Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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POETRY IN SOI The Following Essa Recent Meeting of Chapter "of the ] Conf ederac v, Sui! If one basa liking for patient re search and an uuliniited amount of time to indulge in such a profitable pastime, I know of no subject within the range of ancient or modern litera ture that offers such a boundless field i for exercise than "Poetry in South j Carolina." After wrestling with the topic for several days, I am forced to the conclusion that the limitless area of the aforesaid field is only exceeded by its utter barrenness and sterility. And to write an essay on poetry in South Carolina is a task similar io kind to preparing a thesis on the growth of vegetation in the desert of Sahara. Poetry in South Carolina is conspic uous by its absence. It need not be inferred that the Palmetto State has . nothing to offer at the shrine of the Muses, for we have had poets and even now we ha^e a few versifiers, but when you garner and examine the great harvest of rhyme which has been handed down to us through the centuries... we must confess, if we criticise justly and sincerely, that . South Carolina is lamentably deficient in imaginative composition. It is an unpleasant truth, but a fact neverthe less. Macauly has said that as civiliza tion advances, poetry must necessarily -decline, and there is a world of conso lation in that for we practical con-im aginative South Carolinians. With the learned and - brilliant Macauly sustaining us, we may take the posi tion that civilization in South Caro lina has always been of such a high order, so advanced on the scale of the centuries, that poetry paled in the glare and dragged out a wilted exist ence, without sympathy and without ' appreciation. No doubt the critics would lacgh us to scorn for taking such a position, but we are in desper ate straits and there is no alternative Mt us but to play the role of the five persons told of in Scripture, who were invited to the wedding, feast "And they all wi th one accord began to make excuses." We must do likewise. Perhaps the only poets worthy of the name, whom South Carolina has produced, are Henry Timrod and Paul Hamilton Hayne. And if one desires to read & life in which the bitter largely pre-dominated over the sweet; . where the wailing discord of sorrow and disappointment sounds unceas ingly, one has only to read the bio graphy of these two unfortunate vic tims of genius unappreciated. I refer more especially to Tinrod than to Hayne. It is said of the former that he died of starvation, but this state ment has been repeatedly denied. Any way, he Buffered as few men have, and to one of bis refined, sensi tive nature the agony was intensified. Think of Timrod taking one of his treasured volumes of verse to the baker and exchanging it for bread; yet it is said this incident actually occurred. This sounds unpleasant, and it may-be charged that I am de parting from my subject, but I do not think it out of place for me to intro duce some facts to show why there has been a dearth of poetry in South Carolina. The struggles of the un appreciated geni?s are always pitiful and never fail to excite compassion when it is too late to render assist ance. We laud Timrod now and sing his praises with loud acclaim, hut we let him die for the lack of wholesome sustenance. Some years ago an effort was made to raise a monument to his memory, and an enthusiastic admirer wrote to Sydney Lanier for a fitting epitaph to inscribe on it. This is what Mr. Lanier wrote: "He asked for bread and ye gave him a stone." That was sufficient; the story of poor Timrod'8 life was told iu that brief sentence, and bitter, biting reproach breathed through every word. Tim rod was a prolific writer, and some of his work gives evidence of undue haste and lack of careful preparation. Hunted down at all times by the wolf of poverty, he could not afford to wait for inspiration, but under the spur and whip of necessity his jaded imagi nation and weary brain were taxed unceasingly. But occasionally Tim rod sounds a deeper note and we are charmed by a certain ineffable sweet ness, a haunting strain of melody divine, which sets us to thinking that "Wakin g or asleep Thou of death must deem Things more true and deep Than we mortals dream, Or how could thy notes flow in such a crystal stream." But Timrod has not been very kindly treated by writers of American literature. Although his name is casually mentioned, no .catalogue of his work appears, nor his poetry more than passing notice. His ode on "The Decoration of Confederate Graves" and his splendid poems on c'Sunsct" have been most favorably received in some quarters, but he has UTH CAROLINA. y was Head Before a ' tlie Hob erl: K. Lee Daughters ol' the by Mrs. J. H. ivan. failed to .-trike a responsive chord in the heart cf the great reading public and his verse is rarely read nowa days I hope ?o see a revival of in terest aud appreciation taken iu his work. Better known than Ti m rod-, but still comparatively a stranger <o the literary world, is Paul H. Kayne. Though more fortun tely situated than Titurod from a pecuniary stand point, nevertheless Hay nc suffered keenly and his Hues wete not laid in pleasant places. Had he been born in Boston, or near some center of cul ture, he would have received that sympathy aud appreciation which are a veritable elixir of life to the man of genius. But while he wrote ?his lim pid verse, South Carolina was being racked and tortured by the abolitiou of slavery, and later on the diu of war filled the laud with horrid clamor, aud we had little time to delve into litera ture or lionize the makers thereof. HayDe, however, bas written some poetry that will compare favorably with what Matthew Arnold terms "the best things that have been thought and said in the world." His ode to ''Sleep,"' especially those lines where he says, 4 'Come woo me here amid these flowery charms ; Breathe on my eyelids ; press thy odor ous lips Close to mine own; enwreathe me in thine arms, And cloud my spirit with thy sweet i eclipse." Hay ne's SOD nets have also won the deserved praise of the critics, and his poem on "The Pestilence." written during the prevalence.of yellow fever ia Charleston in 1858, has received the warmest commendation at the j hands of scholars and meu of letters. I But like Timrod, few take the trouble [ to study his .vork nowadays and a volume of his vere is not often seen ? in the average library, j Outside of these two poets, how I ever, South Carolina bas no ether Dame whom she eau boast of with pride. It is said that the secret am bition of William Gilmore Simms was to win recognition as a writer of verse, but he is best known as the author of "The Partisan," "The Spy" and other interesting novels, with the revolu tionary war as a background. It may be well to ask, at this junc ture, what has the future in store for "Poetry in South Carolina?" Is there a golden age ahead of us? Can we confidently Took forward to a revival ol' imaginative composition and watch hopefully for the dawn of a second Elizabethan era? Wc must confess that the outlook is not very eucoung ing when we contemplate the ques tions of some of our modern versifiers. I trust that I shall not be accused of taking a pessimistic view of Poetry in South Carolina. There is really very little of it which we have reason io feel thankful and nothing is gained by exalting what is manifestly devoid of merit. The poetry of Timrod and Hay ne can be read with profit a ad pleasure, and their work deserves more attention than is now paid ii. We must cling to these two, for they oiler consolation for past failures and kindle hope for a future that is big with possibilities. Without making aoy glowing predictions, or indulging in common-place auguries, we may fervently trust wjth Pope, that "God will yet bestow on us a proper muse, whose strong pinion Heaven, can not bound." Political Appeal. "Gentlemen," shouted the rural (Republican) candidate for constable when it came his turn to talk at the great political roundup prec ding elec tion. 'Tn no hand to brag. So rae of my enemies has charged me with per miten1 prisoners to escape, wiih fav orin' my friends and makin' mistaken in the servio' of papers while I held the office I'm seekin' to fill another term. All I got to say is that I done the best I could, and that I kin do better now I've got my hand in. "Gentlemen, I'm ready to stand or fail by my record. Look what this grand and glorious country has done since you made me your constable, two years back. You've had the big gest crop you've ever had in years, and you know it. The weather has been thc best thc oldest inhabitants ever saw. We've bluffed England iu that Yenerzela matter since I became constable; we've h'isted the American flag in Cubey and Phillipcna islands; we're importin* gold instead of debts; we've got business off the sick list and things is beginning to hum ; we've been layin' upmoney; farmers is gettin' rid of their mortgages and eveu fish and game is gettin' a plentier because we pertect 'em. I'm not blowin' fur facts is things that speak fur themselves. "Do you want these conditions to continue or not? Are you for prosper ity or agin it? If you are fur it, vote for me. If you are gin it, vote fur my reptile opponent."-Boston Journal. Tarleton'* Sword. [Tow interesting it.i.sto look upon metneutoes i-f the past and to conjure up incidents in winch t hose relics play ed a put. Sometimes, however, these reminiscences arc decidedly more pleasant at this late day than they were at the time of theil occurrence. 'Mr A C Dickson, superintendent of the State dispensary, has a sword which once belonged to thc ''blondy Tarleton," the intrepid British coin mander who was so persistent and cruel in his efforts to crush out the spark of patriotism in South Caroliua during the Revolution. B t the horid instrument nf war is more valuable as a relic, for it is the sword which was cut from Tarleton's hand at Cowpens by Colonel William Washington, 'lhe weapon is of rather crude make, having been fashioned by a blacksmith, but its temper is of good quality, and it was evidently more useful for battle than for dress pa rade. On the end of the hilt is a little iron knob, projecting beyond the handle piece. The knob bears the scar made by the awful descent of Washington's sword. The same stroke severed the ends of Tarleton's fingers. When the British leader dropped his sword and "put spurs to his horse," seeking safety, as history records it, the weapon was picked up by William Scott, an American trooper, who tied it to his saddle, aud at the close of the war carried it home. William Scott was Mr. Dickson's grandfather. The sword has descended to the youngest child of each succeeding generation. The State. A Lawyers Mistake. A story told by Major Menzies is being circulated through the offices in the State house, of a Vincennes law yer who appeared for the defendant in a trial bv jury and put on the witness stand a boy from whose testimony he expected to gain a great deal. To the confusion of the attorney, the 8 ory told by the boy was greatly to the de triment of the defendant, and the at torney set to work to show that the boy was "worthless." "What is your occupation ?" he asked the boy. "I work on my father's farm," the witness replied. "You don't do much but sit around, do you ?" "Well, I help my father." "But you are worthless, aren'tyou?" was the attorney's decisive question. "I don't know whether I am or not," retorted the witness warmly. Then the attorney took another tack. "Your father's a worthless man, isn't he ?" "Well, he works about the farm*' The attorney here fastened an eye'| which gleamed with triumph on the jury and nailed the boy with a glance from the other and said : 'Usn't it true that your father doesu't do enough work to prevent his being called worthless ?" The boy had chafed under these un pleasant questions, and summoning his courage, he said loudly, "If you want to know so bad whether ray father's worthless, ask him ; there he is on the jury."-Indianapolis Journal. - The narrowest street in the world is in Yarmouth, England. The en trance at one end is only twenty-nine inches and the other fifty-six. Neigh bors can easily shake bands across the street. It is called Kitty Witches Bow. - "Why is a merchaut who does not advertise, like a man in a row boat?" asked the student. "Keets going backward," guessed his friend. "No; he is trying to get along without iiales/'eaid the student. It is sad and disap-x pointing for a father^ to rear a son hard-earned money'-$3$ for his education .work to insure him - an advantageous start in life, and build cas tles in the air about the boy's future, only to have him killed off in the carly years of manhood by the dread disease con sumption. Until recent years consumption was con. sidered an incurable disease. Now it is known to tens of thousands that Doctor Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery cures 98 per cent, of all cases if taken in the carly stages of the- disease. It also cures bron chitis, laryngitis, throat and nasal troubles and all allied diseases of the air-passages. It is thc best blood-maker and flesh-builder, the best general tonic and nerve restora tive. It gives a keen edge to the appe tite, corrects the impaired digestion, pro motes the flow of digestive juices, faciH tites the production of chyle in the lower stomach, or intestines, invigorates the liver and purifies and enriches the blood. It tears down old and inert tissues and builds up new, firm, muscular tissues of health. I't strengthens the heart's action, promotes the circulation of the blood to every part of the body and deepens thc breathing, thu9 supplying thc blood with vitalizing oxygen. Thousands have testified to its merits. The dealer who offers something else as "just as good " is dishonest. " l never was very strong and then I had La Grippe," writes Mrs. Gracie G. Smith, of 480 15th St., Salem, Oregon. "1 had a cough and felt tired nil th*e time. I took three bottles of Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription and .two of .Golden Medical Discovery' and two vials of 'Pleasant Pellets.' I have better health now than for many years." Twenty-one one-cent stamps cover the mailing of .1 paper-covered copy of Doctor Pierce's Common Sense Medical Adviser. Cloth-bound, 31 stamps. Send to Dr. R. V. Pierce, Bu?ul?, N. Y. Appendicitis. Dr. li R. I jt'ineti, of Alton, illinois, i says: 111 often meet people who have such ;i wholesome i*<-ar of appendicitis j that they do not eat grapes, tomatoes, j figs or fruit containing little seeds, lie cause of a fear that these seeds will Itidszc in the appendix and cans'.; ap pendicitis. Whenever I hear a person say he denies himself fruit because of this fear. T take occasion to assure him that it is useless to take any such pro cautions. If you like fruit, eat it. for appendicitis, seven in ten instances, is due to other things than seeds. Little particles of food of any kind can Jodge in the appendix and produce appendi citis, even a crumb being capable of it. In addition, a great many cases are caused by something entirely outside the appendix, something causing in flammation. To all I will say : 'Go ahead and eat anything you like, for all precautions you may take are not going to save you from appendicitis if you are going to have it.' The inex plicable thing to which the majority of cases are attributed cannot be guarded against, and it is useless to fight the minority."-St. Lom'/; Post-Dispatch. m o - m -It takes but constant prayer and watching to enable us to avoid the errors and faults we are ever ready to condemn in other people. The nearer we come up to the high ideal in our lives, the more charity we have for other people. A censorious spirit is very far from the spirit of Christ. Two Pointed Questions Answered. What is the use of making a better article than your competitor if you can not get a better price for it? Ans.-As there is no difference in the price the publid will buy only the better, so that while our profits may he smaller on a single sale they will be much greater in the aggregate. How can you get the public to know your make is the best ? If both articles are brought promi nently before the public both are cer tain to be tried and the pu blic will very quickly pass judgment on them and use ouly the better one. This explains the large sale on Chamberlain's Cough Remedy. The people have been using it for years and have found that it can always be depended upon. They may occasion ally take up with some fashionable novelty put forth with exaggerated claims, but are certain to return to thc one remedy that they know to be reliable, and for coughs, colds and croup there is nothing equal to Cham berlain's Cough Remedy. For sale by Hill-Orr Drug Co._. Frightening Children. Little Arthur lt , while visiting his grandmamma, came screaming from the yard where he was playing, and throwing himself into grandmam ma's arms, sobbed out: "Please don't let him have me ganmamma." ''What do yon mean, dear, what has frightened you MI?" and grandmamma held the quivering child cluse to her bosom, fearing he would go into spasms with fright. "Oh, granmamma, the old black dog has come for me: mamma said he would if I was bad, and I broke your plate this morning. Oh, don't let him take me, please don't." "No, no, darling, he shan't have you, I will hold you tight. Where is he?" "Out in the yard icite closr to me when I run to you." "Well, we will shut the doors and keep him out, and then you can come to the window and show him to me." Arthur suffered himself to be led to the window, but the sight of the small black dog running around thc yard renewed his terror,- and grand manlma had to quiet him by assuring him again and again that the dog could not get in while the doors were shut. After he had slept off some of the effects "f his fright, and the dog had been driven out of sight, grandmamma tried to undo the evil wrought by his thoughtless young mother, by telling Arthurthe dog was too small to carry off such a big three-year-old boy. But it was several days before his nervous ness wore away enough to allow him to enjoy a play in the yard unless some one went with him to keep off thc black dog. How many children, like little Ar thur R., suffer from the dread of hug bears of every kind that can be imag ined by their thoughtless mothers and nurses! Their nerves are injured, and what is far worse, they loose the sweet faith and trust that is child hood's heritage, as soon as they learn they have been deceived. Would it not be much better to retain their loving confidence at any cost?" It may take more time and trouble to secure obedience by firm and loving discipline, yet it is much better for both child and parent.-Christian Ob server. - The cost of the Capitol at Wash ington has exceeded $30,000,000, IRON BEDS, BED SPRINGS. Big lot of BUREAUS just in. WHITE SUITES, CHERRY SUITES, PARLOR CHAIRS. DINING CHAIRS. EVERYTHING to be sold SO LOW that Cotton-raisers CAN AFFORD TO BUY. COFFINS AND CASKETS In stoek to be sold at LOW prices. Just get my prices to know how much you gain by buying my Goods. FE/iNK CRAYTON. 19.S.B. The Great Oliver Steel Beam Plow. OVER ten times more OLIVERS sold in Anderson than any other make. They have been tried. The verdict is unanimous for the OLIVERS. The Steel Beam a great feature. Warranted to stand anywhere. Handled in Car lots we give lowest possible prices. The sizes for this section are Nos. 40,20,19,13, &c. Buy only the Oliver Steel Beam Flows if you are aftei the best. DISC, SPADING AND SMOOTHING HARROWS, &c. Twenty years experience has taught us the needs of the farmers, and we know our Harrows are just the Implements for this section. Au absolute, broad, personal guarantee cri ven by us. SULLIVAN HARDWARE CO. THE ELECTRIC CITY SHOE STORE. BUY YOUR . . . SHOES And we will keep them Shined FREE as long as you wear them. COME and Bee our SHOES and HOSIERY before buying anywhere elso. We will SAVE YOU MONEY Try us once, and you will try us again and again. School Shoes and Rubbers By tho Hundreds. Your money savers, J. T. LIC3-02ST ?Sc CO Thc Kind You Have Always ?ioa^ht, and which has been in use for over 30 years, has horne tho signature ?f _par ami has been made under his per yffi?^^ sonxii supervision since its infancy. s<??C&?/K Allow no ?mc to deceive you in this. All Counterfeits, Imitations and Substitutes are but Ex periments that trifle Arith and endanger the health of Infants and Children-Experience against Experiment. What is CASTORIA Castoria is a substitute for Castor Oil, Paregoric, Drops and Soothing Syrups. It is Harmless and Pleasant. It contains neither Opium, Morphine nor other Narcotic substance. Its age is its guarantee. It destroys Worms and allays Feverishness. It cures Diarrhoea and "Wind Colic. It relieves Teething Troubles, cures Constipation and Flatulency. It assimilates the Food, regulates the Stomach and Bowels, giving healthy and natural sleep. The Children's Panacea-The Mother's Friend. GENUINE G ASTOR IA ALWAYS yrt Bears the Signature of ^^^m The Kind You Haye Always Bought In Use For Over 30 Years. THC CENTAUR COMPANY. TT MURRA? STREET, NCW YORK CITY. SHOES TO BEAT THE BA NO. WE don't have to talk through our hate to sell our Shoes.. The Shoes sell them selves if you will only take the trouble to look at them. Quality and Price* do (fae work. We just stand aside and urtu. You don't bave to buy from us just because we grin We have to grin, anyway, because we can't help it. Wheo our Shoe salea almost double last year's we don't have to look sad-eyed and Imposed upon, Deeann wo can't. So come on to the place where the brainiest feet in Anderson County are shod, and if we can't Shoe you and your family, your son John and his family, ititi be because you rather go barefooted. P. I?.-We can also "Shoe" thu inner-man with such substantials as DEAN'S PATENT FLOUR and J. K NO. ll COFFEE that will make his mouth water, and clothe oomtonabh the legs of the outer-man with a First Clas;?, Capital pair of Gen tleman';-. PANTS for Sixty Cents that will just elevate the superannuated linen from the infantile shrubbery. DEAN & RATLIFFE. Ji. B.-Parties owing us on Note or Account will save themselvo? considerable expense by settling up nain? heforti Dacember 1st. If vou hadn't got. a clear receipt from us we are talking to VOU. ' DEAN cfc RATLltiFE. 0. D. ANDERSON & BRO. Strictly in it at Lowest Possible Prices. Two Cars Texas Red Bust Proof Oats, And all r,be country raised Oats vou want. These have go, uo matter what Cotton sells at. Pure Wheat Flour Rock Bottom Prices. We ean give Country Merchants close figures ou CHEESE. OYSTERS. TOMATOES, SALMON, SARDINES and TOBAC?. O. Everybody knows we bsat the Town on SEOES, and we propose to keep up oar reputation. BAGGING and TIGS guaranteed pricer Send us your orders Yours for Business, O. D. ANDERSON & BRO. CEYLON AND INDIA TEA, IS WHOLESOME. IT is manufactured in a scientific manner by cleanly machinery, and ii PURE, so that a short infusion extracts all the good qualities. DIRECTIONS-Take half usual quantity, see water boils. Pour ofi after five minutes steepi .c TELLE Y'S CEYLoN-INDIA TEA- "Two cups in one." Fragrant Delicious ! ! SURPASSING COFFEE. Blue RibboD, Genuine Mocha and Java, 25c. per lb. For strength and ricliness of flavor in the cup it surpasses any coffee on the market. It's a great seller. Don't Buy Fruit Jars-Buy Sealing Wax. Manufactured exoressly for putting up fruit ?'ou can us^any old thingv" and we guarantee the fruit to keep perfectly. Soliciting your orders, J Very respectfully yours, JNO. A. AUSTIN & CO. THE OLD, RELIABLE Furniture Store! - OF - 6. F. TOIdLVT & SON Still in the Lead ! They have the Largest Stock, Best Quality, and Certainly the Low est Prices ! OTHERS try to get there, but they mise it every time. New, beautiful and select Stock of Furniture, &c, arriving every day, and at PRICES NEVER HEARD OF BEFORE. Here you have the Largest Stock ; therefore, you can get :uat what yo? want. Here you have the Beet Grade of Furniture ; therefore, you can get Goods that will last. Here you have the very LOWEST f RICES ; therefore, yon save good big money. Come along, and we will do you as we have been doing for the la? forty years-sell you the very best Furniture for the very lowest prices. i^. The largest Stock in South Carolina and the Lowest. Price in tht Southern States. New Lot Baby Carriages Just Received. C. F. TOLLY & SON, Depot Street, Anderson, S. C.