davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1908-08-05

Va P'eOious liel2n(. Varl =
ing from the aged father and
m'ther to the prattling babe
lhe forenoon was spent in happy
greetings and friendly intercourse
until II was announced that that
good old time had arrived which
is 50 we'll known, and so anx-
iously looked forward 10, by the
hiler of the soil as he piods his
way beneath the scorching sun
listening for the never failing
dinner horn, when the crowd as
sembled beneath the shade of
beautiful grove back of the
dwelling, there to find a table
sufficien tly large, and, we might
say, almost groaning beneath its
load of just such good things as
a good farmer. 8 wife knows how
10 prepare. (God bless the dear
good women. What would we
poor mortals be without them. }
Well, it is needless to say that a
iull hour was very pleasantly
and profitably spent there in at
tending to the needs of the inner
man and in pleasant conversa-
ton, (t"r you know some women
will talk, even at time like
this. Aside from this we had
abundance of fine fruit and mel
ons and to spare.
Taking it all in all it was a
glad, good day and the hearts of
many rejoiced as they strolled
about the old homestead and
memory carried them back to the
happy, happy days when they
wooed and won the hearts Of
those who In later years had
made life worth living.
Nothing happened 10 mar the
pleasures of the day, except that
early in the forenoon one of the
precious little boys had the mis-.
fortune to fall between the wheels
of a moving vehicle which did
not hesitate to pass over his tiny
little legs, causing considerable
pain as we'll as racket. But with
he ever ready camphor bottle
and some good old women nurs
ing the little fellow was soon
afioat again, forgetting all his
past troubles.
Had all the. family been pres.
on they would have numbered
near a hundred and would have
represented five counties.
L had almost forgotten to saw
that the occasion was celebrated
at the home OF Miss Matte Stow
er, the only member of the fam
lily that has seemed to hold to
the belief that when the Lord
said "lt Is not good for man to
be alone" he did not mean it for
woman.
We like to see and hear OF oc
casions of this kind. They tend
to inspire US and hep us to make
the most out of lie,
The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1908-08-05
a Young Lancdstria,a KiLLed in
Oklahoma.

Mr.. Joseph Plyler, a we'll
known citizen of this county, re-
ceived a telegram yesterday con-
veying the shocking and sad in
tellegence that his son, Mr.. En-
nest Plyler, was shot and instant
iy killed at Ardemore, Oklaho-
ma, Monday evening about s
o'clock.
No particulars were given
The unfortunate young man, who
was about 20 years old, had
been living in Oklahoma for the
past year or so. He is survived
by his parents and ten brothers
and sisters, all of this county.
The remains will probably be
brought here Tor burial.
The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1908-08-05
A Happy Occasion---The
Annual Reunion of the De.
scendants Of Capt. w. ].
Slower.

Mr.. Editor withstan ing
the fact that the weather was
very threatening on last Thurs.
day, Friday morning dawned
beautiful and clear, and many
hearts were gladdened when
they beheld the sun coming forth
in all splendor, as they had been
looking forward TO this day with
tond anticipations. As you are
perhaps aware, Mr.. Editor, it
has been a custom with the de-
scendants of Capt. w. j. Stoyer
(for a number of years. to have
an annual picnic and reunion of
the family, where they meet to-
gether to greet each other and
have a general good time, and
thus bind themselves more closely
together and bring back fond
recollections of Home and
Mother" This particular day
was certainly bright one for
them and will no doubt be looked
back upon by many as bright
oasis in their lives.
About nine o'clock the vehi-
cles began to roll in with their
The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1908-08-05

r. ID. Dixon, a weIl-known coIored
farmer of this county, returned yester-
day from Columbia, where he went TO
see his wife, who is in the Asylum. He
says he found her no better.
The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1908-08-05
Lancaster Graded SchooSl.
Interesting Resume of the
Five Years Administra :
ton of Col. Banks as Sup
erintendcnt.


The fifteenth annual session
OF the Lancas err CIR. el Schools
begaD S 'pt 9,n. 1907. and closed
May 29Ih, 1908. being lne end OF
the fl th Year OF my administra
ton rs Superin ndent. 1t may
be pr 'per to givA briet resume O,
the Mork done during ,hese FIVE
years, showing the growth O.
the schools in number of teach
ers and pupils.
In the year 1902.3, just pre-
ceding my taking charge, there
we're eight teachers in the white
schools and three in the colored
schools, with total enrolment
of 635 pupils-at the close of
the year 1907-S, the enrolment
had reached 1,O16, an increase
of 60 per cent; with fourteen
white and five colored teachers,
an increase of 73 per cent.
At the beginning of the year
1907-S, State High School was
established, including Gill's
Greek, st. Lakes and Lancaster
School Districts. This added
$500 to the revenue of the school
without a cent of extra cost to
the taxpayers, and in no way
interfering with the existing
common schools in these dis
tricts.
During the five years of nv
superintendency, 43 have COM
pleted the entire course, and
over 100 have gone to highe r
schools and colleges. Equally
as many colored pupils have
graduated during the same pe-
riod. The standard has been
raised, so that when boys or girls
finish the prescribed course of
study, they are admitted to the
various colleges of the State
without further examination. In
fact, according to the last High
School Bulletin sent out by Prot
w. III. Hand, Lancaster High
School ranks fourth among the
1Ol State High Schools, in the
amount of ground covered in the
required studies. The Associa-
ton of Southern Colleges has
adopted a system of units which
Indicate the amount of work done
by the various schools; and upon
this basis, under the persona al
inspection of Prot. Hand himself,
the Lancaster High school rar ks
fourth. Those higher than Ian
caster are Anderson, Chester,
and Columbia, but each of these
has one more grade than Lancas-
ter has. In addition to this.
Lancaster was one Of two High
Schools which received the max
imum appropriation. This, too,
upon the inspection and recon-
mendation of Prof. Hand. We
have collecten from incidental
tees between $3500 and $4,000.
In these five years, about $50
books have been added to the
Library-tbis year more than
125 new books were put in, and
a nice antique oak book case with
solid glass front. The children
n hava haan xaaI.ru 1 e.
Blue-grass blade., 1908-06-21

not present his pleading for missionaries to
be sent to the heather "chinee" Having
travelled in the Orient Bryan opinion on the
relative merits of Christian and heather civ
ization is accepted final and the latter
pronounced a failure. but over against it I
quote the opinion of the minister plenpoten>
tiary from England to China. He said on
his return to London;
have seen more misery. drunkenness and
degradation in the streets of London in one
day, than | in all my twenty years oil
residence ar China.
Isn't that a pretty hard knock on the peace
that Bryan declares is to be brought to every
heart by the teaching of Jesus?
The fact that this lecture was delivered with
out "A single oratoricaI flight. and with no
show of interest enthusiasm no ringing
rhetorical outbursts than hlmost convince
without argument to me to bear the
finger ma-Fs of being prepared for a purpose
In mus rating the beauties of faith Bryat
related one story that, though aged. will bear
repetition. An old colored man was requested
to illustrate his idea of faith and said Sup
pose the Lord should tell me to butt my head
through Il stone wall il wouldn't be mine to
question whether l would get through or not
1t would ne my business to butt" And the
lirs of the Nebraskan heightened into smile
"S he SAID so it is my place to butt withou,
question. when | do not understand Gods
ways"
Does our perennial politician apply this rule
to every DIV affairs?
To be sure many will admit that putting
the Republican party is adamantine prop
osition. but does our good brother trust In
God for success o. to the political machine
and the rank and file of the ballot holders?
Does he remain quietly at home and butt
with faith believing that the Lord will bind
victory's banner about his bruised form?
one is constrained to call into question the
religious sincerity of man whose asset lions
contradict his actions. hence it is only log,-
cal to apply the same rule along all lines OF
life
bemocracf stands for the sovereignty of the
individual fused into united whole and not
for the kingly discipline of God or one man
rule. 1t believes in excursions of the nina
for present benefits not the acceptance of ready
made misfits of the past
Democracy spells honesty sincerity of pur-
pose and courageous defense of principal. not
subterfuge. subservence to authority or pom,
dering TO popularity.
The condition faces the American voter
We women are not responsible for H.
Blue-grass blade., 1908-06-21
Great Exponent of Democracy taken to Task
by Woman Writer for His Religious
Pretentions Being Put into Pol
tical Campaign.
By Harriet NJ. Closz).

VI.
Whenever new minister locates among US
| attend church at least once, and during the
winters 'protracted efforts | make the
round of the revivals. and take stock of those
who have contracted the cold weather conta-
gion which recurs with unchanging regularity
and exposes most of the invertebrates in the
vicinity besides inducing the oquacous ad
mission of responsibility by the victims who
seeks with frenzied fervor to get something
for nothing.
The resident ministers call crowd of per-
haps so people who listen with more less
Indifference to the "old, old story that is said
to be refreshing and regenerating. AS yoh
know, resident ministers are paid 90 from
six to twelve hundred dollars per annum
cording to the size of the parish.
Well. recently repaired to the largest audi
forum in city to hear tn same "old
story by the renowned orator William j.
Bryan The house was crowded to its utmost
capacity and the doors closed against many
clamoring to enter. "The Prince of Peace
is lecture prepared for the general platform,
1t is two hours plus in length and the reg
ular charge for same is $780, however being
sandwiched between two regular lectures we
escaped for half price, but the time was
cut in two by the democratic rhetorician we
paid the regular rate, tho later, while in
Chicago he delivered the same lecture for the
Catholic Woman's Society free of charge.
OF course it is Brother B~yan's privilege to
lecture free. or for $500. | state the fact
evidence of the penetrating business foresight
which placed the free lecture where it would
probably bring the greatest return.
| have heretofore held William Jennings
Bryan in high regard. but when posing as
the exponent of democratic principles he seeks
to incorporate religion and politics, 1t seems to
me. time that the thoughtless voters of this
country should sit up and take notice.
Bryan's opinion of religion an individual
is none of concern, but his pretense or
belief as the authorized standard bearer of
Democracy is of great moment. for If the
ed does it not follow that political sincerity
should be questioned? I quote from his lee
ture sparingy for lack of space but with the
assurance of dspassionate consideration or
criticism by Blade readers.
He said: II am Interested i'm the science
of government but more interested in reg>
ion / like to address "A political meeting but
prefer to address religious gathering. I
shall be I'm the church long after | am out or
politics"
We would like to inquire why w. j. OBrien
as he was introduced at the st. Patricks
day banquet in Chicago-why with his abh-
ity as an orator he does not seek prefermenr
from a church conference? The holy See ia
scouting for capable men. Or why did he not
proclaim his christian enthusiasm during the
two previous campaigns?
As sample of profound wisdom how Ia
this?
Religious sentiment is not fear but the
Blue-grass blade., 1908-06-21
RAIN MAX Frs.

The lands We're parched and dry. The grass
had withered and the tall corn stalks bowed
their sun-browned heads and seemed to cry
for moisture. The river beds showed signs
of dust and the streams and springs were UNI
marked by even drop of water. The farmers
We're in despair. The clouds refused to
sprinkle their precious drops of rain on the
land and rapidly the crops were becoming
ruined Ranmakers We're employed without
success. Every effort was seemingly exhausted
when relief came and the rain fell. The vii,
iage church had given a picnic.
Blue-grass blade., 1908-06-21
BLUE GRASS BLADE
Bryan and the Religious Question

consciousness that we have come short of the
glory of God. Religion is the only basis upon
which we can build mo atty Morality being
the outward manifestation Of the inward
lation between man and God. Nothing
shake my faith in Jehovah"
DO these assertions sound like those of
sincere investigator who claims to have
searched the literature of all religions and an
alyzed the writings of Darwin, Spencer and
Wallace? He says:
Some believe in the theory of evolution.
N"t / am not convinced that the monkey Is
any part of my family-tree. If others prefer
to find their ancestry in that direction | q"
not object, but they cannot connect me i'm the
relationship. 1t takes mo faith to jump SO
many gaps than to believe i'm the Bible crea-
ton.
I passed through a period of s<epticism IN
college and learned of the many guesses that
are being made l went back to the old tes-
lament and decided to stand there, ana
standing there yet"
Does this SAVIOR of the spirit Of progression,
of the straightforward sincerity of demo.
cratic ideals?
We were RECALLED at length with the attempt
ed explanation of the miracles and told
that God who make a world can d"
anything he wishes that the transformation
i'm the heart when begins to hate what
he loved is a greater miracle than tha
of the loaves and fishes He continues Il
have seen so many things about n. more mys-
FERROUS than the miracles that am not will
ing to allow any miracle to stand between me
and the christian religion"
The analytical CD mind that can moth.
ing more mysterious in the individual multl-
plication of loaves and fishes raising the
dead than in the constantly recurring ann
natural processes of life and growth and evo-
luton must have some hitch i'm its machinery
or some motive for its methods
At last we startled out of our apathy by
the eXclamation: Christ in history, there IN
"A fact. face it, The fact that Caesar AleXan-
der and Napoleon lived is nothing, but the
fact that Christ lived means much. The world
has never seen such another character a.
Jesus Christ and we can account for his life
only by his divinity and the time will comr
when every knee shall bow and every tongue
confess and the belief in his teaching shah
bring peace to every heart.
Well. during 1000 years of his teaching
christendom has been embroled in destruct-
I've conflicts, his pious representatives have re-
duced the people to penury, massacred the
investigator and imprisoned the doubter Ex
ecuting his tenets men have become fanati-
cal fiends and forbearance a lost virtue. Seeh-
ing to harmonze his contradictory commands
thousands have been driven to insanity ana
suicide, while the alleged working of miracles
made ii impossible to sustain a system of en-
deavor that made for progress. much less 70.
peace The usual hair splitting in regard to
the negative form of the golden rule as given
by Confucius and the positive as attributed
In jesus was gone over hut william the
commentator seems to forget that the new
Testament upon which he stands so firmly.
records most of the commandments i'm the
negative form but small thing like that did
Blue-grass blade., 1908-06-21

Forgiveness is better than revenge; for for
giveness is the sign of gentle nature. but
revenge is the sign of savage nature.
-Epictetus
The Washington times., 1908-05-31

water rights from other sources would
presently cease TO be an asset avail
able @ support his weight in the part
nershiP association.
Craig had set score Of schemes
afOot The moment he learned OF the
stroke " fortune which had brought
things his way from an unexpected
quarter. Already Jerry Kirk was be-
ing undermined in countless directions.
with money now available TO right
and left. Asa Craig had bought up
three Of Jerry's mortgages already
Everything. moreover, had been man
aged with absolute honesty. so far as
the rights OF the two Weaver heirs
were concerned.
The man had simply determined to
cut the timber on the Weaver land
and pay the stumpage according to the
ordinary custom, even as Weaver
would have wished it done, and so re-
lease himself from ex0rhltau- con-
tracts made with timber owners else
where. who were keeping his nose to
the grindstone reIentlessly.
In addition to other advantages. the
money for stumpase would rem lin in
his hands by virtue OF his offices.
and thus. without doing the slightest
injury 10 Sylvia Weaver and I unny.
he could swing power Overwhel ming
~ greater than Jerry's.
The bitterness that was deep enough
to actuate this subtle and deadly hos
tiEtv against his partner had been
OF slow and morbid growth in Asa
Craig.
II had started with a Jealousy OF
Jerry's popularity; il had fed on pique
that his partner held the ultimate con-
troll OF all the developing Industry;
it had fattened at last on sheer greed
Of Nigh
The man had evolved a mania for
The Washington times., 1908-05-31
CHAPTER Xxx.
ALLAN BRAVES AN ORDEAL

ALLAN BRAVES AN ORDEAL
= calm. unerring conception Of what
Sc might forebode had been v0uchsafed
to Jerry Kirk when he read the Weav-
or VIII. He had been amazed that
Weaver could have held property so
valuable with never a word 20 any
one but more than this had been the
hurt he felt 20 think his friend could
have left it all In charge Of Asa Craig,
giving him almost a parents place
regarding little Dummy and Sylvia
That Weaver and Craig had been to-
ser IN the civil war and that Weav-
o. lad always and forever felt an in
ordinate admiration for Craig's capa-
biliues In business. could hardly soft
en- the all that Jerry felt. and yet ne
had done his very best TO help the VIII
through without delay.
He was doubly sure for. after all.
the status Of affairs with Sylvia az
fected him far more deeply man any
thing financial ever had done or ever
could
He loved her. yet he knew she was
slipping from his side. He had fought
his fight with himself. and his larger,
nObler nature hac conquered; never
theless he was a man, with all OF
mans primeval yearnings, STRINGS.
ana wants.
If possible. SylYia's very remoteness
from his possession made his love the
greater. He felt like brother and IA
Their in one TO little Dummy. but only
ike a lover, mate. and protector when
his thought turned 10 Sylvis.
. ba0r Wv f=-orrn the hnTraa now
ever, except as business. or play with
The Washington times., 1908-05-31
Synopsis Of Previous Chapters

Sylvia
where father
mddeaged friend OF
6an She meets Allan Kennedy and mutual love springs
into
and
sylvia
she is settled In
great between Finally
slepes
Flack cobbe been
a.
suddenly
al
Of with
camp Of outlaws. who debate what
his men
ckwthD
a
for the way, over the
sndsta o Tarnarack
and Sylvia together Dummy
tmeth
in
he ountan wfere he
himself wins
leaving propertv
sylvia Dummy with
The Washington times., 1908-05-31
I Wan. That Mortgage Here-I Want
It in Ny Own Hands,"

not dream that such a thing could be-
and he would not ask in his pride,
and have her beg to be released.
Thus. though the summer days were
coming and going ia beauty i1eGable.
her heart was filled with.many doubts.
Neither birds that sang so bhthe-
somely, nor crickeJs chipping Of their
mating, nor dainty wild blossoms, like
chalices filed with love that bees were
fetching constantly. could make her
wholly content
Yet ecstasy, r. fine independence of
content. would still come sweeping
upon her with the stirring of the trees
or ~ the stiffness Of the night, for
thousand things had voice enough TO
whisper Of Allan Kennedy.
Day after day had passed without
sign or a word from Allan now, and
Sylvia wac anxious.
She wondered # anything had zap
pened 10 keep him away. Till Jerry
should speak. till something should be
definitely settled. she knew it was bet
ter and safer for Allan TO remain at
Milsite, yet she found IL hard ineed
10 endure his absence during days Ike
these.
She and Dummy were very much to-
gether all the time, the little barefoot
ed chap again bringing Jack into re-
QUESTION and riding the blind and pa
tent little animal about, in Sylvia's
care.
Concerning the legacy bequeathed to
herself and Dummy, she felt great
satisfaction. fnasmuch as she knew she
could some day repay Jerry Kirk for
all he had done and was doing. Be
yond this point she had no knowledge
whatsoever Of the splendid value Of
the property or the power It gave to
Asa Craig.
On a Sunday morning she was early
astir. and traipsing up through the
great ravine, gathering ferns ard flow
ers to bedeck the little porch Of the
house, for she somehow felt that Al
Ian Kennedy would come.
Such charm of summer filed the
world. and the canyon in particular.
that she could not resist the wish that
Allan could find her here among the
trees. It almost seemed as If the
morning sighed with a sense Of its
own perfected loveliness.
Leaves and birds and frisSing SOUR
rels al appeared alike rejoicing In the
ardor OF the sun. The brook by now
was an instrument of music, furnish
inC the laughter and the tinkling in
the woodland orchestration. Down
through the fretwork Of the trees the
light was thrown till it dappled all
the earth and grass with its gold.
But Allan failed 10 come tn
o'clock. and then ne found the radiant
The Washington times., 1908-05-31

of one thing through It all that set
HIS mind at rest II was simply that
Allan Kennedy would 40 more tell Of
the interview than ne would take adj
vantage Of Kirk.
But certain premonitions that had
come to Jerry at the reading OF Weav-
er's viii were being swiftly justified by
al the scheming thoughts n hs part
ner's mind. Craig had the power,
long sought and denied him and he
meant TO force Jerry Kirk entirely out
OF the business, practically ruined
The win had given him more than
the balance Of power. The lands con-
veyed TO -, guardianship were not
only adjacent TO all OF the company
roads. but the timber there was the
finest and most desirable 10 be had IN
miles. Moreover, the water supply
was abundant and convenient to be
turned at once into the company Gume
and feeders, so that Jerry's lease q
The Washington times., 1908-05-31

power. His one consuming idea had
become the determination to ear Il
absolutely In the mountains. Friend
ship. lcyalties-alI had gone down
before that one mad appetite The man
had filtered steel through all his veins.
and his heart was alleged to be the
toughest hber Of his being.
He had hoped 10 employ the business
perspIcacitg of Allan Kennedy TO bring
about his ends a little Indirectly. II
was he who had sent Allan down 70
sylvia's side and told aim 10 remain.
when Duuuy's troubles had been at
their height. but he had done II solely
in the hope OF fostering, II not Great
ing, a rivalry between the younger
man and Kirk, for plenty of talk had
come concerning the two. through
Thomas King and Mrs. Hank lie had
thought to entangle tie younger man
as an element on whom TO count on
a day that soon must come. but he