University of South Carolina Libraries
MIK SUMTER WATCHMAN, Established April, 1850? Consolidated Aug. 2, ISSI.] 'Be Just and Fear not-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at. be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's. SUMTER, S. C., TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1885. THE Tit UK SOUTHRON, Established June, 186<*? --~ ..,-,-J--, .. ' .-t . * Sew Series-Vol. IT* 5o. 38'. - 3 ^EKt^i?aW : JI?K?> Pidtlhh?ig Company, TERMS: Two Dollars per annum-in advance. ADVRRTJSEMBXTS. One Square, first insertion.$1 00 S verj^3ubsequeo4 insertion........... 50 CkwSbracts for three mon tb s, or longer will !>*. m*ie%t refaced-rates. ? ' AU communications which subserve private interests will be charged for as advertisements. Obituaries and tributes of respect will be **yt$'*, : ? ;. ? =? ;. : and .notices of deatte$nb For job work or contracts for advertising Business Manager. Eft* HM BAEBjg POWDER TO-DAY! Brands achrertiaed as absolatet j pore POWTAIW AVMOMA. ??es fcopdo* . a i?t*o^e *ntiiiteatad,th*? ^Wsauil Hmrinwnrt ?matt. Acbemiat -will not be re? paired to detect tte presence ot ammonia. cs DOES KOT COSTAIS AMMONIA. JtS BC?XXXFCLXISS HAS NEVER BKEX QUK3TT - I* am?Hoa homes for a quarter of a eeatorji lt ?ax atood tl? consumers' reliable test. THE TEST OF THE OVEN. PRICE BAKING POWDER CO., XAEzas or ' ? t>Sa<WS?e<i>?e^^^E^W ??? ?atjrr* I ?*TOr i*own,maA Br. Pric?'$ Lapuiin Yeast Gins Fer Tight, Healthy Bread, The Best Cry Hop Yeast In the World. FOR SALE BY GROCERS. CHI CACO. - "ST- COUt*. mm r?? SPECIAL y ***** rXTJiACTS MOST PERFECT MADE Purest and strongest Natural Fruit Flavors. ; j. SIBMB?M ?eppni Orange; Ahawid, Bose, ttc~, - fiwor?sd?B?a^elyait? PRICE BAHfl? POWD?tR Cfc, CHICAGO, y**-; rx. LOUTS. nog ?mn GIFFARD ST, PHI LT. p* . For Consv^??on, Asthina^ Bronchitis^ Dyspepsia, Catafii^eltdf^:^,, DeC?i?| ty, Rheumatism, Neuralgia, and all Chronic and Nervous Disorders^ " We, the undersigned, having received great and pernrfueoCpeirefft f?SmTb? ra*?fbTrC051 P0?KDO3??0?5ir prepared- tod^admimV tered bj Das. ST?RKST & PALEN, of Philadel? phia, and being satisfied that it-is ac new dis-, co very in medical science, and ail tbart-irt claimed for it, consider ,it a duty which we owe ter the m^ny/hocsauds who axe suffering from chronic and soncalled ^'incurable" dis? eases to do all that we'caufomakeits virtues known and to inspire tbe public with, confi? dence. We have personal- knowledge of Dre. Star key^PhSen. They are educated, intelligent, ?^ad^&Jn^?nt??us physicians,"w?o w??? not, weare sar?, ?ake. any statement,. which they do not ?now or believe to be true, nor pub? lish ?n^-te^imoniads or reports ..of cases "which ?^ffirc gebnine: WM. D. KELLY, ? . MtmSerof Congress from^hiladetpfna. T. S. ARTHUR, Wxn-and Publisher "Arthur's Home .. ". ? JtagazineJy Philadelphia. ^l?R,T..L. CONRAD "*" * * JJ5t?tor of "Lutheran Observer,*' ?L??'W.A Philadelphia^ , . . . /- ?n oroWt? meet a uatcral; inquiry in re? gard to oor professional and personal stand? ing, and to give increased confidence is our *^tamenisraad..in the-geojainess of, our. ttesti ?n?o?ais'?nd reports of Cases, we 'print the above card from gentlemen well and widely known and of the highest personal character. |nr "Treatise on Compound Oxygen," con ' * ^history of the : discovery of: and ie ot actiori~of' this remarVabie curative : ?gerv't, and A large record of surprising cures in Consumption, Catarrh, Neuralgia, Bronchi? tis, Asthma, etc., and a wide range of Chron " ic diseases, will be sent free. Address Dts. STARKEY & PALEN. 1109 & i 111 Girard Street-, Philadelpnia., Pa. F. H. Folsom, ' I~ W. Folsom. ? '--ESTABD 1863. F. H. FOLSOM & BRO. Practical Watchmake? and Jewelers, Main-Street, opposite John Reid's, ??? ^ SUMTER, S. C., Clock*, S??e?maxe, ?etcelryiSpectaclest Cutlery, Fishing Tac?de, Violin Strings, Machine Needles, Oils, &c. I Repairing of Watches, Clocks and Jewelry promptly- done and satisfaction guaranteed. WATCHING. Beside the river's brink I wait, Wbile linnets lull the day to rest, Aad one lone mavis, over-late, Sings wbile the light fades in the weit ? :i So sings ray fain ung heart while bops fades from my brees t. My good man's boat with weeds o'ergroWn, Lies idly by beside the shore ? How listless looks it and how loW5 A tangled vine holds f&st the oar' That never new such months of weary rest before. I Oh, where onelong-iost ship .may ,be, _ If stranded opon* distant lands, K?r sank Far down, "cone knows bat He ! Who tells oar days and co a nts the sands, And holds the waters in the hollow of His bands. ?Tbe riverirannetb to the'?e?? It giveth without stint or lack ; And so I gave, but woe to rae Who stand and watch its silver track ; The sea, it taketh all/ but^yieldeth Botbing ?iS back. : - And so, beside the bank I wait. While linnets trill their lullaby, And, like the mavis singing late, I sing while hope doth fade and ?ie, Slowly- as fades the light from out the darkening sky. Emma. A. SmuLler. [Written for the Watchman and Southron.] THE WORLD'S PAIR "MR. EDITOR :. The pecuniary value of a visit to the World's Exposition at New Orleans can not be estimated. Tbose who attend this unique exhibit of the world io miniature only for sight? seeing do not go away dissatisfied, while to the student of the arts, agriculture, mechanics, - ^geology, or. othersoever classified Knowledge, there is a super? abundance of material to engage all opportunity for study. If classes from all the institutions of learning in our land could visit this accumulation of diversified matter, arranged with re? markable order and easy -of access, they would derive a-clearer insight as to the subjects under consideration than is possible, to possess apart from the visi? ble, tangible or audible. Such a visit under the direction of a skillful instruc? tor, would be of incalculable advantage, and might well ocsugy a full term of four years, should the authorities keep open ~ doors for so long a time. The United States Government could do a wise thing in sustaining the Exposition at considerable expense for the purpose of imparting instruction to the youth of the^ land^we live in. What a grand national university it could be mad under management of competent men in each department! Of all the Exhibits, the States have th?' most complete andi and best ar? ranged. Here we find the various States of the Union arranged in order with their resources. After walking throughout one State and forming in the mind an adequate Idea of what it is and what it contains, by easy traosition you enter another, and thus a complete and eminently satisfactory canvass of the whole country is made. It toot tbe writer all of four days to pass hurriedly through the govern men t b uildin g. T he men wnp, have been engaged with so much care ^and interest putting in pro? sper ord?r tjie State Exhibits, deserve at the !fana*s~?of their several common- . wealths great.honor. It may be said they - are paid Co do the work. But such is not strictly true, for the pains? taking, :patri?iie endeavors put forth in striving to show to the very best ad? vantage the resources of each State, could not be secured with dollars and <wnts? *Jottb?ir^?oor'beit(s?aid, these men seemed not to consider the financial profit to ?ccfW to [themselves from the Job, but* committecTthemselves faithful? ly, arduously to secure the highest >possible* benefit to the State they repre- ' ;sente<L . ?~ . ^ Mexico occupies no inconsiderable j>lace in the picture. The handiwork of her-dttteus, the workmanship of her artists and artisans are put oo exhibition to the^admiring crowds that daily fre? quent her departments. Within a .handsomely . wrought pagoda,, separate from the other buildings, may be seen a display' of the minerals of Mexico^ that to the adept in that science furnishes occasion for instruction,, delight and wonder. Japan, with" characteristic pushy has spared no pains to be abreast of the foremost of the foreign countries iu displaying ber advancement in art and science. The exhibit of Japanse arti? cles of utility and ornament is except? ionally good. With business-like air, and with an eye to business, several Japs neatly dressed- in American cos? tume entertain the visitors to their Space in the main building with interest and instruction, managing if possible to send the folks at home some souvenir of little cost. China puts her best foot foremost and scruples not to pu", on exhibition the process of innaman torture into beauti? ful littleness the feet of her women. IL is an acknowldged fact that hts infalli? bility, the Pope of Rome, unduly mag? nifies his great toe. So it appears extremes meet, evea among intelligen? tes: The Chinese wardrobe occupies a prominent place among her exhibits. Here too, may be seen figures persona? ting the Chinese occupied in several lines of industry. Confessedly they are life-like. In this connection may be mentioned-thongh not connected with the Chinese exhibit-the Heno Tea attraction. An attraction truly, for no other exhibit in tho whole Exposition seemed so constantly thronged with visitors. The writer verily confesses it possessed a peculiar fascination that drew him thither several times in a day. To relieve the curiosity of the uninitia? ted it may be stated that here is ireely dispensed, at the expense of the pro? prietor, a most deliciously refreshing draught, known as Heno tea. hot or cold as it pleases . you to prefer. The company deserve the largest success in their business, for-so generously serving the crowd indiscriminately. Should the eye of any. expecting to attend the Exposition, fall on this article such arc admonished to avail themselves of the special privilege of being weighed on the Fairbank's scales hard by this famous tea resert, and at the more immediate comer of the Mexican exhib? it. The visitor must needs notice the fact, and fitly too, that agriculture more than any other single industry stands out prominently ia the vastness and variety of exhibits. Representing as it does the real basis of national greatness j ia this hurrying, eager age of the I world, our owo oatiooality has doue I herself large credit in giving first rank j to her yeomanry in the display of the products of the soil. The bread-win? ners of other climes may well esteem this Goshen as the ideal abode of'plenty, contentment and peaceful pursuits, than which no happier home is found beneath the sun. Horticultural Hall furnishes io itself an Exposition that will largely repay the outlay. In the centre of the build? ing, from the water's edge in a pool perhaps 30 feet across, issue about 40 I jets of water meeting at one point in an imaginary dome. From the confluence of these jets there arises a stream of water reaching almost the top of the tower in height, and it falls back in spray giving an air of fairy workman? ship to the scene. In either wing of this glass roofed building are long lines of tables covered with citrons and other fruits in the widest profusion and al? most endless variety, from various sections of the country. About this display of fruit may be seen many kinds of shrubbery aud flowers lending fragrance and beauty to the surround? ings. Around the upright pillars swing in their cages, tropical birds chiming in their shrill and melodious voices with the monotonous bum of human tongues and the ceaseless play of sparkling fountains. Under the soft brilliancy of. the electric lights this place seems enchanted. The. Art Department vies in elegance and cost with the celebrated Corcoran gallery of Washington City. The lat? ter, lavishly supplied with money and connoisseurs, possesses a placa second to .few in the world. And yet this collection in the World's Exposition is little, if any, behind it io costliness of some of the paintings and rare beauty in portrayal. Some of the pieces would grace any gallery, and evidence supe? rior skill in portraiture. As you linger in this hall and look upon the pictures there, delineating all phases of animate and inanimate, creation, yon naturally feel how near divine is the painter's art. There can be seen in Mississippi (Government building) a life-size painting of superior excellence and deli? cacy of shade, representing "Ginevra," You will stand before the life-like form of exquisite beauty almost entranced, and be driven ar~y ouiy by the recol? lection of her melancholy fate. To one unused to the buzz and din of revolving wheels and glancing bars, Machinery hail in action is quite dis? tracting. One ponderous pipe conveys to numberless chests the subtle propell? ing ether, called steam The power thus distributed all over the buildings and grounds is simply immense. The click and jar of motion is perceptible j in every part of the huge, main build- j ing. By this means exhibitors show j in actual operation the machinery of j their construction or iuvention, the manufacture of articles unnumbered, and the utility of their mechauism. Very much of the material wrought is for sale or to be given away as samples The water works form an attractive feature of this department. Between the Government and Main buildings are to be seen two artificial islands, and situate upon the smaller one is a life-saving station containing the equipments for rescuing seamen from wrecked ships. There is an in? teresting daily exhibit of the practica? bility of the enterprise. In the California exhibit will be found specimeus of lumber remarkable, for width. Plank six feet in width and susceptible of extra fine finish are to be seen. The crowning wonder of this exhibit is a cross section of the Big Tree, (sequoia giga.ntea'). The block on exhibition is 18 feet in diameter and was cut off 96 feet from the base of the original tree, Calaveras County, Cal. Its height was 308 feet, and at its base measured 56 feet io circumference. Some of its bark is 2 feet thick. The tree was - felled in 1853 by meaos of long pump augers. Five men worked twen? ty-five days boriug it off. JThe most complete and admirably arranged Forestry exhibit is to be found in the" space allotted to Florida. The base represents the body of the tree, natural size, with bark on; and, immediately upon this isa longitudinal section, one part of which is shown as nature, another as polished io varnish or oil. Just above this is a card bear? ing specimen leaves together with the botanical aud common name of the tree. Of course the citrous fruits of Florida were prominently displayed, though California was not one whit behind her in thc beauty of her exhibit in this line. The Palmetto State stands pimus inter pares in the rank of her exhibits. Our phosphates, rice, and small grain industries are shown to capital advan? tage. Her natural history collection is surpassed only by the Smithsonian. Your correspondent is assured by the length of this communication that he has presumed'upon the patience of your readers, Mr. Editor ; and in extenua? tion has but to plead the irresistible at? tractiveness of the Exposition. Yours truly. W. A. B. -i ma - Qualities of Sound. Mrs. Minks-'The nurse seems to have trouble with baby to night. He is crying yet.' Mr. Miuks-'Yes bless his little heart. I wonder what ails him T Mrs. Minks-'Oh! Nothing serious. How sweetly shrill his voice is ! So clear and musical.' Mr. Minks-'Yes, I-but hark? These sounds do not come from out nursery. They come through the walls from the next house.' Mrs. Minks-'Mercy! So they do. Why can't people have sense enough to give their squalling brats paregoric or something instead of letting them yell like screech owls.*-Call. Josh Billings: "When I was a young mao I wus alwas io a hurry to hold thc big end of the log and do all the lifting. Now I am older I seize the small end and do all uhe grunting.'* -^?tmm~-**- - - "Shall I take your love to your mother?" said a lady visitor who was going to see the mother in question to a little child of three years. "She has my love," was the quaint reply. The Best Modes for Preventing the Exhaustion of our Lands ; and the Beclamation of the Same. E3SAT BY R. M. COOPER, READ BEFORE THE SUMTER FARMERS* AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION, APRIL ll, 1885. The subject yo? have assigned me is so comprehensive, it will be diffi? cult to restrict its consideration to the limit which your patience might justly prescribe for an article of this kind. To intelligently consider the sub? ject, it is necessary to notice briefly the general origin of soil. Geologi? cal studies teach us that what is uow soil, was once solid rock. The causes that could produce such I results are indeed wonderful when j compared with processes and events which we observe in a lifetime, but nothing marvelous when considered with the age of the earth itself and the cycles of periods through which the changes have been accomplished. By the successive influences of: 1-change of temperature ; 2-mov? ing water or ice j $ -chemical action of water and a:; \ 4~influence of vegetable and animal life, these rocks have been broken, decomposed and disintegrated into soil. The most importaut of the minerals composing the rocks from whence the soil is derived arc viz : Quartz, feldspar, mica, amphibole, zeolite, apatite, phosphorite, etc., and these in weath? ering in the soil give us the following eight substances, viz : Potash, lime, magnesia, soda, sulphuric oxide, phos? phoric oxide, silica, chlorine, and all of these and only these (with traces of alumina, iron and manganese,) are fouud in the ash of all well-grown plants with which we are familiar. Since all of these substances are necessary to make the ash constitu? ents, if any one were wanting or present in too small quantity it can? not be remedied by even doubling the quantity of the other. The ones most commonly wanting are potash and phosphoric acid, in consequence of plants drawing so heavily upon these, and their soluble compounds being leached in a measure from the soil. Each different portion of a plant will give an ash, with its differ? ent constituents varying relatively in amount. If everything else be fur? nished the plant such as mineral food, exposure, climate, " &c, one other condition must be complied with, that of furnishing sufficient nitrogen? ous food. Now a soil fails to be productive when one or more oiUbese substances j are. warrtfng," or present in an inade quate amount. To determine which substance or substances exist in in? sufficient quantity for the full devel? opment of a plan!, is the real question we are to deal with. It was once thought that a chemi? cal analysis of the soil would furnish a direct and conclusive answer to this question, but now it is generally conceded that analyses of soils for this purpose are of little or no value. It fails to answer thc question for the following reason s : 1st-lt ?6 difficult to get a repre? sentative specimen, lt may either be accidentally enriched- or impover? ished. 2nd-We do not know what is the strength of the solvent of the soil. The reagent used in analyses may reveal au element present, which from its insoluble combination in soil, is unavailable to the plant. 3rd-A.substance may exist in such small quantity in the soil as to be inappreciable to chemical test, and yet be in abundance for the de? mand of the plant. 4th-Owing to the retentive power of the soil it is impossible to wash out all of substances soluble in liquids of the^soil. Now if we could determine with accuracy the "Bed Rock" from which the soil originated, an analysis of it would give the constituents of the soi 1, with . its soluble compounds in lesser amounts, (some having been leached out iii the process of weath? ering). But it is difficult to identify soils with rocks. The surest method is by practical experiment. Use a single crop on a piece of laud and apply single ma? nures aud note accurately the result. Or plant diff?rent crops making different demands upon soil and noting which do well. Should a crop, that is known lo make a heavy demand on the soil for potash, succeed well on your soil, you could resonably conclude that your soil is not deficient in potash, aud in compounding a manure for such soil care should be exercised, only, to apply that substance in pro? portion to the draughts made upon it by the growing crop, to prevent its being exhausted in the soil below the point necessary for remunerative cul- j tivatiou. lt is au error to suppose that all soils, however barren, can be improved. I mean improved to a ! point of remunerative cultivation. | Some soils which have been disiute- j j grated from rocks naturally poor in j j mineral food and, added to this in | j many instances, have poor exposure j i for heat, ?LC, cannot be improved to j j a point of remunerative cultivation, ? but were intended doubtless to grow ? only such vegetation as wc find na- j ture adapt6 them* for But 1 hold ! that any soil originally good, with j good exposure for heat, Sic, however | j much it has been exhausted from Continual cropping, can be brought back to its original fertility. The natural growth is a fair indi? cation of strength of soi!, as is ad? mitted by ancient and modem, ob? servers, oak, hickory, ?fee, indicating best lands. This indication is not trustworthy unless ?ve lind the growth to abound. If we find a plant i multiplying and flourishing in a J ground that is undisturbed, we may j infer that its ash constituents are fully ! supplied by that soil and that any j other plant making an equal or less ! demand can be supported by the 1 soil. The growth of weeds, when I that growth is abundant, eau furnish I valuable information as to the coin ! position of the soil. As with natural 1 growth, wo would expect to lind ou a j soil that was scarce of any mineral food, weeds that make small demands for such food, and should we find weeds known to make heavy de? mands for certain mineral food grow? ing in abundance, we may conclude that such food is also sufficient for all other plants making equal demands. Fro)'. Dunnington of the University of Va. has made analyses of several weeds, which, owing to their wide? spread occurrence, are of considerable value for reference in this connection. I have here copied a few of these analyses, taking the table where sili? ca, alumina, iron and manganese ox? ides are left out in the calculations, not because they are non-essential., but to obtain a better view of other more important substances which are more frequently wanting io soil. I have selected. 1. Broom sedge-beard grass, in? dian grass, purple wood grass. 2. Wire grass-dog's tail grass, crowfoot, crab or yard grass. 3. Blue thistle-blue weed, blue devil, canada thistle. 4 Potato weed-Carolina potato, prickly night 6hade, horse nettle, sand briar. 5, Purslane-pot-herb, portulaca. 6. Sumach-common sumach. . 7. Sassafras. * I 8. Kag weed-bitter weed. 9. Mollien-common mullien. 10. Dock-broad-leaved dock.. arr 00*3 DO o H Co . . " - c 3 rr* - . ? ? e- *t Z? BB . : : : 2. o - : ; . . ?T : -. : : . : o?: * -- 55 - CT f-i M O' p CO -a ?ft. -3 W ? b ^r -? ^JCT ?&. Broom Sedge. s? ^ CO 3D CC to CO CS 00 "* ?0 -?-zrz- > H lik 'O -? -J w - .... 55 CO o y b b -J ?J ?j Wire Grass. fi _g? * tj G QI y ^ ""3 S bo 55 C ff r r? ? * *. ?iae Thistle w ? .J - -J rc Ci qi q ;_ P3 CO CC ?*. IO 00 * -q ! ! ? **< " = Ci-1-1 a _ co cc co a? cc _ , 53^: b ? b to *. b ?J Purslane. ? ~-jr-1-1 55 o Jsumach. ? S O J. CO C 00 tc gt l I 2g W to cc-- ! >y -7 4^ es d cc - I t Li ^ *. cc b w b os to ?Sassafras. O V CO to C7? -J -4 CO Ci j [> . "^5-53-1- O Z to CT to CO 00 W ' tu to b b b cc cc b ; Raff T eed. 2 - -J CC CO o - - - tO CT CT O CC CC 05 -J CC bo to CT b CT i. _CO -I ^ O A 00 -J CT - CC CO -3 CT ?J 00 O Ci - Ci CS <U -T b Ci - CT O 00 CC CC Mullien. Dock. > o 55 From an examination of above table, some-conclusioiisjiay be.drawn* which, though ttfeylnay not be abso? lutely tnie, st ill are in a high degree probable, thus : Where broom sedge, mullien or su? mach grow abundantly, the soil is probably sufficiently supplied with potash, not needing other ash constit? uents than phosphoric acid. Where sand briar grows in abund? ance the soil is evidently well sup? plied with phosphroic acid. Where purslane is found in abund? ance is evidence that the soil is good and evidently contains a sufficiency of potash. So upon the examination of the abundant growth of other weeds, in? formation equally probable may be obtained. You will observe I have endeavored to emphasize that the growth be abundant. A sparse growth of any one may exist anywhere, and its presence indicate nothing of prac? tical value. The mineral food for plants exist in the soil in two forms. One soluble in the solvents of the soil, and the other insoluble. The insoluble, however, are annually weathering into soluble compounds. Plants get their food, directly, only from the soluble por? tion and by continuous ?roppiog of any one crop, lhere is great danger of exhausting the element upon which that crop draws most heavily, faster than the insoluble portion eau sup? ply it. j It is recorded that Mr. Lawes of Rothamstcad, England, raised more than 20 successive crops of wheat I on the same laud without fertilizing, j The first crop yielding 15 bushels and the last 17 1-2 bushels per acre, the average being 16 1-4. Few of us, I think, have soils that will stand such severe test. One of the most important princi? ples of good farming, in rn}7 opio ion, is that of systematic rotation of crops. Some of the advantages accruing from this system are, 1st. You present to the soil, in turn, different crops making different demands on soil and thus lessen the danger of exhausting any one of its mineral substances. 2nd. The rool6 of different plants enter the soil differently. Some feed? ing from lateral while others feed from a strong tap root as well. Now snell ? plants which feed from a considerable j depth serve two beneficial purposes, j Besides drawing some of its mineral j food from the depth of the soil, their i roots penetrate the "Hard Pan," j (which often forms just below the; level of plowing and is nothing more' nor less than soil reverting to rock | again) thereby assisting the drainage j and capillary action of soil 3rd. lt enables you to study and become more familiar with your soil, j lu attempting to renovate soils that have been exhausted, I fear that many a lori ot fertilizer has been ap? plied from which we have reaped no return. Not because there was no j merit in the fertilizer, but because we j applied it iud isa eel ly. A soil that ! has been exhausted of mineral food ? and deprived of its organic and : nitrogenous substance is in no condi ? lion to be improved by direct applica- j lion of commercial manure. We must first build up a soil by the use of green crops, and aa Dr. Page emphasizes, a liberal use of lime. Lime is considered an excel? lent application for all soils not abso? lutely calcareous Besides furnishing ! a mineral food for the plant it pei ; forms some very important functions ! io neutralizing soil and influencing i thc mechanical condition, rendering i 6oil more fi ?able and powdery. 1 am one of those who lean hard ; upon the pea crop as the surest, cheap et?t aud most effectual renovator of ! the soil; Alter seeing that the (Ira ! age is sufficient, 'most any exhaust soil which has become exhausted cropping, will respond well to lei lizers after first having obtained' good growth of pea vines and th given a liberal dressing with lin I believe the pea to be to us wh clover is to others. With the use j lime it will, I think, form the bas for all other improvements. Soils vary so much from one plan! tion to another and even on a sing plantation we often find several v rietie8, it is impossible to give ar general method of treatment, so th; each farmer lias to study expenmen ally and learn the nature of his ow soil. This is the most difficult las a farmer has, and it furnishes a fiel for the exercise of all the brain an energy lie can muster. But I believ by patient, painstaking and releutlet experiment a degree of knowledg will be obtained, sufficient for a practical good. I believe that b more thorough devotion to farming our lands can be made to yield muc more abundantly, and so far as agr culture at least is concerned not a fe\ of us would be ready to rebuke thos who hold to the degeneracy of al things and who continually refer t the prosperous and halcyon days o our fathers. "Say not thou, what i the cause that the former days wer better than these ; for thou dost no enquire wisely concerning this."* What Our Editors Say. A Question of Propriety. Newberry Observer.. Some friend has sent ns a copy o Bishop McTyier's letter and the Grier Simonton controversy on the Soutl Corolina University question in pam? phlet form. These are kind friends and Bishop McTyiere and Dr. Grier are good and great men, but it strikes us ii they would preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified and let South Carolina politics alone, they would find more congenial and profitable employment.-Pee Dee (Marion) Index. We have seen that sort of stuff be? fore. In some quarters and among people of a certain calibre it passes for exalted wisdom. Neither of these gentlemen, so flip? pantly alluded to, is allowing, or has allowed, South Carolina politics to in? terfere with his preaching; and there is not the s.igbest danger that he will. They are not expected by reasonable people, however, to renounce their rights of citizenship, or their right to express their opinion and to use their/influence concerning any mj^tef^aTaffects the public welfare.^ Drx^kier,can pay his taxes to help support the government, a part of which taxes, by the way, goes toward build? ing up an institution as a rival to his own ; he can bear his proportionate share of the burdens and responsibilities of citizenship; when his country calls for defenders he can go to the front, and on the field of battle seal his devotion with his blood-but he must "let South Car? olina politics alone.'* Dr. Grier is not alone. Bishop Mc? Tyiere, Dr. Furman and all other min? isters must let politics alone. Any bummer with a half-gill of brains and a half-pint of whiskey can exercise bis right as a citizen, express bis opinion on public affairs and exert a political in? fluence; but a doctor of divinity-never ! He must let politics alone. Why? ls his judgment of public affairs not as good as other people's ? Is he not as well informed ? ls he not as mach interes? ted ? Are his views and opinions not as valuable as those of newspaper editors or average politicians ? But a minister should preach the gospel. Of course he should. The merchant should attend to bis merchan? dise; the doctor should attend to his pa? tients; the lawyer to his briefs, the far? mer to his crops, and the editor to his business. And politicians should at? tend to politics? Isthat the idea? If so, it is a wrong idea. Every man is interested in public af? fairs; and every man has a right to ex? ert whatever influence his character and position give him for advancing the public welfare. The better the man the better the influence. But the South Carolioa University is not a matter of politics It is a matter of public policy. It is a question whether the policy is right and just, and whether it is required by that. Constitu? tion. Upon this point people differ The opinion of such men as Bishop Mc? Tyiere, Dr. Grier and Dr Furman is certainly entitled tc as much weight as that of any other citizens. Praying for Grant. Abbeville Medium. .From millions of hearts thc incense of prayer arises to heaven for the poor sufferer. Throughout his painful dis? ease he has shown the most wonderful patience and christian serenity, and he will go to his loog accouut we have no doubt in peace.' Tbe above is from the Newberry Her tddand Xcics and refers to Gen. Gra:it. It is a new view of Grant's character. We have always bren of thc opinion that he us an agnostic and therefore prc- j sumed his serenity was inspire**, by his j grit and not his piety. Who is pray i ti 2 for him outsUe of the Herald and. Xc?cx and Pardon New- ; man ? In thc latter ease Grant is rep- : resented to have said that he didn't suppose that the prayer did him any : good but he did not wi&h to hurt the j Parson's n-clinjrs We think it very wrong to set Grant up as a Christian and a generous and kind hearted man because he has never been anything of the kind. There isn't an editor in America who can prove it.. Neither are people down on their knees ! praying for him. No day of National I fasting has bceu appointed. No spe? cial services have beeu hel l in any of the churches so far as we have seen All this pretty talk is sentimental and while wc are sorry to see any mau die ' as Grant is g)\n<z off. we believe for the truth of history he should bc held up before the people in his true character. To bring the matter to a point let any one tell what Grant has done to commend him to thc honor and respect of thc wisc, patriotic and good. Has he built any churches7 Has he en? dowed any educational institutions ? , Has bc helped any of God's poor ? Hai j he given heed to any cry of humanity Didn't he violate every principle American liberty, daring his two tern as President? Didn't he protect tt thieves and jobbers who surrounded bia and distribute pardons to the scoundre who preyed for years upon our peop and robbed the widow and the orpha bf their substance ? It is due to the good, the virtuous an the patriotic that this thing should b put down right. A Darlington Invention, ' :*- Darlington News. With- th? intensive system of cotto planting, and the improvement of im pl em er. ts for cultivation, planting an< preparing for m?rket, the problem o picking has never been solved, ezcep by the use of the hum?n fingers. Tb Mason Cotton Picker, of which so mud was written and said some months ago seems to have come as yet to naught and the problem seems to be as far fron solution as ever. Stil1 a machin? ca'i and will yet be made ;o do the "work and with this idea in view, R. K. Charles, Esq., of our county and ? practicing lawyer, has for some tim? been perfecting io his mind such a ma? chine. Ile has had it patented and from the description and drawings, we find that the machine is mounted on wheels, to run astride the cotton row, the right and left portions running independent? ly. The main part of the machine, that which picks the cotton, consists of a number of gibbous shaped plates, cov? ered with picker teeth,"somewhat like a cotton card, the plates revolve at right angles to thc row, and 'between the limbs of the plant. The machine also has a variety of parts to conduct the cotton to the proper receptacles after it is caught in the pickers. The machine is simple in construction, not liable to get out of order, and shows in its con? ception, a close study of the work for which it is intended. If any machine can pick cotton, we judge that this one will, when perfected. The Murderous Pistol. Camden Journal? We believe that the pistol is the most useless implement ever devised or made by human ingenuity. It was made es? pecially for taking human life, and nothing else. It is fit for nothing else It is an instrument of the devil placed in human hands io order that men may destroy each other, and bring woe and suffering upon thousands of innocent women and children, besides filliog onr penitentiaries with convicts and furnish? ing victims for the hangman. Not a maU'tiome^^ accounts of the murderous work oTtbs pistol, in the hands of evil doers. There is a heavy penalty for every one who may be convicted of carrying a concealed deadly weapon in this State, but notwithstanding all this there are numbers of persons right here in our midst who call themselves gentlemen and lawabiding citizens, and yet they are guilty of lugging around with them these instruments of death and general cussedness. We sincerely trust that our Legislators may yet be able to muster up courage enough to legislate the infernal implements out of existence -or practically .so. We would like to see it tried, anyhow. Chicago News. The person who has been appointed postmaster at Indianapolis is said to be the oldest human living male being on the American continent, having origi? nated among the mountain fastnesses of North Carolina some time prior to the dawu of the nineteenth century. His name is Aquila Jones. Aquila is a Latin word-a common noun of the first declension, feminine gender. Original? ly, it was written Aquilla, bot at the time of the invasion of Britain by Ma? jor-General, J. Caesar the name drop? ped the last "1." One Aquila Janus, was a ccnturian in Caesar's Roman army, and such was his valor that his effigy is up to the present time intro? duced iu all the stirring mimic battles in which Lawrence Barrett, Tom Keene, and other classic actors utilize a Roman army. Old Aquila Janus-or Aquila Primus, as he is called by Latin histor? ians-was the great grandfather of the Indianapolis postmaster. As thc cen? turies rolled on, Janus became corrupt? ed to Jon us and anglicized to Jones. Among his family relics Aquila Jones has a sword and scabbard which his great-grandfather captured fron Ario vistus. king of the aboriginal Germans, and subsequently used with conspicuous valor against the heathen Britons. Salem All Right. In our news items some time ago we mentioned the fact that some miscreant had cut the mill-dam belonging to Capt Pat. Gibbons, who is known to many of our readers. The following from the Clareudoo Enterprise tells how his friends treated him while in his ??rouble. The friends of Captain P. M. Gibbon, assembled themselves together at his mill and viewed the damages caused by some malicious person or persons in cut? ting his mill dam which was cot only very damaging to him, but also quite detrimental to the public travel, and also to the community in which the mill is located. They therefore resolv? ed to repair the brrach, and restore to | the people, public travel and also the benefit of the mill to that neighborhood, i ?nd on Monday the 10th inst., the fol- j lowing named geutlemen gathered at. the place, viz : the two worthy Bache? lors, II: G. Dennis and II. F. Laven? der, with Daniel Vapor, J. W. Du Hosc, J. T. Gibbon. W. EH Gibbon, J. P. W. Gibbon, IV. M. Mollette, T. M. Dcard, J. P. Gibbon, W. T. Welch, R. J. Coker, Ashbey Hudson, ! H. S. Flemming; J. W. Gibbon, and ; Joe Brand, colored, with mules and ' carts, spades aud shovels They went to work in earnest, and in five days' work they repaired thc breach. It is said by some of our oldest citizens that thc dexterity of thc work surpassed anything of the kind they had ever wit? nessed, and when thc work was com? pleted they al! with one accord denounc? ed the diobolical act, and unanimously desired that thc guilty parties be brought to justice, and that io foto e they would have more respec for them? selves, their families, aod .for thc com? munity in which they reside, than ever to be guilty of the same or any similar act. A SkillfuTPr?iessor. 'Ah, hah V exclaimed Prof Sfayo> Imffjookiog; jap froai a book and turn? ing to his wife. " ' . """ ' 'What have you found, dear?*' "". '.V 'Listen to this from Horace .Greeley : 'I am fully persuaded that if. chopping wood were " universal, rheumatism and I dyspepsia would be unknown!7 " .Well, what of that?' asked Mrs. Mayor h liff. ' ".' V V ". 5 * *'*' l> ?What of it? Why/ i shall chop wood, that's what there is of it. 'Did you ever chop wood V " "*'.' ! .Did I ever chop Vd'oS.?'.' Haven't I been editor of the Woodman" for years ?. Didn't my article, 'Howto', #tear up( New Ground,* create Vs?ns?fton'? Of course it did.. $an?, ? sw,ear that some* times I believe you are bli?d. '1 Did I ever chop wood, indeed]/; ?b?vejus? ordered a cord of bard oak" wood and f shall chop it myself.' Aside from the healthful exercise, it will; ??V?- money* ? shall order in at f?'be seht op j ?st aa soon as I go down town.' When the professor retur'??'d'ardlhner time, he asked if the ax had come." .Yes, ?t's out there on the porch/ ' Welt, I shall go to work at once.' *'I hope so. "'We ar? needing some now, for the weather has turned awful cold.' / ' "r . 'Doh'r/fr?tr You shall hive all the wood you wantl' " '' " : ' The professor' went ont and after "hw boring three hours, brougfctih two sinal? sticks that looked 'as though they had b^en gnawed in two. ?This enoughT :' ? 'Enough' the* Mischief! It's not, enough to start a fire.' " / . i ' The professor puffed i: and 'Mowed' awhile, and then weht:,o?? a&ain*; ~r ' Three hours later be came in again with: two more sticks, . , .Tnisuof- : i u 'Of cours?' it won't. We'll have snow before morning.' - '*"* 'Snow !'' he. exclaimed, wiping his reeking brow*, 'les, snow. :. 'Well, I don't care if it falls fifty feej* ieep, I am not going" to chop any more to-day\ 'Needn't expect a man to kill* himself just because we are going to bav? snow.' Just then a rap came at the door. 'Come itif called the professor, top' tired to get up. What have you got there?' .;' /'. , ?; .." 'Ax from the hardware store. Made i mistake before and sent you a grubbing joe.* * ./ Mrs Mayorhm?^houte^ an^he 'essor collapsed.-Arka.n1T*~m*^~* ?A 'While- .out ri3!?^nlhe country on" Monday, we came upon a negro plowi? ng a milk cow in the field... "You have i novel nag," said we; "how does she Fork ?" She's a mighty good worker," sah, and steps as lively as a peart' nule." "How long have you workedr ier?" "Gwine onto two year. She's i heap bett?r as a ox." "Do you milk ier?" "Oh, yes sah. She. supplies Ie whole family, and gives.a mighty right o' milk." "? must say you've got1, a cheap nag." ' "Yes, sab, and a good ane, too. Back 1 Gee ! Haw !" And he went on at his work of making' :otton rows, while we thought how' much better it would have been bad h? been planting corn ora turnip patch, ind to what extremity some people are forced.-Flor?nc? Tin?s. If advertisments were allowed on tho Washington monument'everybody, for?' wonder, would not want their cards "afc the top of the column."-PhMadelphia CaU.- ?: V >?> 4'Did you say that y??r wife nerer gave you a curtain lecture after you1 came home late at night ?" "She never* did." "How is that?" "She always goes along with me when I go oat." Texas Sifting . . \ '.Where land ts"worth twentydollars," an acre, one glass of beer at five cents ' would represent a piece of land twelfe' feet long and nine feet wide; and tmV money duly invested in this land would' be paving the way to a good home and prosperity all around." J. A letter from Central Africa saysV that one of the savage kings of that' country had been converted, and one of" the first acts of his new life was to order* the keeping of the Sabbath*. : Second; ? he issued a prohibitory liquor law. Score one for Africa. It is said that bees will never sting a" person whose head is smeared with mo-' lasses. The bother of it is, wheo a man* has incurred the animosity of a colony." of bees-, he dosen't have much time to go home, get molasses and spread it on/ bis epidermis. The old-fashioned wajF is the best-just run.-Burlington Free Press. t In Montgomery County, says tv Macon (Ga ) journal, there is a pear? tree eighty-seven years old, which has " not failed to bear a crop of fruit in over-* eighty years. The tree was. set opt by Stafford Davis in 1793. The fruit re^ sembles the sand pear in shape ,acd fiavor. The tree ia six feet in circnm-: ference. By the way, it would not be amiss to state that Mr. Davis is now it resident of Worth County, where be* re* moved from Montgomery many years ago. He is now 10? years old. :He married four years ago (at the age4 tjf 103) a young lady of eighteen years'ot? age. Mr. Davis is a farmer, aod made a good crop last year. He plowed reg? ularly through thc working season. ., - ~~j- ' - ? "A Right Smart Town." ?Yes, sir,' said an en th osiaatic citizen, of a new Western town, 'we've got a right smart town, stranger.' 'Why,' be? continued impressively, 'it's only sir* months old yet and it's got two hotels, < forty-eight beer saloons, twenty-seven; gambiin' places, four drugstores, to Say. nuthin' of grocery and clothin' sstorefr/ - and the best half-mile track west of the Missouri.' - . . 'Any churches ?' asked the stranger. 'Any what?' 'Churches.' - " : - '''?' 'You mean them bui?diu'swith a long pint sticking up in tue air?' ?Yes.' ' * ' " .* .No, we hain't got any of the1*j:, Thar was-some talk about bu>?dtn- o?ey > but we finally allowed it would look to j dudish.'