davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-11-24
Dots from Saluda Township.
FAIRBANKS. S. O., Nov. 18, 1880

FAIRBANKS, S. O., Nov. Is, 1880.
MeSsrs. Ediors:-Now that the cleo
ton is over and We have elected our
State and County ticket, I will again
dot you a few items from old Saiuda.
Health of the people good; less
fevers have prevailed during the last
season than for several years; several
cases OF diphtheria have appeared
but none have proved fatal. Our
physician, DR.. Eargle, has been very
successful in his ~treatnSsnt of this
disease.
Rain in abundance for the last
week, which will delay some of US
very much in sowing our grain; an
unusually large acreage will be sown
if the weather will admit.
Crops are nearly all gathered. Corn
is better than last year. Cotton not
SO good. More sorghum has been
made than any previous year; several
varieties are grown; California variety
is said to be the best. Some have
given attention to the cultivation OIL
upland rice with success.
Some of our schools have opened
with a good attendance. A school is
badly needed near where the Le1ing,
ton G. e., road crosses Bush River
Road. Our Commissioner or trus'
tees should see to it that the children
in that vicinity receive some benefit
Of the public school fund.
With the best Of wishes towards
you and your excellent paper, I am
yours, s..
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-11-24
School Commissioners.
By A

It is a startling fact, that in many
sections of our State, and even
throughout some counties, the ma
jority of the voters cannot write their
names. Worse still, in numerous in
stances, those who should know better,
vote in direct opposition to their own
interests; saying by their actions. We
do not wish any improvement; we
prefer to lag at our S Away with
intellect and culture! We scout the
man who holds them up to US! Can
such be expected to choose compe-
tent School Commissioners? To US
it has always appeared to be neither
more nor less than a miserable farce.
A School Commissioner should,
besides being possessed of rare men,
tai abilities, be highly educated, and
we'll informed on all matters pertain
ing to education. The times demand
that he should be progressive; COM
biniug that experience and culture
which is fitted to lead teachers and
schools up to a higher and a ncbler
standard. And in every case he
must be interestea-deeply interested
in his work; 30 that, with his untiring
devotion and earnest appeals, he may
inspire those under his supervision,
with zeal in the noble cause Of edu-
cation which is equalled only by his.
How pitiful to see a man occupying
such a position, whose sole incentive
is the pay in dollars and cents! And
yet how frequently is this the case!
An article over the signature of
Country Teacher" appears in the
Southern Educational Monthly, an e1-
tract of which is as follows:
"Any school system will be just
what it is made by its officers. We
hear much complaint about our free
school system in South Carolina.
How much OF its failure to give salts
faction is due to unqualified, inefi-
cient school officers? No harm will
result from it's careful consideration.
We may then hope the question will
he, not who is the most anxious man,
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-11-24

the most needy, the most popular
among white or black; but who is
the most worthy man, the man best
qualified to learn aud to discharge the
duties Of the position. In our opin-
ion it would be better to have these
officers (School Commissioners ap-
pointed, either by the Governor or
by the State Superintendent of Edu-
cation. These matters are for the
consideration of our lawmakers"
Certainly, but is it not right that
such matters be brought before that
body? We like the suggestion OF
appointment, but will add another
for the consideration OF those con
cerned. If School Commissioners
are to be elected, why not leave such
elections exclusively to schoolteachers
aud other school officials, such rs
trustees, &C.? The result would
surely be satisfactory. @
The world moves, and the time has
come when duty demands that we
step boldly to the front, and ask that
education and intellectual ability pre-
side over our schools. We feel much
interested in the matter, and would
like some interchange of opinion on
the same. Let every teacher and
every official in the county make it a
subject of careful thought; and a
move in the right direction may re-
suit so favorably, that by the close of
the next session Of the Legislature,
We may be encouraged to look. mp
aud say: "There is life in the old
land vet"
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-11-24

due the one, which may be quickly
followed by the others lien attaching,
to be augmented perhaps by an addi-
tional lien in favor of the first for a
subsequent non-payment. II not
otherwise an evil, this certainly is an
obstacle in the transfer of property.
We do not say that the present sJs-
tenn cannot by any possibility be
worked tremendously, but we do soy
that it is so involved and cumbrous
as to render its efficiency a practical
impossibility.
Now is there no remedy for this
evil? Let us see. AS in some other
States let our Legislature place the
collection of all taxes Estate, County
and Municipal1 in the hand OF ono
officer, such collection to be made at
such times and in such instalments as
may be most convenient to the tax
payer, with a penalty for non-psy-
ment, but aohose anfiaion shall be obso-
lutely sure; for unless the penalty.
whatever it be, shall be strictly en-
forced and carried out, any system
must fail of it's object.
Such a method would involve the
necessity of altering the limits OF the
present State fiscal year, which be-
gins with November; but conformity
to the calendar year would, we mag
inc, be advantageous rather than 9th.
erwise.
The collection CT all taxes by one
officer would also obviate the ridicu-
lous spectacle of a municipal govern
ment solemnly prescribing by ordi-
nance a penalty of fifteen or twenty
per cent. for non-payment of taxes,
and then by subsequent ordinance or
resolution revoking such penalty.
With the inauguration Of such a
system, a single aggregate tax to be
collected by one officer, and the posi-
hvsinaictaon Of The penalty for the non
payment Of The tar, whatever the pen
atty may be, the ghost of delinquents
will vanish, and we shall SEQ the rev
enues of State and county and city
increased and rendered capable OF
definite calculation, besides the ad.
vantages resulting therefrom in the
general transfer of property.
T. W. BAsor.
CHARLESTON, S. c., Nov. 18th, 1880.
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-11-24
Wonderful Swimming ola Scotch
Girl.

The young lady who has shown
this wonderful endurance in water is
d Miss Lizzie Grow, who swan from
Dunoon to the Scotch Light house
and was in the water one hour and
ffty-three minutes. She is only l6
years Of age, and when it Was known
that she intended to swim the Chan
mel, a gentleman also essayed to &C
complish the feat. He swan vigo-
rously for about a mile, when he was
forced to take refuge in a boat COM
pletely benumbed.-Sefore mid chan
mel was reached Miss Grows hands
we're benumbed. and she turned on
her back and chafedtbem a few mo-
ments. Refreshed 4by the rest, she
again proceeded on2er way. At this
point she was joined by her brother
from oue OF the boats following her,
who is a splendid swimmer and diver
but he also had to succumb after be-
ing half an hour in the water. Left
alone, she followed the leading boats
with indomitable pluck, and gradu-
ally neared the shore. The current
was now, unfortunately, very strong
against her aud her failing strength
was unable to fight against the tide,
and she made little or no progress.
When within fifty yards OF the shore
she complained o~f--cramp, and her
friends advised her to leave the water.
She complied reluctantly, and after
entering the boat, was carefully at
tended to. After partakiDg of re.
freshments and resting an hour, she
returned to Dunoon, none the worse
for her daring swim.
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-11-24
A AND MUNICIPAL
TAXES.
Collection of Taxes---Mode Of Enforcing
Payment---Penalty for Non-Payment.

To the Editor Of the Di$patch.-It is
the duty of every member of the Gen
ersl Assembly to consider what, if
any, defects there may be in the ex-
listing public laws with the view to
remedy them by appropriate legisla-
ZION. One among the greatest and
most patent OF such defects is in the
system of assessment and taxation.
The present inquiry, however, is di-
.ected to the defects in the system Of
taxation only, Or rather in the mode
Of collecting taxes.
A casual inspection Of the tax du-
piicates will show of how large a por-
lion Of her revenue the State is an
nusrly deprived by the failure of tax
payers to comply with their obliga-
tens; and this evil increases from
year 10 year. 1t is an evil which can
be accounted for in but one way, viz:
that the State either cannot or will
net enforce the payment OF taxes.
Every year, and sometimes more
than once in the year, we see official
advertisements of the sale of long lists
II Property, which yield no fruit to
The State, and, in fact, only serve to
increase the public expenses, the State
invariably FORGETTING the property to
hsrself and leaving it in the posses
sfsn and enjoyment of the delinquent,
while increasing the expenses Incl
dent to such sales. 1t must be ad-
nitted, then, hal such sales have
been and are utilities, until at last
many, who do not conscientiously
bel their obligations and are actuated
by other motives, pay no taxes at al,
confident that after the lapse of years
the State will say to them, tif You
pay one or tuo years tax we remit all
arrears" and yet enjoying along with
others who have paid all their taxes
the benefits of the government whose
citizens they are and whose interests
are their interests.
II this condition of things be suffer
ed to remain unchanged the result
must be general Generalization
among the people in respect to the
payment OF taxes and eventual bank
ruptcy OF the State. Decentralization
in one respect will inevitably lead TO
decentralization in others.
We now narrow our inquiry down
to the question OF taxation in incorpo-
rated towns Or cities, which are in
vested by the State with q power OF
taxation within themselves for their
corporate purposes. Here an addi-
tional difficulty presents itself, and
that is the complication arising from
the conflict of the respective liens OF
State aud city; as for example, a lien
attaches for non payment of taxes
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-11-24
What Al Old Man has Noticed
yours,

I have noticed that oil men are
honest when we'll watched.
I have noticed that purses will hold
pennies as we'll as pounds.
I have noticed that in order to be a
reasonable creature, it is necessary at
times to be downright mad.
I have noticed when the purse is
empty and the kitchen cold then is
the voice of Aattery no longer heard.
I have noticed that silks, broad
cloths and jewels, r often bought
with other peoples money.
I have noticed that whatever is, is
right, with a few e1ceptions-the left
eye, the left leg, and the left side Of a
plum pudding.
have noticed that the prayer Of
the selfish man, Forgive us our
debts" while he makes everybody
that owes him pay to the utmost far
thing.
l have noticed that he who thinks
every man a rogue is certain to see
one when he shaves himself, and lie
ought, in mercy, to Q his neighbore
to surrender the rascal to justice.
have noticed that money is the
FOOLS wisdom, the knave's reputation,
the poor mans desire, the covetous
mans ambition, and the idol Of them
all.
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-11-24


If marriages be made in heaven
some have few friends there.
While the tall woman is STOPPING
the little one hath the house swept.
The woman who neglects her hus-
bands shirt fronts is no longer the
wife of his bosom.
When a girl talks about the two
strings to her beau, does she mean
his suspenders?
A man bought n picture OF the
temptation of Adam and Eve. Some
one asked him if it was a chaste pic
ture. Yes" he said, "chased by a
snake"
A girl wrote to her lover, "Now,
John, don't you fale to be at the sing
ing school tonight" John wrote
back that "In tho bright lexicon Of
~youth-Webster's Unabridged-there
is no such word as fale."
An Illinois man sold his wife for
$40, and now he wants to return hall
the money to ease his conscience. He
says he wouldn't hesitate to cheat a
man in a horse trade, but this is too
rough or a purchaser.
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-11-24
LITTLE WOMAN.

Ia a little precious diamond
What a splendor meets the eyes;
H a little lump of sugar
How much of sweetness lies!
30, in o little woman,
Love grows and multiplies;
You recollect the proverb says
4 word unto the wise.
A pepper-corn is very small,
Bot seasons every dinner
More than all other condiments,
Although it is sprinkled thinner;
Just 80 8 little woman is,
If love will let you win her,
There is not q Joy in all the world !!
You would not find within her.
And, as within the little rose
You'll find the richest dyes,
And in the little grain of gold
Much price and value hes;
As from the little balsam
Much odor does arise,
So, in the little woman,
There's a taste of paradise.
The skylark and the nightingale,
Though small and light OF wing,
Yet MARBLE sweetest in the grove
Than all the birds hat sing;
And so q little woman,
Though a very little thing,
L. sweeter than all other sweets,
Even flowers that bloom in
Spring!
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-11-24
A Relic Of the War.

Yesterday a well-dressed man-but
this is not fashionable article; what's
the use of describing a mans dress!
Anyway, the nan entered a store,
and taking a brass button from his
pocket he handed it to a bystander,
and remarked:
Rather a valuable relic. This but
ton was shot from Gen. Hancock's
coat at the battle OF Gettysburg. My
father was on Hancock's staff, and
picked up the button when it fell from
the Generals coat.
I should think that it was valuable,
said the man, examining it. From
Hancock's coat? Well I declare.
What'll you take for it? Excuse ME,
sir. I should not of asked such a
silly question.
No %offense, sir. I wouldn't sell the
relic. of course, az it is bound to me
by more than one tie. My father ia
dead, and the man looked away while
the other party turned and made o
foreign remark to a boy that stood
by the counter lazily turning the
leaves of a lot of sheet music. No, I
wouldn't sell it. continued the man,
but as I am III strained circumstances,
I am going to the pawn shop and
pawn it.
Don't do that. Let me take it.
Well, loan me IS.
The money was handed over, and
after the relic man had carefully taken
down the address of the capitalist he
walked out. About FIVE INMATES af-
terward the clerk in a neighboring
store entered and exclaimed: See
here, f~ellers, I reckon I've got the
boss relic-a button shot from Gen.
Hancock's coat at the battle of Get
tysburg. He then unwrapped a lot
Of oil paper from around a brass but
ton.
Where did you get it? asked the
man who had a similar curiosity.
got it from a man whose father
picked it up just after a bullet had
clipped it fiom Hancock's coat. The
poor fellow had started to the
pawn shop. I let him have SO on it.
What, ho! boss, exclaimed another
man, entering the store and holding
up a brass button. Here's a relic for
you. Shot from Gen. Hancock's coat
during the
Say, there, said a man looking
through the doorway, do you fellers
want to 9 a relic of the late war,
shot
I've got one that'll beat it, said a
man STOPPING and fumbling in bis
vest pocket.
Hold on dar, said a colored man.
Lem me show yer de boss curyasity.
Hits a button got often
Oh, let up, exclaimed several voices,
while the noise of buttons rolling on
the floor was heard.
Less look for that Teller, said the
first victim. Why, bust my buttons,
somebody must have drawn on Han
cock with a double. barrelled shotgun.
The party went out and the only
information learned of him was thai
be had just cut the buttons from an
old army coat and started for the
next town.-LihAe Rock Gazette.
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-11-24

The duty on paper-To pay your
subscriptions promptly aud under tho
consciousness that you get more for
the money than IAN be had in 10Y
other way.
Native to stranger. I'VE have al
ways an east wind in Galveston"
"Bat I see the wind right now is from
the West" "Oh that's the East wind
coming back you know" "Ah."
A junior was heard to remark, On
a recent Sunday, after Professor -
bad preached an eloquent sermon.
"That was a splendid sermon. Cad!
One hundred and eight single gest-
ures and thirteen double"
I understand, said the Galveston
recorder, that you are a confirmed
drunkard. OATS whar you is too
soon jedge. I amt been confirmed
IN no church yet, but the blue light
Baptises is giben Satan . heap oh
worry about me. ...
If country editors purse was as
long AZ the time his delinquent SUBJ
scribers takes to pay for their paper,
and as we'll filed as his imagination,
what a mine of wealth he could COM
mand! And if-but let us leave that
painful subject
Ella, is your father at homer Said
a bashlul lover to his sweetheart I
want to propose something very i'm
portant to him. No, Clearance, papa
is not in, but I am. Couldn't you
propose to me just as we'll? And he
did with perfect success.
Ny case is just here, said a citizen
to q lawyer the other day. "fhe
plaintiff will swear that I hit him. I
will swear that I did not. Now, what
can you lawyers make out Of thsts
Five dollars apiece! was the prompt
reply, as the lawyer extended his
hand.
The Irishman had a correct appre-
citation Of the fitness of things who,
being asked by the judge, when he
applied for a license to sell whiskey,
if he was of good moral character,
replied: Faith, your honor. I don't
see the necessity of q good moral
character to sell whiskey.
When an Eastern man goes to Col
orada, he is called "tenderfoot" until
he has been stabbed, shot at, engaged
in a free fight, fallen down q mine,
kicked by a mule, and chased by 3
vigilance committee. Then they ad-
NIT that be is getting use to the
country, and when he killed a man
he is looked upon as a citizen.
Any good shooting on your farm!
asked the hunter of the farmer.
Splendid, replied the agricultarslis.;
there's q machine agent down 10 the
field, a clotL peddler at the house, a
lightning rcd agent and a candidate
out in the barn lot, and two tramps
in the stock yard. Climb right over
the fence, young man, load both bar
rels, and let into EN-.
An old gentleman who was in the
habit Of pre6xing Il say" to every
sentence to which he gave utterapce,
having heard that his man-servant
mimicked him, thus addressed the
ll-behaved domestic when he met
him: Il say, John, they say that
you say that I say I say and if do
say I say I say that it is 10 reason
Why you should say I say I say,
john"
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-11-24


Garfield will be the twentieth Pres
ident OF the United States.
Ten thousand Cinnamon are pre-
pairing to 60 to the Louisiana sugar
fields.
Georgetown and Beaufort counties
are the only two m the State that
went Republican.
The stock law will 60 into opera
ton in Spartanburg County on the
first day OF next January.
Strive to make a good impression
wherever you 60, said Jones, as he
pulled his foot out Of the mud.
Just take a bottle of my medicine
said a quack doctor to a consumtive
and you'll lever cough again. Is it
so fatal as that? gasped the patient.
A Galveston woman, just married,
wishing to impress her husband with
her ability Is a Muskeeper, bawled
out 10 the servant as she entered the
door: Matilda, bring me the wash
board, 1 want to wash the potatoes
for dinner.
The common belief that the pecan
nut cannot be successfully cultivated
in South Carolina has been satisfac-
torily proven to be erroneous by Mr..
Hiram w. Lawson, of Abbeville
County, who has now a noble tree in
full bearing which he planted eigh-
teen years ago. The fruit of this
tree is exceptionally fine.
Well, we are all back where we
we're fourteen years ago, with the
whole North arrayed against us, pro-
Tossing friendship in one breath and
voting with the next one to enslace
us. But South Carolina is oil right,
thank God, and the devilish hate OF
the Radical North cannot take away
from us our fields and fresides. Let
us attend to them, and our love for
the Union will perhaps grow and in
crease when our dear Northern broth
ers learn that We arc ut least human.
Hampton Guardian.
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-11-24


All the last election, with q certainty
of defeat staring hi1a in the face, Hon.
John W. Forney wrote these brave,
true words; 81 an only one Of the
millions who voted for Hancock to-
day, and what I cap do to aid in this
great work is readJ The Democratic
party holds the for brt the future. It's
reserve is the lot ALI brave men
pledged to hostilitT,to this new reign
of capital. Its tremendous resources
will rescue the Republic from tremen-
dous perils. There is need necessarily
for instant organization. In this
hour, when the Republicans are ex-
ulting over a purchased victory, let
the Democracy Of the whole nation
set their houses in order for the great
struggle in the future"
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-11-24

Communicatea
The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1880-11-24

The duty on paper-To pay your
subscriptions promptly aud under tho
consciousness that you get more for
the money than can be had in 10Y
other way.
The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-06-17
Iron Mortars
And miners supplies at
je5tf ADDoMs Il GLovKR's.

Proposals for Fresh Beef and Beef
Cattle.
Hons DEPT OF THE PLATTE,
OFFICE CHIEF CoM'Y SUBSISTENCE,
OMAHA, Neb., May 81, 1880.
Scaled proposals, In tripiicate, sub
ject to the usual conditions, will be re-
ceived ut this ONCE, or mt the Office Of
the acting assistant commissary Of sub
sistsnce at Camp Sheridan. Neb., until
IL O'Clock, noon, on the Goth day Of
June. 1880, ut which time and places
they will be opened in presence OF bid
ders, for the furnishing and delivery ut
Camp Sheridan, Neb., Of all the fresh
beef from the block and beef cattle ON
the hoof required by the subsistence
department, United States army, for
that post for the fiscal year commenc-
ing July 1, 1880.
The proposals for fresh beef and for
beef cattle must be made separately
and on separate forms.
The government reserves the right to
reject any or all proposals.
Blank proposals and full information
as to the manner of bidding, conditions
TO be observed by bidders and terms Of
contract and payment will be furnished
on application to this Office or TO the
acting assistant commissary Of subslst-
ence at the post.
Envelopes containing proposals
should be marked Proposals for Beef
at Camp Sheridan, Neb.," and ad-
dressed to the undersigned or TO the A.
A. c. s. Of the post.
THOMAS WILSON,
ju13-dCt Captain and c. S.