The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-23

WASHINGTON, D. G., May 2lst, 1871.
TO the Editor of the State Journal.
In these telegraphic days it is useless to
attempt to send news by mail. The best
that can be done is to give more detailed
account Of any interesting event, or a de-
scription of some local matters not noticed
by the Associated Press kilograms.
: Of the latter class OF subjects, the prom
enade concerts by the Marine band at the
Capitol ground on Wednesday afternoons,
and at the Presidents on Saturdays form
fruitful theme. The one given last
evening was largely attended by the beau
ty and fashion of the city; indeed might
almost say of the nation, for nearly every
State was represented; and was very
enjoyable affair. Senator Wilson of Mas
sachusetts and Walt. Whitman the eccen-
trio poet. were among the notables present,
and the President, with a few distinguish
ed gentlemen and members Of his family
occupied seats on the portico of the man
sion, and seemed to enjoy the animated
scene. And we'll they might. for the
balmy air, the soft, green carpet of newly
mown grass, the perfume of flowers, the
murmur Of fountains, the fine music and
the bewitching toilets and still more fasci-
mating beauty of the gentle sex, formed a
combination of attractions that have sell
dom seen equalled elsewhere
But beauty and happiness are not all
that claim our attention in large CITY,
Every picture has its dark side, and in the
contemplation of the reckless disregard of
life and limb, SO prevalent throughout our
country, and nowhere more so than here,
one can bnt feel that we need society for
the protection of human beings, far more
than that for the prevention of cruelty
to animals. | would not belittle
the work of that association. 1t is
needed, and let it thrive, and it
shall have my heartiest sym pathy. But a
still more important claim presses itself
upon our attention, when we see men dali
ly working 10 narrow pits ten, twelve, or
even fifteen feet in depth, whose perpen-
dicular sides have no Other support than
the cohesion of the soil. And when the
weight of the earth is sufficient to over
come that cohesion and the treacherous
wall buries three or four of our felow-he-
ings beyond extrieation before life is ex-
tlnct, their mangled remains are sent home
WltuOut tuOubHt vi inc suffering ones
who were dependent on their labor for
their daily bread, and new men are
sent to risk their lives in the same trap.
/ have known of three such accidents
in one week in the construction of
sewers and foundations, aud still the MUIR
derous work goes on; for have yet to see
the first attempt to sustain the earth in
such excavations by means of shores or
props. Do we not need associated effort
to correct the eyil2 II so, let it be under
stood that policemen who incarcerate white
women and negro men in the same cell,
leaving them there all Light, regardless of
the shrieks of the outraged victims, who
arrest 6ve-year-old infants a. ten o'clock
at night, and irnprison them till morning,
or who drag drunken women along the
pavement by the hair, are not eligible for
membership.
Bot, lest / trespass on your valuable
columns, will say no more.
CAPITOL,