Daily evening bulletin. (Philadelphia, Pa.) 1856-1870, April 30, 1870, Image 7
EVENING BULLETIN. Silorday, April 30. 1870. ' FBHSOKAMTIES OF »»« FBEBS. A newspaper is megntto give news, but Ifcjsre art widely differing ideas concerning wiiat constitutes news that should be printed and published. The worst, most dangerous and most wrong of these ideas is that which mahosinto news remarks concerning' the per sonal cbaracte)-, the movements, the dress, the sayings and doings of private individuals, women as well as men. And yet this idea pre vails and seems to be spreadiug in the United States. It has been cultivated and encouraged in New York to a greater degree than any where else. One paper there-makes a speciality of mousing about for society gossip and print ing a regular list of engagements of marriage. To people of any sort of delicacy, this practice is Simply disgusting. But the.present degrada tion OHbe popular taste is-shown by " the 1 fact that the practice is encouraged and many peo ple even take pains to have their engagements, or those of their friends,, furnished for publica tion. • A still more general-custom; is that of publishing accounts of wedding's, parties, re ceptions, dinners j with -the names of the gnegts, descriptions of the-dresses, and some, times the bill of fare. “ A’ wedding-in high life’ js a caption that the reporter or i this sort of stuff delights to pen; and if he can ;put in his leport, and his list of the company, the name of —somfe high government functionar-y^oiimtiistin guished general, or a “ genial and gentlemanly’ (these are pet words) member of Council, or a member of’Congress," or of that .honorable body, the State Legislature, he is made very happy. If, at a wedding, he can get'a list of the presents to the bride, with the names of the 'donors and the cost of each, and if lie can find out in the kitchen, or from the caterer, or the wine- merchant, the cost of the entertainment, sons to print it, his happiness becomes su preme. And this kind of stuff is honored with the name of news, and is printed and read-as •news. Another kind of personality is indulged in hy Borne newspapers that cater to the vulgar ' appetite. They make allusions hy name to ladies and gentlemen who detest newspaper notoriety and shrink from it as they would from an exhibition of themselves in the nasty burlesques that are admired by the same kind »f papers. For instance, they will give us news, though wholly without authority, some thing of this kind“ It is said that the beauti ful Miss (giving the name in full), ■whose fine dramatic talents ' have long been, appreciated in private society, is about to ap pear on the stage.” Or they will tell their readers that “ Mrs. (again giving the name) is-said to write ” articles concerning so and so in such and such a paper; and then, by way of- covering up the insolence of such an unwarrantable personal allusion and gross lie, they praise . the articles and their style, they themselves having neither style ,©f their own nor brains to judge of the style of others. There are many women, and most excellent women, too, whose professions, as a writer, an actress, a lecturer, a reader, or an artist, make newspaper notoriety not only de- and—allusions to them in the public journals, when they are made In .a respectful.way, are perfectly proper. But no well-conducted and decent newspaper will ever print the name of a lady, who is not in this category, without her consent being first ob tained; and even when the consent is obtained, or when the publication is requested, there are many cases in which an editor of proper judg ment would feel bound to refrain from the publication. There are silly women who like to read of themselves in print, and a sensible man ought to teach them better. Here in Philadelphia a license has lately been indulged in by some papers, in printing whatever their Washington correspondents may'choose to write concerning Philadelphians visiting the national capital. It is perfectly fair to tell the public of the movements of public men. and of the object of those move ments, if it is really known. Bat now-a-days a private citizen of FhQadeiphia cannot go, w ich bis wife or famfiv, to Washington, on a mere trip of pleasure, or to visit friends, with out having it announced in some of the news papers. In some cases gross comments, or allusions to a supposed object of the visit, are made. In one recent instance, a highly re- spectecLgentleman^whoJrad, no object but that of personal recreation, was/hiade the subject of - most insolent comment, and, worst of all, the name ot the wife of the President of the ' United States was also introduced in some paragraphs referring to him that were meant to be witty, but were simply vulgar. This and " similar stuff are given as the “ ne>ws” of the r national capital. . . It may be that the pfailifee.-s of papejg that commit the improprieties is?, havg been' con sidering find a jirdfit in it. They would also find a profit, perhaps, in descending to a lower grjlde of society and printing the “ personal news” bftlit gambling bells and the brothels, and the movements of celebrated? rakes and prostitutes, of all which they could probably obtain accurate information. But along with the profit must come degradation, and the de cent portion of the community should condemn the existing evil, as they would the grosser ■evil we bave suggested. AiSUCIOESTION. In view p? tue discussion of the “ women question,” which is evolvingconsiderable heat amoDgsome classes of the community* just now, we submit that the old maxim, “ in medio tutissimus ibis,” should be borne in mind. In . the present controversy over the question of .admitting women to the clinical instruction of the Pennsylvania Hospital, the bulk of the medical profession has arrayed itself uncom promisingly against the innovation. Large numbers of physicians, among whom are many of the most intelligent, skilful, respecta ble and .eminent of their profession, regard the admission of women .to the Hospital ' ae_ j to its very Many of them have no faith in the honesty of anybody who advocates the cause/of the ■women ; many of i them openly deny to the most'well-behaved and pure-minded women the ordinary attributes of thetr box if they ven ture upon the study of medicine. They will listen to ntf'ijomiSomisa.- .Tliey will make no concessions. . They write over the doors of the Hospital: “ Who enters here leaves womau- Jjood behind.” On the other hand is a much smaller, but equ?dly/violent, class. These are ihe advanced enthusiasts In the woman move ment.' They would sink all distinctions of sex in the pursuit of science. They demand" for woman absolute equality of privilege and op portunity; andtliey conquer successive posi tions, riot for their intrinsic value, but merely that- they -'may- be made stepping stones for • new conquests. They would solve, the present question in one of two w&ys. They would either sink all distinc tion and insist upon indiscriminate clinics, or they would demand the exclusive appropria tion of the female wards Of the Hospital for the use of female students. This last expedient will, as we understand, be urged at the annual meeting. , , .. . The true and safe path lies between these extremes. Women will study medicine, and it is therefore as highly important that they should he- well taught, as if they were men. But women are now, and probably will always be, greatly iri the riiinOrity as medical Students, and, upon the admitted principle that the majority, should rule, we submit that it would be very unfair that a large class of male students should be debarred from the study of the' general- cases presented in the female wards of the Hospital—quite as.im-, portantto the doctor as the doctreßS,—on ac count of the comparatively few cases which constitute the inseparable objection to mixed clinics. It would be to give the small class of. fehiale students a great deal more than their share of the benefits of the Hospital, and a great deal more than they ask or desire. Our suggestion is this: There are two weekly lectures during the winter, each con sisting of ap hour of medical and an hour of surgical instruction. Let the medical staff be so organized,—arid .there is no practical diffi culty on this point,—that the women shall at tend-the whole clinic on one. day, and the. medical clinic on the other day, reserving -the -remaining . surgical, .hour for . sucla cases as - are improper for mixed classes. The/compromise of last winter, under which the women were to be warned out when some special case was to be exposed, - was well enough as a temporary expedient, .but the plan involves much-needless embarrassment both to the.lecturer aud the female students. An arrangement upon the basis which we have indicated will give the men all that they have lever bad, and will 'give—the. women all that they ask or are entitled to, It may need some modification of detail, but the " principle is the true one upon which to effect an adjustment of . the difficulty. - THE McFAIILASD TRIAL,. The McFarland trial has become utterly dis graceful to all parties concerned in it. The ■"causes which —ledto tlie trial, the antecedents of the murder of Richardson, the mock mar .riage of the woman who was the central figure of the affair to the man upon whom her hus band- had avenged his outraged rights, the complicity of prominent clergymenllke Beecher and Frotliingbam in sanctioning the fraudulent divorce, the 7 'indecent violence and indecorum with which both prosecution and defence have been conducted, are all in harmony with each other, making.up a disgraceful picture of New York morals and New York professional ethics, of the pulpit, the bar and the bench, which becomes more atjd more odious as scene after scene of the wretched drama is developed. To those who are accustomed to the dig nified decorum with which the most exciting criminal cases are conducted in the Philadel phia courts, it‘is almost impossible to realize the professional blackguardism which is tole rated, without interference or remonstrance, by the judiciary of New York. Mr. Recorder Hackett sitß in judgment over a grave capital case, a question of life and death, affecting not only the highest personal interest but the broadest and deepest considerations of public morals, and permits the most flagrant insults and outrages to be committed upon witnesses by the opposing counsel, without appearing to be aware of the existence of the smallest impropriety. The counsel assail and abuse each other in open court, like a crowd of tipsy fish-wives, and the court pockets the affront. Yesterday, matters nearly reached a crisis. Immediately after the adjournment, while the Recorder and the City Judge were still on the bench, a violent scene was enacted between Mr. Graham and Judge Davis, the former rushing at the latter with the following choice remarks: “ I’ll spank you like a baby, you big pettifogging thief; you have insulted every witness Miroaglit on tlie stand,‘-and you’ve been paid money to hang this man!” By standers interfered in time to prevent an ex change of blows, and the crowd gave -(/tree; cheers for John Graham J” '■ ll is difficult to imagine any lower depth op degradation to which, the administration of justice can sink in New Fork, or a more com plete demoralization than that which can tolerate such scenes and acts as -have clustered about this miserable McFarland case from the beginning. > BANK OF STAFI'-OFFICEBS IN THE SAW. The Hon. A. F. Stevens, of New Hampshire, has given attention to the question about rank which has been long in controversy be tween the line and stall-oificers of the Navy. During more than a year he has listened to the opposing parties, and after as full an inves tigation as a landsman can give profitably to a conflict of technical opinions, he has presented the result of his studies in a bill, “to regulate rank in the Navy of the United States and for other-purposes.” The military service rendered by General Stevens during the rebellion helped him to an experience which-necessarily gives weight .to..his opinions about the details Of military organization, and they will he re spected accordingly. The object of the measure spems to be to re store to stair officers the degrees of rank con ferred upon them in “1803, by a general order issued by Mr. Welles, Secretary of the Navy, after consultation with the Attorney General, and the members of Mr. Lincoln’s Cabinet, whiflt general order was revoked in the very first days of Mr. Borie’s administration of the speclable gentlemen a painful sense of unjust, humiliation, as well as a reduction of the very moderate pay of those who have been placed on the retired list on account of ujge.'long. ser vice or infirmity resulting from a" faithful dis charge of duly. This bill proposes no change in the rates of pay at present provided by law for stall' officers. It gives those on the active list degrees, of rank from Master to Captain, and to those who ;are .retiredl -qftcr forty-five gears’ service—a verylongperiod-r-tbe rank of Commodore.... The/rank proposed is, compared With lineal rank, united .in its properties. It ibas no virtue in, gelecting quarters, as the rank cf staff officers in the Army has. , And the line officer duly assigned to oomfoand a ship or Station has precedence of all placed under his orders without reference to thelr degree of rank or seniority. Staff officers eaunot, command or exercise authority in the line, nor in any stall'corps other than tbatto which they belong. The authority of the line is very-properly arid carefully preserved, so that there can he no conflict in:tliis respect between the line and staff, ascribabio to the degrees of rank con ferred upon the latter. The details of the bill seem to. have been carefully , and cautiously Considered. The measure seems to he well calculated to terminate an unhappy contro versy, and at the same time render the naval, service more acceptable arid alluring to gentle raen-of the several vocations employed in it. Whether it will be adopted by Congress will depend, in a great degree, upon the, acquies cence of certain line officers,' whose warlike re nown has given to their opinions on all sub- • jects much weight, and influence, without re gard,often, to the intrinsic value of their views. National pets, through assumption and inter-: ference, often mar-wise legislation; especially when their minds are prejudiced or possessed by sentimental rather than logical concisions. But we hope this bill will meetwvith the favor which, in our judgment, it seems.to deserve, in' spite of representations of extremists of either party to the contrary. / - • THl', qCAKIiIIS AliD TIIK lIOSri rAI.. The Quaker City has undoubtedly out grown most of its external Quakerism. The Society of Friends, whose influence, in the early history of Philadelphia, eontrolled all the departments of social life, has fallen into a minority, as the “great population of modern limes has grown up~ar-aund. it.-.-Numerically,, the once all-powerful Quaker element has be come a very small body, but its leaven still works out in the various departments of life, and its impress is clearly seen in almost every relation-in whicli Bhiladelphia- difi'ers for- the better from her -sister cities. The Society of Friends, as a religious body, has not kept pace with the general expansion of the com munity; but there are; abundant evi dences that Quakerism lias not died out. The substantial bus'mesjs character of old commercial houses; the unostentatious, but solid comfort in which the majority of. the people live ; the practical efficiency, the honest administration, the neat, quiet, orderly economy-of - the-older-charitable Institutions, are among the abiding works of the early fol nwers of.WiHiam Penn and George Fox. Quaker blood ramifies in. the veins of thou sands of Philadelphia families, whose present members have formed other religious associa tions, and wherever il runs it influences character, while it keeps 'up A sympathetic connection with the solid and worthy Society which once reigned supreme-in the colony of William Penn. Under these circumstances, it was a- most shortsighted policy on the part of the engineers of the scurrilous anonymous pamphlets recently aimed at the management of jhe Pennsylvania Hospital, to turira tonent of- ahuse npon -thc alleged “ Quakerism ” of the institution, as a reason forchangirig the management. -Ereii if these low tirades had spoken the truth, which they have, not, or been ordinarily decent in ilieir tone, which they are not, or had been written with cleverness or ability, which they are not, they would have accomplished nothing for their purpose, by giving Quakerism in the management of the Pennsylvania Hospital as a reason why the contributors-should revolu tionize it. The distinguished Dr. George B. Wood, in bis address at the centennial celebration of the founding of the Hospital, June 10. ISSI, showed the precise relation which Quakerism lias borne to the institution, and the following extract is precisely as true to-day as it was when delivered, nearly twenty years ago: “ We not unfrequently hear it referred to as the Quaker Hospital; and a disposition has probably existed, in some degree, to leave the burthen of its support to those who were sup posed to enjoy the honored advantages of con trolling it. How, if the fact that members of the Society of Friends have from its very em bryo state cherished and sustained it, and have at all times freely contributed money and per sonal service toward its maintenance, entitles it to be considered as the Quaker Hospital, we must with all humility submit to the seotariau designation; -butthatiLis_n.ow..ox_ey:er_.wa,s_ governed exclusively by Friends; that the pe culiar views of this religious sect have ever been especially consulted; that members of that Society nave beyond their fair share reaped any of the honors and emoluments connected witliit, is nottrue. Inlooking over the minutes of the Board of Managers for a century, 1 do not remember once to have met with a reference to the Society of Friends. Among the poor admitted tb its charity from the foundation to the presefit time,unless per haps a few of the insane, I doubt whether there has been a single Quaker. Of the Phy sicians and Surgeons, and air other profes sional officers, by far the larger proportion lias belonged to other sects; and, if a consid erable number of tlio,Managers '.have, always been chosen from umong4he-Friehdsy tips lias been ow ing to the coniidetice reposed m them by the contributors, who are of all sects, and all shades of religious sentiment. Tho truth is, that the Institution is quite free from sectarian bias, it is open indiscriminately to all. Any one, whatever may be his religious attach ments. may become a contributor ; tho con tributors may elect whom they please as iManagfers ; the Managers are hound, in their selection of officers, to be guided by qualifica tion and not by profession of faith; and every patient in the Hospital may have recourse to the religions counsel or ministration of the clergymen of his own choice.” What Dr. Wood here asserts ‘is strictly true. The Pennsylvania Hospital has always had a strong element of Quaker influence in .its_ management, because the contributors knew that such a management was desirable, on many accoun{s. But it has always been con ducted" upon a broad," liberal, non-sectarian principle, and the slurs cast upon its Quaker ism are as silly as they are destitute of truth. ~—The Pennsylvania Hospital, like most of, the charities of Philadelphia, has been greatly in debted, throughput its entire history, to the systematic liberality and wise economy of the Quakcrelement_in,_itBmanagcinent,^_and_we can conceive of nothing moro stupid than to attack any charitable institution in Philadel phia on the ground of its Quakerism.. We publish upon another page an article upon the subject of' the proposed public baths iu this city, together with a-stateineut of the character and operations of tbe free bathing in stitutions in Boston, and of the good results that have flowed from these establishments. A single fact wJU ffiuqtrate thepopularity of these baths inßpston.. ; jDuring last, year one million arid twehtyrfoar tbtfusaud persons, visited arid used them. , We. venture to say that not only the physical health hut the morals of the people were improved by these washings. Cleanliness is very near to godli ness, if it is not exactly next to it. If men’s mortal bodies are well scrubbed, their immortal souls age apt to become cleaner, A dirty man cannot very well he cither a good citizen or a consistent Christian; and the most eloquent missionary, working in the stains of a large city, will find that he will succeed better if he will preach first to the- outside of his heathen with soapand water,and then to their inside vyith bread, before he tries to touch their feouls Gospel truth; 1 Our own. Bedford street sionary has proved these' facts by his experi ence, and he has secured the best results by-, acting upon' them. Because we want to have' tlio principle applied upon a grand scale we urge upon Councils the adoption ef the/scliome for a series of. great.public baths submitted to them on Thursday last." ■ If England is ever going to tremble because of the Fenjans, the time apparently has come. The grand army of Fenia has begun to move. It is a siriall army, but it is evidently in; deadly earnest, because' it passed right through Boston, without heeding the seductive songs of the in tellectual sirens of that’ Athenian city, without stopping to see where Warren fell, and without going to hear the great organ. The despatch says that these Fenians numbered twenty; that tliey were clad in Irish frieze and carried pickaxeß. It would be a heroic achievement to capture Canada with twenty pickaxes, and ■ these audacious fellows evidently mean to try it. But we do not feel as sorry for the Cana dians as for the orderlyrsergeant of this corps. If each one of the savory warriors has as long a name as Lieutenant-Colonel.Rudolph Fitz patrick, . Assistant Adjutant-General of the Fenian Brotherhood, and .Acting Secretary .of War, the ingenious organizer of battle and grand disposer of the fate of Canada, Ireland, Winnipeg, and other British provinces,-the man who calls the roll deserves not only extra ra -i ions and a powerful pair w of lungs, but the heartfelt sympathy of the American nation. We hope lie will come through-the frightful ordeal as safely as the - Canadians who wav with his troops; for in that event he will con tinue in a robust condition. The meanness to which small minds.will de scend to gratify petty malice is forcibly illus trated by the following- facts: Yesterday, Mayor Fox telegraphed to Richmond to the .Secretary iOi'Btate, that a subscription for the suficrers in therecentcalamity hail been opened in this eity, and that Mr. George W. Childs had-headed-the list _witb_bne thousand dollars. This information was sent back to Philadelphia through the Associated Press, and the morning papers, with one exception, printed it with the name of Mr. Childs, The Inquirer. however, struck out the name, and -said that “ a gentleman had headed the list”, .with the sum named. This small spite is more pitiful, because, even if Mr.-Childs wished to retaliate in kind, .the opportunity assuredly will not be given him, , even if he should undertake to publish the Philadelphia subscriptions daily. —Mr. Charles F. Haseltine advertises the-sak by auction of his entire collection of paintings, next Thursday and Friday evenings. They are ,now arranged for exhibition at his galleries, No. 1120 Chestnut street, where the peremp .tory sale will take place, without reserve. Our crowded space to-day will uot allow an ade quate notice of the. pictures ; but to the wise a 'word is sufficient, and Mr. Ilaseltine’s reputa tion as an expert, and especially as the repre sentative in this city of the very • choicest French art, obviates the necessity on our part of any nutice beyond the mere statement of the sale. We publish elsewhere an official statement of the Fire Insurance Companies of Messrs. Evans & Hare, General Insurance Agency, No. -131 Walnut street. They stand the test of the most critical examination, and are known at home and in this State for their good reputa tion, sound financial condition, and promptness and liberality in the adjustment of losses. Messrs. Evans & Hare’s, long experience in fire underwriting, and assiduous attention to the interests of then customers, render their services valuable to insurers, and we cheerfully commend them to all who may require the aid of reliable and experienced insurance agents. Until this year, we have never been obliged to issue triple sheets at this season.- But the pressure of advertisements makes it necessary to-day, as it has several times before, this spring. The Evenixcj Bui.t.etin is, in fact, so well known as one of the best advertising mediums in Philadelphia, that we somietimes fancy we shall have the triple sheet perma nently. ; For Sales of Real Estate, Stocks, Far. kitduk.Maciiinebv, Jfcc., seo Thomas & Bonn’ adver tisements aud catalogues. Bnntinpr, Bnrborow «Jfc Co., Auctioneers, Nob 232 and 2 M Market street, will hold during next week the following important sales, vit.: • On Monday, May 2, at 10 o’clock,on four months* credit, 300 lots of Foreign and Domestic Dyy Goods, including full linen imported Dress Goods; black and colored Bilks ! uml Batins; COO Paris Printed Oashnitre Shawls; IPO rich Bilk Shawls; fnll lines Gropes, Tarlatans, Flowers,Net-*, White Goods, Trimmings, Handkerchiefs, Tics, Kiu Gloves,Embroideries, Umbrellas, Parasols, Ac. Also, hpeciul sale ot'fcUO cartons Itibbuns, by order of Messrs. liuit'T, T.tickeineyer A Co., the importation of Messrs, bolellac Frercs, and others. Also, 100 cartons rich Bush Ribbons, latest styles'. Also, a comploto set of Chests tor exhibiting Whito Goods. . .. . On Tuesday, May 3d, at 10 o’clock, on four months 5 credit, 2,000 cases Boots, Shoes, Traveling Bags, Hats, straw Goods, Ac. ' . ... On Thursday, May sth, on four months* credit,9oo packages and lots of Foreign and Domestic Dry Goods, including Cloths, Cassimeres. Meltons, Doeskins, Sati nets. Italians, Batin Dechines, Yolvets, &c. Also, Dress Goods, Bilks, Shawls, Linens, Shirts,Hosi -‘eryi Gloves, IldkfH., Balmoral and Hoop Bkirts, um brellas, ‘White Gooils, Ac. _ A • , ,_ r . -Also, 200 packages Domestic Cotton-and Woolen °o°n Friday, May 6th, at 11 o’clock, on four months’ credit, 200 pieces Ingru n, Venotjun. tjomp, Cottage,List aud Bag Carpetings, Oil 01otbs;6M rolls White, Red, Check and Fancy Canton Mattings, Ac. Vnlonble Cotton Machinery as Public Sale — The faUable cotton machinery, belonging- to the estate of Hood Bimpsou, deceased, to be sola by M Thomas & Sons, Anctionoora. on Monday morning, ■it 10 o’clock, Is now arranged for examination. Oritn logneseftn be had on the premises, and at the auction rooms. ————————. TAMES L. WILSON, H-,-....-’- ./‘HOTJgEPAIKTER, ' ', BIS SOUTH NINTH STREET, ■ TloHidoiicc— B22 Sonth JUntli Htroct. ■; np3o ly 4pg TIoEISHING POWDER. - THB BBS’ x for oleannlng Silver and Plated Ware, Jowolry ,otc ver manufactured. mbi tfi FA Hit & BTIOTHTCR, 324 Cbeslmit wtroot, below Fourth, -iVrfY r ~THE “ HARTLEY” KID GLOVE TVV, m A & J. B. BABTHOTiOMKW, ■Vr3C*»rS»§ linportorH, 23 K. KIOHTII atroot. t»V~aEkING "WITH INDELIBLE INK j■' ;;v > :- '.■;'V; ; v; ; -;;;;.}. ■ ; v : ,r . all wool. ';'/ " • ' y ‘ * ' , ■ :: $lO SEEING SUITS, $10! .r;’. : ALL "WOOT,. $lO SPRING SUITS, $10! l SPRING OVERCOATS; $7l ■ !&*-■ ' $7 ; [SPRUNG OVERCOATS, $7 l $0 fISPRING OVERCOATS, $0! $0 SPRING OVERCOATS, $0! " ONLY THINK OF IT! RIO C K H 1 L L & WIL SO N Can Clothe a, “Whole 3*Ecm ATT, FOR TEN DOLLARS! COME AND SEE ODR TEN DOLLAR SUITS! THERE NEVER WAS ANYTHING SO CHEAP IN THE WORLD! EVERYTHING ELSE CHEAPER THAN ANY ROD! ELSE WILL SELL IT* COME TO THE GREAT BROWN HALL, 603 and 60S Ohesthxit Street, R 0 0 EHIL L& W I LSON $lO ! $10! $lO ! AIL WOOI^I ALL WOOL! $lO ! $10! $10! THINK OF IT!