Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE PENSION / PERPLEXITY. I THE STATE I)J?AItI> KXDKAVOItS f TO EXPOUND THE LAW. 4 (For the ( iiidunco of theSevernl (Jounty Hoards and the Appll.. cuuis?A Circular. | * J Comptroller General Norton, apcakicg for the State Hoard of PousionB, , hat* issued the following circular letter to the several county hoards, coustruIiug the new pension law in full and giving oirectiouH as to the classification of the applicants. The information continued therein is of the utmost iir? : portanco to the hundreds of applicants [ ull over the State: Cicntlemeu: Tlio varied construetion of the pcusiou laws as shown by the action of tho different county hoards reporting up to this date, illduco the State board of pensions to address thin circular letter to joti, hoping to aid necessary uniformity of uctiou and construction of these laws. By this we hope to save disappointment to niauy applicants laach valuable time, labor and trouble to the Stato and county boards. Some county boards iu mnkiug up Class "A" (the per month) include tho helpless indigent Confederate soldiers, whoso disabilities arise from causes iu 110 way counteted with wounds received while iu the service of tho States. The helpless, indigent soldier by the infirmities of age, paralysis, etc., under the law can not bo placed in Class "A" but only those who lius lost sight or hands or feet or arc physically helpless from wdund* received while in the service. Accidents to a soldier siuco the war; causing physical disabilities, neither from wounds, disease or other causes can bo considered in Class '*A," as tho State board construes the law. Let us examine into each class? "A," "li*' aud "C," and see who must constitute them under the laws: Class "A." or the SS per month, can embrace as above only tho physically disabled soldier by blindness, being tnuiviw.il n- >- ?- 1 > prove where irregularities appear for want of time to return for correction, and thus forty applicants may bo rojectctl. The State board desires the fullest possible reasons in eaeli case for approval or disapproval. l'leaso don't merely write "approved," but plainly state reasons. Auditors sometimes mutilate their statements or make tuo ease doubtful by insertions and erasures in the printed form, (livo all the facts obtainable that the law may apply alike to all applicants. The State board is anxious to execute the pensions law fairly, fully and promptly, but cannot do so without the prompt, intelligent an full co-operation of county boards. We must have all application at once?now. The law requires this money to be paid by the loth of .Juno?an impossibility unless reports are sent in at once. llespeetfnlly, .fAV.r.s Novrow WJII Pay tIt? Money. The Venezuelan government has agreed to pay tl.fiOO demanded l.y Ureal I'.ritaia for the I'raaa incident, the arrest and imprisonmeat of I'.ritish i oiieo oflleers. on condition ttint it is considered simply as indeniatty for personal damages ami not as alTeetlng the boundary dispute. The Venezuelan government. however, has not consented to make a pahlje apology to Ureal liritain as a prereipiisite to (he resamptlon of diplomatic re lutions, although it is understood that the t ailed States in carrying out its friendly purpose as nn advi-er of Venezuela, eoaaseied that such eoadilon should I applied with in accordance with the terms of llio iiritish demand. TILLMAN WILL BOLT, If Silver Loses ut the Clilcaxo Convention?A Bitter Controversy Between Irby and lllin. The State Democratic Convention met Wednesday iu the State capttol. The attendance was very large. Senators Tillman and Irhy and Govcrner Evans, besides all the politicians of the State, were in attendance. Irhy, as chairman, called the convention to I order, but made 110 speech. I. H. MoCalla was made temporary chairman. The pcrmaucnt organization was effected by the election of A. II. Patterson, of Barnwell, who made a* brief speech, expressing the hope that the convention would scud only delegates to C icago who would represent the people of this Stato. Ho spoke of the great advauce the cause of froe silver has made, Tho convention, at the instauce of Senator Tillinuu, appointed a committee of one from each county to report a platform and couI bider all resolutions. t? e ou constitutional changes was uppointed. Numerous resolutiouH were presented, nil free bilvor from the | ground up. One resolution, offered i I L?y Mr. Fred Williams, was tlmt thgy ffuso to elect delegates to Chicugo at all. A resolution calling on tho Democrats of tho State to vote for Tillman for President was received with cheers when presented. A resolution of sympathy with tho Cuban patriots was also cheered when introduced. Tho delegates at large to Chicago will bo Senator Tillman, Governor Evans, W. 11. Ellerbo and D. J. llradham. The Tillman presidency resolution was adopted by a rising vote. Irby warned tho lieforra faction against bolting, and predicted ruin to the party in the State, and to not only white supremacy, but white civilization, as the breach would bo made a permanent one. Ho said that tho whole trouble was that tho party was good enough to clcctTillinau Governor, twice, and to the Senate, but was not good enough to elect him President. Senator Tillman was bitter in his reply and ascribed Irby's attack on him to Irby's fear for re-election. To this Irby, who was seated at a short distance, gave the lie. Tillman's answer was lost in the confusion of cheers and counter cheers that followed. At 2 a. m., the convention took a recess until September 1st. This is <? V4 vuuciniou IIKKIU while in llie service of the Stuto or Coufederute States ami whoso gross iucotno from salary, wages or from other sources docs uot exceed?250, nor themselves or wives have property sullicicnt to produce an income of ?250. There are but few of this class lu the State. Class "I>" must 1 e irnulo from the one-armed, cue-legged, or other wouuds etjuivnlent to the less of oue of these limbs, whose physical disabilities do uot render '<li on helpless entirely and whose incomes do not exceed ?250, nor they or their wives possessed of property sullicicnt to produce such income. Class "F.," like Class "A," embraces only wounded soldiers, not widows or soldiers not wounded. Class "C" embraces soldiers and widows, but soldiers only above 50 years of age, whose gross income from all sources docs not exceed ?100. Soldiers with physical disabilities, not traceable by the cxaiuiuiug physician directly to wounds or causes produced while in the service of the State or Confederate States, it matters not how aged and infirm, cannot be placed in a higher class than "C," ami only in this class when above til) years old and have a gross income of less than ?100. ri'?,...... .... .... i. - *i..- i ? *uv.iu nil. uiKiti i;iu 111WB III I CO CMS8C8 of widows, namely. 1. Those whoso husbands died while iu the service, hilvo not remarried and have a gross income of not less than ?250. 2. Widows of yen doners. 3. Widows over CO years whose incomes aro less than ?100. and have iusutlicient property to produce. All widows must be pluced iu Class Many aj>]?lications have not been completed. Sometimes auditor's certificates were not signed, the examining physician failed to comply fully describe tho wounds or tlio board signed application with no recommendations or indications of approval or disapproval. The State board cannot ap ^ i;n?riM til lib ever presented themselves before the board wore examined. There were 10 applicants, of whom 34 passed, as follows: Hrs. J. .J. Watson, C. A, llush, W. 14. Murray, .1. F. Dick, F. 21. fleigor, (4. A. T. Johnson, J. M. Strickland, H. W. Dice, C. II. Karle, It. M. Potts, E. H. Harrison, J. W. Pradloy, A. J), ('add, T. 11. McElvcen, J. C. Fulmore, Sidney C. Zomp, E. M. Whaley, W. M. Kong, A. J. Hoist, F. A. Smith, J. F. Powell, W. P. Doyle, J. Ti. JJolt, Tj. T. Gregory, It. W. (iibbes, Edward ltuthledge, J. J. Wingard, F. J. Carroll, It. L, Allen, J. A. Clifton, T. E. Morrow, W. II. MeClare, It. I). Karle and F. J. Carroll. Seven applicants failed. The class was well up. Dr. J. J. Watson, of Columbia, is the first honor muu. It wil cost over SPt.OfHl.OOo to buy new sites lor tile sehoolless ehihlren of New York. Put even at tals figure schools are cheaper lban Jails. ii I low the convention to re-nssemblo iu ease the delegation along with others bolt the national convention. CON V KItsK'S Ct)M M KXC ICM KNT. The Young Ij!I(11('8 Who Are to Gaduate Karly In Jm:e. The annual coinnicnccment cxercieea of Con verso College ut Spartanburg, one of the leading female colleges of the State, are to begin on Sunday, June 7, and continue through Tuesday, June 9. An excellent programme of exercises has been arranged and handsome invitations have been issued. All the exercises will be held in the college chapel aud will be public. Special invitations aro necessary for the recede tion. On Sunday, .Tune 7, at 11 a. m., the Rev. John A. Prestou, D. 1)., will deliver the baccalaureate sermon. At 8.30 o'clock ou Monday evening the joint celebration of the two literary societies will take place. On Tuesday at 10.30 a. in., the baccalaureate address will bo delivered 1 y the Rev, T. 11. i'ritehard, 1>. 1)., aud then tho diplomas will bo conferred. Tho art exhibit will be open ou Monday nud Tuesday. At 1 p. nr. on Tuesday the Aluiutue Association will hold itH annual meeting and from 9 to 11 o'clock the same evening the auuual reception will be held. The graduates aro as follows. With 11. A. Degree?Mary Laughmau, Inda Brunsou, Fannie Charles, Maiua Harden. Gertrude foster, Hannah McCravv, Emmie Meng, Josephiuo Mood, Maria Mulligan, Lillic Rhodes, Margaret Rice, Meita Russell, Blanche Sally, Lessio Strode, Annie Leo Thomas and May Wilson. With R. L. Degree? Mary Rrinsdon, Daisy Crouch aud Belle Skinner. With A. M. Degree?(Organ) Daisy Crouch, and HutUo Buzzard; voice, Mury Driusdon. With M. E. Degree?Fannie McCravy and Laura RutV. STATU HOARD OF KXAMIXKltS. Thirty-four Passed tlic Examination Successfully. The board began examination in tlio senate chamber at Columbia Tuesday, at lb a. in., there being present l)r. \V. II. Nardil), of Anderson, president; Dr. W. 11. Eowman, of Orangeburg, secretary pro tern; Dr. li. W. Nettles, of Clarendon and Dr. A. E. Williams, of Colleton. The other membors, Dr. W. DeK. Wyleie, of Chester, arrived during the day and Dr. 14. MeGrahani, of Aiken, the secretary, came in oil Wednesday. Tin PALMETTO POINTERS CONFESSES KMUKZ/iLEMRNT. Irregularities Practiced for Five Years Hy Chester County's Treasurer. A startling sensation was occasioned in Chester Friday when it boc&mo known thnt there wero irregularities in the tax receipts issued by County Treasurer John B. McFadden. A few days back one or two tax-payers in the county found out by comparing their receipts with the auditor's books that there was a mistake, they having puid more than the returns tmllnil fnp Tliiiun -uvww * vvvijnn uuic inncu tu tho treasurer, tho mistakes pointed out and corrections asked for. Mr. MeFadden promptly paid back tho overcharge, uud tho parties were satislied . Taxpayers from tho town and several eeetious of the county took their receipts to the auditor and in nearly every cuBe tho receipts showed that a greater amount had been paid than tho auditor's books called for. These irregularities have been carried on for tho post livo years. Mr. MeFadden has been treasurer of Chester county for 10 years. Ho had the entire confidence of the peoplo of the town and county and there was no other treasurer in the State more cilicient and held in higher esteem by State officials, and by his home people than was Mr. McFiAlden. Mr. MeFadden has bec.i granted bail. -* ? Tlie State's Rum Business. It appears that tho State Board of Control is not going to grant any more privileges to hotels to exercise tho tourists' rights. The board does not like to revoko the privileges that havo been granted, but from what can bo llllilorotrtn/l ?a UHln ? vuv* u JO lliUU tUUUUU U1 HUJ further privileges being grunted. The beer privilege is likely to bo a bono of contention. Tho bourd, however, announces that the two privileges already granted in Columbia and Charleston are all that are to be granted until a thorough test is made. Tho beor privilego is a very profitable one for tho State. The beor that is brought into tho State for bottling has to bear tho certificate of tho dispensary, and so there is a check agniust tho retailer. The Stato gets 15 cents royalty on every dozen of pints that is sold and this is without uny expense to tho State. It is tho most money-making part of tho whole dispensary system. ? -* *- ? Two Marion Ilanks Combine. The directors of the 13auk of Marion and of tho Merchants' and Farmers' Savings Hank, at separato meetings held iu tho last few days, have decided that it will bo well to wind up tho business of these two institutions and orgauize one new bank. Committees have been appointed to arrange the details which will bo presented to tho stockholders' meeting Friday. Both tho bauks have had very successful careers, but it is thought that ono buna of $100,000 capital is ample sufficient for tho businoRH of the town and will bo oven inoro remunerative to ihir stockholders than tho two havo been. Slapped Ilia \V_.'e to Deatli. Irwin Simmons, a young negro man living on the plantation of Mr. J. C. Wolfe, in tho Santeo section of Orangeburg county, killed his wifo in rather u peculiar manner. It seems that Irwin told his wifo that sho must not scour the lloor of their house, but she, being rather cleanly inclined, disregarded tho injunctions of her spouse nnd tho floor received its cleaning. This enraged Simmods so much that ho slapped his wife's face with such great force that her neck was dislocated and death ensued. Dr. I)lii7. Invited to Spartanburg. Tho Ann Judson society of the Baptist church, of Spartanburg, has invited l)r. A. J. I/iaz to deliver an address in that city some time this summer. Ho will talk on tho terrible massacres committed by tho Spaniards in Cuba, While there ho was at tho head of tho White Cross society and learned much of the methods of warfare carried 011 by both sides. - ? Tho Secretary of State has issued a commission to tho Charleston Shoo Manufacturing Company of Charleston. The corporators aro Andrew Simonds, E. ('. Williams, Jr., James L. Simons and James Bedding. Tho capital stock is 825,000, divided into shares at 8100 each. --* ? C3 _ ... opnrianuurg is to have a county fair this fall and it promises to l>o a big tiling for tbo town and county. Tho Young Men's Business lengue is taking an active part in tho undertaking, ami it is safe to say that it will be pushed forward successfully. ? ?A commission for a charter has been Issued to the Beaufort Waterworks Company. Tho capital stock of the company is to ho 810,000, with tho right to increase to $'2o,0l)0. The corporators named are, Messrs. Geo. Holmes, P. W. Seheper and C. C. Townsend. -<?<> The Columbia Water Power Company has increased its cupital stock to one million dollars. Tho First Krlwl Klapr. J. C. Iiii'ttn lias received front Now York what is perhaps tho llr-t Confederate Ihijj inailo in Mississippi. It was presented to tho First Mi.-sissippi llith's on th?? eve of their departure lor l'eiisaoola, :t."> yoars nno. l'Silllip 11tiiii<-liiiitl? r. of Now \ ork, sonds tho llaij tioro for idoiitilli'iition, savim: ho puroliasod it from one Juntos Seott of I>nlton, On. As S.'ott's naino is on tho old rompauy roster, survivors of tin* l'irst Mississippi would like to know how lie eorno l?y it. The lla>f is full of Pullet holes, showing it saw warm service. It was stolen from Jackson ubout the middlo of tho war. l>. ' ? M'KATHf.R-OROI' 8KRVICE. Weekly Bulletin Issued by State Weather Observer llauer. The temperature (luring the week ( under review averaged about 8 Degrees' per day higher tb.au the normal, with maxima in the nineties each day, at a few places reaching to and above 100 degrees, except in the extreme western I portions whers it was slightly cooler. The heat was tempered du*iug tLo latter portion of tho week by partly cloudy weather in the afternoons, which hod, however, but littlo eilect iu reduoing temperature, and the nights were hottest ut the closo of the week. Tho avorage mean temperutme for the State, during tho entire week, was 70 degrees, ranging from 7U at Green-villotoSl utMcColl, Marlboro County. Tho normal for tho same period is up iJioxiiumciy < i degrees. ' Tho highest temperatures reported 1 were 104 at Gillisonville, 102 at Shaw'a 1 Forks, 100 at liluckvillu and Green- \ wood oil tho 11th; 101 at Gillisnnvillo aud 100 at Blackvillc on tho 12th; tho 1 lowest roported was 51 at Bntcaburg 1 on tho 10th and 12th. The rainfall during tho week was 1 very light and scattered, and of tho 1 44 places keeping rainfall records the ' following places only reported any rain for tho week: Ulackville, 0.30; Trenton, "T"; Kiugs^jce, 0.17; Little 1 Mountain, "i"* Poverty Hill 0.05; Ilagood, 0.35; Statesburg, 0.17. Tho normal amount for tho sumo period is approximately 0.00 inch. The sunshino exceeded tho normal, 1 ranging from 70 to 100 per cent, of the possible, with most cloudiness in Anderson county and least in tho northeastern portions of the State, being practically a cloudless week, except for a few hours euch day duriug tho latter part of tho week. Crops are being adversely affected by the drought. Corn and cotton, where stands have been attained, are doing fairly well, particularly in tho western and northeastern counties, where there was plenty of rain duriug At ? vue previous WOCK. Cora is reported as wilting during the day. It is well-worked, clean ami of a healthy color generally. Sumo lato planting uot yet up and completion of planting delayed, owing to drought. The sauie is reported of cotton, and on red lands small cotton is dying. Whcro stands nro good cotton looks line, is growing well, is clean, and of a healthy color and fair size, ("hoppii* out continues, and is wearing couqljtion in many sections. Grains are needing rain badly whcro not yet ripe. Wheat nud oats harvest begun in tho lower portions of the State, both being short. Spring oats aro generally a failure, being too far gone to bo helped by rain should it como soon. Irish potatoes are also suffering for rain everywhere, and in most places will not return, in yield, tho seed planted. Gardens nro parched and vegetables aro becoming scnrco uud of an iufcru r quality generally. Trau6plauting sweet potato draws nud tobacco at a standstill, but where tobacco and draws have been transplanted and are rooted, they nro growiug nicely. Melons aro in blossom. As compared with tho previous week crops have dcteriornttd in condition, except corn and cotton, which have held their own generally, the hot weather being tho condition host suited for their development, but they also would bo greatly benefitted by ' rain. The hot weather injured peach- J es and berries. i CLASSKD WITH 1 UK IMMORTALS. 1 Gen. Moorman I'ays a High Tribute to the Veterans of South Carolina. Adjt. Gen. George Moorman, of tho 1 Uniteil Confederate Veterans, has written a letter to Gon. C. I. Walker, of tho South Carolina Division, in which a high tribute is paid to the old soldiers of this State. Tho letter which is as follows will bo read with pleasure not only in Charleston, but by thou- i amis of Confederate veteruns all over ' South Carolina: Headquarters ) United Confederate Veteruns, v New Orlcnns, Da., May 12, 18015. S 1 Major Gen. C. Irvine Walker, Com- ' manding S. C. Division, U. C. V's, Charleston, S. C.?My Dear General: ' Yours of the Ctli instant received, and i I certainly thank you for tho news- 1 papers, giving the account of your 1 grand gathering *?f South Carolina he- 1 roes. I yield to no man in iutenso adniira- 1 tion for tho superb courage of tt-> 1 South Carolina Confederates, and > only wish their precious lives could bo < spared, as long as the record of their < valor will illumine the pages of history. < This would carry the grand old fellows < through all the cycles of time. They ' certainly do deserve to be classed witli < tho "immortuls." Fraternally, ' Geokok Mooioian, Adjutant Gcncrnl and Chief of StuiT. ' A Twenty Years' Koeord. A New Orleans exchange, says the Norfolk Virginian, notes that while the Sonili lias gained :14 nor eont in population luring the 1 last 20 years the enrollment of its sehool at- j tendance has inerenseil 130 per eent. The i value of Southern seliool property is also shown to have increased at tie* same time ' from ? 1(1,00'),000 to ?.->1,000,000, and the n amount expended for eduention.il purposes t in the South for the same period loots up ?320,000,000. These ilgurcs speak volumes 1 for the edueational interest of the South, and t future eompilations will show a still greater i advance, Twenty years of progress and enterprise makes a threat dillercnce, and the ' South in all sueh mutters is forging ahead at ' u gratifying rite. ] Won l>y a Memphis haily, The committee appointed to select a poem j , to he read on the (Vntemiiul I?ny of Ten ties- i j see. for wliieh a prize of ?100 was ofTered, <; has awarded tin* prize to the poem written , hy Mrs. Virginia F-azer Doyle, of Memphis, . Tunu. 1 * BILL ARP'S LETTER. WILLIAM ACTS TIIK HOLE OXf IIGI1WAY ROBBK1L It Was During the War aud lie Had It to Do. I never committed highway robbery bat once in my life, aud it shocked mo sxcoedingly that I had it to do. Wheu I joined the army at Winchester, Va., in July, 1801, General Bartow sent for me one moruing uud said ho had been mado a brigadier and had completed bis staff excepting a brigade commissary, and asked mo to accopt the position. I told him that 1 knew nothing about the duties of that oflioe, but ho and Dr. Miller and Major Ayer insisted that I could soon learn, and so I bought mo a horse aud a pair of high top boots aud some big brass spurs and got ready for business. The blanks had not bcou printed, aud I couldcnt llud a book on that Btibjc ct, and so I didont do anything for a few days. I dident receive any rations nor issuo any, for I was waiting for my commission and instructions and blank forms to como from Richmond. These hnd not como up to tlio timo old Joo Johnston mado that all-night march to join Beauregard at MunasHas. Tho day after our army forded the Shenandoah General Bartow's brigade took a rest at Paris aud after dinner bognu the march to Piedmont, a station on tho Manassas railroad. General Bartow said to me : "Major, I have sent Major Ayer on ahead to get corn and forage at Piedmont for tho artillery horst snud other horses of my conimnud, and 1 am informed that most of tho men have either eaten all tho rations tliov started with or got them wet in crossing tho river, and they must have something to cat when they get to Piedmont. You had better ride on ahead and secure rations for about 4,000 men. Tho regimental commissaries will not havo any, for their wagons are several miles behind." "Will I fiud supplies at Piedmont?" said I, very innocently. "You must fiud them," said lie. "This couutry is full of provisions, and you must purchase enough for 4,000 men?beef, bacon, flour, salt, coffee and so lorth. The men must not suffer." Aud he knit his brow and looked stern. With exceeding modesty I said: "General, I have no money to buy with and may be they will not sell on a credit. What th< u?" "My dear sir," said he,"this is war. 'Inter nrmn leges silent.' If they will cot sell to you without the monoy,you must impress what you need. The men must be fed." I perceived that he was desperately in earnest, so I hurried on to Piedmont and found Major Ayrr with a pocket full of Richmond bunks' money, buying corn from a solid old Virginia farmer. There were two wagon loads that had been hauled by two of tho finest yokes of fat oxen I ever saw. I took tho major aside and told him my ordors. ' "There is somo very fino beef in those Bteers,"said he. "Uut l liavo no monpr,r said I. "Cau'tyou lend mo Home?" "I cannot," said ho. "It would cost mo my commission. You can impress tho oxen." "Rupposo that old fellow should rosist? What then?" "Get Captain Towers to give you a detail and arrest him if he won't give up peaceably." So I timidly approached tlio old man and proposed to buy his steers, but ho didn't wish to to sell them nt any price. Said ho wouldn't take ?100 a yoke for them. "When I finally came down on him with tho general's orders ho was furious and so was his sou. I felt as moau as a dog. They sworo they would go back home and get their guns and kill the first man who dured to touch thoir oxen. Tho old man stood guard while the son went home? half a milo away?to get their guns. "And you don't even proposo to let a man prico his own property nor to pay a dollar for it, but you will give a roseipt for it that may not bo worth a ilurn. Any robber could do that. If this is the way tho southern confederacy lias started out it will bust wide open in sixty days, and I wish to God it would I" ITp to this time I had talked kiucTly and persuasively, but at last, when I Found out ho was a union sympathizer, I got tired up in my feelings, and as tho Eight Georgia marched up I got a letail of ten men and had the steers Iriven away, ami as the old man was trying and waiting for his Ron with llie guns I told him tlint if ho wouhl eoino over to tho station I would givo iiiin a receipt that would be good at Richmond. Ho never cursed, for ho belonged to tho church, but ho Raid "(Jol durn" and "dad burn" and "dinguation" with great emphasis. Tho steers wero soon turned over to tomo expert butchers from tho First Kentucky regiment, and by tho time he young man and some of the neigh?ors arrived with their guns and dogs ho ill-fated brutes hnd been killed iiid flayed on tho altar of their connrv. In an hour's timo their cascasses vero cut np into hubs pieces and disrihutcd and tho cnmpfircs lighted. Vt a store nearby I purchased from a *ood confederate some flour and crack>rs and a thousand pounds of bacon. I had 110 trouble with him, for he said he boys must he fed if it took everylung ho had. I invoked his good ofices make ponce with the old man ind his son, and about dark they came o mo and said they would tnko my reieipt, but it was a gol durn cowardly >ieco of business. And it did look hat way. 1 wonder how Ihoy got their tvagous home. ^ i '*>"V ' * < Eat before long tlie good people of the Taller got tho hang of the business and surrendered at discretion. I never had much trouble with those who were ou our side. One day J seized 400 barrels of flour in a merchant mill not far from Orange Court House. The man was desperately mad but I had heard that his wife was a rebel to the core, aud so I visited her and mado a good impression, for I was right good looking then. She invited me to stay to supper, which I did, and I played with her baby and captured all tbe family except her husband. He was a suspect and was ou both sides of the war. I put a guard over the mill that night or ho would liavo hauled the flour away. It was hard on those Virginia farmers, for if oue aruiy dident take their substance the other would. For nearly fonr yearn they were between two fires, and remained truo to their great leaders. What a bleasing is law?tho laws of the land and the protection of the courtH. Any law is hotter than no law. Wo old people remember when, toward tho close of tho war, this part of the country that had beou desolated by Sherman's bummers was infested by i so-called scouts who were mounted on stolen horses nnd protendod to bo 1 commissioned to protect tho women and children and to get up supplies 1 for our p^my. Every vagabond and deserter joiued them nud they were a terror to tho old and helplesB. My wife sometimes tolls the children about her refugee life, aud how all her brothers wore iu the Virginia army, and how hor father, tho elder 1 Judge Hntchins, was farming on the Chattahoochee river, trying to Bave something for tho grand1 children, and how one morning a band of these so-called scouts camo there and demanded tho keys of tho smokehouse nnd said tho army must be fed, and how he tried to reasou with and told how many ho had to feed at home, 1 and how little meat he had, but they 1 got rampant and said they would break down tho door if he didn't surrender 1 tho keys. He kept threo double-barrel shot guun well loaded, aud whon they went round to tho smoke-house he weut upstairs to n window and n?i<1 in a determined voice : "Stop. Don't jou go any nearer to tbat door. If you do I will kill you. I am old and not ufraid to die, but I will kill somo of you before I do."* They saw the muzzlo of tho pun and they knew the man and stopped. After a brief consultation they retired. Tiicro was my wife and six children and two little orphaus and a score of littlo no1 groes, and thoso lawless men would have taken the last morsel away from them. Friends! sometimes wo abuse tho law and tho lawyors and the court,'but 1 after all tho law of the land is tho 1 strongest bulwark of liberty and justice. Blackstono says that a man's house is his castle,into which the king of England dares not enter without 1 permission, but wo remember when vagabonds and thieves not only en' tered but drovo tho inmates out. Let 1 us all sustain tho law and courts and leave them as a blessed heritage to our children.?Bill Akp, in Atlauto Con* stitution. i CONVERSE'S COMMENCEMENT. Tho Young Ladies Who Are to CuduatO Early In June. Tho annual commencement exercises of Convorso College at at tauburg, ouo of tho loading female colleges ot tho Stato, are to begin on Sundays Juno 7, and contiuuu through Tuesday,1 Juno 9. An excellent programme of exercises has boon arranged and hand? somo invitations have been issued. All tho exeicisos will bo held in tho college chapel and will be public. Special invitations aro necessary f jr the xecej,* llUli. On Sunday, Juno 7, nt 11 a. m., the Rev. John A. Preston, 1). 1)., will deliver the bnccnliiurente sermon. At H.30 o'clock on Monday evening th? joint celebration of the two literary societies will take place. On Tuesday ! ut 10.30 a. m., tho baccalaureate address will bo delivered 1 y the Rev. T. H. Pritchard, D. 1)., and thou th? di])lomus will bo conferred. The art exhibit will be open ou Monday and Tuesday. At 4 p. in. on Tuesday th? Alumuue Association will hold its annual meeting and from 9 to 11 o'clock tho same evening the uunuul reception will bo held. Tho gruduatcs aro a? follows. With B. A. Degree?Mary Baughman, Inda RruiiHou, Fannie Charles, Mainu Darden, Gertrudo foster, Hannah McOravy, Emmie Meng, Jowephin? Mood, Maria Mulligan, Lillie Rhodes, Margaret Rice, Meita Russell, Blanch? Sally, Lessio Strode, Anuio Le? Thomas and May Wilson. With B. Ij. Degree? Mary ltrinsdoD, Daisy Crouch and Belle Skinner. With A. M. Degree?(Organ) Daisy Crouch, and Hattio Hazzard; voice, Mary Briusdon. With M. E. Degreo?Fanuio Mo Cravy and Luura Ruff. MISSISSIPPI'S \V A It (jOVKRMOR. Why the Hones of Kx-(?overnor Pettus will Jiot lie Removed From Arkansas. At tho last session of tho Mississippi legislature u liberal sum was appropriated to b? used in removing tho remains of Ex-Goveraor Pettus from Arkansas to Juckson, it being reported his grave was in a cotton patch and sadly neglected. Pettus was Mississippi's war Governor, but after the surrender moved to Arka.isas, where ho soon died, and a letter from a cousin, Edward L. Pettus, of Selina. Ala., states that Governor Petrtus's daughters,Mrs. Lapzey, of Hclma. and Mrs. Wooden, of Arkansas, otijeot Jo tho removal, and doeiare th"lr father is buried in a country churchyard with other members* j of his family, and their graves are well cured j for. Mississippi will, of course, respect their j Wishes. It may sound like an anomaly. l>ut tin* mail discovered in crookedness ia la a, strait. ?