Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VOL. III, MANNING, CLARENDON COUNTY, S. C., WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1888. NO. 31. A Brother's Keeper. I OI'S 101 OF LOVE iHD DUTY. ! Kary HaTWnL hTnEEWOOD, Auson o0r "CRAQUR 0' DOoL," "STstan QGtaz," "Tan Loin Ma.'s CAnz," MM1 Oruma STon s, "Does he look as he used to, father?" " I scarcely noticed. I knew it was Thane White. The muscles of his face look ex posed, and twitched." "'It must have been you he meant when he told me there was somebody in the neigh borhood he wanted to avoid." " If he saw me as I ordinarily go he did not recognize me to-night until I turned on him. What did he do with you when he landed inthe States!" " He must have put Thorney and me in that orphan asylum at Pittsburgh. He has been in prison often. Did you know that, father?" "Yes, I hunted him up behind the bars, and he repeated to me on oath that you were dead, You were lost overboard at sea. I sent him from Virginia City a week before I intended to start, to take passage for us on an isthmus steamer. May be I gave him enough money to make it a temptation. May be the idea &me into his head suddenly, and he carried it out, in tending to make me pay him well for re storing you. It Is hard to read all the motives of a man like Thane White. Aft erwards he found I was poor, and dropped you where it was most convenient, reveng ing himself for his disappointment by de laring you were dead. He went over to Ba Francisco and engaged passage two days ahead of the time I wanted to sail. Then he delivered my letter to the lady who had you in charge; she was a friend of your mother's. I asked her to have you ready against I came for you. Thane's boy -I kept him at the same place-and you were allowed to go on the street with Thane. You were about three years old. He never brought you back. The family lent for me. We found he had sailed with you, and I believe he took no nurse. I could not discover what vessel brought him to New York; and he said you were lost overboard between the isthmus and that port. I spent mouths tracking him, and, finally, a letter from him, which had fol lowed me around, brought news of your death. I never believed it until I saw him in prison, and he swore it to me without having any conceivable object in doing so. May be I was more readily disheartened than when your mother lived." - "Father," wrote Phoebe on the tablets, "we seem so well acquainted. My heart ached so about you the night we took you that maple sugar that I could hardly endure 1L Do I look at all like I used to?" "Yes," he wrote in reply. "From the day of your birth your face was very dis tinctly marked. I can see your baby face In -your features yet." "Psyche Fawcett is my own cousin, isn't "Ye_ Andiahs :must divide with you. There was another thing which struck me like conviction before I could be certain. I saw you standing before my portrait, and *n showed the Fawcett as well as your mother's blood. It was young Gurley who ,came with you the first time Isaw you-was Lit!" "Yes." "And he was here to-night!" "Yes. He is bringing the doctor. The bullet will be takes out and you will get "I like to see him about you. He's a man. Remember Isaid this." "But, dear, your pain is not very great now, is it?"L -"Not very. My mind feels easy. If you push the quilt in there is room enough for you to sit on the lounge beside me." Phoebe sat there until the doctor came. It was twelve o'clock by the time the examina .tion was finised and the doctor remained biy his patient. Phcabe resumed her seat by her father and watched bim all night. Be dozed or sunk Into unconsciousness, and woke with a smile to write recollections about her mother. He lived over the San Francisco honeymoon, and he was in the mountains asaying ore. Several times he was re celled to the present by strong anguish. The doctor then dealt with him, and his girl afterward wiped the dampness from his face. Neither Mrs. Barker nor the master left her. The lamp burned on the table until a growing pallor outside betokened morning. "Miss Fawcett will come to see him to morrow," said Phcube to the doctor, speak lng as If the day weg still remote. "Mr. Gurley Intends to bring her. Will that dis turb him too much?" "Oh, no," replied the doctor, "no." "Don't you think he is better?" inquired Phcabe, when the cocks in the master's chikean-house began to crow. "Perhaps I ought to tell you," the phy sician said aside to her," that I dread a She comprese ber mouth and suddenly felt the efetof her vigil, her excitement, and her days of contest with'lTbane. Still, her father was quet in half-con scious slumber when Mrs. Barker lighted the breakfast fire and the master brought a of water from the well. - animate things out doors were begin ning to stir, and the air which came in was fresher than ever before ashi it blew out of Paradise full of odos and promises. The early spring birds were all about, and the fler'S thrill was beard close by the win dow. " That bird's song always smells of yohnny-jump-ups-the Arly blue violets," said Phoebe, with a smile, to the doctor. The doctor's answering smile was tran ulent, for his patient awoke In a struggle. "Fatheri" cried Phoebe. "b~ear? Why, father" In four months the bird-songs had deep ened in color and oaor until an imaginative pesnmight find them vivid as scarlet and brting with fragrance. Summer spread up from the tropics transforming the North ern world. The yearly miracle, which nev er ceases to be marvelous, was nearly com pleted; not a spear of grass was lacking to the wide fleece of verdure; the leaves were at their darkest; stalwart rag-weed grew in the fence corners; the roses were long ago tired of blooming at their freshest; the corn stood as high as a man's shoulder, and only yellow stubble showed where the wheat had been. Mrs. Barker's garden was rank with onions, late beans and cabbages. The potato vines had even begun to droop in token that their fruit was ripening. Tom Bolmes' farm swarmed with threshers, and his house was swallowed by vines wav ing their aspiring tendrils over their time knotted joints. The apple trees had formed green fists to shake at every passing boy. Improvements, independent of summer, were going forward about Gurley's home stead. Afish-pond was being erected and the front drive ornamented. The sash-frames for a conservatory were starting out at one side of the house. Jesse Stone tramped aross the hay fields, noticing the second and speculating in unison with Mrs. holsterers and paper-hangers - on what might happen before another year. But if summer merely triumphed other wheres, it rioted around Psyche Fawcett's home. The graperies, orchards and flower borders were at their vividest. An awning shaded the stone steps and dimmed and cooled the hall, within which was visible half the massive stairway. Psyche sat in a hammock under the thok est foliage, white from her hair to the toe of her slipper, both extremes being tipped with pale blue ribbon. She gave two large palm fans to Gurley and tola him he could employ both hands in her service until Phoebe came down. "Languidly for me, Cupid, but you'll have to raise a hurricane over her; she has so much more strength and color than I have. The question at first was who shall be called Miss Fawcett; we're almost of one age; I'm scarcely a month younger. But she in sisted I shall, and it won't make any differ ence a few months from now. When I think of that I would kick you, Cupid, if I could only make it hurt. And she so precious, and so much time wasted when I didn't know she was my cousin!" "Or even that I was to be your cousin," said Gurley. "Drusie Holmes is so reconciled to it," said Psyche, with a laugh. "You must no tice the anxious attitudes she takes toward Cousin Phoebe and the distant sweetness with which Cousin Phobe treata her. There has been a coldness between them, but I suppose they will outlive it." "On account of the persecutions she en dured from the animal," said Gurley, sternly. Psyche shivered, and set her hammock to swinging. "That cooled me better than both fans. But don't say another word about him. I wish he was executed as well as sentenced. It's hard to see our name printed with his, and head-lines made of what he eats and talks about. If I made the laws I should smother such creatures in silence and de cency as soon as they committed their crimes. Poor Uncle Fawcetti Doyoumind if I say something wicked?" "Not at all," said Gurley. "I can't say it to Cousin Phoebe, for she wouldn't sympathize with me, but it's been in my mind so long I feel as if I must ex press it. Of course it was fearful for him to be treated so, but-do you mind my say ing something startlingly wickedi" "On the contrary," replied Gurley, "there are few things I enjoy more than your start ling %ickedness." "Well, I'm glad he died. I guess it was best for him. He wasn't comfortable at all, and he would have madeitsouncomfortable for all other folks. I'd got into the habit of being afraid of him. You don't know what a bereaved sense of relief I had when he was actually covered up in the family lot. We knew just where he was, then I He would not want to look in at the window any more. Now, Cupid, you know I could not feel toward him as I do toward Cousin Phoebe. He has been the bugaboo of my ife. And the instant I saw her I was in Jve with her. She grows more delicious as we get on, too, and even Auntie can find no fault with her. Don't mention it any where that you saw me out of my mourning to lay, will you!" "I not iced some change in your appear anee," said Gurley. 5Olh, thebladk ads~6mberness wouldkill me if Inever slipped out of it. And she doesn't take offense as perhaps Ishould with my disposition if it were my father. Speak ingabout death" "You were speaking about resignation, Swansdown." "Well, speaking about resignation, then, you don't know how resigned I could be if that pet gorilla of Cousin Phobe's would only..-only." "I hope you don't refer to me," said Gurley, throwing himself back in the arbor ohair. "I assure you I will not only "You know perfectly well whom I mean., She treats the tall beast as if he were no nly hnman but of averge intelligence. I o alllcan to terrify him on the sly. The flutter of my garments inclines him to take to his native wilds. Cupid, how any one refined and really exquisite in manner and nature as Cousin Phoebe is, can nourish a kindness for that hslf-witted being, passes1 my comprehension." "She has always protected him," saidt Qurley. "His uncouthness and stupidity. she long ago accepted and tried to piece out with her own gifts." "Do you know," exclaimed Psyche, sittingl upright, "I almost believe she would bring, him to the table if he could be coaxed there4 without a ring in his nose. I shouldn't say a word; it would be bard to go against; what she liked. But thank Heaven he is~ too untamed to forage beyond the kltchen.i There, however, he has a porcelain service! to himself, and regularly breaks a cup like those old heathen we read about after they; had poured a special libation." "Thorney will be comfortably provided' for by and by,'' said Gurley, laughing.'"We* have thought of giving him the cabin and' land where your Uncle Fawcett lived. He' was kind to the poor boy himself. I think it would please him. Thorney would always depend on us, but on the other hand, such, a primitive base will suit him better than porcelain surroundings. But you do touch a responsive chord. The first time I saw Thorney she called him her good little' brther, and in a dim, half-conscious way I ganged him as a brother-in-law. He went against my proud stomach worse than Mc Ardle, and when IPye said that I've said every thing." "Cupid," said Psyche, arraigning him with one finger, "it's very warm weather and I don't like to think of any kind of ex Psrcas sATr isaA HAMMOCK. ertion; but you know you have been doing something dreadful to McArdle that you haven't told us There are rumors of it. it catches like morning gossamer across one's nose. What was it?" "You don't want me to be the historian of my own exploits?" "Then you really did kick him or cuff him in some brutal way?" "Such unstinted .happiness was not for me," said Gurley. "I barely allowed myself to do what I had good reason for doing. He made a sunfiintly insulting remark, and the of my hand gave him a aninciently there is about it." "How I despise him!" flashed Psyche; "the disagreeable thiug, to heat up one's blood so in midsummer! Fan me. There comes Cousin Phcebo, and 1 don't want to look blowzed beside her." Phoebe was trailing a long soft black dress over the steps to meet the friend who had come. She had flowers by her waist and in her hair; they did not quarrel with her mourning, but matched her young cheeks. In that sunny weather it seemed as if her lot had never been different. [THE END.] FACTS ABOUT MOSS. The Important Part Which It Performs in the Work of the World. We are accustomed to thinking of the lovely moss as one of the ornamenting de vices of nature; a pretty covering for sur faces that would otherwise be hard and bare, or else dank and repulsive, and a graceful drapery for rocks and trees. In the hundreds of varieties of mosses which are -iwn to the botanists, there are many which re so exquisitely beautiful in them selves, so delicate in tint and texture, and so soft and warm in effect, that we transfer them to our houses for the uses of decora tion. The mosses, however, perform a part in the work of the world which is more im portant than that of decoration. In them nature oftenmakes a beautiful beginning toward clothing utterly waste places with a soil upon which piants and trees may live, and which may become capable of support ing human life. Upon the rocky surface of a ledge, in spots where the force of the sun is least strong, and where most moisture is found, we see thin mosses forming. Gradually they grow thicker and stronger. The patches that they have made extend and meet each other until a considerable surface is covered over. As they develop, their growths decay, and a rich, dark mold is formed beneath. The seeds of other plants lodge in the moss, which holds them fast, and the moisture makes them sprout and grow, sending their roots along the layer of mold. A begin ning has been made for a vegetation upon the rocks Gradually the mosses are driven out by stronger plants, which run their roots into the crevices of the rock; but the moss, by its death, makes the life of the herbage that follows it possible. The grass grows where the moss made its soft, feeble beginning; the decay of the, grass thickens the turf from year to year, and thus makes a soil at last upon which beasts may graze, or which may be culti vated. Or if, as is more likely, the sur roundings tend to make a forest on the spot rather than a grassy slope, the tiny shrubs yield to larger bushes, and the bushes make way for the trees, which, sending their roots among the rocks, often rend them asunder. Perhaps the newest, and, in many ways,. the strangest, use of moss is that to which the quinine planters have found it may be put. In taking the bark from the cinchona; tree, from which quinine is obtained, strips of untouched bark are left, in order that the trees may not be killed. It has been found that if moss is applied to the spaces on the tree, which have been stripped of their bark, a new bark forms; and this new bark is actually richer in quinine than th orignal portions.-YoutA. Companio., THE MONTHLY CROP REPORT Of the Department of Agriculture of the State of South Carolina. The State Department of Agriculture furnishes the following summary of 262 special county and township reports, show ing condition of the principal crops on August 1, 1888: THE WEATHER. The reports of the State Weather Ser vice show that during July, 1887, the rain fall was 7.49 inches, and the reports from 29 stations for July. 1888, show it to have been 3.63. The mean temperature for I July, 1387. was 82; for July, 1888, 78.8. ] The weekly bulletins of the serviceshow tbat there was about the average amount ofi sunshine during the month. cOTTON. There has been a general Improvement In cotton during the month of July, but the seasons were more favorable in the upper and middle than in the lower coun ties. In many parts of the latter the drought lasted from three to six weeks, but except in a few localities rain fell on the last days of the month. The crop has not recovered from the effects of the unfa vorable spring weather, and is from one to two weeks later in maturing than in ordi-i nary years. The plant is small but gen- 4 erally in fine condition and fruiting well. < There Is some complaint of bad stands, and1 the plant in some localities Is reported to to have been injured by lice. It has not been injured by rust and shedding. This is believed to be due to the lateness of the crop in reaching maturity. On Edisto Island long staple cotton is reported as fully up to an average condition, and on James Island 10 per cent. above an average. Of the 262 reports received, only 10 report the condition of the crop above 100, 34 re port it at 100, 67 report it at between 90 and 100, the remainder reportin~g It at be low 90. The general condition for the State is reported as follows: Upper Caro lina 85; Middle Carolina 85; Lower Caro lina 89-avcrage 85, against 84 on the 1st1 July and 99 on the 1st August, 1887. 1 coRNt. Both favorable and unfavorable reports on the condition of corn have been re ceived from the same townships, due to the uneven distribution of rainfall. In some localities the crop Is the best since 1882, the early planting being nearly made. In oihers, where the drought prevailed, the early corn is comparatively a failure, whIle the later planting has been greatly bene fited by recent rains. The conditIon is re ported as follows: Upper Carolina, 84; middle Carolina, '17; lower Carolina, 78 average 79, against 99 at the same time In 1887 and 84 on the first of July. RICE. The condition of rice Is repo- ted as fol lows: Upper Carolina. 91; middle Corolina, 85; and In the lower counties, where 95 per cent. of the crop Is produced, 80 average for the State 85, against 97 at the same time last year, and 9'.on the first of July. OTHER cROPS. The condition of the other crops Is re ported as follows: Sorgum 88, sugar cane 87. peas 87, Irish potatoes 88 and sweet potatoes 91. A Fatal Tenement Fire. NEw YORK, August 8.-At 4.10 o'clock this morning the four story tenement house at 1,020 Avenue A caught fire. The family of Gustave Berg, who lived on the top floor, were burned to death. They were Gustave Berg, 40 years old, his wife, 36 years, his mother-in-law and his twelve year old daughter, Gertie. The other oc cupants of the liouse were Peter Block, John Rup In, Samuel Stern, Thos. Fitz gerald and Oliver Llchter. All their fur niture was burned, but they escaped. The building was owned by Peter Block. Dama n2,00. Insured. TiE CLOSE OF THE CAN ASS. FARMER TILLMAN HAS A MEfRY OLD TIME AT BLACKVILLE. Last Meeting of the Campaign--Addresses by Gov. Richardson and Lieut.-Gov. Mauldin.-Tillman Gets In His Last Shot Gov. Bonham Defends the Railroad Commission. (Condensed from the Char:eston world.) The last meeting of the political can vass of the campaign of 1888 was held at Blaokville on Monday the 6th inst., about 290 persons being present. The first speaker was GOVERNOR 3. P. RICHARDSON. Governor Richai. after thanking the chairman for his kind words of in troduction said that it seemed -strange that a man who had labored early and late, and who had always been faithful to the party should be charged with the same things as offenses that he had just been lauded for. It has been charged, he said, that South Carolina had always been gov erned by an aristocracy; but we cannot afford to bring such charges as this, so long as the great problem faces us as to how an intelligent minority must govern itself and an ignorant majority. He said that there is no State in the'Federal Union better and more cheaply govern d than our own. Governor Richardson went into the details of the tax figures, proving that the Democracy has not only reduced the taxes by over one-half, but has reduced the public debt to a very great extent without subjecting the people to any burden of taxation. The school districts tf the State everyone of which were cast eeply into debt by the Radicals, have been placed on a firmer financial basis, d do not now owe a dollar in the world. The opponents of the adminis tration talk about the salaries of judges in North Carolina and Georgia, but I would not give our Kershaw for the whole cheap judiciary of North Carolina mud Georgia. When we elect a judge we want a man who will protect our in terests, and we do not want a cheap nan. No farmer would hire a man to )versee for him who would offer to work for $10, and in the same way we do not want judges who will work for a pit :ance. THE FARMERS' COLLEGE. In discussing the agricultural college ie expressed his opinions on the Clem ion bequest and on the feasibility of aving an agricultural college anynow, should the bequest not materialize. He said he savored the college, but did not ropose to pull down any existing in ititution to establish it. He explained the position in which he State Executive was placed, having othing to do with legislation save to enforce it, and he pledges himself, if elected, to enforce to the letter any leg elation which might be made concern ng the proposed agricultural college. DEMOCRAT AGAINST DEMOCRAT. This has been the only campaign since 76, said the speaker, where Democrat ias been arranged against Democrat, md if the lines are once drawn who shall wipe them out? It will be impos ible for the Democracy to remain in >ower if dissension enter the ranks, but the old ship goes down, and I am still it the head of the government, I will >romise you that I will beat the long -oll, will have ever gun manned, and he old vessel wil go down with her uns reverberating and with every man it his post of duty. (Prolonged cheers.) Governor Richardson was followed by LIEUTENANIT GOVERNOR MAULDIN, who gave in a clear, succinct manner his iews upon the various questions and asues which had been interjected into le campaign. His office, he said, happened to be me where he had but little to do in aping the laws. It was, his privilege o vote only on a tie in the Senate, and >:ten when he would like to vote he annot, and when he does not want to ie is forced to do it. CONVICT LABOR. It has been mentioned in this cam aign that the penitentiary now is an ixpense to the State, while some years go it was a source of profit. I believe hat all convict labor should be em loyed on public works. To employ ii therwise brings it into unjust competi .ion with the honest labor of the land, md it adds nothing to the State at arge. The money from the peniten mary should go as all other moneys ihould, directly into the State treasury. In touching ou the college he said ,hat he considered the lien law one of he greatest curses to the farmers, and lso that they needed, among many hngs, to raisetheir own supplies. The ien law was a fictitious system of credit, md no people could ever thrive by it. THE RAILROAD COMMIssION. The railroad commission, the'speaker thought, should have the power of sepa rating the whites from the negroes on rains. That was one Georgia law he iked, and wanted to see it adopted in South Carolina. HASTY LEGISLATION. He thought that there should be a constitutional amendment to keep down the hasty consideration of bills in the Legislature. Now, the session is short, and during the last days the members work all night and half of them are ab sent, and thus the laws are often passed ~ip a crude condition, which is calculated to work harm rather than good. CAPT. B. B. TILLMAN was received with cheers. Capt. Till man rose in a very delib-erate manner and carefully arranged a pile of books and papers on the railing around the stand before he commenced. After ad dressing himself to the' c hairman he Fellow-citizens, I hardly know where to begin, what to touch on or where to leave off. I feel very much like the boy who started to shine the No. 16 shoe ot a returned Hoosier soldier, and who, after surveying the area of shoe-leather before him, asked a companion to "lend him some spit," as he had an army con I am sorry Governor Richardson has left the stand, for it is now my unpleas ant duty.+o -ar ain a on the pres eut Democratic administration. THE QUESTIONS AT ISSUE in this discussion are three. First-Is this a Democratic government, and are the people governing? Second-Are the farmers treated justly in regard to edu cation? And, third-Have we in our government the proper kind of economy, and is there nothing wrong in official circles at Columbia? THE CANVASS CONDEMNED. I have been through the various coun ties in the State, and find that, without a single exception, they had elected their delegates to the State Convention before the canvassers reached them. In this they have eitherbasely surrendered their rights, or have been tricked out of them. Twelve men now hold the vote of Barn well county in their possession, and the people are powerless to change it, no matter what state of affairs might be precipitated between this and the meet ing of the convention. Consequently, this discussion is a farce, save as a public educator. SPLITTING THE PARTY. There can be but one party in South harolina, and therefore we must watch our liberties and rights. "Eternal vigil ance is the price of liberty." For years every murmur against injustice has been hushed with that everlasting: "Shoo! Shoo! You'll split the Democratic party." If the party in South Carolina is ever. split, it will not be by the Farmers' As sociation, but the miserable oligarchy at Columbia will have to draw off and appeal to the negro vote to retain them in power. MB. TILLMAN AND THE REPORTER. You have all seen how I have been abused and slandered, and how my speeches have been colored up. It is a pretty pass when the official canvass of the State is given to the public colored up by a reporter. At this juncture a spat occurred be tween Mr. Tillman and Mr. N. G. Gon zales, the reporter referred to. "If y >n say," exclaimed Mi r. Gonza. les, leaping to his feet, "that I have mis represented you, you are an infernal liar." . HEre ensued a scene of indescribable confusion, and cheers and counter-cheers arose from the crowd which had pressed close around the stand when the colloquy began, during all of which time Mr. Tillman was glaring at Mr. Gonzales without making any aggressive move ment. After quiet had been restored, Mr. Tillman said: "Well, if you'll say that up town in the streets, we'll settle it." About this time the crowd began again to whoop for Tillman, so after a few moments' delay, waiting for the crowd to get quiet, the speaker continue. He said that there is a revolution coming; that we have not had a Democraic gov ernment since the war. He wanted an aristocracy of character and brains, not of money. The farmers today pay more than their just proportion of taxes because their property can be seen to be assessed, while the property of other professions lies in stocks and bonds that cannot be gotten hold of. HIS OBJECTIONS TO THE COLLEGE. In the first place this college is too ex pensive an institution, and, again, the terms of admission are too high. Some people call these chestnuts, but they are nuts they cannot crack. When the boys get out of our little common schools they on't know the "Three R's," and only those who have the advantages of the schools in towns and villages can get the preparation to get into the college. In discussing the railroad commission he said it was here that "incipient cor ruption" if not corruption itself lay. LANDERING CHARLETON AND COLUMBIA. In touching on the census the speaker said that when Charleston and Columbia joined hands, it was "good-bye John" to everybody else. These representatives had, he said, perjured themselves, but when the re-apportionment bill was brought up they were very quick to plead the same constitution which they had but the year before trampled on. ARRAIGNING THE JUDIoIARY. Mr. Tillman condemned the manner of electing jadges, holding that they should be chosen by the people. The present judges, he said, were under the thumbs of the big lawyers, and too often decided in their favor against some little bob-tailed fellow of no influence. "A RELIGIOUS BAR-RooM." In conclusion, Mr. Tillman referred to the Columbia Club as a "religious bar room," and repeated his attacks on the alleged ring. Gen. M. L. Bonham had expressed a desire to say a few words. He wanted to say jast a word or two about the rail road commission. He was gladythat Captain Tillman had disclaime any in tention of insulting him. The Captain had said that the office was created for the purpose of pensioning him, but in this he would show that he was totally m error, for the fact was that the bill hd already passed the House before he knew anything of its existence. He happened to be in Columbia at that time and Capt. L. D. Childs and Chancellor Carroll both proposed that he should apply for the position. There had be-en a number of other names mentioned in connection with the appointmenst before his was thought of. He urged upon the Legis lature and secured the passage of a bill establishing a commission of three, simi lar to the Georgia plan. The commis sion had just about gotten their work well organized when the Legislature passed another bill which restricted the powers ot the commission. Gen. Bonham then went i.nto the mer its of the commission, producing A COMPLETE REFUTATION of Tilhman's charges about the commis sion being worthless, and proving that it was of great good to the people. When Gen. Bonham concluded, the meeting was declared ad journed. Wens~ Conlege Burned. A URORA, N. Y., August ti-The main building of Wells College was burned this morning with its entire contents. Morgan hall and laundry were saved by the hard work of citizens. The fire is thought to have started in the kitchen. It is said that there is insurance of $100,000. which will not cover half the lo::s. The foundation for the extension of the main building was nearly done. SPARTANBURG'S SYMPOSIUM. STATESMAN AND FARMERS TALK TO THE PEOPLE AT THE ENCAMPMENT. Throngs On the Ground--Improvements Over Last Year--The Formal Opening Addresses by Senators Voorhees and But ler and Other Distinguished Men. The Encampment was formally open ed in Spartainburg on the 7th inst. with clear weather and a hot temperature, but the enthusiasm of the people was too great to be subdued or lessened by any thing like hot sunshine. The arrival of Senators Voorhees and Butler et five o'clock this morning was announced by the bellowing thunders of a field piece which not only awoke the sleepers, but aroused all people to the fact that the great occasion was at hand. The absence of Senator Hampton in the party on account of illness was the cause of many regrets. It was explained by Senator Butler that General Hampton was too ill to come, though he hoped his illness was only temporary. By 10 o'clock this morning an immense crowd of people were on the grounds and it was a gener ally conceded that the first day was far ahead of the beginning of last year's Encampment, in attendance, in interest and in exhibits. Crowds of people, in cluding men, women and children in large numbers, moved to and fro and took in the sights of the grounds with an interest that suffered no abatement, and the crowd increased in numbers until midday. The exercises were opened this morn ing with prayer by Bishop Dancen. President T. S. McCravy delivered an address of welcome, and responses were made by Hon. D. P. Duncan, Johnson Hagood and J. B. Humbert. Captain Wofford then introduced as a distinguish ed guest of the encampment, HON. NORMAN . COLEMAN, United States Comxtisaioner of Agricul ture. He devoted his attention to the manufacture of sorghum into syrup and sugar. Senator Butler was then introduced, and he made Senator Hampton's excuse for being absent. Sickness was the cause. It was very pleasant for him to introduce SENATOR VOORHEEs, "the statesmen, not the Indianian, for he belongs to as all." Senator Voorhees then spoke for about fifteen minutes. He said he was over whelmed by the courtesy and hospitality shown him in Spartanbmrg. He came to South Carolina, not to make a speech, but on account of his devotion to her people who are as great now as ever. He wanted to look South Carolinians in the face, and shake their hands. He remembered reading his first book of South Carolina, "Memoirs of the Revo lution," by "Lighthorse Earry" Lee, and this morning on entering, the State Senator Butler pointed out King's mountain and the Battle-field of Cow pens, and he thought of Morgan's men and felt like cheering them. "I have been of those who have believ ed in American brotherhood and man hood. I believe when there is war there are civilized rales to govern it." He stood for the element of love and affee tion in the North. The Second Day of the Encampment opened with a continuation of fair, hot weather. The estimated attendance is over 5,000. THE FIRsT 5PEEoH of the day wasaanessay on the test of the purity and utility of seeds, by Prof. R. H. Loughbridge, of the State Uni versity- The speaker's observation went to show that the farmers are greatly im posed upon in the purchase of seeds of various sorts, especially grass seeds. During the delivery of the essay Com missioner Coleman came in and was greeted with applause. DIBBLE, BY PROXY. Congressman Dibble was on the pro grmme as next essayist, but was not present, and was represented by Col Henry D. Capers. Colonel Capers made a good and fitting apology for Mr. Dib. ble's absense, and read the Congress man's paper. Itwas upon subject: Diver sified industries as promotive of agricul tural prosperity." It was an excellent treatise of the subject and full of com prehensive thoughts. This paper con cluded with favoring the Clemson be quest, was pronounced against any inter ference with the present state institutions of education. SENATOR M. c. BUTLER. Senator Butler made one of his charac teristic speeches. He was eloquent, sometimes pathetically so, and his re marks covered considerably more than the subject assigned him; which he said he would not discuss at length, for fear of creating a stampede of the audience His tariff talk comprised the main facts which have *tlled the newspapers for months past, but they were presented in the most striking manner to show how agriculture was affcted by the ex actions of the tariff. He paid some at tention to Harrison, the Republican nominee for president. He said he had served in the Senate with him, and had made every effo.rt to cultivate friendly relations with himbut had found him proscriptive and narrow-minded; and should he be elected, the people might look out for a crusade against white spremacy in the South. Referring to the apparent feeling of dissatisfaction with some peopl'e in this State, Senator Butler hit some very hard licks. He spoke in defense of the present state ad ministration,particu)larly Governor Rich ardson and Comptroller Verner, and maintained that government of the state was administered with fairness, justice and purity. He defended Governor Thompson against the Bigham charges in language that was eloquent, and eulogistic of Secretary Thompson. BOQUETs FOR BUTLER. Senator Butler was heartily applauded as he finished his speech, and numbers of bouquets were going to him from the audience, in which there were a great many ladies. THE TALL SY0AMORE. At this point there was a great call for Voorhees, which came from all sides, nd he rended with an eloquent and witty speech, which caused roars of laughter. Senator Voorhees became serious in his talk toward the close re calling the rule of the land by thieves in former times. The Indianian is the hero of the oc casion. At every turn he is honored and admired, and the people seem to have learned to love him and to delight in his presence. The Afternoon Session. At the afternoon session of the inter state meeting Comptroller-General Ver ner delivered a masterly essay on the subject of "THE IDEAL FARM." He discussed the drawbacks and hind rances of the farming industry, naming the railroad system of the State, owned by foreign companies, which drained the State of $6,000,000 annually; the exist ence of an illiterate population of 78 per cent., and many others. He cited the production of $2,800 worth of strawber ries on one acre by Mr. Roche, of Charleston, and the present average of one-half a bale of cotton to the sore in Marlboro, where the cotton acreage -of the county is 53,000. Edgefield's aver age of 15 bu'hels of oats, and many other instances, showing the capacity of the soil and climate for an immense product increase under proper m4nage ment. This essay was followed by one o4 VICULTURE, by A. M. Howell, of Greenville, cover ing the general classification of varieties for wine and table purposes; planting and cultivating the vine, with observa tions on rot. Fourth Day. The proceedings of the fourth dey were conducted under the auspices of the State Farmers' Institute. Ex-Governor Hagood, president of the Institute, read a very valusble in. troductory to the proceedings, reaiting much of the history of agricultural o ganizations in the State, all of which had worked to the same end of pro moting the agricultural welfare of the State. Dr. J. M. *cBryde read very valu able paper on "AgriculturalExperimen tation." He explained that such a sub ject was necessarily a technical one, but he would discuss it on its practical bear ing. He gave a resume of the hietdiy of the work of experimentation and the great benefits it had wrought, going, back to the time of Columella and eitin Lebieg's as the first scisatific epeh ments. THE AFTERNOON SESSION of the institute was called to order shortly after 3 o'clock, and its proceedings con sisted of Prof. Bolton's lecture on the bacteria, ~and the discussion that fol lowed. The speaker alluded in a gene ral way to the work of bacteria in pro ducing diseases, such as cholera, small pox, pear-blight, etc.; to their action in decomposing vegetable matter, and thus separating the constituent elements of ik into their original forms, developing ni trogen and losing the mineral elements frond chemical combinations. He illus trated forcibly that by this action bacte ria prepared food for the higher order of plants, such as our cultivated crops. - THE sHOw OF SrOCK on the grounds near the buildings, tho' not large, was interesting. Thse follow ing is the award: Judges-B. F. Kilgore, Alex McBee, Dr. George Dean. Best stallion-First premium, B. F. Ferry; second, Elliott Mason. Best two-year-old-Elliott Mason, (percheron.) Best mare and colt-John W. Wofford. Best one-year-old male-First pre mium, R. A. Walden; .second, R. A. Walden. Best Holstein bull, two years old Fimt premium, B. F. Perry; second, B. F.s Persey bull-Dr. B. F. Kilgore. SALE OF FANcY sTOCE. It was announced at the close of the day's meeting that a public sale of stock would take place at the stock pens. The sale took place shortly afterward, but did not include the transfer of many costly animals. A Jersey cow belong ing to Col. T. J. Moore, sold for $175; a number of bull calves, belodging to the same gentleman, were sold to farm era at various p rices; none at fancy prices. Dr. B. F. Kilgore, of Woodrii sold a Jersey bull to R. J. Donaldson, of Georgetown, for $50. The programme for Friday and Sat urday was carried out in the presence of large audiences, who left Spartan burg delighted beyond expression. Possible Speed of Locomotives. A correspondent, writing of the claim that a locomotive has traveled three consecutive miles in forty-five, forty-six and forty-seven seconds, says: The occur rence is not an unusual one, but it was down grade, for no locomotive in any country is able to attain that speed on a level track. No locomotive in this or any other country has made an authenticated record of one hundred and twenty miles in one hundred and twenty minutes with a train of three to five cars behind it, for the simple reason that the present loco motive, with the present boiler pressure of one hundred and forty pounds, is not able to do it. The average time of the fast trains on the New Jersey Centra? Railroad is under forty-seven miles an hour for only two hours and ten minutes ran. So it is of little importance to run down hill at the rate of 78.25 miles an hour for a short distance, and crawl up hill at the rate of twenty-five to thirty miles an hour. Persons reading such informa tion-that lcocomotives have run a mile in forty-six seconds-are apt to assume that they could do this for an unlimited time, up hill and down dale. Down dale is all right, but it is the going up hill which cuts down the average speed. A Pleasure Party Drowned. NEWCASTLE,.Del., August 9.-About 8 o'clock last evening the sloop Flora B., of Pennsville, capsized near this place during a heavy blow. She had on board Mrs. Elijah Wheaton, Mrs. Jonathan Turner, Mrs. Samuel Wheaton and her 9-year old daughter, and Mrs. Thomas Finnon, all of whom were in the cabin at the time, and were drowned. Tne bodies were recov ered anid sent to their homes in Pennsville. The crew of the sloop, three men, suc ceeded in climbing into the yawl and