The Sun. (Hartwell, GA.) 1876-1879, September 12, 1877, Image 1

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A Mouth Carolina Trip. Hartw ell, Sept. 4,1877. Editors Sun : I beg indulgence in your paper, of a few brief remarks on a very pleasant trip I have just taken to Due West, S. C. Several of our fair readers, I doubt not will be greatly interested in anything appertaining to Due West, as it is the location of their Ahna .Voter, and association of ideas brings up many pleas ant remembrances of the happy, happy school days spent in that seat of learning. On Friday, 25th August, we started for Due West That night we arrived at vndesville, S. C., where we spent a very asant night. This place has been at a stand still for the last 15 years, yet its cit izens are not at all lacking in hospitality, and know exactly how to prepare a dish to suit a Georgian. While in this place we heard several compliments passed on your Sun. Among others a Charleston drum mer remarked that it was the spiciest and neatest sheet he had seen. He informed us that he was taking one copy, and, after learning that its senior editor was a man of a family, observed that he believed he would take another. It's a great thing 'to be a man of a family. The question of the construction of a railroad between Dorn's Mine, Abbeville County, to Anderson, is now agitated at that place, and considerable energy and enthusiasm is prevalent. If this road is built, Lowndesville will yet be a consider able place. There will be a meeting here on the Bth September to discuss the expe diency of its construction. On the same day, there will be a match game of base ball between Ruckersvillc and Lowndes ville. The latter is the challenging party. On the morn of the 2Gth, Aurora dis closed a beautiful day, and wc renewed our journey for Due West. During the day, we passed througn a very fine section of country, and the crops, which until 4 or 5 weeks ago were never more promising, are now wittering under the scorching rays of the suiv. This drouth, I learn, is not con fined to that part of the country through wliich I passed simply, but to a large part of the State. In some localities the crops are reduced one-third, and in others even one-half. We arrived safe in Due West that night. This is a beautiful little town of from five to six hundred inhabitants. Within it are situated two Colleges. These command very fine talent in the selection of their faculties. The Male or Erskine College is maintained by the Reformed Presbyterian Church in a system of en dowments, which now amount to $60,000. When it reaches SIOO,OOO, tuition will then be free, as the interest on that amount will pay Professors. There are connected with the College two literary societies, which add greatly to the merit of the institution. During last year, attendance has been small, owing to political excitement, but the prospects for another year are very en couraging. The Female College is in a very prosperous condition, and its indica tions for another year are much more bat tering than the male. I noticed on a pro gramme for last Commencement, that out of a class of thirteen young ladies nine States of the Union were represented. Few colleges can boast as much. And again, board is very cheap. Rooms furn isned with fuel and washing, sls. With these inducements, and judging from the manner a graduate of this institution can entertain a fellow, it seems to me that this is the best place to send your daughters. Your writer does not like to acknowledge the fact that he is flexible in disposition, yet he must confess that he was so upon by the Ladies and the intelligence c! the place, that he is at present in a very unsettled state of mind, and cannot decide whether he will return here or patronize the institutions of his own State. And I noticed that even here, where these two bright luminaries of civilization and re finement have been constantly burning for near a quarter of a century, the bright rays of The Sun are shed in all their ef fulgence. My pen cannot bear sufficient eulogium to the citizens of Due IV est. I forbear any personalities, yet I must say that m Due West arc the most splendid set of young gentlemen and most fascinating young la dies it has ever been the pleasure of your writer to meet. This must be attributable to its institutions ; so let us patronize them. Max. Frenaled Women Killing liable* at a Campmectln*:. Lancaster (S. C.) Ledger. August 29. YVe are credibly informed, though with out details, that on Sunday last three in fant negro children were killed at the ne gro campineeting at Steele Hill, in upper Lancaster, by being stamped and rolled upon by shouting women. Strange to say, too, these tragic proceedings took place not under the arbor where the main crowd was gathered, but off a little way in tents, no two deaths occurring in the same tent either. These circumstances throw around this extraordinary occurrence a horrible suspicion of murder under the guise of re ligion. As far as we have particulars it appears that a number of women were carried from the arbor to tents in a very excited state, and that after being placed in the tents where the children were these tragic scenes were enacted. Later information states that two of the children were killed almost instantly, while the third one is alive, but with its back broken and many other bodily inju ries. and is expected to die. This place, Steele Hill, was the scene of some ugly rioting during a camp meeting there one year ago. and we think it is now time for some legal proceedings to be instituted against somebody. “ Necessity is the mother of invention.” Last week one of the upper Long Caneites pulled off his drawers, tied the legs to gether and thus improvised a bag for car rving home a lot oi blue plums. —Abbeville Medium. VOL. II—NO. 3. A Talk'willi llrlhitm’ £li Per Iritis in S'etc Toi k Sun. While in Salt Lake in .Tune, I spent four afternoons with Hrigham Young. As l bad written the life of Artetuus Ward and had reproduced engravings of his old Mormon panorama, the prophet took a great deal of interest in me and talked with me without reserve for hours. The last afternoon Jno. W. Young. Brigham’s favorite son and successor, called with a carriage and took myself and wife to the Lion House, where we saw the inner life of the prophet and talked with his wives and children. As these are. perhaps, the last conversa tions had with Brigham Young. I thought them of so much value that I was writing them out to be published in book form, when the telegraph came announcing the prophet’s death. I now send them to the Sun. “I’m seventy-six to-day," said the pro phet. one afternoon, “and I think 1 am good for ten years more. Don’t you think so?” I looked President Young in the face then and made up my mind that he w r as liable to die at any time. His physique, once powerful, looked rickety, and his flesh was flabby, while his mind was very active and his eyes had an unnatural brilliancy. His mind bad outlived his body. The ex- Fosureson the plains, the expulsions from llinois and Missouri, and the physical hardship he had encountered had used up the framework around a great and active mind. In person he was a giant. His face was blandly florid and his hair and full beard silver white. With his clean white tie he looked like a retired Methodist min ister. “ Mr. Young,” I said, as we sat talking with Hiram Clawson and John W. in the group, “I should like to hear something of vour early history. I should like to hear it from your own lips.” “ Hut I never talk about myself, Eli. I never—” “I know it, Mr. Young,” I interrupted. “ but I want to hear something about your early youth from your own lips.” “How far shall I commence bnck?” asked the prophet. “ As far as you can remember.” “ Well,” said the prophet, as he leaned forward w’ith his elbow on his knee, and the palm of his band against one side of his face, “ I was born up in Vermont 76 years ago. My grandfather Young was a physician. He was in the French w’ars. out was killed by a rail falling on him after the war. I had one uncle, Joseph, who died in Canada. My father, John Young, lived in Massachusetts first, then went to Vermont, where I was born. Father moved into New York State, the town of Smyrna. Chenango county, thirty miles south of Utica. When 1 was about 20 years -dd father moved to Otsego lake, near Aubir i. I never had much schooling— only a few months each winter at the dis trict schools. When I was 21 I learned the painters’ and glaziers’ trade.” “ Could you work at your trade now?” I asked. “ Certainly. I can work at both trades, farming and painting and glazing. I can turn as slick a furrow as any farmer around Salt Lake. And as for glazing, why I put in all the glass in our first Mormon temple at Kirtland with my own hand.” and the prophet rubbed his silkly palms together as he thought of the work they had once done. My mother.” continued the prophet, “ was Nabby Howe. I had four brothers and six sisters. I was the youngest but one. My first wife was Miss Miriam Works, by whom I have two daughters, now living, both members of the Mormon Church. My first wife died in Mcndon. Monroe county, New York, of consump tion. One of my daughters, by Miriam, married a relative of Col. Ellsworth, and the other married Charles Decker.” “ When did you first hear of Mormon ism ?” I asked the prophet. “ Well, my brother Joseph was a Meth odist preacher. I used to be skeptical, but I became converted, and was ordained an elder in the Methodist Church. Then I put my two children in the care of friends, sold my property, and went to preaching.” “ Had you heard of Joseph Smith and Mormonism then ?” “ No ; but when I was 20 years old—this was in 1827, and I was living on Otsego lake—l picked up a Palmyra newspaper one day, and read this paragraph : “ A young man named Joseph Smith, formerly of Palmyra, but now living in Manchester, N. Y., claims to have receiv ed a spiritual revelation from God. They say a messenger from God has visited Smith in person, surrounded by a halo of glory, and given him information in regard to the aboriginal prophets of this continent. The angel delivered to Smith six golden plates, engraved with Egyptian characters. These characters, when translated, go to show that Jesus Christ, after his resurrection, appeared on this continent, had American apostles and prophets, and that one of these prophets wrote an account of Christ’s acts in America and hid it in the earth.” “ Has this account of Christ's doings in America after his resurrection in the Holy Land ever been published?” I asked. “ Yes; this account is in the book of Mormon. It has been published in six languages.” “ What did you do after reading this paragraph about Joseph Smith?” “I went to Manchester to see him. I had many talks with him, and I was per suaded that Brother Joseph really saw the angel and the plates just as he represented.” “ How did he represent the scene and plates?” “YVell, Brother Joseph said that three years before, when he was 18 years old an angel came to him while he was praying. It was on the night of Sept. 21st, 1823. This angel was beautiful, like all angels. HARTWELL, GA., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, ,1877. Hrother Joseph was in Maichester then. The angel informed him that the second coming of Christ was at hand, and that he wanted Joseph to prepare the way for the new dispensation?'’ “ What did Joseph do?” “He was astounded, but continued to wait a while. But. the angel appeared again three times one night and told him about the aboriginal inhabitants of Ameri ca. ‘ Then,’ said Joseph, ‘the angel told me about the plates on which were en graven the acts and records of the ancient American prophets.” “ How did Joseph get the plates ?” “ Well Hrother Joseph told me that on the morning of Sept. 22, 1827, the same angel conducted him to where the gold plates were buried in the ground and de livered them to him.” “ Did you ever see the plates which the angel gave to Joseph Smith?” I asked the prophet “ I never saw them personally, but oth ers did.” “ What became of them !” “ Ob, they—they —they put ’em in the ground again,” replied the prophet, as if driven to the wall for an answer. “Now,” said I. “Mr. Young, honestly, do you believe all these angel-gold-plate stories as told you by Joseph Smith?” “ I tell you, Mr. Perkins, that there are a great many true things In this wrorld that you don’t understand about. Do you see that pile of cord-wood ?” “ Yes." “Well that pjle of cordwood weighs a ton. I place it*on this fire. Everything that comes from it is lighter than air, and when it is burnt up not fifty pounds of ashes are left. Where does the 1.950 pounds go to ?” “ Again. Do you see that steer feeding in the lot there?" “ Yes.” “ Well,” said the prophet, “that, steer weighs a thousand pounds. Now if I set the dog on him and whip him, and then weigh him when he's mad, he will gain forty pounds—that, is, he’ll weigh 1,040 pounds, instead of 1,000 pounds. Now, where docs the extra forty pounds come from ?” “ I don’t know. Where do you think ?” “ Why, from that cord of wood, sir !” I found afterward that this idea of ask ing counter questions was one of the dodges of Brigham Young when questioned too close about his religion. ** To go on with your early history, Mr. Young, what was the first connection be tween you and Joseph Smith ?” 1 asked. “ Well, Joseph’s discovery made him a great many enemies. He was slandered around Manchester. They called him cra zy. Then they assaulted him. Finally, on the Gth of April, 18.30. Joseph had be lievers enough around him to establish a church. This he did in Fayette, Seneca county, near Seneca Falls. This church prospered. Other churches were founded in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indi ana. and more especially in Kirkland Ohio. I went to Kirkland. There I met Brother Joseph chopping in the woods. We had a long talk. 1 was then more than overper suaded that Joseph Smith w as a true proph et. I told him that I had come to stay, and that I would preach the new religion as long as my expenses were paid.” “ Did you preach much in Kirkland?” “ Yes every winter, painting and glazing in the summer. Sometimes I went off on missionary work. As I said before, I glazed and painted our Kirkland temple.” When did you marry again?” “ I married Mary Ann Angel of Rhode Island, one of our converts in Kirkland. We were married regularly by a clergy man. We did not practice poligamy then. Poligamy was established afterward by a revelation of Joseph Smith in Nauvoo.” “ How many children did you have by your legitimate Kirkland wife?” “We had five—Joseph A., who had twelve children ; he is now dead ; Brigham Young, Jr., with seventeen children now in town ; Alice, who was one of Hiram Claw son’s four wivtjs, now dead ; Mary Ann, who married Geo. W. Thatcher ; and John W„ here with us, now 30 years old,” and the prophet pointed to a very handsome young man, accomplished and refined, by his side his favorite boy. “John W., said Brigham,” has three wives.” Since the interview John YV„ has married a fourth wife, the widow of his dead broth er Joseph. John YV’s third wife was a Miss Canfield of Philadelphia, a beautiful young lady who came to Utah to visit her cousin, John W’s first wife. \Y r hileon the visit she fell in love with John W. and married him. She is a woman of power, and is the favorite wife of the man who is to succeed Brigham Young in the Mormon Presidency. •“ Y\ T hen did you go to Nauvoo ?” I ask ed the prophet. “ I went there with Brother Joseph about 1835. In a few years we became very strong in Nauvoo. This made the people jealous. YVe built a big temple, but were prosecuted on every side. One night a mob came over from Carthage, the country seat, and threatened to kill us all. Then tney arrested Brother Joseph, Broth er Taylor, one of the best men now living here, and Ilyrum Smith, and put them in Carthage jail to be tried for treason. While awaiting their trial—this was in 1844 —l5O roughs broke in and killed Brother Joseph and Hyrum, but Brother Taylor escaped.” “ YY r hat did you do then ?” “ YVell, Nauvoo had 15,000 Mormons. YVe were rich, but our prophet was dead. YVe had a million-dollar temple, and thou sands of acres of beautiful land. But they had killed our prophet, and kept on trying to destroy us. The Carthage mob burned our buildings. Gen. Ford said he could not protect ns, and we had to leave our homes. We sacrificed our immense prop erty, and in 1846 we got together 1,000 wagons and started for the far W’est. 1 was chosen President to lead our people forth. My idea was to go a thousand miles beyond any settlement, and open up anew country.” “ How came you to think of Utah ?” “ Well, we read in Fremont's explora tions, where he spoke of a great salt lake in the middle of a fertile plain. We deter mined to go to that snot and wc did it. We traveled a thousand miles over an al kali country. We wore pioneers. There had never been a stage coach over the coun try. W r e didn't even have an Indian trail.” “ When did you arrive in Salt Lake?" “ o.n the 24th of Julv. 1847, we defiled down the sides of the Wasatch mountains, and saw’ the plain of our new Jerusalem spread out before us. I remember how we all sang hallilujah—how we screamed and dancod with joy when we came down into the silent plain where you now’ see 40.000 people Then how we all went to work ! We hurried the seeds into the ground, but on account of the poor irrigation, we failed to get good crops tho first year. The next year we did better. And so we went on increasing till now we are all rich and prosperous.” “ flow fast have you increased?” “In 1849 we had 12.000 people. Then the gold fever set in in California. There was a great rush for the Golden State, and, as the pioneers all had to pass through Salt Lake, we grew very rapidly. In 1850 we became a Territory, and President Fill more appointed me Governor. I was Gov ernor for eight years. Our people have been doubling once in six years, and we now’ have 150,000 Mormons—all happy and contented.” Jonea' Chill. lie was dry—hadn’t been so dry Rince the strike, but there was no saloon close bv. and he had passed the last drug store. He knew Mrs. J. had a little old llennes sy about the house that she put in pud dings and pies, and he sat down on the door steps and wondered how he could save it from being wasted in such fixings, as economy was his motto. He looked up nt the dog star, the alioth and the milk maid’s path, hut they were silent and ’tending strictly to business. A scheme finally dawned upon him, and lie opened the door and felt his way back to the ice cooler, got up in a chair and fished out a piece of icc, buttoned up his coat and turned up the collar. Then he staggered up stairs, ice in hand, and met Mrs. Jones. “ What’s the matter, Jones —been drill ing?” “ No.” said Jones, with a sigh and a shiver. “Caucus?” “ No, no caucus.” “Another strike?” “No—chill,” said Jones, as he sank into a chair and slipped the ice into bis coat pocket. “ Feel that band.” “Oh my!” and she shuddered. Then she got a blanket and put over him, and said she would make him some hot tea. As she started for the kitchen Jones call ed her back, and with a sigh, suggested if there was a little alcohol nbout the house it would be better. There wasn't a bit, but she had a little brandy for cooking pur poses. Jones gave a shake, and said it would answer if she bad a little hot water and sugar to make it palatable. They were on band in two minutes, and while site pull ed olfhis boots and wrapped the blanket around his feet, Jones mixed his toddy and shivered. He felt better afterwards, though be made up a terrible face when be emp tied the bottle, and told Mrs, Jones that she had saved his life. He retired ten min utes afterward singing, “ There’s a land that is fairer than day.” Jonh Billina*' Prayer. Fromtumeny friends, and from things at luce ends, Good Lord deliver us. From wife who don't luv us, and from children who don’t look like us, Good Lord deliver us. From snaix in the grass, from snaix in our butes, from torch-light processions, and all new rum. Good Lord deliver us. From pack peddlers, yung folks in luv, from old ants without money, from koler amorbus, Good Lord deliver us. From welth without charitec, from pride without sense, from pedigree worn out. and from all rich relations, Good Lord deliver us. From nusepaper sels, and from pils that ain't fisik, from females who faint, and from men who flatter, Good Lord deliver us. From virture without fragrance, from butter smells, from nigger kamp meetings and from kats that are coarting, Good Lord deliver us. From old folks’ sekrets and from our own. from megiums and wimmin komroit teee, Good Lord deliver us. From pollyticians who pra and from saints who tipple, from ri koffi, red herren, and all grass widders, Good Lord deliver us. From folks who won’t laff, and from them who giggle, from tite butes, easy virtue, and ram mutton, Good Lord deliver us. Funny Hcene In the Virginia Conven tion. Avery funny passage occurred during the morning. Mr. Hinton alluded to a man in front of him as a “•miserable dog.” The gentleman indicated arose and wanted to know why he should be called a dog? Mr. Hinton—You called me a liar, |ir. The gentleman—l beg your pardon, sir; indeed. I did not. Mr. Hinton—l was within the sound of your voice. The gentleman—You are mistaken. I said the 20th of July. This was the key to the difficulty. Mr. Hinton thereupon made a graceful anQ am ple apology. WHOLE NO. 56. WUrherafl ami UhMto. M las us. Editors : One might think that in this enlightened and refined age, witchcraft and ghosta were lost sight of. Hut the following will show’ plainly other wise. Being in company with several old ladies sometime since, the conversation turned on witchcraft, and tho writer avowed his disbelief in witchcraft, conjur ing, ghosta, Ac., at which all the old ladien became indignant, as the following dia logue will fully show : Mrs. M.—A good many years ago, wo had a mighty nice red, roae-comu, ten toed, featner-lrgged, rumples*. Hrainah, Fried land, game rooster. Old Met Snipes saw it and wanted it; but I told her it was all I had and could not spare it. She got mad. and said that I had netter let her hare it. But I didn’t. The next night he took the diddles, and he out dnneeu any negro you ever saw shuttle at a corn-all licking, and in two days he jumped up high, squall ed and fell dead right in the yaru! Mrs. S. —You remember that half-moon turkey-hen of mine? Well, Bob McUluver said lie intended to take her home and keep her; kilt I would not let him have her. He goLtnad and whispered to himself, ami I do upieve he was right then talking to the <]MU ; for in two days my turkey-hen took sick and pranced about for three woeks without food or drink. One day she pointed her hill right at the north star and hollered “ ke-oueh ! ke-oueh !” one hundred nd eighty-nine timoa, and fell dead. Mrs. W.—You all knew ny old Hrindlo as well as 1 did. She gave two gallons of milk all through the day as often as you would milk her. Old Jinny Mays wanted her, but I told her it would break us up. and 1 could not let her go. She said 1 had better, for she would do me no more good ; but she did not get her. In two days Hrindlo would jump a ten rail fence like a dbT and qover touch it, and her milk was all solid blood. 1 was acquainted a little with witches, so I milked a gallon of blood and put it in anew pot and set it on tho fire, ami as it begnn to boil I began to whin it with a twisted hickory. It boiled and I whipped, and I whipped and it boiled. It boiled and foamed, and I whipped and snorted, until it quit. After Hint Brindlc’s milk was all right. The day after I whip ped the pot, I went to old Jinny's, and poor old soul, she was cut all to smash with a hickory. 1 told her about Hrindle; but she had nothing at all to say. 1 tell you it takes smarter men than any about here to make me believe that there are no witches or ghosts either; for I believe in both, so 1 do. Mrs. C.—Well, I can tel! a tale that no one hardly will believe. After my old man, John, was dead about a year, some noise waked me one night, and as sure as lam alive it was John. Said he, ** Bet tie, don’t be atraid, for I won’t hurt you.” He looked mighty ugly, I tell you, all clad in his grave clothes. His eyes were as large as a saucer and as red as blood, with a black spot the size of an apple in the middle. 1 could even see the scar on his left cheek where 1 had bit him with the shovel. I know it was John, for he talked just like him. and smelt like an old pipe. 1 tell you I was mighty scared—every hair on my head felt like it would make a good knitting-needle, if it had been short enough. After lie had been there some time, lie said : “Take care of yourself, Hettic,”and he went off like lightning. Mrs. D.—l can tell a stranger talc than that. You know my son, Sam? Sam is a very sober boy, and seldom drinks any liquor at nil, and Sam was dead sober. He said as ho was coming through that big woods by Mr. Snipes’, be saw something twenty feet high and as black as a crow. He said it looked like a sheep, blowed like a goose, and sat down like a dog. Sam is a truthful boy, and will not lie. Mrs. ll.—You all have told several strange tales; but I can beat them all easily. I went one morning to old Aunt Mollie G.'s, and she was milking in a sifter —the very one she sifts meal through, and she saved all the rnilk too. Now, whether this was witchcraft, or interference by ghosts, or the works of the devil, I can’t tell which; but it was tho truth every word of it. With such an accumulation of evidence against me, I left the old ladies, thinking they would be hard to convince. Silver Bullet. A Kovel Remedy AynliiNt llorew. One of the ex-officers of South Carolina, among the sundry charges of his office, had “ one chignon.” The Charleston Newt and Courier makes this explanation for him : “YVe have it however, upon good au thority, that there was nothing criminal even in this apparent stretch of the privi lege of furnishing an office. Mr. Leslie was notoriously industrious, impatient ob servant and inventive. In the first days of his occupancy of his luxurious office Fie was excessively annoyed by the interrup tion of callers, to gratify whose idle curi osity he was obliged to leave his work. Walking down the street one day, a well dressed female figure in a store door caught his eye, and wondering why the lady tarried so long, he approached and discovered that the figure was a dummy. He passed on, meditating first about the figure, then, by a natural association of ideas, to women in general, and next about the politeness of southerners to women, and just here an original idea struck him. he was sure that no one, at least no south erner, would attempt to interrupt him while he seemed to be talking to a woman. If a quick-sighted New Yorker could mis take a dummy' for a lady, why should not other people? No sooner thought than done. The figure was made and placed in his office. Leslie worked with his back to the door and his face to the figure. Peo ple came, looked, and waited, and walked away. The thing acted like a charm, and the few cents for calico, buttons, hooks and eyes, and a chignon were amply repaid by the saving in the valuable time of the land commissioner.” On next Friday afternoon the Elberton and Abbeville colored base-ball clubs will fight at this place for the champion belt.—. Abbeville Medium . YVhat a stomach that bolt will have !