Newspaper Page Text
BREAD l POX THU WATERS ; OR, THE
I’RIMA DONNA’S PROTEGE.
BY MATTIE DYER UIUTTB.
More than thirty years ago, there lived
in one of our leading cities a lady, since
well known throughout the land as a
reigning queen in the world of song.
She was then young, Ail I of a high
souled enthusiasm, pursuing her musical
studies with eager devotion, preparatory
to appearing before the public us a vo
calist.
Day after day the sweet notes of the
wonderful songstress woke the echoes of
the quiet street, as she gave her whole
heart to the noble themes which inspired
her voice, running the mostditiicultseales
and pausing at will to trill upon any
note which struck her fancy, throwing
out the tones in a full flood of melody,
until many a hasty footstep was arrested
as the passers-by paused to listen to the
witching strains.
Oue day the windows being open to
catch the cool, fresh air, the lady’s at
tention was drawn to the tattered figure
of a little girl, with weird face and wild,
wonderful eyes, who leaned upon the
window Casing. Her gaze was fixed
upon the singer's face, drinking in every
delicious note with an interest in strong
contrast with her poverty marked ap
pearance.
Pausing only to give the child a kind
ly smile, the lady was soon absorbed in
her music again. But when the lesson
was over, mid she rose from the piano,
she glanced at the window, and saw the
little girl just quitting her post.
Next dav, and the next, and the next,
the little thing was there again occupy
ing her place silently, listening with un
tiring patience to the singer, only giving
a deep sigh when each lessou ended.
Such unabated interest could not fail
to attract the singer’s attention. Oue
morning she turned to her listener and
said kindly:
“ Well, little oue, do you like to hear
me sing?”
The small face flushed, but the child
answered without hesitation:
“ Yes, ma’am.”
“Well, I love to sing for those wb<>
love to listen," said the lady. “ You shall
come in and hear something better than
scales aud exercises. Would you like
that!"
“ Oh, yes t) the great wild eyes kin
dled as the child spoke.
“Conte to the door, then. Or stay,the
window is low, can’t you spring in ?”
One light bound, and the ch'ld was
in the elegant parlor. Stopping not for
one curious glance around, she came
straight to the piauo, standing at the
lady’s side.
Throwing aside her exercises upon
the rack, the songstress sang two or three
of her best pieces in her best manner.
The child stood quiet as if she were spell
bound, only her deep, low breathing re
vealing her intense excitement.
“ Do you like that?” said the lady,
smiling graciously upon her tiny, atten
tive audience.
“ Oil yes ! oh, yes ! I can sing a lit
tle of the lust one, myself.”
“ You can !” cried the singer. “ What
do you mean? How could you learn it ?”
“I heard a lady sing in a big hall one
night. -I stood out on a balcony and
listened. And she sang that song. I re
membered some of it.”
“ Let me hear you try it,” said the
lady. She turned to the piano and struck
the chords. The child folded her hands
tightly around each other, drew herself
up and sang.
The lady listened a moment, pleasure
and astonishment succeeded each other
on her countenance. Then she forgot
the chords, turned to the child, and
watched with breathless interest her ex
ecution of an intricate passage, while
the childish voice, trembling with excess
of melody, rose and fell with indescriba
ble sweetness on the turns aud trills of
the difficult song.
When it was ended the lady smoothed
the girl’s tangled hair with her white
hands saying:
“ There should be feathers here instead
of hair! No wild bird of the woods
ever warbled more naturally! Child,
God gave you a wonderful voice. Would
you like to learn to use it well?”
“ Oh, lady ! Most of all things !”
•• You shall, then. lam to study a
while in this city, before going to Europe.
If yon like, you may come to me for an
hour every morning, and I will teach
you. Will you do so?”
“ Oh, yes! oh, yes!” whispered the
child, with her full heart in her voice,
“ You shall begin to-morrow. And
now tell me, who are you, little one? ’
“ Lady, I am your washerwoman’s
daughter,” replied the child.
Next day the pupil came, and a course
of study was begun, and pursued with
VOL III—NO. 28.
untiring zeal until the lady’s own studies
called her to Europe.
Then, with sincere regret, and many
charges to her to pursue her studies ns
far ns possible, the singer bade her little
protege farewell.
Years passed away. The lady rose
high on the throne of song, aud was
crowned with love aud laurels by her
grateful countrymen.
At length, distinguished and beloved
for a past glory w hich only age and fail
ing health could limit, she rested fiom
her arduous labors, and left her profes
sion to seek the quiet happiness of the
domestic circle.
Other aspirants for fame sought to take
up the laurels she had laid aside. Willi
generous kindness she took a warm in
terest in their success.
At last there came to the city aprimn
donna who already had the world at her
feet. No small commotion was caused
in musical cin les by her arrival.
A few days liefore the opening of the
opera season, the retired singer received
an envelope addressed in an unfamiliar
hand, from which, when she had opened
it, there fell a complimentary card for
the season, aud a note containing these
w ords:
“Dec., 18 —.
“Dear Madame: —Years ago you
took from the streets of a great city, a
little wayward, poverty-lwund child,
nursed and fed her passionate love of
song, and taught her from your ow n lips.
Now, dear nmdamc, that little child en
treats you to honor with your presence
the opera season, during which she fills
the principal roles. Please, dear nn.dante,
take the indosed card with the grateful
thanks of,
‘ Your Washerwoman’s Daughter.”’
A moment the great lady looked at
the note with intense surprise. Then
the truth came to her mind as the tears
came to her eyes—the world-renowned
prima donna was the little girl she had
taken from her window and taught to
sing.
With only less anxiety than she had
waited in former years for her own sum
mons, Madame took her place in
the brilliantly lighted box prepared for
her reception, and watched for the ap
pearance of the star of the evening.
She did not appear during the first
act. At the opening of the second the
rapturous hurst of applause from the
crowded seats gave notice of the com
ing of the favorite.
Could it be? Was the royally-robed
woman who came down the stage with
regal step, and queenly mien, the lit.
tie, poorly clad child who wandered
about the streets of the great city?
Scarce did such seem a possible case.
But a® she advanced, she paused di
rectly in front of Madame 's box,
and with a deep and graceful bend of
her beautilul form, raised her eyes—ah,
yes, the same weird, wonderful eyes of
years agone !—full upon Madame s
face.
And the audience, who, without un
derstanding the little scene, knew that
an act of homage was rendered by the
reigning favorite to the beloved passed
one, recognized the generosity of the
fair prima donna, and burst into renew
ed thunders of applause.
But of all the brilliant throng, only
Madame aud her immediate friends
knew that the favorite of the people,
the throned and crowned queen of song,
was once the humble washerwoman's
daughter.
Cuthbert Southron : We see from an
exchange that the sum of $72,000 has
been appropriated by the Federal Con
gress to pay the State of Georgia for
advances made during the war of 1812.
Who lobbied this through, and who is
to get the “ Bob Alston portion ” of
the grab ? Also that it lias been found
that the State of Alabama owes the
State of Georgia about SIB,OOO for
keeping lunatics, and that his excel
lency, the Governor, has given the case
to lion. Reese Crawford; of Columbus,
Ga. Where is the Attorney-General
with a salary of $2,000 of the good
people’s money, that extra legal ser
vices are necessary, at high fees, to
perform his work. The Hill-Murphy
matter is causing the people of the 85,-
000 majority to think and ask ques
tions. We hope these questions may
be answered to their satisfaction. The
“organized” had better be particular
or the next General Assembly mav be
nosing into these small matters of State
finance.
HOW DOES GEORGIA TREAT HER PEX
ITEXTIARY CONVICTS!
IT miry an ('Kristian Adroralt.
This communication is impelled by the
I the demands made upon the writer by
j convictions of duty to his unfortunate
[ fellow-beings, as well as by a sense of
I justice and mercy.
It is necessary for the protection of the
rights of society that governments should
punish crime according to the offense.
| Georgia has arrested and taken from
' their homes, under her laws, u!*out 1200
of her citizens, and condemned them to
a term of hard labor for a term of years.
The object sought is the protection of so-
I ciety l>v punishing crime, and also the
| reformation of the criminals themselves,
Iso that wlu-n the time of imprisonment
| expires they maybe returned to their
! homes reformed ; so changed that they
! may become good and valuable citizens.
Does the present system of “ leasing
the convicts” accomplish the end sought?
We assert without hesitation that the
criminal is not reformed. On the con
trary, the convicts, when returned to so
ciety, instead of being reformed, have in
fact become confirmed and accomplished
violators of the law, and pests to the
neighborhoods where they may after
wards liye. In other words, Georgia 1
has, hy her present leasing system, given
her convicts the bsst of opportunities to
become familiar with all manner of
crimes instead of educating them to hate
wrong and to become lovers of their fel
low men.
We Use the word “ Georgiu,” and w?
mean to charge all the people of our
niaus with inis erroneous auu sunui pinn
of dealing with our convicted felons;
the writer acknowledges his guilt, and
does not seek to escape his share of the
wrong. The lessees —to whom I would
not be unjust —may fail in their duty of
mercy aud justice; the wretched con
victs may suffer under the hand of their
guards and overseers, hut we, the peo
ple of Georgia, have by our laws, placed
these unfortunate beings in their hands,
and their acts arc our acts. Every man
who may be murdered in cold blood by
a drunken, heartless guard, or who dies
from exhaustion under a boiling sun iu
a railroad cut or excavation ; every in
nocent child, born of a convict mother,
fatherless and friendless ; are the results
of a system of treatment, for which we,
in our collective capacity ns citizens of
Georgia, are to blame. We may abuse
the lessees and publish their acts, but we
cannotdeceive God, who seetli and know
eth all tilings.
But the friends and supporters of the
present system, while admitting its evils,
1 ask, What will we do with them? I an
i swer : We, the people of Georgia, will
I treat them as human beings; we will
imprison them within secure walls, con
fine them at night inseparate cells, knock
their clankingchains from their benumb
ed limbs, let their blood, as God intend
ed it should, circulate freely, according
to the laws of health and life.
We should not, by our treatment, in
flict the penalty of death by cruelty on
those convicted of crime, the punish
ment of which is, by our laws, imprison
ment at hard labor for a term of years.
We should not injure their health by
binding then limbs with cold iron chains
during the long winter nights, nor by
forcing them to lie at nights chained to
gether. Animals, not human beings,
thus huddled together ; hut even animals
can select their bed-fellows, or change
places should their neighbors become of
fensive. But Georgia allows her felons
no such chance to secure comfort or pre
serve health.
What is the result of such treatment?
The principal keeper of the penitentiary
—who lives in Atlanta, and only sees
the convicts on occasional stated visits
to the widely separated camps —in an
swer to the inquiry of tne writer, stated
that but few long-term convicts live to
see the end of their service. Why?
Because of the unhealthy, cruel treat
ment involved in the present system. In
other words, Georgia, by her present sys
tem of caring for her felons, so neglects
and outrages the laws of health that they
HARTWELL, GA., WEDNESDAY. MARCH 12, DC9.
are killed by slow torture.
Now for the prooof. Iu well regulated
prisons the (loath-rate is less than two
per cent; under our system it has boon
from five to eight. I refer all persons
who doubt to the reports of the princi
pal keeper of the penitentiary, tuid of
legislative committees. And the num
ber the most hardened felons who es
cape is Very large. After the trouble
and expense of arrest and conviction, [A
blank here in the manuscript; the per
ceat-of those making their escape is not
given! by the writer, but it is confessedly
very lurgC'—Ep.J per cent, are allowed
to escape without serving out the term
for which they have been sentenced. The
present system, instead of reforming
criinjnuls and puuishing crime, corrupts
the young and allows the hardened con
vict to escape.
But the supporters of the present plan
say \hl we are making money under it,
aud by any other system we would in
crease ex|M*nse. Now, some men, from
their stand-point, believe that this is on
unanswerable argument; they estimate
money higher than duty, justice and mer
cy. Why, they assert, the people of
Georgia are not going to be taxed to
take care of criminals! Do they forget
to estimate how much it costs to arrest
and trv the number of persons charged
withjerimes iu Georgia? the pay of the
judges, solicitors-general, jurors and of
ficers’ fees? But admit (what is not true)
that another plan w ould cast something;
is that any reason to influence the good
people of Georgia in their treatment of
their felons? Do our citizens feel ele
vated when it is announced that they
are growing rich through the commission
of crime? that we do not reform, hut
still further debase and degrade? that
we do not heal the afflicted, but violate
so much the laws of health, that the
siout aim vigorous aii-weu miu uic: me
we proud of the fact that no effort is
made to instruct our convicts in moruls
and religion? that we do not pay one
cent to furnish the Bible to twelve hun
dred convicted criminals? not one cent
to the minister of God to make an ef
fort to convince these felons of their silts,
and instruct and encourage them to seek
pardou of one who is higher and purer
than presidents or governors? Will not
the religious nten and women of the State
see to it that an honest effort is made to
reform our felons hy affording them an
opportunity to think and reflect upon
their nets and to learn that there is a way
to grow hotter and to become purer?
The present treatment gives them no mo
ment for self examination and ntedila
j tion ; being crowded together, they are
forced to hear words of blasphemy and
vulgarity continually.
The contemplation of the crimes and
cruelties grow ing out of the present leas
ing system is heart-rending. We assert,
and will prove, in future communica
tions, that there is no attempt made by
Georgia to reform her criminals ; no at
tempt made to convert them to the re
ligion of the Bible; nor is there any
means of intellectual or moral instruc
tion ; that hy the present leasing plan
we teach them all manner of wicked
ness, and debase and corrupt them, and
destroy every good impulse that God lias
implanted in the heart of every human
being. W. T. Wofford.
Bartow county, Ga.
A Terrible Mistake.
A young man from a back county
came into town to boy a present for his
girl last week. llis wondering gaze
being fixed by the the gorgeous display
in a goods window, he entered the
store, and bashfully stepped in front of
a pretty young lady behind the counter.
“llow much are those worth?” he
inquired, pointing to a pair of band
soinely wrought nickle plated garters
in the window.
“ Seventy-five cents,” replied the
young lady sweetly, handing out the
articles in question, and blushing
slightly.
“ I think they are kinder pretty, don’t
you ?” inquired the man, anxious for
somebody else’s opinion.
“ Very,” replied the young iniss;
“they are the latest style.”
“Everybody wears them, don’t the}'?”
inquired the young man.
“ Almost everybody,” said the young
lady, affecting an indifferent air.
“I was goin’ to get them for a gal
WHOLE NO. m
that I know," said the young man,
somewhat nervously. •• Do you think
shu would have them."
“ 1 should think she might—l don't
know," returned the young lady, blush
ing again.
“ Well, I don't hardly know ntyself,"
said the man, picking up one of the
dainty articles and examining it closely.
“ You don't suppose they are too large,
now, do j’ou ?” ,i
“Why—l—l-J’ stammered tle fair
young lady, the blush growing deeper.
“ They seem sorter big like,” contin
ued the young man, not observing her
Confusion, “ but of course 1 wouldn't
be certain. Site’s middlin' size but not
very fat, and inebbc those would he a
little too loose. I should think site
was about your bigness, an’ if those
would fit you of course they would fit
her. Now, jmt suppose yon try them
on, an' if— ’’
“ Sir!" exclaimed the young lady be
hind the counter, in an awful voice,
that lifted the young man’s Imi on the
end of his hair, “you are insulting,”
and she swept away to tlio end of the
store, leaving the bewildered young
man standing in dumb amazement,
holding in his hands what he supposed
was a beautiful pair of bracelets. And
when one of the male clerks came and
explained his mistake, the young man
from the hack town struck a direct line
for his team, and in a very l*rief space
of time was tearing toward home at a
rate that threatened to irretrievably
ruin the old horse. lie’ll buy no brace
lets until he’s married.
THAT IIAKTAYF.I.S. SOM (!?!).
■IV I.KNO.
I hiivfi a boy—a liouucing non—
A iul ho’* it lively, sprightly one ;
Though he in day* and yearn in young,
Vet aage advice encape* hi* tongue.
To nee the MWoothearta nil al home ;
With Miiiiloa they 6fer greet hi* cull,
Ami aone are Hiultten— yea, they're all.
For him o wn wive* ex pro** their love,
Ami yet their hunltand* *till approve !
And join to welcome, too, with joy,
Thin womlroiiH, ever wanil ring boy.
Yet he low rival* who in vain
Would Htrive hi* eminence to gain :
Still he can feel no jealoimy
He’ll independent, "fancy free."
He i* a lad that * mire to plca*a,
Although the Imy* a vexing teaee,
And every one he will anm*e,
And tell them all the latent now*
He’ll tell the merchant*, If they're wine,
Their tmaineMH they will advertiwe.
He 11 ahow the farmer* how to plant,
To make a living, if they can t.
To make one laugh he'll " beat the .Jew*,"
(If thin expi’CH*ioii you'll excuae) ;
HU joke* *0 racy, rich and rare.
Will wear your risible* threadbare.
With full two Georgia lawyer’* cheek,
Of con cm* lie ha* the bra** to apeak :
Hi* MMitlmentrt lie'll talk out plain
And hold them through " Miiuahineand rain."
He'll any lmw you eiui cure your ill*
With Indian herb* aud patent pill*;
Should old rime c hange your hair from black,
He’ll learn you how to change it buck.
A youth precociou*. you will nay ;
So wi*e, *0 lovely and ho gay,
The girl* cannot re*i*t hi* charm*,
But woo him oft with out*trctchixl arm*.
He i* the fav'rite where he goo*,
All are hi* friend*—could he have foe* ?
But lent I weary you, I’m done—
Thi* boy i* named The Hauiwkli, Sl.v !
THE PARTITION OF TEXAS.
Atlanta Constitution.
The indications are that the question
of the partition of Texas will soon as
sume prominence and intrude itself
into om politics. The State is already
rent in spirit by the internal schemes
and jealousies of sections and an army
of hungry politicians, eager for place,
are ready to make the agitation lively
and effective. When Texas was ad
mitted into the union in 1845, one of
the conditions was that her immense
territory should be subdivided in small
er States whenever it acquired popula
tion sufficient. They are not few who
affect to believe the time has come for
such partition, and we shall not be sur
prised to see a movement to that end
take formidable shape within a short
period of the future.
Texas has ample land and “ natural
advantages” for division. The State
is larger than the whole of France ami
nearly six times the size of Pennsyl
vania, but she lacks people. Her in
crease for several years under the stim
ulus of reckless and seductive adver
tising has been astonishing, and the
figures are pow pnt at 1,250,000 souls.
Her climate is remarkable for its va
riety, her mineral resource* abundant,
her productions diversified, and her cat*
tie and wool interests assumes enorm
ous pm|w>rtions. All these and more
that tend to make a State great and
prosperous has Texas, and the division
of them by State lines might easily b
made.
The reasons for demanding a parti
tion of the State are nearly all of *
local character. The people of the
Uniou at large have very little intereel
in these motives. The question that is
general is, ought the number of Stales
to be needlessly increased ? Texas is
iloing well enough as one of the sister
hood, and all the interests of her pres
ent population nrge that she should re
main unified for the present. To take
five small States, with an average pop*
ulation of each, and carry for
ward the work of progress that is being
made in the same territory now would
be a perilous undertaking. In the
present condition of Texas and of the
eouptry generally, it (4 better that Uie
territory of that State aUould have one
government, oue set of laws, one pub
lic debt and one pnrpose in all methods
of material progress. To iflvlde in
terests and multiply machinery is to
lose the strength she now (tossesoes.
It is neither wise nor |olitic to have
this done, and the wants or ambitions
of politicians siionld not permitted
to goad the people into this folly.
In its political aspect the division of
Texas is not needed. In a matter of
such grave importance and with such
mighty possibilities for the future,
party politics should be sent to the
rear. We know that Texas is over
whelmingly democratic and that five
new States would semi eight new and
awfully democratic senators to Wash
ington. We know the political value
of this accession to a democratic ma
jority, but we hesitate to declare that
Texas is ripe cnongh for a change so
beneficial to the party of her love. She
can do better for herself ami the coun
try, for the present hy insisting upon
full representation in the house of rep
resentatives. It is more important to
have n working majority of democrats
in the house where the economy of the,
government is controlled than to liave
eight more of a majority in that branch
There arc too many of the sons of
Georgia in Texas for us to feel unmind
ful of the welfare and prosperity of the
great commonwealth, but we do not
clearly sec advantages which partition
of her territory, at this juncture, could
bring to her people or to the country
at large.
TEACHERS WANTED
I hHUnLIIU Hgoo ifr:u 10MT11,
during the Mjnng himl Summer. For full par
lieuhir*. Addre**, J. C. McCurdy A 4'<.*
I ll Philadelphia, Pa.
DIPHTHERIA!!
Johnson'* friuMlyiie Mnlinciit will po*l
tively prevent thi* terrifilediaeiwe, and will {Minttively
cure nine cam** ill ten. Inhumation that will hiiv*
many live* *eut fin* hy mail. Don't delay a moment.
Prevention i* better than cure. Sold Everywhere.
I. A. JOII.VSO\ A 4 0.. Ilailgor, tlalnc.
BtNSUrf’S UAPUINE
•;:2 ) POROUS PLASTER,
\ Tlhtm Ih no doubt About the j*n-Ht mii
jwrlorfty of t!iin jirfirle over common poroun
)iloMt<TM :h><! niln i external reniCMlicn. niicli an lim
titeiiiM, I'ivt iiiutl iijijtliitikrit. Ac. Ak physicituia
in your own locality hlmhi! it. It in wonderful.
Sold In nil f*. r
CHEAPLST BOOK-STOREYS
53.672 Siijmtli ]kxk* AT OUE PEICE
V*,*J7G New American liookn AT YOUE PRICE
112,726 Second hand Rook* AT ANY PRiCE
('aUlogneof General MUutrturu 1 rc*r.
LEGGAT BROTHERS,
3 Ik okuian St., near New Pont-Office, New kora.
nONSUMPTiOSI
AXt all. disorders of the
Throat and Lungs
I‘.kuam;m i.v < i io.o
DR. T. A. SLOCI'M S C.ItKAT REMEDY
“ PSYCHINE”
UltKii In conjnaction with liin
COMPOUND EMULSION OF
PURE COE LIVER OH
h„I h)’|M>|)h*vpliitvii nf
LIME and SODA.
A rppp 0(11 77 P each preparation*
/I rflL.ll. U\J f ILL. M ,.„t iy exprcHM to each
aiiidicaiit acndlng their name I* O. and
Kxpreaa adtirean U Dr. T. A. Slocum, lfcl Pearl
Str-'ct. New York.
PAINT
in. om mi vi o nY i in UAUAI.
via of. mow run; leap.
KALIDA COLORS
IX C ASKS OF SIX OVK-O A1.1.0V CASS,
At ftl.eo |rr c.allon
W. A FRENCH & GO.
PAINT WORKS, Third and Vine Streets,
CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY,
OppoHlt* Plilladelphin, I’v 133
Subscribe for your home psper.