University of South Carolina Libraries
HOYT & CO., Proprietors. ANDERSON C. H., S. 0., THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 30, 1873. VOLUME VILT.?NO. 30. Henry Ward Beecher on Compulsory Educa? tion. In a recent lecture, delivered in New York. Rev. Henry Ward Beecher assnmed the ground that the State should provide free schools and compel all children to attend. Without en? dorsing all his views, we print the following summary of his lecture, which will repay a careful perusal: Although all the great elements of thought have now more or less gathered in the world's history, there are periods when one or another of the great elements of human interest rose prominent, so that it seemed almost as if there were waves of thought as there were waves of atmosphere. The earliest was the element of war, and nations have given to that and its correlated interest all their attention. Then came politics, not in the narrow sense, but the consideration of the rights of man, the nature of man, the nature of government, the duties of citizens, and all that belonged to the social life. Then there had been theology, and at periods that had dispossessed almost all other interests; not religion, but theology, or the philosophy of religion, which sometimes had been the groundwork on which all other inter? ests of the state had been embroidered, and it might temper the almost audacity of theolo? gians if they would but recollect how the themes that at different periods of history had supplanted all others, which had been looked upon as the very first upon which the world turned, had gone out of sight and been so for? gotten that they now had to be hunted for in the books of antiquaries. In the present day the industrial element, political economies have occupied men's thoughts as never before, and the element which was making itself the most felt was education, national education, for there never had been a time when the rich men's sons were not educated, bnt in this day the education of all classes, from the top to the bottom of society. An educated man was like a knife with forty blades; the uneducated man had only the right to open one. It meant the right to be men, the right to be free; and that right carried, with it the right of expansion or development, as the right to be the acorn car? ried with it the right to be the oak. As a mere matter of political economy the whole world was demanding that people should be educated, and the remarkable theory about this was that the ignorant themselves are demanding educa? tion. The great mass of the laboring men all over the world are beginning to see that the reason of their hard work and small wages is their deprivation of education. Great Britain is not moving for revolution?she is too wise for that?but she is moving for educatiou, and the question is, shall the state educate or shall the church ? shall the schools be secular or sectarian ? And there was no doubt how that question would be settled in all nations?that the state shall educate and not the priest.? There was no doubt but that education in the hands of the priests had been of great benefit to the world, but in the advancement of society it had come to pass that the priest was for the spiritual and the school-master for secular edu? cation, and the school-master had become a separate and distinct profession, as much as that of the lawyer or the physician. As in Great Britain so in Germany education had been part of the very idea of life, and it was education that had raised her to stand a head and shoulders above all the Christian nations of Europe. So Austria accepted from her con Sueror her system of common schools, and after fty years she will stand with more illustrious strength than ever she did. So France?the lowest now of the .nations, but a little while ago the proudest?was found when struck with the mailed hand of Germany to be hollow, and it was the want of knowledge among her com? mon people that put France down. She had an ignorant peasantry, and her army was poor compared with the army that came forth from the German common schools, and she never will stand as she did before until she educates her people. Where education prevails bad government is difficult and good government is easy. In proportion as a people are educated you develop a popular sentiment, and public sentiment is the sum total of the great com- ] munity. Education also increases the wealth producing power of the state, which makes it easy to levy and collect large taxes. There are men in the community like moths, they take [ continually and never give anything; there are others that just give as much as they take, but upon an average, cone industrious man takes I care of f.bout ten. There were some classes that could be allowed to be non-producers, children and old men. but the great middle class between childhood and age ought not to be allowed. There were some that classed women with the non-wealth producing class, but he (Mr. Beecher) thought that woman in her household duties was the fair partner of man in the wealth acquired. There were many young men lounging around street-corners that produce less than they consume. If these men were educated the wealth of the state could be doubled. Industry required an atmosphere to make it valuable. The reason why mannfac-1 tures did not thrive as well at the South as in New England was because in the latter the people for generations had been educated to industry, and at the South they had not. The working-men were organizing in clubs and as? sociations to better their condition; he was heartily on the Bide of those men in all their efforts to improve themselves, but when they asserted that one man was as good as another, | it depended largely on what that other was.? I Men were free in one sense; they ought to be free, but they were not free as a matter of fact. Ab to being equal, in one sense they were equal: they stood belore the law equally; but that did not mean that they had the same productive power. Men were not equal in that sense ; one man could do more than another, and that was the highest man that could do the highest things, "for as sure as there is a God iu heav? en," continued the lecturer, "no man can go down that has educated brains, and no man can go up and stay up that has not." (Ap? plause.) There were special reasons why America should press the matter of popular education. One was the reason of her great population spread over so vast an extent of territory that with universal suffrage the Gov? ernment was imperilled unless the people wero educated. An educated people brought from every quarter of the globe could be fused into a republic when it was a republic like this, broken up into States, but if it was a consoli? dated government it would not last a genera? tion ; but when New England kicks up she merely lifts a hinge, and when the Middle humps up that does not disturb the Border States; he believes in State rights but not in State sovereignty. There were a great many people that did not believe in universal suf? frage, but it was here and wc must make the best of it. Before this generation shall have passed away, said the speaker, women will vote in all questions of schools or police, whether they vote on matters of state or. not; and if you allow them to vote once on anything you cannot stop them from voting on everything. (Laughter.) So upon the question of suffrage, since it was certain that all the people must vote, it was indispensable that they must know how to vote intelligently, and this question of education was the most smpurtuat of any. The State should make provision for the education of its whole people, and should see to it that edu? cation was compulsory. The State ought to pro? vide for its whole population the elements of literature. But that is not enough. There should be introduced into the schools the groundwork of honesty, truth, justice, indus? try, self-control, fidelity and patriotism. Some kind of industrial occupation should be taught. Every man ought to know how to work with ?his hands. It should teach the elements of government, of knowledge of one's self. Last? ly, the State ought to make the free schools so good that no private school could be able to live in their neighborhood. Science in our Common Schools. Mr.-Huxly, of England, the celebrated lec? turer on scientific subjects, urges the introduc? tion of Science into common schools, of which the following is an epitome: While he would not starve or cripple literary culture for the sake -of Science, yet .-contends that a boy or girl should not leave school with? out having been disciplined more or less in the method of scientific study. Scientific study demands that no scientific truth should be taken for granted, but what each enquirer's mind has proven to be a fact; and the method of scientific study is then to draw deductions from the facts proven. It is not that he would have every scholar to study Science altogether, so as to be able to solve any problem, *but by being made familiar with the general current of scientific thought, he could be able to apply that method to the practical circumstances in which he may be placed in after life. To do this, it is only necessary that a modicum of his time be applied to the study of Sciences, if they be properly chosen, well arranged and properly trained in them. He conceives the proper course to begin with, is to teach them the general views of the phenomena of Na? ture ; that is to say, a general knowledge of the Earth and what is on it, in it and about it. Geology, rather Physical Geography, comes nearest expressing the name of what he means. The experience of every one with children is, that they are very early curious to know something about everything they see around them. They are generally curious to know what is the moon, and why does it shine; what is the water, and why does it run and where does it run to; what is the wind, and where does it come from; and many other and very often stumping questions. If not snubbed and told to hush asking foolhih questions, there is scarcely any limit to the intellectual cravings of a young child, nor any bound to the slow but solid accretion of knowledge and develop? ment of the thinking facility in this way. A panoramic view of Nature, accompanied by a strong infusion of the scientific habit of thought, may thus be placed within the reach of every child of eight or ten. After this preliminary opening of the eyes to the great spectacle of Nature, and the child be taught reading, writing and elementary mathematics, he should then pass into what is, in the mere strict sense, Physical Science. There are t wo kinds of Physical Science. The one regardu form and the relation of forms to one another. Of this kind is systematic Bota? ny. The other deals with causes and effects, which Mr. Huxly denominates Physics. Every educational advantage which a training in Physical Science can give is obtainable from the proper study of these two; and thinks it would be one of the greatest boons that could be conferred on any country if these two studies I could.be taught to all children ; but would be j pleased if there could be added somewhat of Chemistry, and an elementary acquaintance with human Physiology. These would make an excellent introduction to the scientific train? ing which is so essential for the successful pur? suit of our most important professions. But this modern of instruction must be so given as to bring the learner in direct contact with facts, by object lessons and practicing the in? tellect in the completed fortn of instruction. To tell a child such a thing is a fact won't do ; he must be made to see, by the use of his owu intellect, that the thing is so, and not other? wise. Mathematics, and the Languages are both deductives. They start upon authority. A few simple, self-evident propositions are given, and the rest of the work consists of subtle de? ductions from them. The teaching of the Languages is of the same general nature. Au? thority and tradition fu rnish the data, and the mental operations of the scholar are deductive. History is the same?the facts are still taken on the evidence of tradition aud authority. You cannot make a boy see the battle of Ther? mopylae for himself, or know of his own knowl? edge that Gen. Washington was President of the United States. In all these respects Science differs from other educational discipline, and prepares the scholar for common life. But to make scientific train? ing yield its most eminent results, it must be conducted by object lessons; that is, in teach? ing Botr.ny, he must handle the plants and dissect the flower for himself. In teaching Physics and Chemistry, he must not only he told thai, a magnet attracts iron, but let him feel the pull of one upon the other; a?fl tell him he must doubt every statement of a seien- J tific fact in a book until he is compelled by the absolute authority of Nature to believe. Pur? sue this discipline carefully, and however scan? ty may be the modicum of information instilled into his mind, you may be sure you have created an intellectual habit of thought of priceless value in practical life. Mr. Huxly thinks this education should be? gin with a child's first dawn of intelligence. As soon as a child can talk its mind may bo enlarged by object lessons of things around it. However, no educational system ought to deserve permanence unless it recognizes the truth that education has two great ends to which everything else must be subordinated. The one- is to increase knowledge?the other is to develop the love of right and the hatred of j wrong. ' Intermingling of the Sexes?Advice to Young People. The separation system of the French is fatal to true love and marriage. Already it has ob? tained a footing among us. Without a free and intelligent choice there can be no happi? ness. A girl sees her future husband in a drawing-room. The ambitious mother, who is in attendance as stage manager, has arranged the programme. After three performances the engagement is announced, and in due time the ceremony is solemnized by the Church. The couple are driven to their home, and then, for the first time, the mask being removed, they get a peep at each other. That both of them should soon set about a search for agreeable partners is very wicked, after-their vows at the altar, but we fear it will frequently occur. Without perfect freedom of choice, a true and happy marriage is exceedingly improbable. There can be no such-freedom without oppor? tunity for intimate acquaintance. Our separate schools have contributed much to the destroying wall between the sexes. Du? ring the awakening period, when the imagina? tion is most active, the sexes are carefully guarded from each other in separate schools. Considering the many years our young people spend in school, this is a fundamental mistake. Some years ago we had supervision of a school for young men and women. The desks were what is caued double, each one accommo? dating two persons. We placed a young man and a young woman at each. Permission was given the pupils to render such assistance to their desk-mates as they thought. profitable, keeping the noise within bounds. But we did not often check the hum and buzz; for as the young people were being trained for life, and as in actual life there is a hundred times as much noise as silence, we should hardly have felt at liberty to train their faculties in silence, for use in noise. We only said, "Don't be too noisy." But this is incidental. What we wished to bring before you is the striking influence of this sy.'item upon the love passion. When Thomas and Lucy first sat down together, they looked and acted just as a young man and a young woman are likely to do when they first meet. We need not describe it. You have seen hew they look and act. This soon began to wear off, and in a month the young people acted to each other like brother and sister. All that peculiar expression and manner which you oftm see among lovers, and which you re? cognize at a distance of three blocks, soon dis? appeared. With the new arrangements in our school there was more or less of this all through the room, but, as already stated, it soon gave place to a social atmosphere which seemed identical with that of a home among brothers and sisters. Still further, tbey were permitted to change partners at pleasure on the first Monday of each month. This renewed the "lovers" exhi? bition a little at first, but after three months even this change of companions evoked no vis? ible disturbance of the school work. But what good came of it? It is just that question we wish to answer. 1st. From the day this system was introduced the Bchool required no government. It was like a company of ladies and gentlemen in a drawir g-room. There was no necessity for rules ia the one case more than in the other. 2d. The average progress in our studies was strikingly enhanced. Stupid, coarse fellows, who in company with meu alone, would chew, and growl, and loaf, became bright, gentleman? ly aud studious, and girls of light, frivolous composition became earnest. The average pro? gress was greatly increased. 3d. The young meu came to regard women, not as charming creatures to be toyed with and to be talked down to, but as brave, hard-work? ing companions, competitors and equals. They ceased to think of their bodies, and thought only cf the quality of their minds. The young women no longer looked up to the young men as chivalrous heroes, seeking opportunity to die for their lady-loves, but as fair, honest, hon? orable companions, whom it was a pleasure to know, and sometimes to conquer. In a single year they came to occupy the same attitude toward men with those girls who have been reared in a large family of boys, and who are rarely wrong in the choice of hus? bands/ The girls who are educated in a sepa? rate s;hool are like the "only child," who . is almost sure, if she has been brought up' in se? el mien, to fall into some trap. The young men, after a year in such school companion? ship, are like the young man with half a dozen sistem, who is sure to he wise in the selection of a wife. In iits bearing upon the most important in^ terests of our early life, there is no part of our education so vital as an early, large and inti? mate acquaintance with many persons of the oppo?ite sex. What probability is there that a youn j woman, an only child, brought up in se? clusion, educated in a convent, or separate scboc i, and who then, having finished her edu? cation, sets up at home under the watchful eye of her mother for a husband?what probability is there that she will be wise in her relations with men ? With no occupation save that of catching a beau, with imagination and emo? tion.1-, lett to wander, is she likely to see through the f ham smiles and vows of an impostor ?? Exctangc. The Degradation of the United States Senate.?If we should seek the reason of this in a=iy single fact, we should fail to find the cause. The degradation is more apparent than the methods by which it was accomplished. The disturbed and deplorable condition of the South, growing out of the iguorauce of the freed people, the usurpation ot the carpet-bag? ger* and the fiendishness of the Ku Klux, is one of the most potent of the many causes. But the new and many of the old States, have weak aud bad men in the Senate. We can readily understand why Patterson, the new Senator from South Carolina, who expects a seat, in the next Congress, should be accused of bribery. We are not surprised that Georgia, Florida and Alabama are represented in part, at least, by men- whose attainments do not include the three. K's?reading, 'riting and, 'rithmetic. Even in the case of Powell Clay? ton, of Arkansas, we saw nothing to provoke any grave fears for the safety of our institu? tions. But, if it is suggested that Senators from Rhode Island, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska or Kansas have ob? tained their places by the corrupt use of money, or through the influence of railroad or other corporations, we may well bo alarmed. Inves? tigation would develop a state of facts as dis? graceful as has been shown in the relations of many prominwnt men to the Credit Mobilier. Probably fifty out of the seventy-four Senators obtained their scats by purchase. We know of many cases where the allegation is openly made and has never been denied by the accused statesmen. It is seldom that any inquiry is instituted, even where the charges are notori? ous, and, when it is done, il; is generally to whitewash the criminal.?New York Herald. ? One of the latest conundrums is, "Why is South Carolina like a piano?" Answer, "Be? cause the darkies (dark keys) arc above the whites." The Birthday of Lee?Oration of Gen. Wade Hampton. The celebration of the birthday of General Lee at Savannah was an imposing affair. The day was observed as a general holiday. The volunteer companies turned out in full force, and were reviewed by Generals Hampton, Ker shaw, Johnston, Lawton and Jackson. The Johnston Light Infantry escorted General Wade Hampton to the theatre, where the ora? tion was to be delivered. After the applause consequent upon his introduction had subsided,' General Hampton said: Once again, and for the last time, I seem placed on duty in the service of ray old com? mander, and the voice that summons me here, waking many of the proudest though saddest emotions of my heart, comes from the tomb of him who, though "dead, yet speaketh." In reference to the history of the war he said : Not until the heat of passion, the mists of prejudice and the venom of bate, which have bo deeply stained American annals during the last decade, have subsided, can the true story of this last great revolution be given to the world. Then will the impartial historian be called on to tell with what neartfelt reluctance the South, driven to desperation, severed the bonds, no longer fraternal, which bound her to that Union she had so largely aided to make, and threw off a government which her wisdom had mainly formed, and which her patriotism and her genius had so greatly illustrated. He then proceeded to give a full and com? plete account of General Lee's illustrious ca? reer. Of the gallantry and Christian forbear? ance and patriotism of General Lee's nature, he said: When standing by the grave which had just been closed over our great captain, President Davis, while paying a noble tribute to his memory, referred to this part of his military career in the following language: "When Vir? ginia joined the Confederacy, Robert Lee, the highest officer in the little army of Virginia, came to Richmond, and not pausing to inquire what would be his rank in the service ot the Confederacy, went to Western Virginia under the belief that foe was still an officer of the State. He came back carrying the heavy weight of defeat, and unappreciated by the people whom he served, for they could not know as I know, that if his plans and orders had been carried out, the result would have been victory rather than defeat. You did not know, for I would not have known it, had he not breathed it in my ear, only at my earnest request, and begging that nothing be said about * * * * Yet through all this, with a magnanimity rarely equalled, he stood in si? lence without defending himself or allowing others to defend him, for he was unwilling to offend any one who was wearing a sword and strikiug blows for the Confederacy. The great soldier who had hitherto com? manded with such signal ability the army in Virginia?General Johnston?(thundering ap? plause)?having been severely wounded in the battle of Seven Piues, on the 31st of May, General Lee was appointed to succeed him, and assumed command on the 2nd of June. From this time until the close of the war. the history of General Lee is the history or the immortal army of Northern Virginia?that noblest army that ever trod this earth. To re? cord the unparallelled achievements of that army while directed by the genius of Lee, would be a task far too great to come within the scope of an address such as the present. General Hampton reviewed at length the military achievements of General Lee and of his gallant soldiers, aud, in conclusion, said : It has been my object not to embarrass the narrative by any criticism of my own, but to let the great actions which marked that career through its whole progress speak for them? selves. From these actions the verdict of history will, after all, be made up, aud that verdict neither the praise of his friends nor the censure of his enemies will be able to in? fluence. We place him without oue doubt be? fore that august tribunal, feeling assured that his motives, his deeds, and his virtues will be judged by posterity as we, his countrymen, judge them now. ? "Ills grandeur he derived from Heaven alone, Fur he was great ere fortune made htui so! > And ware, like mists that rise against the sun. Made him but greater seem, nut greater grow." "]Ni ashes In a peaceful urn shall rust. Uis name a great example made to show; How strangely high endeavors may be blessed, Where piety ana valor jointly go.** At the close of General Lee's military ser? vice he retired quietly to private life, and though the record left by him as a private citi? zen is as noble as any portion of his whole career, it was, unfortunately for the South and for the world, all too brief. He lost no time in vain regrets, but set himself resolutely to fulfill the duties that were before him. Offers of assistance poured in upou him from all quarters, but though deeply touched by this evidence of the love entertained for him, he refused them all, saying, "My friends have offered rac everything except work." He felt that it was his duty to work, and with him "duty was the sublimest word in our language." Surrounded by all that domestic affection could give, or public veneration bestow, it was the fond hope of our people that he would long be spared to the South to teach her sons to follow his example and emulate his virtues. But he himself felt that the wouuds his heart had re? ceived were mortal. When he rallied from his first attack and we were cheered by the hope that his precious life would be spared, a friend call? ed to congratulate him on his convalescence, and to express the hope that his health would soon be fully restored. Shaking his head gravely and placing his hand upon his heart, he replied: "No, the trouble is here." The trouble was, indeed, there. For the sorrows, the afflictions and the wrongs of the people whom he loved so well, were snapping, one by one, his heart-strings, and he foil at hist, dying as truly for the South as if he had fallen in her cause on the bloodiest field he ever won in her defence. And thus he passed away from the scenes of his labors aud his glory to appear I at the bar of that great Judge, who alone can and will decide whether the cause in which he ^ fought was right or wrong. But though he is no longer with us, his example, his fame and I his virtues are still left to us, and he thus is uot dead. lint strew his nahes to the wind, Whose sword or voico has servinl mankind, And is he dead wliose gluriuus mind Lifts thine on high ? To live in hearts we leave behind Is not to dio. Ts't death to fnll for freedom's right ? lie's dead alone that lnoks her light, And murder sullies in Heaven's sight The sword he -jraws. What can alone nuuoble fight ? A noble raitse. At the conclusion of the address, which was enthusiastically applauded, three rousing cheers for General Hampton were given. ? The Nashville Banner says : "New Year's calls were about as numerous as usual this I year. Most of them was requested to call ! again, except the gas man and the tax man." ! For our part, if the sewing machine man, the life insurance man and the lightning rod man j will let us alone, wecau stand the rest of them ' easily enough. For the Anderson Intelligencer. UNDER THE SHADOW. 'Tis the child's first grief, and the broken toy Is viewed with a glance of tearful yearning; The world seems robbed of its greatest joy, And hope's bright lamp is no longer burning. Under the shadow! We turn, 'tis a maiden fair, who bends With a pale, drawn face o'er the cold, dead form; And mother 1 mother! the welkin rends, While the tempest vies with the raging storm, Under the shadow! A youth, with a noblo, stirring face, Awakens us from this pitying trance. In deepest lines on his brow we trace These words, with a single passing glance, Under the shadow! And why? 'Twas a man he trusted so. A man 1 but the name is surely feigned; Now, duped, forsaken, he turns to go. Ah! the brand on his brow he has dearly gained? Under the shadow! But is man in his strength from the curse not free? And woman, too, with her strange, firm will ? At last, can we turn from the stern decree? No! no! they are deeper, deeper still Under the shadow! 'Tis a son they mourn, and the shadowy cloud Mas draped their souls with united grief. Lost! worse than death and its gloomy shroud? And their life is marked with this sentence brief Under the shadow! Old ago with its silvery locks appears, The shadow is lingering by its side! "Tis memory causes the welling tears, And the aged, too, must at times abide Under the shadow! LULA. A Hopefnl Tiew of Recent Legislation. The Columbia Phoenix of Thursday last takes the following hopeful view of the previous day's work in the Legislature : In the House of Representatives, yesterday, we found a disposition to dispatch work, and an evident tendency to consider only practical measures. Considerable progress was made, and a number of Senate bills and joint resolu? tions passed the second reading. The bill to aid and encourage manufactures and internal improvements, which was amended Tuesday,' to the effect that two mills of the refunded tax shall be retained, and applied exclusively to school purposes, was taken up. Mr. Meetze, of Lexington, withdrew the amendment offered by him the day before. He offered the following amendment, to come in at the close of third section: "Provided, that nothing herein con taiued shall apply to enterprises enumerated in this Act commenced within the last twelve months, and not yet completed ; and provided further, that nothing in this Act contained shall be so construed as to exempt from taxa? tion the land upon which said factories or rail? road enterprises may be erected." This was adopted without opposition. Mr. Cochran, of Anderson, introduced the following as a substi? tute to the fourth Bection of the bill: "That all manufacturing establishments enumerated in the foregoing sections of this Act, which have been completed since January 1st, 1872, or any improvements made or added to any that were built at the time of the above named date, shall come under the provisions of this Act, and be entitled to all the benefits thereof." ^This was also adopted, without debate or oppo? sition. Mr. Boston, of Newberry, gave notice that be would offer an amendment to the fifth section of the bill, on its third reading. Mr. Hurley, of Charleston, thought that commer? cial fertilizers should be included among the beneficiaries of the Act. Between five and six millions of dollars were invested in this manu? facture about Charleston. Some of these could not compete with Northern establishments; and were compelled to close. If included in thu bill, they might open again. He was for ex? empting capital employed in this business, which was owned, subscribed and controlled in State. He gave notice that he would offer an amendment to include commercial fertilizers, upon the third reading of the'bill. Our readers will see that the measure which has enlisted our warm interest and advocacy is in a fair way of becomiug a law of the land. The amendment, which retains two mills out of the refunded tax for educational purposes, is one which meets our hearty approval. That amount of tax on nvanufactories would be a mere bagatelle on them, but in the aggregate might figure up a nice sum for schools. And it is our policy and highest interest to aid and encourage, in every way we can, every legiti? mate means intended to advance the cause of education amongst us. No human eye can see any solution of the troubles which beset and environ us in this State. Statesmanship the most comprehensive aud ingenious would fail to solve the problem of our social aud political difficulties. We are committed to what seems a dark and uncertain future. But it is God who disposes. Mau only can propose. Just as our condition now is one which no sagacity could foresee, so may we, with a few turns of the wheel of events or fortune, be put in an unexpected state of prosperity, happiness and internal harmony. The one thing which is ever before us to do is duty. Its conscientious discharge will infallibly be rewarded in time. By all means, let education be promoted, and our full duty in this respect discharged. Let every mind in all this broad land have the op? portunity of the sunlight of knowledge and truth. The alliance between manufactories and schools is a happy one, and the omen may be regarded as au?pictous which thus unites them in a legislative measure. They may yet become potent influences in irradiating and ameliorating our dark and unhappy condition. Excursion to Europe.?A Masonic excur? sion is in course of preparation at Columbia, Pennsylvania, for a trip to Europe, with a special purpose of visiting the great Interna? tional Exhibition at Vienna. They start about the first of June next, and will make an exten? ded tour through Great Britiau as well as on the Continent. A contract has already been entered into for carrying a limited number? ocean passage, railroad fare, hotel bills and all other expenses incident to the trip, all paid. A fine opportunity here presents itself for making a cheap and pleasant tour to the Old World. Persons desiring further information on the subject should address A. M. Rambo, editor of the Courant, Columbia, Pa. ? Two men escaped from the Pittsburg jail the. other night, after digging six months to make a tunnel one hundred feet long. They left a note telling the Sheriff that they would meet him in heaven. The Fence Lair. Among the many questions at the present moment which demaud the attention of the public, is the proposed change in the fence law of the State. This law as it now stands, and for years the prevailing custom of the country, require that the crops be secured by a fence, and that the stock be allowed to range at large. The change which it is proposed to, make in the law reverses entirely the order of things. Instead of securing the crop by a fence, it is proposed to enclose the stock. For various reasons we think that the change should be made. It is evident that it would be cheaper to fence the stock than to fence the crop. It would require less labor and less timber, both of which are items of no small importance in the State. The change, however, is so thorough that it cannot, without much inconvenience, be effected at once. The general good of the country seems to demand that some change be made at once in tbe law. There kXot, per? haps, a single county in the State in which, in some sections of it, timber is not scarce. As a consequence, large bodies of productive land are lying out, tramped over and yearly impov? erished by herds of cattle. These lands are, to their owners, so much uninvested capital upon which a heavy tax is annually to be paid. A kind of compromise between the existing and the proposed law, is what we at present need. Fence in the hogs and then a cheaper fence will be sufficient for the crops. What is called a "galloping fence," can be built, which will as effectually turn cows and horses as the kind of fences at preseut in use. This fence can be built with at least one half the number of rails. When the cost of labor necessary to make rails, and the timber out of which they are to be made, are considered, the actual saving by this "galloping feuce" is no small item. One result of such a change would be, that many tracts of land that to-day are almost valueless, would be valuable. There is not enough of timber on them to fence them; hence, with the existing fence law in force, they cannot be cultivated, and are, in conse? quence, not saleable. Around most of such lands a "galloping-fence" could be placed, and sucb lands would rate in the market according to their productiveness. To feuce the hogs would not put the country to much inconven? ience, and to the owners, would, in the end, be a great advantage. When hogs are permitted to run at large, many of them are dogged for breaking into fields; some are killed for their mischief; not a few die of starvation, and only a few of the remainder escape from thieves!? Yorkville Enquirer. Honor to Anderson County.?The report of the County Commissioners of Anderson presented to the Legislature yesterday, exhibits an unusually healthful financial condition for these times. Upon a tax of two and a half mills on the dollar levied for county purposes last year, there was realized the sum of $12, 757.89 and the amounts collected for fines, licenses &c, aggregated $999.10 making in all ?13,756.49. The disbursements were $8,129.8L This shows a balance in the Treasury for the county of $5,626.66. The total amount claimed by the County Commissioners for their own I and their clerk's services was $247.35. There were, too, several extraordinary ex? penses. Such as the building of a bridge over the Saluda River, and the building of a roof to the Jail. There is not, we feel assured in stating, another county in the State which can show so fair a record, and we commend Ander I son to the other counties and to the State too j as a bright example worthy of their imitation. It is truly refreshing to learn that there is one branch?if we may so term Anderson county?of the government of South Carolina in which there is an overplus of funds. Nearly every county in the State is largely involved in debt, and county affairs, as a rule, are but little if any better conducted than those of the State.?South Carolinian, Report of the Anderson County Com? missioners.?The above report is before us and reflects great credit on the officers who thus set forth their work for the past vear. The sum of $12,757.89 was collected on $5,102,958. 88 worth of real and personal property. Be? sides this $999.49 were received on fines, licen? ces, etc. The total amount of expenditures outside of the commissioner's office was $8,126,81. This includes tbe building or repairing of seventeen bridges, new roofing the jail with tin, and com pleeting the survey in that county on tbe Air Line Railroad. The office expenses are the lightest of^any we have yet seen. K. Breazeale, Republican, received for services, $63. B. D. Dean, Repub? lican, $33. W. S. Pickens, Democrat, $85.35; total, $181.35. The clerk only received $66. The commissioners begin the new year with about $5,000 in the Treasury, no debts of any account, and with a reduction of the tax one half mill. Thus far Anderson is the banner county. Who will dispute her laurels with her ?? Union. The report of tbe Anderson County Com? missioners reflects great credit on the officers who have thus set forth their work for the past year. The sum of $12,757.39 was collected on $5,102,958.33 worth of real and personal prop? erty. Besides this, $999.49 were received on fines, licenses, etc. The total amount of ex? penditures, outside of the commissioners'office, was $8,129.81. This includes the building or repairing of seventeen bridges, new roofing the jail with tin, and completing the survey in that County on the Air Line Railroad. The office expenses are the lightest of any we have yet seen?$181.35. The commissioners begin the new year with about $5,000 in the treasury, no debts of any account, and with a reduction of the tax one-half mill.?Phoenix. How an Eccentric Man was Buried.? An exceedingly eccentric man has just died at Hincsburg, Vt, in the person of Augustus McEwen, aged eighty-four. He had his grave dug twenty vears ago, aud stoned up and filled with earth that it might be in perfect conditiou when needed. Last fall he had the earth taken out of it, saying that he expected to be laid there before the winter was over. His coffin was in readiness seven years ago, and so arranged that he could lie on his side with his knees" drawn up, as he said he slept iu this condition in life, end wanted to sleep so in death. AH his plans for the funeral were made iu advance, and among the rest he selected four colored boys who had worked for him more or less, as had their father before them, as pall-bearers. They were to carry the body to tlie grave, which was on his own farm, lower it to its last resting-place, fill the grave with earth, and then walk back to the house, where they were to find each a letter sealed and di? rected to them, in which was the money to pay for this last service which he had required' of them. His friends took good care to carry out his peculiar wishes. ? A Georgia man who recently sent the Savannah Newt thirty cents for sample copies of the paper, put in one corner of the envelop: "To Postmasters?Gents, this letter contains money. Pices handel it with a pair of tongs."