The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, August 13, 1915, Page 3, Image 3
James Pike
Of Pikeville
By EVERETT P. CLARKE
The Pikeville gold lields 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 convince hungry gold hunters
that he had struck it rich.
When therefore he gave out that he
had several hundred acres and couldn't
wurs more man one acre uimsclf 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 a lot he seemed to
be heartbroken. "There goes a fortun\"
he would sny, "just because 1
haven't the funds to get it out o' the
ground."
Nevertheless .lira was always perHuaded,
and if the would bo 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 u lot lifty feet by fifty for
a revolver. This transaction was talked
about, and any innn who had a
horse, a watch or an old fiddle would
go to Jlin Pike 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 had swindled the purchasers.
Those who had bought the
best and largest tracts for cash consulted
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 Pike
from getting away from the place with
the booty.
nKe had a (loop Insight Into human
nature. It was his opinion that those
who have boon swindled once mifht be
swindled again. Moreover, he 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 a good one Dick is ready
to follow Tom, and the two together
bring in Harry. 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 his second scheme was not to take
any more money out of the citizens of
Pikevllle, for he had got about all there
was. What he desired was to get away
with his plunder.
He gave out that in the kindness of
his heart he had taken many odds and
ends for his property for which he
had no use. He had decided to lump
them and rathe them, ne thought
there were $1,000 worth of them, but
he would call it $500.
Those who hud invested money in
Pikeville 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 nnH tim?
tbe collection would be a fine thing to
have, took shares. In this way 200
shares were sold to the most gulliblo
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 hut
and let a little child, blindfolded, draw
a name. To the person whose name
was drawn he would turn over the 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 rallied
were exhibited. In Pike's yard were
two horses, both blind, n cow. three,
dogs and a goat. In his living room
were fishing rods, musical instruments,
several articles of furniture, some rugs
?much worn?and small articles of
every description down to a jews harp.
When the collection had l>een exhibited
long enough to give every one
a sight, though too short to enable any
one to judge of its worthlessness, it
was announced that the drawing would
take place the next eveqhig at 7 o'clock.
A little girl six years Vld was blindfolded,
a plug hat with TiOO names in
it?200 ladng Pike's?was placed before
her, she put in her hand and drew
out the name of Jaiues Pike.
Mr. Pike stepped forth and said that
he had understood there was some
error in me mimes in tlie hat, that
they would be carefully examined and
the final 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 Plkevllle arose the
next morning much excited. They had
fed on excitement for months, and the
feast had now reached a climax. Also
there was a sudden fall. The articles
to be raffled for were all at hand, but
the rafller 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
mnde any more to do so. The live
stock scattered in search of food and
most of the other things were broken
up by the children.
YEAR OF INDEPENDENCE.
The Custom of Dating Proclamation;
by the President.
White the president of the Unite*
States dates official documents fron
the year of the Declaration of lnde
pendence, there is no law on the suh
ject, and the custom is neither genera
nor binding, the form being used oiilj
in proclamations by the president Ii
originated before the adoption of tin
constitution during the days of tin
confederacy.
The original articles of confcderatioi
show they were signed by tho dele
gates "at Philadelphia, in the state 01
Pennsylvania, the Oth day of July, ii
tho ycur of our Lord, 177N, and in tin
third year of the independence ol
America." The signers dated "the in
dependence of America" from the Dec
laration of Independence, July 4, 177(5
although the war was still young ant
continued several years longer. Tin
constitution shows it was signed "tin
17th day of September A. D., 1787, ant
of the Independence of tho Uuitcc
States of America the l'Jth."
The first proclamation Issued l?j
Washington as president was, "Givei
under my hand and the seal of tin
United States in the city of New Yorl
tho 14th day of August A. D., 1700
ninl in the fifteenth year of the sov
ereignty and independence of tin
United States." lie used the phrast
"sovereignty and independence" ii
two proclamations and then droppec
the word sovereignty.
All subsequent executive proclama
tlons are dated from the year of lnde
pendojice, as beginning July 4. 1770
although the Independence of tho Unit
ed States was not acknowledged til
several years later. ? Philadelphh
Press.
KIT-CAT PORTRAITS.
Origin of tho Term That Stands Foi
Stupid Mediocrity.
Several years ago an eastern art crlt
ic waxeil sarcastic concerning a collec
tion of paintings on view at one of tin
leading New York clubs. In thecoursi
of n vitriolic tirade he relieved him
self of the assertion that the exhibi
tion consisted chiefly of kit-cat por
traits. Those who went to the club
rooms expecting to see canvases adorn
ed with feline compositions were con
doomed to disappointment. There wui
not a cat picture iu the whole show.
"What is a kit-cat portrait?" was tin
burning question of the hour. Why, i
stupid portrait, a commonplace piec<
of painting that reveals no glimmer o
genius. At this stage of the explana
tion the inevitable interruption?"Bu
why do you call it n kit-cat picture?'
And not one critic out of u liuudret
had the remotest idea.
The term for stupid mediocrity hat
its origin in a collection of forty-tw<
portraits of prominent men painted be
tween 1703 and 1720 by Sir Godfrey
Kneller, one of the best known Brltlsl
portrait painters. They were exactly
tha nf)mo ai7a nnH
?rv ii VJ.C Aiuiucu aiiAt
hence the Idea of monotony which let
to the Idea of mediocrity. The sub
jects of these portraits were member
of a club that met in the tavern of f
celebrated pastry cook, Christopher Ca
?called Kit for short?nnd among then
were such men as Addison, Steele
Walpole and Marlborough. It was tin
influence of this club that placed Ceorgi
I. on the throne of England.?Exchange
Mollified.
Tills really happened In New Yorl
the other day:
Displeased Parent?Molly, I find yoi
have been buying three pairs of glove!
without my permission. Why did yoi
do it?
Miss Molly (aged twelve)?Why, dad
dy, 1 was obliged to have some gloves
1 hadn't a pair to wear!
Displeased Parent?It was veri
wrong of you to buy the gloves with
out asking either your mother or m<
about It.
Miss Molly?Well, never miml, daddy
dear. They won't cost anything,
had them charged!?New York Post.
Her Conscience.
In spite of scoldings, Helen persisted
In running away from home. One day
after n longer absence than usual, hei
mother asked:
"Helen, dear, does not your con
science trouble you when you are run
ning away from mother?" explaining
that her conscience was a little voict
speaking within. Helen answered:
"Oil, yes, mamma; that little voice ii
always saying, 'Run faster, faster, Uel
en; your mother Is after you!' "?Pitts
burgh Chronicle-Telegraph.
Feline Amenities.
They were discussing the newest en
gagement. The fair fiancee had previ
ously made three similar announce
ments, but not onu had resulted in f.
wedding.
"Do you think she will really marry
him?" asked her dearest friend.
"I can't say, my dear," retorted th<
next dearest. "It is possible, but no(
customary."?Woman's Home Corapan
Ion.
Tho Limit.
"I shall never speak to her again as
long as I live."
"But you've said that often before."
"I know, but what else is there tc
say when a person becomes as angry
as sho makes me?"?Detroit Free
Press.
Cautious.
Iliggs?Crooke is a criminal lawyer,
isn't he? DJggs?He's a lawyer, but
iit? iu tux nouij; criminal, I think bo's
too careful to quite overstep the line.?
New York Sun.
Clod j?lves every bird Its food, but
does not throw It into the nest.?J. G.
Holland.
- A Trap and a
: Confession
I By EUNICE BLAKE
' "I understand, Itilly, that your en,
gagcment with Ida Trust is broken?"
"It is."
i There was a brief silence between
- the two men, when Billy Staples said:
C "Ida sent me off."
1 This was all the information any one
ever gbt out of Mr. Staples. There is
^ a story connected with his dismissal
that puts the matter in a different
light.
j Miss Trusk was one of a house party
, giveu In the autumn. And of course
, Billy was invited too. Edith Storms,
j one of the girls of the party, was sitI
ting on the porch with Billy and said
to him:
f "I'm tired of riding, and I wish we
' did inore walking. Nothing delights
me so much as to start out on a brisk
walk in cool autumn weather, when
the leaves are turning. I love to kick
up the leaves drvlne on the uroiim! '
"I will be most happy to be your
~ companion for a walk," said Billy gall
lastly.
I "Ida might not like it"
"I see no reason why she should object"
"Nevertheless it would be just as
well if she did not see us go away to'
gethor. She's in the library playing
j cards."
t "I'm perfectly willing she should
see us."
They started off and were soon in the
woods, kicking up the fallen leaves.
Miss Storms coming to a secluded spot
did not seem as desirous of walking as
P she had claimed. A branch of a tree
growing very near the ground and
parallel to It formed a convenient seat
Miss Storms sat down, leaving room
" for her companion to sit beside her. lie
L did so, and the two chatted for awhile
on the scenic beauty of the spot and
the stillness, the lady remarking that it
was just the place for a proposal,
whereupon the gentleman said that he
. would be happy to accommodate her
3 If he were not nlready engaged.
Miss Storms leaned forward, expos,
tng a shapely waist. Blllv resisted a
x temptation to drop an arm upon it. but
9 when she turned her face toward him
f with her lips very near his ne gave it i
. up. He kissed her.
t The temptress rose and walked
away, Billy following her. He couldn't
i tell whether she was offended or hurt
or conscience stricken. Their walk
1 back to the house was in silence, and
> when they reached it the girl went
- immediately to her room,
f That evening Miss Trask intimated
1 that she would like a private converse7
14-t. U /J- ?* " -
uuu w iin uer uuuce. \L'ney went into
* one of the little parlors on the main
* floor, nnd when seated the lady said:
"I saw you go to walk this afternoon
* with Edith Storms. Do you think It
* Just the thing to take walks In the
^ woods with one girl when' you are enguged
to another?"
[ "I see no harm In it"
" "There is no harm provided nothing
, occurs that is harmful."
Billy mude no reply to this.
"If you assure me that nothing harmful
occurred 1 have nothing further to
say."
Billy pondered as to his answer, then
said, "Ask Edith." Then, rising, he
j left the room.
She met her fiance in the hall the
next morning, and handing him a note
she passed on. The note was simply
a breaking of their engagement.
7 Edith Storms, on seeing Billy shortly
after his dismissal, indicated that she
, would like to speak to him alone. Billy
gave her nil opportunity, but maintained
a reserve.
I "Why did you send Ida to me about
what happened yesterday?" she asked.
"Because it is the woman's privilege
to answer all such questions."
j "Could you not have saved yourself
by"?
r "A lie? No."
"You compelled me to accuse you of
- taking a kiss without my consent."
"I don't sec how you could have oth;
erwise defended yourself."
i "But this reflected on you."
"I shall have to bear the iuiputa?
tion."
"Has Ida broken with you?"
"Yes."
Miss Storms did not seem quite satisfied
and showed her dissatisfaction.
She tovcd with a bangle on her arm.
then with u string of bends around her
' neck.
"What makes tue feel unpleasant,"
1 she said presently. "Is that I don't
wish you to think that I wish to take
' you away from Ida. Indeed. I am preoccupied
in that"?
J "Don't give yourself any concern that
^ I should think you are in love
with me."
There was something cutting in this
that called a slight Hush to her check.
"All the blame of this affair." she
1 said, "falls on me. I'm not going to
hear it. I'll tell you the whole story
if you will agree to drop tho matter."
"Tell it. I have no reason to follow
, It up."
"It seems very wrong of me, but I
shall feel hotter after having made an
explanation. Ida has recently met a
man with whom she has fallen desperately
in love. She wanted a reason to
break with you and"?
"Never mind the rest. What you
have fold me will never pass my lips."
"You forgive me?"
"Certainly."
Hut he never forgave the girl who
1 ad broken with him.
ANIMALS IN PAWN.
Tame or Wild, They Are Good For a
Loan In This New York Shop.
Among tho curious industries or
sources of livelihood in New York city
is au animal pawnshop. As you take
a watch to an ordinary pawnshop to
raise money on it, so you may take a
watchdog to the animal pawnshop.
Keceutly a man did this, getting $20
ou a dog that was easily worth $50,
the pawnbroker said, liut he was a
trick dog which had been taught to
open doors. So in due time lie opened
a door and let himself out while letting
the pawnbroker in.
A well known animal trainer owns
the shop. He takes camels, lions, elephants?any
animals. There are no
charges for interest ou the loan, the
only charge beln^ for the keep of the
animals, among which at almost any
time are dogs, monkeys, hears, goats,
cats, coons, foxes, parrots, canaries.
At one time he had forty trick donkeys
in pawn. The profits arising from
charges for feed and care are enough
to make the institution pay.
Once ho had a lion in pawn which
broke his chain in the stable and went
roaring around, scared almost to death,
and It was only after heroic efforts
that tliey mustered courage to capture
him. As a matter of fact the animal
was a decrepit beast that had served
his time in sideshows and was anxious
to get a way.?Exchange.
A CLEW TO HER PAST.
8h? Knew Entirely Too Much, As a
Close Observer Discovered.
She looked rich and acted rich, and
every one knew that sbo was rich hecause
she had married a rich man, yet
the Slicrk >ck IIollllovi nf fliA ton nnrtr I
discovered t bat she had once been poor.
"Take it from me," she said, "that
there was a time, and that not so very
long ago, when she was as poor as the
rest of us."
"Marvelous!" exclaimed the other
four girls. "How did you discover
that?"
"Through her knowing so absolutely
where I keep all my housekeeping
things. She knew that the tea caddy
was in the writing desk, that the
cheese, biscuits and other edibles beloved
by mice were ta that tin box under
the sofa, that the alcohol for my
stove was in the corner behind the
washstand, that the butter and milk
were on the window ledge and that
the egg" and other raw fo^io wore in a
DO* on the bottom shelf of the wardrobe
"When we were cooking she went
straight to the spot and got every one
of those things without once asking
where they were, which is something
that a person who had not had a wide
experience of housekeeping In one room
could never have done."?New York
Times.
Aw Ingenious Device.
When Sir Robert Perks' school days
were over he entered the office of a
firm of lawyers and worked very hard.
It was no uncommon tiling to And him
reading law at 5 in the morning, and
this often after he had been working
late on the previous night. As a matter
of fact, ho made it an inflexible
rule never to lie in bod of a morning
after 5. To enforce this rule he in- |
vented an ingenious device. This consisted
of a long glass tube filled with
water nicely balanced over his head
and attached by a string to an alarm.
At the desired hour the bell rang and
awakened the sleeper. If within a few
seconds he did not leap from his bed
and avert the calamity the descending
weight of the clock destroyed Hie balance
of the tube, and down poured the
water on his guilty head!?From "The
Life Story of Sir Robert W. Perks."
u? c-iJ: d-I
The Italian soldier gets a very high
character from Richard Ragot in his
"Italians of Today." "To see an Italian
soldier drunk or in any way misconducting
himself in a public place is
exceedingly rare?so rare indeed that
it would create a very disagreeable impression
on the witnesses. Indeed, the
men of any one of the more important j
Italian regiments who misconducted
themselves in a public place would, in
addition to tlie severe punishment administered
by the regimental authorities-.
undergo a very bad time of it at
the hands of their own comrades."?
London (Ilobe.
Her Idea.
"Ma, your bank account is overdrawn."
"What does that mean, pa?"
"Simply this. You've written checks
for $13 more money than was In the
bank."
"The Idea! If $13 Will break the bank
I\l find another one to do business
with. I supposed the.v had thousands
of dollars on hand all the time."?Detroit
Free Press.
Outlawed.
' IIow about paying me for that suit
I made for you two years ago?" asked
the tailor.
"You surely enn't expect me to pay
for that suit," said the impecunious
young man. "Why, It's all out of
style."?St. Louts Post-Dispatch.
Somewhere Around.
"I never see her with her husband,
lias she lost him?"
"I don't know. Some people seem
to think she has merely misplaced
him."?Louisville Courior-JournaL
Worked the Wrong Way.
"IIow did the accident happen?"
"He got run over when he stopped to
read a 'Safety First' sign."?Houston
Post.
3
In the HOME~
i or on the, FARM I
n^%( n. ) v#sW }MV-..
? MM Illki:fe] ii:..Njo ;
ig|MM
The many needs for ? good clearscr nnd disinfectant vf: best and most ecc- .
noir.ically filled by
MENDLESOiV'S LYE
Its full strength cuts grease in a jiffy frcm sinks mid punsand makes it ideal for disinfecting
pcultiy houses and curing cholera in hogs.
Its purity and strength make it the best Lye to use, while the extra quantity your
money will buy, makes it the cheapest. I \% enty ounces of Solid Lye for a Dime instead
of Sixteen.
One ten cert can enough to eaponify eight pounds of creese- making more ccap
than any other 10c can of iyc en the market will make.
The pound can makes fifteen pounds of soap.
Three Forms?solid, granulated and ball. W-g" - =grr^- , *
Iosisl upon Scs* Lye |j [
union county
wholesale dealers
The Union Grocery Co., Union, S. C.
, The W. D. Arthur Co., Union, S. C.
Eagle Grocery Co., Union, S. C.
RETAIL DEALERS
J. W. I'ollard, Union, S. C. J. F. Almon & Co.,Jonesville, S.C.
H. J. Hames, Jonesville, S. C. J. F. Cheek, Union, S. C.
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.
I R. J. Fowler, Union, S. C. D. B. Free, Jonsville, S. C.
TEN DAY RATES
StBUAKU A1K LINE RAILWAY
"THE PROGRESSIVE RAILWAY OF THE SOUTH"
To Wilmington and To Wilmington and
From Wrightsville, N.C. From Wrightsville, N.C.
Abbeville, S. C __ $ 7.50 Greer, S. C _. $ 8.0"
Anderson, S. C __ 8.00 Hodges, S. C,._ __ __ .. 8.00
Athens, Ga 10.00 Lawrenceville, Ga._. _ .. 10.00
Atlanta, Ga... __ 10.00 Pelzer, S. C.__ __ __ .. 8.00
Helton, S. C.__ __ __ __ __ __ 8.0C Piedmont, S. C _. ? 8.0(t
Birmingham, Ala 15.00 Rockmart, Ga __ ... 11.20
Cedartown, Ga.__ __ __ .1 11.Of) Shoals .Jet., S. (' -? 8.Oo
Donalds, S. C 8.00 Spartanburg, S. C.__ _. 8.00
Elberton, Ga __ __ 8.50 Union, S. (' .. 7.50
Greenville, S. C __ 8.00 Williamston. S. .. . S.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. P. A.,
Atlanta, Ga. Atlanta. Ga.
! RAIIFV IINnrDTAKIMC OA
- n < a 1 ^ B-f JLJA.% JL JtiVI W^?
Funeral Directors and Emlbalmers
Phone call answered anywhere in the County.
Phone Office 10(>
Phones Residence K8 and 131
T. E. BAILEY, S. L. HARRIS,
Pres. and Treas. L. E. and F. D. j
Experienced lady asssistant when desired.
A F.ong Winded Clock.
On arriving in this country Pat was D. AMBROSE HUGHES
met at the pier by bis brother Mike,
who had been in America some years, Public Auto Service
and was taken to his home. Early ?.
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," ho exclaimed,
springing out of bed, "the i
noights here in America must he the IVI. C. F^yXIVISEAK [
longest av any place in the worruld." _ . , _
"Waik. At A~n>i Painter ? 1
i4/ii iiilv,T - ?..?w | - m|#wi naivyci
that," was the sleepy rejoinder of and Decorator
Brother Mike, "That, makes you
think so?" Estimates Cneerfiill> Furnished
"Didn't yez hear thai clock?" re- Phone 33 I nion, S. ( .
turned I'at, pointing toward the l>u- i
reau. "It must have struck at laste
a thousand."?Kansas City Star.
Dr. Virgil R. Hawkins
dentist
IremedyfSrmen. Union, S. C. J
fr AT YOUR DRUGGIST. J _______