The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-02-28

i.'.f4L t'.-lti lttl Win LUt institution. and
mos. q, thc inmates take great interest
In current affairs. Many Of them fancy
that obey are still influential in shaping
political events. They write inuumera.
hle Letters which nobody ever reads but
myself Not long ago / found a letter
from Blaine, addressed TO the pope.
asking tor the Vatican influence 20 helm
him along iu the Presidential campaign
OF 'SI You would laugh at the pite6us
appeal which Schuyler ColtaN once mail.
cd 10 the President lie wanted the
posi- office at South Bend. end said he
caa.d produce certificates OF good moral
character. Only yesterday i found this
brief letter in the box. You may value
F. Il as an autograph
i The General had been fumbliug I'm his
peck e book and Dee handed me the fol
lowing note, which have preserved.
IHs RETREAT, July B, 1850
DEAR SYLrH: Although wEanr
f comes hard, l thought / would send vol
a single line. Twill Eight it out ON this
+ line d it takes all summer. / may have
made escapes, but my worst enemy cam
+ not say that l ever let any guilty man
mistake. u. S. GRANr.
4 What" / exclaimed; lis he here2'
Eyes, said our guide eve employ
! him about the stables, and he seems toll
+ erab,y happy. Ii YOU give him "a cigar
I when you pass there ht will be affected ID
/ tears
/ The majority of ihe inmates hal assem-.
+ bled in the large court yard Oh the asy-
i lum, around which wa, "a high brick wall
patrolied by keepers. The recurrence Of
the national anniversary seemed 10 exc
E tstf. . u.
nized many faces once familiar, but now
almost forgotten. The assortment of de-
cayed politicians included representative
OF every political caste, from the cX.Seu-
ator or the Ex-Governor 90 tho playcd-out
ward striker. / remarked the peculiar
satisfaction with which Gen. Butler
pointed out Blaine. Apart from all the
others sat Morton, Of Indiana, gloomy
and morose, his chin resting upon the
handle of "a crutch. / started to np.
proach him, having known him In other
days.
You'd better not" said the Superin.
tendent, catching my intention and my
arm AZ the same time.
"Why uot?'
you'd better not that's ALL" said
Gen. Butler, Significantly; and Just then
Morton looked up from his crutch and
scowled across the court yard at John
Sherman, with an expression in his face
which convinced me that the Superin-
tendent was right.
The inmates had hoistcd n flag In
honor of the day, and were making
/ speeches. | regret chat / am not able to
report their remarks, which were full of
/ patriotic sentiment. ! was particularly
/ impressed with the eloquent words of
4 old Subsidy Pomcroy, vino wept as he
/ pointed to the flag and moved the follow
/ ing resolutions, which were seconded by
4 Schuyler ColiaX and passed unanimous
! ly:
| Resoiped, That the inmates of this Re-
/ treat point with pride TO tho record of
/ their services in tho past and pledge
I their unwaveung support i'm tho future
/ 10 tho Government Ol this Grand Re
/ public.
ResolUed, That the purity of our in
stitution5 must be maintained at an
! hazards.
heS0tuet, That committee Of thee
be appointed to lay these resolutions be-
fore Gen Butler, and to ask 40 the same
time that there be plums in the duff on
the occasion Of this anniversary of our
national independence.
In the cheering which followed the
/ reading Of those resolutions, one old man
/ -Heariy as old rs the centenarian whom
| bad seen inside-swung his cap fcebIy.
and shouted in atramulous voice. "PIum
duff Plum duff Ii any snips attempts
to haul down that flag, shoot him ON the
wing !"
Gen. Butlerglve me meaning LOOK.
and tapped his forehead without making
any remark. As wo passed out of Che
courtyard into the dormitory building
we came across "A solitary inmate sitting
upon a bench. lie held % book In his
hand, and was repeating over and over
hese words:
"a verb must agree with It's uomma-
tive in number and person A verb
must agree with its"
When the studiou- inmate saw ms. be
looked up eagerly and said "Will you
hear me now iu verbs, General?'
"Comc. Logan, replied the Sugeriu-
tendent, put up your book and 70 out
with the olh.r,. lis a holiday. I'm
hear you to morrow
ole has an idea, said Butler, as the
/ dusky student moved reluctantly awny
chat the only cause Of bis political fail
ure was his weakness ia English gram
mar, and that, if he can once master
\ syntaX, he will get back into the Senate.
l consider it a real kindness 90 eueour
age him in this belief Bless YOU, L am
. perfectly safe in doing so.'
"The inmates are quite happy here,
the Superintendent went ON, as we en-
tered the spacious dormtory; "they
treat each other afIbly, as Il general
thing, and If a political discussion be-
comes at all heated, as once la "a while
happens, that small garden hose yonder
is equal 10 the emergency. OF course.
we are obliged 10 keep a careful watch
on kieptomauiac inmates like Golf s.,
Patterson, Belkuap and others. They
are apt to appropriate little articles be-
longing 70 the Institution or 10 each
other. Secor Robson was caught day
or two ago ranslcking Hamilton Fish's
trunk, and although the OK Secretary
stoutly denied any evil intention, cake
Of Spanish scented soap belonging DO
Fish was found ia his pocket. Robson
is now locked up down stairs, and Par
son Newman, our chaplain, exhorts him
twice a day"
"What do you do with turbulent sub
jects?"
"Wo are troubled with very few.
Down there, at the end of the corridor.
where you see the grated door, is ana iron
barred apartment where the unmauage-
ably and violent and continued. don't
think you want 20 visit it.
As the General spoke, a peal Of de-
monte laughter ran through the corridor
and 1,rinlir.t ...-u..D ..u.ur.L !. III.