TUESDAY, MA? 18. . The Sumter Watchman was founded ia I860 and the True Southron In 1866. The Watchman and Southron now has the.combined circulation and influence of both of the old papers, and ra manifestly the best advertising medium in Sumter. EDITORIAL ITEMS. The Charleston Dispatch with its -correspondents, has entered into an exhaustive discussion of old maids and round dances, and if the discussion is kept op a few weeks longer we will know all about it. Mr? W. H. Gibbes, of Columbia, is said.to have the inside track for the appointment as Postmaster, if he has ; not already received it. It is cruelly ' intimated that Mr. Gibbes/ strongest recomendation is bis name, "W. H." If so, thc old saying there is nothing in "a name will be effectually disproved. ? mysterious murder was committed some weeks ago in St. Louis. The murderer fied and had embarked at San Francisco for Australia before it was discovered. The telegraph was called into requisition and last week when the murderer, Maxwell, stepped off the gang plank at Auckland in New Zea . land he was welcomed by a detective, and is now ian guis h in g in jail. So mach for the telegraph as an aid to justice. The New York World seems to dis? like England as much as Rossa. Every issue contains some sneering allusions te England's back down in the Afghan ?stan difficulty with Kassia. Gladstone deserves the well-done of every friend of humanity in his effort to avoid a war. He knows how the people would safer, and hence his . coarse of action. We are sorry to see an able paper like the 7*For?<2 take such a position. The Orangeburg Times and Demo? crat is waging war with Postmaster Webster, on the subject of his removal. This is righteous work. We also see that the same paper intimates that Postmaster Ahrens, of Summerville, ought to step down and out. We think so too. They all should go, the quick? er the better; They aay be very clever fellows, but they don't represent South Carolina ; in fact they represent nothing-but their own interest, and 'we'd be ten times happier without It really lo?w-'?guGen get well after all. This is hard OD some folks, for instance some shrewd mer? * chants in New York, thinking to get np a corner in mourning goods, and : believing the General's death was cer . tain, bought up every yard of black goods they could find. The General did not die, and nobody wanted mourn? ing, and the corner is all broken np. We imagine the chaps who got np that comer, feel like going into mourning - over their lost hopes. Ste transit. The Mormons held Union Meetings . all over their Territory last week to pro? test .against the enforcement of the CF. S. laws for the supp'ft&sion of poly? gamy, and adopted resolutions of de? cided dissent. These law breaking rascals have defied our laws so long that they think themselves superior to the law. They claim that they should be allowed to continue their violations of the law because they have been al? lowed to violate them for so many years unchecked. If the scamps had strict justice meted out to them, every leader would occupy a felon's cell, and now to join in this protest to President Cleve- j land shows them to be as bold as they shameless. John Roach, the ship beUder, the boon companion and close ally of Robe? son and Chandler, has a rough time with Secretary Whitney. Roach bas made several efforts to bulldoze Mr. Whitney into making him the final payment on his last boat, the Dolphin, j but the Secretary insists upon Mr. j Reach's carrying out his contract just j as other ordinary people would have to do. This provoked the righteous wrath of the contractor, and he doubtless feels like a much injured man. Everything is so different from the free and easy past, when Roach looked upon the Navy department as his own especial property, when he carried it so to speak in his pocket, where, by the way, he carries so large a share of the govern meat taxes. Roach ought to be a r d Republican. Among the various suggestions made by anxious friends of the round dance which may have a tendency to remove its evils and retain its virtues, we were j much pleased with the suggestions j made by a correspondent of the News j and Courier. He proposes that a perpendicular ornamented handle, some? what in form like thc metal appurten? ance to the old-style door-latch be fastened on the centre cf the lady's back, below the curve of the shoulders, ! and to be of sufficient size to accept ! easily the gra?p of any dancing gentle- j man, who could thus not only hold his j fair partuer without undue pressure, but more easily steer her through the j mystic contortions of the ball-room's j dreamy swirl. Ladies of exhausticss j .* j dancing proclivities and powers might j have this sweet boon securely wrought j into their party dresses hythe combined j art of the modisfe and blacksmith. J Others wi?o only occasionally (for Uck j of. breath and conscience sake) deliver: themselves to the rapturous glide, j c;u!d have a more modsst handle fas teaed to a lovely belt, which should j accompany them and be duneed upon j the acceptance of a partner. We hard ]y think, however, that either side will consent to the proposed change. The present style is mach more sociable. The "undue pressure" is generally en? joyed by both parties. A WARNING. Plymouth, Pe., is serving as a ter? rible warning to other towns and cities. Some days ago an epidemic broke oat in that place which has continued to increase in virulence and numbers. In one day last week, 155 new eases were reported, and the physicians find themselves baffled by this strange and deadly disease. All accounts assign the origin of the epidemic to the filthy and neglected streets and lots; and the municipal officials are busily engaged in cleansing the town and removing the causes of disease. The authorities need hardly be told that it would have been much better to have done this important work at au earlier day, for the darkened homes' and grief stricken hearts of many in Plymouth have convinced them of that fact, and there is but little reason to doubt but that they are in a great measure responsible for the ravages of this plague. So we say that Plymouth should be a warning to other towns Sum ter has an enviable reputation for good health. Malaria is almost un? known, and we doubt if a town in South Carolina can show a lower death rate. Her soil is so porous that it freely absorbs much that might other? wise vitiate the atmosphere, but with all] these natural advantages it will be neces? sary that rules of cleanliness be en? forced. Most of us require some government even in matters where self interest would seem to dictate a proper course of action. In hygienio matters a com? petent and careful board of health i? very necessary, (we supp?t there is one ic Sumter,) and their experience will enable them to dictate a course of management which will insure Sumter against the pestilential visits of epidem? ics. We have no doubt that the Council, alive as ic is to the vital interests of the town, will see that this matter is not overlooked, and thit cleanliness will be rigidly ec forced. THE CENSUS. Quite a number of the papers of the State have had somethiog to say on the above subject. The law requires that it shall be taken, but the Legislature, I^?ff ?^fo^TryVthe Senate, did not see ffiMlo make , any pi^vjsion^for its execu^l lion and hence the ptobab?^-llit, perchance, re? main until the next "tenth year," to wit; until 1805, uniess eur Constitu? tion is obeyed and our Statutes enforced by ordering the eensu> taken this year. A TROUBLESOME EXCURSION. May 1st, the School Commissioner of Abbeville got up an excursion to Greenville, for the children in that and neighboring counties, in wbieh possibly 1000 persons took part. A large por? tion of the visitors were young, and they spent a delightful day in the Mountain City, starting on the return trip late in the afternoon, after which all enjoyment was at on end. A few young bloods who deserve to sp?od the remainder of the year iu the Peniten? tiary, got roaring drunk, and changed the excursion train into Pandemonium. Windows were broken, pistols fired, free fights organized, torrents ol: filthy profanity fiiled the air, and tae day which promised so mach pleasure w marred and raised. Wheo the tra reached Pelzer, the demonstration t came so violent and threatening tb some of the passengers got off, prefi ring the discomfort and expense waiting for the regalar train next d to continuing the trip with those dren en rowdies; but the greater nonrbe and especially the children, were coi pelted to continue the journey. Whiskey men are profound advocat of personal liberty. Their libert loving souls cry out with indignant against laws which would onrb ai restrain the liquor traffic, becaus forsooth, it interferes with the purse of the liberty and happiness of its adv cates. We wonder if these lovers freedom ever think how their pet hoi by-selling whiskey-interferes wil the free pursuit of liberty and happine; in others. On the day io question tit or three liquor shops in G-reeavil made a few dollars, selling their poison possibly a dozen rowdies enjoyed tl luxury of getting drank, and actio more like demons than men ; while o the other side nearly one thousand pe: sons had their day's enjoyment ruine< How does the account stand betwee the two parties ? Is the gain to tl rum shops, and the bestial enjoymei of the ruffians, offset as it was by tl next day's headache and remorse sufficient to counterbalance the loss < enjoyment to the other members of tl party, especially to the hundreds < children who perhaps had scraped tc gether the laborious savings of man weeks to take this holiday trip, and wc could not take anothen for months ? ] it is right to shoot down a mad dog, t fight back the devouring flames whic are threatening one's property, to stay vessel from discharging her pestilence laden cargo into oar sea ports, is it nc right to shut ap the liqaor shops What say you gentle reader ? The Abbeville Press and Banner i commenting on this outrage says : Recent expressions have led us t doubt the propriety of "excursions/ and unless the railroad authorities sha) make .arrangements to prevent disor derly conduct, we think it might not b amiss for oar people to remain at hom on such occasions. A guard of four six or tea policemen could preserv order, and *o see no reason for no employing them. Woald it not be better to make ii quor sellers build a large room adjoin sog their deo, in which they should bi required, under a heavy penalty, t< incarcerate every man they make drunk Excursion parties then could be freec from the discomforts of their pres fr h at these excursion par AB ?ld afford so mach satis factory^ Kt to those whose mean* will not alOTv^^m to indulgean expensive holiday, ^^uTd^De captured as they so frequently are by a drunken mob, and all chance of pleasure taken away? Caa oot some penalty be inflicted that will check the evil ? SOUTHERN BAPTIST COITVEH? TION. This Convention has been io session the past week in Augusta, and the fol? lowing from the News and Courier gives its condensed history since the organization forty years ago : The Baptist Convention which meets io Augusta to-day was organized in that city forty years ago. A joint conven? j tioa of thirty-three delegates from mis ? sionary societies and other religious j bodies of American Baptists assembled iu Philadelphia in May, 1814, and or? ganized the "General Missionary Con? vention of the Baptist denominations io ! the United States for foreigo missions." Dr. Richard Furman, ef the First Bap? tist Charch in Charleston, was the first president of the Convention, aod the Northern and Southern Baptists acted in entire harmony during the first thirty years of the work of the organization. The acti-slavery agitation, however, bad sprung up iu this time, and finally obtained so many adherents among the Northern members of the Convention that the Board of Foreign Missions was j induced to declare that no slave-holder [ would be appointed a missionary, and the Home Mission Society determined on the same course of action, j Io view of this aggression the board of the Virginia Foreign Mission Society suggested a convention to confer on the best means of promoting missions and other intetests among Southern Baptists. Accordingly a convention, composed of 310 delegates from eight Southern States and the District of Columbia, met iu Augusta, Ga., in May, 1845, and organized the present Southern Baptist Convention, South Carolina again sup? plying the first presideut in the person I of Dr. Wm. B. Johoson. The design of the Convention is purely missionary, having reference to both foreign and domestic missions. It is not a legisla? tive or judicial body, aod can exercise no authority over any pastor, church or association, but is rather a general de? liberative organization for the further ance of the objects named. The Convention is composed of repre? sentatives from all the Southern States, members who contribute funds or who j are delegated by religious bodies con ? tributing funds, the basis of representa ! tion being one delegate for every ?100 j contributed to the fuuds of the boards of [ foreign aud domestic missions, and also one delegate for every $500 contributed to the funds of State missions. The j missionary work of the Convention is I conducted by two boards of managers j which are elected every year by the j Convention ; the officers, members of j the boards, missionaries and agents ap ! pointed by the Convention or by any of j the boards are required to be members of some regular Baptist Church ia j union with the churches which compose ! the Convention, and the entire organi ! zation represents a constituency of j nearly fourteen thousand churches and i over nine hundred thousand commuoi ; cants. j_?nmm * ? w*m* To get Rid of Misery. What is the use of suffering from dyspepsia, I nervous prostration or debility, wheo brown's j ? Iron Kilters will tone you up and ca3t these i horrors out? There is joy in every bottle of j this valuable tonic, it make? bad blood i ! good, and bids dismal people be cheerful. It j brings good cheer to the dinner table, and j ' makt-s the family happy. It drives away the ] j blues, and helps you to enjoy a hearty laugh, j And all the respectable druggists keep it. J Clarendon News. The Manning young men are trying to organize a base ball club. Messrs. Legg and Bell are rebuilding new stables to replace those barned in the late fire. Four prisoners are in jail-three of them awaiting trial. The Town Council of Manning have passed* an ordinance forbidding the erection of wooden buildings in the burnt district, and a meeting of the citizens was held shortly after to en? dorse the action of the coo neil. ? hot supper at Dudleys, giren last Friday week to aid in building the Baptist church, realized $45, above all expenses. The merchants of Manning will close their stores at 7 o'clock, except on Saturdays, nntii next September. - A white buzzard was seen near Jor? dan, in Clarendon a few days ago. The colored folks are somewhat exer? cised over it. Kershaw News? Treasurer Haile did not receive a single call from the tax payers the day he opened his books for the spring col? lection, May 1st. Ked horse and cat fish are abundant. A colored woman in Camden claims to be lil years old. Small grain crops are promising. Mr. O. V. Melts, of Camden is con? structed a novel looking cotton cultiva? tor. It is the invention of a Flat Bock Farmer. The Br. B. Election held May 2d, to authorize issuing bonds for construct? ing the Palmetto Road, seems to have gone against the road. An overwhel? ming majority of those who voted were in favor of the road, bat the law re? quires a majority of all property holders should vote in favor of this issue, but a great many did not vote at all. Twenty-five years ago last Taesday, a sad catastrophe occurred at Boy ki D'S Mill pond, about eight miles below Camden. Twenty-four persons were drowned "by the sinking of a flat boat. The sad accident is remembered by many of our citizens t ao sustained mournful losses on that occasion. Kershaw Gazette. The gross number of tons of fertili? zers received at Camden last year, was something over one thousand seven hundred (1,700) tons or 17,000 sacks. The number of sacks received this year, was 23,111, divided as follows : Becd in January, 3,609 Recd in February, 11,594 March and April, 7,908 Total 23,111 or two thousand three hundred and eleven tons and one sack. There was also a large amount of cotton seed meal used bj oar planters for fertilizing purposes. Darlington News. The first number of the Centenary is now being published at the Florence Times office. The Times bas its new power press in positioo, and feels happy. Dr. Mayo's lecture at the Court House, May 1st, was oo "the American System of Education.'* The JVeic* says lt-was handled in a masterly man? ner, ^mmmt Darlingt^l Wking of boring an artesian we5W^ State Medical Association. The State Medical Association at its meeting elected the following officers: President-O. B. Mayer, Jr., New? berry. First Vice President-Thomas J. McKie, Edgefield. Second Vice President-H. D. Fra? ser, Charleston. Third Vice President-T. Monro, Union. Recording Secretary-Dr. W. P. Porcher, Charleston. Corresponding Secretary-Dr. J. L. Dawson, Jr. Charleston. Treasurer-H. W. DeSaussore, Jr., Charleston. We congratulate Dr. Mayer upon the prominent position he has attained among his brethren.. Privateer Items. PRIVATEER, S. C., May ll, 1885. The weather bas been very variable for the past week, and colds are prevailing. The nights and mornings have been rather cool for yonng cotton. Dr. J. H. Fnrman has sixty acres to plant ia cotton vet. But having everything ready it will take only three or four days to finish, and it will make better cotton than some others who planted three and four weeks ago. The Doctor does not believe in planting cotton before the soil is warm, and the results prove that be is correct. In contrast with this is the case of a farmer not two miles off: He planted his cotton the first week io April ; and now io his very expressive words : "My cotton is done eat up with the grass." Mr. Lawrence Geddings is the "boss" pea? nut farmer of Privateer. He has planted ten acres in this excellent tuber, without which life in the Legislature, at Court or on Sales days would be unendurable to the average mortal. Mr. G's plan is to "bar off" the old cotton rows, and splitting out the stalks of alternate rows, plant corn; then at the prop? er time for planting the peanut?, he plows out the other rows and plants. He says that pur? suing this plan he makes a full crop of corn, aud nearly as many ground peas as if all of the land were devoted to them. Mr. Matt G. Ramsey has a field of sixteen acres in corn that on last Monday averaged from eight to ten inches high, and had never been worked. He was putting the manure to it (cotton seed and kainit) then His cotton was up to a stand and be has begun chop? ping. Our enterprising young merchant and far? mer, Mr. J. Scott Dwight, and bis charming wife have one of the handsomest boy-babies that we ever saw. As we are very skeptical of the beauties of babies in general, our opin? ion ought to be worth something. [The idea of an old bachelor bragging on a boy-baby I Now if it was a girl !-ED.] Mr. Ediotr, we congratulate the Abbeville Medium upon having the "grit" to condemn the senseless panegyrics that Southern news? papers have been bestowing upon Gen. Grant. We remember its being reported that he said while President. "Let them try to impeach me and I will land them in Fortress Monroe in two days." As to his generalship, it is a matter of history that in the short campaign of the Wilderness, Gen. Lee with sixty thou? sand men opposed to twice that many under Grant, whipped him back at every point and inflicted a loss of sixty thousand men (equal his own force at the start) on the hosts of Grant. And when forced into the lines of Petersburg this army, constantly dwiodling, with little or no reinforcements, held a line forty miles long, for nine months, against the ever augmenting army of Grant, until less than nine thousand laid down their arms to one hundred and eighty thousand at Appo? mattox. We sympathize with Gen. Grant in his sad illness just as we would with any ! other terribly diseased person : but to bold up one who, in a great measure is responsible for his own misfortunes, as a martyr, and a patriot, is nauseating to say the leaBt. DEW. Mother Eve Criticised-Churches Worldlings-A Good Paper. SMITHVILLE, S. C., May 5, 1885. Mr. Editor : I have been thinking for some time of dropping yon a line or two to let you know that we are still going on in the even tenor of oar way, with nothing to disturb or worry ns bat that which falls to the common lot of os all-bard work. I have often thought, at the close of a bard day's work, that if I had been in existence, and near Mother Eve, I could have slapped her pretty face (I reckon Adam thought it pretty) with a good grace for taking the for? bidden fruit, and also have given Father Adam a few good ones, for allowing a woman to tempt him so, and thereby bring this life of toil upon us, instead of one of ease and comfort that we would have enjoyed, if he bad done what he was told to do. Father Adam certainly set a bad example for us, tho' be was'nt the firstman woman eve fooled, and the imitation of his act goes on to the present day. But with all their faults, what would the world do without them, and I expect they think the same thing about the men. Truly the Boyal Decree passed upon our fore parents is in fall force to-day ; and proves conclusively, by itself, the existence of the Great I Am. Ocr church privileges here are good. Preaching in reach of the neighborhood every Sunday, but our people don't seem to care much about going to church or religion any way. Congregations are small except on big days, then they seem to go to "see and be seen, talk and be talked to." A young friend of oars, who makes no claims to religion in any way, says he notices in the different churches be visits, that lady members have a habit now of sitting upright during prayer-the most solemn part of the service-and looking about over the church. I suggested that probably their cariosity got the better of them, and that they were look? ing for or at new bonnets, dresses, different fashions,