Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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f AIKEN INSTITUTE, AIKEN, S. C. FBANK H. CUBTISS, President. D ESIGNED for the hijrher educa tion of young ladies and young gentlemen. Course of study thorough and exhaustive, covering a period of eight years exclusive of collegiate course of four ye,»r8. Eacli department complete in itself—Primary, Inter mediate, Grammar, Preparatory Aca demic, Academic and Collegiate. KATfcS OF TtriTSOV. ' Per JIoxtii. Primary......'. fl 50 Inturmediate 2 50 Grammar ; ' 3 00 Prep. Academic,} , Academic, f Collegiate 5 00 German and French, each. 1 00 Instrumental Music.-. 2 50 Special Drawing Lessons 2 50 Painting, Oil, Wafer Color, Chi na, Lustra 2 50 For any desired information con cerning catalogues, rates of board, or any other matters connected with the Institute address the President. A limited number of students de siring hoard may find a pleasant home in the familv of the President. FRANK H. CURTISS, Feb. 1. 1888.-1 y President. Capital paid is, - - ^."$0,000’ Aiken County Loan and Savings zb^hstik: Does a General Banking and Collec tion Business. Savings Department. Interest Allowed on Deposits on Most Liberal Terms. W. W. WoonsEY, I W. M. Hutson, President. | Vice-President. J. W. AsmtURST, Cashier. DIRECTORS. W. W. Woolsey, H. H. Hall, H. F. Warneke, H. B. Burckhalter, W. M. Hutson, J. W. Ashhurst, C. H. Phinizy, G. W. Williams, jr. POWDER Absolutely Pure. This powder never varies A marvel of purity, strength and wbolesomeness. More economical than tiie ordinary kinds, and cannot be sold in competition with the multitude of l*w test, short weight, alum ■ phosphate powders. Soi.n oxj.y in cans. KOVAL BAKIXO POWDKK < O., lot] Wall street. New York. F«r sale by COURTNEY & CO., Aiken. 8. C. Professional Advertisements. D. S. Henderson. E. P. Henderson. Henderson Brothers, Attorneys at Law, Aiken, 8. C. Will practice in the State and United States Courts for South Caro lina. Prompt attention given to col lections. James Aldrich Walter Ashley. Aldrich & Ashley, Attorneys at Law, Aiken, 8. C. Practice in the State and United States Courts for South Carolina. C. BART & CO., Importers and Wholesale Dealers in IFIELTTXTSI ATfptM, Oranges, Bananas, Cocoanuts, Lemons, Peanuts, Pine Apples, Potatoes, Onions, Cabbage &c. "Bg, 57,59 Sfarket St., Charleston,??. C. L. L. SOMMER, fatcMer aafl Jeweler Richland Avenue, and Laurens St. I am prepared to repair watches and iewelry, with promptness and care, at tnodernte prices and guarantee satis faction. The cleaning of watches a SPECIALTY. With a continuous experience of six years I respectfully solicit a liberal share of the pat ronage of the Aiken county public. L . L . SO M M E R , Richland Avenue, and Laurens St. BUSCH HOUSE! AIKEN, S. C. HENRY BUSCH, Proprietor. 7?.l 7'B.S’ *2.00 PER DA V. Sjjecial Rates by the Week. Busch House Transfer Carries Passengers for Busch House FREE. ^“Orders for Passengers and Bag gage left at the Busch House or at H. Busch & Co.'s Store, will receive prompt attention. THl AIIGliSTOOTEL! Augusta, - - Georgia. BUST $2.00 HOUSE IN THE SOUTH. John Gary Evans, Attorn ey-at-La w. Will practice In the Counties of Aiken, Edgefield and Barnwell. Haviland Stevenson, Attorney at Law, Aiken, S. C. Special attention given to Collec tion. 0. C. JORDAN, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW. AIKEN, S. C. Edw. J. Dickerson, Attorney-at-Law, Aiken, S. C. Will in this Slate Dr. Z. A. Smith 5 ! PRACTICING PHYSICIAN. VAUCLUSE, - - - S. C. 43^“Office near Depot. Tornado, Cyclone and Windstorm POLICIES! ISSUED BY HUTSON & CO., Agents, IN PHCENIX INS. CO- of Brooklyn. ASSETS, - - - *5.000,000. On Frame Buildings: 1 year, 30 Cents on *100.00; 3 years, GOCentson *100.00; five years, 00 Cents on *100.00. Brick Buildings; 1 year 20 Cents on *100.00 ; 3 years, 40 Cents on *100.00; five years, GO cents on *100.00. For Policy, apply to HUTSON & CO. In the Lying-In Kooni. BETHLEHEM OAT FOOD Is recommended by all physicians as the mosj di gestible as well as nutri tious diet for the invalid. Headquarters for Commercial Men. Centrally located near R. R. Crossing. L. E. DOOLITTLE, Proprietor, Formerly of Tontine Hotel, Xete Haven, Conn. Also, HV’.vf End Hotel, Long Jiraneh.J. A'. SOLI) BY ALL DRUCOISTS AND OKO- CKKS. FRANCIS JORDAN k SONS, Manufacturers, 209 N. THIRD STKKF.T. PHIADKLPHIA FOR SALE BY COURTNEY & CO., Aiken, S. C- Tlie Legend of Sleepy llollow By WASHDIQTON T1? .7TN6. [FOUND AMONG THE PAPERS OF THE LATE DIED RICH KNICKERBOCKER. 1 It was toward evening that ic.ha.bod arrived at the castle of the Ileer Van Tassel, which he found thronged with tho pride and flower of the adjacent country. Old farmers, a spare, leathern faced race, in hoi.u spun coats and breeches. Hue stool.inLuge shoos and r:i::''!ii.'v"'"* >v a o-r Luckies TheirF.ri.sk. withered little dames, in close crimped caps, long waisted gowns, homespun petticoats, with scissors and pin cush ions and gay calico pockets hanging on tho outside. Buxom lasses, almost as antiquated as their mothers, excepting where a straw liat, a fine riband, or per haps a white frock, gave symptoms of city innovations. Tho sons, in short square skirted coats, with rows of stu pendous brass buttons, and their hair generally queued in the fashion of the times, especially if they could procure an eelskiu for the purpose, it being es teemed throughout the country as a po tent nourisher and strengthener of the hair. Brom Bones, however, was the hero of the scene, having come to the gather ing, having come to the gathering on his favorite steed Daredevil, a creature, like himself, full of metal and mischief, and which no one but himself could manage. Ho was, in fact, noted for preferring vic ious animals, given to all kinds of tricks which kept the rider in constant risk of his neck, for he held a tractable, well broken horse as unworthy of a lad of spirit. Fain would I pause to dwell upon the world of charms that burst upon tho en raptured gazo of my hero as ho entered tho state parlor of Van Tassel’s mansion. Not those of the bevy of buxom lasses, with their luxurious display of red and white; but the ample charms of a genu ine Dutch country tea table in the sump tuous time of autumn. Such heaped up { flatters of cakes of various and almost ndescribal >le kinds, known only to ex perienced Dutch housewives! There was the doughty doughnut, tho tender oly- koek and tho crisp and crumbling crul ler; sweet cakes and short cakes, ginger cakes and honey cakes and the whole family of cakes.* And then there were apple pies and peach pies and pumpkin E ies; besides slices of ham and smoked eef, and moreover delectable dishes of preserved plums and peaches and pears and quinces, not to mention broilAl shad and roasted chickens; together with bowls of milk and cream, all mingled higgledy-piggledy, pretty much as I have enumerated them, with tho moth erly teapot sending up its clouds of vapor from tho midst—heaven bless tho mark! I want breath and time to discuss this banquet as it deserves, and am too eager to get on with my story. Happily, Ichabod Crane was not in so great a hurry as his historian, but did ample justice to every dainty. He was a kind and thankful creature, whose heart dilated in proportion as his skin was filled with good cheer, and whose spirits rose with eating, as some men’s do with drink. He could not help, too, roll ing his largo eyes round him as ho ate, and chuckling with tho possibility that he might one day bo lord of all this scene of almost unimaginable luxury and splendor. Then, he thought, how soon . .. . .. [' IbUV.ni -ftcLwt oFHiT 0 f {±u*** upon house; snap his fingers in the acei Ians T J P ATI LION HOTEL. —EYEHYTHIN0— Charleston. S. C ... , . . » ooi--^/•>t,-|» i."t w'\Tin* \ 11 Accessary and (.oMYcnieiit loi the l AN.UNGER LLE\ AlOK AN1 Kitchen, Dining-Room. Dairy and ELECTRIC REELS. Laundry, at House fresh and clean throughout. Table best in the South. Pavilion Transfer Coaehes a.id Wagons at all trains and Boats. Rates! redueed. Beware of giving your Cheek to any one on Train. Rates V. .*2 00 (« *2 50. Wright s Hotel! S.L. WRIGHT & SON, Prop’rs., •COLUMBIA, - - S. C.f T ABLE supplied with the BEST. Rooms large and well furnished. One of the most comfortable hotels in 1 the South. ZWRates • easonablc.SEt Jessup Bros.’ STOVE EMPORIUM! 832 Broad Street, AUGUSTA, GA. Fl\i; SHOES AM) HATS. Van Ripper, and every other niggardly patron, and kick any itinerant pedagogue out of doors that should dare to call him comrade! Old Baltus Van Tassel moved about among his guests with a face dilated with content and good hu*nor, round and jolly as the harvest moon. Hi* hospitable attentions were brief, but expressive, being confined to a shake of the liand, a slap on tho shoulder, a loud laugh, and a pressing invitation to “fall to, and help themselves.” And now the sound of tho music from the common room or hall summoned to the dance. The musician was an old gray headed negro, who had been the Itinerant orchestra of the neighborhood for more than half a century. His in strument was as old and battered as himself. Tho greater part of tho time he scraped away on two or three strings, accompanying every movement of the bow with a motion of the head, bowing almost to the ground and stamping with his foot whenever a fresh couple were to start. Icliabod prided liimself upon his danc ing as much as upon his vocal powers. Not a limb, not a fiber about him was TRUNKS AND UMBRELLAS. or wliiifa US was reaGy at any time to show the sword, with the hilt a little bent. There were several more that Ixad been equally great in the field, not one of whom but was persuaded that he had a considerable hand in bringing the war to a liappy termination. But all these were nothing to the tales of ghosts and apparitions that succeeded. The neighborhood is rich in legendary treasures of the kind. Local tales and superstitions thrive best in fliese shel tered, long settled retreats, but are trampled under foot by the shifting tlirong that forms the population of most of our country places. Besides, there is no encouragement for ghosts in most of our villages, for they h ive scarcely had time to finish their tir&t nap and turn themselves in their graves, before their surviving friends have traveled away from the neighborhood, so that when they turn out at night to walk their rounds, they have no acquaintance left to call upon. This is perhaps the reason why wo so seldom hear ot ghosts except in our long established Dutch communi ties. The immediate cause, however, of the prevalence of supernatural stories in these parts, was doubtless owing to the vicinity of Sleepy Hollow. There was a contagion in the very air that blew from that haunted region; it breathed forth an atmosphere of dreams and tancies in fecting all the land. Several of the Sleepv Hollow people were present at Van Tassel’s, and, as usual, were doling out their wild and wonderful legends. Many dismal tales were told about fu neral trains, and mourning cries and wailings heard and seen .about the great tree where tho unfortunate Maj. Andre was taken, and which stood in the neigh borhood. Some mention was made also of the woman in white, that haunted the dark glen at Raven Rock, and was often heard to shriek on winter nights before a storm, having perished there in tho snow. Tho chief part of tho stories, however, turned upon the favorite spec- even fancied Another con- er. ia:G. m l*.ie center or me roaa _ , T ^ ^ jod an enormous tulip tree, which ln g close behind him; lie wered like a giant above all the other that he felt his hot breath, ees of the neighborhood and formed a vulsive kick in tho ribi-j, and old Gun- nd of landmark. Its limbs were powder sprang upon tho bridge; helium- led and fantastic, large enough to dered over tho resounding plunks, he trunks for ordinary trees, twisting gained the opposite side, and now Icha- almost to the earth, and rising . cast a look bchmd to see if the pur- into the air. It was connected 1 suer should vanish, according to rule. ter of Sleepy Hollow, the headless horse man, who had been heard several times of late, patroling the country; and, it is said, tethered his horse nightly among the graves in the churchyard. The sequestered situation of this church seems always to have made it a favorite haunt of troubled spirits. It stands on a knoll, surrounded by locust trees and lofty elms, from among which its de cent, whitewashed walls shine modestly forth, like Christian purity, beaming through the shades of retirement. A gentle slope descends from it to a silver sheet of water, bordered by high trees, between which peeps may be caught at the blue hills of the Hud son. To look upon this grass grown yard, where the sunbeams seem to sleep so quietly, one would think that there at least the dead might rest in peace. On one side of the church extends a wide woody dell, along which raves a large brook among broken rocks and trunks of fallen trees. Over a deep black part of the stream, not far from the church, was formerly thrown a wooden bridge; the road that led to it, and the bridge itself were thickly shaded by overhanging trees, which cast a gloom about it, even in the day time; but occasioned a fearful darkness at night. Such was one of the favorite haunts of tho headless horse man, and the place 'where he was most frequently encountered. The tale was told of old Brouwer, a most heretical dis believer in ghosts, how he met the horse man returning from his foray into Sleepy Hollow, and was obliged to get ^Heheliin 1 llh-ri^hoyr-^K^t ml, ntrni. bush and brake, over hill and swamp, Comer York Street and Colleton Avenue. Comfortable and well furnished Rooriis and table supplied with the best. Terms reasonable. Mks. N. E. 8ENN. V LL Goods Warranted; on not giving satisfaction they are re placed with new goods. We offer FREE to our patrons, a Lovely Horse ami Buggy! Call and see us. C. J. Rooney i Co. 846 Broad St. - - AUGUSTA, GA. Ichabod prided himself upon his dancing. idle; and to have seen his loosely hung frame in full motion and clattering about the room, you would have thought St. Vitus himself, that blessed patron of the dance, was figuring before you in person. He was the admiration of all tho negroes, who, having gathered, of all amjs and sizes, from tho farm and the neighborhood, stood forming a pyramid of shining black faces at everv door and window, gazing with delight at the scene, rolling their wliite eyeballs and showing grinning rows of ivory from ear to ear. How could the fiogger of urchins lie otherwise than animated and joyous.' tho ladv of his heart was lus partner in the dance and smiling gra ciously in reply to all his amorous ogliugs; while Brom Jones, sorely smit ten with love and jealousy, sat brooding by himself in one corner. When the dance was at an end, Ichal*od was attracted to a knot of the sager folks, who, with old Van Tassel, sat smoking at one end of the piazza, gossiping over for mer times, and drawling out long stories about the war. Tins neighborhood at the time of which I am speaking, was one of those highly favored places abound v.itU chronicle and great men. Tho British and Ameri can Une had run near it during the war; it had, therefore, been the scene of marauding, and infested with refugees, cowboys andallkindsof border chivalry. Just sufficient time had elapsed to enable each story teller to dress up lus tale with a little becoming fiction, and, in the in distinctness of his recollection, to make himself the hero of every exploit. There was the story of Dotfue Martling. a large blue bearded Dutchman, who had nearly taken a British frigate with an old iron nine pounder from a mud breast work, only that Ins gun burst at the sixth dis charge. And there was an old{gentlemau who shall be nameless, being too rich a mynheer to be lightly mentioned, who, in the battle of Wliite Plains, being an excel lent master of defense, parried a musket ball with a small sword, insomuch that he absolutely felt it whiz round tho blade, and glance off at the hilt: in proo* until they reached the bridge, when tho horseman suddenly turned into a skel eton, threw old Brouwer into the brook, and sprang away over the tree tops with a clap of thunder. e This story was iMBidiately matched by a thrice marvelous adventure of Brom Bones, who made light of the gal loping Hessian as an arrant jockey. He affirmed that on returning one night from tho neighboring village of Sing Sing he had been overtaken by this mid night trooper; that he offered to race with him for a bowl of punch, and should have won it too, for Daredevil beat the goblin horse all hollow, but just as they came to the church bridge the Hessian bolted and vanished in a flash of fire. All these tales, told in that drowsy undertone with which men talk in the dark, tho countenances of the listeners only now and then receiving a casual gleam from tho glare of a pipe, sunk dee p in the mind of Ichabod. He re- naiu them in kind with largo extracts From his invaluable author, Cotton Mather, and added many marvelous events that had taken place in his native state of Connecticut, and fearful sights which he had scon in his nightly walks about Sleepy Hollow, The revel now gradually broke up. Tho old farmers gathered together their families iu their wagons, and were heard for some time rattling along the hollow roads, and over tho distant lulls. Some of tho damsels mounted on pillions be hind their favorite swains, and their light hearted laughter, mingling with tho clat ter of hoofs, echoed along the silent wood lands, sounding fainter and fainter, until they gradually died away—and the late scene of noise and frolic was all silent and deserted. Icliabod only lingered be- liind, according to the custom or country lovers, to have a tete-a-tetc with the heir ess; fully convinced that he was now on the high road to success. What passed at tliis interview I will not pretend to say, for in fact I do not know. Something, however, I fear me, must have gone wrong, for ho certainly sallied forth, after no very great interval, with an air quite desolate and chapfallen—Oh, these women! these women! Could that girl have been playing off any of her coquet tish tricks?—-"Was her encouragement of the poor pedagogue all a mere sham to secure a conquest of his rival?—Heaven only knows, not I!—let it suffice to say, Ichabod stole forth with tho air of one who had been sacking a henroost, rather than a fair lady’s heart. Without look ing to the right or left t > notice the scone of rural wealth, on which he had so often gloated, he went straight to the stable, and with several hearty cuffs and kicks, roused his steed most uncourt- couslv from the comfortable quarters in which he was soundly sleeping, dream ing of mountains of corn and oats, and whole valleys of timothy and clover. It was the very witching time of night that Ichabod, heavy hearted and crest fallen, pursued his travel homewards, along the sides of the lofty hills which rise above Tarry Town, and which he had traversed so cheerily in the afternoon. The hour was as d is real as himself. Far below him tho Tappaan Zee spread its dusky and indistinct waste of waters, with here and there the tall mast of a ith the tragical story of the unfortunate j'hdre, who had been taken prisoner ard by, and was universally known by to name of Maj. Andre’s tree. The ismmon people regarded it with a mix- ive of respect and superstition, partly «it of sympathy for the fate of its ill r.rred namesake and partly from the ties of strange sights and doleful lamen- ttions told concerning it. As Ichabod approached this fearful lee he began to whistle; he thought his Tistle was answered; it was but a blast fveeping sharply through the dry »anches. As no approached a little oarer he thought he saw something white tinging in tho midst of tTie tree; he paused Rd ceased whistling, but on looking lore narrowly, perceived that it was a ace where the tree had been scathed by htning and the white wood laid bare. Idenly he heard a groan—his teeth pattered, and his knees smote against io saddle; it was but the rubbing of one Lge bough upon another, as they were J'ayed about by the breeze. He passed fie tree in safety, but new perils lay be- iire him. About two hundred yards from the lee, a small brook crossed the road and tii into a marshy and thickly wooded jjen, known by the name of Wiley’s Swamp. A few roimh logs laid side by sde served for a bridge over this stream, ♦n that side of tho road where the brook titered the wood, a group of oaks and hestnuts, matted thick with wild grape ines, threw' a cavernous gloom over it. !t> pass this bridge was the severest trial, t was at this identical spot that tho un- ortunate Andre was captured, and under he covert of those chestnuts and vines vere the sturdy yeomen concealed who ttrprised him. This has ever since been ♦ousidered a haunted stream, and fearful ire tho feelings of a schoolboy who has a pass it alone after dark. As he approached tho stream his heart fegan to thump; he summoned up, how ever, all his resolution, gave his horse la If a score of kicks in the ribs and at- t mpted to dash briskly across the bridge; tut instead of starting forw ard, tho per- torso old animal made a lateral move- i.ont and ran broadside against the i nee. Ichabod, whose fears increased vith tho delay, jerked tho reins on the dher side and kicked lustily with the contrary foot; it was all in vain; his rteed started, it is true, but it was only t> plunge to the opposite side of the road into a thicket of brambles and alder bushes. Tho schoolmaster now bestowed both whip and heel upon tho starveling ribs of old Gunpowder, who dashed for- vard, snullling and snorting, but came to a stand just by the bridge, with a sud denness that had nearly sent his rider iprawling over his head. Just at this moment a plashy tramp by tho side of the bridge caught the sensitive ear of Ichabod. In the dark shadow of the grove, on the margin of tho brook, ho be held something huge, missliapen, black tad towering. It stirred not, but seemed gathered up in the gloom, liko some gigantic monster ready to spring upon t .e traveler. The hair of the affrighted pedagogue rose upon his head with terror. What was to be done? To turn and fly was D c«y too late, and besides what chance waT tlrPto—or escaping goblin, if such it was, w'hich could ride upon the win^s of the wind? Summoning up, therefore, a show of courage, he demanded in stam mering accents, “Who are you?” He re ceived no reply. He repeated his de mand in a still more agitated voice. Still there was no answer. Onco more he cudgeled tho sides of the inflexible Gun powder, and, shutting his eyes, broke forth with Involuntary forvor into a psalm tune. Just then tho shadowy ob ject of alarm put itself in motion, and with a scramble and a bound, stood at onco in the middle of the road. Though tho night was dark and dismal, yet the form of tho unknown might now in some degree bo ascertained. Ho appeared to be a horseman of large dimensions, and mounted on a black horse of powerful frame. He made no offer of molestation or sociability, but kept aloof ou one side of tho road, jogging along on the blind side of old Gunpowder, who had now got over his fright and waywardness. Ichabod, who had no relish for this strange midnight companion, and be thought himself of tho adventure of Brom Bones with the galloping Hessian, now quickened his steed, in hopes of leaving him behind. Tho stranger, how ever, quickened Ids horse to an equal pace. Ichabod pulled up, and fell into a walk, thinking to lag beliind—the oflrer did the same. His heart began to sink within him; ho endeavored to resume his in a flash of fire and brimstone. Just then he saw the goblin rising in his stir rups, and in the very act of hurling his head at him. Ichalxxl endeavored to dodge the horrible missile, but too late. In encountered his cranium with a tre mendous crash—ho was tumbled head long into the dust, and Gunpowder, the black bleed and the goblin rider passed bv like a whirlwind. sloop, riding quietly at anchor uuder the it firm, but in vain, and had just time Lind. In the dead hush of midnight, he to save himself by clasping old Gunjiow- could even hear thu barking of the watch dog from the opposite shore of the Hud- j sou; but it was so vague and faint as only to give an idea of his distance from ! tliis faithful companion of man. Now and then, too, the long drawn crowing of a cock, accidentally awakened, would sound far, far off, from some farm house away among the hills—hut it was like a dreaming sound in his ear. No signs of life occurred near him, hut occasionally | the melancholy chirp of a cricket, or perhaps the guttural twang of a bullfrog from a neighboring marsh, as if sleeping uncomfortably, and turning suddenly in his bed. All the stories of ghosts and goblins | that he had heard in the afternoon now came crowding upon his recollection. The night psalm tune, hut his parched tongue clove to the roof his mouth, and he could not utter a stave. There was something in tho moody and dogged silence of this pertinacious companion that was mys terious and appalling. It was soon fear fully accounted for. On mounting a rising ground, which brought the figure of his fellow traveler in relief against tho sky, gigantic in height and inuliied in a cloak, Ichabod was horror struck, ou perceiving that he was headless! but his horror was still more increased on ob serving that the head, which should have rested on his shoulders, was carried be fore liim on the pommel of IjG saddle! His terror rose to desperation; he rained a shower of kicks and blows upon Gun powder, hoping, by a sudden movement, to give his companion tho slip—but the specter started full jump with him. Away, then, they dashed tnroujrh thick and thin, stones flying and sparks flash ing at every bound. Ichabod’s flimsy garments fluttered in the air, as he stretched his long, lanj& body away over his horse’s head, in the eagerness of his flight. They had now reached the road which turns off to Sleepy Hollow; but Gunpow der. who seemetf possessed with a demon, instead of keeping it up, made an opposite turn, and plunged headlong down hill to the left. This road leads through a sandy hollow, shaded by trees for about a quarter of a mile, where it crosses the bridge famous in goblin storv; and just beyond swells the green knoll on which stands the whitewashed church. As yet the panic of the steed had given his unskillful rider an apparent advant age in the chase; but just as he had got half way through the hollow the girths of the saddle gave way, and he felt it slipping from under him. He seized it by the pommel, and endeavored to hold * Ichabod endeavored to dodge the horrible missile. The next morning the old horse was found without his saddle, and with the bridle under lus feet, soberly cropping the grass at his master's gate. Ichabod did not make his appearance at breakfast —dinner hour came, but no Ichabod. The hoys assembled at tho school house, and strolled idly about the hanks of the brook; but no schoolmaster. Hans Van Ripper now began to feel some uneasi ness about the into of poorIchabod, and his saddle. An inquiry was set on foot, and after diligent investigation they came upon his traces. In one part of the road leading to the church was found the saddle trampled in the dirt; the tracks of horses’ hoofs deeply dented in the road, and evidently at furious speed, were traced to the bridge, beyond which, on tho hank of a broad part of the brook, where the water ran deep and black, was found the hat of tho unfortunate Icha bod, and close beside it a shattered pumpkin. The brook was searched, but the body of tho schoolmaster was not to be dis covered. Hans Van Ripper, as executor of his estate, examined the bundle winch contained all his worldly effects. They consisted of two shirts and a half, two stocks for the neck, a pair or two of worsted stockings, an old pair of cordu roy small clothes, a rusty razor, a bcok of* psalm times full of dog's ears and a broken pitch pipe. As to the books and furniture of the school house, they belonged to the community, except ing Cotton Mather’s “History of Witch craft,” a New England Almanac, and a book of dreams and fortune telling, in which last was a sheet of foolscap much scribbled and blotted by several fruitless attempts to mako a copy of verses in honor of the heiress of Van Tassel. These magic books and the poetic scrawl t .lll» l*»W i by Hans Van Ripper, who, from that time forward, determined to send his children no more to school, observing that ho never knew any good come or tliis same reading and writing. What ever monev the schoolmaster possessed, and he had received his quarter’s pay but a day or two before, he must have had about his perso e time of his dis appearance. The mysterious event caused much speculation at tho church on the follow ing Sunday. Knots of gazers and gossips were collected in the churchyard, at the bridge, and at the spot where the hat and pumpkin had been found. The stories of Brouwer, of Bones, and a whole budget of others, were called to mind, and when they had diligently considered them all, and compared them with the symptoms of tho present case, they shook their heads and came to the con clusion that Ichabod had been carried off by the galloping Hessian. As he was a bachelor, and in nobody’s debt, nobody troubled his head any more about him; the school was removed to a different quarter of the Hollow, and another ped agogue reigned in his stead. It is true, an old farmer who had been down to New Y'ork on a visit several years after, and from whom tliis account of the ghostly adventure was received, brought home the intelligence that Icha bod Crane was still alive; that ho had left tho neighborhood partly through fear of tho goblin and Hans Van Ripper, and partly in mortification at having been suddenly dismissed by tho heiress; that he had changed Iris quarters to a distant part of tho country; had kept school and studied law at the same time; had been admitted to the bar; turned politician, electioneered; written for tne news papers; and, finally, had been made a justice of the ton pound court. Brom Bonos, too, who shortly after his rival’s disappearance, conducted the blooming Katrina in triumph to the altar, was ob served to look exceedingly knowing whenever the story of Ichabod was re lated, and always burst into a hearty laugh at the mention of the pumpkin; which led some to suspect that he knew more about the matter than he chose to tell. The old country wives, however, who are the best judges of these matters, maintain to this day that Icliabod was spirited away by supernatural means: ami it is a favorite story often told about the neighborhood round the winter even- lire. The head, and conlracTTBn ofThebrow, what was the moral of the story, and what it went to prove. Tho story teller, who was just putting ft gloss of wine to his lips, as a refresh ment after Iris toils, paused for a mo ment, looked at his inquirer with an air of infinito deference, and lowering tho glass slowly to tho table, observed that the story was intended most logically to prove: “That there is no situation in life hut has its advantages and pleasures—pro vided we will hut take a joke as wo fin I it: “That, therefore, ho that runs races with goblin troopers is likely to have rough riding of it: “Ergo, for a country schoolmaster to be refused tho hand of a Dutch heiress is a certain step to high preferment in the state.” The cautious old gentleman knit his brows tenfold closer after this explana tion, being sorely puzzled by the ratioci nation of the syllogism; while, me- thought, the one in pepper and salt eyed him with something of a triumphant leer. At length he observed that all this was very well, but still he thought the story a little on tho extravagant—there were one or two points on which ho had Iris doubts: “Faith, sir,” replied the storyteller, "as to that matter, I don’t believe one-half of it myself.” A Fall of 2,000 Feet. A most exciting incident took place in con nection with tho balloon ascension at Staf ford Springs, Conn., not long ago. “Pro fessor” Hogan, tho parachute “artist,” who hod Goon engaged to mako a balloon ascen sion, had waited all day for the wind to die down. About 5:30 o’clock, before 3,000 spectators, he inflated his monster machine and ascended gradually to a height of 4,000 feet, or nearly a mile. At that enormous height the balloon with its occupant ap peared to bo about tho size of a frog. According to his programme, tho aeronaut at this point fixed his balloon so that it would fall to the earth alone, and prepared to make his daring descent by means of the parachute, which was attached to the side of the balloon by a small cord. The parachute, when inflated, is a sort of cone in shape, the baso of which looks like an umbrella, tho sides being numerous cords aiid the apex be ing a small iron ring, to which the professor hangs by his hand. Mr. Hogan jumped from the basket at that terrible altitude with the iron ring iu his hand. The cord attaching tho chute to the balloon at once broke, leav ing tho daredevil with his flimsy apparatus nearly a mile from tho earth. A terrible thing now happened. The cords had become entangled and stiffened by the rain, and prevented the great chute from ex panding its broad surface in the air, through which tho aeronaut was falling with fright- fu! speed. Tho people below, looking up with wide open mouths, could see nothing but a dark line, becoming longer at each instant and coming toward tho earth with the speed of lightning. “My God!” cried a looker on; Hogan’s gone!” A. woman clutched fran- tically at a strange man at her side as the body in tho air was seen to careen to one side, as if unstable. At this point, when fully one-half of the descent had been made in but a few seconds, and when not one of the 3,000 spectators expected aught else but a catas trophe, the great surface of the chute was seen to expand, and thence there was only a graceful, easy fall that turned every groan to a smile. When tho performer reached the ground he said that at the beginning of the descent he nothing but clutch the ring.. He was unable to breathe, his head began to swim, faintness overtook him, and his sensation was that his fingers were relaxing their hold. At this point, however, the entangled cords that held inclosed tho folds of the chuto were snapped by tho enormous pressure of tho air, and ho was saved from certaiu death.—Springfield Republican. Small Boy—Ma! ma! We’ve got to get away from here. It’s dangerous. They’re cannibals! I was just helping Billy tie tho cat to tho dog’s tail at the gutter when Mr. Hawkins came to the kitchen door and he called out: “Wife, get everything ready as* quick ns yon can; we’ll have that fat Mr. Johnson for dinner, and his wife and baby for supper.”—Judge. in; bridge became more than ever an object of superstitious awe, and that may l>o tho reason why the road has been altered of late years, fo as to ap proach the church by the border of the mill pond. The school house being de serted soou fell to decay, and was re ported to be haunted by the ghost of Hie unfortunate pedagogue, and tho plow- boy, loitering homeward of a still sum mer evening evening, lias often fancied his voice at a distance, chanting a mel ancholy psalm tune among tho tranquil solitudes of Sleepy Hollow. FOUND OF MR. rew darker and darker; the stars seemed to sink deeper in the sky, and driving clouds occasionally hid them from Iris sight. He liad never felt so lonely and dismal. He was, moreover, approaching the very place where many or the scenes of the ghost stories had der round the nock when the saddle fell to the earth, and he heard it trampled under foot by his pursuer. For a mo ment the terror of Hans Van Ripper’s wrath passed across his mind—for it was his Sunday saddle; but this was no time for petty fears; the goblin was hard on Iris haunches, and (unskillful rider that he was) he had much ado to maintain his seat, sometimes slipping on one side, sometimes on another, and sometimes jolted on the high ridge of his horse’s ' back bone with a violence that he verih * feared would cleave him asunder. An opening in the trees now cheered j him with thenopes that the church bridge at hand. The wavering reflection of a silver star in the bosom of the brook told him that he was not mistaken. He saw tho walls of the church dimly glar ing under the trees beyond. He i-ecol- locted the place where Brom Bones' ghostly competitor had disappeared. “If 1 can but reach tliat bridge, thought . arm on me eioow oi ms cnair, ana sixck- Rhabod, “I am safe.” Just then be j jug other a-kimbo, demanded, with a heard the black steed panting and blow- > plight but exceedingly sage motion of the POSTSCRIPT. THE HANDWRITING KNICKERBOCKER. The preceding tale is given, almost in the precise words in which I heard it re lated at a corporation meeting of the ancient city or tho Manhattoes (New York), at which were present many of its sagest and most illustrious burghers. Tho narrator was a pleasant, shabby, gentlemanly old fellow in pepper and salt clothes, with a sadly humorous face; and one whom I strongly suspected of being poor—he made such efforts to be enter taining. When his story was concluded there was much laughter and approba lion, particularly from two or three de uty aldermen, who had been asleep greater part of the time. There was, how ever, one tall, dry looking old gentleman, with beetling eyebrows, who maintained a grave and rather severe face through out; now and then folding his arms, in clining Iris head, and looking down upon the floor, as if turning a doubt over in his mind. He was one of your wary men, who never laugli but upon good grounds—when they have reason and the law on their side. When tho mirth of the rest of tho company had subsided, and silence was restored, he leaned one arm on the elbow of his chair, and stick- An Interesting Origin. The pug dog as a pet had an interest ing origin. He was first imported from China and Japan, and came into fashion in the reign of William III. It is statec that the king believed his life to have been saved by a dog of this breed awak ening him to his danger when a murder ous attack was about to be made on the prince.—Chicago Herald. Birth’s good; but breeding’s better.— Scotch Proverb. The Women of Cornica. Though as a rule not beautiful, the young and middle aged are decidedly handsome, with tine features and a mag nificent physique. Of course much of this is due to their surroundings and the B rimitivo fife still so universally led. ut tliese women, with their prominent features and fine eyes, are liberally en dowed with sterling qualities. Brave and faithful, we find them on occasion devoloping into heroines of tho truest type. Warriors at heart, when circum stances require it, thev will not he con tented to remain on the defensive; and, being intelligent and reflective, they have often proved themselves formidable* enemies, elieng and loyal friends. Wit):, 1. they are womanly; cherish a deep love for their homes and a tend* r care for tb ir children; are devoted to husband, offspring and hearth—yet are* LET THE LAND REST A YEAR. Capt. Peterkin’s Solution of the Com mercial Fertilizer Question. Correspondence Weekly News. One of the chief causes of the im poverished condition of the farmers is the use of too much commercial fertilizer, and the injudicious applies- ion of the same. For twenty years we have bought any and everything that has been offered for sale. All that has been necessary was to put something iu a sack or barrel and brand some unusual or peculiar name on it. I do not accuse the manufac turers of fraud, but do accuse my brother fanners of being the biggest set of fools tiiere is iu all the laud, and the writer the king of fools, or the biggest fool of all. For several years I bought ammo- niated fertilizers at high prices, and applied in connection with cotton seed meal or cotton seed iu the natu ral state. After spending thousands of dollars in this foolish way, I drop ped the ammoniated goods to a great degree and bought acid phosphate and acidulated rock, and mixed it half acid or acidulated rock and half cotton seed meal. Three or four years ago I concluded I had enough sulphu ric acid and phosphate in my land, and began to put in less phosphate and commercial fertilizers, and brought it down to one hundred louuds with whatever amount of meal I used per acre. I am now sat isfied that where lands havs been continuously planted in cotton, that it is unnecessary to apply commer cial fertilizers of any kind; the lauds need rest from them for at least one year. If you buy at all, only buy io mix with meal, where you plant on lauds that were grown in something besides cotton, and put not over one hundred pounds to the acre. There are various reasons for this. By using little or no commercial fertilizer the plant w’ill start oft' in the spring a little slow, will have less fruit in July and stand the July and August drought. Take the lower and middle cotton belts ot the cotton States, and we want to make a late or August crop. We need but little if any com mercial fertilizer. The upper or clay belts need a little to get a July and August crop—will say one pound of commercial to three of meal, or its equivalent ot seed. The clay lands do not require any kaiuit or potash. This is not theory. I know what I am talking about. I know it from actual practice. If the farmers of the cotton country who buy commercial fertilizers will adopt this plan, say use at least one-third of the amount they have been iu the habit of using, it will add many millions to their purses, and enable them to pay for fertilizers they have foolishly thrown away. Don’t blame the men who manufacture or sell the fertilizers. We have encouraged them, and the demand is now so great that we can’t be supplied, except at a price beyond our reach. The high price will con tinue. It is impossible to check it in any way, except by giving the land rest for say one year. If you make the experiment one year you will continue it, and prices will for many years be in due bounds. Our manufacturers do not claim that the home demand has in . cre ^ much, Hit toreign demana. JUtfC 1W the foreigners have it all this year. We will save many millions. We will have as much or more cotton, and pay up back indebtedness. Let the agricultural clubs, the Al liances and Granges consider the matter. If there are no societies in your neighborhood, call the neighbors together and calmly consider the mat ter. If you cannot do this, let every farmer decide tor himself, and say I will for one year let my land rest from fertilizers. It will not look so bright for us in May and June, but October and November will show you where the millions have been foolishly spent for the last twenty years. I have been told of late that farm ers could not buy it; that his only chance was to get it through his or some one else’s merchant. This may be true to some extent. Of course money enough will buy it; but we don’t need it. That is the subject for us to consider, and let them that have it keep it. Spin out your cotton seed from fifteen to twenty bushels to the acre. Mix the stable manure fine and spread it wtih the hand. Make it go over a large area, instead of carelessly throwing it down in piles from a pitchfork. Too many fertili zers are dangerous. They have never done the great amount of good we have imagined. Good and proper cultivation pays better than large quantities of fertilizers. There is such a tiling as too much ammonia, and we oftener put too much than not enough. The phosphate and kainit, or potash salt, are there to stay. Our lands need rest from commercial fer tilizers as much as they do rotation. I am almost tempted to say if you take my advice in this matter and it proves wrong, appoint a day next fall and hang me. J. A. Petebkin. ready t<> sacrifice everything at the com mand of the man they have avowed to ob**y. 1'or woman’s mission in Corsica is definite enough; she is destined to Lea docile wife, to work for her husband, bring up Ids children and keep Lis ca..?le ami ;.:1 its appurtenances in good work ing or !* r. Emphatically she is the com plement of man, and in no way his ceu;:l. fche is nothing more than Adam’s riii—Ly far the inferior portion of hu- mority. designed, solely and e:.; :-csrly, as the hedpmute of the mightier half.— ”G. C. R.’" in Home Journal. :ep- I the I Tin.* llrcnnatrnetlon of Husm But although much has un been dotn , much more still remains to j do. “The way in which you westerns i keep calling out tliat Russia min t re- j form," said a Russian friend to me not j long ago, “reminds me of a saying of one | of your own statesmen, that *p< uj !c are fond of shouting for retorm as if :t were j an article that could be handed to them out of the window.’ They seem to for get that a st stem which has taken gener ations to construct and centuries to de velop can hardly bo demolished and re built with one turn of the hand. Russia is not to be reconstructed in a day, any more than Rome was built in one.” This is true enough; but the marvel ous rapidity with which so many of Rus sia’s ancient institutions have been over thrown and replaced by those of modern times certainly offers some excuse for these exalted expectations. Within tho last twenty-eight years Russia has abol ished slavery, reorganized her army, re- A negro, George Meadows, charged with assaulting Mrs. Kellam and her !> year old son, was hanged at the Pratt Mines, Alabama, on the morn ing of the 15th by a mob of quiet but determined men, who had him in charge. While Mrs. Kellam was al most positive in her identification tliis morning, just as slie was yester day, she still asked the mob not to bang him as she might possibly be mistaken. There is little doubt that this was because she shrank from the responsibility of saying what she knew would cause certain death, and the mob so regarded it. It was proved at tiie coroner’s inquest yesterday that Meadows had previously assault ed a negro girl, and the crowd at once felt that tliis solved what doubt there was as to his being the criminal in this case, so they, swung him up and riddled him with bullets. His ‘edlr ! body hangs at the mines now, about one-half of a mile from the scene of bis crime. He protested his Inno cence to tiie last. At Jacksonville the work of burn ing bedding, etc., is nearly completed, much to the relief of the people there, and doqbtless also to ^>r Por ter, who has s6 energetically perform ed the task, and his active corps of assistants. N« figures can be given yet regarding tills work, but it has been enormous, and has cost the gov ernment a large sum. Jacksonville to-day is one of the cleanest cities in tiie south, sanitarily, and the tourists express themselves as being greatly pleased at the city’s improved ap pearance. It is said that Beecher’s church has been gradually going down since the Ished slavery, reorganize!! ner army, re- | ( * eatl1 ot . 'dtrilt*’ The vised her tariff, introduced trial by jury 18 r,ow •' U1 ,' *! ruaelied intr» br»r Inw nrmrts. remodeled hernoRtal pew rent that a few 3 ears ag nearly *70,000, now only brings *20,- into her law courts, remodeled her postal system, decreed and carried out a thor ough redistribution of land, and taken at least one or two important steps to ward the education of her peasantry and the support of her paupers.—David Ker in New York Times. 000 annually. This but illustrates that brains when applied always pays. Dr. A. Berger, of Tampa, Florida, has laid before the country the startl ing statement that leprosy exist in a number of cases among the negroes A library composed of books writ-j of Tampa, and oftfers to cite one ten wholly by women is to be estab-; thousand cases in the United States lished in Paris. ‘and Cuba. ^1 4 -4 1 -7*