MILLONS OF PUPILS. Last Year's Attendance Placed at 17.299.230. Washington, Oct. 19.?The an nual report of the Commissioner of Education, just submitted to the Secretary of the Interior, shows that the grand totul of pupils in schools, elementary, secondary and higher, both pub lic and private, In the United States for the year ended June 30,1901, was 17,299,280, an in crease of 27H,520 pupils over the previous year. Of this number the enrollment of pupils in institutions support ed by general and local taxes furnished by States and munici palities was 15,710,394, as against 15,443,462, the number reported for the previous year. Hesides these there were certain special institutions, like city even ing schools, business schools, schools for Iudiaus, reform schools, schools connected with asylums, schools for cookery and other special trades and voca tions which had nearly 500,000 pupils. Adding the enrollment in these special schools to that for general education, the aggregate is something more than 17,750, 000 of the population that re ceived education for a longer or shorter period during the year ended June 30,1901. The value of property used for public school purposes has risen to $570,963,089 from $130,380,. 008 in 1870, and the expendi tures for the common schools (including elernen tar;vand second ary schools, but excluding all in stitutions for higher education) amounted to $220,043,230, hav ing risen to this sum from $03, 390,000 iu 1870. In 1870 the expenditure for schools per capita of the population was $1.04; the last year it was $2.93 per capita of the population, the highest it has ever been. It was an increase of 10 cents to each man, woman and child over th year previous. The average attendance of each pupil for the entire number of en rolled was 99 days for the year, an increase of 24 days over the previous year. The Best Prescription for Malaria, Chills and Fever is a bottle of Grove's Tasteless Chill Tonic. It is simply iron arid quinine in a tast eless form. No cure?uopay. Price 50c. BULLETS FOR THREE. Defaulter Shoots Dead Two Accu sers and Himself. New York, Oct. 17.?ITisirif; a new automatic magazine pistol, William C. Turner, former presi dent and treasurer of the Climax Bottling Company, to-day shot and killed VV. J. Mallard, secre tary and treasurer of the com pany, aud Kotiert Hamilton, its president, and then killed himself with the same weapon. A second revolver,loaded in every chamber, was found in Turner's pocket, and it is believed he planned to take more lives than he did. The shooting wascaused by a (juarrel between the three men concerning an alleged shortage in Turner's accounts, for which he was threat ened with criminal prosecution. The tragedy occurred in the offices of the law firm of Cantor, Adams & Mclntyre, at 2"> Broad street, in the heart of the Wall street district, during the busy noon hour. Turner, who was forty five years of age aud lived at Mount Vernon, N. 1*., a suburb of this city, was a cousin of Gov. Odell, of this State. The head of the law firm in whose offices the shooting occurred is President Cantor, of the Borough of Man hattan. Soon after the shots rang out in the office building a wild rumor was started that the borough president had been killed. The Worst Form. Multitudes are singing the praises of Kodol, the new dis covery which is making so many sick jieople well and weak strong by digesting what they eat, by cleansing and sweetening the stomach and by transforming their food into the kind of pure, rich, red blood that makes you feel good all over. Mrs. Cranflll, of Troy. 1. T.. writes: For a number of years I was troubled with indigestion and dyspepsia which grew into the worst form. Finally I was induced to use Ko dol aud after using four bottles I am entirely cured. I heartily re commend Kodol to all sufferers from indigestion and dyspepsia. Take a dose after meals. It di gests what you eat. J, R. I>hJ lietter. Benson Brug Co. and Hood Bros. $200,000 BLAZE AT HAMLET. Flames Which Broke Out at Noon Spread With Such Rapidity that the Watchman Barely Es caped With His Lite. Hamlet, Oct. 19.?Fire which broke out at the cotton compress ; here at noon to-day destroyed property valued at #200,(KM) to #225,0110 and caused the death of Mr. J. M. Wilson, of Claris ville, Cia., book-keeper at the; compress, and a nephew of Mr. Geo. E. Wilson, of Charlotte. The cotton compress, which was the property of the Seaboard Air Line Railway and was leased by C. E. Johnson, of Raleigh, to gether with the ice plant, one of' the largest in the State, and 2,-j ?100 bales of cotton, a vast quan tity of burlaps and bagging, was entirely consumed. The railroad authorities sue-; ceeded in saving the car-shed, a short distauceaway, with engines I and a bucket brigade, and many cars on the side-tracks near the! press were saved, but six empty cars alongside the press platform , were burned. \\ hen the tire started, from a cause as yet undetermined. I Watchman Gibson, of Hamlet, was on duty in the middle of the building and says he threw oh buckets of water, placed close by and all around the building for safety, while Mr. .Wilson, the book-keeper, at tached a hose and played 011 the fire, but so rapidly did the flames spread that the watchman cried: "We can do nothing; run for your life." The tire was coming on so fas! that the watchman ran through i the office and jumped through a raised window, but Wilson was caught in the flames and burned beyond recognition. His body was found this afternoon about 5 o'clock within a few feet of a rear entrance to the building. His head, limbs and shoulders had been consumed and only a charred mass remained. He was identified by his watch, keys and his belt buckle.?Charlotte Ob server. Cures Eczema, Itching- Humors, Through the blood by taking Botanic Blood Balm (B B. IV), which makes the blood pure and rich, heals every sore, scab, scale, boil or eruption, and stops the itching of eczema. B. B. B. cures especially, the worst and most deep-seated cases. B. B. B. kills the humors in the blood. Drug gists, ft. Describe trouble and trial bottle sent fre by writing Blood Balm Co., Atlanta, Ga. An Unfortunate Guess. "She brdke the engagement, eh?" "Yes; she asked him to guess her age." "Well?" "He guessed it."?Ex. The excitement iucident to traveling and change of food and and water often brings on diar rhoea, and for this reason no one should leave home withoutabot tle of Chamberlain's Colic,' Chol era and Diarrhoea Remedy. For sale by Hood Bros., SmithSeld; Cavenaugh & Benson, Benson; Hare & Son, Selma. A Difference. Mrs. De Style?My husband is always in for a good time. Mrs. Gunbusta?Mine is always out for his.?Fx. Old People Have Their Trouoles. Mr. Francis Little of Benton Harbor. Mich., is over eighty years of age. Since 1805 he has been troubled more or less with indigestion and constipation and has tried almost everything in use for those ailments. Last August he began using Chamber lain's Stomach and Liver Tablets and was soon feeling much better. In a recent letter he say s, "I have used three boxes of the Tablets and now think I am well." These Tablets improve the appetite and invigorate thestomacn, liver and bowels. For sale by Hood Bros., Cavenaugh A Benson, Hare A Son. Where It Originated. Bobbins?I didn't think you had any idea of marrying the widow. Newlvwed?I didn't; it was an idea of hers.?Ex. To Cure a Cold in One Dar Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. All druggists refund the money if it fails to cure. E. W. Grove's signature is on each box. 25 cents. If thou wouldst be happy, , learn to please.?Prior. " COURAGE OF ANIMALS. The Bravery Displayed by Some of Them When Necessary. We often read how animals usu ally die a tragic death, but little is 6aid of the mute suffering and won derful fortitude which are so fre quently displayed. With all the civilization of centuries behind us, this power of suffering acute phys ical pain without flinching or mut tering is still considered one of our highest attributes. One winter evening when the snow crackled under foot and the edges of the ponds and brooks showed a trace of ice 1 saw here and there the signs of traps which had been set for stray prowlers. Some were placed along paths which were used by coons -and foxes un der the overhanging cliffs. Others were cleverly hidden in the edge of the water for muskrats and mink. Next morning as 1 passed along one of the paths I saw how a cap tured animal had shown his brav ery, for in a trap in the water were a foot und part of a leg of a large ruiskrat. What courage it must have taken to deliberately gnaw off his foot and leg! At first 1 thought that perhaps the trap had broken the bone and the animal had simply cut the flesh and tendons away, but on close in spection 1 saw that the bone had not been broken. I could shut my eyes and almost see the frightened little animal work and pull at the | steel chain as the cool stars winked and blinked. All night long probably he had worked about the place where the short chain was fastened, but it held fast. As the gray of the day showed faint in the east he knew he must do something desperate, so he went to work on his own flesh and bone. Can one think of anything more courageous than slowly cut ting through one's own flesh with' liberty the reward for the pain? Then, when the hard bone is reached and the animal is weak and spent with suffering, think what courage it must have taken for the final work!?Turf, Field and Farm. A Night In a Haunted Room. A contemporary tells a very amusing story of a well known man about town who was recently spend ing a week end in the country. The huyse being full, he was offered the "haunted room," and about mid night he retired to rest among the ghosts quite contentedly. But at breakfast next morning he was fain to confess that the spirits had shamefully misused him by remov ing all the bedclothes and leaving him uncovered at 2 a. m. But, most peculiar of all, the blankets had really vanished into thin air. Pres ently the son-in-law of the house put in an appearance and in reply to the question how he had slept made answer: "Very well, only it was so cold that, knowing you nev er put any one in the haunted room, I braved the ghosts in the small hours and trotted in there to gath er up every blanket I could find. Truth to say, I hurried away, for 1 had no matches with me and could have sworn there was some one breathing in the room." Contradictions. We live amid contradictions. Our old men call each other boys and our youths are old fellows. Our girls like to be manly, and our men are often old women. A young lady likes to he called a kitten, but ob jects to being called a cat. A young man yearns to be reputed a gay dog, but dislikes being called a puppy. In the afternoon we go to see a morning performance at the thea ter, and at early morn we read our evening newspapers. Stilton cheese is nearly all made on the continent, French chalk is got here in Ameri ca, Hungarian bands are comprised of English musicians, and many British flags are made in Germany. ?Selected. The Retreat. The "fire devouring" colonel had j been telling his small nephews ter 1 riblc stories of battle and blood, and ] thev had listened, spellbound, for an hour. Then said the youngest: "I s'pose, uncle, that you never ran away from anything, did you ?*' The old man thought a great deal before lie answered slowly: "Ben, if you live long enough you'll find out that it's never well to run away from danger, no mat ter what; but you will probablv meet with occasions when you'll 6ec what a grand thing it is to right about face and charge in the oppo site direction as fast as you can go." A Misapprehension. The practice of naming race horses after prominent personages sometimes leads to misapprehen sion. In one of the clubs the other day a message came o\er the tape announcing trip death of Lord ??. Much sympathy was expressed for the noble family in their sunpositi tious bereavement, and much laugh ter was indulged in when it was found that Lord was a horse. ?London Tit-Bits. TEARFUL CR CHEERFUL? Whether a woman is tearful or cheer ful depends not on what she has materi ally, hut what she is physically. Many an in iulgent hushanu is driven almost to de pair by the tearful outburst of a wife who has "every thing she wants." He wan t s to know what's the matter. Hut *3 the wife 5 can't tell. - She only knows that she is de Sressed and * espondent. Jf Such a ;J f condition is j usually re- - 1 a ted to some form I of womanly disease. The mental depression has its corresponding womanly weakness. Doctor Pierce's Favorite Prescription changes tearful women tocheerful women by curing the diseases which cause phys ical weakness and depression of spirits. It establishes regularity, dries unhealthy drains, heals inflanimatiofi and ulcera tion, and cures female weakness. Mrs. Alice Adams, of laboratory, Washing ton Co.. Pa., says; "With many thank* 1 write to let you know how I am 1 can say by God's help and your help 1 am well. I have taken six bottles of Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription and two of his 'Golden Medical Discovery, and I can do all my work i can't praise your medi cine too highl"y. I will recommend your medi cines as long as I live. If any oue doubts this give them ray address." * Favorite Prescription " makes weak women strong and sick women well. Accept no substitute for the medicine which works wonders for weak women. Keep the bowels healthy by the timely use of Doctor Pierce's Pleasant Pellets. Has Anybody Seen This Shoat? | On our way to Portage to at tend a congressional convention, our escort drew our attention to | the following notice, posted on a board near Pigeon (Jrove: "Straid Or Swiped. A young ? hog shoate with the left year 1 erupt, an tale gone. Also blak t spot on left hand hip, an hole in , another year. Sed houg. die- , apeared from premises of under cined cuner at nite,or therebout, ' under sircumstansis pertaining to be stole. Said hoag shoat being a pet and not apt to go off on Ins one acord. Also, this hog shote answer to his name " Nel lie" and he will eat off of hand an stau 011 his hin legs like a dog and is of a friendly nature. Any body returning said shote, or let ting me no where he is at, I will consider a benefit off a invalid whose pet shoat was."?Kings ton, Wis., Spy. Look.Out For Fever. Biliousness and liver disorders at this season mav be prevented , by cleansing the system with De Witt's Little Early Risers. These famous little pills do not gripe. They move the bowels gently, but copiously, and by reason of the tonic properties, give .tone and strength to the glands. .T. R. Ledbetter, Hood Bros., Ben son Drug Co. J Bloodless Surgery. " Doctor, do you think an j operation will be necessary?" said the anxious patient. "Yes, sir," replied the skillful | surgeon. "But first bring me the mattress the boy sleeps on." It was brought The surgeon found a hole in it. He enlarged the hole, felt around inside the mattress, and present ly brought forth a piece of jewel ry. "There sir," he said, "is the breastpin you thought your boy I had swallowed." "Then there won't be any opera tion necessary!" exclaimed the j overjoyed parent. "No other operation," rejoined the surgeon. "The bill will be #10. * * Thanks. The boy, will get along all right now. Good afternoon."?Chicago Tribune. IS YELLOW POISON in your blood ? Physicians call it rlalarlal (Jerm. It can be seen changing red blood yellow under microscope. It works day and night. First, it turns yourcom plexion yellow. Chilly, aching sensations creep down your backbone. You feet weak' and worthless. ROBERTS' CHILL TONIC will stop the trouble now. It enters the blood at once and drives out the yellow poison. If neglected and when Chills, Fevers, Night-Sweats and a gen eral break-down come later on, Roberts' Tonic will cure you then?but why wait ? Prevent future sickness. The manufac turers know all about this yel low poison and have perfected I Roberts' Tonic to drive it out, nourish your system, restore appetite, purify the blood, pre vent and cure Chills, Fevers and fcj Maiari-i. It has cured thoux- ? ands?It wIM euro you, or your ?? money back. This is fair. Try ? it. Price, 25 centn. r ,,r -alp by i N iIimiii till tlx Mnithfield, N. C. ! f HARDWARE. We keep a large stock of all kinds of HARDWARE, Building Material, Carpenters Supplies, Stoves, Etc, Several well known makes of BUGGIES and WAGONS for sale A Car Load of Lime lust Received, First-class shops in connection where Buggies, Wagons, Carts, Etc., are Made and Repaired. Call to see us. Seluta Rianfifociuring Co. Selrna, INI. C. Now Complete. MY NEW STOCK OF Dry Goods, Notions, Millinery, Shoes, Hats and Gents' Furnishing Goods, is complete in each department. Mew Dress Goods. I have the Newest weaves, and ;he latest styles, and the most popular shades for fall and win er. I also have a full line of rVaistings in Satin Stripes, Alba ros, Fancy Silks, French Flan lels, Fancy Striped Flannels and rricos, and a full line of Notions n stock. Millinery Department, In this Department, we have a nice line of FALL HATS trimmed up in the latest styles, and it will pay you to call and see our Hats before you buy, and get our nrices as you will save money. Gents' Furnishing; Goods. In this Department I have put in a large Fall Stock of MEN'S, YOUTHS AND CH1LDRENS SUITS AND OVERCOATS in nice colors, all sizes and prices. Also a nice line of 3ENTS, LA DIES, MISSES and CHILDREN'S FINE DRESS SHOES, in sizes and prices to suit all. Come to see me if you wish to get your money's worth. W. G. Yelvington. ? Sharp People $ <11 -: ft See the value of ourgoods almost at a glance. ? f> We display a very complete