Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

I OUR S( . PAPER BY PROP. WUL Too Many Little Half-Supported Schools?Sooner or later our people are going to have more comfortable and commodious school houses. Be fore the 'people put their money into permanent improvements, would it not be wise to reduce the number of schools in a great many places? A good four-room house costs less than four one-room houses of equal com fost and convenience. Sixty pupils in one building can' be- better taught and more easily taught than fifteen pupils each in four buildings. A four-teacher school will flourish ?where four one-teacher schools would' struggle to keep alive. In more than half the counties in the State are to be found dozens of schools with 10 to 12 pupils each. Not many weeks ago I visited a ru ral school with an enrollment of II pupils; three mile's off was anoth er school with 13 pupils, and in another direction was a third school with 14 pupils. The three teachers ?were paid $35 each; each school house was cheap and ill equipped. In some districts six miles square are to be found as many as three white schools, each with a small number of pupils scattered from first reader to high school grades. A good mairy of the incorporated vil lages have school districts co-ex tensive with the incorporate limits. An accurate school district map of the State would look very much like a crazy quilt. What is the remedy? Take the th,ree schools cited above. Build a comfortable two-room house at a central point, and give the entire 38 pupils to two teachers. Each pupil would then have his recita tion time doubled, for there would be in the consolidated school no more grades, or classes, than there ?were in the most advance of the three little schools. I am at once reminded that some of these children ^would have too far to walk. (It is marvelous how much trouble a fath er who walked four miles to school and brags about, makes over his child's walking one mile.) I grant that the consolodation puts the school too far for some to walk. What then? Take part of the money to transport these to the school. Prof. W. K. T?te of the Memminger Normal school says: "'It is better and cheaper to transport the distant children to the good school than to briag a poor school to the distant children." Yes; one good school is immeasurably better than three in ferior schools. The transportation of distant pu pils is no new fad. Several years ago the.Eastover district in Richland county threw five schools into one. The district runs four wagonettes, made for the puropse, to haul the distant children. Another instance: Three adjoining districts in Fair field county .with a combined ftt rollment of 00 pupils, have consoli dated their schools at Bethel, have erected a $2,600 school house, and are transporting all ithe children vho live too far to walk. This con colldation gives the school enough pupils to establish a rural high school, with $300 of State aid. State Superintendent McMahan and Martin have zea?>usly advocat ed the consolidation of small schools. Such policy would encourage the building of better roads, while the transportation itself would protect the children in bad weatt|?r, and would protect the small children and the girls from insult or vio lence at the hands of tramps or thugs on the lonely country roads. Neighborhood Jealousies and Quar reis?These twin evils have done j more to prevent and to destroy the efficiency of the common schools than any other two agencies in the land. It is difficult enough te main tain a good school where everybody works in harmony, and it is well ? igh impossible where strife and division are. To listen' to the pet ty contentions, the sharp bickerings. (fuick Relief for Asthma SufTerers Foley's Honey and Tar affords im mediate relief to asthma sufferers in ?te worst stage and if taken in time will effect a cure. Lowman Drug Co., A. C. Dukes. There is little more than twenty six and three-quarter miles of rail road for every 1 0/000 inhabitants. "Had dyspepsia or indigestion for ye?\rs. No appetite, and when I did eat distressed me terribly. Burdock Blood Bitters cured me."?J. ki. Walker, Sunbury, Ohio. A man's religion is the'working of the divine gravitation in him. Does your back ache? Do you have sharp pains in the side and the j small of the back? This is due, us ually, to kidney trouble. Take De Witt's Kidney and Bladder Pills. They will promptly relieve weak back, backache, rheumatic pains and all Kidney and Bladder disorders. Sold and recommended by A. C. Dukes, M. D., A. C. Doyle & Co. A cracked mirror often affords a much wanted excuse. fHOOLS. I I no. 3. ? I LIAM H. HAND. ? ! and the, tales of discord in some committee makes one marvel that a school can exist in such a place. The petitions and the appeals which come before the various school boards are enough to make one turn pessimist. .The worst of it all is. that most of these contentions and bickerings are childish and ground less, and that they are usually be gun and kept alive by men who have at heart but little interest in any school. In settling most of these disputes, Solomon's judgment be tween the two women claiming the child would be wholesome. . It is to these jealousies and quar rels that we owe two, three, and even four, little starving school where but one ought to be. . To .them we owe the little district un able to support a school. Every In fluential local celebrity wished to have a school house at his front door or in his backyard. To these jeal ousies we' owe most of the defeated local tax executions. Nearly all tho local disputes, over the teacher have their origin in neighborhood jeal ousies, and the baneful habit of con stant change of teachers has its roots embedded here. A certain district school is sup ported by ten families. All is well, but the school house stands on the south side of a little creek which about once a year reaches a depth of four feet. A and B suddenly conclude that this innocent stream is a menace to the lives of their children, and petition for a new dis trict. The next session finds a lit tle 20x20 foot hull of a school house on the north side of that creek, and {a little lifeless school on each side ;of it. Or. C's bad boy is p'unishec' 'by the teacher; straightway C raises [the flag of secession, and proceeds to have his own little d-e-e-strict cut off. Or, one of the local econo mists gets tired of paying a teacher $40 a month, since l\is daughter would teach for $30; the trustees will not yie?d to the economist; then the economist canvasses the district in the interest of a new set of f trustees, with the economist as [chairman. Or, D and E are rival j local physicians already at odds; I) jsays that Smith's boy has a con tagious disease.^.?nd must be stopped i from the school ; E declares that the disease is only infectious, and that lit would be silly to stop Smith's (boy; the quarrel rages, the partisans j array themselves, and down goes the local school tax proposed by the only really inteuested patron of the school. Or, X begins to discuss a new school house; L says that the old one is good enough, and that X is trying to lead the district; no new i house is built, and the old one grad-l ually rots down. Or, Miss "Brown, the teacher, boards with the Smiths; the Joneses feel neglected, and begin t to whisper it about that the teacher J lean not solve Sallie Jones' problems [or phrase Sallie's sentences; the: Smiths retaliate by asserting that the teacher is able to teach the whole Jones family; result?the anti-j Smith faction's children are taught: next session by Miss Sallie Jones herself. Onee more, Mr. Brown, with much religious devotion to his church creed, demands that the new j teacher shall be an X-ist; Perkins* j Y-ism at once begins to ferment, while Stubbs declares that' Z-ianisr.t has been outraged, since there has not been a Z-ian teacher in the school in five years. When the new teacher comes, is he to teach X-ist doctrine, Y-ist doctrine, Z-ian doc trine, or should he be a simple God fearing man whose daily life will be a rebuke to these clamorous Phari sees? All this may sound like satire, but it is a mask rehearsal of a play where the curtain never falls. Can not some neighborhoods see themselves in the play? WILLIAM E. HAND. University of South Carolina. The Charleston News and Courier is offering upon extraordinarily liberal terms several clubs of high I grade monthly magazines. They are positively the greatest money-saving clubbing offers ever put out by any newspaper in South Carolina,.and are naturally attracting attention ail over the State. All propositions are open tor a short time only to new j and old subscribers. Write the Ma-| gazine Department. The News and Courier, Charleston, S. C, at once | for full particulars and prices. Some of the Magazines represented are: The Quting Magazine, Bohemian Ma gazine, Human Life, Paris Modes, Spare Moments, Mothers' Magazine, National Home Journal and the Un cle Remus Magazine. Splendid Magazines may be secur ed very cheaply in connection with The Weekly News and Courier, as well as The News and Courier and Sunday News. For example, a years subscription to The Weekly News and Courier and a years subscrip tion to six standard magazines will cost every, old and new subscriber only $2.50. People who prefer dodging trouble to meet it squarely are always on the jump. NOVEL TIN CAN CLUBS. Their Mission Is to Supply the De? inn nil for New Forests. B. H. Green of Monterey, Cal. baa sent out a circular giving informa tion regarding the^ Tin Can clubg through whose beneficent activities he expects to see the country sup plied with needed forests. J The attempts to cultivate tree claims in the Dakotaes many years af?o were rather discouraging, says the National Magazine, but Mr. Green insists that he has been suc cessful in planting tree seeds, uuts and cuttings in refuse tin cans, and fan now show an oak tree twenty feet high only eight years old and also a redwood tree grown from seed, which is now fully thirty feet high and only twelve years of ape. Mr. Green insists that a tomato can with a fair sized hole punched in the bottom and filled with good earth is just the thing needed to start a tree in and that if the earth is never allowed to become dry the growth of the tree will be amazing. Later the little trees are transplant-: ed without, removing from the cane, for the rust eats away the tan saf ficiently to allow the roois to free themselves as they need more room.' Nebraska Sod House. There are few surviving examples of the primitive style of arehlte< r< once in fashion on the plains.' With in a radius of many miles of Centm! City, Neb., only one sod house th: \ i.-. innabited, can be found. It is the res idence of Oscar Nelson an:! is situat ed south of Polk in Hamlton Coun ty. For thirty years it has sbeiier ed Mr. Nelson and his wife, and within its walls three children were uorn and raised. It has weathe.ed some very severe storms and proved so stanchly bull* that surprisingly few repairs have been needed. Nebraska soil has proved reliable in many ways. But few other instan ces can be cited of it standing the test for thirty years when forming the walls of a sod house. Reed Laths in Germany. Consul H. YV. Harris of Nurem burg. writes that the use of small reeds as a substitute for plastering laths is common In Germany. The reeds are chiefly imported from Hun gary by Danube hoats. and vary in length from 1 to 2 yards or even more, and from ?"; inch to 1U inches in diameter. By machinery these reeds are fast ened together by wire:; !u form a mat as wf e as the reeds are lc<:i?, and this is cut and fastener! to walls In place of laths. In some c-ses builders require the matting to be put on double, the aim b( in?: to have the reeds in the upper mat fall at the interstices in the lower mat. The Sp..nisb Onion in Srmir. How many people would giics !>?? meaning of a "Spanish onion ?ong?" This st raupe phrase?one of the many to be found in the profession als' dictionary of slang- -is used to denote the music hall ballard, and owes it origin to the fact that no self respecting member of it* race would be 'Without a pathetic reference to "aear old mother" or "somebody's sweetheart far away." Now. pathos draws tears, and so do onions. The rest is obvious. Politely Garbled. Sir Algernon West in his recently published reminiscHiices. tells tins story of Robert Browning: "When he had become famous some one wanted very much to meet him. A kind friend arranged a meeting, and the guest besieged Browning with questions and conversation during the dinner, and even after dinner he continued button-holing his victim. 'Come.' said the poet, 'this will nev er do; they will say I'm monopolizing you.' " Trials of a Chaperon. Miss Maymc ion vacation 1?"0, auntie. ..'s such a luxury to have nothing to do but jest loll in a ham mock with my precious Shelley or even the 'Vicar of VVakefield!' " hJlderly Relative?"Child if I hear of any more stich scandalous doings 1 shall write to your mother!" Gorilla and Man. : The gorilla is in statue about the same as man. but is far behind him when it comes to the contents of the br.M.i-pan. The greatest capacity of the gorilla's brain is only cubic inches, the least as against tiL' in the least capacious human skull and 111 in the greatest. Cat Photographers. A young woman looking for rugs told a New York salesman that she wanted a shade to match her eat. Speaking of cats, there are photo graphers in the city who make a specialty of posing cats for pictures. A studio in New York has specified hours for pofitig. Medical Air I^xk^. Tunnels in course of construction are now provided with medical air locks, where workmen afflicted with bends" can be treated under ores sure. A Natural Hat's Lining. LJtUe Margie's father had ;t bald spot. While kissing him at bed time one evening she said: "Stoop down, papa: I want to kiss you on th*2 her'! where the lining shows." DOING THEIR DUTY. I Scores oi* Orangeburg Readers Are Learning the Duty of the Kidneys. To filter the blood is the kidneys" duty. When they fail to do this the kid neys are sick. Backache and many kidney ills follow; Urinary troubles, diabetes. Doan"s Kidney Pills cure them all. Orangeburg people endorse our claim. J. L. Phillips, Farmer, 85 Sellers Avev Orangeburg, S. C, says: "On several occasions I have used Doan's Kidney Pills procured from Dru J. G. Wannamaker's drug store and they have always given entire satis faction." For sale by all dealers. Price 50 cents. Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, New York, sole agents for the Unit ed States. Remember the name?Doan's? j and take no other. It is a strong man who can con trol himself. The Judge Uses Forcible Language. Judge W. B. Simmons of Fincas tle, Va., told the reporter that L. & M. Paint-was usuea on his residence in 1882, and held its color well for 21 years; he furthermore said that c years ago he was induced to use another paint and Is sorry he did. because the other paint didn't make good. The Judge will now always use L. & M. because he knows if any de fect exists in L. & M. Paint, the house will be repainted for nothing. The L. &. M. Zinc hardens the L. & M. White Lead and makes L. & M. Paint wear like iron for 10 to 15 years. Actual jcost of L. & M. about $1.20 per gallon. Donations of L. &. M. made to churches. Sold by J. G. Wannamaker Mfg. Co, Orangeburg. How can an assessor go about fix ing the value of the dog that the baby loves? Passed Examination Successfully James Donahue, New Britain, Conn., writes: "I tried several kid ney remedies, and was treated by our best physicians for diabetes, but did not improve until I took Foley's Kid ney Remedy. After the second bot tle I showed improvement, and five bottles cured me completely. I have since passed a rigid examination for life insurance." Foley's Kidney Remedy cures backache and all" forms of kidney and bladder troubl-( es. Lowman Drug Co., A. C. Dukes.1 The Greatest State Fair Ever Held OCTOBER 26-30 Railroad Fares Cut in Half. Good Accommodations for Everybody. New Exhibit Features, ARRANGE TO BE IN J. d MOBLEY, President COLUMBIA, S. C Two Fine Football Games. Best Horse Races in the South. Good Free Shows and Mid-Way. A. W. LOVE, Secretary. FIRE INSURANCE Not cheap insurance but in surance that insures yon against all loss by fire or lightning. I do not represent small mn tnals with no capital, who have to assess the policy holdiers to cover each loss, bat ten of the oldest and strongest companies doing business, worth more than $100,000,000 and who have paid more than $1,000,000,000 in losses. Country dwellings, barns and outbuildings, together with their contents all written, and I have satisfied customers in every sec tion of the county. Improved gins insured and al so cotton on nlantations. Office with ".TESTERN UNION TELEGRAPH CO., next door to Dr. J. G. Wannaniakcr Mfg. Co., where you will find me from 8 a. m., to 8. p. m. Office l>i?*phrne No. 21. Residence fit 1812. W. K. SEASE. WHICH IS MC ME INSURANCE. Important? You fully realize It. Yon would not allow your "house to remain uninsured overnight. Your house may never burn. Com paratively few buildings ever do. If your house does burn, your prop erty is destroyed, but you can still provide for your loved ones. Your ncome remains unaffected, your earn ing capacity unimpaired. If your house is not insured at all, or for an insufficient amount YOU CARRY THE RISK. - Your friend has had his home In sured these 30'years, and was had no fire. He has been fortunate In that though he ha3 nothing now to show for the money paid out. WHICH IS N JOHN G 18 E. Russell St., Agent for SOUTHEASTERN LIFE INI )RE URGENT? LIFE INSURANCE. Important? Oh yes, you Intend to insure after awhile when "a littla better able to do so." You will surely die. All men do. You are more likely to die within a week or a year, than your house ia to burn. 1 Death destroys at once and irre vocably, in whole or in part the In come that provided for the daily wants of those you love, the income that was counted on to feed and' clothe and educate your chldren. If your life is not insured at all, or for an insufficient amount, Your Y,Tife and Babies Carry the Risk. I Your frend has had his life In |sured these 30 years and is now an old man. He Is fortunate in having lived, and he has something now to show for the money paid out. Hi* cosh value affords a comfortable sup port for his own declining years. [ORE URGENT? ELZER Ornngeburg, S. C. SURANCE CO., Spartanburg, H. C. /gP^ Are the main factors found in the ? - Yq?> make-up of our up-to- ^ date line of vehicles. SUCH XAMES AS "TYSON AND JONES." "ROCK HILL,, AND "WHITE HICKORY" ARE SYNON YMOUS OF WORTH AND MERIT, AND CONSTITUTE THE PRIDE OF THE SOUTH IN HIGH CLASS VE HICLES. 1mm OUR STOCK OF ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY HIGH CLASS PLEASURE VEHICLES AND FARM WAGONS; BUGGY, CARRIAGE AND WAGON HARNESS; RIDING SADDLES AND HARN ESTING MACHINERY IS AS CMPLETE AS ANY IN THE STATE. See us before buying and save time and money. v V/Mrp See Zeigler & Dibble Today For Life and Fire/insurance. Office Over George Zeigler's Store. / Call or Phone.