Newspaper Page Text
JOHN H. SKAL.S, - Kdltor and Proprietor.
W. SEAL81 - Proprietor »»d Cor. Kdltor.
MRS. MARY K. BRYAN (•) Associate Kdltor.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA, JUNE 1, 1878.
[New Stories to begin next week.
MAD ALL HER DAYS,
A forcible and deeply enthralling Serial,
by Mrs. Purdy, of Texas.
WAITING FOR THE DAWN,
A well drawn and interesting study of
d omcstic and social life, by Mrs. Irene
Inge Collier, of Alabama.
TS^= Your paper is discontinued
at the expiration of the time paid
for, and if you wish it continued
don’t fail to notify us in advance.
We cannot supply back numbers
and if you wish to keep up the
connection with running stories,
notify the office in good time.
Two dollars and fifty cents will
renew for one year.
Y1 iimp-Slioiildercd Women.—“Cor
sets only twenty-five cents,” advertise some of
oar dry goods merchants. Alas ! the cheapness
is fatal. We shall see no more free, nnthwarted
forms even among the females of the poorer
class. The mothers of even country girls—the
last one of them—will think they are fulfilling
a solemn maternal duty to “shape" their daugh
ters properly when corsets are so cheap, and
■when for twenty-five cents the poor things can
be put in harness every day. The sequel is, we
shall have a nation of hump-shouldered women.
It is almost that bad now. Look at the women
that walk our streets; how many of them have
fine shapes ? how many move with that free, easy
natural grace that delights the poet s eye ?
There is something wrong with their figures.
Most of them have a wooden look. The shoul
ders are square, humped or distorted; the arms
hang like a Dutch doll’s; the waists are dispro
portionately small, or they are stuffy or stiff.
They do not curve in and out to form the hips
with those fine, free outlines that are of Nature’s
making. Even to an eye trained to false, arti
ficial notions of the human form, there seems
something wanting; but to one who has studied
Nature, who kno ws her sweet methods, her free,
" *”•'■■'1 ** * " * m———— ntnff*T
tolerable. And the fault lies in this little in
strument of torture left over from the Inquisi
tion—the corset It is this unnatural harness,
oarly applied, that distorts the figure—makes it
lumpy and humpy, breaks up all the flowing
harmony of its proportions.
Travelers in uncivilized countries invariably
praise the stately, graceful shapes and move
ments of the women—‘ Barefoot princesses’ one
of them calls the women of the South Sea Islands.
Ah 1 that is because, with all their savagery, they
have nothing so barbarous as the corset. I re
member how,often I have admired the free, sinu
ous shapes of the negro fleld-women, and the
easy grace of their walk.
Of course, since ‘freedom come,’ they have
grown more genteel, and hardly one of them
now but groans and sweats, on Sunday at least,
in whale-bone torture.
The corset is a token of aristooracy with our
colored citizens. ‘ My darter wears her cosset
every day at school. I aint gwine to have her
growin' up wid no shape,’ said a leader of darkey
society in our hearing.
Various have been the crusades against the
corset. The dress reformers have dealt it stur
dy blows and the Hyg6inists have held it up as
a physiological horror, yet it still holds its place
—stiff as its own steel banrds and ribs of whale
bone. Physicians have shown how the unnatu
ral compression engendered diseases of the pul
monary digestive, and uterine organs, and dem
onstrated that it interfered with beauty, being
the immediate cause of muddy and pimply com
plexions and of red noses and elbows. But all
in vain. While fashion decrees that the lungs and
viscera shall be compressed into half their natu
ral space, the poor, short-sighted mother will
apply the compress, feeling that she is dis
charging a serious duty in improving upon God
in the matter of her child’s shape. And now,
that these machines of torture can be had for a
quarter of a dollar—so that our wash women’s
daughters can be genteelly squeezed and ‘shap
ed’ Monday as well as Sunday—save us ! what
an array of humped-shouldered and lumpy
waists dawns upon our prophetic vision. The
emergency calls for an appeal to the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. *
A Touching C’onfitlence.—As we write,
a mocking bird is building her nest amid a
bower of honeysuckle just beneath our window.
Ever and anon we can see her white wings glis
tening in the sunlight as she darts about amid
the green foliage, gathering up the materials for
the home of her future brood. Bight merrily
goes Bhe about her task, seeming wholly free
from any fear of the presence of man. Nay, may
we not believe that in selecting this spot she
has been controlled by an instinctive desire to
solicit his protection ? Believing this, he were
a wretch indeed who could lay a harmful hand
on that nest. It would be the basest treachery
to injure the little innocents who have thus
been intrusted to our care. One who would
rob that nest of its tiny eggs, or lay a destroy
ing hand upon the callow brood could not be
trusted either in business or in love. What we
would be to our own kind, did they hang upon
our xneroy shows itself in our treatment of the
d umb creation beneath us. In most instances,
the man who is merciful to his beast is full of
e and kindness to his fellow men.
The Black Sheep in School.—In schools
and colleges there are often so-called inoorri-
gibles—whose erratic propensities no amount
of discipline can keep under. These black sheep
are usually the recipients of reprimands, pun
ishments and disgraoe; often the sequel is ex
pulsion. Science tells us that the fanlt is some
times with the teacher. The true teacher is a
physiologist He understands something of
brain Btruoture, he knows the normal working
of the brain, he can detect a morbid tendency.
That vigorous periodical the Science Monthly tells
us that there are many physiological oirou in
stances that should qualify school-room man
agement; such circumstances as abnormal tem
peraments, hereditary defects, eto. As an in
stance of how closely what is called morality
is connected with cerebral conditions, the first
member of the new medical Quarterly Brain
gives the case of a girl who had been expelled
from school as incorrigible. She was sixteen
years old, well grown, well developed and heal
thy looking.
She had a bad reputation in ^school—a repu
tation for wilfalness, cunning and a malicious
temper, though she could make herself amiable
and agreeable when she chose. She is said to
have committed indescretions and to have
shown a want of modesty. She declared her
self deaf, but it was found she could hear; she
asserted that she had lost the power in her low
er limbs, and could not walk, which was sup
posed to indicate her desire to avoid the daily
walks which she disliked. She bad nervous
attacks, and shouted, ltughed, and threw her
self about, striking the nurse. Physicians were
consulted, who said nothing ailed her but hys
terics, and ordered her to be placed under
‘strict moral control.’ Dr. Bennett ascertained
that her father was of excitable temperament
and had had several attacks of mania. Her
mother died when she was an infant, and noth
ing was ascertained concerning her health, but
an aunt was said to be of unstable mind. Her
sisters were all nervous and hysterical, and
one of her brothers seemed to inherit her fath
er’s mental disposition. She consulted Dr.
Bennett April 1st, but grew worse, becoming
fitfully blind, deaf, unable to walk, restless and
excited; wandering, delirium and wild raving
followed, and she at length became suddenly
comatose, and died on the morning of May 1st.
Dr. Bennett had the greatest difficulty in ob
taining an autopsy, but on opening the brain a
tumor was found in the right cerebral hemis
phere, about the size and shape of a hen’s-egg.
The cause of the intermittent blindness, deaf
ness, muscular feebleness, and various other
derangements, was now apparent. As the tu
mor had been growing,probably, for years, pres
sure was exerted upon the surrounding parts,
the circulation was impeded, the nervous con
nections disturbed, and the disorganization of
cerebral structure and functions produced in
sanity of conduct It is in the highest degree
probable that she inherited anfunhealthy brain,
which became gradually the seat of positive dis
ease. Dr. Bennett was satisfied of the existence
of some form of cerebral malidy, but he had
great difficulty in assuring the friends of the
patient, even in her last days, that it was not
a mere case of deception, perversity, and vi
cious caprice.
For tlie “Bear People.”—Cincinnati
has just had a great musical festival. Every-
U-T,- —O a qvcn/1 analo Thfi mUSic hall, B
dollars, with a §40,000 organ, was gorgeously
decorated, and daring four days seated sixty
thousand people who came to hear a picked or
chestra of Italians Germans and Americans play
such music as the Messiah and the Bide of the
Walkyrres; to hear Pappenheim and Carey, Os
good and Whitney sing delicious solos and to
listen to a magnificent chorus of the finest na
tive singers, male and female, all in splendid
voioe training. It was a noble entertainment,
but it failed in one of its professed objects. It
was given out that this rich musical feast was
not to delight a favored circle, only, but to be
enjoyed by the people at large—the people whose
tastes need elevating and refining, whose life of
toil cries out thirstily for some pure recreation
yet whose purses seldom permit them to listen
to the best music. All were to have a commun
ity in this musical festival—all were to feel that
they had a share in it. A committee had walked
through the city from house to house, from the
loftiest to the humblest, requesting the people
to decorate their homes and stores in honor of
the occasion. Yet the price of a seat in the great
music hall was two dollars, and tickets for the
entire entertainment of four days duration were
from twenty to one hundred dollars. We should
think those figures would exclude a good many
of the people from the Festa, unless dollars are
more plentiful in Porkopolis than they are in
our eastern cities.
This mnsical treat for the people was some
thing like A. T. Stewart's Woman's Hotel, which
the press of the country threw open at first
with such a grand flourish of trumpets, as a
“Benevolent Enterprise,” and then, when it
transpired tnat the price of the benevolence per
female head, was six dollars per week, they de
clared it was all a mistake—the Woman’s Hotel
was never intended as a charity, and its benev
olence consisted in affording an asylum (at six
dollars per week) for timid females who were
afraid of the male creature that infests ordinary
hotels. *
A Want. Will it cvey lie Supplied?
—For many ages the pencil of the artist has
been able to transmit to posterity the lineaments
of the human face, and more lately photography
has rendered this easy and cheap. But no lim
ner has yet been able to give any idea of the
rapid and wonderful changes which the counte
nance undergoes as it gives expression to the
various emotions of the soul. Without this our
conception of the man or woman’s real appear
ance must be vague indeed. Then too the pen
may tell as what men say, and phonography has
left us little to wish for in that direction. But
is utterly powerless to tell us how it was said.
The intonations and inflections which consti
tute the characteristic part of man’s utterances
c an not be transmitted by any art heretofore
discovered. How much it would add to our
enjoyment in reading an oration if we could
recall the tone with which the glowing thoughts
were spoken ! Will the telephone supply this
want? Time will telL It may end in being a
plaything for a few months. It may on the con-
trary prove an important step forward in man’s
advance towards the ultima thule of his attain
ments. It may be that those of the ooming
generation will be able not only to look upon
the form, bnt to hear the voiocs of their departed
The Better Alternative.—We are the
farthest possible removed from anything like
free-loveism. We believe that people should
choose their companions by the law of natural af
finity and that having made their choice, they
should bring all the loyal feelings of their hearts
into exercise to make the relation into which
they have entered a mutual benefit and pleasure.
Neither party should suffer thoughts of a sepa
ration to be excited by petty vexations. T here
are cases however in which marriages bring on
so much unhappiness that wisdom and morality
both pronounce in favor of living apart. We
do not urge incom patibility as a sufficient plea.
This is an evil whic h in a multitude of instan-
c es may be remedied. A little firmness display
ed in the dismissal of Miggs and an utter indif
ference to the hysterics of her mistress would
have given Gabriel Vardon a happy home. So,
in some cases.the patient forebarence of the wife
wears out the unkindneBs of the husband. But
there are instances in which these resorts are of
no avail—instances in whioh the bitterness of
Xantippe’s tongue can not be cured or the bar
barous cruelty of Pinchwife cannot be endured.
In such cases, separation may not insure peace
and happiness. A blunder in marriage gener
ally leaves the patties but a choice of evils, and
of these, a dissolution of the tie is by far the
better alternative *
Have We Touched Bottom t —
“ Wb haven’t touched bottom yet,” declare the
chronic croakers, who button-hole you on side
walks or soda water saloons and take all the sac
charine out of your lemonade by their vinegar
visages. “We haven’t touched bottom yet. You
think times are hard now; but you havn’t seen
anything.”
For about a minute after leaving them, our
mental sky is hung in sack-cloth; then we re
member the tokens that we have touched bot*
tom and are coming up. We recall the streaks
of daybreak; we remember we have the dollar
ot our daddies; that the blackberry crop is
promising; that Grant is going to retire and
Ben Butler has been baptized and is turning
Democrat. True, the wheat has the rust; and
the whine of the tramp is heard in the land, and
the loafer multiplies on the sidewalk; but we
come to regard tnese last two as necessary con
comitants of civilization, which seems to breed
them like flie^ without any remedy unless
each State could be controlled by a Dictator
like Francia, of ’ iron will and comprehensive
judgement and power of management, who
would rake up all these idle consumers and
parasites and put them out upon the thousands
of broad acres lying untilled,unoleared along our
railroad lines—which their enforced labor might
make to wave with grain and whiten with cot
ton, thus feeding their own hungry mouths
and adding to the revenue of the State. A Fran
cia would solve the problem of the tramp and
loafer in some such summary way—putting
him upon large State plantations, or sending
him to dig in public mines.
There were no idle burdens hanging upon
the State or the people in the model province
that the South American Dictator controlled.
But in spite of the rust and the tramp and
the tightness of the times in matters of money,
we will not believe with our chronic croaker
that we haven’t touched bottom yet. We have
touched it, and are rising slowly to the surfaoe
where we shall float bouyantly in time, having
a sneet anchJf easrUnwv ia, p>njr_Bheet_ anchor,
off the rust of old Ways and applying improved
methods and jy.ew knowledge.
Stories IV»r Children.—There are some
books which must be read in early youth if the
full enjoyment which they are capable of af
fording would be realized. What grown up
persons ever read the Arabian Nights, Bobinson
Crupoe, or the adventures of Lemuel Gulliver
with one tenth of the pleasure derived from the
perusal by a boy or girl in her early teens?
Then the imagination is all aglow, and the faith
unsuspecting. Not a doubt arises as to the
reality of those soenes which the stroke of the
enchanter’s ward has brought into existence
The palace arising in all its splendor at the
touch of the wonderful lamp, and the rock re
ceiving and dismissing its inmates at the cry of
Seasame, axe to the entranced mind of youth
as real as the dome of St. Peter, or the tower of
London. The island upon which Crusoe wan
dered about with his man Friday becomes as
much a part of the geography of the globe as
the coast of Ceylon or the bay of Naples. Though
the lands of Lilliput and Brobdignag are not to
be found on Olney’s Map of the World, it is
confidently believed that they are somewhere
and that we might, if we chose, seek these realms
of giants and pigmies. As we grow older, our
minds grow more skeptical, and we realize less
enjoyment from works of pure fiction. We still
admire the skill with which shape and consist
ency ha3 been given to what the imagination
bodies forth; but the pleasure we once felt in
believing it all true is gone forever. This lack
of faith lessens our enjoyment of many books
not specially designed for the young. Who that
has sat from the first dropping of Night’s sable
curtain until the iron tengue of midnight told
twelve,fascinated as the wand of Prospero called
up one scqne after another, has not felt that a
large part^of his pleasure was destroyod by his
knowledge that all this story of the Enchanted
Island is as baseless as the fabric of a vision ?
So is it with many other creations of the fancy.
With faith that accepts all without any doubt
ing scrutiny we may receive in the full all the
pleasurable emotions which these pictures are
calculated to awaken.
as a black runner, whioh had been basking in
the sunshine, darts away indignant at the un
welcome intrusion. As the sun nears the me
ridian the crowd, by preconcerted arrangement,
gather in the shade where a spring sends
up its sparkling waters, and gaily discuss the
events of the morning, while they partake of
the contents of ther lunch baskets. Swiftly
pass the hours until the lengthening shadows
warn the gay revelers that it is time to go home.
Thither they carry not much fruit, but the re
port that they had a most delightful time.
Every day thus spent is marked with a white
stone, and memory fondly recurs to it amid all
the scenes and trials of after life. No one may
rightly olaim that his existence has been miser
able who can refer to many such periods and
say “I was happy then.”
Wasted Breath.—What will Prof. Hux
ley, with his theory of the correlation of
foroes, say of the foroe expended in getting up
and delivering set sermons and speeches ? Your
orator oonverts his pound of beef, bread and
vegetables into an oration which he delivers to
a crowded house, three-fourths of whom hear
it not at all, and the other fourth are wholly
unmoved. What beoomes of the force ? Is it
lost ? Or if not lost, upon whom or what does
it infringe? Thousands of such speeches are
delivered every year—speeches which in many
instances have required great brain power to
produce, and great musoular effort to deliver,
yet are utterly barren of any practical result.
At all great religious gatherings sermons of
splendid eloquence are delivered of which not
a score of the hearers could next day tell you
one word, and perhaps a still smaller number
retain any vestige of the impression produced.
At commencements and at reunions, at memo
rial celebrations, and *at festivals of almost
every kind, speeches are in demand—and for
what ? To fill up the pageant; to diversify the
entertainment; to fill a lack for which the wit
of the managers can suggest no other supply.
Sometimes, indeed, an orator of transcendant
genius, without the inspiration of any special
ly momentous occasion utters words that rever
berate for ages. But usually it is expected that
the speech will be forgotten even before the
garlands and ribbons employed on the occasion
shall have faded.
Strawberry Gathering’.—We dosome
unpleasant things for the profit that is to fol
low, and we do some other things that are of
little profit save the pleasure realized in the
performances. In this latter class we may name
the gathering of wild strawberries. The fruit is
not much—generally small, always sour. But
what is more delightful than for a crowd of
young people to go forth equipped with baskets
and buckets to search brake and hedge for the
tiny crimson berries? As they approach the
fields where the fruit is to be found, gal
lant selects the fair one whom he expects to
make the object of his attentions for the day,
Soon the gentle murmur of voioes maybe heard
through the thiokets, varied by an exolamation
of glad surprise as a bunch of more n»n ordi
nary fintaees is discovered, or by a cry of alarm
The Atlanta Dramatic Society gave the two
Comedies, Robert Macaire and Naval Engage
ments, on Wednesday evening for the benefit ot
that gallant military corps—the Governor’s
Guards. Several new members of the society
appeared upon the boards for the first time;
among them Miss Milligan who took a leading
role in both plays, j The part of Marie in Robert
Macaire is a very trying one, especially to a de
butante. There is nothing attractive in it. The
only sentiment inspired by the suffering, pov
erty stricken, invalid wife of the bold criminal
is that of pity. It is a painful part, particular
ly if acted in a realistic way. Miss Milligan,
with a conscientiousness that shows her possess
ed of true art-instincts, chose to be realistic, and
b«r M»rie was painful and true. She showed
her versatility by appearing in
ments in a character the antithesis of Marie.
She was arch, gay and graceful as the Old Ad
miral’s petted and pretty fiancee. Neither play
gave opportunity for any representation of im
passioned feeling or exalted sentiment, and it
is in expressing these (judging from her recita
tions') that Miss Milligan excels. We should
like to see her as Pauline—but no; that is too
hackneyed. Would she be afraid to essay Par-
thenia with Mr. Moyers as Ingomar ? However
there is a slight artificiality and a nervousness
in her elocution which she must correct.
Miss Fairbanks, as Mrs- Pontifix, made her first
appearance behind the footlights. None would
have guessed it from her composed and perfect
ly at-home manner of acting. “Really Daven-
portish, ” whispered a clever critic—himself a
habitue of the stage. She was dressed in fine
taste, she looked handsome as she always does,
and she had an excellent conception of the char
acter she personated—that of an English lady,
aristocratic, stately and gentle.
Miss Castleberry as Clementine in Robert
Macaire, sang beautifully and acted her part
gracefully.
Mr. Moyers had the title role in Robert Macaire,
and was Lt. Kingston in “Naval Engagements.”
Wehavesaid before that this young gentleman
was the best amateur actor, we have ever seen. He
enters perfectly into the spirit of his part. He
has wonderful self-possession, and is never at
a loss. If anything goes wrong with the other
performers, his ready ingenuity fills up pauses
and invents “business.” He plays with much
animation; what he lacks is finish. There is a
certain roughness in his personations. They are
spirited and bold, but they want delicacy of
finish.
Mr. Kates as Jacques in Robert Macaire was
exceedingly funny. His Admiral Kingston was
equally good in a totally different way. He is
perfectly at home on the stage and being pro
fessional is au fait to the secrets of effect.
The other characters had minor parts but they
made the best of them. Mr. Will Forrester made
a fine appearance and his acting was correct;
Messrs. Johnson and Ingalls were delightfully
comic, Messrs. Reeves, Harralson find Ragan
filled their parts oorreotly. The Entertainment
was well managed, and netted a fair sum for
the Guards. We hope other Representations
by the Dramatic Corps, will enliven the sum
mer. •
We are delighted to hear that our good friend,
Dr. Hendree, lately of this city, has been warm-
ly welcomed by the citizens of Anniston, AU-
bama—his new home. He merits every consid
eration at their hand. He is not only learned
in his profession, a fine scholar, and a polished
gentleman, but he is a good and true man, and
the poor of the city will miss his charitable at
tendance. We deeply regret losing from our
city Dr. Hendree and his noble and amiable
wife, whose heart and hands were so ready to be
engaged in every benevolent enterprise, or
scheme for doing good, or giving pleasure to
others.
Messrs. J. J. & S. P. Richards, of this city,
constantly keep a large and thorough supply of
music, and one oan almost certainly rely on get
ting any piece from them, whether vocal or in
strumental.
STANDING NOTICES TO PAT-
RONS AND CONTRIBUTORS.
Your paper is discontinued by the
mailing clerks at the expiration of the
time paid for. The clerks have no dis
cretion in the matter and the proprietors
do not know when your time expires.
Always keep the date of your subscrip
tion and renew in time to avoid missing
a number.
In ordering your paper changed from
one office to another don’t fail to name
both offices.
When you write on a postal card
don’t forget to write your office on it.
We sometimes find it impossible to at
tend to orders because no postoffice is
given.
In writing your own name or the
names of others be very particular and
write as plainly as possible. Leave off
all flourishes and aim only at being plain
We have much trouble sometimes in
making out names and frequently get
them wrong.
In sending us MSS., or writing us
letters don’t fail to prepay the postage in
full, if you wish us to take them from
the post office. The Department is
very particular in charging and collect
ing the extra or unpaid postage on all
matter passing through the mails.
If you do not hear from your MSS.,
right away don’t conclude that it is re
jected and get mad about it, for we can
not keep up with all the MSS., that
comes into the office. We have a great
number in hand which have not been
read.
Don’t ask or expect compensation, un
less you have good reasons for believing
that the public would be pleased to
near iroiu you of your establish
ed popularity as a writer. If you are
poor and needy that does not add to the
merit of your writings. The public
knows nothing of your circumstances
and is not at all inclined to make al
lowances for an inferior article iu a pub
lic journal.
In sealing your letter or MSS., be
particular and do not allow the glue of
the envelop to stick to the letter." They
are sometimes torn to pieces in getting
off the envelop.
It would encourage us so much if all
the friends of the paper would renew
regularly and promptly at the expiration
of their time, A\ e cannot know wheth
er you wish the paper continued unless
you notify us in time, and the mailing
clerks in addressing the papers skip ail
names whose times have expired. Bear
this iu mind.
And old subscriber can renew for 12
months for §2.50 : for 6 months for
$1.50; 4 mos. for §1.00 : 3 mos. for
75 cts.
Two new subscribers sending together
can get the paper one year for $5.00, or
6 months for §3,00.
The Sunny South and Boy’s &
Girls of the South will be sent one
Year for §3.50.
Thomas Jefferson.—“Error of opinion may
be tolerated where reason is left free to combat
it.” Also: “Those by death are few; by resig
nation none.” Also: “We mutually pledge to
each other onr lives, onr fortunes, and onr sa
cred honor.’
Burke.—“The tomb of the Gapnlets.” Shaks-
pear did not say it. Bnrke in writing to Moth
er Smith, says: “I wonld rather sleep in the
corner of a little country church yard than in
the tomb of all the Capnlets.”
with foreign nations, may she always be in the
right; bat oar ooantry, right or wrong."
Palafox, Governor of Saragoxa—“War, even to
the knife."
Advertisements.
A few unobjectionable advertisements
will be inserted at 10c. per line. Special
contracts made at a lower rate according
to the time aud quantity of matter. °
5.00
12,00
18.00
six
Club Rates.
Two subscribers one year,
Five, “ u a
Eight, (t <( «
To any one sending us a club of olA
subscribers at $2.50 each, we will send
him or her the paper one year free.
How to Procure Agencies.
We receive many applications for
Agencies from unknown parties which
are not noticed unless accompanied with
strong and responsible indorsements.
Agents must give satisfactory guaran
tees for energy, faithfulness and honesty.
We have been grossly deceived, cheated
and swindled by many whom we
thought worthy of confidence and must
exercise rigid precaution in future in
appointing Agents.