Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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c.FEB. 3 1886 t ':( bL C ..FEB. 3, 18 IS PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AT NEWBERRY, S. C. X)NE YEAR, - - - $2.00 SIX MONTHS, - - 1.00 THREE MONTHS, 50 A. C. JONES, Proprietor. 'THE SHERIFF AND HIS FEES. A great deal has been said about the charges of the Sheriff of Charles ton for conveying prisoners to Colum bia. We take the following from Laarens Herald on the subject: "If, as Col. Simonton says, .the Circuit Judge decided that "under the statute the Sheriff had a right to -charge for the transportation of pris oners to Columbia the same price -for each prisoner as if he were carried this is one statute, for the yk of the oppressed tax-payer, 7.hich ought to be amended the first ;vpportunity. Indeed, such a law would .be more honored in its viola tou tdaw in its observance. But pissibIp the Circuit Judge erred in his decision. We have heard of such evidences of human imperfection. It seems to be publicly admitted, at all events, that about $1,700 was tbe clear profit to the Sheriff of Char ieston 'County, in the single matter of transporting prisoners from Chatr eston to the Penitentiary. This was a pretty "fat" job, considering t that it was done under "home rIue and reform,"-under a Demo cratic administration-and in the . midst. of Charleston's boasted cul ot- '_%re, refinement and fair dealing. - And another ugly feature of the mat ter, is, if we are correctly informed, e Sherifrs legal adviser is a prom _'Inent member of the Legislature, .t and .ras also one of the Committee * to examine the Sheriff's accounts, a few months since. ShaUl the public understand the argument justifying the pap;ent of '- e s account,,to be'predicated hon1 te apprehension that that offi At last th income might fall to too low a .1a If so, we thus have still . . er public saission, viz: the omt 1ing aqnt of an .exorbitant bill, and tak myltes the tacit confession that the "'s~rwho got the money, and some miengbers the Charleston Delegation haeaffBnities, and sympathize with eh other."' -We do not wish to be understood as advocating the allowance of such eharges, but the fault should not be aapt upon the Sheriff nor upon the Judge if the decision of the Judge be the proper interpretation of the law, The HERALD may moraliZe b -.aout "home rule and reform," but S.et~y few officers will be found who * ~ ill not take all for any public ser ece that the law allows. And for -' that matter any of us will do the e. If the decision of the Circuit u~~ fdge is a proper interpretation of the *stathte w; think the law should be ehangsd. We are reliably informed that the same interpretation of the Sstatute was made by Judge Hudson ',at .Edgefield when the question of - py of conveying prisoners to the g enitentiary was raised. Our- esteemed cotemporary should the attention of tbe Legislature toteenormous charge allowed nn der the statute for this work, and let the correctioni be made in the law, for most of us will accept all the law allows for any public service without thinking the burden thus im -posed upon the poor taxpayers. The Columbia Register figures out as follows how the Charleston Sheriff run his bill up to such an enormous amount: "Let us be sure we understand how It costs Sheriff Ferguson $40 to the convict delegation here from Charles ton. We would not do the poor mnn in justice in view of his expenses and grave responsibilities. it- is seen that the Sheriff (for he -isr so paid) sends one convict at a time accompanied by two officers. The convict's necessary expenses are, fifty cents haick fare at Charles ton to train; railway fare, $1.95; $hack fare at Columbia from train to ~'Penitentiary, twenty-five eents-ag gregating $2.70. S.ach officer's expenses are, hack N..fare at Charleston to train, fifty cents; hat.k fare at Columbia from tain to Penitentiary, twenty-five cents; hack fare from Penitentiary. twenty-five cents; meals in Colum bia; $1.30; hack fare at Columbia to train, twenty-five cents; hack fare at Charleston from train. fifty cents; aggegae epenes,$3.05. Mileage at six cents for 130 miles, going and returning, $15.60; total aggregate expenses and mileage for officer, $18.65 Total expense to prisoner .$..$2 70 Total expense and mileage for two officers .. .. . ..... . . 37 30 Total cost of delivering con viet . . $40 0( It is r.s plain as the nose ona man's face that this is the way the cost comes. If the average distance for the State round is two-thirds of that from Charleston here, the ave rage cost of delivering each convict here at Ferguson's figures would be about $27, which, carried to 850 con victs, amounts to $22,950. The 158 legislators at $5 a day for thirty day~ cost the State $23,700. Let the facts speak for themselves. we are correctly informed Judge adson's decision w_s to the effect that the Sheriff could take one prison er at a time if he so desired and in ad dition to the actual expe-tses incurred was entitled to six cents a mile go ing and returniug for each prisoner conveyed to the Penitentiary. We quote from the Statute what is said on the subject. "Conveying prisoner from one place to another, for every mile go ing and returniag, besides all neces sary expenses. six cents." Gen. Stat. Sec. 2437. It might be well for our econo mists to examine this law. IS HE ASHAMED O HIS TEACH ERS? We see by the Newberry HERALD AND NEWS that the County School Commissioner desires to keep the names of the teachers, to whom cer tificates have been awarded, out of the newspapers. While it is none of our business, we are constrained to ask the reason for this public officer's strange proceeding in with holding his official acts. Has certi ficates been denied to some who should have had them ? Has par tiality been shown ia any way ? Or, is the School Commissioner asham ed of the lot ? It seems strange to one at this distance that any public officer should withhold the light from his oticial acts, unless it be based on a con.ewpt for the people whose money pays the expense.-Abbevuile Press and Banner. There is nothing strange or mys terious about the action of ou-r School Commissioner at all, in this matter. The law does not require that the list of teachers be published in the news papers and School Commissioner Sale says it has not been customary in this county to publish a list of the teachers examined, and as lie could see no good in publishing the names he preferred for that reason not to do it. He has a record in his office of the name, age, grade, sex and color of all the teachers in Newberry Coun ty, which is open for the inspection of the public, and a list has already been forwarded to the State Super intendent of Education. In fact, the examination is con ducted by the County Board of Ex aminers and the School Commis sioner could not withhold anything from the public in regard to these ex aminations if he so desired. As to the teachers of Newberry County, we believe they will ccm pare favorably in point of morals and intelligence with those of any county in the State, and we do not think School Commissioner Sale is, or has any reason to be. ashamed of of his teachers. As to our local to which our cotem porary refers we have only to say that we called on School Commission er Sale to get the result of the exam ination and he gave us the number and the grades of the applicants, and he said it had not been custo mary to publish the names and pre ferred not to do it. We thought no more of it. Simnply this and noth ing more. We made no formal re quest nor did the School Commis sioner refuse to give us the names of applicants. The' construction put upon this matter by our cotemporary seems to us very strained. We can see nothing wrong in publishing the names, neither can we any great benefit -MIE A SUJRES AND NOT MEN." Mr. B. R. Tillman has written a number or vigorous articles anid de livered several agricultural speeches of late and he assails with ungloved hand "the powers that be." In his late Clarendon speech he calls upon the farmers to organize and demand rlegislation in the interest of farmers. and advocates the orgarhization of a farmer's college managed by farmers and run in the interest of the far mers. This is an agricultural coun try andl the interest of the farmer is the interest of every other trade or profession. Mr. Tillman charges that the legislation of the past few years has been counter to the farming in terests. Hie urges the farmers to or ganize and demand that their in terests he protected Mr. Tillman does not p)articularize and say where ithe farmers have been imposed upnT except as to our so-called agri cultural college. We have very lit te faith in an agricultural college any way, and we do not believe one after Mr. Tiiilman's model, with far mers composing the board, and Mr. Tillman one of the~ number, would be of any great benefit to our farmers. On the farm is the place to learn farming. "Measures and not men" 'is the motto which Mr. Tillman pro poses for the farmers in a recent let ter to the News and Courier. In this Isame article Mr. Tillman also says that he does not want office, but ii no "agricultural Moses" can be found, and it is forced upon him, he will, (re luctatantly of course) lead the far. mers in this movement. Remember *this. As we said above the farming in terest is the interest of every other trade and profession and we want tc see the interest of the farmer cared for but we fear no good can come c1 attempting to array the farmers against the other vocations of life Wesalhave more to say on these sujesin the future. FHE LEGISLATURE RESPONSIBLE c In our last issue. speaking of the e -ensus, we said that "w believe that c ander the law the Governor should have had the census taken last year and called an extra session of the Legislature. But he did not, and we suppose he will not this year, as we see no additional reason for his so doing." Since writing the above we have examined more carefully the lavs relating to the subject and feel fully convinceed that the Governor has lone his whole duty in the mat ter and in justice to him give here witli our reasons for this conclusion. By referring to his message to the General Assembly in December 1534, we find the following : "It is provided in Article 1I, Section 4, of the Con stitution, that the enumeration of the inhabitants of the State for the pur pose of the apportionment of i.he Rep resentatives be made in the year 1875, and in the course of every tenth year thereafter. This enume ration should, therefore, be taken during the next year, and I recom mend that such appropriation be made as may be necessary for this purpose." The Legislature with this recom mendation before them refused to make the appropriation, a plain vio lation of the Constitution they had sworn to obey. The Governor de siring if practicable to discharge the duty devolving upon him wrote tlhe following letter to the Attorney General: STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, ExECUTIVE CHAMnEr, COLUMBIA, S. C., May 2, 1885. Hon. C. R. Miles, Attorney Gen eral-Dear Sir: Article II, Section 4, of the Constitution, provides that the enumeration of the inhabitants of the State for the purpose of the apportionment of the Representa tives be made in the year 1875, and in the course of every tenth year thereafter, in such manner as shall be by law directed. In the message delivered to the General Assembly on the 26th of November, 1881, I called attenticu to this provision of the Constitution, and recommended that such appro priation be made as might be neces sary for this pnrpose. The General Assembly made no appropriation tor the making of this enumeration. Article 1I, Section 5, of the Constitution, provides that, "if the enumeration herein directed shall not be jnade in the course of the year appointed for the purpose, it shall be the duty of the Governor to have it effected as soon thereafter as shall be practicable." I desire, if practicable, to discharge the duty imposed upon the Governor by the sections of the Constitution referred to, in such manner as will en able the State to obtain the benefit of the fund which according to the Act of Cougress, approved March 3, 1879, (Sec. 22, Stat. of U. S., 1878 1879, page 480,) the General Govern ment will contribute towards defray ing the expense of making the en umer ation of the inhabitants of the State; andlI therefore request that you ad vise me whether that enumeration can be made under existing law, there being no appropriation by the General As. sembly for the expenses of such enu meration, Very respectfully, HucoH S. TnHou1rsoN, Governor. The AttorneyGeneral, after careful ly reviewing the law relating to the matter, gave an opinion in which he summed up by saying: "I am, therefore, of opinion, for the reasons herein given, that such enu meration cannot under such existing laws be made in advance of an appro priation by the General Assemhly to defray the expenses, and I so advise. You express the desire, if practica ble, to discharge the duty imposed upon you in such manner as will ena ble the State to obtain the benefit of the fund which, according to the act of Congress of March 3, 1879, the general government will contribute toward defraying the expenses of the enumeration of the inhabitants of the State. As I have advised that it is not '>racticable" under existing laws to have such enumeration made now, it is not necessary to refer to the act of Congress alluded to; but as a matter of public importance and general in terest, I beg leave to call your atten tion to some of its provisions." This shows that the Governor was anxious to do all required of him by the law and Constitution, and that the Legislature has failed to provide for the means necessary to render the law effective. In his Message to the General Assembly in D)ecember',1885, he again called their attention to the matter as follows: "In my Message at the beginning of the Inst session the attention of the General Assembly was called to the fact that Article II, Section 4, of the Constitution provides that the enu meration of the inhabitants of the State for the purpose of the appor tionment of the Representatives be made in the year 1875 and in the course of every tenth year thereafter, :nd it was recommended that such appropriation be made as might be necessary for such enumeration. The General A ssembly made no appropri *ation for taking the enumeration. Article 1I, Section 5, of the Constitu-. tion provides that -if the enumera tion herein directed shall not be made in the course of the year appointed for the purpose, it shall be the duty of the Governor to have it effected as soon thereafter as may be practica ble.'* I desired, if possible, to discharge the duty imposed upon the Governor by the sections of the Constitution referred to in such manner as to en able the State to obtain the benefit o f the fund which, according to an act of Congress, the general government would contribute towards defraying the expenses of taking a census, upon compliance by the State with the pro visions of the act of Congress; but be;- in doub a tn my powers and uties, I requested the Attorney Gen ral to advise me whether I could rder the making of the enumeration, here being no appropriation for that urpose. The Attorney General advised me hat such enumeration cannot under xisting laws be made in advance of n appropriation by the General tssembly to defray the expenses.' he Constitution imposes upon the 3overnor the duty of having this numeration made, and I recommend hat such sum be appropriated as nay be necessary for this purpose." The House passed the bill making. he appropriation, but the Senate efused to do so, Pnd they alone are esponsible to the people for the ailure. Senator Sligh voted at both essions for the enumeration. and is herefore not e,e of those responsible. ECONO31Y AND REFORM. Our Jalapa corre3pondent advo ates economy in our government, Lnd suggests the reduction of the ;alaries of certain officials. Econo ny and reform is what we want, but ve do not think there should be a re luction of salaries. Our officers are lot paid too much. It is ot in <eeping with the dignity of a great tate to expect its servants to work or nothing and the reduction of sal tries would not amount. to any great ;hiig. Cut off the unnecessary offices ind strike out several items of the ippropriation bill, and somethirg will be saved. Our taxpayers want axation reduced and they have been watching things pretty closely, and hey are going to vote for "men," not "measures," who are in favor Af economy and reform, and when they secure the men they will get the essures. The editor of the Columbia Regis ter undoubtedly has been keeping late hours and running his head against some of the gates in Colum bia, as he discourses editorially of the "Gates Ajar," but reminds us that he does not mean the "beautiful gates" of which the poet sweetly sings but some of those gates which swing open on the sidewalk to the great annoyance of lped 2strians, and he closes by suggesting that council pass an ordinance requiring all gates to be hung so as to open on the ia side. A good suggestion which would not be out of ordcr for our city fathers to think on. For the RERALD AND MIwS The Tariff Question. Much has been written and said about the TaritT question, but with your kind permission, I will add a few words on the subject. Many of our prominent men, both in this State and at large, are in favor of a Tariff for revenue only; this is :01l very right and proper, but there are still others who are advocating Free Trade. Now this doctrine of Free Trade, I main tain, is a ruinous and pernicious idea, and if ever carried into effeet, would al most irretrievably damaige the manufac turing and commercial interests of the country, and especially would it hurt the South, which is just now beginning to advance in wealth and prosperity. By taking off the duty on goods ar riving here from foreign countries we would necessarily open the door for com petition in prices from all parts of the world, and consequently the price of our own goods would fall so low that what we got for them would not pay the cost of manufacturing them. The expenses of the government, have to be met, and if the dluty on foreign goods is abolished, how else is the nc cessary revenue to be raisel otherwvise than by levying ruinous property and income taxes on the people who are al ready groaning under the burden of heavy taxation ? If Free Trade were the order of the day, and our ports were thrown open to all comners, think, fox instance, of our own nativ-e product, rice; this article would become a (drag in the market, as India, which produces it very extensively, wvould send all she mae here, :,nd prices wouid be put down so low that in a short time all o1 our rice planters would be driven out of the business. No, if our statesmen must "tinke, with the tariff," let their motto be r "Tariff for Revenue with incidental pro tection to home industries," and thum la the foundation for the future welfart and prosperity of our country and oi our beloved old State, South Carolina. Yours, DELTA. An Opportunity for Southern Handi work. The Canfield Rubber Co., of Bridge. port, Conn., has placed in the Lineoit: National Bank, of New York city $1 ,00( as a special premium deposit for the best specimens of different kinds of needle work. Grateful to the American ladies for the unprecedented success of theil goods, and as an incentive to many ar ambitious and industrious woman then offer as cash prizes: $500 for the best specimen of Kensing ton needlework. $400 for the best specimen of crazj needlework. $200 for the b)est specimen of knit o: silk work. Committee of awards-Mrs. Croly ant Jenny June, New York city ; Mrs. A Mallen, Butterick Publishing Co., N. J. nd Catherine Houghton, L'Art de L Mode, N. J. Competition open until July 1st, 1886 Public exhibition held in New York cit: in the fall of 1886. Definite explanatio: sent on application. Mrs. 31. A. Evans Newberry, S. C. Bridge at Chappe11's. The citizens on either side of the Sa luda River at Chappell's have been agi tatig for a bridge at that place for: long time. The last legislature author ized and required the County Commis ioners of E dgefield an d Newberry Conn ties to build the bridge, and we see n< reason why it should not be done. I would certainly be a great convenience to the people of the two Counties, in deed it is almost a necessity.-Edgefel Adetiser. We hope the County Commissioner m ay be able to take the same view am see no obstaele in their way. The Ad vertiser is right; this bridge would be o great benefit to the people of both Conn ties, and so would the one at Bouk~ night's TEACHERS' D)EPARTMV~NT. C. W. WELCH, A. I1., EDITOR. Programme of Next Meeting of Teachers' Association, t 'The following programme will be Ae special order for the next meeting f the Teachers' Association, which ill be held in the Newberry Female Academy building on the sixth of February proximo: The Model School House, by J. E. Caldwell. The Necessit'y of Uniformity in Text Books, by 31rs. Ml. E. Hall. Penmanship, by C. W. Welch. A "query box" will be prepared and teachers are requested to deposit in it whatever questions of interest they may desire to have discussed. A full attendance of teachers is con fidently expected, and everything, except the weather, promises an in teresting meeting. The Secretary wi:l notify you by mail to be present; but should the notification, by mis carriage, fail to reach you, come any how. Every teacher owes it to his pupils and his patrons to attend these meetings. The Association will meet at 11 A. M. Employ Your Spare Moments In every well regulated school the work to be accomplished during the day is divided in such a way as to effect the most in the least t:.:w. Every pupil knows his duties. and when they must receive his attention; and the teacher knows just what time to devote to a certain piece of work in order to attend to his various classes and complete the work of the day. The teacher who rightly values his time never loses sight of the ne cessity for complete organization, methodical arrangement and strict adherence in time to every appoint mient. Such a school room is a per fect machine minus the automatic feature. But, even under such con ditions, the practical teacher tells us that occasionally he finds his work completed before the hour of dismis sion arrives. Now, he wants to know how to use these spare moments. They must not be wasted. They are part of work hours and some work must be done therein. The question is what 'work? We propose to answer the question in part, and to ask others to add thereto whatever may be of value to the inquiring teacher. Suppose, then, that on a certain day the teacher has attended to all his classes, and, looking at his watch Ifinds that he has ten minutes at his Idisposal. Let him open his diction ary at sonue page; andl, dividing Itis pupils into two classes, spend the time in a contest at spelling. If the contest cannot be decided that day let it be continluedl to a second occa sion when some spare moments may exist. Be careful to select those words that are most commonly spell ed incorrectly. Or, if you prefer, adopt this practice : Tell your pupils that you have five minutes left, and that you propose to require each of them to spell a word of your selection before be may leave the room. But yo want variety in this exer cis to make it interesting and profit able. On some occasion propose a practical problem in arithmetic to the entire school. Or write on the black. board and criticise some inaccuracies of English grammar or inelegancies of rhetoric. Or relate some historical anecdote. Or explain some question in geography. Or step out into the yard, and, plucking a flower, explain to te pupils the parts of the flower, thus enlisting their interest in that most charming of studies-botany. Or some day, as you are on your way to school, pick np on the road-side some interesting rock, and tell its story to your pupils. They will isten with delight to a history se varied and romantic. and will be anxious to learn more from the "stony leaves of nature's volume." Or tell them of your varied experience as a sudent, your succsses will give thenm ope, your failures offer new conso lation and nerve to vigorous effort. Occasionally draw a newspapel from your desk, and read an accouni of some importan t event that has jusi transpired. Tell them of the events that will make the history of youl State and your nation. Let their realize that the countries they leart of in geography exist not alone or ppaer. hut have a place on this beau tiful planet. Above all things, re solve that these spare moments shal be devoted to showving to the imnmor tl minds under your tutelage thal kowlede comes not alone frou bboks. Teach them to see, to ob serve as they live. Let them com' ito full possession of the gre-at fac tatht all knowledge comes directj form God or indirectly through hi works; and. hence if they would havi a pure and satisfying draught, tihe must drink (deeply of the fountain. W e speak earnestly in this matte because of its immense importance The habit oif observation upon whicl he nductive Philosophy of Lor< Baaon depends must be cultivated -The scientist may find more to in stuct and amuse him in a short wall Iong the highway than the average n(ividual in a year's peregrinations. Ve blind mortals need continually to e told to keep our eyes open. ['housands of mea and women live brough afflictions and gloom to an dvanced age; and when surcease of orrow comes and the shadows of ife's evening make dim ery tem )oral prospect, they lie down, die and lecay without ever having appre iated this beautiful world and its wonderful works. And all because n early life they were not taught to ultivate the faculty of observation, he habit of philosophizing. Now, feilow-laborer, will you real ze how much you may do for your pupils by wisely using the spare moments of school hours? It may be that some hints that you may rop in one of these te:-minute talks will find a fertile soil and be the small beginning of making some boy in your school a man of whom you may some day be justly proud. Correct Speaking. Some years ago, Prof. Whitney of Yale College published an elemen tary work on English grammar, in which he claimed that the nursery is the proper place to teach a child to speak correctly. In the summer of 1880, we remember to have spent a month in Walhalla. At the hotel where we were stopping, there were about fifty small children, whose parents were from Charleston. We found nothing more entertaining than liitening to the prattle of these children. Every word was spoken with distinctness, and very rarely did we hear a mistake in grammar. They would put men and women to shame. Now, why was this? Simply because these boys and girls had been taught in the nursery to speak correctly, A few days before leaving Wal halla, a gentleman and his little son five yeari of age, from Boston, regis tered at our lio-el. The next morn ing we coucluded to make the effort to talk with the little boy, to see how far Prof. Whitney's theory had been tried on him. We found the little fellow exceedingly entertaining. Give him the voice of a man and consider only his language, and you must have decided, could you not see him, that you were in conversation with an educated gentleman. We were simply astonished, but were con firmed in our opinion as to the correct ness of Prof. Whitney's views. Correct speaking is a habit. Let a boy never hear words incorrectly cobndand he will never be guilty omine asd solecismis one so often hebas. Letne whose habit of speech is grossly incorrect make the en deavor to improve his language; and though lhe may become a grammarian of the most extensive attainments, these errors of an earlier practice will annoy him in a manner almost beyond his ability to control. Now, if teachers would improve the language of their pupils and get them into the habit of speaking correctly, they must organize a sort of nursery in which the pupils must, in a sense, once more "learn to talk." What is the sense in learning rules when they are not appli-ed? Hlow can oae hope to apply the rules of grammar when the habit of incorr:.ct speaking ha.i such a complete mastery over him? We think tbat the present plan of teaching English grammar has utterly failed to a large extent. The one we shall outline may be as defective as the present one, but we should like to have it tried before condemning it. In our issue of next week or tue week after we shall begin the explanation of the proposed Bis Dat Qui Cito Dat. So far the friends of education in Newberry Couinty have rendered the editor of the Teachers' Column very little help. We confidently expected and do still expect your hellp, and we must again ask you to write for us. Do not let one individual monopolize two columns of a newspaper ev-er.3 week. Monopolies are always huritful When you come to the Associatior next Saturday, bring us a list 01 subjects, and we shall ask others t. write on them, or write on tihem- your self. If you will not write suggest tc others. One difficulty we find is t< know what to write on. We do nol know what teachers most need, un less teazhers themselves will mak< it known. We mean work for thi olumn, and do not mean failure Remember this and help us to sue VAUGHNSVILLE. Mses Josie and S.asie Garrett hav< gone to Williamsto:n, S. C., to atten< college. The young meni will doubtles miss them, as they have many admirers E. W. Hill, clerk in Reid & Brooks store, is trying farming this year. Wi wish him much success. Miss Gussie Dickert is hmome amgai from college. The grain crop is considered by mos farmers to be ruined by the late coil Mr. J. R. Bullock was hmere sellin, lnd levelers last wek. Every farme shoud hve ne s i isthe best we hav ever seen; there is no doubt but what i iis the idea to save land from washing. Dr. Tribble has moved to Laurens C H., to live. Mr. J. D. Fouchee has move . to the Foster Wells place in the hous ltaely vacated by Dr. Tribble. *D. M. Dickert has moved to Mr. J. 3 MaMthis' place to merchandise. For ie j, -- Teachers' Examinations. Mr. Editor: I notic that in your olumns last week and the week be ore, you criticised the questions sub 1itted at the late examinatio of ap Aicants for teachers' certificates, and uestioned the value of examinations s now conducted. In eegard to sev ra& matters contained in the two ed torials upon these points, I must beg eave to differ from you. But before proceed further it may be well to orrect a mistake you have made as o where the responsibility for the xamination questions lies. You have >elabored the State Board of Exam ners, whereas the State Superinten ient of Education is the culprit. His -uty it is to prepare the questions, and he is responsible for their charac ter, whatever that may be. I will notice first what you have to say upon the subject of examinations general1ly, and next your criticism of the questions submitted at the last examination. Most of what you say upon this first point, proceeds, it seems to me. upon a misconception of the object and intention of an examination. You ask, "W hat is the purpose of the examination?" and answer that, "it must certainly be to test the appli cant's efficiency as a teacher." If you will read over carefully, Mr. Edi tor, your little sketch in last week's paper, of what constitutes an efficient teacher I think you will come to the conclusion, that an examination wbich would determine this matter would be a marvellous production in deed, beyond the powers of the State Superintendent, though he were as sisted by the whole State B.-rd. No, the object of an examination, I sub mit, is not to test the applicant's ef ficiency as a teacher, but to test his knowledge of certain English branch es which the law requires to be taught in the public schools, and this is all that the certificate he receives testi fies to. It certifies that Mr. A. B., having passed a satisfactory examin ation in the brancies named, is re commended and authorized to teach in the public schools. The County Board does not venture to say that the applicant is qualified to teach ex. cept so far as the degree of knowl edge he shows will qualify him, nor could any examination be framed that would enable them to do more. A teacher's efficiency is made up of so many qualities and characteristics. as you have shown, that nothing short of omniscience could weigh and meas ure, and assign him his exact place and value. The possession or the lack of those qualities that go to make a good and efficient teacher can no more be dle termined by an exami.nation than can the qualifications of the candidate for admission into the professions of law or medicine. In each case the only thing that can be done is to ascertait whether the applicant has the requi site amount of knowledge. This if the only qualification that can b< measured and dIeternmined, and thih must be taken as the test of the ap plicant's fitness. W hat be is rcally worth will only appear by what h< accomplishes. "By their fruits shal ye know them." Now, Mr. Editor, as to the plar which you propose to substitute foi the present system of examinations Oral examinations, to be at all satis factory, would require .a length o time which, .under the present condi tion of aur school affairs, it would b4 .mpossible to give to examinations Moreover it is conceded on all hand that a written examination is a muel fairer and more searching test of: man's knowledge on any subject that an oral examination. And in ur ging personal inspection in the school room you forget that many o the applicants who come befor, the board of examination have neve heen teachers, and under the lai cannot enter a school-room a teachers until they hold certiicate from the County Board. Now as to the questions submitte' by the State Superintendent at th last examination. In passing upo these questions, you must remnembe that a new set is necessary every si: months, and that repetition must ii avoided as much as possible. Sev< ral of the questions which you su~ gest, have been asked within the las year. Take the subject of-the Mei ican war. The question as to it causes and results was asked les than a year ago, I believe. At,ot the o'nly other available questio upon the subject would be in refe: ence to the battles of that wa: Again, though many <(tthe question are such as a well educated and we informed man might be unable t answer, yet it must be rememnbere that the case of one who is expectin to become a teacher, or who is acti ally engaged in teaching, is far di ferent. It is the business of such one to be familiar with th-'se subject and to be able to answer questior which might puzzle the average mia of fair education. Your criticism that a liberal pi centage of the questions are "cate questions," I must confess that dont understand. I had thougi that a --catch question'' was one ca culated to mislead or entrap the ul war. But those which you quote : Sexamples of "catch questions" see to me plain and simple enough.- TI only one which I had thought coul with any justice be called a "cat< queston" was the question. "-In wh direction from the North Pole Greenland? In what direction B ehri;.g's Strait? Explain." Now I do not mean to say, M Editor, that these questions are pc eet but I do consider them a vel ood set of questions, and I thiu hat au applicant who should answ hem might well be presumed to ha' a fair acquaintauce with the subjec w hich they cover. G. G. SAI,E. -It wil not disappoint yon. It is the b< article known for urfig the blood a b uidingu the heat and strength. For ears broke out In blotches on i face.I nocure until!I used Parke - Toni two ears ago. It is the medicine - m e.-E.C. ~.1-3s-bu ciFarmer- it LjLJUL&A*~ I preume y our very valuabile nent for this week will contain "Lt Tillman's last letter in which he ed the temporary leadership of a ers' organization. I would st conimend it to the attention of all readers, especially to all who are ested ij, improving and elevating condition of those engaged in ral pursuits, as every body in Ne the merchant, the lawyer and the tor, as vell as the farner himself, tainly ought to be. I do not know thing of Capt. Ti4man personally. probably has his faults like the rest us. One of these, I should be inel to suppose from some of his letters, was: combatitiveness too strongly de.e But this he probably owes to his E field blood. A considerable degree ot combatitiveness is, however, often neeiO sary in overcoming great evils and complishing important results; have no doubt Capt. Tillman will: need of all the activity and energy perseverance lie possesses to the purposes he has in view. HisB ject is certainly a most pra""*w one. A very large proportion. or population of our State are directly gaged in agriculture, anil may be sakW be directly or indirectly interested In succes, And yet it is safe to say no important interest has so jittle, for it by the legislation of either State or nation as the farming 1 It has to pav a very large propo the State taxes while it gets almos6 thing in return, not even passable. or the streams kept open so as to out malaria, and allow the use of best lands for ciltivation. It has to the expenses of a State Univeruity educate lawyers and doctors, and tary Institution, of no u. i to any in our day, while notbing can be to educate our farmers. Capt. would have all this changed. N farmer has to pay for in the way taxes, he would have at least pa expended for his benefit. He: have a first class agricultural with an experimental farm, at where he sons ot-armers may be catea both in the theory and practicOe farming. The advantages to be deh frdm such an institution -in our can hardly be over-estimated. great cause of the unprofitablens farming at present, and the con low price of our lands, is the rud(e. unintelligent way in which our isgenerallyconducted. Giveus 8*01 ducted agricultural college withiU3" perimental farm, and this williery begin to change. Our farmers.wil see how much more profitable.t cultivate.less land with more care; how much more comfortable as we more profitable it is to eultivate less ton; and live more independeatya home. If the agricultural fund o spent on the State University, and w. -ay say almost absolutely squandeSF so far as agricultural interests are con cerne d, and the fund spent for che Cite del Academy, of almost no use to Sfn , one, were devoted to the support of a agricultural college, it would be aB40 ' cient, perhaps to sustain it without. additional taxation. Cani ayone douad that the money thus'spent would be more wisely spent than at presen.t? In addition to the farmer's college,s as undersaind Capt. Tillmian's idea he'~ would,.have a State and county erga zation of farmers, somethinag Ic the 'as' ture of "farmer's Institutes," that is for the mutual instruction and benefit oL.f farmers. Such institutions, if - properly ~ conducted, might be of great benefit anid r at very little expense in every county. The objection to the Agricultural 8o0 ciety, now in liquidation in Newberry was that it was made too expensive by-. the annRg1 fairs. With eonslderstia less expen4I should think a comfoyt able reading room might be kept open I N'ewberry, supplied with good agrical- - -tural papers; and have perhaps a sar -pie room attached where farmers could 'i exhibit samples of their products 1md a what they had Sr sale. I have, known, such p)ermanent exhibits- abroad very _ r useful, very interesting and at very little - Sexpense. Such a place too wouIld serve Sas a comfortable meeting place for farm ers, especially in bad weather, where1 they could exchange their views; an where periodically they might have lee~~ rtuzres on subjects of interest from speak era choseni for the purpose. But my object was only t.o call atten~~: tion to Capt. Tillman's last letter, not to write one. B..O. D. The Biggest Yet. s Who can tell the biggest tale new) about the cold weather? We e 40-. sh1ear some good ones.-Chest~ er 0t .t The biggest one we have heard a a told by a Johnston man. He wes sittlug -down by his fire one night when .abi -blaze shot up the chimney. Just then a blast from the blizzard blew down.. The sblizzard and the blaze met, and there was a brief struggle. Then the blate 0 came tumbling down, solidly frozen. d1 and rolled out on the hearth. Heplcked g it uip, put it on the mantleplece and -W~ . the morning thawed it out with a chunk. of ice and utilized it in kindling a. freC This isviouched for.-Johnston o a The Johnston man is entitled to the' RWEI rI..... hh - ' tSii yp . semessin tbowsh. 3g . J 8 P aptiemsiithes aen .ited dB~A~ is' oro~~is't71i"I r. .- ----.BiTIIK