The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-09-02

| Gotham and the Crescent City in Contra
distinction Regarding the Sabbath-The
| Field of Shiloh-Ilnprovements in New
| Orleans, etc.
NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 10, 1882.
MY DEAR AUNT CHAT:
! The desecration of the Sabbat
always been reproach to New Or1
and it has been affirmed that no city III
the Union violates so shamelessly that
command of the Decalogue. Truly, we
have cause to blush for the low ebb of
morality here, and he thankful that the
recent organization Of the "Suntlny
League" may gradually SO leaven the
community as to elevate the standard of
public morals and abate chronic evil.
Carlyle says very truly, however, that
the trouble that lies nearest to us, be it
an acute sickness, or but a smoky CHM
ney, is ever the acme and sum total of all
evils, "the black hydra that shuts us out
from the promised land:" sol will not do
to bemean our poor city in that wholesale
manner without hearing, or before in
quiring into the errorful ways Of other
towns, which from their distance are apt
| to possess q subtle enchaDtment for u.s.
have been reading about immoral Sun
day tendencies in the great Gotham itself,
and doubt if it even finds q parallel in
ho fvy fnyxy
has been berated. True, we bavo not
the regular excursion system, which,
while bringing fresh air and change of
scene, is yet prolific of so much evil that
its raison d'etre may be fairly questioned.
It has been pertinently remarked that
"sweetness and light" are ostenslbly
not the attributes of the members of the
Dennis O'Flaherty clubs and Barney
O'Finngan associations, for dissipation,
riot and often bioodshed are generally on
their role Of Sunday occupations and
pleasure seeking. A picture in Puck
shows a wharf where the Sunday excur-
sions land, around which are drawn up
i'll line body of policemen with reyolv-
ers, while the coroner and city physician
the latter with an immense case of i'll
struments-are looking through tele-
scopes for the approaching boats!
An excursion in the proper sense would
seem to be a means for escaping crowds
and heat, but the people in the barges
and steamers secure both in an uncom-
Portable degree. and do not wonder they
have been regarded very much as the
Orientals do the Europeans when dane
ing-with astonishment and perplexity
as to why they do not hire somebody to
do it for them! So, in New Orleans, we
may rejoice that we largely escape one
dangerous channel of temptation and
discomfort, at least, by not being inflicted
with legions of excursions.
The Fresh Air Funds, floating hospitals,
etc, are among the noblest charities of
New York, and thousands of poor people,
invalids and pale-faced little ones are
thus enabled to sniff the fresh salt breeze
and inliale pure country air, while it is a
positive delight to feast the eyes upon
living green, and forget for even a
brief season, brick and granite. These,
conducted under tue auspices Of the
churches and charitable organizations,
are productive Of immense benefit and
c1, -,
spite of the assertion of all eminent New
York physician, !" that the whole system
of santaria and fresh air funds was
mistake, as was any thing calculated to
prolong the wretched lives of poor city
children"
This week the anniversary of the great
battle of Shiloh has been very elabor-
ately celebrated at West End, and not
little military enthusiasm was aroused
by the sham skirmishing between the
companies here. How family and feebly
it suggested the momentous battle of
twenty years ago, when great issues were
ct stake, and men fought for principle,
for their fresides and rights, which is
ever the most fierce warfare, the veterans
present must have vividly realized. And
we may rejoice that the furious war-cry
is silenced these many years, that the
anger, and clamor, and violence, and
hostile antagonism generated by the
"late unpleasantness" are forever sub
dued. However justly it may have been
contended that the doctrine of State SOW
ereignty, the extreme expression of which
was the right to leave the federation
to secede-appeared to be the doctrine
of the Constitution, it is freely admitted
now that as far as the South is concerned,
the one issue that involved so many
others and went to the roots of the ma
tional life, has been removed and disposed
Of for all time. The rancor and bitter
ness which eliminated i'll strife deadly
and implacable, are no more remembered,
while sectional lines are rapidly disap-
pearing, and the near future promises
more and more perfect unity Of purpose
and feeling as we'll as Union of States.
We are quite pleased at the near pros
pect of ST. Charles Avenue being paved
all the way to Carrollton. That will be
the s,slmum bonun to all the residents Of
the avenue, and though they must con-
tribute one-third of the money to be ex-
pended upon the work, it will be done
cheerfully, am sure. Several other
Improvements are contemplated, and il
a stranger were to visit the city now, in
the midst of carpentering, masonry,