Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-07
EDITORIAL INKLINGS.

AN exchange says, that in many parts Of
England, farmers estimate the value of their land
in proportion to its nearess of access to the lime
kilns. They do this, because Of the valuable
properties of lime when used for dressing the soil.
If this rule is good the lands of York District
should rate pretty high for there is an abundance
of limestone in the upper part Of the district which
could afford material for several lime-kilns.
"A steam plow manufactured by Messrs.
Fowler & Co., Leeds, England, has just arrived in
New Orleans. This is the first plow of the kind
brought to the South, and it was imported for the
purpose of testing its power and fitness for use in
the Mississippi valley Its friends claim that this
implement will save a vast amount of human and
animal labor, and that it will ultimately become
the machine for cultivatng sugar and cotton crops.
The manufacturers have introduced these plows
into Egypt, where, it is said, many of them are
now being worked by the astonished natives, in
preparing the soil for this year crop AS soon as
all the parts of the machine have been landed from
the vessel, public exhibition will be given, OF its
capacity for turning over Mississippi mud We
will keep sharp look out for the account Of its
performance, and will, in due time, inform our
readers of the fact if proves equal to the task OF
doing more work than sel-supporting freedman
with lazy mule
AS the Supreme Court has lately decided
test oaths to be unconstitutional Postmaster Cen
eral Randall has, according to the Washington I'm
ION, determined to enquire of the Attorney Gene
ral whether this decision does not also relieve ex-
rebels from disability to act as postmasters, on ac-
count of their being unable to swallow the ''iron-
clad" now required of these officials. If the deci-
sion referred to does relieve them from this neces-
sity, the former prescribed oath of Office will be
sufficient to qualify them This merely binds them
to support of the Constitution and the Union,
and faithful discharge of their duties, without
acting declaration that they never sympathized
with the rebellion. The effect of an answer, in the
affirmative, to the Postmaster Generals interroga-
tory will be to reopen several thousand offices in
the Southern States that are now closed by the for
midable dimensions Of the test OATH AS it is a
matter of great Importance to our section, we trust
that Mr. Stanbery will be kind enough to say
''yes," in response to Mr. Randall's polite ques-
ton.
- According to the Charleston Mercury, ''Chan-
cellor Lesesne at Charleston has recently decided
in the case of jackson u.s. Lazarus, that the prin-
ciple is held that debts contracted in Confederate
currency must be discharged on the basis of the
value of that currency, as compared with gold, at
the time that the debt was incurred and considera-
ton given therefor. This establishes a precedent
in South Carolina for all cases involving the pay
ment of debts or obligations contracted in Conted-
crate currency"
To show how the taste of New York fash
ionabe circles is going back to first principles, in
the matter of dress, and for the benefit of those
who wish to ape Northern novelty, we present the
following extract from the correspondence of the
Petersburg Laer. The dress described is that Of
the actresses in the play of ''Black Crook. not
that of the ladies in the audience. But as the
latter flock in crowds to witness the performance
and evidently admire it, they may take it into their
heads to initiate it in their next change of fashions
Asa summer costume, it possesses some advantages,
but the transition would be somewhat startling,
from the present elaborately expanded hoops, with
their extensive display of dry-goods, to the simple
and unadorned style of the "Black Crook. y
For the sake of the drygoods business it is to be
hoped this costume will not be generally adopted,
as it's introduction would cause heavy crash among
them.
''The ballet troupe consists Of better looking
young ladies than the ordinary run OF such troupes,
and it is astonishing to see to what degree OF per-
fection they have reduced the practice OF economy