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THE WEEKLY CONSTITUTION: TUESDAY. MAY 13,1884r- TWELVE PAGES.'
THE CONSTITUTION.
• Entered at the Atlanta Port-Office u second-claas
Bull m.Ilf r, November 11, 1878.
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ATLANTA, QA., MAY I*. 1884.
THE CONSTITUTION
THE PltlCE.
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THB DBMOCRAIIC CRISIS AND MR TIL-
DSN.
Tbs.defeat of tbs Morrison bill will hardly
tend to alley tbebitterniM between the dem
ocratic factions But its defeat removes the
tariff liaut from undue prominence In tbe
campaign.
With tbe subordination of this Issue another
comes to tbe front—that Is, administrative
refoim. Above any other man in tbe coun
try Mr. Tilden is tbe representative of ibis
issue. If tbe party will place itself on this
Issue, and make Mr. Tilden lls leader, It will
make an Irresistible appeal to tbe people.
Tbe man and tbe occasion meet. Never
did a parly need more urgently tbe over
shadowing strength of one great leader, in
whom all factions bave confidence, and to
whom all elements of the parly turn. Never
did a leader stand bead and shouldeis above
blsfellows more distinctly.
Let tbe democratic parly declare for ad
ministrative reform —whicb means reduction
of tLe government expenses and consequent
reduction of the tariff—put Mr. Tilden at tbe
head, and It will carry tbe country over
whelmlngly.
THB SOUTH QBORQ1A PRU T QPOW.
HRS- CONVENTION.
The South Georgia fruit groweis* conven
Uon, whicb met in Valdosta last Thursday,
was woll attended. A number of railroad rep
resentatives were present and the conference
between tbe two interests was full and satis
factory. Tbe committee on acreage reported
that about 4,103 acres on tbe Savannah, Flor
ida and Western railway aro planted In mol
ons, distributed about as follows: Albany
430 acres, Camilla 300, Bsinbrldge 100, Thom,
asvllla 330, Boston 200, Dixie 273, Ousley 451
Mcltae 130, Quitman 200, Valdosta and neigh-
borhood 820, Naylor 75, Stockton 110, Dupont
.18. Ware county estimated 100, making a
total acreage of 4,335, or about 3,000
less than last year. There has
been an increase of acreage in Dough
erty and Mitchell oonntlee. While the
acreage la less than last year, it Is mostly in
charge of experienced planters, and It is be
lieved the melons will be superior in quality
and fully equal in quantity to those of last
year, thus Increasing the profits.
The committee bn transportation reported
that they would shortly bsus a circular con
taining a list of the shipping points northand
west, tbs population of each town, a list of
reliable commission merchants, and a sched
ule of freight rates. Tbs rates have been
fixed on a basts of one oent a ton a mile on
car loads of 24,000 pounds. A resolution was
adopted asking tbe railroads to make their
rates on a basis of 20,000 pounds to tbs car.
The Valdosta Times says tbe convention
was harmonious throughout, demonstrating
tbe fact that tbs members bave entire confi
dence In the permanent suocees of tbe enter
prise In which they have invested their
money and energy. Tbs convention will
hold its fall meeting in Thomasville on the
first Thutiday In Heptember,
COTTON MILLS IN THE bOUTH.
The faith of Invtaton in cotton mills estab
lished where the plant is grown shows no
abatement In the lint four months of this
jrar a large number of new mills have taken
shape, and tbe capacity of many old mills
has been enlarged. The enterprlsee of these
four months Include the mills named below:
Columbia, Tenn -
re.im.ooo
200.000
re. 51000
- 100,000
see* 04.000
are *00,0l«
re... loo UM
reerere.es. 700,000
Durham, N. i:
Trenton, Tun...—
Dalton. Ga. .
Griffin. Ua —
Roanoke, Va .t —...............
Borne. Ua. enlargement —
Ooluabui,
Cotumboa Oa — —..
Darmgtoti.s. O.. —
Z.7.7! mm
Mew berry. 8. C— ..— —
lOCfctDUIB. M re
*00.000
• ee.eeres* 100000
Yadkin Falla. N. C
ere... 100 010
Nashville, Terra. enlargement 100,001
Mountain island Mills, N.C., enlargvmsm.. 10',MO
Talla'1. sa, ala. 100,0u0
Kmi.ivi.le. Terra.. —.... 133.000
I^neAbait, Vu Z ioo'tw
Augusta, os., matey Mill, enlaittaseui 300.00!
Among the mills that are adding to their
machinery abould be mentioned the River
side, at Usnville, Vs; the Adams, at Mont
gomery; tha Mathews, st Be'.ms; Morgan's,
at Lvnral Bill, N. C.; Gywn, Harper A Co's,
st 1‘attenon, N. C.; the Athens
factory latbisstate, and the Charleston mill.
These lists do not include any enterprise that
la merely talked about or projected, but is
made up of enterprises for which ground has
been broken, or mills that bars Increased
their rpindlas and looms.
The activity that exists in the building ot
notion mills in the aoulh at such a time as
tbs present, lean indication of tbs boom that
awaits us when trade becomes brisk. Whils
the south is building new mills the north it
eteadily shutting down old mills. This pro
ease seems destined to go on until the sooth
controls ell kinds ot cotton goods fully as
much as she now docs the coarser gisdei
Where cosrse goods are mode to advantage,
there toon or late will fine goods be menu-
factored ; and when we ere able to both pro
duce and manufacture cotton we need not
look for any other or better baste of prosper
ity and wealth.
SPRING PARAGRAPHS.
The people of the earth (end of other plan
ets, for aught we know to the contrary) are
never at a lose for uneasiness or restlessness.
Tbe other day we were clamoring for the
spring, which seemed to be hesitating wbeths
er to honor April or pntoff its appearance
until June; but now spring Is here end well
advanced. Miss Jenny Wren is escorting,
with many fretful quips and much queralous
pride, a newly-fledged brood of yonng ones
through e covert of blooming blackberry
bushes. The song sparrow is even ahead of
Mies Jenny, end the bluebird it making ar
rangements to go to bonsekeeping the second
time.
Bat now that we have tbe spring, end the
beet ol the spring to boot, wbst are we to do
with it? Some of tbe older villains lathe
play of life ore already beginning to yawn
and make mouths at tbe eesaon. Some
think the days are too long, toms that
they are too warm, and o-.hert that
they ere two dry. So that, in tbe midst of
ths restlessness end uneasiness tbst accom
pany sit seasons that visit tbs worldlysmind-
ed, the question crises, wbst ire ws to do
with tbe spring? Well, let us be generously
selfish. Let us enjoy it to the utmost ours
selves, snd divide what is left with the boys
and the girls, the birds, the bees end tbe
flowers.
At least we can pretend to generosity, for,
whether we will or not, the youngsters will
enjoy themselves. They have already begun
to slice the season into picnics end frolics,
end long walks, and they make a dictionary
of tbe flowers that grow and speak of love
by means of tbs roses and tbe humbler blos
soms tbst grow about the garden. Poor
dears! theirs is tbo age of romance. The
time will come when they will be content
to sit in the back porch
and talk feelingly of tbe drouth and the
prospects of the Irish potato crop. But let
us not envy them their thoughtlessness now.
They need not know for several years just
how much butter to put on tbe asparagus, or
how. much bicon ought to be boiled witb the
spinach. Tbeas details are for gray heads
and flinty hearts. The young ones will have
as much as they can do to keep clearof seed
ticks.
THE JUNK CQNVEN rlON.
Mr. Blaine has been a power in two repub
lican national conventions. In 1870 he was
the leader against whom ths other candidates
combined, resulting in the nominstlon of
Ilsyes. In 1880 Grant bed the leading place,
snd Blaine named the candidate. This year
Ibe man ol Maine is slronger than he was in
either 1870 or 1880; he la the leader, snd the
chances are that if he cannot seoure the
nomination he will become the senior mem-
her of the combination that will name the
candidate.
At first In the convention the greetquestion
will be, can Blaine win? A few ballots will
doubtless determine whether, from tbe south
ern sqatds, be osn gel enough votes to give
him ell told tbe necessary number. Bo will
need for tbit purpose from
lo 75 votes, and If the bread-and-butter
brigade front the south become satisfied that
Arthur can under no clrcumstanees be nomi
nated, it la not Improbable that Blaine will
get what he sorely needs. Bow long Arthur
will remain s candidate after his candidacy
becomes hopeless, la of course e very import
ant feature of the problem; but it is safe to
assume that be will not withdraw at an op
portune time for Mr. Blaine.
When tbe time for combination arrives, It
will be "anybody to beat Blaine" on tbe Ar
thur and Edmunds side. But the Arthur end
Kduiunde forces will not be able when com
bined to control the convention, er to nomi
nate either of the principals, and it is very
difficult to see where an Arthur-Edmunds
movement would get any recruits. Blaine on
the oilier hand can no doubt enter into e
combination st any time he sees lit
that would control the convention as surely
as he controlled the one of 1880, when he
nominated Garfield over the heeds of the 306.
8uch e combination would draw in the
friends of Logan end tiherman and Ketrchlld,
It not Hawley.
We may be sure, therefore, that either
Blaine will be the republican nominee, or
else he will name the winner. He stands e
better chance to securt ths nomination than
he did In 1870, end falling to win the chief
prise in the lottery, be has even a better
ehanoe then he had in 1880 to name e presl
deuL He is the prcldent-nraker of tbe re
publican parly. The Blaine sentiment is
morally sure to control the convention, sim
ply because it will be impossible to unite all
the opposition elements. Tbe ex-secratary
and book maker Is closer to the presidency
to-day than he ever baa been; and if It were
not far the rising up of “the old ticket” on
the other side of ths house, he could safely
consider himself at the gates of tbe mansion
upon which be has so long wistfully gsssd.
TltB LOSS or THB FLORIDA
In mld-occsn, where there is certainly an
abundance of set room, and on a night that
though moonless was dear, the see being ee
smooth as glass, two vessels cams together,
snd ons hundred end thirtyaflve livea were
loeL To say that such an accident occurred
etc time when there was no disturbance in
sir end water end no cloud in the sky, is
simply to sty that somebody blundered. Such
so accident could not hive occurred without
gross negligence on the pert of the officers of
both the berk end the steamer. Even if tbe
Florida was not properly constructed for the
service she wu engaged in, yet a collision on
e clear night necessarily Involved negligence.
There was criminal negligence on both
of tbe colliding vessels. No matter which
wee most at fault, there Is no reason
why tbe one in mid-ocean »hould net have
avoided the other. If the sight had been
dark or stormy or foggy, then a collision
might have occurred in which ons of the
vessels could bave been free of blame. But
never tn such s night as the third officer of
ths Florida speaks of, when the two veamte
wars brought together end both went down
almost Instantly. Tbe cate is ons that calls
for s rigid Investigation, end ell the punish
ment that tbe lew admit! of. Tbe captain of
the berk is among ths saved, and hie story
of tbe disaster may go far towards clearing
np the mystery of a collision in mid-ocean.
Tbe officer on duly on tbe Florida does not
seem to bave been among those landed by
tbe Titanla. It may bo difficult to ascertain
the troth, bat it is due to the people on both
sides of tbe water that no effort be spared to
reach it. If such sudden and appalling dis
asters in mid ocean are unavoidable, the
people who travel should be placed in pos
session of tbe fact, and if they are not un
avoidable then steps should be taken to
locale the blame in the right place, end to
make this sad and disastrous voyage aleieon
tbst officers end men will not forget in a
generation. ,
THB WALL 8TRBBT FAILURES.
The failure of the Marine netfonal bank,
and the euspension of Grant <fc Ward created
a Hurry, but there was no general panic, snd
no probability of one. Ths people are so well
heeled and so conservative in their operations
that tbe failures, large as they were, brought
no thought of widespread disaster. Ten
years ago sneb was not tbe case, and a failure
of this nature would probably have preclpL
tated t crisis in all commercial matters.
As tbe facte leak out it is seen that tha New
York failures were due to natural causes—
that the concerns now closed np were mush-
roomy, unbusinesslike and exceptional. The
Greats were but silent partners in the wild
cat broking firm. Tbe active partners were
James I). Fisk, a real estate speculator, and
Fred Ward, a speculator in stocks and a
spendthrift. Fisk was also president of the
Marine bank. The aflairs of tbe firm, of the
bank and of Ward and Fish as individuals
were hopelessly entangled. Trnst funds were
used by both to serve the bank's necessities or
their own speculative operations. Their spec
ulations turned sgsinst- them as the prices of
securities shrank, end the result was e hope
less collapse of all the mingled interests. The
villisnsare of course Fish, the unworthy
bank official, and young Ward, who does not
now seem to have a redeeming qnnllly,. The
victims are the Grants, who should have kept
out of Wall street altogether. Tbe firm was
never trusted by the strongest and best in
formed men In financial circles, because its
affairs were conducted in a hazardous and un-
business-like manner.
No doubt there will oc other failures before
fall in the neighborhood of Wall street, Tbe
shrinkage of securities during the put two
years has been something enormons and un
paralleled, and it will be strange Indeed
if it does not lesd to other failures
in tbs circle that James It. Keene and
yonng Ward belonged to. But tho country
can stand such failures without fear or trem
bling. Business is not over brisk but it is
ufe. Tho country hu become rich and
strong. It is not scared every time a specus
Inter topples over in Wall street. It really
takes very little interest in Wall slreet at all.
Nor do the holders of securities caro much
about Ibe .'allure ofbroksrs or even of banks.
Tbe depression in tbe prices of stocks after
the recent failures wu not greater than It fre
quently Is when there are no failure to dis
turb the street. Altogether tbs letson of the
New York failure is one that will give peo
ple faith in the strength and stability o^the
country, and will perhaps have an influence
to drive out tbe longing for sudden wealth
speculatively acquired.
REAL REFORM.
The defeat of the Morrison tariff bill is no
more significant than its passage would
have been. Its defeat simply means that
there are a number of democrats in the honso
who do not believe In pulling fruit before it
is ripe. So far M is known, tbe bill repre
sented no principle beyond tbe vague for
mula that tariff reform is both dvsirable and
nsceasry. The measure itself wu meant to
be, If Its champions are to bo believed, u a
sort of ambitlobs advertisement of tbe Inten
tions of the democratic party. So far u
practical tariff reform Is concerned, it hu
never been claimed that the Morrison bill
wu at all adequate or satisfactory. It wu a
compromise at all points—a compromise pre
pared by men who refused to compromise
witb their fellow democrats on s mere ques
tion of poiloy; apiece of necessary bun
combe ; a meuure u inapt and untimely u
lo seem fatuous. Nobody drssms tbst e bill
so inadequate would have been seriously
voted for by reel tariff reformers if there bed
been the slightest bone that it could become
a law.
Under ths circumstances wears not dis
posed to grumble, but ths bill itself and the
surprising heat snd fury of those who cham
pioned it are still matters of intarsaL The
mysterious always possesses some
element ot Intercab It tbe
bill bad received tbe unanimous
support ot ths democrats in tbe home tbe
country would be no nearer tariff reform
to-day than It Is now tbst ths bill is defeated,
and those who, with clamorous cries and
furious gestures, have bean insisting upon
passing ths bill whether or no bsvs simply
placed themselves in the attitude o(soldiers
who fire ofl their guns before going into
battle. Their claim that the bill was in
tended to advertise the purposes of ths dem
ocratic party so far as tariff reform is con
cerned, is supremely absurd, in view ot the
democratic niatlorm, eepecially tho platform
upon which Mr. Tilden wee elected in 1870,
No amount of speech-making in con
gress or editorial writing outside
of it can change ths actual
condition of things or alter the
facts of the iltuatioo. It must be perfectly
clear to every voter who is. Intelligent enough
to understand the importance of bringing
about a radical change In the admintetnilon
of public affairs, that any real reform In tbe
tariff, or in any other direction, must be
preceded by that most important of ell re
form!. the reform of the government which
the people contemplated end hoped forwben
they selected Mr. Tilden aa the representative
of the democratic party, to take charge of
the edministntlCn of public affairs. This is
ths ons reform that must precede all other
reforms—upon which ell other reforms de
pend. indeed. It it more Important by far to
ths voters and tax payers of the country to
place the democratic party in charge of the
government, than to bead ths ah in behalf
of a tariff reform that cannot, by any poasi-
bility,' be pat in operation.
Rabbit stew is said to be e very toothsome
dish; bat what it I rabbit etew without the
rabbit? Mr. Morrison and his friends claim
to have prepared tbe warm water and the con
diments necessary to tariff reform, bat
these things were prepared long ago by tbe
democratic party. The rabbit necessary to
make the dish complete is the election of a
democratic president—the control of public
affairs by a democratic administration.
When this, ths most important of all re
forms, it broaght about, all other necessary
reforms will follow as a matter of conne.
Apart from this, ths talk of tariff reform is
simply tbs silliest sort of clap trap, without
meaning and without purpose. We have al
ready seen it used, one day to further the
interests of tbe whisky ring, snd another day
as a peg upon which to bang buncombe
speeches. Tbns ftr, all the reforming of the
tariff hu been in the interest ot the politi
cians. It wilt be time enough to talk of tar
iff reform in the interest of the people after
the people have signified their desire to be
benefitted by piecing the democratic party
in power.
For onr part we are willing to compromise.
We are willing to give Mr. Morrison and his
friends all the credit for patriotism they
may have tbe nerve to claim if only they
will give their attention to the success of
that practical reform whieh contemplates a
total change in the corrupt methods of the
republican party. Let us place the demo
cratic parly in power, and there will be no
quarreling, so far ss democrats are concern
ed, in regard to the nature and extent of the
tariff reform. If a saner programme than
this can be devised, we are willing to indorse
It.
GOOD ROADS FOR OBOROIA.
A writer in the Washington (Wilkes
county) Gszstte, who Is in favor of better
roads, is of the opinion that the old road law
is good enough if only it could have tbe
proper public sentiment behind it for its en
forcement. It will be observed that the “11”
is as big as any if one is likely to ran across.
Thera is now and has been, and will be for
several years to come, a deplorable careless
ness on the part of the people of tbe state
with respect to the condition of the public
roads. Public sentiment 1s no more important
now than it was in,tlie days when Alexander
conquered tbe world. That ferocious man
accomplished hta ends by mesas of pluck
and petsistence, and pluck and persistence
lodged in the personalities of a few men ore
far superior to public, sentiment, insomuch
as such men either make or control public
sentiment.
The old road law was bad enough, but the
methods of enforcing It were worse than'the
law itself. It was never adequately
enforced for the reason that those
who bad ohargs ot the matter could never
bo brought to understand or appreciate the
relations which exist between good roads and
the prosperity of communities; they could
never be made to understand that good roads
are civilitem—adding not only to tbe wealth
but to tbe intelligence of the people. The
new road law is probably no better than the
old one, but it need be no hotter to be good
enoegb, provided that those who bave charge
of the matter shall enforce It strictly, impar
tially and with an intelligent purpose.
We have often wondered how our people
managed to get along before the railroads
relieved tho pressure. Cotton and other pro
ducts was waggoqed from Gwinnett county
to Augusta, and, below Greanesboro the Au
gusta road was crowded with teams and wag
ons going and returning from what was then
the principal Georgia market. 8omo of the
reminiscences ot those days are exceedingly
interesting, bat memory am} tradition both
agreo in the assertion that no good Christian
dared to wagon his cotton to Au
gusta. Such an experiment would
have been fatal to bis piety.
In most sections of the state the wagon
roads are no better now than in tbe old
times, and as bad roads cannot be regarded
from any point ot view as a means of grace,
it will hardly be claimed by reflecting per
sons that the Christian civilisation of the
stato is showing any very remarkable growth
and development, at least not so far as the
public roods are concerned.
l’abllo sentiment is always ready to in
dorse wbst is right. It is ripe forgood roads,
as we in Fulton county have already demon
strated (on s small scale) snd propose to
demonstrate on a still larger scale. It is as
capable of demonstration in any county of
the state aa in Fulton, end we do not know
of any farmer in this section who objects to
or would place the slightest obstacle in the
way of perfecting the system of permanent
roadways which hu already been inaugura
ted. Tbe system can only be perfected grad
ually, but this (set, so far from being an ob
jeelion, is really a method and a means of
growth.
The rotds in Georgia are bad or worse, u
tbs esse may bs. No road can be a good road
when the element of permanence does not
enter into its condition. It is within tbe
power of the people of every county in the
state to make their roads permanently good.
Taking it for granted that good men areas-
lec ed to manage tbe affeirs of a county, it is
an easy matter to make permaueat roads even
under the old law. Five, four, or even two
miles of road can be permanently improved
every year, and for thia purpose tbe old law
laugooduany; all that is needed is a change
of system. Properly managed, ths roadways
of every county in the state could be brought
lo perfection within a period of, say, ten, tit-
teen or twenty yesra The system once per
fected would be practically permanent, and
thoae who organise and carry ont the improve
ment will have the pleasure—and it ought to
be e very greet pleunre—of knowiog that
they have left to their posterity a legacy
worthy ot the foresight and enterprise of an
energetic generation.
Fnlton county te adding something every
year to its system of macadamized roads, and
in the course of a very few years its public
highways will be models for the rest of tbe
stele. We can only hope that tbe example
will be followed. It will be an easy matter
for adjoining countiu to lake np the work
where Fulton leaves it, end thus give to
themselves end to the people at Urge the
insatimable privileges and advantages which
grow out ot good roads. This te a matter
which concerns tbe people of the whole
state, and it la important enough, in onr
opinion, for the legislature to make e state
matter of It, end thus meet the expectations
of the dormant public sentiment that is anx
ious to approve and endorse a practical move
ment in this direction.
SHAKSPEARE AND THE NEGRO DIA
LECT.
The work of the Shakspeare specialists
grows and expands, but never cnl
mlnates. The commentators flock around
his plays and poems In constantly increasing
swarms. They find confusion In simplicity,
and give wild and wonderful meanings to
phrases that ought to be clear enough to those
whose minds are not unsettled by the so-
called culture of the time. It is difficult to
find an edition of the plays that Is not bur
dened with worse than useless footnotes, and
where tbe footnotes are absent, words are
stabbed with an obelns as a token of obsenri-
ty. To fitly characterise the work of thoae
commentators would be to compose s
history and warm it with satire invented for
the occasion, for the Shakspeare specialists
have created a literature of their own and the
results ot their perplexity would fill a library.
This will go on,to ail appearances, as Jong as
there are men anxious to make themselvei
notorious by airing an unreasonable con
tagion of the mind.
One of the latest Shakspearlan discoveries
possesses a passing interest for tbe readers of
Tax Constitution. Professor W. Taylor
Thom contributes to Shakspearina for March
an eesay the title of which will Indicate the
nature of bis discovery. He
calls it “Some Parallelisms Between
Shakspetre's English and the Negro-Engllah
of the United States.’’ Professor Thom
draws npon “The Tar-Baby Story,” and
“How Mr. Rabbit Lost his Fine Bushy Tail”
in the first volnme of Uncle Remus. Thus,
when the old man says to the little boy, "He
come mighty nigh it, honey,” be has the
authority of Bbakspesre, who uses “too
nigh yonr person,” and "Honey, you shall
be well desired in Cyprns.” Uncle Remns
says, “Brer Fox went to work and got him
some tar.” In Macbeth, Shakspeare says,
“Let every soldier hew him down a bough.”
Then there is the negro expression,
“ he lay off in de hashes fer to see
w'et de news gwinster be,” which is
paralleled in Hamlet “which for to prevent
I have in quick determination thus set it
down.” Tho negro says, “Like he wuz 'aton-
lshed;” Shakspeare says, “Like as it wonld
speak.” The tendency in the darkey’s speeeh
to attain strength and clearness prodaces the
effect so familiar In Sbskspeare’a English.
“De tar baby, she sot dar, she did, en Brer
Fox, he lay low." In I. King Henry 8econd,
Shakspeare says, "The skipping king, he am
bled np and down.” The double negative is
illustrated thus: “tar baby ain’t sayin’ noth
in’.!’ According to Shak-Deare, “The man
that bath no music in himself, nor is not
moved with concord of sweet sounds,” is os
bad as Brer Fox is supposed to be, “Brer
Fox sorter cbnckle in his stomach, he did."
Hamlet says, “This to me in dreadfnl
secresy impart they did.” When
tbe negro uses “learn” for
"teach," be has the authority of Shak
apeare, who aaya in the Tempest, “Tbe red
plague rid you for learning me yonr lan
guage.
moughtn
clamor in a vault that mongbt not be dietin'
gulshed," says Uncle Shakspeare, thongh,
as Professor Thom points out, thia form of
"might" is older than Shakspeare in tbe
literary language.
Tho illoalratioDS we bave given are all
quoted by Professor Thorn, and he gives
other parallelisms which we have not space
to present here. It will be seen, however,
that this essay 1s in the nature of a philo
logical study rather than a commentary on
Shakspeare; and for this vouchsafe-
ment let ns return thanks. Bat, Profes
sor Thom would have made his
article moro interesting as a philo
logical stndy if he had cat loose from Shake-
jieure end ventured to explore the literary
language of the period lying between Chaucer
and Shakspeare. Wo have already given in
these columns, in response to the balf-hu
morons comments ot one of onr northern
exchanges, some parallelisms between the
English of Chancer and the Vlrgiola-Georgia
dialect of the negroes. Professor Thom more
than hints that excursions into this field of
study will richly repay the philologist, and,
in onr opinion, It wonld lead to a dearer un
derstanding on the part of "cultured” people
of the simplicity and homeliness of Shake-
pasre.
There are two other points of interest
which Professor Thom neglects
to touch on. When Costard
In iv, U, 150 of "Love’s Labour Loat”( Globe
Ed.) goes running off ths stage
orylng, "8ola! sola!” what is
this but the "so long!" “so long!”
of the negroes? There hss been some con
troversy ot Iste as to whether the banjo is
the favorite musical instrument of the ne
groes. In “A Midsummer Night's Dream,”
iv, i, lit (Giobe Ed.) Bottom, the well-known
English Athenian, remarks: “I have
a reasonable good ear in music. Lei
ns have the tongs aud the bones.” Were tbe
negro minstrels abroad in 8bakapeare'a time?
Among the ceuntry people of Georgia the
tongs, at e pinch, are used as a musical in
strument to this day, serving in place of the
triangle to accompany tbe fiddle. They
were to nted, may it please tbe commenta
tors, uot in ancient Athens, bat in the Eng
land of Shakspeare, end that the bones were
employed then asan accompinament to rural
music there can be no doubL
BCHOBS FROM THB PEOPLE.
Patron. Cedartown, Ge : te the report ot Dr.
Louebridge alluded to tn yonr tesue of April 10 for
utolu Atlanta?
No; It U a public document. Write to yonr eon-
greet man aad ask him to set yon a copy.
B. H., Arlington. Ga.:—L What was tbe name ef
the first steammrat navigated on the Hudson by
Robert Fulton ? a. Who projected the Argonauuc
expedition? t. Can you give me a skeicaol the
Ute ot fichwanti, tbe inventor of gunpowder?
I. The ClermoaL 2 Peltes, the ruler of Iolena
commlwtoncd Jason to take command of an ex-
[•edition la search of the tabled golden fleece. X
We cannot find anything about gehwaati in the
cyclepedtax But he was not the Inventor of gun
powder.
II. A.B.. Vlrege, Ga.—1. What Is the popnletlon
ot Nashville. Tena.? 2. Waal te Atianla'e area In
equtr-miles? X Why Is Atlanta called the gate
city cf the sooth?
1. It U estimated tt about 51,000. 2. The dteme-
tertsthr.e miles and the circumference nine,
gqnare that circle, end the result will be the an
swer. X Because the paeMngem and frelsht traffic
of the north and weet and the south have to pees
through Atlanta going aonth, or going north and
weet.
A. B-. Rome, Ga.: Are there any tarantulas In
the sooth?
None of tbe genuine. There te a variety of the
tarantula In several southern stale*. about two
inches long, having legs spreading at least four
Inches. It has whitish legs, white sides, whitish
dote and llaeson the belly, snd is of s mouse color
on top, and black or brown underneath. It seldom
bitet, and while pobououa its bite 1s rarely If ever
Ga.: 1. Can you give me
2. Do you know if bo Is
now at bis borne?
L Rev. T. De Witt Talmage. Brooklyn, N. Y. 2.
He le probably at borne.
J. M. B.. Smyrna, Ga -te there a book or pam
phlet published br Professor Gremmler predicting
erest sickness, death and destruction from 1883 to
18a7?
Extensive cxUacie weie copied by the news-
papers a few years ago from Professor GremmlePe
predictions, bat there Is no pamphlet on the sub
ject to be bad.
8. H.. Opelika. Ala : Wbat le tbe literal political
and social meaning of a “crank?"
Something bent, twisted or turned, Is ope mean
ing of the word. In old limes It meant a cheat or
Impostor. At present It te epplled to persons who
am unbalanced, extravagantly eccentric, or labor
ing nnder a mild meala. Gnttcau was a political
crank, and Oicar Wilde was a social crank.
A. C.,Ttvares, Fla.-Wbyis the London Times
called "theThunderer?"
From 1810 to 1840 Edward Sterling wrote editori
als for the Times with lo much boldness, freshness,
point and vigor that be was called "the Thunder
er,” and In a short time the neme was applied,
ball in admiration, half in mockery, to his paper.
A. H. B., Moseley's Bluff. Louisiana-1. Can
yon give me the address of s firm having magnets
lorsale? 2 Where Is tbe island ot Jersey?
I. Order from any book or hardware store. 2.
It Is one of the Channel Islands, and Is near inern-
aey and tho coast of France.
Enrroas ;Co»snTt;rioN: Your correspondent of
the 6th Inst.. Itom Arlington, Ga.,-evidently In
tended to a>k ebout tchwaix. not Schwuna
Bchwari (Bertbolol) wu a Fret citesn monk, bora
in Ficiburg, Germany, who, cccnpted with chem
istry, invented gnn powder, about the year 1830.
Respectfully,
A Reader, corn in Giumasy.
Jonesitotto, Os., May 8.—I see In this morning's
paper that sc mo one predicts that 88 miles will win
your great reportera's walking match. There 1s a
man here, 48 yexrs old, who -ttys he will walk to
Atlanta (20 miles) In lour hours, rest there two
hours, urn! back to Jouesboro alt Inside ot 12 hour?.
He will take tbe wagon road without any kind ol
training. He will do this on a small truer, or ho
will take the trip with any other man 48 yean old
for the fun of it. Ths boys must beat 40 miles, or
some old man will take their laurela
Subscriber, Lumpkin, Ga.: Pleaio explain the
meaning of the last line of the followingverse:
" There’s a wall In the mansion,
A tear aud a sigh.
And the car and the cart
Go noiselessly by.
Tread lightly—tread softly—
Still the noise ol your feet.
For death Is about ut—
■There's Un In the street.’”
It refers lo the ten placed In the street to deaden
the sound ol pasting vehicles. It explains wby
“the car and the cart go noiselessly by.”
T. H. G , Greenville, Tenn.—Where docs Mccha
coffee come from?
From the province ol Yemen, South Arabia. It
tskeslts name from Makha, the ablet port of ex
portatlon on the Red sea.
J. C. A., Thomson, Ga.:—Who first produced
electric light?
The first successsul display was made In 1810
when Sir Humphrey Davy with a battery of 2,COO
elements produced an eleclrte light with an aro
three Inches long between carbon points.
3. P. R.. Forsyth. Ga.: Please give a few facia
about ths origin of the temperance movement.
Old temperance aocletlca In Georgia pledged the
member! to drink only so much per day. Tbe
• Order «f Temporsnco" In Getmany fa 1600 bound
lls members never to beoomo intoxicated, and uot
to drink over fourteen caps of wine perday. In
„ - r . ., , j . 1620 a society was formed In New Jersey, tho mem-
He thought en den agin he which agreed not to dtlnk more than a hall
htn't," remarks Undue Remus. A p, n j 0 j rom or whisky per day. These early so-
cletlee paved the way for total abstinence.
Starrs Dsebts ItssabUcsa Satcrsa
From tbe Cloctunatl Commercial Gazette.
Nxw Yoix, May 8 —“I am ont ol politics at pres
ont," remarked Emory A. Storr-, as bo stood In
the rotund! ot the SL James hotel this morning.
Then he added with a entile, “1 can give bat little
Information as to.bow tbe battle ragea Everyday
every hoar, every week brings about changes In
tbe situation, and It will take a good man to make
anything like a close goes! as to whom the repnb-
rlcanawill nominate at Chicago. I conf.sslam
at sea on that score,’’
“How about the stories going tho rounds tha
yon and Logan don't speak as you pass by, and
that 11 yon go aa a delegate, instead of presenting
his name before the convention for the presiden
cy, you will oppose him?"
'■ItI go te the convention,” responded Mr.
Storra “I will not present the name of General
Logan. This will not be became there has been
any personal misunderstanding between us, bat
It will be became I will not be selected for that
purpese."
-'Whom will the majority o! tho delegates form
your state vote t«r when tt becomes apparent that
Logan has no show?’
"Blaine. Arthur wilt get a fow, bat Blaine will
get tha lion's share."
“Wbatdoyou think of Blaine's chances ol suc
cess from today's outlook?”
“As I said before, lam out el politics Just now
and am not aa well po»-c<1 a-some others. It Blaine
doca not receive the nomination on the third bal
lot, It Is my opinion that hit naan will becrlttlcaL
He bu a host of friends, and will be hacked by a
powerful delegation: hnt I'm afraid Arthur’s
•irength hu been underestimated. Then, yon
known, there are others in tbe field—the two Baer-
mans, Edmunds aud Lincoln."
“Do you count Lincoln in among Use candidates
for first place on the ticket?"
"1 do. Furthermore, I believe that If, alter a
good many ballots without result, a boom 1< start-
ed for Lincoln be will carry the convention by
•term. Mark my worda and see It I'm not light.
Lincoln Is en able men. and possesses strontcom
mon stnse and a lavel head. Edmonds wlll mako
a good fight"
“At to unnt?" •
“I remind you again, tbla te a-go-ai you-plcaia-
for all ages, aud dark horses may win u they htva
heretofore.”
“Do you regard the election of a republic tn can
didate snored regard eraol tbe man?"
"No. »tr. There te a possibility ol nominating a
man that would bring a third candidate In the
field, aud In 'hat way the democrats might carry
the elecitor,”
PRESIDENTIAL CALCULATIONS.
Mr. Irtkar Flaarva kla Naadnallei
IhaFaa-th lialiet.
From the Cincinnati Newt Journal
WAiBiaiiTON, May 7.—Mr. Arthur has bean very
reticent oc poUttcal toplca He bu not rude and
will not make an official anaonnetmentof his can
didacy for the pretldc-ncy. To-day the News Jour
nal correspondent learned f rem a high authority at
tha white house that Mr. Arthur 1s not the disin
terested speetetet ol the battlefield he appeare.
Sir. Blaine. It teems keeps a private hook,
and Mr. Arthur 1s not above It. He
bu a table written out oa a Urge sheet
ot paper giving a list of tha aamae of the delegates
and alternates to the republican convention. Op*
posits each name that ha cooaldan friendly to
himself he hu written “A" in red Ink. A star
marks ibe Its: ot doubtful delegates and those who
would be Uk*ly to change to Arthur In cat ; of a
-pith According to Urla estimate Mr. Arthur fig
ure* ont for himself 323 vote* on the first ballot,
»nd 430 votes on nos later than tbe foarth billot.
Tee president believe* the! he will be nominated
on cither the third or fourth ballot This tut hu
been p.-epeted by tome ol toe prteldent’e New
Y'ork friends, end te probably an exaggeration of
Mr. Arthur's real strength on tne first ballot by as
*eul thirty votea
Ths Last Ilsurs sf Cksrlcs O'Csssr.
Nantcczxt, Maas., May 10.—(.'bailee O'Concr
wu taken with a sever* cold about two weeks ago.
His condition did not excite apprehension, u he
had been frequently tit before, nts recuperative
wu u greet u his mental vigor. It te now feared
he Is suffering hie tut lllaeia Bines hit sickness ha
hss taken Utile nourishment, and U rapidly fill
ing. Last Monday Bishop Heudtlekaoo, of hsvl-
denee. twitted by Rev. rather C. MeSwtaay. of
ibis parish, administered to him the test sacrament
of ths Roman catholic chnirh, line* which time
O'Concr hu been calmly awaiting the end. He
ts perfectly ctmelon*, end bnt foe ate grew vitality
would have tnccnubtd already. True morning be
la very low.