The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-07-11

The literary critic of the Charles
ton Mrs onI l0uriel does not
write very encouraginglv Of our
best North Carolina novelist. We
give a part of his notice Of .'Bonm
Kate" He SAYS:
Christian Reid, We regret to
say, is no longer an author of prom
ise. There is no sign Of develop
ing, of broadening AID deepening.
of getting beyond the domain OF
love-making and Irritation. As
each succeeding novel appears we
look hopefully for a work worthy
of the author of Morton House
and "a Daughter Of Bohemia
and that shall be as far above them
cs they are beyond Ebb-Tide or
the Land of the Sky Such ii
book "Bonny Kate" is not. and
we begin to fear that Christian
Reid has a facility in writing that
will be fatal to her. Ambition she
should have, but it is not exhibl-
ted"
He then gives IA brief analysis Of
her last story, and says:
"Out of the common place ma
terial Christian Reid has wrought
a readable and pleasant novel.
thoroughly innocent and pure, and
fit to be in the hands of any Young
person. This may seem faint praise
IN these DAYS, when few novels
worth reading al be safely read.
This is something, and We sup
pose we should be grateful. The
writer fails to recognize the purity
and elegance of her style. We DO
not know a Southern writer Of
books whose style is 50 attractive
Star.
Charlotte Democrat: 1t is SAID
that a laughable scene occurred the
sitting of the Cabarrus Conventions,
causedby some n setting off i pack
of t~ire-crackers IN the passage under
the Court Room where a large
crowd was also collected and cE-
gagged IN quarrelling. When the
crackers began to pop many
thought that pistols were being
used, and the crowd in the passage
way struck a Decline for the streets
and the adjacent corn fields, while
those above came rushing down
heels over head, pell-mell, to see
what was the matter or get out Of
supposed danger. One man Is re-
ported as being seen four miles
from town, still running. proclaim
ing that six men had been kill d
and the fight still going on. One
fellow lost the seat of his pants,
another his shirt and hat, while
two or three got black eyes or were
scratched about the neck and face.
\ horse thief was brought t.
speedy grief IN this county last
Saturday morning. He had stolen
a horse from Mr.. Thomas Nlnsont.
IN New Hope township. during
Friday night, but was ovcrtaken
near the WorIey place on the Snow
Hill road, having the horse IN hIs
possession, aud is now securely
lodged in Jail. He is ii white
tramp, and gives his name IA
David Windsor, and M~ecklenburg
county "a his home, but there j.
reason 10 believe that he IS one OF
an organized "a, Q Of horse thieves.
He claims to have had IA confeder-
ate with him on the last raid, wh'
he SAYS i an old man named JOIN
Goodman.-GoldSboro UeSSeuq ger.
We urge YOU, men Of the South
70 make your agriculture protita
bic and plea>ureable. Y,u can d.
this b. cuitiyating thoroughly
every foot of soil that YOU attempt
10 use. Make your compost heaps
aud manufacture vour fertilizers "a
home, a. far as possible. You vii
lind a money bank IN your bank o
manure. Every acre Of arabic
land that YOU cannot v%ourselve.
cultivate III this manner, rent Oh
seli.-Our Hume .JOuruui.