The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-01-19
TRe DoQaIdsoQviIIe CRief'
OUR NEW ORLEANS LETTER.
Two Dollars q Year

OUR NEW ORLEANS LETTER.
Wintry er-Cremation-The War on
Sugar River and RailroadInterests-A
Army Of TraMps-Conferenee of the nj.
Il. Church, South, Etc.
New ORLEANS, December 90 1888.
EDITOR CHEZ:
Such northers, frosts and ice as we have
experienced the past week! There was but
one expression on the lips of every one you
met, ''1t's cold" To be sure, the poor we
have with MS always, but with the exception
of one demented woman in a police jail
and one poor tramp who sought refuge on
bale of hay, no deaths from freezing were
reported. Most people took the situation
good naturally, and strange to say, the coal
dealers did not raise their prices in SYM
pathy with the thermometer. There will be
fewer flowers for some days to come. but
wherever Jack Frost nipped the buds or
withered the leaves, The next fair days will
sweep away his handiWork and the Crescent
City will defy him.
1t is somewhat abrupt change Of topic
from the consideration of freezing to that of
burning, but it is one of the events of the
week that cremation society was formed
last Tuesday evening. The prime movers in
this proposed reform are Drs. Formento,
Jones, Watkins and other prominent med
ical practitioners who have given close
observation to sanitary matters in this city
for number of years. The wisdom of Gre
mating the bodies of those who die from
contagious diseases can admit of no Sc
rious question in view of recent scientific
discoveries IF the propagation of germs or
Bacteria, as to other cases, the above
ground burial system now in practice can
not fail to cause impure atmosphere, this
to be cleansed by the rain drops which pass
into cisterns, thereafter to be used for
drinking and cooking purposes. Is any
better to cremate and thus simply hasten
the natural process of dissolution, free of
unwholesome odors? The Christian doc
trine that the soul leaves its earthly ten
ementsi goes to heaven or purgatory after
the last pulsation of the heart, and that the
remnant is only dust to resume its original
form does not antagonize cremation. It is
merely As an innovation of long estab-
lished custom that will prolong opposition,
yet cremation is growing rapidly in favor in
Europe, where first put into practice by Or
gained societies, and in some cities of the
United States, which likewise have adopted
it.
The sugar planters convention to meet
here on the 10Th was not called day too
soon. Senator Jonas seemed to be hopeful
of strong support from leading Northern
Democrats; but it is significant that cheap
sugar has very many advocates, and the
= tariff for reform " idea of most working
men, whose votes are to be sought, is that
sugar is necessity to be cheapened Already
a Democratic Congressman from Tennessee
has put in his little bill to cut down the
tariff on sugar and there are men in both
national parties ready to accede in this de-
mand from the South! Wise leadership will
be required to ally the sugar industry with
all the others requiring a protective tariff,
and the convention must give the keynote
to the campaign. Louisiana needs her
statesmen now as never before in her his
tory.
The Presidents message on Mississippi
river improvement indicates his continued
friendship to theayalley interests, and adds
confidence in business circles. The rail
roads are pouring in freights from the sur
rounding country, and are at peace among
themselves. The assertion of a city paper
that war of rates had been inaugurated |
between the Northeastern and the Louis !
vile and Nashville roads is fatty contra
dicted. The Mississippi Valley road is
still waiting for depot privileges.
The number of tramps on the streets pro-
voked considerable comment, but a thin
ming out process is going on. The mad
eqrate police force, and the clever reputa-
ton of our courts is believed to be a stand !
ing invitation to this class of immigrants |
The Associated Charities is in working Or
der, and through it the police might be ia
:cilitated in the good work of election.
The annual conference of the Methodist |
Episcopal Church, South, presided over by
Bishop Kavanagh, opened its session on
Wednesday at the Garondelet street NJ. f.
Church. The Secretary of the Board of
Church Extension reported fund sufficient
to build and equip IS churches the present
year. The New Orleans Christian Advocate
was reported to be III a prosperous condi-
ton, rs well it might be under the genial
editorship of Rev. Chas. B. Galloway. This
church is a formidable christian power in
Louisiana, and has under its care Mansfield
and Centenary colleges.
The Morning stas published the full text
of Attorney General Brews.ers argument
before Judge Pardee il the Lottery case, a
generous and enterprising piece Of journal
ism. 1t would have looked better had the
great dailies done SO, at the same time their
readers were furnished with the vigorous
criticisms made upon it. Fair play should
be popular and paying in more than f.
nancial sense. More anon.
GENERAL OBSERVER.