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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