#may 1882

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Avenue Cleaned - Opera Repairs - Finest Banjo Player - Pleasant Picnic - Say Hello - Endeavoring to Make the Loudest and Longest Noise

28 MAR 1882. Austin Daily Statesman.

MATTERS BRIEFLY NOTED.

The street gang were cleaning up the Avenue yesterday.

The city clerk rides one of the best looking horses in town.

The work of repairing Millett’s opera house is going on rapidly.

Some immigrants in wagons passed through the city yesterday.

Captain Ben Thompson is getting to be one of the finest banjo players in the city.

The students of St. Edwards academy had a very pleasant picnic at Mount Bonnell several days ago.

No telephone will work well unless you say “hello” as soon as you ring the bell. This should not be neglected.

The following new telephone stations just established:  First National bank, Austin and Northwestern railroad, and Nalle & Co. lumber yard.

The citizens of the southern part of Austin complain of the manner in which the whistles of the different mills and machine shops are blown. It seems to be left entirely to the pleasure of the firemen of the engines, and they usually vie with each other in endeavoring to make the loudest and longest noise. We know that it is not the wish of the owners or managers of the shops referred to that the blowing of their whistles should be done in such a way as to be considered a nuisance. We therefore invite their attention to the matter.

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What Has Already Been Accomplished in Debauching the Public Mind

26 MAR 1882. Austin Daily Statesman.

BAD LITERATURE. Some Thoughts Upon the Effects of Sensational Reading.

Stepping into to a book store yesterday, a reporter of the Statesman saw a ten-year-old boy purchasing a copy of the Police Gazette. And this is the class of literature with which some of the children of the city store their minds. We have called attention to this incident with the view to discussing the fact that at this time there seems to be a movement among the most thoughtful classes in all parts of the country to provide the young especially, with a pure and wholesome class of literature. This movement grew out of the principle of self-preservation. There are causes for everything, and we, as a nation, are just now reaping in our social system the harvest that was sown in this country from 1861 to 1867. For six long years, war, bloody war, was the talk around almost every fireside. Children were born and reared in an atmosphere filled with scenes of strife and desolation. They breathed it till it became a part and parcel of their nature. This poisonous effluvium spread like a pestilence all over the land, and the boys are more blood-thirsty than their fathers. Much that appears in public print still tends to incite, if not inflame, this morbid desire. Murder is now of common occurrence. Life is cheap. The pistol and dagger are often ready to be used upon the slightest provocation. Now, why is all this? There can be but one answer. It is the result of the war which made such a deep inroad on our social institutions.

The effects of a campaign cannot be effaced in a single generation. It plows and scars the whole body politic. It saps society, under-values life, and despoils virtue. With alarming rapidity the publication of books and periodicals which pander to depraved and vitiated tastes has increased during the last twenty years with an acceleration that knew no bounds -- except that of demand and supply. As is well known the minds of the young are highly susceptible. In joyous youth the emotional nature predominates, and hence it is that the illustrated weeklies and the highly wrought sensational stories make up the warp and woof of so many lives that are liable to be shattered at any outburst of feeling. When an examination of the present morbid condition of society, as we have it in our own country, is made, and due allowance for the forces that for years have been silently undermining our social system, it is high time that counteracting influences should be put in motion to undo what has already been accomplished in debauching the public mind.

[violetcrownchronicles]

Emperor Jr. - An Obstruction and a Nuisance - Best Ball Tossers - Drunk and Had Lost His Reckoning - Mr. Collin Cheesborough, A Gentleman

20 MAY 1882. Austin Daily Statesman.

MATTERS BRIEFLY NOTED.

Mr. Monroe Miller’s beautiful Norman horse Emperor, Jr., is at the fair grounds.

The Houston and Texas Central railroad company had a large force of men at work yesterday, clearing Pine street of their old track, which has been an obstruction and nuisance for years.

A very interesting game of baseball was played a few evenings ago between nine of Austin's best ball tossers and nine of the scholars of St. Edward’s academy. The academy boys having had some practice, and being on their own ground, got away with the Austinites. The score stood, after playing seven innings: Academy boys, 18; Austinites, 9.

A well dressed man created considerable excitement on West Pecan street day before yesterday. From the morning until the evening he meandered the street from the bridge to Mr. B. T. Smith’s school house. Many women and children in the neighborhood were greatly excited, believing by his conduct he was insane. On being called on for an explanation he stated he was drunk and had lost his reckoning.

Serious Affray.

Late yesterday afternoon, at the St. Louis saloon, a difficulty occurred between Mr. Theo. Sublett, deputy sheriff of Travis county, and Mr. Collin Cheesborough, a gentleman who has been staying in our city for some time, in which the latter was seriously injured. It seems that the two gentlemen had some dispute, when Mr. Cheesborough attempted to throw a bottle at Mr. Sublett, but, the latter being quicker, threw and struck the former over the left temple with a bottle, inflicting a severe wound. Mr. Cheesborough was taken to the Raymond house, and Drs. Litton and Smith called to attend him. His wounds were dressed, and everything done to alleviate his suffering. At midnight a reporter of the Statesman called and was informed by the attendants that the doctors had expressed the opinion that the patient could scarcely be expected to recover. He was resting quietly, however, and it is hoped he may pull through. The affair is very much regretted, not only by the friends of the wounded man, but by those of the young gentleman who inflicted the wound.

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Exceedingly Dull

19 MAY 1882. Austin Daily Statesman.

MATTERS BRIEFLY NOTED.

The city was exceedingly dull during the entire day yesterday, and local items were very scarce.

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Damos Discovery

18 MAY 1882. Austin Daily Statesman.

MATTERS BRIEFLY NOTED.

A new planet was discovered by a professor of astronomy, well known to the citizens of Austin, last night. The planet as of a bright red color, and appeared directly east of the Avenue, and was attached to the tail of a kite that some boy over about East Avenue was flying. The gentleman who discovered said planet is well known under the nom de plume of Professor Damos.

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To Be Situated at the Head of the Avenue

16 MAR 1882. Austin Daily Statesman.

A NEW STATE HOUSE. Our Capitol for the Interim.

At a meeting of the capitol board yesterday morning it was decided to erect a building for the use of the state until the completion of the new capitol.

The building will be situated at the head of the avenue on the vacant lot opposite the county courthouse. The contract calls for a building not to exceed forty-five thousand ($45,000) dollars, and to be delivered to the state on or before the first day of January, 1883.

The structure is to be of brick and stone, with a frontage on the avenue of 115 feet, and to extend back on Mesquite street 100 feet, and to embrace 13,700 square feet of floor; to be three stories high, with plain and substantial brick or stone cornice and aggregate height of not less than forty-five feet; partition walls to be of brick or stone, and all walls to be constructed with flues for stoves. The first floor to be of cement and the second and third floors to be of pine and deadened.

It is to be hoped that the building will answer the purpose of construction, and notwithstanding the quick time in which it is to be finished that it will reflect credit on the capitol board, as also the contractor who submits the most favorable bid to the board.

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Strawther Shackleford  Most Worthy

14 MAY 1882. Austin Daily Statesman.

Closing Exercises of Austin Colored Free School.

On Friday evening last, at eight o’clock, one of the largest meetings perhaps that was ever seen in the court house of Austin, assembled there to witness the closing exercises of the colored free school. An interest was given to the meeting in the fact not only a well arranged programme of school exhibition of readings, declamations, songs and music on the part of the pupils had been prepared, but the awarding of a handsome bronze Peabody medal to the most worthy and excellent pupil of the grammar grade, the first of the kind ever bestowed on a colored youth of Texas. Beside the board of trustees, many prominent citizens, both white and colored, were present.

Mr. A. P. Wooldridge, president of the board of trustees, introduced the ceremonies by expressing himself highly gratified in addressing so large and intelligent an assemblage of the colored people of Austin. He was pleased to see that they were taking a deep interest in the education of their children -- that what had been done for them this season, was but an earnest of what they (the board) desired to do for them in the future. He congratulated the teachers on the success of their efficient work during the season. He then introduced Judge Fullmore, who addressed the audience at length, congratulating the colored people upon the success of the colored schools of Travis county, stating it as a fact that the colored teachers of the county had made more than the white teachers, because they came nearer making their full salaries on account of the regular attendance of the colored children.

Elder Mellinson, of the colored M. E. church, was then introduced and delivered a very earnest, sensible and eloquent address, which was well received.

Prof. W. H. Holland, a prominent teacher, who feels a very great interest in the educational interest of hte colored youth of the county, was called upon to address the meeting. He did so in an earnest and forcible manner, and was much applauded.

The distribution of the Peabody medal and prizes took place, accompanied by remarks by Mr. A. P. Wooldridge, addressed to the audience and the happy recipients of presents.

Judge J. C. Rector delivered the Peabody medal to Master Strawther Shackleford, who was announced as the most worthy and meritorious pupil of the grammar grade.

After the distribution of the prizes to the various pupils of the respective grades was made by the teachers, Elder A. Herbert, Mr. W. G. WIlson, Miss Lizzie Polland and Miss Lee Ann Persons, the closing address was made by Mr. W. S. Wilson,one of the teachers of the public schools. Its sentiments were complimentary to the board of trustees and superintendent of the public schools.

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Apprehended by Sublett - Sunday School Will Excurt - Those of Larger Growth Too - A Considerable Smash - So Awfully Much Married - A Tribute to His Worth and Capacity

11 MAY 1882. Austin Daily Statesman.

MATTERS BRIEFLY NOTED.

The city marshal will have a sale of estrayed stock next Saturday at 10 o’clock at Cloud’s stable.

Deputy Sheriff Sublett arrested and jailed Oliver Townsend, upon a charge of burglary, committed some two years ago.

The first excusrsion on the Austin & Northwestern railroad occurs Saturday, when the Cumberland Presbyterian Sunday school will excurt to the Gabriel.

The Sunday school of St. David’s church had a delightful picnic yesterday on Boggy creek, about a mile from the city. The little folks, and those of larger growth, too, had a splendid time.

Alex Mack and Aaron Robinson, both colored, were arrested yesterday by Deputy Sheriff Sublett. They were apprehended upon warrants issued by the grand jury, and there are six charges against each party for theft and burglary.

There came near being a serious accident yesterday near the iron bridge on West Pecan street. An ambulance, containing Justice Tegener and a jury of inquest, on the way to Barton creek, was run into by a runaway team driven by a wood hauler. There was considerable smash, but no one was hurt much.

It is settled principle of this government that no man shall have more than one wife, but some mortals are greedy when it comes to a distribution of the good things of life. Of the latter case is Thomas Watson, who, it is charged, has two or three wives, all alive and waiting for him. They will be apt to wait for some time, however, as the jail door closed on Thomas yesterday afternoon, and he will remain “in hoc” until able to answer why he is so awfully much married.

Clerk of the Board of Capitol Commissioners. 

Mr. John T. Dickinson was yesterday appointed clerk of the board of capitol commissioners, at a salary of $1800 a year, the appointment to last during the construction of the building. Mr. D. had several strong opponents for the position, and his election, in preference to those other gentlemen so well known and esteemed in Austin, is a tribute to his worth as a citizen and more especially to his capacity as a man of business.

Mr. Dickinson was born and reared in the city of Houston, and is the son of the late John Dickinson, a prominent merchant of that city for many years. He graduated in law at the university of Virginia, and upon his return home engaged in the newspaper business until the year 1881 when he came to Austin, and was elected journal clerk of the house of representatives, and in that capacity has given general satisfaction. In the university race last summer Mr. Dickinson did some effective canvassing for Austin. He has been the acting clerk for some time, of the capitol commissioners, and the Statesman congratulates him upon his permanent appointment, feeling assured that they will have no cause to regret the choice.