Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The Eleventh Commandment. By MARGARET LEE. 1 _-,- . On (Imt particular arternfiofi Storer reached his house somewhat later than usual. Ho had undertaken tho ^mar riage notico" und was determined that tho oitizeua of Ceuterville shuul? havo every opportunity of reading it. Ho ran up tho stoop, let himself in and took his way, two steps at a time, to tho front room on tho second door, which was in ndqnartord for tho family. Tho lower lluor was lighted, und tlio quiot did not concern him. Ho often awaited Iiis wile's return from her old homo. Ho had invested in some while chrys anthemums, and ho proceeded to ar range them in tho vases that adorned his wife's-dressing cuso. If Sallio had a preferenco, it was for these feathery blossoms, bo ho placed them to the best advantage, enjoyed their reflection in tho mirror and turned up the lights to boo the effect against, tho delicate blue draperies. The waitress, who had run up stairs for a news item, observed his satisfaction. Ho glanced at her and ?asked : "Jano, any sign of Mrs. Storer and the boy?" "No, sir. Perhaps they'are to drive ?out, but tho mistress didn't say so. I ?see a noto for you in tho library. " "So? Get it, please." Storer recognized Mrs. Justis' band ?writing and, rather surprised, opened tho noto and read: To Mr. John Storer: Your wickedness lias been discovered. I fiiw ?you today with your lulstress. Make no effort .to boo my poor heartbroken child. CakoI.IM: JU8TI8. V. B.?Tho proper legal steps for obtaining a divorce will Lo taken as noon us possible. C. J. Storer sat down quite dazed at lirst. ?Gradually bo collected his thoughts and ?surmised what bad occurred. Liko other ,good natu red, even tempered, healthy ~?youu,g people, it took a great di al of provocation to excite Iiis anger; but, once aroused, bis fury was something terrible.^Ho now exerted himself to con trol this passion, mid, sending for a mcsscuget boy, be wrote a lino to Iiis wifo: Hallio, come homo nt once*. I can explain cor '.tain circumstances to you. Jack. The "you" was underlined. \i seemed to him that the lad would nev< r r< turn. Meanwhile ho busied him self m as to prevent suspicion in tho bouse. He ordered tho dinner to be kept back, tried to rend tho evening papers and quieted himself so effectually that bo vent at intervals to tho windows und peered out, hoping to distinguish tho tall, slender figure and its little at tendant one in the twilight. Bt( rer was not given to putting po etry into words, but in Iiis heart ho treasured strange fancies in connection with these two jewels, his wife and this child, which seemed so much closer to her than it could possibly bo to him and was for that very reason so much the more wonderful and sacred to him. The twilight pave place to dark, and out of it came the messenger boy with this note from Mr. Justis: Air. .t<ihn Storer: Hut?The explanation offered must be made tome. Respectfully, RieilAKn JuSTia Storer dismissed the boy and retired to the library for consultation with bis sensible sell. Hitlurto lie had always risen to the emergency. "What a confounded mess that med dling old woman lias made of whatever ?ho saw and heard this morning I Hut it will never do to let this thing go on. I must see Sallio at ouoe. Tho idea of making her suffer!" Storer put on his overcoat and bat, selected a cane and called to the servant: "We're going to dine down town, June. " "Yes, sir." The night air bad a cooling Influence, fitoror was ushered into the drawing room, whero in a few moments be was joined by Mr. .Instlf, n tall, thin, dys peptic man who bad sacrificed health to wealth. "I will tell you the leading facts in this matter, but I cannot give names," Storer said, without losing a second in tho recital. "1 am very sorry on my wife's account that this tiling lias be eomo public. Let horcomo down. There is nothing in it to affect her happiness, I assure you. " "You wouldn't give names? Wo should need them, you know, to verily your .statement." "What do you mean?" "What I say." Mr. .Justis had a voice that matched his appearance?thin, weak and high. Storer gazed at him in curious amaze ment. "You are doubting my word." "Tho case is so peculiar," whined Mr. Justis. "It is so easy to manufac ture a plausible explanation of it. 1 think you'll have to bring forward these friends of yours to prove your share in it." "I want to see my wife." "She lias concluded to let mo arrange this matter for her. If you will satisfy me, she will abide by my decision." "I don't know that you are expected to bOlioVO me, but she is. Send her here, and I'll give her names cn condi tion that she does not disclose them." "That won't do." "Now, look hero. I'm just as anx ious to settle this question now ns you ?can possibly be. It is like springing a mine upon mo, and I consider tiiat Mrs. Justis has acted very hastily and im prudently. I will not betray tho people who havo trnsted mo, and I insist that my wifo shall come hero now and listen i to nie. If she cannot exhibit so much faith in me ns this crisis demands, then I am altogether mistaken in my esti mate of her character. I want you to bring her down hero and her mother with her. I will not give names. Any other questions I can unswer fuhy." . Storer sat down with tho air of set tled determination that takes no denial, and Mr. Justis left the room. Ho Was gono for hnlf an hour'by tho clock the I Storer mechanically watched. Tho houHO was deop, tho ceilings were high, tho doors heavy. No sound of voices in counsel, protestation or dis pnte was audible. Storer could feel tho ?ilenoo. Mr. Jnstis returned slowly, spenking a .?? i in lied monologue "It's HO URO. Sallio must SCO these friends with hor own oyeB. She agrees ?with hor mother that tho story sounds \mjpxohahlo. Of course .yop. cpold pro HH^^BfliiBHHlbVIHHbVI aflco trie tvo rpeoptu wuea bo mticii is ul stake." "I just told you that they bad loft tho cicy." "It's very unfortunate for you that they have.'! ?'Can 1 see my wifo?" "I think not. Sho tins taken hor po sition. This thing must bo thoroughly explained 10 mo so that every suspicion enn be removed from my mind and her mother's, She is too much agitated to net for herself or trust tu bor OWU judg ment. In BUOll a crisis she wishes to bo guided by rensou, not blind impulse." "That is a new dofiuitiou for confi dence in u man's honor. " "You should not have left your honor open to doubt." "if my honor is what 1 think it is, 1 can do r. kindness and be above ques tion. " "You mustn't overestimate human nature." "D?u such human nature as you understand! I am very sorry that my Wife takes your view of it. We seem to havo lived together for three years to little purpose if I have not won hor per fect trust in me. What 1 did today un der similar circumstances i ll do again. 1 won't bo slandered or judged by any one. Sallie can come home tonight or she can slay away, as she thinks best. 1 need not detain you with useless argu ments." Storer left the house. He was in a condition of mind that tilled him with consternation. When he reached bin own stoop and looked up at the hand some windows, he felt liko turning bis back upon the bouse forever. But lie went in. Jane presented her self. "We may not bo back tonight," Storer said carelessly, then bustled about in the library and put SOUlO pa pers in bis pocket. His acting surprised himself. Ho went out again, whistling an air that would always he associated with tho night and its strange doings. He spent the night alone in tho streets, coming at intervals to the cor ner and watching if bis wifo bad thought better of him and her own du ty and returned home. Hut the dim lights remained untouched in the up per room and main ball. Storer lived over every moment of this ti rrihlo break riu Iiis peaceful existence Ho blazed and burred in the white beat of anger and shivered with cold in tho depths of bis despair. What was wrong in tho world? An honest man should havo the right to act generously What hud ho done that he should be suspected and accused of infamy? Could it bo all n frightful dream? No. He was in hid sober senses, and be felt the physical strength of a doSSOU ordinary men. 15ack and forth through the silent, deserted streets bo paced and thought. At 8 o'clock he rang his own hell. June was in the dining room and came hasti ly to open the door. "Get me seme breakfast at once. I am off to Europe, .lane, business is all wrong there, and I'll have to attend to it. While 1 eat put What 1 need in my valise. I haven't a moment to spare. " Having swallowed some food, storer went into tho library and wroto this note: My DCAn Sai.i.ii:?Tostup gossip I am k"uin abroad. Btny with your own pcoplo or como lioru, just us you think lest 'Jlns house will (?.ton under Juno's management, and by si in ply pleading business matt era my absence can be fully explained. 1 leave our future in your hands. When you toll me that your faith in my honor is us nci feet na 1 Bupposi tl it to lie, I will return to you. i blame your mother for tins dim break in our happiness, ilud slut minded her own business wo should be logotli er in love und ponce, 1 arranged your bunk account yesterday. Draw on it na you usually do. If you care to anawi r this, semi your let" ter to the office to be forwarded. I need not tell you to take care of the boy. (Joodhy. Jack. P. B.?It is possible?I trust not probnbh? that WO may havo parted forever. I want you to remember that 1 BID yours faithfully In bio ant' death, Jack. Storer closed tho envelope and wroto a business letter of some length. Ho gave botli to Jane, who stood in the hall fumbling with the valise strap. Her eyes were full of tears. Shu spoke huskily. "Uh, sir, I am nfrftid something dreadful has happened I" "Why, Jane I Do you think I have done anything wrong?" "Oh, no, sirl I know you wouldn't do a thing that wasn't right"? "It is all a mere business question. Now, Jane, you nre to get a check every week for tho bouse expenses and kcop everything precisely as I havo it. i'ost this letter, and you'll get tho money promptly. This note 1 want you to put it) my wife's hand. You understand mo? No one else is to seo it." "Yes, sir. " "That is all. Takocaro of yourself as well as the house." He was gone, valise in hand, and Jane watched him out of sight. Storer's plan of action unfolded itself without a bitch, even to a good state room that had been resigned at the last minute. When tho ship was outside tho Narrows, ho breathed a great sigh of relief. "No ono hero can wring Gertie's se cret from mo. At least 1 can grow calm and think coolly as to my duty to all concerned in this miserable business." What Storer could not explain or get over was the lack (if faith in his integ rity displayed by his wife and her fam ily. Their suspicionsncss baffled him. Ho could not submit to being judged und condemned without so much as a hearing. Ho hud made his wife's acquaintance when sho was a schoolgirl. Ho bad car ricd her hooks homo for her many an afternoon, and as bo paced tho deck of tho steamer ho recalled his courtship and his short married life. This was tho first break in a sequence of happy experiences. Sallio had been influenced. lid could not help mating excuses for her defection, although it eut him to the heart. It was tho only thing in the list of possible misfortunes that could materially affect him. There was nothing morbid in ins naturo. He was devoted to Iiis business in business honrB, and he loved his home. He was not a Student of great Hociul problems; his ono motivo was tho happiness of thoso who depended upou him for it. He reasoned that ho bad donowbat was simply his duty. Porhups he had erred in Judgment by not confiding in his wife. When ho sat between sea and sky arifTTlved over afl tho incidents ns they occurred, he felt the same rolnetancp still that hud piewnttd him from tell in? this sad story to his happy young Loyalty to her <oji bad been upper most. It wns not necessary for her to know of nnotber woman's frailty. Her judgment might be sovoro. What ri^ht had bis wife to know or judge in this matter? The more ho considered the point t ln? more satisfied lie bcoamo with his own sileueo regardipg the incident, and as ho paced the dock he lifted his face and determined to stand by his own decision. When ho readied Eng land, ho learned with gliul surprise that his presence was a very much needed if accidental fact. He became so nhsorbed in business matters that the cause of his trip grad Uully faded from hi.- mind, lie kept his ??lf7it/, Jane! Do you think I have done anythln\l icrimyC health and spirits and put his troublo j precisely within tip> limits whoro it be longed. He would neither magnify it nor let it encroach upon bis thoughts. There is everything in nbiding by duty. Meanwhile .lane bad posted ono let ter and carried the other to her mis tress. Mrs. Justin rcei ived her with an air of arm? d n< utrulity. "Mrs. Btorer is not feeling well and i cannot' bo disturbed. If you have any ' message for her, 1 v\ill take it to her." Jane hesitated. Mrs. Justis was not among in r favorites. "I thought she might wish to see mo. The house is to go on, the master said, and she may have orders tor today. I came for them." "Ob," said Mrs. Justis, "I'll sco if you can con.e up!" "Come up indeed," thought Jane in dignantly, "uftcr taking t?te of lur house tbeso three years!" Following a delay that roused Jane's suspicious she was ndmitti d to the trout room on the third fl< or. It was careful I ly darkened. There was a strong odor of j cologne, and Mrs. Sb r< r v H still in j bed. Her chocks were burning with fever, ber oyos were glassy and the eye lids red as if with crying. "Merciful God I" cried Jane, quite naturally. "Mrs. Storer hasn't slept all night," explained Mrs. Justis, who bad mount t d guurd at once. "Well, indeed, neither did I, ma'am. I couldn't; it was all so sudden. I'm sure 1 don't wonder at all. But perhaps if you'd dress and coma up to the hotlSO, sure you'd feel hotter. I m v't t put out a light in your room, ma'am, and there you'll see the pretty flowers that tho i master fixed last night with !>;s own bands against you'd come in, niu'am." Mrs. Storer put her handkerchief to her eyes, and ber mothor quickly loft the room. Jane darted to the hedsido. "Here's bis U tter. Keep it to yoUl'SI If, and have you anything to say to mo, ma'am?" Juno put tho note in Mrs. Storor's band and retired to her first post near the door. "Uh, Jane, you'll have to do as usual for the present. I may come up today. Wait I Let me read this, open tho win dow. " Jane opened the window and dis creetly gazed into tho street w hile keep ing OUC ear on tho door and another on the rustling letter. A shriek that brought bnck Mrs, Jus tis and startled Jane out of her senses was the result. Then Mrs. Storer was seized with fainting spells, and June ran for tho doctor. This family physician, having used proper remedies and ordered perfect quiet for the patient, retired to tho par lor and held a consultation with lur parents. He was persistent in his in quiries. Mrs. Storer was suffering from a mental shock, and lie wanted all tho particulars. Medical inen prefer not to work in the dark. In ber wild grief Mrs. storer bod told ber mother some sad truths. "Oh, you have ruined our happiness!" she cried repeatedly, regardless of Dr. Bclford'S presence. "thick lias gono abroad. I'll never see him ugaiu. Oh, send for him I Why did I leave him? Oh, fool that I was to let you middle between us I" This continued till the anodyne took effect. Mrs. Justis unfolded to tho doctor Mr. Storor's infamous conduct and her own decided action "I suppose ho has taken (hat wonuui with him," she said sadly. "No doubt," agreed Dr. Bolford, who was quite beyond being surprised by anything in the line of immorality. Tho story, coming from such author ity, lie quietly accepted, and ill the course of time confided it to his wifo. It wtis quickly communicated, and When Mrs. Storer was able to >;o about she judged from the sympathy for her expressed and cxbil tied that her moth er's solution oi the foroign trip was the correct ono. YetWbeil she read over lur husband's letter slio had her doubts, and tlieso doubts were so strong that she refused to tako any Stops w hatever of a legal nature. She objected to putting detect ives on her husband's path and sim ply remained away from her home and devoted liorsolf to her ohild. If tho worst was tmo, she (HdttyOt wan?tO have it proved to hor. 't Certain other annoyances developed ns tine, elapsed. For instance, llttlb Jack became a 1 one of contention. In his own botne where he ruled as prince his baby ways were humored and Iiis nnruly moments patiently ignored. Sousiblo people never look for angels' wings on tin. shoulders of healthy, noisy children. Growth means perpet ual motion, und Ja? l< seemed to possess tho whole bop** Ho iau.-ed Ms irrila hlo, nervous grnndfi thorendlpfts nneasi ?fcess. The niati. with his. cross expros siou, his ill bun.or and his exacting manner, fltit?i.'J)izjjd tint eMid. Jank Ii ail 'Ii Ts jolly, ciiiunii y father in Ins mind when ho saw nun. in il h? meas ured them by bin tretiMMul stnttdnrd. (July a Spencer, a Durwill or a lluxhy could explain why thin beautiful child, with his nugcliu oxi res>i<,u und stout liinhs, should sit Ii 1 iiiK? If in lliu tor menting of his grnndluthi r v ith i w< is Of illVl'Util II and CXCCUth Ii || il \. , | ,? ;;s amazing as they wire im I mule. Mr. Just is stored imil thrctitenctl and even at ten; 11< <l to i m ish the child. Then Mrs. Ittricr caught lur baby to her heart and would huvii c: I t ri 1 ogo in In r own house I ttd m I In r lot th er taken her side iu the quuin 1 und pro vouted the siioi.d break iu the family, Mr .Insiis upbraided his wifo and made n atters sn wretched in thu house that for the l:: i tfii.u she sat down un<l admitted tu In im It that perhaps she had made a mistuliu in taking her daugliter home. A boarding house in Which Jack would have had no freedom would have been much better for the child. Toward spring the domestic relations in tho Justis family had reach'd such a pitch of unpleasantness tbut every mem ber of ic lived in a condition of nervous excitement bordering upon insanity. Mr, Justis was like a bomb of human dynamite, exploding unexpectedly at the most trilling provocation. Ho no longer noticed his grandchild, so Airs. Storer and lur little delinquent took their meals before tho ciders of the household ate theirs. This necessity for double duty caused a pailio in the kitch en cud materially increased Mrs. Jus tis' problems. At the earliest date pos sible Mrs. Justis secured rooms in a pleasant country place and ostublislicd Mrs. Su rer, Jack and his nurse fur the Season. She returned to town with a feeling of intense relief ami devoted hcr-clf tu the humanizing of her tyran nical husband. Poor woman I She often reflected oil tho misery of lu r experience, if sho had broken up her daughter's homo, she had also destroyed all comfort in in r own. The wear und tour hud aged her so pern ptibly that In r changed up penruueo was a topic of conversation among her many friends. Her social duties were m gh eted ; lu r thoughts no lunger wandered to gorgeous offccts in costumes. Thu world turned fur her on her husband's bitter tongUO. livery day he reproached her as the causo of the family disci rd und Iiis own steady less of health : ml made her burden as heavy as he possibly could. Conscious of her mother's misery, Mrs. Storer gladly found herself uuioug utruugcrs in a Btruugo place (To be contlnui ?.) ? ? ? m ? i ill: STOKY <>k Y MUIIDHH. the Horrible Crime or a Vicious Negro?His Victim a Popular Ollleer anil Good Citizen. The li iai id a negro named Jim Anderson fur the murder of Mtli. .James K. Marshall, Ol C ester, recalls one of tin most blood-thirsty murders among all the I.? arth s^ and horrible ferooith h uf recent times in South Carolira. Maj Marshall was an old soldier, an i lllcieut and popular member o( the Chester police for fifteen years, with a wide reputation for coolness and coin age. The Yorkvllle Enquirer gives the following account of the prime, and is the fullest statement that has been made of t he shocking deed ! It was on the 7th day of last l'Ybru aty, at about - o'clock p. in. A largo sized, intelligent looking mulatto negro, I pparently about 25 years of age, stepped 'nto the Exchange Hans uf Chester and pre St iiting a check for &20, asked to have it cashed. The check had been drawn by Mis. Janle Stringfi How, of K ick Hill, in favor of Mrs. Saliie II mphlll, and vwis good : but the circumstances were such as to make Cashier White suspicious. Among other things, the cashier noticed that in tho endorsement of the check, on the back, Mrs. Hemphill's name was divided?a portion appear ing on one lino and a portion on the Other?ami as the result of his suspi cions, lie began lo ask qilOStiOtS. The negro at once, assumed an easy and Indifferent manner, and without tho slightest embarrassment, told a story to the i licet that he had been working for the lady who lived in the brick bouse 0V< r In a certain direction which he indicated, and in a selil iiu nt with him, she had given him tin. check. The whole if20 was not bis of course. His claim amounted to only $2, and ho was to take the balance back to the lady. All right. Why certainly If was all right, anil step ping to the door, he called in Major Marshall to VOUOb for his credibility. Major Marshall had never seen the in pro bi fore und said so; but not the least abashed, the Negro invited the major logo with bun to the house of the lady and havo the wholo thing * t rat gh lent d out. Tho Whole incident had passed < IV in such an easy-going matter of fact way, that even tho shrewd policeman, ac oustomcd for years to deal with crimi nals of all classes, was not more than half put on Iiis guard. That he should go with the negro was quite natural, and the two started out in the direc tion of the risidooce of the lady re f, i red to. It Is not thought that Major Marshall had tho slightest suspi cion of danger, and even when the negro led the way up Saluda street, when be should have taken York Btret t. the major continued to follow wj hunt, quostlon. Hut as the negro nt arc d tho vicinity of Mrs. Mutiny's residence, he evident ly began to realize that his game was Up. Major Marshall was following be hind. A few seconds before, K. H. Caldwell, K?q., had passed tho police man and toe negro. The next turn was across Walnut street. Hero a little girl spoke to Major Marshall, and the major retU"nod the greeting. His face was in the direction of the little, girl, and his blind eye was to ward tho Negro. It was at this in stant lhat the tragedy occurred. As already indicated, tho Negro bad not been previously searched. Noth ing bad occurred to make this seem necessary. Quick as a Hash almost, tho negro drew a large revolver--38 calibre is our Information?and fired two shots, in rapid succession. Koth shots took murderous effect, Ono bullet struck Major Marshall in the throat, severing tho carotid artery and tho other ot.tercd at tho back of his car. Either wound would havo no doul t proved fatal. Covering the wound in his throat with his hand, Major Marshall walked across tho istreet and grasped the palings in an ? Hurt to sustain himself. \ H. 13. Caldwoll, Esq., just raontlon ld, hearing tho shots, nt once hasten >\d to tho assistance of Major Marshall. Vie roaohed tho wounded man in time to hoar him exolaim, "I am dying," und to assist him in easing his body to \ a reclining position. Major Marshal) hod been unable to draw his revolver, and indicated to Mr. Caldwel! to look after tho negro. All this had oc curred m> quickly that the ?negro Nui riot yet gotten away, and as Mr. Calci? well began to possets himself of Ma jor Marshall's revolver, the Negro opened lire on him. Ho returned the shots, bowever, and the negro ran away, jumping over a wiro fooce into Mrs. Mobley's pasture anil making lor a piece of woods hack of the ceme tery. Attracted by the firing, people of tho neighborhood soon began to ap uear on the scene, and after the news was telephoned to police headquarters, it was not more than a quarter of an hour before tho whole town was arous ed. Within a few minutes, Sheriff Cornwoll arrived on the scone with his dog "Spot," and with the help of tiie dog, the negro was rapidly fol- j lowed across the cow pasture, around the cemetery, over plowed ground and marshes, nil wi'hout u break, to a point about six miles northeast of town where lie was overtaken, at about 4.80 p. in. Mr. A. W. Lovo was in tho van of the pursuing party, some distance ahead, and was the lirst to get within hail of the fugitive. Upon tho ap proach of Mr Lovo, tho negro turned a.id tired, tho bi llet whistling uncomfort ably close to his pursuer. Mr. Love Immediately commenced a return fire nid kept it uo until he struck tho negro in the side, bringing him to tho ground. The negro threw asvay his pistol and gave up, and by direction of Mi*. Live the fellow was placed in a buggy and rapidly driven to jail, where he arrived just a few minutes ahead of an angry crowd that was not at ali disposed to leave the punish- | mcnt of his horrible erimo to the court. N< xt day, it developed that the I Dame of the negro was Jim Anderson ; that he had previously made an unsuc cessful clTort to have a check cashed at the First National Back of Kock Hill ; trat the check be had presented at the Kxohange Bank of Chester had been taken from u mi il sack that bad been stolen at the depot in i.'ock Hill a few nights before, and that the negro himself was a worthless vagabond who had for sonn time been hanging around Rook Hill without visible means of BUpport, and who was also pretending to prepare himself for the "ministry." Upon being questioned about tho murder after Iiis arrest, Ander.-on denied all knowledge of it. Ho said he hail not been up town ir Chester at all ; but bad only passed through that day. One Krank Neal, about the same age, height and color as himself, had arranged to go to Kock Bill with him and he was to wait for Neal Dear the cemetery. When Neal came up he was out of breath from running and wanted to continue the run : hut he, Anderson, was tired, and would not run with him. Neal bad then gone o.i to the left of tho cemetery and Ander son had gone to the right, afterward striking across the country for a maca damized road whlob he bad been In formed led to Kock Hill, and it was while going to this road that ho was overtaken by the dog. Uo was not aware of being followed until after Mr Love had Bred at him, and he fired back in .-elf defense only. When tho bank officials saw A ler sop, they stateil that he answered the description of the man who presented the chock in every particular except hisdross, Of which they were not so positive. Mr. W. O. Guy, however, ban taken the precaution to make a careful measurement of the tracks of tho man who committed the murder and who ran across the cow pasture, etc. This measurement fitted the foot of Anderson to perfection, and taken in connection with tho ease and un hesitating certainty with which the dog followed the negro's trail, there was left but little reason to doubt that the right man had been captured. In fact, tno negro. Krank Neal, was able to give a very satisfactory account of himself during the time of the occur rence, and for several days previous. Hut all these things are a matter of testimony and will no doubt be sifted to the bottom. ?^mmp- ? - ? A GOOD KUOUKSTION. The Sons of lite American Revolu tion Propose a Monument to hu fayeite. The Atlanta Constitution says that a movement has recently boon started by the Sons of the American Kovolution toercotin the oity of Paris a monument to the illustrious Coneral LaKayctte, ami, if possible, to unveil it during the gn at exposition in 1900, Mr. Ferdinand W. Keck, one of Chi cago's leadiog citizens, recently out lined the. movement in a speech which be delivered in New York. Ho states that the plan agreed upon is to call upon every oltlz >0 of tho United States to contribute something toward tho fund, and that in order to make tho monument worthy of General Lafay ette not less tiian $2.">0 000 should bo raised for this purpose. Ho states further that a measure is now pending in ('engross which seeks to givo na tional recognition to the movement, and that in a few weeks favorable action will be taken in regard to it. There are two rroad reasons upon which Mr. Keck grounds tho Impor tance of erecting this proposed monu ment to Cencr"l Lafayette. In tho lirst place he argues that. Kranco has shown her regard for the United States by presenting us with Bartholdi'sstatue of Liberty, which stands at tho mouth of Now York Harbor: and that some requital of this courtesy is duo on our part. In the second place, ho argues that the patriotic service which the great Frenchman rendered to this country during the American revolu tion calls for some substantial recogni tion of this character, and that by erecting a monument, to him in Pat is woian repay our debt of courtesy to Kranco anil at tiie same time do honor to our illustrious benefactor. Mr. l'ock states that Ceneral La KayettO is burled in one of tho obscure I cemeteries of the Kronoh capital, and j tl a' nothing but ajrude stone marks his last resting place. If the money can bo raised and tho movement put through BU0C6BBfillly, Mr. Keck thinks that the monument should bo unveiled with august ceremonies on the 4th of July, moo. Undoubtedly thero is much in the proposed movement which appeals to the warm sympathy of the American people. Gent ral LuKayo'.to Is ono of our traditional heroes, and wo place him almost in tho samo nicho with Washington. We associate him lndis solubly with our struggle for liberty, and wo cannot be? tow too much honor upon him. ?The oldest match manufactory In tho world is in Swcdon. Matches woro mado thero long boforo tho old, rough .y-trlmmod splinter of wo6u tippod with sulphur, was discarded* with tho tinder boxes for which they wero used. In twenty-five years tho export trade of Sweden in foreign matches lnoroased to 1,000,000,000 boxes a year. I THE PEACOCK IS AN ARISTOCRATIC BIRD, ELEGANT, GRACEFUL, IJKAUTI Hill Arp's Flock Causes the Neighbors Trouble and lie Gets [an Anony mous Lottor. "Sic utru tuo ut alteum DOB toedas," which means if your chickens cot In your nabor's garden ho must sic the dog on 'em, or words to that effect. Yesterday 1 received a kind letter from some unknown friend saying that our peafowls wero annoying the neighbor* ing gardens aud if they were not put up they would be killed. I was run i nating about Ibis anouymus letter and my opinion is that this is not tho best way to make a complaint. Our nabors are all good aud kind to us and I sup pose it was tho fear of giving ollense that kept the- writcrs's name from the ietter, but I really would have felt bet ter if the writer had told mo face to face about tho peafowls, As it is, 1 am afraid several nabors havo been feeling unkind and I don't know who to apologize to. My wifo has told me several time that she feared the pea fowls wero trespassing and that we had better get rid of them. Well, we havo bad four or five every year for twelve years and they never did any serious harm to our own garden?not half as much as some of our nabors1 chickens anil dogs have done, but folks are folks about such things and nobody likes to havo other folks' bipeds or quadrupeds prowling around. Tho peafowl is such a nice, pretty, aristo cratic bird that wo thought the nabors would like to see them occasionally, and if they behaved badly a few stones and clods and sticks and womanly "shoos" would drive them away for good, for they are timid and easily in sulted. As for putting them up, we can't do it, for wo can't catch them and they rost so high we can't''reaoh them. A colored Methodist preacher couldn't. And so when I got the anonymous letter 1 engaged a friend to come and shoot them in tho treetops, but they had (town away before be got bore. Wo then baited them into the workshop and limilly caught them and have sent them to the country where nabors are not so near or so anonymous. Tho peufowl is a historic bird. Solomon sent his ships to Tarshish and brought back ivory and gold and pea cocks. Anil the Lord saiil unto Job: " Who gtve to tho peacock his goodly wings." It is said to he the most magnificent of all birds: its form is elegant; its movements graceful: its plumage resplendent with tints of green, golden, bronze and blue: its long bu-hy tail is beautiful beyond description with its iridescent hues, velvet centers and brilliant eye spots. In their incomparable robe wo find all that glisti ns in tho rainbow and sparkles in tho mine?the a/uro tints of heaven and t he emerald of tho fields. Nowisentit a pity to kill a bird like thatV And yet the ancient K imans killed them for their brains and tongues and it took 1,000 to furnish enough for a g rent entertainment. The peafowl is a gallinaceous bird, but not gl*amlnlfer0U8. How's that. It belongs to the polypleotron genera of tho sub-family of pavonine. Just think of it. Tho bill is moderate with the base of tho uulmen elevated, the apical half arc hi d ami vaulted: tarsi long and strong, spurs conical, anterior toes united at the base and the tarsi in the females tubereulatc. Mlrable dictu ! Some people don't know all that. Maybe my anonymous friend didn't know it or he would have had more consideration for tho bird. Their food is grain, .-eed and insects, but they arc non-scratch I bous. They jan't scratch for their legs are not built that way. They sing but one . abort strain of two notes that sounds like "paon," and that word is its French name. There is not much melody in this oor.g, especially when uft in the stilly night it trie's to play upon its gramapbone and begins and finishes with a wild Comanchee screech. Like some ohi'dren, they are to bo seen and not he rd. Hut 1 have long wondered why tho male was made so much more beauti ful than tho female. This peculiar distinction seems to ...... .. the males of nil gallinaceous birds and makes them arrogant and vain. "As vain as a pea cock" is ono of tho oldest proverbs. When ono is in full array ho will sit upon the balustrade for an hour and survey himself In the half reflecting window glass. What be would do heforo a largo plate mirror I do not know, but I found out long ago that tho best way to steal your neighbor's pigeons was to set up small pieces of looking'glass on the shelf ofthodo/e cote. Hut in mankind and most all quadru peds the male is coarse, domineering lind unadorned. In fact, most all men are positively ugly and unattractive, and woman weds him only because she can't do ?; y better. It is woman who wears tho ornaments of nature, and "when unadorned is adorned the must.'' Strange to say, she wants more than the Creator gave her, and delights to array herself in beautiful fabrics and to wear pearls and diamonds and other jowolry. This is her nature and she cannot help it. She loves the beauti ful and would bo miserable in a room without a mirror, though I have seen some who never had but one admirer. 1 wonder who wero those sons of (Jod who saw that tho daughters of men wero fair and took wives from among them and raised up giants and mighty men of renown. 1 wonder if the wo men of that day were so beautiful that tho angels camo down to mate with them. There is no telling what men or angels will do for a beautiful woman. I have never ceased to be sorry for Jacob, who worked s von long years for Kachel and then had to take hoi homely sister, and hud to work seven years mole o get the girl of hisoholco. Hut tho sacred historian says these seven years "soomcd to him but a few days (or tho love ho had to her." Was evorlovo like thai? Not in thesodays. Mon must havo been scarce in that country or Kachel wouldn't have wait ed that long for Jacob. Old Laban was a sheep raiser, and I reckon bis nearest : nabor was another about fifty miles away, and those poor girls never saw a young man once a year. Kachel let Jacob kiss hor on sight before she knew his name or where he came from, and that historic kiss has come down to us through all tho corridors of timo for 4,000 years. 1 remember that away back in tho 40a when I was young' and fairly handsome my fat her sent mo on business to Mississippi and as there wero no railroads I bought a horse in Mobile and rodo across the country to Vicksburg. Ono night I found com fortable lodgings with a big cotton grower on the Chlcasaha river. He had emigrated from South Carolina many years before with his wifo and little children and about 200 nogroos. His namo was Calboun, and ho was a cousin of John C. Galhoun. T, it. ho lived outside of olvl'.lzatlon; not a school aor a ohurch within' mllos of him and Ik kept puting off moving his ! family to whero there were some, His oldest daughter, a lass o? eighteen, was as shy of me as a fawn, but sho brushed her hair ami washed bur face and changed her dress and shoes and gazed and lingered on the sly long and sweet ly. I made advances to ber that nigh. In the parlor and pleased bor father and mother and bowlldored ber, for 1 I soon found out that she was a Mower I horn to blush unseen. Whan I left the I next morning the old gentleman fol j owed me to the gat9 and begged me to ! come back that way. "Maybe you and Sally might fix up things to your notion,'' Bald be, "and if you do 1 can spare you Jill) or 300 acres of the linest land In Mississippi and as many nig gers as you want to tend it," and he laughed In a half serious and half jok ing way. There were no fourteen years about that, but I never saw Sally any more, Poor girl, 1 have often wondered what became of her. Sho was of good old Carolina stock, but svas smothered in the woods. No compan ions, no books or newspapers, no no thing but niggers and cotton?much like P .ohol, I reckon, who saw nothing but sheep and longed for a nice young man. ! romombor that two negro boys held torches lor us to eat our supper by and everything el?e was of the same primitive style. But what has this little episode of mine totlo with peafowls and anony mous letters? 1 don't know how my thoughts drifted that way, but they will drift. To go back to them, I will say that a woman did not write the let ter, for she is too fond of the beautiful to want to kill a peafowl. And if tho man who wrote it bad have known their ancient, historic renown he would have taken off his hat to that beautiful bird and said: "Con . morning, sir, I hope you are well." BILL Ahl'. ?- mm . ? NO \V.\K VOH " UNCLE BPH." lit; Will Turn Democrat and Go to PrcacMng Ratliar Than r'ight lor Cuba. Atlanta Constitution. Uncle Eph is a darkey of "the old school,''or rather of "the no-sohool." He has many gifts and graces uot found among tho post-boll um sons of Ham, for whom ho shows undisguised contempt "'Possum and taters" is his Ideal ?>f luxurious fare, and be has a magical power for discovering resin ous pine splinters for kindling pur poses. He has vivid recollections of the war between the States and tails with never failing indignation of how " de Yankees rid their bosses into old massa's house, and cussed right 'fore the white take*." With a mystery of misconception be bates " Yankees," half-doilies Mr. Lincoln and swears by the Republican party. The war talk which ho hears on all sides has quickened bis memories ol tho stirring events of the sixtiesar.il Sherman's inarch through Georgia. As soon as I havu read the morning paper ho wants to bo told the war news, und never faiis while kindling the evening' lire tie ask what the even ing paper has to tell about *',dem Spaniels." A few evenings ago tho press dis patches were rather bare of any real news, and wen: only padded with the speculations of the correspondents who had morn space than facts at their dis posal. When Uncle Bph made his in quiries while working with his "fat lighten) splinters" at tho lire I thought I might interest him by imitating the reporters and manufacture a little , news wurranted to furnish excitement. Holding the. paper closely before my eyes I spoke as if reading thus: "President McKinley has decided to have war with Spain. He says as Cuba is nearer to tho South than it is to the North ho depends upon the South to do most of the lighting, and that a- most of his parly in tho South are ntgroes he relies upon them for soldier.-. He propo.-es therefore at an early day to conscript all ablo-bodied Republican negroes in the South and set thcin to drilling that they may he ready to go to the front as soon as the lirst gun IIres. He can, he think.-., in this way give all the negroes ollioos in tho army, and this will be a relief to him since be Qnls himself without ono lgli posti dices to go around." My news item might have been lengthened, but was out by Uncle Kph. who couldn't restrain himself longer. He dropped his ? kindling wood, stood erect, with an expression of counten.ir.ee he hasn't had since the " pattorroilors" i|uit running him "fore de war" Ho exclaimed, "rede dat agin." Slowly I repeated the StateinontS about tho conscripting of the colored troops, while he recovered his Ightwood, It was too great a strain for Uncle Kph'.- devotion to his party. He oiiid : 'Den do Democrats has duthin' to do wid dis war bi/.ness ?" "Certainly not," I said. "It is not our tight. We would be a set of fools to lot you Republicans bava all the post' 111 COS and we go oll and ho shot in order to keep up a government for your crowd. Mr. McKinley knows this, and he is depending on you negroes; and the poor "while trash' that make up the Republican party to do the lighting in this war. Ho is r.ot giving you nostolllocs and such like for nothing." The ai'guemontOVOi'Whelm ed him. "Well, dat do head ine, shore. Mas John, you knows dat white trash ain't a-glne to lite. You jist as well spec a hound dog to stay treed in a yalle.w jacket's lies' as to spec poor white l rash nko dese white publloans to lite deni Spaniels. If you git 'em in dar dev gwine ter run, und what is more flan 'Jat you ain't gwine to git 'om dar. Day is tui ty handy ahout postollloes and sich like, but guns and shootlft', dat don't suit 'cm none. Ncdor does war suit a nigger. Hits list and skull wid him, or maybe ho ino.it cut some wid his rtiZ.ir. But whon do big guns gin to sbutu tie niggor gwlno ter git rite oherde fonso and etroak it for home. N >w I j Is toll you, Mas John. If Mr. McKinley is a plannin' like what you rode in dat paper here is gwine to bo ft sight a i.hangln' about here, sbon? as yon is born. I already fool do Dumocrnl rlsin' up In roe. You know my o!il uiassa was a Democrat anyhow. He raise mo dat way. I tell you, Mas John, I hates dem Yankees y it , what rid do hur.-' s Into tho big house and cussed rite dar fore old Miss, I hopes de Spaniels will git some of dem blue coat devils yit. But, bless vor soul, ?Iis nigger ain't a gwine to bo thai*. Kso a-gwlne to turn Democrat dls night." By this time Uncle Kph, who was backing out of tho room while his mouth was running, was outside, and tho doorolosod. Prosontly the door opened suddenly am. ,T"<do Kph pushed his excited countenance far enough into tho room to ask : " Mas John, ef a mam was a publican preacher would dey make him go to do war? Case of dey gwlnno to let preachers Inno I wants to git me some licenses. I been a-fee, I In' liko 1 was called anyhow." Uncle K|.hV. R ?publicanis^o, if not his pioty. had quickly roue ^> ? state of revival. til. v A MONKIOY IN THE 1IKNCOOP. The Wonderful Discovery of a Town Hoy Who Didn't Know a Possum. New York Sun. John Welch, a farmor living a tew inilos oust of Chester, N. Y., brought from a Now York charitable institu tion a ten-year-old boy to livo in his family. Toward evening, one day last week, the boy came running into tho house in a great state of excitement. ''Mr. Welch," he exclaimed, "thoro's a monkey in the chicken coop sottin' right by the side of our big roostor." Farmer Welch, went out to see what tho boy had discovered. Ho got to tho coop in time to discover a big 'possum making oil with the roostor. He made a rush for the cl.ickon thief, which, on seeing that it couldn't escape, dropped the rooster and tumbled over pretend ing, after the well-known manner of its kind, to be dead. Farmer Welch picked the animal up by its tail, carried it into tho house, and throw it by no means gently on tho kitchen lloor. Tho 'possum never lot on that it had lifo enough to know what was goin ' on. It was tossed and pushed and tumbled around by dillorent mem bers of the family for some time, but it stayed dead. Farmer Welch know, of course, that the 'possum wasn't dead, and by and by, bo tumbled it into a box, and, by tho way of experiment, threw a piece rf -aw meat in near its snout. It was evident from the fact that tho 'possum had come to tho farmyard in such eold weather and before dark that it must bo very hungry, but with tho tempting morsel lying against its very nostrils it never moved a musclo any more than if it had been really dead. After a while tho big family cat came into tho kitchen. She got scent of tho meat, and strode up to the box. The sight of the 'possum caused the cat to stop and sniff for a moment. She evidently w?s fooled into thinking tho 'possum was dead, for she jumped into tho box and grabbed the meat. Sho bad po sooner done so. though, when the 'possum came to life with the suddeness and velocity that startled tho family. It seemed that if a buz/. si?w had run against that cat the. fur couldn't have been scattered around in a more lively manner than that 'possum scattered it. Tho ground and lofty tumbling and caterwauling lasted but a briof space, for the cat escaped and circused around the kitchen so wild-oyed and big tailed that they opened the door and lot her out. Sue hasn't been seen sinco. Having put tho cat to flight, and seeing the excited family group about, ?die 'possum promptly tumbled over and died again. After a while, find ing that no one made move toward doing it injury, it came to life, got into the box, and ato the meat as coolly as if it was dining at home in a hollow of a tree. The 'possum has "cmainod in the family ever since, and has develop ed a particular fondness for tho boy who discovered '? and toook it for a monkey. BOTH ARK NAMED SMITH. They Have the Same Initials and .They l,ook Alike?Yet One Proves) an Alibi. The Columbia correspondent of tho Atlanta Constitution tells tho follow ing story : "If there are two Kniest J. Smiths, or if there aro not, a caso if mistaken identity or of the mistake if a couple of hundred witnesses U:at ias developed at I 'acolet, is certa/nly me of the most remarkable on re sord. On December 17th last U. B. Morri son, of Honea Path, Abbeville CiAmty, Had $200 stolen from bis bousi the -auie day Kniest C. Smith, whi) bad been doing carpentering work ff<r him [or two months, disappeared. l/escrip Lions were sent out and a reward o.' fercd for Smith's arrest. Noting was heard of the fugitive until three wooks ago, when the police of Ashevillo, N. CJ , arrested a man named ljrnest C. Smith who fitted the descri|lion aud had gone there from South Carolina. Mr. Morrison went to Ash/villo anil Identitied tho man, but for <ome rea son lie was discharged, 1'he Smith then arrested said bo ha/ been work ing as a painter in the /acolet cotton nulls since August, IS'/, and had just gone to Ashevillo to/sit his mother when arrested. / Two weeks ago Sijfth returned from his vacation and -i suined work at 1'acolet He was hpnediately arrested un a warrant sw<rn out by Morrison. A writ for habe? corpus was at onco taken out by Smith's attorney and a hearing had ?foro two magistrates. At the heuriujr 11 number ol the best men in I'aeojSt swore that tho Smith under arrosj bad not been away from the town ajpc< August until ho wont to Asheville : the hooks of tho time keeper fjjnthe mills show that during the two?onths that Ernest c. Smith was wonting for Mr.Morrison at Honea 1 *ath. seventy miles away, Ernest C. Smith was drawing pay at 1'acolet ?nil Is. Two hundred mill omployos -wop to the same thing. The ea>e of mistaken identity was so strong that the State's attorney did not resist tho motion and Smith was ri .eased. Hut Morrison was not satisfied. Ho roturm d to his home and got a neigh bor and a constable who knew tho Smith who hail worked for him, and wont with them to I'acolet. They all instantly Identified that Smith as tho man they wanted. He .vas again ar rested and to avoid another habeas oorpus in Spartan burg County they hurried across the county to Intercept ft train at a way station. But Smith's friends telegraphed theshoritTtOinter cept the men on a train. This was successfully accomplishe.il and the party taken back to Spartan burg. Both parties have employed counsel and witnesses in scores havo been summoned to appear at tho hear ing next week. ? mi ?The monument erected by tho Chester County (Pa.) Historical Society to mark the silo where Lafayette was wounded at the battle of the Brandy wine, is Incorreotly located and the government contemplates erecting a new and moro enduring shaft. ?The length of the coast lino of tho United States, according to the coast survey, is 5,715 miles, embracing 2,39-1 miles on the Atlantic Ocean, 1,55(1 on the Gulf of Mexico and 1.S10 on tho PaOittC Ocean. ?An organist says that a cow moos in a perfect fifth octavo, or tenth ; a dog barks in a fiftli or fourth; a donkey brays ti1 a perfect octavo, and a horse neighs In a descent on tho chromatic scale. ? Liberia is tho only m< re or loss civilized country whori oeks ar almost entirely dlspom th. T' sun rises exactly at <> a I set 8 p: m. throughout tb H vertically overhead at