Newspaper Page Text
Battles Around Atlanta
TWELFTH PAPER.
‘‘Hero Brothers”—Battle of Atlanta.
BY SIDKEY HEBBEBT.
In the previous papers of this series, in one
form or another, prominence has been given to
officers of high rank and ripe experience. In
the present paper, however, I shall present the
record of two of the bravest, truest and noblest
of the young heroes of the late war, who fell
battling for the ‘Lost Cause.’ Owing to the fact
that the splendid double picture of these fallen
braves occupies so large a space, the writer is
compelled to condense his sketch, and lay aside
much of the material which he had collected for
the purpose of embellishing with sentiment and
poetry the more stern and terrible features of
the narrative.
The ‘Hero Brothers’ came from ancestry of
which our State is justly proud -Clay and Hab
ersham. There is something peculiar in these
familiar names. It is an old-time combination
that presents two family names that have been
prominent in Georgia history from the earliest
days of British rule on the sea-coast down to
our own time. Joseph Clay settled in Georgia
long before it became a State, and the Clays and
HabetshamB have been connected, in one way
and another, in business to the present day.
Stranger still, a Joseph Clay in every genera
tion has been connected with the firm (now
Robert Habersham's Son & Co., of Savannah;,
where one Joseph Clay can to-day be found.
The first Joseph Clay was a partner of James
Habersham, in Savannah, in 1754. Another
Joseph Clay graduated at West Point, and
entered t'ue United States Army in 1825, bnt
died at Fort Gratiot, Mich., in 1832.
James Habersham came to Georgia in 1739,
with the celebrated preacher, George Whitfield,
and was more or less connected with Colonial
affairs down to the Revolution, at which time
he was acting Governor of the Colony. The
sons and nephews of Gov. Habersham all enter
ed the army and became Captains, Majors and
Colonels. Some of their deeds of daring are
recorded on the brightest pages of the heroic
events of that stormy period. Joseph Haber
sham was the first Post Master General of the
United States. Robert Habersham was in the
war of 1812, and his son, Wm Neyle Habersham,
father of the ‘Hero Brothers,’joined the Geor
gia Hussars in 1837. In fact, to write the histo
ry of Georgia and leave out the name of Haber
sham, would be like printing Shakespeare’s
Hamlet with the Prince of Denmark ignored in
the cast of characters. So much, briefly, to show
the ancestry of the young heroes whose deeds I
am to record.
CAPT. JOSEPH OLAY HABEBSHAM.
Joseph Clay Habercham was at Columbia
College, South Carolina, when the late war broke
out, but immediately abandoned his studies and
joined the Confederate army. He was, therefore,
from the very beginning (at Tybee Island, near
Savannah) an active participant in the struggle.
His position as a staff officer (first with Gsn.
H. W. Mercer and then with other oommanders)
was one of importance, and kept him frequent
ly exposed to danger. Yet he passed through
the terrible battles in Virginia (where his cousin,
Lieut, Fred Habersham, was killed), thenoe
across the Mississippi, and finally back to
Atlanta, where, although then on the staff of
Gen. Gist, he fell in battle in the midst of Gen.
Mercer's old brigade, and surrounded by the
playmates and friends of his early youth and
opening manhood.
Of the death of Capt. Habersham, the South
Carolinian, under date of Atlanta, Aug. 8, 1804,
says: ‘‘Gen. Gist’s staff acted with distinguished
gallantry. Major S and Habersham were at
their respective posts, waving their hats and
swords, and urging on the men. All of their
horses were shot. * * Capt. Habersham rode
in front of the Gth Georgia, assisting its gal
lant Colonel in leading his men, waving his hat
in one hand, his sword in the other. When
within a short distance of the enemy—but leap
ing to the ground—he rushed on, waving his
sword and cheering. Just a few moments after
a shell from the enemy burst near him. * • *
Capt. Lee Butler (who had seen him but a few
moments before pat a soldier on the back to en
courage him to keep up) ran to his assistance as
he fell, and to whom he said: “Tell my mother
I die happy—I die at my post defending my
country.’ Then his noble spirit was borne
away upon the shouts of victory from thousands
of patriotic hearts.”
Under date of Aug. 12, 1864, Major N. O. Til
ton, Quartermaster of Walker’s Division, wrote
from Atlanta to Mr. Wm. Neyle Habersham, Se
nior, in regard to recovering the body of Willie,
and made this reference to the high character
aDd chivalrous conduct of the “Hero Brothers,”
with whom he had been intimately associated in
the army: “Would to God they had been spared
to their family and country. Such fidelity to
country and kindred, and to each other, as they
evinced, is not witnessed every day; and just
sueh men as they, our country needs at this
hour. * * * Gen. Gist stated to me that at
the moment Joseph Clay recieved the fatal
wound, he was patting a soldier on the back,
urging him to keep up, and was as calm and
self-possessed as ever a brave man could be; and
at the last moment his thoughts were given to
his mother and country. * * • Nobly has
he represented his family; and nobly did Wil
lie represent his gallant brother, and so brave a
soldier's remains shall not be withheld from his
family and friends if I can recover them. * * *
The loss of these two young men is not to their
family alone, but their country has also cause
for grief. Joseph Clay was beloved by all who
knew him. He was a true man, one of nature’s
noblemen. I have loved him as a brother, for
the more one saw of him the more one loved and
admired him. We were together for nearly two
years, and his conduct made me feel proud of
him. May he meet that reward above, so justly
earned in the service of his country.”
As Major Tilton says, Capt Habersham was
one of nature’s noblemen. In stature he was
over five and a half feet uncommonly strong,
and full of pluck. No man had to look twice to
see what kind of “stuff" he was made of. And
yet be was elegant in his manners, and pleasing
in conversation. His light bair was quite in
contrast with his black, sparkling eyes. Phys
ically, intellectually and morally he was a model
young man, and as a brave and gallant soldier
he won the admiration and esteem of his supe
rior officers and comrades. Near the home of
his childhood, amid scenes that were familiar to
hia boyhood and youth, in Laurel Grove Ceme
tery, Savannah, side by side with the brother
he so loved and so tenderly watched over, this
heroic young soldier sleeps his last sleep, whioh
no bugle’s fierce blast, no drum’s loud beat
shall ever disturb. The marble shaft that rises
above his grave bears this simple inscription:
“Died defending his country on the field of
battle, near Atlanta, Ga., on the afternoon of
July 22, 1864, Capt. Joseph Clay Habersham,
C. S. A. Aged 23 years and 2 months.”
PBIVATE WM. NEYLE HABEBSHAM.
When I take up the ‘Memorial Volume of the
Virginia Military Institute’ (comprising nearly
six hundred pages,) and read of the ‘boy’ com
panies that marched forth to battle (at New
Market, Va.,) from that institution, in May,
1864, and how nobly they fought, many mee-
ing death amidst the shouts of a victory won by
their youthful valor, I am prepared to say that,
the subject of this sketch was but a type of thou
sands of brave and intrepid spirits, shrined in
youthful forms, that gave an immortal lustre to
the valor of the Confederate armies.
Although a mere youth, William Neyle Hab
ersham, like his older brother, entered the Cion
federate service at the very beginning of he
war. Too young to carry a musket, he joined
the Confederate Navy, and was made a midship
man on the war Steamer Nashville. When this
vessel was destroyed (just above Fort McAllis
ter] by the Federal war fleet that made an un
successful attack on that celebrated sand fort,
he enlisted in the Savannah Cadets, and served
with that splendid company until his death on
the field of battle. The Cadets were Company
F, 54th Georgia Regiment.
Of his conduct as a soldier in that command
I will let his gallant leader, Capt. John W. And
derson, speak in his own words of commenda
tion: ‘It affords me great pleasure to bear wit
ness to his bravery as a soldier, whilst with
poignant regret I have also to speak of his hero
ic death. He volunteered and was enrolled a
member of my company in the fall of 18G3, tho
company at that time being on detached service
at Rose Dhu, as part of the garrison of the fort
at that point,commanded by Maj. A.L. Hartridge.
In Feb., 1864, the company rejoined the regi
ment at Red Bluff, S. C., and although the camp
lacked the comforts to which we had hitherto
been aocustomed, Willie never murmured, and
was always ready for his tour of duty. In March
the command was ordered to Pocotaligo, thence
in the following month to Dalton, Ga., to join
the iorces of Gen. Joseph £. Johnston. The re
treat from Dalton commenced about the 1st of
May, from which time until the day of his
death, despite the many privations incident is
that campaign, Willie was continually on active
duty, and by his soldier-like bearing command
ed the respect of both officers and men, whilst
by many kindly, actions combined with unusu
al gaity of manners, he secured the tenderest
regard of his associates and fellow soldiers.
Although wounded in the arm while on vidette,
on the 17th of June, he refused to go to the
hospital, and after having his wound attended
to by the field surgeon, he returned to his com
pany.
‘On the 22d of July, at the battle before At
lanta, my company went into action under the
immediate command of Gen. Cleburne. About
noon a charge was ordered, and as we passed
the brigade a brother officer brought
to me the sad news of Capt Joseph Clay Hab
ersham's death. Willie hearing his brother’s
name stepped out of the ranks and inquired
what of *Joe Clay ?’ The officer (Capt. Thomas
Wayne) replied that he was badly hurt ‘Tom,’
said Wil'ie, ‘I heard you, for God’s sake don't
deceive me; is Joe Clay killed ?’ Capt. Wayne
replied yes; and without a word, although he
bit his lip until the blood came, and the start
ing tear could not be suppressed, Willie took his
place in line again. About 4 o’clock we occu
pied an old breastwork, having dislodged the
enemy from two lines of entrenchments. At
this point the command ‘halt’ was given, and
most of the men protected themselves as best
they could behind the breastworks; but a few
daring spirits continued to fire upon the ene
my, who were entrenched not more than thirty
yards in front. Several of Willie’s comrades
begged him not to expose himself, but in stern
silence he continued to fire whenever an enemy
showed himself above the works, until one of
his friends caught him by the arm, saying: ‘Lie
down, my boy, there is no use in thus expos
ing yourself.’ He only replied: ‘I have three
rounds left; they have killed my brother.’ A
moment later, and the fatal bullet struck him.
Without a groan, one of the noblest and bravest
of our band fell dead. I am proud to say that
he was not only a brave soldier but a true gen
tleman, and I shall ever hold him in tender
remembrance as one of my best friends.’
Did this brave youth expose himself impru
dently by his impetuous conduct ? I think not.
Aside from the fervor of a young and active
spirit, he was stirred to the very depths of his
soul by the terrible thought that his dearly be
loved brother lay dead upon that very battle
field, and that his life-blood was scarcely cold
upon the turf where he so heroically fell. Un
der these circumstanoes Willie’s coudnct was
that of a brave and faithful brother seeking as
best he could, even at the peril of his own life,
to avenge his brother’s death. A similar case,
although not fatal, was that of Col. Turner Ash
by (the chivalrous Virginia cavalry leader) who,
when his brother, Capt. Richard Ashby, lay
mortally wounded on the field at Kelley’s Island,
Va., grew equally impetuous and daring, and
ordered his men to charge the enemy with their
bowie-knives. ‘And at them they went,’ says
his biographer. ‘Suspecting that some harm
had befallen his brother, he fought with a terri
ble courage, and those who saw the wild glance
of his eye and heard the shout of ‘charge them
boys I charge them !’ will never forget it.’ A
comrade ot Private Habersham, who stood by
his side when he fell, says his appearanoe and
conduct was precisely like that of Col. Ashby.
The former fell before the fire of his enemy, but
the latter, by some good providence, escaped
with his life. But the same noble impulse stir
red within them, the same strong purpose nerv
ed their arms, and the same light gleamed from
their flashing eyes. God only knows why the
one fell and the other escaped.
No one can look at Private Habersham’s full,
frank and noble face (in the picture accompany
ing this sketch) and not see there the impress
of a lofty spirit—brave, chivalrous and manly.
Nearly six feet in height, well proportioned, and
graceful in his movements, he made a soldier of
remarkably attractive appearance. His large
hazel eyes, shaded by long lashes, had a soft
and tender expression, and his light brown hair
was somewhat curly, which greatly added to his
frank and oordial manners. It was not strange,
therefore, that between this younger brother
and the elder, there should have been a tender
devotion that led many to call ‘Joe Clay’the
‘elder sister’ of Willie. They had been nurtur
ed by a mother whose delicate culture and deep
affection, in a home of wealth and refinement,
had moulded their manly natures into sweet
and loving harmony. It might almost be said,
with one of old, that ‘in such close friendship,
ne’er before were life and death united.’ As has
already been statedL they rest in dreamless
slumber side by si^tf one marble shaft, elegant,
yet chaste and appropriate, bearing modest
and brief records of their valor. Willie’s in
scription is the same, except in name and rank,
as Joseph Clay’s: ‘Died defending his country
on the field of battle, near Atlanta, Ga., on the
afternoon of July 22d, 18G4, Private Wm. Neyle
Habersham, C. S. A. Aged 20 years and 2
months.’ If any but a parent’s hand could
place upon the shaft a joint inscription, with
what appropriateness and truth might be
recorded the following grand words from Henry
Taylor's dramatic romance of Philip Van Arte-
velde:
‘They died like heroes, for no recreant step
Had e’er dishonored them, no stain of fear,
No base despair, no cowardly recoil.
They had the hearts of freeman to the last,
Ana the free blood that bounded in their veins,
Was shed for freedom, with a liberal joy.’
Marie La Coste of Savannah, authoress
of that beautiful and tender war poem (publish
ed on another page—) ‘Somebody’s Dabling,’
paid a noble tribute to these hero sons, whose
genial society she bad so often enjoyed in their
refined and attractive home circle. Space, how
ever, will allow bnt a single verse to be copied
here, bnt from it the reader oan judge of the
and beauty of the entire poem:
‘From our home we miss them sadly,
When the evening hour draws nigh,
And unbidden tears are gushing,
As we think of years gone by;
For the Reaper claimed our heroes,
And we dare not question why.’
A NOBLE AND DEVOTED MOTHER.
Mr. Wm. Neyle Habersham, June 23d, 1840,
married Miss Josephine Clay Habersham, a
third cousin, whose family, through the Wyllys,
was connected with that of Bishop Stephen El
liott Mrs. Habersham is a lady of rare literary
accomplishments, and a linguist of more than
ordinary ability. Her success in mastering the
French language, which she speaks fluently and
writes with great ease, has been frequently
highly commended, especially in regard to her
excellent translations. As a prose writer she
possesses a very easy, chaste and beautiful
style. Her sentences are generally short, pithy,
and sometimes rather more fiowery than sub
stantial. She has written considerable verse,
much of which has been considered worthy of
special commendation. As far back as 1841,
over the non-de-plume of ‘tallulah’—her favorite
signature—she published in the Savannah Re
publican, with the editor’s kind approval of her
‘beautiful verses,’ a poem on her first born(Jo-
seph Clay Habersham), of which the following
is the closing verse:
‘Oh! well I love my bonny child!
Could you his graces see.
You'd say he was an angel mild,
Sent down from Heaven to mo.’
It will be seen, therefore, that the ‘Hero
Brothers’ were not only worthy sous of a worthy
sire, but were reared and trained to early man
hood by a noble mother. A proud ancestry is
but an empty boast to descendants who in them
selves possess no ancestrial virtues. In this case,
however, the parents could but be proud of
their manly sons, and prouder still no doubt
they were, to see them buckle on the sword and
shoulder the musket at the first call to arms,
despite their youth and comfortable surround
ings. Hard it was for a devoted mother to see
her tender boys march away to the dangers and
privations of war, leaving behind them a home of
luxury and safety. But a brave mother can
make brave sons even more courageous, and with
a mother’s fondest blessing, freely given and
supplimented with patriotic appeals, the ‘Hero
Brothers’ went forth with stout hearts and strong
arms to do battle for their cause. And they
never faltered to the end, but pressed on untii
they fell before the deadly fire of the enemy.
Although absent from their kindred, and not
unfrequently surrounded by stirring scenes of
warfare, the boys never forgot their dear mother at
home. Whatever hardships they were called upon
endure, to her ear no word of complaint was
spoken. No matter how great the perils by
which they were surrounded, to her they always
wrote with brave and hopeful hearts. The bond
of tender affection between them never knew
even a momentary strain. Joseph Clay, writ
ing from near Fredericksburg, Va,, Dec., 18G2,
comforted his mother in these words: 'Do not
be anxious about me, dear morher. I will not
expose myself unnecessarily, I promise you.
Instances of the greatest bravery are of every day
occurrence here. In this army not to be brave,
is to be one in ten thousand. Anything rash,
here, is foolish. The only way is j ust to do your
duty. ... I am here to defend home and our
rights, and you ought not to wish me elsewhere.’
After his death Gan. Gist found in his pocket
his last letter to his mother. He and Willie
were together at the time it was written, but a
few hours before they both fell in battle. He
says: ‘I only write a line to say that Willie and
I are well. ... We are delighted to- hear from
dear grandmother. ... My love an* Willie’s to
all at home. Kiss the little children for us, and
-love to father. . . . Good-bye, my dear mother.
Many thanks for the hymn—so appropriate—
and the beautiful extracts of poeCFwyou aave
sent me. Good bye.’ Well has it been said,
‘these were the last words written by one of the
bravest of the bravest of noble sons’ to one of
the best and tenderest of devoted Christian
mothers.’
In a letter to Lieut. Hunter, who assisted in
recovering the bodies of the ‘Hero Brothers,’
after the battle ended, Mrs. Habersham explains
why she sent the hymn and scraps of poetry to
which Joseph Clay referred in his last letter:’
‘In the rough life which my dear boys led, I
used to suggest a new train of thought, through
my letters, by enclosing a hymn, or extracts of
a nature to call their minds from the worldly
turmoil around, to the uncertainty of life, and
the realities of an eternal future. They valued
these extracts, and often asked for them and
appreciated them. I thank a morciful God,
thhat I have reason to believe that He blessed
the hoarts of my beloved ones, with His saving
grace. Could the wide world offer a richer re
ward to a mother’s prayers? * * * Believe me,
my young friend, that the true secret of life’s
happiness is to be able to say, ‘Thy will, not
mine, be done.’ ‘May God bless you.’
As Captain Anderson states, Willie bore the
hardships and discharged the duties of a private
soldier unshrinkingly and without a complaint.
Writing to his mother from near Marietta, Ga.,
June 5, 1864, he sa-’s: ‘We cannot fall back
much more, consequently I look forward to a
great battle very soon. I would not miss it for
anything, and am most anxious concerning it;
not that I think Johnston will extinguish Sher
man, but we look for great results, and I am
very impatient for the conflict.’ The next day
he added this to the letter: ‘We have moved one
mile since yesterday, and are now in line of bat
tle, supporting Gist’s brigade. * * * * I am
seated near Joe. Clay. * - * * I am per
fectly well—have never known a sick hour since
I left home -quite up to everything. * * * *
It is impossible to tell what Johnston intends
doing. If his own coat knew his plans, he would
throw it away. I hear the Signal Corps is to be
disbanded in Savannah, Don’t let brother come
on here. This life would not fascinate him
much; he had better seek service near home, or
in Savannah. For myself, I have never regretted
having come. I am perfectly content, and satis
fied with everything. Love to all of the family,
and remember me to all the servants.' His fare
well letter to his mother, written at the same
time that Joseph Clay wrote his, never reached
its destination, which caused deep grief to this
sorrow-stricken parent. Still, from comrades
who were with the ‘Hero Brothers’ in their last
hours, she received verbal farewell messages,
and evidences that in death they thought only
of ‘country’ and ‘mother.’ These were their last
words—for Willie died for the brother who had
just fallen for his country, and whose last
thought was of his devoted mother. And could
these fallen braves speak from their graves to
day, they would say to their stricken mother,
whose devotion to her younger child affliction
has made even more tender and beautiful:
“Tell to them the story mother,
Why we sleep beneath the sod;
That we died to savejour country,
All for love of her and God.
Would we could repay you, mother,
For your faithful love and care;
God uphold and bless you, mother,
In the bitter woe you bear,”
Kimball House, Aug., 1878.
A remarkable escape from death by lightning
oocurred at Wapping, Conn', daring a storm
last Sunday. A young lady, named Katie Bel
cher, was struck, the lightning beginning with
her hat, whioh waB set on fire. It tore her hair
completely off the back part of her head, ran
down her back,tearing her clothes to pieoss and
her shoes into fragments. She was rendered
insensible by the shook,but soon recovered and
has experienced no serious injury.
Health. Department.
By Jno. Stainback Wilson, M. D,,
Atlanta, Ga.
Maternal Influences. Rules for Moth
ers. They Should Nurse Their
Children.
From what has been said of parental, and es
pecially maternal influences, it will be seen that
the physical education of children actually be
gins before their birth, their future lot in life
being, to a great extent, dependent on the moth
er’s state of mind and body.
The nature of tbe subject, and the circum
stances under which I write, make it necessary
to withhold many interesting and impressive
details which could not fail to convince those
interested qf its transcendent importance. I
must, therefore, content myself with simply
giving some examples of maternal influence.
Medical records abound in these. It is said of
the philospher, Hobbs, that he unhesitatingly
ascribes his own excessive timidity and nervous
sensibility to the mental excitement of his
mother, in anticipation of the invasion of the
Spanish Armada. ‘In like manner,’says Combe,
‘the constitutional aversion to the very sight of
a drawn sword, and to every kind of danger,
shown by James I., of England, so admirably
portrayed in the Fortunes of Nigel, is ascribed,
and apparently not without reason, to the con
stant anxiety and apprehension suffered by his
mother, Mary.’
And, it may be added that this example rises
above a mere surmise or probability, when it is
remembered that the timidity of James was au
exception to the family character.
Bonaparte is another illustration of mater
nal influence; for his mother being associated
with her husband in his military expeditions, it
is highly probable that, in this way was infused
into the 'Child of Destiny,’ that remarkable mil
itary genius which will always be the wonder
and admiration of the world.
Mariceau tells us that a relation of his was
abruptly informed of the death of her husband
who had just been killed, and that her child re
tained during its whole life a trembling exactly
like that which the mother experienced on re
ceiving the intelligence: Penel and other au
thors give similar instances. Baron Percy, an
eminent French military surgeon, says, that af
ter a certain seige, accompanied by terrific can-
nonadings and explosions, ninety-two children
were born. Of these, fifty-nine died early, or
were idiotic.
Exceptions Considered.—But, to this
doctrine of maternal influence it maybe object
ed that diseased matrons have healthy children.
To this it may be replied that such cases are by
no means numerous, and that the exceptions are
more apparent than real. Sometimes the moth
er's disease is of a local nature, having but little
effect on her general system. In other cases the
disease, whatever it may be, is not continnons,
but is suspended for a time. From these and
other circumstances a child may have all the
indications of good health for some time, but
sooner or later, the seeds of inherited disease,
will, in the great majority of cases germinate
and bear fruit of premature death.
Rules for Mothers.—Obey the following
laws of health:
1. Cultivate cheerfulness and equanimity,
avoiding as far as possible, all greatly exciting
and depressing influences.
2. Seek useful employment and invigorating
exercise.
3. Have pure air by day and by night. *
4. Bathe often in water of an agreeable tem
perature.
5. Gat plenty of sleep.
G. Wear loose clothing, snited to the season.
7. Let the diet be plain in quality, and mod
erate in quantity.
S. Avoid a frequent resort to drugs, and espe
cially opium and cathartics.
Mothers Should Xurse their Chil-
<li •Oil.—Surely no woman who will honestly
inquire, ‘what is my duty in this respect?’ and
who will then follow the dictates of her own
better judgment, and the maternal promptings
of her own heart will for a moment think of
committing her precious charge into the hands
of a stranger, when this can possibly be avoid
ed. And yet, I am sorry to say that there are
mothers so subservient to the requisitions of a
spurious and unnatural civilization, so misled
by the seductive charms ot the fashionable
world that they disregard the high and sacred
obligations imposed on them by the God of na
ture, and forego those sweet maternal joys
which none but a loving, natural, 7iursing moth
er can feel; and which are as far superior to the
frothy pleasures of fashionable life as the real
and natural are to the false and artificial, as
high above the hollow cenventionalities and the
so-cailed pleasures of the fashionable world as
the heavens are high above the earth. Materni
ty has its peculiar pains and trials, too well
known to mothers, but there is a just compen
sation in all things, and the tender, dutiful
mother who watches over the couch of her sleep
ing infant, who ministers to all its wants her
self, has pleasures peculiarly her own, enjoy
ments so pure, so holy, so exalted as to beggar
description. Well might Mrs. Welby say in one
of her sweet strains:
‘For ’tis a sight that angel ones above,
May stoop to gaze on from their bowers of bliss
When Innocence upon the breast of love
Is cradled in a sinful world like this.’
A mother who fails without good cause to dis
charge her maternal obligations, may escape
sojme of the cares incident to rearing children;
but at the same time she deprives herself of the
greatest enjoyments of which the human heart
is susceptible; and she is guilty of criminal in
justice to her offspring, which mast weigh heav
ily on her conscience and dash with bitterness
the pleasures of her life; and which in many
cases, mast result in the moral or physical de
struction of her child, with a lifelong train of
unavailing regrets over the sad consequences of
her own lolly and want of faith!ulness.
What are the joys of a dutiful mother? ’Tis
hers to note the sweet nnfoldings of the bud of
promise that nestles on her breast; 'tis hers to
watch the first dawnings of intelligence; to aid
the mind’s development; to minister to the body;
to gnard the morals; to calm with gentle strains
the rising storm of passion and then when sleep
has sealed the eye-lids of her precious charge,
she can gaze with ravished delight on the sweet
smile that plays on the lips of the little dream
er; and as she sits and sings, and thinks of the
beautiful legend of angel visitants she can al
most see the bright forms that hover around !
Is it possible that mothers will forego snch pure
such heavenly joys as these for the fleeting and
unsubstantial pleasures of the ball-room ? Can
it be that they will forsake the very precinct of
heaven for the crowded parlors of fashionable
dissipation ? Will a mother who desires to dis
charge the sacred obligations imposed on her
commit her infant to a hireling, who can never
feel a mother’s care, who cannot and will not per
form a mother’s part ?
A hired nurse may, indeed, fnrnish food (or
the neglected and well nigh motherless little
one; but she will never minister to its mental,
spiritual and physical necessities with the ten
der solicitade of a mother. When the misguid
ed parent is absent on her giddy rounds of fash
ionable folly, her poor babe will often suffer
from the carelessness and indifference of the
none; will often writhe in pain from the harsh
infliotions prompted by petulanoe or impatience
and then, in all probability, the scene of cruel
mistreatment will close for the night with a
large dose of some stupifying drug, which sinks
the little unfortunate into a deep, unnatural
slumber that may prove the sleep of death, aui
which 1 if often repeated, mast inevitably result
in impaired health and au early grave.
Thousands of children are thus drugged to
death every year. And, even in this City of
Atlanta, and in all other oities, not a few chil
dren are sacrificed by the carelessness and neg
lect of nurses who are seat oat with children on
the street. More than one instance has come to
my knowledge where the life of a child has been
lost by the nurse allowing it to go to sleep
the little carriage, exposed to the cold wind,
without sufficient covering for the extremities,
the legs, arms and feet being lef: bare.
Children should have an abundance of pure
air by day and by night, in summer and in win
ter, indoors and outdoors, in sickness and in
health; but they should never be permitted to
sleep in the open air nor be exposed to a cur
rent of air indoors, when asleep.
Bnt, mothers who trust their children to hired
nurses may be sure that this rule will be disre
garded.
Milk Fever.—It seems that a writer in the
New Orleans Times has discovered that ‘sweet
milk is very injurious to young children and
that the yellow fever has been most prevalent
and fatal among children who drank milk.’ He
is quoted by Mrs. Brvan as saying that milk
is not a natural food for this climate, that
it is too rich for a summer diet and devel
ops bilious complaints.’ Mrs. B. then asks:
‘What does Dr; Wilson of our Health Depart
ment say to this ? ’ Before replying it would be
well to know what kind of milk is refered to.
It cannot be mothers' milk, for certainly this is
the appropriate food provided by nature for
children until the first teething is completed.
It mast be cows’ milk to which the writer al-
ludes. If so —if it is cows’ milk, and city cows’
milk at that, it is very strange that the presumed
ill effects should be attributed to the richness ot
the milk. It is generally admitted that the milk
from cows fed on distillery slops and confined
in filthy stalls, without exercise, is unwhole
some: and it is a very common opinion that the
milk sold in cities is pretty freely diluted with
water. The trouble complained of therefore,
can hardly arise from the richness of the milk.
If the milk has any agency in the production of
disease it must be due to the poisonous qualities
of this fluid on account of the nature of the food
with which the cows are fed. If not from this
cause its deleterious effects, admitting that they
exist, are much more probably due to the poverty
than the richness of the milk. As to any ten
dency in milk to cause bilousuess, I regard it as
an unfounded popular error, like many others,
which are, contradicted alike by science,
reason, observation, the teachings of nature,
common sense and experience.
’Till the first teeth appear, the proper food and
the only proper food for a child is the milk of its
mother provided she is healthy. In the absence
of this, the best substitute, all things considered,
is the milk from a healthy cow fed on whole
some food, or, what is perhaps better condensed
milk. If the cows’ milk is too rich, it shonld be
diluted with water, and this should always be
done for some time —say for the first year in
whioh it is used. In a subsequent article I will
give full directions on this subject. As to the
presumed ill effeots to the boys, from ‘going in
swimming,' Mrs. Bryan has answered fully and
with her usnal good sense. The trouble is not
in the bathing, but in the time, manner and cir
cumstances of the bathing—not in the overheat
ing either, but in the overstaying in the water
and the exposure to the direct rays of the sun.
Exercise to the point of perspiration is the best
preparation for a cold bath, provided the exer
cise has not been carried to fatigue or exhaus
tion.
Boys, arfd girls too, shonld bathe dog days or
no dog days, but they should not remain too
long in the water nor be exposed to the sun as
is generally the case with boys; and this is the
cause of sickness when it occurs. So far from
bathing being a cause of fever or any other dis
ease, it is when properly done the best protec
tion against all fevers, yellow fever included,
and every other disease. This is preeminently
true of the Turkish bath, which may be regarded
as a perfect protection against all fevers, epidemic
and endemic, if used regularly while exposure
to such fevers continues.
Science.
Volcanoes in the moon.—It has long been a
mooted point whether active volcanoes still ex
ist in the moon. In 1787, Sir William Herschel
announced that he had observed three volcanoes
in actual operation in different parts of the
moon, the diameter of the principal crater being
about three miles. Other observers have de
scribed similar phenomena, but the prevailing
opinion among the astronomers at the present
time, is against the existence of active lunar vol
canoes. In May, of last year, however, Dr. H.
J. Klen, of Koln, while examining the moon,
noticed a great black crater on the Mare Vapo-
rum, and a little to the northwest of the well-
known crater, Hyginus. He describes it as be
ing nearly as large as Hyginns, or about three
miles in diameter, as being deep and full of
shadow, and as forming a conspicuous object
on the dark gray Mare Vaporum. Having fre
quently observed this region daring the last
twelve years, Dr. Klein felt certain that no such
crater existed there at the time of his previous
examination.
Micbophone and Magnophone.—There is evi
dently much activity among experimenters in
the wide field opened by the telephone. Mr.
W. L. Scott, an English investigator, has just
devised at instrument which he calls the mag
nophone. In his first experiments Mr* Scott
found that to increase the volume of sound from
the telephone it was only necessary to increase
the weight of metal in the diaphragm, but in
stead of increasing the thickness of the plate he
discovered that it was better to nse several la
minae perforating all but that nearest the man-
net. Iron filings formed the next step, with
results so promising that other substances in a
finely divided state were tried—precipitated sil
ver, pure iron, mercury and platinum—the last
named being most sensitive to sound. Mercu-
ry answers all parposes, bat instead of char
coal as the porous holder of the metal, Mr. Scott
used pumice or asbestos, from which he cut the
phonophorio tablets, spheres, or cylinders. The
results are identical with those obtained by Pro
fessor Hughes, in the construction of the micro
phone,
Colored Photograph*.
No one has yet succeeded in producing pho
tographs in the natural colors although the list
of those who have attacked the problem and
failed is unusually long. Tae court photo
grapher of Vienna has however, made some
practical steps in that direction. His process
is said to depend npon analyzing light into the
primary colors, red, bine and yellow, taking a
photograph by each and then combining the
result in the printing. A plate is first chemic
ally prepared so as to receive only the yellow
tints of the object to be depicted, and a nega
tive of this plate is put under the press, the
cylinder of whioh is oovered with yellow paint,
so that in this impression nothing but the yel
low parts of the object are printed off. A similar
prooess is then adopted with the two oolors,
and after three seperate impressions the pioture
is oomplete. The system, however, does not
sound very promsing, and is oertainly the re- >
verse of simple. A