The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, January 25, 1898, Image 1
The Golden Honeymoon.
It was a perfect night. The BUver
uuiiin!ij' Ii t th>o..ed all tho fumiliur land
scape, bathing it in mystic d?. pths of
Unfathomable brightness u?iu transfig
uring all things into a fairy-llko
beauty. A beautiful night?a night of
stars autl tloccy cloudlets, ami soft
sweet odorfl from a thousand pungent
leaves and fragrant flowers distilled by
the silent dews.
Olive and Janet hud gono upstairs to
their little room, und now sat upon the
lloor beside tho low window looking
out into tho moonlight. On suuh a
night sloop wad out of tho question for
an hour at least, and so they sat, slow
ly unfustoning their hair und gradually
preparing for bed.
A murmur of familiar voices on tho
llttlo porch below sounded in their
ours and hushed them to silence. They
loaned togcthor on tho window-sill
and listened. Tho s'ttors knew tho
voices well?the dear voices of father
and mother. They had como out into
tho porch boforo going to bed, and
when sitting, though they could not
see them, tho dear old mother with
hor wrinkled band od her husband's
knoe and his broad, homelv hand nn???.
ing it, they bud Been them so often,
" Durby and Joan," Janet called them
lovingly.
" Mother, ' they could hear the old
man say, and there was a little tremble
in hia voice. " It'a most Ilfty.years'
Binoe wo were married?do you mind ?
Next week a Wednesday '11 make it
tifty years, Mebby we'd oughter have
a golden wedding to kind o' celebrate
? what think?mother V"
" 'Twould be nice, father," they
could hear her answer, " but I guess
wo had n't hotter think of It; 'twouid
bo an awful sight o' bother, an* what
.vith Olive teaehio' an' Janet to do ail
tbo work with what little I could help,
'twould make it pretty hard. Guess
we hadn't better, father."
There was a little bilenco and then
the old man spoke again :
" Hanner," said lie. " wo dido't
never have a wedding journey nor a
honey-moon. Almost seem 's if we
ought to have 'era now. You know
how 'twas?wo was poor an' couldn't
even afford to go out to Uncle Kben's
for a little trip, but settled right down
to housekeepin' an' hard work at onee,
without a bib o' play spell. In all
these years wo ain't been nowbero to
speak of except to the Centennial, and
wo didn't neither of us enjoy that,
what with the rush and the crowd an'
confusion. Seom's if 'twould bo nice
to go 'way somewhere now on our
wedding journey?deems if 'twould
mako ua feel young 'gain somehow."
"Twould be nice, father," they
could hear the gentle voice murmur,
" but guess wo hadn't b -tter think of
it. Mebby the children would think
'twas kind of childish."
" Mebbo they would, raothor," the
old man answered quietly, and then
there wus ailence. After a little they
went into the house and the girls
heard them luck the door and wind
the clock, and then all was atill.
Something glistened in Olivo'a great
dark eyes, and the moonlight touched
to crystal olearuc.-s a drop upon Janet's
fair cheek. The t vo gir ls crept into
jjed and lay ta king in low voices for
a long time befcro they went to sleep.
{?'or the next few day8 there were
busy preparations; in the old farm
house. Mysterious doings were going
pn all over the house. Mother was
hustled clY somewhoro every day to
visit Bome friend or neighbor in the
vicinity, who gladly welcomed the
dear, kind soul and her perpetual
knitting work,
" Father" and " tho boys," stalwart
men of twenty live and thirty, were
busy in the field and orchard doing up
the fall work. Janet worked away
happily all day, ai.d when at four
o'clock Olive came homo from tho
little red-painted district schoolhouse,
she donned a big apron, put on hor
thimble and went resolutely to work
In her own room upstairs. Evidently
something was in the air.
Wednesday morning dawned bright
and clear, with that indeacribablo crisp
ness and sparkle in the air that makes
October a royal month.
Olive had asked tho trustee for the
day and he bad granted it willingly ;
Janet looking like an apple blossom in
her pink calico gown and snowy white
apron, Hitting about the houss on light
feet, seeming to bj everywhere at
once.
John and David wore wrestling with
their Sunday neckties and polishing
their boota to tho very highest possible
shine.
The old wis looked on wistfully,
but silently, wondering what all the
commotion was about.
Out in tho v/oodshod father confided
to mother this pieco of news : "Gucb*
tbo children must bo goin' over to Mil
lervlllo to tho county fair, liut it does
8oem kind o' cur'ouB they don't speak
about It."
V That's eo," mother had made re
sponse, " but mebby thoy think wo'ro
ffettln' tr>o old to be took into their af
airs," and she.slghed a little tremu
lous sig*h that toiu plainer than worda
tho sadness that she felt.
Almost simultaneously Olive's clear
contralto and John's de* p bass carao
ringing down tho ataf-3. " Mother,
ploaso coino up here a few minutes I,
and, " Here, father, I want you up
stairs a little while/'
Wond- 'lng a llttlo, but nevor guess
ing, they Went upstairs together, and
in tho hall parted. What mother saw
as she entered her daughter's room
was a shining, silvery mass of some
thing lylpg tho noat whllp bed, a
soft and silky pilo of material which
gradually took form and shapo until
she saw a beautiful gown, whoso deli
cate laces in neck and sleOvps combin
ed with the soft groy tint mailt; It look
bridollke indeed.
" Ob, girls V" was all sho could say,
as Janet put her into a chair and began
to take down hor little coil of white
hair.
Dressing tho briilo," occupied per
haps an hour, and when at last tho
toilet was announced complete, tho
faded blue eyoB behind tho gold
bowed glasses saw in tho largo and
old-fashioned mi/ror a sweet and
dainty pioture?-a beautiful-faced old
lady with delicato heliotrope nestling
among tho lacos at her throat, and a
tinj spray in her hair.
a faint, pink Hush of oxciteraont
had come to tho withered cheeks,
which made tbe old faoe a sweet his
tory of what It bad been in its youth
ful prime. Olive and Janet kissed her
triumphantly.
"Mother, yo" ,1 on't realize how sweet
and young you look 1 you have worn
blaok so long !" and, " Oh, mother,
we'rq going to have a wedding in this
house today, and you are to bq tbe
bride I"
" Fifty years ago today," tbe old
bride softly murmured, looking down
at the thin oirclot of gold that had
been worn bo Ion and in her heart a
pudden longing sprang up, nowly
kindled, a quick And strong desire for
him who had bueu her husband all
these years.
She looked wistfully toward the
door and toi>k a faltering stop towards
it, but just then it opened and John
and David entered escorting between
t inn proudly tho hero of tho day at
tired in a lino now suit of broadcloth,
with a tcsiivo little posy in his button
hole and u face beaming with renewed
youth and gladness.
Tho children were forgotton in tho
quick impulsive embrace that followed,
and tho lung kiss of love and honor
and fidelity that had crowned that
half century of wedded lify.
That waa a day never t bo forgotten
in all tho country round Uvorybody
was there. Not only tho old who had
grown old with tho happy bride and
groom, but the middlo-aged and strong.
A great tubio bad been spread out of
doors under tho drooping elms that
had been slender troelets on that wed
ding day lifty years ago.
Tho minister who had married them
was long sinco dead, but his son, a
middlo'Ugcd dominie, had boon pro
cured for tho occasion and porformed
the marriage ceremony with grace and
dignity.
Olive and John acted as bridesmaid
and groomsman, looking very happy at
the complete success of their innocent
conspiracy
Congratulations and gifts wero
many.
Tho'bridegroom scorned soarcoiy to
noed the support of Iiis hand souie en
graved gold-headed cano ; ho felt so
young, despite his soventy-two years,
and stopped blithely and briskly about
among his guebti with his slim little
wife upon his arm, smiling and happy.
\\'!:'>u the dinner was at last over,
David pressed something into his fa
ther's hand?two tickets for tho west
ern city in which his married sou
lived.
'? Your trunk Is packed and ready
and tho train leaves at four o'clock,
father," ho said with characteristic
straightforwardness.
"All you've got to do now is to take
your wedding journey und enjoy a six
week's honoyinoon at Sam's."
Tho other children gathered around
and laughed gleefully at the bewildor
od joy of the newly-wedded pair.
" It's what I'vo wantod to do ever
since Sam went West," tho old man
said quaveriugly, aud the tears stood
in his eyes. The mother only turned
and leaned her head upon the shoulder
of hor tall Olive?and Olive kissed
her. Thero were misty eyes all round
and smiling faces as tho carriage"
drove olT, amid a gonorous shower of
rice and an old shoo thrown by some
one for good luck. And as the guests
dispersed after examining to thoir
curiosity's contont tho urray of sub
stantial gifts, tho young folks at tho
farm bouse congratulated themselves
and each other upon the wonderful
success of their scheme.
And as the train sped westward over
tho shining rails,-tho little old bride
sat in quiet happiness at her husband's
side and looked at the Hying landscape.
Thero was a sweet peace on tho dear,
wrinkled face, and a light of newer,
deeper tenderness in tho bio eyes bo
hind tho glasses.
l'eoplo noticed how lover-Hko were
the old man's attentions to tho little
old lady hy his side, and some even
wondered if this were not possibly the
happy ending of some life long
romance. Hut no one hoard him as
tho bridegroom U aned and said, in a
low voice, " It's been a grand day,
Hannah?a day full o' all kinds o' nico
surprises, but tbey ain't nothing
makes me feel better than to kiow
that after ail wo aia't too old for the
children."
And tho bride mado soft response,
" That's to, father."
Then thero was a long and blessed
silence as thoy journeyed on together
'in that new world which is tho old,"
tho world for love.
lillili ARP ON 'POSSUM.
He Discourses on the Filthy Varmint j
and Likewise on Various Topics of
Current Interest.
" 'Fossurn " seems to bo the slogan of
State politics. It Ib among the first
Latin words I ever learned to decline,
and means "lam able." Asa filthy
varmint I decline it still, and If I had
been Invited to the foatt I should have
replied non possum. I can eat crow,
but not'possum. A buzzird would be
as palatable, for ono Is a day scavenger
and tho othor hunts for carrion by
night- Not long ago Mr. Halo told mo
at Klslng Fawn that his boy caught
threo on threo successive nights by
sitting his stool trap on a dead hog in
tho woods, and Mr. Young told me
yesterday that tho last ono his dog
treed was in tho carcass of a dead horse.
Now, if a 'possum is kept up in a coop
or pen for a month and fed on decent
food, his oily carcass might be litten
for a scalawag or a hungry darkey.
Colonel Candlor In hi* lettor sings the
praises and the oily juices of tho North
Georgia'possum, but turns up his nose
at the plnoy woods breed. Tho dif
ference is that dead dogs and hogs and
mulos m i', fow and far botwoen In tho
pinoy woods, and tho 'possums can't
get onough carrion to got fat. Hut
possum Is just now the political fad,
and a politician will cat anything for
ollico except cow. Thoy don't like
that. Dr. Mlllor used to say that ho
cculd eat crow, but ho didn't hankor
aftor it. Wo college boys used to have
'possum suppers away in tho night,
but Hansol, who .'urnlshed them, kept
them up and butill fed them. The
ehlef satisfaction, howevor, was in
breaking tho rules and dodging the
professors and tutors. -lim Warren
and Chess Howard used to give mid
night suppora and pull up the 'posBUti.
and, V..ore in a basket by a rppt, and
take H in at a third story v. Inflow.
Well, the nation has g it a slogan
too. Cuba and Hawaii aro Btlll on
deck as &huU)ccocke, sod the game la
long and unoertain. (Juba is a fruit
that ia about rlpo, and ought to be
Bulled before it rots on the tree : but
[awail is as green as a gourd. Cuba
is 400 miles long, and is near by and
should be purchased lust U<ce we
bought Florida from Spain; but Hawaii
is 2,(00 miles from our Paoillc coast,
and all tho Islands put together havo
not us much area as a single county in
Texas. Thoy say wo want It for a
coaling station. Wo havo it now for
that, and can keep It during poaco ;
but it would tako all of our little navy
to bold it during war. It looks vory
j like the wholo ploi of annexation is a
personal job for a few mon. They are
trying to alarm . s with tho throat that
If wo do not anno* it KoglaDd will. I
don't rockon England wants it vory
bad. In case of a great war, it would
tako a good part of her navy to hold it,
and tho game 1) not worth tho oandle.
Our poor little navy wont justify us in
annexing anything, and wo can't hurry
up any more battleships under the
Dlngley tariff and the pension frauds.
England has 15 battleships, 31
cruisers, G gunboats, 56 torpedo boats
and 8 war steamers?In all 116 keeh.
The Unltod States has 6 battleships,
18 orutsers, 15 gunboats, 6 monitors
I and 5 torpedo boats?In all, 50 keels.
I Bow Is that for war ? Japan has more
II war koois afloat than the United States,
j ami is now tho acknowledged mispress
of the I'iieilie ocean. Hut we can beat
i them all In brag and bluster and
jingoism. Wo aro very like the aver
ago young man who lives on his father's
reputation. Wo ?o back a century or
so and bank on the Constitution and
tho Wasp In the days of Paul Jones
and Deeatur. Those were glorious
victories, but wo were lighting on tho
defensive then, and our great leader*,
In ili on land and sea, weroSouthorn
men ?l'aul Jones was from Virginia
and Deeatur was from Maryland, and
old John Adams dldent like cither of
them.
Hut almost everything that concerns
Congress now is political jobbery?and
the pension frauds will go ou. They
grow higher and bigger as tho years
roll 00. Tho fifty thousand pension
lawyers up north must be. kept fat, and
tliey aro organized and know how to
control Congressmen. Ten dollars
from each ono will place half a million
in Washington and that will purchase
fifty votes at $10,000a vote. They defy
Commissioner Evans and all his eHorts
to purge the rolls will bo in vain.
Wickedness in high places still pre
vails, and tho wonder is that the nation
survives its corruption. I heard some
preachers discussing it on the railroad
and one said the wickedness was so
trreat it was a wonder that tho I.nrd
didcnt destroy tho oapltal und all tho
great oiticH. Hut an old Irish preacher
said:" No, sir; no sir! tho Lord
wouldeut huvo destroyed Sodom if
thero hud been ten good men thoro,
unu I urn sure thoro uro at least lifty
in Atlanta and nearly us many in
Washington and New York."
No, sir, tho cities aro safe for some
time to come, but it is well enough to
keep your oyo on a place in the coun
try. In 1841 Thomas EL Hentou made
a great speech in the United States
Senate in which ho opposed tho grant
of $2.">,ooo to President Harrison's
widowand suid : "A new pago has
been opened in tho book of our expen
ditures and this new departure taken
which leads to tho bottomless gulf of
pen-and gratuities." Verilv ho spoke
like a prophet, for $2,0O0,0?0,0UO have
already been paid and thero aro now on
tho rolls nearly a million ponsloners
and Commissioner Evans finds 200,000
additional pending applications. Good
gracious, how wo did light. John C.
Calhoun said in one of his speeches :
" A power has risen up in tho govern
ment that Is greater than tho people.
It consists of many interests combined
4n ono ma^s and held together by the
cohesive power of public plunder.'"
So all this steulago Is no now thing
and it wouldont matter very much it
it concerned tho North only, but wo
down South havo to pay a big part of
it and got nothing back. The wonder
is that we have been able to live. But
our comfort is the Lord loveth whoii
lie chasteneth. We are getting along
pretty well and our people aro in
better spirits than they were two or
threo years ago. They spent a lot of
money Christmas, and that's a good
sign. They tell anecdotes a.ul laugh
more and have more little parties. We
were at ono last night?my wife and I, |
and there was no sign of poverty or
destross; no 'possum and tutors; no
politics. Sixteen of us sat around the
ftstivo board and commemorated tho
thirty-eighth marrlatie anniversary of
Major Calhoun aud his wife, two good
people, a good father and mother, a
good husband and wife, good friends
and neighbors, and wo were waited on
by their children?good children, who
have never brought shamt or grief to
their parents. That Is tho biggest
and best thing l know of. And wc
had wit and anecdote and conundrums
all mixed up with oyster soup and
turkey and "eat ceteras." I nsked
Judge Akin what kin ho was to his
sister's husband's mother in law and
bo gave it up in despair. I heard that
ho pondered ovor It all the way homo
and away in tho night cried out :
" Eureka ! Eureka !" Then Mayor Gil
bert put tho sevonteen-elephant pro
blem at mo and I got tangled up and
then I asked him how a ground Mjuirrel
dug his hole in the ground without
leaving any dirt around tho top and it
scared him, but his wife came to his
relief and answered It. Men havent
got very much of that kind of sense
and I always depend upon my wifo. 1
dont liko to strain my mind.
Bill Ahr
Legend op the Bride's Ploweh ?
Like all familiar customs whoso origin
is lost in antiquity, tho wearing of
orange blossoms at a wedding is ac
counted for In various ways, says an
exchango. Among other stories is the
following pretty legend from Spain :
An African king presented a Spanish
king with a magniUcent orango troo,
whoso creamy, waxy blossoms and wen
dorful fragranco excited tho admira
tion of tho whole court. Many begged
in vaii. for a branch of tho plant, but a
foroign ambassador was tormented by
tho desire to introduce so great a curi
osity to his nativo land. Ho used every
possible means, fair or foul, to accom
plish his purpose, but all his efforts
coming to naught, ho gavo up in
despair.
Tbe fair daughtor of tho court gar
dener was loved by a young artisan, but
I lacked tho dot which tho family con
I sldered necessary In abr'do. Oaoday,
I chancing to broak off aBpray of orango
I b'ossoms, tho gardener thoughtlessly
gaye it to his daughter.
Seeing the coyotod prizo In the gM's
hair, tho wily ambassador offered hor a
sum sulllclent for tho desired dowry,
provided she gave him the branch and
day nothing about it. llor marriage
was soot celebrated, and on her way
to the altar, in grateful romombranco
of the souroo of all her happlnoea, sho
secretly broke off another bit of tho
lucky troo to adorn hor hair.
Whether tho poor court gardenor lost
hl? head In consequence- of his (laugh
ter's troaohory the legond does not
state, but many lands .now know tho
wonderful treo, and over slnco that
wedding day .orango blossoms havo been
considered a fitting adornment for a
bride.
Prom tub South to Japan.?Tho
Now Orleans Picayune states that a
steamer has boon chartered to load
2,000 bales of eotton and a quantity of
pig iron at Mobllo and tbon to proceed
to Now Orleans and tako on H <?00 to
10,000 mare bales ofco.ton. This en
tire cargo will bo dolivorod at Yoko
hama and Higo, Japan. This will be
the first direct shlpmont of either cot
ton or iron from a Southern port to
Japan.
Japan bought a largo quantity of
cotton In the South last soason and
has purohased much more this soason,
but all of It has htthorto boon carried
by rail to the Paolflo coast for ox port
to Japan. Tho great cargo which Is
being prepared for Japan at Mobllo and
New Orleans Is a now departuro and
will doubtless mark tho beginning of a
groat direot trado between Japan and
the South. Tho inoreaslng demand In
Japan for our cotton and the fact that
tho South can undorsell all competi
tors for the iron trade of that country
~aae encouraging omens of an era of in
creased Industrial activity in this sec
tion.
APPLES IN VIRGINIA.
Hits Profits Made on Orchards in tho
Old Dominion.
In a Into Dumber ol Mio Hartford
Courant Mr. J. H. Bale, i teConneotl
out fruit grower, wlio owns tho big
Bale peaon orohard lu Georgia, teils
about a visit he ha I made to the pippin
growing section of Virginia. His U tter
; will be found interesting reading, lie
j says :
Kor years I havo been talking of the
j profitableness of apple culture on the
I cheap, hilly lauds of our State. To b<
sure, last year when there was a tre
mendous crop the country over, and
good apples went begging at 76 c< nts
a barrel, a good many were laughing
at me and suggesting that there was
not much indication there of a profita
ble industry, but 1 maintained then
and still maintain that, taken one year
with another, if apples can be sold at
$1 per barrel, there are thousands of
acres of cheap, rough land in our States
that could bo made to pay liberal divi
dends sure and annually, if planted in
tbo best varieties of winter apples :
and I know of no business venture,
either in agriculture, manufacturing
or commercial enterprises, that holds
out greater promise of sure and safe
returns than the buying up of large
tracts of available orchard lauds and
puiming in apples.
This year, with quite- a general fail
ure uf the crop, there are a number of
orchards in the State that have had
gooil care, and are yielding liberally,
and tho price now being received,
$:2.f)0 and over a barrel, are paying
tremendous dividends on tho invest
ments.
Two or three weeks ago while in Vir
g'nia, traveling through Albermarle,
Nelson, Amtierst and Hi dford counties,
famous the world over for the produc
tion of the so-called Newton Pippin
(Albermarle Pippin really), I found
the orchards mostly on rough hill
sides, rocky lands no better in any
way apparently than thousands of acres
we havo in Litctilield, Tolland and
Windham counties of our State, and
so far as I could judge producing no
better apples of like varieties than can
be grown here; yet English buyers
wore out among the farmers paying
from (3 50 to $4 ;">0 per barrel for these
apples in tho orchards, and 1 was
shown tho returns fromsomoshipments
made direct by orehardists that netted
ovor $5 per barrel at the railroad
station.
Two farms that 1 was on could have
been bought live years ago at less than
$.->,000 each, and yet tiie lS'JT apple
crop of one had just been sold for
*14,000 and tho other for $15.000, the
buyer gathering tho fruit from the
tree.
1 tried to ascertain from several of
the Englishmen why their markets paid
so much more for their fruit than any
other that came from America, and
they agreed that while the variety was
an exceedingly good shipper, it was
not of as line an appearance or any bet
ter in quality than many other apples
that came from this country, but was
early taken up by royalty and so gain
ed a precedence over other varieties of
American apples that was not likely to
tie long maintained, and that probably
within a few years some of the line red
apples grown in more Northern lati
tudes would lind great favor with the
English buyers.
The prices being received in Virginia
this year will stimulate heavy orchard
planting. A Richmond nursery firm
told me they had already booked ordere
for 200)000 trees of this one variety,
and so intense is the interest in apple
culture in the Old D imlnlon that the
progressive Southern Hallway,through
its land and industrial agent, has just
taken a party of Virginia farmers on
an excursion up into Central and West
ern New York to gather in ideas in re
lation to apple Orcharding and manage
m ent.
The Southorn Hail way is particular
ly a leader in doing everything it can
ttie last few years to tiring new me
thods and bettor information on all ag
ricultural subjects to those along Its
lines. Other Southern railroads are
also doing a good deal of the same sort
of missionary work, and there is a
development of industries going on all
through the Soutli that is going to
make that section a sharp competitor
with tho North in many lines of pro
duction that we havo had exclusive
control of in tho past. Tho Northern
farmer has had tremendous opportuni
ties for enlarging business enterprises,
and has failed to grasp tho situation.
The opportunities are still here, and
will Homo advantages in our favor,
those who will put progressive busi
ness methods and a reasonable amount
of capital into agricultural enterprises,
which they have somo taste for, aro
sure of satisfactory rewards. Educated
young men with a taste for agriculture
had better btick to tho farm, for I am
suro in the long run they can maintain
more comfortable homos and bo sure
of a hotter living than the average of
outside opportunities that may come
to them.
Common MISTAKES.?The London
Family Doctor says: It Is a mistake
to work when you aro not In a lit con
dition to do so ; to tako olT heavy dh
dorclothlng because you havo become
overheated ; to think that tho more a
person oats tho healthier and stronger
ho will become ; to bollove that child
ren can do as much work as grown
people, and that tho moro they Btudy
tho more they loarn ; to go to bed late
at night and rlso at daybreak and
imagine that every hour taken from
sleep is an hour gained ; to Imagine
that if 0 little work or exorcise is good,
violent or prolonged exercise is bettor;
to conclude that tho smallest room In
tho house Is largo enough to slcou in ;
to sloop exposed to a d I root draught at
any soawn ; to imagino that whatever
remedy causes one to foel immediately
better, as alcoholic stimulants for ex
ample, is good for the system without,
regard to the after effects ; to oat as If
you had only a minuto in which to
finish tho meal, or to cat witnout an
apputito, or to continue after It has
been sath.Ged to gratify tho taste; to
, give u.'i ecossary timo to a cortain
established routino of housekeeping
I when It could be much moro profitably
. spent in rost or recreation. Wo trust
! that thoso little mlstakos, which are
so ant to bo made, will In future bo
avoided.
?In theUnltod States supremo court
Justlco Harlan has hanuod down an
opinion in tho easo of A. Howard
Hitter, exocutorof William M. Uoank,
vs. the Mutual Life Insurance company
of Now York, involving tho question
of whether the heir- of a man who
commits suicide when in sound mind
oan recover an Insurance policy. Tho
court hold that they could not.
?The oarllost comploto clock of
which an aoourato record oxists was
made in tho thirteenth contury by a
Satacen mechanic.
rie- ;;ui(i watch of Edgar Allan Poe
is now in tqe possoselon of It. W. Ah
bright, of Fort Madison la.
IHHSHRHHHunBH
TUB GOOD ROADS CONVENTION.
Tho Legislature Will Bo Asked to
Help the Road Improvement-?Wide
Tires lor WafCOllS and Long Term
Convicts to Wo i Im Roads,
Tho second session of the Good
Ltoads Convention of this SUito was
he'd in Columbia oo Wednesday, lUth
inst., and llioro was u fair representa
tion from every part of the State.
Among thoso present wero Col. Thomas
of El loh land; King of Darlington]
Hyatt, of Uiohland; Mitchell of
C'liarloston ; Spiers of Darlington ;
Lyons of Abbeville ; Majors of Green
wood; Langford of Lexington; Chandler
and ifiady of Wllllamsburg; Mauldlc
o' Greenville ; Howellof Spartanburg ;
Suelgrovo of Anderbon; Caincs of
bUgolield and others.
Col. Thomas, president of the asso
ciation, called tho convention to order,
ami in his brief address, ho spoke of
tho fact that good roads sverc in fact
tho agents of civilization. It is a
matter that should bo pushed. If those
present bad energy and zeal enough,
they could carry tho idea out. Col.
Thomas spoke of the financial benefit
the peoplo would receive by having
good country roads.
Mr. Wilson, the treasurer 01 tho as
sociation, made a report showing that
ho had paid out $14.00, This was tu.
i)f his own pocket, no receipts havinir
come in.
Mr. Hyatt moved that a committee
be appointed on resolutions. This was
agreed to, and Messrs. Man Id in of
Greenville, Hyatt, of FMohland and
King of Darlington were appointed on
that committee.
While the committee on resolutions
wjis out, Col. Thomas called upon Mr.
Muares, a member of tho Legislature,
to express his views, lie replied that
ho felt that tho ovo of prosperity was
advancing and there was nothing moro
conducive to helping along that pros
pi rity than good roads As a member
of the Legislature, ho would do all In
his power to advance tho Interest
which the association desired to see
consummated. Ho thought that an ac
tive, progressive policy was necessary.
Senator G .tines, of Edgclield, was
called upon to give his views. Ho said
that the llrst tiling to bo done was to
have, a per capita road tax. The law
at present is nullified by a man paying
money or working it out on tho roads.
The best thing is to allow the county
board to levy the tax. Let them have
the authority and not give anybody an
option.
As to convicts, he thought it would
bo of advantage to extend their work
On the roads. Wo have a lot of con
victs making five cent cotton. That
puts money in tho treasury, but ten
fold more would bo made if they were
put to work on the roads.
As to a wide tire law. It will he
years before wo have a system of
macadamized roads. The best thing,
therefore, to assist in securing good
roads, is to piss a wide tire law. In a
very few years wo would see a wonder
ful improvement in our roads and a
great saving to the people of the State.
In reply to a question, he said that
in France, Germany and other coun
tries of Europe, though they bad
maoadum roads, still they had laws
making the Use of wide tires compul
sory .
Mr. N. 0. Gonzales spoke of the
necessity of having the tires of a cer
tain size, and pointed out what the
result would bo by use of wagons with
tires of certain diameter. Mr. Galnes
agreed fully with him, but said that his
bill was tin innovation, and ho was
afraid that details could not he carried
out at once. As to detai's, he had no
special scheme. What ho wanted was
a law which would do something to
improve the roads.
The committee on resolutions re
ported favorably on the following by
Mr. Wilson !
Hesolved, That the Legislature now
in session be requested to pass an act
authorizing the Governor to appoint a
commission of three members to make
a thorough and exhaustive examina
tion into the question of road improve
ment, in South Carolina; to determine
the conditions and needs of each coun
ty ; to inquire into the systems in use
in other States and counties; and to
report all the facts beforo tho next
meeting of tho Legislature, together
with an outline of a general road law
for South Carolina, and that tho sum
of $600 be appropriated, if so much be
necessary, to meet the necessary ex
penses of this commission.
There was considerable discussion
over tho resolution, but there was
no opposition to the general principles
of it.
Mr. Howoll, of Greenwood, did not
think $ti(H) was an amount sumclcnt to
got members of the committee to travol
over the Stato.
Mr. Wilson. ox-Lieutenant Governor
Mauldin and Mr. Gonzales pointed out
that it wastlio intention to have these
gentlemen work only in their imme
diate vicinity, and that $iHH) would be
enough to pay expenses.
Mr. Howoll thought that It would
be best to havo one man from each
COUnty.
Mr. Mitchell favored tho commission,
but thought Its membership -bould
be divided between the different sec
tions of tho Stato?up, middle and low
oountry.
Mr. Gonzales suggested that "sec
tions " of tho State would ha bettor
than counties.
Col. Thomas spoko of tho favorable
work dono for good roads In Abbeville,
Itichland and other counties, but he
thought that the Legislature should
I pass any law looking to Improvement
in roads and that the association could
I in the meantime work its own wav,
hoping Unit, tho Legislature would act
favorably al ways.
Tho-rcsolutlon was then adopted.
The committee on resolutions sub
mltted the following as a substitute for
a resolution introduced by Mr. Mitchell
requiring a feo to bo paid for member
ship:
Resolved, That tho vico president of
tho sevoral counties bo requosted and
urged to raise tho sum of and for
ward tho samo to tho treasurer to de
fray the legislative expenses of this
act-slon. Tills was adopted.
Tho committee also offorod tho fol
lowing, which was adopted:
Resolved, That tho Legislature ha
rrqucstod to amond tho proposed road
law of tho State so that tho limit of
the tlmo of convicts sent to tho county
chain-gang bo oxtondod to ten yoars.
On motion of Mr. Hyatt, a committco
of four, with a chairman, was appolnt
od wait on tho ways and meane com
mittoo to insist on tho passago of tho
resolution : Messrs. Thomas Hyatt, of
Riohland; King, of Darlington; I low. II,
of Spartanburg; Mitchell, of Charles
toi.
Mr. Lyons, of Abbovillo, IntroJucod
tho following, which was adopted;
Resolved, That tho association com
Imoods tho wide tire bill and any other
(rood roads moasure now before the
Legislature.
' I The seoretary, Mr. Wilson, read u
' letter from Gen. Stone in roferenoe to
postal savings bunks, und tho cffeot of
good roads upon them. Mr. Wilson
had responded that the association
was heartily in sympathy with the
movement.
Mr. Hyatt thought it best to have
tbo matter of legislation attended to at
once.
Mr. Mearcs said tho best thing was
for a memorial to be presented to both
'die House and Senate. Ho and Sena
tor Uaines would see to it that it wus
acted upon it at onco.
After some discussion it was agreed
liat the committee would meet at once
ind prepare the memorial.
Mr. Hyatt made an interesting talk
on what had been done towards ma
cadamizing in Uichland.
STATK OKOLOOICAL SURVEY.
An Important Work. Oloiusou Col
u-^o May Undertake.
To tho Kdilor of Tho Newa anil
Courier! Tho revival u'. tho State goo
logical survey in conneetin with tlie
Bolen title faculty of Clcmson College,
as advocated by I'rof. Lewis, is a pro
position that should command the ap
proval of every member of our General
At-sjmbly, regardless of party or fac
tion ; for it is ono that bears directly
on tho prosperity of our whole Com
monwealth, from tho seashore to tho
mountains.
That such a. survey, conducted in the
light of modern geology, is eminently
desirublo for tho study und exploita
tion of our ores und minerals und other
natural resources in doubtless general
ly recognized. Hills for this purpose
that huvo been introduced from time
to time in our General Assembly, in
cluding Mr. Lancaster's bill, now
pending, huvo boon received unfavor
ably, 1 understand, chiefly on the
ground of expense. This objection is
now entirely removed by Prot. Lewis's
plan of employing the corps of scienti
fic men already in the State's service
at Clemson College.
In a recent interview with Prof.
Lewis on this subject your correspon
dent learns thut bis proposition is to
devote us much of his time us possible,
especially the summer months, to the
prosecution of tho field work of the
survey, entirely without compensation,
if the General Assembly will only sei
aside a small sum to defray necessary
expenses. Other members of the
faculty, it is understood, are willing to
assist in the study of the forestry, soils,
water powers, Artesian waters and
other subjects uot purely geological, ou
the sumo conditions.
This is certainly an exceedingly lib
eral offer, and one which, in the inter
ests of our people, we cannot afford to
ignore. Tha men who propose to do
tho work aro not mere theoretical
scientists, men of books and dreams,
but men who have had years of actual
service In their several lines, and who
aro well trained in practical work.
I'rof. Lewis, on whom tho responsibili
ty for tho geological work wouid
naturally fall, under such a plan, comes
to our State with tho highest endorse
ment of the universities of North Caro
lina, Harvard and Johns Hopkins, of the
United States geological survey, and
of the State survey of North Carolina.
He has had several years' experience
in practical surveys, and thoroughly
understands the methods and require*
quirements of such work.
Prof. Lewis has already pointed out
the great need of a survey for the de
velopment of our mineral wealth, tim
bers, water powers and other resources,
and the value of such work, with the
great, diversification of industries that
would naturally follow, cannot be easi
ly Over-OStlmated. Another great field
of usefulness, scarcely less important,
but whieb has not yet been noticed, is
the educational work of the survey.
In his teaching at Clemson Prof.
Lewis states that he tinds it impossible
to give any adequate application of
geology and mineralogy to the forma
tions of our own Stute, und thut the
young men aro thereby deprived of
what should be their most important
practical training in these subjects.
This difficulty must bo felt by every
teacher of geology In tho State, and
arises from two causes: Wirst, there is
very little reliable information avail
able about tho greater part ot our re
sources: secondly, there are no collec
tions to Illustrate even tho little that
Is known. Under theBo disadvantages
our young men fall to realize tho im
portance of such resources as wo have.
They carry away the impression that
tho valuable minerals all oomo from
uohor States and from foroign coun
tries, as did the collections they study
and become familiar with in tho labor
atories. Mere oral instruction counts
for but little as oompared with the Im
pressions mado by tho specimens,
which they soo and at alyze and deter
mine for themselves.
It comes properly within tho pro
vince of a geological survey to supply
both of these deticioncles; that ot know
ledge, in tho form of bulletins and
other reports; that of Illustrative
teaching collections, by specimens col
lected by tho Stato geologist and his
assistants in tho prosecution of the
tleld work of tho survey. Such col
lections should bo placed in every col
logo In tho State, and this could readi
ly bo dono without handicapping the
survey in its work. In most cases it is
almost as easy to collect a dozen speci
mens as one. and any plan to Inaugu
rate a gedogleal survey should not fail
to includu this important work.
Prof. Lowis believes that such n sur
vey as proposed would accomplish
much valuablo work, as tho summer
months, which aro best suited for field
operations, could all bo devoted to it,
wbilo tbo results eould bo prepared for
publication during tbo winters. While
the proposition is to work without ad
ditional compensation from the State,
it is but just to Clemson College that
the salaries of the survey corps should
bo paid, for tbo acutal time employed,
out of tbo survey appropriation. On
this basis Prof. L^wls estimates that
tbo total cost, exclusive of printing re
ports, would not exceed $3,000 a year,
a very small sum indeed, for a work so
important. J. C. S.
?Thoro a-u more than 3,000,000
Scandinavians In the Unltod States,
theif largest settlements being in the'
Northwest. Tuoy speak principally
Swedish and Norwogian Danish and
the illiterates among thorn number
only one half of ono por cent. The
Scandinavians loarn English readily.
?Tho old tollhouso on tho 1 loston
post road, at the Connecticut line,
noar Greenwich, is to be removed,
Washington and his army wore per
mitted to pass through free, and woro
givon two oarrolsof ale by tho kooper's
wife, hosides.
?The steam craft of tho United
i States last yoar carried 050,000,000 pas
sengers, with a loss of forty-six pas
\ songors and 137 men belonging to tho
> crews.
ON i Kl AI, KOK IIIS L1FK.
Constable Nowbohl Brought l<> Trial
For tho Mu id er oi Turttor.
Constable VV. II. Newbold was tried
tliis week at Spurtanhurg for the niiir
of J. 11. Turner. Juiltre Henet was pre
siding, and there was a full array of
counsel on both sides. The following
summary is taken from tiio Spartan- i
burg Herald:
The lirst material development in the
case was the oiler of the State to nol
pros tho case against S. T. Howie, j
0barged with being accessory to the
murder. Judge Thomason, as Howie's
attorney, stated that Iiis client pre
ferred a verdict from tho jury. His
Honor ruled that Howie could have a
special verdict from tho jury instead of
going to trial.
The next matt "r was tiie empaneling
of a jury. Neither the State nor the
defense desired to take tho voiro dire
of the jurors. After consuming about
an hour tho following jury was select
ed to sit on the ease: I). N. Gwynn,
W. U. Barnett, L. v.. WolTord, T. B.
Neighbors, T. M. denn, G. A. Cbuillo,
LI. P. Burton, P. A. Harmon, J. M.
Easier, A. U. Norman, J. H. Trail and
J. U.Oliver, foreman.
In selecting the panel, the State ob
jected to live. O.; the part of tho de
fense Bowie exercised his right to ten
objections and Now bold to two. Three
of tho jurors, being placed on their
VOrie dire by the defens >, were ruled j
out by his honor, either for opinion ex
pri ssed or for relation to-the deceased. !
All during the trial, and when from
time to time intricate questions upon
the law of evidence; were raised, it was
noticed that none of the gentlemen as
I BOOtatcd wilh the aolloitor took any
part in tho discussion. This fact be
eaiue the subject of comment by many
present, when it was scon tlint tho
judge ruled almost invariably upon
these with the defense. To one at all
familiar with court proceedings it was
apparent that the prosecution was un
der back. This conduct being so dif
ferent from Mr. Mooney's usual ag
gressive manner it naturally led to In
quiry,
It was then discovered that -Mr.
Sease bad refused all advice upon the
subject front his asssociates. It is of |
course bis right as solicitor to say who
shall and shall not assist,and noattorney
would presume to lake part in ar.y argu
ment unless instructed to do so Oy the
solicitor. Wlun employed by the
family of the deail.). 11. Turner, each of
tho assistant couosal had declined to
assist in the prosecution unless the
solicitor desired it.
A'ter tho jury had been selected
then came the testimony.
The first witness for the State was
Or. Geo. K. Dean, who belog duly
sworn, stated that he had been practic
ing medicine in this county thirty
years. The deceased had been brought
to him in the night; made a superficial
examination and pronounced man
dead; also made thorough examination
at coroner's inquest at Turner's bouse.
The ball passed through the left side
of the neck, passed through the spinal
column and bulged neur the skin at tho
right side of ihe neck. This happened
Nov. 10, 1M?7. There was no cross-cx
am ination.
W. (J. Bruce, State's witness, sworn,
said: He lived at J. 11. Turner's: lived i
there at tho time Turner was killed.
Had started to the depot with deceased
early that morning. In sight of Ste
phen's (Jrove church saw a light; saw
two men coming out of church. Look
ed back a little way and saw some one
running bebind. .Man jumped in road
2'.u) yards from the church and shouted
"Hold up '." D'lred two shots and
searched the buggy. Called up an
other man. Turner struggled, lipon
being asked by Newbold whaf was the
matter with old man, if he A'as drunk,
ho replied: "You've shot him." New
bold struck match and said, "Bettor go
for doctor." Other man came up: went
to Ur. Loan's. Newbold was thirty
feet away.
On cross-examination Brucj stated
be was 2* years of age and had lived
three yeais with the Turners.
liest of .cross examination confirmed
his previous testimony. He denied
that he had stated to any one that he
was driving rapidly: or that he had
said that ho would havo driven over
Newbold bad ho been a negro, or that
he Had said that he hail been Stopped
by constables before.
The defense began by Introducing
witnesses U testify to Newbold's good :
character. The. first of these, was
Attorney-General W. A. Harber: Solici
tor J. K. Henry, of Chester; Sheriff
Long, of Union ; Solicitor O. Duncan
Hellengor, Mr. W. W. Harris and
others.
l'arts of the testimony of each of the
above witnesses was objected to by the
State, but in most ease.-, the objections
wore overruled by the Judge.
lt. M. Floyd testified as to :i conver
sation of W. C. Bruce, which he ;
alleged to have beard on the day of the
homicide. This conversation was one
which Bruoe denied.
S. T. Howie, one of the defendants,
testified that be was a State constable.
That he was with Newbold on the ?
night of the ki 1 Iinir? That he had soon !
the buggy pass the church. He had
run after It, but did not cati h it. He
returned to tho church and as he
reached it heard Newbold, some dis
tance down tho road, say : " Hold on
there. Stop that buggy. I am a State
ollieer and want to search it for
Whiskey.*' Again heard bill) say,
" Whoa, Whoa.-' Then OS me two
shots in quick succession and then
heard Newbold call him. Be went to
wards the buggy and on reaching it be
f' id Nowhold near the buggy. New?
bold struok it niatoh and found Turner ;
was shot. II.' started to drivo him to
tho doctor in Spartan burg, but that ho
(Howie) suggested himself as knowing
tbo city bettor and could Und a doctor
mi ro readily.
ScVOral afndavlts wore then road as
to the character of New bold, and his
commission from Uov. I'llorbo was put
in ovidonoo.
\V. H. Newl)old, the principal de
fondant, was then put on the stand.
His testimony was vory long, hut only
a small portion bearing on the killing
was given. Was at the church with
Howie. Heard buggy pass, aent
Howio out to stop it, saw that Howie
coulun't catch it and started after it
himself. Hin down a road parallel to
the mi1 in road about 600 yards until he
hoard tho buggy just abreast of him.
Kan into the main road and in front of
tho buggy and cried at the top of his
voice: "Hold on there. Stop that
buggy* I 11111 n State < til cor and want
to search it for whiskoy." Tho buggy
camo on straight at him. Ho cried
" Whoa, Whoa," but tho buggy was
not stopped. Ho pulled out his right
hand pistol llrst and fired over tho
male'.-, head to stop him.
Tho mule stoppod and backed back.
Ho had drawn his second pistol and
noticed that tho roar was a prolonged
ono from the shot tired. Ho did not
know that ho had fired tho second shot
until an hour later. Ho immediately
after the shot advanced to tho buggy,
telling them to hold on and not shoot
I him, as ho was not trying to harm
j tli' in. Tho mulo was jumping av?out ;
I at last tho muli! stopped ami ho wont
; up ami searched the bugj;y. Ho fouud
I nothing, lie continued to talk to the
men in a friendly manner.
He called to Howie twice before ho
oamo up. Hi" heard a noise aud saw
Turner's head lall to one side on Iiis
shoulder. Ho asked if he was subject
to fainting spells or was drinking. The
reply was no. That lie (Newbold) had
been reared by a physician, and think
ing Turner had fainted tried to loose
his collar, as it was tight. Ho look
out his knife and cut it loose. As ho
did not s\;otii better he felt his heart
and suddenly the olood gushed over
his hand; as soon as lie felt this ho
felt this ho knew Turner was shot.
(Here tho defendant appeared to bo
: uiucn aitocteil). Ho struck a match,
saw the wound and whs horror stricken?
Ho started to got in tho buggy, but
remembered his overcoat und llowie
suggested that be (Howie) should go.
j Ho acquiesced, but remembering that
I lie was responsible (or tho wound,
I told Howie to tell anyone who asked
about It to say that he, Nowbold, bad
j done it. After the buggy left lie does
know if lie fainted or not, but found
; himself on his knees after having
; vomited. Ho returned to the church.
Got a negro to put out tho tire that lie
! and Howie had b ait at the church,
and went to join the rest of Iiis parly
camped several tuilos away. There it
was discovered that he bad tired both
pistols. Ho did not know it until that
time. Ho then narrated his journey
until lie was brought to Spartanburg.
On cross examination lie said that
he cocked tbo right hand pistol as ho
drew it. He did not remember cocking
the left hand one. That his atliJavit
in applying for bail was interlined and
brought to him and that ho had signed
it in that condition. He insisted that
the distance from the church to the
spot of tho killing was 600 yards, al
though ho had stated in the ul?davit
.'?ii> yards.
s. T. Howie wus again placed on tho
Btaod and explained to tho satisfaction
of tho defense the discrepancy us to
the distance. Here the testimony for
both the defense und prosecution
closed. Throughout it till Newbold
was apparently culm except when upon
the stand, when he appealed thorough
ly conversant with his statement. At
times he was considerably affected to
all appearances. His wife and child
ren, two in number, were in court.
Ill* eldest child, a boy, is 10 months
old, the other is a girl I months old.
SENATOR ARGHKll WILL RUN.
SpartanburK as a Candidate lor
Governor?An Outline of His Plat
form,
The Columbia Daily Record has au
authoritative statement from Senator
Archer, of Spartanburg, that he will
be in the race for Governor at the De
mocratic primary next summer, it has
been expected that he would be a can
didate, but his announcement clears
assay all doubt.
The Itecord says that the expression,
" trot out your horse.'' reminds one
that Senator Archer is a saddler by
trade. His father and his grand father
were saddlers before him. Tne family
came to the Piedmont country during
tho pioneer days from Virginia, and
are of a sturdy, hard working stock.
Senator Archer's letter is as follows :
To The Daily 1J cord :
There seems to be uncertainty in the
minds of many as to whether I will bo
a candidate in the next campaign. In
orderte allay doubts and let :he op*
position tix ihei'- plans and trot out
their horse or horses, 1 take this meth
od of declaring myself a candidate
for governor. Though 1 will have no
money for a campaign or corruption
fund. I shall be able to canvass tho
State. My platform will be the same
1 have practiced In managing my per
sonal Affairs, economy, industry, educa
tion and temperance.
I would favor a constitutional amend
ment requiring a two-thirds vote of
both houses of the General Assembly
in appropriating the peoples' money
for the Bupport of public institutions
and in the administration of public af
falrs.
I believe in every ofllcor giving value
received in service for bis salary. I
ilo not believe in crippling any institu
tion, but in strict economy in managing
their alVairs.
I believe, in uniformity in adminis
tering all laws. What is good for
Charleston is good for Spartanburg and
vice versa.
I am In favor of the dispensary as iL
now stands, until the people deeido
otherwise : then I shall support pro
hibition, with a provision attached
that those towns or counties which
prefer prohibition shall pay for its en
forcement in their borders.
Hero Is brlclly how I now stand.
Respectfully,
b. l. Arciikr.
Columbia, January 10th, 1808.
Church Statistics ?The annual
compilation of Church statistics made
by the New York 1 (.dependent shows
that about one-third of the 25,010,027
communicants in the United Slates aro
Roman Catholics. The most numerous
Protestant denomination is the Metho
dist, with .*>,";:!.">,808, while the Baptists
aro second, (including their multifa
rious subdivisions,) with 1,175,300.
The next In order are the Lutherans,
I with 1,507,406, and then follow the
Presbyterians, who number L,490,102:
the Disci pics of Christ, with a total of
I 051,079; the [episcopalians, with 058,
010, und tho Congregationallst9, with
0.'10,000, The numorical equality of
the last two Churches lias boon con
tinued for a Dumber of years, though
the Episcopalians appear to he gain
ing a little on their Puritan brethren.
The Unitarians, despite their recent
efforts to increase the number of their
adherents, are practically at a .-.land
still, si-ith only 70,000 members, while
there are but 51,025 Unl/orsallsts all
told. The total numb;r of communi
cants in all the churches is enormous
?more than 25,000,000: but that is
I scarcely more than one-third the popu
I lalion of tho country. What is tho
reilglOdS status of t he other 50,000,000 V
?Mr. David Sul/.onergor, of Phila
delphia, hft9 with uiQ assistance of the
American Jewish Historical Society,
attempted to take a OOnsUS of tho
Hebrews in the United States. Tho
total number of members of the raeo Is
fo. >d to be 037,800, New York State
has tho largest Jewish population, it
being :i50 0oo. Pennsylvania and
Illinois OOmo next oacii with v'?,000.
South Carolina has 8,000, which is more
than tho majority of the States have.
?Tho otitllt of an oyster tongman's
canoe consists of a pair of rakes, a pair
of tongs, a pair of nippors, a cutting
board, soveral culling hammers, a
couple of half-bushel baskets and an
Iron half-bushel.