Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-12-14
Our RadiX Letter.
Thanksgiving IN New York
a Clear Case of MOther-it1-

Thanksgiving IN New York
a Clear Case of MOther-in
Law. .-r
10 the Editor of the Observer:
A NEw YoRK, Dec. l. 1876.
The annual American feast of
fat things could not possibly be
omitted from the Centennial cal
endar, and I have therefore to
chronicle one of the jolliest and
most generous Thanksgivings Of
many years. No one in our
rather meagre list of holidays
touches E0re deeply than this the
heart of the descendant from Pu-
ritan stock, for the reason proba-
bly, that it appeals to another no
less important aud cherished or
gan. A sort Of glow pervades the
whole Republic on this particular
Thursday Of November, whether
its inhabitants wildly realize
their personal and national bless
ings of the year or not. A rubi-
cund smile diffuses itself over the
face of the body polite even
though that of mature be sullen
and her breath sourlY chilled.
Outside discomfort acts only as
an artistic foil to the cheer
within; the Querulous winds and
spittiug clouds are heaven sent
contrasts torerchAhce- the charms
of broad frelightsshinIng overrich
brown fowl and foaming glasses.
Some spark of the divine hospi-
tality which like magnet draws
round the fathers board the scat
tered members of a family, reach.
es even the semi ossified con
science of the city boarding house
keeper, and on this glorious day
some venerable rooster dies to
grace her table, usually ornament.
ed only by durable steak. The
very c0nvicts and yagabonds of
New York have little need to
sleep on empty stomaches for, zone
touch OF turkey makes the whole
world kin" For week previous
to the great occasion cartload after
cartloadr Of provisions for hospit.
ais, newSboys' lodging houses,
prisons and charitable institutions
of all kinds-and more good was
done with the mouey thus eX-
pended, ! venture to say, than by
any other expenditure Of double
the amount that the year has wit
messed. ra0
The scales Of Justice have
swung from the hands Of the blind
goddess all this week, and have
done good deal Of weighing des.
pite Thanksgiving diversions. The
Martinez Del Valle breach Of
promise case which has coptribu,
ted some spicy chapters to the
literature Of the courts has been
decided, the jury discounting her
modest claim Of $50, 600 some 500
per cent. and allowing her $50
iur repairs to her feelings and
reputation. -
Quite a number of other cases
of some importance have been ad-
Indicated, but as they have most
ly been Of local or personal bear
ing they need no further refer
ence. Among the lot, however,
was one Of national, | may say Of
world wide importance, which |
feel that | ought not to withhold.
This was the complaint of a map
ho deliberately and unblushing-
ly asserted in the police court
that he had beer assaulted and
had received certain injuries
while defending--his mother-in
lar. | leave to your Imagination
the sensation produced in court
by this totally unprecedented 81
legation. Fancy the expression
with which every Benedict in the
room turned upon the bold allega-
tor whose parti colored eyes were
fixed defantly on vacancy. Pict-
ure to yourself the stern, hard
lines which, alter the first shock
OF amazement, crept into the pre-
viously benign conntenance OF
the judge--himseli a married
man--as he bent his indignant
gaze on the would be imposer up
on judicial credulity. For one
brief minute it was 90 still that