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rv^? CAMDEN, S. C., THURSDAY. DECEMBER 7, 1905 4 ? ? S1.5Q Per Year* ^ITTLr'ME.BEllEVE j A ) Mfl 1 r c- A CHILD BF TOE SL-UNtS. irF y ':::::; by b. l. fahjeon. ? ? ? ? V t CHAPTER II. ( Continued. Mty~ QJetrei opened bis eyes wMe, and then, with a broad grin, gently laid tiffe forefinger or hk fig tut fcnatl ou, tbe ihigbt side pf Ui? Hurdle1 n?cf i "Polly," be shonted, "here's Mr. Dex ter wants to know bow you are I" "Oil, \'m all right," salrf t?olly, mak ing t^r appearance at the floor, and looking flown upon the two men. "A^id-bow do yer find yourself, Mr. Dext*?" In hla confusion Thomas Dexter ' re plied: "I'ta as well as can be expected, Polly.- r' i T L f f I An answer which sent her Into fits of ' laughter. Now this laughter was sweet music In fhohias Dexter's earn, and Polly Clearer* a vision of loveliness in his eye*.,*/ Hoc/ bair was batigiug loose, her boots Were down at liecl, and she was In a. general state of untidiness, but Venue herself in negligee could not Unve more -completely enthralled hlm.*~ Polly .continued to laugh, holding her aides, aud presently tottered down a step two, and cried: ? ? "Keteli me, Mr. Dexter, oi^T sliaR fall." ? He'nothi ng loath, caught lier to his licart^S&hicli went a thousand a uiisi ute. *|r> 4 r ( . (/ , . Polly" -had not ht|d;i n bis ?arms as a longiaa^shc could cottnt three before Rhe k*eW what was the matter with him.' These inspirations of knowledge are woman's peculiar gift. * * "I thought," she simpered, Joo>k|n? ui- , Into ^'bomas Dexter's face, without at temptta^ to release herself from his embMTO "that yer might be going to ask me to go to church with yer." "Tl^jupt whatJUs/iouJd Ufce>? a*k yer. tfAiyT 4id Tl??pa?sDexteiV "WelT< then?' exclaimed "Mr. Cleavct. w h il#'- ' Poller "J Ifirtghed ' "fihraodera tefV, jvedding dressnnade? if you give us the money for' ifjf Something f.kl match?maffng. tliig " Striking the *il:onfflUip heftdraio sliillyo shallWng. % 4 I fsi * v.-* Sudden as it was. it accorded with ThotnAs Dexter'.j humor. "I don't 111 hid do}ng that," he re- ' spomted. holding Polly tigLt. "What ?lo yfljl say, Poliy?" "U'ttit do you say, Mr. Dexter';" | Cskei|fr Polly, |reneijg. She was inclined' to look iip^n the wholes ffaflr fls a J'olre, though the pros pect of the present of the wedding tlressjpad caught her fancy. "I sjl.v, will y< r have me, Polly';" "1 den't mind." answered Polly, gaz ing iiAvonder at her ardent lover, add ing ?L|>tckly, "if you're not joking with me." ? "lie# better not " said Mr. Cleaver, spitting in the palm of his right band and nrihbing that and the palm of his left together? an action which every Briton* understands. "If he makes a fool at my Polly I'll have it out of hliu."*? "Yoy shut v.p, father," exclaimed Polly. f.'Tm old cuough to take care of myMlf." "Whqt!" cried Tnomas Dexter, point ing tojrolly, who Lad released bersoif and wj|s now standing a little apart from lMni. "Make a fool of a gal like that! tjyvbat do yon take me for?" "Walt a bit," said Polly; "I'm con sidering." Theft was the new dress; there was the excrement of a wedding; there was the noftlty of getting married. Alth^iligb she had had any number of lovers, iiot one had ever asked her to marry him. "Do |Tbu mean," Inquired she, plant ing lier two lists in her sides, "without any gatbuion. that yer want ter marry me?" , "That*s the way to put it." aatr. tdr. Cleaver, with approving nodal "It's exactly whnt I do mean." said Thomas Dexter, In r.n imploring tone, as though scarcely dating WbjMflmt such bliss could fall to bis share. "If you sny yes I shall be the happiest man in Clare Mfcrkcti'^ ? # . t "I'd like to seejt^q ijiaii fcfd flfepiite it," snld Ifr. Cleaver. "Whoever gets my Polly gets a treasure." "You needn't shove your spok? In, father. Air. Deater^ knows nil about me; he wasn't fbt>ru?yeRll?r<^nJ^?? * t ( * "Thatfa ftiiej Pmly," said Thohils Dexter, flomewbat ruefully, "I'm 'a good bit older than you." "Ob, that don't make no difference," snld Polly, sera Idling her head. "Yer won't cry off, will yer? You'll give me a, dress r' . ' "I'll give yer two," said Thomas Dex. ter, eagerly. "I'll take {cm; 1 ain't proud. And ar. you're serious as ail that about it I'll have yer. Yiircf'u* a \lss." He gave her .1 dozen, and while I his was golug on Mr. Clearer sat on the stairs jindVheff tear*, which he con sideMl 'to be t lie regulation duty of a tnlhpv, especially of the father of such a girl as Polly. "The>t?. that's enough," snld Polly, pus. ilng TImvik'.s Dexter away. "You're n:n:p!vd nie ad oyer. YouULbest make yourself sc.it*, you nnfl Lilllei> v. li h I tidy riykeif a>yblf."l J / , ( ? , j "Mo::-;u-fiw," said Mr. Cleaver. dal>- J kiutf hit c?ea with a eolored huudker 1 chief, "you've got the price of a pint ?bout jer. The proper thing to do is to wet the match." > "I've no objection," said infatuated Thomas Dexter. "Come along, then," aaifl Mr. jCleavcr, seizing Thomas Dexter and hurrying him downstairs; "we'll drink Tolly's health.", , < ; * "fctop a minute," cried Polly; "I'll Jlne yer. If anybody ought to be in this It's me." How many times they drank Polly's health and how many healths they drank after Polly hud been sufficiently toasted la not easy to aay. What Thomas Dexter had good. cause to remember was that he rose the next morning with a splitting headache, and that three weeks afterward he and Polly Cleaver were married. - They lived together for just two months, and then they parted. The plain truth is that Polly ran away. When Thomas Dexter awoke from [ his dream and discovered his mistake I he tried to make the best of it. 1 He rftnonsfrated and argued with Polly, but his remonstances were thrown away upon her, and her argu ments were utfojiger, than ids? consist lug of anything In the hardware* Hue she could lay her hands on. She was at ouce incorrigible and honest. "I) was xlever cut out for a married ' woman," she suid. She had old acquaintances whom ?*he would not give up "for the best man that ever wore shoe leather." Among' these acquaintances was Holy Joe, a costermouger, so called because he was la the luibit of making an open scoff of religion. "I've made a bad bargain," sighed Thomas Dexter. lie did not mount long. Now that his eyes.were opened, his fear was that ?Polly vould come back from time to time, aud make his life intolerable. ' Her father made many efforts to in duce her to extract money from her husband, but sho woidd not listen to | him. . T^cn.Jdr. Cleaver endeavored to oli l&iu a hold n 'f !iomas Dexter by going 10 Win and reviling Polly, but Mr. Dexter would have nothing to do with him. The end of Mr. Cleaver was that lie died of a day's work. In the course of tw.? or three years Thomas Dexter almost forgot Polly en tirely, almost .forgot tiiat he haul ever 'been married, almost forgot that lie had ever been in love. lie could undoubtedly have been re-% leased'by law from the yoke of matri mony had he sued foy a divorce, but Up would not trouble himself. From that time forward he thought no more of women. A seal was put upon his romance, in its s:?nt inioniiiJ .ispect, which was never to be ic uiovcd. CHAPTEU III. A Little Pretender. As much as is necessary to be known of Thomas Dexter's early history be ing disclosed. Little Make-Ileiieve claims attention. Come, then, into the light. flower of the gutter, and show yourself to nunc customed. eyes. Those that are ill the linblt of seeing you take so little notice of you tluit the doubt may well arise whether, as a study, you arc in any way interesting. You are so familiar ? figure that, like the fixing of tbc >uu, but small regard is paid to you. ?A grand simile. Little Make-Believe*, be proud of It. if in your humble soul you can tlnd room for pride in any thing. But here and there, young child, there beats a pulse of tenderness for you which may one day be of benefit to your sister flowers, of whom there arc myriads. Come, and let the light shine p:i von. ? j 'to g*ic? such as you by comparing yoM'to a flower may excite ridicule. A very weed iu appearance, whose rippeiifran'oe mars the loveliness of the g:i icon. Nevertheless, you began as great #oV.la tegsit, and there wcr# In you possibilities of worthy things which ulglit one day have ripened into beauty. No time, however, for Idle specula tion, I u the midst of a world of y*hjioi* you stand clearly out, a stern fdef. It Is the fashiou with many to call you a problem, and tnough you will hardly believe yourself to be of Importance, you are, iu the aggregate, a hiost tfnffniddble figure in the social ?ystem of to day. At all etcnts she wa? not an indo lent creature: she worked, being, like Thomarf, Dexter., a general dealer. But her bualiicss wfts much more circumscribed than his, and Iny in quite a different direction. Hbe dealt only In one article, belnjif brlthstonely conservative: that article was matches. One ball-penny a box. Of a farthing. W anything you chose to give her. A gentleman once gave her sixpence for a bdfc, and when she said, with a shake of her hend, "I ain't got no change, ?lr," told h*r that he did not want any, and walked away. This was so wonderful an event that she talked of It for montha afterward, and would often conjure up Imnglnary sixpence* for Imaginary (Matt. > / Sometimes she had no matches t? sell. Then she went about pretending. But, as you alrerdy know, she did thut at other times, as well. She had a father, who was such a favorite with publicans and policemen that they very rarely let him out of their sight. ? They played with him as they would have played at trap, bat and ball. From publican to policeman, when the publican was douc with him, and from policeman to publican, when the police* man was done with him, was as regu larly to be depended on as the chang; lug of day into night and night Into day. ? Which suggests a comparison be tween Little Make-Believe's father and the earth, the observable difference be ing that when Little Make-Believe's father turned rouud ou his axis It was with a. more eccentric motion than Ave attribute to the earth. Generally lu his movements, and especially when the publican passed him on to the po liceman, mathematical niceties were conspicuous by their absence. When the policemau passed him back to the publican he exhibited a more improved method, which, as a rule, lasted no longer than an hour. Speaking In a comprehensive sense^ with a wide application in view, pub licans and policemen would be very badly off were It not for Little Make Believe's father. Half of them would have to shut up shop, for it is a fact that, under Providence, he is the princi pal means of supplying them with their daily bread. If they have a spark of gratitude iu them they ought to go down upon their knees every night of their lives and thank God for seuding them Little Make-Believe's father. She had no mother. Perhaps she ought to have thanked Cod for that. Notwithstanding the fondues of pub licans nnd policemen for her father. Little Make-Belicve did not live alone. She had a sister, a year and a half younger than herself. This sister's name was originally Sarah Anne. Now, by a singularly happy twist. Little Make-Believc had invested this somewhat plebeian name with quite an aristocratic llavor. She called her sister Saranne. Beat that, if you can, you Smiths and you Swytbcs. It is a fact that Little Make-Believe was always pretending and living for a great portion of her time an inner life, as it were; she did not envy the Queen. There was one advantage in having a father. It devolved or him to pro vide a home for his children. This home, in the matter of sent, cost him on an average about eighteen p<yice a week, which he sometimes paid and sometimes iHdu't. Generally didn't. It was invariably other at the very top or the very bottom o ? the house; never in the middle. Now it was a garret, now a cellar. Al the present time it was a cellar, riaving provided this home, he pro vided nothing else. That was Little Makc-lJelieve's af fair. He hired a roof lor his daughters to sleep under, and then, metaphori cally, he washed lu? hands of them. Otherwise, he seldom washed his hands. But, although he gave his children a roof, by strange oversight he did not give them a lied. The builder did that ? the bare boards. , Saranne was a beautiful child, with a lovely month, curly hair, large, gray, wistful eyes, and a skin as smooth as new velvet.. When hJio >>*;..< a liaby, another baby, a few months older than herself, who was fond of carrying her about, let her f:;l! downstairs, and she had hurt her spine.. She grew up very delicate and was nearly always lying on the boards of the cellar, or the garret, as the en so happened to be, resting herself into strength. This was Little Make-Believe's strict injunction, the inspiration of which she had derived from a friend who had been kind to her lor a little while, and who might have remained her friend bad not death claimed him. He was a doctor who, on a mission of charity, had found his way into her neighborhood. She waited for him outside the house in which he was engaged, and when lig appeared she went close to him and touched his arm. He looked down and saw this small morsel of humanity looking pleadingly up at him. He saw the struggle In her eyes, in which trembling courage was striving to conquer her. It was no light task this little girl had set herself; he was so high, she so low; he was so rich, she so poor; he was so great, she so insig nificant. But when the chord of a sweet hu manity is struck and finds its way to the heart these couti'usts merge into a heavenly equality. "You are the great doctor, sir?" In quired Little Mr.ke-Bellevc. "I am a doctor, child," he replied, kindly. "I hardly dare to arsk ycr. sir,' said Little Make-lleleive, "but I've got a little sister with a weak back and if you'd come and see her there's nothing I wouldn't do for ycr. It ain't fur, sir, jest around the cosner " He looked at his watch; he had ten minutes to spare. lie opened the door of his carriage and Little Make-Be lieve clung to the skirts of his coat, fearing that he was about trt leave her. . "I will see your llttlo sister," he Mid. "Jump in.'' "Oh." cried Little Make Believe, "the kerridge can't get tip our court! It's only a stone's throw, sir." "Walk quickly, then," he said; "I have but a few mlmrtcs I can call my own." To be continued. Natal has a newspiper, Ipepa to ttlanga, grinfe* la the Stela tangaafe. CONGRESS OFFICERS Republican Caucus Makes Its Nominations WILLIAMS DEMOCRATIC LEADER 8peaker and AH Otto Officers of the House are Re-Kominated by the Re publican Caucus and Mr. Cannon Surprises Associates by Pulling Ozt *nd Beading a Typewritten Speech Difference between Carrier Corpor ations and the People to be Adjust* ed in Justice to AH? Rules of Last Congross Re-Adopted. ' ? "* ^ * . Washington, Special. ? "The Amer ican people have selected the Speaker of the House tor tlie fifty-ninth Con press; ,t only rem-1,,8 for us Co ratify their choice. 1 wiljnot call for a for mal nomination, simply name Joseph G. C annon, iff Illinois.*' The statement made by Chairman Hepburn Saturday to the Republican menibei* ?f the Hon? of l^nwen? V wl bv )H.,||lv and Mr Cannon was immediately de clared the nominee ?for Speaker Wil lyn; Hepburn,, of l?., ? the session and Henry C. Umdenslag er, of New Jersey, secretary. Mr Ln'i n/m fl>rnn^, a Mirprise on his as soc. ates by pulling ollt of his poeket a typewritten sj>eeeh, which he read from beginning to end. Mr Cannon said he would stand with his associates iu upholding the policies of the Republic,, party, ?n dei which all the people have' pros ppred. Re, erring to railway legisla tion, he said that "by the operation o competitive forces, thai matters of difference between the corporations the carrier, and the people they serve would be adjusted to all. Deo,I!U,hr0nCenS"8 ?,f ?* i!,ion of tlfo 1 uVer' ,s !Lnt Congress has flu pouerr, by amendment to f ),o law '? ?>n?viae better remedies for real' ? ;s existing, so that the producer au.l eouKiimer ran find a more S|)c,.,|v ?u.t less expensive than ??? roiwin"1 T1 h"'iS '? rone ui. The burden is u|h?ii Congress, and our party, having power, is pri marily responsible: P Mr Cannon urged that justice he and b, J? .corP?ra,'?? and people, a Uitv o?f ? rP,en'ed U) tho aointy ol a short session. The officers of the House were re nominated as follows ? ?v!vS7A,cx"mU'r <?? I >oorkee,H'r K. H. |.v??. x,.?. York Ol.i.. ' ? C. ?? " '"-'I"" latin., to the consideration of \ an?l ''ills on Fridays or Mr. DalzeM, of Penn^N be'ftlUn-W ??"rimr iui i if t,\ -ninth ( on^ress 'Pliiu ... .".o !t bv Wr- l>nia'"1 ll.'nlv ""I mm wet k of the session, a!thou-h if i? possible that an emergency app?, , j , "<?' [or the Panama Canal 2 t passed the last of this week r,, I tl?p eommiftees are apointed,' such n '"II would have to he considered bv unanimous consent, or under a special of n' ? ''''I'0'"1 "Pon (he needs f Hie canal finances whether the cm urgency appropriation will be rush e" M,^rkor!WOVM"~ week. W?r W beprun be,?, (' Williams Minority Leader. Washington, Special.? For two ?ours Saturday the Democratic men, Jei" <>f the House of Representatives '?ussed P?' t.V policies and procedure ? "> a view to solidifying the minor ni,fl n?'?ng harmoniously udoii nil mat ters of ? partisan charao n hn "?.v come before the House Job, r sen as the nominee for Speaker ns nr,^? "'o caucus makei Inm the minority leader for the en smug ( ongrcss to succeed Jiimself. Fearful Conditions Prevail. St. I'tersbnrg, Special. ? Intense alarm prevail# hero. Communications with the outer world bv telegraph ceased when the Finnish operators joined their Hussian comrades. The embassies, legations and hanks nre hastily organizing courier service* to both Finnish and (iennnn frontiers. The population is almost in a state of panic, fearing that the railroads will stop running and that the inhabitants therefore will have no mode of flight in the event of the cataclysm, which they seem to fear is imminent. itumored Depcw Has Resigned. New York, Special. ? A minor has trained eircnlation that Channcey M. l)epew had resigned from the I'nited State* Senate. Wlrni questioned con ce rning the rumor, the Sonator said. "I am tired of making denials of un pleasant questions, and am resolved not t?> talk further to newspaper*. 1. will deny nothing nor will 1 aflinn anything. 1 have learned a lesson from the past." mm SEWSJF INIIRESI Notes of Southern Cotton Mills and Other Manufacturing Enterprises New Orleans, La. The Lane Cotton Mills and (he McGiunis Cotton Mills have been taken over and consolidat ed by the Lane McGinn is Cotton Cor poration. which represents a capital stock of $1,000,000. S. Odenhcinier, president of (ho Lane Mills, was made president of the new corporat ion, and the following arc the other officials of the concern: \V. T. Maginuis. first vice-president ; Manracc Stern, second vice-presidcnt ; Harry T. Howard, i treasurer; and George A. Hero secre tary. In addition to the above the following were chosen directors: Sarah Grayhan and I'cter F. lYscud. The d?al which joins these two large concerns under one head is one of (he largest commercial transact ions in (he nistorv of the State. The consolidation brings together two ??f (he most fatuous cot (on mills in (he South and creates one of (he larirest cotton mills in the country and proba bly one of the hest equipped mills in (he UnUed States. The combined "capacity of (he (wo mills is 8:5.000 spindles and 2,400 looms. Bemis, Tcnn. Dispatches state (hat construction work hps been completed on (he Jackson Fiber Co. 's addition. The improvements include the erect ion of another building four stories high, 12~>x280 feet : also a 40xf?Q foot engine house and 7.r> operatives' hous es. The equipment of machinery foi these new structures will include 22, 000 spindles and S00 looms, which are now arriving and being put in j>osit ion as rapidly as possible. These bcUermeuts will represent an expen diture of appvoxinuUely $400,000, juid will about double the plunt the com pany has been operating This enter prise was established several years ago bv the members of the He in is Bros. Bag. Co. of St. Louis and Boston which disposes of the product to the trade. A. F. Bemis is president of the Jackson Fibre Co. Columbus, Oa. Construction work has begun on the addition which the Swift Manufacturing Co. recently de cided to build to its plant. The con tract was awarded to the .T ,F. Galli van Building Co., of Green ville, S. and calls for a four-storv annex 78xOS feet to (he present mill build ing. This new structure will be cquip ]x?(i with .">,000 spindles jmd complete ment, both elect rieily and slcam pow er will be used to operate the new ma chinery. Ahont $100,000 the amount (o he expended on tins en largement. There are K?.07"? spindles and 42.'l looms in the present mill. Pacolrt, S. C. A meeting of the directors of the I'acolet Manufactur ing Co. was held in Spartanburg, S. several days ago to consider the business of the year. After a con sideration of the statement presented by (lie management it was unani mously decided to resume paying semi-annual dividends of f> per cent. Jt will he recalled that this company's mills were entirely destroyed by flood early in 1002, and have since hen re built. the const ruction work on (lie largest being now in progress. Charlotte, N. C. The Kxeelsior Cot ton Mills' of Charlotte. X. hove been organized ami will install aquip inent for carding cotton. John Van l<andiugham is president; (tco. A. Howell, seeretary-l reasurer, and Jno. Oillignn. manager and superinten dent. Contract for the machinery has been awarded. This enterprise is formed by Messrs. Van Laudinghani & Howell, eotton dealers well known to the trade; olliccs at No. 10 North College street. Randleman, N. C. The Ruudlcinan Manufacturing Company, of Handle man, N. C. will rebuild its piekcr house recently destroyed by fire. Its new structure will be .">0x80 feet in size of mill construction, wjth steam heating and electric lighting fixtures, and will be equipped with five pick ers and one waste picker. All con tracts have been awarded About .f (5,000 will be expended. Textile Notes. TheSpar'an Mills of Spartanburg, S. C? has declurcd its usual semi annual dividend of ?"? per cent. J. M. Khodes of Kings Mountain. N. C., is reported as contemplating the erection of a 10,000-spindle cotton mill. The Selma Cotton Mills and the Estcllc Cotton Mills, both of Selma, Ala., have each .declared a dividend of 0 per cent. The Whitney ( S. C.) Manufactur ing Company has declared it* usual semi-annual dividend of per cent, and an extra dividend of 2 per cent. Hartsville, 8. C. The Harlsville Cotton Mill is running full time with plenty of help, and cottages are being built for the new comers. The ma chinery is all in operation and the affairs of the mill are in a prosperous condition. It is one of the new mills in the State and one of the most suc cessfnl ones having been organized, built and managed by Mr. Twitty (president). WILL EQUALIZE TAXES Comptroller General of South Caro lina Taking Active Steps to Wipe Out Injustice of Present Tax As sessment System. Columbia, Special. ? Comptroller General Jones means business in the steps he has taken toward getting the tax assessment of pro|>eity, real as well as personal, in this State on a market value. basis, instead of on an uneven pivtense of a GO per cent, basis. Tile circular letter ol' instruc tions which he sent out last week to comity auditors, assessing; boards and comity equalizing boards directing that the law be strictly observed with the beginuin? of the new year and that property be assessed at its irue market value, will be followed this week "by ;i call for a convention of county auditors to m-et with the comptroller general has taken luis* caused much talk throughout the Smt*j and has set projierty holdns.to think ing. Of course it is a sort of revolu tionary measure, and while the justice and the sense of it has appeuled to many good business men and biii prop erly holders regardless of the fact much of this soi t of property will be affected, still the tiling has not been generally understood and there is a fear also that the pur|tose of the comptroller general to equalize the pro|?ert> throughout the State more nearly will not lie sucessful uudei' the departure he is making on account of the great proliciency ami skill indi viduals ami communities have acquir ed by long practice and experience in the matter of tax-dodging. "The erroneous idea apears to have taken hold in various parts of the State," Mr. Jones said, "that this is a scheme to increase the taxes. Such is not the ease. My object is to get projjertv equalized in this State and stop I hi ; shameful tax dodging. There are some notoiious exceptions, but generally shaking the cotton mills and other big property holders are be inir assessed on a genuine 00 per cent, basis, and small property is being as sessed at from 0 to 100 per cent. Only so much money is needed to run the State and many county oOicials and the higher the assessment the greater the yield of money on a given levy, but the levy may he easily changed. In other words, if th ? assessment is doubled throughout the State the levies for State, county and city pur poses may be cut in half. The inequality and inju.-tice of the taxation of property in this State has been a shame and a disgrace for de cades. PALMETTO AFFAIRS Occurrences off Interest from AN Over South Carolina MANY ITEMS OF STATE NEWS A. Batch of Live Paragraphs Cover ins a Wide Range ? What is Going On in Our State. Columbia Cotton Market. Tin* rot Ion market siady, poor demand. l.ow middling Ill' *j S: 1 iit low middling 11 Middling ll'rt Strict middling il '/i I iootl middling; 'l"?i General Cotton IVIa'-k^t. Ap: il 11 S3 May 11. ''2 ?I uue 1 l.!l*? ?Inly 11.07 Auirnst h Xiivt'inlicr 11.-7 I It cciiiber 11 .!>7 January 11. Kebruarv ll.lill Mai cli. 11. SI Cluimr Agent . JT&r:ed .1-; .Governor "II '.y aard 'S: emor I'.cyvsiti! anm/'n-cfit that !i<' had closed a eontrae, ?\ith W. l<o;.?i Kvans lik rt'piT-i*'!:! lis" Stato ??I South I'aioli i:. ::s ajj*-.r :.i prepar ing data on which to seem'.* J Si.' pay of claims due this State troui thy Spanish- American wi<r. These claims amount t?? about 0U0 or *40.000. it i* said. Tin* a<*i*nt will yet I") percent.. hut a pari of this will be paid to .\les>rs. Calhoun Aj Siz.fr of Washington. 1>. < who hav?? alreadx done a \ircat deal of work oi? the preparation of these claims. lint a mouth remained before l lies* claims would have heeu barred by statute of limitation. a> (lie act of congress declares (hat the claims must be tiled before .la.iuary 1m. I'.MUJ, o? llicy will not be valid. Tli* audit whom (lov. M*?y?.vaid has appointed has been emiaued in tliin work since he was tirst appointed by (lov. Kilo hi*. to whom he was private secretary. (Sow 1 ley ward would muku no contract except by special provis ion authorized by the ley ';>!?! i:re. Tin/ funds will he disbursed h\ tlu' eouip IroMci j?enei,a!\*? otlice. S. C. Baptists. Tin* South Carolina Baptist conven tion lias been asked to endorse com pulsory educut ion and the establish-; inent of a reformatory for vontM'n! criminals in a memorial to the i.e:ji> lature. Tlit* request comes in t !?<? 1*??riu of ;i petition from ( Iranitevillc. one of llic oldest centers of common school c<J:nation in the Slate, though it iv one of t In* chief cotton mill centres. The petition was referred to a commit te< which will report before adjournment is had. This section of the State is ;il so the chief hope of Keprcscntat ive Toole. of Aiken, of succeeding witii his ten-hour labor bill, which he pushes session after session with a plodding l>atience and persistency that at least evinces the determination and faith of the man. Another matter that attracted the attention and engaged the thought of the convention was the masterly hand ling of the delicate subject. "Do the Scriptures Teach a Divine Call to the Mini-try ?" by the Kev. C. C. Brown, of Sumter. He argued with force ami great logic that they do. lie was oppos.'d with an able presen tation of the other side of the <|itcstion bv the Kev. Dr. A. C. Osborne. The convention has elected these of ficers for the comimr vear: A. Smith, president; William II. IaIcs and the Kev. J. T. I liens vi-e-picsi dents: the Kev. Dr. C. I'. Irvin, secre tary: the Kev. V. I. Masters, assistant secretary; the Kev. . I . L. Yass, treas urer. The report of the trustees of the Connie Maxwell orphuuftgc sh?<\\(d I Sit orphans being eared for in a splen did way. th" tlnauf'inl report indicat ing that the institution has a siiom; hold on the affection of the Baptis's of the Stjite. $16,000,000 Appropriation Eill. Washington, Special. ? A bill to piovide appropriation of Y'lti.bOO.COO for the Panama Canal Commission, to be immediately available for the pur pose of liquidating the cost of, the work of construction, has bfcn pre pared and will.be introduced in ?In House, probably Monday, on the oj < i invr day of the III tv-nint b Congress. The bill stipulates that money shall be refunded through the sale of liond^ provided by the Spooner act and the ?? bonds to be taxable at a rate of one half of one per cent., when deposited to secure the circulation on til" ; .nee basis as government twos. No Decision XV ?3 Given. Baltimore. Special.* .leek ?> and Young I'eter lackson. both ?<( whom are credited lo < 'alifoi nia. n : t in a twelve round light before the Fa ire k a athlectie club. At i i ?. con clusion no de< ision wasv i . M .l?,ini- ?,i had und'M taken to Uiio? k .lac! ->om <>? I within the twelve round - lake the smaller end of the receipts. He Jailed to do so. The CliSK of Claims. Tilt' eJaiins l.? I iii* Slate of S<>iii!i < 1 1 : > ! 5 in is I !??? rj?isi?t?r <?l Siiati Uli-.\ ineric: i! u : r : t . ???? ??- :uv :?( tin* iullnwi 'u i;.M if!/' : ( ;i ) I'". I ? ij | :;iy dre '?> wlirv . i ?*? ???.?????! into ih" v-.'. '. !i <? I'miti the date t liey voii ill to! ::i their home* !?! i'i:V- veil! |>at''s < i' lite Sl.iU' l' i'ii I in v \\ ? ? i '4 * i:i ri'|)!-'fl an! liTslrr (??! i : s t ? ? the I ' i ? : I i Sl.'.lt's it V I lit* llilisll'l SMiT i'll!Cl'l\ i '? ? I \ 4 ? it*' ! l:.?' " ? >!?( i ^ v ! >t vo? unlet r?(l at their Ii-'imcs ? atne t<" till' I ?!;!???* Ill rci|i]l*'M MS illill Si ?\N :ili.iii< ?l I ?> I he ?.???> ! i ? i Si ?*?* r ;? t:> I turned down on a<* t of i ?' i \ >-???:? I di?;il<i!it> . ( ?- > < 'ompersal imi I'm* :? 1 1 :r l< nil ami expi n>."? lenned ('V ?!:(? *_:o\ eri.ur ii> r:ii>iir.i tliest* intuits. sueli a-1 wip |i|i:s. etc.. I in f ? i lied Ity 4 lit* lie* Statu <>n lire on!' r of the vi'Vernor. Id > I **t ii< done In ? ii'mii". ! v of ;iny i*i?livi?!*iiil Ity ill'* Htldier s v I , i ! ? ? nl iln-ir re?idcz\ mis lieloiv liny l<ft i li ? Stale. Tin* 'ml! <>f lit" money is mt\ icfr pay IV n* llie nu'ii ? ? I" !("? two re^nnejls : : : i < I I lie* lijillerv of iieavy aitillerv fmin this State. Ad.j. tlen. l'royt Ins < l#*?*l i n?a?1 In lei llie <!aims :v.<nl remove (lie J7 rolls of f li? -.?? ? ? ?? vani/ai ions. Inil coi'tilled coi?i' s v. ill Ite m Prom the reeonls in t lie adju tant yenernl's oilier. The ailjnl :i ? 1 1 !reaeral will assist in making llie top ies and w ill prove tliem. A Dairy for Chrwloston. < 'lm i lesion. S| ct'inl. I*. |<". lro|f iirjcM' lias lie - un I lie en-ciion of ?!???' oV Mi'' largest ;ino i:io;-i itnproM d din ies in ( 'lii.rlevtiiu. ; ||?> plan! 1 ?e i j i ? situated ill the *.|>Imi?Iis of ihe eilv. In ?? see| io;. drain* d and reclaim'"! Itv !?ic ( "l?:? 1 1* sjoti 1 1 aimi/i* i omm'sxioii. II' llii.trer I : : i ??: i mi chafed ;i line! of SO lie 's on which llie ;m*' ?s:irv buil'li'tys iir* imiiv Ih !M4 eivct'il. The |i|;tee is to l?e i n o '? I plant in ewiy way Lumber Kilr.c Burned. < ?'< ?iii,,.t'linv,i . Special.- 'Ill* i?:> kihis of |I|" (iiinlii'M* ^ 1,1'eev I ,i ; m* *'? *' r<>i>:| iiey wi re |tnitiiilly ?ies(roye.l ??y !ir" ii 'if I :i 'iii ye iim<>nii* of Itiinher eon v-nnieii. 'I '! .?? Iliunes spivinl from tin l ilns 1o I he InmUer piles on llie \,inl, ti itf I nt i in tin <? ii K"?m?i"<1 lh;il I lie en tire -io?'U. foyeflier w itii t lie traimviivs nti'1 ill" it'a.iiny mil'. \von!?l eertainly t?e linnieil. I Jitl little ".inil s\ns lilnw* iir:. .m<i ! 1 1' ? flienw n <li<l line work .vitii !ii" protection nppnrairi:* i,i slilie'i ii: l in* plant in eoniininj; lJn? liei it 1 1 : : t . 1 1 ??; to r linrli I an a. T!n* lo'-s cai. nut he "i>t iiiin ' "(I hut it )*? heiivy. A Trcsllc r . Si:ii;ti r. Spii-ijil *Vo" ih" if" ?r;<l til !" will Mi a (? \v lit. "<?! s i'ie tie-{Ji? o.? r ii : t-"? ! :i * !?c in mill' -.??? i;t (in i t Sv.ii-, | , one im!" ''iom :?!;? ?il\. .-.ijs I' M .? o'fl'fi;. ,V | I le ?I'.'KV -V ?' ? \ ,* n!s loi:i, ;? I - all/Hi! :?{> ' "I:. Tli:' o'i/i i 'iw ?" i'l' 'Vi i. '!!?" i'i.'i. ?! I I , ; i i i ii ? i| i- i"!?nii'iiif.r it. I'nSi! ii i? eoinpii Jej' ii;,. Smilhi in t :*:? will' <<iii" in t . ; i tin* A tlr.nl ic ('eavi l.init