James Pike ji
Of Pikeville
By EVERETT P. CLARKE
The Pikeville gold fields were discovered
and exploited by Jim Pike, who
was as big a rascal as ever lived.
There was not an ounce of gold within
two miles of the place except what
Jim had put there from some other
mine, but it was enough when mixed
with a certain red ore there was on the
property he had staked out to sell to
others to couvluee hungry gold hunters
that he had struck it rich.
When therefore he gave out that he
had several hundred acres and couldn't
work more than one acre himself everybody
clamored to buy a small slice of
his surplus. It required a lot of persuading
to Induce him to sell, and
every time he sold u lot he seemed to
bo heartbroken. "There goes a fortun',"
he would say. "just because I
haven't the funds to get It out o' the
ground."
Nevertheless Jim was always persuaded,
and if the would be purchaser
hadn't the cash to buy with he would?
just as a favor?take anything he could
get. He sold one man who was down
on his luck a lot fifty feet by fifty for
a revolver. This transaction was talked
about, and any man who had a
horse, a watch or an old fiddle would
go to Jim IMke and buy a bit of ground
with it
But none of these investors got any
gold out of their lots. First there was
grumbling; then there was cursing, and
at last there was a putting together of
heads, and the opinion was promulgated
that Pike hnd swindled the purchasers.
Those who had bought the
best and largest tracts for cash con
suited as to how they could get their
money back; those who had bought
with cats and dogs were not so
wrought up, but among the whole there
grew up a disposition to prevent Tike
from getting away from the place with
the booty.
Pike had a deep insight Into human
nature. It was his opinion that those
who have been swindled once might be
swindled again. Moreover, be believed
that it is easier to swindle a community
than an individual. "That's the
plan," he said, "on which promoters
work. If Tom is satisfied that a certain
scheme is u good one Dick is ready
to follow Tom, and the two together
bring in Ilarry. Tom. Dick and Harry
bring in the multitude."
So Mr. Pike concluded that, having
by one swindle made a nucleus for
another, he bethought himself what
that other one should be. The object
of bis second scheme was not to take
any more money out of the citizens of
Plkeville, for he had got about all there
was. What he desired was to get away
with his plunder.
He cave out tbnt ii? the Irlnrlnaau nf
bis heart he had taken many odds and
ends for his proiwrty for which he
had no use. lie had decided to lump
them and radio them. He thought
there were $ 1,000 worth of them, but
he would call it $500.
Those who had invested money in
Plkeville lots scorned to invest in
Pike's lottery. Those who had lost
nothing of moment, thinking that these
neighbors had bought with more valuable
articles than himself and that
the collection would be a flue thing to
have, took shares. In this way 300
shares were sold to the most gullible
of the population. Pike not only took
the remaining 200 shares himself, but
pledged himself if he won to put the
names of those holding shares in a hat
and let a little child, blindfolded, draw
a name. To the person whose name
was drawn he would turn over tho articles
rallied for.
This seemed so fair, so generous,
that It caused quite a revulsion in
Pike's favor. Those who had sneered
at him did not do so any more for
fear of exciting hostility against themselves.
Indeed, there were several
fights between scoffers and shareholders
in the lottery.
While the shares were being subscribed
for the articles to be raffled
were exhibited. In Pike's yard were
two horses, both blind, a cow, three
dogs and a goat. In his living room
were Ashing rods, musical instruments,
several articles of furniture, some rugs
?much worn?and small articles of
every description down to a jewshnrp.
When the collection had l>eon exhibited
long enough to give every one
a sight, though too short to ennble any
one to Judge of its worthlessness, it
was announced that the drawing would
take place the next evening at 7 o'clock.
A little girl six years Vld was blindfolded.
a plug hat with f>00 names in
it?200 being Pike's?was placed before
her, she put in her hand and drew
out the name of James Pike.
Mr. Pike stepped forth nud said that
he had understood there was some
error in the names in the hat, that
they would be carefully examined and
the Anal drawing would take place at
10 o'clock the next morning. There
was a cheer at this, and the generous
Mr. Pike bowed and smiled affably.
The citizens of Pikeville arose Mia
next morning much excited. They had
fed on excitement for months, and the
feast had now readied n cllmnx. Also
there was a sudden fall. The articles
to he raffled for were all at hand, but
the ratiler had departed.
The singular part of this story Is that,
while the shareholders might have
drawn lots for the collection of articles
that had been put up, not a person
made any move to do so. The live
stock scattered In search of food and
most of the other things were broken
up by the children.
I
YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE. "
The Custom of Dating Proclamations
by the President.
While the president, of the United
Stales dates official documents from
the year of the Declaration of Independence,
there is no law on the sul?Ject,
and the custom is neither general
nor binding, the form being used only Ij;
in proclamations by the president It
originated before the adoption of the
constitution during the days of the
couf cderacy.
Tho original articles of confederation
show they were signed by the dole- tli
gates "at Philadelphia, in the state of
Pennsylvania, the 9th day of July, in
the year of our Lord, 1778, and in the ev
third year of the independence of ^
America." The signers dated "the in- *
dependence of America" from the Declaration
of Independence, July 4, 177(5,
although the war was still young and
continued several years longer. The
constitution shows it was signed "the
17th day of September A. D., 1787, and UI
of the independence of tho United
States of America the liith."
The lirst proclamation Issued by
Washington as president was. "Given 1
under my hand and the seal of the u'
United States In the olty of New York ^
the 14th day of August A. D., 1790,
und In the fifteenth year of the sov- u'
ereignty and Independence of the
United States." He used the phrase
"sovereignty and independence" in
two proclamations and then dropped
the word sovereignty.
All subsequent executive proclamations
are dated from the year of independence,
as beginning July 4, 177G, w
although the Independence of the United
States was not acknowledged till ct
several years later. ? Philadelphia
Press. s<
KIT-CAT PORTRAITS. *
Origin of the Term That Stands For ^
Stupid Mediocrity.
Several years ago an eastern art critic
waxed sarcastic concerning a collcc- ^
tlon of paintings on view at one of the
lending New l'ork clubs. In the course ^
of a vitriolic tirade he relieved himself
of the assertion that the exhibi- ?'
tlon consisted chiefly of kit-cat portraits.
Those who went to the club- w
rooms expecting to see canvases adorn- w
ed with feline compositions were con- w
demned to disappointment. There was
not a cat picture In the whole show.
"What Is a kit-cat portrait?" was the 111
burning question of the hour. Why, a te
stupid portrait, a commonplace piece w
of painting that reveals no glimmer of ^
genius. At this stage of the explaua- "1
tlon the inevitable interruption?"But
why do you call it a kit-cat picture?" a
And not one critic out of a hundred t?
had the remotest idea. oi
The term for stupid mediocrity had hi
its origin in a collection of forty-two w
portraits of prominent men painted be- 1e
tween 1703 and 1720 by Sir Godfrey
Kneller, one of the best known British ^
portrait painters. They were exactly y
the same size and were framed alike; 01
hence the idea of monotony which led fl(
to the idea of mediocrity. The subjects
of these portraits were members
of a club that met in the tavern of a .
celebruted pastry cook, Christopher Cat
?called Kit for short?and among them
were such men as Addison, Steele, **
Walpole and Marlborough. It was the
influence of this club that nln^od
I. on the throne of England.?Exchange. 0<
Mollified.
Tills really happened In New York 1
the other day:
Displeased Parent?Molly, I find you
have been buying three pairs of gloves
without my permission. Why did you c
do it?
Miss Molly (aged twelve)?Why, dad- n'
dv, I was obliged to have some gloves. sl
I hadn't a pair to wear! u
Displeased Parent?It was very
wrong of you to buy the gloves with- ft
out asking either your mother or me w
about it J
Miss Molly?Well, never mind, daddy,
dear. They won't cost anything. I
had them charged!?New York Tost n
Her Conscience.
In spite of scoldings, Helen persisted
in running away from home. One day, s<
after a longer absence than usual, her
mother asked:
"Helen, dear, does not vonr eon- t.'
science trouble you when you are running
away from mother?" explaining ei
tlutt her conscience was a little voice
speaking within. Helen answered:
"Oh, yes, mamma; that little voice is ti
always saying, 'Itun faster, faster, Helen;
your mother Is after you!' Pittsburgh
Chronicle-Telegraph.
is
Feline Amenities. SI
They were discussing the newest en- tl
gngement The fair llancee had prevl- I)(
ously made three similar announcements,
but not one had resulted in a s|
>veddiug. w
"Do you think she will really marry V(
him?" asked her dearest friend. '
"I can't any, iny dear," retorted the
next dearest. "It is possible, but not |
customary."?Woman's Home Companion.
, . ._ Hi
The Limit.
"I shall never speak to her again as
long as I live." f
"But you've said (hat often l>efore."
"I know, but what else Is there to
say when a person becomes as angry
as slio makes me?"?Detroit Free
Press.
Cautious. 05
Iliggs?Orooke is a criminal lawyer, 1,1
isn't lie? Plggs?lie's n lawyer, but
as to ids being criminal, I think he's 1,1
too careful to quite overstep the line.?
New York Sun. I,:
CJod gives every bird its food, but
does not throw it into the nest.?J. O.
Holland. a
f
ATrapanda t
Confession ;
By EUNICE BLAKE
.1 w
"1 understand, Billy, that yuur en- "
igeiueut with Ida Trask is broken?" ?'
"It is."
There was a brief silence between
0]
ie two men, when Billy Staples said: a
"Ida sent me off." U
This was all the information any one
rer got out of Mr. Staples. There is tl
story connected with his dismissal p
ait puts the matter in u different cl
jht. o:
Miss Trask was one of a house party a
ven in the autumn, jmd of course tl
illy was invited too. Edith Storms, ci
ie of the girls of the party, wus sit- A
ug on the porch with Billy and said k
i him: c)
"I'm tired of riding, and I wish we t<
d more walking. Nothing delights
ie so much as to start out on a brisk b
alk in cool autumn weather, when r)
ie leaves are turning. 1 love to kick a
[> the leaves drying on the ground." tl
"I will lie most happy to bo your j,
impanion for a walk," said Billy gal- v
atly. h
"Ida might not like it." .
"I see no reason why she should obct."
"Nevertheless it would be just as
ell if she did not see us go away to;ther.
She's in the library playing S
irds."
? >u t^ncvuj wiillllfc Bllf BIK1UIU
so iia." e
Thoy started off and were soon in the ?
oods, kicking up the fallen leaves, tl
lss Storms coming to a secluded spot d
d not seem as desirous of walking as
se had claimed. A branch of a tree tl
owing very near the ground and 1<
irallel to it formed a convenient seat, r
liss Storms sat down, leaving room
>r her companion to sit beside her. He
Id so, and the two chatted for awhile tl
1 the scenic beauty of the spot and
le stillness, the lady remarking that it v
'as just the place for a proposal.
hereupon the gentleman said that he v
ould be happy to accommodate her c
he were not already engaged. *(
Miss Storms leaned forward, expos- ^
ig a shapely waist. Billy resisted a ?
mptation to drop an arm upon it, but *
hen she turned her face toward him *
ith her lips very near his he gave it ~
p. lie kissed her. - "
The temptress rose and walked r
way, Billy following her. He couldn't
>11 whether she was offended or hurt 8
conscience stricken. Their walk
ick to the house was In silence, and
hen they reached it the girl went e
amedlately to her room.
That evening Miss Trask Intimated ^
rnt she would like a private conversaon
with her fiance. They went into
ae of the little parlors on the main
oor, and when seated the lady said: T
"I saw you go to walk this afternoon f
ith Edith Storms. Do you think It j
ist the thing to take walks in the r
oods with ADA firl ivtion vnn o?o Ir.
lged to another?"
"I see no harm in it." t
"There is no harm provided nothing r
;curs that is harmful." 1(
Billy made no reply to this. v
"If you assure ine that nothing harm- s
ll occurred I hare nothing further to v
ty." ?
Billy pondered as to his answer, then <
lid, "Ask Edith." Then, rising, he
ft the room. s
She met her (lance in the hall the .,
ext morning, and handing him a note %
le passed on. The note was simply ;|
breaking of their engagement. v
Edilli Storms, on seeing Billy shortly ;
fter his dismissal, indicated that she
ould like (o speak to him alone. Bilr
gave her an opportunity, but mainlined
a reserve.
"Why did you send Ida to me about [
lint happened yesterday?" she asked.
"Because it is the woman's privilege '
> answer all such questions."
"Could you not have saved your?lf
by"?
"A lie? No."
"You compelled me to accuse you of t
iking a kiss without my consent." ,
"I don't see how you could have oth- .,
rwise defended yourself." i
"But this reflected on you." t
"I shall have to bear the iinputa- f
on." 1
"Has Ida broken with you?"
"Yes."
Miss Storms did not seem quite sntlied
and showed her dissatisfaction.
lie toyed with a bangle on her arm,
ien with a string of beads around her
sck. f
"What makes me feel unpleasant." Ij
to said presently, "is that I don't
isli you to think that I wish to take I
>u away from Ida. iudeed, I am pre- v
:cupicd In that"? o
"Don't give yourself any concern that t
should think you are in love
1th me."
There was something cutting in this
tat called a slight flush to iter cheek. I
"All the blame of this affair." she tl
tid. "falls on me. I'm not going to
>ar it. I'll tell you the whole story f
you will agree to drop the matter." -J
"Tell it. I have no reason to follow s
up."
"It seems very wrong of me, but I
mil feel better after having made an
.|Miuiiiiiou. inn nas recently inot ? I
an with whom she has fallen desperel.v
in love. She wanted a reason to t<
eak with you and"? h
"Never mind the rest. What you
ive told me will never pass my lips."
"You forplve 1110?"
"Certainly."
Hut lie never forpave the girl who pi
id broken with him. p
ANIMALS IN PAWN.
amo or Wild, They Are Good For a
Loan In This New York Shop.
Among the curious industries or
jurees of livelihood in New York city
; au animal pawnshop. As you lake
watch to an ordinary pawnshop to
lise money on it, so you tuay take a
atehdog to the animal pawnshop,
eceutly a man did this, getting .$20
u a dog that was easily worth $.">o,
te pawnbroker said. Hut lie was a
iek dog which had been taught to
pen doors. So in due time he opened
door and let himself out while let-"
ug the pawnbroker in.
A well known animal trainer owns
to shop. He takes camels, lions, cleliauts?any
animals. There are no
linrges for interest on the loan, the
uly charge being for the keep of the
nimals, among which at almost any
me are dogs, monkeys, bears, goats,
ats, eoons, foxes, parrots, canaries,
.t one time he had forty trick doneys
in pawn. The profits arising from
barges for feed and care are enough
) make the institution pay.
Once he had a lion in pawn which
roke his chain in the stable and went
taring around, scared ulmost to death,
n<l it was only after heroic efforts
iint they mustered courage to capture
im. As a matter of fact the animal
ras a decrepit beast that had served
is time in sideshows and was anxious
> get away.?Exchange.
A CLEW TO HER PAST.
he Knew Entirely Too Much, As a
Close Observer Discovered.
She looked rich and acted rich, nud
very one knew that she was rich beuuso
she had married a rich man, yet
be Sherlock Ilolmes of tho tea party
iseovered flint she had once been poor.
"Take it from me," she said, "that
bore was a time, and that not so very
nig ago, when she was as poor as the
est of us."
"Marvelous!" exclaimed the other
our girls. "How did you discover
bat?"
"Through her knowing so absolutely
rhore I keep all my housekeeping
blngs. She knew that the tea caddy
ras in the writing desk, that the
heese, biscuits and other edibles be
jvoa Dy mice were m tuut tin box uner
the sofa, that the alcohol for my
tore was In the corner behind the
raslistnnd. that the butter and milk
rere on the window ledge and that
lie eggs and other raw foods were In a
OX on the Iiottom shelf of the wardobo.
"When we were cooking she went
tralght to the spot and got every one
f those things without once asking
rhere they were, which is something
bat a person who had not had a wide
xperlence of housekeeping In one room
ould never have done."?New York
Mines.
An Ingenious Devioo.
flfhen sir Robert Perks' school days
rere over he entered the office of a
Irm of lawyers and worked Y'ery hard,
t was no uncommon thing to llnd him
eading law at 5 in the morning, and
his often after he had been working
ate on the previous night. As a mater
of fact, lie made it an inflexible
ule never to be in bed of a morning
fter 5. To enforce this rule he incnted
an ingenious device. This conIsted
of a long glass tube filled with
rater nicely balanced over his head
nd attached by a string to an alarm,
tt the desired hour the bell rang and
wakened the sleeper. If within a few
econds he did not leap from Ills bed
nd avert the calamity the descending
relght of the clock destroyed the 1mlmce
of the tube, and down poured the
rater on his guilty head!?From "The
,ife Story of Sir Robert W. Perks."
How Italian Soldiers Behave.
The Italian soldier gets a very high
haraeter from Richard Bagot in his
'Italians of Today." "To see an Ital
iin soldier drunk or in any way misoudueting
himself in a public place 1h
xceedingly rare?so rare indeed that
t would create a very disagreeable im ression
on the witnesses. Indeed, the
nen of any one of the more important
talian regiments who misconducted
hemselvos in a public place would, in
iddition to the severe punishment adninistered
by the regimental author!
ies, undergo a very bad time of it at
lie hands of their own comrades."?
.ondon < J lobe.
Her Idea.
"Ma, your bank account is overIrawn."
"What does that mean, pa?''
"Simply this. You've written checks
or .$13 inoro money than was in the
iank."
"The Idea! If $13 will break the bank
'd tlnd another one to do business
irlth. I supposed they had thousands
f dollars on hand all the time."?Deroit
Free Press.
Outlawed.
"How about paying me for that suit
made for you two years ago?" asked
lie tailor.
"You surely can't expect me to pay
or that suit," said the impecunious
oung man. "Why, it's all out of
fyle."?St. Louis Post-I>ispatrh.
Somewhere Around.
"I never see her with her husband.
Ins she lost him?"
"I don't know. Some people seem
} think she has merely misplaced
im."?Louisville Courier-Journal.
Worked the Wrong Way.
"Flow did the accident happen?"
"He got run over when ho stopped to
Mid a 'Safety First* sign."?Houston
'ost.
\JntheHOME
oroo the. FARM]
-lllftvA r ^ tvSrf^&*Srw^^RI
ISSlp . \? f2
The ratuiy netc's for a gcod deanwr ond disinfectant are best and must eco- ^
nomically filled by
MENDLESON'S LYE
Its full strength cuts grease in a jilly from funks and pansand makes it ideal for cltjiofecting
poultry houses and curing cholera in hogs.
its purity and strength make it the best Lye to use, while the extra ouantity yc.ur
money will buy, makes it the cheapest. Twenty ounces of Solici Lye lor a Dime instead
of Sixteen.
One ten cent can enough to saponify eight pounds of grease, making mors reap
than any other 10c can of lye on the market will make.
The pound can makes fifteen pounds of soap.
I UNION COUNTY I
WHOLESALE DEALERS I
Tl,. n: (* o- Tl_:._ e. e.
i hkz uiiiuii uiuccry v.u., uiuun, is. V.
. The W. I). Arthur Co., Union, S. C.
Eagle Grocery Co., Union, S. C.
RETAIL DEALERS
J. W. Pollard, Union, S. C. J. F. Almon & Co., Jonesville, S C.
H. J. Hames, Jonesville, S. C. J. F. Cheek, Union, S. 0.
S. G. Gault, Jonesville, S. C. F. A. Johnson, Union, S. C'.
L. B. Jeter, Santuck, S. C. C. G. West, Jonesville, S. C.
W. G. Gregory, Union, S. C. James Harmon, Jonesville, S. C.
B. L. Fowler, Union, S. C. B. G. Gregory, Carlisle, S. C.
R. J. Fowler, Union, S. C. D. B. Free, Jonsville, S. C.
TEN DAY RATES
SEBOARD AIR LINE RAILWAY
' THE PROGRESSIVE RAILWAY OF THE SOUTH"
To Wilmington and To Wilmington and
From Wrightsville, N.C. From Wriphtsville. N.C.
Abbeville, S. C.__ __ S 7.50 Greer, S. C.__ $ H.OO
Anderson. X. C 8 (ill X f 8 no
Athens, Ga? __ __ __ 10.00 Lawrencevilie, Ga __ 10.00
Atlanta, Ga.__ __ __ 10.00 Pelzer, S. C .. 8.00
Helton, S. C __ __ __ __ 8.00 Piedmont, S. C 8.00
Birmingham, Ala.__ __ 15.00 Rockmart, Ga.__ 11.20
Cedartown, Ga 11.00 Shoals Jet., S. C.__ 8.00
Donalds, S. C __ __ 8.00 Spartanburg, S. C.._ 8.00
Elberton, Ga __ 8.50 Union, S. C .. 7.50
Greenville, S. C .. __ 8.00 Williamston, S. C.__ 8.00
Greenwood, S. C 7.50 Winder, Ga __ .. 10.00
Tickets on sale each Thursday up to and including September 2. 1015,
bearing final limit to reach original starting point, returning prior to midnight
of second Monday following date of sale. Extension of final return
limit may be had upon payment of difference between the ten day and season
rates. Call on nearest Ticket Agent for Pullman reservations, information
or ,
C. S. Compton, T. P. A.. Fred Geissler, Ass't G. L A..
Atlanta, Ga. Atlanta, Ga.
BAILEY UNDERTAKING CO.
'
Funeral Directors and Embalnners
Phone call answered anywhere in the County.
Phone Office 106
j Phones Residence 88 and Pil
T. E. BAILEY, S. L. HARRIS. |
Pres. and Treas. L. E. and F. D. K
Experienced lady asssistant when desired.
A Long Winded Clock. .
Oil arrivinir in this countrv 1'; t was I TL AIVfRUHCf (induce
met at the pier l>y his brother Mike,
who had been in America some years, rllDllC AlltO Service
and was taken to his home, Early ???,?? ? *>*0
on the following morning the new arrival
was awakened by an alarm Calls Promptly Answered
clock, an invention that was entirely ^^^^
new to him.
"Shure and Oi say, Mike," he exclaimed,
springing out of bed, "the ?
noights here in America must be the IVI. C. RAMSEY
longest av any place in the worruld." 0*4 r?
"Begorra. Oi don't know about a inter, Paper Hnncjer
that," was the sleepy rejoinder of and Decorator
Brother Mike. "That makes you
think so9" I Estimate# Cheerfully Furnished
"Didn't yoz hear that clock?" re-|| Phone 33 I'nion, S. (.. I
turned Pat, pointing toward the bu- ' ?
reau. "It must have struck at laste
a thousand."?Kansas City Star.
Z31 Dr. Virgil R. Hawkins
qa|ahi^q2^!sik|ifh dentist
mEMEDYFOR MEN. I S^SSiES* Union, S. C.
I AT YOUR DRUGGIST. f 1