The Donaldsonville chief., 1877-12-22
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er-CarIRS the POOr-SO.
ciety Duizaess#
WASHING

that bears ominously upon the sub
ject of war with Mexico. 1t is stated
on good authority that both til,
President and Secretary of State lool
upon the possibility rather with favor
than with reluctance and misgivings
on the ground that much good would
necessarily result from such an evil
quote from a leading journal on the
subject: " To the governing class il
would seem good thing to get up an
excitement that would divert atten-
ton from the numerous unwelcome
issues OF home politics and give en-
plOyment TO our thousands of discon-
tented poor. To the political class it
would appear good expedient, now
that party fealty is waning, to rally
public enthusiasm around the Admin
istration. To the speculative class,
including those of the politician sort,
it would be God send to have re-
turn to the era of army contracts,
Government loans and public extrav-
agance. To the Texas Pacific inter-
ests it would be the opening of new
prospects of success. To the pioneer
adyenturers it would promise the re-
alization of their dreams of railroad
enterprise, colonization schemes and
mining ventures. TO the military
class it would be welcome relaxa-
tlon from their monotonOus idleness.
With the South it would he popular
as an extension Of its territory and
the realization of its supposed des-
tiny. While to more general class
it woIld be attractive us il stimulus to
general trade, helping the country
through the dreary depression that
has SO long afflicted it," Combining
the influence of all these classes it is
easily conceivable that the Admins
tration may be persuaded that enough
has been borne from Mexico, and that
her continued bad neighborship war
rants our cllastising her and annex
ing as much Of her territory as seems
good to us. But oh, if it be possible.
let us not have to drink again the bit
ter cup of war! Let us bear vet a
little longer with the troublesome peo-
pie, if SO by they will conclude to ex-
erclse the better part of valor and be-
have themselves i'll more seemly
manner! Give US any thing to bear
only save us the dear lives of our
brothers, sons, and husbands.
Frosty nights have now arrived,
and, although none but Southerners
would deem it really cold, there is u
gooddeal of shivering among the lower
classes, who are for the most part |
poorly clad and poorly housed. The
various public charities are organiz-
always are forcibly re-
minded that the poor are ever among
US. The night-lodging house has just
opened for the winter and its very
first night was full. OF course there
is nothing to pay by those who avail
the mselves of this generosity of the
Capital public, and the only recon-
required is the applicants
need. Lodgers are furnished with a
supper and breakfast of bread and
not coffee, a bath and clean bed.
Never IL night passed last winter but
his place was full.
The Labor Exchange is also doing
| good work in furnishing employ
nent to those in need. It has now
wenty or thirty women engaged in
making paper bags for the Agricultur-
Il Department, besides having fur
lished work for hundreds of men in
he last few weeks. 1t proposes now
o establish a penny restaurant"
rom which can be furnished dish of
CUP, baked beans and other noulisil-
ng and other hearty meals for from
me to five cents each. This will he
he greatest belp to al in the way of
ssisting the hundreds of poor work
ng people who find it impossible TO
make both ends meet with the scant
arnings, poor fuel and all.
Society is as quiet as it was in the
eat of last midsummer, life in the
White House included. fancy good
irs. Hayes, patriotic rs she is, will
ire of the publicity of her life here
nd long for her cosy and comfortable 4
ome i'll Ohio, where every room spoke ,
mt the domesticity of its mistress.
heir parlor was simply and tastefulIy !,
but had none of that stiff,