Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-03-29
GOSSIP.
a collection of odds and End.

In our rambles about the city it is pleas
ant to note the interest that is being taken
in planting out trees and shrubbery, sod
ding yards, etc. The man who ornaments
his own premises is a public benefactor, as
he thus becomes a powerful agent in cult
waiting a love for the beautiful in those
around him. That block of private resi-:
dences on the south side of Spruce street.
between McGayock and Demonbreun.
is worth thousands of dollars to Nashville
as a public educator, and hereafter more
taste will be exhibited in the erectionof pri-
vate dwellings in the city than there has
been heretofore.
The change wrought in the appearance
of a dwelling by the application of paint,
and ornamenting of grounds, however con-
tracted the latter may be, is surprising.
An illustration Of this may be seen on
South Spruce street, near the corporation
line, where one half of a double tenement
is occupied by a family evidently possess
ing taste and refinement, while the other
half is as dreary and desolate a home as
can well be imagined, and yet this wide
contrast in the appearance of these dwell
lings has been brought about by the ex-
penditure Of but a small sum in money.
SUGGESTION.
Speaking of money, how many of our
citizens realize the comfort and pleasure
they could beStow upon the inmates of the
county jail by the distribution among them
OfOldbOoks, magazines and~newspapers? At
present there are about sixty persons con-
fined in this adjunct TO a high state OF civ
ilization and refinement, many of whom
have not seen a book or paper since the day
the heavy door of their cell shut them in
from the honest portion of the community,
or rather from that portion of the commu-
nifty who have been able, thus far, to con-
ceal their rascally deeds. There are thou
sands o. people now enjoying the blessings
of liberty and all the luxuries of life, who.
if they had their just deserts, would be
wearing yariegated garments and residing
in stone houses with grated windows.
These remarks do not apply, however, to
the readers of the UNION AND AMERICAN.
But to return to u mutton: The major
ity of the prisoners at the jail can read, and
a bundle Of old magazines would prove a
mine Of wealth to them. To be sure these
men are supposed to be swindlers, thieves,
and muTderers, but they IRE our brothers,
possessing the same feelings and character
istics that we do, pricing life and liberty as
we do, and will be compelled TO answer for
their sins and shortcomings as we will.
Meanwhile as they await a final disposition
of their respective cases, at the hands of the
twelve "gOOd men and true" who will
swear that they never read the newspaper
reports of crimes, and will afterwards d0ze
through twO-thirds of the examination of
witnesses we say, as these criminals
await on fnvaefirotiNn IF fhafr
respective cases by this aggregated
in their dreary confinement. Let us think
Of this to-day as we attend church and drop
our contribution into the passing plate, in
aid of the heather of far-Of lands. As we
contribute a portion of our wealth to the
noble object of purchasing warming pans
and blankets for the natives of sunny
Africa. let us also resolve to do something
for the benft of those around us. In order
that the suggestion above given may be
carried into effect, the writer of this article
will gladly take charge of all donations
which are left at the counting rOOm of this
paper, and will guarantee their reaching
the persons for whom they are intended.
THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
is not as symmetrical and phil osophical asst
should be, which fact is generally admitted.
For instance, We all acknowledge that it is
very absurd to pronounce '~tizic," a word
which we spell thus: ''phthisic,' and the
Frenchman's dreadful experience with the
termination "ouSh' sent a thrill of NORTH
cation throughout the length and breadth
Of the land. But we have reason to feel
encouraged. The phonetic system is grad
ually being introduced in the public schools,
and is becoming very popular; bat however
faulty and Objectionable the language may
be al the best, there is a class of people
who are in the habit of selecting the most
Objectionable words, when they get excited,
and hurl them at each other with great lib
crafty. 1t is a fact that four-fifths of the
arrests made in Nashville are ON account Of
our citizens having used ''abusive" Ian
guage. '.prOfane and offensive language, or
Language calculated to provoke a breach of
the peace" This fact demonstrates the
necessity forre-organization of ~Ourlanguage,
and afterwards, a reorganization of a ma
jority of the people using it.
As there is something very attractive
about throwing out suggestions, and giving
advice to other people, we have a few words
to say with reference to the education of
STATESMEN OF THE FUTURE.
Every school in the land should have
connected with it a debating club, where
the pupils Of the school would be instruct
ed in parliamentary usage and the rules OF
debate, upon which subjects there is a great
deal of ignorance; indeed not more than
one man in a thousand is able to preside
over a deliberative body successfully. One
who has occasion to attend conventions,
legislative assemblies, etc, cannot fail to
observe this fact. A clear head and a great
deal of experience are required in a pre-
officer who is called upon to wrestle
with motions, motions in lieu, bills and
bills in lieu with amendments
and amendments to amendments innumer-
able, and be able to decide without a mo-
hesitation, as to which should be
considered and which rejected. And there
is a fearful amount of ignorance lying
around loose with regard to a "call for the
previous question" Our City Council is
composed of thirty members, but one of
whom is able to successfully grapple with
a 'call for the previous question:" and
will compare favorably with other
bodies of a similar character.
This state of things should not exist.
Every young man who has had any school
advantages whatever, should have posted
himself with regard to the duties of q pre-
siding officer and the name Of conduct
the business of a deliberative body. II
sometimes happens that a small clique Of
lnprincipled men gain complete control of
convention by reason OF their knowledge
Of parliamentary usage, the honest men,
bers of the body being deprived of an OPP
portunity of presenting their views simply
they don't know how to 20 about it.
The State of Tennessee is in
a VERY HEALTHY LATITUDE,
.udging from the table of ages published in
he last United States census report. In
1870, the year the census was taken, there
were in this State, with a population Of
POI persons who had realized the
of 100 and upwards, against 167 in
New York, which has a population of
3, 1884, Iowa, containing 9S3,543 in
habitants, has but p over a hundred years
Of ace. Dakota, Idaho, Montana, Nevada
and Utah have no centenarians. Georgia has \
l97, Alabama 2S6, Louisiana 279, North
Carolina 265, Mississippi 263.
The fact that our State possesses a healthy
climate is evidenced by the foregoing, and
4 farmer living near Nashville, demon
in a letter written to the CiRcin-
mt Gazette, that Tennessee soil is remark
IDLY fertile, as he made S1,629 last year by
cultiYating ten acres of ground. There can
be no doubt but that Tennessee Offers in
lrenmanfS tn Immigrants second IN no