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4 THE SOLID INTERESTS OF GEORGIA, j Agriculture is the base, the foundation of all material wealth and progress in any coun try. Whatever advances the interests of the tiller of the soil promotes the general pros- j pcrity of the country; and the general pros- j parity of the country signifies the happiness and contentment of the masses. Internal ; improvements an J public enterprise, when | accomplished through the ageney of correct ! principles, resting upon the confidence of the people, are the surest indications of material progress. There is no agency that gives to a country j prosperity more than faithful public officers, j who are entrusted with the execution of the functions of Government. With wholesome laws, independent of class legislation, but enacted for the equal protection and good of all, public servants always secure to a people prosperity and happiness. Unfaithful legis lation and corrupt administration of law always bring distrust and cripple the energies of the people. Bad legislation has done more to retard the progress of Georgia than all other causes combined. When Radicalism ruled in this State the policy of class legislation and general corrup tion was inaugurated and carried to an extent unknown to our history. Railroads were (hart ere 1 and the credit of the State to them guaranteed beyond all pos sibility of meeting its demands by the State Government. The public finances were squandered with a profligacy and reck lessness that alarmed and aroused the people all over the State, and the result was the com plete overthrow of the plunderers and the flight of official thieves and political robbers. A few of the relicts of Radicalism yet re main upon onr statute books. Bad laws are there now, engrafted by Democratic legisla tion, not in the spirit of robbery, but bp mistaken judgment. None are more detri mental to the solid interests of Georgia than the repeal of the usury laws and the enact-: ment of the lien law. These two acts of | Democratic legislation are the twin sisters 1 that go arm in arm over the land to distress, I beguile and rnin the toiling masses; eat up their substance, and consign them to a con dition of poverty and almost want. They were intended for good, but they have proven the great disaster to the material progress of the State. The first stalks among onr people a sor did and bloody Shylock, seeking the "pound of flesh” from all whose circumstances force them to pay usury. Its demands are exacting, and are often enforced to the sever est extremity. It does not bring back to free circulation the vast amounts of capital that was promised would enrich and make pros perous a poor and struggling people, but brings guant, ghostlike distress to every household it enters—crushing all who are brought to its usurious demands. The other enslaves the tillers of the soil and makes them the servants of the few. It holds out “the baseless fabric of a dream” of a good cotton crop and rich returns only to have the hope broken by the absorption of a year’s labor in the payment of a most outra geous tribute to those who do not till the soil but control its cultivation, Never was Russian serfdom more exacting. The Irish tenants nothing more oppressive than that of a crop lien. The repeal of the lien law would force our farmers to the cultivation of their provision supplies. The production of these would di versify agricultural investments; and, instead of risking all to the hazard of a single crop, their farm operations would not so often be come total failures. This is the more neces sary that the area of the cotton belt has been so much extended by the use of fertilizers, reaching now as far North as the forty-ninth degree. This extension necessitates a revo lution in the agriculture of the more Southern latitudes, and will force a more diversified system in agricultural investment. These are facts that should claim and com mand the serious consideration of our ap proaching Legislature. Let it repeal the lien law so as to take effect, say, at the beginning of 1875, thus allowing time for the farmers to pitch their crops the coming year so as to be prepared against the necessities of the lien law'. This is a question the proper solution of which involves much of the solid interests of Georgia. The Grangers, we are glad to see, have taken the proper step in this matter by a resolve to lessen their cotton cultivation and increase their provision supplies. Now let the Legislature step forward and repeal the law which gives existence to a system of farming that is every year bringing the mate rial prosperity of the State to a dead halt. SPAIN COMES TO TERMS. The martial spirit exhibited by the Ameri can people in resentment of the Yirginius horror, has doubtless brought Spain to terms, and secured what otherwise would not have j been realized without war. If the United j States Government had shown a disposition to smooth over the matter, the national honor j would have been disgraced and Spain would | have refused indemnity, When Uncle Sam began to role up his sleeves, Spain weakened and compiled with his demands. We are glad to see now that we are to have no war. A shambling policy on the part of the Government would have done more to briDg on a war than a manly resentment of the insult given, and the end is peace. Postal Affairs.— Mr. Creswell begins his annual report by showing ns that the chance of the Postoffice Department becoming self sustaining is so remote that it is hardly worth considering. During the year ending June 30, 1873, the revenues were $22,906,741, and the expenditures $29,084,945—1eaving a de ficit of $6,088,204. During the previous yeur the deficit was only $4,742,764. It will be seen that the ratio of increase in expenditure is much more than keeping pace with the ratio of increase in revenue. The Postmaster General seems himself to be convinced of this fact, for he estimates the deficiency for the ensuing year at nearly $6,000,000, including subsidies for steamship service. The New York Sun says Hon. Mr. M. Evarts looks remarkably well and young, and that the bar of New Y'ork are almost unani mously in favor of him as Chief Justice of the Supremo Court of the United States. The little poem on Malone, by Col. L. E. Bleckley, is a simple and touching thing. Full of pathos and music ! THE WAR OUTLOOK. The noon dispatches of yesterday materially | changed the aspect of affairs between the ! United States and Spain, and it now seems j that the clouds of war are dispersing, leaving i the “situation" almost a dead calm. It is very doubtful if Spain would have come to | terms but for the threatening attitude assum ed by the United States Government. The American blood was up, and the fiery indig nation of our people was but assurance to Spain that her insult of our flag and the mur der of American citizens upon the high seas [ were causes sufficient to arouse the most ! teirible resentment. With a revolution at home and an insur rection in her most important province, it is natural that Spain should feel her inability to keep up successfully another fight with one of the most powerful and warlike people in the world. She could but see that it is less costly to comply with righteous demands of the j United States Government than to provoke war with us. As to the justice of our de mands, it appears that other foreign powers were consulted by the Spanish Government’ and they advise a compliance with onr de mands. Anything like a shambling policy towards Spain in such a crisis, would not have secured the peace and settlement desired. It was the prompt and energetic conduct of the Wash ington Government that has averted war in this case of serious complications. Spain's weakened condition, doubtless, had much to do in determining the course of her Govern ment in the matter. What may be the amount of indemnity de manded, the public is yet to learn; and Whether Spain, in her crippled condition, will be able to meet the demands, is a ques tion that may yet involve trouble, and per haps eventuate iu the acquisition of Cuba. Just now, we have only the basis of a set tlement, without the details, which are j bound to be more or less complicated, and I will doubtless have to be submitted to arbi tration. In this settlement claims for confiscation of the property of Americans residing in Cu ba will "robably be brought forward that will further complicate matters; and, as we have stated, may ultimate in the annexation of that Island to the United States. It is always best for a government, like an individual, to be stern in its demands for jus tice, if it hopes to secure justice. In this ease the Washington Government has shown a prompt resentment and made its demands in the proper spirit and the result is both justice and peace. A LESSON THAT SHOULD BE LEARN ED. We revert this morning to the execution of Milton Malone to call the attention of the people to tne lesson which Governor Smith’s administration must teach to the evil dis posed. Does any one suppose that Governor Smith has passed through the agony of all the trials that have been forced upon him without hav ing a deep and important object in pursuance? Did he refuse a pardon to Miss Eberhart, or i to Spann, or hurry O’Neal to gallows, or withstand the pleading of Malone’s friends, without having a moral which ha intended to fix upon the people ? Not at all! That the law shall be executed and that every man who sins shall suffer; this is the lesson of Governor Smith's administration; this the reason of his sternness; this the secret of his heroic adherence to what he believes to be the line of duty ! As much as we miy deplore the inexorable necessity which gave these miserable people to death, we must commend Governor Smith’s original determination upon the mat ter of pardons, and tne iron nerve with which he is ci rrying it out! Every man, woman and child in Georgia must feel safer and surer of protection, when they reflect that the maudlin weakness of Bullock has been replaced by a sagacity that can discern the right and a firmness that does not shrink from executing it. Governor Smfth writes iu blood, but he writes with a good, bold hand, and a sturdy sentiment. - ► ■ THE PANIC PRIVILEGE GONE! The time when debtors could reasonably put the panic between themselves and their creditors, is about gone. Cotton is coming in freely, it is rising in price; money is becoming plentiful; the fac tories are resuming work; trade is becoming as brisk as usual, and the panic is rapidly passing away. We are reliably informed that our merchants have larger balances in bank than they have had for two years, and their creditors are paying up handsomely. It is true that a few merchants are still “pleading ! the panic,” and refusing to meet any of their obligations, but these men are well under ! stood in market, and will find that they have ! created for themselves a perpetual panic when they try to buy goods again. | A late of the Griffin Star contained notices of four suspended houses that have resumed business in the neighborhood of that place. Atlanta bought fifteen hundred and lorty bales of cotton on Friday, and paid the money for it. Augusta’s factories are running on lull time and paying full cash wages. Money is reported much easier in Savannah, and Columbus swears that she has forgotten there ever was a panic. Iu short, it is about over ! And the time has come when business men can and will meet their engagements as usual. The cotton crop is much larger in Middle and Upper Georgia than was expected, and we may predict “flush times" from now until the summer solstice. Newspapeh Postage. —The Postmaster- General, in his annual report, estimates that a third of the postage on newspapers is not col lected. Ilis remedy for this loss to the De partment is the prepayment of postage by the quarter. To avoid trouble and simplify this prepayment he proposes that publishers of newspapers Bhall, under oath, state the number of papers that are sent from their re spective offices, and pay at the beginning of each quarter for tho number so sworn to. We call attention to our Washington letter from “Specs" published this morning. He will write us daily daring the session. Jacob Spang, of Savannah, died last Fri day, and Mrs. Martha W. Eeack, BG, died in the samo city Sunday morniog. ATLANTA WEEKLf HERai^U—December 3,1873. WHAT WILL BE THE TEMPER OP ] CONGRESS ! In consequence of the ill-fated and ill-ad vised so-called Liberal movement of last year, the 43d Congress will assemble to-morrow with a larger Republican mnjority in both honses than in the last Congress. The House will be composed of members fresh from the people, eleeled upon the heels of the Liberal movement, in which the large portion of the Democracy exhibited, as it is claimed, a great disposition to forget the past and leave old is sues alone. The Democracy did certainly, in its party action, show great faith in the sup port of Greeley that all were willing “to clasp hands over the bloody chasm,” and thus re move all sectional bickerings. Coming together as they do, the country having just passed through considerable ex citement in consequence of the grave insult to the national flag, in which the people of all sections shared, and the South exhibiting no less indignation than that of any other section, the Northern Republican majority of Congress now have the opportunity of show ing whether they are for peace between the North and South or not. We wantto see if they have the magnanimity to pursue a pa cific and fraternal policy of legislation in Southern affairs, and show their faith by their works. It does seem that the time has cer tainly come when there ought to be a better state of feeling on the part of Northern Con gressmen towards the States of the South. Congress, however, will have its hands full in a proper adjustment of the finances of the Government and to restore confidence in its national banking system or to repeal it; but as matters progress, the attention of Congress will be more or less called to Southern affairs, and the oountry will look with interest to the temper in which all tho legislation will be had in this direction. It is to be hoped that a more pacific policy may prevail in this respect, and that such a course will be pursued by Congress as to re move all cause of complaint upon the part of the South. GEORGIA PICTURES. DRAWN BY A GENTEEL LOAFER—Fr&m Life as he Found It. “COL. PETERS AM) HIS BUSY BEES.” The most delicious sereuade—the drowsiest, sweetest music that can fall upon human ear, in my opinion, is the hum of the honey-bee ! There is a garishness and a mockery in the music that comes floating over the be diamoned pit of the opera house; a jarring tumult in the notes of the martial band; idle ness and rioting in the carols of the sweet throated birds; garlic and mendacity in the plaints of the tortured hand-organ; unburnt passion and coarse desire in the song of the mellow serenader, whether he be cat or man; there was deceit on the velvety lips of the Sirens; war and blood in the Marseillaise of nations; danger in the clarion blasts of the tempest, and death iu the low, sweet mur muring* of the ocean. \ In all nature, and iu all humanity the btfe is the only honest singer. To lie on a laWffr and hear him hum his little song of praise and gratefulness as in his modest brown coat be flits about now kissing tbe lips of some rosy clover, and now diving into the heart of some buttercup, or balancing himself in the sunshine on the petal of some perfumy hon eysuckle, is sweet enjoyment. If there's any thing to beat it this side of where the sands are golden, the sun eternal, and harps are swept by sinless hands, I don't know what it is. It is the song of happy and honest labor. It is the song that came to us in gladsome snatches from the hay-fields of old England, the vineyards of France, or the corn-fields of Dixie, before senseless agitators arrayed class against class and commenced the war of labor. Its a song of plenty, a song of health, a song that can onlybe sung in the sunshine; a Bong without remorse in it; a happy, hopeful, tune ful song; a sort of thanksgiving prayer as it were, put to tune and sung without a choir or an organ, from way down in the hearts of a good and God-fearing people. COL. PETEES AND HIS HOUSE. Col. Richard Peters keeps several thousand of these model serenader.s, and we went to see them the other day. We found thi3 fine old gentleman, (with the splendid tone of his complexion giving against his snow-white hair that contrast of color so indicative of health and prosperity only to be found in him who has spent his life and spent it well, in this rich and splen did Southern climate), sitting on his broad, old-fashioued piazza, watching the motions of a ttoupd of our friend Knapp’s buff Cochins, that were playing upon a well cut, j and well kept lawn of blue grass. Col. i Peters house, to be characterized in oue j word, must be called old-fashioned—utterly ' despising the modern trappery of Mansard 1 and Minaret, it stands, simple, plain and un- j adorned, but rich and comfortable; furnished inside like tho nest of some king bird—a house built lor the benefit of the family, and not for the curious gaze of the public. “HOW DOTH THE LITTLE BUSY.” When wo told Colonel Peters that we de sired to interview him on tbe subject of bis bees, ho blushed with the modesty of a man who doesn’t like to be rushed iuts a conspic uous print, and yet his face lightened up with the ardor of a man who knows he’s possessed of a lot of information that the world ought to know. He led us into a cosy libraiy, and announced himself ready to evolve. “Let me commence by saying that from actual experience I deem bee raising one of the most important of the small industries onr people can engage in, and it is certainly one of the most lucrative. The great diffi culty with bee raisars in the South has been that they could not keep the moth out of their hives. This difficulty I am certain is absolutely obviated by the new movable frame hive. THE WAE WITH THE MOTH. This hive has a very small entrance iu the first place, which enables the bees to guard their hive all the time. Night and day a bee sentinel stands at this entrance, watching for the enemy. Tbe moment a miller (the moth’s mother) appears on the stand the sentinel pounces upon him, and sounds the alarm. Iu a jiffy the whole hive is at his back, and they generally kill the intruder before he enters the hive. Should he get in, however, the shape of the new hivo enables them to attack him in flank and rear, and they soon make it too lively for him. Even should he get 1 where they cannot reach him it is quite easy for their keeper to take the drover out aud brush him off. Now this trouble of the moth being elim inated bee raising is a greater success at the South than in the East or West. First, they are not subject to any of those diseases here which are so fatal and so prevalent in tbe West, such as foul brood, etc. ; and second ly, they can be easily wintered in their sum mer stands, while in the North every hive must be taken in doors, or the bees will freeze. THE PEOFITS OF BEE KEEPING. “What are the average profits of a hive of S bees ?’’ “ Hardly to be believed, sir ! Suppose you buy a swarm of common bees—say. They cost you, hive and swarm, about five dollars. Now, this swarm will yield you during the year another swarm, which you can sell for $2.50; and besides this, iroin 50 to 100 pounds—say, for a safe average, 75 pounds of extra honey. This will sell readily for twenty cents a pound—the very lowest figure. This will give you: OUTLAY. Cost of hivs and swarm $5 00 BECEIPTS. Sale of extra swarm 2 00 Sale of extra honey 15 00 sl7 50 —Leaving you a clear profit of sl2 50 be sides leaving you a hive on hand to start the next year with, which thus will yield you sl7 50 profit. Now, any farmer can put up say ten or fifteen hives. The keeping of these will cost him actually not a cent, lor they will get their honey from flowers or the clover patch, or orchards, and they will yield him S2OO or $250 a year actual profit besides what honey he can eat. Of course, he must pay some attention to them and see that their intelligent demands are answered. He must make his wife throw an old cloth of some kind over the hives in the dead of winter to prevent the cold currents of air from sweeping through the cells. It is tho most profitable small crop a man can have, and decidedly tho prettiest and most interest ing. Nothing gives me more pleasure than watching tho habits of my bees.” “THE SMART LITTLE BUSIES.” “They are very intelligent, are they not ?’’ “Almost ns smart as people! And the car ryings-on of their colonies remind you very much ot communities of folks. For instance, you know the drones are the gay and gallant holiday fellows, who are born just to coDsort with the queen. Now, during the summer, while tbe royal ladies and their be-spangled courtiers are enjoying their espousals, and living through the honeymoon, the brown coated little workers step aside humbly with their loads of honey to let the magnificent lovers pass, and always provide them with the choicest of honey. As soon hewever as the sum mer is over, and the queens have retired to their cells to deposit their eggs, the workers determine that there is no use in wintering these idle ra seals for whom their queens have no further use, and they pitch in and kill them. Bedraggle their fine coats, split their silken wings, and then shoulder them and hustle the maDgled corpses out of the hive, perfectly carrying ut the story of the idle boy in the Sunday School book. The fun of it is too, that the drones seem to know that such is to be their fate; they take it easily and never re sist. They've had a good time and seem to be willing to die. A BEGULAIt nrCHED BATTLE. The bees are very much disposed to rob each others hives, too. They don’t know what fear is, and will fight anything. A swarm gets out of honey, or finds that it has not enough to last through the winter, and it or ganizes itself into a raiding party, and sallies out on the war path, ready to attack the first full hive it finds. A party of these robbers eameandsetin on one of my Italian hives the other day. I saw the whole fight: A good many of my bees were out gathering honey, and the marauders effected a lodging on my stand and fought their way inside the hive, though the home guard of the Italians fought with desperation and contested every inch of ground. It was the fiercest fight you ever saw. A regular hand to hand Waterloo. A tempest ot short shrill notes and hoarser hums, (the war cries of the combatants) were heard for fifty yards. The fight is strictly | hand to hand. An Italian throws himself iu front of an American bee to stop his progress. Two or three of the little Am icans throw themselves with blsnd fury the gigantic foreigner, and nip him with their sharp snapping beaks, in a thousand places. The oDject with him seems to be to eaten the little bee by the tip of the wing, and give it a sharp twist, which breaks it or splits it, and deprives him of the power ot flying. It jis then easy for the, Italian to bounce j him and finish him up. The robbers have I just about fought their way into the honey j cells when the tide of battle begins to change. ! A great many of the Italians have come in iroin their honey hunt, and seeing in a mo ment how the thiDg is, pitch in; and being fresh and vigorous, literally cut their way through the ranks of the little Americans. Enough of these have come to turn the fortunes of the fight. The defeat never be comes a rout though. Though thousands of the robbers are slain, the balance con tinue the fight—until all are dead except a few dozen of them. They still wage the unequal war, being determined on “honey or death,” and they still struggle until actually the last one is slam. Then, without a mo ment’s rest the Italians plunge into the mass ot the dead aud dying, and commence carry ing the bodies out oi the hive. I came to their help, and actually took over two quarts of dead bees out of the hive, and the Italians retired to dress their wounds and discuss the combat. I never saw such a desperate fight in my life. I suppose it was a “ground-hog case” with the invading army.” HOW HE NOSE THEM. “How do bees distinguish their fellow hiv ers from outsiders?” “Solely by scent. They can tell a stranger by the smell just as you tell a Yankee by his twang, a German by his grunt, or a French man by bis nasals. If a strange bee enters a hive full of honey he is always welcomed. If he comes empty they take him for a roboer or beggar and kick him out. This is something like the world, ain't it ?” A GEOKGIA APIABY. “Are you going to give bee raising an ex- ! tended trial ?” “Yes, sir. I now hare thirty-five Italian hives at my farm, about twenty-five here and about forty swarms of bees which 1 got from Col. J. B. Hatmer, Union Point, which are capital workers. It is astonishing how much honey they made in 1872. I sold bushel upon bushel ot it. Next yeur I expect to have 200 hives at my farm, and I shall clear $2,500 per annum on them. You can never glut the market with good honey. It I make $2,000 or $3,000 from my 200 hives next year, I shall increase my apiary. This, however, will be three mileß from my present apiary. It is not well to have more than 200 hives at one point. It forces tbe bees to fly too far for honey. A bee should never travel over two miles, all things considered. The Rocky Mountain Bee Plant, the Millilat Ciovcr, the forage are good. The buckwheat is very un reliable. THE WAY TO HANDLE THEM. “Are bees always docile and easy han dled r “Not at all! In the fall and winter they are docile, but in tho summer when they are lull of honey they are vicious. I advise every one to wear a veil and gloves when he is among the bees. " THE BIGGEST YIELD. “What is the biggest yield you ever knew one hivo to give in one year V" A BAD SEASON. “You are not certain of making twenty-five hundred dollars on your hives, are you? ” “Not absolutely. Though it is the surest crop we have, it sometimes fails. For in stance, last year it was almost a failure. A wet spring like that keeps the petals of the flowers filled with water, and the bees can’t get at the honey. Still, I am very confident of my wholesale experiment next year. It has paid superbly so far. Four acres of white clover will feed two hundred hives plentifully. THE BEST BEE TLANT. “Is white clover the best bee plant?” I think it is. The owners of apiaries are now busy making experiments to find a plant which answers all purposes. The mignonette is the richest and most agreeable to tbe bees, but it is hard to raise it in quantity. I consider white clover or al sike clover the most reliable, "Well,these books publish enormous yields, running way up into the incredible. The biggest I ever knew of myself was 212 lbs. That paid $45, on an investment of $2 10. Pretty good, wern’t it?” AND THEN WE LEFT. Now this conversation with this practical old gentleman, who always makes money out of a thing himself, before he commends it to others, opens a field of infinite suggestion to the Southern farmer. Why can’t we all have bees? Why don’t every farmer’s wife in the State make her hus band buy her a swarm of these splendid little slaves ? When they do, we will have taken another step toward the greatness we are destined to. For, as little as it may be believed, there is no power in all the land that will enrich a people so much, as to encourage the coming of this snperb, brown-coated fellow, who works for nothing and feeds himself! It beats niggers! I’m eoming-ngain as soon as I get my hives in shape. Y'ours, a buzzing, King Hans. Our State Exchanges. • Col. Miller Grieve delivered an address be fore the Phi Rho Society of LaGrange on the 21st. Of it the Reporter says: “We not only express our individual views, but we give ut terance to the prevailing sentiment, when we say that this discussion was able and exhaus tive. Some passages ot the address were in deed exquisitely beautiful, and exhibited no mean oratorical skill in tbe distinguished speaker. ” Mr. L. L. Hardy, of Troup county, bad his giu houso burned on the 22d. It con tained sixteen bales of cotton and a fine giu, and the total loss was about $2,000. A negro woman was killed iu Troup oouuty by the late gale. A tree fell across her cabin. Early Varner, an old citizen of Quitman county, died on Monday evening last, after a protracted illness. Tbe Athens Georgian says Dr. King was Dominated by acclamation. As the Doctor has resided in Athens for a long time, it is probable that be is well acclimated by this time. The North-Georgia Herald has been re duced from a seven to a six column paper. Mr. Mills, the editor, has associated with him M. H. McJuokin. The present session of the North Georgia Agricultural College is to close the 19th of December, 1873, and the next session begin January stb, 1874, and end on the Bth of July. Commencement sermon to be preached ou the sth of July, and examinations on the three days following. Prof. Geo. C. Looney, n well-known teacher, goes to Gainesville in January. Work on the new Gainesville Baptist Church is progressing finely. The architect, Col. A. D. Candler, will finish up the contract in a few weeks. Mr. J. W. Chafee, formerly of the house of Duubar & Sibley, Augusta, has lately become a citizen of Cartersville, and is now associated with Mr. T. W. Baxter, as cotton factor and general commission metebant. One hundred and six citizens of Bartow county have put iu claims before the Uuited States Claim Commissioners, at Washiugton, under the provisions of an act of Congress of May 3, 1871, which guarantees redress to all citizens who remained loyal adherents to the cause aud the government of the United States during the war, for stores or supplies taken or lnrnished during the rebellion for the use of the army of tlie United States. The Israelites of Albany are making ex tensive preparations for a grand ball, to be given in January by tbe I. O. B. B’s. Oliver Massey, (colored,) one of the regu lar hands on the Brunswick & Albaßy Rail road, while coupling cars at Satilla Station, on Wednesday morning, wes caught between tbe coupling and instantly killed, being ter ribly mangled. Notwithstanaing the injury and >ne to tho cane by the storm of tbe 19th of September, there has been a large quantity of syrup made by tne farmers of Dougherty, and its quality, iu many instances, is exceedingly fine. Married in Rome, on Tuesday last, Mr. W. H. Humphries and Miss Sallie E. Roach. Mrs. Emily French, wife of H. L. Freuch, died in Americas last week. Mr. J. P. West died very suddenly there last Monday; and Mr. Walker Carter died the same day from injuries received from the hands of Mr. D. P. McCann. Sumter Superior Court is iu session this week—Hon. James M. Clarke presiding. Mr. Wm. Etheridge, an industrious shoe maker, living near Coleman’s Station, Ran dolph county, lost his shop with all his tools, leather, etc., by fire last week. The mem bers of Stevens Grange, of which he was a member, are taking steps to re-establish him in business. The building of tbe school for colored chil dren in Savannah was fired by an incendiary on Saturday afternoon. The inner portion of the building was badly damaged, but the outer part was not injured. Dr. J. A. Jones is again abroad in Georgia, for the cure of all diseases to which flesh is heir to. Stephen Smith, the colored preacher who died recently in Philadelphia, left charitable bequests t the amount of $18,50. The Southern Life Insurance Company- We copy with much satisfaction the follow ing statements from the Memphis Daily Ava lanche of the sth iust., showing the remarka ble small losses sustained by the Southern and Carolina Life Companies during the past six months iu Memphis, embracing the period of the recent fearful epidemic iu that city. These two companies are now uuited under the name of the Southern Lite Insurance Company. The result will doubtless be very gratifying to the many friends and policy holders of this staunch company iu our com munity. “Recent feare expressed in the Evening i Mail and tho Insurance Times, of New York, regarding losses by our local life companies, induced us to make the necessary inquiries of the officers of the Southern Life as to losses by it and the Carolina, by the terrible epidemic through which our city has just passed, and from which more than twelve hundred of our people have died. The result of tbe inquiry is as gratifying to us as it doubtless will be to the immediate friendt of the companies, and shows that in ths city of Memphis, including Memphie people who fled to the country dur ing the epidemic, the losses of the Soulhern Life and Carolina have been, viz : Of the former, Benj. L. Radford, $5,000; W. J.Mans ford, $5,000; Judge J: F. Barton, ss,ooo,and Dr. J. Joseph Williams, $9,500, in all $&4,- 500. The Carolina's losses have been: J. H. Cullen, $5,000, and O. C. Woodward, $lO,- 000, together, $15,000. These losses embrace all sustained by both companies in this city during the post six months. In view of the large business done here the losses are aston ishingly small, and shows either good luck or good management. The facts contradict impressions which may have been created by tbe publications referred to.” Tfiesday evening Mr. John Graham \itls shot and mortally wounded iuTuskegee, Ala., by Mr. Bob Keeling. It is clearly attributa ble to the oarrying of concealed weapons. It 1 is said a woman aud whisky are connected. “A Lesson from the Panic.” 1 ‘After years of freedom from serious com mercial trouble, even sagacious business men begin to conduct their affairs as if there were to be only fair weather for the future, and to delude themselves with the dangerous hop 3 that even if stormy times should come, they themselves, would suffer slight, if any, incon venience. When a panic comes upon them unexpectedly, and they are unable to convert good securities into greenbacks to pay their obligations, they are able to realize that if they should die nt such an inopportune mo ment, their estates would parhaps be swept away forever. “A life assurance policy, costing compara tively little, would, if death should occur dur ing a severe panic, preserve intact the earn ings of years, which might otherwise be lost for lack of a little ready money. “That mau is wise who has assurance upon his life to cover all his indebtedness, so that in the event of his death his estate is certain not to be embarrassed. The great thing sought in business is profit coupled with safe ty. The time is not far oft' when every busi ness man will be as particular to affect assur ance on his life for the safety of his estate, as to effect fire insurance on the merchandise in his warehouse; and when he will regard life assurance as a business necessity, and not as a mere luxury or an indulgence oi his humor, ns it is the key-stone to the arch which gives permanency and stability to the results of a i life time of active exertion.” We quote the foregoiug from the “blotting pads" circulated by the “Equitable Life As surance Society,” aud commend the lesson to our readers. The history of the recent crisis in financial affairs proves, beyond a doubt, that life insurance investments are the safest aud most secure of any known to human wis dom. Throughout all the panic, not one of these beneficent institutions “suspended.’ None fail to meet their liabilities, or complain of the prevailing “shrinkage in values.” The reason is plain amY simple. They do not speculate or deal in fictitious values, and their assets are so invested that the ordinary fluc tuations of finance do not affect them. Asa people, we of the South do not practice life assurauce as we should. We are, iu this respect, “behind the times.” In the North aud in Europe the common practice of this most beneficent system has become a matter ot course, even among the poorest classes; aud in England the Govern ment itself provides assuranco in sums as small as £5. The Equitable Life lusurauce Society is one of the best managed and most prosper ous institutions in the country, and well de serves the enormous patronage it receives. The popularity of the Equitable among those who appreciate tbe wortb of life insur ance, appears in the increase of the Society's business. In 1872 it issued 12,491 policies, insuring fifty-two million dollars, being an increase iD new business, over tbe previous year, of twenty-five per cent. The Society, at tbe present time, has assets amounting to twenty million dollars, and it is gratifying to know that, after making pro vision for all liabilities, (including a reserve sufficient to insure tbe fulfillment of every policy contract) the Society bolds a surplus of over two and a half million dollars, out of which there has been declared a dividend, which will contribute to tbe comfort of poli cy-holders either by a reduction of their premiums or by additions to their policies, as they may prefer, during the current year. The principal office of tho Equitable Life Assuranco Society is in its own substantial, fire-proof building, at the corner of Broadway and Cedar street, in New York city; but it has an agency office in our city, where our people can obtain all the advantages which ' ire offered by thi3 enterprising and wealthy corporation. And as a large number of oui best citizens, recognising ihe valne and ne cessity or life lusumnc3?wv aiu.i.a; fV ii, j holders in the Equitable, we may consider it to be one of our home institutions, and, as such, we trust it will always prosper. Its prosperity promotes the welfare of our homes and firesides. Last year this Society paid more than one and a half mil lion dollars to widows whose husbands it had insured. It has paid out since its organiza tion, about fifteen millions of dollars, and we learn that it will pay in Georgia alone, through its general agent iu Atlanta, before tbe end of the year, more than thirty-six thousand five hundred dollars. It would seem that these faots alone ought to silence that foolish complaint current amoDg the uninformed, about “sending mil lions of dollars annually out of the South for insurance.” We might as well say that we are sending hundreds of millions out of the South annuallj to tbe North for boots and shoes; to the West for provisions, and to Europe for hardware, silks and other mer chandise. The fact is, people go where they can get the best article for their money. When the South shall stop supplying the world with cotton, and produce and manu facture all its boots, shoes, silks, hardware, provisions and other necessaries, it will be time to talk about “keeping the money at home.” We believe that there is room here for all— that we should encourage and invite the com ing of foreign capital, enterprise and busi ness of all kinds, from all quapters of the globe, and that while sustaining and encour aging onr homo institutions, so far as they can supply oar wants, we should not pro scribe a wholesome and natural competition. We understand that it is contemplated by tbe Equitable Society to purchase property in Atlanta, and erect a handsome and suitable building for office and business purposes, provided the patronage extended to it by the people of the State should justify such a course. This is n move in the right direc tion, and it is to be hoped that the Society’s success in Georgia may be ns Urge as it de serves. We are also informed that this society pro vides for the auditing of all death claims by a committee of policy-holders in each com munity when it transacts business. Any safer guarantee of the good faith aud fair dealing of the society could not be divisei fc. Ml C. A. Choate, the general agent oTtbe society, leaves for Macon and Tnlbotton in n few days, to pay several losses, and we heart ily commend him and the institution he rep resents to our brethren of the press aud the communities he visits. The Last Lettkb of the Rope. —Tho fol lowing is the resume ot the last letter which the Pope addressed to the Emperor of Germany; “What I feel in perusing your reply to my letter is not surprise, bat grief. “You sovereign, who formerly proclaimed yourself King by divine right—you have stooped to attack a vanquished man, and a prisoner. “When I reperuse all the documents which have passed between the Court of Romo aud Berlin during the last ten years, my sadness increases tenfold. I find the transcription of all your protests, especially that which you wrote at the time of the conquest of Rome; yop declared that nothing could shake your confidence in the triumph of the Church, and you pray to God that He may take pity oil my enemies, who, blinded by a moment of pride, forget that all the thrones of earthly kings may crumble, except that which is founded by Christ." The Charleston (S. C.) News says: “It is rumored that, in the event of President Grant declaring war against SpaiD, the First regi ment of National Guards of this city will at once volunteer and embark for the seat of war. ” Mr. J. W. Allen has been appointed Col lector of Revenue for 9t. Johns county, vice J. D. Tennehill, removed for alleged willful neglect of duty.