The watchman and southron. (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, March 16, 1886, Image 1
TgR S?ai'EK "WATCHMAN, .Established April, IS?O*
Coasolidatwl Aug. 2, 1881.1
'Be Just and Fear nor-Let all the Ends thou Aims't at, be thy Country's, thy God's and Truth's."
THE TRUE SOUTHRON, Katab?lshed Jane, 1*6C
SUMTER, S. C., TUESDAY MARCH 16, 1886.
New Series-Yo!. V. ffe.t&
Publiais! ev?ry Tassday,
BY
. 3STi- Gr. OSTEEN,
?g|| K_:~ SLITER, S. C.
\ " TERMS:
y : rTwo Dollars "|>er annum-in advance.
g? ??^gqaare, Srst insertion-._....$1 00
? ?very subsequent insertion:-...---.......-.. -50
.-. Contracts for three raon?hs, or longer will
madest reduced rates.
* -JAH-cooniadications which subserve private
interes ts willhe charged" for as ad vertisements.
Ob?toanes aad tributes of respect will be
?faarged for. ...
? BY THE LATE BUGS CONWAY*
>?f:&&to.&:uCuUed Bach? "Dark Bays?
- Vi. ' ?A Family Affair? Etc,
r:?TT-^ \ ;t -?
V. y^^-- ' "CHAPTER I
iv- 1 After yon pass* tiie "Blue Anchor," tbs
.-ilga of yvhich. swings from the branch of an
I ^??m tree- older even than the house itself, a
|| f-stops along the-road bring you ia sight
S? U^f--awv pitm^pdj gqnttm Imrerof Coombe
r Acton church. You cannot see the church
s^'itsa?? as, with schools and rectory dose by
f|$^;i?- Hes at the hack of t??e village, about j
-^^ toadrod lake the vii- :
^'-?-Uiga ^ whose spiritual needs it ministers,
&tb|S-^?nrchi i? au ordinary observer, is
???\?, jH3<h?ag>out of the common, although cer
| ; .tain small; peculiarities of architecture, not
? --.lapttoadC by an . uncultured eye, make it an
r^by^ ^ isome interest to aroheologisfcs.
:\. .Ini?Pit or not, according to your inclination,
|?? It?^tecwards heep straight on through the
'h^'^oa^ straggling visage, until the houses be
|P gm to?growevea more straggling, tbs gar
?ft^fc^3arse^cad,2ess cared for as ornaments,
I displaying; more cabbages and scarlet run
'-y '^t^Baet- Tosss^^kesp oa natal the houses
^^?asealte^tber,. and hawthorn hedges take
N>'~?e place of palings and crumbling walls,
|| ?ad: at-last yen wH come to "Watercress
i :VxJ5?rn^ .avl?ag. low, white house, one side of
^^srKchv abuts on the highway, while the
^^B0?r 2ooks over the three hundred acres of
/:^?t?atta?ied toit -
I "rf?fibt a-very large acreage.it is true, but
^^ffipaSps^?|^dJ^^;?or tb? most part
jggj ?zeb as auctioneers describe as neb, warm, {
^ ^deep^o^ pastare land; such land thai, at J
jp?j^lhe.time: this tale opens? any farmer, -by j
'lT^4mt?tIrnowiedgeHof his business and hard j
3:"bw?Or^ could makeevea more than bare hV
. mg out of, and cordd meet his. landlord on :
rent day with a cheerful face? knowing that i
- . afferent and other outgoings were pro
Yided for something would ye*, be left for
himself.
. . * r^9f^'pocm?B&^^Tc^e!Si Farm now, and j
-wfaether ln. these days of depression his rent ?
j: fe^'readfly . forthcoming . or ' not matters
littK At the time "I write of it was rented j
by Farmer Leiah, even as bis forefathers, i
according to village tradition, bad rented it j
. for soma two ircitdrod years. Zn. quiet, con- j
aarv-atiye-placss like Coombe-Actoa, a farm
of this kmd often goes from father to son
with more regularity than an entailed es?
tate, landlord and tenant, well knowing that
j ^he^ ^ i ^ j
I FAEMSS ZSZGS.
!
> Ii was a fine af ternoon toward the end of
re^Jnne: " Abraham Leigh was standing by the
gate of the field known as *the home
meadow, looking at the long ripe grass rip
piing as the sommer breeze swept across it
fe wa? a thoroughly good specLmea of a
Somersetshire farmer. A big, sturdy man,
whose movements were slow and deliberate.
His face, if heavy and stolid, not by any
means the faca of-a fool. Ko doubt a man
;.. ii drcmnscribed views-the world,, for him,
. eoctending eastward to the Bristol channel.
. Nevertheless, respected in his little world
J? A wonderful judge of a beast a great au
? TtuorityLen tillages, and, above ali a man
J who always had a balance in Ins favor at
^~fhe Somersetshire bank; a type of that ex?
tinct race, tba prosperous farmer, who
?y- looked on all townsmen with contempt,
thinking, as all farmers should think, that
the owners of broad acres, and those en
. gaged in agriculture, were aiouj worthy of
et, to-day, in spite of his advantages
and acquirements, Farmer Leigh looked on
the fifteen-acre meadow with a puzzled and
.discontented expression on his honest face;
and, moreover, murmurs of d isatis faction
:. wer-, proceeding from his lips. Farmers
Somersetshire farmers especially-are pro?
verbial grumblers, tut it is seldom they
^jTpvvHfo without an audience. It is out?
siders who get the benefit of their com?
plaints; Besides, one would th?nV that the
tenant ^f "Watercress Farm hai little, at
present, to complain of. The drop of rain
so badly wanted had been long in com mg,
but it had come just in the nick Xii time to
. sase the gras3, and if the crop, outwardly,
?. looked a little thin, Mr. leigh's experienced
eye told him that tho undergrowth was
tbick and that the quality of the hay would
te first-class. Moreover, what cora and
roots he had looked promising, so it scorns
.strange that the farmer should bo grum?
bling when he hal no one to listen to him,
vy^md should lean so disconsolasaly upon the
< gate of tba held when no one observed him.
**I can't make him ou;?" he said "Good
i?y he be, too-yet instead o* helping me
??^irifch the laird, always going about ?re-iniiag
- or niessmg with mui. Can't think where
he got his notions from. Suppose it must 'a
been from the mother, poor thing! Always
' ' fond o* gimcracks and such iiks, she were.
Gare the lad such an outlandish name Pm
ashamed to hear it Father's and grand?
father's name ought to be good enouga for a
Leigh-good boy, though, he be. too If
A soft look settled ca Abraham Leigh's
:laceas.he repeated the last words; thea he
went deeper into his slough cf despond,
where, no doubt be battled as manfully as
a Cttristian, until he reached the other
. ' shore, and fancied he had found tho solution
-of his di?Sc?lties.
Eis face brightened. "Tell'ee what," he
\\W&ly addressing the waving grass in front
Of "Alrr*j ?sk 3?r. Herbert. Squire's a
man who have seen the world Til ta^e his
advice about the boy. Seems hard like on
me, too. JSe'er a Leigh till this one but
what were a farmer to the backbone!1
' His mind made up, the farmer strode off
. to im-? arrangements with mowerj. Had
lia been troubled with twenty unnatural
and incompetent sons, tba hay must be
made while the sun shines.
Although he had settled what to do, it
was some time before tbe weighty resolve
-wrns carried into execution. Fol?* about
Coombe -Acton do not move with the ce- ?
jerity of cotton brokers or other mm of ?
business. Sure they are, but slow. So it ?
was not until the September rent dav that '
the farmer consulted his.landlord about his
: domestic difficulty-the possession of a son. !
an only child, of about 15, who instead of j
making himself useful on the land, did lit? '
. tis* else save wander about in a dreamy way, ?
5'looking at ali objects in nature, animate or j
S^m?nimate, or employed himself in the mys* j
Iferions pursuit which his father described at ?
"imwinr "nrrrt mnd,n Such conduct was a
" departure from tito respectable bucolic tra
-Jdftions of tbs Leigh family so great that si i
t r the father thought it an infiictioa j
laid upon faim for some cause or other by !
an inscrutable Providence.
There are certain Spanish noblemen wno, I
cs account of Gie antiquity- of their families I
and services rendered, are permitted to
enter the royal presence with covered beads, j
It was, perhaps, ?or somewhat similar rea- j
sons, a custom banded down from father to ?
son and established by time, that the tenant j
of Watercress Farm paid bis rent to the
landlord in person, not through the me?
dium of an agent. Mr. Herbert being: an
important man in tbs west country, tho
Leigh family valued this privilege as highly
as ever hidalgo valued the one above men?
tioned. Mr. Herbert, a refined, intellectual
looking man of about 50, received the
farmer kindly, and, after the rent, without
a word as to abatement or reduction, had
been paid in notes of the county bank
: dark and greasy, but valued in this par?
ticular district far above Bank of England
promises-landlord and tenant settled down
to a few minute? -conversation on crops and
kindred subjects. Then the farmer unhar?
dened bis mind.
"Fvecomo to ask the favor of your advice,
sir, about my boy, Jerry.'* .
"Yes," said Mr. Herbert, "I know bim, a
nice, good-looking boy. I see bim at church
with you and about your place whan I pass.
What of him?'
"Well, you see, zur," sail the farmer, i
speaking with more Somerset dialect than
-usual, "he've a been at Bristol grammar
school tail just now. Masters all sends good
accounts of bim. ? don't hold wi' too mucb
learning-, so thought 'twer tame be coma
borne and belped me like. But not a bit o'
good be be on the varna; not a bit, zur!
Spends near all bis time messing abouc wi'
dirt."
^Doiag what?' asked Mr. Eerbert, aston?
ished. '"
"A-muddling and a-messing with bits o'
clay. Making little figgers like, and tries to
bake 'em in the oven.'7
"Oh, I sea. what yon mean. What sort
of figures?7 "
"All sorts, sir. Little clay figgen of
horses, dogs, pigs-why, you'd scarce be?
lieve it, sir-last week I found him making
the fig ger of a na?ed 'ooman! A naked
'coman! Why. the lad could never 'a' seen
such a thing."
Abraham Leigh waited with open eyes
to hear Mr. Herbert's opinion of such an
extraordinary, if not positively unusual
proceeding.
Mr. Herbert smiled.
^Perhaps your soi*, is a youthful genius."
"Genins or not, I 'vant to know, sir, what
todo wf bim. How's the boy to make a
living? A farmer be'li never be."
"Yoe follow ma and I wiil show yon
something."
Hr. Eerbert led bis gue?t to bis drawing
room-a room furnished with the taste of a
traveled man. As the: farmer gaped at its
splendor be directed his attention to the
four beautiful statuas standing in . the cor?
ners of tho room.
iCi gave the man who made these ?700 fer
them, and could sell them to-morrow for
?1,000 if I choose. That's almost as good as
farming, isn't Ii3"
His tenant's eyes were wide with amaze?
ment. "A thousand pounds, sir I" he gasped
**Why, you might have bought that four?
teen acre field with that."
**Thes? give reo more pleasure than land,"
replied Mr. Eerbert. "But about your I
boy-when I am riding by I will look in and
see what ha can do; thea " give you my ad?
vice."
The farmer thanked him and returned
horne. As he jogged along the read to
Watercress Farm he muttered at intarvals:
"Weil, weil, I never didi''
Mr. Herbert was a man who kept a prom- ?
iso, whether made to high or low. Five j
days after bis i:iterview -reith Abraham i
.L?^;h-cr^c-u?'? th- door OL tro furn:, i
He was not alone. By his side rode a gay, I
laughing, iig^c-haired child of 13, who ?
ruled an indulgent father with, a rod of
iron. Mr. Herben hal been a wilov-er for j
some years; the girl and a boy who was just ?
leaving Harrow for the university being his i
only surviving ceil ire i. The boy was per- j
haps ali that Mr. Herbert migh? have ;
wished, but he could soe no fault in the pre- j
codons, imperious, spoiled little maid, who
was the sunshine of his life.
She tripped lightly aiter her father into
the farmhouse, laughing at the way in
which he was obliged to bend bis head to
avoid damages from the low doorway ; she
seated herself with becoming dignity on the
chair which the widowed sister who kept j
house for Abraham L?igh tendered her wish j i
many courtesies. A pretty child, indeed, <
and one who gave rare promise of growing j <
into a lovely woman. ? i
The farmer was away somewhere on the j .
farm, but could be fetched in a minute if I i
Mr. Herbert would wait Mr. Herh?rt j
\7eitei, and verv soon bis tenant made his
appearance and tbank'ei his visitor for tho ?
trouble he was taking on his- behalf.
".Now let me see the boy," said Mr. Her- ;
bert, after disclaiming all sense of trouble. 1
Leigh went to the door of the room and
shouted out, "Jerry, Jerry, come down, i
You're wanted, my man." j
In a moment the door opsned, and the cause j
of Mr. Leigh's discontent came upon the i 1
scene in the form of a dar?-eyed, dark- i <
haired, pale-faced boy; tall bat slightly ;
built', not, so far as physique went, mach
credit to the country side; yet in some re?
spects a striking looking, if not a handsome ;
lad. The dark, eloquent eyas and strongly
marked brow would arrest attention; bat
the face was too thin, to > thoughtful for the j
age, and could scarcely bo associated with ,
what commonly consviiutes a good-looking
lcd Yet, regularity of feature was there, ,
and no one would dare to be sure that beauty .
would net come with manhood.
He was not seen at that moment under ,
advantageous circumstances. Knowing
nothing about the distinguished visitors, he
hal obeyed his father^ summons in hot
hast?, consequently he entered thc room in
biz shirtsleeves, which were certainly not
vary clean, and wirh bauds covered with ,
red clay. Mr. Herbert looked amused,
while the litt!? princess sume i up ber nos?
in great disdain.
Poor Abraham Lngh was much mystified
at tho unpresentable s:ate in which his son
show-L'd himself. To make marlers worjsa,
the bo/ was net soiled by honest, l?giti?
mai? toil.
.4Tut! tut!" he said, crossly. "All of a
muck ns usual."
The boy, who felt that his father had a
right to complain, hang his heel and
showed sign i of retreating. Mr. Herbert
came to the rescue.
"Viever mind," lie said, patting young
Leigh on the shoulder, "ha has b en work?
ing in his own fashion. I Luv? c^me On
purpose tc see those-modelings ot' yours, my
toy."
The hov started as one surprised. His
chee? Hushed aad he looked at tee speaker
wi:h incredulity yet hope in his eyes.
'.Yes,'"' said the father sharply. '"Go and
put your hands under the pump, Jerry,
tuen bring some of 'om down. Mnbbe, any
way, they'd amuse the little lad v."
"l?o, no," said Mr. Herbert. "I li come
wita you and s03 them for myself. Laud
the way."
Young Leigh did not. speak, but his eyes
thanked Mr. Herbert. That gentleman
followed him from the room, leaving tho
farmer io amuse tho little mai J. He did
this sf* far as he was able by producing n
?rel?-thumbed copy of tte "Pilgrim's Prog.
; ess," the leaves of which Miss Herbert eon
descended to turn daintily ever until sha
was quite terrified by the picture of the
combat with Apoiyon.
Meanwhile, "Jerry," with a beating
h^art, led Mr. Herbert uo stairs tv c room
destitute of furniture, save an old table and
chair. A bucket half full of common r-id
clay stood in one corner, and cn ?he table i
wcie several cf tho little clay figures \ 'n'en j
had excite-'! tho farmer's ire and co.i^Uirna- ;
tion. j
Crude, ?e?eo?ve, full ci faults as they !
were, there was enough po wer ru then* to !
make Mr. Herbert look at the lad in won- i
derment, ahuost envy. He was a man w bo
worshipped art; who had dabbled as an
amateur in painting and sculpturing fur
years; who considered a gifted artist tho
most fortunate of mankind. So the word
envy is not iii chosen. What he would have
given half his wealth to possess came to this
boy unsought for-to the son of a clod of a
farmer the precious gift was vouchsafed!
As he would have expected, the most am?
bitious efforts were the worst-the "naked
'goman" waa particularly atrevi?os--but,
still wet, and not ruined by an abortive at-,
tempt at taking, was a group modeled from
life, a vulgar subject, rt presenting, as it did,
Abrsbam Leigh's prize sow, surrounded by
ber ten greedy offspring. There was such a*
power and talent in this production that^
had he seen nothing elsa, ihr. Herbert would
have been certain that the lod as a modeler
aud copyist must taite the first rank. If, in
addition to his manual dexterity, he had
poetry, feeling and imagination, it might
well be that one of the greatest sculptors of
che nineteenth century stool in embryo be?
fore him.
As Mr. Herbert glanced from the rough
clay sketches to the pale*boy who stood
breathless, as ene expecting a verdict of
life or deaiih, he wondered what could have
beer? tho cause of su<fn a divergence from
the t.-;-ui3 habitual to tho Leighs. Then he
remembered ?hat some twenty years ago
Abraum L*igh lind chosen for a wife not
one of his ov.n kind, but a dweller in cities
-a governess, who exchanged, no doubt, a
life oi p-hur; ana servitude for the rough
tnt eo%uer table home the Somersetshire
farmer was wiiJing to give her. Mr. Her?
bert- remastered ber, remembered how ut?
terly cut of place the delicate, refined
weman seemed to be as Leigh's wife; re?
membered how, a few years after the birth
of tho boy, she sickened and died. It was
from the mother's side the artistic taste
came.
Mr. Herbert, although a kind man, was
cautious: He had no intention of raising
hopes which might be futile. Yet he felt a
w ord of encouragement was due to tho lad.
''Some of these figures show decided
talent," he said "After seeing them, I
need scarcely ask you ii you wish to be a
sculptor?''
Young Leigh clasped his hands together.
"Oh, sur!" he gasped. "If it could only
be!"
"You do not caro to be a farmer, like
your father?''
"I could never be a farmer, sir. I am
not fie for it"
"Yet. if you follow in your father's track,
you will lead a comfortable, useful life. If
you follow art you may go through years of
poverty and suffering before success is at?
tained."
The boy raised his head and looked full at
the speaker-there was almost passionate
entreaty in his eyes.
"Oh, sir," he said, "if you would only
persuade my father to let me try-even for
a few years. If I did not succeed I would
come back to him and work as a laborer for
the rest of my lifo without a murmur."
Mr. Herbert was impressed by the boy's
earnestness. "I wiil speak to your father,"
he said. Then tho two went back to the
sitting-room, where they found Abraham
Leigh much exercised by some difficult
questions propounded by Miss Herbert re?
specting the nature of Apolyon.
'.Take my little giri for a walk round the
garden." said Mr. Herbert to young Leigh.
"I want to speak to your father."
In spite of the great gulf between her and
the clay-bespattered boy in his shirt sleeves
the little princess was too glad of a change
of scene to wish to disobey her father. She j
followed her conductor to the back of the
house and the boy and girl stepped out into
the autumnal sunshine.
Tbe little maid looked so trim and dainty
in her neat riding habit, coquettish hat and j
tiny glover, that his own draggled appear?
ance struck the boy forcibly.
"If you will excuse me a minute," he said,
"? will run and wash my hands."
"Yes. I think it will be better," said Miss |
Herbert, with dignity.
* In a minute or two young Leigh, returned, j
He had found time not only to v. ash the rich !
red clay from his long, wetl-shaped fingers, j
but to slip on his coat an ? generally beautify -j
bir.-'sclf. Ts imprevec? rpp*v.rartc?. had a ?
?r?at eilec? upon the cbi.dC who, bike most j
cf hts: age, wtis hifhienoed by exteriors.
So Miss Herbart, this little great lady, j
unbent, and allowed "Jerry" to lead her !
round the old-fashioned gardan, to the out- j
bouses and pigstyes, wtiere the obese pigs lay ?
oblivious of what fate had in store for them; |
to the dairy, where she condescended to '
drink a glass of new milk, and by the time j
they had returned to tho garden the two '
were as good friends as their different sta- '
liens in life would permit. Young Leigh, j
who saw in this dainty little maid the la- |
carnation of fairies, nymphs, goddesses and j
other ideals which, in a dim way, were form- i
ing themselves in his brain," endeavored, !
after his first shyness had passed away, to I
show her what beautiful si tap as and forms j
coull bc found in fi? wer, leaf and tree, and !
other things in nature. His talk, indeed, j
soared far above her pretty little hoad, and ?
when they returned to tho garden ho was
tying to make her see that those masses of j
white clouds low down in the distance were
two bodies of warriors about to meet in
Jeadly fray.
"You are a very, very funny boy," said
Miss Herbert, with such an air of conviction
that he was startled into silence.
"Ycur name is Jerry, isn't it?" she con?
tinued "Jerry's an ugly name."
"My name is Gerald-Gerald Leigh."
"Oh-Gerald" Even this child could see
the impropriety of a tenant farmer having a
on named Gerald Iso wonder Abraham
C*eigh addressed his boy as Jerry.
"Dc you lise being a farmer?" she asked.
"lam not going to ba a farmer-I don't
like it"
" What a pity. Fu mers are such a
worthy, respectable class of men," said the
riri, using a stock phrase she had caught up
somewhere.
The toy laughed merrily. Mr. Herbert's
approbation sat newly upon him, and he
was only talking to a child-so he said.
"I hope to be worthy and respectable, but
a much greater man than a farmer."
"Oh ! Eow great ?-as great as papa?'
"Yes. 1 hope so."
"That's absurd, you know," said Miss
Herbert, with all the outraged famdy pride
that thirteen years can feel, and, turning
sway, sha switched at the Sowers with her
deling whip.
However, a few words from Gerald made
:hcm friends onc-e more, and she expressed
her rlcasure thao he should pick h6r one of
tim few rcses which remained in the garden,
"Rose? are common," said, the boy.
"Every ono gives roses. I will give you
something x>relt'er."
Ho went to the sunny side of the aousa
and soon returned with half a dozen pale
lavender stars in his hands. They v,erj
blossoms of a new sort of lato clematis,
which soma one's gardener had given Abra?
ham Leigh. Gerald's deft fingers arranged
thom into a most artistic bouquet, the ap?
pearance of which was entirely ?poiied by
Miss Herbert's insistance that *two or throe
roses should be added. Tho touque b was
Just finished and presented whoa Mr. Her?
bert, foliowoi by the fanner, appeared.
Although he said nothing more to young
Leigh on tho subject which was uppormest
in the boy's mind, the kindly ?incvuragiug
look he gave him rais-xl the wi! test hope; in
bis beart. Mr. Eerbert bade tho father and
son a pleasant good day and rode off with
bis little daughter.
Mh-s Herbert carried tho bunch of
clematis fer about two miles, then, finding
it rather incumbered her, tossed it over a
Hedge.
Gerald Leigh went back to bis attic and
coromenead at out half a dozen clay sketches
of the prettiest obj-jct wbieli a< yet had
crossed his paon. For several da^'s he was
Min
Gerald Leigh went bach to his attic.
?on thoms to hear what fate had hi store j
for him, but Fate, personified by his father,
made no sien, but went about hi3 work j
stolid and Sphinx-like. Mr. Herbert, Ger- j
aid learned, had gone to London for a few |
days.
However, before a fortnight had gone by, I
Abraham Leigh received a letter from his j
landlord, and the samo evening, whiia j
smoking his pipe ia the kitchen, informed j
his son and his-sister that to-morrow he was
going into Grimacestershire to see if Ids !
brother Joseph coull spare him oae of bis j
many boys to take Jerry's place. Jerry j
was to go to London the next day and mees j
Mr. Herbert. Mes; likely he'd stay there.
'Twas clear as noontide the boy would j
never make a farmer, and ii there were
fools enough in the world to buy white
figures at hundreds of pounds apiece, Jerry
might as well try to maka his living that
way as any other.
The truth is, Mr. Herbert told Abraham
Leigh that if ho would not consent to pay
for his son's art education, he, Mr. Herbert,
would bear the expense himself. But the
monetary part cf it troubled the substantial
farmer little. Ee could pay for his child's
keeping if he could bring his mind to con?
sent to his going. And now the consent
was given.
Gerald heard his father's communication
with glowing eyes. For shame's sake he
hid his joy, for he knew that, with ali his
stolid demeanor, his father almost broke
down as ho contemplated the diverging
paths ?his son and he must henceforward
tread. The boy thanked him from his
heart, and the rough farmer, laying his
hand on the child's bead, blessed him and
bade him go and prosper.
In thie way Gerald Leigh left Coombe
Actor. At long intervals he reappeared for
a few days. The worthy villagers eyed him
askance, the only conception they could
form of his profession being connected with
dark-skinned itinerants who bore double
tiered platforms on their heads, and earned j
a precarious livelihood by traversing the
country selling conventional representativo*
of angels and busts of eminent meal
CHAPTER IL
Some seven years after the ambitious
boy left Cocmbe-Acton, honest farmer
Abraham, just when tho old-fashioned
hawthorne* hedges were in whitest
bloom, sickened, turned his stolid face
to the wall and died. Gerald had been
summoned, but arrived too late to seo
bis father alive. Perhaps it was as well it
should be so; tho farmer's last moments *o>
ing troubled ones, and full of regret that
"Watercress Farm would no longer know a j
Leigh. The nephew who had taken Gerald's I
place had turned cut an utter failure ; so j
much so that Abraham Leigh had roundly '
declared he would be bothered with n o more
boys, and for the last few years had man?
aged his business single banded However, !
although Gerald's upheaval of family tradi?
tions made the farmer's deathbed unhappy,
he showed that his son had not forfeited his
love. All he possesseJ, some three thousand
pounds, was left to him Mr. Herbert took j
the lease of the farm off the young man's j
hands; by and byo the live and dead stock
were sold off, and Watercress Farm was
waiting for another tenant.
The winding up of hi3 father's affairs
kept Gerald in tho neighborhood for some
weeks, and when it Decarao knowa that Mr.
Herbert had insisted upon his faking up his
quarters at the hali,'the simple Coombe
Actcn folks were stricken with a great won?
der. Knowing nothing of what is called the
"aristocracy ot art," their minds were much
exercised .Ly such an u~h:ari-of prece ?ding.
Tv hat had "Jerry" Leigh been doing in the
last seven years to merit such a dissection'
Nothing his agricultural frieaij could
have uedsrst-eoi. Alter picking up the
rudiments" cf his ort in a well-known sculp?
tor's stuJio, young L.dgh had been sent to
study in the schools at; Paris. Mr. Herber:
told him that, so far as his art was con?
cerned, Paris was tho workshop of the
world-Home its beza; and show room. So i
to Paris the 005- went. Ho studied hard and i
lived frugally. He won certain prizes and j
medals, and was nov/ looking forward to j
the time when he must sirlico boldly for |
fame. Even now h? was not quite unknown. !
A couple cf modes; bus very beautiful !
studies'in low relief had appeared in last
year's exhibition, and, if overlooked by tho
majority, had attracted the notice of a few
whose praise was weil worth winning. He
was quite satisfied with tho result of his
first attempt. In all things that concerned
bis art he wa? wise aud parient. No f-coner
bsd he place! his foot oe the lowest step ot
tue ladder, than he realized the amount of
work to he done-the technical skill to bo
acquired before he coud call himself a
sculptor. Even new, at'.er seven years'
study and lalor, he Lad self-denial enough
to resolve upon being a pupil for three years
longer before he made hi3 groat effort to
place himself by the sido of contemporary
sculptors. Passionate and impulsive as was
bis tine nature, he could follow aud woo Art
wich that calm persistency and method
which seems to be the surest way of winuing
ter smiles.
He is now a man-a singularly handsome
man. If not so tall as his youth promised,
he is weil built and graceful. Artist is
stamped ail ever him. Brow, eyes, even J
the elender, v/eli-shaped hands proclaim it.
The general expression of his face is one of
?aim and repose, yet aa acute observer
might assert that, when tho moment came
that "face might depict passions stronger
than those which sway most men.
Iiis hair and eyes, and something in the
style of bis dress gave him a look not quita
that of an Englishman-a loo!; that terribly
vexed poer Abraham Leigh on those rare
occasions when his erratic boy paid bim a
visit; but nevertheless, it is a look not out
of place cn a young artist.
This is the kind of man Geraki Luc a has
grown into, and while his trails formation
has been in progress Miss Eugenia Herbert
has become a woman.
Although remembering every feature of j
tho child. who seemed ia som-* way asso- !
ciatcc with the day of his liberation, Gerald
had not again soon her until his lather's j
death cai led him back to England. Eacii j
time he had visited Cocmbe-Acton ho had, j
of course, reported progress to Mr. Herbert; |
but, shortly after the change in bis life, Mr.
Herbert, by a great effort uf seif-denial, had
sent his darling away to school, and at
school she had always bosh when Gerald
called at the ball. But now. when he ac?
cepted Mr. Herberts hospitality, ho found
the falryiike child grown, it seemed to him,
into bis ideal woman; and found, more?
over, that there was a passion so intense
that even the love of art must pale be?
fore it.
Ho made no attempt to resist it. He 3ot
it m astor him, overwhelm him, sweep him
along. Ere a week had gor.o hy, uot only j
by look? but also in burning ward?:, he hid
told Eugenia ho loved her. And hov,- did he
fare?
His vory audacity and disregard of every?
thing, savo that he lovel tuc girl,succeeded j
to a marvel. Eugenia bad already met j
with many admirer-., but not one tiki this, j
Such passionate pleading, s::ch fiery levo, i
such vivid eloquence wore strange au-I^ new
to her. There was u-.i originality, a fresh?
ness, a thoroughn HS in tho love bo offered
her. Iiis very ti^reasonableness affected
bor reason. All the wealth of his imagbio
tion. ail ti.e e?ys?a-i2atioas o: his poetical .
dream?, be threw into bis j-assioa. His '.
ecsiacy whirled the giri from her mental j
feet, ais warmth created an au^weriag ?
warmth, hi-s reckless pleading conquered^ \
She-forgot < >bs lades a* his eloquence-over- i
leapt li<<Mrn, she forgot social dL-cinctiv.'US as !
his great dark -ryes looked into hers, and at j
las:.:sh.- confessed ?the loved bin).
Then Garald Leigh come down from tho \
clouds .vivi >.....? liz y I what he had done, and j
as/sooti ... ; !.<. 'ouched 'he r^rih au. i beean to :
rt'u--n:i> 1:* E??gcn?*: fancied she did .iot care !
for him 'edt- so rnnch.
;? : j? c ':?'?< .iCo sm ?ie icm. Not only irm-*-S '
Mr. t be'reckoned wi-h. out aferribJo '?
i::'i-rvai rausi elap-ic bef?se h-.- bad ?.o.no and i
fortuno to :ay bet?re Eugenia, He could '
sc?rceh'expect bor to leave her luxurious .
Ikans m order to live au quatri?me pc nu
crvqu-ouie in Paris, wbtb ho completed bia ;
stu i .:He i row sad uni downcast cs ho '
tbourut ol these tbinss, and Eugenia, who |
liked' -decant, bright, weil-todo peon!?, .
felt le s kindlv disposed toward him, and j
snowed she did so.
Ibis rnade* bim reckless again. He threw l
the fu-.ux e to tko winds* recommenced his
passionate wooing, recovered his lost ground
and gained, perhaps, a little more.
But Abraham Leigh's affairs were settled
up, and Gerald knew he must tear himself
from Acton Hall aud go back to work. Ha
had lingered a few days to finish a bust of
Mr. Herbert. This done, be bad no excuse
for staying longer.
Tbe summer twilight deepened into night.
The sculptor and Mis? Herbert stood upon
the broad and graveled terrace wa'k that
runs along the stately front of Acton Hall
They leaned upon the gray stone balustrade;
thc girl, with musing eyes, was looking
down on shadowy lawn and flower bed
underneath; tho young man looked at her,
and her alone. Silence reigned long be?
tween them, but at last she spoke;
"You really go tc-morrow?:'
"Tell me "to stay, and I will stay," he
said, passionately ; "hue next week-next
month-next year, the moment when it does
come, will be just as bitter."
She did not urge him. She was silent
He drew very near to hor.
"Eugenia," ho whispered, "you love mar
"i think so." Her eyes were still look?
ing over the darkening garden. She spoke
dreamily, and as one who ia not quito cer?
tain.
"You think sol Listen! Before we part
let me tell von what your love moans to me.
If, when first I asked tor it. you had scorner
me, I could have left you, unhappy, but still
a man. Kow, it means life or death to me.
There is no middle course-no question of
joy or misery-simply life or death! Eu?
genia, lcok at me and say you love mel"
*'Eugenia, look at ms and say you love
me!"
His dark eyes charmed and compelled
her.
"I love you! I love you!" she murmured.
Her words satisfied him; moreover, she lot
the band he grasped remain in his, perhaps
even returning th1? pressure of his own. So
they stood for more than an hour, while
Gerald talked of tao future and tho fame he
meant to win-tobie 1 as one who has the
fullest confidence in his own powers and di?
recting genius.
Presently they saw Mr. Herbert walking
through the twilight towards them. Gerald's
hand tightened on the girl's so as to causa
her positive pain.
"Remember," ha whispered. <cLife or
death! Think of it while we are apart
Your love means a man's life or death!:'
Many a lover has said aa equally extrava?
gant thing, but Eugenia Herbert knew that
his words were not those of poetical
imagery, and as she re-entered the house
she trembled at tbe passion she had aroused.
What if time and opposition should work a
change in her feelings! She tried to re?
assure herself by thinking that if she did
net love bim in the same blind, reckless
way, at any rate she wculd never meet
another man whom she could love as shs
loved Gerald Leigh.
Tba sculptor went back to Paris-to his
art and his dresms of love and fame. Tiro
years slipped by without any ev^nt of serious
import b apt* ; ting to the persons about
wh-jm we are concerned. Xhon came a
grant change.
Slr. Herbert died so suddenly that neither
doct-r nor lawyer ccuid be summ ?ted ia
time, either io aid him to live or to carry
cut his last wishes. His will gave Eugenia
?2*000 and an estate he owned tu Gicuccs*
tershire-every thins else to his sou. Uu
fcr innately, ?ome six months u-:iore he had
sold the Gloucestershire property, and, with
culpable negligence, had not made a fresh
wiii Therefore, tho small money bequest
was all that his daughter could claim. How?
ever, this seemed cf little moment, as her
brother at enca announced his intention of
settling upon her the amount to which she
was equitably entitled He had elven his
sol:dT-ors instructions to prepare the deed.
James Herbert. Eugenia's brother, was
murarrie ?, and nt present had no intention
cf settling down to tho life of a country
gentleman. Six weeks after Mr. Herbert's
death tho greater number of the servants
wore paid oi?, and Acton Hall was prac?
tically shut up. Eugenia, after speuding
some weeks with friends in the north of
England, came to London to live for an in?
definite time with her mothers sister, a Mrs.
Cathcart.
Since her father's death. Gerald Leigh had
written to her several times-letters full of
passionate Jove, and penned as if tho writer
felt sure of her constancy and wish to keep
har promise. He, too, was coming to Lon?
don. Had she wishe 1 it he would at once
have como to hor side; bat, as it was, he
would take up, his quarters in town about
the same time Eugenia arrived there.
The hour was at hand-the hour to winch
Miss Herbert had for two years looked for?
ward with strangely mingled feelings
when her friends must be told that sha in?
tended to marry the young, and as yet un?
known, sculptor, Gerald Laigb, tho son of
her father's late tenant farmer. Abraham.
She loved him still She felt sure of that
much, if time and absence tad somewhat
weakened tho spell he had thrown over her
proud nature, she knew that, unless the man
was greatly changed, the marie cf his words
and looks would sway her as Irresistibly as
before. She loved h ir?, yet rebelled against
har fate.
Her father had died ignorant of what had
paired between bis dan irater and the young
artist Many a time Eugenia bari tried to
bring herself io conx o is the truth to him.
She new regretted sha had uot done so. Mr.
Herbert's approval, cr disapproval, would
have b:en ar joass a stall by which to guide
ber steps: He ?mi suspected nothing. The
few letWs which passed between the levers
Lad teen unnoticed Their love was. as
yet, a secret known only to themselves.
She lovel hire, but why had be dared to
make her love bin:; (Jr, why wss he not
wvU-bora and wealthy3 Could she find
strength to face, for his sake, the scorn of
her fri?-1'l??
She rou?t dacido at once. She is sitting
aud thinking al! these tilings in her own
room v.'- .Mix Cathcart'.?:, aud in front of hw
iies a let fer in which Gerald announces bis
fcteutieu . f eulin-; upon ter to-morrow.
She kneves ti-a? if ?bi? receives bira ?1^ ?rill
be bound to proclaim herself his afilan oed
wife.
He c'dled She saw him. Mrs. Cathcart
was out, so Eugenia was alone when tba
s M vatii. anso,:?; ~' i Mr. Leigh. Sha started
und turned t.e.'.e. She trembled in every
[irahasl'.j c:\vv.oi tho roora to where sba
stood. Kotvr-kher hand aud looked imo
?!cr face. Ha s^oke, aud his rich, musical
7..>;i? : thrilled lier.
"Ha;;.- ?ie-is it life or death?'
She eo:r!-J nbtsaswer. She could not ta rn
bo:- eyes from ici She saw the intensity of
their expropien deepen, ?aw a fi'ree, yearu
Lug look coma into them, a loole which star?
tled b r.
"U it ?ire . - tkathf he repeated.
His love con ?j VT-.: t
'.G.rail. it i - ihe/' she said.
Driiii): v. j : -, h:; ?:^?,-, Iiis arms around
uer an-i k:--;-J uer u ?lil tho bia.--ho-: dyed
her ciieek?. H .* stayed with her as loug as
-he won M allow, bu;; bis d?lighs was toa
delicious to permit him tn say much about
bis pions for the ?utui? Whet, ai inst, sha
ir.ada him leave ber. ho gave her the nura
ber of a studio at Cbei-ea, which be had
Ut? eu, and she pro; ni sed to write aud Ie J
bim know when he might cai! again.
They parted. Eugenia walked to tho wia
Ibw and for a long time looked out ou the
lay thoroughthre, now fuii of carrlagas
?omg to ana returning fro.m the park. Of
coursa, sba loved Gerald dearly-that was
now beyond a doubt. But what would she
have to go through when the engageaient
was announced-what had sue lo look for?
ward to as his wife- Muse lor j and worldly
misery bo synonymous
The current of her thoughts was inter- i
rupted by the arrival of auother visitor- ;
her brotuer. Jara?s Herbat was a tall
young maa, faultlessly dressed, aal boar
in.-? a general look of what is termed high
breeding. He bore a likeness to his father, !
but the likeness was bus an outward one. i
By this time he was a coll, cynical man of j
the world Ho had not lived the best of :
lives, buc, being no tool, had gained ex
penence and caution. He was clever
enough to study human nature with a view
of turning his knowledge to account.
Eugenia had some pride of birth; uer
brother had, or affected, a great deal mor:?.
Ea was by no means unpopular-, few men
could make themselves more agreeable and
fascinating than James Herbert when it
was worth his while to do so. In his way
he was fond of his sister; certainly proud of
her beauty; and she, who knew nothing of
his true nature, thought him as perfect as a
brother can bs.
He kissed her, complimented her on her
good looks, then sat down and made himsolf
pleasant. She answered his remarks some?
what mechanically, wondoring all the tune
what effect her news would have upon him.
She hated things hanging over her heal,
and had ma la up her mind to tell him of
her intentions, if not to-day, the next time
she saw him.
"The lawyers have almost settled your
little matter,'7 she sail. ''It's lucky for
you I made up my mind at once; things
haven't turned out so weil as we expected.''
She thanked him-not effusively, as if he
was doing no more than she bal a riga;
to expect. Yet the thought flashed across
her that before she too* hi; bouncy shs
was by honor compelled to make him ac?
quainted with what sae purposed doing.
"By the bye, Eagcnia," said Herbert,
"you know Ralph Norgate?"
..Yes. Ho called a day cr two ago. I did
not see him."
"Well, I expect he'll soon c?dl again. He j
has been forcing his friends inp on me lately.
In fact-I:d better tell y eu-his mind is {
made up-you are to be the future Lady
Norgate. Now you know what to took for?
ward to."
Her face unshod. Her troubles were be?
ginning.
"But, James," she stammered, UI was
just going to fceil you. ? am already en?
gaged.''
Hs raised his eyebrows. To express great
surpris J was against his creed, and the idea
Eugenia was capable cf disgracing herself
did not enter his head.
"So much the '.vor se fer Norgate," he said.
"Who is the happy mau?"
"You will be angry, very angry, I fear."
She speke timidly. His manner told her
she had good grounds for fear. His mouth
hardened, but he still spoke politely and
pleasantly.
.My dear girl, don't discount my dis?
pleasure. Tell mo who it ia"
"His name is Gerald Leigh."
*'A pretty mime, and one which sounds
familiar to sie. New, who is Gerald
Leigh!"
"Hs is a sculptor."'
"Ah !-now 1 know. Bon of that excellent
old tenant of my father's. The genius hs
discovered on a dunghoap. Eugenia, are
you quite m:od^'
"He will be a famous man some day.,T ^
Herbert shrugged his shoulders in a pecu?
liarly irritating way.
"Let him be as famous as hs likes. TVhat
does it matter?"
"Tho proudest family may bo proud of
allying themselves loa great artist."
Herbert looked at his sister with a pitying
but amused smile. 'My poor girl, don't bi
led astray by ibo temporary g?oriiication cf
things artistic. When these fellows grow
talked about we ask th:m to our homes and
make much of them. I:'s the fashion. Bat
we don't many them. Indeed, as they all
begin in tho lower ranks of life, like your
friend, they are generally pr?vida! with
wives of their own station, who stay at
home and trouble no one.
Sro winced under the sting of bis scorn:
He saw it, and knew ha was pursuiag th9
right treatment for her disease.
"Now, this young Leigh," he continued,
"what will he be for years and years? A
sort of supsrior stonecutter. He will maka
what living ho can by going about and .
doing bust: of mayors and mayoresses, and
other people of that class, who want their
common features perpetuated. Perhaps he
may get a job on a tombstone for a change.
Bah! Of course you have been jesting with
me, Eugenia. I shall tell Norgate to call aa
soon as possible."
"I shall marry Gerald Leigh," said Euge?
nia, snllenly. All the same, thc busts and
tombstones weighed heavily upon her.
."That," said her brother, rising, and still
speaking wdth a sadie, "I am not the least
afraid of. although you are of age aud mis?
tress of ?2,0v0. Yon are cut catt to orna?
ment an attic I need not say I must coun?
termand that settlement. It must wait
until you marry Norgate or some other suit?
able man."
He kissed her and walked carelessly away.
To all appearance the matter did not cause
him a moment's anxiety. He was a clever
man, and flattered himself ho knew how to
treat Eugenia-human natura should be
assailed at it3 weakest points.
His carelessness was, of course, assumed,
for, meeting Mrs. Cathcart as shs drove
home, Eugenia's nows was sufficiently dis?
turbing to mako hun stop the carriage, seat
himself beside his aunt, and beg her to take
another turn in tho park, during which ha
told ber what hal transpired.
They were utting coadjutors. M**s. Cath?
cart was deligate 1 to hear of Sir Ralph's
overture*;, and was shocked to find that
Eugenia was entangled in some low attach?
ment. She quite agreed that tho girl must
be led, not driven-muse bo laughed not
talked, out of her felly. ''Girls nearly
always make fools of rh: nisei vos ones in
iheir lives," said Mrs. Cathcart, cynically.
.'They do," said James Herbert, who
kn-w something about the ce*a "All the
same, Eugenia shad not. Find out ail
about tba fellow, wh?ro he live* and ali tba
rest cf it She doesn't knew f V2 told you
about this He;?? a sharp look out for any
letters."
So tbe uext day, when Eugenia and her
aunt were together, ina latter, a skilled
dccies&ic diplomatist, commence 1 opera?
tions by re gratti ag ?hat Mr. Herbert, al?
though so fond of statuarv, had never em?
ployed a sculptor to maka h.1- own bust.
Mrs. Cathcart spoke so naturally tha? Eu?
genia fell ni the trap.- and informal her
that Mr. Herbert's likeno*-? had beau taken
in clay two years ago by a young sculptor
then staying at Acion Kali, lt bad been
done for pleasure, not proii?. but her father
bad alwavs intended to order a c rpy in
marble, il rs. Cur r--art was .I..-'i:;hte i. Dil
Eugenia knew where the you jg mau could ;
be lound?
Eugenia did know. rTm toi I her with a
tinge of color on ur oh ie ki and took ad?
vantage of th> opportunity, and perhaps j
soothed her spirit somawhai br expatiating i
on w'hat a great man her inver wa* t:? be- j 1
come. Mrs. Cathcart, in return, spoke of j
geniuses as_struggii:?g, nbvorby--tr;ckcii per- j
son**, to befriend v/hom wa-* cha one great I
wish of her life. Iv wr-s indee 1 pleasant foi I
M=ss Herbert to bear ber aunt spink of her i
lover as she mi rut of a hard-wording seam- j ?
si ress er deserving Laundress, fcl.ie .bad not j
yet wi*itiea to Gern ld. She must; lind ; (
strength to throw off her brothers seora '. ,
and the basts and tombstone* before sha
again met her lover.
Sir Rniph Norgate calla 1 that in "urning. ,
He was a mau ot about -id. l\oc ili-iooki.nc, i
but with Ibo unmistakable appearance of t '
ona who has led :i bard ?if;, the \v;is rich ; 1
and of t?ao ol 1 family, li wr? . clear tn Mrs. i
Cathcart thai bo tn* : it bush: .**-. Enge tia ?
hsd met kim severn! time-* la?? year, a*. .'it
was no no t' s lo h.-:* that be was uer '
ardent admirer. She was very cold ton- ;r..l ;
bim tc-day : but ?i-s. Cathcart did not ' ;
chide her. She, cic-vr womrin, knew Ont '. j
me-: like Norgate value a pr-izi at what it
costs' shem te? win it. ?.>* the baronet came, 1
stayed bis opp.*.; ita I lima and than wout '? 1
away, pre.suuo.b.y in fair train to a \
jeclaration by and by. J }
Roumanian i'roverb: Money is thc de villi c
What Our Editors Say.
Serions Question.
Abbeville Pms and Banner.
Great loads of guaso have been going
out of town every, day for two weeks.
We take ii for granted that our farmers
hove thoroughly tested or analyzed their
lands, and know the component parts of
the alleged fertilizers which they have
bought, and are therefore satisfied that
they have bought that variety of fertil?
izer which is rich in those qualities- pf
which they know their laod to be poor.
Fertilizers, like medicines, may be a
very good thing, but if calomel is given
when quinine is needed, er if one kind
of guano is bought when another should
be applied to the land, there is a worse
than waste of money.
We know that farmers as practical
and as intelligent as ours are would not
think of buying fertilizers of which they
knew nothing to put in land of which
they know less. The ignorant classes
of our farmers may have spent their
money years ago for fertilizers of which
they knew nothing, but now when the'
art of farming is feeing reduced to a
science, and when the pri?e of cotton
has been reduced to seven cents, with
the prospect of a fall of one cent, we are
sure that oar people will consider well
what they are doing, and will not in
any case, buy guanos on a ruinous
credit.
Of course, in this day and time, the
most stupid man that ever pfanied a
cotto? seed would not buy guano with?
out having an idea what bis land need?
ed. Everybody knows that stable and
lot manures "are perfect manures, and
for this reason they will increase any
crop to which they are applied. Not so
with ?commercial fertilizers. They may
abound with just such qualities as the
land is surfeited with, and hence guanos
are liable to do barm.
Even if we were sure of getting the
guano we might need, the day has pass?
ed when we can pay old time pri?es,
with cotton at seven cents.
Edgcfield Monitor.
Suppose that the times are hard and
money scarce, what does that matter
with the farmer if he is out of debt, and
even if he should owe a few hundred
dollars ? If he happens to be frugal
and industrious, he eau make cotton and
pay up. Pigs and potatoes, eora and
cabbage, peas and tura-ips, grow as well
in hard times as flush, and what mat?
ters it at last if a good crop and ready
sales are assured ? Suppose our rulers
become proud of their little brief au?
thority, and show a disposition to favor
rings, cliques and monopolies, the farm?
ers and their frieads are numerous
enough to turn them out at the next
election, and put others in their places,
?f the farmers don't have fair play it is
their own fault, for those that are for
them are more than those that be
against them. Let them be true to
themselves, and stand shoulder to shoul?
der, presenting a solid and unwavering
front, there is no power in the State
that could break their lines or encroach
upon their rights. Then let us hear
no moro of the wrongs and oppressions
practiced upon the farmer. He has the
authority to demand his rights and the
power to maintain them, and if he fails
to do it let him accept the situation and
take the consequences.
Greenville Weirs.
Professor R. Means Davis, of the
State college, has written a letter to
each of our Congressmen asking his
opinion of free trade. The demand is
in behalf of the free "trade association,
of which Mr. Davis is Secretary, and
the implication is that the association
will proceed ?to annihilate any Congress?
man who fails to agree with its views.
This is very beautiful. We forget
the membership of the association, but
it is somewhere about seventy, we be?
lieve, and ought to tackle something of
iti size first. It might appropriately
begin by making free trade an issue in
the municipal politics of some town with
sixty voters and work up to a Congres?
sional district by degrees.
Kews and Courier.
Mr. Boutelle, the blatherskite from
Maine who made so pitiful an exhibi?
tion of himself in Congress some weeks
ago, ought to try bis hand again. His
statements i? relation to tbe condition
of the Norfolk navy yard and his savage
attack upon the "Rebels" have turned
out so much to his disadvantage, and
were so inconsistent with truth, that
his constituents are opt to think that he
has been bought by the Confederate
brigadiers. Commodore Truxton, the
naval commandant at Norfolk, in avery
full and admirable report of the condi?
tion of affairs at that place has estab?
lished the absolute falsity of every state?
ment made by Mr. Boutelle. This was
what might have been expected, how?
ever, from the politics of 'the member
frcm Maisc,' and the well-known aver?
sion of Republican leaders to the truth
whenever they have occasion to speak
of the South.
Iritolerases Run Wild.
5. C. Adcoc-Ac.
A few Sabbaths ago Dr. James H.
Carlisle, of Wofford College, delivered
an address in the court house at Spar
tauburg, ou thc subject of worldly
amusements. This address was deliv?
ered at the request of the pastors of the j
Methodist, Presbyterian and Baptist
churches. Dr. Carlisle addressed him?
self panicu-ajly and specifically to
'church members.' He had not a word,
of criticism to offer to the men and
women of thc world who choose to
Janee, play cards and attend che :hea'rc.
But. he did argue, aud very forvibly, \
too, that those who had assumed thc
baptismal vows of the church should be
very careful not to indulge in such
:i m use m en ts as the experience of the i
jiiureh and thc '.rorld had demonstrated :
:o be hurtful to spiritual life.
The Spariaub'Vrg correspcdcnt of the ?
Augusta Chronicle has scei: ht to cri ti- j
ii.se ibo Doctor's lee*ure in such terms j
:s prove, either that he was not present, i
md therefore don't know what he is j
al king about, or that he is jruilty of a j
r.resum prion as braze:) as it is absurd. ;
[t is evident ?hat 'Spartan' has never ;
?urdened himself with any 'baptismal j
t'ows1-what right, then, has he to .
;ritirise? Are men of the world to j
i:i?lu?e to the church how Uer iaeuiboFt" ?
shall live? Must Christens conform "ft
judgment aud in life to 'Spartan' or tb
'the wurld, the fle&b and the devil,' ia
order to be considered respectable mem?
bers of society 1 Men of 'Spartan V iifc
frequently prate about the 'intolerance
of t he Ch arch;' but for an' intolerance:
run wild commend us to 'Spartan V Ute
utterances.
It may as well be understood now,
on oe for all, that the Christian- Cburefr
does not intend to be dictated to upon?
moral questions by men whose moral
standard is not in accord with thc di?
vine code. If men of the world witt
frequent the ball-room, the card table,
the theatre and similar places ef un**
godly amusement, they must go.
Church can only warn and entreat
But when ber own members violate:,
their solemn covenant and wander into
forbidden paths, sue can and must
speak with authority, bidding theft re*
tura to the way which they are nuder7
covenant to follow. And when she thu*
speaks,-sneaks as a- mother to. her.
wayward and disobedient children^ tie*
the height of impertinence for men of
the world to utter a word of remon?
strance or protests .
Anderson Intelligencer. " "~ ?
The defeat of tbe Blair Eduestw*
Bill in the House of Representative*
will, in our judgment, be a political;
blander for the Democrats. The Seag?
ate, by a vote of thirty-three to eleven,'
has passed tbe measure, which has fer
its object the education of the . poor
man's children all over the United
States. The defeat of this bill byjthe.
Democratic House of Representative?
would give the Republicans an issue
which would be dangerous for ns in Keir '
York, Indiana, and perhaps Connectkn*
and New Jersey. There are a great
many persons in the South who do not
like the features of the bill touching ne?
gro education, and we eonfess tha? thar
bili as amended in the Senate is not a?
acceptable as the bill passed last yeai>
but at the same time the passage of the,
measure as it now stands will adii
greatly to the- efficiency of the paoli?
; schools all over the country, and give*
to the several States decided material
advantages from the expenditure ?Il
over the country of a large amount of
money from the United States treasury.
This feature of thc biH will give it gre?
strength in every part*of the Union*
For the Democratic party to array itself
against this measure rs deliberately ter
yield a decided advantage to theRepoV
Heans in the coming contest.
The Blair B?T
For eight years after its passage there
shall be annually appropriated from tue
treasury the following sums, in aid of
common school education in-the State?
and territories, and the District of CQ?
lumbia and Alaska: First year $7,000**
OOO, second year ?10,000,000, third
vear ?15,000,000, fourth year $?3?
000,000, fifth year $11,000,000, sixtb
vear ?9,000,000, seventh year $7,000,?
000, and eighth year ?5,000,000,
making $77,000,000, besides which _
there is. a special appropriation of ?2,<*
000,000 to aid in the erection of scheel
houses in sparsely settled districts,
making the total fund ?79,000,000. ;
The money is given to the several
States and Territories 'ia that propor?
tion which the whole number of per?
sons in each who, being of the age of 1ft
years and over, cannot write, bears to
the whole number of such persons in ito
United States,' according to the censos
of 1880, until the census figures of
1890 shall be obtained, and then ae
cording to thc latter figure. Ia State?
having separate schools for white and
colored children the money shall be*
paid out fer support of such white and
colored schools respecti vely in propor*
tion that white and colored children be
tween 10 and 21 years old in snchState
bear to each other by the census. Ncr
State is to receive the benefit of the Act
until its Governor shall file with the
secretary of the interior a statement
giving full statistics of the s^hoo??ys
tem, attendance of white and colored
children, amount of money expended,
&c, the number of schools in operation, -
number and compensation of teachers,
&c. No State or Territory shall re?
ceive ia any year from this fond more
money thau it has paid ont the preview
year from its own revenues for commoa
schools.
If any State or Territory declines la
take its share of the national fund, snell
share is to be distributed among the
States accepting the benefits of the fund,
[f any State or Territory misapplies the
fund or fails to comply with the condi?
tions, it loses al! subsequent apportion?
ments. Samples of all school books in
use ia the Stares and Territories shall
be filed with the secretary of the inte?
rior.
Any State or Territory accepting ti?
provisions of the Act at the first session
of its Legislature after the passage of
the Act shall receive its pro rata share
of all previous annual appropriations.
Congress reserves the right to alter of
repeal the Act.
- mm i I ? i pw -- .
There is a reasonableness in Prohibi?
tion that commends itself to even the
crudest mind, when it is clearly stated.
Tell a man that we don't propose le
watch the '200,000 saloons, but to close ' 1
the 3,600 distilleries and breweries,
and keep them closed, and he says at
once, This is sensible. Tell a mas
that a prohibitory law can no mere
prohibit than an axe can chop dew? a
tree by itself, and be secs at once the
reason for a Prohibition party back of
thc law. Tell a man that if the law hat
the right to close the saloons between:
the hours of twelve o'clock Saturday
night and Svc o'clock Monday morning,
it has the right to close them from
twelve oe?oek Saturday uight to twelve
o'clock the next Saturday night, and
the logic reaches him and abides with
him. The people need education-not
only on the evils of intemp?rance, bet
on the methods we propose for getting
rid of them. If they will not read ocr
papers and hear our speakers, they can
be reached in casual conversation, if it
be done tn a cairn and reasonable way.
We grow sometimes so fall of the ??b*
j?ct, and ibo linc of duty is so clear Ka
us, tu at we are iu danger af an un re asonad
ble intolerance. Vve- forget that most
of us were back there in the fog hat 'ak'
short time a^o, ?nd were not devoid ol |
conscience either. - \?lce.
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