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* 'A - Pi THE LEDGER: GAFFNEY, S. C., MAY i2,1898. HIS BRAIN DRIED UP. WEIRD FATE OF THI BRILLIANT WRITER, MORTIMER STARK. Hun He Lout III I Vmtt Vocabulary—On« by Our All Wonl.4 I.ffi Him Until II« Unrn Only Throe, and They Were Unto, Hope and Horse. I will explain first a little abont Mor- Hiuer St.ak. Hu lived by his puu; not ■utirely—for ho was a po.-siblo cmituro —but ho was a youni? id low, with a gTk'Kl literary reputation, and wise and discern in? people saw in him t!ie buds *f power that would produce (treat things with the proper training. A story of his appeared now and then in the well known magazines, and he had a book on the market that reached its *«ond edition in fair time. His power was an unusual use of words. He was never conventional. His sentences sto.td out in bas-relief. His vocabulary was rich and varied. Words seemed a gift. They formed his thoughts ahead of him. He was never at a loss to express the subtlest emo- tiais. He was a dclieate writer, but a ttrong one. Now, to revert to his own story as he told it to me one evening when the moon shone on the porch and rmdo acute shadows on the lawn: “I fir^t noticed the malady a year iga I was writing at full tilt, pounc ing at n:y i«go like a knight with lance outstretched. Of a sudden it scorned as though my courser had stumbled. I came to a full stop. I wondered. What fcad made me stop? A few moments' thought convinced me that the meaning sf the word glum has escaped me. “A little thing, I thought. There was the substitute gloomy, quite as good i % word if it came to a pinch, so 1 used i it, and once more raced at the white jngo. Suddenly there was another stop. The word yellow had ceased to have any meaning. I knew it was a word, and probably a good one, but what meaning it conveyed escaped me. It was though all meaning connected with the word had been wiped off my brain as a wet sponge cleans off a slate. The *ext word that failed me was smoke. I saw myself face to face with the loss jw three important words. It was as though they never had been. “Soon I noticed the loss of other words; knee, weapon, swallow—theso % nt, passed out of my experience. 1 knew what knee was only in a vague way 1 know where it was and used to feel of it, but, somehow or other, it conveyed no meaning. “Next 1 found myself using words that I felt to be correct without any idea of their meaning. I was a sham. Soiled, west and temporary were tho ss'.'Xt words to go. 1 felt their loss keenly, i at- last began to realize that my word rtpaeity was being erased in spite of etysolf, that my words were migrating to other minds, sailing away from me &•< nest in other brains. It was a fright ful thought. In vain I tried to stem them. ’’ He felt all this acutely. I could see in bis face deep harrows—lines of bitter- mess. But I will continue as ho told me. “1 do not know where this will end,” be said, “but end it must. I feel my words dripping away from me like mist. Ah, that's it! I feared it, too, had gone, tome day I shall be incapable of ex- yrcssing the slightest thought. Should I lose prepositions and conjunctions— *h. how precious are the minor parti- *Ls of speech—should I lose them I ckould lose all continuity. I would be lc<f>t. What the end will be no doctor can say, but slowly I see tho breach widening and my precious stock of w*7rds becoming squandered. It is fright- fcl, horrible. ’ ’ i saw him r. year after that. Ho lost xrany important words. He did not know what street meant He had to have a guide to walk. He talked slowly and hesitatingly, but there was noth ing of madness about him; nothing whatever. He was rational in every oth er respect save his words. I saw him as the time went on. He grew worse and worse. Sometimes he would ask the simplest questions—ques- tirus that a child might ask, you know. And then, as he saw your face and un derstood that he should know, a terri ble look of pain shot over his. It was frightful to watch tho decay of such a loind, a decay like unto his. His knowl edge acquired by books lusted longer. That which should be almost innate went rapidly. Ho at last forgot how to walk—had to crawl about on the floor —;uid yet he could converse learnedly, with the limitations of certain words, «u the early fathers of the church and most points of gnostic philosophy. The spectacle of such a contrast as this was wuhallowed, abnormal, fearful. As he crawled over the floor, to hear him take up a fine point dwelt on by Thomas Aquinas and expand it and ap ply it to modern thought was the most ^tiable thing in tho world. Ho could wot dress himself. Ho could not do any thing. He was a monster, a fabulous beast of disarranged mentality. As he act on the floor and played with a dog, beating it and cufiing it and rolling •cer it, and then popping up to ask for a volume of Walter fcsavage Landor, tho •outrast sent shivers through one. But finally his acquired knowledge left him, and his vocabulary was re duced to three words—hate, horse, hope. TSiese ho repeated over and over again. Hocried them aloud at night, he moaned them in the morning, he sang them in a childish treble at noonday. Hate, bone, hope. His family, of course, tried every treatment, but his mind Aod and withered within him, and his train became as a dried pea which rattled and rumbled about in his head. —Cincinnati Enquirer. _ .. / After a woman reaches a certain age she never mentions it. Success—Worth Knowing. n years’ success in the South, proves M ies’ Tonic a great remedy for Chills and ulHri:tl Fevers. Itotfer than Ouinlne. ttwtrunieed, try It. At Druggist*. 80s and tlOU bottles. THE BIGGEST BEEHIVE. California Cariosity OstM at From a Re spectful Distance. Did you ever see a bee tree, with a swarm of bees around it? Well, magni fy this about 10,000 times, and you will have a slight idea of a natural beehive in Mendocino county, Oal. It is a rift in the face of a cliff, and tradition has ft that there is a largo cave on tho in side, where tho myriads of busy insects make their homes. This great natural curiosity is known to residents of the adjacent country us “Bee Kock, ” aud they have grown to look upon it ns a commonplace when in reality it is tho only beehive of the kind in existence. There is no danger of a person getting very near to this natural beehive with out knowing it, for at all hours of tho day a swarm of insects hover abont sev eral hundred feet in all directions. An incessant, maddening buzz fills tho air that can be hoard an eighth of a milo and serves as a warning not to venture too near. But men do venture near aft er having first put on a suit of leather clothing, fastened a mask of wire screen around their hat brim and lighted a good, big torch. These precautions aro absolutely necessary. It takes nerve to approach close to the opening in the rock, aud the experience is a never to be forgotten ono. Bees to the number of millions of millions will light on the intruder, humming fiend ishly ami endeavoring to sting him to death. They form a perfect cloud aud the air is filled with a fetid smell aud a fine dust that gets through the wire screen and causes an irritation to the eyes. The tiny insects really show signs of viciousuess and fly into the flames of tho torch in countless numbers as ! though they intended to extinguish it. Hound aud round they fly with a deaf ening buzz, aud strong indeed is tho man who can stand the onslaught of tho tiny foes for more than a few minutes. It is almost impossible to make out just where tho entrance to this natural beehive is. There is a sort of cavern in tho cliff that seems to have a crack through the inner wall from top to bot tom, but most of the bees hover around a hole about 18 inches wide aud appear to make that tho point of ingress and egress. Many days it is impossible to even see the cliff, so thickly covered is it with the insects, aud they roll in aud out of the opening like a stream of mo lasses. During tho summer dead birds can al ways be seen on tho ground arejnd tho mouth of the hive. They have been stung to death while attempting to fly through tho swarm cf insects. Four foot ed creatures never venture within ba'f a mile, seeming to know that death lurks there. In front of the mouth of tho hive there is a pile of dried honey that has flowed from the interior. It looks like a heap of molten lava that has been hardened after being discharg ed from a volcano. A party of men living in the vicinity claim to have entered the beebivo sev eral years ago. They selected a cold day in winter, when tho bees were half dor mant, and poured coal oil and benzine around and into the opening. Then they made a big lire of wood, so that tba whole cavern was filled with flames. Then they poked the redbot embers down into the opening aud so killed ev ery bee in it. But there was not much to see after the men got inside; only a large cave, with the walls covered with wax aud dried honey, and enough of the sweet ness in pools in the bottom to last a big city for several years. Of course the honey was unfit for use on account of being full of dead bees aud ashes from the fire. Tho meu, however, did not linger in the cave any great length of time, as it was foul smelling and sti fling. Although countless millions of bees must havo been destroyed on this occasion, the next summer they were as numerous as ever aud just as vicious. Indians of the neighborhood say that in “the good old days” the bad men of their tribe were bound hand aud foot and carried to within a short distance of the beehive by men wrapped in blan kets. There the helpless creatures were left to suffer the awful agony of being stung to death.—San Francisco (Jail. Intarestlng Relics- King Charles II’s lock aud key to the star chamber, once the property of the Duke of Ormonde, were sold at auction in London recently for $1)45. Tho lock is of steel, overlaid with, brass decorated with applique ornament and engraving. The key is chiseled, pierced and chased and has on it portraits of Charles II in armor. “One Minute Cough Cure is the best preparation I have ever sold or used and 1 can’t say too much in its praise.”—L. M. Kennon. Merchant, Odell, (ia. Cherokee Drug Company Gaffney, and Macon Thornton’s Pharmacy, Blacksburg. Any man who can save money dur ing the engagement can afford to marry the giri. Late to bed and early to rise, pre pares a man for his home in the skies. Early to bed and a Little Early Riserr the pill that makes life longer and better and wiser. Cher okee Drug Company. Gaffney, and Macon Thornton’s Pharmacy, Blacksburg. All men are foolish but it is only the wise ones who find it out. The Cubau question and political issues sink into insignificance with the man Who suffers from piles. What lie most desires is relief. De Witt’s Witch Hazel Salve cures piles. Cherokee Drug Company, Gaffney, and Macon Jiioruton’s Pharmacy Blacksburg. There is an able bodied African in neariy every man’s private woodpile. Worriinent a Stranger to Edison. Two things aro unknown to Thomas A. Edison—discouragement aud worry. His associates claim that bis freedom from these afflictions comes from the fact that he possesses absolutely no nerves. Recently one of his associates had to report to him the failure in im mediate succession of three experiments involving enormous expenditure of money and labor. But the inventor simply smiled at tho recital. The asso ciate, worn out with the nervous strain of his long watch and disheartened by his cisappointmeut, said impatiently, “Why don’t you worry a little about it, Mr. Edison?” “Why should I?” was the inventor’s reply. “You’re worrying enough for two.”—Ladies’ Home Journal. One of the Gates Gone. There is a joke up at Amherst college that it is easy for the boys to get in or out of college because there are “Gates at each end, ” President Gates aud Jan itor Gates, who have been in charge of the building ever since 1860. The joke is now broken, as President Gates aud his family have gone-to Europe on a long leave of absence.—Holyoke Tran script. It is said that lemonade is a microbe destroyer, since tho bacilli of cholera cannot resist the acids, especially the powerful citric acid of the lemon. One grain, declares an authority, will de stroy all the mici obes in a quart of water. Prickly Asn Hittkrh Is the best spring remedy bcr-HUSe It is u blood purlNer and system resulutor combined. Creates npue- f J { A «t rwl Iksalnvfc* *4 I .a. w.* IU .. I -1 1 . . > * . fte uud helps digestion. Drug Company. Hold by Cherokee Tho human machine starts but once and stops but once. You c.m keep it going longest and most regu larly by using DeWitt’s Little Early Risers, the famous little pills for constipation and all stomach and livt r troubles. Cherokee Drug Com- pai y, Gaffney, and Macon Thornton’s Pharmacy, Blacksburg. When a couple are matched but not mated it is a sort of friction match. S. E. Parker, -Sharon, Wis., writes: ‘1 have tried DeWilt’s Witch Hazel tialve for itching idles and it r I ways stops them in two minutes, i con sider De Will's Witch Hazel .Salve the greatest pile cure on the market. Cherokee Drug Company, Gaffney, Macon Thornton’s Pharmacy,Blacks burg. It is easy to walk the tight ropes of society if you have a good bank balance. S. C. P. Jones, Milesburg, Pa., writes:—“I have used DevViit’s Little Early Risers ever since they were introduced here and must say 1 have never used any pills in my family during forty years of house keeping that gave such satisfactory results us a laxative or cathartic. Cherokee Drug Company, Gaffney, Macon Thornton’s Pharmacy, Blacks burg. An Amazon warrior faces powder, and her peaceful sister powders her face. S. M. Geary, Pierson, Mich., writes: — “Dewitt’s Witch Hazel Salve is curing more piles here to-day than all other remedies combined, it cures eczema and all other skin diseases. Cherokee Drug Company, Gaffney.Macon Thornton’s Pharmacy, Blacksburg. About the best way to get even with a man is to pay him what you owe him. On Minute is rot long, yet r. !ief is obtained in half that time by the use of One Minute Cough Cure. It prevents consumption and quickly cures cold, croup, bronchitis, pneu monia, la grippe and all throat and lung troubles. Cherokee Drug Com pany, Gaffney, Macon Thornton’s Pharmacy Blacksburg. The Attltn.l* of Trnst. Writing abont tho attitude of “be- Hovers” toward the future lifo, of whoso details their knowledge is limit ed, a correspondent of the Loudon Spec tator insists that it sbonld bo ono of trust, similar to that reposed by Gari baldi's volunteers in their leader. Quot ing from a popular life of Garibaldi, in Italian, the correspondent says: “In 185a Garibaldi’s volunteers, some rich, some poor, were near Alessandria. On May 23, tho camp of the Alpine Huntsmen was in complete confusion. The improvised soldiers rushed to arms to tho sound of tho trumpet. “ ‘Quick, quick!' said tho officers. ‘ Wo aro to start. ’ “ 4 Where aro wo going?’ “ ‘That is a mystery. Garibaldi knows where, aud that’s enough.’ “Garibaldi went through the ranks with words of encouragement to tho weary and sympathy for tho enthusias tic aud in person saw to every need.” This motley host drove tho Austrians in a 20 hours' battle 20 miles up tho Stelvio pass, over the glaciers of the Ortler aud back into Tyrol. “Tho most unkind thing, not only tho most imprudent thing,” comments tho correspondent, “would havo been for theso voluhteers to havo been sup plied with a full aud accurate plan of what lay before them. The silence of God as to tho future lifo is at least kind. Knowledge without correspond ing power to act tends to become a burden. It would be no kindness to humanity to bewilder it by descriptions of an unrealizable state and to distract it from that daily path cf duty which leads thither.” Bank Statement. Report of tii(> condition of The National Riink of (iafi’iiey. ut Gaffney. In the .state of j South Carolina, at the close of haziness. May 5th, Isiis. RtSOVRCES. Istans and Discounts ? Overdrafts. Secured and unsecured 4.S4C.51 IT. S. Ronds to secure circulation 12.5CO.iiO Premiums on l\S. Bonds l.lir.V* Due from National Hanks (not Re serve Agents) r>.:toti.54 Due from State Hanks and Hankers 7.I20.I<0 Due from approved Reserve Agents l,3im.45 Checks and other cash itemsl 122.03 Notes of other Nat’l Ranks.. 1.520.00 Fractional paper currency, nickels and cents tiil.lrt Specie 0.:BM.75 l.cjral-tender notes *15.00 11,1)11.90 Redemption fund with IT. S. Treas’r (5 percent, of circulation) 5(12.30 Tot a) }1:>.03!.71 LIADILITIES. Capital stock paid In $ 50.000.00 Surplus fund 5'JO.OO Undivided profits, less expenses and taxes paid 2.14!>.tio National Hank notes outstanding 11.250.00 Due to other National Hanks 133.27 Due to State Banks and Hankers 1,507.75 Dividends unpaid o.co Individual deposits subject to cluck $5*.o:r>.54 Time certificates of deposit 4,432.80 Cashier's (’li’ksoutstandlnK 16.75 6:'.4<Vf9 Total f 128,(31.71 State or South Carolina. i County or Chkuoklr. ss. t I. I). C. Ross, cashier of the above named bank, do solemnly swear that the above statement is true to the best of my knowl edge and belief. •«. D. C. Ross, Cashier. Sultscribed and sworn to before me this 11th day of May. laUH. W. II. Goodino, N. P. COBitKCT—Attest: O. K. Wilkins. t W. C. Carpenter. > Directors. F.G.Htacy. J Ravenna Readings. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Ravenna. May 9th—Tho people in this community are busy preparing for the Sunday School Convention which takes place at Goucher church this week. Every one is expecting a pleasant time. Rev. Kennedy, who preaches at Corinth, spent last Friday night at I>. G. L. Pettit’s. The little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Lipscomb is quite sick. Am sorry to say T. G. Green lias not entirely recovered from his long spell of sickness. E. R. Goforth has been quite sick. Miss Isabel Blanton returned re cently from a short visit to Grassy Pos:d. Fred B:o.vn hr.s been very sick but is now convalescent. A young gentleman from Cleveland county, N. (J., has teen visiting the family of B. G. L. Pettit recently and, judging from the appearance of things last .Sued iy, I fear we shall lose one of our most charming young ladies. J. W. Brown resigned as secretary and treasurer of our Sunday school a few Sundays ago, after serving twelve years. Joseph Green was elected in his stead. Miss Lizzie Griffin and EttaHames, of Pacolet, were guests of Misses Olive and Lula Pettit last Sunday. Ed Wilkins, colored, lost u lot of cord wood recently by lire. The four months old child of Mitchell Brown died last Thursday of pneumonia, and was buried at Griffin Hill next day. A. i: c. Cotton Market. The following prices prevailed in the local cotton market yesterday. Middling 5.70 Good Middling y.SO Bucklen’s Arnica Salve. The Best SMve in the world for Cuts. Bruises, Sores, Ulcer, Salt Rheum, Fever S». "is, Tetter, Chapped Hands, Chilblains, Corns, and all Skin Eruption, and postively cures Piles or no pay required. It is gum- anteed to give perfect satisfaction or money refunded. Price 25 cents per box. For sale by Tho DuPre Drug Co. ✓ Neglect Your Liver. Liver troubles quickly result in serious complications, and the man who neglects his liver has little regard for health. A bottle cf Browns’ Iron Hitters taken now ami then will keep the liver in perfect order. If tlie disease has developed. Browns’Iron Bitters will cure it permanently. Strength ami vitality will r.lvayx follow its use. Browns’ Iron Bitters is sold by nil dealers. To th« Prohibitionists of the State. ’■ Ths executive committee having authorized Its chairman to call for a popular subscription to enable the committee to carry on its work, would urge upon every friend of the movement tho duly and necessity of responding promptly and liberally to the call. Money is necessary for the legitimate purposes of this cause, and if the amount needed is promptly placed at the commands of the com mittee. I feel assured that our suc cess will be made certain. As the benefits to result from this success will be realized by all, each should cheerfully contribute. I have this day addressed a letter to the member of the executive com mittee of each coupty in the .State, authorizing the collection of this fund and requesting notice thereof in their respective counties. Contributions in this county may be made to T. M. Littlejohn, Star Farm’ S. C., or forwarded directly to Thos. J. La Motte, secretary aud treasurer, Newberry, S. C. A. C. Jones, ChuL’tnati. Gowdeysville Gatherings. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Gowdev.svij.ee,May 9.—The weath er has been very favorable for the last week or two for the farmers to finish planting. I think they are all about done planting in our section. A nice rain would be very much ap preciated, us the ground is very dry. \\ heat and oats are looking fine. Cotton is coming up. We are very much oblige to Mr. Wilson for furnisning us such nice roads in our community. Dr. Sam Foster and Mr. A Shattered Nervous finally heart trouble. Restorsd to Haalth by Dr. Mile*’ Nervina fr m \ m ■m ]</ K ’/I ■\ " o 5 Tt, rime Goforth spent Sunday evening at Mr. John H. Bently. Wiiat Ims become of our Asbury writer. Has he volunteered and gone to Cuba? We would like to hear from him again. Mr. J. E. Foster is the proudest man on earth—its a girl. Wishing The Ledger much success. Blue Jay. L.Sti-rjfo Tot-.r ISmvoM TVlth Csiscnrets. Ci’Ni'y Cathartic, cur- constipation forever. 13c. tiic. I. C. C. C. fail, druggists refund money. M U. EDWARD nARDY, the Jolly man ager of Sheppard Co's, great store at BraceviHe. 111., writes: “I had never been sick a day in my life until in 1890. I got so bad with nervous prostration that I had to give up and commence to doctor. I tried our local physicians and one in Joliet, but none gave me any relief and I thought I was going to die. I became despondent and suffered untold agony. I could not eat, sleep nor rest, and it seemed as if I could not exist. A* the end of six months I was reduced to but a shadow of myself, and at last my heart became affected and I was truly miserable. I took si^ or eight bottles of Dr. Miles’ Nervine. Iff gave me relief from the start, and at last a cure, the great est blessing of my life.” | Dr. Miles’ Remedies are sold by all drug gists under a positive guarantee, first bottle benefits or money re funded. Book on dis eases cf the heart and nerves free. Address, DR. MILES MEDICAL CO.. Elkhart. Ind. Wiles’ Restore* Mealth A cirl always likes for a man’s love to have the engagement of sincerity. - • •- It is just as important to watch your windings as it is to wind your watch. Virtue may he its own reward, but lore h bricks. there is more virtue in selling gold lyrUp Is a remedy of sterling value. It positively cures all Bronchial Affections, Cough, Cold, Croup, Bronchitis and Grippe. You can always rely on it. DR. BULL’S COUGH SYRUP is indispensable to every family. Price 25 cts. Shun all substitutes. Chtw LANGE’S PLUGS. The Great Tobacco Antidote.lOe. Dealers or mail,A.C. Meyer & Co., BcHo..Md. CANDY CATHARTIC LAIHAKHU ^ CURE CONSTIPATION ALL DRUGGISTS w. Building and Plastering Lime, Coal, Shingles, Laths and Plaster Hair, ^Dynamite, Blasting Powder, Fuse and Dynamite Caps, call on THE LIMESTONE SPRINGS LIME WORKS, Telephone 37. CARROLL & CO., Lessees This is And the War is about to begin between Uncle Sam and Spain. You should keep posted on the issues of the dav. Don’t worrv * v your neighbor by borrow ing his paper when you can get The Ledger for $1 a year, 50c for six months, or 25c for three months. It will keep you posted!, so order it at once./ Don’t delay. M. G. MONTGOMERY,^ NDERTAKE AIV I) FURNITURE DEALER. Tho prettiest selection of picture mouldings, window shades and wall paper ever shown in Gaffney, just received. ffSBrSEM OUR NEW LINE OF REFRIGERATORS. Oil? Furniture stock is now complete in every respect. M. G. MONTGOMERY. ihe Gainey City Land and Improvement Company Offurs for sale Building I/>t* In this nourishing town, Gaffney City; Also Farm* near by and in reach of the Schools of Llim-stone Springs and of this place. In lots of troir 30 to 100 acres on liberal time rates; also Agricultural Lands to rent lor Farm pur poses. For full particulars apply to IVIOSE:^ WOOF>. A.tjuent. N. H.—All trewpasKlng on lands of this company, cutting and removing timber, fishing or hunting, are forbidden under penalty of law. RESIDENCE LOTS FOR SALE BY Cherokee Land Company. We have some of tho most desirable lands for residences any where to be found. You can select just what you want. You will not be surrounded by disagreeable neighbors. You can se lect it so that you will havo no town taxes to pay. It is located within 250 yards of Southern depot. Cheap prices and easy terms. N. H. LITTLEJOHN, Mgr. f I ■Usa