Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-02-07
For the Republican
GOTHAM GOSSIP.
NEW YORK, January 31st, 1883.

NEW 1ORk, O1sbJ 1000
Humanity has been done service by
the Legisl ative Investigation into State
Prison Abuses began this week, and Tan
many and John Kelly deserve the thanks
of the people for getting it agoing. We
read of the horrors of Siberian and Rus
sian Prisons. The savage Corsack Task
masters are angels compared with the civ
ilized fends who tortured the unfortunate
criminals with refinement of cruelty
which makes the reader of the testimony
shudder. Tie telegraph has already in
formeI you of the facts elected, so that |
need not give you an extended resume.
But when one hears tell uf meR'made raw
ing manlacs by padding. douches, star
vaton and beating with clubs, conVicts
throwing, themselves down q eor 3 stor-
les in order to break a leg an arm that
they might get into the hospital, prisoners
pleading to be shot rather than be pun
lshel, and starving inmates given live rats
for tood," then we mnst go back to the
In hans or other savages to End punish
ment severe enough for the fiends cruel
enough to inflict such mOrstrosities.
Congressman Abram S. Hewitt, who
came home week ago suffering from a
very fierce looking carbuncle on the back
of his neck, is recovering and will GO
back to Washington in few days.
Freddy Gebharl after remaining in
town few days proceeded last Friday
night to Memphis where Mrs. Lang'rv is
playing at present. The report ~ in
town tried their utmost to get him to alk
on the st. Louis escapade but without
success. AS an instance Of Teportorlal
enterpri.e, however friend of mine the
managing editor OF an enterprIsing after
noon paper told me that oD Saturday after
uoon he received no less than four dis,
patches from reporters in "A m my cities
along the road rea,ling: G.bhard passes
through here o. his way to Memphis, do
YOU want special?" Freddy is the mos
famous mau-or nOtOriOus-in the cOun
try at present. The only ones that ap
proach him at all are those two distin
sulshed brusing gentlemen, Mr. Mac"
and Mr.. Slade. They have indeed taken
the town by storm. Everybody talks "
them and the question whether that diStlE-
guished native born gentleman, Mr. Sui
Of hem ont in four rounds 1t NAV be a
sign OF the perversity of the human race
out the fact remains all the same. 1t Is
the fashion at present at all circles to he
athletic, and therefore profess to bO fOn,i
of boxing, wrestling and Sparrlng In
consequence it is no wonder that pro 'es-
>ional like Billy Eiwaris would make
from ten to fifteen thousand dollars year
giving lessons in 'the manly art, not
alone to Young and old men hut to chill
,ren as we'll. The pugili>t of mo lprn
times sets up as a professor" and his
manner and conversation when in the
company of gentlemen, Is quiet, suh
upi ana the easanse Of politeness Next
10 pugiism cock fighting has become
lashionable Unier the circumstances
il IS almost sad to see the frantic an
vain efforts ot the billiard table manutac-
turerS, billiard room proprIetorS AMI eX-
pert hilllar lists to revive the mama FOR
the cue AMI balls with which we were
afflicted Tor the past two winters.
There is a movement in the annexed
district to adj new ward to the city, hv
taking in that portion of WestrheStei
County which lays on Long Islaed SouuI
this side of New Rochelle Should this
be done a couple of charming waterside
parks could be laid out. There are sev
tral eatlul sites with a water front III
this region whiyh, once they were iutiy
known could be transformed into charm
'ng summer resorts. The neglected Ian
above Fort Morris would then become ex
ceedirgly valuable. There is no doubt
but that before many years the City o.
New York will be extended to the Con
necticut line, including New Rochelle
and the towns beyond, and at still later
pefio Yonkers and the region above will
eventually have to be swallowed up by
the great metropolis.