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r ! i A ifrll III Ml WE GUARANTEE The Reliability of Every Adver- iiser Who Uses the Col- umns of This Paper. F. O. Stacy. I’rwrthlcnt. J. G. WAiim.AW. , Vice I’rcsldciit THE NATIONAL BANK OF GAFFNEY. Capital $50,000.00. Wit.r. huv county clalnss. receive fteixisits and mitke ilbcrii! foans on iij)pn)ved |iiiper. O. Iloss. t.'usiiii'r. A Newspaper in *a!i that the Word Implies and Devoted to the B es *; interests of the People of Cherokee County. ESTABLISHED FEB. 1C, 1894. GAFFNEY CITY, S. C.. THURSDAY JUL y 14,U89S. 61.00 A YEAR. 'W SUBSCRIBERS. HOW THEY ARE MANAGED BY THE LEDGER. Read Before the State Press Associa- tior., Assembled at Greenville, S. C., by Ed. H. DeCamp, of Grffney, S. C. IGrei nvlllo Mountaineer.! The following paper was read before the State Press Association at its re cent meeting by Mr. E. H. DeCamp, of the Gaffney Lkdgek, and ns it re lates to matters that involve a con siderable share of our readers, we take pleasure in presenting them with an opportunity to lind what he has to say about the proper method of deal ing with “delinquents, ’ who are de scribed with such force and vigor, and whose conduct is susceptible of reform.—Ed. Mr. President, Indies and Gentlemen : It occurs to your humble servant that the executive committee ex hausted itself in its research for a subject when it selected “How to Manage Delinquent Subscribers” as a theme for discussion. Verily, Sol omon, with all his wisdom, would have been at his wit’s end had the Press Association of Israel appointed him to discuss that subject. How much more difficult, then, must it be for an inferior intellect to attempt such a thing. However, the task has been imposed, and I would feel like a coward were 1 to attempt to evade it, so I am here to serve you the best I can in my feeble way. In discussing this subject I regret that I am necessarily compelled to draw my conclusions altogether from my personal experience. In doing this 1 am forced to enter somewhat into the details of the establishment of the paper on which I have the honor to be engaged, as prior to the establishment of that paper my ex perience in the publishing business was limited to the.mechanical depart ment. Previous to the establish ment of The Ledger there has been several attempts to establish a paper in the town of Gaffney. Each at tempt met with the fate that usually overtakes the country newspaper lo cated at a town of a limited popula tion which is not the county seat. The last attempt was the most noted failure of all. The gentleman who made the venture had no capital and little credit. It was during the hot times if what will go down into history as the Tillman regime of the State. The country and the town were in a measure arrayed against each other. The unfortunate gentle man to whom I refer, in order to tickle the fancy of the anti-Tillman residents of the town started out by giving Brother Ben and his followers nail Columbia. The result was he found few supporters among tho farmers. In a few weeks he was forced to suspend. It was then that the business men of the place decided that they must have a paper, so they formed a stock company and began to cast about for some one to manage the enterprise. Somehow or another I was among those with whom they began to correspond. In the due course of time a trade was consum mated, tho paper was started, and then began the tug of war. The board of directors decided that inasmuch as several attempts at run ning a paper in the town had met with failure, and a large number of people had ut different times paid for papero in advance only to receive them a few months, that they would send the paper to anyone who ex pressed a desire for it and let him pay for it at the end of the year. At the same time, however, they decided that they would not send the paper to anyone for more than a year with out pay—holding to the theory that those who could not pay at the end of one year could not pay at the end of two and that thoajfewho would not pay at the end of Tone year would not pay at the end of two. 8o on that plan they started. What has been the result? We have collected nearly ninety per cent, of the sub scription. How do we do it? This way: When a subscriber is a year in arrears we mail him a notice some thing like this: Dear Sir: This Is to notify you that our books show your subscription to The oeh to hare expired on sueh andsueh adutc. and you arojtherefore. due us ft on the same. We make it a rule to discontinue all sub* scrlptions that are one year In arrears. We trust, however, you have found The Lei>- ueh sutticlently Interest Ihk to continue with us. In the absence of a call or remittance by the blank day of blank, we shall conclude you wish the paper discontinued. If we are In error In this statei. lit It will be a pleus- ur<‘ for us to correct t' o same. Iloplnu to tie able to keep you on our list, aud with best wishes for your success, we are. Yours truly, The Lidoeii. If the delinquent does not respond within the allotted time his name is promptly taken off the subscription lint and placed on what we call our black list—a book containing the ibumes of those who have failed to pay ^or the paper when due. We then wait several weeks and if the dolin quent does nob pay up we mail him a notice something like this: Dear Sir: An examination of our hooks discloses tho f:u that you arc due us:?! for subscription. Will you kindly advise us if this statement is correct? If it Is we would appreiate any clTort on your part to pay it: I! it is incorri'ct It will be a pleasure for us to correct the account. We can readily un- derstand how a pet son nitty ncsh>ct so small an ac -omif , but when you remember that we have several hundred of these small Items on our books and that the. whole attgrecates (lU’t - 1 s: sum we feel ci r.'uin that you will use your utmost "endeavor to have the matter settled. Now do not put it olT longer, but call in or remit by mail tit once and thus favor the paper that favor you. 'Attain. If you are not now (.re*ting" the pa per we would he pleased to roceieve instruc tions with the. settlement to again place your name on our list. Yours, etc., The Ledger. If that does not bring the delin quent to time we continue to mail him at intervals notices of a similar nature until he either calls or remits, or we finally come to the conclusion that he will not pay, nnd then we let him entirely alone. In the four and a half years we have been in business we have had to place about 100 names on our black list. Of this number we have collected about 2(.) per cent. But we have the black list and anyone whose name is on it can not get the paper until he has paid up. The consequence is we arc pretty familiar with every slow pay ing man in the county. I will say just hero that we have no favorites. We have placed some of the best citizens in the county on this black list. It generally brings them to time, and when they do come they very often pay foi the year they are in arrears and a year in advance. Most people owu for a weekly newspaper simply because they neglect it and not because they cannot or will not pay and it takes a little persistency to collect the ma jority of subscription accounts. The subject of delinquents sub scribers bus its amusing us well as grave features. Shortly after we started into business a typical back woodsman came into the office one day and asked us to send him tho paper. A young minister was pres ent who said he was acquainted with “Sweet William”—that was the ap plicant’s opprobious appellation— aud that he thought that William would pay. We placed his name on the list. A year went by aud “Sweet William” bad not paid us. We sent him a notice. He paid no attention to it. • We stopped his paper. He was oblivious of that. We sent him several notices which he treated with utter contempt. One day I met him on the street and asked him about that dollar ho owed us. He replied to the effect that he had been hardup lately, but that if I could use a load of wood he certainly would bring it to us by Saturday, if the Good Lord permitted him to live that long. I replied that that would be perfectly satisfactory. Saturday came and went, but with it came no wood from “Sweet William.” In the next issue of the paper we published an obituary notice of our friend in which we stated that we took it for granted that he was dead, as he had promised to bring us a load of wood if the Lord spared him to live until Saturday. In the very next issue we were com pelled to retract the whole business, for on the following Monday after the publicationjof “Sweet William's” death notice we observed him seated upon a load of wood which he was taking to tho factory, and when he saw us he smiled in his bland way and pleasantly said, “Good morning, Ledger,” but never once referred to the wood. We never bothered our friend after that. He never paid for the paper and we do not anticipate that he ever will. One more amusing incident Shortly after tho war between our beloved country and Spain was in augurated and the gallant volunteers were departing to do battle for their land, one of the boys who was going from Gaffney came in and asked that we send him the paper. We asked if he desired to pay for it in advance. He replied that he did not. “But, suppose you should get killed, what will we de then,” was asked. “Just stop the paper,” was the suave reply We put his name on the list. In conclusion I wish to say that 1 have not attempted to advise you How to manage delinquent sub scribers,” but only to tell you how we deal with them, I realize that the most pleasant and business like way is to require the subscription in ad vance and to stop the paper at ex piration—thus avoiding the necessity of having delinquent subscribers, but I have not the heart to refuse to send the paper to my less fortune brother when he promises me he will pay in the (all. I believe that God intended that we should bo generous to one another and that all our aims should not be mercenary. But when gener osity fails to be appreciated and re ciprocated. then, if we bestow it we depreciate its value, desecrate its sacredness, and do ourselves and those depending on us, a wrong not to be easily repaired. I need not assert before this asso ciation that the standard of financial honor in this country today is not what it once was, nor what common honesty and solid integrity would de mand. A third of a century ago the country emerged, from one of the mightiest upheavels of modern times. The social fabric was torn into shreds, the material accumulations of three generations were scattered to the winds, the old 'landmarks of honor and integrity by which our fathers were guided were swept away, and the ship of state drifted help lessly on a wild sea of chaos, without compass or guiding star, without chart or helm or pilot. Then came an era of wild ad venture and speculation, and our State was under the domination of an army of carpet-baggers and scalawags, hungry as a swarm of iotnsts nnd thirsty as a flock of vampires. The waters were stirred to the bottom and all the filth and foul gasses locked up in the accumulated sediments of a hundred years came to the surface and everything that had weight or solidity went down. That era gave us legislation that encouraged dishonesty, that, by various means ignored the inviola bility of contract, that set men to boarding with their wives, hiding be hind homesteads, and laughing at wronged and outwitted creditors. The waters are not yet clear, but it is to be hoped that they are clear ing. The delinquent subscriber yet floats with considerable buoyancy, and with less honor than cuttle fish, stains tho water, not with his own ink, but with ink stolen from the printer. He must go down. Tiie press it self must hang a mill stone to his neck that will carry him down head foremost and sink him into the soft mud at the bottom, there to harden into rock and to be heard of no more until some future scientist shall ex hibit him us a curious fossil of a long past geological age. Let the press, with all its educa ting power, strive earnestly and per- sisently to elevate the standard of common honesty between man and man; let each paper make itself a necessity to those who subscribe for it, and then stand squarely on its merits and not be afraid to irtsist on holding its subscribers to plain and strict business principles. Let these thing* be done and it will not be long before conditions will be greatly meliorated. The amelioration may be slow. There will always be some people in the world whose consciences are seared and who are incapable of appreciating the demands of justice and honor; but the vast majority of mankind are not so far gone in in tegrity and depravity but that they will respond to the appeals of justice and recognize the claims of honor in all transactions that are placed upon fair, square, and honest business principles. ETC11INSS FROia F/fTA JANE THE MEWS OF THE WEE-. LOWER CHEROKEE. FROM 'be “Kernel” Talks of the Wa» Fourth of July Cherokee Park Other Items. Celebration, and around Limestone Springs. An inex haustible supply of pure Limestone water, magnificent shade trees and balmy breezes all contribute to the health and comfort of the visitors. The veteran, bachelor, the stalwart young man nnd the frying size young dude all put in their appearance at Gaffney during Independence dav. We met friends from all parts of county at Gaffney last Ezell Notes. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Ezell, July 5.—Farmers are laying by their crops very fast through this section. Corn and cotton is looking very well since the showers began, but are somewhatfon the background yet. Mr. J. M. Quinn and Miss Minnie Blackwell was united in the holy bonds of matrimoney last Sunday. May their pathway through the sea of life be smoothe and all their troubles little ones. Esq. M. B. Scruggs of ficiated. Ezell Democratic Club met last Saturday, according to previous anouncement, but after meeting and consulting decided not to nominate a candidate as the lime was up. The club took a nice view of the affair by saying that there was five candi dates already for the house and there were enough for the present race. Price it Scruggs have moved their saw mill down on Mr. Price’s place near L. Taylors. The Pupil of State Line got things badly mixed up last week. There was only about three names correct. Mr. J. F. Martin and wife was here Sunday visiting their parents. They live in tho Maud section. Blue Hawk. Star Farm Statements. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Star Farm, July 12.—We have had a very nice rain and the crops are growing fine. The farmers of this section are trying to get through lay- ing-by this week. Watermelons are beginning to be very plentiful. We are having some cool weather for this time of year. There will be children's day at Gethsemane next Saturday and a Sunday School picnic at Draytonvills Saturday week. A singing school will start at El- bethel soon. The Hustler. Remarkable Rescue. Mrs. Michael Curtain, Plainfield, 111., makes tho statement, that she caught cold, which settled on her lungs; she was treated fora month by her family physician, but grew worse. He told her she was a hope less victim of consumption and that no medicine could cure her. Her druggist suggested Dr. King’s New Discovery for Consumption; she bought a bottle and to her delight found herself benofltted from first doso. She continued Its u«e and after taking six bottles, fonnd her self strong and well; now does her own housework, and is ns well as she ever was. Free trial bottles of this Great Discovery at DuPre Drag Co. Large bottles 50 cents and $1.00. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Etta Jake, July 10.—The news of tho week outside of the crushing de feat of the Spanish navy at Santiago, and the celebration at Gaffney, on Monday, is very meagre. Iteports still come in—some encouraging and then to the reverse. Your corres pondent has never taken much stock in the Cuban-Spanish-Atneriean war, and is not one of those who so vocif erously tells what “wo done” or what “we” are going to do. The honors and horrors of war belong to those who do the fighting and plan ning or in some other way contribute materially to its success. Like Jack Poliver, who came home on a furlough during the late civil war, and while sitting in a hotel at Union heard someone—anon-comba tant—telling what “we done,” said: “Yes, and what have “we” done? We staid at home while others done the lighting. The fourth of July celebration at Limestone Springs and Gaffney was a brilliant affair. Among the 4000 or 5000 people there assembled, we did not see one under the influence of liquor. Is it possible they all took our advice of two weeks ago? We asked everybody to keep sober. Admiral George Dewey is a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church at Vallejo, Mare Island. The earth got a good soaking last Wednesday night. There is no com plaint of dry ground now. There will be a barbecue at Thomp son’s mill next Saturday. Wm. Jefferies and Thomas W. Littlejohn were elected as delegates to represent Camp Jefferies, U. C. Veterans, at the Atlanta meeting on the 20th, 21st, 22nd a^d 23rd. Jas. T. Morehead and Lieut. Commander, W. L. Goudelock, were elected as al ternates. The camp will hold its next meeting at Wilkinsville on second Saturday in October. Our friend Dr. M. Bonner, we are glad to see, toon special care of the girls in his charge at the meeting at , Limestone Springs last Monday.' He seems to be quite a favorite with the fair sex. I had prepared a report of the Gaffney Fourth of July celebration to take the place of this letter, but as The Ledger has so completely cov ered the ground we consign our effort to the waste basket, and join our friends in the shouting. We hope these seasons of rejoicing will be not only kept up by the people of our country for all time to come but make more and more ideal glorifica tion of a great cause in a great coun try. Mr. Wm. G. Fowler was taken painfully ill last Wednesday while at work measuring oats from the thresher, end is still confined to his bed. Dr. T. S. R. Ward is attending him. The most prolific fruit tree that we have this year is the wild goose plum. Had we had as much aa a half dozen trees they would keep twice that number of hogs fat. The rain last Wednesday night washed the land badly in many places. Our magistrate court had a case before it last Thursday for carrying concealed weapon, The party was convicted and sent to the chain gang for thirty days. Also against the same party for violating contract— party plead guilty and was sentenced to twenty days or $25. He took the days. Everybody ought to prepare to sow turnips while the ground is in good season. Under the caption, ‘‘a word to candidates” our worthy editor last week makes some good points. In fact, the entire editorial is first-rate, sod the candidates ought to listen to it. We thank you, Mr. Editor, for what yop said and hope yon will keep up your fire along this line. Poke root put in the chicken trough is a preventative as well as a cure, for chicken cholera. So say our neighbors who have tried it. The recent rains have wonderfully improved the old corn that had about quit growing. We have no watermelons yet. The crop is backward and the vines have died out in many places. Miss Ethel Strain is still visiting in the Hickory Grove section. Three or four of the Hopewell boys went over to Gaffney on their wheels last Monday and took part in the grand jubilee. Cherokee park is fast becoming one of the most famous places in the county for picnics. But for such an occasion as we had last Monday no place on earth can beat the grove ‘okee Monday Hous , wive3 j uive a ]j a g reef | this is ti 3 scarcest year for garden £ i 3 he) have ever seen. . E Ledge., wou ;j have had quite a time giving ..jj that « might h. ve ireu on UK) Lherefo-g uobcJ feel slighted the personal notes .ve gathered on tb should SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. Jolly is -nis reported \e Florida ’.h were Our friend, Capt. ‘ r)i c i { >» the only one so far that j a favorable prospect for t/. watermelons, the seed of whi sent out last spring. From present appearances fan., er8 will soon have grass to contend with The ground is wetter now than it has been since last winter. The blackberry wine-making sea son is getting pretty well over with. The sugar cane crop is all right since the rains set in. W. T. Osment and Jimmie Strain speak of talcing a trip to North Caro lina after “laying by time.” One of our neighbors say we will have no freshet this year. The wasps and hornets have build their nests too low done. They are always above the high water mark. J. L. s. Antioch, July 11.—I had the pleas ure last Saturday of attending the picnic at King's Mountain battle ground, given by the Antioch band. A large crowd, estimated at 1,000 was present and was called to order by Mr. Elijah Hardin, master of cer emonies. He introduced Rev. J. D. Bailey, the orator of tho day. His subject was “the battle of King’s Mountain and the circumstances which led to it.” I will try and give full text of the address next week. Tho Antioch band furnished the music. Fienty to eat and a general good time was enjoyed by all. The afternoon was occupied by the candidates present. A rain came on while Hon. I). E. Finley was in the midst of his speech which practically broke up the meeting. I also attended Antioch church yesterday. A large congregation was present and Rev. Mr. Bailey preached a very impressive sermon. They have a good Sabbath school superintended by Mr. E. Hardin; also a good choir led by Mr. Dixon Miss Kate Ratchford began her school at Antioch this morning. Mr. Victor Hambright, son of Mr. and Mrs. Beatty Him bright, I regret to say, is confined to his bed with fever. His physician, Dr. Oats, is hopeful for his recovery. A picnic will be held at Piedmont Springs next Saturday. The ladies are requested to attend and bring their baskets. Your correspondent acknowledges a kind invitation to be present, too. Crops along Kings creek and throughout Cherokee township are fine, so far as I have seen. Farmers are getting well through with their work. Several of the Cherokee candidates are now laying this section of the county hope to lead in the race. The Northern Section of the Broad River Baptist Association. The northern section of the Bgoad River Baptist Association meets on Friday before the fifth Sunday in July at Macedonia church and will continue through Saturday and Sun day. The follotving is the program: Prayer service at 10 o’clock, con ducted by the moderator. Delegates enrolled and organiza tion. Introductory sermon at 11 o’clock, by Rev. \Y. G. Ezell. Intermission, forty-five minutes. AFTERNOON. 1st query. “Should unconverted people teach in our Sunday schools?” by J. J. C. Ezell and others. 2nd query. Resolved, that the use of tho intended help of the Sunday school lessons, us now used, have crowded out a more careful study of the Scriptures, by Rev. C. M. Teal and ot tiers. Question box; dismission. SECOND DAY. . ‘ u eet at 9:3U o’clock. Short devo- Uona*. exercises by the moderator. >rd qnery. Resolved, that the di vision unq tbe want of unit y a , n0I1 g lans u t t }, e present arises from the wa> n t of niowledge of i bo J). Edwards and * ; ther* 4th query. Resow* that a ]ack of parental devotion^ at home ig a great hindrance tor church Sun day school progress by L . B . Davis and others. J Intermission, 45 ni.; nu t e s. AFTERNOdU'. Devotional exercised ’ fifteen utes, by moderator. county siege to and al J. L. s. Dots from Centerview. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Centerview, July 4.—Well! well such another time as we did have at Limestone today, it was a great big sight and enough to be seen, a great big to do and a lot to be done, so ” guess it was enjoyed by all who were present. Crops are very fine through this section though we are suffering for rain now. There was ^ picnic at the new bridge last Saturday, several of our youngsters were present. They report a very nice time especially for the boys, or boy. There were some fascinating girls from the far north and nothing could have pleased one of our boys better than to have seen them. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gosset visited Mrs. Gosset’s parents, Mr. and Mrs J. V. Welchel Saturday and Sunday Misses Minnie and Mamie Stacy*o Spartanburg are visiting friends anc relatives of this place. Big Head. Robbed the Grave. A startling incident of which Mr John Oliver of Philadelphia, was the subject, is narrated by him as follows “I was in a most dreadful condition My skin was almost ^yellow, eyes sunken, tongue coated, pain continu ally in back and sides, no appetite— gradually growing weaker day by day Three physicians had given me up Fortunately, a friend advised trying “Electric Bitters,” and to my great joy and surprise, the first bottle made a decided improvement. I continued their use f^r three weeks, and am now a well man. I know they saved my life, and robbed the grave of an other victim.” No one should fail to try them. Only 50 cents per bottle at DuPre Drug Company. a more thorough scriptures, by K. min- relation D. P. L. 5th query. Music and to Sunday school work, Martin and others. Miscellaneous exercises. Question box; dismission. THIRD day. Meet at 9 :30 o'clock. Mass meeting exercises in the in terest of Sunday schools, conducted by Rev, F. C. Hickson. Essays by Misses Edna Northey, of Providence, and Bessie Davidson, of Beaverdam, on subjects of their own choice. Missionary sermon by Rev. J. M. Bridges. Collections for missions. Rev. J. M. Bridges, C. H. M. For Committee. -— * • * Ravenna Locals. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Ravenna, July 5.—Last Monday evening July 4th, there was a social gathering at Mr. T. C. Green’s spring. Quite a large crowd was present and every one seemed to have a delightful time. A long table was completely filled with all kinds of cake, and lemonade and ice cream were served in abundance. Fruit was also plenti ful. In fact, everything was delight- tntty pleasant and all who had the pleasure of being there will not very soon forget the occasion. Misses Sal- lie and Ha Green deserve special thanks for the pleasant manner in which the guests were treated. They were very careful to see that no one went away hungrey, and I feel sure no one was slighted in any way. After the table had been cleared Charley Lipscomb entertained the crowd for awhile with some comic songs on his banjo. The guests then repaired to Mr. Greens’ residence where the time was spent quite pleasantly for about half an hour. At about G :30 o’clock the merry party began to leave and, no doubt, they all are looking forward with eargerness and hoping that the time is not for distant when there shall be more gatherings ns much enjoyed as the one on July 4th. Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Bonper went to Kirby’s Spring Monday. Several of our people attended the 4th of July celebration at Limestone. Miss Laura Pettit, who is attending the Commercial School at Spartan burg, spent a few days at home re cently. E. M. Green, of Union, came up for the Fourth. Mrs. Felix Littlejohn is quite sick. a. ij. c. State Line Dots. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) State Line, June 27.—The Rev. R. J. Tate filled his appointment Satur day Sunday at State Line cbarch. The following delegates were elected to the Broad River Association: R. P. Scruggs Johnnie Camp, Eddie Scruggs and James Parris. Crops are looking some better since the rains of last week. There are several on the sick list In this neighborhood. R. P. Scruggs is confined to his room, also R. B. Scruggs. p. R. Bucklen’s Arnica Salve. Ihe Best Sxlve in the world for Cuts, Bruises, Sores, Ulcer, Salt Rheum, Fever Sva'ts, Tetter, Chapped Hands, Chilblains, Corns, and all Skin Eruption, and postively cares Piles or no pay required. It is gura- anteed to give perfect satisfaction or money refunded. Price 25 cents per box. For sale by The DuPre Drug Co.