davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-15
Successfully Resisting the Widows
-svS = Claim. a, ~. :

Polcy-holders should remember how
the Piedmont & Arlington Insurance
company treated poor Mrs. Donald, by
refusing to pay what Judge Orr and the
jury at Anderson adjudged was her
rights. Can you have confidence in an
institution that would thus act? We
yet believe. however, that there is honor
enough left in the company to pay that
debt, even though they could avoid it by
law. But until she is paid we shall
never fail to dcnounce not only the
Piedmont d Arlington company, but
the whole system. If insurance compa-
nics are not for the protection of the
widows, we would like to know their
object. Did Mrs. Donald get that JUS
tise and protection? Judge Orr and a
just jury ut Anderson, and the public,
have pronounced differently. Would
your widow be treated differently if you
should get sick just before your policy
expired, and then, by reason of that
sickness, bc unable to take the money to
the office, even though you had it by
YOU? When we think OF the matter,
we cannot help thinking that the COM
pany must have misunderstood the true
facts Of the case ut the time, and that
they will yet reconsider the whole mat
ter. and will at least pay u part of the
money. For the sake of the widow. for
the sake OF justice, for the sake OF an
honest name, and for the sake Of the
confidence OF an Intelligent people, will
not this company be induced to do what
the public demands of an honest inSti-
tuition? Stand up, President Carring-
ton, and answer like a man. Will you
not yet give this distressed lady her
rights. Answer, yea or nay: We Will
be satisfied with 4 reasonable compro-
mise. Will you not give it?
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-15
Antreviile Items.

YoR reporter had the unqualified
pleasure of witnessing the nuptials OF
Mr.. james Little and Miss Gussie
Bower, of Antreville, which came oil
on Tuesday, December 7th, at 8 O'Clock
A. NJ. and proposes to make few brlel
remarks.
The morning was very unfavorable,
in consequence of the rain, but it did
not deter the groom, for he was present
in ample time, though the proceedings
We're delayed short while by the non
arrival of the parsol; but soon he made
his appearance, which quickened the
pulsations of every heart, and all was
anxious expectation till the happy
couple were made one by the Rev.
Pearson. The bride was dressed in a
neat calico dress, which looked as grand
and dazzling as the finest silk. The
parsons ceremony was indescribably
beautiful; he grew eloquent, and told
the groom ''to cherish his bride as a
casket of jewels and as a precious gem,
and TO throw around her the broad
mantle of charity, and to love her with
all his heart" | had but one objection
TO tie ceremony, and that was the
length; ] hope when [ call Oh Uncle
Frank to perform the same duty for me,
that he Will abridgc his ceremony some
what. | would again extend my con-
gratulations to the happy couple, and
hope their sail over life's sea may be
smooth, and all their troubles be little
ones.
Married, on the same day, by the
Rev. Wilson Ashley, Mr.. Melvin Cal
laham to Miss Essie Ellis, all of Leve
Land.
On the same day, Mr.. Zachariah Tay.
lor, to Miss Davis, all of Little River.
Married, on December I'd, by the Rev
w. Il. Walters, MIR. John McMuhon tt
Miss Ella Mann, all of the Nation.
I predict that next year will be unu
sually hard, and that cradles will be in
great demand.
A. r.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-15
A MONSTER HOTEL.

The Palace Hotel, now nearing compile
ton, in San Francisco, is the largest hotel
structure in the world. 1t covers 96,250
square feet of ground, and is seven stories
high; 24,661,O00 bricks were used in its
walls, 5000 tons Of cast and wrought iron,
and 4,561,524 feet Of lumber and timber.
It contains 1,060 windows, 377 Of which are
bay windows; 926 rooms, none less than
16116 feet, and 3SS bath rooms 1t contains
over three miles of halls; there are five
passenger elevators aud seven grand stair
ways; there are 1910 doors, 5000 gas
burners, and thirty-two miles Of gas and
water pipe. 1t requires $4,000 yards, or
twenty-eight miles of carpet. 1t can ac-
commodate 1900 guests, besides 800 SER
wants and employees. And, best Of all,
there is not dark or windowless room in
the house. 1t has been decided to run q
length Of heavy plate glass, sixteen inches
high, along the top of the balusters and bal
ustrades, as precau:ion against accidents
by children sliding down the balusters or
climbing the balustrades. This plate glass
will reflect the gas jets, and at night the in
terror courts will present a dazzling scene.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-15
TOO MUCH MARRYING,

There Is altogether too much marrying,
by form Of law, those who at the most are
only third or half married in other ways.
And there is altogether too much urging
and coa1ing, and alluring young people
into the most important and sacred Of al
human relations before they are prepared
or moved to assume its burdens, and by
those who ought to know better and act
with more consider ton. We make too
much Of marrying and being married, un-
lit it is thought by many people, somewhat
of disgrace for woman to pass through
life alone; when in fact the life Of many .
single woman is poetry, romance, rapture
even, in comparison with that of many .
wife. So there is vast deal Of marrying
with very little Of real marrying; a vast
deal Of discomfort, heartache, misery, by
pocrisy and unma1Tying at the last What
We want is not more stringent divorce
law, but q better understanding of tho
moral law, which forbids the marrying Of
those not already one; not less marrying,
but less marrying where there is no real
marrying. And, above all, let there be no
melting or bribing those to marry who are
not drawn to each other, and held INSOFAR
ably together by qualities Of mind and
soul
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-15
Anderson Items.

We clip the following from the An'
0crSon Iitc{liyCuccr -
Several drovcs of hogs have arrived
in Anderson during the past week anc
have uniformly sold ut 8 cents gross
There has not been as many sold in An
derson this season as formerly on ac
count of the high price, but as the opn'
ion seems to he general that meat can'
not be bought cheaper most persons
have purchased at least portion o.
what they need.
An agreement has been made between
the merchants of Anderson to close
their places of business on Saturday and
Monday, 25th and 9th of December i'll
slant, in order to allow recreation tC
their employees. Our friends from the
country, accustomed to transact bust
ness at this place, will make a note of
this agreement, and not to expect the
stores to open on the days designated.
Commercial tourist-drummers, in
common parlance-are becoming sc
plentiful in this section of the country
that the local merchants are devising
WAYS and means for their entertain
ment. One of our firms has en-
gagged a retired merchant expressly to
receive the drummers, and listen to
their valuable praise of samples. This
gives the active men OF the cencern
time and opportunity to wait upon Gus,
TONERS they are about.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-15
THE JEWELLERS OF CONST.ASTI-
NOBLE.

In the richer jewelers. shops, there ars
masses of precious stones inclosed in Golfers
which they keep constantly under their
eyes, or which are placed within wire-work
enclosures; and in many Of these obscure
shops (more resembling cobbler's stalls than
anything else) incredible riches are accumu'
lated. Diamonds from Visapore and COL
conda, brought by the caravans; rubies of
Giamschid; pearls of Ophir; topazes from
RraziI; and opals from Bohemia, in great
abundance; with turquo'sea, garnets, aqua
marines and agates, without number, and
literally lying in heaps in the shops. The
Turks are very fond of precious stones, and
this not merely as luxuries, but as deposi-
tories of wealth. Ignorant Of the refine
ments of modern finance, they draw no in
terest from, their capital--so doing, being
indeed, vigorously prohibited by the Koran;
and it is for this reason that We find the
proposals for "Tuikish Loans" always vio-
lently opposed by the old Turkish party. A
diamond is not only easy to conceal, and 10
carry, but embodies very large value in
minute compass; and, in an Eastern point
Of view, is most desirable investment,
although it makes no return; but try to
persuade Arab or Turkish avarice to
part with the stone jar which contains his
treasure, for any three or four per cent,
even though the thing had been permitted
by Mahomet! These precious stones are
generally either uncut or only rosecut; for
the Orientals themselves do not cut dia-
monds or rubies-either from not under
standing the process, or not possessing the
diamond-dust necessary for the purpose, or
from an unwiliingness to diminish the
tings Of such stones as are mounted, are
coarse and massive, and in the antique Cen
oese style. The exquisite skill of the Arabs
in the working Of jewehy has left few
traces among the Turks. The jewels con-
sist chiefly Of necklaces, earrings, head-or-
naments, stars, flowers, crescents, rings for
the ankles, and handles of ssbres or pom
iards; but they are never displayed in all
their splendor except in the recesses Of the
harem, where they adoin the lovely forms
of the odalisques reclining beneath the eye
of the master in q corner of the Gvan; and
all this magni6cence is, for strangers, as if
it did not exist. Although the wealth Of
the foregoing sentences-starred as they are
with the names of precious stones - may
have made the reader dream of the Cave Of
Aboulcassem, (again involuntarly returning
to that inexhaustable mine of Oriental imag-
ery and association-The Arabian Nights,)
he must imagine nothing of particular bril-
ancy in the aspect Of the jewelers. shops
themselves - for the Turks do not under
stand the art of displaying any Of their
wares; and the rough diamonds and other
stones, lying in little boxes OF common wood,
really look little different from bits of glass,
although, in fact, one might easily spend
100000 francs in any one Of these obscure
and paltry So ops.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-15
A Lung DISEASE YEAR.

Thus far this year has been signalized as
a great lung disease yesr. The mortality
from bronchial and pneumonia attacks
since the first of january has been very
great, at least in the northern hemisphere.
1t would appear that such attacks have been
proportionately both more numerous and
more fatal during January and February
of this year than during corresponding
months for many years past. These facts
have been brought out very clearly by the
reports of the Register Of vital statistics in
the city of New York. The unusual fire.
quency and fatality of lung complaints
thus far this year are attributed in part to
the severity of the sea >on, but still more to
the extreme fluctuations of temperature
which haze characterized the period named.
Childhood and old a.o and feebleness gen.
orally have suffered much this season, but
a large number Of young and strong men
have fallen victims to pneumonia " hich has
proved greatly moro d .structive in its rava-
ges this winter than bronchitis. Let us
hope that the latter months Of the year
may redress the balance disbulsed by the
earlar.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-15
Mercy to Prisoners.

Is it not cruel to lock a man up In our
calaboose these cold nights? We think
even drunk man is entitled to our
sympathy and consideration. Chris
tianity teaches US to. be merciful even to
the weak and erring. Although oul
Christian ncighbor a few years ago
laughed at the calamity of some of our
citizens when they were burned out, we
are not yet convinced that any man il
so low as not to deserve the compassion
of even the best man in the world.
While on this subject, we would sug-
gest that our Representatives in the
Legislature provide some means for
warming our jails. Humanity demands
that the poor creatures locked in these
doors should not be tortured to death
by cold.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-15
PAIN IN LOWER ANIMALS.

1t Is generally conceded that insects
which we crush under foot, do not suffer &C
much as We should if similarly destroyed
and it is well known that the lower order OF
animals often inhict on themselves injuries
which apparently must cause suffering, and
yet every indication proves the same to be
absent. Rabbits have torn themselves free
from traps, and been found feeding minus
two legs. Rats, when pressed by hunger,
will eat their own tails. We have seen
pigs, after their throa!s have been cut.
cease their cries and attempt to eat and it
is said that the same ANIMALS, when stuck
unawares, often pay no apparent attention
to the wound. 1t is curious also to notice
that rabbits and rats, which can support
themselves even if their locomotive process
be injured, will bite off their feet if caught
in traps, but that carlivorous animal like
the fox will never do SO, for, once unable
to run, he would starve to death. In the
first case there appears to be no sense Of
pain to prevent the action; in the second,
the sense certainly exists. Crabs and
Holsters drop their claws when frightened,
and seem unhurt. There is little lizard in
Sicily which, when suddenly alarmed by
the blow of a cane OIL the rock near to it,
will break off from its tail and scuttle away,
running into obstacles in its path, and
acting very like d slip without rudder.
In fish, the sensation Of pain is triding. A
wasp will eat after it is cut In two; 70 will
when inpAod; and that the in
sects should suffer TO any degree seems on
its face impossible, particularly if the mil
ions and millions which the birds eat be
thought upon.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-15
THINKING.

1t is only by thinking that = man can
know himself. Yet all other knowledge
without this is splendid ignorance. Not q
glance merely, but much close examination
will be requisite, for the forming Of true
opinion Of your own powers. Ignorance
and self conceit always tend to make you
over rate your personal ability-as a slight
degree Of knowledge may make a timid
mind pass upon himself too humble q juds-
ment. 1t is only by thinking, and much
impartial observation, that a man can dis
cover his real disposition. A hasty temper
only supposes itself prope rly alive; an i'll
dolent indulger imagines he is as active as
any one; but by close and severe examins-
ton each may discover something nearer
the truth.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-15
Greenwood Items.

w, received a call from our friend Mr.
S. P.Boozer, of Greenwood, last week
and we're pleased to hear a good report
from that stirring town.
Th' matrimonial fever, he says, is
prevailing very extensively. Two we'd
ding:are to come off certainly before
Chritmas and others are to follow soon.
Eggsare plentiful, and there wiHbe no
scarcity of good things during the ~holi-
days.
He:hinks that the present crop will
about pay off the indebtedness of the
Greenwood farmers, and as they have
soweta plenty of wheat and oats, they
will leep out of debt in future.
Oulfriend endorses all that we have
said j. favor Of sowing small grain, and
think the, country owes US a.debt of graft
tude n the premises. Now that the
whea and oats are planted he thinks we
onght to urge the farmer to put in a
large crop Of corn, and make cotton a
secondary matter. That is our policy,
whicl we have again and again urged
as th only road to independence and
prosprity. 1t will make the farmer in
dependent of lien laws, or any other,
and Gown him with untold blessings
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-15
Another Victim.

When will fools quit going to law
with insurance companies? People
ought to take just what the company
will give. The idea of a poor devil
going to law with an Insurance company
is simply preposterous. Here is the way
they treat gudgeons over in Georgia.
Isn't it very like the way they treat
their customers in these diggings? We
fear that we, shall be obliged to say
something hard about insurance, il
we see much more of the way the people
are treated. We now ask, if they
haven't been saying heretofore, "walk
into my parlor and see the beauties, y
and now when they have, you bound
hand and foot, don't they laugh at your
calamity?
IMPORTANT DECISION OF THE sU-
49, -. .4PREME CoUKTLOF GEORGIA
We find the following in the Choriclt
6 Sentinel Of Friday last.
VIM. II. Hughs Us. Piedmont & Airing
ton Life Insurance Company. Bill for
SPECIFIC performance, from MuscoSce.
JACKSON, J.
A life policy with participation in
profits, contained in this stipulation
"Ifafter the regular payment Of not
less than twoannual premiums, an ordi-
nary life policy should cease by the non
payment of premiums, then upon writ
ten application Of the insured within
thirty days from the time of such ccas-
ing texclusive Of thirty days grace a
new policy will he issued for the
amount Of cash premiums in even hun
drcds Of dollars received by said compa-
NY" five regular payments were made,
partly in cash and partly in notes; the
cash amounted to S70G 80 being more
than the amount of two annual .preml-
ums; there was due on notes SI6S 90.
Held, that on Il bill forspccific perform
ance the complainant is entitled to a
paid up policy for seven hundred dol
lars. Judgement reversed.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-15
Tie Blight That Rests Upon Us.
Will Christian Man Gamble Against
the Mercy ana Goo odness Of God! q.
Bad Effects From Life Insurance.

Like q blight, life insurance has
ruined our people. For evidence of the
truth off this assertion, ) take up the
newspapers and~note' prices realized
at public sales, on last Saleday, of land-
in the Counties where people have run
wild on life insurance, and see the DIFF
ference in the price Of the same quality
of land in other Counties. II our
farmers could have the half million
dollars in ready cash returned to them,
which they have so foolshly sIuander-
ed, does anybody doubt that they would
be better able to buy, and thai our lands
would sell for two or three times rs much
.as they did on last Saleday?
When money is taken out of the
country, and oiIr supply Of the circua-
ting medium is reduced, the price of our
land is correspondingly affected, and
just to that extent is the solvency of
every man in the County effected. We
have been following the ghost of a dclu-
sion. and we think that We do not eXag-
gerate when we assert that is fair to
estimate that life insurance, with its
host of organized agents, has done as
much. harm to the people of A Abbeville
and Edgetield Counties as the grasshOp-
per of Missouri ever did to any two
counties of that sorely afflicted State.
We are astonished that the public
press of the State, vino are expected to
look after the peoples interests, will
longer remain silent while this mon
:str6us delnsion is absorbing our very
vitals. Our people have already lost
enough. Pray let this thing stop. We
are poor enough already. 1t seems
Strange to US that any individual will
blindly go on. annually throwing away
hundreds because he has heretofore
thrown away thousands. They cannot
get back what they have already lost by
throwing away more, and the sooner
our people demand paidup policies and
quit the business, the better for them
selvs and their families. This is no
over-drawn picture, bnt we think there
aresmen iir ALbeville County who are
to-day wronging themselves, their
friends. their creditors and the County,
by annual contributions Of their sub
stances to this great delusion.
We believe such course on the part
of sny man to be crime against high
heaven. Is~it not sinful for any mamto
speculate on his: own life? Does not the
taking out Of policy expressa mans
'mistrust in the goodness of the author
;of our being? Will man with perfect
faith IN the goodness and mercy of the
Lord, gamble with the insurance conf
P8nies on his very existence? Is life
insurance not game of,chance? If so,
then does not our religious faith con-
;demn the act? d. * = $40"
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-15

.THE Due West Cornet Band will
give a musical entertainment in the
Court House on the 2Sth inst. The en-
tertainment will be an excellent one,
and we trust that large crowd may
turn out.
Mr.. JOHN w. MEANS is 4 man af-
tea our own heart, and we regret to
learn that he is going to move to Missis-
sirpi. lie has ordered us to send him
the Press and Banner as long as he
lives.
IN noting the arrivals at our friend,
Mr.. Jacob Miller's hotel last week, we
omitted to insert sixteen names :Lnong
the arrivals. No one knows better how
TO keep Il hotel than Mr.. Miller. l.
Parents, mothers, nurses, do not fail to
give Dr. Bulls Cough syrup to the Ittlc
ones for all ca,cs Of coughs and colds. On
ly cost % cents.
4 HORSE will live three months on a
bushel OF barley, if it is sown now.
The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-15
OUR DUTY.
Material Prosperity Needcd--H must
Come from the Farmer, who
is the Fountain Head.

We have never been blind, fanatical
advocates for the necessity Of anybody's
particular pet scheme, but We do now
and have always thought that material
prosperity is of more Importance to our
people than anything else. 1t should
be borne in mind, and the fact should
not be lost sight of, that any govern
ment Is good forthe rich, while the best
government that could be conceived
will seem to bear hard upon the poor.
For this reason we intend to have an
eye to material prosperity of our Coun-
ty. We ewant our people to have plenty
of oats, plenty, barley, plenty of
wheat, plenty. Of corn and as much
cotton as they can raise prOfitably.
: With these results accomplished as a
just reward foronr industry and attcn-
ton to business, it will matter but little
tous as individuals whether William
Holland or Everidge Cain represents
the nativity of Calhoun in the House
of Representatives, or whether Hollins-
head or Tolbert sits in the Senate. or
whether Chamberlain or Daddy Cain
occupies the Executive Mansion at Co.
lumbia, or whether Grant or Dix issue
imperial edicts from the White House
in the city Of Washington. The poll
ticans are anxious for Office. We say,
let them have it, but let US have that
which is better-well cultivated farms,
rich garners, full barns, together with
the comfortable surroundings of cheer
full homes. All prosperity must come
from the farmer as the source and foun-
tain head. When agricultural pursuits
flourish then everything else moves
with accelerated speed, but if our agri-
culture is not profitable then everything
else must languish.; To bring the desir-
ed prosperity 10 the doors Of our plan
tiers, they must diversity their crops.
To neglect to SOW barley and oats is
fatal, while failure to SOW wheat and
to plant corn TO- scarcely less disastrous.
Let ourplanters diversity their crops by
raising enough food for themselves and
their stock, and after that let them
make as much cotton az possible. Let
the negro worry himself with politics.
We want the oats. The country is able
to take care of itself.