The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-09-01
OUR LETTER FROM BRoADBRlM.
The Stock Panic on 'Change-Return of
Oscar Wi1de--The Estllete shorn of his
Knee-Breeehes and Wig-Disgraceful
Scandal at the Public Baths-Operatic
NEW YORK August 25, 1888.

Knee-Breeclles and Wig-Disgracefu
Scandal at the Public Baths-Operatit
Outlook "a Dead Rascal Come to Life.
NEW YORK. August rs, 1888.
EDITOR CHIEF:
Some time in July / read of cyclone
which ragged through Illinois and Iowa de,
stroying towns and villages, prostratine
forests and killing and manning n,ensWo.
men and children. Itwas fearful Sof7a-
do, and the tail end of it struck AXail Street.
on Monday last, lining the Stock Exchange
with dead ducks and lame geese, not to
mention the ganders who are left without
a leg to stand on. Oh, my eye! wasn't it
a fearful time? The shrinkage of values
in a week has amounted to hundreds of
millions of dollars, and lots of would-be
capitalists are trembling in their boots for
fear the end hath not yet come. "Phoo,
phoo, phoo, !" says Mr.. Gould, " business is
brisk; we are doing more than ever. As to
the shrinkage in stocks, it's only six Or
seven hundred millions, mere bag of
nails. They may all whistle and snap
their fingers, but bluer looking set never
saw. Even the bears, who We're supposed
to profit by the storm, looked sad, for when
a bear has nothing to do but suck his own
paws he finds it rather dry amusement; and
this is about all the bears have had to do
for several weeks past. The brokers have
had it all to themselves, though many out
siders have been brought to grief, and they
were the fools who tempted ruin by trust
ing their money with q lot of pirates with
no more conscience than Hottentot, and
no more heart than an Egyptian mummy.
Plenty of men who would feel disgraced
| to take little anti at faro or draw poker,
are always ready for a little flyer in stocks.
Clergymen, Sunday school lsuperintendents,
| and venerable church trustees could be seen
clustering about tickers for the past few
DAYS. in manner painful to behold. Many
of them went in on small margins, from
three to ten per cent. Some gambled with
| ten or twenty dollars in the bucket shops,
betting that New Jersey Central would go
higher, or others betting on the drop of
| Lake Shore or Missouri Pacific. The little
| earnings of years have been swallowed up
| in this financial storm, carrying ruin and
desolation through the length and breadth
of this land. There must be bottom some
where, and we have nearly reached it in
stocks. In q few days the Knights of the
Golden Fleece will begin to gather in the
plunder of the wreck.
Our telegraph fight has taken new and
startling phase, at which there is much re-
joicing. The new Postal Telegraph was
started some months ago, and it now looks
as if it might prove a formidable rival to
the Western Union. John W. Mackey, the
porta11t factor. Mr.. Maekey is credited
with fabulous wealth, and is said to be able
to start telegraph company of his own
| that would rival the Western Union. But
the Postal Telegraph is already started and
if it is true, as reported, that George Rob
erts and Senator Fair are likely to take
hand in the pool, the chances are very much
in favor of cheap telegraphy for some time
to come. There is but little doubt but the
new telegraph company would do the bulk
of the business if it only had the facilities
to do it, as the great body of the people
detest the name of Jay Gould, and Gas far
as he represents it) the Western Union.
Any thing that can rescue the country from
the grasp of the heartless monopoly which
now threatens it, we hail with JOY; we there
fore Welcome to the brotherhood of tel
esrt,a.y Mr.. Mackey and his associates;
and give them Rip Van Wrinkles toast,
"May you live long and prosper"
Hoskar Wilde IS back with us, ye know
Yes, sir; he dropped in upon US rather un-
expectedly the other day, but like Samson,
he is shorn of his locks. Now. Oscar Wilde,
minus his hair and knee breeches, does not
amount to much. He was not a particu-
larry heavy weight when he had both, but
now that he has neither he is q "veiy higle,
de pigle, de single, de wigle, de matter of
fact young man." My fair friends will
find il hard to believe of this sensational
English sesthete, but as he stepped from the
steamer the other day he looked positively
horrid. There was neither style nor beauty
about him, and he who traversed the coun-
try few months ago, lecturing us on beau
ty and style, now appears fat, tiabby, un-
interesting looking person, who might have
| been bricklayer, or porter in dry goods
store, or pawnbroker's clerk, Or any
Dat ,-> c4 bcr To- too
US good manners any longer. He is here
| to look after his interest i'll his new play of
Vera, written for Maria Prescott, Madame
| Prescott is the lady who recently supported
also recovered several thousand dollars
| against the American News Co., for circu-
lating papers which contained libel on
her fair fame. written by disreputable
New York Bohemian, who ought to be in
the penitentiary. During the trial Mrs.
Prescott got an immense deal of gratui-
tious advertising, ard on this, as we'll as
her ability, no doubt, Mr.. Wilde counted
in his play; then he expected that there
would be considerable curiosity to see
what kind of play he could write. OF
course we will all go once, and if Oscar on
/ the opening night would only exhibit him
self in knee breeches and long wig, I'd
give an extra quarter for the show.
/ We have trouble at the free public baths
which is not creditable to the Board OF
Public Works OF the city. These baths arc
scattered in different places around the riv
ers, and during the season they accolnIno-