Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Contnued from last page. Pickens - - - Richland 38 3>00 7.0 Spartanburg I1 1,100 10,0 Sumter 13 1,300 1,4 Union 2 Williamsbprg - tYork - Totals 613 $S1,10 131,3 *For thirteen bar-rooms; no report as t bar-rooms at Barnwelt Court House. No report. THE SALE OF LIQUOR LEGALIZED BECAUS OF THE MONEY THAT IS IN IT. When attention is thus directed to the fa that most of our municipalities are relieve altogether of taxation for municipal purpc+ es by the money derived from the cale of l cuor. it will be seen why so many town which have tried ~the non-licensing system when they found liquor: sold anyway an; their municipal taxes drawn from propery The nuisance without the benefit caused i revulsion of sentiment, and however relic tanly. the sale of liquor was again legs ized and taxed. .'IERE THE MONEY SHOULD GO-THE WA TO ABATE THE WHISKEY NUISANCE. In my last annual message, I called at tention to the injustice of allowing the towu to license the nulanbe and derive therefror an income at the expense of the county an state: and urged. as a step looking to tb practical suppression of the liquor trafik that all money derived from this sonre should go into the county and State tressni lea, while leaving the question as to the issu ingof licenses toa vote of the municipalit; jast as it is now. I have seen no reason tv change my opinion as to thi" beinx the sir plest and moct practicable way to accompli>i -heenddestred. When it is known that n benefit will accrue to the towns by the 11 ceasing of bmr-rOOsms. public sentiment it them will rise in arms to suppress the uni sauce which increase" municipal taxes, ant every man will be more or less interested it seeing tb- law enforced. Tue people of thes towns will not be at the additiopal expens of a pnlece force tomatintain order or repre. disorder produced by drunken men who 01 taned- their liquor surreptitiously. On th< other hand. yon ee that. the absolute refusa to license the saleof liquor will cause -an i1 crease in the taxes of thecounties anountinj to one-half mill; and it may as well be un derstood now that unlest the prohibitionist themselves orsanize some detective agene to take out warrants and proseente thos who break the law, the State itself will have to provide something of the kind or -the las will bea dead letter. All this will increa. taxes, and taxpayers had just as well unde stand it. If the promiscuous and irrprope use of liquor t.an be stopped there- will be ; re.suction in the number of crimes commit ted and a decrease in the court expense. 'THE NEGRO AS A BALANCE OF PoWEE. Another danger. which we cannot be blini to. will be the probability of a desperate pal itleal struggle between the prohibitionist ae-d the anti-prohibitionists two years hence a ith an ppeal to the negro-as the balance . power tor in every town and county wher this question has been fought out at t he polis that has been theeffect. and when applicd t the 5thte we may look for a like result. HavIng thus disi-harged my duty fratkl; and without bias, and presented the questlol as it tppe5t dte, I leave it with you. an will cheerfusty approve any law you ma enact. BARROOMS UNDER THE GUISE OF CLUBS. Before dismissing thia subject I would ca your at tent.ion to t ie etf'ect of the deck-lon 4 the Supreme Court in regard to the tale of I quorby so.ctlied 'social and literary" club -it having been decided by that court, in- th case of the Columbia.Club, that a litcense fa the sale of liquor was not necessary for sue: associations. The result bas been that cha' tars have been granted by the Secretary c State in several instances for the organtzs tUon of such clubs; ?nd it is generally nnde, stood that they are barrooms in the guise c under the name of clubs, and are matrtaine agalnst the will of the communities in whici they are located. - WHAT OUGHT TO BE DONE WITH HAMBTE There area few complaints in regard to tih infringement of. the law prohibiting the snl of lIquor on Sunday, and notably-tn the tow: of Hamburg, opposite the city of August which abuse became so great and notorlon that,after repeated complaints. I commis stoned aState constable to investigate the ma ter, and several arrests were made. This phu. (Htamburg) while nethingiore than thegho its former self, with a very small p..ula.tioz stilt retains it charter of incorpo' ation. Th remedy against such abuses, which ar e a' likely to be restrained by public opinior would be to repeat the ciharter, and this * recommend. AGRICU7LTU7RAL H ALL-r &C. *I have already alluded to the fact that th property known as the "Egrlcultural Hail has not been sold, andlIdeem It my duty set forth the reasons why a sale has not beel consummated. - The property was put up at auction on th first day of February, 1892, and was knocke down to W. H. Lyles, Esq., as attorney, ft 316,185. The name of the'real purchaser wa not disclosed at the sale. On the next day,; a meeting of thbe coummissioners of the s'nli ing fund, a deed was presented them for slj natures without the name of the purchaser Mr. Means the clerk of the board, reporting * us that Mr. Lyles was not prepared to con *municate the name, ar,d had requested.him have the deed signed int blank. This was coi *trary to our custom, but.'as we were not em pecting fraud, the comasioners presenta the meeting, five in number,.compiied witi the request,. *Several days later Mr. Lytes gave to the Se< retary of State the nameof the purchaser, on J. W. Alexander. of North Carolina, and sul mitted for approval the mortgage require under the terms of the sale to secure the cred it portion (two-4hirds) of -the purchase money This paper was not correctly drawn, and- th matter was gostponedi. On the 16th dayc -February, Mr. Ly les. accompanied by Mi Muller, came to t he State House. and, Mr. Tit * dal, Secr-etary of St,ate. b-eing absent from th city, he presente d the mortgagcto the Stat treasurer, and,after persuadig him to receiv it, together with a check for t.he cash portioi of the purchase money, got possession of th deed to the proper ty. te aaleo obtainied an o1 *der from Mr. Means. a clerk in the offleof tia Secretary of State, directing the State's tenan in possession of.he building to aurrender th postsession to Mr. Lyle. as attorneyT>f-the poa easer. Mr. Lyles and Mr. J.S. Muller, clam inlg to be attorneys for the purchaser, then re tired from the treasurer's office ror a mome-n1 but immuediately returned and mnade to Lth State treasurer a tender or what is known a "Revenue Bond Scrip" in payment. of th . credit portion of the purchase tmoney. In tht termns of sale it was st,ipulated tbat the put chaser would be allowed to anticIpate th pdyment; of this credit portion If ne so di sired. The tender wae, of course, refused b; the State treasurer, and then Mr. Lylcs drei from his pocket a written notification of th tender and his intentIon to refuse to pay th balance or interest thereon. Being prornptly informed of this trausac tion, I 'aw at once that. a conspiracy had bee: formed by these at torneys, and others lei ested in "Revenue Bonad Scrip," prior to Lb nurchase of the property i and that the poi chase h.ad been made in bad faith and to di fraud the State andl fort-c he' Into the court.t teat the valiity of the ".-crl p." In this emel gency, t lhe Secretar y of State and the Atto1 .ney General being absent from t be city, I aci ed promptly ; instr uetcd Mr. Means to rescini the order for posses.sion, and,-in behalf of th Secretary of Stat e, to see to it that the prope1 ty be held util the Secretary of State, the ci todian, should return to the city. This dut was entrusted to J. W. Coulliette, then th watchmtan of the State House and grounds, t whom .1 issued an appointment as chief Stat constable. In this tnatter I acted as Governe ot the State and ez officio chairman of th Board c.f Commuissionersof theSinking Funt deeming it my duty. if possit,ie, to thwai this conspiracy, the parties to which had dit closed their purpose from ' beginning ( wne transaction to practice a I: . ..1 on the pea pIe of the State. This, the facts abundanti -prove. On the same day possession of the propert, was demanded by Mr. Lyles, as attorney, an refused oy Mr. Coulliette. Some corresponc ence then followed, and copies of the lettei are here given : Columbia, S. C., February 17th, 1892. To Hils Excellency B. R. Tillman, Governe State of South Carolina: Sir: On yesterda, as attorneg for Mr., W. Alexander, of Lineolnton, N. C., I con pleted the pucase of t,he building and it adjoining, stuated on the west, aide of Rtici ardson street in this city, bet,ween Gerval and Lady streets, known as the "-Agricultura Hall," and to,day I called at the building.sti, acting as attorney for Mr. Alexander, an found it locked. Upon knocking at the doc Mr. 3. W. Coulliette opened it from withil and, upon my stating that I bad come to tab pseson of the building, in formed me t,ha he had orders from you to prevent my entsl .ug and to refuse to surrender possession 4 the builng to mc, T dmanded tn see his at thority if it was in writing. He banded me commission, executed by yourself as Gov( ~ nor of the State, to him to bold durina yo - pleasure, but it did not state 'or what purpo 10 he was appointed, and I write to know if I was correct in his statement that you bad i 10 strncted him to refuse the possession of t 10 building to me. About tbe close of the co - versation between Mr. Coulliette and rnysel - Mr. David C. Means, the clerk of the Board - Cornnissionersof the Sinking Fund,came u 7 and upon my exhibiting to Mr. Colliette ti 0 orderr. given on yesterday to the occupants the building to recognize me. as the represe t-tive of Mr. Alexander. as their landlord, I (Mr. teant.) informed me that, in pursuan E of Instructions from you. he had revoked tl orders. I beg to know if he was correct 1 naking this statetent. t Respectfully, W. H. Lyles, Attorney for J. W. Alexander. Dictated-A. e STATE OF SOUTH C.lROI.INA, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER. Columbia, S. C.. February 17th, 1b92. W. H. Lyles, Esq, Attorney, Columbia, S. C Sir: In reply to your letter of this dat asking whet her or not Mr. Coulliette had bee instructed by me to refuse possession of ti building known asAgricultural Hall toyol I reply, yes; he is instructed to hold nosse r aon for the State against any one claimit the property. And Mr. Means was also ii structed to revoke the order to the tenants I - the building to recognize you or any one t owner except the State. Respectfully, B. R. Tillman. Governor. Columbia, S. C., February 17th, 1892. To His Excellency B. R Tillman, Governor South Carolina: Sir: Your letter of this date stating thi Mr. Coulltette and Mr. ManCs were acting ui der your instructions in the matter referrc to in my letter of this date has been hande to me. On behalf of Mr. Alexrsnder, I desire to n tify you that he considers your action unwa ranted by your official position, and will co "ider you individually !c'ole for any damag that he may suffer ti,.eeby, and will procee accordingly. Respectfully, Wim. H. Lyles. STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, P Columbia, S. C., February 17th, 1192. i W. H. L.les, Esc.. Attorney : - Sir: Your letter of this date informing a e that you consider my action in refusing 1 1 surrender possession of Agricultural Ha . "unwarranted by my official position an will con.ider me individually Itable for daa ages," received. I desire to notify you that a as Governor, am chairman of the Sinkir Fund Commission, and that, acting for tt a comn'ission, I have refused to consumma1 e the sale of the property or deliver it to you : r my deal capacity. 'I am resisting an attempt to swindle ti s State out of 810.000 of deferred payments ar r to prevent litigation. Noone knows betti t than yo'rself that the Revenue Bond Scr which you tendered for the balance due worthless; and if my action in resisting ti ini:iatory step to iring in question the setti ment of the State's debt by the Bond Con and saddle several millions of illegal Radic ronds on the taxpayers is "unwarranted t my official position," I cheerfully assume tl responsiailityand all individual liability,ar will leave the question to be decided by ti courts. Respectiglly, B. R. Tillman, Governor. D On the 20th of February the Commission the Sinking Fund held. a special meeting, a F proced the action which hod been taken. at a instructed the Secretary of State to retain tI e custody of the property. V Suit has been brought by J. W. Alexandi against me and Mr. Coulliette, as individual in the United States Court, and litigation now pending for the possession of the prope ty, for damages, and "for the value of the u f and occupation thereof." i. Whatever may be the results of this suit me personally, I am confident that the con e and jury will not award to these conspirato r possession of property that belongs to ti b State, and of which I am not, and have nev been, in posmesion, or force the State to e , gage in a tedious and vexatious -controvert In the United States Court to test the validi1 of the "Revenue Bond Scrip." The State r not a party to this suit, and can not be mat a party to any suit without Its consent, as a the "Revenue Bond Scrip" has been pass4 upon by our own court, wbich declared int Id this debt created by the in famous Padic i. gov.ernment in South Carolina. e THE DIRECT TAX. i Last April there was paid into the -Sta t treasury $221,71126 of direct tax collected iro a our people just after the war and for the d - tributlor of which an act was passed at tl L- ast session of the Legislature. I appoint e the Hon. T. J. Kirkland, of Camden, comm t sAoner, to copy the records at Washington a ito prepare duplcate schedules for the use e the masters at Beaufort and Charleston. Ti 't tax-k was dificult and laborious, requiring tient research and pains-taking care. Wi iwhat diligence anud accuracy he executed ti work is shown by the fact that, although the were more than 6,000 names, taxes, costs a: p nalties tobe copIed, hut one mistake hi e been called to my atteation th'ti far, Of tI amount 2,010 claims, amounting to $l62,2&WJ o up to October 31, have been paid. The lati a imposed upon the master In equity of Charte ton, Mr. Miles, has been very, heavy, and e corresponding amount of work was donei e my private secretary and the clerks in the r flees of the comptroller general and treasure s requiring the employment of extra cleric *ass.istance, for which I have paid out of tS -fund. One per cent, of the amount retprne -to the climants have been withheld for ti -payment of the expenses of disbursemet n i'he compensation, $500, authorized to be pa -to Mr. Miles Is totally inadequate, and I ri p ommend that he be given S600' more. -. Mr. Kirkland's research among the recor< -at Washington disclosed the fact that the t was due an addit-ional amounat of nearly $2 a 0000of interes.t, csts and:-penalties. But ti aut,horit.ies declined to pay it .to him, and t made a trip to Wa'ahinhgton for the purpoi e of inducing the Secretary of the Treasury - comply with-the law. He refnsed, and it w 4 my purpose to comm'encesuit In the Court lClaims, but sincethen the Attorney Gener -of the UnIted- States -has filed an opont< e -that the tooney must be paid. As soon f this was known I instructed Mr. Kirkland -return to Washington and set about maki: eup the accounts,-and he is now- engaged< e this work. The am' unt paid him for his wo1 e last spring was $400 under the act-much le e than it was worth-and I recommend that.i m be given an additional sum, of $1,000 out e the interest,&ac., that he shall obtain. Ti e balance in the treasury to the credit of th e fund belongs to'-two classes of c!almaau iMany of the Items, several thoustand in nu e ber, are too small to make it worth while bother with their collection, and there w likely be a considerable amount which* w .never be paid out. After six years tbis w: .belong to the State. The other class is beh: e subjected to an outrageous scheme of robbel s on behalf of the heirs of J. B. Campbell and e law flrnt in Washington, who, under agre e meat made with the claimants more t.hr Stwenty years ago for 30 per cent. of all sum e recovered,.now step forward and claim tI 2 0 par cent., although directly barred by t1 i law, granting this money which they nev v did anything to earn. Upon the fiimsie e techanical grounds an appeal was taken fro e the decision of the Master, and the case hea in the Circuit Court In Charleston, the decisic Sof which was declared final by the law pr a viding for the distribution. The judge of Lb Scourt decided that there were no grounds e appeal, and now these legal cormorants ha rappealed to the Supreme Court of the Uniti , States on some trivial pretext or other, sole 0 with the view of weary ing the patience of tl Sclaimants and forcing them to a division, ai 'this they have succeeded in doing in a lari a nuaiber of cases. The very terrms of the a 4 under which the State accepted this trust ft ebdhnymenutof one cent of this mont - oan f.ese parties. and I strongly recoi ~mend that the General Assembly authori V me to demand of the mai-ter in Charlesth e the names of and the amounts due to 11 0 parties thus situated, that I may pay the e what il due without awaiting the issuesof t1 r trivial appeal to the United States Supret e Court. II desire to call your attention to the folio iing extract from my last message: *-In the reprt of the Adjutant and Inspe. or General. he suggests that a small lund provided for the publication, 1n pampb~ form, of the rolls of such comlane and re d iments as are not complete. The purpose I- that these may be distribu Led in the territo ' from which thc men were enlisted, so that I survivors may have some data to be guide by in supplyinig the missing names. ir should be a matter of State pride, a, of justice to the dead and living alil r. to that everything reasonable be done I- put on record in the archives of the ge it enent at least the name of every man wl I- wore the gray. . I therefore urge consideratl< of the Adjutant General's recotnmendatic i He is a zealous and.efficient offBcer, and bell i a gallant Confederate soldier himself will c C every reasonable eflort to finish this necessa er workr." 2 In this connection 1 would call your atte tion to the matter of pensions for Confeders -t soldiers and widows. Since I have been Gc Sernor several pitiful cases of the destituti f of disabled Confederate soldiers have be broughtwa to my atten tion. They had no I a equate means of support, and the pension, dis r- tributed on a per capita basis, was insufficietn i to keep them from suffering. It is an inher se ent vice of any pension system that ther ,e shall be abuse of the State's bounty, and ther a- is not the slightest doubt in the world tha ie many persons in South Carolina are to-daj a- getting a pro rata share of pension mone tr. whose claims to it are doubtful ; while ther of are others more worthy not receiving any o p, not enough. But -if we grant that every pen e sioner is entitled to what he- or she gets arc of that the list could be enlarged it the Stan a- could afford it, there are certainly some casei ie more meritorious thau others and ther e should be some method provided looking toi te just discrimination in favor of these. To pre n vent abuse of the State's bounty, and, : t thi satne tmne. provide for those most needy, ' know+of no class of men to whose judgmer. and feeling I would sooner entrust the dis tribution of the pittance the State is able t< give than to the Confederate soldiers. And urge that the Present system of passing upot theapplications for pension be abolished anc that the Confederale survivors in each count - be requested to form an organization in whict e. every survivor shall be enrolled, to which thi n whole matter be intrusted. There are man3 e pensioners who can easily do without the pit a tance they receive. - There are a considerable number who ms ig go to the poor house unless they get more 2- Several attempts have been medc at d ifferen n times to found a soldiers' home in the Statc is to give to these heroes a comfortable resting place tilI they "cross over the river." Whethei it is better to provide such a home or to leavc these war-worn men among friends anc Do nighbors, is for you to decide. I think thi veterans would prefer the latter; and if the it C,nfederate soldiers of each county will taki a- the matter in hand and give it the attentior id it deserves, their organization, which mighi d be made pleasant and useful in many othei woys, and especially in the collection anc a- preservation of data for the future historian r- can be of great service in smoothing the patt a to the grave of their less fortunate brethren as I feel satisfied that if this schemu is properl d carried out the soldiers, who are also taxpay ers, can be safely trusted with the money, anc if it becomes necessary, the amount can ti increased. The pro rata share of each countl should be on basis of the number of ex-Con federate soldiers in that county. ie MARION's ToxB. A joint resolution to provide for the repair 1 ingot the tomb of General Francis Marion d in Berkley county." and appropriating 130) the'efor, was passed by the last General As ' sembly, and the duty imposed on me of see 1g ing the work properly done. Feeling that . e could rely on his judgment and taste, I re quested the Hon. W. A. Courtney. of Charles u ton, to visit the grave and prepare such sped Sications as would enable me to carry out thi e wish of the Legislature. He reported the con dition of the tomb to be such that there is ni r possioility of repairing it, but that a nes p tomb would have to be provided if it were ti reflect any credit on the State ; and advisei e me that this could not be done in a creditabli way, approaching the one which has beei r partially destroyed by a failing tree, with tb money provided. With the assistance of Mt y Barbot, of Charleston, he kindly designed i e suitable tomb, with bronze tablets for the in d scriptions, estimating the cost. at about 5(X 1e with which sum an enduring and indestructi ble tombjcould be purchased, and I recom mend the appropriaticn of that amount fo of this pious and patriotic purpose. In this connection I desire to direct the at tention of the General Assembly to the pain 1e ful dearth within the walls of the State Housi of memorials. mementoes, pictures or otbe: ,r souvenirs of.South Carolina's great dead. Ni R State of the original thirteen suffered in tb t Revolutionary War as much as ours, and, ex r. cepting Virginia, I might add, in the Confed e erate War. Upon the soil of none were s many revolutionary battles fought, and noni t furnished a brighter galaxy of brave and pa rt triotic officers in both I nese wars. Fron rs some cause the history of South Carolina' 1e share in those days and those heroes ha er never been written in a fitting way, an a- Time's ravenous tooth has left us little excep their names. Then, coming to a later perioc our annals are adorned with brilliant orator is wise statesmen and eminent jurists; an e and here, too the student of our history, i ad struck with the painful lack of authentic a< d count or record of their lives and reminder . of how they looked. There are three -of ton al paintings in the Senate chamber and hall c the representatives of someof our later wortt ies, and one Georgian, who lent valuable aid t the State at a most critical period, but her the catalogue ends. The library walls, u; ,te stairs, and all other rooms are bare, and th in thousands of visitors from this State and ott s- ers who annually inspect the State Capitc is cannot find any "counterfeit presentment" c .d South Carolina's great men. It may be cor Is- sidered extravagance to attempt to suppl; id what every lover of the State would wish t of see.supplied, but I take it that there can b ie no differance of opinion as to the .valuean e- desirability of memorials of the men wh Lb have lilustrated our history.. A people wh ie do not respect their ancestors cannot hope L re be respected by their posperity, and sentlimen id at last is the mother of patriotism. as The promptness, without caviling, wit is which your predecessors gave money to cop 39. the records In England bearing upon Bout or Carolina's history, leads me to suggest that 's- small annual appropriation be made to pr( a vide paintings of the men whose virtue an >y greatness we have heard extolled, but hay >f- never read, because their lives have neve ir, been written. Then visitors to the Stat ai House may see at least Ki "Some frail memorial still erected nigh" sto teach our youths both how to live and di Sfor South Carolina. d One thousand dollars a year given to Lb SState House Commission and an invitatio: to the descendants and families of these gres rCarolinians to present such pictures would 1I rea short while relieve the painful blanknes ' which now exists in our Capitol. I EEGISTRATION. to The act of 1882 requIring and providing a system of registration of the voters of taI of State, by reason of its provisions,has broughi ar about a condition of affirs which becomet in more and more the subject of comnp!aint an a's di,.satisfaction. The loss of certificates, '.h to change of residence without transfer on Lb i books, the inability to register wherc on m failed to avail himself of the privilege withi. *k the first year. have resulted in the virtus 5 disfranchisement of a large number of cit. ie eas. Then the mutilation of the books b; of use and the names of dead men ion the hl ie make it necessary to provide for a new regli 1s tration or, a revision, with such changes i 5. the law as will restore the franchise to thos n- who have never registered. I direct your al t tention to the matter, assured that you wi; lI do whatever is wise and proper. Unde r th tI construction now p laced upon it the law I Ill clearly unconstiutitonal, in that men are nc ig allowed to vote though qualified. becauss r they had not availed themselves of the pris a liege in 1882. in CotCI.UsION. SiI feel it to be unnecessary, but will nevet theless remind you that, the stringency of Lb 2 times demands the most rigid economy. N11 gardliness is not economy,and I would not b mso understood. but the straitened conditli< the people forbids the smallest expenditur nthat Is not absolutely necessary. I trust shall have presented for my sign aturo an at susiuig salaries instead of fees for cour ty fBers,putingthe fees Into the treasura rand making a reduction of salaries all alon the line to a figure corresponding to the it cresedDurhasngpower of money and Lb dcesdability of the people to pay. Tb d saving will be little, but we have reached Lh ~point where even a small economy Is of me tiainportance. The laborer is worthy< his hire, and our salaries are not at all extral r- agant, but men who seea the offices for salar nalone are nn,worthy to hold them, and men I the public service should not receive mor nthan similar service commands in privat iPledging you my hearty co-operation I: sewhatever you ma5 attempt In behalf of Lb SState and its people, and praying for the bles1 ings of an All-wise Providence upon your h hors, I welcome you to the Capital. confiden that your work will merit and receive tis well done of our ioint constituency. et Medical Science, ya The Pall Mall Gazette tells of a do< stor on a man-of-war who had a v'er d simple method of treatment. Hl i would tie a piece of tape around tb :e, waist of the comnplainin)g mariner, att to command him to him to declare whetk: Ser his pain existed above or below th m tape. If above an emetic, and if b n- low a dose of salts, followed as a ma "C ter of course. ,te People do not weigh much in heave *who take pigeons to God's alter whe: nthey ought to go with full grown oxe: - Be Patient with tne Living. fiE sweet friend, when thou and I art gone ni Beyond earth's weary labor, When small shall be our need of grace do From comrade or from nrigbtvir; Passed all the strife, the toil, the c ire. ly Andi done with all the sighing-- w What tender truth shall we have gainer, to Alas! by simply dying? 'Tis easy to be gentle when Death silence shames our clamor, And easy to discern the best Th,ough memory's mystic glamor; ye But wise it were for you and me, m Ere love is past forriving, To take-the tender lesson home Be Datient with the living, or -Good Cheer. al Aunt Abigial Chest of Drawers ov A TRUE STORY. in Harriette Rea, in Christian Register. co The room was low studded, and the chest of drawers came nearly to the top. The mahogany was dark with age,.the handles were brass, the base m was spindle-legged, with acorn-shaped hi projections breaking the line. Be neath the five large drawers were a ai collection of smaller ones, three on each side with a deep space or cub- w board in the centre. This was enclosed by a door, orn a meuted with a brass knob and a quaint little knocker. The cupboard was like Y( a tiny porter's lodge, and enveloped the whole piece of furniture with an h air of mystery. It warded off intru sion, and suggested the propriety of at lifting the knocker to ask permission of some shadowy spectre if one migilt h4 venture to examine more closely this genuine adti le. a The owner was evidcnt'y proud of di her possession ; and we found one day that it had a history a true one. She - told it to us with the keen interest that ai age finds in rehearsing the story of its youth. It was over a supper of Hyson tea, butter-cracker toast, pound cake pre- f served citron, served upon a round ta- t ble, before the open fire. The china was white, with green sprigs, and had it been kept without a preak for sixty tb years. A teapot stood on the hearth, waiting to supply a second cup. The it talker slipped occasionaly into old- s fashioned forms of speech, but evident- s - ly she endeavored to avoid them. "I always wanted a chest of draw - ers; and, when I went to work in the factory, I determined to have one. 1 . don't think much about gettin' marri- - ed, and havin' a parlor of my own. I it just wanted that. "Old Judge Pettingell had died, and his niece was willin' to sell everything P that belonged to Mis' Judge. I offered her twenty-five dollars for this chest, not knowin' whether' twas cheap or not; but I meant to have it. So 1 t worked bard; and every quarter's pay- s ment I put bya little money in a silk purse, all by myself, until I'd saved a enough. "When I had it brought hame, fa- b ther. didn't seem pleased, and said 1 fi was silly, and I'd better have put my s money in the bank: but but mother, p r she looked at it, and her eyes shone, . and I used to see her standin' up be > fore it, and openin' and shuttin' the a e drawers. "Then I got acquainted with my first - husband. I always called him Hiram, a l and so I do to this day. We were f married; but I wouldn't take away the P chest from mother while she lived. I c ,knew she set store by it, as I did. "A fter mother died-father went first then.[ brought it home, and this Schina. I set the drawers up where0 Sthey stand now.b "Four or five years went by. Hir am and I were happy* together, and Sthen he was taken sick. We hadn't iany children. He used to say that he must make his will; but he put it off, ~ Sand put it off, and by and by died b r without doin' it. S"I never shought that anything I a bought myself could belong to Hiram. I knew I should .get my thirds, and e that they would give me the house. I supposed the furniture was mine, a "The day after the funeral, Hiram's c t two brothers came in with a lawyer. ~ 1They said everything valuable had got "to be sold at auction. I could bid 'em E in if I wanted to: but all the property had got to be 'pra'sed in order to see awmuch I ought to have. I t S"Then they went round the rooms, teayingwha this thing was worth and i that thing was worth, and pretty soon B Ethey came to the ch'est. The lawyer wiprdto -Hiram's brother, butI hieard m Ti is worth considera "I ardhm,s screamed out ; 'You can't a touch that. I earned every cent of it in the factory, and paid for it, and I Sbrought it over here.' "The lawyer answered pretty sharp; 1 'Well, ma'am, that don't make a bit of Sdifference. Whatever you brought ~ ,. here belonged to your husband.~ That's the law of the land.'. "Ezekiel, Hiram's youngest brother, stood close by, and he put in, 'Why,' Abigail, you can buy back what you t - want now if we give permission.' I t "was mad, and to I just let the auction 'e go on: and when the day came, I t,id 'I bretty low on my things. ""The neighbors were real good, and t never tried to bid against met. When Sit came to that chest of drawers, I just ~ Sspoke up loud, so everybody couldt b ear and said, 'It's a burnin' shame t B for me to have to buy what's already ~ * my own ; andif men folks have madeC -suc'h a law, they ought to take it back,d : and make another.' Then I bid ~ Stwenty-five dollars, and paid for the a 2chest over-again: for I knew Ezekiel a e would get all be could for :t. e"There was just enough from my i thirds to keep the house and garden, e but Hiram'e brothers had all rest of Y Sthe land. They sold it to Mr. Jones, t our nearest neighbor; and I shut up 9 e my house, and went back to work in ~ the factory. 'T warn't very long before' Mis' Jones died. I used to think, while the looms were goin', about our two houses, and the kitchens with no body there. as it used to be ; for Mis' ~Jones was a real bleasanit woman, and V we were always neighborly togeth'er. e "One day, about a yeair afterward, e I went up home -to lout over my~ i things. I suppose Mr. Jones saw the' light, for he came over to make a call. e I was mighty glad to see an old face : ibr I had been real lonesome, and I -did want to hear about everything. ~ "Before he went away, he asked me to marry himi. Mis' Jones had gone, I he hadn't any children, and he said a he'd just as soon come here and live as i not. You see his house 'fras an old one auad he thought. he could use if for an other barn; while ffiram and1 T ad il xed up this one until it was 'most as ce as new. "Perhaps I hadn't ought to have ne it is so quick, for Hiram had on been gone about two years; but I as all alone, and it seemed so good think of keepin' house once more, I said 'Yes,' and we were married three weeks from that night. "We lived happy together for fifteen ars, and I never thought anything are about money matters, nor how ings could get mixed up. We kept prosperin.' Mr. Jones had the me of bein' a good farmer, and 1 ways knew how to manage my part. e botht worked hard, but we .didn't re a cent, and kept puttin, money to.the bank. "One day Mr. Jones took an awful Id, and went right into lung fever. e did't live a week, an' never knew yboby after the second day. When e funeral was over, I began to re ember, and to think what might ,ppen again witout a will: for Mr. ones had a nephew, Jacob, who wa i awful graspiu'-man. "He came in the very next day, and e looked over all Mr. Jones's papers. it we couldn't find any. Then Jacob spoke right up, 'Mis' mnes. you can have your thirds, but u can't have no more, for, legally, e rest goes to me.' "Mr. Jones had been a real kind isband, and I felt awful lonesome tyway. So I just broke down, and gan to cry. Jacob got up, and weal it, but I knew he'd come back, and did the next mornin,' and brought lawyer with him, They said we dn't need to have an auction, and Py'd give in a good many of my ings ; but the best of 'em must have price fixed. and them Jacob put; hi. tnd on that chest of drawers and id, 'This thing is worth more than it as-at first, but I'm willin' to let it go r twenty-five dollars!' I'd got some oney laid by me, and I waited until kings were settled. Then I brought out, and paid down for all I had. :e and the lawyer were standin' right ere, and I had all I could do to beat I was so wrought sup I' s'pose I id more'n I ought; but I did not eak my mind to Jacob. I told him y needn't ever darken my doors again r he was no better than a thief. I Lid the law ought to help widows, hen husbands died so sudden - they idnt't no time to make a will ; but, if didn't, their relatives had no need take advantage of it. "Mr. Jones was-worth considerable roperty, and so my thirds gave me te house and garden over again, and oney in the bank enough to keep e besides;, but I never had any call invite Jacob here after that, final ttlement. "Well, 'twarn't more'n two years ain before, one colo winter night, ben I was sittin' here real comforta le by the fire. I heard a knock at the ont door. 1 opened it, and there as Mr. Smith, who lived in another srt of the town. "He was a widower, though his wife adnt't been dead more than six tonths. I never thought what he'd me for. He always seemed to be -a ell-meanin' man. I hadn't anything ainst him. "He took a seat by the fire. It was retty hot; and he kept pushin' his ir back until he got beside that 2est, and then he couldn't get no irther. "But before ong he took hold of one the handles, and began to work it ack and forth ; and then he burst out: " 'Mis' Jones, don't you thmnk you ad I could get along together? We're fth pretty b nesome.' "I shouldn't have flared up as I did, I hadn't seen him holdin' on to that andle- but it all came over me how I ad to suffer, and I just rose right up, rid I said : "Mr. Smith, I've bought and paid r that chest of drawers three times, 'm goin' to own-it-as long s I live ; ud no man is ever goin to-~have a aim on it again !" "He understood, for the folks all over wn had heard about my things. He otTight up and said: 'Good-night, [is' Jones. I guess I'll be goin'. My orse don't like to stand long.' " "He warn't to blame ; but barreed ie door after hed gone, and then I iid tomyseff:-> "'Abigial Jones, you are a .widow nce more, and you'll stay a widow be rest of your days'" " It is wonderful how the Christian re gion has enlarged and enriched, not nly human experience, but also hu aan language. It has introduced new rords and new conceptions of things, nd given a higher meaning to old ords and old ideas. Its new- wine as been poured-into new bottles, and i many cases it has changed the rater of a mere earthly languaga into be wine of a heavenly speech. By the be introduction of Christianity into iany a dark pagan country, the old ords by whicli they expressed their otions of man's duty and of God's re i,tions to them have been purified and mised to a higher level, and have now fulness and depth of meaning which hey never conveyed to the native In heir heathen condition. W hen Dr. Venger, the distinguished translator f the Biblein India, pressed his Hin oopundit for the Bengal word for "con :sience," the pundit was in perplexity, ud finally answered, "What is niot in country has no name there." There ras no word in the ancient Greek Ian uage to express what Peter meant by umility, and therefore the word rhich he coiued to signify his mean ig is one of the-new words which we we to Ch istianity: for it is Christian ~y that has brought the new thing rhich it represents into the world. Miss Elder.-Well, I maintain that romen:can do anything that men can. Mr. Gassam-Oh, no. The auction ers business is one women canpot go Ito. Miss Elder-Nonsense. She'd make very bit as good an auctioneer as a man. Mr. Grassam-Just imagine an un iarried woman .getting up before a rowd and exclaiming. 'Now, gentle 1en, all I want is an offer!" The girl who marries foremoney sually has a look on her face .ter 2arriage that indicates that she is hay ng trouble in collecting her salary. How Do They Grow? Thisis only a blade of grass; But how does it grow? Does any one know? The seasons come and the seasons pass, And with every year the grass we have here. so green and bright in the son and rain; - And then it is brown when the snow comes, But young in the spring again. Thisis only a lttlegirl; But how does she grow? Doesany one know? With her hair of gold and herteeth of pear Frum a baby wee wif grow to be A maiden asfair as a blooming rose. But no one can say, as day follows day, How ablade ofgras or a itle girlgrows. --Reformed Church Measengex. Managing the Boys. When Fred, Rate and Ham (short or Hamilton) went out into the coun ry to visit their Aunt Sarah, they had 'no end of a good time." Aunt Sarah. was a conscientious, careful, nervous oul, who compiled a number of ruis Lad regulations for the benefit of her roung kinsman, and then worried her elf perpetually because they paid no iced to them. The rule requiring them to be in )ed by nine o'clock was a particular ource of irritation. No sooner would he poor lady chase them up the front itairs, than down they would come by ;he back ones, and out they would icud into the darkness, to be followed )y such reproachful exclamations as. 'Come in this minute, you naughty )oys, What are you hiding in the wet grass for, trying to catch your death of oid? Rufe, you're old enough to know setter; I'm ashamed ofyou all,"and a ;reat deal more of the same sort. . This game of hide-and-seek was oc lasionly rendered more exciting by kunt Sarah's invoking the aid the iired -man, Timothy Warren. Tim >thy was a man of few words and na nerous deeds, and he was warranted iot to cease his labors until he deposit d th hotly chased and soundl uffed boys into their respective bed ooms the doors of which were lmjne liately afterwards locked. on such )eeasions Aunt Sarah would observe, 'Oh, I'm so much obliged' to you, 'imothy. I'm afraid I never could naye caught them all. by myself. and Timothy, gazingat his mistress's L80 pounds, would respectfully answer, I reckon ye couldn't marm." -- - But one day Aunt Sarah's married ister Bertha came to make her a visit, and expressed herself in this way: - "I declare, Sarah. you're all worn ,ut and haggard looking, tagging after those boys. Ndiw you go and visit Cousin Phebe a week and get rested. ['II stay here and manage the boys." "You don't know swhat you are in for," said Aunt Sarah solemly. "I'm In for having a good time," re torted Aunt Bertha, merrily All went well during the first day of the new reign. As night advanced, Fred approached his aunt, and respeet fully inquired the hour they would be required to go to bed. "I don't know," replied the lady in differently, go when you like." This reply, when repeated to- the Dther two, so amazed them that they came to her in a body. "Aunt Sarah always made us go to bed at nine," observed Rufe with the severe air of one who would e to see domestic dis' pline rel . "All right," said Aunt Bertha with a yawn, "go at nine if you want t&" "But don't we have to go then?" asked Ham anxiously. "Certanly not. I don't ee wlien you go to bed. You can stay up all night if you like." This was astounding.. "Have you no consideration for our health?" asked Fred. - "Why should I?" inquired his aunt. "!If yure sick you'll have tostay in bed til;;youlgt well, and that will -ecyou more common sense than a thousand considerationsfryu The'liong evening wearily away; with no rules to b existence seemed to have lostits charm. - "Aren't you ging to have[a singl rule Aunt Beta" Fred 3nournfolv inquired. "Yes she responded composedly; "the rule that any boy who is not up in time for-breakfast must go without his breakfast." ',Well, I guess with no sleep and no breakfast, we'llgo home looking pretty thin," growled Rufe. "Oh, just as [you like about that," said Aunt Bertha. "You know you can have all the sleep. and all the breakfast that you want." And in afew days the boys drifted of their own accord into the habit of going to bed early.-E.W., in House keeper's Journal. Eiding- on the Platserms. The beit Illustration that I ever heard, showing the disadvantage of living as a Christian outside of the Church, lias given me by a young convert whom I hadrecently reeived into the church. I expressed my pleasure and grati fication at the step he had taken, -h.e replied: I had not made upmy mind to join when I came to meeting tonight -but while you were talking I thought it was liko buying a ticket toChcg and then riding on the platform.i thought I might aswellgo inside. The young brother tmnwittingl in his illustration gave an unanswerbe certainly a most sensible aruent I favor of Church memesbp- Mes senger. Why we Need Two Eaus. Sound travels by waves radiating - from a central point of dsurbance, just as waves radiate when a stone is thrown into still water. So far as the hearing of each individual is coneerned ed these waves move In a direct ine from the cause of the .disturbance to the ear. This being the case, the Im pact is greater in the ear nearest the sound. Now, a person who has total ly lost the hearing of one ear cannot locate the direction of a noise to save his life, even wben the center of dis turbance is quite near. Blind persons learn to estimate distances in asurpris ingly brief period after losing their sight, buit experts on diseases of the ear say that persons who are wholly deaf in one ear can never learn the di rection from which a sound comes. -Brandon Banner. There is not a desert in human life that has to be crossed, on. which the sun pours its heat in merciless power wherein he who looks for it cannot find the adow of a rock.