The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1873-10-22
KNOXVILLE STILL AHEAD,
..vyhat viii MRS. Crundy sayg"

sensation, with headquarters In that
city. One day last week, just before
dark, cOlored girl appeared at the
residence of Rev. John w. Mann, ef
Athens, with a basket on her arm.
and handed a note to Mrs Mann.
While the lady was reading the note
the girl quietly deposited her bur-
then and left. The note stated
that the basket contained an infant,
which was forcibly commended to
the care and attention of the lady.
Twenty dollars in currency was en-
closed, with the remark that addi-
tional remittances would be made
from time to time. Soon after this
Mr. Mann made his appearance, and
when informed of the singular visit
and the innocent incumbrance left
upon him he pleaded want of man.
hood to stand sponsor for the little
babe, and proceeded to look Cor the
girl, who was soon discovered and
taken into custody. She stated that
the child and letter was placed in
her possession by Miss Doctor
French, of Knoxville, with instruc-
tions to deliver them to the lady she
had. The child was sent back to
Knoxville to the care of the lady
doctress-the interesting incident
soon became town gossip-finally
coming to the ears of p. & II. re-
porter who interviewed the lady doc
tress and elected the fact that ''the
babe had been sent to the house of
the Athens clergyman. in pursuance
of an agreement made by her with the
wife. who was to keep the infant for
few months when it would be re-
claimed by its parents, who had been
in Knoxville during the summer, on
a wedding tour, but resided in the
far South, and who had been guilty
of an indiscretion previous to their
marriage. which they were naturally
DESTROYS OF concea!ing from their
friends
This statement is denied by Mrs.
Bell Mann. in a very legally drawn
certificate ublished in Sundays p.
otd H., and one would infer from the
note accompanying it that the poor
lady was already in the jaws of hell
from very remorse at the possibility
of being thought guilty of so great
a transgression of Mrs. Grundy' s
rule of propriety! What is more
ennobling and characteristic of wo
mans nature than forbearance, for
giveness, and devotion to distressed
humanity? In sickness, misery and
distress, next to God, she is true.
True from instinct. We can see
nothing in the recital of the story,
even if the facts are truly stated by
Miss Dr. French, for a Christian Ia
dy to be ashamed of. On the con-
trary there is all to commend it over
the cold and heartless prurient'prude-
of the Mrs. Grundy's, male and fe-
male. No one whose good opinion
is worth having would have dared to
insinuate that so charitable and
christian an act was not prompted by
the hottest objects for good, who has
any knowledge of the probity and
christian character sustained by Mr..
Mann's family. .
Miss DIR. French went to Knoxville
several years since with the fullest
testimonials of her moral worth and
high professional attainments, under
the patronage of the oldest and most
reputable families of the city, and
has so demeaned herself as to wear
away great deal of the prejudice
that once existed with our people in
regard to those of her sex who dared
to 90 beyond the old lines fixed for
female usefulness and self-susten.
ance. The common sense of a much
less practical and experienced woman
than she is acknowledged to be would
have suggested a hundred better
plans to perpetrate fraud or cover
a mystery, had she desired to do so
We would be 10th to question the
statement either lady would volun
tarily make-both being members o.
the same Church. and heretofore, as
we understand. very devoted friends
But this whole baby sensation il
a mere tempest in teapot
calculated to make one blush for the
Christian humanity developed by the
unfortunate incident. We fear bro
NJ. has soiled the sw!ngletree fgolly
forbearance and federation, and beer
made q ninny of by the graceles'
Mrs. Grundy. The p. and Fl. quotes
him as putting in black and white
this declaration: g arouH no more
knowjngly, toke that child into m!
house and family, under the circam
stances. than / ,gOuId TAKE FIRE INTO
MY BOSOM. Neither acould my rife
r The itUljc and CAPITALS are our owl
we paid Mr.. Speck for them, an(
intend to use them whenever we prin
sentence that makes us look cross.
eyed from horror and disapproval..
IN, 80 C,l..A.