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\ ,THE PEOPLE'S EDITORIALS. ? % Contributions From The State's Readers. AN ENGLISHMAN ON IMMIGRATION 1:In Views uu the Methods That Munt Be ttiuployed to liriug luimt vrnutM (o south Carolina? To the Editor of Tho State: I have been much Interested In read ing reports In the newspapers express- | Ing public opinion on the question of Introducing Into the State of South Carolina a class of European immi grants?farmers, who In some respecta ure less ambitious than American farmers- a class of people who will be content with small farms, say 20, CO ? r 50 acres of ground. I am told that t he south has enough even now of i?inmon laborers, and that the need is simply those who will enter the State and buy up the large tracts of lands and convert them into small farms. The peasantry Of France have small farms which they till with artistic skill and reap excellent harvests for their Industry. They are a thrifty people, save their money and at times ? f great financial depression have sav ed the government from impending bankruptcy. Theee French peasants liv? in rural villages and go dally to their little farms, which may be dis tant from one to three miles from the domestic roof. Under prevailing cir cumstances it would hardly be prac- j tlcable to introduce such a system in j this country. It would be better to follow out the American method, a farm for each farmer of any 50 to 100 acres with the dwelling in which the larhlly It to abide on the farm. But how will tho better class of European Immigrants be attracted to | the south? It must not be forgotten that the farmers and Immigrants from Kurope have been attracted in vast numbers to the great northwest, where millions of acres are yet unoccupied; that western Canada is attracting set tlors by furnishing free farms and homes for all who will come. By rail road companies nnd local communities thousands of dollars are being ex pended to get these settlers on those lands. Now, tho south has no free homesteads, but every one who enters the State and secures a farm must pay for It. The western people reckon every healthy, laboring man who makes a permanent home In a com munity to be worth to tin; place a sum not less than $2,000. That Is, If 100 able-bodied, Industrious and enter prising men should settle In a farming community, they add to the perman ent woaltii of the locality $200.000. I should pay such an estimate is very conservative for there may be among the 100 half a dozen men who alone would add more than twice that sum to the taxable wealth of that com munity. But how shall the Immigrants be Obtained? One man having a thousand or more acres for sale cannot afford to equip and maintain an immigration real estate office for the purpose of finding purchasers for his hinds. A town, county, immigration association and the State, acting In conjunction with railroad companies, may adver tise the agricultural, commercial and manufacturing advantages through newspapers, circulars, folders, etc., and distribute them through tho malls all over the land. They will do some good and In time will bring some people. But that Is not all which Is needed. I remember once spending a week on a cotton plantation a short distance oul from Yazoo City, Miss. The planter was a native Alabamlan. Ho had a beautiful plttco of many thousands of acres and one of tho finest In the State. Ono morning his good lady said they must send to a distant orchard for fruit and to a garden for vegetables for the table. I said to my friend. 'Why Is this? Why do you not on yonder rising ground plant your orch ard and cultivate your garden vege tables: have your meadows for hay and your own corn fields? By pro ducing these necessary supplies at home you will save money." Ho re plied, "I only make cotton. If you want to kindle a Are with tho sun's rays, use the sun-glass to concentrate all the rays of the sun at one spot and it will scorch it." I would apply this process of ana logical reasoning to secure people to become permanent residents of the State of South Carolina. I think It would bo unwiso to waste money in Initiating a plan of work and then suffer it to languish for want of sup port. An agricultural commissioner with a secretary to begin tho business is only a first step. Tho department must bo amply supported. This work is not only to get immigrants, but j they must got them. They must go whore these people are to bo found and must select just such families as will bo most suitable. You don't want all that come out of a ship. You want thom selected. Of course your com missioner will have his principal olllce in the capital of tho State, but ho must havo an office in the city of | Now York. No matter what the cost I may bo, oven $100,000 In this work will I bo a profitable Investment. When you got 5,000 or 10,000 of these people Into your State and they are content, they will advortiso tho advantages of the State all over Europe without cost. Hut the expense at tho start must bo borno by tho State. Tho newspapers of ths State, publishing gratuitously communications like this and others descrlptlvo of tho country, ore doing their part most liberally, Every lo cality and every individual should flo a part. As llio Alabamlan said, "focus tho sun's rays." Owners of largo trncts of land, some improved and some nor improved, want to sell so as to be getting an income. They are getting nothing now. They hotter soli these lands to tho Immigrants. If they be of tno right kind, even with a very small payment down and in small yearly peymonts and at a low rate or Interest. It will tako pretty much all the ready money tho immigrant has to get a start with implements and stock for his little farm and to buy needful supplies until he can grow and market a crop. Hence ho will need tho advice, sympathy, and often forbearance Of those with whom he deals. With a fair Chdnca ho will bo able In a few years to pay for all. But the Intelligence, the kindness, and generosity of south ern communities neod no suggestion in this regard. Tho Stato of South Carolina is broad enough In area and ample enough In resources, yet unde veloped, to afford homes of wealth and abbndance for 5,000,000 to 7,000,000 of nn industrious and enterprising people. Will this generation, tho present pop ulatlon of the State, seize the oppor tunities afforded of Increasing their Individual wealth and adding lOVflnue to their native commonwealth? South Carolina Is worthy of the greatest efforts of her people. I read In an encyclopedia spread oul before me thai "the soil In highly productive, yielding such staples as cotton, indigo, rice. lObaCCO, sugar, t'.i. the cereals, hemp. Max, hops, and many varieties of fruits and vegetables; and en joys a climatic temperature corres ponding With that of Italy and Hie south ol Franco. The mineral r?? sources of this State are considerable, comprising gold, Jron, lead, coppi 1 . manganese, coal, bismuth, plumbago, soapslontj, limestone, granite, china clays, etc., etc," The heart of man cun ask for nothing more. Then recall the famous men whom the State has produced. Their very names are an Inspiration and awaken the noblest aspirations of manhood. In the roster of South Carolina's emin ent sons In a past generation, 1 note high in the list of immortal ones Hon. John Culdwell Calhoun, an incompar able statesman, scholar and philoso pher: Henry Laurens, honored above most men, an accomplished diplomatist and the friend of Washington; then there was Gen. Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States; .another honored name, an advocate ?ind Jurist of great renown, likewise statesman, scholar, diplomatist. Hugh Swlnton Legare; the Hon. Francis W. Plckens and the Hon. William A ikon, of tlie early governors of the State, I mention with the highest regard the names of (Jov. Robert Young Hayne, the most accomplished orator tlie State ever produced, a match in for ensic debate of the great Massachu setts Demosthenes, Daniel Webster. And may I mention the nnmeu of Generals Wade Hampton, the older and the younger, both effulgent stars In the diadem of the commonwealth. These are but a few names to conjure by. Such a galaxy of honored ones casts a halo of glory not only over their native Stote and their own times, but they belong to all time and to the universal brotherhood of man. Strug gling men In this generatlqn may look to those great ones nnd gather strength In their efforts to accomplish worthy undertakings?Imitating such noble lives. Frederick A. Salainan. Rooms 1305-0, Vincent Building, New York City. TUB HLSSI.V.N IN HISTOItV. Why American Sympathy Should 1,1? With jupau lu Present conflict To the Kdltor of Tlie State: It is dllllcult to understand how any one who Is at all acquainted with Eu ropean history, especially the part of It that relates to Russia, can sympathize with that country tri its struggle with Japan; for viewed from any stand point, except that of brute force, .lapan Is by far the more highly civilized na tion of the two. From Its very first j contact with civilization Japan has! made a progress that is almost mar- j velous, While Russia has remained i practically barbarous despite the fact j that she has been in intimate assocla tion with the clvllzing Influences of the other countries of Europe. The truth of the matter Is that Rus sia has a pretty black record behind her, u record of tyranny, oppression nnd duplicity that almost surpasses be lief. It Is easily within the memory of people now living when It was a not uncommon occurrence for ladies of the1 Polish nobility to be stripped to the waist and whipped In public by olll clals of the Russian government. When Sweden was practically forced to cede Finland to Russia, the hitter country pledged Itself that It would not Inter fere with the language or local gov ernment of the people. This promise i has been most shamefully violated, and I the virtuous, enlightened and patriotic; Finns have been subjected to almost ? every Indignity that Russian Ingenuity 1 could devise. Rut the da l itest blot on i Russia's record is found In Siberia. Countless thousands of Its own citi zens nnd from its provinces like Poland and Finland have been consigned, for no offense whatever, at least nothing that would be considered such In a civ ilized country, to a living death in the mines of Siberia, without the slightest hope of relief except by death, held as they are by the Iron hand of a despot Ism that would have hardly been ex cusable in tlie dark ages. There Is something almost farcical In the attitude that Russia assumes as tin- champion of civilization and Chris-! tlanlty, for she stands In sore need of! civilization herself and, in act at least. 1 is a stranger to the precepts of Chris tianity. What was the conduct of the Russian troops during the recent trou ble hi China? Looting by wholesale and the murder of thousands of help less and Inoffensive Chinese, driving! them Into a deep river just as if they wore wild beasts. While the Russians \ were acting like savages, the Japanese j troops maintained their splendid dis cipline, and, returned to their own i country with clean hands and with out a single blot upon their record. Rut] putting all other questions aside. Rus sia is the aggressor and this being the cuse, deserves to lose. Japan clearly sees that the time has come when she must make a supremo effort for na tional existence and she can be counted on to struggle to the bitter end. Rus sia has no need of additional territory while Japan, with its dense population] stands in sore need of an extension of its land area. It Is very easy to make comparisons, but the present struggle Is being waged under conditions that have never here tofore existed. In the South African war England had to transport troops nnd munitions of war 6.000 miles, but there was not a hostile vessel to inter fere with her transports. It will be Im possible for Russia to send a single man or gun by water and her sole de pendence Is on one single line of rail road, and this is a very long one. Ex perience has demonstrated that a sin gle line, even for a comparatively short distance. Is not adequate for the trans portation of large bodies of troops. Germany has probably about eight sep arate lines leading to the Rhino and about the some number in the direc tion of the frontier, facing Russia. In case of hostilities breaking out between France and Germany they would each have a million men on the frontier in less time than it would take Russia to put ono-lenth that number In Man churia. Unless something entirely un expected happens Russia will be con fronted with very much Hie suine con ditions that prevailed during the Cri mean war. She had plenty of troops and resources hut could not, owing to the lack of transportation facilities, get them lo the front quick enough. This being the case, baflled but not crushed, she had to accept the terms offered by France and England. Japan cannot, of course, exhaust the resources of Russia but stands a good chain ?v of exhausting all the resources that Rus sia, can malte available. To call this war a struggle between Christianity and honthenlsm Is the vorlest nonsense. Russia today Is more a barrier to the propagation of Chris tianity than is Japan, for a nation, Just as It with an individual, that professes to be Christian and who, at the same time docs the greatest violence to the teachings of the Master, is a greater enemy to Christianity than an avowed disbeliever. If It could he accomplished without bloodshed the partition of the Russian empire would be a tremendous gain for the cause of Civilisation, for then the Russian people, Steeped In den.se? ignorance and ground beneath the heel of an Iron despotism, would breathe the air of freedom ami happb heSS and be given the opportunity to emerge from a position that Is but lit tle superior to that of tin- boasts, of the field. The people of the south at least ought to hold In everlasting remembrance the foot that while they were engaged In their great struggle for Independence Russia used her influence to the uttermost to prevent tho recog nition, by the other countries of Eu rope of the Confederate States. This was but in keeping With her national policy for oppression ami against lib erty. The people, however, who have the greatest cause to execrate the very name of Russia are the Jews, that is if they cure anything for the honor of the women of their race. W. D. Woods. Darlington, Feb. 20. loc al option vs. Til 12 DlffPISNSAItY Nome Questions O'onoernlniir the Kvll Fruits ol' Latter System. To the Editor or The State: Allow me to submit a few pertinent questions to your readers and the re tiring general assembly: 1. Is It right nnd does It show a democratic citizenship, not to say a spirit of justice on the part of our lawmakers, not to allow ti free (?) peo ple to vote the whiskey evil from their midst, when in fact In many instances the people did not vote or petition its establishment ? 2. Is It not an apparent fact that the whiskey element?ring if you choose?is getting a tinner and deeper hold on our State institutions and using it for po litical ends to the extent that ere long it will dominate church, society, busi ness, morals, politics and every insti tution In the land and throw around them the mantle of corruption that Is sure to lower us in the scale of state hood ? 3. Arc the ministers of Cod's holy writ doing their duty by their passive ness in accepting prevailing conditions Instead of Inveighing against them on all occasions? 4. Can any man, be he friend or foe of the system, in truth lay his hand upon his heart and in presence of Ids God say ho does not know that the dispensary as It is managed is a de moralizing agent to every legitimate business or institution In the State; de basing its manhood, making drunkards of its youth, yea, of its children even? Doing, this, does it not bring woe and misery, suffering and hardships untold to a helpless and innocent class?the women and children? 5. Is it for political nnd sinister gnln that our wise men?masters, not ser vants?can shut their eyes to glaring facts and refuse to trust those whose suffrage placed them In their exalted position, and force them to be un willing parliceps crimlnts to the traffic? o. Docs the revenue derived offset the evil it generates? Has it mate rially contributed to the state's finances, or reduced taxation? Is it not one of the potent factors calling for more judicial circuits to relieve the congested dockets of those in exist ence? Is It right to apply any por tion of tho revenue (blood money) lo the education of our children? Has it not created a stronger ring thou that the great (?) Tllhnan claims to have overthrown a decade of more ago? Is it not a little strange that, in the light of after events, the palmetto tree was banished from the wiskey flask? Justice. St. George. Feb. 17, 1901. Uetttiiu on Cock Fights. To the Editor of Tho State: In several sections of our fair com monwealth the pructlce of cock fight ing is Indulged In and ordinarily the usual accompaniment of betting pre vails on such occasions. As a lover of my fellow men and seeking always their highest welfare. I concluded It might prove helpful If the general assembly enact a law forbid ding the custom, and accordingly I wrote one of the representatives about it. He replied that a bill was Intro duced last session which would have given enttro relief from this evil, but spoils In the senate killed It, though passed to Its third reading. He adds thai tho senate has tit the present ses sion been polled touching the matter and that It cannot be paused. Disappointed in securing help from that quarter, I wished to secure advice of some wise, good man as to the best way of getting the matter on the con science of Individuals who indulge in the baneful pastime. A letter from Dr. James H. Carlisle of Wofford college contains information I beg to Share with your leaders. He Bays: "The great subject of cruoltv to an imals Is now attracting more attention than before. It is verv important. This is one starting point. To take the beautiful, spirited bird, and make hlm kill or be killed, to excite and amuse some coarse, hardened men. ami to deckle where some piles of money must go?this Is sad'. But tender ap peals are not felt where there Is no tenderness; still, these appeals, wisely urged, may in tho end make some Im pression. A lift ui> religiously, of course, will generally settle many of these questions that cannot bo met on a low plane." Npw, Mr. Editor, let me ask the kind aid of your own skilled pen in encouragh g the Introduction and pass age Of n bill affording relief in some degree. But the enactment of a law forbidding the sport is only part Of our duty; wo must have nn Increasingly strong sentiment current, such as will ho possible alone by Intelligent agita tion of the subject. Yours very truly. Clvls. Piedmont, S. <'. Tili: CHARLESTON BUDGET. Diiiiingc Mulls AkuIiikI die Consolidated liuiiMiiy Company. Special to Tho State. Charleston, Feb. 2f>.- a number of damage suits were tiled today In the court of common pleas against the Consolidated Hallway coinoany. ThOS, Smith wants $5.000 damages for having been ejected from a car and forced to walk two miles to the detriment of his health. The same sum Is wanted by Health Detective Nlpson, whose buggy was run Into by a car. Frank Norh den is suing for $5,000 because ho was run into while riding his . bicycle and former Conductor Reeves Ford, who was hurt In a collision between two cars, asks for $5,000 actual damages and $5,000 put Hive damages. Isaac COUghley has entered suit against, the American Pipe company foi $1.075 for Injuries sustained in digging a trench. The approaching term of tho court of common pleas Will be noted for the number of like SUltS*Which have been filed. ' The laving off of a number of Held men at the navy yard has caused some disappointment and no little dis quietude, but it in said that the laying off of those men furnishes the only foundation for tho rumors of 0 general suspension of work. No statement could be g?lten from the local officials of the navy yard In regard to the rumor that thO secretary of the navy had ordered the unexpended balance to be turned into the treasury, n was said at tho navy* yard that the men were only laid Off because they were much ahead in their work and the. rules Of the de partment are against keeping men on tho payroll who are not actually at work. Advices received lu re stale that the course of the dispatch boat Mayflower may be changed, and In this event Ad miral Dewey and staff will not visit Charleston on*their way to Join the Nin th Atlantic Heel for the manoeuvres In the Caribbean sea. The temperature tumbled early this morning to a reading of ,'itl degrees, a fall of III degrees from the maximum reading of yesterday. The Wind w-as high, reaching a velocity of :<ft miles from the northeast at I o'clock today. orniors Selected. Special to The Slate. Nlnety-bTx. Feb. 20.?At the closing of the Ninety-Six high BCllOOl, to be hold Juno 5-7, Rev. B. H. /.innnernmn of Nowberry will preach the annual sermon, und Hon. Charles F. MoKes son of Morganton, N, C, will deliver tho annual address. DAILY PEN SKETCHES OF CAROLINA UFR What People of the Middle and Pee Dee Country Are Doing. TWO FIRES OCCUR AT DENMARK The ltnllroiul siinnl Station Hnruod. Other IWowm from <he Town Where Itnllroudw Cross. Special to The Stute. Denmark, Feb. 20.?The telegraph of fice at the junction of the Atlantic Coast Line and Southern railroads, in this place, was destroyed by fire this morning at 7:30 o'clock. The structure was a two-story wooden building, gen erally known as the tower. All trains over the two roads were signalled from this office nnd could pass only when the tracks were thrown open by the operator in the tower. The tire started in the ceiling- and owing to the fact that there Is no water near, could not be extinguished. The trains were delayed only for a few minutes, (and will stop at that point as they do at other junctions. Another lire alarm was given yester day at about noon. In some way a curtained closet in the residence of Mr. Fuller caught on lire. The room was closed at the time and became filled with smoke, causing every one to think that the house would neces sarily burn. However, tlie fire was soon put out, there being considerable loss from removal of furniture and damage to the house by water. AT 15I.1H 11 ISLAM). .V Delightful Entertainment for the llonrllt of the School. Special to The State. ? Beech Island. Feb. 21.? On last Satur day night all the good people of Beech Island were assembled tit the Downer hull to obtain some of the pleasures of a delightful Valentine party, given by Miss Helen Brlce, for the benefit of the Downer library. By the little sock arrangement und the serving of re freshments the neat sum of $25 was raised. With this and our pro rata shar?.> from the state the management hopes to make some valuable addition to the already well equipped library. There has been some discussion about establishing an agricultural experi ment station in each county. If this Is dorn; wo see no reason why the Downer institute should not be the central station for Alken county. Wo are well equipped here, the school owns enough land to start an excellent ex perimental station. We are Interested In this and trust that our board of trustees will pull for It. On last Monthly night Mrs. Janus Hammond gave a delightful pit party in honor of her sister, Miss Xlta Black of Atlanta. Among those in attend ance were: Misses Helen Brlce, Geor gia Galphln, Helen Du vies, Harriet Davles, Mr. and Mrs. Warren Fair, Mr. and Mrs. Seth DuPuis, Messrs. R. M. and W. B. Dunbar, Henry Lake. M. K. Brockman and Dr. P. H. Evo. Mrs. Ed. Atkinson gave u delightful oyster supper last Tuesday night in honor of her cousin, Miss Belle Bailey of Ellenton. Miss Helen Brlce has gone to her home In Blackstock for a short visit. DEATHS IN lOllUHKIHl.n. Popular Vonncc Physician's Wife_\ Child Choked to Death. Special tO The State. Edgeffeld, Feb. 21.?News has just been received here of the death at McCormlck of Mrs. Fuller, the youthful wife of Dr. R. M. Fuller, a lady well known and much beloyed, a daughter of Ma*. Edgar s. Reynolds of Long mire's and a sister of Mrs. A. E. fad get i of this town. Dr. Fuller Is also a young man of Longmlrc's, but moved to McCormlck six or eight mouths ago as a wider field for his profession. The untimely death of this popular young woman will bring deep sorrow to a very wide circle of relatives ami friends. Sin will In- burled at old Bethany churc h, near Longmlrc's, tomorrow. Another sad death in our section and Very sudden was that of a little 2-year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Tandy Cul breath of Rohoboth. This child was by some terrible mishap choked to death. L. W. C. IMciiNiint Hill Notes. Special to The State. Pleasant Hill. Feb. 20.?Mr. Tom Peai It, a resident of the Russoll place, died yesterday of pneumonia after a Short Illness. On the 18th the Rev. S. X. Watson performed the ceremony unittmr Mr. Lewis Cole and Miss Alice Beckham, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ceo. W. Beckham, Mr. Edmund Tiller nnd wife of Til ler's Ferry are visiting Mrs. Tiller's brother at this place. Mr. W. A. Beckham and wife of Kershaw are here on a visit to Mr. Beckham's brother, Mr. M, L. Beck ham, of this place. Owing to the very cold ami rough weather very little farm work lias been done as yet. It is generally talked that thero will be no increase in tlie cotton acreage. As a matter of fact the farmers canned afford to do It, for the presumption is that labor Is going to be scarce, HopkluS Ha,.nine. i. Special to The State. Hopkins, Feb. 20.?After several days of excessive cold the weather Is more favorable and farm work is pro gressing. Oats are small, owing to the bad weather. County Superintendent of Education E. B. Wallace was In town Thursday Oil a tour of inspection of the country schools. Invitations have been issued by the primary department of Hie Hopkins graded school to Washington birthday exercises. The invitations are In the shape of n small hatchet decorated with cherries. This department Is un der the very efficient management of Mrs. Whltlock. There have been sov tral additions to the school, which is In n nourishing condition. Mrs. Brandenburgh is much improv ed, after hot' recent severe IllnoSS, IMnewood'n Hoods. Special to The State. Pinowood, Feb. 20.?The public roads In this vicinity are being repaired by the county chulngang, which is well equipped with proper Implements for the work. Their ads cut has been hailed with delight, as places on the different roads leading into town wore almost Impassable, ami could never have been effectively worked by the public. Mr. lt. IL Johnson, a fanner living near here, was married on Thursday evening to Miss Norvelle BtUkOS, of Paxvlllc. The Lev. Mr. Hugglnii offi ciated. The continued severe winter lias re tarded farming operations nnd for the Bhme cause the small grain crop is very backward. Tlie weather bureau in its forecast Issued Saturday had this nmlnoun pre diction for yestordny: "Ruin!" Ami the prediction was verified from H a. m. until G p. in. without a bicak. THE HILL COUNTRY OF SOUTH CAROLINA Events of Greatest Interest in the Busy Piedmont Section. FEDERATION OF WOMEN'S CLUBS The state Uxecuttve Committee Meets lu Nowberry-?Delegates to the \? tlwutil Gathering lu St. Louis. Special to Tho Stute. Nowberry, Feb. 21.?Tho State execu tive committee of the Federation of Women's Clubs of South Carolina met here Thursday night at the residence of Mrs. lt. D. Wright for the purpose of arranging a programme for the Stute federation, which will convene here on Tuesday, June 14th. The meetings will be held In the auditorium of the new building of Nowberry col lege. On Tuesday night the mooting will be opened with an informal re ception. Wednesday night will be given over to the art, music and civic committees. Thursday night the crown ing event of the session will be a very large and elegant reception. The following delegates were ap pointed to represent South Carolina in tho National Federation Of Women's clubs, which will convene in St. LoulB, Mo., in May: Mrs. Julius Vlsunska of Charleston; Miss Blanche Jones of Co lumbia; Mrs. M. F. AiiHell of Green ville; Mrs. Joseph Roddey of Rock Hill nnd Mis. 1,. T. Nichols of Chester. Mrs. James Orr Patterson of Greenville, president of the State federation, is a delegate by virtue of her office. The alternates arc: Miss Helen Mower, Nowberry; Mrs. I-. M. Cole man, Charleston; Mrs. A. Robertson, Columbia; Mrs. Ira B. Jones, Lancas ter; Mrs. J. it. Vandlver, Anderson; Mrs. S. L. McLaughlin, Spartanburg. Four now clubs were federated. They were the Fortnightly club of Nowberry. Rotary Book club of Greenville, tho Old Homestead of Darlington. the Alumnae association of Mrs. Smiths school. Charleston. After the business of the committee had been disposed of Mrs. It. D. Wright gave a delightful reception in honor of tlie visitors. At a joint meeting of the federated clubs of the town, Mrs. S. B. Jones, president of Woman's club; Miss Bor nice Martin, chairman of Bachelor Maids; Mrs. L. W. Floyd, president of Fortnightly club, wore made a gen eral committee to arrange for the en tertainment of the State federation Mesdames '1'. C. Pool, W, II. Hunt. O. P. Mayer. (\ D. Weeks. A. T. Brown. Misses Fannie McCnUghrln, I.alia Mar tin. Cora Domltllck, Nina Carlisle. Helen Mower, were appointed chair men of the sub-committees. Their committees win be appointed nearer the time for tho meeting. INTERSTATE Y. M. C. A, GATHERING There Are Tnii lluiiilreil Delegates In Attendance at .Spartan burg? Und Weather Prevails. Special to The Slate. Spartanburg, Feb. 21.?There are 200 delegates attending tho interstate Y. M. C. A. North and South Carolina are well represented by an earnest, active body of workers, young men who are directing their efforts to the advance ment of moral and religious thought and life. Today's weather has been the very worst of a season of unchangeable mid winter time. The sleet fell llrst, ami tho ground was frozen over in a slip pery condition; an icy rain succeeded. Despite this Inclemency, largo congre gations were at tho several leading Protestant ohurch this morning to hear instructive and helpful addresses from tho prominent workers of the Y. M. ?'. A. in atendancc on the meetings. A mass-meeting for men was held this afternoon at the opera bouse. (\ ('. MlchOUer was the speaker of the occasion. Ho is from New York and a loader in Y. M. t'. A. work. lie made a strong address, emphasizing the adhcrouce'to Christianity along all lines of business, and asserted that the man with the right kind of charac ter has a decided advantage over oth ers. Gambling, drinking and Impur ity were touched upon and in an earn est, effective manner Mr. Miehoncr dis coursed for an hour or more to one of tho largest male audiences over 08 sempled in the opera house. As a re sult fully 300 Christinns expressed their Intention of leading better lives, ami 150 "sinners" signified that they wished the prayers of the Christian peoplo. in a brief meeting, held after tho address, at least 35 of the latter professed con version. Dr. Van Dyke, the lecturer, addressed the convention at Converse college this evening. P. II. F. THE NEAR EASTERN TROUBLE llulgarln Trying to Keep Out of a Fight, According lo Their Agent lu Paris, Paris. Fob. 21.?M, SSolollovltZ, the Bulgarinn agent in Paris, made the following statement today: "I can givo the formal assurance that. Bulgarin has more than over re solved to do nothing to compromise the pen CO. It is with great satisfac tion that We haVO Seen the powers elab orate a plan for reforms in Macedonia and WO wish, without reservation, the reforms realized. Above all, with this moment when the powers are follow ing with anxiety the events in tho far oast. Bulgaria will avoid doing any thing that would cause the belief that, she proposes to profit by the crisis. Tile Bulgarian people havo unanimously expressed warm sympathy with Itus sia. "It Is unfortunate that Tut key per sists lu her regrettable hostility. Re sides the annoying police measures she has taken against our people our com merce Hdftei'S serious obstacles; and finally, the continued concentration of Turkish troops along our frontier ami tho mobilization of troops at strategic points is menacing us." M. ZolollOVltZ said there Is a war party in Constantinople which has a preponderating Influence and quoted from consular n ports lo tho effeel that the Turks feat a military uprising if war with Bulgaria Is not declared. "In the light of these facts." M. SSblollOVllch concluded. "II Is natural that Bulgarlu, too, should be prepar ing." i.ute Kenator mir , widow Brad. Washington, Fob. 21.- Mrs. Hill, the widow of the late Senator Bon H. Hill of Georgia, who has been III hero for some time, died hero today at tho res idence of her daughter, Mrs. H. If. Thompson, in the 70th year of her age. At hot bedside when the end CUIUO also were hor daughter and two sons. Hen II. Hill and *'. D. Mill. Accompanied by ' hem the remains w ere taken lo At lanta, whore the funeral services will ho held on Wednesday at 11:80 a. m., In St. Mark's. Methodist Episcopal church. St. Hngela's HcacUmy. Special to The State. Alken, Feb. 20.?Thme annual enter tainment of St. Angela's academy came off on Friday afternoon and evening before a large and appreciative uudl ence. That the numbers were varied, high classed and superbly rendered Is as sented to by all who were present. Ks peclally Is this praise well founded and Mattering in view of the fact that in tho brief life of the academy there have been no pupils as yet beyond the third term in music, declamation and voice culture; indeed, the great ma jority are llrst and second term pu pils. Thea olos and choruses were ex cellent, as the most fastidious could expect tinder the circumstances. The boys and girlsclasses made their first bow to the public in pleasing chorus. Before many years they will figure successfully In person as they did last Friday evening "In gobs." For brevity sake, the special points of excellency of individual pupils, or numbers, cannot be emphasized in de tail. It is but fair to point out in pass ing, however, the elocutionary profici ency displayed in teh scene from Schiller's "Alary Stuart;" the beauty of the arias and recitations in Longfel low's "Wick of the Hesperus;" the control of voice and breath In the "An gel's Serenade," "Grass and Roses," and the selected Terzett? ; then the general excellence of the instrumental numbers. St. Angela's is rapidly becoming a stronghold of intellectual power among the youths of this ectlon. Judging from the splendid exhibition of last Friday it is safe to assume that, as the work progresses, the patrons and friends of the school will be welcomed again to still a better programme and a more excellent rcndlttlon. A Fatal Wreck. Kankake, 111., Feb. 21.?James Mar tin of Kankake, III., was killed, nnd live other passengers were Injured in a wreck of a Knights of Columbus spe cial train today on tho Kankake and Seneca railway near Wauponset, due to a spreading of a frog. One passenger coach containing 25 people turned com pletely. Martin was hurled through a window. The special was en route to Morris, where the Knights of Colum bus were to participate In an installa tion. A Government victory. San Domingo, Feb. 21.?Yesterday n French merchant steamer entered tho I river, convoyed by a launch from the I United States cruiser Columbia. The , rebi Is ablsalncd from tiring on the j vessel. This morning the government troops ! attacked the rebel;; outside tlie city I and severe tiring ensued, lasting many hours. The rebels were rfoced to re 1 tire, leaving many killed und wounded 1 on the Held. The action resulted In ; a complete victory for the government jand the siege of the city Is considered to have been raised, suspicion/, circumstances. New York. Feb. 21.?Following the death late tonight of Mrs. Florence I Myers. 46 years old, from morphine poisoning at a boarding house in West Forty-sixth street, the woman's hus band and a cadored nurse were arrested. They are said to have administered morphine tablets to Mrs. Myers. This they admit, according to tlie police, but allege that the woman was addicted i to the use of morphine. Tlie husband is ICol. Frederick Myers, a veteran of the Civil war 71 years old. this being his birthday. The dead woman is said to : have been Col. Myers' fifth wife. "PtSGAII FORKST" RESERVE, A Vast Prllllltll WIM Mow an Adjunct to lllltiuorc Estate, Charlotte Observer. Raleigh, Feb. 6.?No greater Interest has ever been felt in any hunting pre serve in the south than in the magnifl cent one of Qeorgc w. Vnnderbllt, , which is know as "Pisgah Forest," and which embraces a large section of the county of Transylvania. In one of the 'most exquisite sections of nil the noble 1 mountain country of which Western North Carolina affords. It is certain that this park or preserve lias had 'much to do with the now great move ment for the national part to be know n i as the Appalachian Forest Reserve. I This originated in Vundcrbilt's two I grout developing ideas, shown IIrat in ! his Btltmorc estate and next in his ! Pisgah Forest. Tin- latter is a true . t?test, Mr. Vnnderbllt having boon so fortunate as to discover a place Where nature had been almost unmolested ex cept by occasional fires, and then to secure this and gently aid her in work ing her own sweet will. Everybody ?knows about Biltmorc, and its chateau, the finest private resilience in all Amer ica, but few know anything about Pis gah Forest, and so ibis will be a story about the latter, the writer having spent a fortnight there in the most de lightful manner in tin- world. Pisgah Forest is about 15 miles long and embraces something over 100,000 acres, It takes its name from Its domi nating peak Mount Pisgah, the most pei teei mountain amid the hundred of mountains in Western North Caro lina, being a true cone, a landmark amid all the peaks in the vast. Irregu lar and lofty plateau betweeon the BltlQ Bridge and the great Smoky Mountains. There are various way of getting into Pisgah Forest; one by Ashevillo and Biltmorc ami by a vory i flue road constructed by Mr. Vander ! bill to Pisgah Bodge; the other by way of Hendersonville and Davidson's riv er, up a rather steep and rough roftfd, , but one full of charms and surprises, along the French Broad. Davidson's river and Avery's muck. To the na tives Pisgah Forest is know as Mr. Vnilderblit'S place, and Its boundary is marked by a Ihrcc-strnnd barbed-wire fonco. Tlie best way to see Pisgah Purest is mi foot .?r horseback, prefer ably the former, as In this way the full beauty of the pin CO can best be seen. Co where one will there is ever the sound of falling water, the rush or Un fall of the mountain st teams, w hich most of the Him- is inv isible, high over head or in a gorge-, perhaps a thousand feet below. Going by the Davidson river way, when the crest of the "gap" in the great mountain wall is reached, [ there is a glorious view to the south ward, far Into South Carolina, and to the northward over the Vandorbllt do main. Tho heart of this great forest has been known as the "Pink Beds" 'ever since white settlers went into that mountain region. The origin of the name is in sonic dispute, hut very probably conies from the color of tho rhododendron, which is so profuse at to make the whole region look like a conservatory during tin- months of May and June, The mountaineers call tin- place the ' Pink Beds," and under this name It, appears In flu- geological maps. II is a sort of table land, be tween high and nearly parallel ridges, threaded by streams as blight -as a looking glass, all running hi beds of solid (done, literally like flights Of slepj-, and which seem like quicksilver as they flash or fall from under their loft y sources. Pisgah Fonst rosl Mr. Vuildorblll something like a quarter of a million dollars, or about $2.50 pej- acre, Most of it he secured at once, and the other portions were bought In large or small tracts, so that now his rangers are tin* only denizens of the wide area. Then aro live of these, all picked mountain eers, good rulers ami dead shots, to whom the mountains Rre like an open book, These men have many duties. They must see that the boundary fence, 800 miles long, is all right; must kcop out poachers, look after flu- game, whether in fur or feather, and also after the trout, and further keep an eve on limber StealerS, Poiu-hcrs would conic from near and fur to got the trout, with which tho streams are superbly Stocked, killing them by ex ploding dynamite in the dep "pools, where tho big trout lurk, or to kill the deer, the turkeys or the grouse, which uro known in tho mountains us pheasants. The trnined ours of those rangers hoar ttio explosion of dyna mite a great distance, and they truck tho offenders as a bloodhound would track them, into other counties, and even into Tennessee. Through this great Pisgah reserve, which now is leased for use by one of the most exclusive hunting and Ash lng clubs hi this country, there ate 75 miles of wagon road and 275 miles of trails, the latter leading alongside each trout stream. These roads and trails are always kept cut out and ready for use. There are miles of what are known as "shooting paths'* 15 feet wide, which branch out right and left from certain of the roads, so that when deer are driven by the dogs they must cross these paths, and by means of the latter alone can they be seen in time lo afford u shot. Deer tan stand In the rhododendron thickets in 10 feet of a hunter, and yet be absolutely invisible, so dense and so perfect is this paradise of game in which there is so much of wild animal life. The foot prints of the dew are constantly see n, and once seven superb specimens were noticd in a group, drinking from Looking Class creek. High overhead a golden eagle Was soaring and later on the ranger showed a mounted specimen of this noble bird, which he had killed with his revolver as he sal in a tree top SO yards away. Mr. Vandcrbilt began to acquire Pis gah Forest 12 years ago, and ho promptly began the work of restocking the streams with trout, in the simplest manner, that is. by protection, without any artificial protection, in some of the Streams rainbow trout have bet n placed, but these are not nearly so satisfactory as the native trout. The number of trout in this particular re gion was years ago incredibly great. In the old days, before there was any protection, there wore caught in two days by three fishermen 1,650 trout, ami most of this needles slaughter was ab solute waste. Pisgah Forest has large ly boon chosen as the place for the study of forestry, under the direction of the very talented Dr. Schenck, who succeeded Clifford Plnchot, now the head forester of the United states. As .all tho world knows. Mr. Vnnderbllt has at Blltmore, which adjoins and with its 10,000 acres forms in a way a part of Pisgah Korest, an arboretum of over 300,000 trees and shrubs Pis gah Forest Is the complement of this :it bot (Minn, and in these mugniflCCUt woods Dr. Schenck ins a lodge, where he spends much of the summer with his class, making a tree study under wonderfully favorable conditions. In these classes are youths of wealth and high social position, who study forest ry, a study sorely needed in this coun try, where there is so much destruc tion. Now here east of the Pacitlc slope, are there nobler trees?tulip trees Or poplars, Spanish and red oak, hem locks, chestnuts, black walnuts, cu cumbers nnd pines of half a dozen kinds, rise in stately symmetry, this being one place where the lumberman has never injured the primeval forest. It Is ibis great covering of woods which gives that tender blue to the mountains, which is tho reason for the name of the Blue Itldge. There is a trail to the very peak of Pisgah. and on the mountain crest are found lovely meadows, lush with ton derest grass and studded with dWUI f trees, wind-blown and Indescribably picturesque. The trail along this crest leads by Pnsgah lodge, the finest col lection of leg houses in this country, built in Imitation of Swiss chalets, only the lines! selected logs being used, and the furniture being all of native work ami of mountain woods. Sportsmen will be charmed with this lodge, with its stately dining hall, the walls of which are covered with dressed skins of the deer, fox. wild-cat, skunk, etc.. mainly those of the wild-cat, till these animals having been shot or trapped In Pisgah forest, while gn at eagles peer down from tho beams upon the visi tors. The view of Blltmore house from Pisgah peak or front from this lodge is nearly like a vision of enchantment. The house seems to hang in the middle distance, like Aladdin's palace, snowy white and vast, and quite near it is Ashcvlllo. Pour counties corner on this peak. Southward there sprcuds tho unbroken mass of I'isgnh forest, to the eastward is the ric h valley of the famous French Broad river, bounded by tho eloud touehlng wall of the Blue Ridge, while to the westward there is a wild and rugged view of mountain piled upon mountain, finally bordered by tho Great Smoky range, which towers like tho wall of a world, Within the sweep of vision one sees the culmination of tho great Appalachian system with no less than 43 ponks exceeding 0.000 feet in altitude, there being the Smoky, tho Balsam ami the Black ranges, Ml. Mitchell In tho Black dominating them all with its toil feet, in its entirety the view is the very noblest- which the eastern part of America affords. The conservation of game in the for est will be promoted still further, as great care Is to lie taken in limiting the "kills" whether of fish or fowl. The grniiso have greatly increased, hardly any hunting having been done in the dozon yours, and there arc many i in keys. Squirrels are, of course, abundant, both tie- gray and the small er brown ones, tin- latter being univer sally known In the North Carolina mountains as the "boomer." There is another kind of game in this region, which is not so much esteemed, this being tin' rattle-snnke, which shares w ith the general public tho appreciation of the Pink Beds. Th" rut tiers are of the black variety, and while short are unusually large, three inches in diam eter sometimes. Ono of the ranger-, keeps a tally-stick with a etil for each rattler killed, ond said thill during OUU season ho killed 2ti himself; his three employes saying they had lulled as many mote. A watchful eye is. therefore, neces sary when one is oul of a road or a trull, The roltlors, as a rule, are "very peaceable," OS the mountaineers say. so much so that when they think per ? sons do not see I hem they lie quirt nnd do not mil and rattle. That there i> really little danger from those snaket^ Is shown by the fact that surprlsingbj few persons are bitten and of these birr few die, whiskey b.ing instantly tu taten as an antidote. t Mr. Vnnderblll has other holding/ of lands, not connected with Pisgah /for est or with Blltmore and its forest, some of tio-se holdings lying to tho northwestward. There Is another game preserve In this State, this lying along Llnvllle river, which Is over in an other mountain platouu, tho owners be ing perhaps .i score of gentlemen, some of whom are New Yorkers. Others be ing residents of this Slate. The stream i there have been restocked with trout, line way Into this presorvo la by Blow - Ing Bock and along the YonahloSSOO turnpike, which Is considered by good judges lob.- one ol tho flnost mountain roads In America and fiver which old time ?Inges nil. Fred A. Olds, Troops Landing In Corcu. Pat is, Fol). 22.-in a dispatch ft'Olfi Harbin Ihn correspondent of Ihn Matin says Gen. Vclkoff, who is on guard along the Mongolian line, hi< arrived Ihme with * ifii. DllSlluVSkl, Of the oil glnCQT corps. Half of ihe Jupaucso flool, the coi respondent says, is covering the land ing of troops In Cores ami tim othor half i; seeking the Vladivostok oquad I'Olli