The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1875-01-29
SHERIDAN NEW ORLEANS.
How lie Is Treated by the People.

4 New Orleans Letter 10 the New
York Times says:
The people of New Orleans never do
anything by hsfves. To hate General
Sheridan appears just now 10 be a re-
Hgion with them; 10 defame him Is
evidently considered the duty of every
good citizen. Everyw street
cars, bar-rooms, hotels, and even in
churches-I have heard men and wo-
men abusing him. This abuse Is some
times very unjust, and all the charges
brought against the General are made
without consideration or thought. For
instance, he is blamed for the action of
the troops on the 4th inst, notwith
standing the fact that he had not as
sumed command when the soldiers ap-
peared in the State House, and can
not, therefore, be held responsible
This, however, is only a minor consid
Grafton. The troops were first called
for by Democratic members, and their
subsequent action might have been for
given. 1t is the dispatch calling the
people bandItti which has caused Sher-
idan to be so intensely disliked. They
feel that they have been insulted be-
fore the entire country, and it is one of
their proud boasts that " Louisianian
never forgets an insult" This morn
ing a conversation upon this subject
one of the best known citizens of New
Orleans said to me. 1--WE could have
forgiven everything else, we have already
borne much and forgiven much, but
this unnecessary insult we can not and
VIII not forget" This feeling seems
10 pervade all classes of the commun-
ity. The popular hatred of Sheridan
finds expression in many ways. He
has several times been hung in effigy,
and half the shop windows in New
Orleans are decorated with some ludic-
rous caricature of him. In some places
figures of venerable and respectable
looking old gentlemen are labeled =
This is one of the banditti." Many
Of the top stores display ridiculous
French dolls with immense heads and
very short legs, bearing the inscription:
Il am not afraid" This, of course,
mas reference to Sheridan's dispatch
stating that he had been threatened
with assassination, but that he was not
afraid, ~ am not afraid" is now in
every body's mouth. The newsboys go
through the street yelping ont the usuaf
"terrible murder in Arkansas" or Choir
ribIe emitting affair" always ending with
"but | am not afraid" Several songs
have already been composed, entitled,
u am not afraid, and in the theaters
pert actresses are gaining popularity and
loud applause by exclaiming in and out
of season, II am not afraid"
The General bears all this abuse and
ridicnle with commendable good nature
and the utmost indifference. The other
evening when he appeared in the hall
of his hotel a number of unmannerly
Doors saluted him with Kisses and snp
pressed exclamation of 81 am not afraid"
he passed quietly through the crowd,
paving no attention to impertineEce.
Every day as he takes his place at the
dinner table, he is stared out of coun-
fenance by number of rude people,
who respect neither his honorable posi-
tion nor feelings of the ladies by whom
he is accompanied. Nothing seems to
disconcert or annoy him, however. He
has seen enough to laugh az the petty
insults referred to, and it is but justice
TO say that the mass of the people, al
though hating him with bitter hatred,
do not approve of the way he Is treated
bv a few of their number. One incident
in this connection | must not forget to
mention. A few evenings since the Cen
eral, accompanied by his Chief of Staff,
visited the opera. and was assigned TO a
place in one of the stage boxes. Ad-
Joining this was another box, in which
a young and old lady were seated. The
two apartments were separated by par
tition, which did not extend quite to the
front, a cushioned rail connecting them.
The General took his place nearest this
partition, and naturally laid his arm on
the rail which ] have mentioned. As
he did so every opera glass in the house
was leveled at him, and the old lady
who was seated in the box next him ex
citedly motioned her Young charge to
move back from the place she occupied.
The girl, who sat next the partition, and
very near Sheridan, at once |
drew her chair back from the rail into |
the corner of her box. 1t was very ev-
ident that the General was unconscious
of the movement made by his neighbors. |
He did noe,indeed, notice their presence,
vet it was at once whispered all over the |
theater that the young lady was obliged |
to vasate her place because Sheridan
had rudely placed his arm on her hand,
which, as the story goes, was resting on |
the rail. Now, what is called Sheridan's |
behavior is the chief |
topic of conversation in halfthe fashion
able saloons, of New Orleans, and |
whenever he appears in public he is
greeted by the black frowns of in
dignant women. This does not appear