The Sun. (Hartwell, GA.) 1876-1879, March 12, 1879, Image 1

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

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.