Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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BY E. B. MUllllAY & CO. ANDERSON, S. C., THURSDAY MORNING, JULY ol, 1884. VOLUME XX. -NO; 3. OUR WOMEN IN THE WAR. STIRRING DAYS IN CHESTER. DH IV KN Fl?) M COLUMBIA HY TUB FKDKHALS. ifr*. F> (?. DeFontaine, Kew York City, in Charleston Weekly Kew?. The 16th of February, 18G4! What a train of memorable ?venta, sad recollec tions and buried hopes this date recalls. The day opened bright and beautiful, und with the cheering news that the enemy had been repulsed and Columbia was Bftfc. At four o'clock the situation changed. Cannon and musketry were distinctly heard acron the river, and troops wcro hurrying hither and thither in a state of excitement. Baggage wag ons, quartermaster's and commissary's blores were being sent to the rear in tho most expeditious manner, and every one who could leave tho city was hurrying in tho direction of tho depot. Our preparations were expedited by the b'irstiiig of a bombshell, which s"o completely demoralized us all that the subsequent packing was rather on the I unique order. For iustance, a pair of] chickens which were in tho stove being roasted for dinner, were taken on" and jammed into ajar 'Mied with preserves; il haudsome crape veil I fouud a week afterwards tucked in a bag of meal; knives and forks were buddied iu among bonnets and laces, and everything else waa done in tho same peculiar, warlike style. My servants all proved faithful iu tim emergency, with tho exception of a bright mulattress, who showed unmis takable sign, of disaffection, laughing hysterically whenever the report of a gun was heard and acting in a moat unusual manner. It was impossible to gain her uttention in any way. Observing this, and learning that it might demoralize the others, who were doing all in their power to help me, I quietly walked to tho man tel-piece, took down my pistol, and strapping it about my waist, said, "Nan cy, I am still your mistress, and as such I demand respectful obedience irom you. If the Yankees take the city aud you prefer going with them to remaining with mo, you are at perfect liberty to go, but now you must obey me." Looking first at me and then nt thc pistol she excepted tho situation tempo rarily, but made her way to the enemy the next day. During the afternoon Col. Wm. John son, then president of the Charlotto and Columbia Road, sent me word that if I desired to leave the city he would retain a place for me in his Bpccial car ; but I still entertained hope iu the ability of | our army to repulse the foe, who were even then thundering at our very gates. ThiB hope, however, was soon dispelled by the bunding of a shell, thrown from the enemy's batteries just outside of the city. Jumping into a wagon in which our goods were thrown helter-skelter, we made our way to the depot in the midst of the cursing and shouting of the team stcrs, who were hurrying tue army trains to the rear. This, with the lurid light from burning buildings in the back ground, that seemed to reach to the very heavens,produced a pandemonium which only tbe Inferno of Dante could equal. FLYING FBOM THE FEDERALS. Reaching the depot everything was bustle anu confusion. Hundreds were seeking admission to the already well filled cars. Husbands looking for wives and wives calling for husbands, and children screaming in affright at the glare of the flames. The President's car waa "a small coach, attached to the rear of the train. In this we found several friends already seated, who greeted us in a sad. distracted man uer. The passengera on this train, which was the last of sixteen already ahead of I us, were an odd mixture, consisting of j the Governor of the State, several ex Governors, the treasury department, which bad been removed from Richmond to Columbia, a number of colored pris oners and a company of "galvanized Yankees," as deserters from tho Union army were then called. Wo felt that "touch of nature which makes the whole world akin." Each was leaving home and friends behind, for we were all refugees, going forward to an untried future in which there seemed little happiness in store. As the train finsbed out from the depot the young adies of the treasury department struck up "Home, Sweet Home." Everybody on the train joined in the Bong, and there waa scarcely a dry eye in tho company. When near Winnaboro' we carne to a standstill, the train just ahead Of us hav ing jumped the track, and we wero com pelled to remain quiet until it was re stored to ita position. Every one on the car, worn out by the fatigue and anxiety of the day, was fast asleep except myself. My baby being restless kept me awake. Soon I heard in the distance sounds that resembled the approach of another train, although it was understood that ours was the last which would leave the city. The sound grew nearer and more distinct, and there was now nb doubt but that another train ?as right upon us. Quick as a flash the thought came to me about the "signal light," and ar >'ng my husband, who sat next to roe, ? id, "Quick, for God's sske, take that caudle and wave it in front of the door, for something tells me that the signal light is out." It was the work of a minute, but that I minute saved hundreds of lives. In an instant a sharp whistle sounded upon tho still night air, and the approaching train stopped only a few feet from ns. The engineer entered our uar as pale as death, saying, "In God's name where ls the brakeman ? and why was there no signal light ? If it bad not been for that Hula light which some one waved, you'd all have been in eternity by this time, so you may thank the one who waved it for your lives." "No," said I, "thank the baby, fe? if she hadn't wakened me none of us wo .ld have heard your train." Io the morning, before we were ready to start again on our journey, Major Robinson, of Winnsboro, played tbe part ?i pur good angel, and sent osa donation of biscuits and coffee, which were the only .things, that stood between us and JtarvatioO. ? Biscuits and coffee- will never oe eaten again ?Uh such relish. UNIQUE HOMES 1ST CHESTER. Arriving in Chester, we found all the old, discarded cars which bsd been switched off on one side, fitted up as dwellings for the "refugees." Io these }hoy hsd placed their "little ail" that was lea of the general wreck. From one t?ued sounds of a harp, from another a piano, and tho Inmates seemed as happy ?nd contented as if residing in their own beautiful homes. ? . .We were too late to secure one of Palatial residences. The only .helter lea in the "vMsgewe* a pitched oi?cedt afcar?meni fad once been the abode, of a shoemaker. He had left arabesque designs, iu grease md wax, over everything capable of receiving an impression. Tho walla were painted a deep dark, desperately blue, tho sort of color that is calculated to take all the sunshine out of ono's nature sud provoke thoughts of suicide. The windows were so high from tho floor that in a standing position yo u chiu just reached them. The fireplace was largo enough to accom modate a family. The furniture consist ed of a set of shelves and tw> broken chain. Thia was a pit asant picture to contem plate, after a loi g, tedious ride hungry and tired. At first I thought ? i hould go mad. I cried i util I was hoarse. After that I felt bett ir, and began to philoso phize, and with one coup d' osii took iu the situstion and prepared to nako the most of it. Soon after our arrival Mr. Loftos Clif ford aent over to us a bedstead, with the message "that bo was sorry tho screws could not ba found." Hero was a dilem ma, a bedstead without screw*. I rose to tho emergency, however, and i al i og Your boxes in which my househill 1 effects were packed, I laid tho Bides ant ends of the bedstead upon them and placed the aleta crosswise. Then placing my bed, which I bad brought with me, i pon this structure, we soon had avery respectable looking couch. Cur dining tibie was a large dry good* box which t ie cobbler had left behind. We eat on b.ixes cover ed with shawls, and our pantry was made of bcdslats nailed in tbe floor and bung round with table covers of vaiioua hues. Despite all of these drawbacks to ele gance we enjoyed this "roughing it" :ro menscly, and entertained ia cur little blue attic many whose names have brightened the pages of history. Olen. Hood called one day, and bearing the sound of hia crutches upon our rick ety staircase, I ?aid : "General, ia your life insured? You are in more danger from those steps than a dozen Yankee bullets." In his wonted graceful style, he repli ed : "The cause ia worthy of tho effort, and if I fall, I fall." Chef ter was threatened with a raid, and some of the ?venta which occurred during that time were exceedingly ludic rous. Everything of any vallie waa buried or mysteriously secreted. I was for several days a perambulating convoy anee of essorted gooda. Besides my war pocket.-!, which reached to tbe hem of my dress, I carried, bung upon a heavy cord about my waist, oue piece of flannel, twelve yards of dress gooda, twelve yards of muslin, two pounds of tea, five pounda of cotice, two pounds of sugar, a silver cup, two dozen silver forks, tho same of spoons, spools of cotton, silk, needles, pins, etc., <fcc. In my akirta were sewed my watch, money and private papers. As most of these gooda were purchased at tho "Bee store" in Columbia, at the risk of life and limb, and atan enormous expense, I determined, if possible, to retain them. WAITING FOR THE ATTACK. The night before the attack was expect ed all of the arms-bearing mea left the town to tbe care of tbe women and chil dren and a few disabled men who were in charge of tbe Government atores. At midnight when the ecbo of the last horses' hoofa died away, carrying from our midst Gen. Chesnut and staff a feel ing of utter desolation and despondency took possession of us. Hager in the wilderness waa not more disconsolate. Most of the night I spent at a.y attic window watching the pale stars looking down, seemingly in pity upon us, and tbe glimmer of lights from every window told that the inmates were awake and anxiously awaiting their fate. Shortly after daylight I walked out upon the balcony, and in the distance Baw a cloud of dust. My heart Btood still with fright, and calling a lady friend to my Bide, who was pale with fear, I said, "Courage I the cavalry ara coming ; in God's name what ?hall we do?" I determined in spit? of my terror to stand my ground and await their arrival. Soon a ragged, wretched-looking, devil may-care fellow, in advance ot t.io lead ing company, rodo up and baited just in front of us, saying, "Where're all the men of this town ?" Still thinking they were Yankees I replied in an independent tone, "They've left for parts unknown, and tho town is in possession of tho women, and ve mean to hold it." "God bless your soul," said he, "I wish tho men bad half your pluck." "Who aro yon ?" I inquired ; "Stone mau's cavalry?" I "In the name of God," said ho, "you don't take us for Yanks, do you ? Why, we're Wheeler's cavalry, sent here by General Beauregard to protect tbis town, and we're a goin' to do it, by Jupiter." Seeing that he waa a desperate sort of fellow, whom it was better to have as a friend than a foe, I determined to enlist bim in our behalf and asked bim to pro tect our houBB in case the enemy came in. With au oath be swore that he would do it. After reconnoitering for about an hour, they returned to camp, which wai on the outskirts of the town. In passing the houao tbis same man pulled off bis war worn hat, which was only held together by a freak of cohesion. He was in a terrible rage, and tbe oaths rolled from his mouth. "What is the matter," said I ; "you seem very angry about something ?" "Why," he replied, "one of them d--- commissary chaps says we shan't have any rations, that we're spica and they'll drive us out of the town sod take our hosses. If they do drive us out, it'll be by tbe pottiest fire they ever see in all the days of their life. As to Ukin' bttr bosses, by Jupiter, one of Wheeler's cavalry hosses wouldn't toto a civilian." Here be slapped bia horse on tbe flank, threw his remnant of a bat high in the air, and, with a loud yell, dashod off. A TEBRIBLE 8EGRET. About noon of that day Mrs. Gen. O. called and said she bad .a terrible secret to confide in me. "Promise mo," said slio, "that you will not divulge it, for it may cost me my life." "Oh 1 dear," said I, "if it is anything BO terrible I don't want to know it." "But yon must know it," ssid abe with a look of mysterious bewilderment, "somebody must know it or I'll die try ing to keep it; but first Uli mo which wsy your husband went. There's a courier here snd he wants to 'iee the General, for if he don't see him the town will be burned if the Yankees enter." "Howdo you know this?" said L "That's tbe secret," ?sid she, coming near me and whispering in mvear. It s the notice of an armistice that bes only tbink of it-r?n armistice 1 . If you are sure," said-1, "that this man is not a spy, and that this is a bona fide psper, t will tell ?on where our busbsndVaVe. If heWM go at break neck speed opon the Union road be will probably overtake tbem." _ . The suspense that day was something awful. The fear lest Stoneman should .reach the town before the dispatch was I dcUvejcd to the commandaat of tho po*, and the ardent desire to proclaim the news from the housetops, were conflicting emotions which kept me in a continued state of unrest. Wheu the General arrived late in the evening and found it reaily was a genuine dispatch containing information of an armistice, I wont up to my husband's printing office and ordered a number of notices to be struck off in large type, and posted in the most conspicuous places in tho towD. It was done and delighted the eyes of all who looked upon them, although with our joy was mingled a deep sorrow, when we witnessed the bowed beads and broken spirits of the brave men who for four long years had stood in the breach and were now return ing to homes, many of them made deso late by war. OFF"TOIi SPAUTANBUE'J. We left our attic and made our way to Bpartanburg in a wagon drawn by Con federate mules that bad been relegated to the "retired list." Owing to tho want of "going" capacity in our team, we were compelled to camp ono nigbt on the roadside. Tho next morning wo performed our ablutions ina spring near by. After this I returned to the back of tho wagon, wbero I bad loft my hair switch banging, preparatory to arranging my hair. The switch was gone; I questioned Primus, the driver, about it, but the only satisfaction I received was Ibis: "I dunno nothin''tall 'bout no switch, Miss G-, but I seed dat black mule bin de chaw 'pon somethin' dat looked like a hosse'e tail ; I specs dat's whar your hair done gone, Missis." Picture it ! tbink of it 1 a woman's whol"! ci vo of glory gone into tho stomach of a miserable uncompromising mule, our puris blockaded ?ud not the remotest probability of getting another for months. I entertained serious thoughts of having the wretched animal killed and dissected. We took our breakfast, which consist ed of fried bacon, rye coffee and corn bread, at a house near by. When 1 asked for a little more sugar the dish was han ded to me and I put the spoon in, and finding that it struck the bottom looked in and discovered that sorghum was the "long sweetening" used on thia occasion. Rice, potatoes, rye, peanuts and vari ous other things were employed as sub stitutes for coffee, casina berries and herbs in place of tea. The exchange* carried jn between refugees and tboso from the rural districts amounted to a regular traffic, and were sometimes very amusing. Just bc ibm the fall of Colombia we invested in o large amount of candles. These subsequently proved a perfect God send to us, the farmers being willing and anxious to exchange any of their produce lor these wax candles. We let our "light shine" to the best advantage you may be assured. When I left Columbia it was with Hying colors, my dress bi mg trimmed with State buttons, bearing the motto "Animus opibutque parati," but soon after my arrival in Chester a dear old minister called and insisted that if I 'Valued my lifo I must have those buttons cut off." In order to satisfy him I stood up and waa shorn of my glory. A CURIOUS COINCIDENCE. A rather curious coincidence occurred not long since at one of my evening re ceptions in my New York home. Ono of the guests of the evening, a grand son-in-law of John Quincy Adams, ia looking over a large book of war photo graphs, came across a picture of Atlanta after ita destruction by the Northern army. "Ah," said he, "here's the very house we burned down to see how the chimneys were built." I overheard the remark and replied, "I presume, then, that your curiosity must hav? been thoroughly gratified when you finished with Columbia, for you left nothing but chimneys remaining there." He confessed that he was in Columbia some time before ita burning, but being confined to rather close quarters, bad very little opportunity for seeing much of the city." "Why," said I, "what were you doing there?'' "Serving ray time out in your jail," said he, "for having visited your Fair in the disguise of a Confederate naval offi cer, and flirting with all the pretty Co lumbia girls." Struck dumb with amazement I regar. . ded him earnestly for some seconds, and then said : "You are the blue-coated Yankee that kissed his band as I passed the jail one day and happened to look up at a window." "Ah," said he, "then, it io to you that I owe a grudge, for I was placed in the back of the jail, my liberty restrained and my rations reduced for throwing that kiss." "I'm delighted to hear that I was in strumental In bringing at least one Yankee to punishment," said I. "and now, only think of your being an invited guest in my bouse." It would be possible to fill a volume with the incidents, humorous and pathet ic, which came under my observation during tho eventful "four years;" but many of them would only serve to reopen old issues and embitter the feeling, which policy teaches ns it is better to bury with the dead past. It is enshrined io our hearts : there is its mausoleum, and from it shall rise an incense of love and grati tude, purified and sanctified by the mem ories of those who sacrificed their lives in the endeavor to make us a nation among nations. A Verdict For a Dead Man's Family? Argument in the suit for $25,000 dam ages by the administrators of Edward McKittrick against the Richmond & Danville railroad company was begun yesterday. Speeches were made by R. A. Chiln Esq., who opened the case in behalf of the plaintiffs, and by Solicitor Orr fer the defence. T. H. Cooke. Esq., closed the argument in a speech for the plaintiffs. The speeches were lengthy and showed that intimacy with the de tails of tho affair which the peculiar interest of the case demanded. The public interest in the case was shown by a noticeable increase in the number of spectators occupying the court room. The entire morning session was occupied by counsel in the presentation of their arguments to tho jury, and it was not till the reconvening of the Court in the afternoon that the case was given to tho jury. After d?lib?ration, prolonged through out the greater part of the afternoon, tba jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs, awarding them damages to the amount of $6.500. Tba decision was reached after a careful survey of the evi dence, nod in view of the tact proved by the plaintiffs, that tho dead man had been accustomed to earn at least $500 a year for his family, which consisted of a wife and four children. The announce ment of the verdict was received with a feeling of relief by many, there being an expression abroad that the result ot tba jory's continued sitting would ba a mis trial. The defendants gava notice on the minutes that they would make a motion for a new trial .-Daily Neun, 17th. - By other's fan]ta wiso men correct their own. IN FOREIGN LANDS. 0)tret?tondenee of the Intelligencer. The passage across the channel fros: England to tho continent has always been regarded with borrer by traveler) and ita reputation for producing misery ia doubt less fairly earned. It bas tho advantage, however, of being a short trip, tho voyage from Dover to Calaia being made in less than two boura, and from Dover to Ostend in about four hours. The discomforts of the journey are largely increased by the fact that the steamers aro ?mall and inconvenient and aa a rulo passengers and pig?, poultry and provisions are stowed away indiscriminately. Our voyage to Ostend was a comparatively smooth one and we at once took tho train for Bruges, where, "In the market place of Bruens Stands tbe belfry, old and brown. Thrice consumed and thrice rebid hied, Still it watches o'er the town." Tho famous chimes of which Longfellow wroto, consist of 48 bells and aro regarded aa among thc best in Europe. Tho trip up the tower, (320 feet to tho top,) ia a very satisfactory one, not only on account of the extensive view obtained, but also on account of the careful explanation given by the custodian of tho working of tho ringing machinery and clock. Bruges was at one timo an important commercial cetttre ; but uotbing except relics of its ancient splendor DOW remain. The road from Brugea to Brussels (65 miles) is through a dat and uninteresting country, but the soil is evidently good and under a high state of cultivation ; the growing crops, rrhich consist largely of barley, wheat, potatoes, etc., looking fine. Although tho capital of Belgium -Bruasels-ia to all appearance a French city and in fact ia frequently apokon of aa a miniature Paris, its public buildings are rich and tasty, its business blocks and private residences elegant and substantial and the puro air und general neatness of tho surroundings form a very agreeablo change to ono who has just escaped from tho fog and smoke of London. The Hotel de Ville, near tho centre of the city, is regarded aa architectural'/ one of the finest structures in Europe. Ita tower rises to a height of 370 feet and its grace ful pinnacles and the general design of the building are very pleasing. Twelve milea South of Brussels ia the field of Waterloo; where, uixty-nino years ago, one of tho few decisive battles in the world's history was fought. The "Lion Mound," which marka the location of the English centre, is about a mila distant from tho railway station of Braino 1'Allend and from its summit au excellent view of the scene of the hattie is obtained. Standing there and looking out over those fertile farms w ith their growing cropa and green fields, it ia difficult to realize thc neones of carnage of which this was ouce the arena. Far away to the South the French army was marshalled ; along thia 1 ridge the English received those desperate charge's which would have overwhelmed leas determined troops. By that pass I from the East came Blucher with his Prussians, just in time to save tho day. But the history of the battle is too well 1 known to need repetition here. Grouchy failed to appear and Napoleon died a 1 prisoner at St. Helena. In spite, how- 1 ever, of Waterloo and St. Helena, in spite 1 of the "Holy (?) Alliance" and the 1 "Divine Right of Kings," France to-day ( enjoys that for which Nspoteon fought 1 -tbe right of the people to choose their own rolers. Who will say that the wc rid does not movo? Antwerp is only twenty-seven miles from Brussels, and yet both are thriving citiea. It ia BB thoroughly Dutch as 1 Brussels is French ; and the contrast be tween the two cities is very great. In the 16th century Antwerp was the lead ing commercial city of Europe ; but in the wars with Spain it was crushed and has never gained its former supremacy. Its quaint, antiquainted houses and its narrow, crooked streets, with the many other peculiarities of this old Flemish , city make it a place of more than ordinary interest to the tourist. Antwerp was the borne of yan Dyck and the center of th? Fferjmh Behool cf crt. In the cathedral, a massive structure which dates b?uk io the 14th century, is Rubens' f=r famed ; masterpiece, "Tho Descent from the Cross," as well as several other works of less note by the same artist. The museum, 1 the largest art collection in Belgium, contains about 600 pictures, including Rubens' "Crucifixion" and a large num ber by Ruboiia, Van Dyck, Mateys and others. A chime of 82 bells in the tower furnishes at times the most delightful melody and at others gives fort li the most doleful and solemn sounds. The Scheldt, which flows past the city, ia a sluggish stream, but furnishes excellent facilities for commerce, and during the palmy days of Antwerp often floated over 2,000 ships a tone time. At present this port is visited by about 6,000 vessels annually. Aix-hvCbapelle, or "Aachen," as it is called by the Germans, 1B a city of about 75,000 population and is noted for its associations with the Emperor Charle magne, it being the place of his birth, coronation, favorite residence and burial. For seven centuries after Charlemagne the German Emperors were crowned here. The Cathedral was founded in 796, by the great Emperor and was consecrated by Pope Leo III, assisted by 365 bishops. Among the attractions of the place for the faithful, are the rolics, which are ?reserved with great care in the treasury, hey consist of the swadling clothes, a scarf worn by Christ at the crucifixion, a robe worn by the Virgin at the nativity, a leathern girdle of Christ's, a girdle of the Virgin, a piece of the true cross and many fragments of the bones of ?.various saints. Directly beneath the centre cf the dome is the tomb of the mighty Charlemagne. It is covered with a mas sive elah, bearing the inscription "Carolo Magno. About a milo from tbe city is Frankenbarg, a favorite hnnting seat of Charlemagne and with a tower of bia time still stsnding. It wss here his queen, Fastrada died; but "The iskes thst water that delicious lend," have been partially filled up and only a trace of ita former beauty romains. From Aix-la-Obepelle to Cologne, a ride of about two boura, we first see the distinctive features of German farm life. Small villages are located only a few miles apart, and the inhabitants, women as well as moo, go ont each morning to work id the fields. It wss no uncommon thing to see one or two men with hslf s dozen women, planting or hoeing together in a field ; and so far as we could judge the women did ss much work as the men. This is but one result of the great mili tary systems which are maintained by the European nations, drawing from the useftu occupations of lite hundreds of th? best laborers of the Und, and not on!y compelling their families to subsist without their aid but also by their taxes to support them in enforced idleness. . Who bas not beard of the Cologne Cathedral, whoso foundations were laid GOO years ago and opon which, although it was nominally completed in 1880, workmen are still engaged? This mag nificent Gothic structure-, with its forests of thousands of spires and pinnacles and it ; army of figuren and images i; one of the finest ecclesiastical edifices in Europe and is pronounced by many the finest in the world. Its length ia 4f>0 feet and its width at tho transept 200 feet. From the pavement to tho top of tho arches of tho nave is 160 feet aud the South tower is 611 feet high, tbe loftiest work of man. Unlike most cathedrals, it has no central choir screen, thus giving sn unbroken and most impressive view throughout its entire length. The stained glass windows are especially fine and represent various scriptural scene?. The cbspol of the Three Kings contains a gorgeous shrino wbicli encloses the bones of tho Magi which were taken to Constantinople in the 5th century, afterwards brought to Milan and from thence transferred by Frederick Barbarossa to Cologne. Many other costly relics are kept for exhibition in tho treasury. Thc church of St. Ursula, not fnr from tho Cathedral, is reputed to contain tho bones of eleven thousand virgins, who, with St. Ursula, wore slaughtered by tho Huns iu tho fifth century, when returning from a pilgrim ago to Rome. The bones make a moat ghastly exhibit, being distributed about the church in cases built into tho walls and used for decorative purposes gen erally. They may do very well as relics, but. according to Professor Owen, many of thora aro from the lower order of ani mals. Tho praises of the Rhino bavo been BO often sung mid in oo many different keys, that to pass an entirely original cp;nicu upon it ?s a'u.ost nn imjwibility. The tot rist who takes the steauor at Cologne fur the trip, will oe very ?pi io os peri ence a feeling of disappointment, as from that placo to Coblentz, almost tho only point of interest (except Bonn, with its University) is Drachenfels' or Dragou's Rock, which, with its ruined castle rises on tho East bank, about 900 foet above the river. Here, in a cave which can still bo seen, according to the legend, once dwelt a terrible dragon whoso con stitution required a diet of beautiful chris tian maidens. But ono day a damsel nos 1 thrown to the aforesaid dragon who had the presenco of mind to hold out tho cross to the monster aa he sprang with open mouth to roceivo her ; and he was so thoroughly disgusted that according to one version ho forthwith drowned him self in the Rhine ; while others say that , he was slain by tho maiden's lover who afterwards built the castle. This is a fair specimen of tho legends which are connected with almost every castle on tho Rhine ; but as scarcely any two versions of the samo legend can bo found which agree, our readers can just as well manu facture their own legends and spnreus the trouble of repeating them. A kr ! however, for tho dragons, alas 1 for tho ? legonds. Tho whiBtlo of the locomotive is heard in tho Siubengebirge and a rail way runs to the very top, where "The castled cmg of Drachenfels FrowuB o'er the wido und winding Rhine." Coblentz, one of tho most important cities on the Rhino, is situated nt the mouth of tho Moselle and lins a popula tion of about 30,000. It is, however, an a military position that Coblentz is important. On the opposite side of the river rises tho mighty fortress Ehrenbreit stein, tho "Gibraltar of the Rhine." It is practically impregnable and has accommodations for 40,000 men. The garrison at the present time consists of only 2,000. From its walls a fine view of tbe Rhine and Moselle valleys can bo obtained. From Coblentz to Bingen, j a distance of about forty miles, includes the most interesting portion of the Rhine, i We pass Stolzenfels, MarkBburg-the only Rhine castle never destroyed-Bop- i pard, Sternenburg and Liebenstein or < tho Brothers, Thurnburg, and reach St. I Goar on the West bank with the Rhein fels, the largest and most imposing min on the river, on tho rocks about 400 feet i above the village. Just beyond and on tho opposite sido of the stream are the i rocks of the Lorelei, where, in ancient t times according to the legend, dwelt a lovely maiden whoso wondrous beauty i lured: passing sailors to destruction in a i whirlpool at the base of the mountain, i The rocks in the river have been removed, i the mountaiu pierced by a railway tun nel and the maiden at present makes ? no uiurs trouble than Is to be er pee lsd j p-QM this ???i ?i tsl&izss - "hr" "fa r t?s ? : uneat scenery of this famous river. The j mountains on either Bide rise abrubtly j ' several hundred feet above the w Uer sod i the winding course of the stream presents a new view at every turn. _ A half dozen or moro ruined castles are in Hightail the i time, rising from cragB and peaks of the i rocks, or like Pfalz, built on an island in the middle of the river for the purpose i of exacting tribute from passing vessels. Just before reaching Bingen wo pass the "Mouse Tower," also on an island, ren dered famous by the story of Bishop Hatto and the rats. ' At Bingen, "Fair Bingen on the Rhine," tho hills recede rapidly from the bankB of tbe stream, the bed of the river widens and fertile fields on either shore take the place of the rag ged scenery through which we have just passed and from that point to Mayence, our stopping place there is but little ol interest. The Rhine is frequently com pared to tho Hudson, and each possesses some pointa of superiority over the other. The European river is not more than one half or two-thirds as large as the pride of the Empire State, and consequently bas not that grand and powerful sweep as it rolls oceanward ; but ita course is much more erratic, thus giving a greater variety of views with an equal amount of mate rial. The Catskills which form the back ground to a large share of the Hudson river scenery, are much more lofty than any of the mountains near this portion of the Rhine, but the terraced and vino covered hills which rise along the banks of the latter stream, give a phase of beauty which ?B unknown on the former; while the hundreds of ruined castles, with their wealth of historic interest and the romance of twenty centuries, give to a trip up the Rhine a peculiar charm and place it among the most enjoyable memo ries of travel. From Mayence, a city of 60,000 inhabi tants and which includes in its history the names of Constantine, Cbsrlemsgne. Guttenburg (who was born here,) ana many others, it is bat a few moments' ride by rail to Wiesbaden, on the Eut sido of the Rhine, whose famous waters were known and used even in Roman times. It is pleasantly situated and is a favorite resort of European royalty and their hangers oo ; several crowned heads being there at the time of onr visit ; but not wishing to do penace by drinking the water, and having no special admira tion for tue phase of royalty presented here, we pass on to Frankfort, from whence we shall ask oar readers next week to take a flying trip to Berlin, Dres den, Vienna and Munich. TBAVBLEJU - The London Medical Time? atys that smoking cigarettes in the ordinary way is not hurtful, bat that Inhaling the smoke makes the brain dicey, caus?a the heart to thump and produces other disa greeable sensations, showing the evil of j a too common practice. Bill Arp Visits Sumter, South Caro? Una, and Sees the Cotton Picker. I have seen the cotton picker. Confi dence is a plant of slow growth. I re member that when the newspapers first began to tell us about a sewing machine that Elias Howe had invented that would do as much work iu a day as a hundred women with their needles I was incredu lous aud I was indignant. I didont bo lieve that a machine could imitate the nimble, delicate banda, and I felt like I dident want it to do it nohow. My good mot ber had been sewing for mo years and years, and wbou sbe finished for her darling son, a nico pleated bosom shirt, I was proud of her and proud of tho shirt too. Dut time rolled on and the Crover & Baker machino got to circulat ing around, and I found out tbat it was a good thing c id would save a power of work, andso i bought ono for my wifo without any premonition. What a beau tiful seamstress sho was. How nicely did Bhe mauipulate the needle and how dearly I loved to sit by and see her maku stitch after stitch on the muslin or calico or them other gar ments and thine i that women and chil dren and infants lind to wear. Wo have had infants at our houso, various infants, and it hus been a world of work to keep 'em agoing and atop 'om from equalling, but still thora has boen pleasure iu it. My good wife took it all naturally and Uko a maternal heroine as she is. I thought it was right funny for a whilo, bot tho fun wore off and I settled down to business. We have raised children by the i'Ound and by tho dosen and by tho cord but wo havo never baa one come to ^ur bouse thst wasout ?volc?me, for they always como decently and in good order and they have grown up to be good boyo and better girls aud gladden our hoarU with their presence. But I havo got off tho track of my thoughts. I have seen tho cotton picker and I want to tell you about it. Now I dident believe that any machino could take tho place of human fingers in newing and just BO I havo boen incredu lous about this cotton picking business. The truth is I made sport of it and told our folks that it was impossible, utterly impossible, for no machine could seo, it dident have eyes and couldont find tho bolls and romo..of tho bolls were half open and some two-thirds and some bi mr down aud some stood up and some opened east and some opened west and some one way and somo another and so I had no faith, not a bit. While hero at Sumter I was invited to walk out to Mr. Masons workshop and I went. Mr. Mason is a bright intelligent man about thirty year.; old. He loves company and loves to talk and will lay down his tools and tell you everything he knowB. I dont suppose be bas any secrets from anybody, no doors locked, no private room, no biding place for his wonderful work. He shows you every thing and tells you what ho thinks of doing that ho has not done. He gnve mo ono of tho little revolving tubes that picks tbo cotton from the bolls. It ia neveu inches long and about 1} inches ID diameter. This Tittle thing is the inven tion. All tho rest of the contrivance is to put it in motion. Four dozen of them will be working et once on a cotton stock and if there is any cotton open they will find it. There are tuc upright cylinders three feet high that straddle a cotton row like a sulky plow Btraddles a row of corn and these little tubes revolve horizontally in the cylinders. They turn round and round rapidly. The cylinders revolve DO their axis and thoso tubes revolve on theirs aa they foliow the cylinders round and round. They ore Bare to touch every boll and if the cotton has opened and swe'ls out a fraction of an inch the little delicate points of the pickers get it and roll it all out in an instant and by a ra vened motion unload it on a platform and from there it is carried up and put to a sack and packed until it is full. Horse power pulls the machine along the row. The machine weighs three hun dred pounds. Some of them are made for three feet cotton and some for fonr and Borne for five. I saw the little spindles set to work on cotton bolls half ripened arjd they 'eft nothing, and yet they will revolve in your hana and not burt you or prick you. There are 300 marp points in each spindle. They are just under thu surface and will catch the list btu not your Stsb cr tho leaves or the ate52=. The iuzpsiivm machine of last year picked 80? pounds an hour. The perfect machine which be has now ls expected to pick GOG pounds so hour. Mr. Mason has bin own machinery, makes his own lathe and his dies and stamps and wheels and everything. He is backed by capital unlimited and has refused a million of dollars that was offered him. He is making large ma chines for Texas sod Arkansas and smaller ones for the Eastern States. His plan is to charge a royalty and let tbe machines be made anywhere. It is a thing of life and souse and does just what you tell it to do. When the cotton is well open for the first picking it goes along and picks it and theo yon wait for the next picking. It takes in no trash or dead leaves, nothing but cotton. Now bo bas a gin that operates on the same principle. These little pickers have ex panded into a cylinder as long as the shaft and as large round as a gin saw and they catch the lint and an iron bar keeps tbe seed from following the Hot and forces them back. The lint is not cut or torn. He is using a Winship frame, taking ont the saws and putting his cylinder in their place. It gins twice as fast as the saws and there is no danger to bands or arms, I put my open band on the cylinder while it was making 2, 000 revolutions a minute. Ho dropped a handful of sbiogle nails in the opening and they were carried through in an instant and did no barm. Experts from northern factories say the lint is worth ten per cent more than lint cut by the old method. I was ruminating over this new mode of picking cotton, and to my mind it is going to work a revolution In our farm ing. In the first place a poor man can't buy ooe. In the next place he can't afford to give fifty cents a hundred for picking when his nabor, who has got a a machine can pick his for ten cents a hundred or less. Then again the ma chine wont work well on rough or billy land, and so that kind of land will have to be planted in something else. So I take it that poor folks and poor lend will have to qnit cotton, and that will be a blessing. It may be, however, that some interprising fellers will bny n machine and go about in the settletneQt picking for the farmer just like they go about now threshing their wheat What will become of the nigger women and children in colton time, I dont know : maybe we can hire them to cook ana wash after while when they cant get anything else to do. I hope so. Sumter is a good old town ; the best shaded town I know of: elms and water oaks everywhere, and lovely cottage bornes set back in spacious lots and sur rounded with shade and beautiful flowers, stid the sweetmt girls sitting in the broad rlianas, and the prettiest children play og in the grass, and the good people are ab hospitable and ?iomcllko and the preachers so gentle and kind and have snell good eating and our jolly landlord of the Jervey House so merry and enter* taming. There ls no chance to be blue or homesick in Sumter. I never passed two days moro pleasantiy and bad rather make an annual pilgrimage here than anywhere I bave been. The best piospect for a coming crop that I have seen, is here. The cotton in splendid and the corn high and heavily eared all tbe way to Manning, which ls another lovely town, though not so old or so largo aa Sumter. These pee. le go slow but they ?o sure and live happily and content, 'hey show content and leisure in their form and feature, in their walk and con versation. They are not in a hurry. They have time to talk to you. They love their State and their towu and their people They stand up to their preach ers and their statesmen. Their boya are sober and diligent and manly, and their girls are modest. I wish tho boya and girls wero so everywhere, but they are not. I was in a town not long ago and a 3ood man told mo he had but one aughtor, and thoro was not a young man in tho town he was willing for her to marry, for they all drink on the sly and had no good principles to back them. Theu I heard a young man in another town say ho did not marry because ho could not ?'.fiord to, for tho best girls did nothing but dress and visit, and he was afraid to marry ono of them. Well, that is bad and sad, aint it? But maybe the picture is overdrawn. I hope so. One thing I know. The hopo of tho nation and its salvation in tbesu small, unpre tending towns and the good faming country that supports them! The yoting folks ari not afraid to murry there and they do marry and go to work and live happily and humble and do not Btrain to koop up with society, society I Fashion able, hypocritical society. 1 know of no greater curse to any land or people. I wish every young man when he marries bad the ccuiaga tu say to his eociety fribnds, "Now, ses u6re, we have started out with small capital and wo cant follow you. Whon you are sick I will nurso you, when you die I will help dig the grave and bury you, but don't you try to toll my wife oft' into your extravagant notions and your society ways." BILL ABP. The Abscnt-HInded, ? gentleman, while in church, intend ing to scratch bis head, lu a mental ab sence reached over into tho noxt pew and scratched the head of an old maid. He discovered his mistake when she sued him for a breach of promise of marriage. Another gentleman had abad memory. A friend, knowing this, lent him the samo book seven times over ; and being asked afterward how he liked it, replied: "I think it an admirable production ; but the author sometimes repeats the same things." Tho author of tho "Spiritual Treasu ry." while engaged in that work, was called upon by a gentlemnn on business. Instead of taking bis name and address, as desired, and as be thought he bad done, he wrote tbe chapter aud verse on which ho had been meditating; and when he came afterward to look at the paper, in order to wait upon the gentle man, lie found nothing upon it but "Acta the second, verse tho eighth." At a wedding, not long since, one of the guests, who sometimes was a little abBeut-minded, observed, gravely : "I have often remarked that there havo been more women than mon married this year." Robert Simpson, the Scottish mathe* malician, was noted for his absent-mind* j edness. He used to sit at his open win dow on the ground floor, deep in geome try, and whoa accosted by a beggar, would arouse himself, bear a few words of the story, make his donation and resume his study. Some wags, one day, stopped a mendicant on his way to the window, with : "Now, do as we tell you, and you will get something from that gentleman, and a shilling from us besides. He will ask who you are, and you will say, Bnbert Simpson, son of John Simpson, of Kirk* tonhill." The man did as ho was told ; Simpson gave him a coin, and dropped off. He soon roused himself, and ?aid : "Robert Simpson, son of John Simpson, of Kiri: tonhill I Why, that is myself I Th at man must be ao impostor I" Doctor Campbell, the author of the "our voy o? Circu? Britain," was SO absent* minded that, looking into a pamphlet at, a b'.a jkselier's be liked it bo weil that be purchased it, and it was not until he had read it half through that bo discovered it to be b<B own composition. Adam Smith, the distinguished philos* opher,. was remarkable for absence of mind. As an anecdote of this peculiari ty, it is related of him that, having, one Sunday morning, walked into his garden at Kirkalady dressed in little moro than bis nightgown, be gradually fell into a reverie, from which he did not awaken till he found himself in the street* of Dunfermline, a town at least twelve miles off. He bad, in reality, trudged along the king's highway all that distance in the pursuit of a certain train of ideas, and bo was only eventually stopped in his pro* ?reso by the bells of Dunfermline, which appened at the time to be ringing the people to church. His appearance lo a crowded church, on a Scotch Sunday morning, without clothes, is left to the imagination of the reader. A strangely absent-minded person one day had a party coming to dinner, and inst before their arrival no went on-atairs to change bis dress. Ho forgot all about them, thought it was bed time, ?nd sot into bed. A servant, who entered nie room to tell bim bis ?nests were walting' fdr him, found him fast asleep. A Man iago Declared Told. In the Court of Common Pleas yester day before Judge Fraser, Mrs. Catherine Hager mr !,> application that the marri* age cont act existing between herself and Hobart Little, otherwise known as Robert Hager, be declared void. Judge Fraser in Ailing his decision declared the marriage contract void and of none effect, nppn the ground that the defend ant bad ai wife living In North Carolina at the lime he married the plaintiff. The law governing io the premises is new to our practice, and this is perhaps the first case of the klod brought in this State. The parties are well known in Greenville and the universal sentiment is with the plaintiff in the above case; It will be remembered that Little married a worn a 3 in Georgia after he disappeared from this city some time ago, and bit latest escapade waa tue running away with his third wife's horse and buggy, thus adding insult to injury, aa it were.-Greenville News 25, ind. - A few years ago tbe women of lu* diawere not allowed , to learn to read. Now there are 126,848 girls attending; schools established for them. - Chicago's leading sporting* map, Pat Sheedy, offers to bet $100.000 ten times even that Governor Cleveland ?il?, berthe uexA President of tho United ..'.iJ-?--y. Vii'-;. ... ...>..- ,***}.'..; i Y nm?m??m-??*m?m-m?mmammm??^m??mm?mt9mm^*?m^?^mmm-mummet* Logan's Lotter of Acceptance. Senator Logan baa accepted the Re publican nomination for tbe Vice-Pros idoncy, and picada "party usage" aa an excuse for indicting upon tbe public a long-winded personal ratification of tho party platform. His letter comparos favorably with Blaine's. It is not quito as long, it is not quite as duli, and it is a great doal more frank. Senator Logan begins his letter with a quiet touch of humor in reminding the Grand Old Party that tho nomination which ho accepta came to bim unsought. That, in a Pick wickian sense, is a fact. It was the nom ination which Blaine got that Logan wanted. Nobody will care much toread what the would-be Vice-Presideut bas to say about protection, the currency, the civil service. Mormonism and our foreign relations, ile was expected to display tho bloody shirt ; but tho following para graphs from his letter form the noarest approach to it : "Our forefathers, in the attempt to erect a now Government which might represent tho advanced thought of the world nt that period upon tho subject of governmental reform, adopted the idea of the people's sovereignty, sud thus laid tbe basis of our present Republic. While technically a government of tho people, it was in strictness only a govern mont of a portion of the people, exclud ing from all participation a certain other portion, held iu a condition of absolute, despotic and hopeless servitude, the par allel to which fortunately does not now sxist in any modern Christian satiou." "With Cha culmination, however, of mother cycle of advanced thought, the American Republic suddenly assumed the full character of a Government of the wholo peoplo, and four million human creatures emerged from tbo condition of bondsmen to tue full ctatuB of freemen, theoretically invested with tbe samo civil md political rights possessed by their former masters. Tho subsequent legis lation which guaranteed by every legal Litio the citizenship and full equality before tho law in all respects of this previously disfranchised people, amply covers tho requirements and secures to them, so tar as legislation can, the privi leges of American citizenship. But tho disagreeable fact of the case is, that while, theoretically, we aro in the enjoy ment of a Government of the whole peoplo, practically we are almost aa far ff ni it as we were in tho ante-bellum ir y 3 of the Republic. There are but a fon leading and indisputable facts which :over the whole statement of the case, tn many of the Southern States the col ired population is in large excess of the white. The colored people are Republi cs, as are also a considerable portion of ?he white people. The remaining por tion of the latter are Democrats. In face of this incontcstlble troth these ?tates invariably return Democratic najorities. In other States of tbe South .ho eolored people, although not a ma ority, form a very considerable body of ho population, and with the white Rep leans are numerically in excess of the Democrats, yet precisely tbe same politi sai result obtains-the Democratic party n variably carrying the cl cc ti omi. It is iot even thought advisable to allow an ocasional or unimportant election to be :arried by the Republicans as a 'blind' ir as a stroke of finesse. "Careful and impartial investigation iaa shown these results to follow the systematic exercise of physical intimida tion and violence, conjoined with the most shameful-devices ever practiced in tbo uamo of free elections. So confirmed las this result become that we are irsugnt face to face with ibo extraordt lary political fact that the Democratic inrty of the South relies almost entirely jpon the methods stated for ita success n national elections. "This unlawful perversion of the pop liar franchise, which I desire to state lispaaaionately. and in a manner com lortiog with the proper dignity of the iccaaion, is ono of deep gravity to tho American people-in a double sense. "First. It is in violation, open, direct ind flagrant, of tbe primary principle ipon which our Government is supposed o rest, via : that the control of the -Gov irnment is participated in by u| legally lualifled citizens, tn accordance with, the >ian of popular government,.tho majori les must rule in the decision of nil quen ions. . "Second, It is in violation of the rights ind interests of the States v;herein are larticularly centered, the. great wealth ind industrien of tho nation,, and .which say an overwhelming portion of tho lational taxes. rx"ho immense aggrega tion of intercala embraced within, and the enormously greater population-of these other States of tho Union, are sub eoted every fear years to tho danger of a -/holly fraudulent show of numerical itrongth. "Under thia Bysiem minorities actually ?ttempt to direct the couran of national -.flairs, and though up to this success baa not attended their efforts,to'.elect a Freal ?ent, yet success bsa been so perilously imminent as to encourage a repetition of tho effort r.t each, quadrennial "election, and to subject the interests of an over whelming majority of our people, North and South, to the hazards of illegal, sub version." , All this ls very sad. Bat Gen. Logan joes not suggest any new and startling programme for mending it. Bo wisely limits himself to the mild suggestion that, "in accordance with tbe spirit of the last resolution of the Chicago plat form, measures should be taken at once to remedy this great evil." . A Woman's New Shoes, When a woman has ?, pair of new shoes sent home she performs different altogether from aman. She never shovea ber toes into them and janka and hauls until she la red in the face and all out of breath and then go stamping and kick ing around, but pulls them on part way carefully, twitches them; off again, to take a last look and see if she boa got the right one, pulls them on again, looks at them dreamily, says they are just right, then takes another look, etopa sud denly to smooth out tho wrinkle, twists them around and surveys them sideways, exclaims : "Morey, how loose they aro," looks at them again sonare in front, works ber feet around so they won't hurt hor Slite so much, take? them off, looks at e heels, the toe, the. bottom and then inside, puts them on again; walka np and down tho room on co oi twice, re* marka to her better half that she won't bave them at any price, tilts down tbe mirror so she can aeo now they look, tu ma in every, possible direction ami nearly dislocates her Deck trying to see bow they look from that way, hacks off, itepa op again, takes thirty or forty fare Hell looks, says they m ake her feet look awful big and will never dcSii tho world, puta them on: and off t?ree tfr foor tlsue?' more, asks her husband what ho thinks about it and pays no attention to what ho says, goes through it alt egtdo, ned final ly say? she will uko thom. It is H very ?implo matter. Indeed. - Wo onght not to jnoty? of wen/a morita by thejttq^tl???a?inr^ Wibyjhv ase the? mekejs? them.