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COUNTY CORRESPONDENCE. sflTWSY LETTERS FllOM OCR SPE? CIAL com t is iv) m) i: n ts. Item* of Interest f. rum all Parti? of Jvnter and Adjoining Counties. HOTICfi to correspondents Mail your letters so that they will #aaeh this office not later than Mon? day when Intended for Wednesday's paper and not later than Thursday lor Saturday's Issue. This, of course, applies only to regulur correspond - MO*. In case of Items of unusual asws value, send In immediately by ?tall, telephone or telegraph. Such Mwi stories are acceptable up to the fcour of going to press. Wednesday's paper Is printed Tuesday afternoon and Saturday's paper Friday after WEDGEFIELP. Wedgefleld. April 20.?The rains which commenced on Saturday were a great relief to humanity as well as regetatlon. After becoming better acquainted with the appearance of the moon in Ha first quarter and the brilliancy of Venus as a morning star, our folks ar^ waiting patiently now without the loss) of sleep the appearance of the much talked of comet. l>r. Walter Cheyne and Mr. e. I. Reardon visited the school here on last Friday morning and made inter? esting addresses on tuberculosis and tts prevention. Quite a number of the patrons and friends of the school were present. If the literature that is distributed by these gentlemen will be read and the suggestions put Into practice It will go a long ways to? wards stamping out the dreaded dis? ease In Sumter county. Messrs. W. J. Rees and Q. T. Ged? dings spent a few days In Charles? ton last week, and Incldently took a look at the Battleship South Caro? lina. Miss Bettie Aycock Is attending the meeting of the Ladles' Missionary fTnlon of the Presbyterian church at Mayesvllle this week. Cards are out announcing the com? ing marriage of Miss Ouelllem Mel lett and Mr. John Chandler at the Wedgefleld Baptist church on Wed? nesday the 27th inst.. at four o'clock. Mrs. John Rogers and Mrs. F. S. Barnes went to Camden this morning to attend a big picnic near there to? morrow. Dre. M. L. Parier and F. M. Dwlght are In Laurens attending the meeet Ing of the State Medical Association. Miss Hallte Covlngton, of Marlon, la visiting at Mrs. Jas. H. Aycock s CONCORD. Concord, April 20.?Since my last writing, we have had plentv of nice as aeons, also there was a bad hall storm ?>n Saturday evening, but n<> dam.iK?' done as we know of. It Is very cool today and people are ?* pec ting frost. Some trying to cov? er their littl?> plants In *h9 garden and potato beds, where the sprouts are up. But the ??est of all is none a' the farmers in this community have cotton up, but plenty of corn op. Mr. Z. M. Terry Is still very ill, but think the rest of the sick at this place are Improving. Mr. W. J. Jones and two daughters. Mtoees Leila and Annie, were In lown last Saturday. Mr . Clinton Jones and Herbert Newman visited their friends last Saturday and Sunday. Mr. Luna Newman wai In this com? munity last Sunday evening visiting his friends at Mr. Hodge's. Messrs. Ft. I?. and S. W. Tlsdnle went to see their slater. Mrs. Alice Tladale. at Lynchburg, who was very sick last Sunday. Mr. Jim and Harry Terry, of Osw? - go. came down |a see their sick brother last Sunday. sm i I II VILLF. Smlthvllle. April 20.?We have had delightful showers followed by win? try like weather. I dare say those that have cotton up are feeling some what uneasy. Corn needs rcp'unting b*dly as w<> have a very poor atind, owing to the dry weather. Some of It h im l i t Hproiit. d since the rain. The w riter and Mr. J. L. Shiver hail the pleasure of attending the Phlla thea and Baraca convention held at Newberry recently. The convention was quite a success. As this was the first of the kind In this State the pro? gramme was mostly of a business na? ture. Tho sunset and sunrise prayer meetings were Interesting features. The delegates were entertained most royally. The writer was entertained at the homo of Mrs. J. W. White. She to district secretary of the Home Mis? sionary Sodety of tho Methodist church. She Is a very intelligent, high-toned. Christian lady. The F.pworth League convention meets at NVwt.erry In June. Fortu? nate Indeed will 1.? the delegate as? signed to h? r home. Rev. S. It. Hatfb Id preached r.t PIs gah last Sunday afternoon l y Invi? tation of the pastor. At the close of the servlco Mr. J. L Shiver gave an accurate and most Interstlng and In structi\e description of the Phllathea and liaraca convention. The Literary s<>, iety is still an interesting feature of church work at Plsjah. Some of the young folks show a fine talent for oratory. STATEBURG. Siateburg, April 20.?Mr. Jas. A. Carlisle, of Columbia, spent Sunday with the Dargans at "Ma on." We are glad that Miss A. N, Bur? gess his returned homo after a sta" of several months In Camden. Miss Sarah Dargan, of Columbia, spent several days this WNk with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Dargan. Miss Helen Frierson has gone to Wadmalaw Island to visit Mrs. J. J. Wilson, Jr. Mr. Yeadon Pitts has returned to the Sumter Memorial Academy. Miss Emma Frierson, of Columbia, has been visiting her mother, Mrs. E. N. Frierson. LYXCHBURG. I.ynehburg, April 20.?The recent copious showers are the salvation of the oat crop and belated gardens in this part of the county. Some of the farmers have finished trans-planting their tobacco plants, which was de? layed on account of the drouth?con? siderably In advance of last year, but anxelty is felt about the prospects of frost tonight or until the weather moderates. The recent cold ran a number of people into their overcoats or heavy underwear, notwithstanding a dispostlon not to yield. Our friend, Mr. L. V. Brown, after a flying run of 25 or 30 miles in his Hupmobile, yesterday afternoon, mostly against the wind, returned in a few hours with a blue-pointed nose and benumbed fingers muttering, "fly no more, fly no more." The unveiling of the monument to the memory of tho late J. H. Cribbs by the Wooodmen of the World, Trinity Camp, number 301, will take place at the South Lynehburg Pres? byterian cemetery on Sunday the 8th day of May, next, at 11 o'clock a. m Mrs. Tisdalo and Mrs. Brown of this town are extremely ill, and the physician, Dr. Tarrant, speaks very dtai ouraglngly of their recovery. Mr?. Tisdale has been desperately ill for several days. Dr. Mood, of Sumter, made one visit to her. Judging from he number of acres planted and being planted and the quantity of fertilzers applied to the soil, with good seasons and no mis? hap, we may expect an unpredented crop of cotton this year. MAX. Max, April 21.?Recently the ques? tion of dispensary or no dispensary for Olanta was brought to issue. The opposition was in large majority. We can't prevent the sale of whis? key entirely any more than we can prevent other vile evils, but as far as lies in our power to keep it out of our community it is our bounden duty to do. God will hold us respon? sible. Over a week since while Mr. Robt. Welsh, a poor farmer, was lighting tiro In the woods, several home cured hams was stolen from his smoke house. Messrs. J. L. and B. P. Moore and others went to Black river Tuesday to fish. We have not seen or heard or ?.?y frost during this cold spell. In some places oats are heading and ootton coming up. Messrs. Jake Kelly, Charlie M Klveen and Herbert Chandler have fOM to Charleston. Mr. A. J. Goodman and family went to Columbia last Sunday. H? ami his litt! - sons. Carlyle and Bdwln came home that night. Mrs. Good? man Will remain with relatives until ItSXl Saturday, when she Will return a i ompanlad by her unele, Mr. J. T. Kirby, <?f Columbia, who will spen I some time with relatives here. SUCCESS IS THE WORD. NO other will ex press WHAT the Y. m. C, A. smoker WAS. A Large and Representative Crowd Hoaffd Able mid Telling Addrcssc ?Committees DcwrvlBg of Con? gratulations. The V. m. C. A. smoker was pulled off at Hotel Sumter bist night to the satisfaction of ail concerned, The dining ro.?m was packod to overflow? ing?an "overflow meeting" being held in the large passage leading to the dining room. Among the guests were representa? tives of the business, social and relig? ious interests of Sumter. The pres ? IK e of so many young men was a fact worthy of note. The addresses were all up to tho standard and were much enjoyed. Rvery one who attended pronounces the affair one of tho plcasantcst of Its kind In Sumter in many a day. The "flumter spirit" was manifest throughout, and win also be manifest when the ?arnpalgn for subscription! to the building fund Is begun. Rev, r. m. Satterwh|te asked the bi. ssing on the meal. Mr. S. II. Edmunds presided very gracefully, He called upon Mr. Rich? ard I. Mantling to state the object of the meeting. Mr. Manning stated that the object was to put on foot a movement for a modern v. M. C. A. In a building of its own. He gave a short history of the efforts to have an association In Sumter and thought the cause of the failures was the lack of a building and proper equipment. The citizen? ship of Sumter has \vork< d up to a determination to have a fully equip p 1 association?a place where the boyi and young men of the city can ? ngrt gate an 1 spend their evenings ?n innocent amusement and recrea? tion. The Y. M. C. A. is ar. InstltU ti n that links all religou.v views. It does not interfere with the church, does not do the work jf the church, but lays the foundation for the church in the development of char? acter and manhood. The principal work of the modern association is to develop men of character and good habits of giving the young men a place to go, where the influence and invironments are such as to help in the formation of thoae habits that go to develop the beat there is in a man. He saw in the presence of so many at the smoker an evidence that the people of Sumter would rally to the support of the committee when the campaign for subscriptions is begun. Mayor L. D. Jennings next spoke. He said that the committee had stu? died the situation from every stand? point and that they had reached the conclusion that the smallest amount on which the work could be done is $25,000. This amount?and more? can be raised and must be raised. To raise it, however, all must contribute ?there must be no drones. Success comes only by all pulling together. All should help and all will help. Capt. R. A. Brand, Of the Atlantic Coast Line was next introduced. Mr. Brand is a Sumter boy who loves Sumter. He spoke very feelingly* of the ties that bind him to Sumter. He told of his experience in asso? ciation work both in Augusta, Ga., and in Wilmington, N. C. When he left Sumter, he said, to take up his Work in Augusta, his idea of the as? sociation was that it was doing a work that should be done only by the church. When he saw what the as? sociation was doing in developing character and manhood he became an enthusiast and has been since. The corporation he represents believes in the association and all Its officers are members. The Atlantic Coast Line, realizing that a man who spends his evenings in the associa? tion, getting that wholesome recrea? tion to be had there Is better able next day to perform his duties, Is now erecting and maintaining three associations for the men in their em? ploy. ? He belongs to the Wilmington, N. C, Association which is doing a grand ami commendable work. He thinks that Sumter should have and ??an have an association. All that is needed is the determination to do it. The beat time to do a thing is to do it w hen >t Is needed. There Is nothing that appeals to him more than the young men and boys of a community. The men of tomorrow are the boys of today. He thinks the beat way to break a boy in is to do it like the Texas ponies are broken in?run with them, lie has no patience with the theory that a boy can be told and sent to do the right things. That is not the way it is done. Go with them. With b creditable hotel, paved streets and a modern Y. M. C, A. Sumter will be a first class city, and he believes that Sumter will in a short while step in the first class. II- thinks the Association will be a paying Investment, one of the best paying in the whole community. He nollevei that Sumter will make the Association one of the first things to he brought about. Mayor it. Goodwin Rhett, of Char? leston, next B] rice. At first he phoned that he could ot come, but when he was told that ere was a possibility of his helping Sumter to have a Y. M. C, A. he decided to quit his work long enough to come and do what he could. He handled the subject from the standpoint of good government and business; he barely touched on the religious side. He contrasted the Association of B few years ago with the Association of today. A few years ago the As loctation was nothing more than a weekly prayer meeting. Then it was doing the work the church Is do? ing. Now the Association has a wider Held and Is laying the founda? tion for the church, and at the same time developing those qualities that tfo to make up good citizenship. Our natures are born in us, but our char? acters are what we make then. The Association gives US a place where we can get wholesome recre? ation and pleasure, utilising our leis? ure hours In the formation of habits thai make and develop character, But to make the Association effective the proper equlpmenl must be had. The government of a city, he said, is built On the character of the clti senshlp. The officials can go so far and no further. They cannot go any further than tve sentiment of the itizpn? will permit. Tho best thing Sumter can do is to I uild a modern y. m. c. a. it will be a paying investment, it will be an Insurance to provide a place of recreation and amusement, where young men can congregate. The best way to get results Is to organize a regular campaign and all work to? gether. Mr. Q. C. Huntington. Secretary for the Carolinas, told of what the Asso i lation Is doing in the two States. The material growth in the South has been marvelous, but the growth of the Association has surpassed that growth. He gave a short history of the ef? forts to organize Associations in the two States and the causes of the fail? ures. Now the Association is build? ing only on permanent and definite lines. The influence that predominates In a child is that of its mother, in the lad, for a few years the father's in? fluence, but after that till manhood is reached the predominating in? fluence is that of his associates. This being true, the thing to do is to pro? vide the proper associates for the young men by giving them a place where they can have associates that will not throw temptations around them. It may look like a hard task to undertake to build a $25,000 Associa? tion building. It was hard for Co? lumbia to raise $86,000 for the same purpose, but the spirit was there and it won out. The captain of the team raising most money for the Columbia building gave him the following, which was the spirit that helped them to win out: TACKLE IT. What if a job looks big to you, Tackle it; Something you think you cannot do, Tackle it. Wade into u: with uplifted chin, Determination and a grin, Take off your coat and buckle in, Tackle it. Don't say you can't until you try, Tackle it. Suppose you fail you will not die, Tackle it. The way to know what we can do, Is to see our difficulties through. And may be we'll succeed if we Tackle it. The last speaker tor the evening was Dr. George B. Cromer, of New berry. His was a happy climax. With every word he nailed a message home and put the matter right up to Sumter. Either Sumter must do something or back down. Some one referred to idleness be? ing the devil's work shop. He asked v, nere the devil was and answered by saying, "Just down town.'" He ask? ed where the boys were, "Just down town." The parent lies restless at night when the bays are just down town, but when the father and moth? er know that their sons are down at the Y. M. C. A. they have no un? easiness. All good hunters single-shot their birds. The devil does the same thing. He single-shots his victims, and when the young man is out seeing the town he is led by his santic majesty. The country guarantees life, liberty, etc., but what is it doing for the mor? al side of the young men. It is a glorious privlege to be a citizen of a country whose constitution and flag protect them in the utmost parts of the earth; but that country can do n thing for the moral nature. That must be done by the individuals and the community. 0 He very tellingly asked what a young man is worth. That depends upon who the young man is. If he is your son. his value is beyond cal? culation. There are some, no doubt, who will ask when the committee conies to them for a contribution, "What is there in it for me? Where do I come in?" The profit to you is in proportion to what you put in it. The more you put in it the more you will get out of it. This is a matter of patriotism and not of selfish gain. He closed by eloquently asking, Do you love your city, your state, then scariflce for them. Any man who loves his town or his State considers it a privilege to sacrifice for them. The meeting closed by a benedic? tion by Rev. II. II. Covington. The Ptmpcrn?!. The comr.ion pimpernel, "poor man'i weather glass," has the disadvantage of being a native plant and has beer almost completely expelled from oui flower gardens in favor of exotie? which are rarer, but lack much of be lng as pretty. The pimpernel is a charming Utile flower which opens about S in the morning and closes late in the afternoon, but has the remark? able peculiarity of indicating a com lng shower by shutting up its petals Explained. "You say the defendant pulled the plaintiff's hair. Sow. bow could the defendant, who is an unusually short man. reach the plaintiff's hair, the plaintiff being fully six feet tall'.'" "Why. you see. yo/ir honor, the plaintiff was butting Ulm at the time." ?Cleveland Plain Dealer. DIPLOMACY. A Vague Threat That Meant Nothing, but Brought Quick Results. The late Lord Salisbury some years ago sent a foreign office emissary to make some demands of a South Amer ican republic. Before setting out on bis mission the emissary, to whom bis lordship had explained the exact ua ture of the demands, desired to be Ul formed as to the course to talie it. after be had said everything, thero was a refusal. "Oh." answered Lord Salisbury, "this is not a matter in which we have the least thought of tightlng! if the pres? ident refuses, why. yon will simply have to come home again." The emissary went and had his say to the president of the republic, who blankly refused to give in. and th^ diplomat retired to think things over A few hours later he wrote to the pres? ident: "1 regret that your excellency does not see your way to recognize the Just? ness of the claims which 1 have had the honor to present. 1 have now to say, on behalf of her Britannic majes? ty's government, that unless your ex? cellency yields od all points which I have named it will be my painful duty to act on the second half of ray in? structions." Under this vague and significant threat the president yielded at once.? London Telegraph. HAUNTED ALAS . ,N ISLAND. Ghosts of Russian Exiles Who Died of Starvation or Torture. To the south and west of Kodiak. distant about 100 miles and forming one of the Semidi group, is the island of Ohirikof. the haunted island of Alaska. Enshrouded for a great portion of the time with almost impenetrable fog. this lonely isle Is an object of terror to the natives, who claim it is haunted by the ghosts of Russian exiles. The natives will not go near the is? land, saying it means certain death to invade the canny confines, and there are few men in the far north who have the temerity to test the truth of the many and weird tales told of this for? bidding and barren Island. Shipmasters and sailors passing the place assert that the agonizing cries of Russian exiles sent there to starve or die by torture are sometimes heard on quiet nights, while the clink of chains and the sound of blows are tes? tified to in an affidavit by a white man who once attempted to remain there for a week and who nearly lost his reason.?Tanana Tribune. The Noise Habit. A personal experience first showed the writer the possibility of a state of affairs where the habit of noise could become as fixed as the habit of a drag Waking one night in the quiet of a country house far from other habita? tions, I suddenly heard the starting of the hot air engine which pumped the water?chug, chug. chug. chug. I lay listening to its monotonous vibrations and wondering at the unusual hour for pumping until 1 fell asleep. The next ulght the sound was repeated On mentioning the matter to my host he confessed that be could not sleep in the quiet of the country; that the stid den change from the roar of a great city to the silence of the woods was so great as to cause hira real suffering. As his only way to rest he would leave the house In the middle of the night, start up the pump and. lying down in a nearby hammock, find sleep brought him by the lullaby of the hot air en? gine. That man recognized that he had the noise habit and finally cooquered it-Hollls Godfrey in Atlantic. Oddly Named. A Mr. Hudson, who had made a large fortune as a dentist, had built a very expensive country house near DubUu, but of such an extraordinary construction as to bid defiance to the criticism of the architect. One day after dinner at Cumin's this siuguiar mansion became a subject of merriment for his guests. The question for their satirical inquiry was. "What was its order of architecture?" Oue said It certainly was GreciaD. another contended it was Saxon and a third that it was oriental, wheu their host thus interposed: "Excuse me. gentlemen, you are all wrong. It is Tusk-uu. From the Ir? regularities of the mansion aud from its proprietor bel?g a dentist the Irish call it Snaggletooth Hall."?London An? swers. Not Worth a Rush. "Not worth a rush" is. as a popular saying, the predecessor of the now more common simile "not worth a straw." In precarpet days it was the custom to strew the floors of dwelling houses. When guests of rank were en? tertained fresh rushes were spread for them, but folk of lower degree had to be coutent with rushes that had al? ready been used, while still humbler persons had none, as not even being "worth a rush."?London Standard. The Benefit of the Doubt. Horrified Citizen?Hey, there! What are you pounding that man for? Man on Top? He says he can't remember whether he ever called me a liar or not. I'm (hilf? giving him (biff) the benefit of the doubt.?Chicago Tribune. The Producer. "Does your husband play cards for money?" "Judging from practical results," an? swered young Mrs. Torkins. "I should say not. But all the other meu hi the game do."- Washington Star. The man who loves home best niwl loves it most unselfishly loves h country best.?J. G. Holland. Labor, wide as the earth, has its summit in heaven.?Carlyle. A NATURAL WONDER T>.? Devil's Race Course In the Blua Ridge Mountains. "The Blue Ridge mountains abound in natural wonders." observed an old resident of Pen mar. "Most wouderful of them all, in my opinion, is the Dev? il's Race Course, which Is but a short/"* walk from Pen mar. "At first view this strange natural phenomenon appears like a -Broad roadway of great stones which ex? tends away up the mountain in a path no human hand could ever build. Many of these great stones weigh tons, while others are only a few hun? dredweight. Lying close together by the thousand, they present an extraor? dinary spectacle. "Tradition has it and scientists agree that a thousand or more years ago this strange track was the bed of an ancient river. The conclusion Is drawn from the looks of the stones. They are all well rounded and worn smooth, showing the action of water, which had polished their rough edges no doubt for centuries. MBut the mystery is if this theory be true to explain how the great body of water was confined at the sides, for the course Is not hemmed In by high banks, nor is it located in a ravine. In fact, it stands somewhat higher than the natural side of the mountain. The puzzle only Intensifies Interest In the queer place and multiplies the ar? guments and theories of its prehistoric origin."--Baltimore American. THE ANIMAL MIND. A Story About a Cow and the Calf She Licked. An absurd story is cited about a cow, showing what creatures of habit animals are. This particular cow would uot stand to be milked unless she could lick ber calf at the same time. For a long time she always had a calf of some age or other to lick, but at last by ill fortune one of her calves died. There is no reason why a bereaved mother should mourn her loss just at milking time, but there was the fixed habit of making certain motions. The farmer, however, was a practical psychologist He stuffed the skin of the calf with hay and let the cow I have that to lick. To be sure, the hay l calf had neither head nor legs, but a I cow has no general ideas concerning the nature of calves nor any special reason for assuming that calves should have heads aud legs. It felt right, and it imelled right It enabled her to go through the customary motions at j milking time. Therefore it was suffi ! cient. I By dint of caressing and licking her 1 little calf the tender parent one fine morning unripped it The hay issued from within, and the cow, manifest- ** ing not the slightest surprise or agita? tion, proceeded tranquilly to devour the unexpected provender. ? E. T. Brewster in McClure's Magazine. A Gentle Rebuke. It was late in the year for straw? berries, but Mrs. Beacon was deter? mined to have some for Sunday din? ner. Over the telephone came the news that they were "very fine, ma'am; very tine indeed." Being, however, a cautious housekeeper, she decided to look over the fruit herself, as the grocer was not always to be trusted. ! "They don't appear very good." she said some time later, examining care? fully a basketful. "They look"?here ' she extracted oue and tasted it? "they ' look a little green. I don't know. Just let me try one." She took another. "I guess I'll take oue box, please. You don't put very many In a box, do you?" she inquired. "There was." said the grocer respect? fully, "but there's been so many ladies looking 'em over that there ain't"? "You may give me two boxes," said ' Mrs. Beacon.?Youth's Companion. Lincoln's Religion. I I have never uuited myself to any , church, because 1 have found difficulty . in giving my assent without mental ; reservation to the loug complicated I statements of Christlau doctrine which i characterize their articles of belief and confessions of faith. Whenever any church will inscribe over its altar as its sole qualification for member? ship the Saviour's condensed statement of the substance of both law and gos? pel, "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with ail thy heart and with all thy 60ul. and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself," that church will I join with all my heart and all my soul.?Abraham Lincoln. Queer Friends. On board the Union Castle R. M. S. Goth on a voyage from the Cape to Tenerife was a little monkey belong? ing to one of the stewards. It was very fond of sitting on the back of a tortoise, another ship's pet, while the latter crawled about the deck. Al? though rather 111 tempered and snap? pish with people, the monkey was al I ways friendly with the tortoise, which I made no objection to being used as : her steed.?Wide World Magazine. The Little Thing Counted. The Pastor (dining with the family)? Ah, yes. Brother Smithers, it is the lit? tle things of this life that count! Lit? tle Willie (in a loud whisper)?Maw, that's the sixth biscuit he's took.?Ex? change. Emotional. "What sort of role does Rounder take In the ucw drama?" "An emotional one. In the big scene he Is offered a drink which he has to refuse." Labor bestowed on trifles Is silly.? Martial. Adversity's sweet milk, philosophy ?Shakespeare. ?