Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-03-25
LO C AL n E w S .

No. l, Thursday and Friday of last week. We
learn that it was very pleasant occasion. Essays
speeches, declamatons, &c, were delivered in 4
manner which demonstrated the rapid progress OF
the scholars under the instruction of able teach
ers in District No. l. The Principal, Mr.
Goodno, informed the school that he would proba
bly not remain with them another year, and pro
ceeded to take leave of his scholars The severinS
of the tie of teacher and scholar deeply affect
ing, and showed how popular the Principal
had become with his pupils.
SuRUBBERY.-There is nothing, perhaps,
that adds materially to the appearance, comfort,
and health of any city, as judicous arrange
ment of shade trees on the streets and about pri-
rate residences Several of our citizens are now
identifying their grounds by setting out forest
trees, &c. We are requested to say to those who
wish any shrubbery set out or removed, they can
have this service performed, and also proper trees
and shrubs selected for planting, by calling on Mr.
John Morris. He expects his trees to grow when
he removes them, because he knows exactly how
it should be done. He says he can transplant ever
greens so nicely that they'll never know it, and
when budding time comes they start right to grow
ing where they left off the previous year. Give
him call. Residence at Fountain Hill Nursery"
SCHOOL ExAM1NAr1oN.-Our reporter was
p esent, yesterday afternoon, at the public school
animation in sub-district No. 2. A large number
{ visitors were present, many of whom took an
q, tive part in the examination of the various
classes. The exercises of the afternoon opened
sith the song, "Winter's cruel reign is OVER
Miss Almira Hershey presided at the piano, and was
accompanied in the singing by Miss Emma Nicholas,
Miss Carrie Brice, Miss Marcella Kerr, and Miss
Maria Gordon. This piece sung exquisitely'
Several arithmetic classes followed in succession,
and were examined in turn by their teachers and
the visitors After this class in Algebra the schol
ars of which appeared to be at home in any part of
the book, were examined, and their answers to the
questions and problems given them, gave general
satisfaction to all present During the course OF
the afternoon the song entitled 'The Grave OF
Bonaparte" was sung by Mrs ingalls, and, Miss
Hershey Reading and spelling classes were then
examined, and they answered the questions put to
them with a promptness and precision which spoke
well for the energy and abilities of their teacher
Mr.. Ingalls,, and his assistant, Miss Pepper. We
are vesz gre peing maus BUSINESS is such that we
are unable to attend the school exhibition this af
tcrnoon, which is to be devoted to rhetorical and
singing exercises excusively.-Daily, 18th.
FROM KANsAs.-We have had conversa-
ton with Messrs. James and Joseph Merritt, sons
of Mr. John Merritt, of Sweetland township in this
county, who have just returned from trip to Kan
sas. They came through by land from Leavenworth,
and represent the roads as being extremely muddy,
and some of the streams so high as to be almost
impossible. They were nearly month in making
the trip from Leavenworth, being detained by high
waters The Pixies Peak excitement, they say, to
Judge by the numbers arriving at Leavenworth is
on the increase. They of the opinion, however,
that those who are we'll situated would do well to
remain where they are, and convert their corn
and wheat fields into gold mines-the most profit
able mines, by far that can be worked, as the gold
is already coined. Young men, however, who are
not engaged in profitable business can lose moth
ing by visiting the mines, and may, perhaps, make
their fortunes. While they were stopping at Law
renee, they met the noted Capt. Montgomery, who,
instead of being the boodthirsty fellow he is repre-
sented, is quite agreeable gentleman, though
determined man, ready to contend for his rights
to the last extremity. His actions in Kansas have
been much misrepresented, in their opinion, though
they admit that he is somewhat rash when his ire
is provoked. The Messrs Merritt, we believe, pre-
ferrng tng the Iowa soil to delving after the
filthy lucre in the cayey formation of Pixies Peak,
will remain in this county, satisfied with their
sight "of the elephant"
CooL.-Everybody, it is presumed, has
gazed, ere now, upon the front-page drawing in
last weeks number of Frank Leslie's Illustrated
Newspaper, representing the death scene in the
Washington tragedy, and marked with our surprise,
perhaps, the peculiar attitude of calm, cool, lazy
indifference given to Mr.. Butterworth. Should
that drawing have found its way to the Grand Jury
room at Washington, we may calculate 1t is all up
with Butterworth; the wretch who could take his
stand and gaze quietly and complacently on that
scene of murder as we would upon landscape
prospect, any sensible jury would indct for the
crime without further evidence.
Bah!-the picture, in our opinion, is rank i'm
position-it is ridiculously false to nature Wehave
one or two young in this city who, after read
ing but onehalf of what has been published of the
details of this affair." could get up quite as authentic
a representation of the scene and one that would
pass just as current provided it had Frank Lesle's
stereotyped overhead, "By our special Artist. -
However, if people will consent to sit down to a
buzzard repast, We don't know but what they de-
serve to be humbugged-to have artificial car
cass made, dressed, and set in order before them
But for the sake of public morals the tastes form
ing in the minds of the young, we do heartily re
gret that Leslie and his compeers in the illustrated
Newspaper line, cannot be left to gloat over the
scenes of blood, of bulletperforated garment, ant
shattered shreds of outraged broadcloth alone, II
the privacy Of their own sanctums. This lnsinua
ting of representations of brutal and disgusting
details of murder and villainy whether drawn OF
the spot or a couple hundred miles away by "spe
cal artistry upon parlor tables, to inst coarse
and corrupt principles of taste into the minds O
our children, if not vitiate their morals,-ls 81
gross a violation of common decency that we woul'
fain condemn the intruder to perpetual banishmen
from respectable society.
The evil effects naturally growing out of the cir
culation of one such newspaper will keep reformer
and all the appliances of moral instruction busy fo
wears to uproot and remove, with but doubtful
prospect of success then. We are opposed bit
terly opposed-to this popularizing, this familiar
izing Of murder.
Time was when we congratulated ourselves upo
the legislation that put end to public execution
"a barbarty of only demoralizng tendencies; bu
now it is no more left matter Of choice with u
whether we will witness sights like this-men wit
devilish instinct for gain have refined upon the oil
raocess, and with the aid of art present in long
bloody series, not only feature but all the fes
lures, down to the minutest fragments of clotte
garment connected with the sickenng incidents
human butchery,-and without solitary pang
remorseful conscience thrust the infectious prcpa
alton into our houses, force it under our notice
and introduce into the moral atmosphere the no
some stencil Of purifying, CORY human flesh!
If there is any chance to have this hurtful nui
ancc abated by having public executions restore'
we promise to lend our influence that way