Year: 1870

debt altogether.


The Latest New England Horror.


The horrible news flashed across the wires
on Wednesday Of the destruction by fire
village, and the death Of six women who were
at work in an attic OF the building, brings to
the mind of the reader graver reflections than
even the fate of these poor creatures alone
would cause. II appears that the only means
Of access to this attic WAS q small ladder
placed against trap door, and that the unfor-
tunate women, all Of whom were married,
were Gagged in such a manner as to preclude
the possibility Of escape. The question natu-
rally arises, how many such human traps exist
in tho boosted home Of humauiIariaIs, the
pious Massachusetts, We doubt If there is
one of the myriad factories In that State which
is any better provided with means Of escape in
case Of fire than this drying establishment.
We have looked upon tenement houses as the
vilest specimens of architecture that could be
devised for tho purpose of Il holocaust, and no
terms can be too strong to stigmatize them as
SUCH But bad as they are, they are not so
completely destitute Of means Of egress as
the factories of Massachusetts, Hundreds,
nay, thousands Of poor, hard working women
are hourly exposed to the most imminent
danger OF their lives in these infamous prisons,
and yet we have not heard voice raised
against them by the host of New England
philanthropists. We hope that this last ter
rble calamity will arouse the attention OF the
authorities and bring around thorough in
vestgation into the condition Of the large manu-
featuring establishments in the old Bay State.
Such an investigation will reveal to the public
a condition Of affairs which the commonest
feelings of humanity should impel the autho-
rites to reform. The lives OF those poor
women and the irreparable loss inflicted on
their families demand something more than
passing notice. II will be seen now whether
New England humanity is myth, or whether
the professions Of her philosophers are any
thing more than mere words.


THE NEGRO IN CONGRESS-. shall pro-
bably have black epidemic in Congress now
that Revels has opened the way to negro
members in the Senate and the white car
pct-baggers are being elected for cadetship
selling from the House. A report comes
that negro members will succeed both
Deweese and Whittemore. Others will pro-
badly follow, and Congress, which is already
parti-colOred, will look like a black and
tan. We are almost tempted to wish that
the committee had not found ont about
Deweesc and Whittemore.


No MORE KITES. And now there Ii one
more oppression on the Juvenile members Of
the community. 1t is decreed that there shall
be no more kite-dying in the town because of
the telegraph wires. One by one all the jnye-
nile sports are crowded out Of the streets, and
no provision is made by public space for play
grounds. Is not this an oversight In every
ward of the city there should be play ground
for the boys as large as Tompkins square, and
no rules in regard to keeping off the grass.
Without some such provision there will grow
up here generation of boys ignorant Of all the
games that delight the boyish soul, aud that
would be national calamity.


Mr.. SEWARD has regard to the well-taxcd
citizens Of this metropolis. He plainly tells
the Aldermen that he does not want to be
made the pretext Of au Aldermanic dinner.
IIe has a shrewd guess as to what it might
cost He does not oven desire public recep-
ton. lie will consent to shake hands with
our Aldermen for the sake of the city (; but he
desires that there should not be too many wit
nesscs. This is what it is for the Aldermen
IN hayo hod rat,uf otinn