IA LM AGE OK
The Noted Divine Gives Practical
Hints on
WHAT TO REA.
The Greatest B essirg of a Nation
Is an Elevated Literature; Its
Greatest Curse, an im
pure Literature.
Dr. Taloage, who has been spending
a few days in St. Petersburg, sends the
following report of a discourse which
will be helpful to those mho have an
appetite for literature and would like
some rules to enide them in tre sele
tion of books and newspape.-. test.
Acts xix, 19. "lany of them a3o
which used curious ar:s trought tiir
books together and burned them be
fore all men, and they co.unted the
price of them and fLund it 5,400,,
pieces of silver."
Paul had been stirring up Ephesus
with some lively sermons about the
sins of that place. Among the more
important results was the fact that the
citizens brought out their bad books
and in a public place made a bonfire
of them. I see the peorle comling out
with their arms full of Ephesian ittra
ture and tosning it into the tinues. I
hear an economist who is sta nu by
saying: ".Stop this waste. ilere :r,
$7,500 wortb of books. Do you pro
pose to burn them all up? If you don t
want to read them yourselves, sell them
and let someboiy else read them."
"No," said the people; "if these books
are not good for us, they are not good
for anybody else, and we shall stand
and watch until the last leaf has burned
to ashes. They have done us a world
of harm, and they shall never do others
harm." Hear the flames crackle and
roar!
Well, my friends, one of the wants
of the cities is a great bonfire of bad
books and newspapers. We have fuel
enough to make a blaze 200 feet high.
Many of the publishing. houses would
do well to throw into the blaze their
entire stock of goods. Bring forth the
insufferable trash and put it into the
fire and let it be known in the presence
of God and angels and men that you
are going to rid your homes of the over
topping and underlying curse of profli
gate literature.
The printing press is the mightiest
agency on earth for good and for evil.
The minister of the gospel, standing in
a pulpit, has a responsible position, but
I do not think it is as responsible as
the position of an editor or a publisher.
At what distant point of time, at what
farout cycle of eternity, will cease the
influence of a Henry J. Raymond, or a
Horace Greeley, or a James Gordon
Bennett, or a Watson Webb, or an
Erastus Brooks, or a Thomas Kinsella?
Take the overwhelming statistics of the
circulation of the daily and weekly
newspapers and then cipher if you can
how far up and how far down and how
far out reach the influences of the
American printing press.
What is to be the issue of all this?
I believe the Lord intends the printing
press to be the chief means for the
world's rescue and evangelization, and
1 think that the great last battle of the
world will not be fought with swords
and guns, but with types and presses,
a purified and gospel literature triumph
ing over, trimpling down and crushing
out forever that which is depraved.
The only way to overcome unclean lit
erature is by scattering abroad that
which is healthful. May God speed
the cylinders of an honest, intelligent,
aggressive, ('hristian printing press.
I have to tell you that the greatest
blessing that ever ca-ne to the nations
is that of an elevated literature, and
the greatest scourge has been that .of
unclean literature. This last has its
victims in all occupations and depart
ments. It has helped to fill insane
asylums and renitentiaries and alms.
houses and dens of shame. The bodies
of tl's infection lie in the hospitals
and in the graves, while their souls are
bein.; tossed over into a lost eternity, an
avalanche of horror and despair! The
London plagne was nothing to it. That
counted its vietiui3 by thousands, but
this modern pest has already shoveled
its millions into the eKrnel house of
the morally dead. TM longest rail
train that ever ran over ide i raeks wa-a
not long enough or large enough t"
carry the beastliness and the pu: refae
tion which have been gathered u:' is
bad books and newspapers in the laat
20 years.
Now, it is amid such circumstances
that I put a question of overmastering
importance to you and your families.
What books and newspapers shall we
read? You see I group them together.
A newspaper is only a book in' a s wifter
and more portable shape, and the same
rules which will apply to book reading
will apply to newspaper reading. What
shall we read? Small our minds be the
receptacle of everything that an author
has a mind to write? Shall there be
no distinction between the tree of life
and the tree of death? Shall we stoop
down and drink out of the trough which
the wickedness of men has filled with
pollution and shame? Shall we mire
in impurity and chase fantastic will-o'
the-wisps across the swamps, when we
might walk in the blooming gardens of
God? Oh, no! For the sake of our
present and everlasting welfare we must
make an intelligent and Christian
choice.
Standing, as we do, chin deep in fic
titious literature, the question that
young people are asking is, "Shall we
read novels?" I reply, There are
novcels that -.re pure, good, Christian,
elevating to the heart and ennobling to
the life. But I have still further to
say that I believe that 75 out of the
100 novels in this day are balefual and
destructive to the last degree. A pure
work of fiction is history and poetry
combined. It is a history of things
around us with the licenses and the as
sumed names of poetry. The world can
never pay the debt which it owes to
such writers of fiction as Hawthorne and
McKenzie and Landon and Hunt and
Arthur and others whose names are
familiar to all. The follies of high life
were never better exposed than by Miss
Edgeworth. The memories of the past
'were never more faithfully embalmed
than in the writings of Walter Scott.
Coopers's novels are healtfully redolent
with the breath of the seaweed and the
air of the A merican farest. Charles
Kingsley has smnitten the morbidity of
the world and led a great man yto ap
preciate the poetry of sound health,
strong muscles and fresh air. Thack
eray did a grand wor k in carieaturing
the pretenders to ge.ntiity and high
blood. Dickens has built his own
monument in his books, which are a
plea for the poor and the anathema of
injustice, and there aro a score of nove
listie pens today doing mighty work for
God and righteousness.
Now T say boks like ,heso r.a- a
rilt tims d a right proportion
with other books, cannot help but be
eunobling and purifying; bit, alas, for
the loathsome and impure literature
1eat bas co:e in the shape of novels.
like a freshet overflowing all the banks
of decency and common sense' They
are coming from some of the most cele
brated publishing houses. They are
cming with recommendation of some
of our religious newspapers. They lie
on your center table to curse your chil
dren and blast with their infernal fires
generations unborn. You find these
books in the desk of the school miss,
in the trunk of the young man, in the
steamboat cabin, on the table of the
hotel reception rcom. You see a light
in your child-s room late at night. You
suddenly go in and say, 'that are you
doin~z? -I am rcadin. What are
vo't reading'- book. You look
at te b. . It is a bad book. "Where
eu . ;t it- I borrowed it." Alas,
acre :ro always those abroad who
S-culd z ie to loan your son or daugh
ter a bad book' Everywhere, every
where, an unclean literature. I charge
up n it the destruction of 10,000 im
mortal souls, and I bid you wake up to
the magnitude of the evil.
I shall take all the world's literature
-good novels and bad, travels true and
false, histories faithful and incorrect,
legends beautiful and monstrous, all
tracts, all chronicles. all poems, all fam
ily, city, state and national libraries -
and pile them up in a pyranid of litera
ture, at: then I Lal bring to bear
u on it grard, clurious, infallible,
ur'mistakabie Christian principles. God
he a 2:e to speak with reference to my
: ace oun: and help you to listen.
I charge you in the first place to stand
aloof fr ni all hooks that give false pic
tures of life. Life is ne ither a tragedy
nor a farce. Men are not all either
knaves or heroes. Women are neither
angels nor furies. And yet if you de
potided upon much of the literature of
the day you would get idea that life in
stead of being something earnest, some
thing practical, is a fitful and fantastic
and extravagant thing. How poorly pre
pared are that young man and woman
for the duties of today who spent last
night wading through brilliant pas
sages descriptive of magnificent knavery
and wickedness: The man will be look
ing all day long for his heroine in the
office, by the forge in the factory, in
the counting room, and he will not
find her, and he will be dissatisfied. A
man who gives himself up to the indis
criminate reading of novels will be
nerveless, inane and a nuisance. He
will be ft neither for the store, nor the
shop, nor the field. A woman who
gives herself up to the indiscriminate
reading of novels will be unfitted for
the duties of wife, mother, sister,
daughter. There she is, hair dishevel
ed, countenance vacant, cheeks pale,
hands trembling, bursting into tears at
midnight over the fate of some unfor
tunate lover, in the daytime, when she
ought to be busy, staring by the half
hour at nothing, biting her finger nails
into the quick. The carpet that was
plain before will be plainer after hav
ing wandered through a romance all
night long in tess/lated halls of
castles. And your i. lustrious com
panions will be more unattractive than
ever, now that you have walked in .the
romance through parks with plumed
prirncesses or longed in the arbor with
the polished desperado. Oh. these
confrmed novel readers! They are un -
ftted for this life, which is a tremen
dous discipline. They know Dot how
to go through the furnaces of trial
through which they must pass, and
they are unfitted for a world where
everything we gain we achieve by hard
and long continuing work.
Again, abstain from all those books
which, while they have .some
good things, have also an admixture of
evil. You have read books that had
two elements in them-the good and
the bad. Which stuck to you? The
bad! The heart of most people is like
a sieve, which lets the small particles
of gold fail through, but keeps the
grat einders. Once in awhile there is
a mind like a loadstone which, plunged
amid steel and brags fillings, gathers up
the steel and repels the brass. But it
is generally exactly the opposite. If
you attempt to plunge through a hedge
of bars to get one blackberry, you will
get more burs instead. You cannot af
ford to read a bad book, hv'wever good
you are. You say, "'The 4fluence is
insignificant." I tell you that the
scratch of a pin has sometimes produced
lockja*. Alas. if through curiosity, as
mi-v do, you pry into an evil book,
3-.utr curiosit.) is as dangerous as that
o the man who would take a torch into
a gunpowder mill merely to see whether
it would really blow up or not.
In a menagerie in Yew York a man
put his arm through the bars of a
black leopard's cage. The animal's
hide lookcd so sleek and bright and
beautiful. lie jaat stroked it once.
The monster seized him, and he drew
forth a hand torn and manghd and
bleeding. Oh, touch not evil, even
with the faintest stroke: Though it may
be glossy and beautif&, touch it not,
lest you pull forth your soul torn and
bleeding under the clutch of the leop
ard. "But," you say, "how can I find
out whether a book is good or bad with
out reading it?' Thecre is always some
ti'ig suspicious about a bad book. I
never kncw an exception-something
suspicious in the index or style of illus
tration. This venomous reptile always
carries a warning rattle.
Again, I charge you to stand off from
all those books which corrupt the imagi
nation and inflame the passions. I do
not refer now to that kind of book
which the villain has under his coat
waiting for the school to get out, and
then, looking both ways to see that
there is no policeman around the block,
offers the book to your son on his way
home. I do not speak of that kind of
literature, but that which evades the
'law and comes out in polished style,
and with acute plot sounds the toesin
that rouses up all the baser passions
of the soul. Today, under the nostrils
of the people, there is a fetid, reeking,
unwashed literature, enough to poison
all the fountains of public virtue and
smite your sons and daughters as with
the wing of a destroying angel, and it
is time that the ministers of the gospel
blew the trumpet and rallied the forces
of righteousness, all armed to this great
battle against a depraved literature.
Aain, abstain from those books
which are apologetic of crime. It is a
sad thing that some of the best and
most beautiful bookbindery and some
of the finest rhetoric have been brought
to make sin attractive. Vioe is a hor
rible thing anyhow, It is born in
shame, and it dies howling in the daik
ness. In this world it is scourged with
a whip of scorpions, but afterward the
thunders of God's wrath pursue it across
a boundless desert, beating it with ruin
and woe. When you come to paint
carnality, do not paint it as looking
from behind embroidered curtains or
through lattice of royal seraglio, but
as writhing in the agonies of a city hos
pital. Cursed be the books that tr; to
make impurity decent and crime attrac
tive and by poentsy noble! Cursed- be
the books that swarm with libertines
of the young peopic whir with ni -i
Ye authors who write them. ye publish
ers who print them, ye bookselle5
who distribute them. shall be Cat to
pieces, if not by an aroused coui:uni
ty, then at last by the hail of divine
vengeance, which shall s.eep to the
lowest pit of perdition all ye murder
ers of souls. I tell you, though you
may escape in this world, you will be
ground at last under the hoof of eternal
calamities. and you will be chained to
the rock, and you will have the vul
tures of despair clawing at your soul,
and those whom you have destroyed
will come around to torment you, and
to pour hotter coals of fury upon Sour
head, and rejoice eternally in the out
cry of your pain. and the howl of your
damnation. * God shall wound the
hairy scalp of him that goeth on in his
trerpasses.
The clock strikes ni t. A fair
form bends ovtr a ro'miance. The eyes
flash fire. The breath is quick and ir
regular Occisioniily tic color dashes
to the cheek and theo dies out. The
hands tremble as though a guardian
spirit were trying to shake the deadly
book out of the grasp. Hot tears fall.
She laughs with a shrUl voice that
drops dead at its own sound. The
sweat on her brow is the spray dashed
up from the river of death. The clock
strikt s 4, and the rosy dawn soon after
begins to look through the lattire upon
the pale form that looks like a detained
specter of the night. Soon in a mad
house she will mu'take her ringlets for
curling serpents and thrust her white
hand through the bars of the prison
and smite her head, rubbing it back as
though to push the scalp from the skull,
shrieking; 'My brain' My brain!" Oh,
stand off from thatr Why will you go
sounding your way amid the reefs when
there is such a vast ocean in which you
may voyage, all sail set?
Cherish g ol toks and newsaper3
Beware of bad ones. The assassin of
Lord Russell declared that he was led
to into crime by reading one vivid ro
mance. The consecrated John Angell
James, than whon England never pro
duced a better man, declared in his old
age that he had never yet got over the
evil effects of having for 15 minutes
once recd a bad book. BatI need not
go so far off. I could tell you of a com
rade who was great hearted, noble and
generous. He was studying for an
honorable profession, but he had an in
fidel book in his trunk, and he said to
me one day, "De Witt, would you like
to read it?" I said, "Yes, I would."
I took the book and read it only for a
few minutes. I was really startled with
what I saw ti:cre, and I handed the
book back to him asd said, "You had
better destroy that book." No, he
kept it. He. read it. He reread it.
Uter awhile he gave up religion as a
myth. He gave up God as a nonenti
ty. He gave up the Bible as a fable.
He gave up the church of Christ as a
useless institution. He gave up good
morals as being unnecessarily stringent.
I have heard of him but twice in many
years. The time before the last I heard
of him he was a confirmed inebriate.
The last I heard of him he was coming
out of an insane asylum-in body, mind
and soul an awful wreck. I believe
that one infidel book killed him for two
worlds.
Go home today and look through your
library, and then,having looked through
your library, look on the stand where
you keep your pictorials and newspa
pers and apply the Christian principles
I have laid down this hour. If there
is anything in your home that cannot
stand the test do not give it away. for
it might spoil an immortal soul; do not
sell it, for the money you get would be
the price of blood; but ather kindle a
fire on your kitchen hearth or in your
back yard and then drop the poison in
it, and the bonefire in your city shall
be as consuming as that one in E phesus.
The Sons of Veterans.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans
met in Greenwood on Wednesday at the
court house, where a large crowd of
ladies and vete-ans had gathered with
the Sons. The commander of the local
camp-Camp James M. Perrin-Mr.
David Aiken, callefi the assembly to or
der, and after prayer by Rev. R. G.
MLees Mr. Aiken ietroduced Mr. F.
3. Grier of Camp Periin, who extended
a welcome on behalf of his camp. Mr.
Grier's speech was eloquent and pat.
riotie, and he was req nently interrupted
by applause. He lauded the Confed
erate soldier and his deeds and aroused
the emotions of his hearers to a pitch.
At the conclusion of Mr. Grier's speech
Mr. Aiken introduced Mr. Francis H.
Weston, division commander of the
Sons of Veterans for South Carolina,
who respornded very gracefully to the
words of welcome and went on to make
an' earnest, solid, argument for the
truthful perpetuation of history. At
the conclusion of Mr. Weston's speech
Gen. M. L B~on ham was called for and
responded in one of his happy little
talks, full of fervent patriotism. There
were then calls for Mr. Geo. E. Prince,
who responded very neatly, touching
upon the matter of partisan histories.,
which is the question mont promitnently
before both the veterans and the S -
The business meeting of the su vt
veterans was called to order at 1'
o'clock Thursday morning by the divi
sion commander, F. H. Weston, who
made an eloquent appeal for greater in
terest in the order and its important
work.
The roll was then called and the
camps responded by the presentation
of the credentials, There were many
camps who had delegates in town but
there are so many sponsors here that'
the Sons could not make up their minds
to devote themselves to business.
The question which is agitating both
the organizations is that of fair text
books and the delegates discussed this1
very fully, the discussion being opened 1
by Mr. Weston.1
The adjutant read a letter from Col.
W. F. Jones, chairman of the historical
committee of the U. S C. V. 1
On motion of Gen. Bonham the South
Carolina division pledged itself to raise
its naota of any amount that might
be necessary for the employment of a
competent man to prosecute this work
of securing fair histories.
This question was further discussed ]
by Comrades Bonham and Prince and
a resolution was also adopted com
mending the work of Col. Jones.
A committee was appointed to make
arrangements for a presentation of the
sponsors and they teported 4 o'clock
as the hour set.
The election of division comade
was next entered into and by a'-ciaia
tion Mr. W. 11. Hluntt of' G reeuwoOu
was elected. Mr. Weston i&cliue:. to
serve another term
Resolutions of thanks to Greenwood
to Camp Perrin, to Mr. Weston and to
his adjutant were then adopted and the
convention adjourned.
No Pebble at All.
The Cedartown, Ga , Advance says:
"Man that is born of woman is of f ew I
days and full of trouble. Hie goeth out'
in the morning in all his glory and
strength, thinking that he is the only
pebble on the beach. Straightway hei
falleth into polities ar d in the morning]
finds out that he wasn't any pebble on
[lIE OLD VETERANS'
lathered by Thousands in Hos
pitable Greenwood
N SIXTH ANNUAL REUNION.
rhere Are Large Numbers OF Vis
itors in Attendance, and
the Little City is
Crowded.
G reen wood was gay and festive last
veek. There were veterans there by
:he hundred and sponsors by the score
with just enough sons to make inter
stiog for the sponsors. Tuesday
fternoon the trains poured people into
:hi busy little town and Wednesday the
:hrong has been :oming in a steady
stream. Greenwood is something of a
-ailroad centre and Every train has
lumped its load into the already filled
;own.
Gray cots, gray hats. Bray beards
ell of their owners' sacrifices for the
,ountry they loved and the veterans do
ittle but talk with each other of the
atter and the marches with Lee and
Johnson and Jackson and Hampton.
'he veterans' convention, as usual, is
3 side issue. These old soldiers have
enough of business every day and on
such occasions as this they prefer to
eal in reminiscences, renewing old ac
Iuaintances and grasping the hands of
Lbe comrades with whom they kept step
and with whom they messed and slept
9 years ago.
The sponsors-who say ought but
mention that they are here? Victors
by right, they are victors in fact. The
men of the south may once have been
conqured but the women are always
conquerors and so it is in Greenwood.
The sponsors have not been enumer
ated but there are lots of them here.
The lovely little Hotel Oregon is de
devoted almost entirely to their use
and everybody else in town is at their
service. The division sponsor for the
veterans is Miss Louise McFadden of
Chester, and for the Sons of Veterans
the division sponsor is Miss Mary Orr,
of Anderson. Then there are sponsors
for the brigades and for the camps and
maids of honor galore.
The veterans' convention was opened
" nesday morning in the court house,
Snator C. A. Waller presented the
Rev. J. S. Jordan of Phoenix, who
;,ened the meeting with a most ap
-ropriate appeal to the God of Battles.
then came a very interesting address
of welcome on behalt of the town of
Greenwood by Mayor DuPre, who paid
high tribate to the soldiers of the Con
federcy and extended the survivors a
warm welcome on behalf of this thriv
ing little city. Mr. David Aiken, com
ander of Camp James M. Perrin, Sons
of Veterans, welcomed the visitors in
the name of his organization and Sen
ator Waller in behalf of Camp D. Wyatt
Aiken, U. C. V.
Gen. C. Irvine Walker, the state
commander, then responded for the
veterans in one of the happiest speeches
he has ever made on any occasion.
After these preliminary exercises there
was read the annual memorial tribute
to the com-ades who have died since
the lest reunion and to the women of
the Confederacy.
A telegram was read from Wade
Hampton, expressing his regret at be
ing unable to come. The mention of
the name of Hampton set the old sol
diers wild and they cheered to the
echo. On motion, it was ordered that
a response be sent to Gen. Hampton
telling him that he still occupies the
first place in the hearts of his com
rades.
A letter was read from Capt. George
Lake, now living in Louisville, ex
pressing his regrets and a suitable re
sponse was ordered sent to Capt. Lake
who is a prime favorite with his com
rades.
Next came the roll call of camps, a
duty performed by Col. Jas. G. Holmes,
division adjutant, in his usual graceful
style.
Dr. B. H. Teague presented the re
port of the committee on the Confeder
3te abbey, which showed that the offerr
a Charles Broadway Rouss has been
met and the $100,000 for the ab
bey is now available. -
On motion of Col. Iredell Jones, a
:ommittee of three was ordered ap
pointed to memorialize the legislature
for the creation of the office of commis
sioner of pensions.
A committee of the same number
as appointed to report on the subject
f text books, and just at this point
lon. 0. L. Schumpert of Newberry
Dade a ringing speech in support of the
lea for fair histories.
After this the convention adjourned
Lnd the veterans wandered off in search
>f something to eat. The hotels here
ie small, and most of the visitors are
jartered at private homes. The houses
ad stores are decorated with sags and
eu'ntir , but north'ern extremists could
Jo:. ak exaception to the decorations,
'or the S -" Sn'angled Banner and the
ed, white~ au. Mlue are a great deal
nore in evidence than the Stars and
Bars and the red, white and red.
The tag of the'Third South Carolina
egiment, tattered and torn, is here in
he custody of Camp Garlington of
aurens, Commander T. B. Crews.
3ol. Todd was its last bearer. It was
iever captured.
The flag of the Palmetto Sharpshoot
rs, representing the upper counties of
south Carolina. This flag was carried
hrough the Seven Days' fight, the
attle of Frazier's farm, the second
attle of Manassas, at Antictam, and
vas shot through at Boonesburg. It
vas surrendered at Appomattox and
>rought home.
It is estimated that there ,vere at
east 8,000 or 10,000 visitors in town
Wednesay, nesides many from the
urrounding eountry. Over 1,000 vet
rans are registered, and it is therefore
ikely that there are more than 1,200
ere. There are the same number of
os, though not all are connected with
he organization. The number of
ponsors is estimated at from 300t tol
00, the flower of South C..rolina!
omanhood.
Ts'.o .M-i i ' were presented to the
u1.v:ALae, one of them being that of
he Seventh regiment, which went from
is section and the colonel of which
ras D. Wyatt Aiken, the lieutenant
olonel being Eibcrt Bland. Messrs. W.
. Durst and C. A. C. Waller of Green
vood gave the history of these flags
rith some very interesting remarks,
,d then Col. Coward called for the
ebel yell and it was given with a will.
Dr. Teague presented the report of
he committee to memorialize the leg.
slature on the subject of pensions.
The commissioners of pensions selected
y the convention in accordance with
he recent act of the legislature are as
ollows: W. H. Hardin of Chester. WV.
). Starling of Columbia, and W. E.
ames of Palmetto, Darlington county.
Coward made the report reuesting the
State board of education to adopt only
southern books by southern authors
and southern publishing houses. This
was adopted without discussion and
without dissent.
The election of officers was next in
order and Gen. Carwile nominated Gen.
C. Irvine Walker for re-election as
major general of the South Carolina
division. Gen. Walker thanked the
veterans for the honor in a most happy
little speech.
The two brigade commanders were
also elected by acclamation, Col. As
bury Coward of Charleston of the First
brigade and Gen. T. W. Carwile of the
Second brigade.
There are various estimates of the
number in attendance, but Col. Holmes
states that out of the 120 camps in this
State fully, two-thirds, or about SO,
were represented at this reunion Tais
is much better than was expected, and
speaks well for the organization, which
seems to take on new life as its mem
bers grow old,
The homes of these good people
have been open to the visitors and the
great majority have been entertained
free of cast and have had the most
abundant hospitality shown them.
I cannot now give the committees who
are responsible for all that has been
done in that and other lines to make
the occasion pleasant but I would like
to name each one and to denominate
each one as a most royal host.
The veterans' convention having ad
journed shortly after noon, many visit
ors left on the afternoon trains but
there are plenty yet in town to make
things lively.
Now the most interesting part of the
story is to come-so far as Columbia is
concerned. The reunion next year is
to be held in the most progressive city
in the south-the capital of the Seces
sion State-Columbia. The vote to go
to Columbia was practically unanimous,
there being a few voices raised for Sum
ter and a few for Spartanburg.
The survivors of the Ha-mpton L:
gion met today and decided to hold a
reunion annually in Columbia on
Wednesday and Thursday of fair week.
The first reunion is to be held this fall.
P. A. Emanuel of Aiken is chairman
of the committee to make arrangements
for the occasion.
Jas. A. Hoyt, Jr.
CONDITION OF CROPS.
Resume of the Summaries for the
Several States
It is an open question whether the
recent generally favorable weather has
caused cotton to recover in condition
what it lost during June. In spots it
undoubtedly has done so, while on wet
bottom lands in the States of Louisiana
and Mississippi it has continued to de
teriorate, and in these States the crop
will be smaller than usual. Texas and
Arkansas, and portions of the Atlantic
States have average crops, but gener
ally the crop averages low. Shedding
is reported from all sections, but not
more than usual to the season. Cotton
is in some States opening prematurely,
but generally the crop is later than
usual.
in North Carolina cotton has revived
wonderfully, and although the plants
are still late and small for the season,
the general abundance of blooms and
free setting of fruit would indicate a
good yield. Shedding and rust are re
ported in several counties, but not
more than is usual at this period. Here
and there fields of cotton on light and
sandy soil were too much injured by
the drought to recover fully.
In South Carolina over a large por
tion of the State, with numerous ex
eptions, however, in the eastern coun
ties, cotton improved materially and
now looks promising, but comparative
ly few sections report the crop heavily
fruited. Most of the reports indicate
that the plants are undersized and late,
but fruiting normally, and some that
they are not fruiting as they shou'l at
this season. There are a few complaints
of rust and premature opening, more of
shedding, and some of grassy fields, al
though cotton is generally laid by
clean. In the western counties culti
vation continues. In places cotton is
blooming to the top. Sea island is still
suffering from drought and blight.
in Georgia cotton shows steady im
provement, but there is some complaint
of rust and shedding in a few coun
ties; it is small but is fruiting pretty
well.
In Florida reports continue unfavor
able to cotton. On some old lands the
plant has stopped growing; the bottom
crop is not promising and the frequent
rains are not conducive to a favorable
change. A report from Madison coun
ty, however, states that the crop ap
pears to have improved some during
the week. Picking has commenced on
uplands; the lint is light.
In Alabama cotton, as a whole, has
continued to improve slowly, and is
now fruiting more freely, though there
are very few full grown bolls, and
none are open; this staple is consider
ably below the average for the season;
very little shedding reported.
in Mississippi cotton has made some
advancement, but is stalky, small and
fruiting poorly. It is shedding quite
freely in most sections because of ex
cessive moisture.
In Louisiana cotton did not fare well
during the week; there was altogether
too much moisture, barring a fe w places
in some of the northern parishes,
where the crop is reported as having
made fairly good progress, complaints
that the plant is shedding, running to
stalk, and fruiting slowly, are becom
ing more numerous; cotton on high and
weil criined lacnds may yet be saved by
a timely change to dry ann warmer
weather, but on low lands crop pros:
pects are poor indeed. Boll worms
and caterpillars are making their ap
pearance in a few localities, and the
crop continues, as a rule, badly in grass
owing to the rains, which render clean
ing and laying by very difficult, if not
impossible.
in Tennessce cotton generally is
small but growing well, some shedding
of fo:ms is reported in the western di
vision.
In T x e aton continues to shed in
sou iuoaliues. The showery weather
has caused the plant to take on a very
rapid govth, .aid consequently it isi
not fruiting well in many sections.
Some localities report that cotton is<
doing exceptionally well and fruiting
nicely. The crop is generally in good
condition, except some fields are
grassy. However, much of the cropi
has been worked out for the last time. I
The boll worm and the Mexican weevil
are reported from many places, some
such reports coming from the extreme
northern portion of the State, some
lamage being done. The crop is spotted
and late. Some full grown bolls over
the southern portion of the State, but
pening will not be general for some 1
time yet. The crop ranges from poor i
to very good.d
In Arkansas cotton on the higher
round is doing very well, and in most
ases promises a good yield, while inI
he lowlands it is very grassy and manyr
BY A BIG MAJORITY.
The Tar Heel Democrats Wins a
Great Victory.
3LD NORTH STATE IN LINE.
Both Branches of Legislature
Secure. The Amendment
Goes a Whooping. The
Election Quiet.
A dispatch from Charlotte says the
;lections in North Carolina Thursday
were for governor and State officers,
nembers of the legislature and county
>fficers and for an amendment to the
state constitution looking to a practi
:al elimination of the Negro from poli
;ics, as its adoption would disfranchise
:he bulk of the Negro vote. By far
:he greatest interest centered in the fight
was over the amendment. At Thurs
lay's election a great many Negroes
voted for it.
The faculty of Livingstone college at
Salisbury, one of the most prominent
Negro educational institutions in the
south, voted for it. The amendment
was opposed by the fusion forces of
Populists and Republicans, headed by
Senators Butler and Pritchard. and the
ampaign was the most bitter waged
in the State since reconstruction days.
There was a full poll of the Democratic
strength, which, combined with a small
Nogro vote and some Populist and Re
publican votes, rolled up an unpre
cedented majority. Returns indicate
that the amendment was carried by
over 40,000 majority.
Spencer B. Adams, fusion nominee
for governor, was defeated by Chas.
B. Aycock, Demorcatie nominee, by
fully 40,000 majority. All other State
officers were elected by equal majori
ties. The legislature is Democratic in
both branches, Mecklenburg county,
of which Charlotte is the county seat,
gives 3,500 majority for the county
ticket. The election throughout the
State was generally quiet and peacea
ble, the Negroes, as a general thing, re
maining away from the polls.
A dispatch from Raleigh says the
election passed off quietly. A heavy
white vote was polied, but the Negroes
took little interest in the result, and
generally remained away from the polls.
In many instances they voted the
Democratic ticket. Every eastern
county was carried by the Democrats,
the majorities in some of them being
3,000. Most of the central counties
also are Democratic. Returns from the
west are incomplete. the indications,
however, are that the State is Demo
cratic by 50,000 majority, the legisla
ture three fouths Democratic and the
franchise amendment adopted. At 11
o'clock Thursday night Democratic
Chairman Simmons said:
"I think we have a safe majority of
50,000 and at least four-fifths of the
legislature. The returns so far are
most satisfactory, and no surprises.
ALMOST A CLEAN SWEEPS.
The Demccrats rejoiced quietly all
over North Carolina Friday. The re
turns show that Democratic majorities
aggregate 54,6 .8 and fusion majorities
5,125, maving the net Democratic ma
jority 59,553 There will be contests in
several counties, there being gross ir
regularities in Randolph and Harnett
and smaller ones in Wilkes and Chat
ham. In the latter county, at Con
gressman Atwater's precinct, the fu
sion stronghold, the fnsionist, finding
they were being out-voted assaulted
the election officers, smashed the ballot
boxes and burned the ballots. This is
the only outrage which occurred in the
State, so far as known. The returns
show that to the senate there are elected
38 Democrats and 9 fusionists, with
three seats doubotful, and to the house
95 Democrats and 13 fusion'sts, while
twelve seats are in doubt.
To Develop Savannah River.
The declaration was filed in the cffice
of the secretary of state Wednesday af
ternoon and a commission was issued
to the T win City Power company. This
means much for the development of the
water power along the Savannah river
and of its several tributaries in Edge
field and Abbeville counties which has
heretofore been going to waste. One
million dollars is to be the capital of
the company, and northern capitalists
are the promoters. One of them is Mr.
W. H. Chew, who organized the Co
lumbia Water Power company, which
bought the Columbia canal. The cor
porators are "Samuel Saylor. residing
at 245 west 320th street, New york
ity in the State of New York; W. H.
Chew, residing at 1855 7th avenue,
New York city, in the State of Ne
York, and D. M. Mackaye, 18 Neptune
Place. New Rochelle, in the State of
New York." The principal place of
business is to be located on the Savan
nah river near Parksvil'e, E iggefield
ounty. _________
The Whole Truth.
In a letter to the Philadelphia
Press Brookei T. Washington speaks
very encouragingly of the treatment of
colored people by their white neighbors
in the South. He says, among much
lse that is of interest: "In any case I
have not seen a single colored man who
had secured intellectual and moral
prosperities, and had a high character,
who did not have the respect and con
Idence of the white people where he
lived." "On the whole," says the
Philadelphia Record, "it has been long
>bserved that well- behalved colored
nen are much better treated in the
South than in the North.'
He Has a Concience
An ex-Alabama postmaster has be
:ome conscience stricken and returned
i sum of money that was paid to him
yy the postoffice department for Sun
iay work. He says be was guided to
tee that Sunday work was wrong, and
:herefore retaining the reward was
wrong, too. We imtagine the suprise
nd contempt with which Riathboce,
Keely and and company, the Cuban
>ostoffice thieves, wil! read this item of
lews.
Too Many Loafers.
The Bainbridge, Ga., Democrat says:
'Farmers and turpentine operators are
inding difficulty in getting adequate
eip t-> carry on their work successful
y-yet there are dozens and secre of
dlers who do only suflicient labor to
:eep soul and body together, and don't
alf do that. Oh, for a judiciary that
ould enforce the true spirit of the va
rant law in Georgia, and in Bain
ridre.
Gainesville, Ga., Dec. 8, 1899
Pitts' Antiseptic invigorator has
een used in my family and I am per
eetly satisfied that it is all, and will
o all, you claim for it. Yours truly,
A. B. C. Dorsey.
P. S.-I am using it now myself.
t's doing me good.-Sold by The Mur
ay Drug Co., Columbia, S. C., and all
ABSOTELY PI
Makes the food more deli
ROYAL BAKING POW0E
THE REVOLUTION STARTS.
The Streets of Pekin Ran Red With
Blood
A special to the Record from Victoria,
B. C., sass:
"A letter received by a local China
man by the steamer Glenogle datcd Chi
san fu, the capital of Shantung on Ja
ly 2, says Cho Ta, a reformer who es
caped from Pekin on June 26, has
given the writer the following infor
mation from the capital to June 26:
"There were over 100.000 Boxers
and Manchu troops in the capital when
I left, and numbers more were pouring
in from all parts of the Chi li-shan, Lu
si and Honan. Their main objeet
seemed to be plunder and hatred of
foreigners. The gates of Pekin were
constantly opened day and night to rcr
mit these reininforce mi nts to enter the
city. Those in the city had attacked
the foreign legations continuously for
ten days, but were repulsed evL ry time,
although they managed to set fire to
a numberof houses adjoining the fcr
eign quarters. One or two foreign
heuies had already been destroyed
when I left the city. No decent per
son could get anywhere near the place
for fear of being called a foreigner by
the mob.
"Not counting the 2,000 to 3,000 con
verts who have been massacred by the
Boxers inside PLkin, it was estimated
when I left that over 4 000 peaceable
citizens had also been slain in the melee.
The streets ran with blood; it was aw
ful. The Tartar and forbidden cities
were filled to overflowing with Boxers
and Man~hu troops, which caused a
panic among the princes, dukes, nobles
and members of the imperial clan and
their banner men who were afraid that
they also wtu'd be plundered as soon as
the Boxers got beyond control and so
by dipl macyothey managed to clean
both cities of their dangerous friends,
closed the gates and placed strong
guards of banner men to prevent far
ther ingress of outriders.
"rhe Tartar city gates are now only
opened a couple of hours a day to en
able residents to purchase things from
the other cities.
"On the 19Lh of June Yang Lu, who
had always advocated the suppression
of the Boxers, having received dis
patches from the viceroys and govern
ors south of the Yellowriver urging the
same step, thought to back up his pol
icy by quoting the provincial dispatches
at the grand council that morning. A
great clamor arose among the other
grand councillors held by Prince Tuan
and Yang Hu, who denounced Yung Lu
as a traitor ana literally overwhelmed
him by their numbers. Finally in spite
of the endeavors of the empress do w
ager to restore order Prince Tuan and
Yang Hiu cried out that they would
take all the responsibility of the war
against foreigners and rushed out of
the grand council chamber, all decorum
and etiquette being thrown to the
winds. 'The empress dowager left the
council chamber in despair and has not
been heard of since, nor has the era
peror. They are said to be under the
restraint of Prin~e Tuan's men in the
palace. When this was known to
eunuchs and palace officials they raised
the cry: "Up with the Ta Taing dy
nasty and down with the foreigners!"
which was taken up by the populace in
the Tartar city. An hour after ward be
gan the reign of Prince Tuan and his
clique. We fear greatly for the safety
of our beloved emperor."
FREE BLOOD CURE.
Anu Offer Providing Faith to Sufferers
Eating Sores, Tumors, Ulcers, are
all curable by B. B. B. (Botanic Blood
Balm,) which is made especially to cure
all terrible Blood Diseases. Persistent
Sores, Blood and Skin Blemishes,
Scrofuala, that resist other treatments,
are quickly cured by B. B. B. (Botani,
Blood Balm). Skihi Eruptions, Pim
ples, Red, Itching Eczema, Scales,
Blisters, Boils, Carbancles, Blotches,
Catarrh, Rheumatism, ete., ai, l~l due
to bad blood, and hence easily cured
by B. B. B. Blood Poison producing
Eating Sores, Eruptions, Swollen
glands, Sore Throat etc., cured by B.
B. B. (Botanic Blood Balm), in one to
five months. B. B. B. does not con
tain vegetable or mineral poison.
One bottle will test it in an case. For
sale by druggists everywhere. Large
bottles $1, six for five $5. Write for
free samplebottle, which will be sent,
prepaid to Times readers, describe
simptoms and personal free medicaf
advice will be given. Address Blood
Balm Co., Atlanta, Ga.
Many Arrests
A dispatch from Rome says twenty
four persons have been arrested as con
lederates of Bresci, in the assasination
of the King of Italy. One iq
Teresa Brugnoli, who was captured at
Prito. He is believed to be the one
who wrote the letter to Bresei from
New York, asking, "Is all ready?'' Six
were arrested at Prato and the others in
Milan.
McKinley's Record.
The Republican newspapers
by a concerted action are trying
to force the free coinage of sil
ver to the front as the main issue
of this compaign. They are
failing in their purpose. Other
issues have arisen that are more
important, but even if the ques
tion of silver could be pushed to
the front, MIr. MIcKinley is an
unfortunate candidate.On Nov .
5th 187y William 3IcKinley of
Ohio voted in favor of a resolu
tion authorizing the free coinage
of the standard silver dollar.
This effort to force the silver
issue brings out in strong con
trast the character of MfcKin
ley and Bryan, One is a posi
tive force, a man who has an
opinion on every question that
arises and has no fear in express
ing it. Bryan is aman who has
never straddled or evaded, has
never dodged or been silent.
McKinley started out in favor of
free silver. He fell into the
hands of MIark Hanna and be
eame a bimietallist: that is to
say, lie advocated the restora
tion of silver provided we could
form a partnership with foreign
nations. He has even given
that up under pressure from the
Trusts, and is now the champion
pf the single gold standard. He
is mnsmecere, unstable as water
LBAKINO
POWDER
JRE
cious and wholesome
a co..EW vom.
BLANK ALIBIS.
Kept in the Drawer With Other Use
ful Papers. _
"I want a dozen blank alibis," ex
claimed a breathless youth, rushing
pell mell into Justice Stein's court on
State street the other day.
"What?"
"A dozen blank alibis," repeated the
boy. "They sent me over here from
Blank & Blank's office, and they said
they wanted them in a hurry."
The handful of attorneys and court
officials that were in the room began a
hearty laugh at the boy's expense, but
the court was more considerate for the
embarrassment of the youthful seeker
after wholesale alibis.
"Well, we don't keep them up here,
you know," explained Stein, making a
supreme effort to keep a grave face
while he "strung" the lad. "But you
go down to the clerk's room below
here and they will give you all you
want of them. If the man you ask
doesn't know where they are, tell him
he will find them in the drawer where
they keep the advance decisions for
street railway damage cases."-Detroit
Free Press.
Settling It.
"The literary society out my way
had a sort of lively session night be
fo' last," remarked a moss-backed Ar
kansawyer from out near Turkey
Trot, wio had percolated into the of
fice of the Polkville Banner. "They
took an' debated the uestion of why'
1500 hain't a leap-year for about two
hours."
"Ah!" returned the able editor.
"How did they settle the question,
Mr. Sogway?"
"By announcin' that the first d-d
scoundrel that brought it up in pub
lic ag'in would be lynched."-Puck.
No Sale Was Made.
Agent-I should like to show you,
madam, this patent bag to hold clothes
pins.. It costs only 25 cents and, as
you see, slips along the line, making
it much easier to get at than to stoop
to the basket every time.
Mrs. McLaherty-An, phat's the
matter Wid me mouf that costs not a
blissed cint, an' Is always wid me,
I'd like to know. It's mesilf that can
howld a dozen o' pins and be sociable
like over the fence to Mrs. O'Toole
with the same breath, begorra!
The Cloud.
Still the war cloud lowered angrily
over South Africa.
"What does it portend?" we asked
anxiously.
"Reign!" answered the Genius of
the Anglo-Saxon Race, in all confi
dence.
With modern appliances the end
was able to justify a great many
means.-Detroit Journal.
Oom Paul Kruger.
Diplomacy.
MeJigger-Jlgsby should go into
politics. He's a born diplomat.
Thingumbob-Think so?
McJigger-Yes, Indeed. He was
chairman of a committee of ten to get -
up a church entertainment, and he im
mediately provided for nine sub-com
mittees and made each of his associ
ates a chairman.-Philadelphia Press.
The Reason.
"-Brayalotti was just complaining to.
me that he finds it almost Impossible
to get any subscription to that hos
pital he's interested in."
"I'm not surprised. The chump an
nounced publicly that the list would
not be published."-Life.
Effective Energy.
"Joppo, you make nice, fine garden
~beds."
"Yes, when my wife sets me to dig
ging I'm mad enough to pulverize
everything that comes in my way."
Detroit Free Press.
What About "Heavies?"
Bobbs--Did you read Prof. Telly
scope's article on how to weigh stars?
Dobbs-No. But I suppose you'd
weigh them just the same as you
would chorus girls, wouldn't you.
Baltimore American.
Same O0d Hat.
"Harry, don't you think that Is a
pretty good straw hat I bought you for
thirty cents at the nummage sale?"
"Yes, indeed; I liked it last year
when I paid $3 for it.-Chicago Re
cord.
In the Menagerie.
-The Elephant-Prefessional life
would not be r?o bad if it were not for
the long jumps.
The Kangaroo-Oh, I don't mind
them.
Losses in the Philippines.
The losses of our-troops in the Phil
ippines since August 63, 1898, are as
follows:
Killed . ..... ............ .. 566
Died of wounds and accidents.... 345i
Died of disease .............1,429
Total deaths................2 340
Wounded..................2,270
Grand total.. ................4,610
In the same time 10.780 Filipinos
hae been killed and ->,1.4 wouded