Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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TWO MORE FIRES. J. C. Pike & Go's Store and Anoth er Residence Burned. By Hard and Excellent Work the Fire Department Kept Them From Spreading to Adjacent Buildings. One of the most destructive fires that Orangeburg has had in thirty years originated in the dry goods and millinery store of J. C. Pike, Jr., Inc., ebout haii-past twelve o'clock Saturday night. The store was completely destroyed inside, none of the goods being taken out so rapid was the progress of the fire after being discovered. The fire was first seen by some young men who were on their way home".? When first seen the fire was only a small blaze iu the back part of the store. They ran to the nearest alarm box, which was only a short distance away and turned in the alarm, and return ed to the burning building. , *When they got back the fire had made rapid progress, having practi cally covered the whole store inside, - and a big blaze was shooting up through the skylight into the second story of the building, which was oc cupied by Mr. T. T. Ayers and his family. The fire department re sponded immediately, but by the time.- a stream of water could be gotten on the fire the flames were shooting above the building, so rapid was its progress. We do not remem ber of ever knowing a fire to spread as rapidly aa this one did. In less than thirty minutes from the time it was'discovered it had spread com v pletely over the entire store and was' shooting out of the top of the build ing. , Mr. Ayers and his family, who liv ed just abeve the store, bad a narrow escape. He had been in the bath room taking a bath and wheel he came out he foaud the hallway in flames. It was with difficulty that he and his family got out of the. huildign without being seriously burned. Up to the time Mr. Ayers discovered the fire upstairs, there was no sign of the seething furnace that was raging in the store beneath where he and his loved Ones were resting in fancied security. It waB a terrible shock to tbe whole family, as well as a great financial loss. , The losses aggregate about $-6, 000, distributed as follows J. C. Pike, Jr., dry goods and millinery, stock of $14,000 was totally destroy ed with $9,500 insurance; T. T. Ayers, whose residence was over Pike's store, lost practcally all of his furniture, household goods, wearing apparel, etc., valued at $1,500, with no insurance; Mrs. Angie C. Wilson, owner of the burned building, which was worth about $8,000 had $6,000 insurance. , , Merchants occupying adjoining build ings had their Btocks damaged by water as follows: L. Bennett, guns, bicycles, etc., $500; D. S. Wilson, dry 'goods and millinery, $750; Foreman-Rickenbaker Company, dry goods, clothing, shoes, etc., $1,000. AH of tiiese were fully covered by insurance. The hard and most ex cellent work of the fire department alone saved these firms from much greater loss, by confining the fire to the building in which it originat ed. The fire originated In Pike's store, but how it originater1 is the mys tery. Mr. Pike says he left the store about ten o'clock and a few minutes after it was closed by Mr. Strock, who clerked for him. There had been no fire in the stove Satur day nigiiu. This deepens the mys tery as to how the fire originated. All agree that It spread as if there had been some sort of combustibles used in starting it off. Mr. Hutto, who lives a few doors from the burn ed store, says near twelve o'clock he was In his yard, where he could see tho back of th store, and at that time there was no sign of any fire, but that a short time after, the flames were bursting out of the back of the store. Mr. John Jones, bookkeeper for Mr. J. W. Smoak, says he passed the burned store about twelve o'clock and that he saw no fire in it. He went on towards his home, which was a few blocks away, and had stopped a few minutes and was engaged in conversation with Mr. J. C. Peers, when the alarm bell rang and they both hastened back to find the store a mass of flames and the fire shoot ing out of the building. Policeman Wolfe, who was on duty near the building and early discovered the Are, also says it burned most rapidly. Mr. Wolfe also says the fire originat ed in the back of the store, and was only a very small blaze when he first saw it. , From the time the store was clos ed, about ten o'clock, to the time the fire was at its worst, about one o'clock, Is only three hours, and in that time it certainly made wonder ful progress. This has led many to believe that the fire was of incendiary origin, and that it was set in that part of the store where it v ouid burn the quickest. The store may have been entered from the rear by thieves, who after robbing it, set fire to the interior of the store The rapid progress of the fire from the back to he front of the store indicates that there must have been a powerful draft from the back door, which might have been left open by the in cendiary, if such there was. A fire of this kind should be in vestigated thoroughly by the author ities. If there is a fire bug at work in this city he should be run down anc'. strung up to a lamp post. Such a despicable fiend cculd not be allowed to find a resting place among us, and the only way to get rid of him is for the authorities to make it hot for him. This is a bad fire, and Orangeburg owes it to herself to probe it to the very bottom, and j establish the fact, if possible, wheth- j er it was caused by accident or in-1 cendiarism. Had the lire started two hours later the destruction of prop- ! erty would have been fearful to con template. ,0-rangeburg Is having her full share of fires this year; The fire Io?s al ready amounts to about four times what it did during the whole of last year. There seems to be no doubt about the origin of the other fires, but there is considerable doubt about this one, and it should be thor oughly investigated. Aside from the loss sustained by Messrs. Pike & Co., jwho had just opened a lot of new Spring goods, and the others who suffered from the fire, it should be investigated thoroughly to prevent a recurrence of such a dastardly thing, if it was the act of an incendiary, as many believe. The fire department certainly cov ered itself with glory in stopping this fire where it did. By its heroic work it practically confined the fire in the building where it orignated, and even that was not allowed to be more than half destroyed. The dam age to the adjacent buildings was very slight. The block on which the fire occurred is the most congested part of the business section of ihe city, and had it not been for the efficient work of the fire fighters a considerable area of Orangeburg would be In ruins today. Gentlemen, of the fire department, we again thank you on behalf* of the people of Orangeburg for the grand work you did on Saturday night. No fire department in the world c*uld have surpassed it. ,, , THE OTHER FIRE. The Residence of Mr. P. W. Cant? well Burned Down. About five o'clock on last Friday morning the residence of Mr. P. W. Cantwell, oil the corner of Middle ton and Market streets, was discov ered to be on fire. When discovered the fire had made such progress that the building and practically all Its contents were consumed. When dis covered the flames were coming down the wall near the chimney and the room was soon filled with smoke and the inmates had to flee for their lives. By the time the fire department reached the scene the entire build ing was in flames, and nothing could be done except to prevent a spread of the flre, which was gallantly done.1 The residence of Officer Segrest caught but by hard and effective work it was saved. This house was right next door to the Cantwell home, and it took good work to save it. Mr. Cantwell had some insurance, but just how much we did not learn. Mr. Segrest had his furniture badly damaged by water, but had no In surance. The origin of this fire seems to have been accidental. Base Ball Rally. All who are interested in having base ball in this city are requested to meet at the Academy of Music on Wednesday evening. The Military Band has been engaged and a pleas ant time may be expected. This meeting will be held in accordance with suggestions from the meeting held in the City Hall on Friday eve ning, and it is hoped that it will be largely attended by both gentlemen and ladles. Some definite step yill be taken looking to the organiza tion of a base ball association for this city. So be sure and be there. Should Be Punished. Two negroes were up before Judge [Brunson on Friday charged with driving a borrowed horse to death and reckless driving. It Is said they nearly ran over one or two people they overtook in the road. We have heard several people complaining about the reckless driving of half drunken negroes and we hope an ex ample will be made of these two lascals. They were held in 53 00 bond for the May Court. Valentine Party. Hearts! Hearts! Hearts of every description will be at the Valentine Party next Thursday afternoon. Cu pid will reign in general, and Madam Valentine, guarded by Mr. and Mrs. Owl, will be In evidence. She will be prepared to take all offerings for the Hospital of gold and silver and we don't think she will scorn a check. Remember the day is February 13, the hour is four o'clock, P. M., and the place Is the Armory. Shooting Near Wagener. The Columbia State says "an un usual shooting scrape occurred near Wagener Saturday night as a result of which John Peterson is lying at Knowltoii's hospital with a serious wound in the spinal column. The party doing the shooting could not be located Sunday. It was stated, however, that he was at one of the hotels and was also wounded slight ly." Lawyers at St. Matthews. The St. Matthew's correspondent of the News and Courier says "Mr. J. M. Walker, a bright young lawyer, of Walterboro, has bought the Kingman residence on 'Amaker Heights,' and will settle down for the practice of law here. Other attorneys who are preparing to come are Mr. J. C. Red mond, of this county, and Mr. John G. Stabler, now of the South Caro lina Law School. Make Your Returns. The time for making returns to the county auditor will soon expire, and If you have not already made your returns you had better do so at once. The Auditor, Mr. McMichael asks that the townpeople come to his office in the afternoons to make re turns, as the morning takes up all his time waiting on the folks from the country. Elected OJicers. ?The "County' Teachers' Association met last Saturday aad elected the fol lowing officers: 'L. W. Livingston, pres ident; E. H. Houser, vice presi dent; J. G. Lowery, secretary and treasurer; W. S. Peterson, A. J. Thnckson, G. H. Webber, G. S. Good gion r>nd W. E. Derrick executive committee. ? KNIGHTS OP PYTHIAS. The Orangeburg I/istrict Convention Met at Cameron Last Week. The Orangeburg District Conven tion, K. of P., met at Cameron last week. There were a large number of delegates present representing lodges in this district. This is the only dis trict in the State embracing but one county, and theie are fourteen lodges in Orangeburg County. At 1 o'clock Thursday a sumptuous dinner was served the guests. This dinner was prepared and served by the good ladies of Cameron, which alone is evidence that it could not be sur passed. , A number of interesting speeches were made. Dr. J. S. Summers made an address of welcome on behalf of the town, which was responded to by Dr. A. W. Browning of El'oree, on behalf of - the Convention. The Rev. Charles- B. Smith entertained the crowd with one of his character istic speeches, full of wit and humor. Past Grand Chancellor Commander [James A. Sommersett was present also and spoke on that always inter esting subject, "Woman." Among others who delivered addresses were: Prof. Derrick of Cameron; Capt. J. A. Berry of Orangeburg, and Mr. J. F. Williams of Columbia. After the speaking the Convention assembled in business session and elected the following officers to serve for the ensuing year: Dr. S. J. Sum mers, of Cameron, district deputy Grand chancellor; Dr. A. W. Brown ing, Elloree, vice D. D. G. O; A. Z. Stroman, Woodford, prelate; Robert Lide, Orangeburg, secretary; L. J. Smith, Rowesville, inner guard; J. R. Fogle, Orangeburg, outer guard. ?After all business had been trans acted the Convention adjourned to meet at Bowman on the first Wednes day in next August. GIVEN JUSTICE AT LAST. The Orangeburg Lutheran Church to Be Paid War Claim. A special dispatch from Washing ton to The News and Courier says the House took up the omnibus war claims bill Friday and passed the on ly South Carolina item n it, which was for the benefit of the trustees of the German Lutheran Church of Orangeburg, the amount being $983, 33. As Orangeburg is in Representative Lever's district credit should be giv en him for getting the bill passed by the House. In a short time the amount above stated will be paid to the trustees of the church. While the bill was under discus sion a long wrangle ensued because Representatives who had items pend ing which were left out claimed that they should have been incorporated in the bill as it was reported to the House. Amendments which were offered to that effect, however, failed and the ported. It Is probable that other claims will be passed later if put in the Senate. This is a tardy act of justice on the part of the government, but it is better late than never, and we con gratulate the Lutheran Congregation on getting a settlement with the United States for the use of their church building right after the war. Postmaster Redish Dead. Mr. W. H. Redish, Postmaster of Branchville, died on last Friday. Mr. Redish served through the Confeder ate war, was a member of the Wal lace house and was very prominent about that time, he taking a very prominent part in the organization of that house. Mr. Redish held the postoffice there under both Republi can and Democratic administrations, which is an evidence of his popular ity in this section. Mr. Redish had a great many friends throughout the State who will regret to learn of his death. Miss Nance at St. Matthews. Miss Mary Nance, president of the School Improvement association, ad dressed a most enthusiastic audience at St. Matthews on Friday. The cor respondent of The State says Miss Nance is a most charming talker and with her clear logical style held her audience spellbound' for more than an hour. Miss Nance showed most clearly the urgent need for better teachers throughout the State and better salaries for these teachers to hold them and dignify their profes sion. Many Have Paid. The Times and Democrat returns thanks to its many subscribers who have responded to the request for settlement of their subscriptions on account of the late regulation of the postoffice department in Washington. Remember we have no option in the matter, friends, and unless you pay up we will be compelled to drop your name from our subscription book, which we would regret to do. Licensed Plumbers. The City Council has solved the difficulty about plumbers by having an examination of those applying by a master plumber, Mr. Daniel, of Charleston. After a thorough ex amination of all who applied, Mr. Daniel issued licenses to the follow ing: J. M. Harrison, J. W. Mason, I. J. Ortagus, William Ramsey and Lee Smith. Back to the Farm. Mr. J. E. Stoudcnmire, of the Crum Mercantile Co., has sold out his interest in that business to Mr. Crum. Mr. Stoudenmire has gone back to his old home where he will engage in farming. Returned Home. Mrs. Georgia C. Culler, who has been for several weeks at the Colum bia Hospital, has returned home greatly improved in health. Meeting of Civic League. There will be a meeting of the Civic League this afternoon at four o'clock at the Court House. A full attendance is desired. REVERSED ITSELF. That is What the Supreme Court Did in the Appeal of the Disfranchised Voters in the Calhoun County Election Case Recently Decided. There is no doubt but that the State Supreme Court reversed Itself, in deciding as they did in the case of ?the disfranchised voters in the Cal houn County election, and we have no doubt but that their decision will be set aside by the Supreme Court of the United States if the case is car ried up to that'tribunal. We give be low our ?easons for saying that the Supreme Court reversed itself in the decision that robbed over one hun dred voters of this county of their constitutional right to vote in a mat ter of vital importance to them Messrs. Herbert and Wolfe made a magnificent fight for these disfran chised voters, and they were entitled to a verdict in their behalf. Messrs. Herbert and Wolfe clearly proved that the secrecy of the ballot was destroyed by two kinds of tick ets being provided for the voters. This was in violation of the State Constitution, which provides that the ballot shall be secret, and was enough to nulify the election of itself if we are to take former decisions of the State Supreme Court seriously, i In this State the secrecy of the ballot is so carefully guarded that a ballot to be legal is required to be printed on a certain kind of paper, a certain size and without devises or marks of any kind thereon. Under this law the "yes" ballots used in the Cal houn County election was fatal to that election if the Constitution of the State means anything. Judge Cooley, who is an accepted authority the world over on Consti tutional law, says "all devices by which party managers are enabled to distinguish ballots in the hands of the voter, and thus determine wheth er he is voting for or against them, are opposed to the spirit of the Con stitution, inasmuch as they tend to defeat the design for which voting by the ballut is established." It was brought ouc in the hearing before the County Board of Canvassers by the testimony of one of the mana gers that he knew how the colored voters voted at his poll from the tickets they picked up and voted. Anyone who is acquainted with the circumstances will be compelled to admit that the "yes" ballot In the Calhoun County election destroyed the secrecy of the ballot, except the Judges of the State Supreme Court. What the Law Books Say. Messrs Herbert and Wolfe also proved that the act of the Legisla ture which failed to provide voting places at which the qualified electors in Goodbys, Parier and Orange Townships residing within the pro posed new county might vote is un constitutional and void and the election held thereunder Illegal and a nulity. They claimed this under the Con stitution of the State which "provides that all elections shall be free and open and every inhabitant of this State possessing the qualifications pro vided for in this Constitution shall have an equal right to vote." The law books are unanimous on this point. The American and English Encyclopedia says: "Any law which has the effect of disfranchising a part of the voters will be unconstitu tional." "The legislature can pass no law directly or indirectly either restrict ing or extending the right of suf frage as provided by the Constitu tion." "The legislature cannot restrict the constitutional right of suffrage." "Where authority is given by law to hold an election, but there are pro visions in the law to restrict the Con stitutional right of suffrage, which are enforced by the officers, the elec tion is void." Judge Cooley, quoted above, says. "It has been held on constitutional grounds that a law creating a new county, but so framed as to leave a portion of its territory unorganized so that voters within such portion could not participate in the election of county officers was inoperative and void." Judge Cooley further says: "And although the failure of any one elec tion precinct to hold an election, or to make a return of the votes cast, might not render the whole election a nulity where the electors of that precinct were at liberty to vote had they so chosen, or where, having voted but failed to make return, it is not made to appear that the votes not returned would have changed the result, yet if any action was re quired of the public authorities pre liminary to the election, and that which was taken was not such as to give all the electors the opportunity to participate, and no mode was open to the electors by which the officers might be compelled to act, it would seem that such u< gleet, constituting as it would the disfranchisenient of the excluded electors pro hac vice, must on general principles render the whole election migatory, for that cannot be called an election, or the expression of the popular sentiment, where a part only of the electors have been allowed to be heard, and the others, without being guilty of fraud or negligence, have been ex cluded." Court Reverses Itself. We could quote hundreds of au thorities in addition to the above, but those quoted are sufficient to indi cate what the men who write law text books have to spy on the rights of voters under the constitution. Not withstanding the strong case made out by Messrs. Herbert and Wolfe, the State Supreme Cuurt decided that the disfranehhonient of the vot ers was legal and that they had no redress. Now let us see what the I same Court has- decided in some oth er cases. The first case we will take up will be that of Bircbniore vs. j NOTICE TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS. The new regulations of the Postofiicc Department says unless subscrip tions are expressly renewed after the term for which they are paid they shall not be counted in the list of legitimate subscribers, and copies mailed on account thereof shall not be accepted at the second postage rate of one cent a pound, but may be mailed at the transient second class postage rate of one cent for each four ounces or fraction thereof, prepaid by stamps affixed. The Times and Democrat has been very lenient with its subscribers. Some of them are several years behind, but the paper is still being sent to them. This policy will have to be changed, as the Postoffice Dpart meut says all papers not paid for cannot be sent through the mail free as heretofore, but will have to be fully prepaid with stamps afli.veil. We cannot afford to pay the postage that would be charged and paste stamps on parers of those who are in arrears as it would cost us more than we would get from such subscribers. So we will be compelled to drop the names of all subscribers who do not pay up by the first of April, which is the limit set by the Postoffice Department. We would advise subscribers to come or send in and ar range the matter at once before the rush sets in. We are sending out bills to all our subscribers making it as easy as we can to get them to renew and pay in advance. We have no option in the matter but must obey the orders of the Postoffice Department, and we hope we will have the cooperation of all. If there are any of our subscribers who cannot afford to pay what they owe and one year in advance we lvill carry their back indebtedness over until Fall if they will bring or send us Sl.oO for this year's sub scription. We certainly could not make a fairer proposition than this, and it seems to us that it should be accepted by every subscriber who is in arrears and can't afford to raise the entire amount necessary to wipe out his indebtedness and pay one year in advance. This proposi tion is made only to those subscribers who are unable to pay in full. Those who can pay should do so. We will have to make affidavit to the government that we are not violating the law, and our sucsription books will be subject to examina tion by the government inspectors. We do not care to. get into the clutches of Uncle Sam for sending out papers that have not been paid for. We have explained the situation. It is now up to you. It there is nou a 1908 or 1909 on your receipt, have it put there. It you do not want to continue the paper pay us what you owe us like an honest man and stop it. MORBUS SABBATi CUS. The Curious Disease Thai; Is Spread ing Through the Country. A disease that is spreading with alarming rapidity is described in a recent issue of the New York Tri bune. It is called Morbus Sabbati-! cus. or Sunday sickness. The attack' comes on suddenly on every Sunday, no symptoms are felt on Saturday night; the patient sleeps well wakes up feeling well eats a hearty break fast, but about church time the at tack comes on and continues until services are over for the morning. Then the patient feels easy and eats a harty dinner. In the afternoon he feels much better, and is able to take a walk, talk politics and read the Sunday papers. He eats a hear ty supper, but, about church time he has another attack. He retires early, sleeps well, and wakes up Monday morning refreshed and able to go to work, and does not h?.ve any sym ptoms of the disease until the fol lowing Sunday. The State Board of Canvassers. This case grew out of the dispen sary election in Kershaw County some months ago. The opponents of the dispensary won, and the election was declared in their favor by the County Board of Canvassers. Those In favor of the dispensary contested the election before the State Board of Canvassers on the ground that certain persons were allowed to vote without registration certificates and that the secrecy of the ballot was destroyed. The fact upon which the latter allegation was based was that two ballot boxes were provided and used at each place in the county; upon one of the boxes were the words, '"For Sale," and on the other box the words "Against Sale." On this showing the State Hoard of Can vassers reversed the County Board of Canvassers and declared the elec tion null and void. The case was then taken on appeal to the State Supreme Court by the opponents of the dispensary. After hearing the case the court sustained the State Board of Canvassers. The opinion of the court was delivered by Chief Justice Pope. In speaking of the allegation that certain persons were allowed to vote without regis tration certificates, he says; "How ever, if this be the only Irregularity in the election we do not think ft I necessarily follows that it must be j set aside. The finding of the county: board which was not reversed by the State board, was to the effect that even if these were declared illegal, nevertheless the result would not be changed, nor even made doubtful, j The universal weight of authority is to the effect that where the result of an election is not made doubtful-nor j changed, that irregularities or ille galities in the absence of fraud will not cause the expressed will of the, body of voters to be set aside, unless i a constitutional provision is violated,! or it is specifically provided by leg islative enactment that such Irregu larity or illegality shall invalidate! the election." After defining at some length what I constitutes secrecy of the ballot, I Chief Justice Pope concludes his j opinion in the following language: | "Of course, if the election is prop-j erly conducted, and the elector vol untarily puts aside his privilege of i secrecy, the case is entirely different. I The point Is he must be allowed the j privilege. While in this particular In stance it is possible that no evil re sults followed from the mode in! which the election was conducted,! yet we cannot be unmindful of the. fact by those general principles of law and policy that will enable us to determine futnro litigation under the election laws of the State con-' sistontly. With such principles in view, we are compelled to declare the election here under consideration void." All the .Jus;ires of the Su preme Court concurred in 'his opin ion. ! THE HOSPITAL AGAIN. Rev. D. D. Dantzler Writes Interest ingly About It. During my recent silence, I have been frequently asked, "How are you .getting on with the Hospital?" "When are you going to open the Hospital?" "Are you ever going to have the Hosiptal?" To the last of these questions, my answer has always been, Yes, we are going to have the Hospital. But as to the how and when; I am free to confess that my answer has been somewhat evas ive. j Evasive, not because I lacked faith in the righteousness of our cause, or In the faithfulness of its promot ers, not because of our inexperience, and the lack of interest on the part of those who hold an earthly title to the indispensable wherewith. We may have made mistakes, and we ?^rtainly have had adverse winds and a choppy sea. But despite these adversities, I now have stronger faith in the determined women, and ,the few men who sympathize with ithem than ever before; because they jare holding on in the very face of difficulties. They have a grip on the enterprise that is not easily relaxed, and they do not in^nd to let go till they pull into the Laven of success. "England's sun was slowly setting < O'er the hills so far away, Filling all the land with beauty At the close of one sad day." Sad, because the lover of a beauti ful young girl was doomed to die when the Curfew should "toll the knell of i rting day." Slowly, res olutely, the girl approached the old man, whose duty It was to ring the bell and thus she addressed him: " 'Sexton,' Bessie's white lips faltered, Pointing to the prison old, With its walls i?o dark and gloomy,? Walls so darK, and damp, and cold? I've a lover in that prison, Doomed this very night to die, !At the ringing of the Curfew, And no earthly help is nigh, Cromwell will not come till sunset, And her face grew strangely white As she spoke in husky whispers. Curfew must not ring to night." The old man reviewed his long and faithful service, an then sternly made answer: "Girl, the Curfew rings tonight." ["Wild her eyes, and pale her features, Stern and white her thoughtful brow, And within her heart's deep center, Bessie made a solemn vow." And now, with light step she bounded past the old man, and sprang within the door of the anti quated church and up, and up she nimbly climbed toward the old bell tower, till she stood on the topmost ladder, and directly under the great, dark bell, who.se long tongue was now swinging and about to toll. In stantly, she seized it and, , "Out sne swung, rar out, the City Seemed a tiny spect below; These, 'twixt heaven and earth sus pended, As the bell swung to and fro, And the half-deaf sexton ringing, (Years he had not heard the bell,) And he thought the twilight Curfew Rang young Basil's funeral knell; Still the maiden clinging firmly, Cheek and brow so pale and white. Stilled her frightened heart's wild beating? Curfew shall not ring to night." Descending meeting Cromwell, fall ing at his feet, relating her story and showing her lacerated hands, she was forgiven, and her lover saved. I am well aware that the analogy is not complete, but may not the indomit able will, and unflinching purpose of the English maiden nerve the uoble women of Orangeburg, and this mas culine sympathize to behold the sick and dying men, women and cuil Iren of our community, and th?n renew their solemn vow, The Hospital We Shall Have. Feb. 10, 1908. D. D. Dantz!er. SHOULD BE HEEDED Miss Mary Nance Pleads For Bet ter Country Schools And Better Paid Teachers in Both City and Country Schools as Well as Better Eiuipment. , Miss Mary Nance, President of the State School Improvement Associa tion, made an address at the Court house in this city on Saturday morn ing to a number of teachers and others. It is a pity that every school trustee and parent in the county did not hear Miss Nance, as she is doing much to improve the rural schools, and she needs their sympathy and support in the grand work in which che Is engaged. She talked hard sense for about one hour and was given close attention. Among other. much needed re forms in our school system, Miss Nance pleaded tor better pay for our school teacher. She very correctly said the salaries now received by the average school teacher is far too small. They should at least receive $75 or $S0 per month. They who have charge of the training of the children; who in a large measure make the man or woman out of the child, moulding their character, should be better paid. The teacher is something more than a person who teaches a lesson to a child, they mean much to a community, and their pay should be sufficient to warrant them to keep abreast of the times, and to instill into that community the best that can be had in educational lines. To every word of which The Times and Democrat wishes to add its most hearty amen. Miss Nance also plead ed for better school buildings and equiptment in the country, where many of our brightest men and wo men are raised and educated. Not such buildings as are to be found in the town, but comfortable buildings neat and attractive in every way. She said every white child should be in the schools, and that an effort ought to be made to get those children in the schools who do not attend now. She gave some interesting statis tics about the white and colored school children and pleaded for more universal education, but "was agin" compulsory education, and rejoiced that the House had killed the com pulsory education bill. She was rath er caustic about the giddy girls who go from point to point with a view of a matrimonial alliance and are much more interested in a buggy ride in the afternoon than in the welfare and progress of her children during school hours. The patrons and trustees of the schools also re ceived a rap or two in passing. , Miss Nance is good looking and a good talker, and does not hesitate to express herself. She paid some of the schools of this county praise, but said some of them needed mark ed improvements, which she hoped would soon be made. She spoke in the most complimentary manner of city schools and spoke in high terms of the excellent work being done by Superintendent Thackson and his ex cellent corps of teachers. All who heard Miss Nance were pleased with her address. Will Be at North. Van Orsdell, artist, established 1SS0, North, S. C. Feb. 10 to lath. Photos of every descript.on. Honest, durable work. Rain or shine. Van Orsdell, Artist. Every customer of J. C. Rans rlale will be more interested in the voting contest if they will take a look at the handsome suit of furni ture in the window of Wannamaker, Smoak and Co.