The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-02-06
GOTHAM GOSSIP.
Tariff TinESering but no Tariff Re-
form Power of the Lobby
Gebhard's journey to Mem
phis 1.-The Pugilistic Craze.
New YORK, JarusIy 3Oth.. 1883.

New York, JarusIy 30th.. 1883.
No, TOR msny years has The lobby at
Washington besn ss powerful, and care.
fully conducted as at p,eseht. Tnc
iinkcrirg at the ii1 now being done
nv the Republican party shows wha. a
strength there is IN the "third house.
and what efforts the menopoIists of 81.
kinds ore making to held their own. !
have cnbveFsed with several Congress
men who have been 10 town during the
last week on fyine tr'ps, and from what
| have learned think there Is scatcsly
any doubt but thar tariff bill will be
passed Bat there will be no reform in
it. TIE trsncillss Of Systematically ex-
iorting mosev nom the poor will be
Continued only unier another name.
Humanity ha, been done sctvice hy
the Legislative Investigation into State
Prison Ahuses began this week, and
TammauY and Jobp Kelly deserves tbs
thaDks Of the pscple for getting ii o
going. W. read of the horrors OF ST.
berian and Russian Prisons The saw
age Cosack Tsskmasters srs snge g
compared with the civilized fends who
tortured the unfortunate criminals With
& refinement Of cruelty which makes the
reader Of She testimony shuddeT. The
telegraph has already informed you OF
the facts elicited, 60 that need not give
YOU an extended resume But when
one hears tell OF men made raving ma
macs bY ''paddliag, doncbes, starvation
and bea,ing with clubs, cohvlcts throw.
ing themselves dosn Two or three sta
ries in order to break leg or an arm
that they might get into the hospital,
prisoners pleading to be shot rather than
be punished, and starving inmates given
live rats for food" then we must go
back to the Indians or other ssvages to
hud punishment severe enough for the
6snds cruel enough to iBfl.e; such mon
strosiiies.
Freddy Gebhard af,er remaining In
town a few days proceeded last Friday
night to Memphis where Mrs, Langtry
is playing at present. The reporters in
town tried their utmost 10 get him to
talk on the S.. LOUIS eseapade bat With
out success. AZ an instance Of repor
torial enterprise, however, friend OF
mine. the managing editor Of an enter
prising afternoon paper told re that on
Saturday afternoon he received no less
than four dispatches from reporters in
es many cities along the route, reading !:
"Gsbhard passes through here 90 bis
wsy to Memphis, do yoa want special! =
Freddy Is the most famous MAJOR no
torious-ia the country at present.
The Only ones that approsch him ct all
are those two distinguished bruising
gentlemen, Mr. Mace and Mr.. SIade.
They have indeed taken the town by
storm. Everybody talks OF them and
the question Thcther that distiu guished
native bora gentIemsn Ar. Sullivan.
could slcceed In knocking either Of them
ont in fou. rounds. Il may be O sign
Of the perversi,y OF the human race. bat
the fac. remains all the same Il is the
fashion ct present in all circles to be
athletic. and therefore profess 70 be
fond Of boxing. wrestling and spsrring
Ia consequence i! is no wonder t5at e
professional like Billy Edwards would
make from ten 10 fifteen Thousand dol
lars a year giving lessons in ",he manly
art" pot alone to young and old men,
but to children az we'll. Ths pugilisi
OF modern times sets up as "Profess-
or" and his manner and conversation
when in the company of gentlemen. is
qniet. sabdued and tina essence OF polite
ness Next to pggilism cock fighting
has become fashionable. Under the
eli; ;cnmsiaDoes 1t Is almost sad to see The
frantic aud vain efforts OF the billiard
table manufacturers. billiard room pro-
prietors and expert biIliardsts to reviys
the mania for the cue asd balls with
which We were afh cied for the past tso
winters.