The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1883-02-08

prisoners pleading to be shot
than be punished, and starry
ing inmates given live rats for food"
then we must go back to the Indians
or other savages to find punishment
enough for the fiends cruel
enough to infiet such mon~strosities.
The people ofthe city are atlength
waking up to the constant danger TO
their lives and safety by the steam
heating system. The entire down
town portion of the city is undermin-
ed, and two explosions in two days
give a foretaste of what might be
done. This work gives you an idea
of how gigantic schemes are passed
through in New York. First come
the Board of Aldermen, generally
composed of German or Irish liquor
dealers, men with a greed for money
equalled only by their unblushing
eff ontery with which they seek it.
When the Steam Heating Companies
first came to the front with their
scheme, and applied for a franchise,
the press and everybody denounced
it as being sure to turn out a public
nuisance and a colossal "Job." Still
in spite of that enough of Aldermen
could be got together to favor it
The work was done in the cheapest
way, and the result is that there are
constant leaks and breaks. 1 under
stand now that a number of proper
ty have quietly got together
and are gathering evidence with a
hope of first taking away its fran
chise from the American Steam Heat.
ing Company, and second to have
its officers criminally indicted fol
the injuries which several persons
suffered. 1t is useless to proceed
againstit in q civil suit, with q view
of getting damages. The property
is so laid out and mortgaged that i,
is impossible to recover.
The ball season wages merrily on
This is the last week before Lent
and everybody is anxious to make
the most Of it. Last evening the
Elks ball was enjoyed at the AGA
DENY of Music. This is the great
theatrical ball ofthe year, and every
body in the "profesh," and every
bofly with a fondness for it is there
In former years the Elks always gave
a fancy dress ball, but this year i
was a civic affair. AS the price o
tickets had been lowered, the thron&
was simply awful and dancing wa
practically impossible. The bes
class of actors and actresses shown
by their absence. Somebody hat
said that on account of its cheapnes
the ball would be q "ham-fatters' af
fair. This hurt it so far as qualit,
Twas concerned. But quantitatively
hamfat or no hamfat, it was a sue
cess.
Congressman Abram S. Hewitt
who came home week ago sufferin:
from a very fierce looking carbuncl
on the back of his neck, is recover
ing and will go back to Washington
in a few days.
Freddy Gerhard after remainin!
in town q few days proceeded las
Friday night to Memphis, where Mrs
Langtry is playing at present. Th
reporters in town tried their utmos
to get him to talk on the St. Loui
escapade but without A
an instance of reportorial enterprise
however, a friend of mine, the man
aging editor of an enterprising after
noon paper told me that ON Saturda,
afternoon he received no less tina
four dispatches from reporters in a
many cities along the route, read
ing: "Gebhard passes through her
on his way to Memphis, do you wan
special?" Freddy is the most famou
manor notorious-in the countr
at present. The only ones that az
Iproach him at all are those two dis
tinguished bruising gentlemen, NJ
Mace and Mr.. Slade. They have in
deed taken the town by storm. Eve
rybody talks of them and the ques
tion whether that distinguished ms
tive born gentleman, Mr.. Sullivan
could succeed in knocking either c
them out in four rounds. 1t may b
a sign of the ~perversity ofthe huma
race, but the fact remains all tn
same. 1t is the fashion at presen
in all circles to be athletic, and there
fore profess to be fond of boxing
wrestling and sparring. In const
quence it is no wonder that a pre-
fessional like Billy Edwards woul
make from ten to fifteen thousand
year giving lessons in "the mani
art" not alone to young and old mel
but to children as well. The pug
list of modern times sets up as
professor" and his manner and COZ
versation when in the company c
gentlemen, is quiet, subdued and til
essence of politeness. Next to pus
ilism cock fighting has become fast
: ionable. Under the circumstance
it is ain ost sad to see the frantic an
vain efforts of the billiard table maj
ufacturers, billiard room proprietor
and expert billiardists to revive tn
mania for the cue and balls wit
which we we're afflicted for the pas
two winters.
There is a movement in the annex
: ed district to add a new ward to th
city. by taking in that portion
Westchester County which lays o
Long Island Sound, this side of Ne
Rochelle. Should this be done
' couple Of charming waterside park
I could be laid out. There are sewers
beautiful sites with a water front i
: this region which, once they wei
I fully known could be transforme
into charming summer resorts. I'll
/; neglected land above Port Morr
would then become exceedingly va
liable. There is no doubt but tn.
: before many years the City of Ne
5 York will be extended to the Come
: ticut line, including New Rochel