University of South Carolina Libraries
DARLINGTON, S. C. Wednesday, Nov. 30, 1892. Titnmonsville—R. W. Spigner. Clausen—N. K. Melton, W. C. Winn. East Effingham—J. S. Abercrom bie. Scranton—Supplied by Daniel Durant. Lake. City—W. B. Baker. SUI1UU8J 81H •Sniu.ioui Xnpgjnni I oug stl . aill- -pbe singing of tic uo ^oo|o 09.ni; luoqc p? 1 ,.hildren was inspiring, especially I AV T ••'IV' uos S !'I J° 93U.ip!?9j aip | th:lt sf ^ j n f ant c i iUS , s> W | UI 8linf rJ ‘avmii .f[;9inb possnd oj; -uiaii) o;! 0;ie j,j^ e without the help of the popipu ;ru[; Smm.uo.\9 ui [un-iudmi' rest 0 f the school. At night Rev. A. were interwl at Trinity, Episcopal, j Smith, whose future field of! Church, at Society Hill, of which | labor will lie in Virginia, preached; Kmgstree—M. B. Duncan; A. ^ • (dm re 11 he had been formally years aj hi s farewell sermon to the member*! WOODS & WOODS. EDWARDS, NORMENT & CO. yOut in Winter Eoois. Cou tin tied from I ant page. 38 8.MX) 7,<i»l0 it 1,100 10,010 13 1,300 1,300 2 200 soo 613 $S1,I00 131,727 Pickens Kichlaml Spartanburg Sumter Unton Wititafpsburg fYork Totals •For thirteen bar-rooms; no leport as to bar-rooms at Barnwell Court House. $No report. THE SALE OF LIQUOR LEGALIZED BECAUSE OF THE MONEY THAT IS IN IT. When attention Is thus directed to the fa‘ t that most of our municipalities are reMevcd altogether of taxation for municipal purpos es by the money derived from the cale. of li quor. It will be seen why so many towns which have tried the non-llcenslng system, when they found liquor sold anyway and their municipal taxes drawn from property. The nuisance without the benefit caused u revulsion of sentiment, and however relnc- tanly, the sale of liquor was a^aln lega ted and taxed. WHERE THE MONEY SHOULD GO—THE WAY TO ABATE THE WHISKEY NUISANCE. In my last annual message. I called at tention to the Injustice of allowing the towns to license the nuisance and derl ve t herefrom an Income at the expense of the county and State; and urged, ns a step looking to the practical suppression of the liquor traffic, that all money derived from this source should go into the county and Slate treasur ies, while leaving the question as to the issu ing of licenses to a vote of the municipality Just as if Is now. I have seen no reason to change my opinion as to thl-i being the sim plest and mo*t practicable way toaccomplUh the end des 1 red. When it Is known th>«t no benefit will accrue to the towns bv the li censing of bar-rooms, public sentiment in them will rise in arms to suppress the nul sance which tncieases municipal taxes, and every man will be more or less Interested in seeing the law enforced. Toe people of these towns will not be at the additional expense of a rol»ce force to maintain order or repre»-s disorder produced by drunken men who ob tained their liquor surreptitiously. On the other hand, you see that the absolute refusal to license the sale of liquor will cause au in crease in the taxes of the counties amounting lo one-half mill; and it may as well be un deretood now that unless the prohibitionists themselves organize some detective agency to take out warrants ami prosecute those who break the low, theSiate Itself wMil have to provide something of the kind or the law will be a dead letter. All this will increase taxes, and taxpayers had Just as well under stand it. If the promiscuous and improper, use of liquor can be stopped theie will be a renuctW>n in the number of crimes commit ted and a decrease In the court expense. THE NEGRO AH A BALANCE OF POWER. Another danger, which we cannot, be blind to. will be the probability of a desperate pol itical struggle between the prohibitionists a d the anti-prohibitionists tw o years hence, wlthanppeal to the negro as the balance i f power; lor in every town and county where this question has been fought out at the polls, that has been the effect, and when applitd to the State we may look for a like result. Having thus discharged my duty frankly and without i las, aird presented the question as It appeals to me, l leave it with you, and will cheerfully approve any law you may enact. BARROOMS UNDER THE GUISE OF CLUBS. Before dismissing thi< subject I would call your attention to me effect of the decision of the Supreme Court in regard to the ‘ale of II quorby so-called‘'“Ocial and literary” club-, it having been decided by that court. In the case of the Columbia Club, that a license for the sale of liquor was not necessary for such associations. The result has been that char ters have been granted by the Secretary of State in several instances for the organiza tion of such clubs; and it is generally under stood that they are barrooms in the guise or under the name of clubs, and are maintained against the will of the communities in which they are located. WHAT OUGHT TO BE DONE WITH HAMBURG. There are a few complaints In regard to the Infringement of the law prohibiting the sal of liquor on Hunday.and notably In the town of Hamburg, opposite the city of Augusta, which abuse became so great and notorious that,after repeated complaints. I commis sioned aState constable to Investigate the mat ter, and several arrests were made. This pla« e (Hamburg) wblem thing more than tbegho»t its former self, with a very email ptMiulallon. still retains it charter of incon oiatlon. The remedy against such abuses, which a?e not likely to be restrained by public opinion, would be to repeal tbe charter, and this 1 recommend. AGRICULTURAL HALL, AC. I have already alluded to the fact that the P roperty known as the “Agricultural Hall” as not been sold, and I deem it my duty to set forth the reasons why a sale has not been consummated. Tbe property was put up at auction on (he first day of February, 189*1, and was knocked down to W. H. Lyles, bsq., as attorney, for $10,165. The name of the real purchaser was not disclosed at the sale. On the next day, at a meeting of the commissioners of the sink ing fund, a deed was presented them for sig natures without the name of the purchaser: Mr. Means the clei k of the board, reporting to us that Mr. Lyles was not prepared to com municate the name, and had requested him to have tbe deed signed hi blank. This was con trary to our custom, but. as we were not ex pecting fraud, the commissioners pr&eut at the meeting, five In number, compiled with the request. Several days later Mr. Lyles gave to the Sec retary of State tbe natneof tbe purchaser, one J. W. Alexander, of Morth Carolina, and sub mitted for approval the mortgage required under the terms of the sale to secure tbe cred it portion (two-tblrds)of the purchase money. This paper was not correctly drawn, and the matter was postponed. On the itith day ol February, Mr. Lyles, accompanied by Mr. Muller, came to tbe state House.and, Mr.Tin- dal. Secretary of State, being absent from the city, be presented tbe mortgage to the State treasurer,and,after persuadh g him to receive it, together with a check for tlie cash portion of the purchase money, got possession of the deed to the property. He also obtained un or der from Mr. Means, a clerk In theofliceof the Secretary of State, directing the State’s tenant In possession of the building to surrender the possession to Mr. Lyles as attorney of the pur chaser. Mr. Lyles and Mr. J.S. Muller, claim ing to he attorneys f.ir the purchaser, then re tired from the treasurer’s office tor a moment, hut Immediately returned and made to the State treasurer a tender of what is known as “Revenue Bond Scrip” In pay men t of the credit portion of tbe purchase money. In the terms of sale It was stipulated that tbe pur chaser would be alioued to anticipate the payment of this credit portion If he ko de sired. The tender was of course, refused by the State treasurer, and then Mr. Lyles drew from his pocket a written notification of the tender and bis inlention to refuse to pay tbe balance or Interest thereon. Being promptly informed of this transno tlon, I saw at once that, a conspiracy had been formed by these attorneNs, and others Inter ested In “Revenue Bond Serin,” prior to tbe purchase of the property ; and that tbe pur chase had been made in b.<U faith aud lode- fraud the Stale and force he into the court, to test the validity of the “.-crip.” In this emer gency, the Secretaiy of Slate and the Attor ney General being absent from tbe city, I act ed promptly; instiuded Mr. Means to rescind the order for possession, and, in behalf of the Secretary of Stale, to see to It that the proper ty be held until the Secretary ol state,! he cus todlao, should return to the city. This duty was entrusted to J. W.Coulllette, then the watchman of the State House and grounds, to whom 1 issued an appoint men t as chief State constable. In this matter I acted as Governor of tbe State and ex officio chairman of the Board of Coninilsslouetsof theSInk ing Fund, deeming It my duty. If possible, to Inwart this conspiracy, the parties to which bad dis closed tbelr purpose from the beginning ol the transaction to practice a traud on the peo pie of tbe State. This, the facts abundantly prove. On tbe same day possession of tbe properly was demanded by Mr. Lyles, as attorney, and refused oy Mr. Coulllette. Some corresuoud- ence then followed, and copies of tbe letters are here given: Columbia, 8. C., February 17tb, 1892. To His Excellency B. R. Tillman, Governor State of South Carolina: Sir: On yesterdiw, :is attorney for Mr. J. W. Alexander, of Ltncolnton, N. C., I com pleted the purchase of tbe building aud lot adjoining, situated on tbe west side of Rich ardson street in this city, between Gervals and Lady streets, known as tbe “Agricultural Hall,” aud to-duy I called at the building, still acting as attorney for Mr. Alexander, and found it locked. Upon knocking at tbe door Mr. J. W. Cjulllette opened It from witbln and. upon my stating that i bad come to take possession of the building, Informed me that be had-orders from you to prevent my enter ing and to refuse to surrender possession of the building to me. I demanded to see his an thority if It was in writing. He handed me a commission, executed by yourself as (Gover nor of the State, to him to hold during your f ileasure, but It did not state (or what purpose le was appointed, and I write to know if he was correct in bis statement that you had In structed him to refuse the possession of the building to me. About the close of the con versation between Mr. Coulllette and myself, Mr. David C. Means, the clerk of the Board of Commissioners of the Sinking Fund, came up, and upon my exhibiting lo Mr. Coulllette the orders given on yesterday to the occupants of the building to recognize me. as the represen tative of Mr. Alexander, as their landlord, he (Mr. Mean-) informed me that, in pursuance of instructions from you. he had revoked the oiders. l beg to know if he was correct in making this statement. Ret-peel fully, * W. H. Lyles, Attorney for J. W. Alexander. Dictated—-A. State of South Carolina, Executive Chamber. Columbia, 8. C., February 17th, 1892. W. H. Lyles, Esq , Attorney, Columbia, S. C.: Sir: In reply to jour letter of this date, asking whether or not Mr. Coulllette bad been instructed by me to refuse possession of the building known us Agricultural Hall to you. I reply,yes; he is Instructed to hold posses sion for the State against anyone claiming tbe property. Aud Mr. Means was also In structed to revoke the order to the tenants in the building to recognize you or any one as owner except the State. Respectfully, B. R. Tillman. Governor. Columbia, S. C., February 17th, 1892. To His Excellency B. K. Tillman, Governor of South Carolina: Sir: Your letter of this date stating that Mr. Coulllette and Mr. Means were acting un der your instructions in the matter referred to in my letter of this date has been handed to me. On behalf of Mr. Alexander, I desire to no- tily you that be considers your action unwar ranted by your official position, and will con sider you individually liable for any damages that he may suffer therebj*, and will proceed accordingly. Respectfully, Wm. H. Lyles. State of South Carolina, Executive Chamber, Columbia, S. C., February 17th, 1892. W. H. Lyles, Esq., Attorney: Sir: Your letter of this dale luformlugme that you consider my action in refusing to surrender possession of Agricultural Hall “unwarranted by my official position and will consider me Individually liable for dani- ages,” received. I desire to notify you that I, as Governor, am chairman of the Sinking Fund Commission, and that, acting for the commission, I have refused to consummate the sale of the property or deliver it to you In my dual capacity. I am resisting an attempt to swindle the State out of aiO.uflOof deferred payments and to prevent litigation. No one knows better than yourself that the Revenue Bond Scrip which you tendered for the balance duo is worthless; and if my action in resisting the lnl:i itory step to bring in question Hie settle ment of the State’s debt by the Bond Court and saddle several millions of Illegal Radical Donds on the taxpayers is “unwarranted by my official position,” 1 cheerfully assume the responsibility and all individual liability,and will leave tbe question to be decided by the courts. Respectfully, B. K. Till man, Governor. On the 20th of February the Commission of the Sicking Fund held a special meeting, ap proved tbe action which had been taken, and instructed the Secretary of State to retain the custody of the properly. Suit Iimm been brought by J. \V. Alexander against me and Mr. Coulllette, as individuals, In ibe United States Court, and litigation Is now pending lor the possession of the proper ty. for damages, and “for the value of the use and occupation thereof.” Whatever may be the results of this suit to me personally, I am confident that the court and Jury will not award to these conspirators possession of property that belongs to the State, and of which I am not, and hav* never been, in pos-esslon, or force tbe Stale to en gage in a tedious and vexatious controversy in the United States Court to test the validity of the “Revenue Bond Scrip.” The State is not a parly to thU suit, and can not be made a party to any suit without its consent, and the “Revenue Bond Scrip” has been passed upon by our own court, which declared Inval id this debt created by the Infamous Radical government In South Carolina. THE DIRECT TAX, Last Ai rll there was paid into the State treasury $221,711 26 of direct tax collected iroin our people Just after the war and for the dis tribution of which an act was passed at the •ast session of the Legislature. I appointed the Hon. T J. Kirkland, of Camden, commis sioner. to copy the records at Washington and to prepare duplicate schedules for the use of the masters at Beaufort and Charleston. The task was dfficult and laborious, requiring pa tient research and pains-taking care. With what diligence and accuracy he executed the work Is shown by the fact that, although there were more than 6,000 names, taxes, costs and p> nalties tohe copied, but one mistake has been called to my attention thus far. Of this amount 2,010 claims, amounting to $162,280 99. up to October 31, have been paid. The labor imposed upon the master In equity of Charles ton, Mr. Miles, has been very heavy, and a corresponding amount of work was done bv my private secretary and the clerks In the of fices of the comptroller general and treasurer, requiring the employment of extra clerical as-lstance, for which I have paid out of tbe fund. One per cent, of the amount returned to the claimants have been withheld for the payment of the expenses of disbursement. The compensation, $o00, authorized to be paid to Mr. Miles Is totallj' inadequate, and 1 rec ommend that he be given $500 more. Mr. Kirkland’s research among the records at Washington disclosed the fact that there was due an additional amount of nearly $20,- 000of interest, costs and penalties. But the authorities declined to pay it to him, and I made a trip to Washington for the purpose of inducing the Secretary of the Treasury to comply with the law. He refused, and It was my purpose to commence suit lo the Court of Claims, hut since then the Attorney General of the United States has died an oponlon that the money must he paid. As soon as this was known 1 instructed Mr. Kirkland to return to Washington and set about making up the accounts, and he is now engaged on this work. The nm< unt paid him for his work last spring was $400 under the act—much less than it was worth—and 1 recommend that be be given an additional sum, of $1,000 out of tbe Interest, Ac., that be shall obtain. The balance In the treasury to the credit of this fund belongs to two classes of claimants. Manj* of the items, several thoustand lo num ber, are too small to make it worth while to bother with their collection, and there will likely be a considerable amount which will never be piid out. After six years this will belong to the State. The other class is being subjected to an outrageous scheme of robbery on behalf of the heirs of J. B. Campbell and a law tlrm in Washington, who, under agree ment made with the claimants more than twenty years ago for 30 per cent, ol all sums recovered, now step forward and claim this 30 per cent., although direc’ly barred by the Uw, granting this money which they never did anything to earn. Upon the flimsiest lechantcul grounds an appeal was taken from the decision ol the Master, and the case heard in t he Circuit Court in Charleston, tbe decision ol which was declared Anal by the law pro vldingfor thedistriouiiMi. The Judged that cdurt decided that there were no grounds ol appeal, and now these leg.' i cormorants have appealed to the Supreme Court of the United States on some trivial pretext or other, solely with the view of weary Ing the patience of the claimants and forcing them to a division, and this they have succeeded In doing in a large numher of cases. The very terms of the act under which the State accepted this trust for bids tbe payment of one cent of this money to any of these parties, and I strongly recom mend that the General Assembly authorize me to demand ol the matter in Charleston the names of and the amounts doe to the parties thus situated, that I may pay them what 1-due without awaiting thelssuesof the trivial appeal to the United States Supreme Court. PENSIONS. I desire to call your attention to the follow ing extract from my last message: “In the renort of the Adjutant and Inspect or General, ue suggests that a small tund be provided for the publication, in pamphlet form, of tbe rolls of such companies and reg iments as are not complete. The purpose is that these may be distributed in the territory from w hich the men were enlisted, so that the survivors may have some data to be guided by in supplying the missing names. It should be a matter of State pride, and of Justice to the dead and living alike, to thpt everything reasonable be done to put on record in the archives of tbe gov- ernment at least the name of every man who wore the gray. I therefore urge consideration of the Adjutant General's recon.mendatlon. He Is a zealous and efficient officer, and being a gallant Confederate soldier himself will use every reasonable cflortto finish ibis necessary work.” In this connection 1 would call your atten tion to the matter of pensions for Confederate soldiers and widows. Since 1 have been Gov ernor several pitiful cases of the destitution of disabled Confederate soldiers have been brought to my attention. They had no ad equate means of support, and the pension, dis tributed on a per capita basis, was insufficient to keep them from suffering. It is an inher ent vice ol any pension system that there shall be abuse of tbe State’s bounty, and there Is not the slightest doubt In the world that many persons In South Carolina are today getting a pro rata share of pension money whose claims to It are doubtful; while there are others more worthy not receiving any or not enough. But if we grant that every pen sioner is entitled to what he or she gets amt that the list yould be enlarged It the State could afford it, there are certainly some cases more meritorious than others and there should be some method provided looking to a just discrimination im favor of these. To pre- vent abuse of the State’s bounty, and, »l the same time, provide for those most needy, 1 know of no class of men to whose judgment and feeling 1 would sooner entrust the dis tribution of the pittance the State is able to give than to the Confederate soldiers. And I urge that, the present system of passing upon the applications for pension be abolished and that the Confederale survivors In each county be requested lo form an organization in which every survivor shall be enrolled, to which the whole matter be intrusted. There are many pensioners who can easily do without the pit tance they receive. There are a considerable number who must go to the poor house unless they get more. Several attempts have been made at different times to found a soldiers’ home in the State to give to these heroes a comfortable resting place till they “cross over the river.” Whether it Is better to provide such a home or to leave these war-worn men among friends and neighbors, Is for you to decide. I think the veterans would prefer the latter; and if the Confederate soldiers of each county will take the matter In band aud give It the attention It deserves, their organization, which might be made pleasant and useful In many other ways, and especially In the collection and preservation of data for the future historian, can be of great service In smoothing the path to the grave of their less fortunate brethren. 1 feel satisfied that if this scheme is properly carried out the soldiers, who are also taxpay ers, can be safely trusted with the money,and if it becomes necessary, the amount can te increased. The pro rata share of each county should be on basis of the number of ex-Con- federate soldiers in that county. MARION’S TOMB. A joint resolution to provide for the repair ing of the tomb of General Francis Marion, in Berkley county,” and appropriating $300 the*efor, was passed by the lust (General As sembly, and the duty imposed on me of see ing the work properly done. Feeling that 1 could rely ou his Judgment and taste, 1 re quested the Hon. w. A. Courtney, of Charles ton, to visit the grave and prepare such speci fications as would enable me to carry out the wish of the Legislature. He reported the con dition of the tomb to be such that there is no possibility ot repairing it, hut that a new tomb would have to be provided if it were to reflect any credit on the State; and advised me that this could not be done In a creditable way, approaching the one which bus been partially destroyed by a tailing tree, with the money provided. With the assistance of Mr. Barbot, of Charleston, he kindly designed a suitable tomb, with bronze tablets for the In scriptions, estimating the cost at about $600, with which sum an enduring and Indestructi ble Lombjcould be purchased, and 1 recom mend tbe appropriation ot that amount for ibis pious and patriotic purpose. In this connection I desire to direct the at tention of the (General Assembly to the pain ful dearth within the walUof the Slate House of memorials, mementoes, pictures or other souvenirs of South Carolina's great dead. No State ol the original thirteen sufi'ered in the Revolutionary War as much as ours, and, ex cepting Virginia, I might add, In theConfed- erate War. Upon the soli of none were so many revolutionary buttles fought, and none furnished a brighter galaxy of brave and pa triotlc officers In boih these wars. From some cause tbe history of South Carolina’s share in those days and those heroes has never been written in a fitting way, and Time’s ravenous tooth lias lelt us Tittle except their names. Then, coming to a later period, our annals are adorned with brilliant orators, wise statesmen and eminent Jurists; and aud here, too the student of our history, Is struck with the painful lack of authentic ac count or record of their lives and reminders of how they looked. There are three of lour paintings in the Senate chamber and hall of the representatives of some of our later worth ies, and one Georgian, who lent valuable aid to the State at a most critical period, but here the catalogue ends. The library walls, up stairs, and all other rooms are bare, and the thousands of visitors from this State and oth ers who annually inspect the State Capitol cannot find any “counterfeit presentment” of South Carolina's great men. It may be con sidered extravagance lo attempt to supply what every lover of the State would wish to see supplied, but I take It that there can be no diflVrance of opinion as to the value and desirability of memorials of tbe men who have Illustrated our history. A people who do not respect their ancestors cannot hope to be reKpecied by their poeperlty. andseutlmeut at last is the mother of patilotiKin. The promptness, without caviling, with which your predecessors gave money to copy the records in England bearing upon South Carolina’s history, leads me to suggest that a small annual appropriation be made to pro vide paintings of the men whose virtue and greatness we nave heard extolled, but have never read, because their lives have never been written. Then visitors to the State House may see at least. “Some frail memorial still erected nigh” to teach our youths both how to live and die for South Carolina. One thousand dollars a year given to the State House Commission and an Invitation to the descendanta and families of these great Carolinians to present such pictures would In a short while relieve the painful blankness which now exists In our Capitol. REG 1STRATI ON. The act of 1882 requiring and providing a system ot registration of the voters of this State, by reason of its provisions,has brought about a condition of affairs which becomes more and more the subject of complaint and dissatisfaction. Tbe loss of certificates, the change of residence without transfer on the books, the inabilltj’ to register where one failed to avail himself of the privilege within the first year, have resulted in the virtual disfranchisement of a large number of citi zens. Then the mutilation of the books by use and the names of dead men on the lists make it necessary to provide for a new regis tration or a revision, with such changes In the law as will restore the franchl le to those who have never registered. 1 direct your at tention to the matter, assured that you will do whatever is wise and proper. Unde r the construction now placed upon It the law is clearly nuconstiuilonal, In that men are not allowed to vote though qualified, because they had not aval led themselves of the priv ilege lu 1882. CONCLUSION. I feel It to be Bnnecessary, but will never theless remind you that the stringency of the times demands the most rluld economy. Nig gardliness Is not economy,and I would not bo so understood, but the straitened condition of the people forbids the smallest expenditure that Is not absolutely necessary. I trust I shall have presented tor my signature an act substituting salaries Instead or fees for coun ty officers, putting the fees Into the treasury, and making o reduction ol salaries ail along the line to a figure corresponding to the In creased purchasing power of money and the decreased ability of the people to pay. The saving will be little, but we have reached the point where even a small economy is of ma terial Importance. Tbe laborer Is worthy of his hire, and our salaries are not at all extrav agant, but men who seek the offices for salary alone are unworthy to hold them, and men In the public service should not receive more than similar service commands In private business life. Pledging you my hearty cooperation In whatever you maj attempt in behalf of the State and its people, and praying for the bless ings of an All-wise Providence upon your la bors, I welcome you to the Capital, confident that your work will merit and receive the well done of our Joint constituency. B. R. Tillman, Governor. Medical Science. The Pall Mall Gazette tells of a doc tor on a man-of-war who had a very simple method of treatment. He would tie a piece of tape around the waist of the complaining mariner, and command him to him to declare wheth er his pain existed above or below the tape. 1 f above an emetic, aud if be low a dose of salts, followed as a mat ter of course. People do not weigh much iu heaven who take pigeons to God’s alter when they ought to go with full grown oxen and sheep. Be Patient with the Living. sweet friend, when thou and I art gone Beyond earth's weary labor, When small shall be our need of grace From comrade or from ndghboi; Passed all the strife, the toil, the care. And done with all the sighing— What tender truth shall we have gained, Alas! by simply dying? ’Tis easy to he gentle when Death silence shames our clamor, And easy to discern the best Through memory's myst'c glamor; But wise it were for you and me, Ere love is past forgiving. To take the lender lesi-on home— Be D&tient with the living. —Good Cheer. Aunt Abiginl Chest of Drawers A TRUE STORY. Harriette Rea, in Christian Register. 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 was spindle-legged, with acom-shaped projections breaking the line. He llcat h tlie five large drawers were a. collection of smaller ones, three on each side with a deep space or cub- board in the centre. This was enclosed by a door, orna mented with a brass knob and a quaint little knocker. The cupboard was like a tiny porter's lodge, and enveloped the whole piece of furniture with an airof mystery. It warded oft' intru sion, and suggested the propriety of lifting the knocker to ask permission of some shadowy spectre if ona might venture to examine more closely this genuine adtique. The owner was evidcut’y proud of her possession ; aud we found one day that it had a history a true one. She told it to us with the keen interest that age finds iu rehearsing the story of its youtli. It was over a supper of Hyson tea, butter-ciacker toast, pound cake pre served citron, served upon a round ta ble, before the open fire. The china was white, with green sprigs, and had been kept without a preak for sixty years. A teapot stood on the hearth, waiting to supply a second cup. Tlie talker slipped occasionally into old- fashioned forms of speech, but evident ly she endeavored to avfiid them. “I always wanted a chest of draw ers; aud, when I went to work in the factory, I determined to have one. ] don’t think much about gettin’ marri ed, and havin’ a parlor of my own. I just wanted that. “Old Judge Pettingeil had died, and his niece was willin’ to sell everything that belonged lo Mis’ Judge. I ottered her tweuiy-tive dollars for this cliest, not knowiu’ whether’ twas cheap or not; but I meant to have it. So 1 worked hard; and every quarter’s pay ment I put by a little money in a silk purse, all by myself, until I’d saved enough. “When I had it brought bame, fa ther didn’t seem pleased, and said I was silly, aud I’d better have put my money iu tlie bank: but but mother, she looked at it, and her eyes shone, aud I used to see her standin’ up be fore it, aud openin’ and shuttin’ the drawers. “Then I got acquainted with my first husband. I always called him Hiram, and so I do to this day. ^We were married; but I wouldn’t take away the chest from mother while she liwcd. I kuew she set store by it, us I did. "After mother died—fatlier went first then I brought It home, and this china. I set the drawers up where they stand now. “Four or five years went by. Hir am ami I were happy together, and then lie was taken sick. We hadn't any children. He used to say that lie must make his will; but he put it off, aud put it off, aud by aud by died without doin’ it. “I never thought that anything I bought myself could belong to Hiram. I knew I should get my thirds, and that they would give me the house. I supposed the furniture was mine. ‘ The day after the funeral, Hiram’s two brothers came in with a lawyer. They said everything valuable had got to be sold at auction. I could bid ’em in if I wanted to: hut all the property had got to be ’pra’sed in order to tee how mucli I ought to have. "Tlien they went round the rooms, saying what this thing was worth and that thing was worth, and pretty soo they came to the chest. The la ‘ 9DI heard him, bfe.’ “I almost screamed out ; ‘You can’t touch that. I earned every cent of it in the factory, and paid for it, and brought it over here.’ "The lawyer answered pretty sharp; ‘Well, ma'am, that don’t make a bit of difference. Whatever you brought here belonged to your husband. That's the law of the laud.' soon Jawyer whispered to Hiram’s brother, but 1 ‘This is wortli considera- fiexed up this one until it was ’most as nice as new. “Perhaps I hadn't ought to have done it is so quick, for Hiram had on ly been gone about two years; but I was all alone, aud it seemed so good to think of keepiu' house once more, so I said ‘Yes,’and we were married in three weeks from that night. “We lived happy together for fifteen years, and I never thought anything more about money matters, nor how tilings could get mixed up. We kept on prosperin.’ Mr. Jones had tlie name of bein’ a good farmer, and 1 always knew how to manage my part. We both worked hard, but we didn’t owe a cent, and kept puttin, money into the hank. “One day Mr. Jones took an awful cold, and went right into lung fever. He did’t live a week, an’ never knew unyboby after the second day. When the funeral was over, I began hire- member, and to think wiiat might happen again witout a will: for Mr. Jones had a nephew, Jacob, wiio was an awful graspin’ man. “He came in the very next day, and we looked over all Mr. Jones's papers, but we couldn’t find any. Then Jacob spoke right up, ‘Mis’ Jones, you can have your thirds, bin you can’t have uo more, for, legally, the rest goes to me.’ “Mr. Jones had been a real kind husband, and I felt awful lonesome anyway. Ho I just broke down, and began to cry. Jacob got up, and went out, but I knew he’d come back, aud he did the next mornin,’ and brought a lawyer with him, They said we didn’t need to have au auction, and they’d give in a good many of my things ; hut tlie best of ’em must hav< a price fixed, and them Jacob put; In- band ou that chest of drawers "and said, ‘This thing is wortli more than it was at first, but I’m willin’ to let it go for twenty-five dollars !' I’d got some money laid by me, and I waited until things were settled. Then I brought it out, and paid down for ail I had He and the lawyer were standin’ right there, aud I had all I could do to beai it. I was so wrought up I s’pose I said more’n I ought; but I did not speak my mind to Jacob. I told him he needn’t ever darken my doors again for lie was no better than a thief. 1 said the law ought to help widows, when husbands died so sudden they hadn’t no time to make a will ; but, if it didn’t, their relatives iiad uo need to take advantage of it. “Mr. Jones was worth considerable property, and so my thirds gave me the house and garden over again, and money In tlie bank enough to keen me be-ides; but I never had any call to invite Jacob here after that filial settlement. “Well, 'twarn’t more’n two years again before, one cold winter night, when I was siltin’ here real comforta hie by tlie fire. I heard a knock at the front door. 1 opened it, and there was Mr. Smith, who lived in another part of the town. “He was a widower, though his wife hadn’t been dead more than six months. I never thought what he’d come for. He always seemed to tie a well-meauin’ man. 1 hadn’t anything against him. “He took a seat by the fire. It was pretty hot; aud he kept putdiiu’ his chair back until he got beside that chest, and then he couldn’t get no further. “But before ong he took hold of one of the handles, and began to work it back and forth ; and then he burst out: “ ’Mis’ Jones, don’t you think you and I could get along together? We’re both pretty 1 mesorne.’ “I shouldn’t have flared up as I did, if I hadn’t seen him holdin’ on to that handle ; but it all came over me how I had to suffer, and I just rose right up, and I said : ' “Mr. Smith, I’ve bought aud paid for that chest of drawers three times, I’m goiti’ to own it as long as I live; and no man is ever goin to have a claim on it again!” “He understood, for the folks all over tow,n had heard about my tilings. He f ot right up and said : ‘Good-night, iis’ Jones. I guess I’ll lie goin’. My horse don’t like to stand long.’ ” **He warn’t to blame; but barreed the door after he’d gone, and then I said to myself: “ ‘Abigial Jones, you are a widow once more, and you’ll stay a widow the rest of your days ’ ’’ "Ezekiel, Hiram's youngest brother, stolid close by, and he put in, ‘Why, Abigail, you can buy back what you want now if we give permission.’ I was mad, and to I just let the auction go on: and when tlie day came, I bid bretty low on my things. ‘•The neighbors were real good, and never tried to bid against me. "•Vhen it came to that cliest of drawers, I just spoke up loud, so everybody could hear and said, 'it’s a burnili’ shame for me to have to buy wliat’s already my own ; amlif men folks have made such a law, they ought to take it back, and make another.’ Then I hid twenty-five dollars, and paid for tlie chest over again: for I knew Ezekiel would get all lie could for it. “There was just enough from my thirds to keep tlie house and garden; but Hiram’e brothers had all rest of the land. They sold it to Mr. Jones, our nearest neighbor; and I shut up my house, and went back to work in tbe factory. ’Twaru’t very long before Mis’Junes died. I used to think, while tlie looms were goin’, about our two houses, and tlie kitchens with no body there, as It used lo be ; for Mis’ Jones was areal bleasanl woman, and we were always neigliboiiy together. “One day, about a year afterward, I went upborne to look over my things. 1 suppose Mr. Jones saw tlie light, for he came over to make a call. 1 was mighty glad to see an old face : for I had been real lonesome, and I did want to hear about evetything. “Before lie went away, he asked me to marry him. Mis'Jones had gone, lie hadn't any children, and he said he’d just as soon come here aud live as not. You see Ids house was au old one 1 ami he thought lie could use if for an other barn; while Hiram and I had It is wonderful how the Christian re ligion has enlarged and enriched, not only human experience, but also hu man language. It has introduced new words and new conceptions of things, and given a higher meaning to old words and old ideas, its new wine has been poured into new bottles, aud In many cases it lias changed the water of a mere earthly language into the wlue of a heavenly speech. By the the introduction of Christianity into many a dark pagan country, tlie old words by which they expressed their notions of man's duty ami of God’s re lations to them have been purified and raised to a higher level, andhave now a fulness and depth of meaning which they never conveyed to the native in their heathen condition. When Dr. Wenger, the distinguished translator of tlie Bible in India, pressed his Hin- doojpundit for the Bengal word for “con science,” the pundit was in perplexity, and finally answered, “What is not in a country lias no name there.” There was no word in the ancient Greek lan guage to express what Peter meant by humility, and therefore tlie word which he coined to signify ids mean ing is one of the new words which we owe to Ch istianity: for itia Christian ity that has brougnt the new thing which it represents Into the world. Miss Eider.—Well, I maintain that women;ean do anything that men can. Mr. Gassam—Oh, no. The auction eers business is one women cannot go into. Miss Elder—Nonsense. She’d make every bit as good an auctioneer as a man. Mr. Grussam—Just imagine an un married woman getting up before a crowd and exclaiming, ‘Now, gentle' men, all I want is au offer!” The girl who marries for money usually has a look on her face after marriage that indicates that she Is huv ing trouble in collecting her salary. How Ho They Grow r This is only ablate of Kress: | , But how does it grow? I)«>e8 any one know? The seasons come and the seasons pass. Anti with every year the grass we have here, so green an«l bright in the sun and rein; And then it is brown when the snow cones, But young in the spring again. This Is only a little girl; But how does she grow ? Does any one know ? With her hair of gold and her teeth of pearl,: From ahab^r wee will grow to be A maiden as fair as a blooming rose. But no one can say, as day follows day, ll<>w a blade of gras or a little girl grows. •-Reformed Church Messenger. piOOhS mailt 1 iiml our ices MRnuaing the Boy*. When Fred, Rufe aud Ham (short for Hamilton) went out into the coun try to visit their Aunt Sarah, they had "uo end of a good time.” Aunt Sarah was a conscientious, careful, nervous soul, who compiled a number of rules and regulations for the benefit of her young kinsman, and then worried her self perpetually because they paid no tieed to them. Tlie rule requiring them to be in bed by nine o’clock was a particular lource of irritation. No sooner would the poor lady chase them up the front stairs, than down they would come by tlie back ones, and out they would scud into the darkness, to he followed by such reproachful exclamations as. Come in this minute, you naughty boys, What are you hiding in tlie wet grass for, trying to catch your death of cold? Rufe, you’re old enough to know better; I’m ashamed of you all,” aud a great deal more of the same sort. This game of hide-and-seek was oc casion ly rendered more exciting by Aunt Sarah’s invoking the aid of the hired man, Timothy Warren. Tim othy was a man of few words and nu merous deeds, and he was warranted not to cease his labors until he deposit ed three hotly chased and soundly cuffed boys into their respective bed rooms the doors of which were imme diately afterwards locked. o>‘ such occasions Aunt Sarah would observe, “Oh, I’m so much obliged to you, limothy. I’m afraid I never could have caught them all by myself.” And Timothy, gazingat bis mistiess’s 180 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 tills way: “I declare, Sarah, you’re all worn out and haggard looking, tagging after those boys. Now you go aud visit Cousin Phebe a week aud get rested. I’ll stay here and manage the boys.” “You don’t know what you are in for,” said Aunt Sarah solemly. “I’m |n 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 respect fully inquired tlie hour they would be required to go to bed. “I don't know.” replied the lady i n- diflerently, go when you like.” This reply, when repeated to the other two, so amazed them that they came to her in w body. “Aunt Sarah always made us go to bed at nine,” observed Rufe with the severe air of one who would grieve to see domestic discipline relaxed. “All right,” said Aunt Bertha with a yawn, "go at nine if you want to.” “But don’t we have to go then?” asked Ham anxiously. “Certanly not. I don’t care when 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 bis aunt. “If you’re sick you’ll have to stay in bed Itiil .you [get well, and that will teach you more common sense than a thousand considerations for your health.” The Ilong evening dragged wearily away; with no rules to breaK, existence seemed to have lost its charm. “Aren’t you going to have [a single rule Aunt Bertha?” FredlmourufuTlv inquired. “Yes she responded composedly; “the rule that auy boy who is not up in time for breakfast must go without his breakfast.” ‘.Well, I guess with no sleep and^no breakfast, we'll go home looking pretty thin,” growled Rufe. “Oh, just as lyou like about that,” said Aunt Bertha. “You know you can have all the sleep aud all the breakfast that you want.” And in a few days the hoys drifted of their own accord into the habit of going to bed early.—E.W., in House keeper’s Journal. Billina on the Platform. The beit illustration that I ever heard, showing the disadvantage of living as a Christian outside of the Church, was given me by a young convert whom I had recently received into the church. I expressed my pleasure and grati- fleatiou at the step be had taken, he replied: I had not made up my mind to join when I came to meeting tonight, but while you were talking I thought it was liko buying a ticket to Chicago, aud then riding on the platform. I thought I might aswell go inside. The young brother unwittingly in his illustration gave au unanswerable, certainly a most sensibleargument in favor of Church membership.—Mes senger. Why we Seed Two Ears. Sound travels by waves, radiating from a central point of disturbance, just as waves radiate when a stone is thrown into still water. So far as the hearing of each individual is concerned ed these waves move in a direct line from the cause of the disturbance to the ear. Tills 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 when the center of dis turbance is quite near. Blind persons learn to estimate distances in u surpris ingly brief period after losing their sight, but 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 lias to be crossed, on which tlie sun pours its lieat in merciless power wherein he who looks for it cannot | find the shadow of a rock. the lowest. * The Place to purchases at. ml & Company, & WOODS niiouiicinij; that they O r )arecl to issue fe Insurance ?e all business enti ust- >f the best coni panics In IU RANGE lanies as Tin: iioui: tlie IVAim ORIL OT 3 of the largest and nies in the country. ISURANC ion into the plans ot offering, as they do, to to those who wish a general Brokerage ness. A! I FD THE MOST ULLLl\ CONVENIENT TRUNK PUNK m tVER DEVISED. The Tray is rrrargy.’ to roll back, leaving ;i: bottom of tiie TruiA easy of access. Nothing to break or get out of order. Ti t. iv can be lifted out if desired, and to bu. ; stvle is a guarantee that you will get th- >ng< '.t Trunk made. f your Dealer cannot furnish you, notify tb lufucturers, W. ROUNTREE & BRQ., Richmond, Ya. Ii B u v e r s! ir Eeplar House:! :m give us an opportunity t. ; miyc this UE ASSERTION, m Sell you Goods IEF HOUSE In Tin C011HIT? tied and Competition Buried! c true Leader of Low Prices in dines, llatsaiiil Clothing, SERIES ie the Lowest of Low Prices on ecs to show which way the wind <1 Sugar UO His. for .■? I .OIL er |ioiin«l. Also tlie lower grades. I Flour at iMLIM per Itarrel. i, hut if you w ill consult your own interest icspcctfully, Lamar—C. D. Mann. Carteraville—J. K. Copeland. | fill and diligent in the discharge of Georgia, was the second speaker and j |kis official duties, and was absolutely j his address was iu a somewhat seri-| ( —Jm. MIXON ii HAULER, Proprietors. TTIKIS Ol^ OHLkKGE. BROOM. VYillcox’s Old Drug Store.