The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-06-09
OUR LETTER FROM BRoADBRIM.

A Week of Excitement-A Noble Charity
DIR. Monck's Latest Mirac1e-The Board
of Healtl, SteaI-Governor Cleveland and
the Tammany Dietators-Opening the
New YORK. May II, 1883.
EDITOR CHIEF:
The week has been one whirl of excite
ment from Monday morning to Saturday
night, the opening of the Big Bridge being
the all absorbing topic; but, though an ex-
ceedingly important feature in the weeks
entertainment, there was much besides to
make the fourth week of May, 1888, memora-
BILE. Five thousand emigrants tumbled in
upon us in single day; yet they were as
quietly absorbed as if they had been plunged
into the maelstrom. Few who read of the
arriving emigration ever stop to think how
these newcomers are disposed of. 1t re-
quired several large steamships to bring
them here, and it requires train Of over
one hundred cars to take them away. Just
take look at town of five thousand in
habitants. and then reflect that that is New
York's contribution for twenty-four hours
to the population of the United States: the
river steamers take some, the railroads take
the greatest share, and the rest are absorbed
in the tenement houses of Brooklyn and
New York.
On Monday the annual excursion took
place to st. Johnsland, the Christian COM
munity founded by DIR. Muhlenburg, the
gentle author of ~ would not live Away
No life of the century is more blessed with
the memory of wide spread and generous
charity. St. Johnsland he esteemed the
crowning glory of his long and useful life,
and when borne down by the weight of over
four score years he lay down to peaceful
sleep, it was his dying wish that in his be-
loved st. Johnsland his ashes should repose
till the Judgment Day. There is probably
no similar community in the world. 1t is a
combination charity richly endowed, where
the poor, the suffering and the helpless, find
home and friends. There is one beautiful
building where forty helpless aged men are
tenderly cared for. Another building is
devoted to forty aged matrons. Some old
men and their aged partners are provided
with comfortable cottages. Another beau
tiful cottage is devoted to the education o1
| friendless girls, and another to friendless
boys About all these institutions there is
an utter absence of pauperism and charity
as it is usually dispensed in our so-caliee
public benevolent institutions. The recip-
| lent is not made to feel like a crimina
and beggar, but as brother and sister
receiving simply his dues from brother Oh
sister. The whole of the beautiful village
teens with monuments of love and tender
ness, and here comes a ray of sunlight from
Vanderbilt's millions, which may help tx
light his path in that land where Western
Union is not on the list, and New Yorl
Central is always below par. Cornelius, {
son of VIM. FL. Vanderbilt, is one of st
Johnsland's most liberal patrons; he anc
his good wife have expended many thou
sands of dollars in support of its numerou:
charities. The Vanderbilts have helped tt
make it fashionable, and in the excursion
of last week the special train carried dowr
some of the elite of New York society.
! Dr.. Monck, of whom I spoke week o.
two ago as Christian healing medium
now boldly proclaims that he can not onl,
heal the sick himself, but that in the name
of Christ he can impart the healing power
to anybody else, by the simple laying on o