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I t > I VOL XXIII- BARNWELL, SOUTH CAROLINA, THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 30 i899.. NO. •?. P PLATING TOR THR DRINKS . dl^A' MISSISSIPPI SIRAMKR. A Story of the Gambling Day* Befort the War-How a Game of Knchie Led to Diraw Poker. On a bright October morning in tie fifties the good and new steamer Bele Key left her wharf at Louisville »n her maiden trip^to New Orleass. Nothing particularly interesting or re markable transpired until-Cairo, 111., was reached, where there were added to the passenger list four names— George Bennett and Cyrus Poultney, of England, large cotton buyers in the South: Mark Townsend and “Old Bob” Lockard, two of the most famous short card professional gamblers that in fested the river craft in those days. The steamer like all those of the Louis ville and New Orleans Packet line, carried a piano and a string band, com posed of negroes and music, and danc ing prevailed every evening till eleven o’clock, when the card tables were shunted into the foyer, between the ladles’cabin'and the gentlemen's pro menade. The great American game of poker had not yet opened up on the new oat and it was a question of some import who should start the first game. Town send and Lockhard had followed the river for years, and were well known generally by travelers southward by the water route, and poker was not mentioned specifically by those pre sent for the reasop, probably, that in the opening game one or both of the irofessiooais might want to play. ' rom their manner and manouevrlngs they were evidently anxious for a f ame, but not seeing the opportunity bwnsend suggested to Uecnett and Poultney that they make up a game of' euchre “only for the drinks.” Bennett assented, but Poultney declined for the reason that be was not versed in the game. Townsend, Lockhard and Bennett were three. Who would take the fourth band ? “Will you play a game of euchre ?” asked Townsend of a well dreesed, thin vLaged, callow looking youth of about eighteen, who in course of converea tion gave his name as Leslie Brown, of Lexington, Ky. *• 1 don't object, but I am not an expert player, and f have not yet learned to gamble,” answered Mr. Brown. “ You are all right, M returned Towa- lead, “the game la oaiy for the drinks, you know, and gentlemen do not re gard that as gamoiing.'* Townsend and Bennett and Lockard and Browa respect* veiy being cast for partners t&e game began About the fifth deal of the' cards Mr. Bennett said he had what might be regarded as a good poker band in ordinary play of that game "Do you ever play the game?” asked Townsend. "1 have played occasionally at my cluhs la England and with friends else where. Lebould not care to play promis cuously with strangers while travail log, especially in America.” "Certainly not," observed Townsend, casting a furtive glance at I.ockard. • •• Well, sir, what you bet on your hand as against my band ?" asked Browm "I will lay you ten shillings—two Dollars and a half of your coin of the realm,'' putting down a half soverlgn (fold). Along toward the last hand of the third game of the rubber the yooog Kentuckian remarked that he had a better poker hand than the previous one, on which he bet $2 60, and pro posed to wager £> that it was the best /hand out. * " Now, partner,” he said to Brown, “there is the best trump card lajbe deck, and he ought to win for us. Don't let him get away from you If you can help It.” '* No Instructive remarks, please,” said Townsend. This little diversion was doubtless projected for a purpose, which how ever, was not understood by Bennett. If It was Intended to convey any in formation or Instruction to Brown he did appear to notice it. , Looking over his hand Bennett smil ed, saying, “ 1 have here a poker hand on which I might wager a small, amount. "Well, you have taken me into camp twice,” said Brown, “ but I will tackle you again. The third time is the luck charm, as they say in old Kentucky. What do you propose to bet this time ?” "Oh, anything; ten pounds ^f you like, 1 am not particular , “ 1 will see your fifty dollars and go you two hundred and fifty better,” re torted Brown. “Gome, come, now,” broke in Town send, “ 1 and the gentleman from In diana on my left, are still la the game, but we can't keep still under the cir cumstances of the occasion, I may say I have decidedly a good poker hand. I hanker after a little of the chicken pie, and as all appear to be In a spprt ive mood and want to bjt, no doubt, I will have to raise the bet $6001” ' “See here, gentle-men,” piped in old Lockard, who had a'peculiar manner pf accentuating the ends of bis words bf three or mere syllables, “ don’t be too precipl-tate. If we are going to have a. quiet little game' for amuse ment, I too, will signify. I won a pot of money once from a member of Con gress on a hand like this one, and, after ' seeing’ the other bets, I will elevate the pot one thousand good slm- ole-ons, and here they are. Don’t bother about 'calling, gentlemen; there Is no limit to my pletho-ric purse in the consider ate treatment of this favor ite hand.” It was now Bennett’s say^He mused for a moment, looked his hand over carefully, put his cards on the table, one by one, drew from his breast pock et a roll of Bank of England notes, figured the amount due the pot for bets to that point, covered in the same, saylng.'^’M bet 300 pounds ($1,600) more.” .“It is up to you, my young friend from Lexington,” Interjected old Lock ard, looking at Brown with a grin. “ Jeboeephat!” exclaimed the callow young scion of Kentucky sporting blood. “I wish my old governor was here to play my bard. Wonder If I can handle it as he would. Say, gen tlemen, give me this card in the place of one in my hand and l will chip up with you and try to make the game interesting”—pickljg up the jacc of spades, the trump card of the euchre deal. "I have no objections,” said Bennett, calmly. "You can hava it for all I care,” add ed Townsend. “Appropriate it by all means,” drawled old Lockhard. * “ I see I am in for it, so here goes,” said Brown. “I will go broke and just finish the business by ‘seeing* your nets and a raise of $5,000. There it is. the last of an illspent fortune, and I am pot yet twenty-one.” Taking up a w&d of bills from his lap recently placed there by a fifth party. ' "I pass. I am out—‘way out,” said Townsend. “ l was only bluffling and got pinched., I crawfish—lively, too.” “ Gentle-men,^began old Lockhard, “ I believe I have had a little amuse ment, and the substitu-tion of the jack of spades for'another card in his hand by ihy docile young partner from Lex ington I shall never be able to compre hend. ft disturbed the temper and tenor of my play entirely. Gentle-men, I am somewhat declined in the vale of years<, As Byron said, ‘the fruits and flowers of love are gone,’ I may as well add, so are my one thousand good slmole-ons, as my hand is not worth a sou markee as a poker investment. Like Othello in the finale of his check ered career, old ‘ Bob’ cries ‘peocavi 1 and retires.” It was now time for the Englishman to seriously consider the turn affairs had taxen. Manifestly he was not In clined to bet more, and he could not withdraw without considerable loss. Be felt absolutely certain that he had the best hand, especially since Town send and Lockhard, whose methods and manner he did not understand, and for whose.conversation and inter larded remarks he had no liking, bad dropped out. He turned and whispered to Mr. I’auiton, who sat near watching the game. His friend whispered some thing In reply, when he again drew bis roll, took out a thousand pound note, threw it iato the pot, and, looking Brown In the eye laid :*** “My young American you are a plucky fellow, and I don’t like to win your money, but all Is fair In play an in war. 1 suppose I have the best hand, sure. See, four kings and a queen.” ” Not worth a continental. 1 have four aces and a jack.” “ A knave, an arrant knave," said a by stander, and sweeping the money from the table Into his hat, Brown started to move away. The Englishman In consternation and amazement, jumped from his chair, and In a smothered tone asked. What la she name of all the devils In badee did you want with that knave?*’. Brown did not, reply, but walked out through the throng to bis stateroom. To* exc tement was Intense, and scores of men had been watching the game all along with the keenest in ternet. Tbe ladles also came out of their cabib to tbe verge of the foyer to look on the animated scene. Wben they learned that “ the young man ” bad achieved some sort of a victory over the older men they clapped their bands In approbation, although they knew nothing of tbe game. An hour later, after the game had ^een thoroughly disc uses 1 in all Its bearings, B jnnett went to the clerk of the boat, John Wooifolk, and com plained that he bad been robbed, Bow so?” asked Wooifolk. “You played, and bet to win, of course. So did your opponent: Naturally, It ap pears that be played best and woo. If you had any doubts about tbMtandlng of the parties of any susplNbo of un fairness or (mil play, as you admit, you should not hive continued In tbe game. Tnese are matters that the officers of tbe boat cannot possibly control. “ You may assume that the parties are known to us.. Wbat then ? It is not our province to advise you or any pas senger as to card playing on a public waterway. You should have exerciped your own judgment. As to the young man that won your money, we know nothing about him. No one connected with this boat ever saw or beard of him before he came on board at Louis ville. It Is a fact that the other par ties are notorious all over the-West and South. They are unquestionably dangerous characters and their frater nity ramify all the navigable waters from Wheeling, W. Va., to tbe Belize. Bad an officer or employe of this boat Interfered In the slightest'with that game, Involving as It did, thousands of dollars, he would very likely have been marked for assassination tbe first op portunity. Therefore we cannot afford to take such chances./ “ There is no such thing as exclu siveness in steamboat travel. We necessarily have to cater to all classes of white people, and it is not our policy to discriminate in our paqsenger list. If we did we would be compelled to go out of business. .We regret that you lost your money—not an uncommon ac- currence, by any means, on steamboats —but we can do nothing to help you to recover It, if such a thing were possi ble. The parties engaged In the game wlfh you will probably leave the boat at the next landing, although two hive paid their passage to New Orleans and one to Natchez, Miss.” ~ To those acquainted with the game of poker and considering the incidents connected with this game, it is plain that it was a well planned scheme of Townsend and Lockhard to entrap the Englishman and secure his money, no matter by what game or means of play. Having learned at Carlo that they were cotton buyers, the inference was that they had .plenty of money, and they resolved ' to follow them. After getting on the boat they thought perhaps that Bennett and Boulton were too high toned to play poker on a crowded steamboat, and.jthe game of euchre was suggested. Neither Townsend nor Lockhardt had any considerable amount of money. Certainly not enough for the purposes of the game as played. It was believed that Brown had not more than, $20. Luckily for the projectors game they encountered a man cash galore, who came on boanl the boat at Columbus, Ky., a “ gentleman gambler,’* “Colonel Tom'” Claiborne, a wealthy planter of Mississippi. Upon an understanding by him of the scheme he agreed to furnish the funds neces sary. It was he who placed the roll in Brown’s lap with tbe writing attached: —“ Be careful and don’t bet mere than IfLOOO at a time. < The strangest part of this affair is that heither Townsend nor Lockhai ever saw young Brown before the game of euchre was made up, and there could not possibly have been any collusive arrangement or understand ing between them. Believing that Brown might be a pliant tool for their purpose, they used him. How readily h« caught on and took the measure of the game has been shown.—New York Herald. , HR SAW THE FALLING STARS He Was Fox Hunting at the Time- Ban For Shelter in Great Fear. A~ correspondent of the Richmond. Dispatch says that ex-mayor John W. Haughawout, of Lexington, Va., who celebrated his 85th anniversary on Thursday, November 2,1899, was a wit ness of the great meteoric shower which took place In 1833. He is the oldest native born Inhabitant of Lex ington, 'and is a vigorous man yet, and Is to be seen dally on the streets en gaged In conversation or greeting his numerous friends. Be has a vivid re collection of the “ failing of the stare,” as the old people called the meteoric storm of that time, which happened on the morning of Nov. 11, 1833. He takes great delight in telling his ** great fright ” on that occasion, and says he certainly wanted to see the display which is predicted to take place either today or within the next few days On the day preceding the “ falling of tbe stars” “Old Buck” bad made arrange ments with a boon companion of his by the name of Tldd, an old field school mate for a fox hunt and chase the next morning. "Old Buck” Is even now known as the mighty hunter Of Rock bridge County, amLposslbly with the exception of the past two years has never failed to t^e his annual deer hunt. In order to get an early start, which was at 3 o'clock In the morning, " Old Buck ” spent the night with Tidd, but on arising found that Tidd could not go, as he was sick.' He would not miss the sport of running tbe'foz, and went alone, but first woke the echoes with his horn, which brought forth his pack of fourteen well-trained hounds. .Vlth tbe hounds be struck for the Brushy Hills, about two miles away. The woods then extended to within a short dis tance of Lexington. Near where the present reservoir stands he loosed his bounds, and their music soon rang out la tbe morning air as they struck tbe trail. Be followed, crossing hill and dale, until the summit was reached, where he sat down to rest and listen to the bounds as they ran around first one hill and then another, back and forth. Tbe night was perfectly clear, and the heavens were bedecked with stars, hlcb twinkled aad sparkled. “Old Buck ' mused and finally looked up at the heavens, when suddenly a star ap peared to leave Its position and fly across the heavens, leaving a streak like a rocket, then disappear in the west. This did not disconcert him In the least. Another star, much more brilliant than Its predecessor, shot eastward. Then several chased across. Matters were now getting Interesting, but not exactly pleasant. Bo*eral more took “a shoot,” and this brought "Old Buck “ to his feet with great sudden ness. Be no longer heard his hounds; he ^ps all eyes. Could there be any- 3 Be had M Defer been to thing wron^ many “’falling stars” at once. Tbe stars 90W began to move In droves, and those chills which many a one has ex. perlenced when frightened began to run races up and down his spinal col umn. Tbe stars now began to fall to the treetope, and the chills Increased in proportion, perspiration beaded his forehead. The stars next began to fall at hts feet, and now his hat rested not on hts head but upon hls hair, which stood straight up. The trees stood fortb- llke gigantic devils, aad everything was stars, stars, stars, ^tars. Bis past life moved before him like a rapidly-, moving panorama. The reason for the leaves not taking fire was that they were yet damp with dew. Thus he rea soned until a star struck him on bis arm. He smelled to see If ht co«ld de tect the sulphur. There was nothing to indicate it. By now tbe stars were falling like the flakes of a terrific snow storm. Then he thought that judg ment day had come. Down the moi^n- taln-slde be rushed headlohg, over logs, rocks, and brush. Through briers he dashed ; cothing stopped him in his mad flight. Thus fpr a mile or more be raced along until the reservoir hill was reached, and then he turned and expected to see the everlasting hills in full blaze. Be saw their outlines, but no fire, leaping with Its all-devouf- ing tongues. Nothing but the .“rain of stars not abated.in the least. He again turned hi* face towards Lexing ton and pressed on with greater vigor —thinking that to be with his friends was better than to be alone. Lexing ton’s outline* appeared, and again no conflagration was going on—nothing but the storm of " falling stars ” and the brilliant glare. On he pressed, as streaks of dawn, heralds of approach ing day, appeared In the east. Through Wood’s creek he dashed and up the hill he pressed. Lexington was reach ed, and the houses stood intact, and the storm was abating. As he reached tpe main" street the stars had disap peared, and tbe day was breaking* An old resident hailed him from across the street and asked him where he had been at such an early hour. He re plied that he had been to a neighbor 1 * to get hls gun. This was passingly strange, for from the distant hills came the music of the hounds, and the old man remarked upon it, an dsald that he feared that “ Old Buck,” >bad been a- “ falling stars ” Admiral Dewey Has Fallen Under Condemnation of Hls Friends—He Protests Against the Treatment Re ceived from tbe 1’nblio. The txansfer of the gift bouse in Washington from Admiral Dewey to his wife caused a great deal of indig nation, which was not allayed the next day when Mrs. Dewey made a deed of gift to the son, George G. Dewey. The resentment of the contributors was general, and attacks upon tbe Admiral in the Washington and New York papers were acrimonious and scath ing., A protest in the Washington Star said that! the contributors had reason to think that the home would go 10 the Admiral^ son,-Georgn -D^.AJuUellihn^nhomore crass" of Rutie to a brand new wife taken in bk old 1^ wherTTTrari^eiHTIeErni age. But they were not appeased - - — when tbe new wife made tbe transfer to his son, and many odd and sensa tional rumors were flying about the city. One report had It that tbe transfer was made to preserve the house, as Admiral Dewey feared a suit for breach of promise will be instituted against him by a lady employed In the bureau of equipment, of which the Ad miral was the head before he was as signed to the charge of the Asiatic squadron in 1897. U was stated upon wbat appeared to be reliable authority that an engagement of marriage ex isted between the two at the time of the Admiral’s departure from this country more than two years ago. There is deep regret mingled with the Indignation, but no one felt called up on to defend hls cause, and even hls best friends admitted that he has shown bad taste In the matter, to say the least. In a desperate iffort to stop criticism of hls action Admiral Dewey caused a statement to be made that he intended to transfer his home to bis son. George, but In order to avoid any legal cimpli cations it was first necessary to give the home to bis wife and then for her to transfer It to tbe son. Unfortunately tbe Idea got in the minds of the peo ple that the transfer was with the un derstanding that Mrs. Dewey would, In time, give the house to the Roman Catholic church, which has been anx ious for some time to acquire the pro perty as a parsonage. Sne Is a Catho lic convert, which magnified the part she might have played la tbe transfer and to accentuate tbe feeling against her. Mrs. Mildred Dewey, the Admiral’s Ife, signed the papers transferring e property to the Admiral’s non, aad >e home passed Into the legal con trol of tbe young man. It is said that Admiral and Mrs. Dewey will oootlnpe to occupy It fora time, but that they 111 eventally move out aad take up their residence in the elegant mansion of Mrs. Dewey, which is located In a more fashionable section of tbe city. Mrs. Dewey Is Immensely wealthy, and In addition to a magnificent city house she owns a beautiful country place, where the Deweys will no doubt live during tbe summer months. ■ Admiral Dewey felt compelled to come out In an Interview la which he makes complaint against what he claims to be the unjust and unpardon able condemnation of hls course In transferring hls bouse to bis wife, who subsequently transferred the property to tbe Admiral's son, George. The Admiral displays considerable temper in hls condemnation of the newspapers * ‘ e public for criticising his action, eclares that he would not have accepted the house had he understood that a string was attached to it. He claims tBh right to dispose of it accord - Ing to hls own Ideas, and he believed be was doing an act which aould meet universal approval by giving the house to hls wife so she might have the pleas ure of bestowing it upon hts son Tbe Admiral made the following remarkable state ment : While I was a hero two Months ago I am now reduced to such a posi tion that certain people cannot say things too vtlllaoous, too scnrrilouk about me ; and no one defends me. If I was so much of a hero then and the American people thought wail enough of me to give me this house, why do not 'Some of those people defend me now ? x If I had known how much trouble, how much villanous abuse was to come upon me as tbe result of accepting this bouse 1 would never have taken It at the bands of the American people/ When I sailed Into Manila Bav over dangerous'‘grounds, with death and even worke in front of us, I little thought that In such a brief period of time after I returned tor my native land tbe American people would counten ance such monstrous atttacks upon me because I was doing what I considered to be the most gracious thing I could do, to present my borne to my bride. “I do not Intend to arraign the entire American people for tbe acts of a few, but I am hurt; I am cut to tbe quick. I never felt iso badly In all my life, t want the American people to know it. want them to know thatjf I could I would return to tbe contributors to the fund the house purchased with it. I would never in the world have accept ed It if I had known what it would cost me. If I should feel to-morrow as I feel to-night, 1 would cut it all, throw up everything, go on tbe retired list and go abroad. In fact I feel so dis couraged, so worn out to-night that I scarcely know what I will do. I hardly feel like living in a country where 1 can be attacked in such an outrageous manner without being defended by any one.” He tbs THE DEWEY HGME MUDDLE. THE LATE VICE PRESIDENT. Daring a Brief Official Garner Became Quite Popular With Senators, The death of Garrett A. Hobart, vice president of the United States, which occurred at bis home in Paterson, N. J.,on the 21st inst., was not entirely unexpected, but there was general sorrow thronghout the country when the announcement was made, as Mr. Hobart bad won the respect of all sections in a brief official career. Garrett A. Hobart was born at Long Branqh, N. J., oh Jane 3, 1844. As a child he attended, the common school, making rapid headway In his studies. At 12 years of age he had finished the village school and was sent to a neigh boring classical school to prepare for college. In 1859 he was ready to enter ‘ _ers Col- _ . determinedTQ send him. He entered Rutgers In 1860, and graduated In 1803, at the age of 19, taking a.high stand in all hls studier. Shortly afterward he began school teaching at Marlboro. - He went to Paterson In 1863, and began the study of law with Socrates Tuttle, a leading lawyer of the town and an old friend of hls father. In 1871, with Paterson in the control of the Democrats, Socrates Tuttle was elected Mayor of tbe city, and Mr. Ho bart was chosen as clerk of the City Council. He gave such satisfaction there that In 1871 he was elected coun sel for the ooard of freeholders. In the fall of the same year he was select ed as one of the most available men In his party as a candidate fer the lower house of the State Legislature. He was elected by the largest majority ever given a Republican candidate. He took a leading part in that body. In 1873 be was re-elected, and when the Legislature met in 1874 he was elected Speaker In 1876 the Republi cans put him up as their candidate for tbe State Senate, and he was elected. He was re-elected In 1879, and ia 1881 was elected president of the Senate, and re-elected la 1882. His decisions while In the chair were seldom ques tioned and were never reversed. He ac complished much In the way of legisla tion for hls constituents, and proved one of the most popular presiding offi cers and legislators the State ever had. Mr. Hobart five times declined nomi nations to Congrets. An attempt was made to secure hls nomination for Governor in 1892, but thin also failed. Be also declined in 1896, aad did every thing he could for bis friend and neigh bor, John W. Griggs, the present At toroey General of tbe United Stales. In 1876 Mr. Hobart waa-a delegate at large from hi.* State to the Republican national convention. In 1880 he wen again a delegate to the natioua. con ventlon, from the beginning of hls ca reer being an ardent supporter of James U. Blaine, in 1884, as a dele gate at large, he had the satisfaction of seeing hls friend nominated for the Presidency. That was tbe year be bt> came a member of the national com mlttee that be might give bis time and money to tbe election of Blaine. Be was a delegate at ail later national con* ventions. ' Mr. Hobart’s work as chairman of the Republican State committee la the election of Gov. Griggs, won tor him such unstinted praise that the Re publicans of the State at once began to agitate hls name as a Vice Presidential candidate. The Republican State con vention of April, 1896, unanimously de clared for Hobart for a place on the national ticket. At Vice President Mr. Ucbart pre sided over tbe Senate with great dig nity and to thn highest satisfaction. Bn made a place.for himself in Wash ington such as few Vice Presidents have held, being admitted to the close councils of the Presldnet and taking a prominent part in all the administra tion’s affairs. In society he has been especially prominent and has relieved tions. BILL ARP IN MISSISSIPPI. REPUBLICANS WILL CONTROL, —Siberia, long looked frozen waste, is becoming a Mecca for Immigrants. Tnel hunting,.and that tbe “ falling stars ” Mecca for immigrants. Their bad chased hlm'^iome in irts fright, iaaiyear was 400,000 and with This eventful chase adrved at a joke ing faculties of travel the mi for years to. come with tbe old people thitT —nevertheless, the “ stars fell.” —“ The lies the blamed newspapers publish about’us‘” said one poliiidan to another, “ Is (enough to drive a man to drink.” “Yea, that’s so,” replied tbe other; “ hot still we have no cause for oomptaint.” “ Why not?” asked the first, in surprise. ” Well, it might be much worse,” wes the reply, ” they might publish tbe truth.” upon as a veritable elr number increas movement ther is lllcely to become of a volume comparable to the flow of population toward the United States at its high eat. The sttractlens ere fertility of •oil and mineral wealth. Between Tomsk and Kooznesk lie 23,167 square miles of ooal lands, while tbs existence of Ijgm ore yielding as high as 60 per cent, in close proximity to coal in the Amor territory, gives promise of An industrial future. Wheat ripens In the region of Jrkntek within 107 days aad the cold season lasts only 97 days. He Talks With a Northern Man and Differs With Him About the Next Presidential Election. The Other night f dropped down from Chattanooga to Meridian. It is over 300 miles, but It seemed like e dropping down, for the fast train on the Alaba ma Great Southern carried me there In less than eight'hours while I slept. Beautiful oars and a smooth track made the trip a pleasure even to a veteran. I had some flattering calls to the cotton belt of Alabama and Mis sissippi, aod as tbe larder wse low atd tbe family purse looked like an ele phant had trod on It, and taxes were to pay and coal to buy, and my female folks were In need of winter garments, my wife said 1 had better go. That settled it, and here I am in Merldan. -Many yaara have passed,stone .1,.visited this growing city and I hardly recog nized it. It has since grown from 800 to 18,000 people, and now puts on me tropolitan airs, for It Is the largest town In Mississippi. It used to be a dirty place, and was a dug-out for sa loons aod disreputable quarters. Six years ago there wes agrtat awakening and tbe saloons were abolished and many of those who supported them left for parts unknown. Grass didont grow In tbe streets as was predicted, but tbe town look en new life. Mr. Dial was elected mayor on temperance prlnci- would frlghtpo many people tot afraid of germs. Yet the E rl s Ghosts who are not afraid of germs, germ Is a real danger. It this macro scopic animalism oould be maginfled to a size in proportion to its deadlinssa it would show like a giant pyihon, or fire breathing dragon. The one fact to remember is that the germ it power- levs to harm the body when the blood is pure. It is far easier to keep the germ out than to drive It out after It obtains a bold in tbe system. Dr. Pierce’s Golden Medloal Discovery Is the most powerful and perfect of blood purifying medicines It increases tbe quantity as well as tbe quality of the blood, and enables the body to resist difeaee, or to throw it off IT disease has obtained a footing in some weax organ. vVberever the digestion is impaired, tbe nutrition of’the body is diminished, for the blood is made from the food which is eaten, and half digested food cannot supply the body with blood in quantity and quality jwlequate to Its needs. For4his condition there U no remedy equal to “Golden Medical Dis covery.” It cures ninety-eight out of every hundred persons who give it a fair trial. When there is constipation Dr. Pierce’s Pleasant Pellets will promptly relieve and permanently cure. . „ —At present the two greatest rail way tunnels of the world are those piercing the St. Gothard and Mont Cenls. It will not now be many years before that other great mountain of the Alpine range, the Simplon, will also be pierced, so that men may pass to and fro in trains beneath it* mighty summit. The operations, it is true, are progressing slowly, but steadily, and surely. More than 2,600 men are there at work. The length of the cutting a$ tbe north end is now about 1,500 yard*, that at the south end only about 800 yards, The work is now progressing at th$ rate of five yards a day at each end. It is impossible to foretell the ■probablwdets ol.completion, owing to the changing nature of the strata; but when the two gangs of workmea meet In the middle they will have completed the lohgest tunnel In the world, for they will have cat through thirteen miles of mountain. —Moses Thatcher, the Salt Lake City millionaire, who has stsrtsd a 40,- 000-acre cattle-ranch in Chihuahua, Mexico, though a nun of good fauilv and education, began life as a ranch hand and at one time was considered the best cattle expert ia the West. The United States Senate Will Now Pees Under tbs Control of Um Re- Republican Party. At the beginning of the approach ing session of Congress there wUl be almost e complete reorganization of the United States Senate, as that body for the first time in maay years will . or pro- stead of thirty-three. They E m under the complete control of the ipnbllca bllcans pu n bllcans. The majority of tbe Re- wlll be not less than sixteen, pies and a' system of public works was at once Inaugurated. Since tben fifty miles of sewerage bas been laid aod thirty miles of sidewalk paved and twelve block of streets graded nod paved with chert. Two cotton mills and an oil mUl and a fertiliser factory and a splendid sy.tem of waterworks have been established. Six large boHdings for tbe public schools have been erected. Two female colleges have been planted there. The new city has gasworks aod street oars, and new residence# with handeome ar chitecture are In sight on all the high lands that environ the city, I never knew before that there wee a hill with in miles of MerL 1 to,?but there are aot only bills, but a mile or two south there are mountain r dgee like those In upper Georgia, aod from these come the gushing springs that supply tbs city with the purest water. There Is no Mtter kept hotel than the Sonth- era—rood fare, good beds, good ser- vlceot every kind—and what was beet of all to me the people gave me a good sudleooe, all select, especially the eighty college girls who came array,d Is college uniform. I saw more 001100 yesterday thas 1 ever saw before at see time aod place. Meriden oomprese- ei aod markets 160,(X.O holes, and half of It Is there now Is tbs warehouses and outside. Much of It has bees sold, but oasoot be moved for lack of oars. Cotton Is still king. w While at breakfast this moralag two Northern men took seals at tbe same table aod one remarked: “ This town Is on a boom. They are building all over It ” “ Yes,” said the other, " the whole South Is on the upgrade, and If it keeps os Bryns won’t carry a sisgls Southern Stale.” Well, they wsre lor McKinley, of oouree, but they will know by waiting. A Northern mas who has never been South finds much to Interest aod astonish him. Not long ago Mayor Dial took one over iho'city and neked him wbat be would Ilka to sue specially. He replied that he would like very much to see where the negroes lived aod how they lived. So the mayor drove up to negro town, where he saw numerous women aod children aod heard them laughing and talking merrily. “What ore they laugh.m - t.r .u>, j.rtxi “1 dldeol know they ever laughed.” “ Why,' said Mr. Dial, “ they faugh all the day long ; they laugh at aoy th*ng.” “ Is it possible?” exclaimed the Yankee. “ Supppooe we stop and ask them what they are laughing nbool? My curi osity is greatly excited.” Sa the mayor stopped, and calling one of the women tbe North—up In God’s country—and says he dldeot know that the negroes down here ever laughed, and he wants to know what you were all laughing about as we drove up." This, of course, provoked another spell and all they got out of them was that " Jinny axed Handy which was de meet alike a ’possum or a 000a?” Tbe stranger wal profoundly impressed, and made a note In hls memorandum book. Mr. Dial says the new law about vot ing works well in Mlsslselppl, aod has ceased to excite any comment or dis sent. The negro population of Merl dlan Is about equal to the white, bnt there are only aojut fifty colored voters —most of these are teacher, preachers and barbers. Aboat eighty registered the first year after the law passed, but the number'has decreased from year to year, and the negro has long sines ceased to take any interest In politics. Quite a number of white men have re tired from registration because they can’t swear that they have paid their taxes for the two past years. Mr. Dial says that the registrar’s office was in hls office, and that officer was uniform ly considerate toward the negroes who applied. Some of them who couldent read made right good answers when called on to explain a danse in the constitution, and If he was a good ne gro he was questioned very lightly and was admitted. Bat some who oould read mlfeed It a mile and were reject ed. The law, he said, was harder on a poor trifling white man than it wa, on a thrifty, industrious negro. Bnt nobody makes any fuss aboat It poses to change It. Well, I have been impatiently wait ing on the stars, but do not believe that this is the year for the meteors— my books do not say so. Humboldt is pretty high authority, and so is Apple ton’s cyclopedia, and both say the pe riodic interval is thirty-four years in- They fell la 1799 display in and in the event of, the death of Sena tor Haywood, of Nebraska, It will not fall below fourteen. At present, under n compromise effected during the’lest Congress, when neither the Republi cans nor Democrats had a clear ma jority, but the Populists aod silver Re publicans holding the balance of pow er, the Republioars were given the Presidency pro tempore of the Senate, minor officials, such as secretary, aer- geant-at arms, postmaster and chap lain. The present chairmen of the Senate committees are divided among the various parties, the Republicans having all the important chairman ships. When the new Senate convenes by the retirement of several Senators who failed of re-election, there will bo much shiftiug about In the Senate as signments. Tbe selection of Senate committees Is outdone in the manner established by the House bf Ripreeea- tatlves, where tbe Speaker appoints all of the members of tbe committees, both for the majority and minority, but in the Senate the members of the committees for the majority aad minority are ohoeen by the caucus of the respective parties. As to the organisation of the Senate there Is no donbt hot Senator Prye, of Maine, will be chosen again to be Pre sident pro tempor*. Secretary Cox, who comes from North Carollaia, wUl he replaced by a Republican official, and It is likely that a Republican ser geant-at-arms will be chosen to sno- Col. Bright, of Indiana. Col. Bright, however,4g very popular both with the Republicans aad Demoorau, and bis long service in the Senate chamber has rendered him a most effijisst officer There will doabtlsss be a strong effort made to retale him le the offloe of the sergeant-el arms, aod ha Is likely to have tbs support of •oms of the Republican Senators. After all ths organisation of the Senate Is not so much along political line# as la ths Heuoe. No matter which pe-ty Is la aoatrol of ths Senate ihare are always to be found upon the rolls the names of Democrats aod Re publicans. Tbe Seeete recognises efficiency of service to n much greeter exteol thas does tbe lower Hoeoe, •here politics always reigns supreme. Postmaster James A. Crystal of ths Senate Is another popular official, bet It le said on good eetoorllv that whes the reorganisation of ths Senate takas olsce that be will probably oe obliged to step down nod out. There will pro bably be no change la ths offloe of chaplets.' Ths present chaplain of ths Sena Vs Is Dr.* Mil burn, ths vener able blind divine, aad he Is well known to members of both the Senate aad Bouse. He served for three terms as chaplain of ths House of R preeseta tlvre, being ohoeea first by a Deeso- crslle Congress to succeed Rev. Dr. lowers, who wes 1’resident Garfield’s pastor. When tbe House passed under the control of the Republicans aa effort was made by the Republicans to oust him from the chaplaincy of the House, but whes the vote was takes enough Republicans voted for Mil- barn to re-elect him by a large ma jority.- Later he wee ohoeea chaplain of the Senate aod he was succeeded in the House by Rev. Henry N. Coudsa, who Is also blind. Unless Chaplain Mllburu decides to volnstarlly with draw there Is not much doubt but that he will agale be choeee chaplain of the Senate. It is not likely that the organise- tloo of the Senate will taka place for ag of the —Aooordlog to aa official report of tha United Statesiconeul general at Stock holm, the government of Sweden own* and operates 2.284 miles of railway, the rolling stock of which oonslstsof 502 locomotives, 428 baggage oars, 882 passenger coaches, 8 dining oar$, 46 postal wagons, 6 combined coaches aad baggage, 21 prison vans, 216 fiat oars, and 12,161 freight oars. The aamal profits daring the forty-three years of G vernment oweership of the railways ve averaged more than one aad oaa* third million dollars in Amartoea money, besides Abe accumulation of a fund of $2,282,164 for ponsloalag am* f iloyee retired on account of age or ia* ary, and n fond of $2,079,219 lor tha relief of widows and ohUdrea of de ceased employes. —An exchs and in 1833 end 1867, *JHb ■ until 1901—year after next. Aod the anniversary was 12th and 13th Novem ber, which has already passed. I re member well the fall in 1833 and would like to see another before I die, and I I wish my wife and children to see one. It is a grand and solemn sight. ' Bill Arp. —Some£people consider it wrong to marry for money, yet all miniskirt do it. - ' ' ange says a gentleman la- friends to dinner, aad ae the colored servant entered the roosa he accidentally dropped a platter which held a turkey. ." My friends,*' said the gentleman, " never la my life have I witneeeed an event so fraught with disaster to the various, nations of the globe. In this calamity we see the downfall of Turkey, the upsetting of Greece, the destruction of China, and the humiliation of Africa.’* —By the falling of aa aerolite, seven miles south of Cresoent City, I1L, the residence of John Meyers was partially wrecked and the neighborhood was panic stricken. The meteor came from a point in tbe sky a little east of south and struck the north end of the house, tearing: away a part of thn upper story. The aerolite burled itself in Abe ground about three feet from the fouadatioa Of the house. ^ —The tobeooo growers la Florida will Increase tbe acreage in tobaooo next year. Tbe Cuban aad seed for cigar leaf Aru 1 adapted to the Florida is the chief agricultural prod aot ia the northern and western porttouu uC the State, and the erop tn far merup** fi table thaa oranges were before the great fretse of several yean «ffa> The I is AMffater! will eon vises ths 1 just ths rob they have * and not 1