The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-05-05
OUR GoosEQUILL LETTER.
The Real Centennial of American Inde-
pendeRce-Salvini and Clara Morris
Splendid Charities-SOuthern Manufac-
lures, etc,

pendeRce and Clara Morris
Splendid Charities Manufac-
lures, esc,
BALTIMORE, Nd, April 10, 1888.
EDITOR CHIEF:
AS glance at the date of my letter l am
reminded that this day has marked several
very important events in our Nations
history. 1t was april 10, 1775 that hostilitic 8
began between England and the Colonies
which she was governing so "quictly and
we'll Just as she does Egypt and Ireland
at the present day, when she spends about
four times as much on war as she does upon
improvement is or the good of her subjects.
Our real independence began just one
hundred years ago to-day, April 10, 1888;
when George Washington announced the
glad tidings of peace to the army; and this
as the grand Centennial. We boastfully
declared ourselves free July 4, 1776 but,
seven long years of bitter war, when staunch
hearts grew faint with doubt and despair,
had to pass ere the bonds were really burst,
the Colonies safely out of the clutches of
the oppressor and We were recognized as
free. Yet, this day is passing unnoticed
except, perhaps in western New York,
Bishop Coxc's Diocese. The Bishop sug-
gestcd that there should be te dcum SER
vices in the Cathedral in Buffalo as a praise
and thanks offering for the prosperity and
increase Of the Church as well as the Nation
This is the Centennial year of the planting
of the English Church i'll America and Easter
was the hundreth anniversary Of the election
of DR.. Seabury, the first American Bishop
Services in the Episcopal Churches all over
tho land would be in order.
Baltimore was not visited by Salyini an d
Clara Morris, but the close proximity to
Philadelphia, where they gave several per-
fornances, placed the rare treat within
reach of many. Salvini and Clara Morris in
combination just think of it! Who woald
not be eager for such an intellectual feast !!
In his fayorite role Of Conrad i'll 1.-THE Out
law" Salvini is simply grand. Grand be
cause lie is 80 real because he is 80 natural
that you forget there is any picture about
it, He is before you; poor, pitiable, es-
capped convict, after fourteen years confine-
ment. His one desire to find his wife and
child is gratified. He had killed his wife's
brother and, wasted with relnorse and an
guish, he bcgs her forgiveness. She finally
forgives him and consents to fly with him,
but refuses him the child. He sees the
child, q lovely, innocent girl who shrinks
from him with fear His grief, all the way
through, is overwhelming, is genuine. He
repents, he weeps, but the heavy load of
guilt remains-the penalty must be paid.
No expiation can remove it. The acting of
the grief stricken man is sublime-you
groan, you weep with him and heave a sigh
of relief when death claims its victim and
ends his sufferings. If the test of good
acting is the identical portrayal of charac-
ters, the display of natural emotion and ease
of manner, then Salyini is among the great
est not the greatest, for surely Booth is
his equal. OF course Clara Morris light
pales somewhat in the brillancy of Salvini'S.
She is a good Offset, however, to his impas-
stoned acting; she is very natural and full
of magnetism. If she has a fault it is that,
she lends no variety 20 her style-to see her
once is to see her always. As the outlaws
abused, dcspairing wife, you vividly re-
member the unfort unate Camille and other
of her strong characters. However, the
play was never so finely rendered. The au-
dcnce was thoroughly impressed. The
people bent forward, eager to catch every
word, and in respectful silence lthcrc was
scarce any applpuse), wiped away the tears
of sympathy.
Among the many charities of Baltimore
none is more deserving Of mention than
| 'The Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital which
is managed and supported by the Presby-
terans The new building has just been
dedicated with grand services. Five years
ago tho Hospital was organized by Dr. j. j.
| Chisholm. The work grew too large for his
individual labor and the Presby terians took
charge of it. Each Presbyterian Church in
the city takes charge OF it for II month and
| pays all expenses, and when congregation
| is too poor to pay the expenses, two are
have been treated, and last year there was
an average attendance of II, daily. One
day last month there were l6O, and during
the month, at the least, 200o patients The
| Association for the Improvement of the
Condition of the Poor have held d meeting.
Reports showed that 25lO families Of S378
| persons were assisted i'll February at an
outlay of $4,000, 457 tons of coal and 20 cords
of wood The Board accortls great credit to
| citizens for their generous contributions,
which gave such great relief during the past
severe winter, but regrets the deficiency in
the treasury-only about $4,000 TO last until
! October. About $50,0J0 has been distrbu-
| ted by the Association. These reports bring
| to mind, very forcibly, our Saviour's words,
The poor yc have always with you" No
! amount of labor or money can eliminate
the poor from the world. 1t is distressing
[ thought, tru =; but if Vanderbilt, who has
| been so mercilessly criticised for giving q
| ball, commensurate with his wealth, aud all
! the other millionaires should empty their
| Golfers into the treasury of Charity, the
poor would still be with us.
The hubbub created by the worry of New
| York and New England manufacturers of
| the lower grades of cotton goods over
| Southern competition is quite refreshing to
| the ears of one who has been hoping for
years that the South would awake to n
consciousness Of her power. The South can
now not only cOmpete with the North i'll
Southern markets, but can go into the West
and hold full sway there. Tho New York
Chamber of Commerce is so fully aware of
! this fact that an appeal has been made to
the Railroad Commissioners OF that State
to furnish lower rates on goods of that class.
| doubt if the lower rates will prove rem
edy: the South for several reasons can ship
cheaper. The North may produce finer
goods-machinery and brains can make as
fine in the South. Already the Southern
goods are in greater demand in the West: it
is said they are made upon honor, not
weighed down with paste. The South is
| mistress of the situation. if she can only re-
| alize it. both as to cotton and iron. Her
cotton is all around her mills: she is saved
/ the expense of transportation, insurance