The Manning times. (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, October 14, 1896, Image 3
LOUIS APPELT, EDITOR.
MANNING, S. C.:
WEDNESDAY, OCT. 14, 1896.
PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY.
"WHEN ELiPS HAD HIS DINNER."
On long, h$Sunday afternoons,
When we 'e got home from meetin,
An Eli's changed his pantaloons,
He's awful set on eatin.
He's that outrageous cross'twouldshame
An unooverted sinner.
I have to stand a heap of blame
Tin Eli's got his dinner.
An so I'm never very slow
To get the kettle bilin;
I call it duty, for 1 know
His temper is a spilin.
I warm the taters an the mest
An don't let nothin hinder,
An then I let the feller eat,
An Eli gets his dinner.
Now, Eli's not a greedy ran,
. But somehow, come a Sunday,
He'll cat a bigger dinner than
He'd think of on a Monday.
An when he's done he tips his chair
Back 'gainst the kitchen winder,
An soon you'll hear a snorin there
When Eli's got his dinner.
But when he's dozed a little while,
Half wakin an half sleepin.
He'll wake up in a better style
For Sunday an a deakin.
He'll talk so pious an so kind.
'Twould touch a hardened sinner;
A better man you'd never and
Than Eli after dinner.
-Chicago Inter Ocean.
BIG TOM, CONVICT.
There were those who said that con
vict 1280 was innocent of the crime
which sent him to prison for such a long
term of years, but that there was scarce
a hope of his ever being a free man
again. They meant that he was tech
nically guilty. He had sought to save a
woman from a beating at the hands of
her husband, and in the struggle and
excitement he had struck a blow which
caused the death of the man. It was
sociden;, in a sense, but it was also
manslaughter. No man who Is a man
will stand by and see a woman beaten,
and yet if he interferes he must take
his chanoes with the law. Big Tom, as
the convict was sometimes referredto,
was, like most big men, a child in his
gentleness and good nature. He did not
complain, but he grieved. He thought
of the years and years which must drag
away before the prison doors would open
to him, and he moved about like a
weak, old man. The prison officials felt
pity for the man, but a convict is a oon
vict, and all must be treated alike-all
who show obedience to the rules. They
sized him up as childlike and good na
tured, and yet they said to each other as
they talked of him:
"Look out for Big Tom! He will
break loose some day and do some des
perate thing!"
They thought it would come during
the first six months of his term-then
during the second-then they almost
beame afraid of him. Men who are
slow to anger-who go on grieving,
brooding and bearing a mental burden
for weeks and months are devils when
the climax comes.
Big Tom had the management of the
trip hammer in the machine shop. Ead
they put him in the shoe shop or tailor
shop he would have rebelled at once.
His place was beside the biggest piece
of machinery in the shops, two pieces
of machinery, as it were-Tom and
Trngagy day and week by week
nd month by the ponderous
hammer rose and fell and'its blows
shook the very earth for yards around,
making the convict smile and look
proud, the guards had an eye on hizn
'and kept.saying to each other:
"It will come. It Is only delayed.
When he breaks loose, he will kill some
one and have to be killed in turn."
Nearly half of the secnd year had
passed, and the giant oonviet had naves
even sulked, when one day there came
into the shop as sightseers a husband,
wife and little girl 4 or 5 years old.
Children are seldom seen in prisons,
and it is a rare thing that they are
taken into the shops in the yrds. Ii
any one in that prison knew that
convict 1280 had a daghter--a fair
haired, handsome child, who could only
walk alone when the jury pronounced
his verdict of "guilty"--he had for
gotten the fact. His wife had visited
him as often as visitors were allowed,
but the child had never been seen with
in the grim walls. Enowing that hei
husband had killed a man by accident,
the wife could bear to see him wearing
the horrible stripes of a convict, but tc
let the child look upon him, to gaze in
wonder at the iron bars, to ask why all
those men were there, a thousand times
no! And so this was the Srst child Big
Tom had seen since the heavy doors shut
him in. Father, mother and child came
close to him and gazed at the ponderous
hammer with wondering eyes. You
would'have argued that the sight of the
child would have softened the convict's
heart and brought tears to his eyes, but
it did not. It brought a feeling of mad
ness, of desperation, of frenzy. To save
a woman from a brutal beating at the
hands of a drunken, worthless thing not
fit to be classed with men he had struoli
a blow.
A jury had called it murder in the
second degree, and he was here in pris.
on on a sentence almost never ending.
He had been wronged, and the knowl
edge of it fired his heart and brought
the long expected outbreak. With a sud
den cry which startled every one in the
noisy shop Big Tom made a spring for.
ward, seized the child in his arms, and
there was a shout of deflanoe ca his lips
as he held her at arm's length and
glared about him. The mother of the
child gasped for breath and staggered
back to the wall and sank down. The
father stood staring, as if struck dumb,
but presently held out his hands in si
lent supplication. Big Tom glowered
and muttered in reply. He was a con
vict, a childless father. He was dead
to his child-she was dead to him. Be
could not make another father's heart
ache and throb and grieve as his did,
but he would secure revenge.
After muttering he was silent. !Nc
one cried out. Guards and convicts were
seemingly stupefied. There was the hum
of machinery, but not of voices. Con
victs turned from forge and anvil and
bench and lathe and held their breath.
The two shop guards leaned forward in
their chairs and looked and looked, but
they did not move or cry out.
"Whait will he do with the child?"
The two men woriking at the trip
hammer with Big Tom had fallen back.
He had control of the machinery which
worked it. The answer to the question
could be read in his eyes. Men had
wronged him under cover of the law.
He had been deprived of liberty, de
graded and disgraced. Death were more
.erciu than such a sentence nai.
ana in dying he would secure reveng
A piece of iron had been left under the
hammer. There was heard the sound of
crash! crash! crash! as the mass of iron
ree and fell at regular intervals-that
sounded above- the monotonous hum of
the machinery.
"He will thrust her undor the ham
mer!"
So thought each guard and each con
vict-so thought the father, whose feet
seemed chained to the floor and whose
face was whiter than the dead. One of
the guards could have touched a button
and signaled the engineer to shut off
steam, but he did not move a hand.
Either guard had a fair mark to shoot
at, but their pistols were not lifted. Up
and down-up and down went the ham
mer, but suddenly the belt was thrown
over on the loose pulley and the mass
rested on the anviL It seemed to those
who looked as if they had been looking
through a mist -such a mist as rises
from earth of a summer morning. It
seemed to them that this mist thinned
out-cleared away before the influence
of a rising sun, and by and by they saw
the child nestling on Big Tom's hairy
breast, one hand smoothing his cheek,
and seeming to come from a long dis
tance off they heard her childish voice
saying:
"No, you wouldn't hurt Nellie-you
wouldn't hurt Nellie! What makes you
cry? Have you got a little girl too?
Won't they let you go home to see your
little girl?"
And the convicts advanced step by
step, and the guards crept forward, and
loI Big Tom's tears were falling as he
hugged the child more tightly and kiss
ed her fair hair and roSY cheek. There
was silence yet-silence as he walked
to and fro and wept and sobbed and
lifted the child till she could clasp her
tiny arms about his neck and rest her
cheek against his. Not a whisper among
the convicts-not a move from father or
mother or the guards. By and by Big
Tom placed the child in its father's
arms, wiped the tears from his eyes on
the sleeve of his striped jacket, -and
with a "God bless the little darlin, !"
and a "Thank ye. sir!" he returned to
his work, and the hammer was lifted
and held in waiting for the hot iron to
be placed on the anvil beneath.
The guards motioned for the other
convicts to go back to their benches and
forges, and a minute later the visitors
had gone and work was in full blast.
The long expected outbreak had come
and gone. For s0 seconds Big Tom had
felt such a raging hate in his soul that
he was transformed Into a human devil
The child had smiled into his burning
eyes-her soft touch had lulled him
her words had brought back his reason.
Was he punished? No! A year later he
was pardoned, and today another fair
haired, blue eyed, smiling child puts
her arms about his neck and says:
"You are such a great, big papa, but
you wouldn't never hurt nobody, would
you?"-Detroit Free Press.
A Gent--manly 'orfsion.
A city man was lately asked to recom
mend a nice, gentlemanly profession in
which a quick fortune could be made
without risk. He replied that he knew
of only two such professions, and they
were both rather hard to get into. They
were the professions of KamR million
aire and American railroad reorganiZer.
The Kaffir millionaire is not entirely
unknown to our readers, but perhaps
th ar not sowell acquainted with the
ri reorganiser. His native habitat
is New York, and he is only to be seen
in Lndon as abird of passage. He may
honor us with his company for de
days when on his way to a tjvera on
the upper Nile b Iud b n
himself too bj'I e were to rc
nize such aj~lng as business when7
"had onlyd'n over for a short holiday.'
His wor& here is 8one vicariously
througb sympathetic agents or public
spirifed committees. He has also comn
mittees in New'Zork, and nowadays he
finds It necessary to have syndicates and
underwriters as well.
A playful professional fiction assumes
that these committees hay> been electe4
by the reorganised bond and stock hold
ers to protect their interests. Another
plasant illusion gives the syndicates
and the underwriters credit for stepping
into the deadly breach to save the reor
ganization scheme from imminent periL.
And they have to be paid accordingly,
or, in professional phraseology, "come
penated. "---Saturday Review,
Greely and Greeley.
"Do you know, " said Representative
Aldrich of Chicago, "meeting Genera]
Greely recently reminds me of a day at
the World's fair, when we all stood
with open mouth wonderment and in
terest, looking upon that scene, so graph
ically illustrated, of Greely and his lit
te band of surviving explorers strug
gling with death and worse. At the
same time we were listening with sad
ness to the eloquent recital which wasn
given to groups of visitors every few
moments by the attendant, when sud
denly, during a pause in the proceed
ings, an old granger-that was his ap
pearance-broke out feelingly, 'I allus
thought it was a shama that Greely
wa'n't elected president and said so to
the Grant crowd to hum at the time.'
-Washington Post.
STEVENSON'S MODESTY.
The Novelist's Opinion of Himself as Eu
pressed In Ris Letter.
There is one passage in Louis Steven
son's correspondence which' it would
have been a thousand pities to miss. So
much nonsense has been written about
Stevenson's work, he was made the vic
tim while he lived of such an extrava
gant system of puf~ng, that those who
did rot know him were almost inevita
bly forced to associate him with his
flatterers and to believe that he must
see himself with their eyes. It is clear
that he did not. His most exacting
critic can hardly have judged him more
sternly than he judged himself.
"For the nonce my skill deserts me,
such asts, or was. It was avery lit
te dose of inspiration, and a pretty lit
tle trick of style, long lost, improved
by the most heroic industry. So far I
have managed to please the journalists.
But I ani a fictitious article, and have
long known it. I am read by journal
Ists, by 'my fellow novelists, and by
boys. With theseincipit et explicit my
vogue. Good thing anyway, for it seems
to have sold the edition. * ** I do not
think it is possible to have fewer illu
sions than I. I sometimes wish I had
more. They are amusing. But I cannot
take myself seriously as an artist. The
limitations are so obvious."
It is not often one finds a popular au
thor writing in such a strain-an au
thor, too, whom there seemed a general
conspiracy among the reviewers to spoil.
What a contrast it is to the following
extract from the touching epilogue add
ed to these letters by his editor and
friend:
"The fragment on which he wrought
during the last month of his li'a gives
to my mind, as it did to his own, for
the first time the full measure of his
powers, and if in the literature of ro
mance there is to be found work more
Imasterly, of more piercing human in
sight or more concentrated imaginative
vision and beauty, I do not know it."
-Mamillan's Masrazina.
HARDWARE!
H. W. DURANT & Sill,
S 7U MD, S. c(j.
To Our Clarendon Friends:
We are now prepared to offer lower prices tb an ever. Call or write
for what you want. Our Stock is complete. We have added to our im..
mense stock of hardware a large line of
PAINTS, OILS, ETC.,
at low figures.
Harness, Saddles, Rubber and Belting, Leather. etc.
Great bargains in Guns, Pistols, etc.
Headquarter for Powder, Shot and Shells (loaded and empty.)
Engine Supplies, Belting, etc.
HEADQUARTERS FOR COOKING AND HEAYING STOVES (WARRANTED),
AUCTION!
3RD CAR LOAD
OF
HORSES
WILL BE SOLD AT
THOMAS & BRAHAM'S STABLES
Monday, October 19th.
Farmers, here is a good cpportunity to get a good, well broke horse
for a little money.
Thomas & Bradham.
16 Sixteen to One.
This is what is agitating the minds of the people
of the country, but whether this wins or the gold
banner floats on the breeze
You are Compelled to Shoe Yourself,
Wife and Children,
and there is no place in the State where you can be
better suited in shoes than in Sumter, and
~No place in Sumter can compete -With
WALSH fr ,SHAW.
Fow if you have 16 children or I it will pay you
a.J all and see us. We make itasuySHE
WALSH & SHAW
The Sumter Shoe Store,
Sumter, S. C.
DAN VILLE, VA,
One of the Leading Ware
houses on the Largest Loose
Leaf Market in the World.
Has ample means and every facility for handling
and selling tobacco to the best advantage.
agrWe desire a share of your patrouage. Correspoudence solicited.
Letters of inquiry promptly anisweredl.
J. H. WILSON, M~anager.
REFERENCE-"Border Grange Bank," Danville, Vi.
AND STILL THEY COMIE!
A Car Load Horses and
Mules arrived oni Oct. 3rd, and
a car load all Horses Oct.
6th, at the Feed and Sale
Stables of
HI. HARBY,
Sumter. S. C., Oct. 7, 1896.
POSITIONS G'IURANTEED. dotmnyin a tloal'io
tion. Enter at any time. Cheap board. Send for free Illustrated catalogue. (Mentio this pape)
DP uho' c Z -. Nashville, Tenn.,
~3ocn temhe p Shorhaed.ewr ing n Telegon acts. eto Y he os tl ru
*rcia n "f'pr gsesh*as wf t heaidi t h oland th Pcs patr ie iteogra h
toteR . .,..olpla.Terrsint J. F.A K DIERaLuo, i uhro'ru,.nse~a
St mAo kepn wihcno etuh inC.Any oer school.
gint o n colMfwANN otNGo moTEe wr Itten aplctos. foC.okeern
SH3E3PERD SUPP-.'3 CO..
232 MEETING STREET, CHARLESTON S. C.
State Agents for the Sale of
Wholesa!A dealers in
Stoves, Tinwares, House Furnishing Goods,
Tin Plate, Sheet Iron, Tinners' Supplies.
Galvanized Gutter and Rainwater
Pipe in ten feet lengths. We
Manufacture TOBACCO BARN
FLUES and Deliver Them
Freight Prepaid to Any Sta
tion.
L Dnn ri and giving weights
Send for our Circular nd s izes 'of all the
showing plans of T n F u s best .tyles..............
Percival Manufacturing Co.
Doors, Sash and Blinds.
478 to 486 MEETING ST., CHARLESTON, S. C.
* 1-J. VT. FOLSOIVI,
B~lMTER : B . C.
- A BIG LINE OF -
Birthday, Wedding and Christmas Presents
- WATCHES, DIAMONDS -
Fine Sterling Silver Clocks, Optical Goods,
Fine Knives, Scissors and Razors, Machine Needles and
All repairing guaranteed.
THlO!AS WILSON, H. E. JAQUES, JOHN WILSON,
President. . Manager. Secretary and Treasurer.
The Caroliia Grocery Compaly
SUCCESSORS OF BOYD BROTHERS,
Wholesale Grocers ald Conmission Merchants,
No. 195 EAST BAY,
cTOm-SER o . . . E. o.
TO CONSUMERS OF LAGER BEER :
The Patlmetto Brewing Company of Charleston, . C., have made arraLngements
with the South Carolina State authorities, by which they arc enabled to fill orders from
consn~mer for shipmeants of beer in any quantity at the following prices :
Pints (patent stopper).. .................. 70c per dozen
Four dozen pints in crate................ ............$2.80 per crate
Eighth-keg.. .................................. ..... .. 12
Quarter-keg.................................................$2.25
Half-barrel.........................................,.,......$4.50
Exports, pints, ten dozen in barrel............................$9.00
It will be necessary for consumers or parties ordering to state that the~beer is for
private cous~nmptioni. We offer special rates for these shipments. This beer is guar
an tied pure, maade of the choicest hops and malt, and is recomimendied by the medica
fraternity. Send to us for a trial order.
The P'almetto Brewing Company, Charleston, S. C.
THO. . OGAN,
-DEALER IN
Chia, Glassware, Lamps, Lamp Goods,
Woodenware, Brooms, and Tinware.
Oil and Gasoline Stoves, Fly Fans, Fly Traps, Ice
Cream Churns, Fruit Jars and. Jelly Glasses.
AGENT FOR THE HOME PRIDE COOKING STOVES AND RANGES.
Big Bargains Always on the 5c. and 10c.
Counters.
Opera House, Opposite Court House, Surnter, S. C.
HOTEL CALHOUN.
Or: the American and European Plan.
A DELIGHTFUL AND COMFORTABLE
PLACE FOR COUNTRY VISITORS.
BOW M AN & L EVIN, PROPRIETORS,
King Street (Business Centre of City),
Cxlaarleston, S- c-,
Rates $2 and $3 Per Day.
Subscribe to The Manning Times, $1.50 per Year.
JoSEPH F. RHAMtE. *V 0. Divis. JOHN S. 'WILSON,
A72TOR NEYS A 2 LA W, MANNING S. C.
MANNI "G, S. C.
LEVI BROTHERS
HERE~WE ARE
To tell the people of Clarendon that glib-tongued orators n
keep the country in a state of agitation about the finan<
problem, but what is more of interest to them now is to f
the best place to buy goods cheap.
Levi Brothers have a good reason to feel proud of th
success in business and to. no people are they more indeb
than to their old home folks in Clarendon. Goods are ch<
and this season affords our farmers an opportunity of obta
ing a fair price for cotton and a chance to buy goods at a I
cotton basis price.
We have for years been acknowledged as leaders in the
spective lines that we handle any it is our purpose to cont
ue leading.
Dress Goods.
This department has been selected with unusual care i
our stock is not only varied and large, but a lady can. f
the very latest fabrics with the necessary trimmings to mat
Wash Goods.
ThIere is no store in the city of Sumter that can excell
in this line, and we defy any house in eastern Carolina
show up a prettier line of prints.
Cassineres and Jeans
This line we carry in large quantities and can say w
safety that no where south of Baltimore can you get a bet
value for your money.
Notions, Hosiery, &c.
Every buvr is invited to exanine our line of Ladi,
Misses' and Children's lose, Handkerchiefs. Bunlons, T(
els. Doilies and other articles too numerous to mention. -
Plaids and Brown.
Goods, Long Oloths,
and Sheeting
This stock was bought when cotton was at its lowest pr
and we took advantage of the depression,
Olothins I-ats, and Oent
Fuxirnishings.
We can say without fear of successful contradiction that
have the most complete line that can be found anywhere
Trunks by the car load.
Shoes, Shoes, Shoes.
Every kind and style that is manufactured by first-cl
factories is handled by us and we take a special interest
this line.
Groceries, Groceries.
Our stock is up to date and our farmers can save money
buying from us.
Remember, we pay highest prices for cotton.
Yours, &c.,
LEVI BROTHERS,
Suimtez-, S. C
New Store! New Store
CHARLE'S F. NCFDDD
Formerly of Ciarendon,
Has opened up one of the largest Gene
Mercantile stores in Sumter.
GREAT CROWDS OF GOODS
ARE ARRIING ON EVERY TRI
A cordial welcome is extended to mg Cla
endon friends. Will say more later.
Yours, &c.,
Charles F. McFaddin.