The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-06-30
DoNAI 4
OUR eoosEQu,LL LETTERS.

OUR GoosEQulLL LETTERS.
Rennsylvania's Great Philanthropist-
Making Surgeons of Policemen-The
Dukes Homicide and Star Route Verdict
"A Female Observation-Disclosures
etc.
PHILADELPHIA, June 16, 1883.
EDITOR CHIEF:
Twenty years ago Mr.. George w. Childs,
the owner of the Philadelphia Ledger, built
paper-mill and began trying the expert
ment of making his own paper. He is
convinced that the paper companies can
furnish it to him for a cent pound less
than he can make it-fhat he is paying at
least $4,000 year for the luxury of mill
but he won't give it up. Whenshis agent
argues with him that it does not pay, he
says, "Show me how the poor people who
have been working for us all these years are
going to get along when the mill is stopped,
and I'll talk to you about stopping it. -
Quite colony has grown up about the mill
the operatives have built themselves nice
little cottages where they live very COM
fortably, and Mr.. G. lids can not harden his
heart enough to upset their plans-he robs
his purse to feed his heart. There was an
explosion at his mill few months ago and
several men were killed: their families
have been provided for, for life by Mr..
Childs. He is rich in purse-his profits
from the Ledger are said to be $4OO, 600 a
year, but the riches that come of doing
kind, good deeds to others can not be esti-
mated. His name is synonymous with
benefcence, kindness and courtesy. He
has just announced that Wootten, his beau
tiful country seat about six miles from
town, shall be thrown open to the public
every Thursday during the summer. 1t is a
perfectly magnificent place-is in a rolling
country, presenting pretty views and every
thing in the way of architecture or land
scape: gardening that could enhance its
beauty has been added. A pretty stream
courses through the grounds and little
lake furnishes the water for the dwelling,
the stable and lodge. At the main entrance
is the keepers lodge, nice brick house,
and on an elevation of ground which has
been beautifully terraced, surrounded by a
lawn of twenty-five acres, stands the resi-
dence. 1t is of the Queen Anne style of
architecture, very picturesque externally,
and the interior richly furnished, but al
ways with view to utility. The stable is a
pattern of comfort and neatness. The best
sight of all would have been the fine horses,
but they we're absent, I suppose, with Mr..
Childs at Elberon.
The police of Philadelphia are to be edu-
Gated in surgery and the Society for Or
ganizing Charitable Relief " has determined
to award annually two prize medals to the
policemen who will perform the best work
in relieving persons who have been injured
accidentally. A board of medical exami-
ners, consisting of physicians connected
with the University of Pennsylvania, will
award the medals. Thus far sixteen cases
hare been well treated. Query: might not
policeman infict few bruises OCCASION
ally on some poor fellow for the sake of the
honor?
There have been two engrossing themes
of conversation during the last few days:
the murder of N. L. Dukes in Uniontown
by Mr.. Mutt and the falling through of the
star route trial. The latter excites univer-
sal disappointment, even disgust. 1t is
simply shame, makes amockery of justice
and shows how easy thing it is in this
country to break the law and escape the
penalty; but did you ever know ill-gotten
gains to cling to man long? and how
about conscience and remorse, do they ever
leave him entirely, even in the next life? I
trow not. Mr.. Dorsey may carry out his
threat and sue the newspapers all over the
land for libel; but suppose he gets judg-
ment in his favor every time, gets all he
asks and enriches himself still further, will
that give him the good opinion of the COM
munity in which he lives? and if he quits
that and moves to another place will it be
any better? Has not the opinion of the
world been made up according to the evi-
dence in the case and will it not be retained
despite the verdict of the jury?
AS for N. L. Dukes, it is to be hoped that
we have had the last chapter in that dread
full tragedy. No more detested man lived
in Pennsylvania than Dukes; indeed, his
line of conduct since last December has
been diabolic. It was then that he wrote to
Capt. Mutt defaming the character of his
daughter Lizzie. He was a lawyer and
member elect of the Legislature, and Capt
Mutt was cashier of the State Treasury
both prominent men. Capt. Mutt was highly
indignant at the letter and replied that he
would demand satisfaction. He according
" repaired to Dukes room and was about
to thrash him when Dukes drew revolver
and killed him. Dukes was acquitted and
the people were so incensed that they could
scarce keep hands off of him, but contented
themselves with burning him and the jury
in eff1gy. He was ordered to leave the
place and when he persisted, after resignine
his seat in the Legislature, in practising
law in the town, an attempt was made to
disbar him. OF course it was very hard fol
young Mutt to live in the same place with
the murderer of his father and the defamer
of his sister. After no doubt a severe strug-
gle with himself, he concluded he could
stand it no longer, so he took the wretched
villains life and hurled him into eternity
all black with sin, without so much as a
moments time to utter prayer for mercy
No one blames young Nutt-every one
thinks the world better off for such rid
dance and no jury will ever convict him