University of South Carolina Libraries
I BY E. B. MURRAY & CO. _ ANDERSON, S. C., THURSDAY MORNING, JANUARY 8, 1885. VOLUME XX -NO. 2? ALWAYS GO TO HEADQUARTERS iron DRUGS, MEDICINES, PERFUMERY, Extracts, Patent Medicines, DYK STXTIviFS, &c. A FULL Hue of Paints, Varnishes, Combs, Brushes, Hair Oils, Bay Rum, Toilet Articles, Perfumery, Face Powders, Fino Toilet Soaps, Tooth Powders, Tooth Brushes, La dies' Hand Mirrors, Razors. Shaviug Setts, Trusses, Shoulder Braces, Sup porters, ?fcc. Puro, High Toned Flavoring Extracta, Bakiug Powders and Soda, Pepper, AlUpice, Ginger, and Finest Teas in the market. Cigars oud Tobacco. Best Cool Oil Lamps and Lamp Goods, and every variety of choice Goods and necessary articles usually kept in First Class Drug Stores and used in families. PATENT MEDICINES, all the Standard and Reliable ones kept in j J stock. The sweetest and most deli cate Perfumes and Odors, and a full line of Colognes and Toilet Water always in stock. Chapped hands, faoe and lips are very prevalent at this season of the year, and nothing will cure and pre vent this annoying af?ietion eo effectu al j as a box of Camphor Ice, Cosma line, or some of our puro Glycerine. FANCY GOODS and Sundries, and a thousand and oue other arti cles of general uso may bc found iu our completo stock. $?- Oblige us by giving us a call, and you will be surprised at our LOW PRICES and superior quality of our GoodB. With tho compliments of the Se' wc ore yours, dbe., WILHITE lt WILHITE. Jan 8,1885 35 Dozen " NIMROD" AXES SO,OOOTbs. STEEL PLOWS loo PLOW STOCKS TO BE SOLD AT BOTTOM ?BICES. POCKET CUTLERY, In Groat Variety. TABLE CUTLERY, Of all Grades. BUY OUR "BOSS" HAND SAW? Fully Warranted and sold for $1.50. ?i, .,..,.PI..-.P-Q?I ? ? i GUNS, AMMUNITION AND GUN IMPLEMEN1S. HARDWARE OF EVERY DESCRIPTION. -~ O' e~ Call on us. Try. US, and you will always be pleased. 'SULLIVAN & BBO., iook for tlx? tito SXQON of tlxe CIBOULAB ?A.W. Deo 18,188* . . * 23 , | . - | , j GOODS WERE NEVER SO LOW. fact We are prepared to Prove to .our Friends and Customers who may favor us with a o?sU/ wrB are now receiving the largest and most anally selected Stock of General Mer VY chandu* which we have ever purchased, ?nd wi make it to your Interest to .ll and examine foryourselves. We hive added to the lines usually kept by us many ??sw and desirable ones, embraoiag les' Dress Goods, Flannels, Suitings, Shawls, &o.f And the bett C0I*SEtf on the market at 80c., worth $1.00. Also, a. . L AEGIS L?NE OF BEADY MADE CLOTfflHG, HATS, TRUNKS, UMBRELLAS, BLANKETS, SADDLES and HARNESS.' Also, the Celebrated "NEW GLOBE" SHIRT^rthe king of all Shirt?. Is needs ?nly to. bo worn to be appreciated. , Weare ogeots for the Celebrated Mlshawake Sulky Plews, Cultivators and Hand ming Plows. " ? ' . The'"WhIte Hickory" ard "Hickman" ono and two-horse WAGONS, every on? of ?men we guarantee.. The attentionofGlnnsrs and Farmers ia wiled to our-: CO?TON SEED AND GRAI?T CR1TSHKR, ?y which yon rancrash yoOr Co^n Seed and make your P , Get our pr?tes on Plantation and Oin House Scales. Cotton Gina, Feeders and Con- ] Sensors and Gen eral Farm Machinery. Wearoetalltimeain theCotton'Merket,and w?jdo yon right. We will pay all Urn who owe ns for Suppl I Ca and Guano an extra pries. A isrge lot of BAGGING and TIES at lowest prices, HcOTlstY, CATHCART A CO. Octjr, l?B ? ? . THE MANUFACTURING EXEMPTION. Mr. Beaddny'a Beaton? for F*vTorlnsr a ltepeal of Ut? Kattuns *.?**.. MK. EDITOR: lu your issue o. Decem ber 18tb you mention the fact that I ?poke in the House of Representatives in in favor of repealing the law exempting factories from taxation. In the article you express your satisfaction that my views did not prevail, and you speak of tbe law aa one highly beneficial to the State. Whilst the House by an over whelming vote killed the exemption, yet, since your article has put me before the people as opposing a measure of such benefit to them, I think it but just to them, as well as to myself, for yon to al low me to present to them my reason? for the position I occupied. This is only what I desire. I have no idea you m.?ant to provoke a newspaper controversy, nor do I mean by this communication to do BO. Perhaps I can best accomplish my desire by asking you to publish tho speech referred to and leave the people to judge the correctness of my position. H. G. SCUDDAY. MR. SPEARER: The ingenuity dis played in the arguments of the friends of the Exemption Law to-day, is only sur passed by the ingenuity displayed in 1873, when its friends succeeded in placing it upon the Statute Books of this State, in the face of the express mandates of the Constitution against it. Their speeches are as remarkable for what they do not tell us, as they are for what they assert. Whilst the climax of their argument has been that "foreign capital willaeek Investments in our State," vet it is quite remarkable that wc have not been told on this fioor of a single Factory in South Carolina that, has been built by foreign capital. Nor havo we jco!) shown that enough foreign capital una been added to borne capital in build ing factories to justify taking from the treasury annually such a large sum ol money th at nh oula remain thereto lighten the burden of taxation upon the people, lt has developed here that one foreign capitalist did put forty thousand dol?an in one factory, but be did not do it until lie was given the exclusive right ol liandllng and putting the goods upon thc narket when manufactured, with thc right to retain large commissions for hil work. He may not have known of tin jxisting law. The gentleman who last spoke mad? ise of one remark that completely shat ered the force of his speech. He sait 'money is power." Yes, Mr. Speaker noneyis power, and little does it need tlx irm of legislation to sustain it. Anotbei emark of bis made the injustice of th< iresent law even more glaring than ever tie said "he favored the exemptiot lecauBe when factories are built the poo iy hundreds could get employment." H ailed to tell UB that the Exemption Lav aid to the wealthy corporation, with it nagnificent buildings, you need not pa; rour tax, and that ft said to those hun Ireds of poor people who really need aid ind who furn i y h tho physical labor, with tut which the factories cr Jd not exist .on must pay the last farthing of you ax. My friend could much better sho ws sympathy for the poor by advocatin in exemption from taxation for the ope atives ot factories. The gentleman from Greenville (Mi Insel) places himself in an amusing pc ition by his advocating the Exemptio jaw. Two sessions ago when he fe! bat the welfare of the people of thi itate demanded it, he stood here an abored zealously for the Railroad Con niBaion Act, even when he was told thi ts passage would drive foreij?s cap?ts rom Railroad enterprise in this Stat Then it was duty to ignore the claims < oreign capital in order to protect the ii erestB of our own people. Now the ii erests of foreign capitalists seems to on veigh in importance the Interests of ol iwn people. Again it is GO ni cw h .musing to notice how extremely an: ous be is to benefit the people, even he expense of violating the terms of tl Constitution, and yet wheu the opport lily is offered him by complying wi ts requirements to benefit the people, or instance the maintenance of the Sou karolina College, we find bim opposii t with a consistency that ls indeed stri np. I Bhall. notice only one other po! ifliis before noticing the more importa Baues of this discussion. Ho favors t ixemption becauBo be is an advocate i diversity of industries in South Carn ia, and thinks it will develop them, issert that the remedy the gentlem uggrsia ia worse .(hau the dicen: iVhenever the. government takes und ts wing any one department of indus ti testows upon it favors, which lt den: o others ol equal merit, or enters lott ort of partnership with lt, by legislati o increase the ordinary profita of tl ndustry, you at once create a govei nental monopoly aa it were, and desti he very possibility of a healthy devele nent and growth on the part of tho ot! n duo tri cr, that are. denied such tan ii y position is, that the. surest way to luce a diversity of industries is Sot karolina, is to secure the protection he rights of all, and to show favoriti ind partiality to none. Ii', however, Mr. Speaker, this Ho s determined to violate the principl lave just announced, and foster any i lepartment of industry in this State be strong arro of legislation, let us h in eye to.the one most meritorious, is foster tho one that contributes mos he welfare and support of our St: This is not a manufacturing State i se can never hope to make it one. tao never compete with the maculae! ng States of New Eogland. It is pui \a "gr! cultural Stato. Now, t wouid be but a just recognition of net, and that the life blood of this S jomes from that department, for n ve have any special fa TOTS to ebon -Ive it cho benefit of them. The day of the necessity for the exe ion of factories has long ceased to e n this State. In 1878, when the sss enacted, who filled the seats of Sall? Who occupied th? chair -raced by yo? f Property In Sooth G it?, aa well aa personal rights wer ccpardv. Foreign capital would iCdk our State. Perhaps it was pt .hen to enact Such a lav. But, i nake it ?a the proudest assertion oi life, that South Carolina has bon Seemed, regenerated and disenthra ind now with honest home-rule, idaptability of our soil to the cultui ?tton, and the thousands of : nat water powers In our State, are they In themselves sufficient to Induce cs hero ? What is lt that developed m racturiog Industries In North Car and Georgia? I sat informed they no so ch law? and jet they. doublo those enterprises. In fact such Bx lion Laws are fon nd in very few ol States of this Union. And where JO exist, manu fae tu ri ng does not paco witt, those Sutes that do not ?ucMawa. ??otitoa?rtit?eat in raw fifth emption Io, that factories when bull to th? Usable property or tb o Stat cacases tb? value of adjacent land affords markets for tho fanners, may bo true. If so, then U lt ri dis?r?nlnate feinst railroads. F eatno reasons they are more entitled to the exemption. There are ten times more foreign capital to day in this State invested in railroads than in factories, bat I dare say, my friends would not ad vocato their exemption. It is hero that the hideous form of protection is seen. Tho very came principle ?bat arrays the Democracy of this countty against the Republican party, and yet, iu the Demo cratic State of South Carolina, while with our Hps we aie denouncing the protective system, we are allowing this law to re main on our books, which savors of tho strictest protection. Beautiful consist ency I Be tho benefits of the exemption what they may, there is a question at the bot tom of this matter, that outweighs all others in importance. It is tho charac ter of the means to be used in bringing about the results. I might accomplish much good at your County Poor House with a thousand dollars, by feeding and clothing the poor-yet thia would not make it right for me to rob a Bank to get the money. Can this exemption stand the test in thc light of tho Constitution of thia Btnte, which each of us havo sworn to support? If not, then it is a Bolemn duty to oppose it, however bene ficial the results may be. In legislation, the end can never justify the means. But, Mr. Speaker, the friends of the exemption have undertaken to Iguore the constitutional objection, by saying that the Legislature is no judicial body, and that the law now on tho books is for tho construction of the courts. An ingen ious evasion, a subterfuge! Not being able to meet it, they evade it, and here to-duy we defy them to answer it. Has the Constitutional objection pnastd be ond tho consideration of this House? assert, that when a bill is introduced to repeal an existing law, the law ia revived in all its bearings, and its merits nre brought before tbe House as if it was an original question. I ara still more sur prised at some who intimate that we can with impunity, ignore the Constitution altogether in this matter. This must arise from a misapprehension of its char acter. /Mr. Story tells us, that a Con stitution is a barrier between the people end tho o who would usurp power. That it is a limit fixed, within which those who exercise the Legislative, judicial and executive functions of the government, must operate. We perform then the highest duty we owe our con stituency, when we preservo intact the fundamental law of tue land, and com ply with the oath;! that are required of us as members of this House. With this view of tho Constitution before us, it is necessary to read only ene or two sec tions of it to determine our duty. I call your attention to the imperative language of Section II, Article 12: 11 Thc property of corpora!iona now existing or hereafter created, shall be subject to taxa tion, except in cases otherwise provided for in this Constitution." Section V, Article 9, prescribes what property ia exempt, viz: such as schools and tbe property of penal and charitable institu tions. The Constitution does not exempt Factories, but on the contrary provides for an equal and uniform rate of taxation on a1! other property not exempt. Can anything be more express or mandatory than the sectlous quoted ? Therefore having no authority in the Constitution for this exemption, are we to usurp the power to do so? To pre veut usurpation of power, Section IV, Article I of the Constitution says : "All powers not herein delegated remain with the people." They have never delegated to us the power to exempt Factories from taxation, and they alone possess ft. Until they in the exercise nf their re terved rights amend the Constitution allowing thia exemption, I can never give my vote or influence to the existence of Mich a law. Mr. Speaker, these are my views after much serious thought aud meditation. I am not opposed to Fac tories, or to the material progress of my native State. Not that I do not love them, but that I love a compliance with my sense of duly to the Constitution more.- This bill will not effect existing Factories It is right for the State to maintain good faith with them. I do hope it will pass and the Exemption Law be repealed; The advocates of the ex emption remind me nf a man trying to cap a muttering volcano. Sooner or later it will be/repealed. I firmly believe that the people will rise in their Indig nation, and with tbe power they, possess, will wipe from the Statute Books of this State this law, which Savors so strongly of strict protection, and every letter of Suich. la g!???ug with injustice ana dis crimination, and which has not the slightest foundation in tbe Constitution of this State. [The exemption was killed in tho House by an overwhelming vote. The. oldest and most distinguished Lawyers of the House, endorsing the Ooo'tilutional objections raised, voted for its repesl. In the 8enate it liked one vote of being repealed.] H. G. S. Profitable Cotton Batting. The Atlanta Constitution records the results of a competitive trial in profitable cotton raising in Georgia, in which seventy-five planters participated. A fertilizer company in the State offered 6800 io gold &e the best yield of cotton made on ground enriched with their fer tilizer, and four Jersey bulls for the best yield produced by .c?cbs. Tbe highest yield waa 1,846 pounds of lint cotton to tho aero, or threo and one-half bales of i 150 pounds eaob. The lowest yield was 430 pounds, or a bale to the acre. The average of tbe seventy-five farmers was 774 pounds, or nearly two bales to the acre. To secure this, they used an aver age of 888 pounds of the fertilizer, which coat $15.54. The cotton brought $69.66, leaving a net profit of $44.12 to the acre, the cotton seed nearly paying for the cultivation. "At a bale to the acre above the cost of tho fertilizer, any farmer ean get rich," says the Constitution, and the seventy-five made more than that aver* Se. Tbe returns from the Sute show at on an average three and a half acres were required to produce a bal?, or seven acres, under the old method, to secure what the new method produced from one acre-a demonstration of the profits of "Improved farming" which' will not be lost on the planters of the cotton belt. Tba corn premiums produced results equally gratifying. There were sixteen contestants, and tbe average yield was eighty .ona bushels to tho acre, the first ?remiom being taken with 116J bushels, ft? interest in these contesta, and their success, prove that tho Southern planters aro "abane": ni og the loose, old plantation methods, ?nd are beginning to sec the profit and comfort in small farms well tilled?' A steady following of this sys tem will pay thai section better than all the pol?tica it eve? Indulged io. - Tho centro of our population hat for a century moved westward with re markable regularity, beginning nt a poict on tho eastern shore of Maryland, aud roaching one ten mites west of Cincin nati. It is calculated, however, that pro gress iu that direction la atopped in con sequence of the rapldy-growtn o 'many AtUutlocoaBtciUesandtheadvi/Ajecient CUKISTHAS cn IM: it. Tue Ilapplnesa ot tho A rp Family. Atlanta Constitution. It ie thc samo old story, hut it ia a good one. ~"e have passed another milestone iu tho journey of lifo. Christinas has como again and now it has gono. How short these milca aro getting an we near the end. They used to bo long, very long, to me. How that, I wonder I They say that time passe* awiitly when we are happy, and it is ao, I know, for nu hour ur a day. but it is not so for a month or a year. Tho flight of yean is measured by our nge. Childhood is happy and bright, and to hnppy children the aun "doe* nev er riso a wink too BOOH, nor bring too long a day," but the years seem almost an age-an ago of pleasure. Time shrinks up as we grow old. Everything Bhrinks. Tho trees aro not BO tall nor the hills e" long and steep. Thc rivers aro not so wide and the creek? have becomo branch es. Indeed, the great big world that used to Btrain our comprehension and excite our wonder is not much of a planet now. On Christ mini night, that is the night before Christmas, Mrs. Arp and I took our patriarchal statins in the big arm chaira by the parlor mantel, and with patient and sereue digbity prepared our selves for coming events. Wo let tho young folkB manago these things now and ibey givo us no trouble. There was n goodly gathering of cbildreu nod grand children aud kith and kindred, and all of them were arrayed in Sunday garmonts. and tho little chaps' faces fairly abided they were BO clean, aud their foud moth era looked upon them with a visible joy aud a maternal pride, when all of a Budden our blue-eyed daughted opened wide the door and exclaimed : "Old Santa Claus has come." Merciful good ness, what a fuss I It looks like a cyclone had struck in these parts and was ex ploding right hero in tho parlor. 1 can't here anything for the tumultuous confu sion of infantile voices, and tho grown up ones are no better. Old Santa Claus has just come into tho room and emptied his basket, and now the little tin horna are tooting and the harpa are blowing and tbo boys aro popping paper caps in little iron beads fastened to a string, It is all mixed up with "oh my, oh ?sent it lovely, bless bis heart. Look at my slippers well I declare," and the women folks are showing their handkerchiefs and shawls and perfumery, and sofort!), and tho men and boys are taking on over their cuff buttons and handkerchiefs mid cravata, and ono boy has got a new gun, and another a fine book, and another some thing else, and there are firecrackers by the peck and ever and anon there in a grand racket in the front yard, for they are popping them in a barrel, and hero they go and there they go, all on the tramp and everybody talking at once, aud I think I hear a baby squalling and a wounded boy a bawling, and now of course Mrs. Arp is culling, and tho jum ble is appalling, and amidst it all I nm still calm and serene, for Cbristmns cornea but once a year, and let's havo fun and frolic and good cheer. But by and by tho program changes and tbo plays begin and big and little run round the row ot chairs to aee who will bo left out When the music stops, lt i makes tho old house quake when they all throw themselveH into their seats tumul tuously, nud ever and anon I hear an old chair crack and now and then a little chap gebt run over and rc-'.ires with a groan, but it is all right I reckon for it is Christmas, and it is free for all. They jammed rae up in a corner with my little table and all I can do is to look on and feast my BOU? upon their happiness tor it all carries mo back to the days of my gushing childhood when I never got tired of such frolics and loved tho nights that brought them, when bide and seek was a glorious joy and the lillie Jack Maring/? ll a drama ot delight. Oh would I were a boy again just, now, not for lifo, but just ; now. I would Uko to fcol as I used to feel when all was bright and gushing and exultant, and there was no apprehension I of t.-ouble or griof or dark shadows lo come. Such thoughts do come and go in spite of us and they mellow us down and prepare us to let go our hold upon earth when our time comes. I thank tho good Lord for so gently tempering our life that we become reconciled to the change in due time. Wbeu we are young and bouyant it is all right we should ex? claim : "The world is very lovely Oh my God, I thank Thee that I live. But when we get old it is just as sweet to sing : ' I would not livo always, I ask not to eta/." And now the music has begun and I am called.to help for they are getting up a family dance, and Mrs. Arp and 1 al ways make the music. They let us do that-we are still useful and it would be right bard for these young folks to get along without us. Mrs. Arn's fingers are still nimble and as gracefully touch tho ivory keys, as when I first worshiped at her shrine thirty six years ago ana went into raptares Over Kathleen Mavoumeen and ber beautiful hazel eyes-not Kath leen's eyes, but Mrs. Arp's. And she I just nearly died over my soft dove like notes on the flute as I carroled "The Sweet Vale of Avoca," or "The Irish Emigrant's Lament." But now when the young folks wish to dance, we cheerfully reipond and play a medley that ban neither beginning nor ending, for it jost goes on and on and round and round, and is a fantastic fan testis- that is an original mixture of Dix ie and Bun Nigger Bon, and the Bob t>fl Nag and Come Out of the Wilder : ?ss and the Arkansaw Traveller and Highland Fling, np in a Balloon Boys, and some others of like life and key and measure. Oh. we mske music we do. and the children always cheer us spa thank ns so rapturously that we try it again when they call us and get ready for the next set. And now the programme changes again and we have music with song. Younger fingers touch the keys and tho family choir gets round the piano and cheers tho wes small hours with melody. Tba old standard songs are still welcomo songs that. never, wear out, such as "Bocked io the Cradle of the Deep," "Suwanee River" and "Annie Laurie," and there are somo later ones that are full of sweet harmony, such as "I. Sent a Letter to My Love," and Punchinello and "when the leaven begin to fall." But all pleasures must close after while, and so. j ono by one, the little chaps surrendered to their drooping eyelids, and peace and quiet reigns. We did not gather all oar children this time, for their business snd I engagement would not permit. But wo it together a goodly number, and scat ired tho extra beda all around upon the parlor floor, and Mrs. Arp's turkeys, that she raised, aro being emily sacrificed upon the altar; of paternal love. One, of our fa rm cr raiaed boy s left us three yearn ago ? to seek his own fortune in the great city , of Gotham, and be baa succeeded and Is s Bohemian on a city paper 5od has como home brightened up with ? new ; civilisation and talks yankee and dresses j yankee ind looks yankee, bet he bao the It is amusing to seo tho wonder and ad miration with which the younger chil dren look at him and listen to his chang ed vernacular. One of them seemed a little troubled and eaid with serious con cern, "papa do you think New York has done Hictor any bnrui?" "Wby, no," said I, "what makes you ask such a question." '.Well, I don't know," said he, "but he wears that silk hat and he is so polite and bo says he eats oatmeal at bis board ing house nil the time, iust like nick folks do." The boy was really alarmed for fear his big; bud had become demoralised. And now they will finish up the week with dog aud guns. They promise to keep tho table supplied with game, but though this is ?Mind hunting ground it is very poor finding, and when they do find it is very poor killing. There were eight of them after one squirrel this evening, and they Beared him so bad with tho noise of their guns that be finally rnn down the tree and the dog caught him. But after all, they had a power of fun. Woll, Christmas will be over when this reaches your readers. I hope they all had a good time and were happy, and non* let me wish for you and for them a happy New Year. BIM. AM*. A MOUNTAIN MYSTERY. I* the Atnerioan Volcauo ton ltd In North Carolina T Charlatan Newt and Ojurier. The singular phenomenon which re cently startled the people living near Elk mouin? in, in North Carolina, a brief account of which was published in the Newt and Courier a few days ago, deserves more attention than is likely to be be stowed upon it. It is indeed but ono link in a cbalu of such occurrences, and tho series undoubtedly presenta some features of sufficient importance to re quire a careful investigation at the bands of scientists, geologists and others quali fied to conduct such investigation in the most thorough manner, and thereby to trace the connection between the differ ent phenomena, and. if possible, to dis cover thc cause of them all. A review of some of these occurrences will Interest every person who lives between the Blue Kidgo and the Atlantic ocean, at least, as this numerous class may be fairly sup posed to feel a special interest tn the stability of the plateau upon which they live aud upon which they expeot their children to live after them. Concerning the most recent disturbance in tho mountains, Dr. J. 8. T. Baird, who is evidently an intelligent and careful observer, and who was himself an audi tor of what occurred, sayB : "Standing on an elevated point on my farm, with a full and unobstructed view of the entire Elk mountain range, and happening at the very moment to have my eyes turned in the direction of the point in question, it afforded nu an ex cellent opportunity to observe the whole phenomenon. The morning was exceed ingly bright, nlmost ominously calm. At a point almost due North of my home, and seemingly just over the crest of the mountain, and at the hour abovo stated, thero was what seemed to be a most terrific subterranean explosion, followed by a very perceptible jarring and trem bling of the earth for miles around, and a heavy rumbling Bound as of the deep intonations of distant thunder, which came on with increasing volume for sev eral seconds. The sound proceeded with rapid undulations in an eastwardly direc tion, following the course of the moun tains, and aeeming to trevena the deep bowels of the earth, undi it reached a point on the horizon of our valley about 46 degrees East from where it started, when lt suddenly leaped forth from the bosom of the mountains, and, lifting itself above the horizon, pealed out upon the air like a mighty thunderbolt, and thus it ended as suddenly as it began. Mr. A. E. HemphiU, who was on the top of the mountain, in the immediate vi cinity of where the first shock occurred, Bays th ct it seemed to be directly beneath him and the sensation was as though the whole mountain was tumbling from its foundation, with a fearful shaking and trembling of the earth. Mr. Steve Monday and Mr. James Edwards, who were on the mountain some, two miles further East, describe the sound and the shaking and trembling of the mountain as most appalling and terrifying, even putting the leaves on the trees in rapid and lively motion. - Other persons felt and heard the tdiouk mnny miles away. The shock was repeated, with tho same characteristic? ahnnt. sunset on the even ing of the same day." These are no ordinary disturbances, common to mountain ranges ; but rather, so far as ia known, have boen confined on this and previous occasions to that por tion of the Bluo Ridge which lier, in the Southwestern part of North Carolina, and perhaps in the extreme Northeastern corner of Georgia. Very little bas been made public in regard to the disturbance* in Georgia, but there is not far from Tal lulah fails, lu tbis State, a peak of the Bine Ridge known as "Sinking Moun tain," which name bas probably been bestowed upon it by reason of phenomena occurring at that point similar to those so frequently observed a few miles to thc Northeast in the same range. The disturbances at Bald motin lair commenced ten or twelve years ago, and excited at the time considerable m tc rev all over the country, as well as feeling of profound apprehension in those wm dwelt within tue circle of their mytteri ous and threatening manifestations. It will be remembered that the mani festal i ons were of so frequent occurreno and of so violent character as to comps the attention of persons living at a dis tance of forty or fifty miles from th mountain itself, while those who live? on or near it were so seriously alarme* that hundreds of families abandone* their homes and fled to other and distan localities to escape the danger wbicl threatened them constantly by day am night. Tho panic waa so general that, a one ti nie, all the roads leading out of th disturbed section were filled with fogi ti vc J, and they who, for any reason, wor compelled to remain behind, were reduc ed to a state of euch confusion and tat ror thst they gave over all other pursuit and devoted themselves to religious exei cines, firmly believing that the end of al things was at hand, i It ia easy to amil at their fears from a far and amie distant? bot it is not to be doubted that simili shocks repeatedly felt in other portion of the country would lead to siro ile results among the more ignorant class* of tho population at least. At the Uro of tho shooks nt Bald mountain it wt stated that the beasts In the fields ?howe their alarm not leas than did their nia tew, and that horses halted, cowered au shivered in thels tracks while boingdri en along the public roads, many mill distant from '.ho mountain, when tl? felt tho mysterious tremor passing th rodf tho ground beneath their feet, vf?otfithstanding the large -mses : testimony that was published from ; tin : to tim? In regard to the fact and natu j of tho shocks in tho Bald mb?n?a region. *?ixx> were many persons wi occurred. The Asheville end Spartan* burg Railroad was then hoing.construct' ed on tho other side of the range eight or ton miles distant, and the wiseacres attributed all the sounds and shocks that were hecrd and felt to the frequent blasts that wero mado in tho rock neds along the line. After one such shock, however, it was discovered that one Of the numer ous peaks of the Bald mountain group was rent in twain from summit to base, and the unbelievers were..silenced from that day to this. An investigation of the tissure caused by that shock showed that it was several fci wide and hundreds of I Janis long. A party of mountaineers, aving pro* id rd themselves with ropes and candles, ?otered the cleft in the side of the mountain, and after going a short diatanco found that it widened Into a great cavern. The appearance of the walls proved beyond question that the cavern was of very recent origin ; frag ments of rocks hung loosely overhead: tho floor was covered with debris, and altogether the situation was so threaten ing and uncertain, at heit, that the ex ploration was abandoned well nigh at its outset. It has never been pressed any further, to the writer's knowledge. The impression made upon the minds of those who entered the cave wa* that tho "bot tom of the mountain hat! dropped out, down tc somewhere," leaving the peak little more than a rocky shell. On this theory tho phenomena that had been observed for so many months before were ac count eil for. The inside of the moun tain had been crumbling and caving in, piecemeal, and the fal! of tho masses in the interior bad caused the shocks and rumbling sounds that had been felt and heard for mites around. The theory may or may not be the true ono. It will bold until a better one is offered, at least, and has strong sunport in some other recent occurrences l? tho same neighborhood. A few miles from Bald mountain, in another part of the same range, is another peak that bas certainly caved in the way BUggCO'^d. Tho nature of the disturbances that have occurred at this point is beyond question. The mountain baa caved and crumbled until it is as hollow as a bee hive, and a very badly cracked 'bee hive withal. C?rrente of warm air are drawn into crevices between the rocks on the one side of the mountain, and nour out on tho other side, as chill tts a blast from an ice house. Tho outgoing currents creep along the groand and are distin guishable lu the summer time at a dis tance of half a mile from the point of exit. 80 it is said. A fishing rod can bo driven out of sight at mnny places, in the crevices between the rocks under foot. At one point a cross section of the ridge has fallen bodily a distance of per haps a hundred feet-leaving a gap through the mountain like a railroad "cut, the side walls of which are nearly perpendicular. Make'two parallel cuts across and through a loaf of baker's bread, and then u.ash down tho middle slice co formed and you ?ill get a fair Idea' of what has occurred here. The loaf of bread is a mountain, however, and the slico ls probably an hundred yards long. At another point such a slice has fallen without exposing from above the gap which it has loft. There is a slight crevice at the surface, indeed, but you would step across that without suspecting what waa under you. The crevice gradually widens aa you descend the mountains, and you can go into it at one or two places. Looking upward it appeared as a broken thread of light extending along the roof of a cave of unknown proportions. The rock walls of the cave aro broken and cracked in every direction, and the floor is covered wiih ???guisntb tu?t n&?& ?'aU?u ...? above, and that keep falling. The floor also drops away sometimes. You cannot go very far along the dark and dangerous road your feet are in, even if you wish to do so, because it ends suddenly in an abjss of which you can neither seethe roof, the sides, nor the bottom. Drop a stone over the verge-you will never hear it strike! There is no known'bot tom there ; it, too, has dropped down to i; ci?o where. There are other evidences of floreat and uncertainty Ju the beerte of those everlasting hills. In one place a great body of water gushed out of the aide of a mountain, breaking ita way thrungli the soil and carrying everything beforo it. Tho guides will show yon '^whirl pools" that receive mountain streams and swallow them. Throw a stick into the little mealstrora and it will spin around a few moments aud then disappear in the voi cox. These things are all pocul??.; nui lu ter. .?tim? and into*nltunriij. - Tf lUr, Barna featuresand facts and pnonomen* ?*>re to be. observed In tho Harte mountains there would be logon da about thew, nnd Americans would cross tho ocean to seo them abd write books about thom.' If they were located tn the White moun tains, or the Catskills, Or the Adirondacks, there would bs hotels and railroads ali through the region foi accommodate the crowds of visitors every summer. As lt ls, itu ?l?In the "Land of the aud might tis well bo in the sky itself, so far as our people) r.fo concern cd. ? Girls io Odd Stocking*. "Scarlet stockings? ' Yes, they're all the go," said a Chestnut street hosiery dealer yesterday. "Bot that .isn't the latest craze by any means." "What is the latest fashion, then ?" "Why, 00 Saturday morning I had, three young lady customers who came in and bought three pair of red and three pair of olack bose. I.vraa somewhat sur prised and asked the object. In each case I was told that it was not tho. proper caper to wear two red stockings now, any mor? than it ls to ?rear two black ones." "Well, whet on earth were they going todo?" "Wear one of each kind--? scarlet stocking on one foot sud n black one on the other. It's a fact I assure you. And tho fashion Is gaining ground, for this momiirg I had several moro customers on the same errand. Black and red, you know, are striking and at the samo timo becomIogcontrasts.',---P?!./aa'ci>Aia??Hi?). Au Enthnsinstlo Citizen. "Your house is afire, Colonel," said mau approaching an acquaintance one night during a political "ratification" when the pulse of many a mau was fo when the puise or many verish. ? ? .'?<'? "AU ride, ole boy. Go up while'n pot ber out," "But the roof was falling In when JerYtha*:" / "Thad GO ? Cellar alu* hurt y ft, reckon Koorah I" ? . n : i$jgm all of your furniture ia de itt - *usd 'fact? Saved the well dldn they? All right. Boorah 1" Tba American Is an enthuaiaetlo ci tl m ' -:. ~ A zealous preacher, who smoking os well aa he ought, in a " Is no Bleeping car on the road ttrgl One of tho party whom be aim? * rn? .. IMPORTANT CORRESPONDENCE, Clvtl^iervloo Itcfoim. NEW YORK, December 29-The fol lowing correspondence explains itself : . NAT'L CIVIL SERVICE REFORM LEAGUE, OFFICE 4 PIKE STREET, NEW YORK, December 20,1884. Hon. Grover Cleveland: Sm : We have the honor to address you ou behalf of the National Civil Service Belora) League, an association composed of citizens of all parties, whose sole pur pose is indicated by its narao, and which takes no part whatever in party centro* versy. The vast increase io tho number of persons engaged in the civil service, ano the grftve mischiefs and dangers arising from the general proscription in the service which for bali a century bas followed a change of pnrty control of the national administration, have produced so profound au impression upon the pub? Ile mind that the first effective steps toward reform were taken with the co operation of both parties io the passage ot the reform Act of January 16th, 1883. The abuse which that Act seeks to cor rect, however, sro so strongly entrenched in the traditions and usages of both par ties tb&t there is naturally a wido-spread anxiety lest the party change * Ju the National Executive, effected oy the late election, should show them to be insu perable ; but believing as we do that the reformed system cannot be held to be securely established until it bas safely passed the ordeal of such party change, and recalling with satisfaction and con fidence, your public expressions favorable to reform and your official acts as the Chief Executive of the State of New York, we confidently commend this cause to your patriotic care in the exercise of the great power with which the Ameri can people havo entrusted you. Respectfully, yours, GEO. WM>CORTI8, President. WM. POTTS, Secretary. John Jay, Moorefield Storey, J. Hall Plensants, W. W. Montgomery, Everett P. Wheeler, Frederick Cromwell, Mor rell Wyman. Jr., Carl Schurz, Silas W. Burt, A. S. McDonough, Wm. Carey Banger, Wm. W. Aiken, Executive Com mittee. PRESIDENT-ELECT CLEVELAND'S REPLY, i A LEAKY N. Y., December 25, 1884. lion. George William Curtis, President, dre.-DEAR SIR: Your communication, dated December 20, addressed to me on behalf of the National Civil Service Re form League, has been received. That A practical reform in civil service Is de manded, is abundantly established by ?be fact that tho Matute referred to in your communication to secure such a rc : suit has been passed tn Congress, with tho assent of both political parlies, and by the further Inct that tho sentiment is generally prevalent among patriotic peo ple, calline for a fair andlionest enforce ment of the law, which bas been thus enacted. I regard myself pledged to this, because my conception of true Democratic faith and public duty re quires that this and all other statutes snuuld be In good faith and without evasion enforced, and because in many utterances made prior to my election'as President, approved by the party to wt I m > I belong, and which I have no disposi tion to disclaim, I have in effect promtsed the people, that this should be done. I am not unmindful of the fact to which you refer, that many of our citizens fear 1 that the recent party change in the National Executive may demonstrate that abuses which have grown on in civil service are ineradicable. I know that they are deeply rooted and that the atiotb ny?, tc FT. ha* heart sar<pc-;?d ta fes? 7. i ni n i:it ely fWjttsd to success in tho m ni n tenance of party organization, and I tm not sure that all those who profess to he friends of this reform, will, stand firmly among its advocates wheo they fiod.it obstructing their way to patronage and . place. But fully appreciating the trust committed to my charge, no such consid eration shall cause a relaxation on my ' fiart of an earnest effort, to enforce tbfs aw. There Is a class of Government positions which aro not within the letter of the Civil Service Statute, but which are so disconnected with the policy of on administration, that the removal there-.' tom of tho present incumbents, in my opinion, should not be made during the terms for which they wero appointed, solely on partisan grounds and for the purpose of putting in their , places those ' who were ra political accord with tho appointing power. But many now hold ing such positions hc?? fcrSiftcd el! just" claims to retention, because they have used their places for party purposes ta. I, disregard of their duty to tho people, and iiecause, instead of being decent public Servante, they havo proved them selves jffonslvo partisans and unscrupu- ? loua manipulators of local party man agement. The lessons of tho past should ? bo unlearned, and such officers, as well \ as their successors, should be taught that' : e?floieney. fitness and devotion to duty, aro conditions of their continuance in public place, and that tho quiet and. un obtrusive exercise of individual political rightsKisa reasonable measure of their party service. If I were addressing none but party friends, I should, doom it entirely propor to remind thom, that . though tue coming administration ia to , be Democratic, a due regard for the peo ple's interest does not permit faithful party work to be always rewardedMb^:;^ appointment to office, and to say to them, : that while Democrats may expect all proper consideration, selections for office, not embraced within the civil Service rules, will be based upon sufficient in quiry os to fitness. Instituted by those charged with that duty, rather than upon persistent importunity or self-solicitation and recommendations on behalf of can didates for appointment. * Yours very truly, GROVER CLEVELAND, Always Look Under tho Sofa, ^ : The fellowing from th e Co nyora Weekly ls published wHh the hope that it moy pery? sa a ; warn;cg to spoony couples hereabouts : ' There Is a certain boy'. who doe? not live a thousand miles from here that ought to bit killed. Last Sunday; aveng ing be crawled under the sofa, and when his big sister aud her best young mau were sitting a* close together as .possible^ he rigged a slip-toot around their fwrt. When tho old gentleman came Into the .parlor to look foi:: his cigar etunip they thought ?boy would occupy separate pews. The young man feU over tho center table, and Alias-sat dnwa on the floor with ? concussion that ?ilslocated hcradjusta blo-bangs. Tho o?d gentleman thought JsT^-rrWas drunk, and hit him " cane co vcral times before hocon ld tear himself loose nod fall out Of the window. The rotten ts declared off. ;-r- tm** ' ' .<'>. - Tho Russian government Is about to balle} an clor en thousand ton iron elad, Ibo obst of which is estimated^ $3,250, - It does not seem to follow that io ^^^!Iv?aww^?Ui?va|i?^^ Slr Moses Montefiore, ibit hie tether died a* 44