The Rock Island daily Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1872-1873, 1873-05-24

aged Mt Vernon ASsOciation---The Back
ward Wsather---Music in the Parks---How
much good Il would do in Rock Island
The Slaves Of Fashion and how they Cheat
the World
WASHINGTON, May 10, 1873.
| suppose I'm rather late in saying any,
thing concerning our late Chief Justice
but as eyerything-warm weather in.
eluded-is late this season, may ven
ture to mention that, next to Abraham
Lincoln, no one seems to be so much re-
GREETED rs he. His life was so pure and
Upright that, in these days of almost uni
versal corruption, it shone out with su-
preme lustre and made even his opponents
mourn his sudden end have before me
now one of the last sentences ever written
by him, which in its feeble lines shows
that the hand which penned it was weary
indeed of work, if still willing to aid the
deserving in the struggle for employment
He never made long speeches or fair
promises in favor Of woman's advance
ment; but he quietly and persistently
reached out helping hand, and opened
one door after the other 10 her willing feet,
where her brain and her hands might gain
something approaching TO just compen-
sation for their labor All honor to S. p.
Chase.
Last summer mentioned the universal
disgust which the Encouragement of Mt.
Vernon, by the Association of that name,
inspires generally. 1t seems that the feel
ing has grown strong enough to produce
an eruption. in the shape of charges
against the regent Miss Cunningham,
which were preferred by DIR. Rowland,
and investigated by committee selected
by Miss c. and her friends OF course it
ended as all investigations seem TO and in
a coat Of whitewash and, owing to the ne.
culiar charter under which she holds sway.
no one can modest or make her afraid,
unless she chooses to voluntarily resign.
The signs of the times are, however, that
the disinclination of the public 10 longer
support such fraud, will compel her to
pursue that course, and Mrs James
Brooks, Of New York is spoken Of as her
probable successor.
/ have already referred 10 the back
wardness Of the season, and am obliged to
confess that however much like to boast
OF the fine weather we are favored with.
this time the spring is too much for me, |
and | must own up to having just speck |
OF fire to take the chill off the air. Think |
Of it, fire in the latter part of May, in this
latitude. It's beyond reason, and | blush !
for our weather bureau.
You have, no doubt, heard the expires
sion tell that to the marines, applied to !
almost anything Of less than the requisite |
thickness well, it lcds told to them. C.
that the warm weather had come, and
open air concerts were the thing-so at it !
they went, and lastSaturday afternoon saw
them out in full force in the Presidents |
grounds, giving one of their delicious treats. |
You may believe that they were well pat |
ronized. Old and young danced, walked, |
tottered or sat within sound Of the music. |
and where the eye rested it met only bright |
sunshine and happy faces Wednesday !
next viii repeat the scene in the Capitol !
grounds and after that, twice a week, the |
poorest beggar can hear as good music as
millionaire, by simply going to either place.
| ike these concerts for ever so much
they are PUBLIC blessing and should be
Mt the command Of every city or town.
Think Of the pleasure every one in and |
around Rock Island could enjoy if the
the grounds near the Court House, and the !
ugly square near the Harper House, were
beautiied with flowers and trees, fountains
and seats and if then on certain afternoons
a good band were to play selections from
the best composers-why, it would repay
you ten-fold for all the trouble and money
it would cos,.
The slaves Of fashion are preparing al
ready to obey her behest to seek change
of air; though why they should do SO, un-
less 1t be to enjoy warm stoves, is beyond
my comprehension Many of these would
be tashionables will, however, fool fashion
by staying at home living in the back part
OF the house, and then, at the end of the
warm season, returning TO the front again
with flourish Of trumpets, and stories of
this or that watering place
Talking of fashion makes me think of
the queer Normandy caps to be ION lit
tie girls heads now, They are built Of
silks and laces, fit rather closely to the
The face, and then tower up three stories
nigh at the back, giving the little things
uch an outlandish look, that one takes
hem to be understood peasant women from
Normandy or Bretange; till the sweet
aces aud innocent eyes protest against the
uiatnE Ia and r,utal,, ,u4;.,o.,. H.. 49, III