Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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BY E. B, MUEKA J. >3. CLINKSCALES, Editor. thj8 seceht moyemknt in sof.chebn ./ . . . litebatijee. ? - The above is the title of the opening article in the May Harpers. The author . is'Charles W. Coleman, jr. There are portraits of Cable, Miss Grace King, K. M. Johnston, J. 0. Harris, T. N. Page, ;. Oraddocfcy ? Miss McClelland, Miss Baylor, ^^j^Su^.M^rnder, Miss Rives, Lafcadio VHearn and Eobert Barns Wilson. For the benefit of those, who.may not see the magazine, we extract the most important facts in the personal history of each of . the more prominent authors mentioned. It isnot necessary to give these facts inltfr.- Cable's, case^ since his personal iuatory is already well known. Miss (Grace King, of New Orleans, first came . 'into notice little moro than a year ago }:Vi^'^;::fltpi^'r'(-^bn8iew Motte," in the }Ne\p Princeton. This story, written with, no definite idea of publication, was seen ?.?by some literary friends, who, immedi? ately realizing it? merit, advised sending' : - it to the' New'Pnricttoti'Review, then in ; qa'eat.pif'!-a tale for its first issuer It won - tb?'-writer an; instant ieputation, Both, in i.thia^ <^ntry . and in : England.- Miss ? King's^;two other stories, are "Bonnie ]:^^m&^\^atjper).?ad "Madamo Lare :. veillere" ' {New Princeton.) She is the daughter of a Georgia lawyer, long resi? dent in New Orleans, a man of culture " "and literary ability, and to him she %^claims tobwe much of her Buccess. As vmighiihave'been inferred from: her sto ? -Aies, afie was educatedVat Creole. schools. Richard Malcolm Johnston^ author of "Dafcesboroagh Tales" and of numerous stories 6f .Georgia life, several of which ? appear every year in Harper's or the rOentury, was bom in Middle Georgia in 1822. His father's as well as his moth? er's family were from Virginia. "Dukes-. ? borough" is the village. Powelton, where the family long resided. ? He was gradu? ated from Mercer .College, taught a year, thenbegan the practice of law. fa 1857 - be declined the Judgeship of the North c.ern Circuit to accept the chair of Belles V Lettres in, the University of Georgia. iDunng the war he -opened a school for boys at Sparta, whence he removed in J 1867 to Baltimore County, Maryland, ' taking forty Georgia boys with him. The first issue of "Dukesborough Tales" wao . published in the old "Southern Magazine." His -experience and ooservation as a .; school boy in the old field schools and as ^ a lawyer bh the circuit furnished him the -material for his stories. He was 45 be - fore he began to devote himself seriously to literature. He is the author also, in ^conjunction with Drv W. H. Browne, of I Johns Hopkins, of a. "Biography of "Alexander H._ Stephens," and of a "His x tory of English Literature." Joel Chandler Harris was born of humble parents in the village of Eaton ton, Putnam County, Georgia, Decent i bef, 9, 1848. The "Yicar of Wakefield," ' which bis mother read aloud when he was a small boy, first kindled in him the desire to write, the result beiDg a series of abort stories, which he doubtless kept 'to himself, in which the conversational capacifcy;ortho characters was limited to _.tb?amgfe-eocclaaiiation "Fudge 1" As is well known, be is on-the staff of the Atlanta' Constitution. He began his lareer as ?" journalist at the age of 14, when be became printer's. apprentice in .;the office of the "Counk<tyman" a little weekly paper published on a Georgia plantation ten^tbiles from ? a postoffice. At this timer Herinsed, sometimes, to com? pose articles whilo standing at the case, which attracted the attention of the editor io such a way that he began to lend him books. His farther career is familiar to all. ? Thomas Nelaon Page, who became fa I moua three years ago by his story "Marse Chan," "the most exquisite story of the ? war that has yet appeared," and whose "Meb Lady," "Polly," etc., have austain " ed his reputation, is a young lawyer of Eichmond and a scion of one of the oldest, most aristocratic families in Vir I ginia. He was born April 28,1853, at Qailands, an old family estate in Hano j over County. His first instructors are -said to have been his aunt, who taught him to read in the Prayer Book and the VTaverley Novels, and the old carriage driver. He. was educated at Washington :?nd Lee'T/nivereity, paying more atten? tion to^ the debating society and the ?'."college" paper than to the curriculum. A ? volume of .his collected stories will soon ^. appear,- andHe ia at present writing a ..novel of Virginia life, the completion of which baa been delayed by ill health. He is doubtless our brightest rising star. Omitting Briddock for the same reason -. that Cable was passed over, we come to MissM. G. McClelland, author of "Ob? livion," "Princess/' and "A Self-Made /- Man." She lives in Buckingham County, Virginia; Her home is a rambling, old fashioned farm structure,-overshadowed :by ? .magnificent elm tree, in a w ild ./mountainous country, until quite recent . Iy untraversed' by a railroad. Cut off from intercourse with others of her age, ehe grew up an imaginative child, whose - dolls were made to personate the charac? ters in Scott's romances, from her love , for which grew her early efforts in story I";-writing. Her mother "served as school ' mistress, playmate and companion" for her. "A day of systematic schooling she has .never had until now, when, with indomitable energy, she is pursuing a 'prescribed course of study." "Her first experience with type was the appearance ;in 1879 of two bits of verse in the col? umns of a newspaper, one of these writ? ten while churning: with the left hand, the otherTCO'mposed while pursuing a turkey1 hen to her hidden nest in the woods." "Princess," her second novel, was in reality written aeveral years before "Oblivion'' and could not find a purchas .jeot^firs^ owing to the extreme stand taken against divorce. It was modified and rewritten and so found a. publisher, . but she has been fearfully criticised for making Pocahootas give up her scruples ' and marry a. divorced man. :" Miss Frances Courtenay Baylor was ;':bbr^an^kanti88:j resided in San Anto? nio, Texas, before the war. Her family /;is froin Virginia, where her home now is, Y&CO. near Winchester. Her two stories, "On Both iSidea" and "Juan Juanita," are well known. Miss Julia Magruder, who also lives near Winchester, Va., is the author of "Across the Chasm," a study of social conditions Bince the war, contrasting certain iypes of the North and South. Miss Amelie Bives is the author of "A Brother to Dragons," which created a sensation in its anonymous appearance in the Atlantic. So far as we know, her reputation rests on that one piece, though this number of Harper's contains a poem of very considerable merit from her pen. She is said to come of distinguished lin? eage, and to possess rare personal attrac? tions, and to have won already an ex? tended social reputation in the North as well as the South. Indifferent to social triumphs, she lives at her ancestral home, Castle Hill, Albemarle County, Va. She has never been in the school room, her governess having been instructed to let her study when and how she would. She ie 'just entered. upon her twenties," being the only one of the ladies whose age Mr. Coleman gives. We should like to have heard more tha:a we find here about Mrs. Tiernan, author of "Suzette," about Mrs. Burton Harrison, and Samuel Minturn Peck, and we do not understand why James A. Harrison has not a place, and a promir nent one, in such a sketch. Eobert Bums Wilson was bora at the home of his grandfather, in Washington County, Pa., Oct. 80, 1850. He ib de? scended on his mother's side from ths Nehon family of Virginia. His father was an architect and a builder, and his mother had talent for drawing and paint? ing. -At 19 he began painting portraits fur a livelihood. At 22 he went to Lou? isville and now lives at Frankfort. With his fame as a poet we are all familiar. Lafcadio Hearo, of Louisiana, was born in Santa Maura of the Ionian Islands, his mother a native Greek, his father a surgeon in the British army. "Stray Leaves from Strange Literature," a vol? ume of poetical prose, is his chief claim to a place here. He is a journalist, and has lived in the South for some years. In conclusion, we may say it is strik? ing how many of these writers are Vir? ginians?of course we have not men? tioned all?and how many of them came of old families.?C. F.' S., in Southern Christian Advocate. Concerning Morals and Crime, The remarkable increase of crime in France during the last half century has drawn attention to a similar state of affairs in this country. It must be ad ted, as the Boston Herald puts it, that there is a noticeable weakening in the controlling force of those moral senti? ments which in the past restrained men who were tempted to do wrong. In France the explanation given is that since the revolution the moral education of the people has been neg? lected. If this is true of the French, it is in a very large measure true of the Americans: Certain superficialis^ will be ready to deny this. They will point to the progress of onr religious denominations, and - the iucrease in the number of onr churches. Unfortunately this does not meet the case. Perhaps the number of religionists is increasing because creeds are broadening, disciplitf^^jrowing las, and the requirements of religion are growing easier. Numerous churches may be either a good or a bad sign. The First Napoleon said that a great number of churches in proportion to the popula? tion indicated a low state of morals. The trouble is that too many of our people grow up without any moral teach? ing.. In a fit of enthusiasm or emotional excitement they join a church, but it .is too late to cure the evils resulting from their defective moral education. They profess a kind of theoretical Christianity, and continue devoted to the world, the flesh and the devil. This defective contingent may be found Tnevery! church, and it is sometimes large enough to be a serious drawback. If the lack of moral training weakens those who are in the church it must necessarily work a still greater idjury to those who are out of it. In our old-f.ishioned state of society there was something like family govern? ment. Children were taught to shun temptation, to. love the right and abhor the wrong. But times have changed. Parents hesitate to give moral lectures to the precociously sharp boys and girls of the present day. The young people go off and flock together, instituting some? thing like a boycott against their elders. If they fancy bad books, bad pictures and ways that are dark, they will follow their bent, and their fathers and mothers will know nothing about it until it is too late. Out of the ranks of these unrestrained youngsters come in each generation the men and women who are to lead society and control business. Bright, worldly, impatient of restraint, what can be ex? pected of them ? Until we pay more attention to early moral training, our per centage of crime will continue to increase. Here is the weak spot in our civilization. We must remedy the evil at its starting point. The religion of this age will not keep men straight when they have never been taught the value of morality. There is no use in glossing over these things. Our civilization is rotten, and the sooner we realize it and begin the work of genuine reform, the better it will be for all concerned.?Atlanta Constitution. A South Carolina Soldier's Grave. Sheriff Rowan has received a postal from Mr. Roberi Parsons, of Fall Creek, Tenn., to the effect that he has found a soldier's grave there marked J. H. Todd Co. G., 10th S. C. V., and thinking some of the relatives of the dead soldier might desire some information as to his last resting place, be writes to Hay that he will be glad to furnish such with all in relation to it that he can.?Columbia Register. ? So live that death may never Bur prise thee unprepared. Happy the man wjbo.' constantly keeps the hour of his death in view, and every day prepares himself for it. THE ELECTION. Which Ballot Should "Wo Cast, Antl-Proht bltlon or Prohibition ? The following is an Essay which was read before Barker's Creek Division, Sons of Temperance, by Mr. J. D. Duncan, and i3 published by request of the Di? vision : We are on the eve of an election in Anderson County. In this election all legal voters will be allowed to cast their ballot, but on which side should the ma? jority of these votes be cast, for prohibi? tion or against it ? The anti-prohibitionist urges as his plea for his position that prohibition won't prohibit; that if you would give them free whiskey, there would be less whiskey drank and fewer drunkards; that prohibition is a Murray bill, sup? ported only by a Murray faction ; that it is essentially necessary to have whiskey in the community, because we. are liable to be snake bitten at any time; that if drinking whiskey is such a great moral evil, and so demoralizing, and a drunk? ard ao obnoxious to our views, why do we find so many church members strong anti-prohibitionists?; that prohibition, if it is enforced, would curtail the rights of our citizens. This is the ground on which the anti prohibitionists stand, and, if "it is merit and not a title which gives importance, usefulness and not grandeur which makes the world happy," it is very plain that the foundation of their theory is thin, exceedingly thin. We should vote the prohibition, ticket. Why? If prohibition won't prohibit, what do the anti-prohibitionists expect to win ? If it is going to be thosame thing any" way, why not vote for prohibi? tion and then openly defy the law ? If there is going to be less whiskey drank and fewer drunkards, we should by all meanB vote for prohibition. It would be much more plausible to urge a farmer to turn his hogs into hie corn Geld?that be would make better corn and more of it. The idea of "free whiskey" producing "less whiskey drank and fewer drunk? ards" is sophistry in the extreme. Prohibition is one of Murray's bills The prohibition bill was originated, in? troduced and engineered through the Legislature by Maj. E. B. Murray, and it affords me great pleasure to know that we have one legislator in South Carolina whose ambition and philanthropy ex? tends farther from his noggin titan his nose. Mr. Murray is not only a prohibi? tionist, but a philanthropist. Philan? thropy defined is "the love of mankind; benevolence toward the whole human family; universal good-will; readiness to do good to all men." Philanthropy is the enlarged benevolence that takes in the whole family'of man. It ignores and rises above all kindredship of blood, of country, or of faith, and embraces man because he is man. While it would first embrace its own, which is both natural and proper, it does not stop there, but steps out beyond, with good feeling and kind words for all. It is the outgrowth of enlarged mental grasp and outflowing sympathy of heart. Maj. Murray has exhibited these qualities by placing pro? hibition within our reach. He has shown by his actions that he has good feelings and kind words for all; that he is ever ready and willing io do good to all men; that, while il is hot within his power, nor within the power of any other man, to force the inebriate to stop drink? ing, yet, he is willing to exert his influ? ence, his talents and his time in placing the temptation as far beyond the drunk? ard's reach as possible. But prohibition is not supported by a so called "Murray faction, only," but by the moral senti? ment of Anderson County. But the snakes, ah I the snakes ! They are dreamed about oftener than seen. Vote the prohibition ticket and you will get rid of them. ? I.hear the anti-prohi? bitionist Church member, talk so much about the snakes, that I have become somewhat suspicious. I am almost tempted to charge him with keeping a pet snake in the back; yard to bite him every time he wants a dram.- Some of them keep quite a number, but tbey are all named. One he ciUls "the Gout," another "the Colic," another "the Head? ache," another "the Backache," another "the Rheumatism," and when he wants an extra large dram, he gives it a double name and calls it "the Bilious Colic." But the anti prohibition Church mem? ber 1 How are we going.to dispose of his -"fluence? Alas I the poor Church , aber. His. conduct is too often the target for the devil's sharpshooters. He often reminds me of aia old goose in a shower of rain. He joins the Church because it is the popular thing to do; makes a profession of religion because it is required of him before he can be ad? mitted into full membership, and after the baptizing comes in the simile of the old goose: they give themselves a good all round shake, and, as far as the appear? ance of goose, or the conduct of the Church member, would indicate, you could not positively assert that there ever had been a shower of rain or a shower of grace. But there is om thing that will be very plain: if prohibition fails to carry the election next August, Anderson County will be considered by the whole civilized world as a very good field for missionary work. But would prohibition curtail the rights of our citizens ? No. Men have no rights to anything, only those which God gives them. Their rights are de? rived and dependant. Our rights are derived from the Author of our exist? ence, and dependant or extend only so far as they will not infringe upon the rights of others. Although government is an ordinance of God, it was not insti? tuted to give rights, but to guard them; to protect us in the enjoyment and proper application of such rights. There is a sense in which, under God, a man owns himself. But he has no such title, even to himself, that would give him the right to engage in a business that would de? grade and drag down the morals of the citizens in the community in which he lives merely for his own worldly gain. That right was not given, morally speak? ing, when his soul and body was given. When a man buyB a horse he owns him, but he has no such title as gives him the right to use the horse in a business that would injure his fellow-citizens, and men ANDERSON, S. C, 1 have no right to traffic in a drug that will weaken a man's mental faculties, lower his morals, unfit him for society, and ruin him financially. Men have a right to fire and water, but it is only for the purposes for which those elements were made. A man has no right to fire his neighbor's building or drown his fellow-citizen. No such right was given I when the fire and the water were given, I and it is not in the proper use, but in the misuse, of whiskey which lies the great moral evil. But up jumps the anti prohibition church member and says he don't believe that one hundred men have the right to say what ninety-nine men shall eat. That is not the prohibition theory. Four hundred Democrats have no right .0 say to three hundred and ninety-six Republicans, "you shall vote the Democrat ticket," yet, when the election is over, the offices are held by Democrats. But the one hundred men have not only the right, but it is their duty, to prevent ninety-nine men from becoming a debauche, a lunatic, an as* Bassin, a marderer, or a suicide, by plac? ing the cause, .of 50 per cent, at least, of such crimen and misfortunes out of reach. A few words to the ladies of our Coun? ty, in conclusion : By the laws of our country you can not vote, but you can write the ticket. Your influence is great, for "the hand that rocks the cradle, rules the destiny of the nation." Exert your influence in behalf of prohibition, or the snakes will become quite tame, and you will bo wonie beguiled than old mother Eve. They will assume the f. s of a human with the subtlety of the adder. Help us to put this thing, called whiskey, out of the reach of your father, your brother, your cousin, your uncle, your husband and your lover. It is said that the whiskey barrel invariably leaks at the bung. Aid us, by your influence, to bury the whiskey keg next August; and let us bury it with the bung downwards, so that, if it does leak out, it will soak through to the other side of the globe. Pare and Manly. Gen. Robert E. Lee was a thoughtful boy, for his mother had taught him to practice self-denial and self-control, and to be economical in expending money. His father's death, when the boy was but eleven years of age, made him a "little man." He did the marketing, managed the out-door affairs, and looked after the comfort of his invalid mother. As; soon as school had closed for the noon recess, he rushed away from the frolicksome boys, and hurried home to arrange for his mother's daily ride. Young as he was, he carried her to the carriage, arranged the cushions, and eeating him? self by her side, tried to entertain her, gravely reminding hei* that the ride would fail to Benefit her unless she was cheer? ful. "Robert is both a son and ? daughter to me," the mother used to say. He was the most methodical of mana? gers, and the neatest of housekeepers. Unlike many boys, he did not think it beneath him to attend to details, or to do little things with as much carefulness as if they were large. While Btudying.conic sections, be drew the diagrams on a slate. Though he knew the one he was drawing would be rubbed out to make room for another, he drew it with as much accura? cy and neatness as if it were to be engrav? ed. After bis return from the Mexican war his wife on opening his trunk found in it every article of clothing ho had taken with him, and a bottle of brandy, which had been put in for medicinal use, unopened. He never drank brandy or whisky, and rarely a glass of wine, and he never used tobacco. To apprehend the meaning of this fact, and its powerful illustration of the lad's self-control, one must recall the rollicking life and drinking customs of Virginia duriog Gen. Lee,s boyhood and youth. During a school vacation, he was a guest in a country house, where the host, a fascinating gentleman of culture, lived a gay, wild life. Young Robert, who had been trained to self-control and self denial, was shocked. He made no com? ment on what he saw, but he refused to join in the revels. The unspoken rebuke brought to his bedside, the night before his departure, the penitent host. The youth's absti? nence bad shamed him, and he, a man of the world, came to confess to his youth? ful guest sorrow for the wild life he was leading. Earnestly he warned him to beware of acquiring drinking habits, and nrged him to persist in his temperate course of life. On leaving him, the host promised he would try to reform. Yet this methodical, self-controlled, affectionate, serviceable boy was no "goody." He was the son of "Light Horse Harry," of the Revolution, and inherited his father's martial spirit. He chose the army for his profession, and friends and relatives approved the choice. He entered West Point at the age of eighteen, graduated second in his class, and, during the four years of cadet life, did not receive a demerit mark for any breach of rules or neglect of duty. He avoided tobacco and intoxicating liquors, never uttered a word to which a woman might not have listened, and never did a deed which his mother could not have approved. Lads who think it effeminate to be good, and manly to be bad, are asked to harmonize their notions with the pure, noble boyhood of Gen. Robert E. Lee.? Youth's Companion. A Strange Case of Suicide. Chattanooga, Tenn., May 14.?The coroner was summoned to try a most singular case of accidental suicide to day. Isaac Tulley, a mechanic, while suffering intense pain from an attack of cholera morbus, rushed from his home to go to a doctor's office. He had not proceeded far from the house, however, before he discovered a phial of medicine lying on the ground. In a frenzy of pain he seized it and drank the contents, not even looking to see what it contained. In a very short while ho died in great agony, the bottle having contained what was found to be a strong solution of croton oil, the unfortunate man having taken nearly an ounco of the poison. The bottle had been accidentally dropped by a passing physici&n. rHURSDAY MORN! BILL ARP. The Georgia Philosopher In New York. Nearly forty years ago I stopped at the Astor House in this great city. It was considered fine then?yes, superfine?the acme, the tie plus ultra of hotels. The aristocracy of the land stopped there and the youthful swell who could not afford to stop there picked their teeth on the steps. It is considered a very comfort* able old stone barn now and so for auld lang Byoe I halted there and took a room at one dollar and a half a day and bad the privilege of eating where I pleased. I liked this very well. My room was on the second floor and was just high enough for me to stand up and write my name on the ceiling over my head. I measured it and found it only six and a half feet. There was one little window eighteen inches high and the sash opened on a pair of hinges and the window on the grave yard of St. Paul's Church. How immensely grand that Astor House used to look. How insignificant and humble it looks now. It certainly has shrunk dowo and drawn up, but it is a good bouse still. But as I had no business on Wall Street I departed those coasts and took up my abode at the Fifth Avenue, where everything is grand even to the charges per day, but I thought I would play the consequential a little while, and strut around with the magnates. Senators and governors and counts, and generals arc common here. General Sherman lives hero and he and I pass and repass and take our meals neat together and I expect get a slice from the same turkey. He ia very peaceable now. There was a time when be didn't divide turkeys with us nor chickens nor hogs nor sheep, but took them all and kindly threw us the bones, but that was war and now it is peace, blessed peace and tranquility. He looks quite old and harmless now and moves about without exciting more than ordinary attention. The fact is New York has not got time to waste on anybody. It is in one feverish tumultu? ous rush. . But everybody seems about as happy here as they do elsewhere. I have seen no beggars nor misery. Years ago the ragged children and miserable old women used to be at every crossing pleading for charity, but they are not here now. I have inquired about them aud am pleased to learn that the chari? table institutions here provided liberally for all the destitute. There are no wretched dens where the starving poor live and die unnoticed and unknown. It does not take a countryman so very long to gut used to city ways and fall into line. The second day-1 learned the ropes of the elevators and could bob up serenely to the fourth floor without at? tracting attention. The provincials make a great mistake in imagining that anybody here cares one copper about who tbey are or where they came from or how they are dressed. I like that. A friend of mine who broke down in Georgia and lost his patrimony, said he bad several I reasons for coming to New York to live and one was that New York didn't care whether he had ever been rich and proud or not. There was money here I and a fair reward for labor and for brains. ; But down ia his old home some were glad that he foiled and others pitied him and he didn't want either. Town gossip feasted on the fall and retailed it until the story was threadbare. They even wondered what bis wife would do with her elegant toilets and how long she could keep ber diamond brooch. "Now," said he, "we are out of it all and my wife and myself and our two children are all bread winners and make a com? fortable support. I left no debts behind me and make none here." Well, it is bard to have to go to the bottom of the hill and climb up again after one has been at the top. It cuts like a knife when there is a wife and children in? volved?an affectionate, trusting wife, who was reared in luxury and knew no wants. As for the children, it does not go bo bard, for tbey can soon acquire habits of industry, and maybe it will be all the better for them. I found other friends here?good friends, whom I bad not seen for years, and had almost lost them; but they were doing well, and we enjoyed our reunion and talked gushingly of the halcyon days of yore. The married daughter of an old schoolmate greeted me early. With her and her own lovely lauaie of thirteen summers we drove through Central park and spent a whole afternoon on the road and visited the great museum where paintings that cost sixty thousand dollars are mixed up with those that ccst six hundred, and it takes a smarter man than me to tell the difference. Just so was I about the fine horses?for I didn't see more than about two hundred dollars difference between Tremont, who sold recently for one hun? dred and forty-five thousand dollars, and a horse near by that sold for five hun? dred. It is esteemed a great privilege to be allowed to rub Treraont's nose with just one stroke, and a hair from his tail would bring ten dollars, with thanks. With my lady friends and some nice gentlemen I went to Cedarfaurst, on Long Island, to see the great hurdle races. It was a sight long to be remem? bered, even by a patriarch, for who ever gets too old to enjoy the beauty and majesty of fine horses, and the grace and power and poetry of their motion, especially in a leaping race ? Solomon, and David, and Job all pay tribute to it, and why not we? They admired him when he "swelleth his nostrils and snuffeth the battle from afar." Then why not look at him in peace. Cedar? hurst is a hightoned association of tony men,'who have no jockeying and many of whom ride their own horses in these hurdle races. Splendid riders they are, too, but I am vain enough to believe that if I could have called back forty years I would have taken a hand in that contest, and not been left far behind. Sometimes I do want to be young again ?that is a fact. Moat every bU. man does, I reckon. At least they love to tell* about their youthful triumphs. Well, I have seen the day when I was as much at homo on a horse as on the ground, and a good deal happier. My ambition was to ride the pony express for Wells & Fargo across the plains to California, but I never got there. STG, MAY 26, 1887 Well, our newspaper friend secured passports and badges for our party, and , we had choice seats on the club house veranda, where nobody is allowed but folks of consequence?like Prince Leopold and three or four counts and Jim Keene and the representatives of the great New York dailies. Jim Koene's son, Foxhall, was one of the riders?that is he rode his own horses?only one at a time and he won two races. It actually made me have kinder feelings toward Jim Keene because his son did ride and rode well, and took the peril of it, and because Jim Keene looked on with anx? ious paternal pride. Langtry was not there but Freddy, her Freddy Gebhard was, and he had two horses in the ring but Freddy dident ride. He is saving himself very carefully, they say, for Langtry, and they are to be. married soon. These steeple races are more intensely exciting than the "flat" races, as those without hurdles are called. Some of the hurdles are cedar hedges, some are stone walls with turf on top of them, some are plank fences, some are cornstalks, a kind of grasshopper fence. Then (here are "doubles," where two fences are so close together as to require two leaps in quick succession and last and most perilous of all is a stone wall with a ten-foot ditch on the farther side, and that ditch full of water. None but the best trained horses can clear that, a;ad none but the best trained rider can stick to his steed. Now, all of our country boys know that it is not an easy thing to stick to a horse as he jumps a ditch or a five rail fence. Sometimes the horse goes on and the boy stops, or the horse stops and the boy goes on. But these hedges and walls are from rive to seven feet high, and these splen? did riders did not show any daylight in the saddle, but seemed glued to it; in fact, they seemed ;;o be part of the horse, and moved with him in perfect grace. The track was just a mile round ; a mile on grassy, close sheared turf green, and smooth, and the hurdles were here and there on the course, and inside of it at irregular intervals, and the horses bad to leave the "flat" as the running course is called, and take the hedge or wall or ditch wherever it was placed. When the race was closely contested, you could see four or five horses on the wild leap at once, with barely a neck between. We witnessed five races, and in one of three miles there were thirteen splendid horses engaged. The riders were all men, not boys, and averaged from 135 to 170 pounds, and they were clad in showy garments of green and blue, and canary and gold, and silver and velvet, and satin and stripes, and spots and sashes of all colors, so that the eye could follow them around the track and not be deceived as to which horse was ahead. Well, of course, there was betting, but there was no trickery. The owners of the horses were supposed to be above tricks and Btratsgems. They already had as much money as any reasonable man could d?.aire. Money had failed to satisfy, and now they were trying sport. No Ordinary man* could come into this ring. To get in, a man bad to be above the necessity of plotting and scheeming to make money. The prize of $2,000 to the best horso was nothing but a lit tle spice among these men. There was bet? ting outside, lots of it, but not on a large scale. Old men, old women, young men and young women, all bet, say from five to twenty dollars, on every race. Some bet on their judgment, their knowledge of the horses or on horse flesh in general. But most of the five thousand people bet at random, just for the excitement. They would pick out a name they liked and bet on it. Lots of men and ladies bet on "Orphan Boy" just out of sympa? thy, and the Orphan got left. I was much amnsed at an old gentleman with gray side whiskers. He bet every time ?$20 every time and lost. At the last race he said, "Well,, I'll try it once more. My wife picks out the hind nag every time and I have to bet on him to please her. I've lost eighty dollars already and here goes another twenty." He lost that, too, and as he paid over the money he said : "Well, my old woman will have to stay at home this summer, I do reckon, for all her spending money is gone." But the old woman looked at him with a tone of voice that meant: I reckon I know what I'm about, and there is plenty more money left in the till for me. Oedarhurst is a lovely place?just as pretty as a painting. The deep blue ocean was just before us and the magnificent Ocean hotel near by facing the beach. All along the 25 miles that we rode by rail the earth was carpeted with green and the fruit trees adorned with blooms. There were signs everywhere of industry and thrift, but none of poverty and decay. There are three millions of people near by to feed, and these working farmers can sell anything and everything they raise. I beard a little girl boasting that she had already sold twelve dollars' worth of roses and eix dollars of tulips that she grew herself. Well, I rode across the Brooklyn bridge, one of the grandest triumphs of the human mind that is in the world or ever has been. I saw Miss Liberty, with her torch in hand, and I rode for miles and miles o.' the elevated railways that now carry half a million passengers every day. I went to the Eden Musee, where there are hundreds of wax figures, likenesses to the life of notable men and women, past and present. Mr. Beecher is the last, and he stands before you so perfectly natural you wait a moment for him to say something. A waggish friend said: "Well, now, suppose we hand that policeman a dime and go. He ex? pects something." I got my dime ready and extended my hand, but a laugh from the boys told me that the policeman was wax. The truth is, I was too wrought up to distinguish the living from the dead all around the 'halls, New York is a wonderful show and I wish all the children of the land could go there, and had money enough to stay a week and see the sights. But home beats New York, and right now while I write I am humming one of Sam Junes'? songs, which says "I'm happy on the way," and sure enough I am, for I am aboard a south bound train and every mile brings me nearer home. Bill Abp. THE LARGEST SUNDAY SCHOOL IN THE WORLD. From Harper's Young People. In the northern part of the city of Chicago, where churches are few and saloons plenty, stands a large three Btory brick building, the home of the Central Chnrch North Side Sunday-school, the largest in the world. It is under the auspices of Professor Swings's church, and it stands in the centre of a district densely populated with foreigners of nearly every nationality. The streets fairly swarm with thou? sands of children, and the wonder is as much where as how tbey all live. Every building from attic to basement is crowded, a whole family making their home in a single cheerless room, and out of such places, and surrounded by every influence that tends to evil, and few that encourage a noble life, come the great army of little ones that compose the school. All the week long they play upon the streets and alleys; many, who are old .enough, work, Bome support? ing their wretched parents in idleness; but to a great number of them Sunday and Sunday-school is the one bright spot in all their lives. How and when was the school started ? Nine years ago Mr. Charles B. Holme;, of Chicago, with a heart full of pity for these woree than homeless little waifs, rented a small hall in a third story, and announced that he hod started a Sunday school. About four hundred, noisy, boisterous boys and girls responded to the invitation, for the most part bent on "having a good time," and determined to give the school aa hard a struggle as possible for existence. That first Sunday will ever be a mem? orable one, as much for the difficulties it offered as because it was the birthday of the Bchool. The following Sunday the attendance increased, and so did the dis? position on the part of the big boys to run the school on a plan of their own. When Mr. Holmes wanted to speak, they would be seized with a sudden inspira? tion to sing, and the selections were not always those to be found iu hymn-books. But notwithstanding such obstacles, the work was pushed on, and the attendance steadily increased, so that at the end of the third year it had reached twelve hundred. During these first few years three big policemen were kept busy maintaining order and looking after the bad boys, who devised ail manner of schemes to break up the school. But with added years has come a radical change. Those same bad boys who made the most trouble are now among the most regular attendants, and nowhere in the country can be found a more orderly, well-behaved assemblage than gathers here every Sunday. The policemen at the door are still retained, but only as a wise precaution in case of fire or some other emergency. When the fifth anniversary came round, the old quarters, which had long been inadequate, were exchanged for the present home?a fine building 99 by 140 feet, built expressly for the school, con? taining stores below, and the second and third stories being devoted to the mission work. With these greatly improved facilities the attendance rapidly increased, until at the present time there are more than five thousand names upon the rolls, and an average attendance of more than half that number. Now let us take a peep at the school as it looks on a Sunday afternoon. Long before the appointed hour children come pouring in by the hundreds from every direction, completely filling the street. They form in long lines, and all eyes are anxiously directed down the street. When, some blocks away, a carriage is seen dashing around the corner, a great shout goes up, which only ceases after the occupant has smiled and nodded and disappeared through the big door. It is their way?and no mistakable one?of welcoming the Superintendent. A mo? ment later and the gong strikes, the doors fly open, and the boys file in one side, the girls upon the other. Entering, we find a large light hall, with three 'thousand chairs, which, are quickly filled. The Superintendent and musicians occupy a high platform at the farther corner of the room, which is triangular in shape. The school is conducted on a plan original with Mr. Holmes, and one which for economy and grand results cannot be equalled. For convenience, the school is divided into sections of one hundred scholars, each of which is pre? sided over by a teacher, or rather "helper," who, with a word here and a nod there, restrains the overflowing tendencies of youth. With the exception of the infant class of three hundred, who occupy a side room, all the children form one grand class of nearly three thousand scholars ranging from sixteen years of age down to wee babies in the arms of brothers and sisten sometimes not much older than themselves. This great mul? titude read, sing, and are taught in per? fect concert as one child. The exercises move along like a well regulated express train, and the reading and singing alternate without the loss of a moment's time. No books are used in this Sunday-school, for the songs are painted in big letters, that may be read a block distant, on great sheets of heavy paper as large as a door?one verse to a page?and bung on a big easel. As fast as a verse is sung the sheet is turned over. And such singing 1 it is an inspiration in itself. The leader is assisted by a fine cornet-player and pianist. After several songs, one short prayer is offered, follow? ed by the Lord's Prayer, in which all join, and the solemn hush of the vast audience of children, who with bowed heads pay reverent respect, strangely contrasts with the great volume of song that a moment before filled the hall. After several songs have been sung, the whole school reads in concert appropri? ate verses of Scripture painted on paper similar to the hymns, the last verse being the subject of the lesson for the day. Then tho Superintendent addresses the school for thirty minutes. It is not an offhand, indifferent talk about morals in general?for this is a mos t critical and exacting audience?but a carefully pre?. pared address sparkling with an abun? dance of fresh, bright anecdotes that carry their own lesson, enforcing the volum: subject of the day, and conveying a pointed and earnest appeal for all those qualities that go to make a noble and better life. The children listen as hard as they sing. The enthusiasm of num? bers is felt by every one present, and with wonderful effect. School lasts exactly one hour, and the dismissal is as interesting a sight as was the entrance. A bell sounds, a stirring drum march rolls through the hall, and Sections I. of boys and girls rise and march out, following their respective leaders, who carry banners with the numbers of their sections. The other sections remain seated until their signal is given, when they follow with military precision. At the door each scholar calls bis number, which corresponds to his or her name upon the roll. These numbers are taken down, and in this way the attendance is checked, and absentees and sick ones looked after by the mission pastor during the week. The four great events of the year are the Christmas Festival, Easter Sunday, the July Picnic, and the Harvest-Home. The Christmas exercises are held on a week day night, and consist of some nice entertainment, a short address by the Superintendent, singing by the school, and at the close the distribution of a big mountain of paper bags, each containing an orauge, candy, nuts and pop-corn. It is decidedly interesting to watch the expression on the little faces as each receives the simple gift, and the sense of importance and responsibility that attaches to its possession. The rags and cold hunger are all forgotten ; so is the cheerless home to which they must return. For the time the little hearts wbicb know few pleasures are filled with joy, for they have beeu to "the Christ? mas/' On Easter Sunday the service is chiefly one of song, aud on this occasion many of the finest singers in the city make it their custom to visit the school and lend their assistance with instruments and song. No richer music peals from the finest choirs upon the cul? tivated audiences of the wealthiest churches; no grander anthems ring?no sweeter hymns are sung in all the land? than are brought to these little ones at Easter. And do they appreciate it? The crowd of boisterous boys who all the week feel no restraining influence are for once still; a hush goes over the vast congre? gation ; one could almost hear a pin drop; and as the sweet pathetic notes of song pour forth, many a little dirty '"ace, uplifted to the singers to catch every sound, is furrowed with the great tears that unconsciously, irresistibly respond to some tender chord, the child knows not how or why. But of all the days in-the year, the picnic is the one looked forward to and remembered with most interest. It occurs about the middle of July, and is held in a charming grove on the shores of Lake Michigan, some fifteen miles from the city. What is truly remarkable is that no one has ever been injured, either in going, returning, or while upon the grounds. As many as can bring with them a lunch, carrying it in baskets, tin cans, pockets, bits of cloth, and one boy, for want of any others means, once carried his upon his head under what might once have been a hat. On arriving at the grounds the "pic? nic" is turned loose in the woods, and, wild with delight, the children immedi? ately commence a general forage for birds' nests, flowers, butterflies, acorns, frogs, and snakes. Swings are put up, ball clubs organized, and a team kept hard at work bringing water for the thirsty mnltitude. At twelve o'clock they all return to head-quarters, which occupy a space two hundred feet square, enclosed by a strong rope. The rations are dealt out, consisting of big cheeses, boxes of herring, barrels of ginger-snaps and crackers, lemonade and ice-cream; and so systematically is this done that every child receives its share, and no more. Having distributed every crumb of these supplies, the games begin. At one end of the forum stand three judges; at the other, the participants and the starter; outside the rope are grouped the eager audience of three thousand chil? dren. First is the jumping race, contested by one hundred boys; then there is the race for boys over twelve, find another for boys under twelve. These are followed by races for the girls, who enter into the sport with as much zest as their brothers* Then come the sack races, three-legged races, running races, and almost every other imaginable kind of race, in all of which the girls compete, and receive their cheers and prizes equally with the boys. A grand tug of war, with hun? dreds on each side, concludes the tourna? ment. As the sun sinks slowly out of sight, the tired but good-natured picknickers return, bearing innumerable treasures to be kept in memory of the event. Some people might not prize them, but to these city urchins they are as gold Branches, weeds, wilted flowers, bits of moss and bark, feathers and sand, and pebbles from the shore, frogs and toada in pockets, and miserable little minnows' in cans, and all sorts of rubbish, at once worthless and yet beyond price, which serve to carry gladness to hundreds of homes. The sewing class, including among its teachers many of the wealthiest ladies in the city, is a most noble and useful work. It meets every Saturday morning from ten to twelve o'clock, and has an attend? ance of over eight hundred girls and some boys. All work with a will, and the articles, when completed, become the property of the little seamstresses,, at once encouraging skill and helping many hundreds of girls to good warm garments. The Kindergarten connected with the mission meets every morning, and is attended by five hundred little tots, some of whom can scarcely speak, but who nevertheless, wbeu taken from the street and placed under its influence, develop rapidly. The work of thenc baby fingers would do credit to many who read this, and tL ideas of hightr and better things received in this way result in untold good. On Monday afternoon is held the class E XXII.- -NO. 46. in manual training for the older boys, who learn drawing, wood carving, etc. It is largely attended. All these clashes are free. In connection with the school; "v. is also a free dispensary, officered by three lady physicians. The mission pas? tor holds church service Sunday evenings for the parents of the members of the school. Country Roads Again. The Richmond Whig puts in a strong plea for better country roads. In Vir- V-'; ginia, as in other Southern States, the roads are execrable. Our contemporary favors stringent - laws making it compulsory on the part of ' the Counties to provide better roads. It ? is a common thing to see a County strain ing every nerve to secure a new railroad at an expense of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and yet the benefits expected"^ to accrue count for but little compared - with those to be derived from a good system of highways. The Whig says: "In a conversation with a distinguished . citizen of this State, who recently travel? ed in Europe, he remarked that one of- y\ the chief advantages which European . countries, possess over this, and one which impressed him more strongly than any ; other, is good country roads. He said in England and Scotland, and more.espe? cially on the continent, they have splen- jj did country roads, which have beeu '. located by the best engineering skill that could be bad, and built of. the most | enduring materials and in the most sub stantial manner. The result is that while the first outlay was very consider- \t able, it costs very little to keep them in J repair, and they have delightful roads over which it is a pleasure to travel. He said the grade is very light, the roads either going through or around the bills, || and it is just as common there to tunnel' ~ for a country road as it is here for a railr-v^i road. With firm roads cf easy grade a % team of horse) can easily haul three or four times as much as tbey can over the ';? roads in this country, and do it in less' than half the time we take. He .re- ? marked that in Germany or France they - hitch one horse to a vehi 'e upon which T~ they take four or five passengers and --'"' dash through the country at the rate of eight or ten miles an hour with all ease." We need just such roads in Georgia. They would build up the towns, increase travel and traffic and enhance the value of farming lands. Of course such, im? provements cost money, but it is ah investment that pays. Too much impor- .... tance cannot be attached to this matter. Good country roads are among the indis? pensable factors of progress and prosper? ity."?Atlanta Constitution. _ _ &m Under the title of "Sneered At," in, , the Youth's Companion we find a mottvyr interesting story in three columns, of a poor but beautiful gir!; being educated by her uncle for a teacher, at a fashion- -: able seminary where all the girls but hec were able to dress expensively while she had only the plainest clothing. The , ' valedictory poem was awarded her, but poverty made it necessary that she should appear before the large and fashionable' -~ audience dressed only in cc arse, white ;" ; muslin with no ornament. Many of-tbe-^ wealthy ladies sneered at her and so" .;? wrought upon the poor girl's mind, that she thought of giving up heir part. At this juncture a noble-hearted girl, the ?W wealthiest of the whole school, whose , dresses were imported from 'iAs, came to the rescue. Finding it impossible to prevail upon the poor girl to wear one of her costly dresses, she appeared on the - day of graduation by her side; not in - the rich costume prepared for the occa? sion, and which the girls "were dying , to see," but in the same ph;in, coarse, white muslin, with only one rosebud for ornament. Under the inspiration of such noble heroism the poor girl woe the Bighest_ honors of the class, and from that day .; dated a friendship which lasted through life. ? in Carrying Concealed Weapons. The Edgefield Advertiser, of the' 28Qfrp, ult., says: There is a statute in Georgia against '? carrying concealed weapons, similar tb?;? the one in South Carolina. Some yea-i - ago Judge Lester, of that State, wHnes-' going from his boarding place to the Court House, where he was to hold Court,/ observed a pistol on the person of a man whom he passed. Immediately thereaf? ter Court was called and Judge Lester~7 directing that the doors be closed and fastened, put every spectator upon his ? ' oath, as to whether he was cairrying a -^* concealed weapon or not. Quite ?, num? ber were found carrying the deadly pistol, 3 and these were fined five doL am each and their weapons deposited with the Court. Having finished with the specta? tors he took up the lawyers sitting wound * the bar, and quite a number of these were found to be in possession of, .and carrying, pistols, and they too were treaty ed in the same way as the spectators. . Suppose Judge Wallace should tiy this at the next term of our Circuit Court, would it not do more good than so ccca- t sional indictment for violating the stat? ute ? We think so, and hope the exper? iment may be made. '? -? The Wrong Woman. An amusing incident occurred not long since at One of our churches. A well: - known citizen and his wife attended the ' service, going thither as was their custom M in their own vehicle. When the meeting was over the husband told the wife to be out at the door so as to be ready to go ? home when he came along with the horse and sleigh. She was promptly on time and a team came up, a man held out his hand and helped her in and drove ff off with her. They had not gone a greai \ way when she said: "It seems to me you got the horse quick." The mm., looked at her a moment in surprise on ~: hearing a strange voice, and ?itclaimed: "Good gracious! I have got tlw wrong woman." He turned the hone around |a and drove back to the place of meeting^ 3 where an exchange was madfi, and hfe started home once more with the rjjjhfr.,v. woman,?Concord Monitor, ?