University of South Carolina Libraries
-9aa AVt independent Family Journal?Devoted to Politics, Literature and General Intelligence; HOTT & CO., Proprietors. ANDERSON, S. 0., THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1869. VOLUME 5.-N0. 18. From the Rural Carolinian. David Dicsson and Improved Farming. David Diclcson, undoubtedly the best and most successful planter in Georgia, if not in the whole South, is of English de? scent, and was born in Hancock County, Ga., July 6th,.lS09. His father, Mr. Thos. Dickson, was a native of Virginia, served in the .Revolutionary army, and soon af? ter the close of the War of Independence removed to Georgia, where he died in 1827, at the age of a little over seventy years. His-wife, the mother of the sub? ject of this sketch, was born in North Carolina in 1777. and survived her hus? band many years, dying in 1864, at the age of about eighty-seven years. Mr. Dickson, therefore, comes of a long-lived stock, and inherited from his parents what has been of more value to him, and contributed more to his success than the largest fortune could have done?an ex? cellent constitution and a strong, well balanced brain?aaound mind in a healthy body. Beyond this he received little, his share of the paternal property amounting to only $1,200. His educational advan? tages were quite limited, but his clear, comprehensive, intellect, bis close obser? vation, and the best use of his opportuni? ties for reading and study, have enabled faim to acquire a stock of praotical knowl? edge, such us few with better early ad? vantages boast. Mr. Dickson commenced his business life as a small country trader. In 1835 ho entered into partnership with Colonel Thos. M. Turner, and opened a store in Sparta, Ga., where they were successful; doing a heavy country business, which they continued to push with great energy for five years. In 1846, having finally closed his mer? cantile business and made all the neces? sary preparations, Mr. Dickson returned to the place where he was born?his father's old homestead?and commenced farming with a capital of $25.000, ac? quired in trade. When the war broke out his property was valued at $500,000, all made by planting. His plantations in Hancock and Washington Counties (adjoining) comprises about 15,000 acres, and he owns another of 13,000 . acres in Texas. These figures speak for them selve, and indicate a degree of energy, skill, and forethought which few possess, and without which such grand results could not h:ivo been reached in any branch of business. In person, Mr. Dickson is above the medium height, well formed, stout and robust. His complexion is fair, fresh and ruddy, und the expression of bis counte? nance grave, serious, thoughtful and be? nevolent, with a vein of quiet humor, however, underlying the whole, remind? ing one of the best type of the Quaker, though he is not a member of that re? spectable and peaceful sect. He is plain in his dress, unpretending in his manners, speaks his mind freely and without fear or favor, and has very decided opinions on most questions of general interest. He looks younger than the figures we have given show him to be. and has all the activity and energy of a man forty years of age. Long may he live to teach the South, both by precept and example; bis system of Improved Farming. MR. DICKSOX'8 PLANTATION. During the first week in August last, with the interests of tho Rural Carolinian and its fifty thousand prospective readers in view, wo made a brief visit to Mr. Dickson's plantation, situated on the Lit? tle Ogeecheo River, in Hancock Couuty. From the beautiful little town of Spar? ta, a drives^ nine or ten miles, through a pleasant rolling country, tho wooded portions of whic h presented a rich growth of pine, oak and hickory, brought us to Mr. ? Dickson's homestead. Tho soil of the country through which we passed, like the forest growth, is of a mixod char? acter, red clay and gray sand alternating. We passed several neat, well cultivated plantations, which seemed to indicate that Mr. Dickson's precept and example had not been without their influence. Cotton was here, as we had observed it elsewhere during our journey, the princi? pal crop. Those who think our ancient king has been deposed are greatly in er? ror. He yet lives and reigns in spite of war, emancipation and 11 reconstruction." As we approach Mr. Dickson's planta? tion the soil loses its mixed character, the land becoming what is called gray, and tho forest growth being mainly long leaved pine. On entering the plantation wo observ? ed that the gates and fences wore all in a serviceable condition, and that there was that undefinable air of thrift about tbe place too generally lacking among us. | Between the main road and the house we passed a large corn-field?the largest and the best wo had seen during our journey, j It was good corn, but the condition of the field slightly disappointed us. It was not free from gruss, and had not been worked in the most skillful manner. We afterwards learned that it was rented to freedmen whom Mr. Dickson had not been able to induce to do tho work just right; so when ho roferied to the field as tho best wo had seen, ho said that it ought to have been a great deal hotter, and that ho would nut own it as a speci? men of bis farming ul all. We met Mr. Dickson at the houso_a very modest cottago, such as you mnj'sec on many a small farm in Georgia or South Carolina, with nothing remarkable or pretentious about it in any w??y. Every? thing for use anil comfort, and nothing for shew is evidently the rule. The farm buildings and negro quartors are more likely to attract attention than the dwel? ling, as they are decidedly better than are usuully seen. A MODEL fOTTON-riELD. The tirst thing that attracted our spe cial attention as we approached the eofc ton-field was its smoothness of surfaee? the entire absence of those ridges and hills, made by the plow and the hoe, which mark tho fo\vs in our field goner ally. The next noticeable peculiarity was its perfect cleanness. No fringe of j crab grass and no straggling weeds were to be seen. Mr. Dickson does not at? tempt to make a crop of cotton and a crop of grass on bis land at the same time. The cotton was a sight worth travelling all the way from Charleston to see. We had seen nothing like it during our journey. Some small patches on town lots in Sparta and elsewhere could show plants quite as tall perhaps, but the pre-eminence of Dickson's cotton lies in its stalky growth, its numerous heavy branches?and, above all, in its prolific fruitage?the bolls and squares clustering' thickly in double rows upon the branches. " I do not cultivato cotton for the weed," Mr. Dickson remarked, " but lor the bolls." There had been a severe drouth, and much of the cotton we had seen else? where had shed leaves, squares and bolls to a greater or less extent, but here we observed no loss of this kind, the plants being fresh, healthy and vigorous from bottom to top. In brief, bore was cottou that promised a yield of two bales to the acre; and it was not on rich bottom laud, but on what people are pleased to call a "pine barren'*?not a fresh pine ? barren either, but land that has been un j der cultivation for seventy years, and was so poor and worn out when Mr. Dickson bought it, we were told, that no one else would have it at any price. With these facts in view, one begins to appreciate the results of his improved system of farming. The field of which wo have been speak? ing will, under Mr. Di? kson's culiivation, produce forty bushels of corn to the acre, and his corn crop never fails! No drouth burns it up. '-lean tell in tho spring,'' Mr. Dickson said, " where the dry streak will fall in the summer. It always fol? lows bad farming." The "dry streak" never falls on his corn-field. Wo shall see why when wo come to examino his mode of planting and cultivating corn. We might speak at much greater length of what we saw and heard during our brief visit to Mr. Dickson's plantation, but what our readers are most interested in learning is, how the results we have described ar? attained. Mr. Dickson is successful. He makes heavy crops on p?>or land. He has acquired wealth by planting. Every planter and fanner, it is presumed, would like to be and do the same, and each is anxious to know how the thing is done. MB. DICKSON'S SYSTEM. We can tell our readers, in brief, how Mr. Dickson farms, but we cannot ensure every man who may essay to follow his example, the 6anie success. Few possess his intellectual capacity, his sound judg? ment or his executive abilities but all may improve and approach, if they can? not reach, Mr. Dickson's high position among the great agriculturists of the present day. Tho principal points in Mr. Dickson's system, as they struck us in our examin? ation of his operations, are : 1. A deep and thorough preparation of tho 80il - 2. The liberal use of manures. 3. Level and shallow cultivation. 4. Rotation of crops. 5. Economy of labor. Do you say that there is nothing new in all this ? Perhaps not. In theory the principles which underlie the S3*stom have, in the main, been long since accep? ted by the best informed agriculturists of Europe and America; but our practice, with few exceptions, has beon diametri call}' opposed to them, as will more dtrt kingly appear wheh we look at the mat? ter somewhat in detail. First, then, in regard to the prepara? tion of the soil. Mr. Dickson's maxim is, " plow as deep as you can," or say from eight to fifteen inches and subsoil every forth year, accumulating all the vegetable matter you can on the surface to be turned ,1?. Land thus prepared admits the air, holds moisture and allows the roots of plants to penetrate deeply, and thus en? sure themselves against drouth. Do our farmers generally prepare their soil in this way, or make any approximation to it? In the second place, everybody knows that manure is a very good tiling for growing crops, but we go on, year after year, planting without manure, or with very little of it. Mr. Dickson, knowing that manure, judiciously applied, will pay, uses it freely. But what kind of mahuro, and how much ? In tho first place he re? turns everything to the land (after being eaton or used) which ho has taken from it, except tho lint of the cotton, and, in addition, gathers lnaves, pine straw, and the Bcrapings of swamps, and digs muck and spread in his stock yards and to scat? ter broadcast ovor his lands. Then he makes up the required amount of tho fer? tilizing elements by the application of a concentrated compound composed of Pe? ruvian guano, dissolved bones, common salt, and land plaster in equal proportions bv weight, mixing tho ingredients him? self. Of this compound ho has used this season, if wo mistake not, about 800 pounds to the acre (except on rented land; at a cost, probably, of not far from 825 per acre. Is such "manuring an old thing?in practice, we moan?among our planters and farmers ? HOW HE PLANTS COTTON AND CORN. But it is in tho planting and working of his crops that Mr. Dickson's practice differs moro strikingly from that of most planters. Let us see how be does it: 1. Cotton.?Ho makes tho rows four feet apart, opening with two furrows a trench about eight inches deep. Into this deep furrow the manure is-scattered and covered with a scooter plow, going about as deep the other* two furrows, and followed, on each side of the scooter furrow, by a turn plow running seven inches deep. He opens the seed furrow with a bull tongue plow, drops the seed thickly and covers lightly with a board. The plowing is done with the famous Dickson sweep, running shallow?the last plowiug not more than half an inch deep?and the plowing and hoeing is repeated as often as is necessary to keep tho ground per? fectly clean, but the soil is not heaped up about the cotton nor tlie roots cut by either plow or hoe. When the crop is " laid by " the ground is noarly level and smooth. I 2. Corn.?Tbe land being broken up at at ileust eight or nine inches deep and sub soiled if practicable, he lays off fur? rows, with a long shovel plow, seven feet apart; then, commencing at the opposite end, he opens out the furrow with a longer shovel plow, leaving the furrow open seven or eight inches deep. Whatever ma? nures he uses is deposited in this furrow, three feet apart, and the corn dropped three or four inches from the manure. He covers with a light harrow one and a half inches deep. Observe that we have here deep planting, but not deep covering. lie gives his corn three thorough work? ings, keeping the field clean and free from grass, and planting a row of peas be? tween each two rows of corn. The de? tails of his cultivation we intend to give at a future time. It is sufficient to say here that the same principle of shallow plowing is applied to corn as to cotton. There is no hilling up, but a smooth, lev? el surface. Does not tbe reader now see why Mr. Dickson's corn nover suffers seriously from any ordinary drouth '! Having for severul years planted corn on a similar plan, though not quite so deep, we can add our own testimony, were any further evidence needed, in favor of deep plant ing and shallow cultivation. Mr. Dickson's rotation in cropping his land is: First year, Cotton; Second year, Corn; Third year, Small Grain ; Fourth year, the land lies fallow. The resting of the land allows it to ac? cumulate humus or vegetable matter, which maybe increased by planting peas, (or clover, where it will succeed,) to be turned in at the proper time. It would not seem vory difficult to fol? low Mr. Dickson thus far, so as to keep within sight of him at least, but when we come to what we have called Economy and Labor, there are brought into play certain natural gifts with which low are so largely endowed as he. "The farmer must make every stroke tell," Mr. Dickson says, and he does make every stroke tell. Not satisfied with in? creasing tbe productive capacity of the soil, he develops also, and still more won? derfully, the productive capacity of tho laborer. This he accomplishes by using improved implements; by timo and la? bor-saving modes of working, and, moro than all. we think, by his peculiar talent for training and managing tbe laborer himself. This peculiar trait is most stri? kingly illustrated by the fact that under the old s3'stem, when labor was perfectly under control, he was accustomed to cul? tivate thirty three acres to the hand, while other planters, as a rule, cultivated only fifteen; afld to accomplish this he em? ployed no overseer or driver. Such is Mr. Dickson's farming. A gen? eral adoption of his methods, with only an approximation to his executive effici ciency, would at once more than double the products of the South, and at the same timo increase, year by year, instoad of diminishing the fertility of the soil. Learn to Keep House.?No young la? dy can be too well instructed in anything which will affect the comfort of a family. Whatever position in society sho occupies, she needs a practical knowledge ot house? hold duties. Sho may bo placed in such circumstances that it will not bo necessa? ry for her to perform much domestic la? bor ; but on this account sho needs no loss knowledge than if she was obliged to pre? side personally over tho cooking stove and the pantry. Indeed, I have thought it is more difficult to direct others, and requires moro experience, than to do the same work with our own hands. Young peoplo cannot realize the impor? tance of a thorough knowledge of house? wifery; but those who havo suffered tho inconvenience and mortification of ignor? ance can well approciate it. Children should bo early indulged in thoir disposi? tion to bake and experiment in various ways. It is often but a troublesome help that they afford ; still it is of great advan? tage to thorn. 1 know a littlo girl who at r.ino years old mado a loaf of bread every weok during tho winter. Her mother taught her how much }'east, salt and flour to uso, and sho becamo q?ito an expert ba kor. Some mothers give thoir dadtghtor* tho caro of housekeeping each a week b}' turns. It seems to mo a good arrange? ment and a most useful part of thoir edu? cation. Beautiful Thought.?Forty years once seemed a long and weary pi!grimago to tread. It now seems but a step. And rot along tho way aro brokon shrines where a thousand hopes havo wasted in to ashes; foot-prfnta sacred under thoir drifting dust; green mounds whore grass is fresh with watering of tears; shadows even which we could not forgot. Wo will garner the sunshine of those years, and with chastened step and heavenward hope, push on toward the evening whose signal lights will soon bo Boen swinging whore the waters are still and tho storms never beat. The Recent Horthern Elections. The Washington correspondent of tho Baltimore Gazette makes the following comments upon the recent elections: It need not be disguised that the recent elections are by no means satisfactory to the Doniocrats of this metropolis, which? ever way they have gone. In the faceot the doings of this humbug administration the result should have been overwhel? mingly against it. Nothing short ot this could have convinced intelligent men that j the people have regained a jot of their in-1 dependence and public spirit. The same j old leaven, concocted of hatred and re I Vebgo, is still at work. Mr. Wilson was right when be predicted that tho West could be carried by clap-trap, while the East must bo won by a strict obedience to their interests and dogmas. The result in Pennsylvania and Ohio, nevertheless, doubtless shows that a ma? jority of the people in each are opposed, [ in heart to tho dominant faction. There is something radically wrong in Demo? cratic tactics. The surrender of princi? ple involved in the nomination of Rose crans in Ohio, could not be repaired by the too late substitution of an unexcep? tionable candidate. Pennsylvania was carried by the Radicals through the sheer force of the Internal Revenue Bureau. Tho power of assessors in such a State is not appreciated by the people, or even by professed politicians. It is worth fully fiftj' thousand votes in the hands of un? principled officials. In neither of these States, it may be added, was the full Pemocratic vote polled. A very important lesson is taught by these results. It is that the party oppos? ed to Grant's military dominion is infi? nitely stronger than any man or set of men put forward for the sake of expediency; that it is now in a majority in this coun? try; and that all that is required to de? feat our fanatical opponents is to unite and bring out our whole strength. To do this hereafter not a little ot pure Demo? cratic doctrine or practice should bo ig? nored ! Just so long as attempts are en? couraged to onlist the effete material of the sinking part}' at tho expense of our men or our principles; just so long will the dormant strength of the Democracy be kept from the ballot-box. In the at? tempt to get a rotten Swiss soldier from the other side, we disgust and drive from tho polls a hundred patriots! Much joy may it bring to the tax-pay? ers in tho Far West, this victory which rivets their manacles for three years longor. Maryland, and the South gener? ally, can stand the protective system a little bettor now than tho West. Laying asido tho principle of the matter, even the inequality of the circulating medium, and the operation of the financial meas? ures threatened by Mr. Boutwell, have less of mischief in them aloiv/ the Atlan? tic Coast than West of the Mississippi.? Such philosophical praters about free trade as the Now York Evening Post may also rejoice to their heart's content. They have "endosed"1 an Administration to the very back-bond ultra-protective! Let them "grin and bear" the domination of Yankeedo'm until 1872. Perhaps by that time they will be prepared to support hon? est men, even though they bo termed Democrats, or worse still, "sj'mpathizers" or "Copperheads." My word for it, Iowa will give less than 30,000 suffrages foHts masters before that time. -4> Trade Procession.?During tho sitting of the Louisville Commercial Convention, there was an immense trade procession, of which the following account is given by the special correspondent of the Augusta Chronicle and Sentinel: r In the procession were represented man? ufactures, commerce, science and art.? Hundreds of tho largest manufacturing and business establishments in the city were represented in it by their workmon, and specimens of their wrok, und the re? sult was a spectacle in tho highest degree novel and pleasing. The procession was a mammoth affair, and 1 do nut think I exaggerate in the least, when I state that it was fully, if not more, than five miles in length. Most of the specimens of work in the procession were gotten up in a most beautiful and tasteful manner, and produced a very striking effect. During tho morning the sidewalks of the city were thronged with surging masses of hu? manity that rendered locomotion almost impossible, and from every loophole aha window of tho houses flags fluttered in the breeze, which, by the way, was most eonfoondedly chilly. And, now, Since they are mentioned, I wish to vv.y a few more words on tho subject of flags. Ot all the loyal cities in which 1 have had the misfortune to be, Louisville is decided? ly entitled to the palm over them all, that is it flags and loyalty are synonyms. It seems to mo that every Rtoro and house in the city is furnished with ono or more ol these abominations, ranging in size from a pockot handkerchief to a horse blanket. The stage in the Opera House, whore the Convention hold its sessions, is canopied with one, and on every pillar, post, chan? delier, crack or crevice is stuck another. In the reading room of the Gait House (the headquartos of tho Georgia delegation) little American flags have been placed by Bullock in such profusion that one almost imagines himself at tho headquar? ters of the General of the Armies instead of the room whore a crowd of rebellious Kit Klux from a State aro wont to assem? ble Tho flags, by the way, were procur? ed by the Governor from General Ilullcek who commands this department, und wore probably obtained for the purposo of in? fusing loyalty by their prcsoiuo. I am Iree to confess that there are many of us here, however, who have grown sick of the sight of so much painted cloth, and would be more pleased with Louisville were 6he a little less loyal. The Wedding Season, As the time for mating approaches, it may not be inappropriate in this latitude for the young people to be advised in re? gard to the style and tactics employed in fashionable lifo on such occasions. Hence, for the delectation of expectant brides and bridesmaids, and the wonder and amazement of stupid bridegrooms, we append a racy description from the New York Telegram: Weddings occupy so rauch of the time and attention of the fashionable world just now, we read with a great deal of in? terest the items of wedding etiquette which,come to us from abroad. In the matter of bridesmaids tastes differ as well as family associations. The extremes are followed by having several bridesmaids elegantly dressed, with a corresponding number of groomsmen. The opposite style, which is quite as elegant and a good deal more poetic, has a number of young girl bridesmaids, with no groomsmen at all, but only tho parents of the bride who performs the ceremony of giving the bride away. Bridesmaids' dresses are not entirely of while any more; even in tho case of little girls, they are enlivened by high colored sashes, ribbons, &c, as well as bright-hued und er-dresses. . The bride's dress varies from the richest corded silk, trimmed with lace and pearls, to simplest muslin worn by girlhood, or tulle, made vapory by clouds of ruffles and frills. At some Parisian weddings, lately, the bride has not worn an ornament of any kind whatever, but pearls are supposed to bo the most suitable when any ornaments are worn. If the bridegroom were not one of tho dramatis pefsonce, we should not suppose it of the slightest consequence whether he attended the wedding at all or not, so far as being the objective point, goes. But as ho is "head captain" what ho shall wear appears to vex Iiis matrimo? nial soul about as much as it should.? When wo arrive at this point of a fashion leaf it is a good deal like putting out the light and feeling one's way through an un? known region, and tho end generali}' is that one's descriptions are as "el ear as mud." We are sure, however, that eternal vigi? lance is the price of style, and before we give it as a fact, wo shall wait until we I know that bridegrooms wear "blue coats with brass buttons and needle-wrought' shirt bosom with a rose-colored lining to show through." We should expect a bridegroom dressed in a style so resem? bling Goneral Bourn's, to carry a stick to church and behave accordingly. We are willing to believe, however, that white satin vests cut low will be en regie, with a little fold or violet, buff or blue silk peeping beyond the opening, and we think ;t good taste which permits lavender Or pearl colored trowsers instead of solemn black cues so strictly adhering to the original measure as to suggest Mephisto p he I es. We could never sco why tho full dress? ed man should not Indulge in shoes, fur it is quite possible that somebody else wishes to "stand in his shoes." But wedding etiquette says he must wear boots, and we leave it to tho Frvneh and English to fight it out between them whether they shall be round or square-toed. Necktiesare of white satin, but notwithstanding so much that is new about Byron has lately turn? ed up, the Byronic collar is still to bo turned down; But as we said beforo on general prin? ciples, wo think the bridgroom is a very foolish man if he puts himself to any trouble to bo in the fashion at his own wedding, for unless some of his guests wear for a coat-of-arms a gooso or a pross board, what oarthly difference can it make ? The greatest possible latitude is permit? ted just now in the choice of an enter? tainment to follow tho marriage ceremo? ny, but tho stylish breakfast occurring in tho middle of the day nearly, is tho most distingue of all. It is particularly English, and to our infinite credit be it said that, though Paris supplies us so many styles, we liko tho dignity and solemnity of tho English marriage customs much bettor than the French. Many wedding dejeuners take plaeo at fashionablo hotels instead of at tho house of the brido, thus saving a great amount of trouble, not to say destruction of fur nit are and carpets, not pleasantly contem? plated by any housekeeper. Wo are glad to hear that 'ho old time custom of hav? ing the bride's cake with a ring in it is once more allowable, and that the brido herself cuts the first slice, and that tho girl that gets tho ring is just as inevita? bly doomed as if she had thought of mat? rimony all her life, whereas no doubt she never dreamed of such a thing One thing to be reminded of during this matrimoni? al epidemic is tho old superstition that autumn marriages are happy ones. We do not fcnow, however, that tho woman who promises to love, honor and obey in October, is an}' surer to keep her word than if she had chosen the first day of April for her wedding day, nor ihat the Irishman that beats his wifo would not have beaten her all tho same if ho had not married her on "Saint Patrick's day in tho morning.'' _Dr. South, when oueo preaching be? fore Charles II., observed that the mon? arch and his attendants began to nod, and somo of them soon alter snored, on which he broke off in his sermon, and said : "Lord Lauderdale, let me entreat you to rouso yourself; you snore so loud that von will wake the king." ? "Don't trouble yourself to stretch your mouth any wider," said a dontist to hispatie t, "I intend to stand outside to draw your tooth." iroousnness 01 intemperance; The habit of drinking is, to our mind, the most inexcusable piece of destructive nonsense in tho world. And no where is it more prevalent than in crties. The money poured down the throats of men each year is greater than is expended for improvements. Whisky shops, saloons, and all sorts of irrational devices and places to fool away money, are found by tho hundreds and thousands in cities. If a man is tired, he drinks; if at work he drinks. If doing nothing he must have a nip every hour. If loo warm he must have julip; if too cold a hot whisky. If he is by himself, out comes a flask or bot? tle;'if in company, he stands treat till his money is all gone ; then, like a "dead beat," he sits around till some one asks him up. A man of moderate salary steps into a saloon, invites half a dozen friends to' drink, pays half a dollar or more, and walks out. Three or four times a day ho repeats this and always drinks when ask? ed. It is social. Men mean nothing by it. But during the week half a man's salary is poured down his throat, destroy? ing his stomach and weakening his nerves, over-exciting his brain, and rob? bing himself and family of money needed for other purposes. But it is social. Drink in the morning, at noon, at night, then a few between drinks. The orai? whirls?the hand grows unsteady?the pocket grows empty?the home ones suf? fer?the eyes look red and tremulous, as if ashamed?ambition is drowned in poi? son. Pretty soon, poor fellow, he is un? fit f?r business?he makes mistakes. He is sick, unable to work. He is not to be re?cd on. Ho leaves his place and in time finds a poorer one. Then ho feels blue?drinks still more, his family suffers, he leaves his place again, and at last dies a wreck. But it is social. We believe a man has no right to kill himself suddenly or by slow poison. It may be none of our business in the ab? stract, yet wo are sorry to see men fool? ing themselves away, dying like weeds in a gutter when they might be men, up? right, healthy, loved and useful, of benefit to themselves and others. And this is why we write upainst intemperance: Health is too' precious te be wasted.? Manhood is too noble to be thrown into the gutter. Lite is tob sweet to be drugg? ed with poisons now compounded and sold as liquors. To drink poison may be social but it cost3 too much for us, or any man who loves himself or others. Who of our readers dare think of this matter and act as their better judgment shall dic? tate. General Lee.?The following is the conclusion of an address on "Integrity of Character," delivered at the Commence? ment of the Kentucky Military Institute, June 4th, 1868, by Rev. R. A. Holland: "I rejoice, young gentlemen, that I can find an embodiment ot this sublime integ? rity of character ip a hero?not ot tho Past, but of the Present?not of some distant realm, but of your own suffering section?not of foreign birta, but of blood brother to that which throbs thrills ofen thusiam through your veins at the men? tion of his name. I rejoice that we pos? sess a model of manhood worth more to our noblest attributes than all the for? tunes spent in the terrible war that ro ! vcaled his grandeur to our gaze. uWhatever may have been the errors of the South?errors for which, if they existed, she has by dearest hecatombs suf? ficiently atoned?the world is indebted to her for a gift that shall enrich mankind forever. That gift is the example of a man who, in civil conflict when hate ra? ges to flesh its blood-thirsty fangs in hos? tile hearts, wins the admiration of his ene? mies, who charms envy into love and awes malico into silence, who come? forth from amid the smoke and carnage of bat? tle revealing a brow unstained with dis? honor and hands unclotted with cruelly; ! who, although victor in a hundred fights j against sii jh odds of troops and treasures as skill never vanquished before, suffers no word of boasting to soil his pure frp* and notices his success only in mqde'it as? criptions of gratitude to the Lord of Hosts; who, marching forward in tho perilous path of duty, refuses a moment's pause for dalliance with the Fame which others must follow, but which like ono entranced tracks his steps and courts tho the condescension of his kingly glance ; who, as ho kneels under triumphs, rises above reverses, and when tho last blow is struck and genius can no longer cope with force, surrenders his sword with the same equanimit\r with which ho had evor wielded it, and receives it back from the conqueror in mute testimonial that none but himself is worthy to wear a weapon whoso blade blazes with a lustre of purity and prowess, bright ub the acime tars of Eden's Sentinels. Groat in victory, greater still in defeat; great i?e descried through the rod haze of war, greater still as contemplated through the clear air of peace ; great as a general but greatest as a man?behold in him a character which, if not perfect, conceals its faults with tho refulgence of its vir? tues, even as the sun conceals the spots on its dazzling disk. I need not call his name; nor noed History when s'io carves for i ho highest niche in her Pantheons Btatuo to represent manhood apotheosized by its own glory, inscribe beneath it a name which the very design of tho statue speaks aloud?the immortal name of LEE." -1-4> ? In marriage, the hear' of the widow is like a furnished apartment, where one is apt to find something left there by a former 1-idger. ? ?? Pompey, de cor'ns up." " Do corn up! Why I only planted it yesterday!'* >( I know dat; but de hoga got in lust night, and guv it a lift."