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THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION: TUESDAY, MAY 23,1882.
STATE NEWS.'
EVENTS
OF THE DAY THROUGH
OUT GEORGIA.
Xontezvma X.ttsn— An Interesting History of
Patent—Albany Affairs; Tae Colored Fair and
Its Results—Changes In Railroad Trains
—A Houston County Bolt, Zte.
Special Correspondence of 1 he Constitution.
Montezuma, May 15.—Tho reaper of tlic
harvest is not always lie who sows the seed.
Genius brings to man's aid many wonderful
inventions, and too often some thrifty person
utilises the inventor's fortune—the coffers of
the former filled with ducats; the latter, the
inventor, with poverty struggles and dies un
rewarded. A true illustration of this is pre
sented in Dow I-ow, the inventor of the justly
celebrated cotton planter that bears his name.
In the year 1850, Mr. Dow Law was a resident
of the county of Uouston, and superintending
the planting interests of Mr. Sam Felder, a
large and prosperous planter. He was a quiet,
unaKMining and energetic gentleman, and a
most thorough overseer in all bis farm work.
Ia company one day in the
spring of this year (185G), with Mr.
W. T. Westbrook, a neighbor, the plantation
of a Mr. Martin Kendrick was visited for the
purpose of n personal examination of a new
cotton planter that Mr. Kendrick was trying
to operate, the most conspicuous feature of
which was the ponderous and immense wheel
that deposited the seed in hills imperfectly.
Dow Iaiw after scrutinizing for some time the
working of the machine, exclaimed to Mr.
Westbrook that he had caught the “idea,’’
aiul would go home and perfect it by making
a superior machine to the one heretofore in
operation. Not long after this the planters
of the neighborhood were called on tosee ojie-
fated the new Dow Law cotton planter, which
to-day stands superior and without a success-
nil competitor, “exposition certificates” to
the contrary notwithstanding.
His first machine was made entirely of
wood, and consisted of three rollers, two arms
or efimks, a seed box. in the bottom of which
was an openiug through which the seed were
dragged by the revolving teeth in centre of
box. He found that the rotary motion was
not the theory, and changed it to oscillatory
by taking off one arm or crank, which then
made only half a revolution, the teeth swing
ing back and forth like a pendulum caused
the seed to fall regularly and not clog up to
one side as it did in a full revolution, which
banked tho seed to tho front. The planter
was now complete, nnd letters patent were
obtained. They were supplied to many of
the planters in Houston and adjoining coun
ties at a nominal price. Dow Law’s planting
engagements prevented him from pushing
this invention, and after his friends and
neighbors were supplied be thought
the end was reached, nnd little dreamed
what would be the future of his invention.
The war came on in a few years and into it
went the inventor. In 1864, broken down in
health and longing to go home to bis family
that he might die among them, he was hon
orably discharged at Lovejoy’B station, on M.
& W. railroad by an army board of physicians.
A few months after the reunion at his home
be diod. At the administrator’s sale the auc
tioneer cried to the crowd the ‘‘patent right’
of the Dow Law cotton planter. It was
knocked down at $10.
The “letters patent" changed into the hands
of Messrs. Brown <fe Miller, of Fort Valley, then
into Mr. Henry Harris’s possession, of the same
place. M r. Harris, after realizing a fortune of
$75,000 or more out of it, 1ms very recently
sold oat.to B. F. Avery & Co., of Louisville,
Ky.. with a royalty of 75 cents to him for every
machine that the firm of Avery & Co. mann
faeiure.
The sale from Mr. Harris to Messrs. B. F-.
Avery & Co. came uboul iii this way: Mr. H.
had contracted for several thousand of the
“Dow Laws" with Messrs. A very & Co., to be de-
deli vered in installment«,the first installment
about 1st December, lKSl,aitd monthly toMaroh
1st. 1882. Not a single installment had been
delivered in February, and Mr. H. went to
Louisville to claim damages. Upon his arri
val the Messrs. A. & Co. explained that it
was impossible for them to carry out the con
tract, owing to heavier contracts and orders,
and asked Mr. H. to assess his damages.
Twenty thousand dollars in round numbers
was fixed as the sunt of damages, and the firm
paid it, ^hereupon the sale was made of the
patent.
From $10 at administrator’s sale to $20,000
damages for a failure to make them, what a
difference? and to-day tho children of Dow
Law arc poor. Genius gets empty honor, but
tlirift secures the ducats.
SO MORS Ann REPORTS.
In Tub Constitution of Sunday a corres
pondent of yonr paper reports a fatal case of
fever, naming Mr. Hyatt, of Moutezuma ho
tel. Mr. Hyatt is well. His wife has been
sick with fever, hut has recovered.
The negro mentioned in the same letter
was not supposed by any citizen to have the
small-pox. His mother was a resident of
Montezuma and he was on a visit to her,
having been away since January in Ailanta.
The day lie landed home our worthy mayor,
Hon. A. J. Hamilton, knowing he lmd just
got in from Atlanta, met him and questioned
hint closely about his exposure to the disease
in Atlanta. The mayor gave the young man
choice to be quarantined in the outskirts of
town with a guard until the period of danger
was passed, or return to Macon or some point
away from town. He desired logo to Macon
and a ticket was procured for him, but when
the up train ran in, the “suspect" did not
. appear and has not been seen since.
A LANDLORD'S LAMENT
Montezuma, May 15.—Editors Constitution:
In your Sunday's issue a Montezuma corres
pondent would make your many readers be
lieve that the g<K>d people of Montezuma
did Like steps to send the struggling negro,
who made his appearance in our midst from
Atlanta with a supposed case of small-pox,
bock on next train onsdmeotheroomniunity.
Such is not the case, nor was the intention of
onr authorities. The negro being informed
that the marshal was looking for him toquar-
nntine him, became very suddenly non est.
Allow me to say our people are not so inhu
man or brutish, and would spurn an act of
this sort. But the most humiliating and sad
part of his article is, lie would make my cus
tomers, friends and kindred, together with
yonr thousands of readers, believe that I, the
live, wide-awake landlord of the Minor House
had handed in his checks, departed this life,
and gone where the woodbine twineth. As I
am the Mr. Hyatt referred to, please do me
the justice to insert the above.
Very truly, H. C. Hyatt.
RINGGOLD PEOPLE.
Special Correspondence ot The Constitution.
Ringgold. May 17.—The social event of the
season oceured in our village last Thursday-
evening in the marriage of Hon. \V. H. Payne
and Miss Flora Brownlow, Ilev. W. J. Laine
the officiating clergyman. Colonel Payne is a
lawyer of distinction in onr community, and
Miss Flora one of onr charming girls. The
marriage would have attracted a large crowd,
owing to the popularity of the bride and
gnKi.ii, if it had lu-en public. The nuptials
were celebrated in the presence of only a few
friends at the residence of the bride s aunt,
Mrs. Dr. Fowler, and was in every way
an enjoyable affair. After the marriage
and supper the pair proceeded
to the residence of the groom, where they
enter upon a life of much promise with the
warmest wishes of their very large circle of
friends.
The crop prospect in our county is fine, con
sidering the bad weather daring the season.
There is a larger acreage sown in grain than
for some years past, and tho crop is looking
well. Some rust iu the wheat, though it is not
yet materially injured. Some of our farmers
arc trying cotton, but they are very sori-y since
the cold apell'now on us. They wish they had
grain on the land instead.
We have a fine school in our village, under
the principxlship of W. T. Laine. The house
is perhaps the liest school building in
the stare outside of the cities.
It was built some ten years ago by our citi
zens at a cost of $10,000", and is in every way
modem and comfortable in its appointments.
The school this term numbers 100. some from
your city honor with tbeir patronage. The
closing exercises of the present term will be
gin Sunday, 18th June, and we extend you
cordial invitation to be present. No politics,
no murder, no small-pox to report.
THE WHEAT CROP.
Fairbcrn, May 1G.—Editors Constitution:
Notioeing several articles in The Constitc-
tiox on the wheat crop, which created some
interest on ray part, I nave made special in-
S uiries of the farmers from all sections of
nis and Fayette counties, and the opinion
seems to prevail that rust has not injured it:
is too far advanced. Fifteen bushels is
claimed as an average yield per acre, which
is notan over-estimate. It is claimed that
this is the best crop since 1858. Oats of the
rust-proof variety that were sown in Septem
ber and October, are fine. Oats of the old field
variety are a failure, the rust having killed
them before they got in the boot. I will say
here, and I know every farmer will agree
with ma, that it is time, land and money
thrown away to s«w anything but the red
rust-proof oats. We had some frost yesterday
morning, which did but little damage to
crops or fruit, so far as I can learn.
J. H. Elder, *•
AFTER BURGLARS.
Special Correspondence of The Constitution.
Canton, May 16.—Parties living in the
lower edge of this couuty came to town, this
morning, in search of W. A. Kitchen, our
very efficient deputy sheriff, to inform him
that some unknown parlies, hailing from
whence none knew, had, on last Saturday
night, entered the house of the Widow Strick
land. near Trickman, in this county, and
roblw-d it of $88.15 in gold, greenbacks and
silver. The deputy sheriff ai once started in
pursuit of the parties, be having heard of
their being within about five miles of this
place. The person who reported having seen
them says they were six in number, and not
citizens of this county. Our sheriffs are good
officers, and we trust they maysucceed in cap
turing these robbers who are scouring the
country.
DALTON DOTS
Special Correspondence of The Constitution.
Dalton, May 16.—A hail storm passed over
this place yesterday eveningof Short duration.
The hail stones were small and did no dam
age to amount to anything. The weather has
been very cool for the last few days and is yet
cool. The infant son Bowden, of Mr. and
Mrs. John E. Morris, died yesterday—aged 18
months; was interred in city cemetery. A
runaway occurred on Hamilton street Satur
day. A couple of two-horse teams became
frightened and destroyed the contents of the
wagon beds—full of household furniture, etc.
No one was injured. A union Sunday-school
picnic at Hamilton spring Friday is the
thought of the youthful jiopulation.
AN AMERICUS SNAKE STORY.
Special Correspondence of The Constitution.
Ameiucus, May 13.—As this is the season
when spake stories are in order, Americus
comes to the front with a slight contribution
in that lin«. Yesterday afternoon while Mas
ters Crawford Wheatley and Frank Sheffield
were strolling along Muckalee creek, near
Magnolia Dell, in this city, they discovered a
huge water moccasin which was slowly swal
lowing a large eel. The boys made short work
of both. They first killed the serpent and
then paid their respects to his intended vic
tim, which was still alive. The snake meas
ured five feet and two inches in length, and
the eel was three feet long. The upper half
of the fish was protruding from the reptile's
mouth when the process of deglution was
rud<)y interrupted by the boys. Evidently
the commissary depart ment of the moccasin
would have been pretty well filled had he
been allowed to complete liis meal.
SCARED CONYERS.
Special Correspondence of the Constitution.
Conyers, May 16.—I think our people are
gradually getting over the small-pox scare,
though we still keep up the quarantine, but
we uiinglewitli tlic passengers of every pass
ing train, and it seems that there is as much
claager of catching the disease that way as if
we were allowed to go to your city and re
turn. Many of our people doubt the propri
ety of keeping up the quarantine, ana think
it will soon be raised. We had frost last
night, button light to do much damage. Veg
etation is suffering from the cool snap.
SUDDEN DEATH.
Special Correspondence of The Constitution.
Roystens, May 15.—Mr. Robert T. Tucker, a
prominent young man of the town, diopped
dead, near here, to-day. He went out to work
this morning, in apparent good health, and
was returning from the field, when he met
his sudden death. The general impression is
that it was heart disease that killed him. He
has not been married long, his wife being a
daughter of As. Roysten. He has taught school
for several years in Roysten, and was highly
esteemed by all. Our town is very sad over
this severe bereavement.
DAHLONEGA'S DITCH.
Special Correspondence of The Constitution.
Dahlonec.a, May 12.—Mr. Wimpy failed to
state a vital fact in his “story”,’about the ditch
lawsuit in Lumpkin, and that is that Wimpy
sold this water-ditch to theDahlonega compa
ny, which caused the suit and all this trouble,
To-day sill the parties are at. Blairsville before
Judge Welborn to settle the bill of injunc
tion. The new fish trap company will add
twenty stamps to their gold mill, as well as
many other needed improvements have been
initiated. Mr#. Margaret Payne, near seventy
years old, was buried here yesterday. Mrs. I\
was a member of the M. E. church, south, an
excellent woman and loved by all.
JASPER JOTTINGS.
Special Correspondence of The Constitution.
Jasper, May 15.—We are having some very
cold weather "just at this time. The prospect
for a good fruit crop is flattering, but a change
of a few degrees colder will certainly’ bring
snow and blight onr anticipations. Wheat is
generally good, though there is some cont-
I laint of rust. Mr. Osborn Adams died at his
residence at Mineral Springs, five miles from
Jasper, at 2 o’clock yesterday. Mr. Adams
was formerly a citizen of Gordon county, and
was well known by many persons over the
state. He was an lionest, upright citizen,and
his many friends and relations will regret to
learn of his death.
DECATUR DOINGS.
Special Correspondence of The Constitution.
Decatur, May 17. —Last Sunday a Sunday
school was organized at E. H. Guess’s school
house, two miles from here. Over thirty
were out and it is thought an attendance of
seventy-five can be had. W. G. Whidby
was elected superintendent.
Ed. S. Billups, long the popular cashier of
D. H. Dougherty, has accepted a position un
der Mr. Cabel Breckenridge, of the Alabama
Great Southern railroad. While Decatur
mourns his loss, Mr. Breckenridge is to be
congratulated.
Our county agricultural club meets next
Saturday.
PLEADING GUILTY.
Special Correspondence of The Constitution.
Ecfaula, May 16.—It is understood here
that Judge Miles E. Jones, judge of probate,
pleaded guilty to one of the charges of ini
S eacbment before the supreme court yester-
ay and was removed from office. The charge
to which he pleaded guilty does not involve
moral turpitude. A. H. Alston, a brother to
the late R. A. Alston, is a prominent appli
cant for the place and is likely to get it. It
is a fine office.
Mr. Walker, who was hurt in Storr's ice fac
tory, died Saturday of his injuries.
THE COILS LOOSEN
FROM THE NEGROES JOHNSON
AND ECHOLS AT ATHENS.
"My God! You Hatra l£*d. Me KT1 My Bro’her!”—
Thrss Are tae Word* Uttered by Btrtoty Bonn*
tree. According to tfco Testimony of
Mr. J. W. Tw!eit«—ihe Evidence.
From the Athens, Ga., Banner-Watchman May 16.
Yesterday morning was set aside for the
trial of Frank Johnson and Encs Echols, for
the murder of Walter Rountree.
At an early hour in the morning the court
room was tilted to overflowing with negroes,
both men and women, while the attendance
of whites was rather small. When the pris
oners were brought into court by their guard
there was a rush to get a look at the men, and
a crowd of blacks even followed them into
the bar, but were soon made to leave. The
prisoners twre neatly dressed in black, and
appeared entirely unconcerned and
indifferent. Frank Johnson several
times smiled upon his friends, and seemed to
have neither remorse at his crime nor fear of
consequences. He sat at the rear of his coun
sel, Messrs. Echols, Wright andThomas.wbile
Miles Johnson, step-father to Frank, assisted
his lawyers to select the jury. Bartow Roun
tree had a seat immediately in rear of the
prisoners, beside his brother and Solicitor-
General Mitchell. He was calm and collect
ed, but we noticed at times a sad expression
upon his face, that was but natural. At the
opening of this case there was a good deal of
disturbance created by the negroes walking
back and forth and slamming doors, hut after
Judge Erwin had ordered several of
the parties brought before him
quiet was quickly restored. The first step
was the selection of a jury, hut it seemed a
difficult task to find men acceptable to the
Defense. When a name was called, the coun
sel for the prisoners would whisper together
for some time, perhaps consult some friend
in the court house, and then wind up with
having him struck.
The jurors accepted and sworn are W. II.
Lester, \V. X. Kilgore, Titos. J. I’oss, II. L
Mullen, Ezekiel Edge, Jos. A. Epps; T. J.
Jennings, A. L. Xatice, l’et*r Weil, G. T.
Lavender.
Judge Erwin ordered the sheriff to have a
panei of forty-eight jurors at the court house,
this morning at 9 o’clock, from which two
more will be selected.
From the Athens Banner-Watchman. May 17.
After court met yesterday morning, the two
remaining jurors ware sworn, obtained, and
court then went to regular proceedings. Xol
until one hundred and forty jurors were
called did they get a jury. The remaining
two selected were W. T. Jackson and J. T.
Comer.
The counsel for prisoner asked that their
witnesses be sworn and kept out from hearing
the testimony of others, which request was
granted. The counsel then declined to have
the witnesses sworn, but asked that they be
sent out. Then the witnesses for the state
were called and sworn and sent out. The
first witness for state was J. W.
Twiggs, who, being sworn, sai I that
he knew the two defendants, and was
present at a difficulty between them and
Walter J. Rountree; wa3 sitting on Dr. Ham
ilton’s stone steps on the evening of the 4th
of April; saw defendants coming down the
street; Walter Rountree said he wished he had
his pistol; prisoners passed by without saying
anything; thought they went a little above
Dr. Hamilton's residence; witness got up in
company with Ripley and Rountree and start
ed down town; prisoners passed by them at
Dr. Hunnicutt’s; then we passed them at
Madame Sosnowski’s green; there were seven
negroes standing near the sidewalk; as we
passed by Echols muttered something about
not giving a d—d bit of sidewalk; he passed
by us again in front of court house; as they
passed by, Walter Rountree stopped them and
asked if that what they said was that they
wouldn’t give him ad—d bit of sidewalk;
didn't hear the reply; Walter Rountree called
the negro
A D—D LIAR
and kicked him; prisoners replied very
abusively and angry; could not remember the
substance of reply; Johnson put his hand
behind bin, on pistol pocket, as Rountree
kicked him and cursed him; he drew his
pistol; then Bartow Rountree drew his pis
tol; Barlow fired and then Johnson snapped
his pistol in the direction of Rountree; tneu
the negro fired towards Walter, and he
was almost behind me; Frank Johnson
was-about ten feet from Walter when he
fired; Johnson fired three times; was
near enough to kill Walter in his opin
ion; (counsel objected to last question
about distance and opinion.) It was Walter
Rountree that he fired at; at first shot he was
going from the negroes, coming towards me;
(counsel for defendant objected to witness’
opinion again.) Walter Rountree had only
a small pocket knife in vest pocket; Bartow
Rountree and Johnson fired simultaneously
at each other; this was the second shot he,
Johnson, had fired; first snap and shot was
at Walter Rountree; Johnson turned and ran
down the sidewalk, when the negro and
Bartow Rountree fired simultaneous
ly, Walter Rountree’s hands were
on my shoulders; he exclaimed:
“MY GOD, I AM SHOT;”
•And I felt him shudder; then Bartow Roun
tree exclaimed, “My God, I have killed my
brother!” Bartow Rountree was standing
about ten feet from Walter Rountree, in a di
agonal line. Ripley was standing in a diag
onal line between Walter and Bartow. Frank
Johnson and Echols were standing facing
Walter Rountree, about two feet ftotu him;
Walter was standing near me (this was the
position before the parties ever shot).
When Walter exclaimed, “My God, I am
shot!" he was standing with his face towards
Johnson. I was in front of Walter,
facing the prisoners and between Wal
ter "Rountree and them. When
Johnson snapped and fired the first
time, Walter was standing with his hack to
wards him, and it was the shot fired at Wai
ter Rountree; Echols was standing near John
son all the while; Echols was with Johnson
every time we saw him that evening. (Here
witness reiterated his testimony again).
When Johnson snapped and fired" the first
time, Walter was moving towards me with
his back towards the prisoner. On cross-
examination witness reiterated the greater
part of his first testimony, correcting certain
parts: We passed tne prisoners again at or
nearMadatn Sosnowski’s green, where they
were standing with several other negroes;
Bartow had not joined ns yet; the negroes
came on and Walter asked them if they
meant what they had said for him, when he
passed them, and they mattered something;
Bartow had come up by this time, and Wal
ter asked Bartow if he was prepared, dnd he
answered, “Yes, by God, I am!” and then
Walter cursed Johnson and kicked him;
Johnson drew his pistol before Bartow drew
his.
BARTOW FIRED TWICE
before Johnson ran, and he fired three times
while he was running.
Then T. J. Ripley was called, who corrob
orated the former statements of young
Twiggs in all the most important testimony,
only went a little farther about the shooting
or the occurrence, and said that Walter and
Echols had some words about a former diffi
culty, and said that Walter said that “if you
had "run against me as you done Grover, I
would have knocked you down,” and give
some additional statements about Echols hav
ing a rock in bis hand and he (Ripley) caught
his hand to 6top him from throwing it at
Walter Rountree. Then after the shooting
he threw the rock at Bartow, who jumped
off the sidewalk and evaded it. On the cross-
examination he corroborated the most of his
testimony, getting slightly frustrated in the
minute particulars. The cross-examination
was very rigid and was directed to frustrate
the witness in admeasure. Then the state
asked a few minor questions concerning the
attack, and called his attention to the call
or signal of Johnson, and he (the witness)
said that Johnson gave a keen whistle,
EVIDENTLY A SIGNAL,
when the attack was first made, and then
went on over the greater part of the former
testimony in reference to the position the
parties were in and who drew the first pistol.
He stated that he saw Johnson with his hand
on bis pistol just after he was kicked, and
that Johnson drew the first pistol.
The fifth witness allied for the state was E.
H. Dorsey. Witness knew nothing about the
murder case, but stated that Johnson came
into his (Dorsey’s) store about two weeks be
fore the killing and asked if he had a good
pistol, (here counsel for defendant objected
that the testimony was not connected with
the case—that it was too remote). The judge
held that it was admissible. Witness asked
Johnson what he wanted with a pistol, and
he (Johnson) said he had a difficulty with one
young Rountree, and wanted a pistol to kill
him; witness told him he had no pistol for
him, and ordered him out of his store. On
cross examination witness said he knew noth
ing about certain
THROWING OF ROCKS
at Johnson by Rountree, and had heard him
(Johnson) say something of having met
Rountree a few evenings before and had had
a collision with him, and he (Johnson) had
said that he had or would knock the stuffing
out of him. Sixth witness for state was John
B. Brooks, who stated that he had Johnson
waiting on him at his room, and saw some
cartridges lying on his table, and asked him
(Johnson) what they were doing there; John
son said ho had lately had a diffi
culty with some students and would put a
hole through them if they fooled with him
any more; knew notliibg more. Sev
enth witness for state was Cicero
Arnold, who swore that he arrested the two
prisoners on the 4th of April, in a room of
Miles Johnson’s house; Johnson said that if
he had not killed Rountree he would; Echols
remarked to Frank Johnson: “We started
this thing together, and, if we die, we will
die together.’
On cross-examination, the witness stated
that prisoner had reported a case previous to
this, and that it was Bartow Rountree who
had thrown rocks at Johnson, and not Wal
ter; further stated that ou examination at
the jail, that Echols had a rockjn bis kip
pocket, scarcely as large as his fist.
Two Smart Dogs. ,
From the Dublin. Ga., Post.
On Monday last a guano ox cart stopped in
front of the post-oliice and the driver left the
team in charge of a little black dog. Pres
ently one of our enterprising town cows drag
ged out of the cart a bag of corn and a bundle
of fodder. The dog flew out, took the bag
from the cow, dragged t under the cart, went
back aud protected the fodder till the driver
returned.
From the Columbus, a , nquirer.
Mr. A. L. Harrison has a young Newfound
land dog, which is very sagacious, consider
ing he has had little or no training. Yester
day morning, a gentleman tied his horse to
one of the posts, near the sidewalk in front
of the store. As soon as he left the horse, the
the dog Rollo reared on his hind feet and,
with his teeth, untied the knot and led the
horse out into the street. The horse was
brought back and tied, and the dog repeated
thesame thing. In the afternoon the horse was
tiuj in front tif the store again, anti as soon-as
the dog discovered him, he proceeded to untie
him again, and was leading him into the
store to the proprietor, when he was stopped.
Rollo does not intend that the riders shall
hitch their horses too near the store door.
Silk Culture.
From the Savannah Ga., Times.
Prof. A. H. Heyer, who is living at Jasper
Springs, near this city, has introduced silk
culture, and has about six hundred mulberry
cuttiugssetout in lodges on the laud prepara
tory to the cultivation of silk next season.
He has also received from Mr. C'rozier, of
Corinth, Mississippi, some excellent cocoons,
from which alreatly there has been, during
the present season, a great increase. Prof.
I&uflr states that he will be able to dispose of
t^lflk product to manufactories, and that he
expects, within a year or two, to realize quite
a profit on his venture in tlie cultivation of
silk. He plants the white mulberry and
tuorus inultieaulis as the best vegetation
adapted to the requirements of the silk worm.
The cuttings are set out in rows ten feet,
apart, whilst between the rows garden veg
etables are raised, thus keeping the land de
voted to silk culture clean and in good condi
tion.
Johnnie Cade's Tales.
From the Flberton. Ga„ New South.
Mr. Johnnie Cade lias returned from Flor
ida. and witli tales that lay the “Arabian 1
Nights” in the shade; he says Mr. Joe David
planted a potato on one side of a pond on his
father’s place (the pond is about a mile
square), the potato grew under the pond and
reached the opposite side. But 'squire Ed
wards took tiiat potato off by saying: “Yes,
I knew of the seed, for a few years ago some
man planted one of those potatoes in Penn
sylvania, and it grew so large as to cause a
tremendous ridge in several states, and people
had got to calling it the ’Blue Ridge moun
tain.’ ” Mr. John Cade says he brought from
Florida with him a cabbage that weighed ten
pounds and ten ounces, the smallest he could
find.
The Kind of Birds They Were.
From the Danielsville, Ga., Monitor.
We were amused at the yarn East Hulme
and some of the other boys were telling about
that lumber kiln burning, that took place last
week. East says while it was burning there
was a shower of "birds came down near the tire
and circled around for a long time, and it
consisted of every species of bird, from the
kildee to the san'l hill crane, including ducks,
sea-gulls and other water fowls. Jim Turner
could not swallow qute so much, but said he
saw a small hawk. Some of the other boys
saw a leather-wing bat, and George Carithers
couldn’t see any of the birds, but heard the
noise and knows the other boys saw them.
Two Rewards.
Governor Colquitt issued proclamations
offering two rewards yesterday. One was a
leward of $100 offered for the arrest of W m.JH
Edwards, charged with the murder of Bryan
M. Sharp, in Tatnall county, in November,
1881. The other was a reward of $100 for the
capture of Henry Williams, convicted in
Burke superior court, of the offense of arson,
and sentenced to the penitentiary, but who
subsequent to his trial broke jail and is now
at large.
On an Inspecting Tour.
Colonel I. Y. Sage, of the Richmond and
Danville railroad, left the city yesterday
afternoon in his special car for Charlotte. The
colonel will be several days en route to that
North Carolina city, as he is on a tour of in
spection, and will give a careful and critical
examination to every point along the Atlanta
and Charlotte division. He was accompanied
by his family.
Sixteen Sweet Seasons.
From the Dublin Post.
There was a runaway match in this county
last week. The young lady, Miss Dixon, was
only sixteen, and the young man, Mr. Wynn,
found the ordinary as obdurate as his lady
love’s father. He obtained license in som'e
other county, however, and got Mr. Wilson
Dean to tie the silken knot.
ABOUT FISHING.
DEATH OF JUDGE CLARK HOWELL.
Ou Sunday morning last at about 8 o’clock
Judge Clark Howell, one of the oldest and
best citizens of Fulton county, died suddenly
of heart disease at his home in West End—
aged 70 years.
THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF ntS DEATH.
For several years Judge Howell has suffered from
a disease of the heart. The growing feebleness of
age has left him less and less capa lty to struggle
against this dangerous tendency and the worst has
been feared by his family for many months. He
has been prostrated several times within the past
year or two, and each spell of sickness left him
weaker titan before. Prior to his death he had not
been able to leave his house except by
being carried for more than a
month. ITc took a long ride in the
sun about that time and after going home was
taken very seriously ill. He fluctuated between
life and death for several days, and it was thought
had pretty well thrown off the trouble.
On Saturday night before his death ho seemed to
be better than usual. His son Mr. Charles Howell,
discovered, however, that he was unable to concen
trate his mimi upon a settlement he was making
with some hands, and made some calculation for
him. After these settlements were effected, he
seemed to be in the best of spirits, aud talked with
his son until 11 o’clock, expressing lively interest in
affairs, especially those relating to his own family.
He then went to sleep and riept soundly. At about
4 o’clock he awoke and asked his wife what time it
was. She told him, and ho expressed satislaction
at having slept so well. At ab <ut 7 o’clock he asked
foraenpof strongcoffee. His wife prepared thisand
he was sitting up to drink it. In the meantime,
she was putting some coal on the fire. He said: “If
you put too much coal on, it will make the room
too hot.” .
These were the last words he ever spoke.
JUDGE HOWELL’S LIFE.
Clark Howell was born in Cabarras county,
North Carolina, in 1811, and was, therefore, seventy
years old at the time of his death, liis father,
Evan Howell, was a North Carolinian by birth,
but of Welsh desceut. He was a man of uncom
mon force of character aud physical vigor, aud
lived to be eighty-five years of age. When Clark
Howell was nine years old his father moved to
Gwinnett county, where he lived until nearly 1840.
When Clark Howell was twenty-one years of age he
was married to Miss Winn, of the well known
Gwinnett family of that name. In this y-*ar he
ran for the legislature on the whig ticket, and
while he was defeated, received the largest vote
given to any member of his ticket. By his first wife
he had one child, which died. His wife dpd
in two or three years, and he then married Miss
Park, of Greene county. From this union was
bom Evan P„ Alb: rt, William, Clark and Charles
Howell and two daughters. The sons are ill: liv
ing, and only the eldest daughter is dead. About
1838 be moved to Cobb county, where he built the
Lebanon mills, near the Roswell mills. Ho re
mained here about three or four years, and then
moved to Forsytft county, now Milton. While liv
ing in Cobb he represented that county in the legis
lature. From Forsyth county he wtnt back to
Gwinnett, his second wife having died in 1850. In
1852 he came to Atlanta, which was then a mere
village. He bought the Sasseen house, now used
by the Richmond aud Danville company as head
quarters. It was then being built by Dr. Long, oi
Athens, Judge Howell purchased it and finished
it. It was noted as being the finest house anywhere
in this part of Georgia, and people rode f.r twenty
miles to see it. While building this house Judge
Howell and his family lived in two little huts situa
ted on a three-acre lot that stood just where the
Butler and McMillan residences aio on Marietta
street.
Judge Howell engaged in the mercantile business
in Atlanta about this time, having a store where
Menko’s store now stands, and had a partner by the
name of Parr.
While in Atlanta he married his third wife. Miss
Mary D. Hook, who surviveshim. There were two
children bom of this marriage—Dr. Dan Howell and
Mrs. Park Woodward. Judge Howell received his ti
tle from service at the head of the inferior court of
Fulton county. It was under the supervision
of this court that the county Hues of
Fulton were laid off and the new county
created. The court was composed of Clark Howell.
C. H. Strong, S. Terry, James Donehno and Samuel
Walker. This court laid off the county, and organ
ized the admirable system under which it has been
so prosperous. He represented Fulton in the leg
islature, and was at the timo of his death a county
commissioner. He was always held in the highest
esteem, and while never ambitious to occupy any
office except where he felt that he could do his
country a service, it is safe tosay that he could ask
for nothing that his people would not have given
him, and that he was stronger and more popular in
those communities that knew him best.
Judge Howell's Will.
Judge Clark Howell left a will, written in
Ilia own hand-writing, and witnessed by C. C.
Greene, John M. Goldsmith and W. L. Cal
houn, October, 1881. He gives all his prop
erty to his wife, Mary D. Howeli, during her
life, and at her death to be equally divided
among his children—share and share alike.
He makes his wife the executrix, and does
not require any legal returns from her, but a
proper appraisement of his estate at his
death. While he designates that he wishes
iter to use the income arising from the prop
erty for her proper support and maintenance,
he gives her permission to use the corpus, or
any part of it, if necessary.
SOUTHERN FARMING.
he planter must pledge liis cotton to bo delivered
»i the warehouse iu the fail. The loan, of what
ever amount, must be paid in full within the cur
rent year, so that new advances might be obtained
the following season. consequently the farmer
planted every acre of cotton ho could care for, aud
as little corn and small* grain as possible to feed
through the fail, and raise littleortio meat, trusting
to his next Bering's advances to enable him to buy
enough then to carry him through the season. When
lands became exhausted instead of plowing deeper
or fertilizing, more land was cleared, and this
“reverent” of new land put into cottou the second
year For the pa-t four or five years the more in
telligent emss of farmers have seen that by this
kind of farming they were impoverishing their
lands, and the factors and bankers, with their high
rates of interest, and the merchants with the enor
mous profits atteuding a tong credit system, were
reaping all the benefits of tbeir labor. The planter
was kept poo why the »ant of enough capital to run
liis farm on a cash basis, and his farm was worked
at a great aud increasing disadvantage This has
led t-1 buying smaller farms, working fewer acres
on the large plantations, rotating crops,
and resting tlie land: to a better aud
deeper system of ploughing, aud to the use of
ho-"© made manures and the best commercial fer
tilizers for improving the Isoil, so as to get, in
many instances, a bale of cotton to the acre,
when four or five years ago tt took five or six
acres to produce a bale, aud that of poorer
quality. More corn and oats are being plant! d.
forage of different kinds received and meat raised
to feed laborers and stock through the entire
year, instead of buying provisions, grain, and hav,
in the spring. Corn sugarcane, and cotton are well
started in this section, and front tlie large in-
creased average of cane it is evident that king
cotton is not to rule so many subjects, nor over so-
large extent of territory, as in the past, though it
is confidently expected that bis weight will not be
diminished. _
THE DEMORALIZED COALITION.
From the Brunswick Advertiser.
Mr. John Brock caught this week a monster drum-
fish weighing sixty-uiue pounds.
From the Covington Enterprise.
Professor Robert Davis caught fifteen pounds of
sucker fish with a book and line one morning last
week.
From the Waynesboro Herald.
The perch in the branches are plentiful. If these
should continue to run until the blackberry crop
comes the lazy darkies will be independent of the
time prices.
From the Irwinton Messenger.
Earth worms are scarce in our city. They are
selling at ten cents a pint. Those having any for
sale, can do well by applying to Jack Easom.
Experiences of Southern Planters Since tho War
Georgia Farming Past and Prerent.
From the Hartford Courant.
Americus, Ga., April 15.—I have met a large
number of planters, cotton factors, bankers, mer
chants, and others engaged in business through
middle and southwest Georgia, and learn from
them the past history of southern farming, its pre>-
ent improved condition, and what is expected in
the immediate future. My own inspection of a
number of farms affords convincing proof
that the southern farmer is learning that with hired
labor a small quantity of land, well cultivated, will
produce a more profitable crop tcan the large acre
uge worked with slave labor was ever capable of
doing.
At the close of the war the south was stripped of
everything but iLs land, and owed a large individ
ual indebtedness incurred upon credit given to the
property value cf the negro, this valuation in Geor
gia alone amoundug to $50.00o,0 0. more than tlie
wholeamountof her present taxable properly.
The high price of cotton Induced all tne planters
to cultivate as much « f ibis crop as they could, and
as the new status of the negro had put the manage
ment of his labor out of the planters’ power, they
almost invariably rented out their plantations to
the freedmen, to get, if possible, as large a revenue
as in the days before the war, and with no more
B eisonal labor. Many planters went to the cities to
ve, leaving the enure mauagementof tbeir piun a-
tioi:s to the freedmen, and as long as the cotton
rent was paid, cared little for the methods by
which they were fanned. The negroes worked
immense tracts of laud, scratching oyer the
soil with the smallest kind ot plough, using lit
tie or no fertilizer, nor testing the land, following
in the easiest w ay such methods of farming as they
had learned in the days before the war, and in this
way soon exhausted the surface of the land and
were unable to raise enough crop either to pay rent
or get a living for thems Ives. The owners of the
plantations soon found their revenues cut off and
•their lands so wont out as to be unproductive, and
the country so full of similar plantations as to make
their sale at any price impossible. They then com
menced returning to their homes to work the plan
tations themselves, and if possiole to get them back
to something of their former productive power.
It is generally admitted that when the ow ners of
the plantations realized that they must work them
selves or lose their lands, a brighter and better fu
ture opened to the south, aud the commencement
of her pro perity dates from that time. Many of the
plantations fell into the hands of younger men,
either by inheritance or purchase, or more often
by renting, and they were far betterable to manage
the freedmen iu the then disorganized and disor
ganizing state of labor than the otd slave owners.
Nevertheless the country was without money and
cotton was the only crop on which it could be rais
ed. No factor or bank would loan on anything bu
cotton or mules, with a promise to have the hand
ling of the owner's cotton, and to get an advaace of
provisions, mules, or fanning tools, or fertilizere.
Jack Brown Rise* up and Uuke* Some striking and
Strong Assertion*.
To the Editor of the Washington Post: Tne presi
dent bus been unwise in entrusting the federal pat
ronage of Georgia to a few men whose characters
aud methods are repugnant to a large majority of
the people of that state, and mote esj-ecialiy to the
sore-headed democrats, commonly known as inde
pendents or liberals. This cabal is composed of
James Longstreet, James Atkins. Charles Arnold
and If. P. Farrow (all republicans), whose charac
ters are so obnoxious that republicans will refuse
even to send them, or either one of them, to a
national convention. As Louisiana politicians say,
the first named is devoid of all politi
cal sense, besides worshipping in a church
that is detested by almost his entire constituency
Against the second member of the cabal are charges
In the department of justice, which, if true, will
completely deprive him of political influence iu his
state or elsewhere. At toe doors of the third named
party many political sins are found—besides he is
known in Georgians Petticoat Arnold, having ac
quired this soubriquet from the allegation that his
mother kept him in woman’s clothes during tho
war to save him from conscription. The fourth,
commonly known as Potash Farrow, is notoriously
corrupt, as will ap[iear by referring to General
Baum. All of thqse men hold important offices iu
Georgia, except the second named, who is expect
ing daily from the president a United States judge-
ship. This is a slight history of the cabal whose
members are controlling Georgia offices and from
whom the authorities at Washington (as a consider
ation) have received pledges to Mahouize the state.
Asan evidence of their progress I submit the fol
lowing abstract from a letter written by a distin
guished Georgia lawyer:
My Dear -iii: I am against tho so-called Georgia
“syndicate,” and so are a large majority of the re
publicans of this Ftute. There is no mistake about
this, as time will demonstrate, but while we are
agaiust them for their arbitrary and uiipuriilielcd
methods, we are not against the administration of
President Arthur The true situation, and particu
larly the standing of some of tlie men composing
tliis cabal called the “syndicate,” has been mis
represented to the president and others in Wash
ington. These men do not represent tlie republican
party here, and cannot deliver it. The movement
headed by them is doomed to speedy and disastrous
failure,when in other hamis some good might h-ve
been accomplished. The indicat oils now are that the
•June mass meeting of the independents will mis
carry and tiiat the republicans will organize and
stand by their own colors, as iu my judgment they
should. It is honorable and manly that we should
assert and main lain our principles as rcoublicaus,
and in tlie end it ensures for us more respect
among ourselves as well as from our political ad
versaries. I do not believe in compromising prin
ciple, and that is virtually what we are required to-
do. My observation has been that in such move
ments republicans nre very convenient for duty- to-
vote—but are never allowed to go on “dress pa
rade.” I am opposed to such methods. D.
Scores of such letters are received by me w eekly,
conveying the same information and ideas. The
president has made a mistake. Jack Brown.
May 14,1882.
HE DIDN'T DANCE—IT DIDN’T MATTER
From the Chicago Tribune.
“Do you dance?”
“No, I dropped on myself two seasons ago,” was
the response, in a strong, manly voice.
Veronica McGuire looked up at George W. Simp
son, an expression of wonder aud surprise in her
soft, velvety eyes. Very beautiful w*s this girl, as
she stood in the dim, half light of the conservatory,
the peatly flesh and rounded curves of her arms
and shoulders seeming more than humauly beauti
ful, while the rose-laden air of the place seemed
only fit to kiss the wiue-red lips of so wonderfully
fair a maiden.
“I am sorry you do not dance, Mr. Simpson,’
said Veronica, after a momentary pause, “because
it is really the one thing in which I may truthfully
lay claim to being proficient As you have no doubt
discovered before this, I am a wretched hand at
conversation, an original idea never t eeming to find
birth iu this empty head of mine.”
George looked fondly down upon her bang. “I
am afraid you are rather inclined to depreciate
your own abilities,” he said, throwing just a shado
of tenderness into the rich tones of his pure voice.
“You play nicely, and you certainly sing well."
“Only passably, mv dear Mr.' Simpson." was the
laughing reply; “you really must not flatter me too
much, because I am vain already. But, by the
way, have you heard ‘Over the Garden Wall’ yet?"
“No ” was the reply in tones that were tremulous
with emotion. *‘i never heard the tune.bull have
had occasion to go over the wall once or twice.”
“It is a beautiful thing,” said Veronica. “There
is a weird sadness, and yet Joy, about the music
that carries one completely away. Do you not find
it so oftentimes?’*
“Yes,” replied George, “it is pretty darn weird to
get over a wall on a dark night and dive down into
an alley that you don’t know anything about.”
You are just too funny!” exclaimed the girl,
looking at himsteadily. As she did so his eyes met
hers, and the rich color flooded her cheeks, making
them more radiantly beautiful than ever Turning
quickly, she stood with averted face and downcast
?? e8 \, ai !r * or a moment no word was spoken.
Hnall j George stepped to Veronica’s side and took
the little baud that wa* toying with a rose into
bis broad palm. She did not start, or seek to with
draw it.
[flight here it might be stated that Chicago girls
are warranted not to shy ]
George held the dimpled prisoner for a moment,
and then raised it to his lips.
“Mr. Simpson!” exclaimed the girl, “you do not
seem to know what you are doing. Kemember. sir.
that * *
“Oh, I know a'l about it,” said George. “I know
that you are rich and uneducated, and that you can
never hope to soar in tlie empyrean heights of lit
erature and knowledge where 1 reside permanently.
But my love for your father’s check-book will over
come all this. I appreciate fully the sacrifice I am
°!i 5’j you muRt not 10 dissuade me.”
girl asked *° U ^ eii * uVe me feo dearly, George?” the
darling. Without your love life
would be nothing but a four this 1 ! to me. All my
happiness is centered in m.v love for vou. Can you
deliberately east that love aside, darling?"
„Ja° r ,* in!m , er , she rai * ed her Pure, sweet face to his,
and placed a large three-lor-fifty-cents kiss on his
inuoeeut Wabash avenue lips.
Spring Diet.
From the New York Evening-Post.
By (riving thought to it, every woman who hai
otreot a family may do a great deal for iu he
bj providing a suitable i-nnng diet. Many pe
have at this time a tendency to billiousness,
seem to need and to crave food which contains
natural acids, or food which one may eat. Vine
lemons and crauberries are good, but tomatoe*
particularly so. When the family are tiredof]
i::g them served just as they came
a can *. they can bo vax
add breadcrumbs, or toasted crac
to them; or an excellent breakfast dish can be n
by taking thin slices of cold broiled tongue
heating them with canned tomatoes, season
"’*1* w t lth . butter, pepper and salt. Bii
tender beefsteak or of lamb can be .used instea
^ens. which need a little vinegi
w hoIes °iP‘.’. especially the deli
and watercress, and spinach. Then
sliced very thin, with a little sugar, pepper
tves a relish to* an otherwise
vinegar, gives
meal.