Newspaper Page Text
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OUR PORTRAIT GALLERY.
Theatrical Notes, Etc.
Rose Eytinge.
Last Monday, upon a very brief notice, this
actress appeared at the Opera House as Hose
Michell, in the drama of that title. The play is
not one that is apt to leave a good impression
behind—its plot and denouement are so heavy
and sombre that one who goes to the theatre to
pleasantly pass an hour is disappointed; but it
gives room for varied acting and is replete
with such startling scenes that it requires the
efforts of artists to successfully produce it.
And we are confident that Miss Eytinge’s com
pany is the only one traveling who can success
fully render it. For over two hours we studied
the stellar attraction with heightening interest;
watched her marvellous development of the
character of “ltose Michel,” forgetting at length,
indeed, that Miss Eytinge was on the stage, so
completely did she sink her own individuality
in that of the poor, but honest, peasant woman,
and when the curtain rolled between us we
harried bewildered from the place over which
she had cast a spell. At this very moment—
when time has allowed a temperate judgment of
this lady—the nerves will thrill and the blood
tingle to the very finger tips at the thought of
her.
Her support, with but one or two exceptions,
was excellent. Mr. Searle as Pierre, her hus
band, acted and looked the villain. His con
ception was very perfect and we are glad to say,
entirely of the modern school. Mr. Huntley
as Gaston, Mr. Grierson as the Prefect, were
true to nature.
The Moulinet of Mr. Blake’s was the best we
ever saw, and in this assertion we are endorsed
by the title role herself. The Louise of Miss
Vivian was rendered in an artless, girlish man
ner, and possessing as she does, not only much
naivctte, but a fresh juvenile face of great
beauty, she is eminently fitted for the character.
On Tuesday night the troupe produced Bou-
cicault’s adaptation, entitled “Led Astray.” This
play is one of the most effective emotional
dramas ever produced, and the rarity of its
performance is entirely due to the rarity of the
artiste capable of meeting the usual demands of
the little role. It is a play that wins your at
tention in the first scene; that reveals to the
mind a new character—an almost improbable
one, if you will have it so—with a development
out of the common order with which the stage
has made ns familiar; a character which you can
condemn, then pity, then sympathize with,
then admire, then love. As Armande, she rep
resents a magnificent woman, said to be the
trifling, prodigal, frivolous, heartless “heroine”
of society. A woman married, but not loved.
And after years of such a life comes one who
defies all conventionalities and confesses a love.
And she loves him in return. But with wo
man’s noted courage she attempts to hide it,
and it demands that the eyes, the lips, the
tongue shall belie the heart, and the strongest
88*<8i8ffcfeftJif wpm mmzrtkWritftn:
ing can pierce the mask. And Miss Eytinge
personated it admirably. She has a sumptuous,
graceful figure, fairly proportioned, and as
jfliant as a willow. A face finely cut, two rows
of pearls, a massive chin, soft, brown eyes that
can look cold, flash scorn, beam with love; a
high, clear forehead and luxurious curls of
black hair—nature’s own gift. Her interpreta
tion was a startling insight into the character of
a woman of society.
Her support, as on the previous night, -was very
fine, and our people should feel proud in know
ing that at least one artiste, who has visited us
this season, had the courage to bring a decent
company with her. AVe are satisfied that we
but echo the verdict of those present when we
assert that it was the most enjoyable entertain
ment given this winter.
Sketches of Southern
Literature.
THE PAST AM) PRESENT.
NO- 0.
historical importance, considers the object
aimed at by History and Biography identical in
the discussion of the events of the late war. He
thinks the South did not attempt revolution,
and that secession was a justifiable right exer
cised by sovereign States, and writes a brief
review of the question.
He notices the establishment of the Confed
eracy and its expiration.
In relation to the war, the author relates lead
ing events in a very cursory manner, confining
himself to well-known facts.
We consider it a creditable work, notwith
standing its superficial narrative of events and
the entire absence of any political or philoso
phic views, either striking or new; in this we
think the author pursued a course marked by
sound judgment and discretion.
The author of the Life of Davis is a man of
refinement, culture and good judgment, gener
ally sound and discriminative; yet, he was the
warm friend and admirer of Davis, and we ap
prehend that, neither the future historian nor
posterity will hold Davis in as high estimation
as his present biographer. That Davis was a
man of great and commanding intellect, few
will admit; that he had executive ability, can
not be conceded in the face of his many fatal
errors and blunders; that he was honest, sin
cere and energetic, no one denies, and that he
could and did make pleasant and agreeable ad
capatandum, or “off-hand stump speeches,” none
by whom he was ever beard, will deny.
We will not review Mr. Alfrends book, but
commend it as pleasant and instructive reading,
written in admirable style, andjaccurate in narra
tive. We will not criticise ex President Davis,
we regret his failures; think nothing would be
gained by a review of his blunders; appreciate
his moral character, sympathize with him in the
failure of a common cause in which American
rights, the liberties of American citizens were
He makes frequent very abusive but unwar
ranted assaults on the moral character of Dan
iel Webster, whom he thinks often perverted or
suppressed the truth for the purpose of sustain
ing unsound argument, but he does ample jus
tice to his vast and towering intellect.
He introduces much matter to sustain his
view, by no means original, that the Constitu
tion was a compact between the States. An ac
curate view of the Constitution will neither
sustain Dr. Bledsoe nor Mr. Webster. They were
extremists; but history will not sustain Dr.
Bledsoe in his virulent and abusive assertion of
Mr. Webster's disregard for truth, or his falsi
fying the records of history.
He also makes the most unjustifiable assaults
on Justice Story, noton his character, but his
learning. Indeed he considers Justice Story
ignorant, and unaecuratelv informed as to the
formation of the Constitution, and of the mean
ing placed upon its great objects by its authors:
the formation of ‘a more perfect union.’ He
describes Mr. Justice Story and Daniel Web
ster as ‘blind leaders of the blind,’ and says:
‘History will yet open the eyes of the world to
] the strange audacity of their assertions.’ That
Dr. Bledsoe was able and learned, none can
deny; that he has shown throughout this work
great-ability and vast learning, is apparent;
that he is always fair and logical can not be ad
mitted; while his best friends must admit that
his great intellect was often tossed by violent
passion, like the mighty ship of war by the
storm-shaken waves of the ocean. Alas ! how
often is reason wrecked by the hurricane of pas
sion.
AVith a few apparent faults, we consider Dr.
Bledsoe’s work able and useful, as presenting
many historical facts and philosophic views in
relation to the formation and history of the
Constitution of the United States.
There is no occasion to discuss tjie term, “Is
Person ills.
—Judge Hilton may succeed in keeping men
out of A. T. Stewart’s hotel for women, but he j
can t prevent tom cats from getting on the back
fence and serenading his female boarders.
—P. T. Barnum’s great moral show starts out
in a few days, and naturally enough Barnum is
placing himself at the disposal of the Young
Aleu's Christian Association to deliver temper
ance lectures.
—Dr. LeMoyne, in a recent interview, speak- !
ing of the bill before the Legislature to abolish j
his crematory, expressed a hope to live long
enough to burn some of the law-makers. If the
Legislature doesn’t adjourn pretty soon, the j
hope will become general.
—It is observed, strange as it may seem, that j
the clerks in Stewart's hotel for women, in New j
York, are men. But they part their hair in the
middle, and this is considered a compromise.
—Peter Cooper, of New York, recently en
tered his 88th year in the full possession of all
his faculties. His fortune is estimated at $10,-
000,000. He began life as an apprentice to a
coach maker. After several failures, he in
vented a glue that made his fortune.
—The Hon. Beverly B. Douglass, of Virginia,
has written to the Fredericksburg Star, explain
ing his recent conduct in the House, which, he
says, was in no wise due to intoxication, but Lo
a naturally excitable temperament, inflamed by
the discourtesy of the Speaker. In the future,
Mr. Douglas says he will abstain from intoxica
ting liquor.
—James Parton is living quietly at Newbury-
port, Mass., in his 57th year. He labors in the
morning, and in the afternoon strolls among
nis townsmen, with whom he is popular. He
says that he has lost several positions because he
is a free thinker. For twenty years he has been
Col. George Moros Lawton of Griffin Geo.,
died on the third inst., near Belldor, S. C.,
wither he had gone a few days previous on im
portant business. The deceased was a brother
of Gen. A. K. Lawton and Dr. AY. S. Lawton of
Savannah.
The steamer, Sandy Farhin, exploded on the
Sandy river and sank. James Newbury, a mer-
chat of Richmond, the pilot and two other men,
were killed, several others badly injured.
Mr. T, E. CollinR of Macon, was in the rear
of his carriage store superintending some work.
In returning to the store he fell through an open
trap door some fourteen feet, striking his head
on a hard clay floor. Upon examination the
brain was found to be in a perfect jelly, having
been ruptured by the concussion of the fall, a
portion oozing from the aperture. No anaes
thetics were administered in performing the op
eration. The case was then pronounced hopeless.
About Women.
Susan B. Anthony's benevolent glance, they
say. is something to be remembered; it’s entire
ly Sue-ye generous.
Mrs. Alary J. Homes, the novelist, is describ
ed as being a tall, fine looking lady, with dark
hair, eloquent eyes, beautiful mouth, a grace
ful carriage, and a stately presence.
The young ladies of Opelika have organized
a‘slipper club.’ The object of the club is to
discourage flirting among young men and ulti
mately to abolish the practice altogether.
Lotta talks of reappearing at the Park theatre.
She is one of the richest actresses jon the stage.
She draws in interest on upward of $200,000 of
government bonds, and yet can’t keep away
from the foot-lights.
The New York medical college for women,
sends out this year twenty-six graduates. At
the commencement exercises the lady graduates
were dressed in dark silk, and wore roses in
their hair.
Harriet Beecher Stowe says that ‘the more
heartless a woman is, the more tyranical she is
in exacting love from others, and the more sel
fish she becomes the more jealous she is of her
husband’s attentions.”
Her Royal Highness, the Princess Lilinoka.
lani, heiress apparent of the Hawaiian Islands,
and her suite are now in San Francisco. The
Princess is said to be a dark-eyed beauty and a
glib talker.
The Chicago Times says, Eve never looked
through Adam’s overcoat pockets for letters
j from other women.
! Aliss Mega Gatewood, of Bedford, Ky., was of
’ a poetic temperament, and published a poem,
entitled ‘Burn My Letters.’ But when Air.
George Mosgrove did, figuratively speaking,
consumed her billets donx, and furthermore
proceeded to ‘light off for parts unknown, Miss
Mega swallowed morphine.
Sarah Burnhardt, the French actress, has en
ergy enough for three women. In the morning
she takes a long ride in saddle; at noon she a
sculptor, and works on three or four busts,
/ which she is going to send to the Exhibition:
| then she goes with her chilsel to her group of
j ‘Aledia.’ At 2 o’clock she takes up her brush
i and works on a large painting; at nightfall she
] is writing her memoirs, or rehearsing her roles,
or attending to her correspondents. In the
\ evening she appears on the stage.
Southern Writers ami Authors.
By JUDGE WILLIAM ARCHER COCKE,
of Florida.
Author of (he Constitutional History of United States
and Common and Civil Law in United States.
LIFE OF JEFFERSON DAVIS.
The life of Jefferson Davis, ex-President of
the late Confederate Government, was published
in 1868. It is from the pen of Frank H. Al-
friend. The author is a native and resident of
the city of Richmond, A"a., was educated at
William and Mary College, and graduated as a
Master of Arts.
The work is pleasing and well written in style
and manner as becomes biography, yet it is
much more than a life of Davis or mere bio
graphy, being full of sketches of important
political and military events which occurred
during the Confederacy.
The author does not go in minute detail of
events, but has confined himself to generally
conceded facts. He does not attempt to write
on the philosophy of the revolution, nor is he
in any sense to be considered promoting, nor
as intending to excite sectional bitterness; yet,
he acknowledges his belief in the principles
underlying the movement for Southern inde
pendence as the only basis of Republicanism.
It may be remarked, if revolution is the basis
of Republicanism, then its moral right is based
on the jus glandii, as true a criterion for mon
archy as for Republicanism, AVe would rather
think it a right underlying the principles of
independent government than any form thereof.
Mr. Alfriend is a fair, just and liberal writer;
his especial solicitude was for a favorable ap
preciation of his efforts by bis Southern coun
trymen, and be has striven to avoid affront to
those feelings of delicacy which at the time of
publishing his work, affected many considera
tions of the war. It was judicious to avoid
Questions upon which Southern sentiment was
divided, but at the same time the distinguished
author overlooked a large chapter in Southern
history, as well as the political philosophy of
the times, and of the great event of the South
ern Revolution. .... .
The author notices the military and political
career of Davis previous to his being elected
i President of the Southern Confederacy. He
Inotices the election of Lincoln, discusses its
and are yet involved, and hope that the princi
ples of the United States Constitution as ad
ministered in the early days of the Republic,
my safely survive the result of the late Civil
War. A question by no means yet decided.
The work closes with the release of Mr. Davis
from prison, on bond, to appear and be tried
for treason, the results of which are well known.
Is Davis A Traitor; or was Secession a Consti
tutional Right Previous to the AVar of 1861.
By Albert Taylor Bledsoe. R. M. LL .D.
In connection with the life of Davis and as a
j literary and scientific production, being on the
j same subject, may be noticed the above work
j by Prof. Bledsoe to whom Air. Alfriend refers
| as an eminent writer of philosophic genius and
j profound erudition.
| This work preceeded in time that of Alfriend’s,
being published in 1861.
Bledsoe may be truely described as a man of
wonderful genius, and learning, surpassed by
but few men, of any age or country. Educated
at AVest Point, a lawyer of ability and learning,
j a Professor at Oxford Alississippi; Professor of
Alathamatics, at the University Ya; a distin
guished theologian, first in the Episcopal
1 Church, and also at a later day of the Alethodist
j Church; and the author of a work of unusual
| learning, and ability on a theologicial subject
entitled ‘Theodoey.’ A work from such a man
would always command attention, and admira
tion. The author informs us that it is not the
disign of this book to open the subject of Seces
sion. He says:
“The snbjugation of the Southern States, and
their acception of the terms dictated by the
North, may, if the reader please, be considered
as having shifted the Federal Government from
the basis of compact to that of conquest; and
thereby extinguished every claim to the right of
secession for the future.”
Dr. Bledsoe, is entirely right in the conclusion
of the above cited paragraph, all claim to a legal
or constitutional right of secession is extinguish
ed by constitutional enactment, if indeed, it
ever existed, as a constitutional right.
The author informs the reader that “the sole
object of this work is to discuss the right of se
cession with reference to the past; in order to
vindicate the character of the South for loyalty,
and to wipe off the charges of treason and rebel
lion from the names and memories of Jefi’erson
Davis, Stonewall Jackson, Albert Sydney John
son, Robert E. Lee, and of all who have fought
and suffered in the great war of coercion.”
Dr. Bledsoe makes an able and learned effort,
to prove from constitutional history contempo
rary with the formation of the constitution as
well as from his understanding of the meaning
and views of the members of the convention
that framed the constitution that secession was
constitutional
Rose Eytinge, the Actress.
Davis a traitor ?” It is but a technical quibble,
which conveys no important philosophic nor
practical question. The decision of the sword
is that the paternal government under the con
stitution is supreme, that secession was, and is,
unconstitutional.
Does it not appear strange that learned men,
and statesmen should have ever occupied the
paradoxical position that there was a legal way
of violating law, and a constitutional mode of
overthrowing the constitution ? Better by far
for the Southern States never to have seceded,
but to have fought their way to right and jus
tice in the Union, and under the constitution,
for the stars and stripes, the flag on land and
sea were as much theirs, as other sections of
the Union, and battalions and regiments from
all sections would have rallied to the rescue of
the SoutU; for them her battles would have
been the struggle for the constitution and the
Union.
AA r e are pleased to see eminent scholars and
able men, like Dr. Bledsoe, discussing grave
and important questions of history, and of
public policy.
The right of secession, like that of revolution,
has been discussed in every form by pen and
sword, but experience has shown that it was but
the right of successful power; a right which in
a moral sense belongs to every people that are
oppressed, and desire to change their form of
government or political relations, but unfortu
nately; for philosophic theories have as yet
only been measured by success. It is not con
tended that might makes right; yet it is difficult
to say when a government has self-sustaining
powers, with a majority of free and willing cit
izens adhering to the moral and political prin
ciples actuating that government, how far on
moral principles it should yield to a minority.
Governments may make concessions, if no
abstract principles of right and justice are com
promised; but no compromise with error can be
abstractly or practically right, or ultimately suc
cessful.
| engaged on his ‘Life of Affiltaire,’ which he is
j trying to make the ‘one well written book of
| his life labor.’
| Gushing Doctors.—At Hot Springs, Ark., the
| the doctors are a formidable part of the popu-
! tion. They swarm. Their shingles disturb
| the atmosphere in an almost unbroken line in
the business part of the town. Some of them
j are great gushers, particularly when they pre-
: scribe for patients of the gentle and more irri
table sex. The ‘gushers’ address ladies whom
they have never seen before, as ‘my dear,’ ‘my
dear little sufferer,’ ‘my nervous baby,’ and ‘my
j darling,’ administering meanwhile a variety of j
' endearing little pats and caresses, and finally
winding up with a gratuitous kiss or so. It is i
« needless to say that among persons who prefer
| dignity and decorum to disagreeable donkey- j
ism, the ‘gushers’ do not take high rank, but ■
i they rake in money as easily as Maud Muller
i raked the hay.
I —The Dalton Enterprise says: AVe learn that
; Air. B. AV. AA'renn, general passenger agent of the
AVestern and Atlanta railroad, heartily endors-
I es the purposes of the AVhitfield immigration j
j society, and will arrange to have Dalton placed j
j on the list of excursion places, so that reduced 1
| rates can be obtained from all points in the south, i
News Items.
—Madison AVells has instituted suit tor libel
against the Philadelphia Times. AloClure says;
go ahead. Seventeen injured ones have played
at that game already aud wished they hadn’t.
It is only a good advertisement lor this clever
and wide-a-wake journal.
—Henry AVard Beecher is a hard coffee drink
er, and an experienced judge of alcoholic bev
erages. He is fat and gross, but is not yet bald,
though his hair is nearly white. His dress is
careless, and he wears old shaped hats with wide
brims, and heavy boots. He reads and writes
on the cars while traveling, as he is at present.
His income was never greater, nor his influence
less, than now.
Drunkards aud Drunkard-Makers—Scathing
Words on (Jroggeries from a New York Judge-
N. T. TRIBUNE,
! Joseph P. AVall put in a plea of guilty of man-
| slaughter in the first degree, yesterday, before
| Judge Davis, in the Court of Oyer and Termi-
j ner. In a fit of drunken rage he had kicked his
; wife to death. His own story, when cross-ex-
j amined by Judge Davis, was this:
‘I am a hard working man. I have always
j done my best to support my wifejand family. I
| have five children. One is dead. God knows
I loved my wife and my children. I sometimes
drink. She sometimes drank. Aly work calls
me out at -1 o’clock in the morning. I went
out at that hour that morning, and at half past
twelve, I had nothing to do until half-past three.
I drank a glass or two in the off-time, and went
again^to work. After my work I met a friend.
AVe drank some lager, and I went with him to
a place where I had some whiskey. (Judge Da
vis here closely cross-examined him.) I think
it was the northwest corner of Tenth street and
Third avenue. It may have been Eleventh
street and Third avenue. There were three of
us together, and we had three drinks. Then I
went up to enquire for a friend at Edward Ha
gan’s place, at the corner of Fourteenth street
and Third Aveneu. He was not in, but I felt
i ashamed to go out without calling for something.
In all, I had ten or twelve drinks of lager beer
and four drinks of whiskey before I got home
I think. AVhen I got home I.found my wife lying
on the floor, seemingly drunk, and said; ‘Is it
this way again ?’ I know I loved her. I am
thirty-two years old, and my wife was about the
same age. She was a good wife except for this
one fault. My oldest child is under ten years
old.’
Judge Davis, before passing sentence, spoke
at some length on the circumstances of the case.
He said, in part:
‘It is almost impossible to read the testimony
taken before the Coroner without tears. This
wife came to her death in a manner too brutal
to bear repetition. l T ou repeatedly kicked a
woman as she lay helpless on the floor. You
must have been so drunk, that if yon had the
slightest affeetion for this woman, you eould
have had no realization of the injuries you were
inflicting. But intoxication is no excuse. A
jury would scarcely have excused you from the
higher crime for which you were indicted. Yet
the District Attorney probably acted rightly in
accepting the lower plea.
‘But, guilty as yon are, the real guilt rests, in
my judgment, on the condition in which you
were, and you could not have been intoxicated
except through those who sold you the liquor.
You must have been intoxicated when you went
to the two last places, where you got whiskey.
Those who sold you whiskey in your then con
dition, are, morally at least, as guilty as you of
your crime and of the terrible consequences of
your crime.
There is a law on our statute book, which, I
am sorry to say, is rarely invoked, which would
impose on them severe civil damages—a law
which enables children to punish those who
Gen. Field, of Georgia, was elected door-keep
er in the house of Representatives, last week,
Gen. Shields being defeated for the same office.
Gen. Shields was then placed on the retired list
as a brigadier general.
Dr. J. A. Aloody, ‘the leading physician of
AVhite county Ga., is dead.
The ‘public garden’ of Air. Reich of Colnm- ; sell their intoxicated fathers‘whiskey and pun-
bus, Ga., was set on fire by lightning, last Mon- | isbes suoh men , in wliat, I regret, is the only
day night. Loss 2,500. ! way to reach them. I advise you’for the sake
Mr. E. E. Solomon, of Gainsville ‘ Ga., carried j °t y° ur children, to have steps taken to enforce
off the prize of the competitive examination for ; that remedy against those people. No license
the United States naval appointments (at Anap- ! can justify any one in selling liquor to an in-
olie, | toxicated man, such as you were. I should re-
Ex Gov. Franklin J. Moses, of South Caroli- j j°\ ce have an example made of them, for in
i wti« arrAstari in "Maw York nn n. nhnrrrft nf gOllien , And I believe in the eye of CtO<1,
as well as of humanity, the consequences which
na, was arrested in New York on a charge of
forgery. The amount is said to be about $2000.
Edward A. Domoen, aged twenty, son of Pro
fessor S. H. Demeen, of AIcKendree college, La-
banon, Illinois, shot himself twice in the head,
at his father’s residence, Saturday evening. He,
became intoxicated, and on seeing the great dis
tress and sorrow of bis parents, caused by bis
conduct, went to his room, and in a fit of re
morse, put two bullets into his head.
The German Catholic church at Pottsville,
Pa., has been robbed of its sacred utensils, valu
ed at about four thousand dollais.
descend on you, and still more severely on
your children, are traceable to those who, on
the paltry gain on a glass or two of whiskey,
deal it out to those who they know are already
unfit,to care for themselves.
‘I cannot impose on you the lightest sentence
allowed by law. Your sentence is fifteen years
of hard labor in State prison.’
Russia is buying large quantities of quinine.
In case of war with England, she proposes “ toj
be well shaken before taken.” ^