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GUV'S LETTEK. Now comes the winter of our dis content.-Hez. 4: 15; also Shake speare. The harvest is over, the summer is ended (pic nie, pike fishing, pro? tracted meetin', Con stewshunal Con? vention and Thanksgiving also) and we are not so howiing happy as might be expected. The grumblers are still extant in the land, and we reckon will be until that day when it is rolled up like a scrole. Some would growl just because there was nothing under the broad firmament to find fault with. '.'Nothing to do but work, / Nothing to eat but food. Nothing to wear but clothes To keep from being nude." "Nothing to breathe but air Quick as fi flash 'tis gone Nowhere to fail but off, Nowhere to stand but oo." "Nothing to comb but hair; Nowhere to sieep but bed ; Nothing to weep but tears : No one to bury but dead." ''Nothing to sing but songs, Ah, well : alas and alack, Nowhere to go but out, Nowhere to come but back" They murmur much after this mauner. Well, well some folks are never happy unless they can render themselves superla? tively miserable ; they are born chronic kickers and they'll die kick? ing-"the bucket." We suppose every one is endeavoring to wind up their affairs for the year. We are trying too, but we find them much like a doggonned Waterbury watch, wind and wind until you are out-' of wind and feel like attaching it to the pulley of an engine and "let-ter roll " Some appear to h*ve "rounded up" the year very happily They are those who harvested a wife Solo? mon says "whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing.'' Now we think this proverb needs a little re? editing and we offer as an amend? ment, whoso findeth a good wife, &c. Though it can't be denied that Solo? mon had vastly extensive opportun? ities of judging in the matter of wives. The matrimonial epidemic which raged through this section some erst while since has not re-appeared in so violent a form. There are some cases of fitful fever, and a few have devel? oped into the genuine thing. Sorter sporadic. These latter will conval? esce when the moon changes-the honey-moon, we mean, of course Some one classes wedded life thusly : acquaintance 3 weeks, love 3 months, war 3 years, toleration 30 years. Look out young men; old boys, too. A peculiarity of above mentioned epidemic is that it doesn't decimate the population, rather augments it. We know a husband and wife only one year old who arc already three in family ; we mean, of course, you understand, they've only been mar? ried one year and have one baby (Please print the above correctly or we may be saltered and battered ) There are others around who have evinced slight symptoms and some who are strongly threatened, but there have been no developments. Then again, there are a few scatter? ing, chronic cases that refuse, so far, to "specify." One of the late de? veloped cases is somewhat unique. It is that of a venerable friend whose snowy locks and fleecy flowing beard would denote him at least 80 or 100 per cent, proof-we mean, proof against the blandishing approaches of any such juvinile malady, and yet, in some sudden and inexplicable mauner, so far as we know, his case reached its acme without passing through thc arche and anabasis stages ; but, with his experience, he should have detected the premonitory symptoms, and have used heroic meas? ures to arrest them. Alas ! he didn't, and the places that once knew him will now-not know him quite so much for awhile-until the moon changes. He was christened young, and calculated, perhaps, to remain so. There is one more class, and they are the most unfortunate of all. They are those who seem to have been vaccinated and can't catch it at all. The good Lord comfort all such and help them to be more-more-more single-hearted, we reckon. Ah-men. There is also a more material and corporal malady among the cows of the county. Quite a number of per? sons have lost one or more fine cows. They sweil up and die quickly after feeding in the pea field. Whether this is caused from some peculiar con? dition of the peas or some peculiar | state of the cows, we are not in- j formed. Perhaps it is some form of | bovine appendicitis. Long says the | trouble is in tb? cow's "book." This ! may be We've had trouble with our own book about the 1st January. Our trouble was in trying to turn over a new leaf. It is a terrible or? deal to us, and we never have been able to bold out over half a day or so. The cows may be overdoing the business. There are a good many | people, too, we opine, who have j ovedoun the business and find much j trouble with their books about now. j They've turned over too many leaves ! during the year. The cow is fortu? nate in having but one book to i bother her. We have two. Our j pocket book is giving us trouble ; j but it aint swelled by a gol darned j sight ; but "most bowdashusly ! swung:," as Long would say. Long I I is our neighbor. Long; is not 1 j krect entitle ; we simply call hi Long; -for short. Ile i& a genui I full blooded orphaii by both tl father's and mother's 6?de H ? ancestors were mighty good peop] I he says ; but we fear Long goii to make a mighty poor ancestor hir self. He has not had the advantag of a classical education or mu? culture ; but we'll say for him, it partially, that considering the a vantages he has had he is as-as well, as doggonned a fool as you find in a Sabbath day's journey. Guv. -.???.-Mi -^ Privateer Personals. pRVATEEa Twxsnip, 8. C., Dec. 30. 189; The starry heavens smiled down on a ha i py crowd which assembled last Monday Dig a* Miss Odie/ Wells's to attend the charadi and tableaux, which were given under tl I auspices-of the Amusement Club. The prc. gramme of the evening was a delightful cor i bioation of good acting, fine recitations a: sweet singing. To go more into details, v will commence by saying that Misa Wells residence is one of those large old ?arnii homesteads which the large landowners ar planters used to have built in the old day "before the war." Its spacious rooms, wit their large folding doors, makes it an admi able place for charades. The audience that night was large and mo appr?ciative-just such an audience as Priv< teer or any other township would be prou< ! of The following pregram me was rendered Solo - "Grandmother's Advice"-Litt Miss Hattie Ramsey. Tableau-"Billy Grimes"-Misses Matild Dwight and Mertie Hiott and Mr. Hey war Ramsey. Charade-"Mad Cap"-io three scenes Misses Scott Dwight, Dwight Cain and Edga Hiott. Tableau-"Simply to the Cro33 I Cling" Miss Helen Cain. Ricitation-"A Little Pilgrim"-Miss Mei tie Hiott. Solo-"Mother Kissed Me in a Dream" - Miss Talulah Rnmsey. Tableau-"Gipsy's Warning"-Misses Mei tie Hiott and Una Wells, and Mr. Hamptoi Ramsey. Recitation-"Mosic on the Rappahan nock"- Miss Lizzie Whilden. Tableau-"Worship of the Virgin,'-Misi Helen Cain. Charade-"When Women have their Right* - Miss Nina Wells at?d Misses Willie Well and Hayward Ramsey. It would be puzzling to attempt aspecifica tion of the best parts of this programme, foi the truth is that the entire programme wai admirable in all of its pans and exception ably well carried out. We state plain facti when we say that all who took part reflected credit on themselves. We have often though that the trouble with old Privateer was not that ber peopla lacked talent, but that the talent was uncultivated, the charades last Monday night confirms us in our opinion, they showed what our people can do, and Pri? vateer has every reason to feel proud of her amateur troup. Mr. Hiott was master of ceremonies during the evening and filled the position nicely. Sweet iBStrumental music was furnished be tween the different acts, recitations and sing? ing, by two of Clarendon's musicians, Mr. Pauf Hodge and his sister, Miss Lillie. After the programme had been rendered, the crowd spent a good while in social conversation, everybody felt and looked happy and the charades of Christmas week, 1895, will long ce remembered. Friday afternoon there was a Christmas tree, at Bethel Courch, for the Sunday School. The Church was closed and the large tree, with its many presents, made quite a pretty appearance by candle light. The opening ceremoaies consisted of singing and prayer, and among the special features of the evening was the presentation, by Mr. Hiott, of a handsome, silver tipped walking stick to Mr. Matt Ramsey from tte Bible class, and also the presentation by Mr, Ramsey, of a large and pretty cake to Mr. Hiott, which was a gift from some families of the congregation. Mr. Ramsey is the Sunday School Superin? tendent and teacher of the Bible class. Both presentations were neatly done. A large crowd was out aod enjoyed the Christmas tree celebration. Your correspondent also had the pleasure j of attending, last week, a Christmas tree at the New Bethel Baptist Church (colored) which was a creditable one to their Sunday School, of which Henry Nathaniel is super? intendent. Mr. Hiott was expected to be pre? sent, but owing to a misuodering, did not go. As a compliment to your correspondent, the crowd sang "Hebron," and it was indeed a treat to hear this grand old tune sung in their strong, clear voices. , A pleasant family gathering, with ita con? nections and a few invited guests, took place i at Mr. Willie Cain's Christmas night. Mr. Hiott made a farewell talk to the Bethel Sunday School yesterday. His family left the parsonage to-day and will spend a I few days at Wedgefield before leaving for their new home :n Toccoa, Ga. Mr. Paul Ramsey, of Georgia, son of the late Dr. Willis Ramsey, is visiting the family of bis uncle, Mr. Matt Ramsey, j Miss Lizzie Whiiden is visiting in Wedge? field, and Miss Julia Nettles has been on a visit. Mention was made recently in this corres? pondence about Mr. Henry Pritchard catch? ing a coon that weighed eleven pounds. A j while back Mr. Hunter Hodge caught one in a trap, in Pocotaligo swamp that weighed twelve pounds. Should he catch many such coons as this, Mr. Hodge will be rightly named, for he will be a hunter in reallity as well as in name, j Mr. Mack Kolb is one of Privateer's rising farmers. On from seventy-five to eighty acres of light sandy land he made, at a moderate estimate, one thousand bushels of corn. Mr. Kolb is an advocate of people raising their own horses and i3 himself rais? ing three. McD. F. -mmt ' ? t > - Something new and original in tablets at H. G. Osteen & Co.'s Book Store. Tablets I with paper dol covers for 5 cents. Tournament at Smithville. There was a tournament at this place on Saturday, December 28th, which was a grand success. Dr. C S. Britton acted as Herald. There were three chargej given with the fol? lowing result : Knight of Carolina, Mr. CD. Smith, re? ceiving the highest number of rings was en? titled to Srst prize, and he chose Miss Mag? nolia Wilson, Queen of Love and Beauty. Knight of Columbia, Mr. Robt. Hancock, receiving the next highest number was enti? tled to second priza and chose Miss Carrie Mathis, First Maid of Honor. Knight of Waterloo, Mr. W. R. Hudson, Canje next and chose Miss Meddie Brown, Second Maid of Honor. Knight of Cleveland, Mr. Raffield Mackey was the nest iu order and chose Miss Nellie Britton, Third Maid of Honor. --?-????. i Wedgefield Letter. WEDGEFIELD, S. C., Dec. 31, 1895. The entertainment under the auspices of the Privateer Amusement Club came off ac? cording to announcement, at th** school bous? last night, and in spite of the very unfavor? able weather, was quite a success. There was a fairly good audience, and the acting recitations, etc., were very fine. A great deal of natural talent was displayed by seve? ral, and the audience was more than pleased . The health of our community bas been dis? turbed by the invasion of an epidemic o" measles which have about established them? selves permanently now for the season. Mr. W T. Aycock, of Union Law School. New York city, is at home spending Xmas. Mr. Paul Ramsey, of Georgia, a soo of Dr. Willis Ramsey, formerly of this place, is on a visit to relatives. Mr. B. P. Kelly has gone to Georgia on a visi t. Mr. T. C. Keels left last Sunday for Florida where he expects to make his future home. Mr. Keels carries with him the best wishes of his many friends. Money being so scarce, the most of us have had an exceedingly quiet and dull Christmas. --- Letter Frorr Shiloh. SHILOH, S. C. Dec. 28, 1895. Christmas ha3 come and gone-to some it brought pleasure and to many, only sad recollection. It's a day on which the young; expect a great deal of unusual pleasure, but: alas, how few ever realize even half the en? joyment they anticipate. This writer can report but few happenings or incidents in this community this Christ? mas week. We bear of lots of little parties arouod, hut they are of such frequent occur ence that they would hardly be of any inter? est to the reading public. Mrs. Gamble of this place and Mr. Lindsey, of Magnolia were married at the residence cf the bride's son, Mr. Wm. J. Keels, oo the 24th inst. The honored ODes were Mr. Wil? lie Keels, grand sen of the bride's, and Miss Alleo Player .grand daughter of same; Mr. Joo. Mims and Miss Mattie Lindsey, daughter of the groom. The occasion was made mosit pleasant to all who attended. Judge Good? man officiated. The community on Christmas day wes favored with a free show-a novel sight. I will tell you a little about it and you can draw on your imagination for the balance. Suddenly we heard the exclamation, "Yoodfcr they come !" and rushing to the.door, we sa v sitting ia an old cornfield wagon several handsomely dresssd young gentlemen. Tte wagon was drawn by a "great big old" clumsy ox, handsomely decorated with cedar, arbor vitce and such flowers as the woods at this season can furnish. The ox, from the peculiar shape ol his bead, his horn after having grown three or four inches, turned back and grew into his head, resembled a hippopotimu3. The driver was one of the most dignified and stylist ?ntlemea in the neighborhood. He was euting astride the back of the "hippopotamus," with a lovely little bouquet fastened to the lapel of his .'prince Albert." When faster time was de? sired one of the passengers seized thc ox's tail and soon the show became exciting. H 2 then resembled a wild buffalo. During these antics the driver or engineer failed to exactly retain bis dignified position, but soon re? sumed. The "performance" was mont laughable. The talk of a possibility of a war with Great Britain over the Venezuela aggression causes no serious thoughts in this section. Its difficult to entertain the thought for a mo? ment that Eogland wants to tackle ber equal in every sense. But if Great Britain were to even attempt ao invasion of this country, this seeming "Rip Van Winkle" patriotism would leap in the hearts of all true Ameri? cans higher than it ever did from 1861 to '65, either North or South. If a man loves his home be loves his coua try. War can easily heal all wounds or dif? ferences between people of one nationality. Preparations for next year's tobacco crop are beiog made. There was a good deal of fault found with the Sumter Tobacco Ware? house Co., in the early fall, but it is now conceded by all with whom I have talked that Sumter paid, after all is said and done, the best average prices of any in this State or Virginia. Sumter certainly has won the race, as is clear to all impartial observers. OCCASIONAL. A TREATISE ON THE Cnltivation, Colins & HarrestiDs: of TOBACCO From the Pen of R. E. Pittman, a North Carolina Planter, Who has never made a failure and realized on bis tobacco farm over $300.00 per acre last year. A valuable guide and well worth its price to all Planters of Tobacco, especially those with little experience, or who expect to cul? tivate Tobacco in the future. Send 25c. in stamps or otherwise, to H. G. OSTEEN <fe CO., Sumter, S. C., or R. H. PITTMAN, Bisbopviile, S. C., And procure a copy. Jany 1. Tournament. There will be a tournament at Bossards on Saturday, January 4, 1SP6. The public are invited to attend. December 30. There was a rumor io circulation io Washington that the treasury depart? ment is preparing a contract, pre? sumably with thc Drexel-Morgan syn? dicate, for the sale of 30-year 4 per cent, gold bonds. If this report is true, it presupposes a knowledge by the ad? ministration that the bend bill will fail io the senate. After Jan. 1, Clinton,, S. C. will become a Presidential postoffice. A fire at 118-120 Market street, Charleston bumed a brick store build? ing the property of Mrs. L. J. Mc Gruder of Paris, France. Loss $10, 000 ; nearly covered by insurance. Joseph L. Sporl, well known in con? nection with prize fights at the Olympic cub, and who is secretary of the Third District Building association of New Orleans, is short in his accounts $10, 000 to $20,000. ST. VITUS DANCE. A Physician Prescribes Dr. Miles' Restorative Nervine. Dr. Miles Medical Co., Elkhart, Ind.: My daughter Mattie, aged 14, was afflicted last spring with St. Vitus dunce and ner? vousness, her entire right side was numb and nearly paralyzed. We consulted a phy? sician and he prescribed Dr. Miles' Restora? tive Nervine. She took three bottles before wo saw any certain signs of improvement, but after that she began to improve very fast and I now think she is entirely cured. She has taken nine bottles of the Nervine, but no other medicine of any kind. Knox, Ind., Jan. 5, '95. H. W. HOSTETTER. Physicians prescribe Dr. Miles' Remedies because they are known to be the result of the long practice and experience of one of the brightest, members of their profession, and are carefully compounded by experi? enced chemists, in exact accordance with Dr. Miles' prescriptions, as used in his practice. On sale at all druggists. Write for Dr. Miles' Book on the Heart and Nerves. Dr. Miles Medical Co., Elkhart, Ind. Sr. Mes' Remedies Restore Health. TAX RETURNS -FOR 1895-96. OFFICE OF COUNTY AUDITOR SUMTER COUNTY. SUMTER, S. C. Nov 27, 1895. RETURNS OF ALL PERSONAL PRO perty and Poll Taxes will be received at tbe following times and places : Mechanic8ville, Thursday, January 2d. Smithville, Friday, January 3d. Providence, Saturday, January 4th. Auditor's Office, Monday, Janu? ary 6 tb. Wedgefield, Tuesday, January 7th. Stateburg, Wednesday, January 8th. Hagood, Thursday, January 9th. Rembert's Store, Friday, January 10th. J. M. Tindall, Saturday, January 11th. Mannville, Monday, January 13th. Bishopville, Tuesday and Wednes? day, January 14th and 15th Magnolia, Thursday, January 16th. Lynchburg, Friday, January 17th. Concord, Saturday, January 18th. Reid's Mill, Monday, January 20th. Mayesville, Tuesday, January 21st. Johnston's Store, Wednesday Jan? uary 22d. Shiloh, Thursday, January 23d. And at Auditor's Office in City of Sumter from January 24th to Febru? ary 20tb, inclusive. The law requires that all persons owning property or in anywise having charge of such property, either as agent, husband, guardian, trustee, executor, administrator, et-c., return the same under oath to the Auditor, who re? quests all persons to be prompt in making their returns and eave the 50 per cent, penal? ty which will be added to the property valu? ation of all persons who fail to make returns within the time prescribed by law. Taxpayers return what they own on the first day of January, 1896. Assessors and taxpayers will enter the first given name of the taxpayer in full, also make a separate return for each Township where the property is located a..d also in each and every case the No. of the School District must be given. Every male citizen between the age of twenty-one and fifty years on the first day of January, 1896, except those incapable of earoirjg a support from being maimed or from other causes shall be deemed taxable Polis. All returns must be made on or before the 20th day of February next. I cannot take i returns after that date and all returns made after the 20th day of February are subject to a penalty of 50 per cent. A. B. STUCKEY, Auditor Sumter County. THE SUMTER HEADQUARTERS FOR IS AT Santa Claus lias An inspection of his large and elegant stock of goods will satisfy everybody. China, Glassware, Crockery ware, Willowware and Woodware in the greatest variety. Toys! Toys e Toys! A magnificent assortment at 25 cents per piece. This is a leader. ! The Peerless Oil Cooking Stove is the latest model and best manufactured. The I Wilson Trash? Burner is the most, convenient and economical heater ever invented. As in the past, a full stock of the best STOVES ANB RANGES Always on band. Housekeepers can ba suited, no matter what they may need in any of the lines handlod by SeahV The Workshop is better equipped than ever and every variety of Sheet Iron and Tin Work tamed out promptly. Stove Piping and Tobacco Flues manufactured to order of the very best mate? rial. Piping made by Scaff-i guaranteed to last longer than any other. DRIVEN WELLS put down in any part of the county. Best pumps and ma? terial used, thirty inch points. Guarantee a good flow of water. Remember the old reliable and give him a call. T. C. SCAFFE, Dec4 ? Happy Sew Year ! To Make it More so, Call at my Stables and buy a New Horse, Or Mule, Or Buggy, Or Carriage, Or Wagon. One Car Load Horses and one Car Load Mules just received this 29th day of Decem? ber, 1895. He Harby# Jan. 1, 1895 cgaaaBBgasaB aagsaaeaear Webster's Unabridged FOR $2. In Full Leather Binding? For $1.5?, In Heavy Cloth Binding, These prices are offered only to Subscribers to the Watchman and Southron Who pay one year in advance. It is an unprecedented offer and was never approached in this section. -FOR ?feO You obtain the best weekly paper in the ^IWmOW^W State-eight pages of the latest news and miscellaneous reading and a Leather Bound Webster's Una? bridged Dictionary, former price of Dictionary ?10. I have bought a lot of them at a reduced price and offer them at a still greater reduction as a premium. Remember that it is the UNABRIDGED WEBSTER and not a cut edition. Come at once before the stock of Dictionaries is exhausted. Clubbing Rates : The Watchman and Southron has been able to make special j Club Rates with the following named, well known papers and j periodicals. The prices enumerated are in addition to the reg j ular subscription ($1.50 a year) of The Watchman & Southron: Rome and Farm, 30c. Washington Post, 30c. Womankind, 15c. Cosmopolitan, Soc. Farm News, 15c. Munsey's Magazine, Soc. Atlanta Constitution, 55c. Standard Delineator, 85c. N. Y. Thrice-a-Week World, 60c. These prices are strictly cash in advance in conjunction with subscription to the Watchman & Southron. Send remittances to W. Cr. OSTEEN, SUMTER, S. O,