The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-09-29
THE EDITORS LEISURE HOURS.
Points and Paragraphs Of Things
Present, Past and Future.

Present, Past and Future.
A few years ago there were consider
able quantities of cane syrup made in
this part of North Carolina. This year,
however, there seems to be very little.
Some may think that making syrup
for home use is a small matter, but it
goes long ways towards lessening fam
lily expenses. "Long sweetening"-
made at home-goes a long way amongst
a crowd of children.
A man of observation said to us re-
Gently that one of the results of the
war with Spain has been the better ac-
quaintance of our northern friends
With the capacity of the negro. And
1t is fact that the people of the north
do not regard the feeling between the
races here as they did dozen years
ago. Every yankee" who comes down
South now soon learns enough about
political affairs to become Democrat
pretty soon, at least in matters local.
The low price of cotton is by no
means encouraging to the farmers. It
may be that it will sell lower this sea-
son than for many. But let the farm
ers not make the mistake of charging
the low price to the local buyers. They
regret as much as the farmers the low
prices; but sometimes farmer here
and there who does not consider close
ly feels inclined to blame the local
buyer or his merchant for not paying
better prices. Every merchant and
cotton buyer in North Carolina would
be delighted, yes, over-joyed to see cot
ton selling for 10 cents.
Charles Broadway Rouss, the great
blind merchant of New York, some
time ago, it was said, offered one mil
! lion dollars to have his eyesight re-
stored. OF course there wore many
eye doctors from all quarters anxious
to cure him. He offered a dollar a
day to any blind man who would
undergo the various experiments un-
til one should prove successful. At
last a doctor claims to have been sue
cessful with one OF Mr.. Rouss' substi-
tutes aud demands the opportunity OF
curing Mr.. Rouss and getting his mil
lion dollars. He saws that he will sue
for it if Mr.. Rouss does not submit to
treatment.
It was with sorrow that all the South
heard few days ago of the death o1
Miss Winnie Davis, "the daughter o1
the Confederacy" She was well
known throughout the entire country
:. And had she lived to fuller years she
would probably haye developed into
strong woman of letters. She had al
ready made some reputation as
writer. and she was developing we'll il
her work.
Her remains were taken from Mar
: ragansett Pier, R. l., where she died
to Richmond for interment. Her dealt
has carried heavy sadness and kee1
grief to many heart, for she was great
;. ly beloved for her own charms as We
as tor the memory of other days whic
her name always stirred.
And now "they say" that telegrap
messages can actually be sent withot
: wire. Consul Gilbert, says the Phll'
delphia Record, sends from Lelge
letter from professor in San Franc1
!, co school of engineering who has bee
, investigating the matter OF wlrele
= telegraph. The item says:
"The professor refers to the syste'
of DR.. Della Riccia, connected Win u
Montefiore Institute OF Electricity,
> Lieee. DIR. Ricca has made lmprov
ments on apparatus already in us
simplifying it and increasing Its po"t
and claims that he can confine t
G. oscillations of the transmitter TO a
special point, to the exclusion OF
others. In case Of communication
JH tween war vessels and forts, the MESA
could be transmitted to one alone;