Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-01-26
Largest Circulation in the District
Reading Matter on Every Page
WASHINGTON CITY;
January re, 1874.

A copy of letter from JEFF. Davis appeared
IN yesterdays CAPITAL in which the cOntanker-
Gus old petticoat hero had fling at ex-senator
Henry 5. Foote. In the Chronicle of this morn
ing Mr.. Foote has a card in which he says that
Davis has hated him since he (Foote) sfslappet
his jaws" in 1871 in this city, and that the hos
tility thus eDgendered was afterwards much
heightened by his defeat of Davis reasonable
aspirations to the Office of Governor of Missis-
sipPi a. a secession candidate in 1851. Mr..
FOote continues:
"My constant and unyielding opposition to
him and his nefarious schemes in Richmond,
curing the war OF the rebel liOn for three wears,
was not at ali calculated to assuage his enmity.
My free, but Unanswered, and, j venture TO say,
sFoss rsrdbs expeditions, last summer, of his in
decent and sedinOus attempts to keep alive in
the bOSoms of his countTymen feelings of irrita-
ton and alienation, which on gnt never TO have
Ieen brought into existence, have doubtless
much inhsmed the mal1gnity which was slum-
teTing in the recesses of a heart capable OF all
mischief"
MI FoOte proceeds in this bitter line for some
time. and concludes by challenging Davis to the
held of honor This is the weakest point in
Foote'S card. 1t was demonstrated at the time
OF Davis capture that he is not lighting man,
and it s child's play for Mr.. Foote to invite him
cut. He won't come
10 Is claimed by his friends that the President
Of the Western Union Telegraph company has
demonstrated to Congress that telegraphing is
cheaper in this country than in Europe, where
the lines are owned and managed by the gov
eminent. How this may be we do not know
though we have very serious doubts about the
correctness of the statement. What we do know,
however, is. that telegrsphing in this country
would be very much cheaper than it now Is if
the rates we're fixed so as to paw fair interest
upon the actual cost or value of the lines,
instead of on the watered stock which repre-
sents somewhere near ten times the amount of
money really invested in their construction and
equipment. IL is the wsteIe ed stock fraud that
Is the Old Man of the Sea to the patrons of rail-
roads and telegraphs in this country. II our
government ever gets the telegraph lines, it
should be careful to do so upon a basis OF their
actual cost, and not at the fictitious value put
upon them by interested stock jobbers and
INSCRIPTIONS kite-fiers.
Dr. Livingstone has been reported dead so
many times within the last ten years that a
good many people will perhaps be incredulous
in regard 10 the telegram to-day announcing
his end in Africa. The statement appears
however, TO be confirmed by the definite par
ticulsrs given as to the cause OF death; the body
being enbslmed, sc. IL remains to be ex-
planned, however, who among the ignorant
natives by whom he was surrounded was eapa-
vac VI HSiAOilhiLS process, As In
that hot climate it would have been impossible,
it would seem, 70 preserve the body from de-
composition while communication could be had
with the far distant white settlements on the
coast. In dying the field of his labor Dr.
Livingstone undoubtedly came to the end he
would have chosen, for he has, in many ways,
shown a disposition TO spend his days there.
Elsewhere will be found some particulars Of his
adventurous career.
The suspicious steamer Edgar Stewart Is still
AT Baltimore undergoing repairs ostensibly for
tie purpose of putting her in good condition
prior TO her sale TO the highest bidder A
reporter Of Baltimore paper visited her on
Saturday, and had conversation with Col.
Aguero. who has charge OF her for tie owner,
Mr.. Z. W. Butcher, New York attorney, Col.
AgueTo, who is a Cuban, and has been closely
connected with the movements in tho United
States for the relief of the patriots, told the
reporter that she would make a trial trip after
she had been thoroughly repaired and would
then he sold for 81 ,0OO although she originally
cost 10000. This, Col. Aguero assured the
reporter ''on the honor of a gentleman" is what
will De done with the vessel. Notwithstandi pg
this there are many who believe that the
Stewart is destined for the Cuban service, and
that she will ultimately be purchased by the
aSents Of the patriots in this country