The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1881-02-19

The passenger rates war between the
railroad companies seems to be by no
means at an end, another general misundcr-
standing having been reached with great
skill. The railroad men, like the ant,
furnish an instructive lesson. They try to
be thorough, and when they get to cutting
each others threats, attempt to do the
thing from ear to ear.
The Chicago times gives a summary of
Jefferson Davis forthcoming history of The
rise and fall of the confederate govern
ment, from which it appears that a large
proportion of the work is devoted to de-
Tense of state rights and to casting the
onus of the war on the northern states.
Mr.. Jefferson Davis may be honest IN all he
says, and his book will no doubt become an
authority in the section Of the country he
represents, but the issuance of such works
is not what will create renewed good feel
ing between north and south nor inculcatc
patriotism and love for the Union in the
minds of the people. Mr.. Jefferson Davis
and the still living teachers of his kind
could easily be spared.
City Engineer Charles Thrupp is still
keeping men at work on the Illinois Central
railroad embankment below the Halliday
house whenever the weather will per-
init. But aside from the weather, which
has caused him much delay, he Is com
PEELED to grapple with another disadvan-
tage. 1t will be remembered that the com
pany laid down track there some time
ago in rather bad shape, just in order 20
get the first possession of the ground and
now, IN order to retain possession and to
avoid any legal complications, the track
must not be taken away and the cmbank-
ment must be thrown up without removing
it, which, as will readily be understood, is a
somewhat difficult job.
So great has been the success from
business as well as moral point of view of
the coffee houses established in the chief
English cities as a means of keeping men
away from the taverns, that the way would
seem to be plainly open tor similar enter
prises in this country. Most of the English
companies pay an annual dividend of 10
per cent on their capital. The coifee-houscs
supply coffee, tea and cocoa, soups, cold
meats and bread and butter--all the arti-
Giles being Of good quality and the prices
low. Newspapers are kept in abundance
and the customers are free to remain and
read as long as they please We have
plenty Of places in this country where So
called coffee can be had at cheap rates. but
it is beverage which neither cheers the
brains nor warns the stomach; besides, the
workingman who swallows a cup of it feels
that he is expected to pay and vacate the
premises as soon as possible. Only in the
saloons is he welcome to sit and rest and
chat with his friends. The coifec-house,
which serves as an agency of temperance,
must be sort Of clubhouse, to which
poor people can resort and find wholesome,
cheap beverages that will not make them
drunk.
,.at, ,,,l,{ ha LOT IN
night of the Reform club and, as usual,
the faithful members turned out IN goodly
numbers in spite of rain and hail and
snow and extreme cold. President NJ. Easter
day presided with the usual dignity and,
the secretary, viii Williamson, being
absent, Mr., II, Leighton was temporarily
elected to that position. the minutes of
previous meeting were read and approved,
and then the meeting was formally opened
by prayer from the secretary. A number
of short but spirited addresses were made by
President yesterday and Messrs. T. Brown,
II. Leighton and Joseph Glasgow, of Olive
Branch, and then Mr.. Geo. S. Fisher
followed with fcrvent appeal to "the
boys to step up and do as he had done,
sign the pledge and reform" The APP
peal proved irresistible, for four of
"thc boys" stepped up ard
signed the pledge. Some other minor
business was disposed of and then, in con
clusion, the president gave notice that
special attractions would be presented at
the next meeting and asked everybody and
their friends to be present.
The Ohio river is still on the rise not |
here, but at nearly all points above us, and
the weather is not such as would be likely
to check ii very soon, Should the Missis.
sippl river now follow suit the result
would be disastrous TO some Of the levecs
and low farm-lands south OF us. The peo.
pie of the south seem to appreciate this
danger and their journals have been for
some time past, and are still, urging upon
the attention of the authorities the neces-