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BY E. B. MURRAY & CO. ANDERSON, S. C, THURSDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 18, 1879._VOL. XV-NO. 10. BET. ROBERT KING. A Sketch of bis Life and Labors. Baptist Courier. The subject of this sketch, the Rev. Robert King, was born of humble parent? age in Anderson County, then Pendleton District, about two miles southeast of Belton, on January 1st, 1791. The society in which he was reared was unfavorable to the development of the mental and moral powers of his youthful mind. He enjoyed no advantages, either educational or religious. In the year 1809, being disheartened by the dissipation of his father, and having heard mauy favor able reports, through travelers, of the Srodncttveness of the lands of Tennessee, e determined,.without the counsel or permission of his parents, to seek his for? tune among strangers in a strange land; thitherward he weuded his way, much of the distance being an uninhabited forest. He arrived in Dickson County in the spring of 1809. He served that year as a hireling, and sometime during the year, or the following year, while attending the preaching of the Gospel, administered by the Rev. Daniel White, was deeply and sensibly impressed with his hopeless con? dition as a lost sinner. After much men? tal agony and heartfelt sorrow for sin, at a late hour of the night, while all nature was slumbering in darkness, this prodigal youth, agonizing with r.n offended God for forgiveness, had a distinct view of the plan of salvation through the atonement of Christ. From that time until the day of his death he was impressed with the thought that it was an unusual manifest? ation. His soul was thrilled with the music of Heaven. He dates his call to the Gospel ministry simultaneously with his conversion. He was baptized, at the first opportunity, by the Rev. Daniel White, and received into the fellowship of the Turn Bull Baptist Church, located in Dickson County. In the latter part of the year 1810, he, in company with his father in the Grospel, returned to the land of his nativity. Previous to his leaving Tennessee he obtained, by the advice of his pastor, a letter of dismission from his church, which immediately after his re? turn he deposited in the Neal's Creek Church, Anderson County, B.C. In March of the succeeding year, he fonnd a com? panion for life in the person of Miss Fran? ces Holland, daughter of the Rev. Moses Holland, at that time pastor of the Neal's Creek Church. Like many other Chris? tians he became cold and careless, neglect? ed the house of God. which is a sure in? dication of a backsliding condition, and thus he'continued, step by step, to decline until May, 1814, when his religious de? clension was so great that he was, after mnch admonition from die church, ex? cluded, in which state he continued till July, 1820. When, in his 79th year, he was asked by an eminent divine if he did not think he might have been deceived as to his conversion in Tennessee, he re? plied : "I do not think I could have been deceived from the fact: If the prodigal son had never been at his father's house he would not have known the way back. I knew I found peace with God through repentance and faith in my blessed Jesus when I was in Tennessee, and, as a back? slider, I knew the way to seek and to find Him." The minister replied: " This is the best comment I ever heard on the parable of the prodigal son." Soon after his restoration to the church, his purity, humility and Christian deport? ment began to attract the attention and admiration of all who knew him. Such confidence was inspired by his piety that ' he was frequently called upon to lead wor? shipping assemblies in prayer. A heaven born zeal for the salvation of man now warmed up his soul, and he began to lift up his voice, portraying-the wondrous love of Jesus. Uncultured as he was, his appeals were touching, powerful, and, in many instances, irresistable. Impressed with the love of Jesus and the value of souls, he now determined to consecrate himself wholly to the work of the Gospel ministry. A great obstacle presented it? self ; he knew not a letter of the alphabet. So strong was his desire to preach that he resolved to overcome this barrier. His wife taught him his letters, to spell and to read. The Bible at once became the book for his life-study, and he was emphat? ically a Bible preacher, drawing from it his faith, doctrines and practices. So deeply and favorably were his breth? ren at Neal's Creek Church impressed with his power in prayer and exhortation that on the 27th of March, 1824, they li? censed him to preach. In the latter part of the year 1827 he received a call to the pastorate of the Washintoa Church, in Greenville District, S. C, and on the 24th of May, 1828, was ordained by the impo? sition of hands bya Presbytery, composed of Elders Moses Holland, San ford \,an di? ver, James Burroughs and Arthur Wil? liams. This call removed a heavy burden from his mind, for during the interval be? tween bis license to preach and ordination he was much perplexed upon the subject of being called to preach with no field of labor presented. While Satan was thus tempting him, God was preparing him for a great work. This call gave a new impetus to his zeal and humility. He entered upon this, his first pastorate, with only one male member, (Amos Eskew, who is still living), which pastorate con? tinued eight years. Mauy of the first families of the community were converted through his instrumentality, among whom was the late lamented Rev. A. Acker. In September, 1829, he and Elder Wil? liam McGee were called jointly to the care of Neal's Creek Church, and during the next year they baptized 160 converts, among whom were two Indians, Hesea and Francis Morgan. In 1831, by a pe? tition, he moved his membership to the Big Creek Church, Anderson District, S. C, in view of becoming its Pastor. Here he continued nearly seven years, during the first three or four of which his minis? terial labors were most signally blessed, the membership of the church having been increased from fifty-six to one hun? dred and sixty-three. Under the ordi? nary ministrations of his labors, numbers of applications for membership were re? ceived at almost every church meeting, and the church, practically missionary, waa planting and building up churches in destitute neighborhoods near it. During his ministry at this church his usefulness wa3 completely jeopardized, and the spirituality and success of the church wholly impaired by an anti-mis? sionary party which controlled the church, but God saved his chosen servant from the influence and errors of that party ; for after this until his death he directed all the weight of his influence gnd humble offering to the support of missions and other institutions which had for their end the promotion of the glory of God and the amelioration of suffering humanity. The predominance of this .inti-raissionary spirit in the church, and his opposition to it, made him mauy enemies, which rendered it necessary for him to terminate his pastorate; conse? quently he resigned in August, 1838, and at the same time obtained letters of dis- j mission from the church for himself and wife. From this time till 1850 this anti mis-sionary bra'nch of the church called gig Creek continued to decline in num? bers, when as a separate organization it ceased to exist. The loss he sustained in friends by this eruption was great, but God maintained his servant's cause and gave him many supporters elsewhere. On the 3rd day of May, 1832, he, to? gether with a number of brethren from Seal's Creek and Big Creek churches, met in the woods upon the site where Dorchester Church now stands, upon which occasion he preached to a large congregation from the text, "He must increase, but I must decrease." After the sermon he assisted in organizing the Dorchester Church, was called to its sup? ply, and continued for thirty-four years fireaching the Gospel in its simplicity to arge and intelligent congregations. In 1833 he assisted in constituting the Lion Hill Church, Greenville District, S. C., and accepted a call to its pastorate, in which he continued for three years con? firming the saints in the doctrines of the Bible. In March of the same year he also assisted in the constitution of the Poplar Spring Church, Anderson Dis? trict. In 183o' he was called to the care of the Hopewell Church, Anderson Dis? trict, which position he filled for sixteen years to the glory of God and salvation of men. In 1841 he was called to the supply of the Lebanon Church, Ander? son District, to which church he preach? ed successfully for four years, establish? ing the saints and winning souls to Christ by the simple presentation of Gospel truth. In 1842 he was called to take charge of the Poplar Spring Church, (now extinct), which position he accept? ed, went among them in all the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel, and con? tinued with them three years. The Anderson District Missionary So? ciety, a society formed within the bounds of the Saluda Association, which at that time was not a constituent of the State Convention or eugaged in missionary operations, employed him in the year 1844 as a missionary to labor for one month in the mountain region of Pickens District. There, as in every other place which he visited as an embassador of Christ, he formed many warm and life long friends. In this missionary tour he accomplished much good, and received the commendation of the Society, at whose call he left all to preach the Gos !iel to the destitute. After this, his first abors in the mountainous portions of the State, he was frequently re-appointed by the same Society to the same field of labor, in which his whole heart was en? gaged. The first step taken in missionary and benevolent operations by the Saluda As ciations was the formation of a Book De? pository, the object of which was to sup Ely gratuitously the destitute within the ounds of the Association with Bibles and Testaments, and to furnish the same and other religious books at publisher's prices to all whom they could induce to purchase. He was appointed as a Col? porteur under the auspices of the Book Depository, and accomplished much good by placing the Bible in the households of the destitute, and introducing mach of the best religious literature throughout the Association. In the year 1847 he was called to tho care of the Hephzibah Church, and con? tinued to teach them the way of life and salvation, both by precept and example, for the period of seven years. In 1848 be was called* to the New Pros {>ect Church, which call he accepted, and abored in word and doctrine with them for three years. He assisted in constitu? ting a church at Whitefield in 1852, and was called to its pastorate, iu which he continued breaking the bread of eternal life unto them for twenty years. In 1853 he assisted in constituting a church at Seneca, Anderson District, and by re? quest preached for them two years. In 1858 he was called to the care of the Neal's Creek Church, and remained there as a light to the people for four years. In 1859 he accepted a call to ML Bethel Church and fed the flock there for seven years. In 1860 he preached to the Friendship Church, and in 1870 to the church at Mt. Tabor. In 1875 he assist? ed in constituting a church at Cedar Grove. The whole life of this faithful servant of God was spent in active work for Jesus. He closed his pastoral labors with the Whitefield Church. From 1828 to 1872 he was never free from the care of churches, much of the time having had the care of as many as four. After he had ceased to supply churches by rea? son of old age, he continued to preach as opportunity presented. His anxiety for the salvation of men never abated; bis love for the house of God continued to burn, and although his ability to work for God became impaired by old age, yet the fruits of faith and love continued to ripen for the glorious harvest which he was soon to reap, exerting a refining and heavenly influence upon all with whom he was associated, which prolonged his usefulness as a Christian to his last day. He was emphatically a lover of the prayer meeting, and was a regular atten? dant upon them. In these he exhorted his brethren to prayer, love and perse* j verance in the faith. In these meetings his influence was most felt, portraying the power of faith, the beauty of love and purity of truth. On the 27th day of March, 1878, in the Belton Baptist Church, he preached the introductory sermon before the] Union Meeting from the text, "Stand still and see the salva tiou of God." This was his last sermon, and the writer has often thought the text peculiarly appropriate in reference to the dear old man of God, for from that time he was silent in the ministry and enjoyed God's salvation. In May of the same year he attended the communion in his own church, Neal's Creek, and during the singing of the closing hymn beseem? ed so deeply impressed with the solemni? ty of the occasion and love for his brethren that he passed through the aisles extending his hand to them, ex? horting them to continuance and stead? fastness in the cause of Christ. The scene was truly affecting. This aged Christian with nearly half a century of his life spent in the ministry, with tremb? ling limbs, but strong in faith, of joyous heart, yet flowing tears, exhorted all to works of faith, hope and love. This oc? casion was indeed sublime, worthy the closing labors of a faithful and devoted servant in the church of the living God. This was the last time he ever met with bis brethren in the sanctuary of God. He returned to his home, and although he had no disease his strength gradually declined. He often spoke of his bright hopes of the future; for him the grave had no terror, death no sting. The doc? trine of heavenly recognition was a de? lightful and consoling thought in his last hours; he rejoiced in the belief that he would meet the loved ones who bad gone before him, with the patriarchs, apostles and martyrs in a heaven of conscious identity. Thus hoping, believing and re? joicing, he lingered till the morning of the 1st of January, 1879, when he breathed his last, and the Lord took this faithful servant to himself to be with him evermore. The ministerial success which attend? ed his labors when his early training, want of education and surrounding cir? cumstances are considered, is remarkable. His success cannot be attributed to ora? tory, magnetic influence or logical de? monstration. In his success the power of the love of Christ, as manifested in the crass, is clearly apparent. All who heard him preach, whether educated or unedu? cated, were convinced of his sincerity, devotion and love to Christ. They could but see that the hopes and joys derived from the truth he preached, animated his own soul and nerved it with a divine peace which the world could neither give nor take away. His hearers were con? vinced that his solo object in preaching the Gospel was to save their souls, and they were brought in sympathy with his preaching from its sincerity, plainness and spirituality. Although no monu? ment may mark his final resting place on earth, and his name, like those of thou? sands of faithful ministers, be effaced from the living, yet numbers saved in heaven through his instrumentality will stand as everlasting monuments of his zeal and devotion to the Saviour and love to his fellow men. J. S. Murray, Sr. "Washington <*Moonshinc^s.,, Washington, September 2. The discovery of a gang of veritable "moonshiners" in the capital city of the United States attracted much attention to-day, and drew a large crowd to the office of United States Commissioner Plant, where the hearing took place. For some time it has been rumored that there were illicit stills in operation in the District, and this morning the rumor 5roved true. United States Deputy larshal Taylor, Police Lieutenant Noonan and several internal revenue officers ascertained that a still was in op? eration in a store at 1531 I, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets, once known as Kid well's drug store, and now use by F. I. Brooke & Co. as a provision and meat store. The site was in one of the most aristocratic portions of the city, within a few hundred yards of the in? ternal revenue office, and but little further distaut from the President's house. A raid was arranged and made just before noon to-day. Mr.-Brooke was arrested at his store door, and, on ascending the stairs, the officers found a distillery capa? ble of Making 300 gallons of spirits in operation. The practical distiller, Rich? ard Burke, was arrested here, with Charles O'Brien and a companion. All the others found on the premises and who came there were also arrested, and Gauger Bliss examined and noted the strength of the mashes which lay in the tubs awaiting distillation. One of the per? sons, M. Lewis, who was arrested, ran off, but was captured and brought back, and the entire party, which, with the of? ficers, made a considerable throng, moved to the United States Commission? er's office, where R. T. Dyer, James R. Young, Charles O'Brien, F. I Brooke. Richard Burke and Marion Lewis were placed on trial before United States Commissioner Plant. The case was par? tially heard and then postponed until Thursday. Lewis and O'Brien were re? leased upon their own recognizances, R. T. Dyer, F. I. Brooke and James R. Young held in $3,000, and Richard Burke in $1,000 bail for a further appearance. Charles O'Brien, one of the party, was formerly a metropolitan policeman. He killed a man named Cunning? ham, at Green Springs, near Georgetown, and was sentenced to Be hung, but by inter? position of General Butler and the Grand Army Republic the sentence was com? muted to imprisonment for life in the Albany penitentiary. Some two years ago, after he had been in the peni? tentiary, he was pardoned on the ground that he was too ill to live. His wife remarried while he was in the peni? tentiary, and he has since been at litiga? tion with her concerning the custody of the children. An Instantaneous and Perpetual Fire Without Wood or Coal.?A cor? respondent has sent us a startling letter from Miss M. Betham-Edwards, from which we give an extract: "I send you the following particulars of a recent scien? tific invention, just patented, and des? tined, without doubt, to play a very im? portant part in our economic history. I think it must be regarded as a solution, for once and for all, of the great coal question, not only among ourselves, but abroad. M. Bourbonnel, of Dijon, the celebrated lion and panther slayer, lighted upon the following discovery by hazard, and after six years' persistent investigation, brought it to entire 'work? able' perfection. He discovered, by means of two natural substances, inex? haustible in nature, the means of lighting and maintaining a fire without .vood or coal; a fire instantaneously lighted and extinguished; a fire causing no dust, smoke or trouble; a fire costing one tenth, at least, of ordinary fuel; and, what is more wonderful still, a fire, the portion of which answering to our fuel is everlasting?that is to say, would last a lifetime. M. Bourbonnel's invention, comprehends both stove and fuel. The fires could be on the minutest scale or on the largest. They would be used for heating a baby's food or for roasting an ox. Being lighted instantaneously they will be a great economy of time. M. Bourbonnel at once patented his inven? tion, and a body of engineers and savants from Paris visited him and pronounced his discovery one of the most remarkable of the age. He has had several offers for the purchase of the patent in France, but wants to sell it in England, his own occupation being in another lino. Any English gentleman or firm wishing to see his fires or stoves could do so by writing to him a day or two beforehand. His address is M. Bourbcnnel, Dijon. * * * I have seen these fires and stoves. There is no mistake about the matter. It is as clear as possible that here we have a perpetual and economi? cal source of fuel. Two hundred years ago the discoverer would surely have been burned as a wizard."?London Athen?um. Two xEAXS in Texas.?Yesterday we met at the union passenger depot a young man who was on his return to his home in South Carolina after spending two years in Texas, where he had been engaged herding cattle and getting them in shipping order for the Eastern mar? kets. He says be has had enough of Texas life, and proposes to spend the re? mainder of his existence in the States. Speaking about the roughness of the western part of the Lone Star State, he remarked that while on a trip to that sec? tion he came in contact with a mnn who said he had not seen a woman in two years. He says that be thinks this quite likely, as he traveled all over the western part of the State for six months and did not see but one woman. The entire population of the country westward of Fort Worth to the line is composed of cowboys and stock raisers and herders, with here and there a small settlement of half-breed Indiana. Our informantstates that he saw numbers of Georgians in Texas. Some of them were doing well, while others were only managing to live, aud intend to return as soon as they can procure transportation.?Atlanta Constitu? tion, September 4. ? The raising of sheep has been on the increase for several years in Ken? tucky. "May your troubles only be little ones, and may you always have Dr. Bull's Baby Syrup bandy" said an old bachelor to a newly-married couple. "OLD FORREST." The Battle of TlKlimlngo Creek. "You C-a-n't Whip Old Forrest.': We copy the following from a speech of Gen. Chalmers, before the Southern Historical Society, on the splendid 'mili? tary career of Gen. Forrest. Forrest reached Tupelo, Mississippi, on the 5th of May, 1864, and was busily engaged in reorganizing his command, now considerably increased by recruits and the addition, of Gen. Gholson's bri? gade. On the 26th, by order of Gen. S. D. Lee, department commander, Chal mer's with McCulloch's and Neely's bri? gades were ordered to Monte Vallo, Ala? bama, to protect the iron-works of that region. On the 31st Forrest started with Buford's division for Tuscombia to assist Koddy in meeting a movement in that quarter, and had reached Russell ville, Alabama, when he received infor? mation that Sturgis, with eight thousand infantry, five thousand cavalry and six batteries was moving from Memphis into Mississippi, parallel with the Memphis and Charleston railroad. Forrest began at once to coucentrate his scattered com? mand. Rucker, from Oxford, with three small regiments, was thrown across the Talla hatchie at New Albany, and commenced to retard the enemy's advance. This little brigade, under Rucker, who was second only to Forrest as a fearless fight? er?composed of three regiments, under three dashing young Colonels, Duff, Bill Taylor and Alexander Chalmers?was highly complimented by Forrest for his gallantry in performing his duty. On the 9th Forrest took position with two brigades of Buford's;division, Johnson's brigade of Roddy's division, and Rucker's brigade of Chalmer's division, east of the Hatchie, near Rienzi, to dispute the pas? sage of Sturgis, over that river, suppos? ing he was moving to re-enforce Sherman in Georgia. The scouts now reported Sturgis moving south toward Forrest's camp at Tupelo. Chalmers, with two brigades, was then at Monte Vallo, Ala? bama; Roddy, with one brigade, near Tuscombia; Gholon, with one brigade, near Jackson, Mississippi. Gen. S. D. Lee, now in command, determined to fall back toward Okalona until he could concentrate his forces, and left that night by rail, after ordering Forrest to get in front of Sturgis and retard his ad? vance. Forrest moved before day to take position at Bryce's cross-roads, on a divid? ing ridge where the waters of the Hatchie rise and run north and of the Tallahat chie rise and run south, and when in four miles of that place he learned that the enemy had already occupied it and were now between him and hi3 headquar? ters at Tupelo. He had with him there his three smallest brigades, the effective strength of which at that time he reported as follows : Lyons', eight hundred; Rucker's, seven hundred, and Johnson's, five hundred ; while Buford, with Bell's brigade, about fifteen hundred strong, and two batteries of artillery were some distance in the rear. Ordering them to move instantly up, which they did, coming eight miles in a gallop, he moved forward with the men he bad and opened the fight, and at the same time ordered Buford to send one regiment across the country to attack the enemy in the rear. The battle raged fiercely for some hours, with doubtful success, and eight hundred federals, six hundred and forty confederates fell dead and wounded around Bryce's house. One peculiarity of Forrest's fighting was his al? most reckless use of artillery, and on this occasion he had eight pieces of artillery that were boldly handled by Captain Martin, a beardless youth with the face of a woman and the courage of a lion. The federals made several splendid charges, that were repulsed at short range by the artillery, double-shotted with canister. The Confederates insist that both the federal infantry and cavalry were in this fight. The federal cavalry officers who censured Sturgis say they had cavalry alone, and that instead of falling back with cavalry on to his in? fantry, prepared in line, he under? took to bold the position with his caval? ry and bring tip his infantry five or more miles at double-quick, and that they arrived broken down and unformed just as the cavalry were driven back on them, and all wont pell-mell together. Be this as it may, when Forrest captured Bryce's bouse, the enemy's infantry in column were in full view coming up. He turned loose on them his own eight pieces of artillery and six more just captured, and about that time Bartian's regiment struck them in the rear, and the flight com? menced. A more terrific pursuit was never seen. The negroes had been sworn on their knees in line before starting from Mem? phis to show no quarter to Forrest's men, and on their shirts and banners was in? scribed, "Remember Fort Pillow."? This had a double effect; it made the federals afraid to surrender, and infuria? ted Forrest's men ; and it is said that nine? teen hundred were killed in this pursuit, which was continued sixty miles. The exact truth as to this flight will, perhaps, never be known ; but taking either the federal or confederate accounts of it, it was the most brilliant victory of the war on either side. Forrest reports his force at thirty-two hundred cavalry and eight pieces of artillery. The federal report places Sturgis's force at thirty-three hun? dred cavalry, fifty-four hundred infantry and seventeen pieces of artillery. With a superior force of cavalry, he might well have expected to hold, with them alone, his position, well selected at Bryce's cross-roads, until his infantry could come up. Sturgis was as much as? tonished at his defeat as any one, and was so terribly mortified that when A. J. Smith moved out after Forrest, a confi? dential Bpy from Memphis reported that Sturgis was sitting in a hotel soliloquiz? ing, "It can't be done, sir!" and when asked what could not be done he said, "They c-a-n-'t whip old Forrest!" In this battle two thousand prisoners were taken, all the artillery (seventeen pieces), the whole ordnance train, well supplied with ammunition and many articles of value to us; the ambulance and wagon traiu, filled with most accep? table supplies, especially cofTee, which the hungry Confederates had not tasted for mrtny days. Gen. Sherman, in a cipher dispatch, dated June 20,1S64, says: "He whipped Sturgis fair and square, and now I will put him against A. J. Smith and Mower, and let them try their hand." By this victory Forrest not only saved Columbus and the rich prairie of Mississippi again, but he saved Mobile also by the with? drawal of A. J. Smith's division, which had been ordered to its attack. Roemer 6ays: "From that great day when in person Alexander led the Mace? donian horse, he ranks the first of cavalry generals of all times, and the tactics there displayed were in every respect the same which now receive the sanction of mod? ern science?sudden deployment and bold attack, out-flunking the enemy's wings, dividing the enemy's forces, ral? lying, attacking the rear, supporting the menaced point, and to crown all, a pur? suit of six hundred stadia (seventy-five miles) in twenty-four hours. Never was there a greater achievement in ancient or modern warfare." When a new edition of Roemer's work on cavalry is written it is to be hoped that the battle of "Tisbmingo Creek," or "Bryce's cross-roads," as the federals call it, will not be forgotten, where the battle was fought and a pursuit of sixty miles made all in thirty hours. It has been said that Forrest was un? educated, and this is true; but bis ideas, when properly clothed iu correct lan? guage, were pointed and strong, and he was exceedingly tenacious that his own ideas, and not those of the writer, should be expressed by those who wrote for him. His strong and touching final address to his troops though shaped by another, was bis own creation, and he felt all that the language imported when he said: 'Civil war, such as you have just passed through, naturally engenders feelings of animosity, hatred and revenge. It is our duty to divest ourselves all of such feel? ings, and as far as in our power to do so, toj cultivate friendly feelings toward those with whom we have so long con? tended and heretofore so widely differed. Neighborhood feuds, personal animosi? ties and private differences should be blotted out, and when you return home a manly, straight forward course of con? duct will secure the respect of even your enemies. Whatever your responsibili? ties may be to government, to society, or to individuals, meet tbem like men. * * * I have never on the field of battle sent you where I was unwilling to go myself, nor would I now advise you to a course which I felt myself unwilling to pursue. You have been good soldiers ; you can be good citizens. Obey the laws, preserve your honor, and the government to which you have surrendered can afford to be and will be magnanimous." Like the cause he loved, he is dead. In com? ing years, when the bitterness of strife has passed away; when that mystic harp, whose chords connect the graves of the dead with the hearts of the living shall vibrate the music of a re? stored union, and some blind old bard shall sing the praises of American heroes, while eager childen listen to their deeds of valor, the story of none will awaken loftier feelings of emulation than? Forrest, the wizard of the saddle. Alexander II. Stephens for Gen. llancoch. Washington, September 1. I am permitted by A. H. Stephens, of Georgia, to send you the substance of a recent conversation in which he ex? pressed his view3 on current political questions with some freedom. He has been engaged at Long Branch in the re? vision of the rules of the House, and it is his opinion that should the House of Rep? resentatives sanction the changes unani? mously concurred in by the Committee on Rules lately convened at that point it will much simplify legislation and add greatly to the dispatch of business. There has been no points of attrition be? tween the Republican and Democratic members, and the committee had harmo? niously labored to make such changes irre? spective of partisan motive as would serve to facilitate legislative business. The reporter asked Mr Stephens about the Presidential preference of the Geor? gia Democrats. He replied that there was little expression of feeling there on the matter, and that the Democracy wanted a good and safe man who could be elected. He for his own part thought General Hancock probably the best choice and certainly the most available among all those mentioned. The cam? paign was likely to turn on the issues of the extra session?local self-government and freedom of elections. General Han? cock had shown capacity for civil admin? istration in Louisiana and Texas and great respect for the laws of tho land and their supremacy over the edicts of the military. He thought the best pledge the Democracy could give the country against the reactionary purposes charged by the Radical press and orators would be the nomination of a great sol? dier like Hancock, whose name and fame were identified with the results of the war. He thought Mr. Tilden had few supporters in Georgia. Mr. Stephens' health unfortunately has not been im? proved by his stay at Long Branch. He complains much of the effect on himself of the damp climate there?Special Dis? patch to the New York World. A Demand on Dir. Hayes. Now, Rutherford Burchard Hayes, President of the United States in de? fiance of the Constitution of the United States, counted in by Zach Chandler, and planced in the chair by Grant, taken from the gutter and seated on the throne, are you a man or a mouse ? Such an opportunity as is now within your grasp comes but once iu an era, and when utilized serves to mark the bsgin ing of new epochs. Are you a game cock or a dunghill rooster? A bubble float? ing along on the turbulent waves of des? tiny, or a master-spirit evoked from the iaboring ages? A fraud or a fact? Rutherford, from your eyrie cast your eye to the Southland, from swaggering Kentucky to lying Louisiana, from chaf? ing Carolina, across cowardly Missis? sippi to brutal Texas, and note the camp fires of rebellion and bate, burning in the eyes of the baffled traitors who sought to desroy this Nation. Note red-handed murderers and noon-day assassins, sitting in places of honor (providing one can conceive of an honorable place in a land,) and fanning anew the flames of treason, see there, down in Yazoo, in old Missis? sippi, Yazoo, the pride glory of Rebel dom, the home of cowardly cut-throats and States rights; the lair of human butchers and State sovereignty; the entrenched haunt of political assassi? nation and last ditch of Slate lines, the iuvulncrable citadel of murder and roar? ing champion of State constitutions; the portcullis of treason and implacable ene? my of the nation ; we say, Rutherford, look down there, take your cue (if we wero sure you were a reality and not a sham, we would say inspiation instead of cue), proclaim the States of Mississippi and Louisiana in open rebellion against the Nation, and declare every State of the old rebel Confederacy into a state of siege. Rutherford dare you ? The man who dares not is lost, ordrifts along like a maggot or a chip into the oblivion from which he should never have emerged. Thirty million loyal hearts are behind you, Rutherford, are ready to echo the first note, that tells of a grand strong purpose. This is a Nation. Rutherford, dare you say it??Lemurs Sentinel. A Western Juryman.?It was out West, in one of those local courts where a friendly, talkative way marks the in? tercourse between judges, juries counsel, and clients. A man of the law, after de? veloping considerable eloquence and per? spiration in behalf of a prisoner, pero? rated by saying: "Gentlemen, after what I have stated to you, is this man guilty ? Can he be guilty ? Ts he guilty ?" Greatly to his disgust, the foreman of the jury, after a copious expectoration, re? plied : "You just wait a little, old boss, and well' tell you." As the poker-player would say: "Fore mand had tho age, and councellor passed out."?Harper's Magazine. A MILE A MINUTE. Engineer Fraser Itepcatn That Steam Train* Almost Never Make It. From the New York Sun. A few days since there was published in the Sun an account of a conversation between a reporter and Charles Fraser, the Erie engineer, who expressed a doubt of the possibility of making a mile a minute on a railroad except under the most ad? vantageous circumstances. That inter? view made really a stir among the loco? motive engineers of other roads, and sev? eral communications have been published from engineers claiming to have fre? quently made a mile a minute, and even three or four successive miles within the space of sixty seconds each. A reporter for the Sun called on Mr. Fraser last evening, in Patterson, and asked him if he had seen any of these communications. He replied in the affirmative, but said that he did not consider them worth replying to. He did not desire to get into a newspaper controversy. But he reiterated all that he had said before, and said that the interview about the speed of trains was correctly reported. Mr. Fraser is one of the oldest engi? neers on the Erie Railroad, if not the oldest. He had charge of a locomotive when but seventeen years of age, and his gray hair and wrinkled face show that he must now be fifty at least. He has been continually on duty, and it would take seven figures to enumerate the miles he has ridden. And in all that time he has never had an accident, nor has a passenger on his train ever lost his life. In fact the contrary is the case, as one day he had a birth on his train, at which Conductor John Garrison (who was a conductor on the Erie Railway when there were but two conductors on the road, and who is a conductor still) of? ficiated as a sort of godfather. Mr. Fraser's engine, No. 309, is recognized as being one of-the finest and best on the road. It has four five-foot driv? ing wheels, and a stroke of twenty six inches to the piston. If a mile a minute can be made, Mr. Fraser's engine can make it; and yet, on one occasion only, with a load of Erie officials on a special train trying to see how fast a locomotive could go on a down graide with a full head of steam over a straight track, has he made a mile in sixty seconds. Era? ser's conductor, also an old railroad man, says that in his twenty years of service he has never ridden at the rate of a mile a minute. The fastest he ever took ac? count of was on the down grade from Ridgewood to Patterson, when one mile was made in a minute and eight seconds. Mr. Fraser says that with a five foot driving-wheel there would have to be at least 352 revolutions a minute and the same number or double piston strokes. There aro very few engines properly balanced for such a speed as that. Furthermore, the engine would in most cases run away with itself?that is, the action of the piston would be too rapid for the proper entrance and es? cape of steam. There are small engines made for 1,000 strokes a minute, but they have specially arranged ports. Few lo? comotives have the proper sort of a port? hole for steam to be used at a sufficient? ly rapid rate to drive the engine a mile a minute. In England there are some locomotives on through trains which popular belief makes to run a mile a minute every day. Feeling interested in the subject, Mr. Fraser asked a friend, an engineer, go? ing to England, to investigate the matter. Several trains were tried, in some instances the engineer riding on the locomotive. Of all that were tested two trains only that run out of London, making no stops, and having the right of way the whole distance, on a track that is perfectly clear and guarded, so that there is no danger of striking anything, made anything like a run of a mile in sixty seconds. A mile a minute was touched sometimes, but not often. Ten passengers out of eyery twelve would come back to America and relate how trains on that road ran at the rate of a mile a minute, but this was the result of a popular falacy on the subject. No passenger nor a railroad man could go at the rate of forty-five miles an hour nnd not feel sure that it was at least sixty. The English locomotives referred to are speci? ally arranged for fast traveling, with driving wheels six and seven feet in di? ameter, and with the boiler slung so that the weight comes below the axles. The train; consist of four or five coaches, which would not be equal in weight to two American passenger cars. If ever a mile a minute is made they ought to make it, but they seldom do. Mr. Fraser says that when the Penn? sylvania Railroad people had their tests to see the best time they could make, they touched a mile a minute only sel? dom, and it was impossible to keep up anything like that rate of speed. The six and seven foot wheels were found to make no better time on the long run than five-foot wheels, and so the five-foot wheels, were adopted as the standard, and are now used on nearly all roads. He repeats his former assertion that no man could face the wind five miles at the rate of a mile a minute, and be alive at the end of the journey. The breath would be all blown from his body. In regard to the time alleged to have been made on the New Jersey Central, Mr. Fraser says the engineers are clearly mistaken. They could not time them? selves accurately without the most per? fect stop watch. It takes two men to time a train with a stop watch. One must notice tho starting point, and the other handle the watch, starting it and stopping it at the very instant the points are passed. With such a test it is very doubtful if a mile a minute could be shown, even after many trials. The reporter conversed with several oth? er engineers, who object to have their names mentioned, and they are equally emphatic as to the difficulty of making a locomotive tn.vel at the rate of a mile a minute. The best balanced engine at that speed would wabble like a canter? ing horse. Few engineers or con? ductors can be found on the Erie road svho ever traveled a mile a minute. They all acknowledge that much faster time is made on the local trains than on the through express trains, and that of tho local trains there are none that are driven faster than Engineer Fraser's. It may be that the narrow-gauge en? gines, like those on the Central and Pennsylvania, being much lighter, have an advantage over the heavy broad-gauge locomotives of the Erie. The opinions above come mostly from engineers on the last named road. That Silver Dollar. Senator Blainc's siiver dollar will buy one bottle of Dr. Picrce's Golden Medical Discovery. This medicine is a purely vegetable blood-purifier, pectoral, and tonic, and has been tested in thousands of casesof chronic diseases of thestomach, liver, and lung3, with unparalleled suc? cess. ? North and South Carolina and Lou? isiana produce annually 80,000,000 pounds of rice. THE DEPTH OF NIAGARA. Exploration ol the Canon?Trying Expe? rience ot Engineers?Grateful to a Goose? berry Hush. The 'canon of Niagara is far more mysterious than the falls themselves. Within the era of civilization in Ameri? ca no one was able to successfully pierce through the fierce and terrible undercur? rent to the bottom until, recently, the Government itself thought it necessary in behalf of science to undertake the task. All the great schemes imagined to be strictly scientific were put in oper? ation by bunglers to obtain the depth of water beuealh the falls. Bars of rail? road iron, pails of stones, and all unrea? sonable, bulky and awkward instruments were attached to long lines and cast off positively refused to sink. The very bulk of the instrument was sufficient, no matter what their weight, to give the powerful undercurrent a way to buoy them up upon the surface or near it. The United States Corp3 of Engineers, however, with a small lead of only 12 pounds weight, attached to a slender rope or sound cord, easily obtained the depths from the falls to the lower bridge. As your correspondent assisted in the hy drographical operations, the facts may be given as they presented themselves. One day we launched in a small boat not far below the falls, and entered on a most exciting and perilous exploration of the canon. The old guide, long in charge of the miniature ferry situ:.led here, accompanied the party. With great difficulty we approached within a short distance of the American falls, which darted great jets of water on us, and far out into the stream. The roar was so terrible that no voice or human sound, however near we were to one an? other, could be heard. The leadsman cast the line which passed rapidly down and told off 83 feet. This was quite near the shore. Passing out of the friendly eddy which had assisted iu up so near the falls, we shot rapidly down stream. The next cast of the lead told off 100 feet, deepening to 192 feet at the inclin? ed railway. The average depth to the Swift Drift, where the river suddenly be? comes narrow, with a velocity too great to be measured, was 153 feet. Just under the lower bridge the whirlpool rapids set in, and so violently are the waters moved that they rise like ocean waves to the height of 20 feet. At this point your correspondent, at the time of the survey, computed the depth at 210 feet, which is accepted as approximately cor? rect. The terrors of the gorge below this point are known to but few. Indeed, the foot of man scarcely ever treads this in? fernal regior w' ere almost perpendicu? lar walls rise on each side of the verge of the river from 270 to 3fi? feet in height. H?re the continual crumbling of the rocks have formed a precipitous pathway in places on the river's edge ; elswhere one must cling to crevices in the rock, to jutting crags, or othenv'se to get along. A party of four of us made a survey of the interior of this canon from Lewiston to Suspension Bridge. With great difficulty we clambered along. It was a fearful yet exciting exploration. At times the river would rise suddenly some ten or even fifteen feet, as if a great dam above had broken, causing a hasty retreat of the parties up the sides of the canon. From points above, rocks and stones frequently fell, causing lively ap? prehensions, and, to add to the catalogue of embarrassments, an occasional rattle? snake attempted to retard our progress, and one of them was killed, and his rat? tles preserved in commemoration of the event. Getting into the cauon at Lewis ton was comparatively easy, but making one's way out was. another thing. Near? ly a mile below Deveaux College, which is situated half a mile north of Suspen? sion Bridge, the possibility of making our way along the river's edge ceased. Night was just approaching, and it was a day's hard work, nearly, to make Lewiston. Above, the rocks towered nearly 300 feet. We had the alternative of remaining in this abode of terrors over night, and returning to Lewiston the fol? lowing day, or of fighting an almost im? possible passage to the steps leading down from the college. We determined to accept the latter. After an hour's climb, we made our way to within 100 feet of the top, where just a narrow ridge formed by the crumbling debris seemed to extend. We followed this perhaps a half mile, when it came to an abrupt termination. Several rods beyond was a broad pathway leading up to the college, but in the interval only the bare walls of rock, almost perpendicular from the top to the rushing water, 270 feet below, met the despairing gaze of our party. Just above our heads was a crevice in the rocks which 6eetned to cross the inter? vening space. With almost certain doom staring us directly iu the face, we determined to try to cross by standing tiptoe iu the crevice and climbing to the juttings of the rocks. The various im? plements of the party were divided up, a heavy theodolite falling to your corres? pondent, which was strapped on his back. The tallest clambered up to the crevice first, the others assisting and fol? lowing, and the writer getting up last. Then oegan a perilous struggle to reach the pathway beyond. All arrived there safely when your correspondent, with the heavy burden on his back, was but midway across. Here a sharp rock just at the height of the breast impeded the way. In attempting to get around this the boot failed to find a resting place. The heavy instrument was pulling me off my balance. The fingers were losing their slender hold; 100 feet above was the calm, safe world. 170 feet below the roaring of the water. One foot slip? ped off and was going down, down; a mist came over the eyes, wheu my foot caught on a slender gooseberry bush and a band suddenly grasped my back and drew me around to a safe standing place. In a moment more the pathway was reached and the safety of all insured, but never will the frightful scene leave the senses. One of the party saw the danger and rescued the participant, or else the goosberry bush was the saving means?I have never quite understood which. ? The liberal philosopher of the Springfield (Mass.) Republican informs the world that Liberia seems to have about collapsed. The negro republic is bank? rupt and in the power of British capital? ists; the Liberians themselves are dis? satisfied with the condition of affairs; the most powerful tribes of natives throughout the country are talking se? cession and calling on the British for protection. Without money, credit, or an organized army, there is little chance that the republic can uphold its authori? ty, and the African State which the Uni? ted States has indirectly backed for so long is in a fair way to fall into the hands of Beaconsfield. Nature does not execute "snap" judg? ments, but always warns the offender against her laws by the infliction of pain. Give attention to her warnings, and take Dr. Bull's Baltimore Pills in a good time to prevent the encroachment of disease. Price 25 cents. the railway bridj d elsewhere, but Little Scotch Granite. Did you ever have a bit of cloth that you thought clean until some time it happened to be laid close by a new piece and then you saw it to be soiled ? In similar way people discover facts about themselves, as Hurt and Johnnie Lee did when their Scotch cousin came to live with them. They were "pretty good boys," and would have been very angry if any body had called them de? ceitful. Well, wheu their cousin came, they were delighted. He was little, but very bright and full of fun. He could tell curious things about his home in Scotland and his voyage across the ocean. He was as far advanced in his studies as they were, and the first day he went to school they thought him remarkably good. He wasted no time in play wheu he should have been studying, and he recited finely. At night before the close of school, the teacher called a roll, the boys began to answer, "Ten." When Willie understood that he was to say "Ten" if he had not whispered during the day, he replied, "I have whispered." "More than once?" asked the teacher. "Yes, sir," answered Willie. "As many as ten times ?" "May be I have," faltered Willie. "Then I shall mark you 'zero,' " said the teacher steruly, "and that is a great disgrace." "Why I did not see you whisper once?" said Johnnie that night after school. "Well, I did," said Willie. "I saw others doing it, and so I asked to borrow a book ; then I lent a slate pencil and asked a boy for a knife, and did several such things, I supposed it was allowed. "Oh, we all do it," said Burt, redden? ing. "There isn't any sense in the old rule, and nobody could keep it, nobody does." "I will or else I will say 'I haven't,'" said Willie. "Do you suppose I would tell ten lies in one heap?" "Oh, we don't call them lies," mut? tered Johnnie. "There wouldn't be a credit among in at night if we were so strict." "What ofthat, if you told the truth ?" laughed Willie, bravely. In a short time the boys all saw how it was with him. He studied very hard, played with all his might in playtime, but according to his own account he lo.n more credits than any of the rest. Af? ter some weeks the boys answered, "Nine" and "Eight" oftener than they used to; yet the school room seemed to have grown much quieter. Sometimes, when Willie Grant's mark was even lower than usual, the teacher would smile peculiarly, but said m> more of "disgrace." Willie never preached at them or told tales, but somehow it made the boys ashamed of themselves, just the seeing that this sturdy, blue eyed Scotch boy mu.it tell the truth. It was putting the clean cloth by the half soiled one, you see; and they felt like cheats and story? tellers.' They talked him over and loved him, if they did nick-name him "Scotch Granite," he was so firm about a promise. Well, at the end of term, Willie's name was very low down in the credit list. When it was read, he had hard work not to cry, for he was very sensitive, and he had tried hard to bo perfect. But the very last thing that day was a speech by the" teacher, who told of once seeing a man muffled in a cloak. He was passing him without a look, when he was told the man was General-, the great hero. "The signs of his rank were hidden, but the hero was there just the same," said the teacher. "And: now, boys, you will see what I mean when I tell you that I want to give a little gold medal to the most faithful boy?the one really the most conscientiously 'perfect' in his de? portment among you. Who shall have it?" "Little Scotch Granite!" shouted forty boys at once; for the child whose name was so "low" on tho credit list had made truth noble in their ey33.?S. S. Visitor. As They Average.?The average boy believes that he may be happy when he is a man, and can do as he likes; the average man finds that he cannot do as he likes, and sighs to think he was not aware of the fact when he was a boy. The average maiden imagines that most husbands are indifferent to their wives, and that a wife may keep a man a lover until he is old enough to die; the average wife finds it about all she can do to bear and train her children, cook, wash, sew, keep her house in "half-decent or? der," and twice a year visit her mother who lives six miles away. The average teacher imagines that never vet was one so tried as he, nor had a harder lot, and endured it better. The average parent of the average scholar things that in some things the present teacher might be improved on. The average spinster believes that no? body but herself knows just now to bring up children; while the aged grandmoth? er realizes that most people have tobring up at least ?wo before they can know how to bring up one properly. The average man or woman who has never had the care of children won? ders "how people can have their houses so cluttered up and budgets in every chair," and they imagine that a person's bump of order m. t be small indeed who cannot successfully manage by moral suasion anv five ordinary boys and girls. Those who love and have the care of children know that they are not like grown people, but must have both play? things and pets, and physical as well as mental exercise, even though there may be a budget in every chair, and muddy footprints on the floor. So it comes to pass that on an average each is happy in his own conceit, and would not change himself, bis views, and his lot in life with any man. _ Wiiat tue Birds Accomplish.?The swallow, swift and night-hawk are the guardians of the atmosphere. They check the increase of insects that other? wise would overload it. Wood-peckers, creepers and chickadees are the guardi? ans of the trunks of trees. Warbles and fly catchers protect the foliage. Black birds, crows, thrushes and larks protect the surface of the soil. Snipe and wood? cock protect the soil under the surface. Each tribe has its respective duties to perform in the economy of nature; and it is an undoubted fact'that if the birds were all swept off the face of the earth, man could not live upon it; vegetation would wither and die; insects would be? come so numerous that no living thing could withstand their attacks. The wholesale destruction occasioned by grasshoppers, which have lately devasta? ted the west, is undoubtedly caused by the thinning out of the birds, such as grouse, prairie hens, etc., which feed upon them. The great and inestimable service done the farmer, gardner and florist by the birds is only becoming known by sad ex? perience. Spare the birds and save your fruit; the little corn and fruit taken by them is more than compensated by the quantities of noxious insects they destroy. The long persecuted crow has been found by actual experience to do far more good by the vast quantities of grubs and insects he devours than the little barm he does in the few grains of corn he pulls up. He is one of the farmer's best friends.