The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-11-12
Editor.
AGAIN AT THE DESK.


The editor of THE COMMONWEALTH
is again at the desk, after spending
three weeks resting at Buffalo Springs,
Va. We spent the time most pleasant
" IN the home of Mr.. R. 6. Blanks,
and we are under obligations to him
and his good wife and his aged mother
for their kind treatment and good at
tention.:while there.
There are many striking things
about the Blanks family, and among
other things worthy of note is the fact
that Mr.. r. G. Blanks, WAC is now a
little past fifty years old, has never
been absent from his mother week at
one time In his life. He IS her young
est son and the affection between them
is beautiful in her very old age and in
his years of middle life.
For the entire community about But
falo, we freely say that we have never
mingled with more pleasant people
anywhere. They are all kind and
clever to a marked degree.
The water from these famous Buffa-
10 Lithia Springs is fully entitled to
its great reputation as a specific.
Perhaps not single person for whom
it was used as a specific has ever been
there and drank the water freely and q
reasonable time and has gone away
without some benefit. Its healing
powers are great and it's use has blessed
thousands who have gone to the
springs as we'll as thousands more who
have drank the waters at their homes,
in many cases thousand miles from
the springs. We were told while there
that more North Carolinians visit the
springs every year than persons from
any other single State, even ore than
from Virginia.
1t is especially pleasing to hear every
one speak so highly OF the noble
Christian character of Col. Thomas F.
Goode, the proprietor of the springs.
His home is at Boydton some twelve
miles away and he is seldom seen at
the springs, but every employe who
knows him and every resident of the
community speaks in the very highest
terms of Col. Goodies kindness to all
people. While the water is valuable
and in great demand. Col. Gocde is
generous to many who 60 there under
circumstances OF distress. He is one
of the rich in this world who are kin1-
~ disposed and generous to the less
fortunate.
Last week the first election was held
in Virginia under the new State Con-
stitu:ion.
County officers and members of the
House Of Representatives and halt the
State Senators were voted for. There
was no special enthusiasm over the
election, and at Buffalo precinct only
about half OF the registered voters voted.
Virginia is now under the Anstra-
lian ballot system. The names of all
candidates of both parties, the regular
nominees and the independent candi-
dates, are ON the same ballot. The voter
takes ballot at the window and goes
into private roo m where he grasses
the names of those he does not wish to
vote for. Then he returns and places
the ballot with one of the judges of the
election, who places it in the ballot
box, generally folded. When the voter
goes into the private room to mark his
ballot he may be accompanied by ona
Of the judges OF the election who Will
explain the ballot if it needs any ex-
PLANTATION.
The election was very quiet aud
some OF the judges remarked on the
difference between elections now and
some years ago. Not a single negro
voted at Buffalo precinct.
The people of virginia have dog
tax. Heretofore it has been at the op-
ton of the county supervisors whether
or not they would Impose the dog tax,
but by the terms Of the new Constltu-
ton the tax is mandatory throughout
the State. The dog tax goes to pay
for the sheep and hogs destroyed by