Macon beacon., 1902-01-04

J
have been since the light of the world
Surely it speaks well for a people
when they prove their faith in Christ
mas by the use and beauty of theiI
works. and so it has been this yeal
all over our beloved State, IL we may
'2dge by the records in the papers
and we may.
Hosts of friends mourn the peculiar
ly sad death of Hon. Albert M. Lea
Federal District Attorney for the
Southern District of Mississippi, which
occurred in Jackson, Christmas eve
Mr.. Lea was in the very prime Of life
and at the height of his mental pow
ers when the unseen Archer struck
him, swiftly and surely, with the fatal
arrow. He was at the Capital on bust
ness, and Sunday morning took break
fast, as usual, after which he went up
to his room. A short while after this
someone went up to see him and found
him prone on the hearth-rug, uncon
| sclous, from a stroke of apoplexy. Rel
atives and friends were Immediately
summoned, and physicians brought all
their skill to bear upon the case, but
the useful life of this popular citizen
was at an end. He fingered only un,
til Tuesday afternoon, when his brave,
tne spirit returned to Him who gave
1t. Mr.. Lea was an extremely popular
man and an attorney of distinction,
lie was born in Jackson, the son OF
the late Judge Luke Lea. Since his
appointment as district attorney for
the Southern (Federal) District, he
has resided in Vicksburg, where he
made an ideal home Tor his two love,
ly daughters and their aged grand,
mother. To these two young girls,
now doubly orphaned since their father
has Joined the mother in the Great
Beyond, the deep sympathy of our
people goes out.
There has been quite a spirited rival,
ry of late among the towns in the State
as to which shall take the prize for the
biggest load of cotton. The fond hopes
Of the whole list of competitors are
dashed to the ground by the big load
brought in to Brookhayen last week.
This load consisted OF forty bales OF
cotton, weighing, all together 1928
pounds. and was drawn nine miles by a
team of eight yokes Of Holstein steers,
The cotton (as well as the steers) was
raised by the Moreton Helm Lumber
Company, and the special wagon frame
needed for this monster load was de-
signed and made by them. John Nc.
Grath < Sons bought the load, paying
eight cents pound for the cotton.
One of the pleasant things about this
triumph is that it was hauled over such
fine roads. Lincoln county was one of
the first counties in the State to adopt
the contract system of working roads,
and few years ago it was all that two
yokes of steers could do to pull
wagon and one bale over parts of this
road.
The Capitol has been undergoing its
annual housecleaning during the past
fortnight and Is now, despite its ex.
treme dilapidation, as clean as scrub.
bing and rubbing and polishing up can
get it. A new carpet has been laid
upon which the Representatives lord.
ly' tread" may resound, and many
other changes. looking to the convent.
ence of the members of both houses.
were made. Everything is now in
readiness, and the old building awaits
the coming of the last Legislature that
Is to meet in the old familiar place. II
walls might speak, how wonderful and
oyerhowing with interest would be the
stories that could be told by these
crumOling old stones, within whose
protection has transpired so vast an
amount of history-not unmixed with
romance-durtng the long years of
their standing.
Congressman e. S. Gambler has In.
troduced a bill (H B. $3.50 making
an appropriation for the Improvement
of the Tombigbee river in this State
and Alabama, At the same time he
introduced the proceedings of and the
memorial prepared by the Tombigbee
River Improvement Convention. which
met in Columbus July 81. Mr.. Cand.
Ter promises to push this matter with
all his energy, and the people of that
section are looking for great results.
The work is much needed, and would
bring great improvements in its train.
The Columbus Commercial sensibly
remarks While the price of cotton
is low and the cost of living may be
high, there is no good in eternally
talking hard times. 1t does no good;
it makes everybody feel blue and de-
pressed. Stop it and try to look on
the bright side of life. There is no use
greving and mourning over that which
you cannot help. If you will do the
best you can under the circumstances,
everything will come out all right"
Rev. Ransom Jones, one of the most
beloved men in the Methodist church
in Mississippi, died at Crystal Springs
on the 4th of December and was buried
in Meridian, Christmas day. Bishop
Galloway conducted the services in
honor Of the lamented dead. DR.. Jones
was an aged but most useful member
of this great church, and his death is
greatly deplored.
Polkville, in Simpson County, was
seriously damaged by a tornado last
week. The entire property (in resi-
dences, barns and other farm build,
ings) of four of that sections most
prosperous farmers were blown away
Fortunately. no lives were lost, and no
serious bodily injuries were caused by
the severity of the storm.
At the great gathering Of Southern
educators in Columbia, s. c., last week,
fwn of tho landing snlrits in tho grant