The Indianapolis journal., 1886-01-10
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.



In last Saturdays issue of the Journal Mrs.
Nichols replied to letter referring to her strict
ures on Brazil and its people, in article ap-
pearing Dec. 27, 1896 The letter reiterates her
former statements, but declares the allegations
concerning our city and people were made on the
authority of other persons. will answer brief
ly some of her charges Citizens, she says,
have asserted that the number Of saloons is dis
proportionate to the population. This is too
true. not only of our city but of every city and
town in the State. A prominent railroad official
assured her that fifteen hundred drunken miners
roted OF the streets on one payday. 1t is won
derful that any sane, sober person can make
such ridiculous, absurdly false charge. There
are some diseases of the brain, and certain
phases of intoxication. wherein the victim sees
double This prominent official must have seen
images multiplied an hundred-fold. Mrs. Nichols
could scarcely number twenty at one time. lt
is sorrowful fact that some men drink here to
excess; so they do every place, and those who
drink are not all miners by any means.
Another railroad official. presumably not
prominent told her that miners gave their wives
four or five dollars per week and spent the rest
in saloons. This wise official had better consult
the ledgers of many of our enterprSing confec-
tioners, grocers. butchers, hardware, drysgoods
merchants clothiers, furniture dealers, milli-
ners, jewellers. druggists and booksellers, who
have built up fourshing trades, erected fine
business houses and are rapidly growing rich
from the profits of the greatly coveted miners
trade of this district. The figures would aston
ish Mrs. Nichols. and, assure her, would be re-
liable. A saloon-keeper, we are told, bewaied
himself that last pay day he lost eight hundred
dollars on account of the temperance revival In
progress If he lost eight hundred dollars, the
inference must be that his usual profits were
eight hundred dollars. As the miners do not
often receive pay till after noon it must have re-
quired an army of bar keepers to have served
the thirsty crowd of drunken, degraded coal
miners To sell eight hundred dollars worth
would demand eight thousand glasses of whisky,
sixteen thousand glasses OF beer at this one
place. All the other saloons in operation, too.
Astonishing thought What wonderful powers
of inhibition our people must possess!
/ sincerely hope that the saloon keepers OF
other cities may not read attentively this state
ment, else will they, hoping to make So00 per
day, determine to become Vanderbilts. and
swoop down on our devoted town. Mrs. Nichols
says when she spoke of women not daring to go
upon the streets on pay day, she did not mean
Brazil, but some other place. Why didn't she
so, then2 Her letter spoke Of Brazil only, as
though it was the head-center of wickedness,
drunkenness and vioence9 We are glad at this
later day to know that. though she said Brazil,
she didn't mean Brazil One statement, as 1t
refers to myself, l must emphatcally correct
At meeting of the W. G. T. U. at the home of
one of the loveliest and noblest women of our
town, Mrs. Nichols made some very severe re-
marks concerning our city aud its wickedness.
She can recall the fact that arose, respectfully
differed with her. and defended my city and its
people in the presence of some forty ladies.
She says the w. c. I u, the League and all
good temperance people rejoice with her over the
revival OF gospel temperance work. Brazil peo-
pie always do rejoice over good work. With few
exceptions they are anxious for the moral up
building of the town. They are noted for in
dustry. thrift, generosity and hospitality, and
they are not willing 10 stand before the world as
drunken, immoral and degraded.
They are proud of their city, its growth and
enterprise, of the wealth hidden under the rug
ged soil of Clay county, and they are thankful
to the men who, for love Of family and home.
at the risk of limb and fe toll in the coal mines,
and whose labor has made the city and district
happy and prosperous.
The churches of ourcity are fourishing and ag-
gressive in good works. Their rolls of member
ship show the names of many miners some de-
scendants of the glorious Scotch covenanters,
who sealed their faith with their blood. A large
Congregational Church at Cardonia, two miles
from here is composed almost entirely of miners
and miners wives The lives OF these men are
biameless. Why should they be held up to pub
lie execrationg l would say to Mrs. Nichols, and
every one in Brazil bear me out in this
statement, that Scotchman, a native of Robert
Burns's own loved Ayrshire, is called the best
man, the most devout, tender, earnest Christian
in our place, and he is, and has been for many
years, a coal miner
Because love TEN perance and purity and am
desirous to see the W. c. I. U. of this place
honored and beloved and do noble and blessed
work. because / do not wish to see its influence
for good nullified by its seeming condemnation
of portion of our citizens on account of the
utterances of its highest officials in this State;
knowing that it's members are true, earnest
Christian gentlewomen, believing that they as
well as myself desire to see our city honored and
respected; because believe in justice to the
miners as to all other men, have asked room
in your valuable paper to answer the letters of
Mrs Nichols. No one regrets more than my
self that occasion has arisen for controversy,
and sincerely do [ hope with all temperance
people, that sobriety and morality will soon reign
in all the cities of our State.
JAN g. 1856 MARY B. HUssEY
This must close this discussion. .-EDIToR
JoURNALrl
The Flower Mission School for Nurses.
70 the Editor of the Indianapolis Jou rnaf
In view of an apparent misunderstanding, and
in answer to numerous inquiries, the ladies of
the Flower Mission Training School for Nurses
desire to make the following statement for the
information of the public:
There are at this time no nurses in this city
who are in any way connected with the school or
who are authorized to represent themselves as
such, except those now in the school at the City
Hospital None of the recent graduates have
yet located in the city, and the most
of them are still in the school finishing
their unexpired time. Trained nurses sent on
private duty by the authorities of the school
wear tho school uniform which is blue and white
seersucker dress, white cap and apron, and they
are always provided with credentials signed by
the superintendent of the Training School.
Graduates of the school have their diplomas and
Training School badges. No one but graduates
and pupils entitled to wear the uniforms.
Some os the five graduates will shortly locate in
this city, and the managers of the school feel
fully warranted in commencing their professional
services to the public. Applications for trained
nurses should be made to the superintendent of
the Training School. City Hospital. The fee
charged is $l5 per week.
Mrs. HAUGHEY, Prest
MRS. STEWART.
JAN. 8. MISS HUNT, Supt