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rr ‘‘'■T'f STACT. ?rc8ld».ut. WAROI'AW. 'Ice I’resIdeD THE NATIONAL BANK OP GAFFNET. Capital $50,000.00. Will buy eounty claim*, rtcelvc deposit • Hr ' Hod makcTlbefui loaus klms, receive deposit on aul'roved paper li. O. iujsis;. Cashier. The Ledger SEMI-WEEKLY-PUBLISHED TUESDAY AND FRIDAY. WE GUARANTEE The Reliability of Every Adve? tiser Who Uses the Col umns of This Paper. A Newspaper in all that the Word Implies and Devoted to the Best Interests of the People of Cherokee County. established LEDjFEB. 10, 1894. GAFFNEY CITY, S. C., FRIDAV, FEBRUARY 16. 1900. f 1.00 A YEAR. ENGLAND PLEASED WITH LORD ROBERTS Field Marshal Proving Hinv* self a Strategic Warrior. SOLDIERS IN FINE TRIM — Casualties Are Ll»tit—Uritlsh Scouts Are Gettiug Acquainted With Oom I rtUl’ti IVrrltory, *.nd Loudon Is Jubilant. London, Feb. 16.—Intense satisfac tion continues doninant in consequence 0. B ieid Marshal Lord Koberts’ plan of operations in South Africa as revealed by the dispatches published this morn ing. There is uo further news of the British advance into the Orange Free ^Stato or of activity at the Modder river, it a feeling of qaict confidence pro- uls that the strong hands of “Bob’s lhadnr” and the hero of Khartonm ^ shaping matters towards a much &<\ded decided victory. St. James Gazette says: ord Roberts, with his own line well i^jarded and having little reason to fear only a defense, which would be deadly, viz: a counter stroke attacking bis long line as it swings round, will be able to force the Boers to fight under very unfavorable conditions, or abandon their heavy guns and stores.” The fears regarding the Boer attack on Znialaud are somewhat allayed by a special dispatch from Durban, which says that a column of colonial scouts after a forced march has arrived at Eshow, in splendid fighting form. They were pursued several times during the march by the Boers, but succeeded ia repulsing them. The official list of the British casual ties at Uensborg, from Feb. 10 to Feb. 12, shows: 1 Killed, four officers and seven men; wounded, six officers and 14 men; miss ing, two officers and eight men. A BRILLIANT CAVALRY RAID. Lord Roberts and General French Doing Great Maneuvering. ► New York, B’eb. 16.—A dispatch to file Tribune from Loudon says: The silence at the front has been token and whatever occurs anywhere is of little accocnt. Generals Rob- Irts' jCfifTHKltchener, having concen trated a fuil army corps, with a cavalry rigade and artillery, conld be trusted find better employment for it than lat of lining the railways between )range and Modder rivers. They have tone so and their secret is at last cut. General Freuoh’s cavalry brigade,which 18 b^eu maneuvering around Coles- jrg, seized on Monday the crossing of jit river at DekiTs Drift and the biijth id Seventh divisions are now on- r »mped on the east bank of that river. [ The Sixth division is Kelly-Konuf’s, hu h has been reported to be co-ope- Utiug with French and Gatacre for the fearance of the country south of the IVnge river. His division is now ve tted in the Tiet river with the Sevenrh ^vision, Tucker’s, which has been te- pvod to be at Modder river. [’hese two divisions, with French’s (airy brigade and the new infantry made up from battalions lining railway from DeAar Junction, are co operating with General Mo l’s aimy in a great flanking move- on the right to relieve Kimberlev. s concentration of British force in i unexpected quarter, and the whole ovement has been so cleverly con- aled that no military writer in Lon- m has been able to forecast the pre- te direction o( Lord Roberts’ advance, hat is more important the Dutch selves have apparently been mia- * tor they have weakened their forcar quarter where the attack will be e and strengthened them where thb tish will remain defensive. HuniiMy Pushing Forward. lis general flanking movement has in supper ted by a movement of tinnted infantry from the Orange nr railway crossing to Ramah. This I ■ a strong column, described as a [ in ted infantry brigade, and Colonel nay, who commanded it, had an tement with the Boers on tbs hills lally poshed his force throngh to jatination Tuesday with compara- slight losses, the casualty list Ring to 39. f s entire movement, with its con* ^ vtion of nearly all the British bat* .1 outside Natal and slender *ool* Deft nuder Gatacre and Clements, een brought about by scientific under a rigorous operation of isorship, the ntility of which has loustrated at last. This col* the Riet has a promise of po- the relief of Kimberley and a it advance upon Bloemfon* is so great a diversion of mill* nrces that Ladysmith may yet da "« night a report from Lord Rob- nbed a brilliant cavalry raid by 'K'rench with three brigades of ' id a strong force of hsrse ar- which three Boer laagers tnred and a supporting move* ^ducted by General Gordon, by laagers were taken, ishiug movements, which re* kst work of cavalry raids in [can civil war, are proofs that campaign has entered upon new phase. The relief of rill evidently be the first (d Roberts, and a march upon in the sequel to it. fy Hortr* For London. ians, Feb. 16.—The British yesterday let another big mules, which amonnts to |to be delivered at this port xe animals can be porohased. as the last one, is divided larks Bros, of Kansas City, 1 Kroucb of East St. Louis Ulers at Fort Worth and Bon* The first consignment of pses, numbering 100, will is City today for New Or- ^arrival, B'riday night oy jg, will mark the open* iture among the uric* t the United States. NEW YORK DEMOCRATIC. —I Congressman Su a-r Predicts Suc cess In Hi* State. Chicago, B'eb. 16.—Congressman Sol* zor of New York, who has been attend ing the national antitrust conference, left for Washington last night. As to the work of the conference he said: “It has been a success. The beneficial effects of its work will bo farreaching, and the results deep and lastiug. So far as the trusts are concerned, it is the logiumug of tuo end They will either be crushed by the law or the peo ple will own and control them for the good of society and the benefit of all One or the other will happen and that before long. ” j Asked as to the probable place of holding the national Democratic con* ventioq be said that he did uot know where it would be held—that the na tional committee wopld decide on the city at its meeting iii Washington, Feb. 22. He favor* an early convention. “We should set the pace for the Re publicans,” he said. “We have the affirmative and we should open the case to the gr ury of the American peo ple and proceed. W’e can gain nothing by delay. The issues arc made np by the people and the campaign has al ready begun. Every one knows that wo will renominate William J. Bryan, reaffirm the Chicago platform and add strong planks against trusts, militarism and imperialism.” “How about your selection for vice president?” ho was asked. “The convention,” he replied, “will choose the best and most available man. I do ! , <" | t care to disenss myself, because I am not a candidate in the sense of seeking that high office. Of course I feel complimented to have my name mentioned in connection with it, and as a good Democratic soldier in the ranks I will say I always obey the mandates of my party.” Congressman Snlzer said that he should not relax his efforts to have an in vestigat iou of the management of Sec- rotary Gage, and further, that “New York will go Democratic next fall” SYMPATHY FOR THE BOERS. Friend* of the Mouth African Patriots In New York. New York, Feb. 16 —From Dr. Mai ler in Europe, Secretary* Van Sicklen of the Boer relief fund coqimittee, has re ceived a letter saying lihat the Nether- land Red Cross committee has all Ihe money it needs at present, all ambu lances needed having been provided and furnished throngh .the Cape Town committed. The cornmJittee tnerefore has stoppad receiving money for this purpose. A detachment of 59 nurses and sur geons, provided for by ibe fund raised by the Irish-American society, will sail this month. P. Louter Wossels, uncle of President Stcyn of the Orange BYee State, has ar rived here to aid the canse of the Boers in any way he can. He proposes to lec ture ou the real condition;* in the Trans vaal as he has seen thetu^ BURGLARS AT WINTERVILLE. Wholesale Safe Ulowliij* In Vicinity of tile Town of Athens. Athens, Ga., Feb. Ip. — The safe blowers have been getting in their work at Winterville, 6 miles from this city. Yesterday the safe of D.^H.-Winter, a prominent merchant of that place, was found open, the burglars having blown ,it« door off the hinges. <L)ue hundred end twenty-five dollars was missing, and the burglars bad evidently seenred that much booty. The. safe of J. T. Pittjard, another large merchant of that place, had been tampered with. The combination of this safe had been broken, fbut the bur glars did not succeed ia eftbetiug an en trance. I Two strange men, who lave been in Athens and Winterville a day or so, are suspected by officers to ba re done the work. They have 'disappea red. New Cotton Shippliij Portland, Or, B’eb. i nouuced that the Illinois road will establish an ag( land for the purpose of bar Ring cotton shipments to the Orient. Post. —It is an* Central rail* ncy in Port- J. T. Kara* ban, second vice presiden who is in the city, said: “We now have direct connection over our road fn >m New Or leans, Natchez and St. Loais and Chi cago to Omaha and we halve amicable arrangements with all roadh from that point to Portland. We cuver all the great cotton prodneing coniury of the south and the grain producing sections of Illinois and Iowa and have formed a direct line to the Pacific ai Portland. There is a great demand ini the Orient for cotton and many thousatlds of miles can be saved by hauling to Portland and loading it there. This will Ibe far the cheapest and quickest route and we will prefer to encourage it because it gives us a much longer haul. Washout lieing Rapa Newnan, Ga., Fob. 16.—T1 e washout on the Griffin few miles east and Carrolltc i road, a of here, caa ed by the recent rains, will probably b sufficiently today to admit tb ed. repaired passing AN IMMENSE SUM INVOLVED IN SUIT Minority Stockholders In the Carnegie Steel Company MAKE FABULOUS DEMANDS Market Value of Frick’s Holdings la the Corporation the Main Line of Attack to Hrcak Agreement—Hlg Sum la Complaint. Pittsburg, p a , Feb. 16.—Although the suit which H. O. Frick filed Tues day to break the binding force of ihe "ironclad” agreement and recover from the Carnegie Steel company, limited, the market value of his holdings in that concern i; the main line of attack opened by the anti-Carnegie adherents, the minority stockholders, who are lined up against the policy of Mr. Car negie, it is said, ars certain to follow it up with the suit attacking the validity of the coke contract of the Carnegie sonipany with the 11. C. B’rickcompany. Attorney William B. Rodgers, al though refusing to deny or affirm his connection with the big case, is com monly credited with having in charge the proparaticn of the coko contract end of the matter. It is said that this suit will be filed in Greansburg. as Mr. B’rick’s attorneys at that point hare been in frequent consultation with at torneys representing Mr. Frick in this city. The suit, however, will not likely be precipitated for some days yet and pernaps several weeks may elapse be fore it is ready for filing in the courts. The sum of money involved in the proposed suit is said to run up to a gi gantic figure. The estimated total of the Carnegie Steel company’s daily con- sumptiou of coke is 900 cars. The Frick company produces about 1,500 cars of coke per day, so that three-fifths of the whole goes to the steel couceru at the low price of $1.36 per ton. In other words, the Carnegie Steel company, it is alleged, saves from $15,- 000 to $U*,000 a day, with the cost of production and freight rates and other items of expense in the manufacture of coke constantly going up, the minority stockholders of the coke company say that if the contract is allowed to run their profits will be eventually cut to almost nothing. The suit, then, will ask the conrt to annul the agreement altogether and relieve them from a sit uation that has been forced upon t^em by the majority holdings, STRANGE CRIME IN FLORIDA. Visitor From Apalachicola Reports Ghastly Find. Columbus, Ga., Fob. 15 —Mr. W. C. Thornton of Apalachicola, Fla., who has arrived in the city brings news of a hor rible find at Chattahoochee, Fla., which brings to light a mysterious crime. Mr. Thornton left Apalachicola Mon day by boat, arriving at Chattahoochee Tuesday. There had just been discov ered in the Chattahoochee river at that point the body of a well dressed man. The dead man had on fashionable cloth* iug, wore tan shoos and had on tan- colored socks. The strange part of the affair was that a lady’s handkerchief was found sttfffed in the man’s mouth and aronnd his neck was the imprint of a rope. The coroner’s jury returned a verdict that the deceased came to his death from violent causes at the hands of unkuowb parties There is nothing whatever about the murdered man’s body to identify him. Nobody is missing from that part of B’lorida. The looks of the body show that it bad been in the water several days. It might have drifted hundreds of miles down the river. of trains. A part of ths tr (tie span ning Turkey creek was carr: ad away, and for two days the trains oi the road have met here and exchange 1 passen gers and mail, one train ba dug been canght on each end of the r >ad. The freight business of the road has been almost completely at a stands 'ill, as no train conld go through T ie bridge gang has been continuously at) work re pairing the breach. V " l Negro Woman Burnet I. Greensboro, Ga., Feb. 16 —Bethie Coleaby, an aged negress, llvin g on Mr. Richard Champion’a place, nea r Greens boro, was burned to death. The old woman, who was quite feeble, placed a ■tick of wood on the fire and w bile abe was so doing her clothing be same ig nited and she was almost inst mtly en veloped in flames. AntUUoxIng Bill Passe d. Albany, Feb. 15.—The bill r epealing the socailed Horton law, which permit* boxing matches in the state, wa s passed in too assembly today, the vott > stand ing 92 yeas and 86 nays. The bill has nob gone over to the senate v here it, will be considered by the cot es com mittee. Adventun-r Killed In Philippines. New York, Fob. 15 —The body of Sergeant Morris J. Cohen of the Twen tieth Kansas regiment of volunteers, who was killed in the battle of Calla- coon, Philippine islands, arrived in Jersey City today. On June 8, 1890, Cohen sot out to walk from Jersey City to San Francisco in six months, the terms of his wager requiring him to wheel his tent and equipments in a wheelbarrow. He accomplished the task two weeks within the time limit. A short time afterward ho joined the Twentieth Kansas volunteers aud served in the Philippine war. Ho was made a corporal for good behavior, and subse quently was promoted to tho rank of sergeant, over four senior corporals, for meritorions conduct and bravery in bat tle. Ou March 2, 1899, ho captured a Filipino flag, which is said to be the first one taken by our forces He was wounded in battle and died aoop after ward. Lord Chestt-i 11 -Id Weds. London, Feb. 15.—Lord Chesterfield and Miss Enid Wilson were married in this city this afternoon. There was a large and fashion..hie attendance at the ceremony. As cabled to the Aesociated Press from London, Feb 10, the mar* riage of Lord Chesterfield to Miss Wil son was to be a brilliant affair and wonld set precedent at naaght, the bride wearing a satin train embroidered with silver lilies, doves, and stars, while the bridesmaids would wear scar let cloth coats with triple capes and picturesque felt hats. It was added that Lord Chesterfield’s gift to tha bride was to bo a diamond tiara and a check for £2,000. WILL INVESTIGATE MAGDUM'S DHARGES Ex-Consul at Pretoria Claims Secret Alliance. RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY Must Inform the House of Krprrsentn* lives About Truthfulness of His Rt-c 'lit Charge of Anglo-American Afllliatlon. Washington, B’eb. 16.—Representa tive Wheeler of Kentucky today intro duced in the house tho following reso lution: “Whereas, Charles E Macrum, late consul of the government of the United States at Pretoria in the Transvaal re public. over his own signature, charges ‘when this (his) mail was finally for warded to me after Colonel Stowe, the American consul general at Capo Towu, bad seenred its release, I had the hu miliation, as the the representative of the American government, of sitting in my office at Pretoria and looking upon envelopes bearing the seal of ths Amer ican republic broken and officially sealed convincing me that the contents had l?**u read by the censor at Durban;’ and “Whereas, he further states in the same article, ‘when I accepted my post as consul I knew nothing of any secret alliance between America and Great Britain; therefore be it “Resolved by tho house, That tho secretary of slate is directed to inform tho house of representatives of the state ment of said Charles A. Macrum as con sul of tho American government to the state department tbat his official mail had been opened aud road by the Brit ish censor at Durban, and if so what steps, if any, bail been taken to obtain an expiation and apology from the Brit ish government. Second—He is further directed to in form the house of representatives what troth there is in the charge that a se cret alliance exists between the United States and the empire of Great Britain. ” The speaker referred the resolution to the foreign affairs committee. A NEW LINE TO FLORIDA. South Georgia Kallwiiy Will Be Ex tended to Tampa. Atlanta, Feb. 15 —The directors of the South Georgia Railway company were yesterday granted an amendment to their charter by Secretary of State Phil Cook, authorizing an extension of the lino from Tifton, its southern ter minus, throngh Brooke county to tho B'.orida liuo. It is the announced intention of tho South Georgia Riilway company to build a line from Tifton, Ga., down tho Florida peninsula to Tampa, compet ing at that point with the Plant system for the extensive trade of the north. The Sooth Georgia Railway company extends at present from Tifton, in Brooks county, to a point l“8s than 50 miles in the northern part of that county. The application of the company to build through to Florida has already been made to the anthorities of that state aud tho directors announce their intention of carrying forward the work of construction without delay. President Invited to Albany. Washington, Feb. 15.—Senator Olay and Judge Griggs of the Second district, with Major Brown of Albany, have ex tended to the president an invitation to visit he Georgia chantauqua at Al bany ou April 22. The president ex pressed hla gratification at tho receipt of the invitation and took it under ad visement, the date being too far in the future for him tc give a definite reply. CarurglB Alike a Sphinx. Fernandina, Fla, Feb. 15.—Andrew Carnegie came over from Dangeness this morn 1 - nd spent an hour in thi« city. He \.i. ju by a reporter, but declined to talk for publication. Aged Georgia Woman Dies. Athens, Ga., Feb. i5 —Miss Anna Hoigsou died at the home of her niece, Mrs. R. D. Mure, ou Pr.nce avenue. She had reached the ripe age of 85 years. She was ths aunt of Lieutenant Commander Allen O. Hodgson of the United States navy; Lieutenant Colonel Bred O. Hodgson of the United States army; Messrs. A. II. Hodgson, G. T. Hodgson aud Guy M. Hodson of this city. Miss Hodgson was one of the oldest citizens of Athens, having come to this city in 1839. She was a consist ent member of the Presbyterian chartm. Tho remains were interred in Oconee cemetery today. British Will Aid Zulii'>. London, Fob. 15.—In the house of commons, during tho courso of a reply to the question relative to the probable Boer invasion of Zuiulaud, the secre tary of state for the colonies, Joseph Chamberlain, said tbat the government bad decided tbat if the native territories were invaded by the Boers the natives “will be encouraged and assisted in every way in defending themselves.” Bryan at Charleston. Charleston, Feb. 15.—Hon. W. J. Bry au has accepted the invitation ex* tended by the city council to speak in Charleston tonight. He will reach the city from Columbia at 8:15, speak at Thomson auditorium at 9 and leave for Jacksonville at 11:15. A cor^iittee ap pointed by the mayor will meit the dis- guisbed orator and attend him while here. Mental Derangement the Cause. Macon, Feb. 15.—Examination made of the accounts of A. H. Kemp, late manager of the Western Union Tele graph company here, who committed suicide yesterday, by Superintendent Brenner, roveala no shortage. His body was taken to Alexandria, Va.. his former borne today. The cause of the act ia now regarded as mental abberra- tion. Interest on Income Bonds. New York, Feb. 15.—The directors of the Texas and Pacific Railway com pany have declared 1>£ per cent inter est on the second mortgage income bonds out of the net income applicable thereto on Doc. 81, 1899, payable March 1. This is the first payment on these bonds since tho company’s reorganiza tion. _ Kentucky Canvassing Board at Work. Frankfort, Ky., Feb. 15.—The house and senate met at 11 o’clock and at once adjourned to the same honr tomorrow. The state canvassing Vo*rd took up the case of the minor officers on the state ticket this morainr- It is uot expected that »qy decisions will be rendered in side of three or fa.qjr days. HAPPENINGS IN LOWER CHEROKEE. Incessant Rains Have Raised the Water Courses. WILL DAMAGE OATS. TIi** Small I’ox Scare is Subsiding—“<1. L. S.” Answer* “Levy’s” Question*—The People are Punctual in Paying Tax--Persona and News Notes. (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Etta Jane, Feb. 14.—The latest remedy we have heard for heart dis ease is for the patient to lick the spout Die meal comes out of at the mill. Wo have no doubt but that it is good in some eases. If the legihlatu.. bad killed the lien law it wouldn’t hurt much. We learn that some of our farmers say that before they will give another lieu they will work one day and eat the next. That is the way to be in dependent, gentlemen. We frequently hear the old adage repeated "a rolling stone gathers no moss.” But will some one tell us what good the moss does the stone? Now that the legislature will soon cease from its labors and tho mem bers return home to receive the adu lations or execrations of their expec torant constituencies, we will say nothing further than that in some things they did very well, and in others not so well. Of one thing we feel quite sure, that is, it has fur nished a lot of campaign thunder to be used along legislative lines this summer, ilow could it be otherwise, for a great many of us don’t seeift to know what wc want, anyway. One of The Ledger’s best friends, Mr. II. M. Maynor, bays our letters are getting too short. They are too long yet, neighbor, unless there was more in them. We hope, however, to improve them. By some inadvertence our answers to‘‘Levy’s”catcchism haven’t appear ed in The Ledger yet. They were sent in some days ago, but we witi reproduce them with our answers. 1. What was McClelland’s war horse named? Ans. Madison, some times called “Old Mortality.” He won this soubriquet at Gaines’ Mill, Ya., June 27, 18f)2. 27 WTTat Tfras 'ffnlPw True Flag made of? Ans. A tablecloth. 8. Where is the Levant? Ans. The countries bordering on the eas tern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, viz , Asia Minor, Syria, Candia, etc. 4. Has a freg any ribs? Ans. No. 5. Why does frost make the earth crack? Ans. Because cold contracts the earth. 0. Would a pound of lard and a pound of feathers balance if placed in a vacuum? Ans. No. If we are wrong in any of our an swers we hope "Levy,” or some one else, will correct us and we hope also that our delay in getting our answers before the public has caused no in convenience nor undue anxiety about the interrogations. It is asserted as a scientific fact that a person who can’t smell can’t taste. Some of our country boys attended the musical entertainment at Lime stone last Friday night and were much pleased with it. Think they will go back again if another oppor tunity is offered. They are fukome in their praises of the pretty girlu at Limestone. The almost incessant rain for two days has raised the water courses and put a stop to all out door work. Little Herbert Goforth, we are glad to learn, is getting better, and hopes of hie recovery are now entertained by his family and friends. The small pox scare is subsiding in this community. For our part we don’t believe there is or ever has been a genuine case of small pox in Gaffney unless it was passing through on the railroad. The climate and healthy surroundings of the city are such that small pox cannot effect t^tfeh, even if a few cases were to develop. The Fowler Brothers afe hauling their cotton to Gaffney. / Your correspondenthas been much under tho weather for several days and not able to get about. The recent hi, h water in Thickety tore out the fore bay at Thomson’s Mill. Notwithstanding all the rain and cold weather we have had. Mr. Meek C. Barker, our faithful mail carrier on the Gaffney route, has not missed a trip or been behind time of arrival at this office. The water is over most of the low lands at this time. Oats submerged will doubtless be damaged some, if not badly. Our people have generally been punctual in their tax payments and also in their returns to the auditor. Very few cases that we know of will appear on tho defaulter’s list. Since the bad weather set in our Union mail carrier has been irregular in his arrivals at tnis office. Uncle Jimmie Raines still remem bers us with Richmond, Va., papers every week, for which we thank him. J* L. S. Forty-three per cent, of the fruit trees in Southern California are or ange and 15 per cent, lemon. The first bank established In the United Htates was incorporated at Philadelphia, December 81, 1781. What is that which has both feet and nails, but no legs, toes, cr claws? A yardstick. LEGISLATIVE PROCEEDINGS. Condensed Report or the Work of Our Law-Makers. Columbia, Feb. 13—The resolu tion proposing an arneniment to the constitution providing biennial ses sions, was killed in the senate today on second reading, the vote being 2(> to 13. Thus only one vote was lack ing to give the resolution the re quired two-thirds vote. The resolution proposing an amend ment permitting cities to increase tl eir bonded indebtedness for estab lishing water works ‘ and sewerage systems passed. Columbia, Charles ton, Greenville, Rock Hill, Florence and Georgetown are the cities af fected. The resolution now goes hack to the house for concurrence in the sen ate amendment, which is to include tho city of Greenville. There will be a strong light over the amendment in the house, the Greenville delegation being divided on it. The resolution amending the con stitution so as to allow condemnation of lauds for drainage purposes also passed its second reading. There was an effort made today to recommit ti e Archer , hill, which allows a vote in counties that want to change from dispensary to prohi bition, but it failed. Mr. Cosgrove withdrew his bill ex empting Charleston from the dispen sary law. The hill to create a State geologi cal and industrial survey went through the house. Tho house killed the broad tire hill in short order. The bill looking to the ultimate pay ment of claim) of the State bank for bonds destroyea :r stolen during the civil war passed the house. ' Gantt’s bill to require corporations to make returns of iheir assets to the secretary of state was killed. The hill fixing county salaries w’as adopted, but many counties were ex empted. Columbia, Feb. 14.—The house re jected the senate bill putting Don ald’s township, of Abbeville, in An derson county. The bill to complete the State house was adopted after being amend ed so that the money, $170,000, is to be borrowed from the sinking fund, $10, 000 to be returned annually with four per cent interset. The dispensary election will he held Friday. There is not much excitement over Bryan’s coming. The senate rejected the $100,000 appropriation for public schools. The South Carolina College gets $27,000; Winthrop gets all she asks, $33,000. The senate holds on to 25 cents fertilizer tag tax, instead of ten, and gives all to Clemson. 1 '*!**> ^ ■ A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. . James Mercer Killed by the .Southern’s Vestibule. Blacksburg, Feb. 15.—On Wed nesday night, the 14th inst., the mangled body of what was once the loved form of James Mercer was found on the rail road track-at what is known as the Byar’s crossing, on the Southern. About 7 o’clock he sent a 'phone message to his mother saying, "I will be home in a little while, au hour or two,” and at ton o’clock a note from Mr. T. L. Black, the agent of the Southern, notified his mother of his sad fate. How the hearts of the community go out in sympathy to the bereaved mother, sister, and the absent father. We are very glad to see Mr. A. II. Pollock able to he out on the streets again. '' Capt. B. D. Aothony, who has been here for the- past few days, has re turned toTfcichmond, Ya. Mr. J. B. King has moved over on Cajolina Street in Mrs. Whiteside’s residence. We are sorry to say that Mr. Wm. Sherer is quite ill. Mr. W. H. Mercer, of this place, who travels for the Virginia Carolina Chemical Company, left home Tues day night for a trip through the Southern States. Mr. Ed. Olephant had tho misfor tune to get his foot hurt one day this week and has not been able to work since. Mr. W. B. Moore, one of Yorkville’s prominent business men and owner of our telephone system, was in town Wednesday. Owing to the recent rain the con nection with our telephone and that of Grover has not been made, but will be in a few days. The Nineteenth Century Club is preparing to give an entertainment in the city ballon the 22nd of this month. Miss Lillian Star, who has been visiting in Rock Hill, has returned home. Miss Ruth Gross, of this place, left Wednesday to spend a few days in Chester. Mr. J. W. Duff, one of the most prominent merchants of this place, went to King’s Creek Wednesday on business. Mr. Haskel Whisonant accompa nied by his sister, Miss Mildred, spent Wednesday in this place. L. B. R. . A PAPER ON POBIIG SCHOOLS. Every Child of School Age Should Attend. MONEY APPROPRIATIONS The report that a schoolmaster chastised a boy with a railroad •switch is doubted. Ho that never changed any of his opinions, never corrected any of his mistakes. School Houses Comfortable ahd Well Lighted—Kveryone Dependent on the 1’uhlic Schools for a I’rlmary Kduca- tlon. (Conespondencft of The Ledger.) Near Blacksburg, S. 0., Feb. 8.— I see a friend of yours from Provi dence writes an article in' a recent number of your paper in which he considerably complains of the man agement of public schools, the pay of teachers in the schools and the ap propriations made generally by the legislature to tho higher schools fos tered by the Slate. Now we do not write this by way of criticism; but we do wish to call attention to some things in connection with the thoughts your correspondent threw out which « we think he overlooked. In the first place, the public schools are just what tho patrons, the trus tees and teachers make them: the jaw is tho best educational law in the world; the provisions for money for its management are most liberal, and as its apportionment to the several school districts Is regnlated by the number appearing on the teachers’ rolls, from which their reports are made, you reudiiy see that this regu lates the length of school in the dis tricts, provided uniform salaries were paid teachers. This being so, you seo how important it is to have every child of school age in attendance upon the'schools when in session. Here lies u duty that belongs to both trustees and teachers, and their work to bring about this result should be thorough and eo-operatjve; both in- fluences should combine and should never be relaxed until the result de sired is obtained. 2. The work of teachers will regu late their salaries, and is alone the correct critcrin by which they should be regulated. Not a particle of the want of success »o-Ahe-«©heol3 now can be charged to either bur county superintendent or the State superin tendent. Both of these officials are doing all they can do in their fields to make the work a success in all its phases. 8. The houses are generally good and comfortable, with plenty of light, convenient seats, and good arrange ments for keeping warm. The only deficiency I have noticed of any note is a want of sufficient blackboard provisions. No house should have less than six by twenty feet for black board work. If, after successfully getting all these necessary elements into good shape and faithful operation, we find the money provision insufficient for continuing tLe schools for a term of uot less than six months. Then every one is dependent upon these schools for a primary education (and many of the very best people of this country are so dependent.) should make such demand for money enough to do so, upon the proper authorities, that will admit of no delay or evasion —this should bo so because the pro ducing masses have almost entirely to depend upon the uublic schools for education. While this is true, they are the motive power that moves everything; not a cotton mill moves withottt'Them,-»nd * farm is culti vated or reaped iuYrtlLeh they have not been the prime fa^Ujr, and they are the source from which^'dixectly or indirectly, all the revenues ttfafc'- uphoid our commonwealth are de rived. Purely, then, the means to keep up good public schools ought to be abundant. The colleges that are fostered by the state should not be neglected, neither should they be provided for so Jav- ishly while the public schools are in need of more money. This is unwis legislation, and representatives wh support such legislation should b held to account for it. We shoul have by all means a compulsory edu cational law. Every parent owes to every child born to him or her the best cultivation of the mind that can possibly be obtained—hence the ori gin of the present school law, ' and if they cannot seo this the law should make them see it. Ah 1 someone says you are invading the rights of . parents in the control of their own ' children. Well, if it be so consid ered, it is for their betterment, or else education is a worthless thing, and every tax payer should assert his manhood and rise up (if it be worth less) and drive away the tax gatherer every time he calls for a poll tax, or a three mills levy, for school pur poses. All pay tuxes for school pur poses, and all should be benefited by them. I n conclusion let me say, that I know, from bitter experience, the trials a toucher has to pass through. They are many, indeed, and I am satisfied that the greater majority of our people will readily admit that the common salaries now allowed them are poor remuneration for the labor, vexations and anxieties a con scientious teacher is compelled to undergo. Barents, in many instances, expect u teacher to do for their chil dren, in three or five months, that which they have neglected to do for them in years. L. b. d. %