The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-07
BABY SHOW.
DARIEN, N. Y, May 20, 1855.

| DAklENJ N. l.J 4huy 20, 1000.
To the Editor Of the National Era:
If l mistake not, you gave quite a detailed
account of the National Baby Show which dis
graced Ohio last summer. l read every word
of it with the most loathing disgust, expecting
at the end to see some remarks from you or
some one else in condemnation of such a beast
ly exhibition, but not word-which silence in
my mind amounted to an approval, as we al
ways suppose silence gives consent. This is the
first and last retrograde step have to complain
OF you about. Progress, and in the right direc-
ton, has been and is still your motto, and |
hope it ever will be. l told nay husband | was
tempted to sit down and ask to TELL if you could,
what possible good could come from such an
affair but as | had never troubled an editor
with my communications, / concluded to wait
till some one better qualified should but have
in vain; and now, as P. T. Barnum is about to
make another "Gve cattle show" exhibition,
will not my own good Era speak, and let us
know what he thinks about it g? for your readers
wish to know your opinion, or, at least, we do.
L would not have you think that you can lead
US at your pleasure, right or wrong but you are
not unaware that a word from you, pro or con-,
prefix or affix, to article, must be of consid-
cradle weight; and we wish to know where you
are on every subject that interests humanity.
1t always does US good to look an honest man
in the face, and much more good to hear his
opinions. If there can be any laudable pretext
for such an Infamous undertaking, should
like to know it. 1 will, at least, give you my
opinion.
| 1t is very convenient adjunct to the favorite
institution of the South, although l suppose
most of the shareholders understand practically
| the best method of improving the breed of
human cattle. Yet it takes P. T. Barnum,
| Northern man, to systematic the thing for
| them; and although it seems impossible that
such an exhibition should meet the approval
of any enlightened man or woman, yet till to-
day l have not heard one word of reproof.
How can any true woman place herself in a
position where the most revolving suggestions
are thrust upon her-as one writer has it-with
ali the suggestions, and none of the decencies,
OF maternity? ID. ADAMS.
| REMARKS
Silence does not always give consent. We
are quite willing in many cases to leave to our
intelligent readers, the seat of Judgment. AS
we are called upon, however, to show our opin-
ion, we have not the slightest objection to ex-
pressing entire concurrence with our fair cor
respondent. We bow in Difference to the intui-
| tons of an intelligent woman. If the design of
Baby Shows be to fatten babies for market,
where they may be sold by the pound, we can
understand them. Unless the mother intends
to use the little one in this way, let her keep it
in the beautiful seclusion of home. These
Baby Shows are disgrace to the country and
we wonder that every mothers instinct does not
cry out against them.
| A STRIKING REBUKE.--A writer in the Co.
lumbia South Cdrolinian is reminded, by Ger.
tain remarks on legal ethics, of scene which
occurred some six months ago in London
criminal court. A young man stood indicted
for having stolen at night into young lady's
room, cambering over neighboring roofs, and
having robbed her of certain jewels. The bar
rister, who found nothing upon which he might
rest decent defence of the prisoner, suggested
to the jury, that, perhaps the young lady, a
woman of irreproachabe character, had made
an appointment with the prisoner, had given
him the jewels, and, finding she would be dis
covered, had seen no other escape from disgrace
than turning her lover into a criminal. The
Judge was going to stop the slandering lawyer,
when the prisoner rose and cried: Sir, that is
not in your brief; what you say is not true, and
] would not be acquitted at this rate" The
bench assured the prisoner that his conduct
should have its weight in settling the amount
of punishment for his crime.
1t is stated that R. w. Cameron, of New
York, now in England, has obtained the con-
tract for the conveyance of the English mails
/ from Panama to Australia, once q month, at
the rate of 47,000 sterling for the round trip.
Two irst-class steamships are to be built in
this country and two in England, for the use of
the line.