The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-15

you, sir, should not have rung the bell" An
swered the Psrson, with true Christian humility:
Il hope yet to have q chance to ring the bell for
you, dear SIR" The passenger replied that he
had no desire to insult the Parson by his remark,
which he made merely because that was his senti.
ment. The colloquy then ceased.
There is considerable discussion in the city in
regard to the alleged action of the mayor in sign
ing the contracts for the sale of the markets and
receiving city money in payment. The sdjudica-
ton Of the contracts was made some time ago,
when It was understood that city money would be
received. Afterwards the council passed an
ordinance ordering that after December 3lst
1868, nothing but United States treasury notes
hould be received for obligations due the city.
The payments not having been made before
January /, 1869, the mayor was called upon
to decide between accepting city money
and thus violating the ordinance of the
council, and on declining 1t and thus break.
ing the implied conditions Of the contract.
Mr.. Conway decided to take the latter
horn of the dilemma. For this some people are
loud in their condemnation of him, asserting that
he had no right to 60 behind the ordinance of the
council, that the butchers take no city money and
should be allowed to pay none, and that the whole
affair is fragrant outrage against law aud equity.
Others hold that Mr.. Conway acted wisely in re-
cognizing the conditions of the original contract,
and that the ordinance was retroactive and there
fore null and void. To this 1t Is replied that
contractors had from the time of the passage
of the ordinance until January l in which to
pay, and that their refusal TO take that oppor.
tunty entitled the city TO claim treasury notes and
decline city money. The subject excites quite
general interest, everybody talking about it, and
opinions being varioc..., but the condemners of
Mayor Conway having the majority.
The horde Of sdventurers, sometimes designated
by those who have no scruples about stretching
the truth, the House of Representatives of the
State of Louisiana, have fixed up nice little
game, beautiful little game, which they pro-
pose shortly to endesvor to play. One Carr
has introduced into the select assemblage a
bill entitled, an act to abolish the existing gov
eminent of the city OF New Orleans, and to es.
tablish o provisional government for the said
city," This delightful bill, at one full swoop, de-
capitates Mr.. Conway, Mr.. Murphy and all the
other city officials, dis misses into the obscurity
of private life both boards of aldermen from
the two presidents down, ignominiously squelches
all the recorders, and in short "abolishes" the
present city government. But this is not all.
The bill is constructive as well as destructive. II
throws the city government into chaos, but ere.
stes another world out of that chaos. For it
orders further that the governor (so-caled), War.
moth the immaculate, Warmoth the hero of the
Canal street riots last summer, Warmoth the
state sman who got himself elected as territorial
delegate some years ago, you know, Warmoth the
pure and virtuous youth 4 shall at once appoint
mayor, a street commissioner and other officials
necessary to the running of the governmental
machine. These appointments are to be con.
frmed by that body Of personifed wisdom and
integrity known TO mortaIs as the Senate ESQ
called Of Louisiana. Is il necessary to add that
this scheme is, like Psllas, born 10 maturity, and
that it is at once to go into operation-that is, as
soon as the people of New Orleans have learned
sufficient respect for their masters, the carpet
baggers, to let them enforce it? But, to speak
seriously, the bill is now before the House. 1t
may be that it will pass both houses and become
law, but we doubt 1t much. Last summer, when
the same men had several other schemes of vii
lainy on foot, they forbore to carry them out be-
cause they were influenced by wholesome dread
of the effects. Is il necessary to suggest to these
gentlemen that the people of New Orleans are the
same then as now that they have endured
great deal, but are now very tired of the inso-
lence and presumption of the itinerant pick
pockets who now are seated In the places where
good men sat before? We hope that the honora-
BILE the Legislature will take these hints to heart
and not 60 too far, or it might be that they will
make a law which they cannot enforce Quien
sdbe
At the ball given by the Washington Benevolent
Association, at the Odd Fellows Hall on Wednes-
day evening, there were great many extremely
handsome costumes, some of the fancy dresses
being very tastefully conceived and made of rich
materials. One in particular was specially
no iceable. 1t was worn by fair-hared, blue
eyed maiden, who for the nonce personated the
Devils Wife. 1t consisted of a red satin skirt,
quite short, yellow satin overskrt, cut in points.
Both skirts were beautifully embroidered in silk.
The body was of red satin, with a sort of scarf
of yellow satin over the shoulder. The head
dress represented two horns, while variety Of
yellow beads, silk, etc., stood in place, we sup
pose, of the flames which are supposed to play
around the head Of her Satanic majesty. The
prettiest little red boots in the world, with gilt
heels, finishes the costume. While looking at her
we could not but think of Owen Meredith's lines,
in which be gives as the news from Hell, that
" The Devil is dead-he died resigned
Though somewhat opprest by cares;
But his wife, my friends, is woman of mind,
And looks after her lords affairs.
have Just come back from that wonderful place
And kist hands with the queen down there,
But cannot describe her msjesty's face,
1t has filed me 30 with despair.
But however this be, one thing know,
And this am free to tell
The devil, my friend, is a woman just now
IT'S a woman that reigns in He'll"
The queen of hell seemed to have brought her
court with her, for all the evening (slthough her
dress was short) she was followed by a train,
whom, doubtless, like Owen the singer, she had
filed with despair. 1t is to be supposed that
having only come up to earth for the Washing
tons ball. her majesty has ere this returned to
her domains and probably occupied herself yes
terday in describing the affair to her maids Of
honor, with a warmth which the brilliancy of the
occasion warranted. We should like to have
heard the recital, and to have repeated the poets
experience, who ." kist hands with the queen