North Carolina Newspapers

THE CHARLOTTE MESSENGER - m VOL. IV; NO. 4. THE Charlotte Messenger 18 PUBLISHED Every Saturday, AT CHARLOTTE, N. C. In the Interests of the Colored People of the Country. Able and well-known m iters will contrib ute to its columns from different parts of the country, and it wUI contain the latest Gen eral News of the day. The Messenger is a first-class newspaper and will not allow personal abuse in its col umns. It is not sectarian or partisan, but ndependent—dealing fairly by all. It re serves the right to criticise the shortcomings of ai! public officials—commending the worthy, and recommending for election such men as in its opinion are best suited to serve the interests of the people. It is intended to supply the long felt need of a newspaper to advocate the rights and defend the interests of the Negro-American especially in the Piedmont section of the Carolina s. SCfcSCMPTIONS: (Always in Advance.) 'I ye “ l lu ' ' - WSO H months - - 100 '*i months * 75 :i months - . - .50 '.l months - ... 35 Single Copy - 5 Address, W. C. SMITH, Charlotte NC, A writer in Texas Siftings enumerates Ihe dangers encountered by the railroad traveler in the following fashion: “The bill prohibiting railroad corporations in New 1 ork State from heating their pas senger ears with stoves or furnaces is now i law, and it is to be hoped that the ex ample set by the New* York Legislature will be followed in other States. Cre matory furnaces on wheels are not agree able things for live people to ride in,and it is an indication of progress that thej ire to be abolished. The kerosene lamp is a ear illuminator is bound to go, too. in a short time passenger trains universal ly will be heated by steam and lighted by electricity. Danger will still lurk on the rail, however, for the switchman is iable to forget about setting the switch properly, the telegrap’i operator may sake a mistake in a dispatch, and the lonductor’s watch stop at an inopportune noment. A good many improvements vill have to be made yet before railroad ug is absolutely without danger. It looks as if the Panama Canal enter prise is doomed. While not more than one-fifth cf the work has been done, the company has already expended double the original estimate of its cost, and the money on hand will not last more than four or five months longer. It is now reported that the builders of the canal have to contend not only with a sliding mountain on one side of the cut in the Culebra Division, but also with a rising bed in other parts of the line. The Engineering Newt has been informed that in the lower parts of the route the boL tom of the ditch is continually forced up ward by the weight of the excavated material deposited on each side, so that in some places “it requires a very healthy and hard-working dredge to hold it 6 own.” The quantity taken out under tuch conditions is included in the re ports whit h show* the total excavation for .*ach uiouih. Charles L. Dignowitti, of San An tonio, Texas, report * a rich discovery ol gold and silver in Burnett County. A. Fitzgerald, Superintendent of the San Jose Mining Company, of Tamaulipas, Mexico, came to San Antonio a few week* ago with old Spanish records relating tc the lost San Saha mines, and Mr. Dig nowitti furnished the money to investi gate their accuracy. Mr. Fitzgerald went to Hoover’s valley, on the Colorado river, fifteen miles north of Burnett County, opposite the inouth of the Llano river, and took his bearings. Here is a divid ing range of mountains down in the Spanish archive* as “Espino** de Juar” (in English, “The Backbone of Jud ), and at present known as the “Pack- Saddle Mountains.” From this point, guided by the Spanish records, he in stituted a search and was rewarded by the discovery of a rich lead. The vein is four feet wide, and consists of rich de composed ore strained with iron. Dig nowitti closed a trade for seventy acres of the land, pretending that he wanted it for the granite and marble. On further investigation traces of an old Mexican mine and furnaces were found. The people in the vicinity are greatly ex cited over the discovery. Machinery will be put iii at ogee, and the mine will be worked. THE CAPTIVE BROOK. A brooklet from the mountain sped, And wandered on Its merry way; It wandered where its fancy led, Tho livelong night, the livelong day. Tt sang of dells where bird songs flow', It sang of haunts where lillies grow, it sang in tones that lovers know, All day, all day. The sunbeams on its ripples lay, And laughter through its cadence broke, And as it danced away, away, Unnumbered harmonies awoke. It loitered by the drooping flower, It sang the love dream of the bower. The song was new from hour to hour, day, all day. A miller came one morn in May, And bound the brooklet to his mill, >Vhere labor wears the hours away, And its harsh sound is never still. And round and round to fill his store The water turns the mill wheel o'er, But ah! the brooklet sings no more, All day, all day. sdale . Zachariah’s Hired Man. Hanner,” said old Zack Daybaugh as he came into the house after returning from town, “I got ’nothcr hired man.” 'Veil, I declare, Zacharicr, ’nother hired man ’fore harvest! Wot'n thu name o’ goodness do ye want o’ a hired man this time o’ year:” “VV’y, Hanner, ’pearst’ ms I oughter know w’en I need a man. Look at that breakin’ I want’o do on the back forty, an’ there’s the corn wants t’ be gone through the other way, an’ the garden t’ hoe—it’s time them pertaters were hilled up an’ they need buggin’ most cv’ry day —an, hayin’ cornin’ on—l’m goin’t’ put up all the hay there is down in yon slough. Co’rs’ I need a hir’d man. Ye want’o mind, Hanner, that wc’uns are farmin’ it in Hakoly now, an’ do things » Sight different ’n we did in I’enn s’lvauy. ” “Oh, I reckon I knowed that already. Ever scnce ye planted them cab’ges in the wrong time o’ the moon last year an’ didn’t hev ’nough so’s ye could find ’em, I seed ye was doin’ it different.” Oh, don t talk no more ’bout them cab’ges -a person will make a mistake onct in a while.” “Yes, an’ some o’ ’em twict in a while, Zacharicr. Did ye get me that new milk bucket with a strainer on it?” Hanner, I don’t mind yer tellin’ me ’bout no milk-bucket.” es ye do, Zacharicr, ye mind it jest as well as I do. Now I want it right away or yer hired man can’t come into the house!” “Weil, well, Hanner, hook up old Doll in the mornin’ an’ drive down an’ get it —l’d o’ got it myself, but I’ll be snaked es I ree’lected anything ’bout it.” This pacified the good lady so much that she went out and called her daughter Alice, who was picking strawberries in the garden, and directed her to get sup per ready. After she had gone her worthy husband chuckled a little over his remarkably original scheme of for getting to buy the milk-pail and frowned •1 little when he remembered that it would have to be bought after all. His wife soon returned and said: “Well, it ’pears t’ me ye got an ugly ’nough lookin’ man this time. I seed him out pumpin’ water. ” “That’s it, Hanner, zackly; that’s just it! He is the blamcst, gawkiest, green est lookin’ man I’ve seed fer a long time an’ that’s just w’y I hired him. I ’low he won’t be foolin’ ’round Alice and act in' ealllish!” “He might try it—l never seed a man that wouldn’t act talfish if he had half or two-thirds of a chance. But I reckon it won’t do him any good; Alice wouldn’t hev nothin’ t’ do with as ugly lookin’a man as he is. It ’pears t’ me he don't look 'sif he knew 'nough t' pound sand into a rat-hole.” “Oh, he's all right, only his looks are •gin him powerfully. How'd he ’pear t’ tie cornin’ down on the pump handle, Hanner?” “He wa'n’t throwin’ himself ont’ it rery hefty, Zacharier. I ’low ye won’t find him any very great shakes.” “Oh, I’il ’tend t’ him. He ran work, I’ll bet a farm,an’ if he won't get t’ shin in’ 'round Alice I reckon he’ll be a good man. I've had t’ chase ’bout ev'ry man lately off the place ’cause ho got It into his head ho was goiu' t’ marry Alice. ’Pears t’ me wc’uns arc very un lucky that way.” “Zacharier, Alice 'courages 'em, that’s wot she does, she flirts with ’em. W'y you mind that last one we had in tho spring, ye know I caught her pausin' a piece 'o pic out 'o the pantry winder t’ him. Yes, sir, a big piece o’ dried puukin pie, au' he took it au’ sot down on the edge o’ my soap kettle an' ct it an’ shestiick her bead out o’ the winder an’ watched him.” “Yes, I know it, Ilanucr, I know It. Ye jest watch au’see how much pie the CHARLOTTE, N. C., SATURDAY, AUG. 6, 1887 passes out to this cuss! W’y if I had his picture I’d hang itup’n the barn to keep the hogs out!” They were interrupted by Alice an nouncing that supper was ready and all gathered in the large cool kitchen where it was served. “Jes’ set right down at the end thar, Tom, an’ hc’p yourself,” said Zachariah, with a wave of the hand to the new man. He did not need a second invitation and moved on the excellent supper which Alice had prepared as if he was in the habit of carrying such things before him. He gave his undivided attention to the business in hand and Mr. Daybaugh failed to detect him so much as glancing at his daughter Alice, who sat opposite, though, to tell the truth, an impartial observer could not have blamed him much if he had embraced every opportunity for gazing at her, for she was certainly worthy of any man's attention. Plump, rosy ?heeked, brown-eyed and—well, I will say very pretty and let it go at that—it did lot seem strange that so many of his predecessors had fallen victims to her charms, or that the last one had even been detected in taking pie from her hands through the pantry window, espe cially as no one denied that she offered him the pie, and, in fact, encouraged him to cat it; and still further that it was a piece of Mrs. Drybaugh’s famous dried pumpkin pie and an inch thick. But if Tom had been at all moved by the charms of Alice he failed to betray it by a look and kept up his attacks on the bread-plate in away that somewhat alarmed the worthy Zachariah. Alice however, either from a smaller appetite or curiosity or coquettishness, or—there isn’t room here to make a catalogue of the different feelings which are liable to move tile female mind, so I will say, or something—did not fail to observe this addition to the “men folks” of the family. She certainly didn’t find any thing very handsome, though she did not find herself prepared to say that he was quite so had looking as Zachariah had said. He was tall, raw-boned, with hair of a sort of undecided shade with a strong leaning toward red, and im mensely large hands and—a good ap petite. He looked intelligent and like a good fellow generally. While Alice admitted to herself that he was far from being as handsome as some of the other hired men who had risen and fallen in the Daybaugh family, at the same time she decided that there were without doubt many worse young men in the world and that, as much as his looks were against him, she could conceive that the time might come when she would see her way clearto administer to him pie, dried pumpkin pie, from the pantry window. Though the thought did occur to her that even if he should recover from the effects of the meal he was now eating it would be excedingly doubtful if he would have any desire for anything so substantial as dried pump kin pie an inch thick for some time. At last Tom stopped eating, evidently more because the others did than from any personal reason. “Jes’ give the hogs ’bout four buckets 0’ that swill in the bar’l by the door an’ pump up the trough full o’ water an’ turn the bosses out’n the pasture, an’ then ye better go t’ bed ’cause we want’o be out o’ bed ’gin sun-up in the mornin’,” said Zachariah to Tom as they rose from the supper-table. “1 swar, Hanner,” he continued, after Tom went out, “did ye see how he waded in to the bread V butter?” “He did ’pear t’ have a powerful good appetite. ” “Wall, I should say so! W’y I thought he'd kill himself dead. If the blame’ cuss keeps eatiu’ like that he’ll eat us out o’ house ’n’ home. If he stows it 'way like that now wot’U he do when he gets t’ diggin post holes 1” “I dunno, Zacharicr, yer the one what hired him.” “I reckon, pap, the feller mightn't o’ had any dinner, still,” remarked Alice. Zachariah looked at Hannah and Han nah looked at Zaebariah. If Alice wasn't standing up for him already- and a man whose looks were so against him, tool Must that dreadful pumpkin pie episode lie repeated? They both groaned—in wardly—and Zachariah went out to see that the hogs were properly fed, and Han nah to water some choice cabbages. The next day the grand attack wa, made on the post-holes. For several days following, the post-hole and barbed wire fence campaign was kept up. Then there was tho breaking on the hack forty, and the haying in the slough, and the corn-cultivating and a number of those pleasant little recreations which farm life is subject to between “seedin’ ’n’ harvest.” And in everything Zachariah found Tom a model hired man. He could dig a few more host-holes and do a little more breaking and pitch hay ■ little harder tad stay in the corn-field • little longer than Zachariah could him self. In fact, in his own words, “that man ’peared t’ be ’bout as chuck full o’ hard days’ works as they make’em.” Awl he also proved to be remarkably good natured and reliable. But alas! there was the old trouble. Pie? Well no, not pie yet, but it seemed as if It might almost reach that before it culminated. It started on the Fourth cf July. Zach ariah had told Tom to hitch up old Doll and “the colt” (just past the eighteenth anniversary of his birth) and they would all drive into town and witness the great celebration, “a celebration,” remarked j the able Appleby Agitator, “never be fore equaled in our Territory—one in j which the eagle will scream awl strong men and fair women will vie with each j other in doing honor to our nation's birthday.” When Zachariah ami his amiable spouse reached the door what was their horror to find Tom and Alice on the front seat, leaving the back scat for them. It did no good to look at them—they were very busy discussing the relative beauty of different colored horses, Alice having just stated her preference for the spotted variety “like a circus hoss, and Tom rather leaned in that direction himself. So there was nothing to do and they rode to the great celebration as the young people had ar ranged it. And while in town, though not proved, it was nevertheless strongly suspected, that Tom bought this plump awl reey cheeked girl ice cream aw! ml lemonade, and it was never altogether clear where the bag of peanuts and candy which her mother discovered in the cupboard the next day came from unless from the sam« source. And then they happened to walk home from church a great many times together. And when the harvest came on Alice seemed very fond of carrying particularly large and choice luncheons out to the 1 field. So the season wore away. Harvest was a thing of the past. The grain had 1 been stacked and thrashed, “this imme diate section coming forward with a larger yield than any other portion of the ter ritory”—to again quote from our friend the Agitator. Corn-husking time was even at hand and the pumpkins were ripe—which meant fresh pumpkin pies and great hoops of pumpkin hung up around the chimney to dry against a time when the fresh pumpkin was. no longer with us. Tom still worked as faithfully and good naturedly as ever. He had even got a claim of his own in the aeighborhodo and talked of going to fanning for him self in the spring. Zachariah shook his head; he don’t know what Tom might be thinking of. Not hut what Tom w*.' a remarkably good fellow awl had risen rapidly in his estimation, but he didn't altogether like the idea of the best of area paying too much attention to his Alice. So he shook his head and had his sus picions. But it was ail going to come out and that very soon, though both Al ice and Tom were going about all uncon scious of the danger. Piet again whispers the aaxivus reader. No: oh. dear, no, not pie. Nt\ not pie. Alas 1 if it only had been pie But the sad truth is that thing* bad gone far beyond pie. Zwhariah didn't know it, hut Hannah did. Too many big pies, pumpkin pies, apple pies, squash pies, currant pies, strawberry pies, cus tard pies and miscellaneous pies had dis appeared for her not to know that. Yes, it w*s too true that many a brave pie had passed out of that pantry window, a vic tim to the designs of a plump, rosy cheeked girl and the horrible awl grow ing appetite of a hired man. No it wasn’t pie that brought about the dread climax. For goodness' soke, tell whal it was, eh? Here it is then: Zachariah caught Tom kissing Alice! Yes, Zachariah, personally, detected Tom, also, personally, kissing Alice ns he met her about two thirds of the way down the wide outdoor cellar stairs! Alice had been down straining the even ing’s milk. and Tom, well Tom had no business going down cellar at all, much less when Aliee was down there! And Zachariah with his own eyes saw him kiss her once, and he acted just as if he was going to kiss her again! And Alice, who stood one step higher up awl might just ms well hare escaped as not, stoed •till and acted as if Tom had kissed her right there on the cellar stairs before! Good heavens’ and Zachariah had once worried about pie—ordinary dried pump kin pie not over an inch thick! “Young man," fairly thuwlered Zarha riah, as they came up the stairs and Tom, especially, looked sheepish, “1 seed ye kiss that gal o' mine 1” “Y-a-e-a, I did smack her a couple %’ times. “ “Yes, I know it, you—you—you—yeu —git right elTu my ptaeo- jju light along 1” “Well Zack. Til tell ye—TO dn it cf ye say so, but when I go I'm goin’ to take Alice with me, that's sure!'' 'Un? I reckon ye won't do that! Jes' explain "bout this kissin' hus'noss”’ “W'y pap,” said Alice, “stop yet j aetia' so foolish - don't you nee me V ! Tom are engaged an' are goin' to Isa married when we git ready? Come and ktss me agin, Tom!”— fkrJWVe ML The hat anil the Waif. A thirsty Wolf wasonedsy drinking at a clear flowing brook awl was on its four teenth lap when a timid Lands eatuc to thesaaae brook to drink ami went a lit tle way up the stream above tho "(It. “Look here,"arid the lamb, “don't vow know let lev than to push in and drink up all the water when you seo lam drinking;” The Wolf meekly re plied that he was there first, but would go away directly, “Well,” said tho Lamb, “haven't you any better manners than to thrwst your near into the water and make that horrible sucking noise when you drink r The poor Wolf pro tested that it would he impossible for him to drink a drop w ith his nose in tho waters he barely touched tire tip of his tongue to it, ''That's the same thing,” said the 1 jnnk angrily, "and beside, I don't warn you to wash your fierce in this brock while I am drinking; l can't abide the taste ot wool in drinking-water.'* The Welt began to tremble and said that he was standing as far away from tire brook as he could, awl lhat moreover he had no word awl never del have. "Now, I swear," exclaimed the lamb, “this is too much for the patience of an angel; we how you stand there rolling up the water with your great hoofs, making it somuddy that I can't drink. Look at it!” “But.” said the frightened Wolf, “how can that be, when 1 am not in the water, awl you are up stream anyhow?” “Great heavens!” roared the Inmlr, “must Ibe tormented to death by this brawler? If there is anything I can't en dure it is a contentious sprit. I must have peace." So saying she seized the howling Wolf by the neck and swept a path across the mossy glade with him. Explanatory Moral; Tire Wolf had been for three years the husband of the Lamb's only daughter .-Burdette, in Breviiya &V*>. Ayricaltiral Statistic*. In the foiled States the collection and publication of agricultural statistics by the general Government was first begun in connection with the census. Although the errors was ordained by the Constitu tion itself, and the first, one taken in IIWI awl although the statistics of manufacturers were taken by the census 4 ISMH as well as the moots r of per vert* engaged in agriculture, commerce rad manufactures respectively, ami al though agriculture was overwhelmingly the largest industry, yet it was wit until the census of ISW that any attempt was made to take the statistics of agriculture proper; aud even then the schedule* were imperfect, awl the statistics were given very inadequately In ISM the control *f the census was transferred from the Deportment of S»ir to that of the In terior, The office of superintendent es the een-ws was mated, awl greater at tention was given hi the statistics of agriculture. The ninth census, INTO, introduced many valuable features in the agricultural schedules, one of which is lhat showing the total value of farm pro ductions. The census Schedules of 1880 rontnin more exhaustive inquiries, and abcitvd fuller detail*. Cultivator. Part* SIMM. Fleeing horn this den we turned into n narrow street at right angle* to the one we quitted. Stopping in ftont of a high, I weather-beaten budding, we |Ws*ol un der an archway and into a court, sur -1 roumted by tumble down Imilding*. Cautiously stepping over uneven stones, we retrod a house and found ourselve* in a large room where two or three frowsy women and a man sat honing forward i ever the tables. Their heads rested on Itheit arm- They were sound advep. Ticking his way among the deeper*, ; the detective advanced to a cellar door, ; lifted it awl beckoned ua to come and t look. IVe taw a rickety ladder leading down into a mouldy vault. Below were long tables, lietween benc hes, parked with people at tight as they could squeeze. All were asleep. A few bottle* awl gUma* were scattered over the tables. These men ami women were the wry dregs of humanity tramps, beggar* and criminal*. It seemed that by purchasing for a few sou* a bottle of wretched wine these miserable* may stay here awl sleep till two in the morning. Then they ore turned out into the streets. It was “L'Awswumur ’ with * wngcaavo, -fknt Letter Terns. $1.50 per Ann Sinfile Copy 5 cents. FUN. Ripe for mischief—the early water melon—Cl.meland Sun. A burglar generally makes his home run after ho reaches the plate.— Lowell Citixn. Isn’t it, singular that the product of the still should make men so noisy?— Hotel Datette. “Trouble in the Choir” is the heading in a religious paper. Been trying some of that festival ice-cream, we suppose.-- T'osiers Statesman. Hard, rugged toil will e’er defeat Soft, lary luxury— The man who eats com bread will beet) The man who lives on pie. —Merchant- Traveler. “Well,” said an old tramp wiping the perspiration from his brow with tho back of his hand, “I wish somebody would explain why so much water comes out of my porei. I never absorb any.”— Morristmrn Herald. Carpets were first introduced into Eng land in the eighth century. Tacks lying point up in the easy chair soon followed. From these two small beginnings hsi dated the rise of many a poor and ob acurc man.—Nt. Paul Herrld. “Professor, ” said the medical student, “will you be kind enough to tell me ol some antidote for water?” “An antidote for water?” Yes, sir. I expect to prac tice in Kentucky, and I want to bo pic pared for any emergency.— Merchant- Traveler. “John, did you ever observe the fond ness of Dr. Blank and his wife for each other?” “I hadn't noticed it specially. What makes you think so?” “Why, Mrs. Blank always calls the doctor hei duck.” “Ah, yes! That's because he it a quack.” —Xcwman Independent. “No professional beggars allowed 'round here,” said the woman sharply, “so git.” Tam no professional beggar, madam,” he replied with dignity. “1 may be a tramp—in fact, I will admit that I am a tramp in an amateur sort ol way—but lam no beggar. If you havt a ham bone left over, or some cold mackerel, or anything the dog doesn't care for or the pigs won’t eat, you may give it to me, but don’t call me a proses, sional beggar.”— New York Sun. A Deg That Catches Fish. J. N. McConnell, ol C'rawfordavllle, Ind., is the owner of a dog that he values very highly. It is a full blooded Scotch shepherd, about one year old. The canine is a smart one, and seems to understand every word that is spoken to it. Among its many accomplishments is that of being an expert fisherman. He will take a position in a drift in a small stream running near Mr. McConnell's house, and makings racket, will scare the fish out into the water, where he can see them. Then diving suddenly he will bring a fish up in his mouth. This operation he will re pest until he catches as many as he wants. Spectators on tho lanks in no wise embarrass him in his piscatorial pur suit. The dog is very fond of fish and eats all that he catches. That is the only objection to tl*- -?hole proceeding, as hia owner thinks that he can Id supply Lis tablo with fresh fish the year round if tho dog could only be taught to retrieve, and he will give him a few lesaona in that art.— Cincinnati Knguinr. How Eyesight Is Injared. It isawell known fact that school chil dren suffer from influences which tend to seriously injure their eyesight. Dr Lincoln has recently written on the “Hy giene of the Eyes Among School Chil dren. ■’ lie say*: In school work we should require (1) a comfortable temper ature, and especially let the feet be kept warm and dry, (2} good ventilation, (8) loose clothing, (4) erect posture, (5) lit tle study before breakfast, or directly after a hearty meal; none at all at twilight or late at night, (8) great cau” lion about study after recovery from fe vers, (71 light abundant, but not daz zling, (8) sun not shining on the desk or object* in front of tkr pupil, (9) light coming from the left hand or left and rear; under some circumstance* from in front (no light from the right of the pupil permitted); (10) the book held at right angles to the line of light, or nearly in; (11) frequent rest by looking up, (121 distance of book from the eyes to b« about fifteen inches. Acconlirg to aotne aatronomera th« earth, through tho sun’* attraction and the friction of the tides, ia losing time —in other words, revolving more slowly upon Its axis. This, If true, need not, however, cause any serious diaaarrange ment of clocks anil watch**, as the al leged loss of time is only half a second in a century of year*. If men would come up to their engagement* as prompt ly as tho earth docs, there would b« Imuch less cause of complaint oq the ground of tardiness.