Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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RATES OF SUBSCRIPTION.-Two Dollar? per annum, and One Dollac lor six months. SnbseriptiODS' are not taken for a lets p< rlod than six months. Liberal deductions made to clubs of tor or more subscribers. RATES OF ADVERTISING.?On* Dollar per square ol one inch for the first insertion, and Fifty Cents per?quarc for subsequent insertlonslcssthan thro* months. No advertisement counted less than a square. Liberal contracts will be made with those wishing to advertise for three, six* or twelve months. Ad? vertising by contract must ba confined to the Im? mediateouslness of the firm or Individual contrac? ting. Obituary Xoticos exceeding n vo lines, Tributes of Respect, and all personal communications or matters of individual interest, will be charged for at advertising rates. Announcements of marriages and deaths, and notices of a religious character, are respectfully solicited, and will be inserted gratis. LEGAL ADVERTISING.-We are compelled to require cash payments for advertising crdered by Executors, Administrators and other fiduciaries, and herewith append the rates for the ordinary notices, which will only be inserted ,when the money comes with the order: Citations, two Insertions, ? ?- J ? - $3.00 Estate Notices, three insertions, ? - 2.00 Final Settlement*, live Insertion* - - 3.00 TO CORRESPONDENTS.?\n order to receive attention, communications must be accompanied by the true name and address of the writer. Re? jected manuscripts will not be returned, unless the necessary stamps arc furnished to repay the postage thereon. ... . KS" We arc not responsible for tbo views and opinions of our correspondent*. All communications should be addressed to "Ed? itors Intelligencer." and all checks, drafts, uioney orders, Ac., should bo made payable to the order of 1IOYT 4 CO., Anderson, S. C. BERKLEY HALL. BY "LA CAROLINE." CHAPTER L "Hesperian lands, beyond thu Atlantic wave; Herne of the poor, and refogu of the brave, Who, vainly striving with oppression, fly To find new somes beneath a hsippier sky." The Province of Carolina was settled by emigrants from, all countries, but es? pecially England and France. A pet colony of the English Crown,, its storied wealth in gold and pearls, its fertile landSj and the wide-spread fame of its hunting grounds, aboiinding in game of every kind, rendered it a favorite resort for the gay Cavalier in search of gold and adventure, while the poor persecuted Huguenot was attracted probably by its mild and genial clime, when forced to leave the sunny homes and vine-clad bills of "la belle France." About the year 1682, while still under the Proprietary Government, the Pro? vince was divided into the counties of Berkley, Craven and Colleton. Berkley contained the Metropolis, (the city of Charleston.) Aided by the hardy chil? dren of Africa, in a few short years, through the industry, enterprise and endurance of the colonists, large plan? tations were laid off, the forests were levelled, comfortable, commodious and often handsome dwellings were erected, and fields, amiling with plenty, took the place of the howling wilderness. Rap? idly the planters'rose'to wealth and the power and influence which wealth con? fers, and m December, 1860, when Caro? lina's sons arose en matte to assert her "Independent State Sovereignty," the planters of the State, and especially of those old counties, were in the zenith of prosperity. More than a century bad passed away, and the children and children's children of the early settlers were still masters in the halls of their fathers. They were remarkable for their refined and courte? ous manners, gay, open and hospitable dispositions, intelligent and cultivated minds. Their courtesy was without ostentation; their gaiety, the natural effusion of thankful hearts, "to whom the lines had fallen in pleasant places;" in their free and noble hospitality, there was no egotism, and their learning was devoid of pedantry?it was simply the culture of a gentleman. Their occupa? tions were the guidance of their children, the superintendence of.their well-ordered plantations and the government and care of their apparently contented and happy .slaves. Their pastimes were the health? ful and manly sports of hunting and fish? ing, and the social reunions at the various plantations, where music, dancing and pleasant repartee whiled away the mirth? ful hours. Their homes, those old plan? tation homes,'with their treasured memo? ries of joyous loves and chastened sor? rows, may well serve as ideals of all of human happiness this world can ever offer! It must not be supposed the planters' sons, were always and only the "Country Gentleman," devoting their lives to the quiet pursuit of agriculture. No, from the heartstones of our plantation homes, through the length and breadth of the land, earnest workers have been sent! To our courts they have given lawyers, distinguished for ability, truth and integ? rity; to communities, physicians, scien? tific, practical and charitable; to schools and colleges, teachers, learned and high toned; to our country, soldiers and states? men of untarnished honor, tried courage and pure patriotism; and to the noble work ot the ministry, self-sacrificing messengers of pardon, of love and mercy to fallen man! Truth, however, compels us to admit our heroes were only men, and as men imperfect. Their faults, like their virtues, were conspicuous. They were proud, imperious and impatient under wrong. They were proud, proud of their native, land?the warm, sunny South! Proud of their heroic lineage? the pure, the true, the brave from all lands. The hardy Briton, the industri? ous German, the patriotic Pole, the pious and gentle Huguenot, the noble patriot fathers of 76. They were proud, too, of the scorned epithet, slaveholder, believing that since "by God's command" the igno? rant and debauched African had come "for wiser teaching to a foreign land," it was their part to fulfill, "with zcat and hope, the all-directing Will." Slaves it is true the negroes were to command, but friends to love, to depend on and to cher? ish; and while their almost absolute power over the negroes nurtured the chief fault of the Southerners?imperi ousness?it brought also into play their most generous and kindly feelings, for the simple and unlettered Africans were oft-times tried and trusted friends! Living in open defiance to the opinions of the so-called Christian World, as slaveholders, it was not strange that the Southerners should be impatient of con? trol, and ever jealously alive to every shadow of encroachment upon their lib? erties as a people, and as distinct sover? eign States. But haughty and proud as was the attitude they assumed before the world, they were truly a Christian peo? ple, and their deep reverence for the sanctuary, the Sabbath and God's most Holy Word, with their unfeigned abhor? rence of the "isms" and unscriptural "Woman's Rights" and other "Institu? tions" of the present day, attests the soundness and purity of their faith. But "the day of the Lord shall be upon all pleasant pictures." Alas, for thee, fair Carolina, sweet, sunny land! Alas, alas for thy sons and thy daughters?the children of thy noble dead! Alas, for thee, loved Palmetto Land, the devotion of thy daughters could not protect thee; the blood cf thy sons, poured out like water, could not save thee! In vain were battles fought and victories won, from the Atlantic to the trans Missis? sippi, from Maryland to the Gulf; a con? quering foe has trod thy soil, and in the touching language of the Prophet we read thy fate: "Your country is deso? late, your cities are burned with fire; your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and it is desolate as overthrown by strangers." But, hark! by tho ear of Faith is heard "soft Mercy's undersong:" "If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall cat the good of the land; and it will re? store thy judges as at the first, and thy counsellors as at the beginning." Only "trust in the Lord," for "whom the Lord lovcth He chasteneth." He will purge away all thy dross, and take away all thy tin," and with "judgment and righteous? ness shalt thou be redeemed." Amid all the beautiful and happy homes of Berkley, the centre of an agree ble neighborhood of social, wealthy and refined planters, Berkley Hall, the ances? tral homes of a branch of the ancient family of Maham, stood for many years unrivalled. Its grounds were the most romautic; its festivities the most joyous; its youths the most gallant; its maidens the gentlest and the fairest, and in the veins of its sons and daughters the Eng? lish blood of the proud Cavaliers, min? gled with that of the brave and gentle Huguenots. About the close of the year 1860, the pe? riod at which my tale opens, Berkley Hall was the property of Col. Harry Maham,. who, in uniting quAUties, eminently his, of an energetic, practical and scientific planter, had developed almost perfectly the ?capacities of his large and fertile plantation. The approach to the Hall was by a long carriage drive of two miles, through a grassy, well-kept lawn of several acres. In the distance, as far as the eye could reach,-were to be seen extensive fields, rich with their plentiful harvests of cot? ton, corn, &c. The dwelling house, a large three-storied building with wings and wide piazzas attached, was a very beau ideal of a country house?handsome and commodious, and furnished with all the luxuries, comforts and conveniences usually found in the homes of the wealthy. It was also evidently arranged with-a thought -for the frequent enter? tainment of many guests, for even in "hospitable Carolina," the family were remarkable for their generous, vivacious and social dispositions. Nor was their hospitality confined to their friends; religiously they obeyed the injunction, "be not forgetful to entertain strangers." A pleasant and convenient walk from the "Big House" stood the neat and com? fortable cabins of the slaves, and in later years the modest plantation chapel had been added, giving a look of quiet village beauty to the whole scene. The family of Col. Maham consisted of his wife and three children, two sons and one only daughter, Marion, who,, at the early age of fourteen, gave promise of great personal loveliness?a. gift so earnestly coveted by woman, and one which too often proves the "buried talent" for whieh she will be called upon to render a solemn account; and, ah, how few will hear the gracious "well done." Mrs. Maham, herself, hod been called "a beauty," and still retained a consider? able share of womanly grace and loveli? ness. She was also a lady of cultivated mind, graceful manners and earnest piety. , Walter Maham, the eldest son, was a young man of brilliant mind and gentle, winning manners. He had graduated with .distinction at West Point, had served the allotted period in the United States Array, and had then returned home; and, after spending a year in re? laxation and quiet home pleasures, he had commenced the study of Divinity, declaring it his most earnest desire to be a messenger of the glad tidings of salva? tion to fallen mau. But the gloomy and warlike aspect of national affairs threat? ened to put an end to his lofty aspirations of being an ambassador of the Prince of Peace. He earnestly hoped that a peace? able separation from the Federal Union might be effected, but if Carolina needed his sen-ices he had determined to relin? quish his own cherished plans, and offer his life in her defence, believing he best fulfilled his duty to his God in defending his home and^hiB country from the yoke of. the tyrant and the desecrating hand of the spoiler. Not thus softly toned by the lofty pa? triotism of the Christian were the seuti ments of Harry Maham, a proud and impetuous youth of about seventeen, whose open, brave and generous nature made him a universal favorite with kia dred and friends. If necessary Walter Maham was ready to act faithfully the patriot-soldier's part; to draw the sword and fight manfully, but if he donned the soldier's garb bravely, he also did it sad? ly; with him the sword was a last and most grievous renort. Harry was eager for the conflict. Bold, impulsive boy us ho was?standing on the verge of man? hood, at tho ardent ago when boys dream only of honor and glory; of laurel crowns and knightly spurs, and are but too ready to feel and resent wrong?in the trumpet's voice he could hear no sound save a song of victory 1 Actuated by feelings of enthusiasm, excitement and anxiety universally felt in Carolina, the Colonel had determined to take his whole family to Charleston to witness the signing of the ac^, of Seces? sion by the Stute in her convention. They were accompanied by Rose Gordon, a lovely girl of fifteen, a Georgian by birth, and a friend of Marion Maham's. The previous summer, when spending "the season" at one of the pleasant wa? tering places of their native State, Geor? gia, Mr. Gordon and family had met the Mahams, and finding much that was con? genial in thoir tastes and dispositions, the families had struck up quite an inti? macy, especially the girls, who, school girl like, had vowed eternal friendship. Col. Maham's family having been cour? teously urged by Mr. Gordon when homeward bound, had stopped and spent several delightful days with the Gordons at their handsome suburban residence in the city of A-. Before bidding adieu to their hospitable entertainers, Col. and Mrs. Maham had obtained a promise that Rose should spend the month of December at Berkley Hall. The promise had been fulfilled, and for nearly a month Rose Gordon hai been the loved and honored guest at the old plantation. Having always lived ;n a city, the life of a country planter in all of its aspect^was a delightful novelty to her. She had imagined that "country people" were all clod hoppers, uneduca? ted and unrefined. "A countryman" to her crude fancy conveyed no other idea than brown jeans and yarn stocking, a very comfortable, well-to-do sort of a specimen .of the genus homo. It had never occurred to the generous hearted girl that in the iron frames of those brave tillers of the soil were to be found the very bone and sinew of her country, or that under those rough vestments were hearts as warm to love, and as true to friendship and the claims of home and fatherland as any which ever throbbed beneath satin or broad cloth! At Berkley she met a different speci? men of the "countryman." The country? man, to "the manor born" intelligent and well educated, bred to observe with the nicest care all of the gentle courtesies j and refinements of high life; placed by Fortune above want or labor; iierved by obedient, cheerful and affectionate slaves; enjoying almost daily intercourse with neighbors, social and cultivated ; posses? sing nearly all of the advantages enjoyed in a city life, yet freed from the chilling restraints and ceremonies imposed by etiquette and fashion, the home life of the planter presented to her romantic and girlish fancy, pictures of the free Saxon life in the green woods of "Merry old England" when the born thralls of the noble Thanes were proud of the patriarchal rule of their kind and much loved masters. With keen appreciation Rose enjoyed the new life opened to her. The long, brisk rides on horseback taken by Marion and herself, always accompanied by Har? ry and his chosen friend, Arthur Fergu? son, who was also passing the merry month of December at Berkley, and sometimes the grave and gentle Walter joined them. Pleasant," too, were the long afternoon walks to the swamps and the mill, and the merry talks with the Nymph of the swamp and wood?the gentle echo?whose last words only were ever heard. Then, again, neighbors' visits had to be returned, and long, de? lightful drives of several miles had to be taken to accomplish them. And the gay dinings with kindred and friends; ah, who can forget those reunions so full of joyous insouciance ! There was no danc? ing at Berkley that winter. "Coming events" had "cast their shadows before," and altho' none were gloomy, few felt mirthful enough to patronize the gay sal sons of terpsichore. But Rose cared not; for the dance, it was the fresh simple country life ?he loved, and her girlish, gay and guileless enthusiasm amply repaid her admiring and affectionate f riendB for their loving efforts to please her, and while away her holiday hours. [to be continued.] How Heney Clay Was Sold.? Some time before tbe introduction of railroads, Governor Metcalfe represented in Congress a district of which Nicholas county was a part. Mr. Clay was Secre? tary of State under President Quincy Ad'ims. The two distinguished politi? cians agreed to travel to Washington in Gov. Metcalfe's carriage. While passing through the State of Pennsylvania, Clay told Gov. Metcalfe that he had received intimations that in a certain town they were approaching he would be honored with an ovation by the citizens. J113: before coning to the town, Gov. Metcalfe, who had all along been driving, suggested to Mr. Clay that he take the lines and drive, as he himself was tired. Mr. Clay read? ily 'Consented, whereupon the Governor tool: the back seat in the carriage. Mr. Clay drove tbe team successfully into the town, and they were met by a larjje con? course of people. Gov. Metcalfe alight? ed from the carriage, and being asked whether he was Mr. Clay, answered yes, that he was glad to meet them, &c, and at this the crowd fairly hoisted him upon their shoulders and triumphantly started with him to the place of recep? tion. Looking back at Mr. Clay, who still sat in the carriage somewhat nonplussed, theGarernorjcried : "Driver, take those horses to the stable and feed them." The merriment of the crowd, when the joke was discovered, can better be imagined than described?Mr. Clay himself as heartily entering into it as the rest.? Carlisle Mercury. Bores.?An unavoidable, and by no means agreeable responsibility, which ac? companies the editorship of a paper, is the certainty of being bored occasionally by well-meaning but garrulous friend*, who "drop in," at all unseasonable times, and on no business in particular save to advise, criticise, inquire for the latest news, or relate some stale gossip which they have just got knowledge of, and which (they say) would be "so inter? esting" to the readers in general. In fact the editor would seem to have been made, by some dispensation of provi? dence, a target for the thousand ana one nuisances whom this great country pro? duces. Intruders and bores of all kinds, from the poic' who informs you that has "writ potry" and wishes publication and pay for his effusions to Jinks who is run? ning for the office of constable; the member of "Deluge, No. 1," who wish? es a note on the great "throw" made by the said Deluge in their contest with the fire company of the next town ; Jenkins who has discovered the secret of squar? ing the circle, or perpetual motion, or the Kcely motor, and who wishes 11 col Inmn-notice of his discovery in your ruu-'t issue; and, last in the list, but first in number, the pedestrian dcsciplc of Faust, more commonly known as the tramp. All these and many more of the kind afflict the editor with their presence at different periods, bringing him informa? tion in abundance, and but little hard cash or its gTcen-backed equivalent.?Ex change. For the Anderson Intelligencer. "The Lord lovelh tho gates of Zlon more than all the dwellings of Jacob."?Psalms, 87:2. The family and the church are both divine institution.1). They are smaller and larger things of the same kind. The family, such as it was originally designed to be, is a little church, with the* Bible as its law, love as its bond, and the father the officiating minister. The idea came from heaven, of whoso government it is a little earthly type?a copy taken from that grand original above?from which the "wholo family in heaven and earth is named." Surely God loves this, his own institute,?this little germinal gov? ernment where he teaches us first to love. But he ''lover*the gates of Zion more;" Zion, the embodiment of pious families, where love is taught to leap beyond the procincts of home ; where thought rises to the key-note of higher discourso; and, where the music of communing voices swells to its chorus like the sound of many waters. In the Christian church, more than anywhere else, we are "on the mount" and converse with great themes. Dd you go to church? This is an age of church-going, and we, sometimes al? most weary of what seems to be drawling devotion, sterotyped phrases and "long prayers." But we havo never repaired to a Christian church, mingled with its respectful crowd, gave ear to its pulpit voice, however uneloqucnt, but we have gone home with a better heart towards all mankind: If there is any place where God reaches men to better their hearts and reform their manners it is there. He exhorts us to seek the religious assem? bly for the freer play of the religious principles. You can .read homilies at home, but it is a slow sedimentary growth, too slow to awaken earnest thought. You need not only to think but to feel your great religious relations. Go 1o church ! It is the best school of manners and morals. Not that these are Bj'stematically taught there, but flow from its themes. You cannot play truant to reverence and decorum when you are brought in sight of such a subject as the creation of the world or its dissolution at the last day. You may criticise rhetoric but you cannot criticise eternity. The preacher may poorly sketch his subject, the theme itself will rein you to a higher plane of thought. The nasal twang of one man, the puritanical cant of another, the sanctimony of another, even these things tell the thoughtful that religion is. gra nd enough to produce an attempt to j imi tate i t. The shadow proves the reali? ty. The counterfeit is taken from the genuine. Go to church! Though the doacon who groans in the sanctuary cheats in tho store, the fate of religion is not sealed up in his. His church groans and his store morals both tell us that his "heavenly treasure is committed to earthen vessels" that are easily broken. Anderson, Jan. 6lfi, 1876. Cooked Food for Stock.?The world will never quite get rid of its old fogies? those who want to be natural, but have not studied nature. When fodder shall be cooked so as to be softer and more succulent than grass, which nature has furnished for the animal, then it will do to inquire whether nature is not vio? lated, in cooking food for cattle.? Nature furnishes grass, not dried fodder. The dried fodder is man's work of pre? serving food while grass does not grow, and if he cooks this soft and succulent in imitation of grass, does he run a tilt with nature or is he imitating her? A farmer always looks fonvard to the new growth of grass in the spring as af-, fording an opportunity for his cattle to improve in condition and health, and when he cooks thoroughly his winter food hia cattle are simply kept upon grass the year round. We have kept the same cows upon cooked food for fifteen winters, | and f Dtind them vigorous at nineteen and and twenty years old. Here is what Professor Wilkinson of Baltimore, Md., says in relation to cooked food for cattle: "I conducted an agricul? tural school and experimental farm for eight yean and experimented with feed? ing cookcc; and uncooked food of every description used for cows, horses, swine, working and fattening cattle and poultry, and carefully noted the result, which wait in all cases very remunerative; so much so, that even with the defective, inconve? nient a:ad expensive apparatus used?f r want of bettor?in steaming, manipula? ting and feeding I found there was an average profit of fully twenty-five per cent.; chat is, in feedirg the variety of animali, named; but in feeding milch cows la cold weather with warmed steamed food of every description, there was a profit of over thirty per cent, when the animals were kept at proper tempera? ture, and fed with proper portions of nu? trition* food."?Live stnch Journal. A Was Secret Revealed.?Among some personal reminiscences recently re? lated by the Hon. A. H. H. Stuart, of Virginia, in a political speech, was one connected with the peace negotiations of the late Confederacy that has never been made public. He read a note from Hon. Judah P. Benjamin, dated March 25, 1s64, asking him to come to Richmond for an interview with President Davis on business, the subject of which was too important to be committed to paper. He went, and was informed by President Davis that the Confederate Congress had voted a secret service fund of $3,000,000 in gold, to be used in creating a peace sentiment at the North. After looking over the whole country, the "President" had selected Mr. Stuart as the man for the mission. He was to sail for Nassau and thence for Halifax, and there, from the border of Canada, could operate on prominent men. The fund of *3,000,000 was to be at his absolute disposal, and he was not to be required to furnish vouch? ers for its disbursement. Mr. Stuart de? clined the tender, and C. C. Clay, of Ala? bama, and two other gentlemen were ap? pointed. The Grcefey correspondence and the "To whom it may concern" of President Lincoln followed this mission. ? A young man iu Kansas, who is par? ticular about his washing, the other day wrote a iotc to his washer-woman and one to his girl, and, by a strange fatality, put the wrong address on each envelope, and sent them off. The washer-woman was well pleased at an invitation to take a ride the next day, but when the young lady read: "If you muss up my shirt bosoms, rnd rub the buttons off my col? lar any more, as you did the last time, I will go somewhere else," she cried all the evening, Jind declares that she will never speak to him again. The Only Policy Worth Punning. It is very evident tlnit the Chamber? lain coalition is a powerful one; but there are not lacking thousands of patri? ot* in the Palmetto State who abhor con? nivance with the man who has injected poison into the very veins of their civili? zation, helped the lilack Radicals to rob the people, insulted the noblest spirits of the South, corrupted the seminary of learning, and is mainly responsible for all the woes that now beset and menace the very foundations of social and politi? cal order. The cry of "reform" from Chamberlain is just about as delusive as the promise of "reform" from Warmoth, in Louisiana. The people of Louisiana bitterly bewail their blunder; the people j of South Carolina may repeat the trail of Louisiana. We are told by the Chamberlain or? gans that Republican presses, like the Nation and Harper's Weekly, are loud in their praises of the South Carolina Exec? utive and vociferous in their denuncia? tions of the results of black Radicalism. They assert, with Grant at their head, that the election of Whipper and Moses is "bad for the party." There's where the shoe pinches; and Chamberlain and his devoted henchmen are Telied upon to stop the downward course of Radical? ism, and, with the aid of "Conservatives" and so-called "Democrats," restore Re? publicanism to a species of respectability. Is it possible that the white people of South Carolina can be trapped into fuch a pit-fall ? There is grave danger that, just as they have been deluded in the past, they will be decived in the future. Again: Why should Harper's Weekly be so furiously aghast at the election of Whipper and Moses ? Are these leprous men not the logical and inevitable spawn of the Republican idea, as represented by that sheet and its kindred ? Are we to be told that the effect of Radicalism is evil and the came good? Will the true people of South Carolina swallow such a monstrous paradox and hold glorification meetings over its promulgation ? If the effect is destructive of civilization, how abominable must be the elements produ-. cing i* ?. If the fountain of disgrace and ruin be not dammed up or dried up, what hope is there that its flow of abortions ahall ever cease ? If a coalition be made with the source of iniquity, will the hide? ous progeny of Radicalism ever be con? founded? The only policy worth pur? suing is that of principle. Keep up that standard in South Carolina. Enlist under it every man, woman and child in the State who abhors the villainy of the 5>ost eleven years. Excite enthusiasm or a course worth living and dying for. Give the true people of the State some? thing to love, reverence and struggle for. For our part, we cannot understand how the white people of South Carolina can take to their bosoms the man who boa its of the new order of things he principally introduced within their grand old com? monwealth ; and it is horrible to see them embracing with ecstasy an official whom they so recently denounced as a conspirator and rogue. Even the negroes see the trickery of this change of base, and we are not sur? prised that one of them has threat? ened that "if there is to be a gen? eral selling out they propose to be parties to the sale, and before they will allow a bald-headed Massachusetts Yankee to sell them, out, they will elect Hon. A. G. MaGrath for Governor, and Hon. Geo. A. Trenholm as Lieutcnant-Governor." We quote these words of a negro speaker, to snow the drift of opinion, in a most stinging rebuke. Men of Carolina! ? Abandon the delusion that the world is governed by humbug and not by ideas. Make your campaign on a platform of principle and not a mere scramble far spoils. The truth shall make you whole, if you abide by it. False issues, false measures and false coalitions will keep you in the dust, and deliver you naked to your enemies.?Augusta Can*Htut\o.i alist._ The Habit of Reading.?The fol? lowing from Scribner's Monthly, contains some very suggestive thoughts: "I have no time to read," is the common com? plaint, and especially of women whose occupations are such as to prevent con? tinuous book perusal. They seem to think because they cannot devote (is much attention to books as they are com? pelled to devote to their avocation, that they cannot read anything. But this is a great mistake. It isn't the books we finish at a aittiug which always do us tbe most good. Those we devour in the odd moments, half a dozen pages at a time, often give us more satisfaction, and an more thoroughly digested than tho*e we make a particular effort to read. Thi men who have made their mark in th ; world have generally been the men. who have in boyhood formed the habit of reading at every available moment, whether for five minutes or five hours. It is the habit of reading rather than the time at our command that helps uu on the road to learning. Many of the cultivated persons, whose names have been famous as students, hare given only two or three hours a day to their books. If we make use of spare moments in tho midst of our work, and read a little, if? but a page, or a paragraph, we shall find our brain quickened and our toil lighten? ed by just so much increased satisfaction as the book gives us. Nothing helps us along the monotonous daily round so much as fresh and striking thoughts, to be considered while cur hands are busy. A new idea from a volume is like oil which reduces the friction of the ma? chinery of life. What we remember from brief glimpses into books often serves as a stimulus to action, and be? comes one of the most precious deposits in the treasury of nur recollection. All knowledge is m.;de up of small parts, which would seem insignificant in them? selves, but which, taken together, are very valuable weapons for the mind and substantial armor for the soul. "Read anything continuously," says Dr. John? son, "and you will be learned." The odd minutes which wc arc inclined to wnstc, if carefully availed of, will, in the long run, make golden hours and golden days that we shall ever be thankful for. ? The Boston Gazette says: "An en? gaged young gentleman got neatly out of a little scrape with his intended. She taxed him with having kissed two young ladies at sonic party which she was not present. He owned it, but said that their united ages only made twenty-one. The simple-minded girl thought of ten and eleven, so laughed off her pout. He did not explain tnnt one was nineteen, and the other two yean of age. Wasn't it artful ? Oh, George I" ? A book agent called on a farmer the other day, and was told that the farmer was too busy to talk with him. "But," said the agent, "your farm work is all done. You have nothing to occupy your time?" "Yes I have, too," retort? ed the farmer; "I've got to plant my foot and raise a book agent." And he did. He raised him about four feet. ? Richelieu's remark, "there's nosuili word as fail," should be modified to meet the present unpleasant times so as to state about how many cents will be paid on the dollar. Democratic Duty in [South Carolina. The New York World reads us a good lesson on this nll-alworbing topic. It be? gins by reference to the whites of Missis? sippi, who only discovered the full meas? ure of their courage and wisdom after the iron of bayonet and negro rule had en? tered deep into their souls. Thoir ex? tremity was their opportunity. It re? gards our extremity sufficient to rouse us to grasp a similar opportunity. It says: "Of all the Southern States but one other can be classed with Mississippi, for Louisiana we can safely count as ours in fact as well as of right; and North Caro? lina, though the contest will be close, should with proper care array herself once more under the Democratic flag in 1876. That unhappy State is South Car? olina. Like Mississippi, cursed with an overwhelmingly largo population of ne? groes, jwayea by a bandet infamous and clever renegades and carpet-baggers, the burdens laid on property have been in? creased to the limit of confiscation ; the ?State has been plundered by robbers without even the decency to attempt to conceal their crimes, and injustice has bought and sold in open court." Referring then to the election of Whipper and Moses, it urges that Gov. Chamberlain is proved tobe wholly with? out power to bring about reforms, and that the Black League of South Carolina, taking alarm at the redemption of Ala? bama and Mississippi, has deemed wise the bolder course of plundering and prostituting while there yet remain a treasury to rob and a function of govern? ment to outrage. Strong in numbers and united under able and unscrupulous leaders, while their opponents are doubt? ing and divided, they have improved their opportunity. It is useless to appeal to their sense "of duty and decency.? Equally hopeless js it to trust to the in? dependent Republican broom to keep out the tide of knavery. For the past tix years the Democrats and honest Republi? cans have surrendered their convictions in the vain hope that by not aggravating their rulers '^eir burdens would be made more tolerab. It concludes with the following spirit? ed word.-., which we send along the line to our "courageous and devoted men." It is a call ot a character and from a source which they are bound to respect: "What have the Democrats in South Carolina or anywhere else gained by fur? ling their flag and selecting a deserter as their general ? Atc the honest people of South Carolina less desirous of reform than were theirxbrethren of Mississippi? Is the necessity- for revolution less ur? gent? Are they less courageous and de? voted ? If not, let them by a similar course achieve the same success. South Carolina dwells fondly upon the heroism of her sons during the revolution of ft century ago, and proposes to invite all. who honor courage and patriotism tc meet her people at historic Moultrie. A better centennial celebration than this will be the redemption of the State. The tyrranny agair.it which the free-born men of South Carolina rose in 1776 was far less oppressive^ far leas disgraceful, than that under wnich their descendants groan to-day." Punctuality in all Things. It is astonishing how many people there are who neglect, punctuality.? Thousands have failed in this life from this cause alone. It is not only a serious vice in itself but it is the fruitful parent of many other vices,, so that he who be? comes the victim of it gets involved in toils from which it is almost impossible to escape. It makes the merchant waste? ful of time; it saps the business reputa? tion of the lawyer, and it injures the prospects of the mechanics who might otherwise rise to fortune; in a word, there is not a profession, nor a station in life, which is not liable to the cauker of this destructive habit. In mercantile affairs, punctuality is as important as in military. Many are the instances in which the negiect to renew an insurance punctually has led to a serious loss. Hundreds of city merchants are now suffering in consequence of the want of punctuality among their western customers in naying up accounts. With sound policy do the banks exist, under ' the penalty of a protest, on the punctual payment of notes; for were they to do otherwise, commercial transactions would fall into inextricable confusio. Many and many a time has the failure of one man to meet his obligations brought ou the ruin of a score of others, just sis the toppling down, in a line of bricks, of the master-brick causes the fall of all the rest. Perhaps there is no class of men less punctual than mechanics. Do you want an upholsterer ? He rarely comes when he agrees. So with carpenters, painters, and nearly all others. Tailors and shoe-' makers often do not hive their articles home in time. The consequence is that thousands remain poor all their lives, who, if they were more faithful to their word, would secure a large run of cus? tom, and so make their fortunes. What would become of the Anderson Intelli? gencer were it not punctual in going to press ? or if our paper makers were not punctual in delivering paper? or if our compositors were not punctual in coming to work ? Be punctual, if you would suc? ceed. A Strange Weddixo Fee.?A cler? gyman wl was formerly located in this city, but is now in New York, married, a little over a year ago, a couple, who at once started for Europe and have recent? ly returned. The bridegroom was a gen? tleman of wealth, and before he present? ed himself before the bridal altar he placed a $100 greenback in his vest pocket to give the parson for the mar? riage fee, and did pny him as he supposed. While crossing the ocean he discovered, greatly to his astonishmeut, the bill in the pocket where he placed it, and could account for its presence there only on the theory that he must have had anoth? er bill of different denomination which ho had'donated to the clergyman by mis Like. On getting back to thin country be de? termined to solve the mystery, and wait? ed upon the reverend gentleman, who did not recognize him, and inquired if on a certain date he did not marry a certain couple. The clergyman remembered the occasion perfectly. "I know I am about to ask an impertinent question," said the visitor, "but! should like to be informed what fee you received for performing the ceremony?" The clergyman was not prepared to make any disclosure, natur? ally being astonished that his interviewer should propound such a question, but up un an explanation being made that the gentleman himself, whom he then rccog uizcl, was the one lie had married, he said that he would, of course, gratify him, since he was no anxious to know. "I re? ceived," he then went on to say, "a very small quantity of fine cut chewing tobac? co, folded in a very small piece of paper." That was enough ; the only thing re? maining to be done was to apologize, laugh heartily, shake hands, and make t!ie ij lOO deposit good. ? A man's credit must be bad, indeed, when he can't borrow trouble, What Ruins Cotton (Uns. Thousands of cotton gins are needless? ly injured, if not entirely ruined, by one single cause. That cause is permitting mote or lint cotton (that is, cotton that has been once ginned,) to be mixed with cotton and passed through the saws a second time. Such lint cotton catches in the teeth, clogs the saws, dulls the teeth, and bends and breaks them. It also bends or breaks the ribs^ wears the boxes and strains the whole gin, so as to make it produce a bad sample and speedi? ly become almost worthless. It likewise increases the draft, so as to distress the mules propelling the gin, and creates so much friction as often to set the gin house on fire. Thus can be explained the burning of many a gin house Dy the supposed spontaneous combustion of cot? ton. Hence every owner of the gin house should be very careful about where his mote cotton is placed, also about permit? ting the "flying" or "hanging" to fall on' his seed cotton. Above all should he be Earticular in preventing the ginner or is assistant, when returning from the lint room after "packing the cotton back," as it is called, from having any lint on his clothing. The usual assistant at a gin to hand seed cotton and "pack back" lint is a playful urchin, who delights first to wal? low in the lint room, and then, divesting himself of the lint adhering to his clothes, next to roll on his seed cotton. Often? times every boy, black and white, on a large plantation, after a general frolic in the lint room, will immediately emerge therefrom and continue their wrestling, rolling and romping over the seed cotton, with perhaps half a pound of lint stick? ing to each one's ragged apparel. Such play is of course delightful to the boys, but it is dear sport to the owners of the gin. In many gin houses, too, while packing cotton for the market, much lint us mixed with seed cotton either by care? lessness or by the wind. A gin is a costly machine, but it is not a delicate one or easily put out of order if previously ginned lint is kept out of the saws. In fact, a good gin, rightly managed, should?with but little sharp? ening and small repairs?pack fifty bales of lint per year, and last a planter of average longevity his lifetime ; whereas most gins become useless, or nearly so in perhaps five Years, from the single cause I have indicated. No child ever ought to be allowed to enter a lint room where it can well be prevented. The Outside Passenger. It was in the old days of stage-coaches, and one of those huge, lumbering vo hickles was ploughing its way between Boston and Salem in a driving rain-storm, filled inside and outside with a jolly set of passengers. AmoDg the number the more fortunate insiders was a respectable baldheaded old gentleman, who seemed to be very Bolici tons about a lady riding on the roof. Every few minutes he popped out his head, regardless of the rain, and shouted to some one above, "Well how is she now?" And the answer came, "All right." "Is she getting wet ?" inquired the old man. "No, not much/-' as the reply. "Well, can't you put aomething 'round her? 'Twill never do to have her get wet, you know." "We've got everything areund her we can get." "Haven't you got an old coat or rug?" "No, not a rag more." A sympathetic young man hearing all this, and feeling alarmed for the poor lady out in the storm, inquired of the old gentleman why they didn't have her ride inside, and not out on the roof? "Bless you, there ain't* room!" ex? claimed the old man. "Notroom? Why, I'd give her my place; it's too bad." "Not at all, sir?not at all. We couldn't get her into this stage any? how!" Amazed at her prodigious dimensions, the kind young rar.n said: "Well, sir, if ray coat would be of any service to you, she may have it; ana, j uiring the action to the word, be took the garment nnd handed it to the old gen? tleman. "It's almost a pity, sir, to get your overcoat wet. but??" "Not at all, sir, by no means?pasa it. up to her." The coat was accordingly passed up. "HowUl that do for her?" asked the old gentleman. "Tip-top! Just the ticket! All right now." Thus relieved, no further anxiety was manifested about the outside passenger till the stage arrived at tbe inn, when what was.the sympathetic and the gal? lant young man's surprise and indigna? tion to find that his nice coat had been wrapped around?not a fair young lady of unusual proportions, but?a double .bass violin !?Boston Commercial Bulle? tin. ? ; ? A Man's Neighbors.?The Raleigh New* reports that Rev. Dr. Pritchard, of that city, referred in his Thanksgiving sermon to a conversation held some years ago between Dr. Thomas' E. Skinner, formerly of labigh., now of Georgia, and an anti-missionaryist. Dr. Skinner, he said, was soliciting aid for foreign mis? sions, and applied to this gentleman, who promptly repulsed him with the reply, "I don't believe in foreign missions. I want what I give to benefit my neigh? bors." "Well," replied Dr. Skinner, "whom do you regard as your neighbors ?" "Why, those around me," replied the brother. "Do you mean those whose lands joins yours?" inquired Dr. Skinner. "Yes." "Well," said Dr. Skinner, "how much land do you own ?" "About 500 acres." 'How far down do you own ?" inquired Dr. Skinner. "Why, I never thought of it before., but I suppose I own half way through. "Exactly," said Dr. Skinner. "I sup? pose you do, and I want this money for the Chinese?the men whose land joins yours on the bottom." The hardened brother had never thought of that, and give a good sum for foreign missions. ? A little five year old boy was being instructed in morals by his grandmother. The old lady told him that all such terms as "by golly," "by jingo," "by thunder," &c, were only minced oath*, and but little better than any other profanity. In fact, she said, lie could tell a profane oatli by the prefix "by." All such were oaths. * "Well," theii. grandmother," said the little hopeful, "there's a big oath in the newspapers?'By telegraph.'" The old lady gave it up, and the boy h bewildered on morals. ? "The buy at the head of the class will state what were the dark ages of the world." Boy hesitates. "Next, Master Biggs, can you tell me what the dark ages were?" "I guess they were the ages before speclncles were invented." "Go to your scats," General News Snmmflry. ? Joel Harnes was killed at a social party in Gallatin, Tenn., on Christinas day. ? Florida is progressing in wealth and gopulation more rapidly than any of the outhern States. ? Several persons were fatally injured in Memphis on Christmas day by the ex? plosion of a toy cannon. ? Tho total amount of improvements at Helena, Montana, during thepast year is estimated at $183,565. ? Ten thousand workmen nro said to be engaged at this time oh the line of the Cincinnati Southern Railroad; ? Thepolice of St. Louin, Mo., have been ordered to arrest everybody on gaged in selling lottery tickets in that city. ? The Trader's National Bank of Charlotte, N. C, has been authorized to commence business, with a capital of $100,000. ? Miss Clara Louise Kollogg,? tho famous songstress, is engaged to he mar? ried to Mr. Bradish Johnson Smith, a wealthy New Yorker. ? If Speaker Kerr's health should prove too poor to enable him to preside, it is probable that Mr. Lamar will be chosen as Speaker pro tern. ? Rev, J. L. Girardeau, D. D., of Charleston, has accepted the professor? ship to which he was elected in the The- i ological Seminary at Columbia. ? Charleston is the only city on tho Atlantic coast from which the ocean can be seen. A remarkable fact, which is at? tracting general attention just now. ? The military companies of Savannah are making preparations to celebrate the anniversary of Gen. Robert E. Lee's birthday, on the 19th of January, by a grand parade. ? The Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser says the cotton fields in that vicinity budded, blossomed and bore fruit nntfl the 10th of December, when the first kill? ing frost occurred. ? Gen. James Chestnut, of South Car? olina, has been choson to deliver the an? nual oration before tho literary societies of Princeton College, Now Jersey, at the next commencement. ? Commodore Vandorbilt has given another $100,000 to the Yanderbilt Uni? versity at Nashville, Tenn., which makes his princely gifts to that institution ag? gregate $700,000. ? The Marquis of Ripon, who resigned the office of Grand Master of Masons in England to join the Roman C&tbollc church, has become leading patron of the Catholic Club at London. . ? Hanging is still the popular mode of Snnishment in North Carolina. Ran olph Sutten, colored, will'expiate the crime of burglary on the gallows on the 21st of Januaiy at Concord, N. C. ' ? The contractors on the Spartanburg and Asheville Railroad are at work west of the Blue Ridge, in Henderson county, and an additional force*of convicts is en? gaged on the Polk county section. ? Rev. John Kersbaw has entered upon his duties as rector of tho Episcopal church in Abbeville. Ho is a son of Gon. J. B. Kersbaw, and is a young men of fine talent and conspicuous energy. ' ? Governor Hendricks, of Indiana, has accepted an invitation to deliver the onening address of the Southern States Agricultural and Industrial Expos lion at *New Orleans on February 26th.it0xt. ? The Choraw Lyceum?organized in January, 1856?will, on the 14th of this month, celebrate its twentieth anniversa? ry, when a public address will be deliv? ered by Gen. J. D. Kennedy, Of Cam len. ? Governor Kemper, of Virginia, re? commends a State tax upon .distilled spirits. He says throe quarters of a. mil? lion of dollars could be raised from this source by a tax of thirty cents on the dollar. ? Nevada has passed a law forbidding any person practising as a physician in that State who has not practised modi cine there for five years, or does not hold a diploma from an established medical college. ? - ? Rev. W. G. Stoyall, of Washington Parish, La., is reported to have made the following yield on one-third of an' tore: Seven hundred pounds seed cotton; five hundred stalks of sugar cane, and twelve barrels of corn. ?.The Supreme-Court has decided that the act of the General Assembly is con? stitutional which gives trial justices con? current jurisdiction with the circuit court in actions ex delicto, where the damages claimed do not exceed $100. ? An Alabama grange has appointed a committee of review, the duty of which is to visit the farms of the members monthly, and make a report before the grange as to their condition, improve? ment and general management. ? Porto Rico recently enjoyed the tropical luxury of an earthquake. The town of Arecino was almost entirely de? stroyed?two churches and only-. six, houses remain, and they, are so badly, damaged they may fall at any moment. j ? A dreadful calamity occurred in the ' little village of Hellikon, in Switzerland; on the 25th of December. . Christmas festivities were being celebrated iu the' school-houso of thai; place, when the flooring gavo way. Eighty persons wore killed, and fifty others were wounded. ? The South Carolina Methodist Con? ference, recently in session at Orange burg, adopted a resolution forbidding Methodist preachers to attend circuses, even to see the "animals." - There is no prohibition against looking. in upon tho South Carolina Legislature for that pur-' posj, however.- ? ? Governor Garland, of Arkansas, has invited, the Governors of Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and: Ten? nessee to unite with him in a call for- a - convention of the Southern. States this winter at New Orleans for the purpose of determining upon a mutual plan for the encouragement of immigration to the South from'Europe. ? President Grant and Secretary Belk nap have ordered Dr. Linderman, super- i intendentof the United States Mint, to coin appropriate medals of the cannon captured during the Mexican war, for the purpose of presenting one each to tbo veteran soldiers of the Mexican war who may congregate at Philadelphia at the' Centennial celebration, July 4, 1876. ? The most important bill for the South which has been introduced in Con? gress at this session is one directing tho Secretary of the Treasury to pay to tho owners, or their heirs or assigns, with? out interest, tho amount of tho proceeds ot sale of any land for direct taxes mado by tho United States in tho late insurrec? tionary States. Such owners, however, before receiving the money are to' give r. full and complete quit claim to the Gov? ernment. ? A negro's cabin was burned in Sum tcr, S. C, and his family were within . when the fire began. Their escape Oy? the door and single window was cut off, and he broke a hole in the roof through which to descend to their rescue. He could only get one out at a time. His wife and two children were taken out, leaving one child behind. The negro in his last descent had been badly burned by the spreading flames, but he bravely tried again, and was burned to death with tho child. ? Tho Democratic National Committee will meet in Washington about the third ' week irr January, to eonfer on the sub? ject of the place and time of holding tho Presidential nominating convention. The convention at New York,' in 1888. and that at Baltimore, in 1872, were held in the month of July ; a later season in tho year than usually chojon. It is quite probablo that the National Committee will designate an earlier time for the con? vention in 1876, tho month of May, quite llkoly, or, at tho latest, the earlier days of Juno. ? The Columbia correspondent of tho News and Courier intimates that tho decent Republicans wero sold out in tho . recent judicial election. In order to keep Judge Maher upon tho bench they agreed to vote for Whipper, provided Whippet's : friends would help them elect Maher. Whipper had bis own election brought on first, and when that was secured carried his forces over to Wiggin, with whose friends he had also made a bar? gain. If the decent Republicans mado such a trade they wero properly punish? ed for their perfidy.