Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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** --DITIO ViNNSifO, SA T URAY, MAIRCI1 187$ IZN EDISON AS A NEWSBOY. 1 - 0 110W HEl STARTLsD A PAPERR AND WILY IT ,S USl'EDED. jR lis Prodigal Customors--A Novel Way to Dispose of Old Stock in Trade. I The following characteristic 1 sketches of the early days of Edison are from the advance of his biogra.. ghy, now being written : While running as a newsboys On 1 the Grand Trunk Railway, Edison started a paper, printed by him self. and called "'iae Grand Trunk ] herald." It succeeded well for a a time, but .'uccumbed under igno- 1 mtilious circumstances. Ie had writton sonething ag: inst a store- 1 keeper in Huron ram1ed Bockers, and the next day Bockers met him at the wharf, seized him by the i nape of the neck and the seat of his breeches, and gave him a swing. A splash, t splutter, and the head of the editor appeared again above the water. He swain out safely but i abandoned journalism. now HE SOLD OUT HIS STOCK. Not long after the inglorious downfall of the short lived paper < there occurred an incident in the train life of young Edison that even to-day is recalled with smiles by the old train hands. Among the passengers ono summer afternoon, on the train from Fort Huron to Detroit, were four young nen, ap - parently the sons of wealthy fathers, traveling for pleasure. They t laughed and told stories and en joyed themselves as best they could. Evidently they had plenty of loose cash, for on one or two occasiOns in their hib ri y they exhibited lirge a rolls of bills. During one of their boisterous paro::ysms young Edison happened to be passing through the train with a basket of oranges on it his arm. "Here. bub," shouted oiw' of the young men, "what are you ( selling theso oranres fol ?" "Three cents apiece," readily re- t sponded the boy. "Let's see what they are good for," continued the first speaker, taking the basket in his lap and scrutinizing the oranges as though 'j about to pick out one. Young c Edison at once began to expatiate t on the lusciousness of t he oranges and their remarkable cheapness. The boisterous young man, how. 1 ever, cut him short by saying, < "What will you take for the wholo i lot ?" The train boy supposed of ( course his customer was jesting, ni but answered, deferentially, "Well, a I've got forty five left. I'll sell 'en i all for $1." 'rhe words were f scarcely uttered before the custom- c er hal pitched basket and or;nges , out of the open window. Young < Edison stared at huimi in astonish mannt, then his indignation began to boil as he conteamphited his loss, '3 him before heo could speak his eccentric customer laud slippeCd a c bill into his hands with the words, f "There a $2 for you--$1 for the t oranges and $1 for the basket." I' Then looking at the still anaton i8hed train boy, he said, "Aren't e you satisfied '?" a "Satisfied ! Lord, yeCS," said the boy, his eyes glistening as he aigain c looked at the bill and saw to a i certainty that it w~as genuine. The o incident ovea', the young men re- ii sumed their hilarity and the train i boy wended his way back to the ' baggage car, evidently in deep i thought. AND YET ANOTHTEa SALE. A few minutes later young Edi son was again in the car that con- 1 it'ained the ecentric customer. C This time lhe had on his arm a C basket of apples. Theiy were not 1 the largest apples in the market, t nieither' were they altogether freei from defects. "What are your apples0 worth, I yong feller ?" shouted the old cus- E tomer. "Seven cents apiece," replied Edison, proceeding to dilate on the superiority of those particular ap.. i ples above all others in the market, ! "How many have you got?t" con-. tinued the customer, taking the c basket in his hand and bahrnemng it. ta "Sixty-two," said Edison, just as the basket and apples sped through the window into an open field. r S "Hero's your money," said the I prodigal, handing the train boy a a *5note. Edison again returned to the abaggage car and once more the e 5 ilarious cuartotto resumed their A CORNER IN OLD PAPERS. Fivo minutes later the train boy gain appeared. This time his took consistod of newspapers. oth arms were filled. To appear necs they were the papers of the aly, but the young news agent now that seven-eighths of them roro old, discarded papers, which ad boon iying in his box for tonths. ".How much for your papers, ub?" shouted the young men. "Six dollars for the lot," said dison, somewhat timidly, however, a though fearful that the bonanza Jight be drained. "Hore they go I" shouted the ustoner, snatching thom from his ands and sending them, like their lredecessors, through the open vindow. "Here's your money," nd the train boy pocketed $6 ad litional. Onco more he left the car. By his time the passengrers -were vrought up to a high pitch of inter st at the unusual departure in >olitical economy which they had v,itnes. cd. The lavish young men aughed aloud at their course, and me of thoem was heard to say, 'Well, I guess we've bought him ut at last." The prediction seeraed to be rue. Fifteen minutes passod away nlid the train boy did not make hi:i .ppearance. But the prodigals did not know; he boy with whom they were de:d ng. At the end of a quarter of an our they looked up to see comning town the aisle of the car Edison nd another boy, bearing between hem a large box, at which they ugged and panted in their efforts u got it to the seats of the young nen. "Hell ! What in thunder have you rot bore ?" said they, rising to look t the curiosity. Young Edison viped the perspiration from his row, as he said, "Well, you've 'ought out all mxy stock, and now 've brought my store and fixtures long. Give me $20 more and you an chuck than all out of the win Iow." This was too much for the capi alists. They felt that they had aet their match. They declined to :hako any further investment. ANOTHER CITY \yiTH AN ALIAS. 'he Alabam t Legislature has pass - d and the Governor has approved ho bill repealing the charter of the ity ot' Mobi/ and creating the 'ort of iltobile, so that we now ave a Southern city that has adopt d an alias in order to avoid the nportunities of cieditors. Three 'oumImis"oneCrs are ap)pointed with ut'ority to compromise and adjust ii debts and demands, including ast due taxes, of every kind in ivor of th~o city. For t.he p)urposo I arranging the debts duo by lobile they are empowered to sell, n the best terms they can obtain, 11 the real and personal property vhien may come to their hands. ~ho Commissioners ai'e also charged vith the duty of opening coummuuni - ation with the holders of* the indled ctebt'of the city wvith a view 0 its adjustment and settlement. ~he Port of Mobile is to be govern di by eight Commissioners, to be hocted by the poopleO. There is to bo Posidlent of thme Board, a Clerk and Tax Collector, and such polico0 flicers as may be necessary. To efray Lhe expenses of police man gement the BIoardl is authorized nd empowered to levy and collect er each year of its existence, upon 'eal and personal property and all ubjects of State taxation a tax rhich shall not exceed six-t-nobs f one per cent. NORITHERN-SOUTHIERNERs.-The Lon iville CoLuier -.Journal has haid thoe ntorp)rise to prepare an article overing sixteen and a half of its ng columns, going to show what he South has done for the North~ rest, and especially for the city of Jhicago. iA points out that scores nd hundreds of men of 0ininence nd capital have moved fro\a Dixie mnd into the city and country round bout the lakes, and that over $75,-. 00,000 worth of property is owned ni Chicago by them. It gives the: ~enealogy of a large number of Jorthern citizens who1 are natives f the South, and all in all presents most interesting complilation. One of the brightest little sons esiding on James street hill saw his Ather fixing thes billiard table with spirit level. A fter the old man had1 mished the job he remarked : "Now, a, see if my head is level."-Byra-. ue MandacL AN lC'L ODI: OP TIL WAR, rwo Mootings of Francis 0. Darlov and John D. Gordon. [ Iot the lBoslon 'Tr'Iuscril. ] You may not be aware that it wat [len. Gordon's command whici itruck the flank of the Eleventi Dorps on the afternoon of the firs lay at Gettysburg, and after a shor uut desperato conlict broke its lin md swept it from the field. In that light Gen. Barlow, of Nov york, conmmander of the First Di vision, fell d.ungoro isly and, it waa tliought, mortally wounded. H< -van shot directly through the body l'wo of his men attempted to beai din through that shower of lbat ron the field ; but one was instant. y killed, and Gen. Barlow mag gaui liously stid to the other : "Yor an do me10 no good save yourself il von can." Gordo.n's brigade of [eorgians in its wild charge swept vor him, and he was foun b Lioneral Go (on himself lying -wit .pturned face in the hot July -sun 10catrly p:tratlyzed and atpparetli lying. Generail Gordou dtsmtolnt d from his1 horse, gave him a einll .f water from his cant3on, and in iuired of Geneial Barlow his nam< tnd wish Ies. General Barlow aaid "I shal L)robably live but a short time Llease taku fromu my breast pockoi he packet of my wifo's letters and eCad one of them to me ;" whiel rvas done. He then asked that th< tlers be torn up, as lo did nol vish them to fall into other hands l'iis General Gordon did, and ther u,ked ; "Can I do anything else foi rot, General ?" "Yes," replict :xeneral B.arlosv, earnestly. "M31 wife is behind our army. Can yor aend a message through the lines ? 'Certainly I will," sa id Gordon, and to he did. Then directing Genera: Barlow to be borne to th shade of I tre3 at the rear, he rode on witl is comai:ind. The wife received ho message and caime hirmilostl hrough both lines of battle alit ound h'r husband, who eventuall eOcver ed. Since General Gordon's election :o the United States Senate, botil eo and General Barlow weore invite( oa dinner pairty in Washington, ill occupied o)posite seats at thi able. Aitor introluctions, Gener L Gordon said : "Gonorrl Barlow tre you r,lated to the officer o four nane who was killed at Getlys. )urg ?" "I ami21 the 1an," saut B3arlow. "Are yon related to th lordon who is supposed t > lv( :illed me ?" "I am the m:m," sai; lordon. The hearty greetinll: ,vhich followed the touching story is related to the interested guesta )y General B:trlow, and t he thL illint. Aect upon the company cantl betteL )o itutginel than deticribed. THAT CunlEErUL IDIOT REID.---c thudhn, of Otio, and Ritid, of Maino nemhe's of the Potter committoo ight like cats and dogs every tini he committeo has a meeting. Reit s a great, fat, stupil creature, wh mas thre imost decided down-east wang. Hie is atlwaiys snarling al dLcMaLhon, andi McMahon is always, iguraLtively sp)eakinlg, taking Reuii >y his gigantic calrs anid bumlfpingf uis great, thick, wooden head1( againal he waLll behind himn. The~1 Englisi ~xpression, "a bloody, blasted bmass, >ut feebly describes this cheerfu: dot from MaLine. Trhe other day McMahon was iross-cxamrining thrat accomplished iar, St. Martin, when Ried burst ii withi a would,bo sarcastic tone, ut ering every syllable through his lose, Saying, "Oh, Mr. McMahon [ supposo yew svant to git at th< Grewth namow I" "Yes," saiid M~cMaIihon, with )olite smilo, "I do wanLIt to get al he 'trowtLh,' but, if yon lease,] would rather not have it throng! your inose." Th'e basswood Repro ientativo from Maine sat up ver' atraight at this reply, anid for th< -est of tire day he astonisihed an ad, niring audience by keeping hi: nouth shut. The trial by court martial o )apt. Thomas Blair, at For t Clolum >us, New York, came to a suddel ~ermrination on Tluesday, the accuse< vithdrawving his plea of not guilt: mna pleading guilty to bigamy ant orgery, but insisting that in oom nlitting those oifenses he was inno rent of any intention to do wrong Japtain Blair was tihe hero of 3eotch marriage. He left his wife same to this country, enlisted as rivate in the army, rose from Lb. 'anks and finally married the widov >f General Gordon Granger, o0 vhose staff he served. Mrs. Gran, rer has abandoned him and wil ake sMeps to have theo marriage og 1IRIC-A-IIltAC. Domestic cannibals-Back-bitors. A thermomctor gains notoriety b3 degrees. h11e best knwn time by a skatoi is a mile in 1.56. When a stag takes to the water he a swims for door life. Nothing has so many ties binding it to earth as a railroad. Of course the horsd marines arc mounted on fleet horses. Professiomal beggars look upon every dwelling as an almshouse. The dentist will make more mon ey per acher than any farmer we ever saw. "I can boat you all hollow," as the inehinist's hammer said to the boiler. A cemetery called Happy Valley, in Hong Kong, China, is said to be the finest in the world. The French government has issu e( a decree thl,t "La Marseillaiso' shall be the national anthem. Last year the United States pro dueed 350,000,000 p,unds of che ese 1 and 1,500,000 pounds of butter. It cannot be that "all desh is grass." Grass gets its (low-about the only thing that does in this world. Alabama pays thirty cents a day for fending prisoners. The total thum paid out last year was $58, 810.92. Bouquets for parties and balls are now made flit in New York, whieh prevents their being handed round. There is a very suggestive proverb which declares that "There are a great 1many asses with short cars." An exchange thinks the time will certainly come when the men will go flying through the air. Well, that's a matter 'o pinion. When a man can walk into a gin mill end stcnv away ten cocktails in ten minutes he may be said to have attained prominence at the bar. "Iry, have you given the gol fish f retshl water ' "No, ma'am. What's the use i They haven't drufnk what's there yet." There is a small community in Paris, France, calling themselves Mormons, who conform to the prac tices of the followeis of the late lriga.m Young. One who knows says you may talk of your water cres, your movement , cures, and your blue.-glass cures, but there is nothing like the sinlo catre, after all. Such is the universally charitable nature of woman that when she finds a man who hs no mind of his own she ist always willing to give him a piece of hors. The Chines3 encyclopedia meets a long-felt want. No family should be without it. It is published in Pekin and has only 5,050 volumes ; A tea dealer in London, who gives away a large inmber~ of niovels to his pore purchasers, says that Dick ce' wvorks hiave a deimnd far ahc.d of any other stories. Mrs. Southward has madec herself ri:-hi by writing novels. If she had told nothing but the truth she would have to pawn her uluter tc raise the price of a beer. Caout.-Fair one (dur ing ar interval in the valse)--"You're very~ fond of dancing aren't you F' Brown 3 -"Yaas, I go it for a good deal.' Fair ono--"I wonder you don't L learn I We saw a young man with twc beads .n his shoulders the other day, but didn't consider it a curiosity -one belonged to his girl.-Col lege Argue. Mr Talmage likes cheerful people. He says that the gravest, mosi long-faced individual be ever know borrowved twenty-.five dollars of him fand out of pure delicacy never men - tioned the subject again. SWhen we are young we waste a geeat deal of time in imagining whai we will dio when we grow older, and when we are old, we waste an equal amount of time lying about what we did wvhen we were young-in telling about the cold winters and the troubb eperienced in gaining our knowi edge. When a woman burns her fingei r she cries a little over it, and keepi the burn in good condition to shov her husband when he comes home 1 ogtmah.A man in the iAn his month. kick eba i4ha nMlm I stool, swear at the boy, and forget all about it. One is the effect of love, the other of business. In Germany a man who wishes to become a medical practitioner has to pass, some time in the course of his third year' sstudy, an examination in chemistry and physics, botany, zo, ology, anatomy and physiology, and at the close of his studies he has to spend sometimes as much as a five months' session in passing a final examination in the practical depart ments. If you wish to touch the feelings of others by means; of music, your heart must first have been touched by its thrilling power. If you wish to exasperate the other editor in the village, you must first listen to the organ-grinder for twenty minutes before giving him two dollars to play the balance of the afternoon for your contemporary. A STRANGE PEOPLE.--Dr. E. R. Heath, in a paper on "Peruvian Antiquities," describes a strange people living in a town called Eten, in seven degrees in south latitude and about two miles from the sea. They number about four thousand ; and f hey speak besides the Spanish a language which some of the recently brought over Chinese la-. borers understand, but there is no other similarity between the two peoples. They intermarry uncles and nieces, brothers and sisters, nephews and aunts, that is promis. cuously, and with no apparent curse of consanguinity ; but they will not permit any intermarriage into their number, or with the outside world. They have laws, customs and dress of their own, and live by braiding hats and mats, and weaving cloths. Thoy will give no account of the place whence they came, or of the time they settled at Eten History does not mention their Qxistence before the Spaniards arrived. Among them there are no sick or deforned persons, their custom being to send a committee to each sick or old person, and those who are reported past recovery or past usefulness are promptly strangled by the public executioner. Eton orders it, they say, and with Eten's orders there is no interference. &ienti/a Notes. AN ENGLIsH SENTENOE I 1797. That you, David McLane, be taken to the place from whence you came, nd from thence you are to be drawn to the place of execution, where you must be hanged by the neck, but not till you are dead ; for you must be cut down alive, and your bowels taken out and burned before your face ; then your head must be severed from your body, which must be divided in four parts, and your head and quarters be at the King's disposal ; and may the Lord have mercy on your soul. Prof. Tyndall believes in quaran. tines, and in a letter to the London Timnes cites American evidence to prove its value in keeping the yellow fever out of Galveston last summer. The T1imes had previously express ed doubt as to the efficacy of the non-intercourse plan, holding it to be unnecessarily vexatious and an noying, without preventing the outbreak of disease wvhen the condi tions of soil, etc., were favorable. The Professor does not underesti mate the latter Influences, but still thinks precautions as to the impor tation of epidemics highly essential. The Duke of Newcastle, a well known sporting man, is dead. In twelve years he ran through a property that brought him $300, 000 a year, and his furniture was sold at auction. He married the daughter of a rich banker who drew a check for $200,000, on one occasion, to pay him out of debt, He was genial in matters and pos sessed ability, but his peculiar passion ruined him. The "candid opinion" of the New York Star is that an effort on the part of Mr. Tilden to obtain a see, end nomination for the Presidency would hopelessly divide the Demo-, cratic party." But it must be re membered that Mr. John Kelly is one of the owners of the &tar, and that Mr. Kelley is rabidly anti Tilden. The Washington 1tep ublia& is responsible for the statom nt that Itepublican leaders fifteen yearS .ago favored the pensioning of. Con federate cripples, and General Grant heartily approved the plan. The Repubian& wishes to "whoop up" the solid South for (ireni. M~ay we pot ask our Washinigtop onmnteur.