Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, December 23, 1877, Page 13

51 s g SR 3 i EA | g | é B hid L . 'THEK CHICAGO TRIBUNK: SUNDAY. DECEMBER 23, "877—SIXTEEN PAGES. SPORTIN The Verdict of the Base-Ball Papers on the Work of the League, The Cincinnati Team Completed by the ‘White Brothers—-Snyder to Go to Boston, Tarjons Notes, News, Queries, and Answers for Ball-Tossers in Winter Quarters, Death of the Famous Trotter Flora Temple, Aged Thirty- two Years. Decter rark Doomed---It Is to Be Transformed into a Great Lumber-Yard. Hore Concerning Fational Rife Association-- *English and American Shooting Tried at the Trap. BASE-BALL. CONNENTS O TIIE WORK OF TNE LEAGUE. The work of the League has called ont plenty of ‘omment of all kinds from the various papers waich devote space to the game; and below are given chort abstracts of their opinions: The Boston Zerald says that the admisslon of Milwaukee and Indianapolis was wise, and that twelve more clubs onght tobe taken fa. it ap- praves the €lx-months® scason, the prohibition of Sunday playing. the Leazue Alliance scheme, and favors a culting of salaries. On the other hand, it Das doubts sbout the umpire system, and the for- iddin= of non-League games on League grounds; and considers the guarantce system oppressive, apd Tikely to work no coud to the League, The Ctipper astonished every reader by abandon- ing its snarling, and coming out in square approval of the League for the first time since it was found- ed. Ithaskicked agsinstthe pricks for two yerrs, sndnow lags down its weapons, and, fn effect, owne up that it was wrong. Whether this is a pawing fancs or & well-grounded con- version time alone can tell. In its comments 1he Clipper approves the um- pire rale 88 likely to get good amd e men back into the position. It also pro- nounees good the agrecment against premature engacements of players aud the eection against cokedness. More strange - than all, the eection cutting off mon-League games on Lesgue grounds is mildly . approved; also the catting off of ‘total bases, but mot theinsertion of **reached first.™ The changes in the playing rales are. aiso deciared good, and the whole ides 18 of peace and harmony. The New York Mercury and Cincinnati Enqutrer give ehort resumes of the bniness, but neither approve nor disaporove. The Philadelphia Mercury and St. Louls Globe- Democrat (both in cities where the game has died oot) are Daforally bitier, and say all the hard things they can think of. The formerfindsitsworst sbuee in saying that the League is & Chicago institation, and s **ran and owned by Hulbert." 1f that were true. it would no doubt be a source of geveral congratulation that it was Mr. Hulbert 2cd not Spering or Concannon who controlled the mational game. The Brooklyn Eagle 18 approving in its way, but not anxious to give much opinion. 1tis worthy of remark that (so far os the writer his leen able to see) the Louisville Courier- Journal has bad not one wurd 85 to the doings of the League meeting. If such a publication has Deen made, the paper containing it failed to come 10 hand. Tkere j« a sinenlar difference of oplnion among antboritiesas to the merit of the changes n the scor- ing rules made at Clevoland. 'The Globe-Democrat beartily demns the *‘times reached first base”™ columa, whils the Boston terald wants a column of **total bases on hits," and the Cincinnatl En- quirer demands that base-bits and_errors be both abolished. 1t eeems, on top of all these things, as ifitwonld be nnwise 1o change the Dbase-hit col- T, the only oue which rives us any basis of com- parison, onc vear with another. The Dest acorers and the managers will hang 1o the base-hit system 2« long as they can. CINCINNATI PROSPECTS. The matter of the scttlement of the White brothers has been arranged, as was expected, by their s:rming for-Cincinnati. The Commercial of the 20th contemplates the team and grows entiusi- astic, aswitness the followne: That 3 nfne that s bound to sweep things before 16, "Think of 1he glorlous DRSNS that desoted hall S Ee15rom such 3 team of willow-swingers! Pike wil send it over the right-Beld fence: tuen Jones will whang it over the leit-field fence, and Jim ‘White will sternully whack ft clcan overthe centre fleld fnto Miil Creek, or poselbly over the Liil besond. McVey will Xnock a boy outut & tree overon the bank of the creek. fullivin wili aud the ball 1 0 tnc air and make & nd Gerhardt wili knock ¥ ock-Yards, while the Test of the bovs will make holes throush the carriage- 10p8, and knock o:f boards from the fence in Lhe con- wréiield. Aad White and Mitchell will plich such - Tul twisters that every victim will strike out, and Jones il catch sky-rerapers with one hand behind him and Riscyes shut, and =ullivan will do the Greelan etatue business on tirs; buse. and toss ninetcen fect fnto the airfor bails. Blacky Edwards will goout and see s ame won for the frst time in his life 5 “the = Clucionstl Club, and Mart Cra- mer will s wup in the cushioned arm- chale of tne Grand Duchicss, snd faw with {uylor avout Booth, watle Chatiey ‘Gould meanders fa from the carriage gate with his o turret full of tick- ets. Ob. ft will be Sreat cofngs at the ball-park next teaon, dnd at the cluse of v we will unfurl the whip Jeanant of the champloaship from the highcst steeple of 1 and fire 10 the conquerros a salute of ten- -fve turss of the crauk of tne Gatllng gun. That {8 the kind of u base-ball erasshopper Cincinuatl will be next year. With that niuc we shall clean vut Chicago, eatub Iudianapolis, knock the beans out of Boston, 2ud taaai Milwaukee and squelch Zanesville. e shall e i crested base-vall jayhawks of the motntain, the Ting-taflea whangdoodies of the diamond field. That 1a tkie Lind of pateut coffec-pois we'll be nexcyear. 1t &ceme a4 thoush the organization of the Base-Bali As- soctatlon ot Gluclunatl, In lis stocklioiders, oficers, Dircctors, players, and employes. fs as near perfect us couid be. and, 17 we don't cupture the champlonsiip, come miichty near ft, we'd better sell outon baser ball and allow the young men to return 1o respectable Ttades ut which they can earn S per week—(Lhat &3 What Devin §3 trying to hire out for), ‘The team is certainly a etrong one. It has good batters in Jim White, McVey, and Jones, and good fielders all around, except in the pitcher's po- sition. Unless the writer is wilder in his guessing then is often the case, young White cannot ** stand the racker.” Mill Creek is desperate hard on pitchers. There were Ficher, and Williams,” and Desn in 1876; and Mathewe, and Cummings, and utcheil in1877; and every identical one of the Fix had the reputation. the ambition, and the ef- fectiveness cufed ont of him. If the Cincinnati Club should be called on to take a fall in 1873, 1t is Quite likely 1o be right in the middle of the dia- mond that’the trouble wili bezin., And it should be nndersiovd that Tuk TRiBUNE heartily hopes that there will e no drop. Chicago, Boston, and Cincionati stand as pillars of the game, and it cun illy epare any one of them. Commenung on the team, the Enquirer eays that **White and McVey were firet and second bai- 1er¢ in the League this Year. " which the same is an error. White ‘was first, but Cussidy, O'Rourke, and Ansou came next, and before McVey. . The latier is, however, fully the cqual of any man in the country in bis hitiog, 10 matier what any rec- ord may show. b WHAT THE LEAGUE NAS DONE WITH CLUBS. A good deal has been said at odd times aboutihe effect of the League on the honesty of players, out enough has not been said by half about the cffect that body has Jad upon crooked managements. The year 1575 sa% what may properly be catled the acme of thievery in the most thievish city in the conntry, Pniladeiphis. The club called Philudelphia scarcely attempted to conceal their ewindling. and, contrary fo the uemal cus- tom, the management was the Lead and front of the rascality. The Jocal papers rather approved of it, but tne outside cluos saw that to fraternize with at ganz would be 1o confess themselves at least friendiv to thievery. Tne League was formea and killed the Philadelphia Club 1n thirty days. In about ;1< monthis the Athictic Club followed it, and the scalps of those two cencerns are among the proucest irophies of the Leagne. Itis clear that, whatever may have been toe fauits of the players, the Leazue lias Kiiled oif the pool-vox manage- ments, Jtis eaid that in the spring of 1875 two basc-vall men eat in 8 Philadelphia hotel talking over the mfamous uecision in the Force case, an closed by pleuging each dther to put 1t out of the Dower of any more Sperinze, or Concannons, or iayhursts 1o steal eitber men of moner. It took :;.um only two years o do it,and it was thoroughly ouc, GENERAL NOTEs. It is now said that Hague, of the Louisvilles, is - asking a position in Providence, R. I, thongh an- Bouncea as enguged in Hartford. The Binzhamton Zepublican announces the fol- lowing players as the representative nine of the **Parlor City " for 1678: McClure, late of Phila- delvhia, ¢ ; Bradley, of last_year's Chicazos. p.3 Fizzotz) late of the Lowells, 1b.; Shoupe, of the Mutuals, of Janesvilie, Wis,, and formerly of the Acmphis Reds, 2 b.; Smiley, of the Quicksteps, of Wilmington, Del.. 3b.: Arundel, of the Janes- ville, Wis., Mutuals, 5, 5., and change p.: Dick- erson. of last year's Crickets, 1. f. Tally, of the Eries, change . and c. {. ; Jamcs, of the Mutuals, Jagesville, and of the Red Caps, T. £. The Cincinnati Enquirer says that the Boston Club have engsped Snyder, late of the Loulsvilies. 11 this be true Harry has the best catcher in this ::n:try, ana one of the worst batsmen in the busi- el Alr. Wright, the forger of telegrams, infor Force that he proposes to bringsome ** l:'ll:!lrll'm'llr:"‘E up against himy, If there is no proof against Davy gxeept Wright's word, Be cannot b6 ajudzed ‘The game of bare-ball in Chicago has lost - cellent friend in the departure ol'g!lr. A, G% l)?lfii. :\I'houlllns uk-::;;_erul;nm;nsl in the welfare of ie game, and has twice been a dolegate fi Chicago Club to the League m"m:;gue e Geer, late of the Syracnse Stars, and under con- tract with the Cincinnatis, is in Son Francisco play- ::;g"rilg ‘&nlucxl clubl.I It iai!:ct(!ng quite common 3 warm ciimate in winter, and Denn; Mack and MeSorley are in New Orleans. ¢ The Brooklyn Eaglediscnsses the probability of 2 professional nine in this city, and mourns the lack of a bucking wuere so many good players are to be had. It recomnnends, or rather names, Ctmminas aud Barnieas mauagers, and the nucleus of the ‘proposed team. 1t i8 to the credit of the manazement of the Lou- dsville Clubthat their stockholders and Directors were 6o [ree of collusion with pool gamblers and P:cla;ti ghorts e to enblo tiem to act boldly and cly in the matter of exposing the knaver: their crooked quariet. —Eagle, - $iot The other Mercury, not the reputable one, has an attack on the League because they refused to reinstate Bechtel, who was expelled by the Louis- vilic Club Inst kensqn. It bases its xick on the as- Sertion that Bechtdl was reinstated by the Club. This the Club denies, and that ends the matter. A common parazraph tothe effect. that **Cher- okee™ Fistier Is to resume ball-plaging, and that he will play with the Auburn Club, is founded on the fact that a man named Fisher, from the Cham- ion Citye, of Springtield, 0., bius been engazed v the Luburns, Whatever his name may be, it is not Cherokee. Messrs. Bistiap and Fovwle, of the St. Lonis Cinb, appear to have had enough of the business of run- ning a professionnl team with such characteristics 28 led Lo the failure of their Club team in 1876 *and 1877, aud hence 1heir resignation from the Leazuc. The St. Louis team of 1878 will be ran by Man- agers McManus and Meteary 28 an_ independent team. What the character of the team run under such aukpices will be is left to the judgment of the fraternity. — Eaale. THE TRposE is called on to explain that it has B0 power 1o hire John Peters 85 2 member of the Chicago Club. Somo of the correspundents seem to think it has, It is proper to ndd, however, asa testimonial to the management, that seven gent le~ men~only three of wiom have signed their names. —have represented that they are puirons of the game, and that they (speaking for the public) have a desire 10 see Peters re-engazed. 17 these gentle- men will hereafter address their_recommendstions 10 President Hulbert,they will oblize this paper, There is uo reason vy Peters cannotplay as good a short-ficld as any man living. The following paragraphs from the Brooklyn Eagle foreshadow the tuture of the Internationat Aesociation: ** A movement is on foot 1o dishana the International Association, and to organize in ite place an Eastern Professional Association, wiich is much needed to attend to the mterests of the Eastern States professional clubs. A special meet- ing of the International Association is 10 be held at Budalo en the 3d of January next, to take action lookinz to reorganization of the Association on an entirely new basis, aud one better calculated to promote the welfare of non-Lesgue clubs than the existing Association bas been found todo. The meeting in_question is called by the President of the Association. ™ The Boston Base-Ball Ascociation held its an- nual meeting last Wednesday evening and chose the following officers: Presivent, Arthar H. Soden; Secretary, llarry Wright; ‘Treasurer, ¥. E. Long; Directors, Messra. Soden, Wright, Long, Jolm C. llaynes, and A. J. Clse. It is impossible 4t ths distance to look into affairs in Hoston, but it secms that the excellent judgment znd thorough experience of Mr. N. T. Apollonic might with great ad- santage have been added to the manazement. e has certainly done as much for the gumeas any other mau in the Eaet, and his acquaintance with the legislation of the Leagac at ts first and second mectings would make him as well acquatnted with the inside history of the game as any ofiicer can nope to be. Surely the Boston Club does itself an injustice in not adding Mi. Apollonio to its ad- visers. J The Enquirer does not feel sure aboat Clapp's success as managecof the Indianapolis team. 1t says: ** Clapps acquisition to the Indianapolis Club is no small factor of strength. It is nnder- &tood that he and McCormick will change with Nolan and Flint at pitching and catching. Indi- vidually the Indianapolis Club,-as it is now com- oscd, i§ just as strong a nine as will be in the xdd next year; but it is made np of earthquakes. Johnny Clapp will wi he was dead before the June roses bloom. A friendly fecling beats in our ‘bosom for gentlemanly John. and erzo we had rother eee him lion-tamer at the Zoological Garden than Manager and Captain of the Indianapolis Nat- ural History Collection. Now, Snyder wonld have felt more at home in Indisnapolis than in Boston, and Clapp would have fit better among Harry Wright's dancing-masters. As it is, we predict that John will foul on u snag carly. QUESTIONS ANSWERED. J. L.D.—**Where is Latham engaged; T sce him set down for Loulswille and the Crickets of Bing- hamton,—I think it was?" Angwer—He will yery likely play in Loaisvile, but no ofiicial announce- ment has been made for him as yet. i C. & B.—**What is being done abont getting the ball-ground on the Lake-front? Where is the Bill, or whatever it iz, and fs it likely to pass¢™ Answer~The ordinance mving the Mayor power to ‘make a license for the ground to the Club will come up to-morrow evening in the City Council as a special order of business. It willno doubt pass, the more #o0 that & more objectionable ordinance to the Council went through by to 8, . 8., Milwaukee—** Please eive the batting and gelding record of tne Allezheny Club,—at least of those enzaced by the Milwaukees.” Anawer—The record of the three men who are golog to Milwau- kee is a3 follows: Base hits 10 times Games. A.B. R DL aibut, Goodmaa. 200 40 76 Holbert. 200 16 50 301 33 w Percentage chances ac- £ es. Ceptei. &1 p"»{ 5 17 190 W. B. B. left-hand batters has the Chicago team of 16783 _inewer—That's not possible tobe answered at present, because it is not_known certainly who will comprise the team, Of the nine men announced, Start, Hallinan, and Tarbidge are left-handers, Ferzuson and Reis but about as well with one hund as the other; Anson, Larkin, and Cassidy arc right-handed, ‘and the writer docs not know about Hankinson, having never scen him play. The two men most pron: nently named to fill the team—Remsen and Peters —arc both right-handers. THE TURF. . DEATIL OF FLORA TEMPLE. Dispatches recetved in this city yesterday an- nounced the death at Philadeiphia on the previous evenlng of the world-renowned trotting mare Flora Temple, who passed away quietly, having been gradually failing in strength for the past two years. At the time of hier death she was the prop- erty of Mr. Aristides Welch, proprictor of the Chestnat Hill Stock Farm, and bad reached the extravrdinary age of 32 years. Although the name of Flora Temple i a household word wher- ever the trotting horse is known, her personal appearance and characteristics are unknown to the - younger tarites of the present day, as her last appearance promimently on the turf was in 1861 She was fouled in 1815, on the farm of Samuel Welch, mear Ttica, N. Y., and was got by One-Eyed Eentucky Hunter, ont of a mare by a epolted Arabian horse owned in the vicinity of her birthplace. The fature Queen of the trotting-turf was an un- promising enough looking thing in her infancy. and was, like Goldsmith Maid, o nnraly that, when 4 years of age, her brecder aid not hesitate to seil hertoa Mr. Congdon, of Smyrns, N. Y., for the paltry sum of $13. Her new owner soon disposed of her. and 1t was not until she fell into the hands of Jonathan Vielee, of Dutchess County, N. Y., whose eye was attracted by her fine points as ehe was being led past his honse behina a drover's wagon. He sccured bher for $175, and before long became convinced that in the little bay filly be had a trotter of wonderful promise. Iic went to New York City in search of a purchaser for her, and soon found one in George E. Perrin, who took her at $00, and soon found that he had an animal that could easily give the best road-horses of that day the go-by. Her first race was a road contest with the Waite horse, ann the little mare defeated her opponent with such ease ttat it re- sulted in the horses being matched for a singic mile beat over tae Red House half-mile track, the mare again being victorions. Iler first rezular race was on Secpt. 9, 1850, over the above-mentioned track, ber contestants being Whitehall, Napoleon, Delaware Maid, and Jiram, the little mare run- mog e tecond. third, and fourth neats in 2:55, @52, 2:49.' After this race she ' was _purchased by John C. Per- Tin for §505, but did mot appear on the track during the following ecaton, as an accident susiained by her in that year ren- dered her unsteady and wild. In 1852 she won two races, and obtained a record of 2:313{, beat- ing Lay Brooks” and Yonng Dntchman. in 1853 she won numerons races st one and_two miles, her rincipal opponent being the celebrated relding Racons. During this Year she trotted a mile i £:29, and two miles in 4159, These records were not lowered during 1854, althongh the little mare won a number of good races. In 1855 she beat Sontag, 1o wazon, two miles, in 5:07, o remarka- ble performance for so small and slightly-built an animal, and won a two-mile race_in haraess from Hero, the pacer, in 4:57. 1n 1856 che astoniehed the world by {rotting a mile in Il cedent- L mile in 22 ed time of 2:241%, beating Talcony, who went under asddie, The' mext year she Won u great ‘many good races, beating Ethan Alien and others, but did not Jower her record, and in 1858 was en- gaged in numerous contests, in all of which she acquitted herself creditably. The following year occarred her memersble contests with Princes: the mare at one time owned by the Gagesof this city, and that afteryards produced Happv Me- diom, the well-known trotting sire. Flora Tem- ple defeated Princess in twelve races that xeason, and fully demonstrated her superiority. ‘This was her greatest year on the turf, it being inaugurated Dby the defeat of Ethan allen, Flora obtaining a record of 2:25 to wagon, the best wagon time cver made up to that time. fler best ‘harness-race with Princess that year w: 9. when Flora won in 2:231%, 2 1t was in this year that at Kalamazoo, 3ich., she mado her great record of 2:193, which for years &tood unequalled. In 1860, she trotied her famoits races with Georze M. Patchen, and durine the fol- Jowing year appeared on the £urf a few times. She cut no figare in turf annals, although #he took part ina few racesin 1863-4. ‘During her carcer on the turf she won seventy-three races «of mile beats, cleven of two-mile heats, and two of three miles. She has produced three foals, the most promising of which is the_gray gelding Prince Im- perial, owned by Robers Bonner. She was o mare that in her day had no rival, and while on the turt miet no animal thac could defeat her i a series of Taces, cituer to wagon or in harness. . . THE FOUR-YEAR-OLDS OF 1877. Mr. Hamilton Busby, the principal editoria writer of the Turf. Kield, and Farm, hasa very interesting article in the last number of that paper on the performances of the prominent four-year- old trotters during the past season, from which the following is condensed: ‘'ne most notable four-year-old race up to the prosent scuson was that trotted at Lexington in Octover, 1876, Woodford Chiel by Clark Chiel, and-Erie by Ericsson, being the competitors. It was a fight for blood from beginning 10 end, and five heats were trotted before the ques— tion of eupremacy was decided. Eric haa the, most speea in the first heat, and won it handily in .28, heing tie fastest 4-year-old time on recond up to that date. He won the second heat also, but lost the race to Woodford Chief, who trotted the last quarter of the fifth muleat s 2:18 gait. Since that time both horses bave fmproved, Woodford Chief havinz acquired a record of 2:22%; in a pub- lic race, und Eric trotted a mile over Mr. Bonner's track in 2.203. The 4-year-old races of this season have been numerous, and creditable to the horses that envaged in them. Oh June 21 Romance, by Princess, run a _mce for horses of ner age at’ Lexi slow time, the best heat being 2:43 At Cincinnati, June 0, Romunce was Leaten by Keen Jim and Alice West. Alice West, another promincut 4-year-old, mane hecdebue fast sezson in the race at Cinclnnati above alluded to, and mude n_gatie fight for victo- Iy, winning the fongtn, and Afth heats in E 2 ‘This was over a half-mile auzhter of Almont to be one of the oust of her age in the country. Iler next applarance was in the Twrr, Field, and #arm stales last September, lher competitors Leing Sir Walter, by Aberdeen; Ho- garth, by Messenger Duroc: sud May Medinm, by Hapoy Medium, ~Sic Walter e toe first heat in 23341, e West being £ct back to second ptace for ruafing. The same performance wis one througn with in the second heat, the time of which was 2:34, Alice West being first under the wire, but_get back for indulging in too many breaks. Hogarth won the third heat in 2535, Alice West bewns suill second. She won the fourth heat by three lengths trom Sir Walter in 2:37. The rice was then postponed mutil the follow- iug morni when Alice West won handily in2:342, 333, The lust heat was the fastest of therace, and demonstrated that the Kemiucky mare was the pamest.as well 28 the speedicst of the party. She nest appeured at the Hreeders Meeting at Hartford lust September, where she again met Iogarth. »Galates won the first heat in rih the second in 2:26, Alice West the third in 3{, Hogarth the fourth in 2:30, and Alice West the dfth i 2:3412, after which the race ‘went over until tné foliowing day, when Iogurth 2251 This race shosed couclusively that, aithough Hogarth had the most epeed forn heat or two, he was not nearly as game as Alice West, and his victory must be rezarded us an scei- dent.'ne, when the race was postponed, the mare was by 0dds the freshest of the part Aldine, by Almont, was a great 3-year-old in , but in her 4-year-old form did not come up 10 expectations, althongh .ne the 4-year-ald race ot Buffalo in Augast, ‘b time being 2:37%, 23304, 234, Centennial was the nhenomenal 3-vear-old of 1870, trottlng a trial mile In :2:26%. This year he 100k ‘part in eeveral ruces, an. pained a record of 2:31%; before nis purchase - Mr. jonner. Sir Walter, by Aberdeen, also made a creditable showing last seasen. Ilistirst effort was in the Turf, Fleld and “armstakc,, where ho won the first two heats in 2:34% : 2:74) but lost the race to Alice West. At the Fleotwedd Park Breoders' ‘meeting in October he securce first honors in_the car-old race, benting a fieldof fourin 2:33%%, % 3. Galatea, the daughter of Fearnaught, was first scen in_public at the Hartford Dreeders® meeting, cre she met_togarty, Alice West, Tommy Nor- wood, Allie E d ' Tlannibal. She won the first licat in 2 he best time then on She Tost the race, how- ever, the hard track telling ou her legs. Keen Jim, 8 K y colt, bore off the 4-year- old honors for 1877, his supremucy over all others in his class being decided as to admit of no doubl. At the Lexington October meetinz in tne 4-year-old race his competitors were Kutle Jack- eon, Waveland Chicf,. and Romance. Keen Jim woul in three steaight heats, the time being 2:261;, 2:2413, 2:2043. Katie Jackeon, by Almont, was sccond in cach heat. 1nd trotted a half-mife i one of tnem uta 2:16 puit. After the race Keen Jim was purchased by Robert Bonner. Ile is by Keen's Lookoat, he by Bourbon Chief. Katic dackson. who trotted second to Keen Jim in his great race. was uncoubtedly the fastes: four year old filly of the scason, and Peter V. Johnson, the well-known driver of this city, who Enw the ‘race, considers her {he most promising trotter of her age in the country. At Csthiaua, Kv.. Oct. 25, she was ziven her head and won o race in 2:26, 2:35%. She was not pushed 253, during any part of "the contest, and competeut judges declare that she could have gone the lnst 1n thy Far West there has been at Jeast one good four year vid, Brimadier, by Happy Medinm, he havinz won a face at Chicd, Cal., Aug. 30, in 2340, £, 2:30. 'he wonderful progress made darinz the past few years in the early dovelopment of trotters has demonstrated that “breeding will tell, and so firmly has this adage been impressed npon the minds of turfmen that u youngster with n Sood medigree will be carefully bandled for speed, no mattor how unpromiding his eoit “or disposition may be, while one withoat an established nedigree is never fooled with, uniesy, indeed, he shows a naturally fast trotting action. DEXTER PARK’S COLLAPSE. Dester Park is no more, At Jeast its days of nsefulness as a race-track arc over, and hence- forth the scenc of g0 muny hotly-contested strug- gies between the best running and trotting horses in the country will be devoted to the purposes of commerce. For several seasons, owing 1o its un- favorable location, the track hins not been a paying specnlation, aud since the subjest. of a South Park track has been under discussion by those interested in turf sports, the Tnion Stock-Yards Company who owned the land, resolved to use the land as a sita for a mammoth lwmber-yard, The present lessces, Mesers, Tucker & Sherman, were entitfed to posscssfon for another scason, hut acquiesced in the request for a_surrénder of the ignt. The history of Dester Park 13 neither a 1t svas built in 1567, under ho tful one. the Supervision of Col. George B. Mansur, ran it for three years as the agent of Tuck Shermun, at the end of wiiich time Mr. d. C. Simpson, now turf editor of the Cahifornia Spiri of the Times, 100k charge of afairs, and super- vised matters for Messrs. Tucker & Sherman, and Gage & Suhwartz, who lcased the track for the sca- eon of 1873 In 157¢ Jt was leased by Mr. Maneur,” who took hold of the entérprise When it was in a very eickly condition indecd, and ran things until the close of lust sca- eon. During these four seasons Mr. Mansur has pluced Dexter Park in the Zront rank of racing as- sociations, 50 {ar us xquarc dealing and fnancial etanding i concerned, but he could not make it a place of pupular resort, situated, as it was, in the midst of slaughter and’ packing-hoase and 'stench factorics, and accessidle only by roads over which it was ait all times uupleasant and sometines even dangerous to drive, Tie collapsc of Dester Park will give o new impetus to the scheme of a track in the vicinity of the South Park. and it is understood that niready Lave been taken to organize s new associa- TRACK TALK. Lads Lumber, a well-known Kentucky trotting marc, died Dec. 18 of chest disease. She was by Fricseon, and had a record of 2:27X, obtained in her 5-year-old form. The gray mare Morning, record 2:30, was sold atanction in Philadelphia last week for $2.725, She is young, and gives promise of trotting low in the twenties next scason. The American horse Mate, that was recontly £0ld by Mr. Sanford to Cavt. Machell, has been re- sold to go fo India. It Jooks if the old horse was takiug a trip around the world. The fmported horse Billet, by Voltizenr, out of Calentta by Flateatener, owned by Samucl Powers, of Decatar, 11l., has been sold by that gentleman to Georgee W. Liowen & Co., of Paris, Ky. The roan gelding Clifton, owned by Ira Holmes, of this city, has joinca the stavle of **Nosey™ Brown, whonow bas, in addition to Clifton, the white mare Carrie K. and the bay gelding William M. oyle, in charge. Regent, the well-known ranning-horse, that in his day fousht out many a good race, was recently purchased by Mr. C. Kohns, of Montana. Regent is by im. Bonnie Scotland, and bas sired several quite promising trotters. ‘Black Frank. a well-known trotter with a record of 2:20, obtained at Poushkeepsie lnst scavon, has been cold to Ferzuson, the New York horse dealer, atareported price of 5,000, which is probably somewhat 1n excess of the amount really paid. Counselior William IL-Crawford, the well known tarf-jurist and expounder of horse law, was in this citv during the past week. He came for the pur~ ose of buying 8 Trolter, and, after organizing him- self into a committee,' secured the nssistance of Fred Schuleabers, #nd called on Mr. I C. Good- rich, owner of Bodine. The Counsellor left for Clo7elend inst eventny, where, he will soend a few days with John_Splan. who drives his horses for hii whengver there i3 & tight spot to ve got out of. He did not purchuse -Bodine, but has Mr. Goodrich's offer under consHleration. His decision on the matter will be dcnverid in a few days, Mr. Ira I Bride, of the ‘frm of Hitchcock & Bride, the woll known Southern pool-seliers. paid a fiying visit to Chicazo last week, remaining two daye, _He left Tuesday for Now York, and from there will proceed to Charleston, S. C., where 8 race meeting will 500n be held, TRAP-SHOOTING. THE AMERICAN AND ENGLISH SYSTEMS. Spectal Correspondence of The Tribune. New Yonx, Dec. 20.—The pigeon-shooting match between essrs. Howard S. Jaffray and Gen. E. Burd Grubb, at Philadelpbia yesterdas, promises to mark the beginning of o new and in- teresting era in the history of the trap and trigger. —atleast at the East. Gen. Grubb won by a score of 7810 63, the mateh being at 100 single birds, 30 yards nise, 80 yards boundary, 1i ounce shot, Muriinzham rules. The match just took three hours, thunks to the wonderfal retrieving of the oirds by a setter, ** Lear,” owned by Mr.Baldwin, of Ridgewster, N. J., the dog only missing one bird (verystightly hit) outof the 143, 'The point of interest was hardly the match itself, since after the ninth bird Gen. Grubb was never headed; besides “he bad the treble ndvamtage of be- ing in better lealth and ‘‘form™ than Mr. Jaffray, he waswell coached by Bogardue, ond Mr. Jaffray's ammuuition proved of an inferior quality. The first point §s with reférence to the birds, It has been an article of behef that the En- slish bine rocks were much superior in strength of wing and epeed of fight to our own native pigeuns, but the lot which Miles Johinson, the ex-champion, trapped on this occasion were in the opinion of ex- perts even better than 1hose (o be had in England. A fact which dous awav - with the claim of the su- periority of Biitish shots as & rule and the greater merit of their performance. We have had at least one lot of English blue rocks imported here, and, though they were very strong birds, they were not one whit petter than- thuse picked out for yester-. dny's match. The second point i a8 to the gune. 1 give the particulars tabulate Guns.| Ifaker. Gruub, {Eride Jutiray[Purdy, 1t will thus be scen that It was a fair watch of English powder, shot, and gan against American, and as the birds were'n very even lot, and the day baght and breathicss, a rare opportanits for test- in the English light' zun and charge against the heavier ones employed in the United States was afforded. Itis trac that Mr. Jaffray’s ammunition proved of a very iuferior sort, 80 that his gun fouled badly and’ the shot Incken force, but after makingZallowance for this the balance of superior- ity was' lurgely in_ favor of the American system, aud the almost universsl opinion was that fora strong bird the, English charze was too licht, and would not a8 much morc than tickle him. No morc than the light English ‘piece is the Western eleven-pounder. like Bogardus® ** cannon, " regurded with favor, but it is thought that 2 compromise belween the two, say~ a ninc-pound gun, with five and a balf drachms of powder and an ounce and u quarter of Nos. 9 and 8 would be us near perfection is we could go in this foperfeet and failible world. Mr. Jaffray, who_is ktrongly English in lus preferences, and has hnd anpie experienco in shooting in the old country, ns some-sisteen cups won at the Hurling- Bam and Gun Club shoots testify, etill holds out for Ins system, and there will be another match shot by the two men next spring, which will proba- oly settle finslly the question 50 much discussed by knights of the trigger hereaway at least. THE RIFLE. NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION. The remarks on the subject of a Nutional Rifle Association in last Sunday’s Tiu E were much commented on by the rillemen of this city, anda visit to severel of them elicited the fact that they met with approval. Gen. Ducat trusted that the matter would not drop. but be kept constantiy be- fore the pablictill a general interest was estab- lished. Ile said that he would do all in his power to assist the movemomt towards the formation of a Natlomal American Rifle Association, to twhich’ Ilinois would send some of the best shots In the United Stater. Inspector-General W. E. Stronge. when culled upon, was pleuased to see the press espousing the cause of rifle practice and a thoroughly national association. He bad attended every match of note at. Creedmoor, and was haopy to sce the increased in- terest felt at cach eucceeding one. e had pre- pared a comulete sct of instructions for the Na- tional Guards of this State, and would issue them after Jun, 1, and thereaflter each goardsman would find it incumbent upon him to pructice with the rifle, and he trusted thut by sprine the rudiments would be ¢o thoroughly acquired that the troopy could go out upon runges sna make a creditable score. lleintended to have marksmen's badges and other prizes as the National Guard of New York now has, and muke it a point of honor among soldiers to win, or at least do their utmost 1o win, them. e e0id that the National Guard of this 'State had_hardly gotten into good rauning order (no punm), but after the uetails were mastered and assistance acquired, o trouble would be had in making 1ilinos guardsmen fully os competent as those of the East. Col. E. D. Swain, of the First Regiment, hoped that the interest would be keptup. He was sure that the men of his command wonld see the necessity of becoming good soldiers and would be: intercsted in rifle practice. ‘The numerons details would be ucquired this winter, and instruction would be given both men and oflicers. Col. S. B. Sherer, of the First kegiment Cavairy, was fully aware of the importance of rifie practice among the National Gnard. It had been rather up- hill work for them for many years, but now a gen- cral interest seeined to be excited. OTHER SPORTS. CURLING. The Chicago Curling Club held its annnal meet- inz at No. 20 South Clark street Friday evening, when the following officers were elected: Presi- dent, Hugn Ritehic; Vice-President, George Key; Secretary and Treasurer, dosephS. Roe, ‘WRESTLING. Vermont 18 prolific in wrestlers; and now Ed- sward Cox of Fairfield, stands ready to wrestle Mil- ter, 0'Netll, McMahon, or any man m the world (barring Owens), collar and elbow, for $230 a side or more. AQUATIC. A gentleman of Toronto has offered to match Charles E. Courtney the American oarsman, against Edward Hanian, for two races, respectively three and five milea, for 52,500 a sidc. llantan's back- era will not close uniil sprinz opens, when they can sce bow their man has wintered. ——— NICK-NACKS. ‘What. weather yesterday ! THoliday books at Chapin’s, 95 Madison street. ‘When will you take that sleigh-ride? Everybody wiil want to sce the new business exchange room in connection with IL. B. Bry- ant’s Chicago Business Colleze. To-morrow, if fine, will be a big day for those merchamts who make a speclalty of holiday goods. 6 Shurley, the jewcler, No. 55 Clark street, will sell his stock of fine jewelry, watches, cte., at cost. The Sunday-schools arc always filled with scholars at the approach of Christmas. They want something ofl- that trce. Albums, fine leather goods, opera-glasses, work-boxes, ete., in great variety and Iow prices at J. S. Stott’s, 158 State stract. Alas! poor turker. You will suffer more next week than you have for o month, and your slain will be numbered by the thousands. Giles, Bro. & Co. have bad _an unprecedented large loliday trade. This hotse always bad business enough of its own to attend to. You will find more mud in Chicazo this week than in any five large citics in the country; fn fact, dirt is cheap here. The larzest stock of photos, v1ews, chiromos, albums, {frames, ctc., In the aity is at Lovejoy & Foster’s, 83 State street. Most_of, our merchants have already com- menced their annual stock-taking, and are mak- ing extensive preparatious for thecowming year's business. The 1st of January may find you in need of new sct of blauk booxs. Cameron, Amberg & Co., 84 Lake st., keco the Jarzest and best ps- sortment, in all sizes, rulings or biudings, and sell at bottom prices. — ———— A New Oil Region. News has been received of the success of the oil-tests in progress in the Cumberland Moun- tains in Kentue fi and Tennessee. Since open-. ing thjs section, herctofore almost unknown, hy the buildiug of the Cincinnati Southern Road through it, there has been develoved a general belief that the region was even richerin ofl than that of Penusylvania. Oneor two welis and springs are already turning out cousidera- ble quantities of oil, but not at accessible points. . Recently, however, ince _the opening of a portion of the new railroad, Pennsylvania parties haye invested largely, and have begn en- waged in sinking wells near McKinney's, a small town on the road, at the foot of the Cum- beriand Mountains, Dispatehes received say that they have struck oil, and that in larce uantities, and that it is being brought up by the sand-pump. Excitement is already begin- ning to run bigh at Ciocinpati, and investors are eagerly making inquirics into the matter. One compauny of ‘Cincinpatians now owu 400,000 acres of Iauds in the new oll regions, SAN FRANCISCO. Advantages of the City from a Snicidal Point of View. Why Duncan Farland McDonald Was “ Afraid to Dee.” An Interesting Duel Where No Wom- an Was Concerned. Some of the Characteristics of Oakland— Mr. Bacon's Gift, Reminiscenses of Jatilda Neron--Bijou Meron and the ““Two Orphans.” Spectal Correspondence of The Tribune. 8ax Fraxcisco, Dec. 17.—The suicide season has set in so briskly that diphtheria begins to hide itselt abashed. Oneof the chief advantawes or disadvantages to acity havinga water front is the facility it atfords the suicide forasimple and expeditious shut- fling off of this mortal coil. It is but rarely that any one blows s brains out in San Francisco, e takes to wateras natugally as a duck. Sometimes he jitmps off the dock. More fre- quently he takes the Oakland ferry and jumps off the boat. In phis manuer he is surer of deep water. Within a few weeks two unknown women and one unkuown man have jumped off the ferry- boat and nothing has been heard of them. Another unfortunate attempted suicide the other night by jumping from the dock. Un- happily he landed in a sand bank covered by only two feet of water, and had his misery thordughly drenched out of him. He had fool- ishly removed his clothing before taking the fatal plunge, o circumstance of which the wharf rats took swift advantage. The would- be suicide found bimself obliged to make his way to v.gc station-house without any trousseau, and now'finds a tailor’s bill pinned on to all the other ills of his tife. An enterprising Scotchman, who chose a watery grave rather than marriage, indited a farewell cpistle to his sweetheart in these touching words: Dear vi£: When you receive this I'shall be no more. 1 have felt the water and it is very cold, but a 3cDonald of Glenzarry is not afraid to die. Duseax Faruasn McDosaLn. It transpired that the water was really much colder than in Glengarry, for McDonald could not stand it, for McDonald was next heard of in Santa Cruz, like Sheridan, a hundred miles away. and Anuie is left to wear the willow. MeDonald has become famous, avd his dying words have become incorporated with all the popular local songs, burlesques, and farces. Suicide is a terrible tragedy, but a fiasco in that line secms always something superlatively funny. Y A STRELT DUEL. The crack of & pistol s always so unmistak; able a sound, even in the noise and bustle of a busy street, that it collects a crowd in an incon- ceivably stiort space of tie. A couple of entlemen, who fere amusing themselves by making tareets of each other in front ot the Stock Exchange yesterday, drew quite a large audience in & vers few moments. It seems absurd for people 1o bring them- selves within range of a miscetlancous shooting match of this character when there is such a very uncomfortable uucertainty as to which diréction the balls may take. ‘The scampering, however, was very general when it became evident that the belligerents intended to keep up the shooting uutil some- thing was hit. ‘They finally succeeded in sending a bullet through the $800-panc of platc-giass which is at onee the glory of Pine street and the pride of the Stock Exchenge. - This stopped them in their wild carcer. The quarrel was not about a woman! OL course that means that it was about stocks, for there is really nothine else left about which people could reasonably have a deadly fight. ‘e active trouble began the day” before in the elevator of the Stock Excnunge, where Sevenoaks and Butterfield, the contending parties, chanced to meet. Tae elevator boy, not knowing exactly what to do with such an uncomfortadle ecargo, ran them up to the roof. As this did not seem to them u desirable field of action, they, susnended operations until their next mcetinz o the street. ‘Bullets were as thick ns asscssments for a_time, and some very forcivle and explicit English was indulyed in. ; 'As it happencd, nothing was damazed but the iz elass pane and eeveral counter tops, where an assortment of hee) marks were added fo' the more ornate embellisiments. A MA [FICENT G! Oakland, our neighbor city over the bay, s a youns Boston in its tastes, its characteristics, its ambicions, und the Inbabitants’ eatimation of themselve: The pubiic_speakers alwaye allude to it as the Athens of -California, and its people ave fuclined to think 1t o degree in advance of the Atnens of America, and o very material improvement unon the Athens of old Greece. _ 1ts provatling feature Ia the small boy in the nai- form of s academy. le ix arrayed either in uray trimmed in red, gray timmed in bluck, gray trim- med in blue, of gray trimmed in gray. At all events he i3 & gray flzure fuiteringathwart the Jandscape, and as ‘indigenous to the 0l as the scrub ouk for which the burg is named. The school-girl isnot uniformed, but she is unmi At certain bours of the day a school-g may be discovered in cach pane of each window, Every very lurge building is an scademy, whea it isn't a church. . Every very #mall building is a private school. The ordinary-sized buildings are hundsome resi- dences and they are generally for sale. Onc of the euburbs of Oakland fs Berkely, where is located the California University. ¢ This institution is really a remurkable one, con- gidering the newness of the country and its remote position from the more celebrated institutions of learning. But it has, from its inciplency, been under the cspecial patronage of all the notable men who are both wealthy and cultured. 1t has received some of tne most manifcent gifts of many kinds which can oc of use in its varions branches of mathematics, physics. chemistry, mining and agriculture, histors and fiterature, M. 11, D. fiacon, 0 prominent citizen of Ouk- tand, und head of one of the Jargest and oldest printing houses in San Francisco, lias always taken e riveliest interest in the weifare of the Univer- 5, . mflc considers the basis of the institution to be broad enough to embrace instruction in the fine arts ts 5 "That tus interest js very gennine is evidenced by the fact that he desires to present to the University his own private collection of paintings and sculp- ture and a library of several thousand volumes of standard and tiscellaneous works. M. Bacon's oeantiful home bus long been one of the principal objects of interest in Uakland—there beantiful homes are not rure. . Althonzh they hiave made a cigy of the littie village, it is almost dese- crution 18 cali Itso, uotwithstanding its two or ¢ busincss strects. e P evantially raral in its featares. 1t has il the stilly pescefutuess of the countrs, and, a8 thete are no clubs, no theatres, no down- town dissipations of any sort, ity people, men and \women, have taken to the buflding up of beauty in a7 it has come to pass that some of the finest art-tréasures on the Pacific coast have fonnd their permancnt abiding place in Oakland. Sir. Dacon places the modest value of §50.000 apon his art collection. This is well known 1o be far beneath its real value. 1t has been a famons isitinis place for connoissenrs in the arts who look upon it as belnz greatly underestimated. "To tho art collection aud the Tiorary be also adds in cach, B o e only condition fs, that the Legisla- ture will appropriate $25,000 to oc used conjolntly in erectme the st subdivision of a building to be ted to art purposes. et it for mechanic arts is gofag up this e co faif a tart for the fine arts, we shall not be long in getting up some pride in our Unisersity. THE TWO ORPHANS. St o, Bt To-night we are to huve a resurrection of .+ The Two Orphana,” by the Tuion Square Theatre Company. “We have had a very largo dose of those two estimable younz fe- mates, bat their attractiveness seems perennlal. It Will draw this time. for Miss Maud Harrison, with her little plain, interesting face. her small, plaint- ive voice, with its Neiison intonaticns, lus become a very great Also the play w1 as Loniee, the blind girl. che was s familiar figure few years since as S Ere sl of her weird mother. W unhapy Distory was jdentified 5o strongly with this piuce. ‘They were very_poor, and the strons summer winds flauntiog their dcan: gowns seemed toem- f ¢ cadness of theil o A P kad @ heavincas of chin ‘and & ot soleimn cyes which gave her an unchald-like ao- pearance. In fact she can never nave been ! ild, D onght up 18 she was in the shados of an cxtrava- & Aot ike tne warm sunlight of an gant_ aflection unlike toe wats e ot 8 Everyday mother's love, nnie‘;u;:ntgx;lm:, tof o o '8 Qppressing 3 BB O o RAth her DIAC intcase cyes, and the gray hair tlying in_disarranzed profusion nxmx:u her facg, was o sinalar looking companion for the child, but they were always togetber, and as close Cozother 58 might be, hand in hand or arm in arm. ‘She was fizhting the law, DoOr woman. and came ont of the suit as might have been expected. & Cne gave'a farewell reading vefore uer departare in the San Franclsco be wentalong clinging for Xew York. The third act of **Camille ™ was the leading feature of the programme,—the scene In which she first brought California to' her feet in ber strong youns days, She w23 o older woman than time shonld have made her, bat she bad in ker audience a collection of eraybeards who had seen her In the prime of her balcyon days, when they themselves were yet untouched of time. It wzs not an interesting performance to the newer generation, and only “oppressed with deep melsncholy the adwmirers of twenty vears befores She wept unrestrainedly when attempting to ad- dress afew words to her andicnce, but then poor da Heron always wept copiously and contin- Iy Bijou sitting in front admired her mamma heart- ily aud vigorously. To-night vhe hersel! will face a California an- dience for the Grst time, dnd will have an oppor- tunity to create as strong au interest for herself as sne has already for her mother's sake, FOUR-IN-HAND. The four-in-hand mania has beset our leading Connolascurs in horsefieah 10,3 very conslderable Saturday afternoon s the gala day parexcellence, when every one turus out in the park, and ail sorty of vehicles may be seen, from the bix imported English drag ot the capicacious char-a-bang, to the hittle wilk wagon taking & ball day off. Four-1n-hand teams are becoming more plentiful every week. For alongtime Milton S. Latham was almost the only amateur. 8o to say, who stretched the rib- bons over four horses. His turn-ont wus an_ affair to be walted for, and a gencrons numberof spectators lined the way to the conlines of the park. James R. Keeno atanother time was wont to take a party of the ** boys ™ out to the Clif Lo on 8 Saturdsy afternoon behind a spanking team Mr. Robert Graves, whose atabl PRI leisa specialty, Gen. Colton_tried the experiment, bat in the carly morning rather than the festive afternoon. The latest temarkable turn-out _is a mininture English couch, tricked out inthe finest style. J. B. Magezur, whose housc is one of thc strongholds, sits on the box. A coaple of footmen accupy the back seat, and are made useful oy blowers. The old post-horn has been revived, much to the astonishment of the inbabitants in the outskirts of the towm, who thronged tothe doors and windows the first day, thioking a new fishwan had gone into businees. ‘The footmen hiave not got the hang of the Lorn, 80 that their blows are as yet spasmodic and unsat- isfactory. A stunding question see these turn-outs is, ***Was he a staze-drives Itscems to be & deeply-rooted fmpression with visitors thut every man who mukes a successful career in California must have started life usa stage-driver. Muny of them bave. n SYMPATHETIC REPORTER. Tow o Young Reporter Sympathized with an Unfortuuate Mother at the Recent Ex- position of Babies in New York City. Rocliester (. ¥.) Democrat. A young reporter of a New York paper at- tended the baby show ana inspected 2 pair of twi “Very preity, indeed,” be said, with sweet carnestness. * Which is the oldest “ Neither!” said the mother, looking: sur- JASSARTH. prised and somewhat anery. > * I observe,” he continoed, pointing at one of the cherubs with his pencil, * that this little one docs not look well. I trust he has enoug] to eat " " ‘ He s a girl, sir! ™ replied the mother[with intense dignity. ‘ ter dict is properly attended to, sir! ™ = “Yes, of course,” contipued the young re- porter, looking more critically at the child, %I was aware of that. I misspoke. Now don’t you think that the paleness of the little thing is un- natural! I would not insinuate that it has not enough to eat, but is the food of the right kind? Now [ know that nothing builds up tic system more r2pidly than roust beef. You have heard of the blood-cure, I suppose. f would not recommend that in this ease—as vet; but the* child ourht to havea liberal supply of reast beef at once.” *I do not understand you, sir,”’ remarked the mother in a frightened tone. but in such a low voice that the reporter did not hear her. *“Hab!" said the young man, looking more closely at the cherub. ** Why, see here! the Jittle one has no teeth. This is extraordinary. ‘Born 50, mudame?" whose unhappy | “Yes, sir,” was the renly of the unhappy ladv nsxshu searched with her slarmed eyes for the pol *No teeth,” pursued the reporter musingly. “That's very bad, indeed. I suppose the ui Dbavpy child has been brought here as a_curiosi- ty. Aund—by Jove! it bas no hair worth men- tioning. Poor thing!” He turned to the moth- er and remarked knowingly and patronizingly, “Tet us be thaukful, my poor woman, for the progress of science and the arts. This uptortu- nate cifld can be provided with tecth by the dentist, and there—there are hair restoratives. Should the fatier fail we still have switches,and puifs, and that sort of thine. - Indecd, my good woman, take courage! It takes a skillful man to discover what is fulse and what is genuine in the women of the pertod; and we may overlook the comparatively slizht misfortunes of your innocent and still beautiful child. All is well, madame; all is well, believe me.” IHe looked with serenc wisdom. at the wide- open eyes of the mother. * Why, bless my soul!” he added hastily, us he turned his atten- tion accidentally to "the sleeping blessing. “What's beeomne of the—the lower Iimbs of this unfortunate creature!”” He placed his hand softly upon the long white dress, as If it had been one of nis own boils. There was two yards I of dress below the waist. and, apparently, noth- ing inside of it. “Imnever saw the like!™ said the voung reporter. *Aud the little one—what there is of it—secms to be so bright, too. It's really marvelous. Boru_so, my poor woman{” “Ye- sir,” replied the “motber, nearly fainting with apprehension, “ Ab, well, never mind,” remarked the re- porter, dashing away 2 surreptifious tear and turnivg with philosophic tenderness to the agitated parent. ‘“Nature has so ordained things that what one never has one seldom misses. How much better it i3 that your be- loved ehild should be born without 1égs than that it should live to have its legs cut off in a— we will say in a raMlroad disaster. Thiok of that, 1y poor woman, think of that. Aud here comes in'the ameliorating iufluence of scienee ayrain. I dare_say you will live to sce this child walk yet. The time wilf come when you will remem- ber in every prayer the gentus of the inyventor. For there are cork legs, madame, there are cork legs.” : - Tue child thrust up an cxceedingly fat hand. » Dear me!” exclaimed the young reporter. 4 1s—is this natural! Excuse me. I sce how itis. This early rose, this embryo person, has been oblized to encounter a wasps' nest. The s of Providence are past compreliension. ow, why should this precious infant have been subjected o pains which would make 2 grown person howl? Blessmy heart! how that hand 15 swelled. Some carelessness here, [am atrafd. Tell me. iy good woman, do _you ever intrust this sweet child to the tender mercies of the hired girl] ; d “ No, sir,’” responded the mother, something akin to a smile curiously breaking the con- tinuity of her frightencd expression. *But never mind,” continued the young re- porter brightly. _* There are worse things than stings, I hope. Let usnot be discouraged by “such a slight trouble as this, madame. A sting hurts, but it's casily cured. For there is sweet- oil, madam,—there is sweet-oil.” ‘The babv awoke with astart and a cry. The Iatter made the younz reporter jump so violent 1y that he shook off liis eye-glasses. ** What's that " he said, hastily replacing the glasses and. turniug to the gentle phenomenon. ¢ Merciful heavens! what’s the matter with its face? Itis the countenance of an old man—of a tiend. Ob- serve those wrinkles, madam. Note the un- carthly look. lsitangry? Isitcrazy? Have offended it somehow? I mever saw such a look on an alleged human beind before. This is the most extraordinary misfortune of all.” “The baby opened its mouth for a yell. “There!" shricked the young reporter, his hair standing ou end and his tecth chattering, **its gone! "Thereis no face Ieft, madame. here 13 nothiug there but a horrible chasm, through which I think I can see the spotless pi2low be- low. It is a meaningless, shapeless inass of abominable pink, hedged around with a_faint suggestion of damnable blue and black. Itisa monstrosity, madame. Take it away " He turncd pale and acted like a sick person. but recovered himscifadirectly. “It’sa hand case, my poor woman,” e said, strugeling to be ‘alus and cheerful, **a very hard case, indeed. But take comfort. Do notbediscouraged. Have vou not read that nothing is created in vain? ‘Even this gembiance of humanity, awful as it is, ‘omes in that catezory, L am sure. We may at least assume that it has a soul; and we kuow that not a sparrow is permitted to- fall to the ground unnoticed. Even the nairs of our heads are numbered ; and you may rest assured that this miniature representative of our truly fallen humanity was sent hicher for some good pur- se. It is awful, my poor womnan,—1 admit it. Boiet us lnox igher,—let us cast our gaze into the blessed future. Think of Heaven, my poor woman! think of Teaven.” He smiled sweetly and brichtly; but he tarzed hastily and sought a retired cormer wherein to hide his tears. hanging on to the straps of the roof. I came to this city last spring with all the prejudices of an old-fashioned Eastern education, in whick politeness to the ladies wasa cardinal point My business called me frequently to Thirty- fifth street by the Wabash avenue line, and for along time I observed my old custom of giving up my scat to the ladies when necessary, but when 1 discovered, as I soon did. that upon the entrance of a woman all the other women in the car took particular pains to occupy a little more room than they had been doing, leaving it for the gentlemen to show all the courtesy, [ concluded that, as heaven helps them who' help themselves, 1 would keep my seat, and let the angels stand until their sis- ter angels felt some sympathy for them. Upon ont occugion I remember standing for half an hour cliuging to a strzp, while two well-dressed * females on 1wy lefs occupied as much room as was occupied by four gentlemen on.my right. They sat balf facing each other, and it sceumud tome as the aisle befame more crowded that each was drawing a knee upon the cushions to better maintain herrights (1). Theviooked like matrons. They bad not the good manners of respectable servants; but their conduct, with that of too many others of their sex, was just - what will disgust respectable men, and deter them from treating the female sex with greater courtesy than is due to men in like position. Can your fair correspondent takea **HINt.”? e ———— CHARLES G. DYER, THE ARTIST. To the Editor of The Tridune. CiricAGo, Dee. 22.—1 send you part of a letter never intended for publication, but I am sure it will interest all the friends of the writer,— Charles G. Dyer,—and particularly those who have scen bis picture sent here just before the close of the Expositlon, or who, notso fortu- nate, have read Col. Eastman’s description of it. No one can suspect Mr. Dyer of * conceit ™ in relating his success to one who has known him _from childhood, whose mother wus one ot my first friends in Chicaso. These two pictures of which he wriiles arc ot special Interest to me. I spent the month of - Juue with nim in Venice, and daily, in the mos fascinating church in the world, watehed his faithful work. and every time the sondola floated me vast the Riva Schiavoni, or down to the Lide, was on the look- out for quaint devices on the gay sails of the tishing-boats ‘1f perchence I tight find one ore beautiful | than those he had selected for the out-of-doors scene of which he speu This last is an order for a gentleman in Philadelphia, but before it crosses the ocean. Lhope it will appear at the Paris Exposition. “The Spamurd,” to whom Mr. Dyer refers, is a well-known artist of Paris. His lurze picte ure, nearing gompletion when I saw it, was wondrously beduBul, correct in drawiog, and a most truthiful rendering of the unrivaled color of San Marco. That an artist 50 young as Mr. Dyer still is should have executed a picture as food would have satistied me,—that competent. Jjudges say he has surpassed it in excellence will De u real joy to wuny besides his Iflel]léts.V 9 You will doubtless be surprised to find us still in Venice, The fact is, it is, as yon can well imaz- ine. the most difiicult place on éarth for a painter to quit, and you know now many things { had taia out in the Way of work. Ionly wisk you conldree my work now instead of but just begun, a3 it was when you left me. The **St. Mark's™ study fv finished. Since then I have nearly completed n very large, and I trust important, work which mensures five fect by four. I am sitting near the right pulpit and looking towards the lovely pulpit of the Evanzelists with 1ts golden dome. - 1 front of me is that superb moxalc door reaching far oif into the pictures, On_the right the wrand steps and the sereen of the Presbyicey, withils Apostics and immense cracifx. In the distance the domes of left nave with Mosaics and treo of Adam, and above and behind screen the rich Mosaics, columns, and organ. 1 ecratch down this (a pen-and-ink sketch of subject) that yon, who know the grand old Busilica inch by inch, may know eractly what color and richness of ornament and architecture I ohtain from my voint of view. This, thank eaven, after 140 days of most arduous bat most aelightfal toll, now approacaes completion. 1 have never, from the first stroke of the char- coal, lost that vivid interest and sincero pleasura without which it were almost impossible to com~ prehend and carry out the grand_sentiment with whicn the subject seems to me imbaed, and at the eame time pay that attention to detail in a broad way which oue is 80 apt to overdo, and thercby de- tract from the prand hymn, and fall into mechani- cal hand-oran airs. 1 have been much enconraged by the encominms of such men as Van Haanen, Ricco, Passini, who eeem exceedingly pleased, and _have gone 80 far ag to uay in public, at Florence, when I was not pres- ent, that it was the Dest study they had scen in the church, and that 1 bad whipt the Spaniard. Now, you do think 'm conceited, don’t you, to tell you all this? but please let me, for It does me good. and you know if you _had been bere I should bave run. o you ot once. When one has stragzled hard and racked his brains and talents upona thing, 1t is very pleasant to have those who know acknowledge it 13 zood. ? Iiesides this, I have nearly finished a large study” of **Morningon the Riva degli Schiavon," which promises well. It is rather un odd subject, and [ know would please you. THE TRIBUNE BRANCH OFFICES, N ORDERTO ACCOMMODATE OUI: NUMEEOTS patrons throughout the city we have established Iracch Orices in the different Divislons. a3 desiynated Below. where advercisements will be taken forthe sama price d eharged at the Mafa Office, and will be received ntll8 o'clock p. m. durlng tne week, and untll 9. m. on Saturdays: WILLIAM F. WINNING, Bookscller and Statfoner, 153 Twentv-secon: esr Wabash-av. S. M. WALDEN, Newsdealer, Statloner, etc., 1000 West Madison-at.Tiear Western-av. ROBERT THREDMSTON. West-Side News Depot, 1 Biue Isiand-av.. corner of Halsted-st. GEORGE HENRY. Books, Statlonery. etc., 330 Di- sfon-st. C. HERRICK, Jewsler, News-Dealer, and Fancy corner Lincolz. PERSONAL, I)EBSOSAL—.\ TOUNG GENTLEMAYN, STRANG- \ er o thiseity, would like to form the acquaintance ot a respectable lady: object, sociablilty. Z2, Tribune. PETSOSNL-A TOUNG LADT WISHES 355 nuce from .aa elderly gentleman; good security Eiven. _AddressZ 1, Tribune office. 47 PEOSAL-X YOUXC GEVILENAY OF GOOD character would like to form the scqunintance of youni lady, blonde preferred. who fs fond of danctni, 2ild would attend 3 dancini clab one or more eveniugs we ek, Address W 22, Tribune avIflCc. ERSONAL— A DREFINED GENTLEMAN DE- sires the acqualntance of a young lady Uslng “Address ¥ 08, Tribune office. PEBSONAL—THE GENTLEMAN WHO WAS IN- quiring for a printing press for bis boy can fiad a king press for 34, cowmplete outit, $12, at C. M. 185 Monroe-st. 7y - L—FROM C. TOL.: CALL WEDNESDY u1f convenlent. iisr.sbxlu,—n._:s: CALL, T WANT T0 SEE YOU- 20 Lake-31 T- JPERSONALC. L.; WILL RETORN WEDNESDAT worning, old pard. ‘L STH. SERSONAL—A WIDOW LADY WISHES TO MEET with 8 middle-aged gentleman of means willing to agstst her In business. _ Address W 25, Tribune office. _ ERSONAL—TIOOLEY'S, FRIDAY NIGHT. RIGHT hand. dress circle, second row; wiil lady picase send Ter addrésa to the gentieman whom she recognized (n parquetie near by?_Address% 50, Trivune ofice. LRSONAL — HOOLEY'S THEATRE. FRIDAY ‘evealng, front row, right hana. blonde; please ad- ress thie geatieman whom stic recognized {a parquetic. Address Z 41, Tribune office. Pi:ssm—s ET ME AT 0 SHARP TUESDAY ‘morniag at the Pazls Glove Sore to aporove my selection. TOM. * LOST AND EOUNDs OUND—A FANCY SLUT, WITH COLLAR AND blanket; the owner can have 15 by giviog fuil de- scription and paying exp Apply 123 Ontarlo-at “OST—-DEC. 19, TEOOK ON CLARK-ST. between Madison and Adams. contalning small sum of money and a few valuable_relfes: finder will ba Well rewarded by returnlog touz Weat Madison-at. __ N AGENTS, I LEFT ADBSTRACT OF LOT 1. Ofi};‘ck‘l?&lma & High's Addition to Chicage. Pay 1iberal for return to 40 Major Bloc) o i NDAT, WH! ENGLISH BULL-DOG, Lulxnw collar on: aliberal reward will be pald for his return 1o 49 Thirty-sixth-st., between Michizan aad ‘Wabash-av: P 0! 7T OF LARE AND HOTNE- il e fufe whits 13 forehead. Ite- ward pald at ELL W Lo§1 NTARIO-STS.. on or near Cl: cuff with oblonz ate o_de; 3 fiRder can address ¥ 69, Tribune office, aad be suitably rewarded. OST—A.SMALL-SIZED SCOTCH-TEREIEE DOG, LO%’:";\.‘I{E ln’}l clipped: had on & fancy leather coliar. faxtened with nickel-plated padiock. A liberal reward for bis return o 237 Erfe-st., comet of State. TOST—A BED COW WITH LARGE LUMP IINDEL Telly; $5 rewssd to those returninz her to T. Monldinz, corner of Southport- and Dunniog-st Lake Vicw. 3T—WIlITE LACE SHAWL, DONE UP IN TI5- LTS NIRE 3 Cath Siac: Cither on Monron Licarborn. or 'Madison-sia.. Tuesday alternoon abont 5 o'clock. Pleass leave the same at 904 Indlana-av., und recelve a suftable reward. . OST—ON 5. TDAY NIGHT, DEC. 1. ON WEST Lo A E o or st Madisaniin o prart en & enzraved Insiile. Suftabld resard id fnder. A, AGNENW, 157 Lasalle-at. ST—ON T SECOND-ST-. LOVirush sod Calimes-ave.. o old breastyin, finder will be iberally rewarded by returaing the 10105 Calumet-av. - . [ OST—ON FRIDAY EVE., SCARF-PIN, MOSAT Covriomn: Drasiian i, The dader will please leave iame at 267 North Clark-st.. Flat6, andrecelverewanl. %0) BEWARD—LOST_ON STATE.ST., BETWEEN $2 FERISIR and Wwahinmon, black' dok, named Fizey, licturn to 49 Randolph-st. ement o STREET-CAR COURTESY, To the Editor of The Tribune. CricaGo, Dec. 22.—Ia your Snoday issue a hapless female patronof the Cottage Grove street-car line, complains of the want of cour- tesy manifested by the sterner sex in occupying the seats, while the afsle is filled with ladizs ] () BEWARD-FOR RETURN OF COAT Ci 10 55 Shysiciaas pocket-case.to 50 East Wasti- 13R100-4t., Koom 8. No questlons asked. TO_LEASE. E—OR FOR SALE-TWOQ PLANTATIONS T %58 Missiasiont Kiver. telow New Otieant, very ut i W, NoRei, ‘5 reasonsbie: OraggRe gIove, ! Tiaces.. Addrcas or Call ga JOHN Bt i {