The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-04-27
LOCAL. NEWS PARAeRAPHED.

The subscription dance given at the
Club last week under the management
of the Cotillion Club was successful
and very pleasant affair, though not
largely attended, and those present
pronounced it one of the most enjoya-
BILE of the season.
About 1o'clock Thursday there was
an alarm of fire. The hose wagons
promptly repaired to the scene. It
proved to loe the roof Of one of the
cottages on Kicker Lane. The fire made
very little leadway, being extinguished
by the use. Of buckets. Only small
hole in the roof shows the disaster.
It was stated some time ago that a
chemist from the U. S. Department
of Agriculture would test several
drug plants near Florence. Would it
rot be good plan for some Of ourfarm-
ers to secure some of these seed for
trial in this section.
It is not believed that the recent
cool snap vas sufficiently decided to
kill cotton that was up, though fears
are entertained for that which was in
the sprout. It is true, even that which
is above ground has felt the effects of
the cold winds. A day or two will
definitely decide the question.
Policemen. Seymour killed a dog in
the upper portion of the city Thurs
day. The beast acted in rather a
curious manner, though Officer Sey
rlour does not think he was mad.
Still he gave him the benefit Of the
doubt.
The writer was surprised to see at
the farm OIL Mr.. W. A. Weathers
about 21s miles from the city, Irish
potatoes which csn be put on the
market in probably about two weeks.
There must have been TWO acres in
potatoes. A 81 Of an acre cabbage
patch presen ted the most hourishing
and forward appearance of any in our
vicinity. Great care and skill has
been shown by Mr.. Weathers in the
culture Of these vegetables. In addi-
tion to which Mr.. Weathers had quite
fine display of beans, and none of
his truck appeared to have been hurt
by the recen; cold, though there was
a strip of woods which seems to have
protected them.
J Complaint has been made to Super
intendent Griffith, of the Peniten-
tiary. by residents of the Hagood Sec
tion against the manager of the State
Farm, who is charged with thresh-
ing oats and wheat at cut prices in
competition with private individuals
who have grain threshing outfits.
# the telephone line to Manning
should be discontinued as result Of
the disagreement between the Claren-
| don county commissioners and the
Sumter Telephone Co. concerning the
right to place poles in the public road,
be damaged and the Telephone COM
pany will be the loser in the long run,
as well as the public
The question CT taking the nomina-
tion of county auditors and magis-
trates out OF the Democratic primary
| will probably be brought up in the
county CONVENTION. The selection OF
auditors and magistrates should never
have been LETT to the primary and the
State Conver tion could take no wiser
action than to amend the constitution
of the party and take the election of
auditors and magistrates out Of
politics.
About two years ago all OF the mer-
chants of this city then in business
entered into an agreement, which was
signed up III due form. to close their
stores at 10 O'Clock every Saturday
night. For time the agreement was
lived up to in good faith and everyone
seemed to be we'll pleased with the ar
rangement. which caused neither loss
nor injury to anyone, and was a great
boon to the clerks. But recently there
has grown up disposition to violate
this custom, especially on the part of
those firms established since the agree
ment became effective many disregard
| its terms and to keep open until 1870
O'Clock, and later. On Saturday night
last the writer had occasion to pass
through Main street at 10. 40 and there
were at that hour number of stores
wide open and the proprietors and
clerks standing around waiting for Gus
toners. This is altogether wrong and
should not be. The very men who
are keeping tteir stores open after 10
O'Clock, would, we're they clerks, be
the most Jealous advocates Of early
closing. and they should remember the
time when they were clerks and treat
their employees as they wanted to be
treated in years gone by. a commit
tee of clerks, Tor they are the ones
most directly interested, should call
on the merchants and do what they
can to secure renewal of the 10
o'clock closing agreement. and. if pos
sible, discover some means to make
those who sign the agreement live up