Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-08-09
BRATTLEBORO FRIDAY, AUGUST 8, 1873.

AT time when uciNultngS ana Duslnebs
| corruptions daily unearthed, n crowdng sue
/ ccssion of brutal crimes and prevalence Of
| low political huckstering combine to enforce
q belief in the doctrine Of human depravity,
it is genuine satisfaction to discover evil
dences that the better side Of human nature
does assert itself despite them ALL and by
works OF delicate and disinterosted charity
proves that the capacity for self-sacrfce and
devotion has not been lost from among us.
The winter months are those which call out
the most frequent expressions Of sympathy
for the poor but in New York, at least, the
rigors Of summer are even more deadly and
tormeniing TO a large proportion of that class
whom we have always with MS. The sicken-
ing details of tenement life. during the hottest
weather have been printed so often that they
are painfully familiar and it is in mitigation
of the suffering in these pest holes that some
of the noblest efforts of charitable New York
are being expended. Hospitals for old and
young are literally and effectively managed,
and what is more important a vast amount of
sickness and consequent death IRE prevented
by the work of the physicians who, either
as volunteers or as employees of philanthropic
individuals or bodies, penetrate the very
strougholds of disease and not only prescribe
for the actually PROSTATE, but by impressing
upon the minds Of the ignorant and often UNI
grateful inhabitants the simplest rules of
hygiene. accomplish more by prevention than
cure Then there are the harbor excursions
which are supported, this year as last, entire
y 10y voluntary offerings, and through which
thousands Of half sunocated women and chill
drcn are given the chance to breathe in the
pure sea breeze for Il day aud thereby to gain
a new lease Of life. Free dispensaries are ol-
so well kept up and supplies Of healthful food
are freely contributed.
Nor are the coarscr needs Of penniless hu-
manity alone regarded. Boxes for the recep-
ton of newspapers and other reading matter
Gre st up in dcpots and oth'r public places,
which are almost daily literally filled by pass
ers-by and whose contents Nrc distributed
among the hospital patients. There has also
been established by some ladies n Flower
Mission, as it is called which solcits contri-
| buttons Of fresh flowers during their season
aud gives them out in bouquets among the
sick children and their weary mothers. TO
me this seems the most touching and bcauti-
, full Of all the minor charities, ard am firmly
! convinced that it is 10y no means the least use
ful. To most Of the recipients the sight of
flowers is like an angels visit, not only for
rariuty but the favor it confers and to the
! poor woman for instance, who comes TO the
mission for medicine, and who in addition to
this relief can carry home with her a little
! bunch Of fresh and fragrant flowers these last
have often rs much Of healing as the physi-
! clans remedies. The flower mission has al
ready distributed this season nearly 10000
| bouquets and something like 1000 potted
| flowers.
The two most distinguished arrivals here
this week were Said and Bachita, two baby
hippopotami, who were captured in the Up
per Nile region some months ago, and have
now come over here to replace the young
| hippopotamus who was for some time one Of
| the chief attractions Of the Aquarium. but
who shuflled of his mortal coil last spring
The newcomers weigh about 80 pounds
apiece aud are the only pair OF these animals
male and female now in captivity.
Our weather here has been run under the
auspices of Jupiter Pluvius for week past.
Where all the rain comes from is beyond con-
lecture, but roughly estimating from appear
ancos 1 should say that abou; forty feet had
fallen since my last writing. Over in that
wicked city of Brooklyn they have been hay
ing their streets turned into creeks and their
cellars to cisterns. No very heavy damage TO
property is reported. RADIx.