The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-12-09
INTERESTING LETTER
FROM Mr.. TW|TTY
Discusses Conference For the
Common Good.
TRIBUTE TO MRS. FORTNER
discusses Education, Liability OF
Railroads to the Travelling Pub
lie and Various Other Topics.
To the Editor of The News:

lie and Various Other Topics.
To the Editor of The News:
III the Conference for the Common
GOOD failed to benefit and upbuild
your city and community, 1t may be
said that 1t cannot be moved by or
dlnary means. The efforts recently
put forth looking to that end by the
numerous writer's and speech max
ers cannot fail to result in good.
few years ago the plan of call
Ing a conference to consider the best
means to be used for the common
good was not thought of, but the
modern idea is to get the people to-
gether and exchange views, carrying
out the thought that in union there
is strength. No doubt about it. the
modern idea is the best and furnishes
the best results and 1t applies to all
\ efforts at upbuilding and advance
civilization. I notice that Mr.. Wat
son, commissioner of agriculture,
says that the farmers are using an
enormous amount Of fertilizers to
take the place of brains. We have
been too lazy to plow deep, he says.
and have not utilized elbow grease
as the situation demanded. Year
after year have the farmers piled
tonic into sick man, as it were, and
that the excessive use of fertilizers
has taken more from the soil than
1t leaves In it.
II he (Mr. Watson) knew what he
was talking about (and l presume
ne does) it is time the farmers
should halt and follow the course
1ntimated-use elbow grease and
plow deep. No doubt some will say
talk is cheap, and in many cases will
follow daddy's old teaching.
The late death of Mrs. Mary Clark
Fortner brings to my mind one of
her characteristics, viz: her freedom
from fear. 1 remember about the
time she had reached her majority
(about twenty years old) that a
heavy wind storm raged In the frma-
ment and I expected to see her ner-
vous and exhibit fear, but not so,
rather the opposite. She seemed de-
lighted at such manifestation of
Dl7ine power and so expressed her
self in the midst OF the disturbed ele-
ments. 1 do not remember that l
ever saw any one, especially a lady,
as calm under such circumstances.
I am prepared to testify that other
mhmbers Of the family I know them
az except the mother) possessed the
same fearless characteristics and al
ways stood ready to maintain and up
hold the right.
was In the army with her brother
James and 1t was understood by all
his comrades that he was fearless
and could be depended on in any
emergency. 1 am glad OF the oppcr-
tunity to bring forward the merit and
worth OF the family to those who are
not Informed. Soon after the inci-
dent herein mentioned, Miss Mary
(Mrs. Fortner) left the state and,
therefore, / had no further associa-
tion with her. Her death was quite
a shock and moves from the stage of
action the last member Of the fam
lily, save one, Mrs. Jennie G. Hughes,
to whom commend, I'm her bereave-
ment, the Giver of All Good.
a few days ago | saw an account
OF the Hooper creek wreck at least
a partial report OF the damages as
sessed against the railroad growing
out Of the wreck The statement
said that consent verdicts in 18 cases
aggregated about $4,000, and n
number of the larger cases we're con-
.tinued, therefore it is hard to say
what the full damages will foot up.
It seems hard and unreasonable to
impose damages on defendants in
such cases 1t is their own property
and their patrons, the travelling
public, take chances when they board
their trains, they know there is
danger; yet the law fixes their re-
sponsibility and makes public car
riers liable for damages and 1T is
known and published, therefore, 1t
isxright, however unreasonable 1t
NAY appear 1t is intended to make
carries vigilant and inspect all
branches Especially trestles) which
jeopardize human life. If some such
Incentives or responsibility were not
enjoined wrecks would be much
more common These wrecks lessen
prohts-what sayest thou, brother?
Scarcely day passes but we read
OF automobile accidents (serious and
often deaths.) / believe, however,
that 1t is to be charged to careless
ness in many cases. l would sug-
gest that the newspapers throughout
the country sound a warning voice
and insist on more care in handling
and operating automobiles and there
by save life and limb.
We (wife and u have been honor
ed with the announcement of the
marriage of Col. Leroy Springs to
Mrs. Lena Jones Wade of Pulaski
Tenn. We conclude, as the Colonel
saw fit to cover considerable territory
before uaking a selection that he can
boast OF having made no mistake
The Colonel carried up a nice rep
resentative party to witness the nup-
tIal vows, but 1 believe they were
all married men and therefore had
no axes TO grind pertaining to matri
monial matters. Before / dismiss
the subject / will add that If there
L., ~ rtno hAp,a and onnar