American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-11
For the American Telegraph.

For the American Telegraph.
PUBLIC SoHooLs.-Messrsa Editors: cannot
doubt but the arrangement to award to the pu-
pills of the public schools something of the char
acter of diplomas, as a substitute for medals :
and premiums, will do some good and prevent
much evil. The awarding Of medals can ut
most affect very few. Ofthoseifew the greater b
part must be disappointed, and some be soured
by supposed or conscious injustice done them.
The fortunate competitors may, after all, re-
ceiye more injury than benefit, though animated
by temporary qualification. Having seen
much of the practical workings of Inedals .and
kindred rewards of merit, Il am fully convinced
that diplomas, certificates, or something within
the reach of all, have q tendency to do more
good and less evil than q few more shining
marks awarded to q very small number Of for
tunate compctitorsy aad those few, perhaps,
| more from accidental circumstances than we'll
established justice. At least the wisdom of the
trustees Of the schools, in making the arrange
ment saw noticed in your: paper day or two
| since, is not doubted by u III.
| AFFECTING SUIcIDE.-The Cork Constitution
gives the following romantic and affecting ac-
count of a soldier in the frenzy of love: Some
weeks since a private soldier of the 10th regi-
ment, quartered in the garrison named Alfred
Winstaney, an Englishman about twenty-eight
years of age, became acquainted with young
woman named Mary Low, the daughter of o
military pensioner. His proposal of marriage
was accepted, with the proviso that he got leave
to marry from his commanding officer. This he
was reluctant to ask for some cause which re-
mains unexplained; ndher parents, considering
it imprudent to sanction the marriage of their
daughter under any other condition, determined
to conclude the intimacy between her and Win
| stanley, by sending her on visit to an uncle
| in London. On the 25th Of June he got leave to
remain out Of barracks until eleven o'clock, and
visited Lows house, where he remained until
| halfpast ten. During this time he learnt that
| Mary was to leave Cork the next morning at
seven o'clock, by the Ajax steamer for London.
He returned to barracks within his leave, and
reporting himself, scaled the walls and escaped,
and again returned to Lows and entreated to
be admitted, but was refused, though he threat
ened, if not, to throw himself into the river.
Early the next morning he again endeayored to
gain admittance into Lows, but was refused, and
eventually Left, declaring he would destroy him
self He then went into an adjacent house and
borrowed a breakfast cup. From this he pro-
ceeded to the oil and color shop of Mr.. Dennis
Connor, in the North Main street. where he
asked for halfpint of oil of vitrol, for, as he
said, removing stains from his cross belts. Hav
ing got the vitriol in the cup, he hurried along
, Kyrls Quay to Levitt's Quay, where he met
Mary Low, with her mother and sisters, on their
way to the steamship. In frenzied manner
he asked her, g If she would deceive him-if
she was about to leave him who was SO fond of
her ?" She moved on, and he followed, and,
holding up the cup, said, Mary, you know l
love you, and if you don't stop and marry me this
! will end my existence. You know can't live
J without you, and this must put me out of pain. F"
, Her mother then pushed her from him, when he
Immediately drank the vitriol, threw the cup
into the river, and leaped several feet from the
ground screaming frightfully. At this moment
a private soldier of the S4th regiment came up,
when Winstanley, pointing after Mary Low,
said, "There-there she is; she's the cause of
it all it is she's to blame" Acting constable
Edward then came up and removed the unfor
| tunate man TO the North Inhrmary, where he
was at once attended by DIR. Popham and Sur
| geon Gordon, who administered carbonate Of
magnesia and the usual antidotes, but the cor
rosive effects of the poison were so immediate
| as to render all efforts unavailing. DR.. Hiverty,
| the surgeon of the doth, subsequently saw
him, and continued, with Doctor Popham, to
attend him until his death, which took place
at two o'clock yesterday morning, after in
describable suffering which he bore with
patience. During Thursday, although writh-
ing with pain, he asked of every person who
entered the ward in which he lay, "Is she
coming? for if / get but one glimpse of her it
will remove all my pain, and shall die easy"
Deceased had a medal and star for several en-
gagements in India, where he had served with
credit