Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-23
LOUISVILLE LETTER.
A Rage for Studying German-Ken-
tucky's Insane Asylums.

tueky's Insane Asylums.
Correspondence Of the Norn5n0 Eesos.
LOUISVILLE, KY, March 19.-There is
a new thing under the Louisville sun-the
furore tor studying German. Professor A.
?. Haupt, who has been giving lessons in
the principal Northern and Eastern cities,
organized classes here this winter, with
the guarantee that ne would turn out the
student, fluently speaking, reading and
writing the German language after
course OF five weeks. Naturally, he was
set down in public opinion as a clumsy
charlatan, for were there not scores of
aspiring Iinguists who had hammered
away with grammar and lexicon through
years and yet could not speak nor answer
when spoken to in the language? But the
first handful who tried the experiment
with the professor came out so wonder
fully and fulfilled his promises to such an
extent that his classes suddenly grew to
such proportions that his class room be-
came crowded. Just how he manages it
is difficult to tell, but he does it in every
case. A raw beginner will take tie course
along with one who has Yainly peered into
German intricacies, and never could
make the gutturals or the grammatical
construction agree WIFI his ldW-DO0e OF
his understanding, and at the end of five
weeks both are rolling German sentences
under their tongues with the
f1uency of direct arrivals from
the Fatherland. Prof. Haupts
method is as novel as it is successful. He
does not speak or permit to be spoken one
word Of English in the classroom, so that
the novice in striving to express himself
grasps at the strange vehicle of thought,
stumbles, halts, wrestles with it, and after
many vanquishments gets hold of his idea
I'm the new speech somehow and keeps it,
and the final happy result is that when he
is given again to the world he proudly
feels himself a match for any language
alive or dead. The students embrace
ladies and gentlemen of all ages and &C.
equations; a large number are business
men, who feel the need of 81 practical
knowledge of German; professional men
come next, and number who pursue 1t
as an elegant accomplishment thus easily
attained. Prof. Haupt is born teacher,
and his pupils indorse him with enthusi-
asm. After making a tour of the princi-
pal cities during the next two years he
will return to Louisville for another series
of lessons. AS popular mania it is GER
tainly one of the most sensible that has
visited the community for a considerable
period.
If any one shall hereafter detect an i'm
provement in the quality of LOuisville's
obituary poetry let him bear in mind that
it is the product of a professional hand
or head. A Louisville lady, bordering
doubtless over the dreadful things that
pen and ink can perpetrate over
the names of those whe 90 hence, filled
the breach with a business-like advertise
ment to fill obituary orders at short notice,
and for cash consideration. She occu-
pies desk in the COuTier-,jOulpdt Office
and furnishes CONGRATULATED meats' for
all who pay for them. The mortuary re-
ports cannot fail to be of interest to one
engaged in this peculiar branch of bust
ness, since they indicate the state of the
obituary market, and whether business is
to be brisk or dull. Truly, we pay for our
span Of existence in this world of ours and
we get out Of it at last on cash basis.
THE INVESTIGATION OF KENTUCKY's IN
SANE ASYLUMS
is not making very pleasant reading.
| The investigating committee having
Anchorage Asylum in hand have not yet
reported to the Legislature for final ac-
ton. If DR.. Gale, the Superintendent of
that earthly hades, is not assisted to step
down and out very promptly, then future
/ incumbents should receive a free charter
! for any inhumanities a fertile magma
ton can suggest. DR., Gale is the special
ist who never read book upon the treat
ment of insanity in his life. Hewas prob
/ ably an expert by nature. His lack of
reading on the subject must have peculi-
| arly fitted him for his office. He is also
! the gentleman who testified in court that
/ he firmly believed all women We're more
| or less insane! OF course he meant they
! were all dangerous subjects and should
/ not be allowed to go at large. Possibly
Une prOIOunu scientist occasionally otum-
! bles on the truth when he is not looking
! for it. The Lexington Asylum shows up
| in more disgraceful plight even than
| its companion in crOOkedness. 1t is well
! to lift the top crust OF all public institu-
! tiOns once in while, just for the fun of
| seeing what the bottom crust is like, and
| what is in between.
There is movement among the
! churches in this city to raise funds to lift
! the debts hanging over the various con-
/ gregations with scarcely an exception.
! The movement should be applauded and
! a codicil might be wisely added never to
! build costly church editice until the
requisite funds are in hand, for in relig-
( ious as in secular matters the practice of
! living beyond ones means brings it's own
punishment. 1t might be naturally in
/ ferred that the restless and dissatisfied
! condition of the Louisville clergy for the
/ past few years is the outcome of extraYa-
/ gance in church living, so to speak.
Every large church in the city is saddled
with a debt that eats the soul
out of it year by year. The
minister's salary falls into arrears. the
/ expenses of the congregation are allowed
! to accumulate, and everything is unset
/ tied, while contributions Will barely keep
/ down the interest on debts that have been
running fifteen or twenty years. A pas
tor cannot preach sincerely a gospel Of
! humility IN a splendid temple that is not
paid for and perhaps will have to be
/ turned over to its creditors in the end.
! So that it was quite time for a relief bill
! to be brought forward, and, acting upon
/ it promptly, the congregation of the Col
! lege Street Presbyterian Church raised
their debt of $4,000 at one sitting-a
laudable example. On the other hand, it
is suggested by some persons that the
public, irrespective Of creed or sect,
should come forward and pay off all in
! debtedness on the Second Presbyterian
| Church, of which the late Stuart Robin
son was pastor, and change its name to
the "Stuart Robinson Memorial Church, J."
/ because he was prime mover in building
an elegant and beautiful church to Orna-
ment the city.
| THIS MODEST REQUEST WILL HARDLY
TOUCH
an answering chord. The late Stuart
nGpllls son, le't prlncely estate which
Wy AffAA VI the whole OF the
dent anu not feel it, ana It would be quite
as appropriate as passing around the hat
to the public, especially if the church is
to be linked with mOrtals name. ''Pay
as you CO." is the true philosophers stone
for denominations as we'll as individuals,
A committee of several gentlemen have
been In Louisville during the past week
/ arranging for the International Sunday
! School Convention to meet here in June
! At Sunday school mass meeting held
recently addresses were made by dele
/ gates from Georgia, Tennessee, Iowa and
/ Illinois. The Convention is anticipated
| as great gathering and a happy COM
! pllment to Louisville. 1t will be cOeval
with the picnic season and chickens will
not only roOst high, but are expected to
soar discreetly out of sight.
Mr.. John 4. McCauley has completed
arrangements for the production of the
Kiralfys' "Excelsior'' in this city on a
mammoth scale. The hall of the EXPOSE
ton is to be put in trim to seat several
thousand spectators, and everything is to
be of stupendous proportions. The spec
tacle is to continue three weeks. and will
be festival, including special music by
Italian masters, gorgeous ballet.
tableauX, calcium splendors, ETC., all Of
which Will transpire in May. BY the
time the public has been satiated with
thing like EXCELSIOR for three weeks
straight ahead there VIII probably be a
mass meeting to adopt measures of relief.