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Cl)f Murnini w? gmtywi "WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1897 LIVE Q.uLSTiOiNS. A Series of Articles Contributed b: _ AdTattccd Thinkers._ WHAT~*!S~ LfrfeR?T?R?Y"WSn?T" ITS SCOPE, USES, HIGHEST USE? Hume once said: ' 'Every one who i? acquainted either with the philosopher* gr critics knows that there is nothing yet established in either of these twe sciences and that they contain little ancre than endless disputes, eve? in th? most fundamental articles." This was uttered in what Professor Huxley calls a "Wen teri au crisis" of Hume's experi? ence, and yet it is in a sense as true to? day as it was when uttered over a cen? tury aga ( When Hume made this statement, the dewtrine of evolution had been only vaguely hinted by a few of the lofty minds of the race. The full and con? clusive working out of that hypothesis by Darwin, Wallace, Huxley, Tyndall, Spencer and Haeckel has gone to con? firm Hume's criticism. We now see foi the first time clearly and definitely that no theory, no criticism and -no defini? tion can be conclusive. On this point a return to one of the doctrines of Democ? ritus is inevitable-viz, that all things - are in a state of flux. Emerson beauti? fied and enlarged the idea when he likened ali nature to a flowing stream. Hence there is no possibility of fixity of definition. This is quit? disconcerting to a certain type of mind that is ever attempting to settle matters once foi all. These are victims, probably uncork scions, of certain educational and theo logical hobbies, whose method is to mold the mind or crystallize it into certain forms and'bring about a kind of intel? lectual death cr mental atrophy. The ona hopeful indication of this age is that we have no final solution of any literary or sociological question ana that we are becoming conscious of the fact. Thus, by the very conditions that many deplore, we are coming into sanity and are exercising in a small way in the lit? erary world the real rights of the free children of nature. The habitual and conservativo defer? ence tc authority is subversive of tho highest ^individuality and has a tend? ency to make intellectual parasites of us. E. Ray Lancaster, in a most in? structive brochure on ' 'Degeneration, " shows that dependence on others easily leads to decline and ?finally to inability. The animal and vegetable world is ? fruitful in examples of .species of de? pendents that once were free and pro? gressive. The inevitable end of such a ' tendency is extinction. The whole par? asitic world is a striking illustration. ? Jordan has pointed cut the danger with dramatic force, and Drummond - has read us not unprofitable lectures that, we should heed. Dependents we all are in a limited way necessarily, but we must j not go beyond those limits that nature sets. To show historically tho uselessne# of dependence cn established literary judgments we need only to look at the way in which the works of real literary merit-the classics-were received cn publication by the ruling authorities. I need to refer to but a few instances, such as Shakespeare's plays, "Paradise Lost*" Hume's histories, Byron's, Shel? ley's and Goethe's works. So universal? ly is this true that the proverb, " You know who the critics are, those who have failed in literature themselves," remains almost undisputed. A very slight acquaintance with the history cf literary criticism /will im / press us with the necessity of ^nodesty and caution. Language, the essence cf literature, and words, the raw material of lan? guage, are both the results and subjects of the law of evolution. If these were the products of a machine, were the stamped pattern of a fixed die, then we oould>speak with a little more certain? ty of literary standards and make cur appeal with better grace to "the clas? sics." It is entirely a matter cf taste, and all authorities agree de gustibus non dispntandum. It follows as surely as the night the day that if our literary taste is the result of training in a cer? tain line of literature that line of literature to us is the only standard cf appeal. To the .Mohammedan, the Al koran is the finest literary production in the world; to the old Egyptian, the "Book of the Dead;" to the Hindoo, the Vedas; to the Parsee, the Avesta; to the orthodox Jew, the Pentateuch and Prophets; to the German, Schiller, Goethe, Klopstock and Richter; io the French, Racine, Moliere, Paine and Hugo; to the Italian, Dante and Tasso. To thc Englishman and American, Shakespeare, Milton, Wordsworth, Em? erson, Longfellow and Hawthorne are supreme. These authors are all different, and in mode cf expression rarely parallel to each other. This brings me to a ten? tative definition of literature, which is, a verbal mode of expression. I say verbal because there are various other modes of conveying ideas; for instance., you ti'.ll recall the contentions cf Cicero and Roscius as to which is the best medium of expression, oratory or pantomime. My definitions are not taken from dictionaries, as I do not care to be phil? ological; nor from works on criticism, as I do not wish to play at parasitism, but are from my own experiences and observations. Literature is any intelligent expres? sion of thoughts or ideas, the verbal or external form of ideas. The Greeks had a word, logos, which meant both the internal idea or thought and the external expression of the thought. I might define literature as any written form of ideas. This is its broadest meaning, including the badly written advertisements and reports in some of our papers OK the one Land anet t! sublimest: Sights of Shakespeare cn ti ether. To give a concrete illustration, quote from a doggerel written in ti present year of grace in memory bf great statesman. Of course the .stare man is dead. I give simply a quatrai a homeopathic doie, with allopathic c fects: . When in the great et emit v the truth, is ful told, It may be that thy soul was too sreat fer ? body to hold. When truth from error is thorouglily sieved, It will be found That thou wast, ene cf t'. greatest that ever lived. Unquestionably this is net poetry, is net even rhyme. It is even destitu of tbe conventional jingle, but it is J i erature-of a kind. On the other hans far, far away from this painful jangL I quote a sentence from Richter, ti j stupendous, un approached Colossus < Germany. He is describing a night rac ble in one of his beloved German fo: ests. Sm says: "White night butterfih flitted, white blossoms fluttered, whii stars fell and the white saow powrie hung silvery in the high shadow of ti: earth, which reaches beyond the moor and which is cur night. Then began tl Eolian harp of the creation to trembl arid to sound, blown on from above, an my immortal soul was a string in ths harp." Literature is vast and varied and il definition in this general way not din; cult. I quote from Carlyle: "There is no uniform standard of es cellence, either in physical or spiritus nature; all genuine things are wha they ought to be. The reindeer is gee and beautiful, so likewise is the ele phant. ?n literature it is the same 'Every man,' says Lessing, 'has a sty I of his own, like his own nose. ' True there are noses of wonderful dimes sions, but no nose can justly be ampu tated by the public, not even the nos of Slawken bergins himself, so it be : real-nose and no wooden one put on fe deception's sake and mere show." We see, then, that literature, accord ing to the masters cf it, is vastly broad and even the poor scribbling at whicl we laugh would be deemed highly val nable could it be kept 1,000 years am found by some future antiquary. The scope of literature we have seei in its d?finition. It is as inclusive a: the art of writing and printing. Its use: are not far to seek. We print books pamphlets, magazines and papers fe: the simple and siegle purpose of con veying ideas. These may be raw or ripe, pure or impure, just cr unjust, true )] false. No what matter their character they are to be put into other minds, anc literature is the means, or one means, of making the transference. Its use is to make known the wants, impressions, ideas, thoughts, hopes, fears, joys and sorrows of ene person tc another. Its highest use may be mere intensely theological. When we inquire what is the highest object of life, we are met with several answers, beth practical and theoretical. Matthew Ar? nold tells us that we are to seek happi? ness; Carlyle, blessedness; Socrates, wisdom; Shakespeare, in Wolsey's monologue, "the service of Ged;" Paul, "to do good unto all men." Ii we look at the seething, surging world, we see that there are many ob? jects that compel men to activity. Among them are tho love of fame, wealth, luxury, ease and power cr in? fluence. Out of this multiplicity ?nd complexity we can select the real aim of life, and then it will be easy enough to find the highest object of literature. ? Evidently the real purpose of life is character development. This dees not exclude other developments, such as that of the animal and vegetable worlds. Character is developed only as it aids in developing all around it. To the true soul nothing is uninteresting or in vain. The living soul Suds itself in a living universe, which is its home, and it learns the nature and mode cf action of this great living organism. To know this organism, to know ourselves as a part of it, to feel its pulsing, thrilling life, to join heartily and harmoniously in its work, to move on with it in its great unfolding, to feel an ever widen? ing knowledge, au ever deepening love, an ever brightening hope, an ever in? tenser and more joyous life-this is the highest object of endeavor. This may. seem to savor of egoism overmuch, but we cannot enter into this more splendid temple until we have fully dedicated ourselves to the service of all who suf? fer. Renunciation, self surrender, is tho royal road into this kingdom cf the in? finite and eternal. Now, we can clearly see that the highest use cf literature is to bring all knowledge*, "by the help of all who love to the service cf all who suffer." f The modern works of fiction that deal with tue sociological and religious questions cf the hour in a masterful way are to be counted as cur present day classics and placed cn the literary Olympus among the other deities. It is quite natural that Zeus, Apollo and Demeter and their priests should look with grave suspicion upon thc new ar? rivals, for not only do these threaten to divide honors, but also incidentally the spoils of the sacred office. However, Jupiter as well as Pluto should remem? ber that the way to thc literary Olym? pus has never been closed and that the doctrine of evolution implies that the newer deities may crowd the older ones cut of the sacred circle anel occupy all the seats. Thc law of th?' survival of the fittest reigns among the gods of lit? erature as well as among devils anel men, and we should make up our minds to bow to it submissively. We are left in conclusion to our own choice, to follow our own tastes, to do sacrifice at whatever shrine we list, or at none. Whether it be Concord, Chica? go cr Besten, -Louden. Berlin or Paris, or some unpretending wayside shrine, or at all shrine's, is a question e)f in? dividual taste. Probably it would be wise to have one shrine dedicated to "the unknown," that we may not stand in the attitude of unwitting exclusion of a worthy new candidate for literary ? honors. J. W. CALDWELL. St Louis. - mm i i mm\ Base ball goods at the Book Store.-H. G Osteen k Co. * * 5 WHOLESALE BROKERS Cotton Storage Wa* ?house PROPRIETORS.': ?P-TOWJ? OFFICE: COURT HOUSE SQUARE, 1,000 Tons High Grade Am moniated Fertilizer, 1,000 Tons Acid with Potasn. 500 Tons Dissolved Bone. 500 Tons German Kainit, 400 Tons C. S. Meal, For Sale. We are prepared to meet any and all prices for STA?^D ARD GOODS. Get our prices before purchasing. Respectfully, HARBY & co. Dec. 16. Atlantic Coast Line, WILMINGTON, COLUMBIA AND AUGUS TA RAILROAD. CONDENSED SCHEDULE. TRAINS GOING SOUTH. Dated Mav 16. 1896 ;No.55. ? P. M. Leave Wilmington j *3 40 Lea?'? Marios; j 6 40 Arrive florence I 7 25 No 51. ; P. M. j A.M. Leave Florence \ *7 40j *3 35 Arrive Sumter i 19 121 4 4Q No.52. I P. M. j A.M. *S 35 Lesve Sumter', | 9 15 Arrive Columbia i 1035 10 55 No. 52 ruG3 through from Charleston J* Central R. R., leaving Lane? 3 20 a. m., i!*-.'; 2^ 8 05 a. SJ. TRAINS GOING NORTH. i No.54. No.53. Leave Columbia Arrive Sumter Leave Sunter Arrive Florence Leave Florence Lenvs Marion Arrive Wilmington ; A.M. ! *5 50 ? 112 ?A. M. j 7 15 j 8 25 ?A. M. j 8 55 j 9 34 I 12 15 P.M. *5 rs| 6 35| No.50. P.M.! *6 45j 7 551 ?Daily. fDaily except Sunday. No. 53 rons through to Charleston, S. C.. via Ceu?ra! R. R.3 arriving Manning 7 10 p m., Laries 7 48 pm., Chariesion 9 30 p.m. Tralee on Conway Branch laave Cbad boarn 10 40 a. m., arrive at Conway way 1 00 p. m., returning leave Conway at 2 45 p. m., -. -ive Cbadbourn 5 15 p. rn*, [eave Chedcoarn . t>0 p. a., arrive at Hub a: 6 20 p. ra., rersrai..^ leave Sub 8 30 ft. ra. arrive at Cbadbcurr. S.15 a. m. Daily er aept Suadav 5 JOHN ?. DIVINE, Gea'l Supt J K3NLY, Gen': Manager. T. M. EMRRSG?S Tratf-c Manager Atlantic Coast Line, S?S^ ^v??:Vl Virata S?3 Sor?h-Eas?era II? Re o! S. C, TRAINS GOING SOUTH. Dated Mar j?O.SS'so^S HO.53 16, 1896. j * i * I * Le. Fiorence i " Kiogetree:! Ar. Lanes Le. Lanea1 Ar.Charrt'n H. 35 8 50 49 9 43 9 15 lojlO 50 M. ! P. ii. P. ll. 7 52j 9 25 P. M. TRAINS GOING NORTH. I KO.78 | so.32 A M. P.M. NO 52 * A. X Le. Charl't'a ? 5 30 5 20 1 7 00 Ar. Lanes | 7 05 6 45 j S 26 Le. Lanes ! 7 05 j 6 45 " Kingstree j 7 23 ? Ar. Florence I S 25 J 7 55 i A.M. I p. M. ?. M. ?Daily. fDaily except ?uaday. N?>. 52 ruo3 through to Columbia via Ceu trat R. R. of S. C. Traine N03. 73 ?nd 32 run via Wilson and Fayetteville-Short Line-and make close connection for all points North. Trains on C. ? D. R. R. leave Florence 8 55 am, arrive Darlington 9 28 am, Che raw 10 40 a m, Wadesboro 2 25 p m. Leave Florence, daily except Sunday, 8 10 p rn, ar? rive Darlington 8 40 p rn, Hartsville 9 35 p m, Beooett9ville 9 36 p rn, Gibson 10 00 p m. Leave Florence, Sunday only 9 00 p m, ar? rive Darlington 9 27 a rn, Hartsville 10 10 a m. Leave Gibson daily except Sunday 6 15 a m, Beonettsville 6 41am, arrive Darlington 7 40 a m. Leave Hartsville daily except Sun? day 6 30 a m, arrive Darlington 7 15 am, leave Darlington 7 45 am, arrive Florence 8 15 am. Leave Wadesboro, daily except Sunday 3 00 pm, Cheraw 515 pm, Dar? lington 6 27 p ID, Florence 6 55 p m. Leave Hartsville, Sunday only 7 00 a ci , Darling? ton 7 45 a m., arrive Florence 8 10 a ra. J R. KEN LY, JNO. F. DIVINE Gew'1 Manager, Geo I Sap't. T M EMERSON. T-R?SC MariacfT SET WEEN .VIA Fast Freight Line Sumter, S. C., The Korth, Northwest, South and Southwest,, AUGUSTA & GEORGIA R. R. Rates and information furnished by B R. JACKSON, T. F. A. Columbia, S. C. A G JACKSON, G. P. A.. Augusta, Ga Dec 8. THE BANK OF SUMTER, SU7" TER. S. C. ! City and County Depostory Transacts* t: general Bmkiog business, also I A Savings Bank Department, Deposit of Si acd upwards received Ia- j tercet allowed aribe raie of 4 MT cent, per1 annan-. Payable quarterly, on first days of ? Januarv, April, July and October. ' W. F. B. HAYNS WORTH, W F. REAME, Cashier. President. ? Jan 13. Order Your PROVISIONS ANO GROCERIES PROM GEO. I. OTE! & SOS, j holesale Agents, Charleston, 3 C j -Agents for MOTT'S CIDEE BED SEAL CIGABS, AND DOVE HAMS Atlantic Coast Line. Manchester & Augusta Eailrosd CONDENSED rfCHED?L? In etTect Januarv IS, iSi-o TRAINS GOING SOUTH So. *35. Ko. f57. j ? A. St. A.. H. j Lv Darlington, 7 53 j Lv Elliott, 8 40 I Ar Sumter, 9 2* j Lv Sumter, 4 30 j Ar Creston. f* 22 i Lv Creston, 5 45 j Ar Pregcalls, 9 15 Ar Orangeburg, ? 4-7 I Ar Denmark, 6 20 p. v. A: it. AU TRAINS GOING NORTH, j No. t5o No. *32 A. K. ?. K I LY Deam^rk, 4 55 j Lv Oraogeburg, 5 25 i Lv Pregnails, 10 00 I Ar Creston-, 3 50 j Lv Creiton, 5 4T ; Ar t?cm?tr, b 40 j Lv Sumter, 6 3:* ! Ar Elliot t. ' 7 40 j Ar Darlington 3 30 j * Daily. fDaily ercept Sna?ay. j Trains 50 and 51 carry through Pnllina" j Palace Buffet Sleeping Car-? between Ne? i York and Atlanta via Augusta, j T. M. ?M EivSON, K.M. EM BRSOX, j Trace Manager Ass't Gen. Pass. Av" J. R KEN LY. Gerri Manager I SOUTH CAROLINA AND GEORGIA RAILROAD. PASSENGER DEPARTMENT. Corrected to Jan. 24th, lfc'97. DAILY. DAILY j Lv Charleston 7 10 a tc 5 30 p m | Ar Summerville 7 46 am 610pm i " Prepnalls 3 IS a m 6 50 p m i " Georges 8 30 a m 7 04 p m j " Branchville S 00 a m 7 50 pm " Rowes ville 915am 8 07 pm ' " Orangebarg 9 28 a m 8 24 p m i i ". St Matthews S 48 a tn 8 48 p ra j i " Fer; Motte 10 00 a m 9 03 p ra j j " Ringville IC 10 am 9 20 p m j j .'Columbia 10 55 am 1010 pm \ I Lv Columbia 7 00 a m 4 00 p m ; Ar Ringville 7 40 a m 4 44 p tn j 1 " Fort "otto 7 51 a m 4 55 p m " St Matthews 8 02 am 5 09 p m j " Orangeburg 8 24 a m 5 27 p ra ' " Rowesviile S 38 am 5 42 p m j ; c' Branchville 8 55 am 5 55 p m . j " Georges 9 35 a m 6 37 p m ' " Pregnalls 9 48 a m 6 SO p m . j " Summerville 10 22 a m 7 22 p m i " Charleston ll 00 a m 8 00 pm ?_,- * ? Lv Charleston 7 10 a m 5 30 p m ' !C Branchville 9 15 a m 7 50 p tn " Bamberg 9 41am 819pm "Denmark S 52 a m 8 31 p m "Blackville 10 10 am 9 50 pm '.Williston ?0 27 a m 9 10pm ,? Aiken ll 09 a m 9 57 p m Ar Augusta ll 51 a m 10 45 p m Lv Augusta 6 20 am 3 20 pm " Aiken 7 08 a m 4 07 p m " Williston 7 49 a rn 4 44 pm "Blackville 8 08 am 5 03 pm " Denmark 8 20 am 517pm " Bamberg 8 33 a m 5 29 p m "Branchville 9 10am 5 55 pm Ar Charleston ll 00 a m 8 00 pm Fast Express, Augusta and Washington, with Through Sleepers to New York. Lv Augusta 3 05 p m Ar Aiken 3 44*p ra " Denmark 4 59 p m | Lv Denmark 6 25 a m j " Aiken 7 28 a m j Ar August?. 8 10 a m 1 j Daily Krcept Sunday. Lv Camden , '8 45 a m 2 25 p m , " Camden Junction 9 35 a m 3 55 p ra ! Ar Ringville 10 05 a m 4 35 p m Lv Ringville 10 25 a m 6 00 a m " Camden Junction ll 00 a m 6 40 am Ar Camden 1155 am S 15 a m E. S BOWEN. . L A. EMERSON, Gen'i Man'g'r Traffic Man'g'r General ofizces-Charleston. S C NOTICE OF REGISTRATION. THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, ! SUMTER COUNTY. OFFICE OF SUPERVISOR OF REGISTRATION, SUMTER COUNTY. SUMTER, S. C., May 1, 1857. Notice is hereby fiiveu that in accordance j with an Act of the General Assembly, the : book3 for the registration of all legaily qua!i- j fifd voter?, and for tbe i??iiinc of transfers, j &c, will be upen H t the court house, between the hours of 9 o'clo^*; a. rr. , und 3 o'clock : p m.. on "he first Monday of each neon tb, ! sad for three successive days, until thirty days i-eiore the r;?x< general election Minors who stml! become of ?ge daring that ? perio'5. of thirty days, shall be entitled to registration before iii'- boci;s ure cosed, :f o^-uerv.ise Qualified W S. JAMES. E. F HF ll Rt) WS, J. M. KNIGHT. May 12. Supervisors of Registration ! Land Surveying. MR. H D MOISE, will give prompt at? tention to calls for surveying and platting land Can be found at bis office, next door to office of Lee and Moise, Sumter, S. C. NOT. 18. Glenn Springs, S. ?. Hotel Open from June 1 to October L Large, well-ventilated roomsr Best sanitary arrangements, ?rst and second floors. Baths and electric bells. Italian Band from June 1 to end of season. Glenn Springs Railroad runs within 300 yards of the Hotel. Glenn Springs Water has no Superior on the "Continent. Write for Certificates. -tot For rates of board, apply to SIMPSON & SIMPSON. Glenn Springs Water for sale in Sumter at the Drug Stores of J. F. W. DeLorme. J. S. Hughson & Co., and A. J. China Sold also by W. R. Dlgar. # SEE THE EATEST UNG MOWING M E Buy none but the Deering ; it is the best up-to-date Mower. MACHINERY OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS. 6 Sumter, S, C, Neither will proclamations on dead walls revive languishing trade. NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING Is the great IHK-UBATOR FOR HATCHING OUT BUSINESS. C 232 Meeting Street, Charleston, S. C. STATE AGENTS FOR SALE OF Wholesale Tin PUte Stoves, jSgS^fP^ p^ilPrf?grfi Sheet Iron, Tinwares, ^^^^^^^ ^ Tinner^ Heaters. : ?cd Over 200 different styles of Cooking ard Heating Sicver. Also Oil Cockers and Heaters. We waot, the lead?Dg mercbaot in every town in the State to seli our lines o? Stoves. We guarantee full protection in bi- territory to each ggeot we appoint If no! .?cid in your town send direct ru r.s f?-.r cut? ano prices. Oct 27, ?m .m.?.i i .un a-B.mi.ii' 111 ? i twa i ? i II 111 ' in 11 - -- ra-? MMMWM ?BITE & * | gp). . . :,- I Fire insurance Agency l-?pS ' ??111 ESTABLISHED 1866. I"..,;:?K:?-:. *;ir. i ''. . :- 1 Represent, among other Companies : ; ; '?; ? \' '.. *'\ ' LIVERPOOL & LONDON & GLOBE, ; ;. ; . - ; ? ' . " '/", NORTH BRITISH & MERCANTILE j-iioro..i y.:.---. ?.. ? ,;T/"/'-? HOME, of New York, r.v/./>> /.; // . . > . I UNDERWRITERS'AGENCY, N. Y. ?Ctnnl clients it. y r .-: ? ? . ' ny LANCASTER INSURANCE CO. ?owu. wm? t.. gg^^gjgSg^' Capilal represented $75,000,000. QpiH'ii' F'OCid OjUCK. WcshincUM. I* ? | Feb. 28