Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

BY E. B. MURRAY ?fe CO. ANDERSON, S. C., THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH 6, 1884. VOLUME XIX.-NO. ?U 1'KNITENTIABY INDUSTRY. The Hoot ?Dd Shoo Factory-The Hone Factory-Details of the Management and Condition of tho Institution and ita In mates. Columbia lltijirttr. As a btriking illustration of what can be accomplished by honest, intelligent and efficient management of important public interest?, aud as a striking con trast between the old and Hie new order of things in South Carolina-tho one ns renrescntcd by thc corrupt scum of ear pet-baggers and thieves, and the other as represented by men in accord with the feelings and sentiments of the belter ele ments ot society-there is no place in the whole State more worthy of a day's inspection than the South Carolina Peni tentiary. In this belief, on our return from a view of the canal work, we visited this institution. For although it has given employment to the reporter's pen cil again and again, and the details of ita management are all fully cmbraccdTii the admirable reports sub mitted to tho Legislature from limo to lime hy its superintendent ; yet there baa been latterly so much of quiet, undem onstrative progress within its walls, and progress the extent and importance of which so few even of our owu citizens have had any full and intelligent knowl edge, that wo felt persuaded of the fact that to many of our readers a detailed description of all that is to be seen with in the wails of the penitentiary would be a new revelation. The manufacturing enterprises that are now established in the penitentiary aud that r.ro carried on with convict la bor are naturally tho first poiuts of in terest to the visitor, and before describing the institution generally we will lay be fore our readers a brief description of these features of the institution : M BERT'S SHOE FACTORY. Thia factory employs at present one hundred and two nanda, thirty-two of whom are boys and girls. In the cutting room the uppers of the Bhoea are cur. out and carried to the fitting room, where they are all put together by machinery. Thence with the bottom etock all dyed out by machinery, the shoes go to the lasters, who prepare them for the solo sewing and nailing machines ; from thence they aro taken to the heelers, and thence to the heel shavers, who shave the heels. They are then given to tho edge trimmers and burnishers, and from them to the heel burnishers, who pass them on the sand papering and brushing machines, where the bottoms are cleaned and polished. Then the shoes go to the shaukers, who polish tho shanks; thence to the treers, who tree them out, remov ing all wrinkle.! and placing the shoe in condition for sale. Thia is the process tor the machine-made and nailed goods, b"ii>g Bimilar to that of baud sewed goods, save that with the latter the soles are sewed on by band. They are finished in about the same manner as other goods in this line. Hand-Hewed work is a specialty at this factory, employing about thirty-five hands and turning out from sixty to ninety pairs per day. This hand-sewed work is mostly custom work, f. e., single pairB made to measure. The material used is of the best, the greater part being French and English tanned leathers. Mr. Dibert ij:ieB, however, American tanned leather, some of it being obtained at the Columbia tannery. He has three depots for the salo of hia goods, one at Columbia, one at Charleston and one at Augusta, and ia working up a very large trade in South Carolina and Qeorgia, and also at other points in the South. Exclusive of local and factory sales, his retail sales at present average about $70, (M) a year. The convicts learn rapidly and appear to take a decided interest in the work. Mr. Dibert gives a great deal of personal supervision to the work of the factory, and when he is not there, is ably represented by the agreeable and gentlemanly foreman, Mr. Jackson. TUB COLUMBIA HOSIERY COMPANY. This new enterprise, owned and direc ted by the Messrs. Moulton, is on the highway to success and the work it turns out has already taken a high rank in the market. The process of manufacture is au exceedingly interesting one to witness, and one cannot but compure the old te dious way of manufacturing hosiery by hand to the rapidity of movement and execution here displayed. To give one au idea of how rapidly the work is fin ished off, we will mention that Mr. Moulton whilst showing us around timed one of the workmen (one who was by no means regarded as a swift hand) and a blocking was started and completed in two minutes -.nd fifty seconda. The pro cess of manufacturo is about a?. follows: Tba yarn is first placed in skeins on large spools; thence it passes to the winder, to which is attached a scraper that takes the knota out of the thread ; from here it passes to an automatic top machine, which is a most ingenious con trivance and a great improvement on the English top machine. At this machine the tops are cut in pioper lengths, and then pawed to the seamless knitting ma chine, of which last there are some fifty in operation. Of the other machines ?n use in tho factory there are twenty rib bers for ladies' and children's hose, one set of plain looms for cheap grades of half bose, and on these looms somo 800 pairs a day are turned out. There is also a circular heeler end footer, and fifteen Abel seaming machines. The stocking passes from these last to the rough menders, who take up all tho holes. This part of the vork is all performed by female bands. One of the most in teresting machines, when in operation, is the trimming machine, which BOWS and cuts at tho same time. It is swift and noiseless, in operation, making 1,800 rev olutions to the minute. On the lower floor of the factory build* log there is a washing machine in which the stockings are put when they come from the knitting room, and from that they are taken to thc rinsing box and put under a steady stream of water, loen they are taken to the dyeing bouse, which is thoroughly equipped with an abuudant supply of hot and cold water, and where everything is prepared for col oring and bleaching at a moment's no tice. Io this department of the factory all the laundry work of the peuitentiary h now performed. Passing out again from the dyeing room the visitor stands before the extractor or dryer, a machine ja which aome 7G or 100 dozen pairs of hose are put at a timo and rapidly dried. 1' rom this room the goods are taken to the drying room, a place wher? one does ?ot care to tarry long as it is heated to a temperature of 160 degrees, and would be unbearable but for the fact that by Borne fanning process a circulation of oeah air is kept up. In Ibis roora the hoke are put on press boards, and from hero they are taken to the steam press ?nd undergo an operation very similar to that of ironing. Lastly, they are taken to the examining room, where they ere cioselt examined, all holes mended, all ?nferb,r work thrown aside, the gooda coutil ad off into dozens, labeled and pw*.rd ready for shipment. factory employs 125 bands, all wn-icts, wftfi the exception of seven j Bkillcd laborers brought from the North, j sud four ladies who are employed in the i examining room. About 5,000 pairs of i hose are turned out per dav, and the . gooda are meeting with great favor. The Mesar*. Moulton purchased nearly all ! their yarn in Georgia and are eudeevor ! iug io mcke their factory a purely South ern enterprise. They have some local aud State trade, but the bulk of their goods at present finds a Northern market. Mr. Frank Moulton gives personal super vision to the work and is ably seconded by the foreman, Mr. 'Pilton. TIIK CARPENTER SHOP. This important department ot thc penitentiary is under the skillful and energetic superintendence of our well known townsman, Mr. C. E. Kirk, and does a great deal of job work of the best quality and workmanship. In tho shot, proper, there are the following machines a Smith's molding machine for lighl molding or light dressing; a scroll 01 jig saw, for cutting out scroll work. It this shop all tho carpenter work for tb? penitentiary is turned out and all tbi boxes for tbe shoe and Rtocking factoriei are made here. Tbe shop also turns ou a quantity of plain cabinet work, such a bureaus, &c, bucket*, wheelbarrows, am does repairing work on wagons and carta does tho undertaking work of the peui tentiory, and also manufactures windet and door frames. There are thirteei hands employed in the shop, all of whon are convicts and only five of the numbe are skilled workmen. Their worl averages ten hours a day and they cai turn out on the machines G.00O feel n j dressed lumber per day. At this sha ooe haod can put up s bureau IU Av days, and can put up per day to the han four large cases 2 feet in length by 12 inches deep and 12} inches Bquare,and ca also put up from 10 to 15 small shoe boxe per day to tho hand. The carpente work per day to the hand compares we with all ordinary carpenter work. Th bands are not pushed with too gre* severity, but are always kept stead il employed. Mr. Kirk is at present er gaged with his force in putting up a net and substantial frame structure which I to be used, tho upper room for a chore and the lower one for a meas ball, an which is to replace the structure tbi was recently burnt down. He is alt superintending the erection of a bric building with rock trimming. (All th brick of penitentiary make.) This built ing is 108x58, and the lower floor will t used for a commissary and the upper ??: fora female convict prison. Tne low? floor is fourteen feet to the ceiling, tl upper floor is twelve feet; tho basemei (to be used for storing heavy supplies about twelve feet. A railroad track rut to the side door, and through und fro the building there will be a tramway fi distributing purposes. Tho upper Soi has on it sixty-four double celle five t seven, with thirteen feet passageway c North side, and six feet passageway r all other sides. The roof of the buildir is trussed, and the floors are support? by iron rods and girders. Good ventil tion is provided for, and the building, a wbolo, presenta the appearance of gre strength and compactness, and it is e peeled to be finished by the middle March. TUE STONE WORKS. This work is in charge of Mr. Jam Fraser, of this city. He bas sevente atone cutters (all convicts) working und bim. At present they do no quarry wot as the canal work requires the use of t quarry, but preparations are being ma to open another one for penitentiary u The hands under Mr. Fraser are nt engaged in renovating and s moo th i oil' the front of the rock prison. T work is expected to be completed witt the next three weeks. This force I also been employed building a new ro and brick structure in the yard, but t work has been interrupted for the prese It will be resumed again in a few wee The old cells which Mr. Fraser and 1 force are now dressing off aro to havi new lock, which, according to the exp nation given, passes on the outside a abovo the cells, and opened and loci all at the same time. The old lock each cell door will, however, be Btill tained and used, the new one bei merely an additional protection to I cells. THE COMMISSARY. This department is in the charge Mr. L. C. Lipscomb. Here all the si plies for the institution ate kept. I at present crowded, but as soon as new commissary is ready for occupai there will be ample accommodation, mouth's supplies are kept on hand t time, and are given out daily to cook? by Mr. Lipscomb. Adjoining commissary is the mess hall for guards, and above it are the guai sleeping quarters. THE LOOM BOOM. in this room there ere four looms, i here all the convict clothing with exception of woolen jackets is made, employa about fifteen regular hands, at times the convalescents from the 1 pi tal. These loon"-- can make 180 pi to tbs niante, wL.^n is regarded as ceptional work for hand looms, cluth made here is four leaf drill, this room ali the guard uniforms made up and repaired, and two day the week is devoted to the purpost repairing the clothing of the convicU THE BLACKSMITH SHOP. In this shop eight hands are emplo who do the entire blacksmith work ol Institution. THE HOSPITAL. This department, in tho charge of D. S. Pope, is under excellent man ment; at present there are only patients in the male wards and lure the female wards. Of the male* are sick and five are convalescent, of the sick none ere seriously ill, worst case being that of A man retu from a contractor. This is an exce health record for so large an instill and of itself speaks volumes for its rior management. The three fe? patients are alao all convalescent diet of the convalescents is rice, bed bread, and for the sick milk, beef rice, ?ic., is provided. The diaper is well stocked with all necessary n cines. The beds are kept as neat possible, and tbe building presen very cleanly appearance. Only deaths have occurred in the instill this year, one of the deaths being . of a returned convict, the other a ci meningitis. OBIST MILL. In the rear of the carpenter's sh the grist mill, where all the meal fe institution is ground. THE ENGINE HOUSE. The engine house is situated bel the factory building and the walllc penitentiary, and contains a fin horse power engine in Ano running < It furniihes all the power for the Ia tion end the factories, there belt water power available since the wa? turned out of the old canal. UEMERAL OBSERVATIONS. After passing through the fae and work shops we Ux>k a general of the grounds, asd could not D I ?truck by the perfect good order, system i ?nd discipline everywhere discernable. Even a superficial examination of the j amount of work that has been dono, I shows the amount of valuable property that has been here acquired by the State without expense to the people. The year preceding Col. Lipscomb's administra tion, tbe institution cost the State the ; nice round sum of $98,000. It ls now self sustaining, and before the commence ment of the canal work and the reduc tion in the price of leased labor, made by the State (a reduction amounting to $15,000), it paid a handsome sum of money into tho State Treasury ; and when we compare this record with that of Radical rule, wo stand astonished. Under such favorable and progressive self-sustaining management we may soon look for an ?nd to the lessee system and the utilization of all convict labor within the walls of the penitentiary ; for it has been abundantly demonstrated that ali can be efficiently mausged there, for Colonel Lipscomb is a good financier and strict economist, and Captain Sligh, under whose immediate supervision the convicts are placed, is an indefatigable worker and rigid disciplinarian, and both j of these gentlemen have evinced the possession of rare skill in the manage ment of a most important trust. The garden inside the wallBisoneof tho most attractive features of tho insti tution. It comprises about six acres, and is neatly laid off in large squares, bound ed with barley, and pr?sent? a beautiful and attractive appearance. The warm or forcing beds are about 800 feet long by five feet in width, covered with glass, and well a'ocked rvith flowers, lettuce, radish, pepper, tomatoes and thousands of cab bage plants ready for transplanting. There are also onions io abundance and a fine bed of strawberries, about 800 bushels of sweet potatoes iu banks of er -ch and straw and in a fine state of preservation. The stable and lot presents a sceno equal to a country barn yard. Tho stalls ot the mules and horses are well kept, and the cow sheds, with separate apart ments for each cow, (ten in number), gives an idea that milk and butter is plentiful. These fine cows cost compar atively small sums, as they are bought aa beef cattle. Tbe hogs are beauties of their kind, are tomo forty or fifty in number and are fed principally from tbe slaughter pena. The slaughter pen is annexed to tbe ba rn yard, and bas all the necessary fix it res for butchering. The meat or cut ting room was well supplied with beef and pork on the occasion of our visit, and there was spare-rib, back-bone and sausage in abundance, all ol it peniten tiary raised. The convicts, 552 in numbe.*, present a healthy and cheerful appearanco. They are well clothed and fed, and the odor arising from the kitchen was exceeding ly suggestive to a hungry reporter, but the company was almost too "select" for ?B. So we were not offended by the ab sence of an invitation to dinner. The guards number fifty privates, six corporals, one sergeant and one captain. They are armed with Smith & Wesson improved pistola and the Lee repeating rifle. This latter firearm is regarded by ?8 high an authority as General Sherman as tho finest weapon that is made, and shoote sixty-four times in two minutes. The guard is a fino body of young men, all of good families and well trained and intelligent. Their uniform is a neat Confederate gray cloth. In walking through the grounds with Captbin Sligo wo inuuired an to whether be exp ,-ienced much trouble with them. H?8 re,.ly was : "Oh I uo ; they treat me with marked respect, politeness and conside- dion, and I govern them more by mo.al suasion than rigid discipline." How about the convicts, Captain ? "They have humane treatment in every respect. No pains ia spared in instruct ing them relative to their duty and to prevent instead of detecting them in do ing wrong. Insubordination seldom oe cum, they yield humbly, if not willingly, to prison discipline." Have you many escapes? "No; only lour in nearly two years." What ?8 the average number of deaths ? "Six for the fiscal year commencing November 1st-two from the yard, two from Jervey's and two from Pringle's." Aa regards thoee under contract ? "I bear of ?no complaint. Those dis charged reoortgood treatment s&d usual ly look well." What real estate baa been purchased by Colonel Lipscomb for tbe peniten tial ? "Three and three-quarter acres in front of the penitentiary for $1,500. Twelve and three-quarter acree West of the ca nal known as "Tickleberry," for $1,000, for a gravo yard, and 404 acres near the canal for $4,250. All of these lands are sown in oats. There is about fifty acres between the canal and river that is pre pared for a corn crop." In reply to a coin pl i tu en to ry remark in regard to the management, Captain Sligb responded that they had done no moro than their duty, but that they felt grateful for public appreciation, and that it waa moreover % pleasure to be asso ciated in the performance of duty that waa fully discharged and well done, aa it most assuredly waa by Colonel Lipscomb ; and judging by our own observations, we feel that ia only well-merited praise to say that Colonel Lipscomb is a faithful officer, who uses care and strict inquiry as to the necessity of every expenditure, and at the same time provides ample means for carrying on all the work of the inatitutioc. His wise business manage ment is evinced by the fact that, notwith standing, as previously mentioned, the wages of the leased convicta have been reduced $15,000 per annum, and ao much hes to gc tc the canal work, he has man aged to make the institution not only self-supporting, but bas also managed to acquire outlying Ianda for the Stato, to i purchase a fire engine, and to arm and equip the guards, and all this out of tbe reduced earnings of the institution, and i now baa on band some $8,000 in cash i over and above all expenses. If there ia a similar institution in the land that can abow a finer record, we would like to hear from it. By way of contrast between the past i and present management of the institu tion, lt may be noted that the present new ?rall that surrounds the penitentiary, a fine and substantial atructure, waa built . at a coat of less than one four-hundredth i part of the cost of the old wall, which I was a miserable thing, made ont of brick and mud. and with no mortar In lt. Col. Lipacomb informed us that a new ' brick yard would be started about the ' middle of next month by Mesara. J. D. Frost A Co., the penitentiaty to furnish the labor, the guard ?md food for the i guard, the contractors to supply every* > thing else, snd that be hoped aoon to - bave a sufficiency of brick for the inte . rior work now In progress. > -A Louisiana newspaper publishes an r advertisement of a recent marriage, and, after acknowledging the receipt of a liberal share of the cake and wine from , the happy couple, adda: "May they r prove as good to each other as the cako ? and wine proved good to us." CONSTANTINOPLE DOCTORS. How the Sick are Treated In the Capital mt the TurU?. The bouses are close together and tull and glioomy there is no 'sunshine, and tho lower bou?e walls are so damp that they have turned green with slime. The streets aro always wet with tilth that often comes above ehoetops, nud tho stench tbst rises is worse than the air tn i the underground passages of a China town. Yet thc people live and eat and sleep here, and when they get sick-us they invariably do-they doctor them selves after tho most approved quackery in the Turkish pharmacy. Tho priests ' are thc chief physicians, bul men sell patent medicines on the Turkish street comers with much the samo volubility as iu New York. They are very conser vative, these Turkish doctors, resisting sturdily tho new and clinging tenaciously to old opinions. Most of their practice is mere fettchism, and they lug astrology or Divine interference into the smallest coses of colic or the toothache. Fur a nation of fatalists the Turks have more faith thau two-thirds the Christians living. Nine cases out of ten where they are cured at all, it is their faith and not the remedy that cures them. INVOKING THE DEITY. Sickuess they believe is Ibo result of offending some deity or spirit, and rever sing the process they endeavor to placate the deity tbrc tgh ibo priests, and thus coax him into removing the plague from them. The dervishes being the moot holy me? ?aiong the priest* ure esteemed tbs tu int?, celebrated doctora. Each Thursday, after their peculiar rites, towels and tho clothes of sick persons, too weak to come personally, are brought to them in the temple and laid on the floor before the altar. A bottle of water is then carried round the circle of der vishes and rendered holy by being breathed on by each one in turn. The high priest is the last to do this, and then taking the bottle, be bears it above his bead to the altar, where, after sundry salaams and mutterings, he walks back and forward several times over the clothes and thea sprinkles them with water from the bottle. This is supposed to endow both towels mid clothes with miraculous curative properties, and they are taken away by the sick men's friends at great cost for rubbing purposes or to be worn as a cure. For the "trampling" cure, those who are able to come to tho temple in person. CRUELTY TO CHILDREN. A woman brought in a baby not more iban 12 months old. It was weak and pinched, and not knowing what ail jd it she bad brought it to tho priest in hope of cure. A mat was spread before tue alter and the child laid on it, face down ward, on the floor. Then the high priest, leaning a band on the shoulder of an attendant on each side, so as not to press too heavily, put bis foot on tbe child's loins, Bettled li to get a Arm foothold, and then raising himself, stood upright on tbe poor little body. Then he stepped back, and lifting the child soothed and caressed it with a tenderness that ahoweu him utterly unconscious of any brutality and also bis assurance in the efficacy and necessity for the remedy. Two other babies received the same treatment, nnd then fi ve young girls ran in and lay down side by side on ino mat. There was ap parently uotbing tho matter with them, but their friends were afraid there might bo and so brought them to forestall con tingencies. NOVEL TREATMENT. The priest sprinkled them with water from the holy bottle, and then, discard ing ?be help of bis attendants, stepped up on to ibo nearest girl and walked several times ucrosa the row. At every step his feet sank into the soft flesh, but be kept below tbe waist, and only an occasional grunt showed that they felt it at all. Some of them appeared to think il very funny, und when the priest bad finished they all got up laughing, kissed his band with a great show of reverence, and ran nimbly out. The only patient not entirely stoical was an old Turkish officer, with rheumatism in bis limbs. They brought him in on crutches, with his legs alf bent and uti il', and like the others be was laid out on the mat. Then the priest mounted bim, beginning at the waist, and inside of two minutes bis legs were straightened out as limp as carpet rags, and tbs old priest waa walking up and down h'm as cheerfully as if there was no such thing aa feeling In him. The officer'a face turned white as his shirt, and once or twice be yelled invol untarily, but the priest paid no atten tion, and in the end the effect seemed to be good, for when it was over and they raised him to his feet, although he ap peared rather wilted, he stood alone and walked away without his crutches. THE "SWEATING STONE." Another popular cure is the "sweating atone." so called, in the mosque of St. Sophia. It ia a large pillar near the left band entrance, or a sort of greenish white stone. In this, about the height of G man'? heed, ia a sscill hole, bardi/ large enough to contain the entire fingers. Through some peculiar natural property of the stone, the inside of this hole is al ways covered with a salty moisture. No matter how often this is wiped away, it instantly returns, and this "sweat" of the stooe the Turks credit with miraculous curative properties. Hundreds come here, it is said, to rub their deceased members with the healing moisture. The graves of many of the dead dervishes, too, who io life had extra luck os "tramp lers," have been converted into shrines, to which sick persons make pilgrimages in hopes of cure. They tie on the grat ings before these tomba long strips ol flannel and wool-black, yellow ana red -torn from their clothes, and do not for get to leave a plaster or BO in the money basin before departing. This is tho cure for fevers and colds, and also a protective against the "evil eye." This fear of the "evil eye" is sa atrong among the Turk? as among the Italians, and in point ol civilisation much more becoming. Like tho Italians, they consider coral a protec tion against its ill effects, and every Turi carries a niece of it about with him as i charm. Not only this, but the su pe ra ti tion extends to animals and products. CORAL AMULET? The donkeys sud horses havo neck lu ces of red coral and strings of turquoise twisted into their tails. Pendants o coral hang fror, the grape and vegetabl baskets, and if . *>irk getsawearing mai at hie donkey am. AOU to asy the wora thing he can to bim, * threatens to tak away bia jewelry, thu. being the shorten way of o' er'y consigning him to th devil. Th ' arks are very much afrai of dying ll -lacIves and never like t think of dy? \r in any way. Aa a const quenco they appear peculiarly heartier about their funerals. The body, in coffin or on a board, aa the case may bi Is covered with a yellow cloth and lal in a litter. Then four brawny Turk lift up the corners and set off as fast f they can go to the mosque, the fri ene following as beat they can. Nobod 'makes way for the procession in th crowded streets and it often goes har with the bearers to dodge in and ot among the horses and carriages. In front of the mosques ure Blaming clones, on which the bodies aro rested white tho < priests and mourners go in to pity. This finished, thc mardi is resumed until tho gravo is reached. All except the mourn- | ers laugh and gossip und poke fun at the bearers for their awkwardness in lowering tho corpse. One of the lutter jumps into tho grave and arranges the body, and when he has scramble out tho diggers begin filling in thc dirt and the party goes away. There is no further show of ; sentiment, and after the erection of a headstone, littlo care is there whether the worms o: 'he dogs lunch on tho de parted. Being tiMulisM, they know he is either in torment or in glory, and while certain that the same fate must come to them in time, they don't want to be both ered with tho thought before it cornea ; and so endeavor to forget tho dead and : death as quickly and completely as possi ble. K?ling (he Small Hirds. I' may bj considered somewhat out of j season to call attention to the above sub- i ject at the present time, but a short j newspaper article which hasbeeu handed in to us meets our views so fully that we j wish to give it a place iu these columns. Furthermore, the period when farm work ! is in a measure suspended is just the lime for farmers to consider ami discuss the important questions, upon a rightful understanding of which the success of their industry so largely depends ; and, Wt word for it, tho question under con sideration is not ono of tho least in im portauce. The article is aa follows : Farmers are greatly to blame for per mitting the wholesale destruction of in sectivorous und other birds which takes place on our public holidays. More es pecially was this noticeable on the recent Thanksgiving day, when the country wau overrun by youths and men carrying all sorts of firearms from the latest pattern if breech-loaders down to tho antiquated musket. Every description of bird unfortunate enough to cross the paths of these pot-hunters was blazed away at, not the slightest though*, being given ns lo whether it was UBeiul to the farmer, tod of a class protected (savo the mark !) by law. It was, in the eyes of the shoot ers, somethiog to shoot at and help swell their bags, and, in nine cases out of ten, to be flung away after being exhibited us ?vidence of the prowness of tho sports nan, they being of little or no value for !bod. "Now, the great majority of thc birds ;illed were woodpecker? and other iusec .i vermin birds,and thc killing of a siugle jird meaus thc multiplication of thous indu of insecto. It is no wonder that nseet pests are yearly on the increase ind moro difficult to combat, when the .-cry means provided by nature to keep hem in check aro ruthlessly destroyed o provide very questionable amusement. Liad these innocent creatures been allow id to live auJ prc p?gate, it would not bo t grent length of timo ere we should iave abundance of feathered friends nix ?our, to do '.heir duty in keeping lown our insect enemies. Whereas, if .his depretion is permitted, tho jonse jueuces will be very serious. Vet, in he face of this, many farmers encourage .he wanton work instead of prosecuting he offenders or prohibiting them crossing .heir lands. Wo are quite aware that the majority if farmer.! will hesitate before taking luch eteps, because they do not wish to >e considered mean by their acqualntao-" ses. Far better that, than be robbed of .heir true friends, the birds. Let these "armers ponder over the question, how nany grubs and insect.'* one of these lirds will consumo in a day, and thon calculate how many iu a year? ?hey will ie surprised at the quantity. Thou think >ver the number of eggs those insects ?Vill lay in a season, and it will not take lim long to arrive at tho conclusion that ie had better protect the birds. Both in Cauada and the United States t has been clearly demonstrated that in irchardB and other places where the birds lad been encouraged und protected, good :rops had resulted. The subject in one vliich is earnestly recommended for dis :u8sion by farmers' clubs and other Mini ar organizations.-Exchange. Was Envly Mau n Savage I It is a wonderful thing how absolute ia .he silence of our race on their own early History. Putting aside, of course, tho Scripture narrative, which is of much later date, no whisper comes to us out of the depths of time from man himself to tell us of his own origin, or of his early listory. Some people say that this was natural enough because man was at first & savage. But I must frankly confess that I do not believe that theory. There ls another way of accounting for it-on the supposition that man, in the child bood of bia race was as we are in our in dividual childhood, and was possessed of that blessed conscientiousness of self which is the charm of childhood. It does not oc.ur to a child lo wriie a 3 i try of his ow&> existence. But iet no .mc tell me that roan waa a savage when I know that the inventions of early man were infinitely more important than those af later days, of which wo are so proud. The roan who drew the first spark of fire iras a far greater Inventor than the roan who drew the first spark of electricity. Look again, at the invention, which must have been tho result of many pro cesses, by which certain natural grasses were gradually made to produce those crops upon which we all depend-those cereals which arc the staple of human consumption all over the globe. We must get some other explanation of tba silence of man than thal he was a sav age.-Good Word*. A Hard Wind. Old Peter H-lived in a one-story wooden house of not very extensive di mensions, and when subjected to the force of one of those hurricanes so nu merous of late years at the West, its powers of resistance were insufficient to withstand so great a pressure, and it ?ielded the point without a struggle owever, it was not upset, nor torn to pieces, but merely moved a few rods. ?In the course of the journey the stove was upset and the fire spilt out, and the danger of conflagration was imminent. Old Peter was too much excited to notice ' the removal of his house, and seeing the necessity of immediately applying water to the burning embers on the floor, he seized . bucket and darted out behind the house, when great was bis astonish ment to find all the traces of his well obliterated. After looking in blank astonishment a moment, be called out to his wife : "Sarah, I'll be blamed if the wind bas not blown the well clear out of the lot !" - The moment a man is satisfied with himself, everybody else ia dissatisfied with him. - "Didn't you say that young SnifTeos only gets ten dollars a week?" "Yes. Why ?" "Well, I see his wife weare dia monds." "Ob, but he works in a jewel ry store." METHODIST CENTENNIAL, Thin Vonr to Witness the Centenary of American Methodism. Thin year, 1884, ia a great and notable ! ono in tho annals of American Melli- ' odium, lt will witness the celebration nf tlie one hundredth anniversary of the : Methodist Episcopal Church on this con? ! tinont, and ia certain to provo a year of i unusual activity and profound interest : throughout tho wide extended borders of that powerful denomination of Chris tians. The grand historic facts relating to the beneficent character and wonder ful achievement? of Christianity through tho organized plans and tho doctrines of I Methodism during its pathway through ; this century of ita existence in America, ' aro truly pronominal, as acknowledged by the world's leading minds, and is ono i of tho grandest problems of the ages. With more communicants than any oilier religious body in America, it is a matter of interest to brielly review some of tho facts of general interest connected with j ibo history of tho Methodist Church. Beginning in obscurity and feebleness, I it has achieved for itself everywhere a most wonderful success. Thia great re ligious movement has, immediately or remotely, so given an impulse to Chris tian feeling and profession, ou all sides, that it has como to present itself as the starling-point of our modern religious history. In 1781, thc year when tho Methodist Church was organized in Baltimore, when Coke uud Ashbury wero acknowl edged and set apart as Superintendents, or Bishops, there wero only 14,988 mern ban, 83 preachers, 04 ohurch-baildings, no missionaries, and no institution of learning within the bounds of the denom ination. But from that lime until the [iresent tho growth of Methodism has leon almost incalculable. This result was achieved by men who can well be denominated beroes iii the loftiest sense of the word. Accepting tho motto of John Wesley-their Church's founder "Tho World is my Parish," these men of God traversed every State and Territory of our great country, preaching tho gos pel with power nnd in demonstration of the Spirit-buildiug up the Church. Their entire singleness of purpose in spreading the gospel hss been their prominent characteristic, aud to-day American Methodism numbers within her various branches 8,993,724 members ; 25,839 traveling preachers, and 84,714 local preachers. ; 32,000 church-edifices valued at $100,000,000 ; 258 institutions of learning, embracing universities, colleges, seminaries nnd high schools; in 1882 had 433 missionaries in foreign fields sent from America, besides 1,906 native helpers ; and during that yet-r contributed for thc cause of foreign miss ions tho sum of fS?l,447.44. Tho M. E. Church, South, has prepared to join 'n tht celebration of "the Cen tennial Anniversary of the Organization of the Methodist Eph copal Church in America," which will occur in Baltimore on Dec. 27, and proposes lo commemorate tb? great event throughout its entire bounds with suilnble services and by rais ing funds for Educational purposes, Church Extension, uni Missions-three noble objects to which the liberality of the Church will certainly respond. Two millions of dollars is the amount propos ed to bo raised for these objects, and that this purpose can bo accomplished there should be no doubt ; it will certainly not exhaust thc treasury of thia strong Church with i'i nearly nina hundred thousand members. It may be interesting to our readers to recount what American Methodism bas hitherto accomplished on ber Centenary occasions. We first revert to the Centen nial of 1839. As the first Methodist Society wari formed in London in the month* of Novemocr, 1739, so 1839 be come properly thc ono hundredth year of Methodism. It was accordingly cele brated in Europe and America. During that Centenary year, with a membership of 749,210 members, including colored members and Indians, the Methodist Church in America raised $600,000 for missions, educational purposes, and for tho support of the worn-out preachers, and tho widows, children, and orphans of preachers. The Wesleyan Methodists of Great Britain raised over one million dollars for similar objects. The next Methodist Centennial event was in 1866. It waa in commemoration of the first Methodist preaching services held in this country in 1766, and was celebrated by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1866. Education and Church Extension were tho great objects of their benevolence, and $2,000,000 was suggest ed an the amount to be raised. The re sult was a magnificent one, the thank offerings amounting to $8,709,498.39, or more tuan four times the amount propos ed at the outset. The successful celebration of these two former Centenary events should certainly encurago our Southern Methodist friends to the accomplishment of the noble deeds they have essayed. Such a past "ugh t to be an inspiration. Able and comf'.i?nt committees have this work in hand, and will spare no ef fort to successfully consummate it. Tha Central Centenary Committee, with he-?d- - quarters at iTasbville, Tenn., is composed as follows : E. R. Hendrix, D. D., of Missouri, Chairman ; W. tr. Harrison, D. D., Secretary ; Wils. Williams. Assist ant Secretary ; Judge James Whitworth, Treasurer; Bishop H. N. McTyeire, L. D. Palmer, Esq., of Nashville, and James G. Carter, Esq., of Louisville, Ky. The following is the Centenary Com mittee of the Greenville District : T. O. Herbert, P. E., Greenville ; Rev. S. Lan der, Williamston ; Miles Sltton, Seneca City. Confronted With His Ylllalnj. When Mr. Popperman threw off his overcoat last evening bis wife said : "My dear, this is your birthday. Now what kind of a present would you pre fer?" "Well, money." "That's just the kind of a present I have for you," and Mrs. Popperman took from beneath ber apron a plethoric bag and emptied upon the table a pile of jingling coins. "There's your birthday present." The busband looked at the coins io amazements, and then said : "Why, roy dear, the money is DO good. There is nothing here but lead quarters and dimes with holes in 'em. Here's a quarter arith a bole in it and the hole's bigger than the quarter. What rascal paimed that money on you 7 Oh I tho scoundrels there are in the world 1" "Calm yourself, my dear," said Mrs. Popperman. "That money must all be good. That's what you've given me for pin money since we've been married." New York Journal. - George Washington weighed 209 ' pounds at the cloeo of the revolutionary I war. ' - There are in the United States 16, 000,000 milch cowa. One billion and three hundred millioo pounds of butter ?nd 450,000.000 pounds of cheese ar? ' made annually, Aro Cyclones Hore Frequent Than voruicrly ? Editors Atlanta Constitution :-In your Suuday'n issue in answer to au inquiry from a correspondent, you say opinion is divided as to whether there are mure cyclones now than in former years; that many persons think the facilities for the rapid transmission of news being greater, every little whirlwiud is reported, which was not the case years ago. With your permission, I desire to say a word upon this subject. It will not be denied that news is much moro rapidly disseminated at the present day than it was twenty or thirty yearn ago. It is likewiso true that our leading journals are more enterprising iu the collection of important current events than formerly (as witness the Conrtitution's admirably appointed and organized corps of corres pondents.) Hut granting all this, I do not think it is a satisfactory explanation of the frequency with which wo are shocked by the stories of the cyclone's wi'd work. Certainly such terrific storms as wo hive had of lato years, carrying death and destruction through whole States, could nut h:\vo occurred twenty or thirty years ago without eliciting much comment in the newspaper, and making a deep and lasting impression upon the public mind. Think you, Messrs. Editors, the youth of this gener ation will be likely to forget the tearful cyclone of the 19th inst, ? Will it not rather go down as a tradition to futuro generations? If lim be true, do you think it probable that those of us who were young, trent? lo forty yssrs a^o. could have forgotten occurrences entail ing such wide-spread devastation and loss of life ? Now, that, there wero local cyclones, which Bwept through limited districts io tho South "before the war," I am aware, but their course was seldom more than a mile in extent. Of the frequency of these comparatively insignificant storms, I have no accurate knowledge, but that they were of rare occurrence in Georgia. I infer from the fact that I never heard of more than ono previous to 18713. Long before that year Georgia was penetrated in almost every direction by railroads and telegraph lines so that had these re markable disturbances been common, it is hardly to bo supposed we should not have heard of them. I am no scientist, but I cannot help believing that the world is just now undergoing radical atmospheric changes, There aro various theories, as we have all seen upon theao subjects ; which is thc correct one, or whether anyone that hat yet been advanced is tho true one, I don't pretend to know, but that there aro unu sual forces at work in nature, I confident ly believe. Are tho causes which pro duce or set these forces into active motior temporary, or are they likely to coniinui for an indefinite period, creating like dis turbauces? Will some wise man rise t< the occasion and inform us ? CURIOUS. An Historic Incident. The late Rev. Dr. Richard Fuller, on of the most eloquent of Southern preach ers, was in early life a lawyer in l'eau fort, S. C. He belonged to an aristocrat ic family, which, with his own talent and bis intimate associations with emi nent lawyers and politicians, made hi Eroapects for success in life unusual! rilliant. Ho bad been educated ut Harvar College, and waa a superior scholar, wide reader and an enthusiast in his pre fession. His extraordinary gift for put lie speaking and bis attractive sooii qualities, caused his friends to prc Jit that ho would rauk among the leaders < the bar and honor the State by his em neuce in Congress. But a change came over his prospect A Baptist preacher of ordinary talen but earnest spirit came to Beaufort an began a series of religious meeting Young Fuller was attracted, out of eui osity, to the unpretending house of wo ship, where the minister preached, ac received there new ideas ot life. He d termined, after much consideration, abandon his profession and become preacher of the gospel. When it beean known to the brilliant lawyers and b political friends in Charleston that yow Fuller wah intending te leave the bar f the pulpit they were amazed. The Hon. William C. Preston, the? league of Mr. Calhoun in the Unit States Senate, nod tho most brilliant 01 tor in the State, w nt to Beaufort to e Eostulate with Mr. ? iller, and if pot le to turn him from what seemed to bi his momentary folly. Calling al his office Mr. Preston beg to speak with great warmth. "Fullei said he, "what does this moan that hear? Are you crazy? Have you t come a fa untie? Giving up your pr< peels st the bar, and in public life, to I come A preacher ? it seems impossib Let me persuade you to act rational and give up thia singular, and it seems me, morbid purpose?' Mr. Fuller listened quietly, and tl said : "Preston, ? waa living a selfish i csgor only to win success, and ?avi great name among men. Religion ne entered my thoughts, and I was neglig* of ali duty to God. Suddenly my e opened. I discovered God's great lo I saw ih?t .Tr.-.un Ch rut h?d left Heav and came to earth and died, to win lore. This act has so impressed me, tl aa a man of honor, I can do nothing c but to love Him in return, and put life at his service. It does not seen me that this is irrational." Mr. Preston was a man of tender f ings. The eftrscsl words touched fa The conversation continued for S? time, and in leaving Preston grasped friend's band, and said, with utter? half choked, "Fuller, I think you right. You are the rational man, we are all irrational." He who candidly reviews Dr. Ful long and remarkably useful career Christian man and minister of the go; will appreciate the wisdom of Mr. I ton's words.- Youth's Companion. An Alleged Good Story by Vane Senator Vance of North Carolina a good story concerning an old col preacher in Baleigb, wno collects salary, from the devout of his own without the aid of deacons. Mw one of bis congregation recently he ed bim with "Good morning. Bru dd cr Bony, you anything to gib de Lawd dis n in'?" "Yes, parson, certain I bas. Hen do ll ah." And be pulled out an greasy pocket book, from which hoi a : greasier greenback and reached ward the expectant parson. Drawl back again, he said : "Dose you expect to see de 3 yo'eolf, Parson f* "Courte I does," tho preacher. "When will yer run ac roa t him, d think t" "Oh I some time tn de sweet by Inc responded his reverence. .?Wall, den." said Bony. "I'll jes dis greenback twell de sweet by i sn' han' It to him myself." Ai stowed it ?way. rt-'*)"' - . * . ? /' r . '.' Tho Bayonet In Politics. WASHINGTON, February 24.-At a dinner party given during tba past week Senator elect Blackburn, of Kentucky, told tho following interesting story, which he says was told him by General Garfield, at a social gathering at which A lex ami er H. Stephens and oilier prominent Demo crats were present. Tho stirring events of the closing days of the session of 187G-77 were tho topics of conversation, and some of tho party were commenting on the narrow escape of the country from a bloody struggle. It wu? agreed by nil that if it had cot been for the great self control of th?, members of holli parties, and tho renl patriotism of the Democrats, a civil war would certainly have broken out. Gen. Garfield hero carno in with a nigh compliment for the Democrats. Ile said that perhaps none of them really knew how great thc danger was nt that time. Ho added that lie thought ho had been tho means of breaking up a foolish programme which some Republican had actually arranged, and which, if carried out, v/ould certainly have resulted in a bloody outbreak. "Now," said General Garfield, "as wo are talking iimong ourselves ns gentle men, and uot as politicians, I have no hesitation in telling you what that ; . . gramme was." Instantly there wns the most profound attention. General Gar field continued, after a moment's pause, in which he lighted a fresh cigar, to say that there ras nearly a panic among tho Republican leaders during tba days im> mediately preceding tho passage of the Electoral Commission bill. It was be lieved by some thal thc filibusters woulu bd able to defeat the count and leave the couutry, on tho 4th cf March, without an Executive. Late on thc last day of the debato Garfield was summoned to nn importaut conference of tho Republican leaders. Garfield did not say who were present, or where it was held, but from what followed it was inferred that the President and his Cabinet and the Gen eral of tho Army wero there. Garfield said he nrrived very late. The confer ence had met and just concluded its work. Upon his asking what subject had been discussed and what conclusion reached, he was told that those present believed the filibustering in the House had the power to defeat the count unless extraordinary measures were employed. It had been agreed, therefore, to march 600 men from the Arsenal at 3 o'clock the next morning to tho Capitol, and station them in the basement of th? House, ready to bo marched up into tba House lobby and upon the floor itself if necessary, when tho House met. Tho filibustera were to be notified by an ovder from tho President that persistent filibus tering in thc face of tho situation would bo treated as an act of rebellion, and ibo objecting members would bo arrested and carried out. Garfield said that he denounced this programme and opposed it to the ettent of his ability. He said such an act would arouse tho couutry to a pitch of maduess, and that blood would How in the streets of every city in the country. His objec tions were not listened to until he s?id that if this resolution was persisted in he should go to thc telegraph office and de nounce the whole thing to thc country. Dangerous Whims. Many of thc old women's whims-and of tho old men's, too-have come down to ns from the very hags of ancient heathenism. The negroes of the South Btiii predico charms brought from their ancestors in the slave-ship from Africa; end Virgil represents Queen uido as Iireparing, through her sister, a charm earned from an Ethiopian crone. Nothing is harder to get rid of than superstitious notion?. Tho great Dr. Jo h n son was a slave to one. Many a New England farmer refuses to plant in the "dark of the moon." A loamed college professor ouco told us that he would rather uot see the moon over his left shoulder. The howling of a dog is a very "bad sign" to not a few. A "boat" in the morning cup indicates to many women company before the day ends. Such whims and scores of others can bc laughed at, as they wend their way from simpleton to simpleton down the ages. But there is another sort of old whims that are more serious in their cfleets, for they commend themselves by a BUOW of truth. Eating chalk, slate peucils, etc., gives the coveted delicacy-of disease. Drink ing vinegar renders one thin and slim, by arresting salivary digestion. . Most of the nostrums for the removal of corpulency act by undermining health. The London Lancet says there are seven cases on record of young girlB biting off and swallowing the ends of their bair to five them clear voices, in one of which t resulted in causing tumors of the stomach and Intestines. It adds a more recent case of several school-mates indulging in the habit. One of them, fifteen years old, bad prac ticed it for four "?are. For th. yearn she bad suffered from acute dyspepsia. A tumor was at once noticed, and her sufferings became so severe that the stom ach was opened through the side, when a black and solid mass of hair mixed with vegetable matter was discovered I She goL well at once on its removal.- Youth's Companion. Au Historio Mule. There has been much controversy about the captura cf Fort Pillow by General Forest. It will 13 remembered (bat Forest for t. long time was charged with killing the ciored federal defenders after they surrendered. This charge has been disproved and Forest's humanity fully vindicated, but tba. explanation of the matter forms one of tte most quizi cal and grotesque incident? of any war. The most remarkable quality of For est's military character tras his disposi tion to push bis victories to their fullest fruition. He never let up on a defeated foo while his men had strength to pur sue, or there was a man to fight. He hit a retreating foe as long as he had strength or there was a foe to strike. It was this spirit that caused a miscon ception of 1 is conduct at Fort Pillow. The flag wa. not lowered when the fort was intend'd to be surrendered, and the firing war kept up under the mistaken idea tba* tbe garrison was resisting. And it ia a curious instance of the blending of tto ridiculous with the tragic, show ing how grand historic fact can mergo into farce, that, the flag at Fort Pillow waa finally lowered by a mule getting tangled in the rope and breaking it. Forrest is known to have credited thia strange story. In the demoralization of defeat the leaders being killed, no one had the presence of mind to draw down the nymboi of defiance, and as the flag still floated, the token of resistance, For? eat kept his men firing until the historic mule blundered the flag unintentionally down and stopped the further bloodshed, which, the confederates were perpetrating under an honest misunderstanding that ! the federals were still fighting. - A maiden effort-Tho first Leap year proposal.