Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

4 . j* , ■ , * -+J, C. JEFFERIES,+- ‘ ^OAPFNEY, S. C. Attorney ^nd Countellor at Law. Practice* in All the Court*. Collections a Specialty EDG Ledger Readers Patronize Ledger Advertisers. A Newspaper in all that the Word Implies and Devoted to the Best Interests of the People of Cherokee County. YOL. IV, NO. 5l. GAFFNEY CITY, S. C., THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1898. Sl.OO A YE AT. DEFENDS GRADED SCHOOLS. t PROFESSOR HALL’S LOGICAL ARGUMENT. |He Describes in a Plain, Straightfor ward Manner the Necessary Steps to be Taken Get the School. to I have been asked to make a state- | ment of the proceedings necessary to secure the graded schools. This is well since every one will then know what is being done. There is noth ing to be concealed, nothing to be feaied. It will first be necessary to set apart a new school district for GalT- ney. This much is desirable if there were no thought of rn extra levy. As it is, about half of the town lies in school district number 20, the oth er half in number 30. The law re quires that the school districts shall be as conveniently and compactly formed us possible, and to contain not less than nine nor more than ior- ty-nine square miles. The smallest school district, then, thal can be had will contain nine square mile 0 , and so must embrace tci'.itory lying beyond the corporate limits. The power to set apart this district is vested in the County Board of Edu cation, which board is ready to act n the request of those who favor step. They have ample authon- to proceed without this under tiie ct of 1896, Section 31, but it is nown that they feel a delicacy in acting upon their own counsel at this time, lest they might seem to be en deavoring to force a graded school upon the town. It would be best for a few to make the request of the board for a separate district. Then the board can appoint a day for a hearing, so that all complaints and objejetions may be laid before them. Ais soon as a new district is set apart, the county board of education < will appoint three .trustees from the voters and tax-payers of the district. This board of trustees, then, upon the written request of six resident freeholders of the age of twenty-one years, shall call a public meeting of the tax-payers, which meeting must he advertised in the newspaper pub lished in such city or town, once a week for two weeks. At this meet ing a ballot shall be taken, and if u majority favor the levy of a special tax, not exceeding four mills, the trustees shall, after having notice of same posted in at least three con spicuous places within the district for not less than ten days, order an election, at which election only tax payers shall be entitled to vote. The voters shall cast their ballots for or against the special levy. If a major ity shall vote for such levy, the board of trustees shall furnish the county auditor with a statement of the amount so levied, etc.' Those entitled to vote in this elec tion are such resident male citizens of the age of twenty-one years, as re turn real or personal property to the amount of one hundred dollars for taxation. They are also required to exhibit their tax receipts and certifi cates of registration. In the above statements, such ex tracts have been made from the gen eral school act. of 1896 as bear direct ly upon the question hero. The act, however, contained no provjoion for the issue of bonds to purchase or erect school property, so the writer went before the Generol Assembly and ask ed that an amendment be made to this effect. Assurance was given that the necessary legislation will be enacted. Bo after all, tho voice of the peo ple will decide whether or not Gaff ney shall have graded schools. In a conversation several days since a leading judge made a remark like this: '’Wtoy, certainly Gaffney * ouget to have graded schools. Hhe is a county seat now, and ought to take U her place among her sister cities.” A professor in one of our most prominent colleges made a similar remark. A gentleman living in Spar tanburg urged upon his brother in Gaffney the importance of securing a system of graded schools. A little group of men collected on one of our street corners recently. One of the number, a man without children to • educate, but with taxes to pay de clared with enthusiasm that the next thing for Gaffney is the graded school. While in Columbia a few day* since, the writer had the opportuni ty of testing the sentiment there. In every instance the system met with approval, as the only practical solu tion of the question of education. By L the large number of signatures at- Pr tached fcfllthe petition recently circu- ¥ Jated in Gaffney, it is apparent that our people are ready to take another ■Up forward and upward. Few intelligent people at this day doubt the efficiency of the graded school system. Furthermore they regard ignorance as an evil for the simple reason that it aff.irds soil in which evils germinate. Liquor is an evil since it furnishes ground in which evils germinate. Neither, perhaps, is an evil in itself; but be cause both furnish ground in which evils germinate it becomes our duty to dig up the soil, to purify it, to fer tilize it, to cultivate it, that, instead of evils, it may bring forth u fruitage that will tend toward the enriching and ennobling of humanity. The noblest thing a community can do is to put its stamp of public approval upon the cause of educa tion. “One of the primary objects of government is to give security to life and property.” The surest means of securing protection is to strike at the very root of insecurity and exposure to calamity. Educa tion of the right kind itself insures protection far more effective than courts of law or cordons of police or detective agencies. We are told that in the dark, damp secluded parts of our great cities is the incubating grounds of the germs of pestilence and disease. In the shadowy recesses, in the hidden nooks and corners of our cities lurk thieves and burglars. What is the remedy? The answer comes “light.” Sunshine and brightness dispell the noxious gases and destroy the insidi ous germs of disease. They tell us that in large cities the per centage of crimes committed in the night has very perceptibly decreased since the introduction of electric lights. But darkness is a “nonentity,” a nega tive state,” a “nothing.” It is to be left alone therefore. Ilow can gov ernment protect people against dark ness? How can we protect anybody against nothing? Turn on the light. Ignorance, too, is a nonentity, a vacuity, dangerous alike to the Indi vidual and to the community. The remedy is not difficult, Fill up the vacuum with useful knowledge, dis pell t he darkness with the sunlight of wisdom. Train up the youthful mind in the paths of virtue and hon esty, observance of law, and regard for the rights of hum inity. On any design be nobler and purer? Forthe benefit of all, and especial ly for whoever is disposed to distort the facts, I will stale that the special three mill tax will pay the current expenses of the graded school. A surplus will remain over and above the current expenses sufficient to pay interest on bonds which must necessarily be issued to purchase or erect school buildings. Not only will the three mill tax do this, but will also furnish a little ovjer and above these two items to be applied as a sinking fund with which to li quidate the bonds. When this is done, there will be no bonds, no in terest to pay, and no “beautifully large” sinking fund whatever, so then the special tux will not be required to meet these last items, and may be reduced to wliut is necessary to pay actual current expenses. These are the facts, and no specious reasoning can dislodge them. Moreover they are easily understood by any one who has a little knowledge of business transactions. As to heavy taxes, a great relief will come to Gaffney as soon as the factory property becomes liable to taxation. Gaffney is now paying about 8 mills or about six hundred thousand dollars of property value ; then the total property valuation will be increased by nearly six hun dred thousand dollars. Bee for your self if four mills on twelve hundred thousand dollars worth of property is not about as much as eight mills on six hundred thousand. These are some more fuels that sophistry cau- not discolor. In regard to the 28J mill tax sup ported by a sister town, I take pleas ure in stating that big refers to town, county, and state tax. Because I support a burden of tax to the amount of twenty dollars, the editor is equally at liberty to “suppose” that it is all poll tax. I hope Frof. Griffith does not intend to include tnis supposititious reasoning in his category of arguments. As to the policeman coming to make our tires with his own wood, e* :., reference to ray last article will easily show that the cases are not analogous, and it seems to me that ITof. Griffith’s experience in logic and mathematics ought to give him a clearer insight into the meaning of the word, analogy. The comparison of the success of the graded school with that of small-pox in Atlanta is the essence of sophistry. In both cities graded schools arc regarded with approval while the small-pox is regarded as an evil pestilence. The former are fostered, while all the for ces of nature and science are being utilized to get rid of the latter. Wherein lies the analogy? Where! The graded school «y*t.*iri has not grown up like a mushroom. All inno vations meet with more or less oppo sition; sometimes from those who are ultrurconservatives,and sometime from those whose misjion in life seems to be to oppose progress. The system is in the neighborhood of a quarter of a century old. Like the sturdy oak of the forest, its present strength and success is u measura of the tempests it has withstood. It has grown into the approval of the people through merit. But the graded schools is an “off shoot of yankee civilization,” and therefore deserves to be condemned without trial. To be consistent we must carry our condemnation fur ther and reject the electric light, the telegraph, the telephone; the poems of Whittier, Longfellow, and Bryant; the essays of Emmerson ; the works of Irving, Hawthorne, and Cooper, and everything it.digeuous to yankee soil. We have borrowed the idea of factories largely from the North. The day is too far advanced for us to offer sectional prejudice as a plea against progress. We cannot afford to remain in obscurity or to sink into oblivion because our most important enterprises originated in yankeedom. If wre cannot devise, we must buy or borrow. The superior educational institutions at the North have aided largely in giving them their superior position. As to their social condi tion, it is not a result of their sys tem of education, but a demand for it. Their population is a heteroge neous one, made up of the oil scour- ings of the world us well ns of the descendants from the original fath ers. The question of mob'lizing this heterogeneous mass of humanity into valuable citizenship is a question of moment to them such as we can not easily comprehend. The protective tariff so odious to us is life to them. With their dense population and un- favorab'e natural environments, the tariff is their m n ans of sustenance. It enables them lo compete success fully with either sections, (or did en able them to do so) and furnishes employment to thousands and thous ands who would be turned at once out of homes and work of the tariff were abolished. I do not favor a pro tective tariff, and have made these statements to show that there are two points from which the question may be viewed. He who Goes not study tne wants of others can feel no sympathy for them in their distress. If Frof. Griffith does not believe that the graded schools will reach homes not quickened hy the influence of the existing schools, let him do as the writer has done, go to those homes and find out. I have studied this question from a practical point of view, and not from the perch of the theorist. In conclusion I wish to say that I have entered into this discussion with the purest of motives, and wel comed Prof. Griffith’s article as an opportunity given to present both sides of the question to the people. In getting ready for the discussion, I have supplied myself with facts ob tained by personal investigating let ters and reports from various towns and cities. I have also had the re ports of the State Superintendent* of Education, and from the United States Commissioner of Education. The testimony of a thousand towns and cities supplies in general the facts that u,ro wanting in detail. They have adopted graded schools, have tried them, and are pleased. When this is Uue what lurther need we say? The graded school is an institution supported by the tax-payers of the community. It is an institution to which all contribute to support in proportion to their wordly means. The interest of the whole community will naturally center in their com mon school. They will look after it. They will demand that it be conduct ed on the best principles. They will demand good teachers and good teach ing. The school will tend toward coordinating all the forces of the com munity, mental, moral, and social, not by degrading, but by a gradual and wholesome elevating influence upon the community at largo. What has been written has been written in kindness. No exception has been taken at criticisms made upon my former article, even though in several instances the meaning of my language was perverted. No so phistry has been used intentionally, none attempted. In spite of the ar guments on the other side, the friends of the system have facts, figures, ob servation, experience, and testimony that remain intact, based upon the life and work of the graded school. W\ 8. Hall, Jk. Dr. Sanders at Cooper-Limestone. Dr. R. W. Sanders, of Greenville, preached last Sunday afternoon at Cooper Limestone Institute. Dr. Sanders, sermon was of a high order and was much eujoyed by his appre ciative audience. • •' •— The Coming Woman Who goes to the club while her hus band lends the baby, as well ns the good old-fashioned woman who looks after her home, will both at times get run down in health. They will be troubled with loss of appetite, | hesdaclie, sleeplessness, fainting or ! dizzy spells. The most wonderful ; rstnedy for these women is Electric Bitters. Thousand of sufferers from .Lame Back and Weak Kidneys rise up and called it blessed. It la the medicine for women. Female com plaints and Nsrvous troubles of all I kinds are soon relieved by the use of Electric Bitters. Delicate women should keep thie remedy on hand to build up tbe system. Only 50c. per bottle. For sale by Du Pre Drug Co. FROM LOWER . THE SAGE OF ETTA JANE SENDS THE NEWS. President McKinley Acknowledges Re ceipt of a Walking Cane Cut From the Cowpens Bat tle Grounds. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Etta Jane, Jan. 31.—In a very pleasant note President McKinley acknowledges the receipt of the walk ing cane cut from the Cowpens battle ground, and sent him by your cor respondent. He expresses himself as highly pleased with the souvenir and greatly interested in the history of that battle. As all other patriotic and liberal minded men he deplores the fact that this sacred spot has so long been neglected. What is true of Cowpens is more or less true of all other revolutionary battle fields in the South. Mr. and Mrs. Dick Howell, of York county gave the young people a danc ing party last Friday night which continued till the wee small hours. Ererything went on happily until some of tbe York county boys con tributed a little pleasantry by giving the Cherokee and “Pea Ridge” boys “a genteel cussin’ out.” y Our old friend Sam Robinson, was married one day last week to a M iss Jenkins. jRev. Mr. Owings will finish at Sa- !cfa next Sabbath, 6 Ji proximo. Here is a copy of an aceount sent :ne by Rev. It. P. Smith, the evange list, of Mecklenburg. (N. C.) Presby tery, which be found on his mission ary tour through .Buncombe county. N. C. It seems that the store and blacksmith accounts were all kept together. It is dated March 1778, and will settle all the growling about old times being better than now in u commercial point of view. The book frpm which this is copied is in the possession of 8. W. Davidson, of Swanuunoa Valley Buncombe county. D&BIT8. To 16 pounds sugar Jjii 00 “ 1 bushel salt 3 00 “ 1 gallon whiskey 75 " 1 iron wedge 50 “ laying plow 50 “ 1 pair shoe soles 50 “ ^ yard muslin 37i “ 1 pound powder 1 00 “ 10 pounds nails 2 (X) “ 1 quire paper 37 “ 15 lbs sugar and 6 lbs coffee. .6 00 Here are a few CREDITS. By 3 day’s work $1 374 “ 1 bushel corn 50 “ 79 lbs at 3 cts 2 37 1 week’s work 3 00 —Gastonia Gazette. Some slight mistakes occur in my lust week’s letter which was not dis covered in time for correction: In speaking of the 5th regiment I should have called it Jenkins’ o.d regiment, as Col. Jinkin was then in command of the Palmetto Sharp-shooters, and “Johnson rifles,” should have been Company D., 5th regiment, 8. C. V. When it comes to tbe names or let ters of companies; the names of com manders and different times as well as names of places, men get these things mixed up, and we can only hope to publish them crudely and trust to have them corrected. But the given figures are from the official records and correct. Miss Kataiine M. Hall, of Fairfield county, has given an answer to the problem taken from the Teachers’ Examination paper two weeks ago. On Tuesday of last week I, in com pany with J. W. Alexander, Esq., visited Gaffney city, and spent the night with my old comrade, Mr. Dan Anthony. By him and his excellent family I was most kindly treated Mr. Anthony is a total abstainer. He never took a drink of whiakey in his life, never took u chew of tobacco, never smoked a pipe or cigar, and never was inside of a bar-room or still house, and says he never saw a decent woman but he loved her some. I promised some time ago to give our readers a history of Sergeant Dan Anthony’s army rooster, “Beaure gard.” I do so now: In a day or two after the battle of Manassas, Ju ly 21, 1861, Sergeant Anthony of the Spartan Rifles, Capt. Joe Walkin'* company,5th S. C. Regiment, in com pany with Ed. Dean, walked over the battle field to view the carnage. As they passed through the old camp of the Washington Light Artillery a little gawky blue looking chicken, whose wing feathers had seemingly began to grow, jumped out from un der one of the booths and Sergeant Anthony picked it up. As they went on they passed a house where the lady whs feeding s'*rna young chick ens that had just hatched. She ask ed the Sergeant what he was going to do with the chicken he had, and he told her he was going to raise it. She told him sha would give him one of hers to keep It company. He took it to the camp and kept it until or ders came to move, when he got a cigar box. in the top and sides of which he cut holes to let in air, put both chickens in it and tied the box on the top of his knapsack. He kept both chickens until the larger one began to grow and develop so as to reveal its sex—a pullet. Albert Dean, the colored cook, bad charge of the mess property, and was, of course, entrusted with the care of the chick ens in the absence of the sergeant while on duty. On one occasion tbe pullet came up missing. But Albert hid the rooster under a wash-pot and saved him. When the spring cam paign of 1862 opened Beauregard was large enough to crow and was so gen tle that he would nestle upon the hand of his master and invariably roosted at his head every night. Just before they broke camp for the Yorktown and Peninsula campaign Sergeant Anthony called upon Capt. Walker for a large demijohn which he had hud for some purpose, and af ter breaking the glass took it out of the basket and cutting a hole in the basket large enough to put the little rooster in he swung the basket to his side and was ready for the march. The command went to Richmond, where they took the beat for York- to.vn. B.auregard had by this time shown that be was full game, and was ready for a fight any time. On the boat, on the march, in the camp, or any where else, he would crow just as if at home. In fact Beaure- rt.-rd was a natural b'jra fighter, 0 r . several occasions chickens were brought Into camp to whip him but they never succeeded in doing so, on the contrary many were disappointed in their attempts. When a battle was on hand Beauregard was left at camp where he was allowed to strut about as he pleased, but on the march ho was with Dr. Wallace Thompson's Medical wagon, or in his basket which was hanging at bis master’s side. The battle of Williamsburg was a sur prise to the Confederates rather than an elaborately punned engagement. Thus it caught sergeant Anthony with his rooster on hand, and he had no time to dispose of him, so Beaure gard.had .to take his chances with his comrades, and was taken into the buttle. The sergeant almost deopair- ed of bringing him through the con flict. But he finally succeeded. Du ring the engagement the familiar cock-a-doodle-doo of Bouregard was mingled with the roar of the battle, and as was his custom, his highest glory was reached only in the most exciting times. He came on jtp the Peninsula and was present %t the battle of Seven Pines, and the seven days before Richmond, during which time his master was wounded at Gaines’ mill, (the truth of which he curries in his body to-day.) At ail times and on all occasions Beaure gard was the idol of the command. Scarcely an officer or private io'it but felt some interest in him. Dr. A. W. Thompson took as much care of him us his owner. There are sev eral incidents connected with Beau regard’s history which might be men tioned here. But as space is some what limited I must desist for the present and give it a more elaborate historical account in the future. Mr. Perry McArthur brought Beauregard home after the battles around Rich mond, and he lived until about the year 1869 or ’70, when he died. His master provided him with a stylish coffin, and he was buried with mili tary honors near Limestone springs, Capt. J. Batiks Lyles' school boys being the escort, and firing the sa lute. Thus ended the life and histo ry of a noted campaigner of the ar my of Northern Virginia, whose fight ing qualities sustained the reputa tion of his illustrious name-sake, Gen. Beauregard, as well as that of the Southern Confederacy. J. l. s. For Governor. Hon.O. L. Schumpert was in the city jesterday on professional busi ness. While in the city, the Colonel said he would be a candidate for Gov ernor. Col. Schumpert is looking vigorous and bright as usual. He is in to win, and his industry, fine char acter and well known great abilities will be potent factors in the contest. AN OLD DOCTOR’S FAVORITE. Dr. L. M. Giilam, who practiced medicine over forty years, originated, used and claimed that Botanic Blood Balm, (B. B. B. ) wh'ch has now been in use about fifty-five years, was the best Tonic and Blood Purifier ever given to the world. It never fails to cure the most malignant ulcers, sores, rheumatism, catarrh, and all skin and blood diseases-. Beware of sub stitutes. Use this standard remedy, Price per large bottle $1.00. AM KK SEVERAL ImhtOKK FAILED. 1 have been afllictad with Catarrh for many years, although all sorts of medicines and several doctors did their best to cure ms. My blood was very impure, and nothing ever had any effect upon the disease until J used that great Blood Remedy known as Botanic Blood Balm, (II. 11. 11.), ufew bolts!a of which effected an entire cur*. 1 recommend it to all who hav* Catarrh. 1 refer to any merchant or banker of Athens, Ga., and will reply to auy inquiries. K. B. Saultku. For sals by Druggists. Ivy Cliff Etchings. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Ivy Cliff, Jan. 31.—It has been a good while since I have sent an item to The Ledger, but nevertheless The Ledger is a welcome guest at our home every week. Uncle FrariE Northey walked about a mile and a half through the snow Yesterday to spend the day with his son Sandow. Uncle Frank is eighty-three years old and is hale and hearty. He came from England sixty years ago, and usee! to work at the iron works at Cherokee Ford be fore the war. It is really interest ing to hear him tell in his quaint old English about the “ould coun- trie.” The farmers are getting but very little work done owing to the in clement weather. There will be communion at Provi dence church next Sabbath. All the members are requested to attend. What has become of Flaw Picker, Bachelor and Scribbler. Beaty. Giindall News. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Gkindall Jan. 21.—Very little work has been done on the farm at present, and the weather is very un favorable. The ground is covered with snow. Munroe Horn is the happiest man in our section—it is a boy. He is quite a youthful father. Mr. R. J. Harris had a chopping last Wed field ay and gave a soci^bld (that night /or the youngster, which was enjoyed by all. Our public school closed ah Asbury last Friday. The pay school contin ues until the middle of June. Mr. J. D. Haines, Sr., cut his foot very badly a few days ago and camo very near bleeding to death, but is doing very well now. Mr. L. C. Mabry lost a fine colt one night last week. x. v. z. Cowpens Locals. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Cowpens, Jan. 31.—It seems win ter has just began. Tne people can’t do anything but cut wood and make fires and roast potatoes—those who have them to roast. We are alad to report that Fannie Waters has recovered from a long at tack of la grippe and neuralgia. We are sorry to relate the death of Mrs. Charlie Potts, which occurred last Saturday the 29th; She was loved and cherished by all who knew her. Your correspondent went to Hen rietta last Saturday on business. The people all along the way are clearing new grounds and taking in old fields. They say they are going to raise corn and peas and make their own supplies at home. Gil Fetcjiet. — •— Howell's Ferry Dots. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Howell’s Ferry, Jan. 81.—A re ception given by Mr. and Mrs. H. B. McDaniel at their hospitable home near Hickory Grove, on the 28th inst., was a marked success in every way. The evening was most pleas antly spent and all who attended re port a most enjoyable time The air was filled with sweet strains of music both vocal and instrumental. The vocal music was led by S. W. Foster, violin music by H. B. McDaniel and banjo music by Jimmie Strain. The evening is one to be long remember ed by its attendants. The boys are going back again. A young lady, of Barre Plains, Mass., is much indebted to a friend in Cherokee county for a copy of The Ledger. She likes it ever so much. Last Sunday morning, the snow began to fall at a very rapid pace and it was not long until old mother earth was sleeping* beneath a white sheet.*^ Sambo. Tribute of Respect to J. W. Littlejohn. Catawba Trhik No. 12, Independent Okdek Red Men. We, tbe members of Catawba Tribe Independent Order Red Men, in council meeting, do deeply deplore the loss of our brother, who has ever been an active and efficient member always ready to do his duty in the council, and iu the active duties of life. Resolved. That while we bow in humble submlsaion to tbe inevitable we tender our heartfelt sympathies to his bereaved family and inscribe a page in our book to bis memory. By order of the Tribe. E. C. Gossett, J. 11. Goi'delock, J. D. Okh, M. D. Com. Free of Charge to Sufferere. Cut this out and take It to your druggist and get a sample bottle free of Dr. King’s New Discovery, for Con sumption, Coughs and Colds. They do not ask you to buy before trying. This will show you the great merits of this truly wonderful remedy, and show you what can be accomplished by the regular size bottle. This la no experiment, and would be diaae- Iruua iu the pruprletufi, did they not know It would invariably cure. Many of the beat pbyslciana are now using it in their practice with great results, nndare relying on it In most seven* eases. It is guaranteed, Trial bot tles free at Du Pre’e Drug Co.