The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-01-26
Ibe DoQaldsoQviIle Chief
Two Dollars Year.
LETTER FROM BATON ROUGE.


LETTER FROM BATON ROUGE.
The Execution nf Yalinore Rector--A Re
voting spectacle Parties-A Taste
ofNorshern Weather--A Young journal
fists Wrong Impression IAN Imaginary
Vivian.
Baros RoUeE. La, Jan. 4, 1881.
DEAR CHEF.
A thrill Of horror passed through our COM
munity to-day, leaving a singular dspres-
sion and melancholy hanging over us. Il
is seldom that there is an occurrence such
Gs was witnessed to-day BY hundreds Of
people. An eager, hurrying throng, with
that morbid love Of horrors inherent IN hu-
man nature. yet passing human eompre-
hension, crowding towards the Court House
and jail yard, one and all agaps with Curl
osity; then as they turned away from the
scene trembling, awe-stricken assembly,
with the haunting recollection Of Valmore
Rector's terrible retribution. Justice was
appeased By the hanging of this murderer.
Eye witnesses say that it was d most horri-
Die, heartrending sight. Many turned away
from the gallows with the blood cnrdling
in their veins at the struggles for liberty
and the cries of the condemned man. More
than one have asked to-day, What eom-
pensation is it, after all, to demand 3 life
for life? Can the blood Of another VIC
tim ayenge the frst?'' Our city was liter
ally thronged with people from this and
other parishes. The Negroes were in great
majority and we're evidently much i'm
pressed and depressed by this tragedy, but
of course the unfortunate Rector was con-
sidered a martyr by many of them. heard
Q man express himself on the street in this
manner: Dis amt no fit place for de
black man, anyhow. DEFY amt gotss:.no
chance to live, no time;n and / was at a
loss to know whether it was intended as a
reflection on the parish, State or the world
at large.
Tonight, while the lamentations and
means OF our colored brethren are heard,
the sound of music floats out to listening
ears, and light hearts and lighter feet keep
time to its rhymtllic measures. We are ac-
tually indulging in two parties this evening.
The grandest is children's fancy dress
party, and promises to be a most enjoyable
affair. have seen several of the costumes
OF these little mites, and I'm sure a mortal
OF larger growth who strays into Mrs. VIM.
Garig's spacious psrlors tonight viii think
they have heen transported to fairyland,
and that the aprites are holding an elm
festival therein. With the exception of the
two entertainments referred to there is lit /
tie doing end little promised in the way of |
amusement. Business has arrived ct the |
sticking point, as one of our merchants
expresses it, though have found no inter-
probation as yet to this mystical phrase.
We have had breath Of Northern win
ter and-no, thank you, no more for me.
Ugh! feel shivery yet when think of New
Year and the following day. / have. had
wild longing for sleigh-ride, and only a
week ago received a most fattering invita-
tation to come North and take one. The
idea was 80 enticing that for a few mo-
ments rebeiled against the fates that re-
tanned me in the sunny South, but now
never! No amount of buffalo robes and
superhuity of handsome escorts could re-
cenciie me to the cold. Emphaticaiiy, I
am not ambitious for sleigh-ride unless
1t be postponed until summer I have also
come 70 the sad conclusion that science is
daft ON the subject of Arctic explorations
and the men Who engage in them arc worse.
A question of deep Importance has been
near my lips for several days and I must
ask u now. Why Is O newspaper oorrespon-
dent considered literary, and if literary, a
: blue stocking, y and perchance, by people
who only know her by her writing. deemed
prlm Old maid? In the frstplace, writing
an ordinary letter for publication doesn't
make one literary. One might not be able
to detect the superiority of Shakespeare's
works over Mother aoose's melodies. as far
a literature is concerned, and yet write a
very pleasing news letter. contend that
s does not necessitate any great amount of
TALENT or intelligence to do this, though of
,ourse these qualifications are very desira-
Die. But what want to prove-as [ don't +
Tlsh to rest under such an imputation-is, :
hat every female seribbler is not necessar L
~ blue stocking" or an old maid, as a
many folks think. Don't you notice vein I
" li!lconcealed wrath under oil this, CHIEF !?
u course You do. Well, Til explain. I
net young editor-awfully agreeable, by
ne Way-during the late convention, who
reclaimed on being introduced, $50 you a
re glvian-weli, neyer!" or some similar \
xpression TO give vent to his engagement. /:
te then told me in confidence that he was
ever more agreeably surprised in his life.
'ut think You this gratifying remark COM r
ensated me for the idea he had formed of
" appearance before seeing me? fear
OF, for had an inner consciousness that =
had imagined I wss prim spinster, I
'mewhere in my thirties, yet cultivating a a. :,
lyenile style. In spite OF this, I smiled :
on him, just giving the shadow
pull at the plumes on my bonnet TO
ring them nearer my face-more becom- II
e, you know-and awaited disclosures ii
nall give you sketch of his lauehable
imaginary Vivian?. Ills an
cal, indeed. An antiQuated damsel with
eiahcholy countenRnce, who ignored the
'illes OF fashion, possessed conscientious r.
RUPEES about attending theatres. stir in n
amer, cold and austere. She discussed ctr
'ayy topics, the tariff question, ETC., spoke sty
afnedly OF sil the authors, ignored ssthet- ure
lsn instead of adoring. have not given lis
"a his exact words-he modified this da- gr
h.rf oil R-la- I