Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, March 08, 1912, Image 1

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; ISSUED SEMI-WEEKLY. l. m. GEI8TS sons, Pabu.her., | % 4amil8 Dewspaper,: Jior the {promotion of the political, good, agricultural and tfommcrriat Interests of the {Peopl*. j ,ER^;o'JK" ESTABLISHED 1855. YORKVILLE, S. C., FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 191*2. N"0. 20. ? "Whe . PRODIGAL Jl The Famous Noveu VAUGHAN KES Copyright, 1911. The Bobho-llorri % CHAPTER XXXIII. Ths Judge Receives a Letter. After he had parted with Solomon Mahaffy the judge applied himself diligently to shaping that miracle-working document which he was preparing as an offset to whatever risk he tan in meeting Fentress. As sanguine as he was sanguinary he confidently expected to survive the encounter, yet it was well to provide for a possible emergency?had he not his grandson's future to consider? While thus occupied he saw the afternoon stage arrive ^ and depart from before the City Tavf era. Half an hour later Mr. Wesley, the postmaster, came sauntering up the street. In his hand he carried a letter. "Howdy," he drawled, from just beyond the judge's open door. "Good evening, sir; won't you step inside and be seated?" he asked graciously. His dealings with the United States mail service were of the most insignificant description, and In personally delivering a letter. If this was t what had brought him there, he felt Mr. Wesley had reached the limit of official courtesy and despatch. "Well, sir; It looks like you'd never told us more than two-thirds of the truth!" said the postmaster. He sur* veyed the Judge curiously. "I am complimented by your opinion of my veracity," responded that gentleman promptly. "I consider twothird an enormously high per cent to have achieved." "There is something In that, too," agreed Mr Wesley. "Who is Colonel Slocum Price Turbervllle?" The judge started up from his chair. "I have that honor," said he, bowing. Ls. "Well, here's a letter come in adr dressed like that, and as you've been using part of the name I am willing to assume you're legally entitled to the rest of It. It clears up a point that off and on has troubled me considerable. I can only wonder I wa'n't smarter." "What point, may I ask?" "Why, about the time you hung out your shingle here, some one wrote a letter to General Jackson. It was mailed after night, and when I seen it in the morning I_ was clean beat. I couldn't locate the handwriting and ^ ye>t I kept that 'letter back a couple of days and gave It all my spare time. It ain't that I'm one of your spying sort?there's nothing of the Yankee about me!" "Certainly not," agreed the judge. "Candidly, Judge, I reckon you wrote that letter, seeing this one comes under a frank from Washington. No, sir?I couldn't make out who was corresponding with the president and ft anything I've had to contend against since I came into office. I calculate fl^ there ain't a postmaster in the United States takes a more personal Interest v in the service than me. I've frequent ly set patrons ngni wnen mc> doubt as to the date they had mailed such and such a letter." As Mr. Wes? ley sometimes canceled as many as three or four stamps in a single day he might have been pardoned his pride in a brain which thus lightly dealt with the burden of official business. He surrendered the letter with marked reluctance. "Your surmise is correct," said the judge with dignity. "I had occasion to write my friend. General Jackson, and unless I am greatly mistaken I have my answer here." And with a fine air of indifference he tossed the letter on the table. "And do you know Old Hickory?" Ik cried Mr, Wesley. "Why not? Does it surprise you?" inquired the Judge. It was only his innate courtesy which restrained him from kicking the postmaster into the street, so intense was his desire to be rid of him. s "No, I don't know as It does, judge. Naturally a public man like him is in the way of meeting with all sorts. A politician can't afford to be too blame particular. Well, next time you write you might Just send him my regards? G. W. M. de L. Wesley's regards? there was considerable contention over my getting this office; I reckon he ain't forgot. There was speeches made; I understand the He was passed between two United States senators and that a quid of tobacco was 4 thrown in anger." Having thus clearly established the fact that he was a more or less na nal character, Mr. Wesley took himse.f off. When he had disappeared from sight down the street, the judge closed the door. Then he picked up the letter. For a long minute he held It in his hand, uncertain, fearful, whi'.e his mind slipped back into the past until his Inward searching vision ferreted out a handsome soldierly figure? his own. "That's what Jackson remembers, if he remembers anything!" he muttered; as with trembling fingers he p broke the seal. Almost instantly a smile overspread his battered features. He hitched his chin higher and squared his ponderous shoulders. "I am not forgotten?no, damn it?no!" he exulted under his breath, "recalls A me with sincere esteem and considers my service to the country as well worthy of recognition?" the judge breathed deep. What would Mahaffy find to say now! Certainly this was well calculated to disturb the sour cynicism of his friend. His bleared eyes brimmed. After all his groping he had touched hands with the realities at last! Kven a Federal judgeship, though not an office of the first repute In the south, had its dignity? it signi- J jP" fled something! He would make Solomon his clerk! The judge reached for his hat. Mahaffy must know at I once that fortune had mended for theQj^^Vhy. at that moment he was H aetually^n receipt of an income! He sat dVvn, the better to enjoy the unique sensahtan. Taxes were being levied and collecTffl^^h 1no other end In view than his stipend?his ardent fancy saw the whole machinery of government In operation for his benefit It was a singular feeling he experienced. Then promptly his spendthrift brain became active. He needclothes?so did MahalTy?so did his grandson; they must take a larger house; he would buy himself a man servant; these were pressing necessities as he now viewed them. Once again he reached for his hat, the desire to rush ofT to Belle Plain was overmastering. "I reckon I'd be Justified in hiring a conveyance from Pegloe," he thought but Just here he had a saving memory of his unfinished task; that claimed precedence and he resumed his pen. An hour later Pegloe's black boy presented himself to the Judge. He name* Hpa.rintr ? erift. and the Kift aD" proprlaCely enough was a square ease bottle of respectable size. The judgewas greatly touched by this attention but he began by making a most temperate use of the taven-keeper's offering; then as the formidable document he was preparing took shape under his hand he more and more lost that feeling of Spartan fortitude which had at first sustained him in the presence of temptation. He wrote and sipped In complete and quiet luxury, and when at last he had exhausted the contents of the bottle it occurred to him that it would be only proper personally to convey his thanks to Pegloe. Perhaps he was not uninspired In this by ulterior hopes; if so, they were richly rewarded. The resources of the City Tavern were suddenly placed at his disposal. He attributed this to a variety of causes all good and sufficient, but the real reason never suggested itself, indeed it was of such a perfidious nature that the judge, open and generous-minded, could not have grasped It. By six o'clock he was undeniably drunk; at eight he was sounding still deeper depths of Inebriety with only the most confused memory of impending events; at ten he collapsed and was borne up-stairs by Pegloe and his black boy to a remote chamber in the kitchen wing. Here he was undressed and put to bed, and the tavern-keeper, making a bundle of his clothes, retired from the room, locking the door after him, and the judge was doubly a prisoner. Rousing at last from a heavy dreamless sleep the judge was aware of a faint impalpable light in his room, the ashen light of a dull October dawn. He was aware, too, of a feeling of profound depression. He knew this was the aftermath of indulgence and that ho might look forward to forty-eight hours of utter misery of soul, and, groaning aloud, he closed his eyes. Sleep was the thing if he could compass it. Instead, his memory quickened. Something was to happen at sun-up?he could not recall what It was to be, though he distinctly remembered that Mahaffy had spoken of this very matter?Mahaffy, the austere and implacable, the disembodied conscience whose fealty to duty had somehow survived his own spiritual ruin, so that he had become a sort of moral sign-post, ever pointing the way yet never going it himself. The judge lay still and thought deeply as the light intensified Itself. What was it that Mahaffy had said he was to do at sun-up? The very hour accented his suspicions. Probably it was no more than some cheerless obligation to be met, or Mahaffy would not have been so concerned about it. Eventually he decided to refer everything to Mahaffy. He spoke his friend's name weakly and in a shaking voice, but received no answer. "Solomon!" he repeated, and shifting his position, looked in what should have been the direction of the shakedown bed his friend occupied. Neither the bed nor Mahaffy were there. The judge gasped?he wondered if this were not a premonition of certain hallucinations to which he was not a stranger. Then all in a Hash he remembered Fentress and the meeting at Boggs', something of how the evening had been spent and a spasm of regret shook him. "I had other things to think of. This must never happen again!" he told himself remorsefully. He was wide-awake now. Doubtless Pegloe had put him to bed. Well, that had been thoughtful of Pegloe? he would not forget him?the City Tavern should continue to enjoy his patronage. It would be something for Pegloe to boast of that Judge Slocum Price Turberville always made his place headquarters when in Raleigh, wealth and distinction on the fortunate Pegloe the judge thrust his fat legs over the side of his bed and stood CJtAAnlmr Kio rnn/' Vi orl fnr his 1 CI CVl. Oiuwj'liih *iv clothes. He confidently expected to find them on the floor, but his hand merely swept an uncarpeted waste. The judge was profoundly astonished. "Maybe I've got on 'em on, I don't recall taking them off!" he thought hopefully. He moved uncertainly in the direction of the window where the light showed him his own bare extremities. He reverted to his original idea that his clothes were scattered about the floor. He was beginning to experience a great sense of haste, it was two miles to Boggs' and Fentress would be there at sun-up. Finally he abandoned his quest of the missing garments and turned to the door. To say that he was amazed when he found it locked would have most inadequately described his emotions. Breathing deep, he fell back a step or two, and then with all the vigor he could muster launched himself at the door. But it resisted him. "It's bolted on the other side!" he muttered, the full measure of Pegloe's perfidy revealing itself to his mind. He was aghast. It was a plot to discredit him. Pegloe's hospitality had been inspired by his enemy, for Pegloe was Fentress' tenant. Again he attacked the door; he believed it might be possible to force it from its hinges, but Pegloe had done his work too well for that, and at last, spent and breathless, the judge dropped down on the edge of his bed to consider the situation. He was without clothes and he was a prisoner, yet his mind rose splendidly to meet the 4ifficulties that beset him. His greatest activities were reserved for what appeared to be only a season of des-J pair. He armed himself with a threelegged stool he had found and turned once more to the door, but the stout planks stood firm under his blows. "Unless I get out of here in time I'm a ruined man!" thought the Judge. "After this Fentress will refuse to meet me!" The window next engaged his attention. That, too, Pegloe had taken the precaution to fasten, but a single savage blow of the stool shattered glass and sash and left an empty space that framed the dawn's red glow. The JUdgC IUUKCU UUL UliU B1IUUIV ma uvou dubiously. It was twelve feet or more to the ground, a risky drop for a gentleman of his years and build. The Judge considered making: a rope of his bedding and lowering himself to the ground by means of it, he remembered to have read of captives in that Interesting French prison, the Bastille, who did this. However, an equally ingenious but much more simple use for his bedding occurred to him; it would form a soft and yielding substance on which to alight. He gathered it up Into his arms, feather-tick and all, and pushed it through the window, then he wriggled out across the ledge, feet first, and lowering himself to the full length of his arms, dropped. He landed squarely on the rolled-up l>ed with a jar that shook hlin to his center. Almost gaily he snatched up a quilt, draping it about him after the manner of a Roman toga, and thus lightly habited, started across Mr. Pegloe's truck patch, his one thought Boggs' and the sun. It would have served no purpose to have gone home, since his entire wardrobe, except for the shirt on his back, was in the tavern-keeper's possession, besides he had not a moment to lose, for the sun was peeping at him over the horizon. Unobserved he gained the edge of the town and the highroad that led past Boggs' and stole a fearful glance over his shoulder. The sun was clear of the tree-tops, he could even feel the lifeless dust grow warm beneath his feet; and wrapping the quilt closer about him he broke Into a labored run. Some twenty minutes later Boggs' came in sight. He experienced a moment of doubt?suppose Fentress had been there and gone! It was a hideous thought and the judge groaned. Then at the other end of the meadow near the woods he distinguished several men, Fentress and his friends beyond question. The Judge laughed aloud. In spite or everyming ne wan keeping his engagement, he was plucking his triumph out of the very dregs of failure. The Judge threw himself over the fence, a corner of the quilt caught on one of the rails; he turned to release It, and In that instant two pistol shots rang out sharply on the morning air. (To be Continued). THE EDITOR'S TASK. The Newspaper Is Preacher and Teacher to Many. To the country newspaper there Is open a larger opportunity for good and upon it rests a greater responsibility for wrongdoing than attaches to any other calling. It has been named "the fourth estate," and we Interpret that to mean it is the topmost of all professions. The editors should be the Judges holding even scales, allowing the publication of such evidence only as fair to either side of any question In controversy and leave the finding of the verdict to the Jury of its readers. They, the editors, are not justified in becoming the volunteer prosecuting attorney of one or the paid defending counsel of another cause or candidate. Going Into hundreds of homes across these thresholds where the feet of the preacher and teacher never sound the newspaper should bear to old and young such messages of enjoyment and for education and entertainment as their hearts and minds need and hunger for. Put yourself, young brethren, in the plight and position of one going on a visit to a family of which he is an adopted member. By day Its door will be open to your coming and In the evening a light will shine in the window and always the "watch dog's honest bark bay deep mouthed welcome home." It will be sweet to know that there are eyes to brighten at the coming of the little paper to which you have given the thought of your brain and the weariness of your eyes while others have toiled for gain or idled for pleasure. Give to your people such service as the shepherd to the flock that knows his voice. And they will come to you and follow you and at the end of your day none shall be missing through the blame of yours. You will sow seeds that will become and continue perennial flowers and fruits long after the pencil is broken and the scissors rusted. Stand four square and true against the temptations and the threats that would bring your profession to the level of a business of only profit and loss, and you shall be rich in self respect. which is of more worth than the money of the millionaires. From one or the other the people must receive information and illumination. There is no alternative to the choice between the publisher and the public speakers. Which shall win? The answer is to be made by the press. And if in the educative awakening going on now as much in the house as in the school room the county papers do not measure up to the opportunity the more distant periodical or paper will supplant the local weekly.?Barnwell People. Bliss From the Proverb.?There's an old codger in Boston who affects to despise a college education. He never had one; he's very successful, and he doesn't see that a university training could have made him any more so. Therefore he sneers at some of the younger fellows who have had more educational advantages. The other day he was calling down a college subordinate. "If that's all your gilt edged eddication has taught ye," he growled, "by gosh, young feller, I'm thankful for my ignorance." "Sir," the young fellow answered, bowing respectfully, "you have much to be thankful for." fHisfllnnrimr. Sradinii. HON. J. E. SWEARINGEN. State Superintendent Described As a Blind Man Who Sees. In the March number of The American Magazine Is an article entitled "Interesting Persons," and one of the contributors to this piece takes South Carolina's state superintendent of education. Mr. J. E. Swearlngen as his subject. A full page picture of Mr. Swearlngen accompanies the article. Following Is what the writer has to say: The old expression, "there are none so blind as those who will not see," might with propriety be revived In the light of modern achievements of blind workers: as an instance, J. E. Swearlngen, the blind state superintendent of education for South Carolina, is seeing wonderfully well for thousands of wide-awake boys and girls. Although Mr. Swearlngen has lived In darkness since his eleventh year, when an accident while hunting destroyed his eyesight, his vision of the needs of his great army of young people has quite as likely been Improved Instead of Injured. Dr, Samuel nHdlev Howe early In the thirties the founder of the first school for the blind In this country, was wont to say that "blindness Is an Inconvenience. but not an affliction." Sometimes a human handicap Is the spur that makes a career. When I asked Mr. Swearingen If he felt his growth had been because of his blindness, rather than In spite of It, he was Inclined to believe his "inconvenience" had been a fillip to his ambition. He has conquered so far as to pass through the prescribed course In the University of South Carolina, leading his class to become a teacher In the state Institution for the blind, and finally to be accepted, through the civic suffrage of his people, as the best equipped educator in the state to direct the training of Its future citizenship. Mr. Swearlngen's administration has already become a potent factor in the construction of an industrial educational system that promises to Insure to South Carolina the permanent possession of Its children?for he has seen that the prosperity of a southern state depends upon agriculture primarily. His solution of the problem of industrial education deserves wide publicity. While in New Hampshire, for example, 800,000 acres of soil once under the plough has been allowed to grow up into underbrush, the cultivated acreage of South Carolina is growing each year. The corn crop of this state in 1910 was worth 133,000,000, against $17,000,000 In 1908. The agricultural products of the state were worth $200,000,000 last year, against less than one-half that sum for manufacturing and the allied industries. A truly practical education will tie the rising generation to the native plantation, Instead of serving the world outside the state by the sort of schooling that compels the exportation of young blood. The school administration of Mr. Swearingen and his co-workers aims to keep the boys and girls at home. The sort of pedagogy he wishes to give to hts state may be best expressed In his own words?"the three R's are no less indispensable for Industrial efficiency than for cultural efficiency; but the Idea that corn and cotton roots supply leas education than do Latin and Greek roots is not borne out by modern science." With this watchword the school children of South Carolina have been learning (as the law compels) the principles of elementary agriculture. They have planted over 5,000 acres of corn this year, and their fathers looking on, as they have delved in their books and In the soli at the same time, have themselves been taught that the God given gift of the earth has never been worked to its b^st capacity. Corn clubs, tomato clubs, the Federal * thll la Iitrill ueiiiuiiniiauun khivc, boratory for instruction of the State Agricultural college going on rails throughout the state are supplementing Mr. Swearingen's efforts. A beautiful factor of the crusade is the uplift given to the conventionally desolate homes of the rural districts. Mr. Swearingen Is devoting his effort and the funds of the state to making the southern home better?and is succeeding. He sees with Ideas and policies that help his people: we who travel about the state also see the material fruit of his work. Stanley Johnson. IMPORTANT SCHOOL LAWS. Two Acts Passed At the Recent Session for Educational Development. The following acts passed at the last session of the general assembly, are published at the request of Superintendent of Education Quinn, for the benefit of the public: No. 247. An Act to Provide for Consolidated and Graded Schools in Country Districts. and to Appropriate Fifteen Thousand Dollars to Encourage the Same. Section 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the state of South csouin Carolina: \rnai noi n*?a man $15,000 be appropriated annually for the purpose of assisting rural school districts in the establishment, maintenance, and improvement of rural graded schools under the conditions and provisions of the following sections of this act: Provided, That the amount hereby appropriated shall be expended from the sum appropriated under the terms of Term Extension Act of 1910, Act No. 431, page No. 791. Sec. 2. When any rural school district in South Carolina shall levy and collect a special school tax of not less than four (4) mills, and when a school in such district employs two certificated teachers for a school term of not less than six months, and when such school has an enrollment of not fewer than fifty pupils and an average daily attendance for the session of not fewer than thirty pupils, and when such school is taught in a comfortable and sanitary building provided with the minimum equipment prescribed by the state board of education, and when it uses a course of study and classification approved by the state board of education, It shall be entitled to receive state aid under this act to the amount of $200 per year. Section 3. When any rural school district in South Carolina shall levy and collect a special school tax of not less than four (4) mills, and when such school employs three or more certificated teachers for a school term of not less than seven months, and when such school has an annual enrollment of not fewer than seventy-five pupils, and an average dally attendance for the session of not fewer than forty pupils, and when such school is taught In a comfortable and sanitary building provided with the minimum equipment prescribed by the state board of education, and when It uses a course of study and classification approved by the state board of education, it shall be entitled to receive state aid under this act to the amount of $300. Section 4. No district which receives aid under the provisions of the High School act, or the Term Extension act, shall receive aid under the provisions of this act. No district which contains an Incorporated town with more than 300 inhabitants shall receive aid under the provisions of this act. Sec. 5. It shall be lawful for the school trustees of a district to use the state aid obtained under the provisions of this act to furnish public conveyance of children to the school, when in the opinion of the trustees and the county superintendent such action is wise and expedient Sec. 6. The state superintendent of education may refuse aid under the provisions of this act, if it is made to appear to him that the expenditure would be unwise and detrimental to the Interest of free school education in said district. Sec. 7. The state superintendent of education with the state board of education, shall provide rules and regu- i lations for the distribution of this fund, and shall publish such regulatlnna *n the vnrlrmn cniintv siinprin tendents of education, who In turn shall publish them to the various district trustees. Sec. 8. Applications must be filed In order of their receipt, and paid or refused In the same order. Sec. 9. All acts or parts of acts Inconsistent with this act be. and the same are, hereby repealed. No. 281. An? Act to Distribute Among the 8ev?*al Counties the Balance of the State Dispensary Fund Not Otherwise Appropriated. Section 1. Be It enacted by the genral assembly of the state of South Carolina: That the state superintendent of education, the state treasurer and the comptroller general are hereby authorized and directed to apportion among the several counties of the state the total cash balance of the state dispensary fund now remaining In the state treasury and not otherwise appropriated. This apportionment shall be made on the basis of enrollment in the free public schools as given in the annual report of the the scholastic year ending June 10, 1911. Sec. 2. All moneys apportioned to the respective counties shall be paid to the county treasurer upon the warrant of the comptroller general, to be held in the county treasury as school funds, and paid out upon the warrant of school district trustees in the discretion of the county board of education as provided in Sec. 3. Sec. 3. The county boards of education of the respective counties are authorized and directed to use this fund In strengthening weak schools, in encouraging school improvement, and In promoting the educational Interests of their counties in such manner and at such time as they may deem most helpful to the cause of education, under the general direction of the state superintendent of education. This fund shall be a county board fund; and the time, place and manner of its distribution shall be determined by the several county boards 'of education, by and with the approval in writing, of the state superintendent of education; provided, that no more than onefourth of the amount apportioned to a county shall be expended in any one year, except in counties where it shall be used to defray past indebtedness due by the school fund, in which counties the whole amount may be used in any one year. Sec. 4. Any and all additional funds that may hereafter be paid into the state treasury by the Winding-tip commission of the state dispensary shall be apportioned within thirty days from the date of such payment, in the same manner, and shall be exnanHoH oc nrhvMhH In Sap 3 of this ? act. Approved the 23rd day of February, A. D., 1912. Cole L. Bleaae, Governor. A SOUTHERN CANDIDATE. Sketch of Three of the Men Now In the Field. Below la what the Congressional Directory has to say about Oscar W. University, Ninth district, Ala.: "Oscar W. Underwood, Democrat, of Birmingham, was born in Louisville, Jefferson county, Ky., May 6, 1862; was educated at Rugby school, Louisville, Ky., and the University of Virginia; was elected to the Fiftyfourth, Fifty-fifth, Fifty-sixth, Fiftyseventh, Fifty-eighth, Fifty-ninth and SIxty-flrst congresses, receiving 11,288 votes to 2,567 for J. B. Sloan, Republican, 311 for W. G. Emiel, and 48 for T. M. Ramey, and re-elected to the Sixty-second congress. From the Congressional Directory Ninth district, Missouri; "Champ Clark. Democrat, of Bowling Green, was born March 7, 1850, In Anderson county, Ky.; educated in the common schools, Kentucky university, Bethany college, and Cincinnati Law School; 1873-74 was president of Marshall college, WestVirginia, and for twenty-two years held the record for being the youngest college president in the United States; worked as a hired farm hand, clerked in a country store, edited a country newspaper, and practiced law; moved to Missouri in 1875; was city attorney of Louisiana and Bowling Green; deputy prosecuting attorney and prosecuting attorney; presidential elector; delegate to Trans-Mississippi congress at Denver; permanent chairman of the Democratic national convention. St. Louis, July 6-9. 1904, and chalrtho nnmmittPK notifying Judge Parker of his nomination; married Miss Genevieve Bennett; has had four children born to him, little Champ, Ann Hamilton. Bennett and Genevieve, the two latter still living; was elected to the Fifty-third, Fifty-fifth. Fifty-sixth, Fifty-seventh, Fifty-eighth, Fiftyninth, Sixtieth and Sixty-first congresses, and re-elected to the Sixtysecond congress with a majority of 4.019 votes." From Who's Who In America: "Wilson, Woodrow, university president; born at Staunton, Va., December 28, 1856; son of Joseph and Jessie W. Wilson; A. B. Princeton, 1879; law student. University of Virginia, 1879-80; Ph. D., Johns Hopkins, 1886; LL. D. Wake Forest 1887, Tulane 1898, Johns Hopkins 1902, University of Pennsylvania 1903, Brown 1903, Harvard 1907, Dartmouth 1909, Lltt. D., Yale 1901; married Ellen Louise Axson. of Savannah, Ga., June 24, 1885; practiced law at Atlanta, Ga.. 1882-3; professor history and political economy. Bryn Mawr college, 18858, Wesleyon university, 1888-90; professor Jurisprudence and politics, 1890-1902; president since August 1. 1902, at Princeton. Member American Academy of Arts and Letters, American Academy of Political and Social Science. American Historical association. American Economical association, corresponding member Massachusetts Historical society. Author: Congressional Government, a study In American Politics, 1885; The State?Elements of Historical and Practical Politics, 1889; An Old Master and Other Political Essays, 1893; Mere Literature and Other Essays, 1893; George Washington. 1896; A History of the American People, 1992." Address, Princeton, X. J. BUFORD'S DEFEAT. 8tory of Historic Massacre In Lancaater County. The following story of the massacre of the patriotic force of Colonel Buford by Colonel Tarleton, in Lancaster county during the American revolution, was written for The Yorkville Enquirer by the late Rev. Robert Lathan, D. D., and was first published in the issue of this paper of September 30, 1891. It is being reppubllshed now by special request in order to stimulate interest in the famous battleground more especially with a view to raising subscriptions for the purchase of the land?about two acres ?so the historic spot, together with the monument thereon may be properly taken care of: Nearly every neighborhood In the upper counties of South Carolina is memorable on account of some tragical affair which occurred In it during the years 1780 and 1781. On the 26th of December, 1779, Sir Henry Clinton with a corps of more than 8,000 British soldiers, well provided with ^verything necessary for the efficiency df such a force, cleared the harbor of New York and directed his course towards South Carolina. Four things? the mildness of the climate, the richness of the soil, the nearness to Georgia, and the distance from General Washington?suggested South Carolina to the British commander as the fittest region, In all North America, In which to crush out of existence the rebellion against the British government. His conclusion, judging from the past history 4f the contest and present condition of the colonies, was correct. The war of the rebellion had been raging, with all the fierceness the contending parties were able to effect for a period of more than four years, and not a single decisive battle had beeti fought. The forces of Sir Henry Clinton, designed to operate in the south, were convoyed by Vice Admiral Arbuthnot The voyage was not a prosperous one. A storm scattered the fleet; some of the ships were captured, one ordnance vessel foundered, most of the artillery, and all of the cavalry horses perished. It was not until near the middle of February that the forces were landed and ready for action. With promptness, energy and skill the British commander began to execute the work which he had underen. The country, far and near, was scoured by armed parties for the purpose of securing horses to supply the place of those lost on the voyage. Notwithstanding the many difficulties which beset the British commander on all sides, he began, with a large force, the work of throwing up redoubts In rront of the city of Charleston. The siege began on land on the night of the 1st at April, the British ships Roebuck, Richmond, Romulus, Blonde, Virginia, Raleigh, Sandwich and Renown, tflosett In upon the city, and with the land forces cut It off entirely from communication with the country at every point, except that which faced the Cooper river. The American forces were commanded by Brigadier General Benjamin Lincoln. On the 10th of April, the commanders of the British land and naval forces, jointly summoned the American general to surrender. General Lincoln replied that "Sixty days have passed since it has been known that your intentions against this town were hostile, in which time has been ifTorded to abandon It; but duty and Inclination point to the propriety of supporting' It to the last extremity." On the rejection of the summons, the British batteries were opened and a. continual firing kept up until the 12th of May when the city was surrendered on the same terms as those offered on the 10th of April. As Charleston was the largest, and in every respect the most important town in the state, its capture was regarded by the British, and by many of the inhabitants of the state, and a considerable number of inhabitants of Charleston itself, as equivalent to the reduction of the whole state. No less than 210 of the inhabitants of the city petitioned the commanders of the British forces to be readmitted to the character of British subjects, and In the same petition, declared their disapprobation of the doctrine of American independence. Time has dealt gently with this petition and its signers. Both have been preserved. The fall of Charleston was a terrible calamity to the struggling colonies, but it was regarded a grand success for the British. The loss to the Americans, in prisoners alone, was 5,618, oesides near 1,000 seamen. That the besieged might be able to resist the neslegers, all the cannon and fire arms if every description in the colony, had been transported to the city. All this 'ell Into the hands of the British. To announce the fall of Charleston, ;he Karl of Lincoln was sent to Europe. On the reception of the news, ill England was jubilant. So soon as " hArleston surrendered. Sir Henry Clinton set about to establish a civil fovernment In the city and state. Having reduced as hesupposed, Chareston to a state of subjection to the king of England, he returned to New fork, taking with him a part of his trmy, while the remainder was placed jnder Cornwallis. Before taking his ieparture, Sir Henry Clinton planned three expeditions. One to move up the Savannah river to Augusta; another to pass through the country to Ninety-Six; and the third, commanded by Cornwallis, to pass through the eastern part of the state in pursuit of Coljnel Abraham Buford. It is with this ast that we are at present concerned. During the siege of Charleston, troops from different sections of the state, and from other states, were sent to assist the besieged in repelling the assaults of the enemy. The entrance to the city was, soon after the work of throwing up redoubts was be?un, entirely cut off. Among the troops ?ut off were those led by Colonel Abraham Buford. The exact number of his lommand cannot, at this late day, be ascertained. An old and trustworthy authority says: "It consisted of about 300 Continentals, the rear of the Virginia line." This probably was only the nucleus to which many others connected themselves temporarily. How near Colonel Buford had approached Charleston Is not certain, but the probability Is that he had reached the neighborhood of Monck's Corner. On the 18th day of May, Cornwallis began his pursuit of Colonel Buford. With some difficulty he crossed the Santee river at Laneau's ferry. The difficulty arose from the fact that all the ferries on the river had been destroyed by the Americans?some, probably by Colonel Buford?for It seems that Cornwall Is learned, on crossing' the river, on the 22nd, that Colonel Buford had left that point ten days previous. Immediately on getting all his troops across the Santee, at Laneau's ferry, Cbrnwallls set out In hot pursuit of Buford, following In his tracks. On the 27th, at Nelson's ferry, on the Santee, Comwallls detached Colonel Tarleton with a command consisting of forty cavalry?one hundred and thirty of the legion; one hundred mounted Infantry, and a three-pounder, to pursue the American colonel. The whole force of Tarleton, exclusive or tne three-pounder, was two hundred and seventy, all of which were either cavalry or mounted Infantry. The pursuit by this detachment began on the 27th of May. Camden was reached on the next day. Here Tarleton learned that Colonel Buford had left Rugeley's mill, on the 26th, and was hastening to Join a body of troops on their way from Salisbury to Charlotte. At 2 1 o'clock on the morning of the 29th, Tarleton's detachment was again in ' motion. At daylight Rugeley's mill was reached, where it was learned that Colonel Buford and his command were about twenty miles distant. It was manifest that Colonel Buford thought he was entirely out of danger, and, as the weather was very warm, moved forward very leisurely. Hie seemed to have halted for some days at Camden, and then went to Rugeley's mill. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon of the 29th of May, Tarleton's detachment overtook him. At Rugeley's mill, however, Tarleton sent Capt. Klnlock to summon Colonel Buford to surrender. To this summons Colonel Buford returned the following reply: "I reject your proposal, and shall defend myself to the last extremity." The place where Tarleton overtook Colonel Buford, is about ten miles, by the road, nearly east of Lancaster, the county seat of Lancaster county. Although it is more than 111 years since the battle?if battle it may be called? was fought, scarcely any change has taken place on the battleground. The road runs where it did then, and with the exception of a small amount of undergrowth, the trees which were the silent witnesses of the slaughter, stand there today. The land on which Colonel Buford was defeated, Is now the property of Rev. P. M. Plyler of Tradesville, a few miles distant, In a northeastern direction. Colonel Tarleton gives a strictly accurate description of the battleground in these words: "An open wood." It is, with the exception of a small amount of undergrowth, an open -wood today, .? - In full view of Colonel Tarletonand Colonel Buford, the advanced guard of Tarleton captured four Americans who were In the rear of their line. Whether or not Colonel Buford had placed videttes in his rear for the purpose of learning the approach of the British is not certainly known, but It seems that he had not, and that after receiving the summons to surrender, continued his march. This is what Tarleton says he did: Immediately on taking four of the Americans prisoners, both Tarleton and Buford began to put their forces In position for action. Tarleton's description of the order of his own troops and also that of Colonel Buford, is perhaps correct, and Is as follows. Of Colonel Buford he says: "He chose his post in an open wood, to the right of the road. He formed his infantry In one line, with a small reserve. He placed his colors in the center, and he ordered his cannon, baggage and wagons to continue their march." Of the disposition of his own troops, Colonel Tarleton says: "He confided his right wing, which was composed of sixty dragoons and nearly as many mounted Infantry, to Major Cochran, desiring him to dismount the latter to gall the enemy's flank before he moved against their front with his cavalry. Captains Corbet and Kinlock were directed with the Seventeenth dragoons and part of the legion, to charge the centre of the Americans, while Lieut. Colonel Tarleton, with thirty chosen horse and some Infantry; assaulted i their right flank and reserves." Such ' was the order of the battle observed by i two of the commanders as stated by Colonel Tarleton. The British commander had rushed ' his detachment forward with great ' rapidity, having marched 106 miles in fifty-four hours. Many of the horses ' had broken down or become so tired 1 that their progress was slow. These ' with the three-pounder which was still behind when the plan of battle was ' arranged, were ordered to take position when they arrived, on a small em- 1 inence which commands the road. This ( was designed as a rallying point In 1 case of repulse, which Tarleton seems to have apprehended. 1 These two forces were within 300 yards of each other when the arrange- ' ment of battle was made by the Brit- ' Inli <?a# A morlnona rl 1 r\ nnf flra O 1 1011, ^ CI, 11IC AlUCl icaiio uiu IIVI, hi v u gain. As soon as the British commander got his forces put in position, he moved forward to the attack. When at the distance of fifty yards from the American front, the Continental troops prepared to fire, but were commanded by their officers to reserve their Are until the British were within ten paces. When this distance was reached, the Americans fired, but with scarcely any j effect. The British closed in on the command of Buford and in a few mo- 1 ments the affair ended. The Americans had more men than I the British, and they were well pro- ' vided with arms and ammunition, but they failed to use them to any ad- ] vantage. The whole British loss In 1 the battle was five killed and fourteen 1 wounded. The loss of the Americans 1 was terribly great. The killed were 113; the wounded and unable to be moved, 150; and the prisoners, 53. In i all 316. Tarleton captured three stands 1 of colors, two brass six-pounders, two ? royals, two wagons with ammunition, one artillery forge cart, fifty-five i barrels of powder, twenty-six wagons i loaded with new clothing, arms, mus- i ket cartridges, new cartridge boxes, i flints and camp equipage. The reader is. no doubt, ready to I say this was a strange battle, and so it was. Colonel Buford seems to have made many egregious blunders. If he had opened his artillery on Tarleton when he was forming his men for action, the result would have been far different. Many of those in the command of Colonel Buford were citizens of the counties of York, Chester and Lancaster, who had gone down to assist in the defense of Charleston. For safety, they joined the command of Buford, and while returning homo many were cut to pieces. We are at a loss to know which to censure most, Colonel Buford for his mismanagement, or Colonel Tarleton for his cruelty. It is admitted by tho Americans that some of them laid down their arms, while others kept up an ineffectual fire. It was declared, while the slaughter was going on, that Tarleton was killed. This incensed the British, and they hewed the Americans to pieces without mercy. On the morning of the 30th, those of the Americans who were so badly wounded that they "were not able to travel, were," Colonel Tarleton says, "paroled and placed at the neighboring plantations, and in a meeting house not far distant from the battlefield." The wounded from Chester county were in a few days removed to their homes. On the way home, however, a number of the wounded became so weak that they were deposited in Waxhaw Presbyterian church and here some died and were buried in the graveyard. The meeting house not far distant from the battlefield, in which Colonel Tarleton placed some of the wounded, was an Associate church within, perhaps, 400 yards of the battlefield. The probability is that the spring used until lately by Mr. S. E. Usher, was the meeting house spring. This meeting house was also called Waxhaw, and so was the whole country from a short distance north of Camden. The meeting house not far distant from the battlefield, was one of the places at which Rev. Thomas Clark, M. L>.. preached as early as 1769. Rome of the families with whom the wounded were placed by Tarleton, were Usher, Barkley, Hull, Montgomery, Nelson, Porter, Galloway, Cornea, and others forgotten. Thirty-five or fc.ty years ago a plain marble monument, seven and a half feet high, and eighteen Inches square at the base, was erected to the memory of those Americans who fell In the battle, and a rude wall of flint stones placed around the grave In which eighty-four of them were burled. On the east side of this monumental shaft Is the following inscription: "Nearly the entire command of Colonel Buford were either killed or wounded. Eighty-four gallant soldiers are buried in this grave. They left their homes for the relief of Charleston, but hearing, at Camden, of the surrender of the city, were returning. Here their lives were ended In the service of their country." On the south side Is Inscribed: "Erected to the memory and in the honor of the brave and patriotic American soldiers who fell in the battle which occurred at this place on the 29th of May, 1780, between Colonel Abraham Buford, who commanded a regiment of 350 Virginians, and Colonel Tarleton of the British army with 350 cavalry and a like number of Infantry." The inscription on the north side Is: "The cruel and barbarous massacre committed on this occasion by Tarleton and his command after the surrender of Colonel Buford and his regiment, originated the American warcry: 'Remember Tarleton's quarters.' A British historian confesses that at , this battle 'the virtue of humanity was totally forgot.'" Some of the statements contained in these inscriptions vary from the statements made by both American and British historians. Evidently the number of Tarleton's forces are greatly exaggerated, while those of Buford are greatly diminished. The massacre of Buford's forces aroused the Scotch-Irish settlers of Chester, Tork and Lancaster, and the result was that he British were defeated at Will,...neon's, King's Mountain, the Cowpens and Torktown. R. Lathan. The Free Use of Both Hands,?There was a fad some twenty years ago among certain classes to make the children use both hands equally, with a view to developing ambidexterity, an va Warner's Weekly. There were very few successful results; on the contrary, the children that used only one hand seemed to get along better In every way, especially In Intellectual development. The explanation for this Is found in the fact that the control of the hand Is intimately connected with the development of language; but the brain centers that have to do with language are situated on the left side?that Is, In connection with the centers that control the right arm and hand. An examination of thousands of human skeletons showed that in every case in which the right arm had a greater development than the left arm there was a corresponding development on the left side of the skull. Left-handed persons would accordingly be expected to have less language ability, on the whole, than rightbanded persons; and children that used both hands indifferently under compulsion would hinder still more the development of their ability in the use of language. In the German army, Dr. Bardleben round 3.88 per cent of left-h&ndedness. This figure is to be considered as rather lower than the true ratio, as many left-handed men deny or fail to report the fact. In northeastern parts of Germany left-handedness is less frequent than in the central parts, it is curious that among the monkeys the orang-outang and the bylobates are right-handed, while the gorilla and the chimpanzee are left-handed. Might Be Lucky.?The mistress was giving Harriet the benefit of her advice and counsel touching a momentous step the latter contemplated. "Of course, Harriet," said the lady of the house, "if you Intend to get married, that's your own business; but you mustn't forget that marriage is a very serious matter." "Yls, mum," said Harriet. "YIe, mum; I know 'tis, sometimes, mum. But mum, maybe I'll have better luck than you did, mum."