davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
Meeting County Board Of Commissioners.

The County Board Of Commission
sers met in regular monthly session on
the 7th inst. The minutes OF the last
meeting were read and approved. a
communication from Mr.. "a. M. Su-
der, Commissioner to the Charleston
Exposition, was read. Supervisor
Scale reported that he had sold old
iron, tin, and brick An offer from
the Sumter Electric Light and Ice
Company, agreeing to light the Court
House at % cents per light, was re-
sceived as information. The Supervi-
Ssor was requested to place notices in
the Court House prohi biting persons
from expectorating on the floor. A
petit ton from w. j. johnson for ap-
polntment as guard on chain gang was
fled. The Clerk Of Court gave notice
of the number Of 5urors required for
the year 1902. as required by Statutes
5of 1900. The following jurors are re-
quired: u Grand Jurors, each term,
70 Petit Jurors for. April term, 36
Petit Jurors for June term, - Petit
Jurors for November term, total 1872.
The Board under General Statutes,
Chap. XIII, placed licenses on hawk
3ers and peddlers and the clerk was in
sstructed to publish same twice in
stt Item and " Herald y A large num-
ber of claims were approved and the
board adjourned.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
CAL MEETING or eOUNclL.
I Insuffcient Water Supply For. Fires
Discussed.

City Council held cali meeting
Monday nightat 8 O'Clock The Mayor
stated that the purposes5of the meeting.
was to consider complaints concerning
our water supply fire service, and
such other matters as might come up.
Council extended the tlme@for pay
sment Of city taxes until March lst.
Messrs. " Graham and r. S.
Hood, Chiefs Of the Fire Department.,
sWere present, and stated that the wa
terprssnrein IA the henorthWesterns section
sof the city total y insufficient for.
fire service Ehey related the condi-.
ton OF affairs at several fires inthat:
section recently The Clerk was dl-i
rected to inform the Water Company
Sof this condition Of affairs and ask
that its be remedied without delay,
and ffurthert that they viii be held re-
sponsible forfre losses due to such
detective service. The echiefs COM.
planned that the1adders of.the Hook.
and Ladder Company are loaned at.
times forsprivaten use and are missing:
when needed
resolntiionW was adopted forbidding
the lending of the ladders to any one:
or their use for any other purpose
than that for which they intended.
The Fire Department. commit ttee was
requested osconsfide purchase of
improved xtensionS ladders and report
satnextsC Council meeting.
Council then adj djourned.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
THE TURoU Use.

The turquoise. the birthstone forsD De-
cember, signifies prosperity.
The turquoise was familiar and Ia
yorite gem among the ancient Mexi-;
cans and Indians OF the west
The turquoise fades when its owner
is i'll, and dies when the wearer is at
tackled by an incurable malady-sot they
say.
The Germans claim that by its vary.
ing shades the turquoise turns te.ltale:
on the caprices and moods Of its:
wearer.
Shakespeare gives these words to
Shylock: ..He would not have lost his
turquoise ring for whole wilderness
Of monkeys
The turquoise derives its name from
word meaning Turkish and is so
called because the first turauoises We're
found in Turkey.
If your birthday comes in December
and you wear turquoise, sou need
never be afraid Of falling off a high
place. One Of the powers of the azure
hued gem is to preserve its wearer
from this catastrophe.
It is also said that it has the power
Of protecting its wearer against con-
tagion. q turquoise would certainly
be an ornamental substitute for yaccl-
nation. It's efficiency would probably
depend upon the faith of the wearers.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
Chinese Points Fer Hosts.

Don't ea. with your ears. says
Yuan Mel. Chinese writer. by which
4 mean do net aim at having exuaor-
dinary out of the way foods. just to
astonish your guests. for that is to
eat with your ears. not with your
mouth. Bean crrd. if good, is actually
nicer than birds nest. And better than
sea slugs. which are not first rate. is a
dish Of bamboo shoots.
.4The chicken. the pig. the fish and
the duck-these are the four heroes OF
the table. Sea sluss and birds nest
have no Characteristic favors of their
own. They are but usurpers in the
house. / once dined With 4 friend who
gave US birds nests in bowls like vats.
holding each about four ounces of the
plain boned article The other guests
applauded vigorously. but l smiled and
said | came here to eat birds nest. not
to take delivery of it Wholesale
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
Rabbits at Play.

Rabbits play in this way: Two of
then-l have not seen it played with
more-run quickly toward each other,
and when on the point Of contact each
leaps into the air, but one higher than
the other, clearing him completely.
They come down with their tails to-
ward each other, but instantly, with
an, as it were, Excuse my taily' both.
turn and run and leap. again, and this
they will do from two or three to half
a dozen times, always leaping up at
the exact moment when they would
otherwise come into collision and one
always taking the higher leap-some-.
times an astonisninsly high one-right
over his companion They never meet;
in the air. nor can see how.this Cur
be avoided except By a plan ersdgure
being mutually followed bysthem,aass
with ourselves ina game 81 dance.
believe that each clears the other al
ternately. but Il h2ye not set convinced
myself Of this--ssa turday Review.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15

He said to Eirse1f.

Kansas enjoys the distinction, posi-
bly,, of being the only state in the
Union where man has been allowed
by a court Of inquiry to testify regard
ing what he said to himself
A committee bad been appointed By
the legislature. says The Green Bag,
to investigate the alleged bribery of
certain members in connection with a
defeated railroad bill Tie first Wit
ness called testified that he saw one of
the representatives late one night COM
ing down the hote. stairs
Il said to myself. he went on. but
a member on the side of the defense
jumped to his. feet.
Hold onr' be shouted You can't
testify about what you said to your
self!r'
The prosecutor rctorted that there
was no law to prohibit him from so
testifEing a long argument ensued.
but majority of the committee agreed
with the chairman that the testimony
was admissible
II said to myself seriously proceed
ed the witness, that ~ had been up
to Billy's room to get his pay.
The testimony was recorded and
made a part of the official record
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
Didn't Recognize. It.

:
"a distinguished member Of the Unit
ed States judiciary has discovered that
he still has something to learn in the
direction Of agriculture.
He bought a farm as a summer home
for his family and finds especial de-
light in walking about the place, COM
smenting on the condition Of the crops
and in many ways showing his inter
est. in his new possessions
One evening during the summer he
was strolling over the farm. The hired
man had cut the grass during the day.
"a very thin crop, and had left it lying
on the ground to dry. The judge saw
it, and, calling his man. said:
1T seems to me you are very care
less. Why haven't you been more par
ticular in raking up this hay? Don't
you see that you have left little drib-
blings all around %
For minute the hired man stared.
wondering if the judge was quizzing
him. Then he replied:
Little dribblings. Why, man, that's
the crop!r'
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
Middle Age. Bu1tals.

In the middle ages founders and
patrons of ecclesiastical buildings be-
gan to be buried nearer and nearer to
the fabric Of the church or cathedral.
First the porch. then the cloister. then
the chapter house or chantry, came
under demand: the chancel was next
encroached upon. and lastly burials
were allowed under the altar itself. At
the other extreme Of custom was the
burial Of malefactors and stillborn
children on the north or devils side''
Of the yard. practice concerning
which chapters might be written.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
The Prayer That Hurt.

a member. Of a certain Massachn-
setts parish, prominent for his thrift
and personal consequence. was also
notorious for his overbearing assump=
tons and pompous airs. Under the dis
tress and fright Of a dangerous illness
he ..put up notes. on several successive
Sundays. and after his recovery, ac-
cording to usage, he offered a note to
be read by the minister expressive OF
his thanks
The minister was somewhat large"
in this part Of his prayer. recalling the
danger and the previous petitions OF
the squire" and returning his crate
ful acknowledgment with the prayer
that the experience might be blessed
to the spiritual welfare Of the restored
man. He closed with these words:
..And we pray. o Lord. that thy serv-
ant may be cured Of that ungodly
strut. so offensive in the sanctuary.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15

The quick craze is by no means new,
but seems just now to be more in.
ztrusive than ever before. Here is a
young woman practicing fourteen
hours day to cultivate her voice. Re
suit, lost voice. Nearly all the pugi-
lists. active and retired. are writing
volumes on ..How to Get Strong
Quick and the readers are exercising
two or three hours a day, when ten
minutes are quite enough. Result, lost
health. The get rich quick fellows, in
iail and out, are hiring able lawyers to
help them devise schemes that will
defy the law and enable them to fleece
lambs regardless Of the code.-NeW
York Press.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
A FINE EXHIBIT FROM SUMTER:
The Sumter Telephone Manufacturing
Co. Sends an Exhibit to Charleston.

The Sumter Telephone Mfg. Co. has
prepared a large and handsome exhibit
of telephones and switchboards manu-
featured by the company to be. sent to
the Charleston Exposition. The ex75
shibit was shipped to Charleston last
Thursday and at once installed IN the
Manufactures Building in which the
has secured space. The ex-
hiibiit consists Of forty telephones.
representing the various models and
styles made by the company and two
ssWitchboards which have all OF the
improvements and new ideas worked
and tested by Mr.. Mason. The e3-
hi bit will be a striking advertisement
of the Sumter Telephone Mfg Cos.
and the same time an advertisement
sof the resources and products of Sum
ter county Every part entering into
the construct ton of the teleph and
5sw:tchboards is made in Sumter. All
the metal parts, from the smallest
screw to the most compli part
are made from the crude material. The
cabinet work is made from woods
grown in Sumter county, sawed at the
mill connected with the factory and
finished in the woodworking depart
ment. The assertion is ventured.
without fear Of ADDICTION, that
there. will not be found at the Exposi-
ton more beautiful nor more hand
somely finished woods than the speci-
mons to be seen in this exhibit The
woods used include walnut white and
other oak, gum etc. These are.quar-
ter sawed and the grain brought out
IN all its beauty and perfection. The
writer has never seen any where more
beautiful curly walnut and quartered
golden oak, and the mahogo gonized gum
is sssomething new entirely in a acabinet
wood. it has all the beauty Of grain
for the best mahogany is famed
and It takes the hiig hest polish. This
exhibit viii attract the critical
attention Of electricians for in
the telephones and swift tchboards Mr..
Mr.. Mason has embod odied quite num-
sber OF new and original ideas that
instruments shown decided
=lysin the forefront of teleph hone and
switch hoard constructio Those In
:terested in hardwoods VIII also find
much to interest them when they
learn that these woods are produced in
Sumter county and that the supply at
present is practically untouched
The sswamps and forests are filed with
Just such timber that has been passed
by and rejected by the saWmil men
who have held fastto the idea that
yellow pine was the only timber worth
cutting IN this section Of the country.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
LONG RANG GE BAPTISM.
Christening In Scotland Was Cor
Quoted Under DiEcult Hen.

Christening In Scotland Was Con-.
Quoted Under Dif1cultier
In wide and sparsely populated high.
land districts Of Scotland IT not infre-
quently happens that a parent is obhg
ed to walk a distance Of fye,or six
miles with an infant for baptism.
It is related Of a ministe Of the
north that he agreed to accommodate
parishoner thus situated by meet
ing him at a stream midway between
the parents house and the smansesands
there baphzing the child at the run
ming water.
It so happened that BY the time the
parties came to opposite sides OF the
bourn heavy rains had swollen into
rapid torrent SO that neither party
could approach the other.
Unwilling to turn back with the:
.sbairn unbaphzed, the farmer pro
posed that the minister should splash
water across. According the minister
stepped down to the stream and dSsen-
deayored to throw handfuls Of water
on the I1rnersSzOaDy. 3.ysts
esHa'e ye got ony O that z? he cried
at each successive splash. ssiss.
e.De,il a spairge,' was the repl
At last a few Of the splashes We're
communicated to the infants face,
and the ceremony was then concluded
in the usual form.
Before retiring 80 their respective
homes the farmer produced a bottle Of
whisky, crying across. S Gamma
offer yes a glass. owre the held q this
here's the bottl tle-keppg' And he threw
it across the stream.
The bottle was caught, is related
with precision that betokened on the
part Of his reverence, if not consid idera7
bic practice, at least considerable dex-SS
terity.-Sray Stories.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15

The Danish Mascot.

The chimney sweeper is the Dan .sb
mascot You see him in gold or silver,
suspended on lady's watch chain. In
stead of the .4lucky pig or horseshoe,
which is the English symbol of good
luck he also appears on note paper
and postcards, implying that your cor
respondent wishes you a rise in life.
Tt is the old fashioned sweep that is
thus depicted-he who had actually te
climb the chimney, his implements be-
ing four foot ladder, 4 short broom
and q rope
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
WEDGEFlELD ITEMS.
Wedgefeld, Jan. 1.-THE new yea


Wedgefeld, Jan. 14-The new year
1902 has brought one disaster to the
farmer of the oat crop has been
killed by the severe cold weather we
have had. AS the old adage reads
though, a bad beginning means a good
finish, so probably the loss will be
made up in something else.
Nrs.sJ. H. Dupont after an alb:
sence Of two years has resumed her
duties as proprietress of the Dupont
House, much to the delight Of the
clerks, ETC., who thought at one time
they would have to run a mess hall.
Some deer have been seen recently
in the Wateree Swamp. I would adj
wise the hunters though, not to en-
gage the venison, as one did recently,
for he might be sued for breach OF
promise.
Mr.D. B. McLaurin who is station
ed at Bishopville as cotton buyer for
Alex a. Sprunt & Sons, spent yester-
day at home.
MI. Frank Dwight, Jr., left for
Edgefeld a few days ago to attend the
|South Carolina Co-Ed. Insti
Mrs r. r. Singleton and Misses
Elise and Lucy Singleton will leave
or Charleston soon, where they will
reside in the future.
Your correspondent regrets he
doesn't live on a main line railroad
where he could see the great men Of
our country and the world renowned
Liberty Bell where they are on their
travels.
have. few suggestions I would
like to make to President Teddy, If
I had the world to back me. First to
have the Liberty Bell recast: Q Send
it along with permit to Aguinaldo
to toll it after reading a declaration
Of independence to the Filipinos. 8
Lend her to England for Kruger to
ring from the summit Of Spion
sKop signalling to the Beers through
out the plains what they have
long wished for-inde dependence. Then
bring her home to Philadelphia
and encase her in gold, for she
would have then carried independence
to the most oppressed people in the
world. We read whole column
about the crowds that gather at the
stations to gaze at the reminder Of
the bloody battles our forefathers
fought#to gain that coveted prize, in
dependence, and in column parallel
we read of the slaughtering of the
F'ilipinos who are inspired with that
same love Of freedom. 1t is certainly
inappropriate for her to be placed on
exhibition now. This is state news
and without origin at Wedgefeld, so
pardon me please?
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
Re Understood.

Anton Rubinstein. the Russian COM
poser, in his autobiograpb tells of the
confusion which overcame 4 certain
architect of h;s acquaintance=wh had
a habit OF interiarding all his remarks
with the phrase. You understand. -
On one occasion be was explaining
certain architectural matters to the
emperor and according to custom.
made free use ofehis favorite express
sion.
Good heavens! exclaimed Emperor
Nicholas at last irritably "Of course
understand. Nv dear fellow. how
could help it =
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
/. Crank and EpIcure..

Crank and Epicure.
ga travelling crank and epicure had
the audacity to ask the head steward
shortly before my boat sailed from
Liverpool for New York said wait.
er on an ocean liner, eff If he would mind
changing three Of the courses on the
bill Of fare for others which he prefer
red. He was Informed politely but
firmly that there were other passen-
gers besides himself sailing on the yes
sci and that If he thought he could
not survive on the excellent fare pro.
5yided during the voyage all he had to
do was to book with another line and
his passage money would be returned
to him. ~
steamship companies are not In The
habit Of returning passage money when
once paid, as is well known, but in
this instance we would willingly have
done neso..ss5,# so.
..Our fastidious passenger did not
book with another line, however, and,
what is more, he ate enough at each
meal on the trip to satisfy two men
with sea air appehtes and presented
to the waiter, who attended with ex.
neme good nature to his likes and dis.
likes throughout the voyage, the mag.
n1fcent sum Of is cents."-New York
Mail and Express.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
A TALE OF TWO CITIES.
The Peri1s OF Living Nenr the Mex
lean Boundary Line.

The PeEils OF Living Nenr the Mex-s
lean Boundary Line.
Some peculiar conditions prevail at
the twin cities Of Nogales, Mexico.
and Nogales, Ariz.," said the Detfolter,
who recently returned from avisiit to-
Mexico. The international boundary
line is formed By street that divides
the two towns, and the boundary
stakes are set cut with very nice
regard for technicalihes There is e.
saloon there which has more than a.
local reputation, and the proprietor Is
certainly an enterprising individual.
His saloon is located on the street d.
yiding the two counties and at a point
where the dividing line is not clearly
defined. The patron Of this saloon
buys his drink in America, and. step
ping across the hail, he buys his cigar
in Mexico. In this way the proprietor
avoids the duty on imported cigars
and can provide his customers With
the best make at lower prices than
most Of his competitors.
tsrhey tell an amusing story about an
American who imbibe too much fight
ing whisky at this saloon. When he
arrived at "a certain stage, he allowed
his prejudices to get the better OF him.
and standing near the; boundary line.
Of his own country, he heaped anathe-
mas and hurled dedances at the people
across the border. a couple Of 5dex-s
scan officers stood across the street az
most within reach Of the spugnacious
American, hoping that he would stroll
across into Mexico: HeEd did get over
there after awhile, although the trip
was wholly unpremeditate During
a harangue against Mexican fnsHtu-
tons in general and the police il par
dcular he happened to lurch too far
over to starboard and fell into Mexico.
The alert cops promptly grabbed him,ss
and, though he didn't get q chancesto
take in the sights, he paid quite an exs
tended visit to the country he had so
eloquently maligned .''-De Detroit Free
Press.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
American English.

We do not speak tie English Ian
guage in the way in which is spoken
by the people of England. We have
greatly changed. enlarged and perhaps
improved it incur usn:l progressive
way. The woms,es l;cs il, the notion of
Englishmcn that their way OF speaking
the language is the only way and that
our way is wrong. New York World.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
eoRED BY A BULL.
Rr. Marion Dorm Seriously Injured.

Mr. Marion Dorm was gored by a
bull last Thursday and SO seriously
injured that he viii be confined to
bed for several weeks. The bulls
horn penetrated the large muscles of
the thigh, passing entirely through
the aeshy part of the thigh from back
to front and inflicted wound of a
very serious and painful nature. For
tunately none of the large blood vessels
were broken and the wouDd, while
very painful, is not considered serious
enough to give ground for apprehen-
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
MI. rouch of Hunor.

..Always. says the astute news edi-
tor to the new reporter. always be on
the lookout for any little touch Of hui
NOR that may brighten up our col
umns."
That evening the new reporter hand
ed in an account Of a burglary in q
butchers shop which commenced. "Atr.
Jeremiah Cleayer. the well known
butcher. is losing flesh rapidly Of late y
Exchange.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
when wtves were SOLD.

When Wives Were. 500.
A century or so ago wife selling was
not an uncommon event in England
as the following item, which appeared
in the London News of Nov. q. 1901
would show:
@on Friday a coal porter exhibited
his wife in Smithfe1d, with halter
round her neck, for sale. He demand.
ed guinea for her, but she hung or
hand for some time. until man OF
good appearance made the purchase
and packing her, halter and all, into :
hackney coach drove for Blackfriars
bridge, amid the huzzas Of the mob.
The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1902-01-15
MlsAPPLlED WORDS.
Some Expressions the Use OF Which
Should Be Reformed.


Extra" is an abused word. People
say extra goodo or extra cheap" in
order to intensity good and Cheap =
But extra has no such force. So far
from intensifying a given condition, it
denies it by indicating that the thing
so described lies outside the sphere OF
quality named. Thus, extra judiciaI'
does not mean more than ordinarily ju-
dicial. as though judge had dredged
his conscience in giving an opinion, but
outside of judicial and therefore inca
pable of being judged at all in the pre-
scribed way.
A grievous fault is the. use of 4dden-
tify' in a phrase like this, t.He is iden-
tilted with the accinaticn move
ment.' A man can only identify him
self with another man or set Of men.
He can Identify himself with the op-
poDents Of yaccinat tion-and even here
the word carries a shade Of meaning OF
its own, Distinguishing the phrase from
such a one as che joined the opponents
Of vaccination =
One should not speak Of .shigh' OF
Tow caliber;; but, remembering the
meaning of "caliber,'' y one should apply
to it only such adjectives as 1.greaF' OF
Small
1t is wrong to speak Of consensus
Of opinion. The word consensus it.
self means an agreement Of thought
and should stand alone DENY.