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+*? -?+ + ? >:?+ +&& | I PASSING OF Tl Wonderful Work + | In Their War Aga *** AA **+ +?>? AA **+ +** AA In Texas the cry has been raised against the rangers. The abolishment of that military branch of the state government is being urged by many people. O. B. Colquit. the Democratic nominee for governor, believes the time has come when the services of the rangers should be dis ~.i n.ov, Th? matter of repeal prn?cu ? in. ? ..v ing the law by which the ranger organization was created forty-four years ago will come before the legislature which meets in January'. The ranger service was established primarily for the purpose of frontier protection. Texas no longer has a frontier. The ragged edges of civilization no longer exist along the Rio Grande border, nor in the vast plains country of western Texas. The conouest of what was formerly a notoriously turbulent region, infested with various and divers bands of outlaws, has been accomplished largely by the exercise of unexcelled bravery, endurance and expert marksmanship on the part of the brave bands of men who comprise the ranger organization. They have wiped the frontier, as it was once known, off the map of Texas. As a direct result of these years of faithful labor modern civilization has advanced until it now extends to the utmost bounds of the state. The Texas rangers are the real gunfighting men of the world. They had that distinction in the old days, and it still belongs to them. Their methods of operation today are different, but the little army of men now in the state's service are just as brave and as nf rjfle an(j pistol as in the time when their chief occupation was fighting bands of depredating Indians or running down the bandits of the border. Sentimentality and a pride in the many wonderful deeds of valor of the rangers may defeat the present movement for their dishandment. The assertion is made by the supporters of the plan to do away with the ranger*, that their services are no longer necessary. that they are now used chiefly to perform duties that properly belong to the peace officers of the different counties, such as enforcing the local option law. the law against gaming and in preventing mob violence. In answer to this it is stated that the rangers are necessary because they can be sent by the governor at any time and to any place in the state where the county peace officers, on account of local conditions or influences. or through a spirit of indifference. are known to be lax in enforcing the law. The Texas rangers are the most picturesque set of legalized fighting men in this country. They have no counterpart in the world. Only forty in number, they are equal to almost any emergency that may arise when it comes to putting to a test real fighting qualities. The presence of one ranger upon a scene <u uisu ? and threatened lawlessness Is usually sufficient to quickly restore peace and uphold the dignity of the law. The ranger Is there to do his duty. He does It fearlessly. If he has any thought of personal danger he does not show It. The rangers are picked men, every one of them. They must be proved experts in markmanship and at home in the saddle: they must be of good moral character, which means that they do not drink or gamble. When a vacancy in a company occurs the ' aptain selects the man to fill it. "I can look into a man's eyes and tell whether he has got the right kind of stuff in him to make a good ranger." Captain W. J. <Bill) McDonald, who saw many years in the service, said the other day. "I never made a mistake in picking my men." Most of the rangers were former cowboys. When a man leaves the ranger service he usually either goes back to the ranch or takes a position as peace officer in some county or city. The mistaken idea prevails in some quarters that the rangers are a reckless, rowdy set of men. Quite the contrary is true. Many of them are church members. Captain John R. Hughes, who has been a ranger for thirty years, is a great Sunday school worker. A few months ago he was ordered from his station at Ysleta, a little town on the upper Rio Grande border, to Amarillo, to suppress the bootlegging that was going on in that part of the Panhandle region. He was superintendent of the Sunday school as Ysleta. and the children of the town made a vigorous protest to the governor against his headquarters being removed from there. A few years ago Captain McDonald shot and killed four Mexicans who were firing upon him from ambush in a remote locality of the lower Rio Grande border. The next Sunday Captain McDonald was back in Brownsville and occupied it front seat in one of the churches at morning and evening services. The very existence of the ranger organization has a wonderful influence for good upon the lower class of Mexicans on both sides of the Rio Grande. Even the more intelligent class of Mexicans have a great respect for the fighting qualities of the rangers. "If it was not for the Texas Rangers Mexico could whip the I'nited States." is it remark that Americans have often heard in that country. The otiic i.-> I n-liorts of the ildiU taut general's department of Texas show that during the period from 1 s7 ? to 1881 Indians and Mexieans thieves stole 30.S3S head of cattle. 3.781 horses and 3.136 sheep. The marauders killed hundreds of citizens, burned many homes and destroyed a vast amount of property. The committee on foreign affairs of congress made an investigation and report on the Rio Grande border in 1876. saying in part: "The cattle raids from the state of Tamaulipas. Mexico, into Texas commenced with what is knoyn as the Cortina war in 1859 and 1860. This was a most remarkable occurrence? one without parallel in our history. A single lawless ranchero, with a band of friends, capured a town of nearly 3,000 inhabitants, and not only defying, but defeating the forces of the state of Texas, and then carrying on a war against the combined forces of the state of Texas and of the I'nited States, maintaining himself for upward of five months, from the 13th day of July to the 37th of December. 1859. on American soil, with the Mex?an flag flying across the Rio Grande, leadv to renew the light. Such was the remarkable commencement of the border troubles on the Rio Grande, one well calculated to inspire the lawless element in Mexico with defiant pride, and to teach our own people the extent of the danger to which they were exposed, and their dependence for safety on the strong arm of their I government. These feelings were confirmed and increased when the brdd robber and outlaw, who was under numerous indictments in Texas for previous murders and robberies, and who had left the American territory in defiant warfare with the I'nited States, was deliberately sent by the Mexican government, clothed **+ *X> .?+ *** ??* -K$ IXAS RANGERS! 4 4 A They Have Done ? inst Crime ... t A 4 <4 X* + ? X*> ii kX4? +*> with the high office <>f general of the army and governor, bac k to the very scene of his outrages, and the United States submitted to the insult. "The whole country from Brownsville to Rio Grande City. 130 miles, and back to the Arroyo Colorado, has been laid waste. There is not an American, or any property belonging to an American, that could not be rioxtrovod in this large tract of coun try. Their horses and tattle were driven across into Mexico and there sold?a cow with a calf by her- side for a dollar. Although cattle stealing was the original object of these raids, the lawless bands engaged in them have been necessarily led to the perpetration of other and greater crimes. The lawless spirit engendered hy their trade, and their own protection, caused them to murder travelers who happened to meet them on their raids, and those whom they thought might inform against them. In fact, these raids were soon turned into general robbery and murder." The conditions on the lower Rio Grande border region began to improve as soon as Captain L. H. McXelly and his company of rangers were sent down there to run down the outlaws. McXelly adopted the policy of giving no quarter. He asked none. It was a tight to the death when he and his men got within shooting distance of the Mexican thieves. Th?Rio Grande offering no barrier to the operation of these rangers. International law had no meaning to them. One of their exploits was chasing a band of about fifty cattle thieves across the river into Mexico, where the rangers killed twenty-nine of them without a man of their own being killed or wounded. Captain McXelly's field reports to the governor were brief. In Xovember. 1875, he wrote: "Just spent three days on Mexican soil after cattle thieves and a herd of 230 stolen cattle. Killed five Mexicans; wounded one." His other reports were of the same brevity. In most of them he told of killing a few Mexicans. There is a long list of men who have performed noted services as rangers. A quarter of a century ago the very mention of Captain Lee Hall's name was sufficient to strike terror into the heart of a border criminal. Hall was for many years at the head of a company of rangers which covered a territory as large as two or three ordinary states. They were a flying squadron that rode fearlessly into any kind of trouble where duty called them. They were in the field before the Indian raids had entirely ceased. and. with the battles that they fought with the redskins, and the encounters that they had with lawless white men and Mexicans, their time was usually fully occupied. Captain Hall has now passed the three-score milestone of life, but the call of the frontier still has its hold upon him. He served through the SpanishAmerican war and was through the two years' campaign in the Philippines. He was a member of the Gilmore relief expedition. Returning to Texas, he found things too dull to suit him. A mining company offered him a position as commander of the guard of a supply train that was being run twice a week to the mines through the Yaqui Indian country in the mountains of western Mexico. Captain Hall held the position for two years and killed mai * Indians during tfyat period. When the Yaqui rebellion ended two years ago. he took a position as manager of a ranch in a remote part of lower California. He is there to this day. Many attempts were made to assassinate Captain Hall while he was in the ranger service. Several times the room in which he was sleeping was fired into at night. One hot mid-summer day about fifteen years ago a company of Texas rangers, commanded by Captain Hughes, was camped in the lower part of the Big Bend country, a wild and remote region covered with scant desert vegetation, bordering the Upper Rio Grande. The rangers had been on th? hunt for Mexican cattle thie\es. The Big Bend is a section of territory embracing more than 18,000 square miles. 1? takes its name from its peculiar shape, formed by the tortuous course of the international boundary stream. It was then, and is now, ninety miles from the furthest dip of the river to the nearest railroad point. In the early days it was the rendezvous of many desperate outlaws, murderers, robbers, smugglers and a great variety of other kinds of criminals made the Big Bend region their place of refuge for many years. It was the scene of many daring exploits on the part of brave bands of rangers, who finally succeeded in capturing or killing many of the lawless element, until it was no longer found a desirable place for men of that sort. On this particular day Captain Hughes and his men were taking a few hours' rest in camp, which was pitched in a little thicket of scrubby trees on Tornillo creek, after a long chase after the thieves who had made their escape by crossing into Mexico. Knowing that they were in the heart of the outlaw-infested country, the ranger camp was picketed to prevent any unexpected attack from being made on it. A horseman rode down into the gulch and crossed over to the camp. He was a messenger from Alpine, 80 miles to the north. "I have a telegram for Captain Hughes." lie said. Opening the yellow envelope and taking out the message, the captain read its contents. "Get your horses ready, men," he quietly said. "A Southern Pacific train has been held up and robbed over near Dryden; we've got to hit the trail." No tent or chuck wagon were there to hinder a quick departure front the camping spot. The rangers sleep upon the ground with their saddle for a pillow and a blanket t"?>r a covering. A small cotton sack or two usually carry all their commissary supplies. In ten minutes the men were in their saddles, headed across a trailless country in the direction of Dryden. 150 miles away. They made sixty miles of the journey by daylight next morning. Here they left their tired horses at a ranch house, snatched an hour's sleep under the shade of a cottonwood tree at a water seep, and. roping fresh mounts in the corral. saddled them and were off again. They picked up the trail of the train robbers twenty miles from Dryden. The outlaws were headed north. A posse <>f United States marshals were already on the chase. The rangers made a detour and again struck the trail ahead of the deputy marshals. The fourth day after they had broken camp, far down in the Big Bend country, the rangers came within sight of two of the outlaws. In their haste to get away the robbers had dropped a sack of silver coin. The shooting began as soon the rangers and the fugitives were within firing d.stance. One of the robbers was killed. His companion perched himself upon a rock within sight of tin rang? rs ami deliberately eommitted suieiile by blowing out his brains. The rangers bad eovered more than 300 miles in the ehase. Three days later they were back in the Ilig Hend eountry on the hunt for other criminals. This was no unusual experience of the rangers. The three other companies in the service, each stationed in widely separated localities, were just as active in preserving peace and order and making it hard for the criminal to evade the hand of justice. The men who won distinction in the Texas ranger service were the forerunners of the present era of peace, development and prosperity that the state is enjoying. Among the many rangers who won distinction for their bravery and notable exploits in the performance of their duty were: C. L. Xevill, Frank Jones, J. A. Brooks, June Peak. G. \V. Baylor, G. \\". Arrington. D. \V. Roberts, John R. Hughes, W. J. McDonald. Pat Dolan, James Tay, G. W. Campbell. X. Caldwell. Lee Hall. John B. Armstrong, X. O. Reynolds, S. P. Sieker, J. W. Ross and others. Most of these men are dead. Some were killed in the service. others succumbed to natural causes. A few of them are still alive and active. If the present movement to abolish the rangers is not carried into effect by the legislature, it is probable that the service will be completely reorganized. R is planned to merge the four companies, each of which now consist of only ten men, into one company of forty men. and to place it in charge of an experienced ofliccr. who shall have fuil control of all ranger operations.?St. Louis GlobeDemocrat. GIGANTIC AMAZON. It Is the Greatest as Well as the Strangest of Rivers. While the Amazon is the world's greatest river, if not in length at least in the volume of water which flows through it. it is the world's strangest river as well. The few travelers and explorers who have journeyed up this water course to its many sources in the glaciers of the South American mountains tell stories which are almost incredible about the literal maze of streams which unite to form it. each stream having its birth in one of the great ice masses. Yet a few hundred miles below, where they merge and create the river, the temperature is such that it works its way through a perfect labyrinth of tropical vegetation. Only the mariner can tell the place where the Amazon really has its mouth, because the opening it has made on the eastern coast of South America is so wide that it extends over 100 miles. A long distance before one comes to the mouth of the river, however, one is really sailing on the waters of the Amazon, because they force their way so far out into the ocean. They say that 300 miles out at sea off the mouth of the Amazon you can hoist a bucketful of fresh water out of the ocean from the deck of a ship, such is the quantity of its water that flows from that gigantic basin. Long after you have entered the actual river and have its banks north and south of you if you are in midstream you will still be out of sight of land, such is the breadth of the vast channel. The river stretches far into the ocean and far up the country. Take a map of South America and look up a place called Iquitos. It lies four-nrtns oi ine way auruss mc continent from east to west. Yet from Iquitos there is a fortnightly service of ocean going steamers to Europe, which descend some 3,000 miles of the river before they reach the sea. It is not only one branch of the Amazon. but many, that are thus to be regarded as the same as ocean highways. The southern branches of the Amazon are broken by rapids along a line where a low continental shelf exists. Above these rapids, however. there is again deep water. Thus beyond the falls of the Madeira there are over 10,000 miles of navigable water on that river and its bra nches. Not only Sir Martin Conday. but other travelers who have ventured along the upper river and its tributaries, say that here a curious woodland tangle exists. To the surface of the water the sun's rays seldom reach, and one may go many miles along waterways where it is well nigh as dark as night because the sky is almost completely shut out by the mass of vines which interlace the trees and are so thick with leaves. Deprived of the sunlight, all is dark and rank The damp air is laden with unhcalthful vapor. The surface of the water in places where the current is too sluggish to carry it away is covered with scum and weed. It requires no little courage to explore these fastnesses, for a man really takes his life in his hands, so unhealthy are they. Occasionally, however. one can see the upper portion of the forest where there is a little crevice in its roof of vines. Above this is really a scene of life and beauty. Birds and butterflies and other gorgeous insects are dying from place to place; flowers of hundreds of hues and shapes are blooming from the nlants attached to tree, branch and trunk. While below all may be lifeless and silent, above the height where the mass of vines overshadow the river nature has created a world of brightness and animation: but. as already stated, it is almost entirely shut out from human eye. To attempt to break through this eanopy of vines which hide it from tie lower world is almost impossible because the vines grow so thickly, but some naturalists have penetrated it and say that the forests really have two surfaces, the one above this artificial roof and the one below. That which is above is barred from human entrance, its inhabitants are mostly birds and insects that are radiant with beauty unequalled in the world. Whatever grows in the Amazon mud strives with desperate internecine struggle to reach this sky exposed surface and there blossoms. Heneath where man can walk or tloat, all is dark. Only here and there a titful ray of sunlight struggles through. Orchids blossom within this shadowy region. You can see these bright creatures flitfuily in the cavern below, but not in all their glory, as they must behold one another above. Sometimes as they Hit about beneath they will chance to cross a sunbeam slanting through a hole in the vegetation; then for an instant they Hash into view like an explosion of burning color. It is thus that the great butterflies are seen to the best effect. Xo one can imagine what a picture they produce in their native haunts as their wings flash and close and Hash again in the sunlight as they fly. No: this upper world of the Amazon forests has been closed to human beings and promises to remain a perpetual mystery unless with the aid of some aerial craft one may be able to visit it.?Chamber's Journal. The Sense of Humor. At a late period in his life, when he felt that his past labors entitled him to rest. Mark Twain, the humorist, who has just ended this life's work, found i?;??w.,.it* ciwl.h.nN' ..t-.o-ttholmoil Itv* :in enormous debt. The knowledge of this debt came upon him unexpectedly. He thought he was a rich man. hut now he was wor<e than poor, tin consulting his lawyers they offered him a means of freeing himself from his embarrassment. They said to him: "Legally you do not owe this money. The law will never compel you to pay it. So don't worry any more." "Hut." replied Mr. Twain. "Isn't there a moral obligation in the matter? Morally, ought 1 not to pay this money?" Tin- lawyers shrugged their shoulders. If Mr. Twain wished to concern himself with the moral law. that was not their affair. They had told him was free so far as the law of man was concerned. Mark Twain could not see it that way. He believed that honor is not elastic, that honor demands a strict observance of the moral law. that honor cannot be honor when it takes advantage of quirks and quibbles to get rid of a responsibility. He assumed onerous and often disagreeable work. He tolled early and late. He told the people to whom the money was due they should be paid dollar for dollar. And he kept his word. It was years before he was free from the burden, but at hist, one day, the last debt was paid and Mark Twain could look all the world squarely in the face, and say: "My conscience is clear. T have kept the faith." Much has been written of the literary ability of Mark Twain, but this story of how. far past the prime of life, he kept bis honor unstained, is the highest tribute that can be paid ids character. ? Kx. ittiscrltancons il ratling. ; ( LION AND TIGER. Facts About Two Most Interesting of i All Wild Animals. 1 Perhaps more has been written in J the past on the life and habits of the ] African lion and Asiatic tiger than of r any other quadrupeds; but we know 1 that one of the chief attractions to the study of natural history, if not the greatest inducement of all to the ! young student to take up this charm- ! ing subject, is that it is never-end- ] ing, that there is always something I further to be learned, even in the life i of some little bird or the common- J est cf wild creatures, if we will only ! Rive them our attention and observe i their every little way. ' But to return to our subject. We J have recently heen reading yet an- I other fascinating book by one of our greatest sportmen and best author!- , ties on large game, the well-known ] author, Mr. F. C. Selous, entitled ' "African Nature Notes and Remlnls- ] cenees." In addition to relating J many highly ir.tere^'ing hunting ex- < periences our autho gives us the his- ' tory and chief characteristics of the most important wild animals inhabi- | ting southern Africa. Naturally his 1 remarks on the lion attract our chief ' attention, and among Mr. Selous's ob- ( servatlons on this grand creature we ' find much that is entirely new to ' us. and therefore all the more enter- \ taining. While perusing these de- ' lightful pages we have here and there ! come upon passages giving details of j certain traits of character In the life j of the lion which. though excep- i tional. appear to differ from the hah- J its of the tiger, and we will now ven- , ture to point out a few of these in- I stances which we hope will Interest ' our readers. j First and foremost we would allude i to the roar of the lion. All expe- < rienced travelers and sportsmen who have passed through or hunted parts , of Africa inhabited by lions tell us of 1 the roaring of these animals: that on j a still night the sound can be heard miles away across the veldt: that when j elose at hand the very air appears to ' vibrate with the splendid voice from ] the king of the wilderness. Tigers never roar in this manner; In fact, so far as I am I aware, it is exceptional for the tiger ] to roar at all. When cornered by a i line of elephants, or stung to fury by 1 an ill-aimed bullet, when driven for ward by beater men. he sometimes | comes charging out. bent on taking < revenge. He utters a roar of rage, ] followed by a succession of murder- ( ous coughing growls evlde .Jy In- I tended to intimidate his adversaries. 1 But this short roar of fury is alto- , erether different in character from the deep-toned, nerve-shaking voice of J the lion. Although the tiger never utters the prolonged, resounding roars j of the lion, yet. as is only natural, J the animal makes use of certain calls j and cries when roaming abroad dur- j ing the night time. One of the most common that I am acquainted with is made by the creature when going his , rounds after sundown, and has been < aptly termed the "night moan" of the ' tiger. I have repeatedly heard this deep-toned "plaint" when out in j camp near to the foot or among the < lower ranges of the Himalayas. It . is always difficult to describe in ( words the cries and calls of bears and i birds; but this particular sound made by the tiger when on the prowl after | dark cannot be well termed a "call," 1 much less a "cry," and has no re- J semblance whatever to a roar, but is ( more like the grumble of a discon- | tented wild beast. It consists of a single long-drawn note, beginning in ' a low key, gradually increasing In i volume, and abruptly terminating in s a deep grunt, sounding somewhat like j distant thunder. This weird moan, t sometimes almost a sigh, is. I be- < lieve?though I may be wrong?the J voice of a male tiger in searcn ol m? mate. I have been told that when he utters this grunting whine the animal holds his head close to the ground. Whether this be so or not 11 am unable to say. but certainly at times the sound seemed to rise from jthe earth. One thing I feel sure of, and that is the creature is always on the move when uttering this night moan, and following probably some path or track through the forest or jungle, never in the open, and it is invariably uttered at well-measured intervals. I have frequently stood in the open and listened attentively when a tiger has been on the move and making this sound. Xow the muttered grunt would appear to be "over the hill and far away." then suddenly deep-mouthed and near at hand, when no doubt the animal crossed high ground; again more remote and subdued as the creature descended into a ravine, till gradually the voice of the night disturber died away and , was lost In the distance. On the very first grumbling note of the tiger the jungle. Just before still, became alive again with alarm notes from the inhabitants of the forest, uttering warning cries to one another to beware of their common enemy. The deep bark of the sambur resounds from the opposite hill; the shorter, more startling "ov" cry ' of the beautiful spotted dee. from j the riverside below; the long-drawn cry of the little muntjak from the f crags above. In the camp circle the i the same uneasiness prevails; every | creature recognizes and knows well t from that dread sound that some 1 "uncanny" beast is on the move. The 1 sleepy-eyed bullocks, just before peacefully picking over their fodder, ;| cease feeding and glance uneasily x around; the horses picketed in the * open prick up their ears and become 1 restless: while every dog in the tents rushes madly out into the open with ' bristling hair and barking furious- !l ly. When I asked some villager of * the locality. "Why does your tiger 1 make that noise?" almost invariably 1 he would reply. "Ithooka mara" c (meaning "He is hungry," or, to be ' exact. "He is stricken with hunger"); but this explanation appears to be f unsatisfactory. Depend upon it, a !| wild beast when in search of prey s never utters a sound of any kind. c The deer of the forest, as also wild " hog. are furnished by nature with '' an acute sense of hearing, and are ^ ever on the watch against stealthy ? enemies with noiseless footfall. How, then, could the lion or the tiger hope ii to be successful if he made known c his whereabouts or approach by roar- <" ing or making a continual moan or h sound of any kind? s All African sportsmen of expe- I rience tell us that lions roar their f loudest "after having satisfied their t hunger." often on their way to drink b after having gorged thenjselves with 'I flesh. More than this, they affirm " that in a lion country the creatures are "silent" when they are most to v lie feared, and an attack on the cattle c kraal is then probable. Perhaps the '< popular misconception has arisen v from the wording of that well-known " verse in the Psalms. "The young w lions roar after their prey, and do it <eek their meat from God" (Ps. civ., 21); but this passage does not necessarily mean that the lions roar with he view of "getting" their prey. The iteral meaning is "for prey for seekng meat from God." King David (if tie was the author of this psalm, ivhich is not called "a Psalm of David") was well acquainted with the ion, for we read that when he was i mere shepherd lad, in charge of tiis father's sheep, a lion seized one of the ilock and "arose against him," out that David seized the wild beast by the beard?no doubt the mane? ind slew him. But we have wandered from our subject. Tigers, so far as I am aware, seldom, if ever, under cover of night make an attack on bullock or other beasts of burden collected together In an encampment, and in this re spect differ from the lion. L<eoparcls, an the other hand, constantly prowl around after dusk, and carry off goats, sheep, and more especially wandering dogs. Once, in the hot-weather months of 1872, I was out with a friend, the police officer of the district, encampjd on a wild spot called Bala Behut, in the Lullutpore country. Our tents were pitched within the precincts of i forest inhabited in those days by wild animals of all kinds. My companion had brought a native writer with him, who on the line of march bestrode a stout white pony. For some reason of his own this baboo ->ne nisht foolishly tethered his steed autside the camp circle and under a large burgot tree. We had retired to rest, and as usual a police sentry kept guard with a tulwar or sword In his hand. I may mention that at the time I speak of there were yet several outlaws wandering about in small bands, who ever since the Indian mutiny had escaped from the vigilance of the authorities. Just before daylight an animal suddenly sprang upon the white pony and dragged him down onto his knees. The pony struggled desperately and set up a loud squeal; a wild commotion arose. Our sentry immediately ran forward to the rescue. when the assailant quitted his hold on the pony and slunk off. By the time we had turned out with our rifles the pony had broken away from his heelropes, and stood trembling and bleeding profusely from a wound in the throat, among our horses. The police sentry and two camp followers, who had obtained a good view of the marauder, declared it to have been a tiger: but from the character of the wounds, and the fact of the pony's having been able to make his escape with comparatively slight injuries, we arrived at the conclusion that t'ne assailant was only a panther or pnnn rrl Lions, we are Informed, travel ibout or keep together In larger numbers than tigers ever do. Upward of twenty lions, large and small, have been come across In one body?a truly formidable party; hut tigers have never been known to keep together in anything approaching such numbers, in former times, during the hot-weather months, we not infrequently saw three tigers at one time; hut four was exceptional, and only twice in recent S'ears have I heard of five in one party. Before quitting our subject we feel bound to allude to an excentional characteristic. and that a failing applying to both lion and tiger, and, what is remarkable. to these two giant cats only, among the many tncluded in the fauna feliaae. We naturally would expect perfection in every attribute connected with power and strength in two such champions of the type and the order carnlvora as these two great creatures undoubtedly are, and yet we know that neither the one nor the other Is gifted with the power of clambering up a tree. The tiger," at any rate, is altogether wanting in this respect. He will make prodigious springs, he will sometimes raise himself on his hind legs against the stem of a tree when goaded to fury, and endeavor with his forepaw to reach an enemy seated above, but he cannot climb a 3ingle root upwara witn an tour reet i>ff the ground after the manner of the ordinary cat; and from what I have read I believe that exactly the same remark applies to the lion. And why Is this so? I venture to say that the ine and only explanation applies to both animals. If we scan them carefully at our zoological gardens, and compare their build and general formation with that of the jaguar or the leopard close by?both expert climbers?we see at once that nature has formed both.lion and tiger of a somewhat different build from that of their esser brethren. Their strength, given by nature no doubt to enable them to Jestroy the life of large and powerful arey, lies in the forepart of the body. The brawny neck, the broad, powerful shoulders, the deep chest, and above ill the terrible, great muscular foreirms, are all there and in every way symmetrical; but the hinder-parts show a falling away, the loins are somewhat narrow, and the hlndquar:ers are far less powerful in build, Irooplng almost in the lion. A fullfrown male tiger, lusty and fat from 'eeding on cattle, will probably reach i weight of 450 pounds, and It is hardy surprising, after all, that this great md enormously heavy creature should ack the power of ascending trees. Nevertheless I have often felt surprised that some lithe, active tigress, when wounded and rendered dangerous, has ot attempted to reach her enemy seated close above. We always enKofrtro o lioot Pammf?nPOl1 t C\ jost the puns on a platform or bough )f a tree fully fifteen feet from the jround, which Is generally considered ;o he a perfectly safe distance from a vounded tiger, provided always that yreat care Is taken in selecting a tree vith no rocks or high ground anywhere tear to the tree-trunk. A sad accident lappened many years ago to an officer itationed at Seepree, in Central India, hrough neglecting this precaution. He vas posted in a tree fully sixteen feet rom the ground, hut unfortunately his particular tree grew too near to he rocky side of the nullah. A tiger ame forward, was fired at, and wound>d. The enraged animal instantly elided forward, and in a second reach>d some bi~h ground almost on a level vit! Tn'tutin C.; sprang at him, seized lim hy the arm, and tore him down rom the tree, mauling him very se erely, and then passed swiftly on. The unfortunate officer was immediLtely carried Into Seepree, hut died loon afterward from the effects of the errible Injuries he had received.? Chamber's Journal. A SEALED BOOK. s That What the Bible Is Becoming to This Generation. "A few years ago I was speaking on lolitical reform in one of the great ities of the United States," writes i )r. Lyman Abbott in the Outlook. 'On the platform were some of the lrst citizens of the city. "I took up the pocket Bible which' generally carry with me wherever go and saying, 'I have here an old took which is a favorite with me,' iroceeded to read Jotham's parable of he trees from the Book of Judges. "Two gentlemen on the platform isked me what the book was from vhich 1 read the story; one of them vas a judge in one of the courts of he state. "A friend of mine, a teacher of geigraphy in a large secondary school, ill of whose pupils come from cultiated families and many of them rom church-going families, asked her lass of over fifty members if they ould recall any well known historical ncident connected with Egypt. Getting no reply, she hinted at the act that the Jews came out of Egypt nd attempted to recall to them the tory of Joseph, hut not one of them ould give her any account of it, and me of them, franker than the rest, ame to her afterward, puzzled to ;now what the Bible had to do with [eography. "Another friend of mine, a teacher n a church Sunday school of a girl's lass, all of whom were daughters of nurcngoing parents ana an ui wuum lad been for some years in Sunday ichool classes, asked her class why Miaraoh sought to kill Moses, and got or reply that it was at the time of he birth of Jesus and Pharaoh ati'tnpted to put all the babies to death, "o this answer all the pupils except no agreed. "Some years ago two ladies in a , i stern town were coming out of a oncert hall where the cantata of jueen Ksther' had been given. One as overheard saying to the other: That was a very beautiful story: I .-under where the composer found And the other did not know." A WILY ORIENTAL. Guile of a Tricky Native Snake Charmer In India. Among the numerous objectionable and dangerous creatures peculiar to the orient none is more repulsive than the snake. One shudders involuntarily as one thinks of its wiggling body and vicious characteristics. During my residence in India I never felt safe from its presence. I had my closets, bed and even my bathtub searched every day lest one should be found coiled up in some corner, writes Eliza K. Van Bergen in the Christian Intelli gencer. I was always on the watch for the creatures and ever in mortal terror of treading on one. It never occurred to me to sleep without a light and a stick was always near at hand lest I might find one unawares and be unprepared to meet it. I even looked upon my thin mosquito curtain as a slight protection, for it would at least break its fall should a snake tumble down suddenly from the ceiling. The creatures have a decided preference for cool, damp places and often choose the bathroom and sometimes the tub for their habitation, much to the discomfort of its rierhtful habitue. It is not unalloyed bliss to live in a place infested with serpents. With such formidable enemies, one never forgets to be cautions, nor to guard against the'r presence and sudden attack. It makes one alert to be in the midst of danger and adds spice to life. Well, as I started out to say, my garden was infested with snakes, and I was persuaded to have a native charmer summoned to lure them away. His hideous occupation, weird incantations and strange pets surround the snake charmer with a peculiar fascination. His magnetism and skill are considered phenomenal in the east. This specimen was tall and lank and had deep, cavernous eyes and an abstracted air. Some of the creatures were coiled around his wrist, which made him still more repellant. He handled them as if they were perfectly harmless. About the neck he wore a chain with a flute attached. Two other higglers accompanied him. sim ilarly attired, hut minus the snakes. One carried a closed basket on his arm He stopped at a respectful distance to make his "salaam," which is the customary salute of the country. Then he approached the aloe hedge which inclosed my grounds, squatted himself tailor fashion on the grass and began to produce weird, plaintive sounds on the flute, to which music the reptiles entwined themselves around him and seemed to sway their bodies to and fro. After some time a snake appeared, gliding slowly and stealthily out from the hedge toward the spot where it heard the enchanting music. The charmer allowed it to come quite close and to wind itself around his arm. Another followed and yet another, while the two other men stood by holding a basket ready to receive them as soon as they unwound themselves. At least a half dozen appeared and were disposed of in this manner. After being captured they appeared as if in a stupor. Horrified with his performance, I begged him to stop and bade him leave the place. He assented and, picking up the basket, departed with the snakes without ever ceasing to play his uncanc tune. His companions gathered ip the rest of his belongings and followed him. I paid a certain sum for each snake thus dispatched. He came repeatedly thereafter and went through the same performanc?, conjuring up more reptiles and disposing of them in the same way until I began to suspect some trickery. Ho refused to allow the snakes to be killed insisting that they were sacred and must not be put to death. It looked as if he placed the snakes in the hedge after renewing them and thus he multiplied their number and increaser his gain. T ? ?? r.nnlltf f/\rnc d f r\ hovo V> I m Pfl. moved by the police and threatened with punishment In order to keep him away. Nothing would persuade me to permit one of the fellows to enter my premises again. Ravvls Plumbing Co Plumbing! Let me make you an estimate on the I3ath-Room Outfit that you Intend to put in your house some day. I will use the best material and give you the highest grade of work and prompt service. See me at once. RAWLS PLUMBING CO. The Place to Buy Lumber Is at the Lumber Yard of J. J. Keller A Co. Why? Simply because Lumber Is our specialty and we know When to Buy, What to Buy, and Where to Buy and can always give our customers what they want at Right Prices. See us for your Lumber needs and also for Doors, Blinds, Sash, Laths, Shingles, Builders' Hardware, Paints, Oils, Varnishes, Glass, Lime, Cement, etc. J. J. KELLER A CO. Bring us your logs it you want i them sawed. Printing to Pli You may have your own Printed Matter. Bring these i best to carry them out. Or po: rience, we may be able to m? prove on your ideas. Bring or Send Us Your Show You That We Can Plea WE P Letterheads, Noteheads, Billhe Envelopes, Pay Envelopes Ruled Blanks, Duplic; Duplicating Orde IBank Checks Booklets, Folders, Pamphlets, Cases On ADDeal. Areum " ' ? ?rr * o Cards, Wedding Anm Handbills, Dodge L. M. Grist's S YORKVIL jW No Order For JOB PR Order Is Too Small. SAY, M R . MAN: You know that you have been promising your wife and daughters that when the crops were gathered you would "set up" to various kinds of Furniture and Furnishings that they want. Well, let us remind you that the time has come. Crops are good and prices all you can ask. Don't you think you ought to make good your promises? Come and see us for everything in Furniture and especially for MATTINGS, RUGS, ART SQUARES And Floor Coverings in general. You will enjoy these nice things just as much as your wife and daughters?you might not say so, but you will he glad you bought them Just the same. You will find our goods right up to the minute in Qualities and Styles, and you know that Our Prices Must Tell You That They Are Right, or we couldn't expect you to buy. But remember that it always Pays to Buy Quality and you can get Quality at this Store. Cash or Credit and a Square Deal. YORK FURNITURE CO You Are a Free Agent. You have been told In plain language, and on numerous occasions during the past ten years, that the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance company of Newark, N. J., wrote the most liberal policies of any company In business and carried out its contracts at less cost to its policy holders than any company in business. The statement has been made because I know it to be a fact which no man can successfully controvert, and one which no experienced insurance man will undertake to dispute. It is possible that since you first saw this statement, you have insured in another company, and without so much as testing my assertions. If you have, and insured in one of the old established companies there is not a shadow of doubt that tho contract you have is as good as the average, but no better, and will be lived up to by the company that issued it. You are a free agent and had a perfect right to insure where you did, as you are the man who pays the freight, but I respectfully submit that as a free agent you should look before you leap, and conserve your own interest by securing the best values obtainable for your money. If you have not yet insured your life and your conscience tells von that vou should, vou I will be doing nothing except looking after your own interest, if you gain an intelligent understanding of what the Mutual Benefit has to offer before coming to a definite conclusion. If you fail to do this, your loss will be greater than mine. I shall be pleased to show you, but unless you signify a desire to be shown, it is possible, that in view of the fact that there are 5,000 men In my territory, who need Mutual Benefit insurance, I may overlook or fail to call on you personally. SAM M. GRIST, Special Agent. WANTED SECOND HAND BICYCLES. If you have an Old Bicycle Frame, Wheels, Crank, Axle or any part of an Old Bicycle lying around, there Is money in it for you, If you will bring it to us. We do all kinds of wood work on wagons and buggies. We keep a good stock of Bicycle Tires, Pedals, and In fact every thing you need for a Bicycle. Automobiles a specialty. Alexander Specialty Company R. D. Alexander, Mgr. (professional (Cards. W. F. McGILL SURGEON DENTIST, Hickory Grove, S. C. SW At Sharon, S. C., Monday and Friday. J. S. BR ICE, ATTORNEY AT LAW Office Opposite Court House. Prompt attention to all legal business >f whatever nature. JOHN. L. STACY Surveyor. BESIDES doing Land Surveying In all Its branches and at any time, I am also prepared to do Blue Printing and will be pleased to quote prices on application. Address me at Clover, S. C. Phone No. 40. 1 t ly Geo. W. S. Hart. Jos. E. Hart. HART & HART ATTORNEYS AT LAW Yorkvil's S. C. No. 1, Law Range. 'Phone (Office) 58, JOHN R. HART ATTORNEY AT LAW No. 3 Iiaw Range YORKVILLE, S. C. www ease the User. ideas as to what you want in deas to us, and we will do our ssibly, with our years of expeike suggestions that will imNext Job Order and Let Us ise You RINT :ads. Statements, ?, Legal Blanks, ating Gin Tickets, 1 - n T> 1.? r cooks, rcsceipi ouuks, , Blank Notes, Debit Slips, ents, ouncements, rs, Streamers, Placards, Etc. ions, Printers, LE, S. C. INTING Is Too Large?No J. C. WILBORN REAL ESTATE ? FOR SALE ? LIST YOUIt PROPERTY WITH ME IF YOU WANT TO SELL? 62 Acres?Property of M. C. Lathan, near King's Creek and Piedmont Springs, on public road. Price $15 per acre. 201 Acres?1 house, 5-rooms; 76 acres, under cultivation; 40 acres in timber, fine orchard; 3 miles of Newport. Price $12 per acre?W. W. Auten. 40 Acres?Joining Robt. Witherspoon and Amos Revels; level land, 30 acres under cultivation; 10 acres in timber; 1-2 mile of Guthriesville depot?R. E. Durant. 95 Acres?Mrs. J. Frank Wallace place, 2 dwellings on It; 8 miles of Yorkvllle on public highway, near New Zion church. Price $1,425. 148 Acres?Fort Mill township; 3 miles of Fort Mill, 1 mile of Philadelphia church; 25 acres under cultivation, balance in timber, pine and willow. Joins J. L. Kimball, T. S. Kirkpatrick and others; 1J miles from Gold Hill academy. Price $16 an acre. Property of J. H. Bailes. 3121-2 Acres?D. M. Parrott home place; 2J miles Clover; one beautiful residence, 2 stories, 6-rooms; 8-horse farm open?about 75 acres in timber; 4 tenant houses, 3 to 5 rooms each; good barn and all necessary outbuildings: 30 acres bottoms. One of the beat located farms in York county. Land lies good, on public highway and C. & N.-W. R. R. For quick sale? $40 per acre. It is worth more money. The fine farm of Mr. Scott Wilson, It is known as one of the best. Land lies level; 462 acres; $18 per acre. 18 Acres?Inside the corporate limits of Yorkville; 1 house, 3-rooms; young orchard; 941 foot bored well. Price $1,785?T. C. McGhee. 171 Acres?J. J. Scoggins mill and home, 1 dwelling, 8-rooms, 2 stories; 40 acres very fine bottom land?produce corn every year; 30 acres barbed wire; also 30 acres hog wire pasture; 60 acres under cultivation; 25 acres in forest timber. A new barn, 40x60; double crib. One-third Cash. (1) Parks Parish place 91 acres; 1 house, 4 rooms; 50 acres under cultivation, 40 acres In timber, orchard (2) 1281 acres at New Zion, Joins J. R. Faires an1 others; 1 house, 6 rooms; 35 acres under cultivation; 90 acres In timber; 3 miles of Smyrna, good barn, outbuildings. $2,100 for Parish Dixon place, 1st. $21.00 per acre for place John Dixon now lives on 2nd. John F. Smith. 51 Acres?Mrs. R. R. Plaxico; onehalf mile of Sharon, on Southern Rwy.; 40 acres under cultivation. Price $2,200 for quick sale. 56 Acres?Rachel Burns place, Onehalf In fine forest timber; is now the property of Goforth; joins R. N. McElwee. One lot in Yorkvllle on College St. loins Broadus Love. 285 Acres?Joins Wm. Blggers, Meek Faulkner, Jim McGill; 5-horse farm; 1 house, 6-rooms, 75 acres under cultivation; 185 acres in timber. Some saw timber; near to Enon church; 2i miles Smyrna; 4 tenant houses, 35 acres of bottom land. Price $15.00 per acre. A. J. Boheler property. 61 Acres?Joins Dave Clark, Cal Clark and Carson lands; 1 story, 4room house, new; 45 acres under cultivation, 2 acres in timber, young orchard, 3 miles from Filbert. >11 buildings are new. Price $40 per acre. Miss Ida de Loach residence?$3,000. Miss Dolly Miller residence?a bargain. 150 Acres?75 acres in cultivation; 75 acres in timber; 3 miles Sharon. Very cheap. 50 Acres?Joins A. J. Boheler, Westmoreland and Ed Whitesides corners at London siding:; 1 house, 1 story, 3rooms, 20 acres under cultivation, plenty of firewood: orchard, good spring, } mile of Canaan church, 1 mile of Smyrna station, good barn. Pries $16.00 per acre. 72 Acres?Beautiful 6-room cottage, land level, very productive; now barn, 1 new 4-room tenant house, dressed weather-boarding at Guthrieavllle? $4,000. 165 Acres?Nice two-story dwelling; 8-rooms; 3 piazzas, good burn; all necessary outhouses; 3 tenant houses; one 6-room house; fine mineral spring; one mile of Newport railway station and school. Price $50 an acre. 98 Acres?Adjoining Forest Hill academy; property of Perry Ferguson. Price $1,600. Forty acres in cultivation, some of which has made over a bale to the acre; 58 acres on timber; plenty of fine saw timber. 125 Acres?One dwelling, one story and half, 5-rooms?Perry Ferguson McCullum place. Price $1,600. 55 3-5 Acres?One dwelling, 11 stories; good well water; J mile of Concord church and school; 25 acres under cultivation; plenty of wood. Price $650. Terms to suit purchaser. Property of of W. H. Baird. 97 Acres?And a new 6-room house, 2 tenant houses; new barn 30x40; two miles Clover. Owner wishes to buy larger farm. This Is a great bargain. Property of T. J. Bradford. House and half acre lot In Clover: 1 dwelling. 3 rooms, 2 piazzas, splendid house, electric lights. J. Hogg Parish home. Price $860.00. 50 Acres?Of land, situated In Cherokee county; joining Mrs. Sallte Childers and Blanton Moore; one mile Hopewell church; one dwelling. Property of F. M. Stewart. Price $1,000. 235 Acres?Three miles Ebenezer: 31 miles Wlnthrop college. Rents for 6,950 lbs. lint cotton; 3 miles incorporate limits of Rock Hill. Price $30.00 per acre. Six-horse farm open. 100 Acres?One mile Tirzah; level land; 3 houses; good new barn. Price $40.00 per acre. For Sale?A two-story, 6-room Cottage in Yorkville?In Liberia. Price $1,100. 100 Acres?Ebenezer township; three miles Winthrop; 6-room house; good barn and outbuildings; rent 3,000 lbs, 1 cotton. Price $30 per acre. 186 Acres?In King's Mountain town* ship; one 3-room dwelling; about 600,000 feet timber. Price $10 per acre. 3951-2 Acres?Known as the OatesAllison place; produces 8 bales of cotton; one 2-story, 7-room building; 4 tenant houses, 3 rooms each, 100 acres in cultivation, 150 acres in timber; balance in second growth and pasture; 2 miles of Hickory Grove. Will cut into small tracts. Price $12.00 per acre. 217 Acres?Joins Will Campbell, Will Youngblood, William Oates, in Ebenezer township. Will rent for 6,000 lbs. lint cotton. Is one of the best farms in the county. A beautiful home, painted; two story, eight-room house; 150 acres in cultivation: a good or chard, two miles of Tlrzah station; 6 tenant houses, 3 and 4 rooms each; 2 large barns, pasture of 40 or 50 acres. Will sell In two tracts, but prefer to sell as a whole. Home of J. M. Campbell. 455 Acres?Property of Jas. A. and E. Bankhead; 3 houses. Nearly 200 acres of bottom land, raises about 1,000 bushels of corn, very productive place. Price $9.00 an acre. 122 Acres?8-room dwelling ;a fine orchard; 1J miles Beersheba; 2 tenant houses; 75 acres In cultivation, balance in timber: the timber Is original. 128 Acres?Home place of J. F. Carson: good 6-room dwelling; land level; new barn, crib, cotton house. All necessary out buildings. A beautiful farm at Delphos. 119 3-4 Acres?Joins lands of Mrs. J L. McGlll; one new 4-room house; 15 acres of fresh, new ground, balance in wood: 1J mile Bethany High School. 234 Acres?One 2-story, 8-room aviollinir- eruod R-horse farm or>en: 80 acres in timber; 4 good tenant houses, 4-rooms each; good barn. Land in high state cultivation. Joins J. J. Matthews; 3 miles Bethany. Price $25 per acre. 112 3-4 Acres?Joins John F. Smith; 60 acres in cultivation: 52 in timber; 1 dwelling, 2 tenant houses; good new barn. Price 2,000. R. D. Wallace. One Lot, East Jefferson, near Graded school and Southern depot. One nice Cottage, East Jefferson, near Graded school. Property of Mrs. Berry?very cheap. J. C. WILBORN. GEO. T. SCHORB PHOTOGRAPHER. I AM agent for the world famous LESTER PIANO, one of the best known Pianos ever sold in this section. It always satisfies the buyer. I also sell the ESTEY OROAN?known wherever reed Organs are sold as the perfect Organ. Come and see me for a Piano or Organ. I will give you the advantage of the lowest prices GEO. T. SCHORB. Yorkville, S. C.