The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1868-07-12

AND CATHOLIC MESSENGER.
suit in every place where reason rules. Inc
custom of reducing five hearty meals DAY
to two light ones, and substituting fruits
for roast-beef, of building airy plazzas 10
catch the south breeze, instead OF heavy
brick or stone fortresses to bar out the
north wind-all this, to him and his proge-
nv. is the conclusive mark of an inferior
race, whose want of civilization is rs much
to be pitied as their want of manhood is to
he despised.
Johnny is we'll satisfied with himself, and
he does not fail to carry that admiration
of everything British into every land and
every cline. We, his descendants, have
lost few of his prejudices, and cling faith
| fully to many of the follies of his self-con-
ceit. Providence has blessed us with a far
better land than that of our ancestors, and
far more favored climate for the develop
ment of the physical and intellectual man,
vet we shake our heads with incredulity,
and look back to the fogs and SHOWS of the
cradle of our race as the necessary condi-
lions to full and perfect manhood.
Well, granted that Abraham. Moses,
Isaiah, Solomon, Cyrus, Homer, Aristotle,
Alexander, Virgil, Caesar, and Napoleon
were all born in Norway, and never listened
to the music Of the south wind among the
palm leaves, let us, at least, make the most
of our unfortunate exile, and have some
water. A river front of eight miles, and not
one bath-house! The mighty Mississippi
running Indignantly past our doors, while
the cutters are choked, the streets deep in
dust, and thousands of people suffering for
water!
If we wish to redeem New Orleans from
the ill-name for health that she bears abroad,
let the laboring classes he provided with
facilities for the bath. The river is too
dangerous bathing place in its natural
condition, but convenient constructions
could be stationed at intervals along the
levee, at a trifling expense, which would
render the indulgence in this practice per-
fectly safe. If the city cannot incur any
grant such immunities to private enter
prise as to induce the introduction of few
such places by way of experiment.
Then, water for domestic purposes How
wofhlly imperfect all our arrangements for
a supply from the river! The present plan is
incomplete, ineffective, and very expensive.
The water supply ought to he universal and
unfailing, costing but little to the public
and nothing to the individual. This could
he easily effected by substituting pumps
for hydrants. Instead Of a reservoir of water
raised by steam power let the lspes run
directly from the river vt such. depth as to
insure constant supply Of the purest water
at the lowest stage. If one pipe ran back
towards the lake through the center OF
every line of squares, the rear of every lot
would communicate With it,, and by means
of pump would have an untailing supply
of water, free of the hydHant tax. In. pro-
portion as the river might rise, the level of
the water in the pumps would rise also,
giving, through large portion of the year,
a spontaneous flow, unless restramsd by
closing the mouths of the pumps.
The very system of pipes now laid could,
with small expense, be arranged to work on
this principle, thus doing away with the
immense costliness of the present plan, and
all contingencies. There would then be no
complaint from housekeepers and fire en-
gines. They would connect directly with
the river itself-a reservoir which never
fails.
Ribernian Benevolent Association.
Our readers will find in another column
call for meeting Of the Hibernian Benevo-