The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-04-11

less tnan tney were SURPRISED Dy an
other distinguished person eighteen
hundred years before, when captieus-
ness became unreasonable, and cruel
ty would usurp the throne of charity
and justice.
The handsome Mrs. Stephen A.
Douglas shOne in the social heavens
for brief period as star of the FIRST
magnitude, and the rival of Harriet
Lane, and since these two, the gems
of the evening have not been accepted
so much for personal beauty as for
wit or worth. During the war the
woman of the hospital gained de-
gree of admiration akin to that ae-
corded Florence Nightingale in the
Crimea, and the benediction of the
sick and dying soldier on thousands
of the ministering female spirits in
and around Washington, was but the
concentrated essence and expression
of a nations gratitude and thanks,
fully merited, and more than fairly
won. Some of these noble women are
now in the Departments, and some
are vainly endeayoring to get in, the
gratitude of the male official having
considerably exhausted itself. Even
the wounded soldier, who would have
had the glory of dying for his country
but for the unwearied care and de-
votion of the stray angel of the hos
pital, has been known to forget the
debt and make point against q
soldiers widow for the benefit of his
own favorite, or otherwise in his own
interest.
Among the most conspicuous and
especially bright lights of the present
are to be accounted Grace Greenwood
and Mrs. Ames, who have given dra-
matte entertainments several times
lately to crowded audiences in Lincoln
Hall. In such characters as Tabitha
Tattle, and the role of very ancient
females, Grace has no superior on the
stage her limitations of the cracked
voice, and fearful eye, and penetrat-
ing insight being inimitable. In trag-
ic presentations Mrs. Ames excels, and
together they give satisfactory en-
tertainment.
The galleries of Congress since the
death of Sumner, have been quite de-
serted. The debates have been on
finance and railroads mostly, affording
but little play of imagination, and an
array of statistics enough to Tighten
Delmar or Young. The birth of the
Bureau of Statistics is likely 10 prove
the death of Congressional eloqueDce.
In the SanboTn contract business,
the Committee have examined the
Secretary of the Treasury, and the
Assistant Secretary, Hon. F. A. Saw
yer. From the statement Of Mr..
Richardson, it appears that the origi-
nal contracts were made by Mr.. Bout
well, and the others were signed by
him as renewals of matters of form.
The assertions constantly made that
Mr.. Sawyer had clandestinely pushed
the act authorizing the contracts
through the Senate, and since had
shown an undue haste and interest in
helping Sanhorn, was effectually put
to rest. Mr.. Sawyer testified that he
did not engineer the matter in the
Senate, did not make the motion to
allow the contracts to be made, had
no conferences with Sanborn, or any
one in the interests of the contractors,
and, as a member of the conference
committee on the part of the Senate,
he only did what all members do,
stand up for the provisions which the
body they represent have passed. Mr..
Sawyer is very popular, able, and
highly respected officer, and those
who know him will readily believe
his testimony. The President has ap
pointed him on the Centennial Com
mission to represent the United States.
The atlantic for April, in an article
by D. A. Wells, contains ridiculous
libel on Hon. John Cessna, of Penn
sylvania, as false as it is uncaEled for.
Mr. Cessna is regarded as one of the
most upright men in Congress, and
the absurd insinuation of Wells is ut
terly without foundation. Even Mr..
Dawes exonerates him from the inn
imitation ront-1noo1r ror;x,a,1 n. an