Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-06-26
Palmetto Leaves.
Etom an Occasionql Oorespondsnl.l


victims, for eight long years, Of Misgovern-
ment in its most aggravated form-have been
somewhat dazed as il were, at their sudden
emergence from the clouds eclipse, but have
become used to the brightness and now fully
recogu ize that republican, and their late
enemy, has turned from his party fealty and
is now working cut their redemption. They
begin. in truth TO see the Silver Lining, to see
the Dawn Of Day for Carolina, and the name
of Daniel H. Chamberlain is hailed as one
synonymous with Saviour Nor is this feel
ing confined TO the Palmetto State. Adjacent
commonwealths are watching with grateful
interest our steady progress in the path Of
Prosperity, and even from New FORK and Penn
sylvania come congratulations without stint.
But alas when yet was not Fortunes path
bestrewed with the CHASTITY skeletons Of suspi-
cion and Fear
their whitening bones shaping out
An epitaph OF Failure.
A lying scoundrel by the name Of R. II.
Kirk-a rowing scribler, it seems, for the New
York Sn,-was recently in South Carolina,
and occupied his time in writing series OF
malignant letters TO Dana's paper. Each one
of these bore the impress of Falsehood upon
their face, and my surprise at their pnblica-
ton was rendered still greater when the San
began TO take its key note from the tenor of
these lying scrawls, and instituted a sort of
Quixotic crusade against Governor Chamber
lain. In vain has our Ne,rs and Courier
sought to explain away the Suns prejudices
by clear statements in its every issue the
stupid Dana continues his worse than blum
deriug articles, and it requires all the nice tact
which the Netrs commands to counteract
slightly bad effect. One or two Of our interior
state journals have been misled by the Suns
editorials. and were fast weakening in their
faith towards the Governor, but mild repri-
mand from the NeirS has brought them back
again into the ranks. You see, Governor
Chamberlain is a republican who, in his noble
efforts to reform entirely our State affairs, has
placed himself, voluntarily, without the pale
of his party. So long used to their elected
candidate to the gubcrnatorial chair disregard
ing, in toto, his solemn pledges made the peo-
pie the radicals down here are, as may well be
imagined, in white heat at the COOL undaunt-
ed action of their own party Governor IN car
rying out the every promise made during his
candidacy. Each new stroke aimed by Cham
berlain at the hydra head Of corruption is an
additional severance from his late friends,-iS
only another bridge burned behind him on bis
onward march. Made an alien, thus, to his
party whilst fighting oar cause, it is bnt COM
mon gratitude that we should rally around the
Governor, giving him encouragement and sup
port during the battle And, except in the
few disaffected cases named above, this is the
ease, not merely within the State but through
out the country. Chamberlain is fast gaining
on New York's 1iden in popularity, and were
he'run for President next year-as learn Til
den is likely to dot would be a close contest
between the two Refurmers.
From Affairs of State tO--potatoes
What fall was there my countrymen
= Your readers-those, at least who honor me
: with perusal Of PALMETTO LEAVES, have
doubtless concluded that have very Strans {
way of arranging my subjects This is per-
haps true. | always delighted in. incongru;-
ties. They always struck ne as extreme
" funny. and this enc about Pr tltocs-
: Irish pOtatoeS-seems amazingly 50. On the
] Northern suburbs Of Charlestuu-colnmonly
called The Neck-are located the large vccc-
{ table gardens, or Truck Farms. These are
D numerous and are each conducted with The
system Of ante bellum DAYS. Quite lately th,
o cultivation Of the potato a vegetable not
much 10 favor here, and the growth Of which
has been sli.ht-has been largely entered up
on. One of these truck farmers planted ter
, acres 10 Irish potatoes last year, and raised
u therefrum GOO barrels, which were sent ON Il
New York aud sold at nett profit Of s. pei
barrel This experiment ended so fortunately
that potato cultivation down here has become
I general on the truck farms. We have discov-
cred that a superior article in this line can b.
u raised. and. sent TO Northern markets, vii
0 yield Bonanzatic profits.
AS careful chronicler of the institutions
] and customs Of this good Old city, must mol
o fail to notice its book and printing house
. Walker. Evans and Cogswell's is to Charles
= ton what Harper Brothers is TO New York. =
, This old established firm has its store and man
ufactory on Broad street, only few steps east
Of the Ners and Courier granite front. The
$ building is four stories high, and the upper
floors are entirely devoted to manufacturing
purposes The firm gives employment e
some 200 young men aud women, besides the
o printers and preSsmon. Each Spring day i,
! set apart whet the large establishment is CLOSED
q from nit 20 dome and all the employees given
I an excursion 10 some rural retreat, the firm
bearing all expenses, Transportation, rent OF
grounds, edibIes, etc. 1t is no easy task to as
sumo the responsibility of so big collection
of Young guaranteeing their safe
return to fond pareDis-not to speak OF The
: expense. Last month, the picnic came of at
I Otranto, a charming jumping of place on
: the North Eastern Railroad. A train Of eight
cars was chartered, and fully 400 young peo-
pie were made happy by genuine woodland
, frolic. by the way, Messrs. Walker, Evans
I and Cogsvel are getting ready for issue in tic
r early Fall, a handsome volume treating Of the
City of Charleston, her carly history, her CON-
mercial. mercantile and manufacturing re-
sources-in fact Wade Mecum Of the CITY BY
THE SEA. The book is TO contain upwards OF
so engravings, representing the many points
Of interest around the town, aud will bear the
title of Charleston Illustrated.
South Carolina has had its Historical Socic-
ty-the sacred receptacle of all State relics
since June %, 1855, on which date il was for
mally inaugurated with Petigrue as president,
; Moutre and Prescott, vice-presidents, and
. Professors Rivers and Porcher as secretaries.
the latter gentlemen delivering the inaugural
address. The society's archives contained a
collection Of historical data from the middle Of
the 10th century down TO the year ITO
Mostly all these papers were lost during the
late war. An effort is now making, and with
encouraging signs. 10 revive the Society, and
hope ere long to be able TO report its re-es-
adjustment on a firm basis II not in error