Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The Wateree Messenger Published Every Wadtwdi^'bjr CH AS. W. BIRCH MORE, Prop. 1 i Entered m Second Class Blatter al the Poetefflce at Candea, 8. C. Subscription $1 .50 A Tear in Advance Wednesday, March 16, 1988 Business failures are naturally fewer of latq, because there are so few left to fail. Among the worst sufferers from that Sino- Japanese war are the lino typers and proofreaders. If the rank and file of those Jap anese and Chinese armies ever find out what all the shooting is about it will be news to them. If "figures dont lie," how is it that three-cent postage brings in lees revenue than the old two-cent rate did? A Kentucky mare learned to stop at a red light and go ahead oh 0 green one, whereby she lived to be 37 years old. Many humans never devel op that much horse sense. History will probably record that Mr. Hoover was a good president who happended to have the job ait a bad time. One immediate benefit of the new administration is seen in discontin uance of Dr. Julius Kelin's predic tions. Our guess is that Huey the King fish will make more noise during the next four years than the Hull-Dern ' cabinet. New York real estate man brings suit to force a cemetery to pay taxes. And we have always hoped to say good-bye to the tax collector at ttie grave. THE LENTEN SEASON The observance of Lent, the great ftfst preceding Easter, is a custom which originated with the early church, probably in the latter part of the second century, but the number of days included in the Lenten season has varied widely at different times. In the beginning, it appears from the writings of Irenaeus and other early fathers of the chuch, only one or two days of fasting were observ ed. By the fourth century periods of three, six and even seven weeks were observed in various countries, with widely different customs with re spect to the continuity of the fast. As at present observed, Lent is r ICast ctf forty days, not including ^Sundays, beginning with Ash Wedn esday ? this year on March 1 ? and ending the Saturday before Easter. During Lent it is considered de sirable by the churches observing i* that their members abstain from food each fasting day until evening; also that the season may be marited by frequent attendance at worship and by increased diligence in works of charity. Various degrees of strict ness in these observances have pre vailed from time to time, and excep tions are made i* accordance with the physical needs of certain individuals Indulgence in worldly amusements is considered unsuitable to the Len ten season. Lent is observed by the Roman Catholic, Angliean, and Lutheran churches. ! HORRORS OP THE NEXT WAR Speaking before a large audience !n v London, Arthur Henderson, for mer British foreign Becretary, warn ed that the next great war, if it ever should Qome, will involve the whole sale killing of civilian populations as Well an military forces. He declared that the war would be largely fought by aircraft using poi fton gasses, from which none in the Attacked areas could escape. He also /mid that it has been found impossible to ? humanise warfare, for once it started no power can control it, an<< that the only way to stop such bar barities is to stop war itself. Mr. Henderson's speech was in the nature of a plea for the mobilizing of public opinon throughout the world Against war. ' Tilers is not the slightest doubt . that a future war of large propor tions would be attended by indescrib able horrors. The engines of destruc tion which civilisation has developed might conceivably be employed to de stroy civilisation itself, after tke mnaner of Frankenstein's monster. Whether the nations can produce statesmen able to prevent such a ca lamity Is the jpost important ques tion now facing the jrprld. NATIONAL UNITY Never in our history, with the pos sible exception of the period of the World War, has the American people given any President such assurances of whole-hearted cooperation as has been given to President Roosevelt in his efforts to relieve the present eco nomic distress. The loyal manner in which all ele ments of our people have rallied to the call of the President in the pres ent emergency is most heartening and inspiring. Tt affords an example of national unity without a parallel in the annals of any people. Citizens of all parties and of all classes are displaying a most patrio tic spirit in supporting our chief ex ecutive in his program for national rehabilitation. All seem to realize the stern necessity for courageous and determined action to end the per1 iod of fear and panic which has para lyzed business, industry and agricul ture for many months. , Already the intelligent and ener getic efforts of the new President and ?us advisers have preduced excellent results in the direction of restoring faith and confidence in our institu tions. The spirit of defeatism and 'lespair is giving way in favor of b well founded optimism. While President Roosevelt, being only human, is not infallible, and while he and his administration may make some mistakes, the vigorous manner with which he is attacking our national problems is serving tc inspire confidence in the wisdom of his program. Therefore, let us all, whatever our political- affiliations may be, support the President in his sincere and pa triotie efforts for economic better ment. For in national unity lien the hope for national progress and a re turn of prosperity. A FAMOUS SLAVE CASE The French people claim with pride that their country was the first in Europe to have human slavery de clared by a court to be unlawful. Denmark was the first European nation to declare by legislative act that all human beings on its soil were free. That was in 1792 ^nd the law took effect ten years later. But the legal case of John Boucaux in the .time of Louis XV, came a half century earlier. Boucaux had been brought to France from Martinique, in the West Indies, by a Monsieur de Verddlin whom the negro served as a cook Remarking finally that he was in s free country, Boucaux demanded wa ges. His master's reply was to have him put in the prison of the Chatelet at Paris. Boucaux was liberated three days later, there being no law to fit his ease, and he thereupon sued his master for ten years' arrears of wa ges. Since he came from a French col ony, the suit had to be heard by the judges of the Admiralty court, who were compelled to detain him nearly three months while they considered what their decision should be. It was a victory for Jean Boucaux, who ?was declared to have been "free from the moment he stepped on French soil and to be a free man from now on." DANGERS IN THE HOME Figures compiled by one of the largest insurance companies show that accidents in and about homes cau'HO 23,000 deaths and three million injuriee in the United States every year. Of these deaths about 8,000 are caused by falls; 5,400 from bums scalds and explosions; 8,600 from asphyxiation, and 2,000 from poison ing. To avoid Buch accidents, the Na tional Safety Council recommendp the following precautions: Have rugs on' polished floors an chored or rubber lined. Keep stairways properly lighted free of objects on which one might stumble, with treads and hand rails in good repair. Keep sharp instruments, such as scissors, ice-picks, pins and needles out of reach of young children. Have all medicines, washing pow ders, insecticides and other house hold articles containing poison prop erly labeled and kept in a safe place. ! - Keep all open fires screened chimneys cleaned, and all heating ap paratus in safe condition. Never allow an automobile engine to run with the garage door closed Keep steps and sidewalks clear of (mow and ice. Now Rome Republican will likely be mean enough to suggest that the Treasury Department has a Woodin head. We suspected <tbat it would happen. Japan has expelled and excommuni cated the League of Nations. Sidelights The sudden death of Senator Walsh who wai slated for attorney general, removes one of the strongest figures named for the Roosevelt cabinet. Senator Walsh was 78 years of age, and was married only a few days ago to a wealthy Cuban widow in Havana. He was an able statesman - of the ultra-pogrrssive type and his death marks a distinct loss to the school of political thought which he represent ed. In published lists of the new cabinet the secretary of labor is designated as Miss, Frances Perkins. But she is really Mrs. Paul Wilson and is the mother of one daughter. She is an adherent of the Lucy Stone idea that women should retain their maiden names after marriage ? and it's no body else's business if she feels that way about it. \ The appointment of Governor Dem of Utah as secretary of war recalls his famous campaign slogan of a few years ago, when his opponent was former Governor Charles R. Mabey. Dern's supporters rallied to the bat tle cry of "We want a Dem good gov ernor and we don't mean Mabey." And Dern was elected, although Ma bey is a Mormon and Dern is a Cong regationalism An unusual come-back ihto public life was staged by Daniel C. Roper, new secretary of commerce, after 13 years as a private citiizen. Roper's last important political job was that of commissioner of internal revenue from 1917 to 1920. Before that he had served as first assistant post master general and as vice-chairman of the U. S. Tariff Commission. Quite unprecedented in recent po litical history is the fact that three members of the new cabinet are form er Republicans ? Woodin, secretary of the treasury; Ickes, secretary of the interior, and Wallace, secretary of ag riculture. But all were ardent Roosevelt supporters during the re cent campaign, and all seem to be in full accord with his general policies. In view of the fact that most of the new cabinet members are not es pecially well-known nationally, Will Rogers takes a good-natured pot shot at the bunch by saying that "the* for gotten man' has been found ? nine of them and a woman." | An Alabamaian declares that "the legislature is on trial as to its com mon sense and legislative ability." And probably will be found not guil ty of either. Think A Bit By R. E. C. (This is one of a series of articles by one of our readers. The author invites comments ? favorable or ad verse. ? Ed.) AMBITION Oh restlessness of man, unhappy Mal content That fills the soul and mind, provok ing hopes of fame, And makes one struggle throughout life for heights so unattained, And beat with puny strength against the walls that hem one in; Hast thou no thought for happiness that fragile love of men? Dost thou attempt to wreck all homes with ignomy of fame? To dominate the ploughman's dreamp and whisper that the world should know his name? X The realisms of this world are here in spite of thee; , , And concrete worries humans know; both hunger, poverty and cold. The cage in which each man Is pen ned is made of steel impregnable. Its bars are well (fesiged to seep hip strength when each attempt of con quering hope Is made. And yet they shut not out despair , but let it in, him further to depress Until at length he tries no more but piteously doth sheathe his face, And bids farewell ty all beyond his present stato. Ambition, what haftt thou to ?ay foT thino abune of men? ''The cage id strong and though storm it were impoufcible, Yet on its metal hinge doth hang most ihconspiciously a door. To him whose mind through laboured efforts has been trained There Is a key wtyeh fits and opens wide the door ' And frees this one to fame; while quickly It swings shut, Imprisoning feeb'e, lowly minds, both now and erenoMM." Take Inventory mm of Your PRINTING and send us your order for the various articles you need to bring your requirements up to the standard WE SPECIALIZE IN Commercial Printing OF EVERY DESCRIPTION! Our business has been built on printing of a quality that pleases and service of promptness. Prices in Accordance With Economic Conditions Mntrm JMpssj^ngpr Camden, S C. i