegations contained In paragraph eight of the complaint. [That the Observer and Chronicle Stilus) niiklluli o rnteonH An 1 9. Defendant denies the truth of the allegations contained In paragraph nine of the complaint. [That the plaintiff has been greatly Injured In his good name, credit and reputation and has been caused to suffer mental pain and anguish.] For a further answer and defense to this action, the defendant alleges: 1. That the alleged libels contained In the article published by this defendant on the 20th day of June. 1905, as set forth in the complaint of the plaintiff are true. In substance and In fact. 2. That said alleged libels were published by the defendant In good faith, and that this defendant, at the time of said publication, believed them to be true. 3. That the plaintiff is now. and has been, for a number of years, the editor of the Presbyterian Standard, a newspaper of wide circulation throughout the State of North Carolina. that he was. for nearly two years prior to the publication of the alleged libels, the editor of The Charlotte News, an evening paper, published In the city of Charlotte and also of wide circulation: that, as the editor of The Charlotte News, he published article after article, attacking this defendant and Its editor, J. P. Caldwell, In a malicious and scandalous manner: that, as the editor of the Presbyterian Standard, he published a series of articles, not only attacking the defendant and Its editor In fnlsH and vindictive lansruaKe. but making personal allusions of the most malignant character to the said J. P. Caldwell, editor and president of the defendant Company: that these malicious articles culminated in an article published by the plaintiff on the 14th day of June. 1905, In the Presbyterian Standard, which article is as follows: "An Outrageous Persecution." "The Standard recently called attention to the efforts of the saloon papers to discredit the beneficent results of prohibition. Since that date the Charlotte Observer has gone so far as to publish an interview with a drummer who Is so disgusted with our Sunday laws here and the banishment of the saloons, as to prophesy the speedy erection of grave stones for the dead city. Of course the anonymous drummer classified himself In his remarks as did the paper publishing a slander of Its own city. He evidently belongs to the class of traveling men who bring reproach by their dissolute lives upon an honorable profession. They prefer a "wide open" town to a good business center, and saloons and gambling dens and such are prerequisite to what Is called "a good town." There Is naturally affinity between these Institutions and his kind. Of course he lied. Charlotte was ' never so prosperous or so peaceable as today. The effort to run down J | this city will only react upon Its slanderers. Business men of all parties and factions resent this piece of malicious mischief. We are glad to | , see that the Biblical Recorder has Its eyes open to the evil Influences of the Observer, though why its steady i degeneration has not been noticed beI fore Is a mystery. Says the Biblical Recorder: > "We are surprised at the desperate tactics of the opponents of prohibli tion laws In Charlotte and Greensboro. me cnarioiie uoserver, ?uu?e pages for years have been devoted to most loyal praise and enthusiastic faith In the Queen City, now comes with dismal croaklngs? of the dull city, of the dead and dying city. We could not believe It but for the pages before us. That is not like the Charlotte Observer, and In all friendliness we say so. We respect that paper's convictions, and we hope it will repent of Its unworthy way of expressing them. The want of barrooms never yet destroyed a city. But croaking will Injure any place. How HI it becomes Charlotte!" We should think after this that even Charity and Children would begin to smell a little smoke. Of course the Wilmington Messenger quotes the Observer with glee Wilmington has the open saloon, has Wilmington?the source of prosperity and editorial inspiration?sometimes. Charlotte was prospering before It abolished saloons, just as Wilmington Is today. But there Is hardly any business, unless perhaps that of the saloon newspaper, that has not felt the good elTects of turning the saloon money Into other channels. Not content with this exhibition of spite against a city in which the Observer has totally lost its leadership, the Observer has begun a malicious and outrageous course of persecution of the city administration that it twice tried in vain to defeat. It has charged It with wastefulness, extravagance, Incompetency, and covertly with graft. The editor of The .Standard gave a whole day to the Investigation of these charges and the answers of the officials to them. Their answer was absolutely conclusive, and absolutely proved by the facts! After the publication of the answer, there was nothing left for the Observer to do but to make the poor reparation of an apology to officials and the public. No honorable newspaper would have attempted anything else, and in saying that, the Standard Is only echoing the deliberate judgment of fair-minded men, formerly counted friends of the Ob server. That the Observer should have so far degenerated PFlllfi VhT former position as a fair-minded paper is a melancholy example indeed. Simultaneously with the charge in the Observer against these city officials, whose real unpardonable offense was their bold stand against the saloon and all Its works, a foreman of the grand Jury himself a disappointed office-seeker of the perpetual kind, who was defeated in his latest, though we fear not his last, aspirations by the present mayor of the city, grew extraordinarily solicitous as to the sale to the city of certain commodities. There Is no allegation . that the city paid an unfair price for these commodities. As to the question of law we profess ignorance. But that nothing wrong was done we can confidently affirm after full Investigation. And the charges of the Observer have only succeeded In bringing out the facts that In the last saloon administration the city had been mulcted to the extent of some $150,000 In a single deal. A mayor and an alderman put their own price on a waterworks system which they sold to the city, that Is, to themselves. And the Observer applauded. The Observer confessed its own Incompetency In handling the matter of the city's finances, by admitting that It had gotten its figures from an unnamed Individual who made the trifling mistake of $31,000 in one Item. In fact, the Observer is Incompetent to do any such work. And we say it again that while people are proverbially patient with its Infirmity, the assaults on the character of good and true men must stop, in the name of common decency. Such men have a ready retort that Is all that would be needed as an explanation of the Observer's erratic course. It is a monument to their patience that they have not come out and said why the Observer is no longer to be seriously considered In regard to Its statements. But the Observer must not be allowed to run amuck continuously. And plain speaking may be a duty. Just as silence has been a charity." And. in the same Issue of the Presbyterian Standard, the plaintiff, referring to the said J. P. Caldwell, editor and president of the defendant corporation, published the following item, to-wlt: "We have only applause for the man who tries to cut off an evil habit by taking a trip to Keeley Institute. It is the failure of the post-graduate course that is distressing." And. also. In the same Issue of said Presbyterian Standard, the plaintiff published of and concerning the defendant and the defendant's newspaper, the following: "The opinion is general that an institution which serves as a preparaory school for the Keeley Institute Is not exactly the fountain-head of reform." That smarting under the insults that had been heaped upon the editor above named, and under a deep sense of the injury and wrong done him in said article, and resenting the threat contained in said article, to expose the said editor unless he shaped his editorial policy to square with the opinion of the said plaintiff, the editor of the defendant company printed and published the alleged libel or libels. F. I. Osborne, Maxwell & Keerans, A. Burwell, C. W. Tillett, T. C. Guthrie, D. B. Smith, Attorneys for Defendant. J. P. Caldwell being duly sworn, says that he is the president of the defendant company, that the facts set forth In the foregoing answer are true of his own knowledge, except as to those matters stated on Information and belief, and, as to those, he believes It to be true. J. P. Caldwell. Sworn to and subscribed before me, this the 28th day of August. 1905. J. A. rub8ela,, C. S. C. A SECOND ABE LINCOLN. Specimens of Newspaper Fun With Hon. Kimsey Huskey. New York Sun (before election.) With straining eyes and ears, with hot and quickened breath?no reference to the dispensary intended? South Carolina awaits the fateful news. Again the Hon. Kimsey Huskey comes up to the scratch. A month ago the name of Kimsey Huskey was perhaps unknown outside of the beloved precincts of his own beloved county of Cherokee. Today the world rings with his fame, and millions of boys and young men are fortifying themselves for the struggle of life by repeating this passage from Kimsey Huskey's autobt the otner nana, eonsiuerauic < <> are expected In New York, Massachusetts. New Jersey and Rhode Island, while Florida believes it shares In the expansion which is making the south the most rapidly growing section in the country today. All this would indicate a movement of the population center toward the east for the first time in the country's annals. The south Is having a prosperity unknown in its previous history, and it is attracting settlers from the north and west and from Europe. The national bureau of immigration Is hielping to divert Immigrants to the south and thus relieving the congestion In the great eastern centers. In 1900 the population center was close to Columbus, near the middle of Indiana, having moved westward only fourteen miles In the ten years after , 1890, as compared with forty-eight miles In the decade Immediately previous to that. While this movement of the population center to the west was steadily slackening a movement to the south, which brought the center two miles nearer to Mason and Dixon's line in the ten years ending with 1900, was in progress and is still under way.? Leslie's Weekly. ography: "I have done a little of everything that a farmer boy could do. I have ploughed, hoed, ditched, cut cord wood, split rails, clerked In a store about two years, and have taught school about four years. We read about how 'Old Abe Lincoln' used to split rails; he split enough rails one winter for a man to get him a pair of pants. Now that Is about what he did, and the whole world has made a big thing of It. I split nine hundred rails my own self In one winter for an uncle of mine. If I will try as hard as I ought to, I can do anything Abe Lincoln did but be a Republican and a president." We don't know by what chicane, dishonesty or brazen fraud the will of the people was frustrated and Klmsey Huskey declared only second in a four cornered race for member of the general assembly from Cherokee county. But you can no more keep down such a man than you can shut up Vesuvius or Mr. Bryan. He Is trying a second time. If the will of the people is baffled a second time, Klmsey Huskey will keep on trying. "I will run." he says, "until elected, if It takes twelve yeara" If It takes twelve years! Where are Bruce and the spider by the side of that? Where Is Gen. Grant's "if It takes all summer?" The Hon. Klmsey Huskey may be delayed, tripped up, but he will get there all the same. Charlotte Observer (after election.) We have before this expressed ourselves upon the subject of northern Interference In the affairs of the south. See now what it has come to. Swayed by the wily stroke of the prince of demagogues, the New York Sun, which, on the eve of the election, when It was too late to refute K, coupled the name of the Honorable Klmsey O. Huskey with that of a fellow called Billy Bryan, the good people of Cherokee county (S. C.) have been deluded into doing to themselves, to the south and to the world a grave, though fortunately not an Irreparable Injustice. The Observer's special representative at the polls In Cherokee wired us last night as follows: "T"?r AnHprsnn hpftt Hon. KlmSeV Huskey for house of representatives two to one today. Observer editorial came too late. Light vote." That will settle It with us?for two years. So far as we are concerned, there will be no contest of this election, though clearly the will of the people has been defeated. "Light vote"?think of It when so much was at stake. But having submitted our cause to the arbitrament of the ballot box, however unjust the decision, we shall, "with malice toward none, with charity for all." humbly bow to the inevitable. There Is hope for the country yet. The Honorable Klmsey O. Huskey Is of such stuff as men are made of. He's no sardine. Having already split more rails than Abe Lincoln, he will split on and on till when the final reckoning comes and he and Abe bring together before the great throne of fame the products of their hands, Abe's little pile of rails will look like three toothpicks beside those of Klmsey. Moreover, there are eleven more times for the Honorable Huskey to run. So let us not despair. But It's a howling shame. CENTER OF POPULATION. Indications That For tha First Tims It Is Moving Eastward. There Is a strong probability that the center of the country's population, which from the beginning along to 1900 had been pushing westward, has reversed Its course. Some light on this point will be obtained In a few weeks. Many states make a count of Inhabitants half way between the national enumerations. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota. North and South Dakota, Iowa, Kansas, Utah, and Oregon do this in 1905. Iowa Is predicting a practically stationary population for Itself. Only a small increase is looked for in Michigan. Wisconsin, Minnesota and Kansas. An average Is predicted for the Dakotas, Utah and Oregon. On ? u.-?KIa .volna KAN8A8 PROHIBITION A SUCCE88 The Working of Ovor Twonty Years of Anti-Liquor Legislation. New York Sun. The recent vote on prohibition at Asbury Park, in which the temperance ladles took so active a part and were successful, has brought the question to the front again, and the old query Is heard. "Does prohibition prohibit?" When Bishop Potter made the broad statement that "prohibition is an impudent fraud and an impudent failure" he evidently spoke his piece without a full investigation. If prohibition does not prohlfa \ and more liquor is sold than in license states, why have not the voters of Maine and Kansas found out that fact and repealed the constitutional provisions that so misrepresent their sen tlmentn, and why does the liquor seller constantly light prohibition In those states? No one denies that some liquor is sold In violation of the prohibitory laws of thoue states, Just as all other laws are violated.^ But after more than twenty years of actual test that the intelligent voters of those two states resist all efforts or attempts to wipe out prohibition and return to high license certainly means something. Let us examine It. The prohibition laws of Kansas allow the citizen to buy and drink and even to give liquor to his guests at his table. There Is certainly no restraint of "personal liberty" In this. The fact that citizens of these states are thus allowed under the laws to ship In and use liquors hinders often the due enforcement of prohibitory laws, yet this right Is not curtailed In the least. What do the official figures of the government show as to the amount of liquor sold, for Instance, in Kansas, as compared with that sold In adjoining states? Two years ago the total amount of taxes paid the government In Kansas for liquor licenses (Including druggists' permits to sell on prescriptions) was $115,48$; in Nebraska, adjoining on the north (with one-third less population) the amount was $2,778,900; In Missouri, adjoining on the east, $6,67$,945. Of fermented liquors there were shipped Into Kansas that year 9,022 barrels; Into Nebraska 255,792, and Into Mlnsouri the same year 2,699,778 - . b&rreln. These official figures show that there Is but one dollar paid to the national government for license tax In Kar sag to more than $40 In Nebraska, and $140 In Missouri, and the amount of liquors, as officially reported, shipped Into each state bears about the same proportion. The license laws of Nebraska and Missouri are today, and have been each year, more often violated than are the prohibition laws of Kansas. Is not the same true of licensed New York, where the Sunday law and the selling to mlnort< Is openly set aside and continuously violated? The prohibitory l&wa of Kansas and Maine arto?dotMr * i si. <i just what the cltfsens of those states intended they should do, make the open saloon an outlaw and the business of liquor selling disreputable and unpopular, instead of having places alluring and attractive, where the boys are educated to become drunkards, it is a criminal offense, and as a result such places do not exist under prohibition. The creation of a healthy puh'.i.j sentiment in favor of temperance is shown in Kansas, where in response to the wishes of the people, out of 783 papers and periodicals in the state only sixty-one papers would publish a whisky advertisement, though the very attractive inducements for the advertisements were offered constantly. It is expected in most states that religious and temperance papers would exclude liquor advertisements, but It Is shown that In no other state than Kansas Is practically a united secular press refusing this style of patronage. Three-fourths of the counties of Kansas have no place where liquor Is sold, and many thousands of Kansas boys and girls have never seen a saloon or a drunken man. In a few of the large cities of Kansas the prohibition law is openly violated, and in some of the smaller towns joints are run a part of the time, but it is a decidedly unsafe business, for at any time on the complaint of a citizen the seller can be arrested and jailed under the law and his goods and fixtures confiscated and destroyed. When the toper has to go down the ailey into a guarded room where no sign of the usual fixtures of a hnr It. In alirht hp Identified as a safe man, then pay two prices for bad whisky, it is certainly discouraging, and only those who have the drink habit fully established will long continue the disgraceful practice. What Is recognized in Kansas as the crowning benefit of prohibition Is that there Is no encouragement for the boy3 of the state ever to acquire the drink habit. This means safety and happiness to the heart of the loving Kansas mother. In the declaring that "prohibition is a miserable fraud" Bishop Potter impugns the judgment of the people living In more than one-flfth of the territory of the United States who have adopted prohibition or local option, which Is local prohibition. These citizens have experienced the effect of liquor selling under high license and seen the practical workings of prohibition, and know what they are talking of. Bishop Potter is developing a theory, and his practical experience has been in his Subway Tavern in New York, where mild drinks are sold In the front department to women and children, and beer and whisky in the rear of the tavern to the men. with a semlreadlng room attachment. Have not the people who have tested the workings of prohibition for a quarter of a century changed their laws when required by the test of experience, and where resubmission Is so unpopular that even a test vote can no longer be ordered by the legislature elected by the people, and where less than one-fourth of the liquor is sold than In license states adjoining, a right to be heard on this all important question? They are be'r- heard and heeded all over the nu.?on. Mlteourl. where Governor Folk is now enforcing the Sunday closing law, has more than one-third of her counties under prohibition. In the great state of Texas now over half of her counties have carried local option. The treating custom is recognized as the direct cause of more than half of the evil of the drink habit: this has become almost entirely extinct in Kansas and Maine. Kansas has fewer criminals confined In her penitentiary today than any other state of the same population, and more than half of her county poorhouses are unoccupied: they can't afford to pay the expenses of a keeper, and nearly one-half of her poor farms are rented out to farmers or sold, and one-eighth of her one penitentiary at Leavenworth is rented to Oklahoma for her prisoners. In the meantime Kansas expends more money each year per capita for education than any other state, and her rate of Illiteracy Is very low and Improving every year. W. B. Su>?ON. Houston, Tex., Aug. 24.