Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, January 20, 1878, Page 3

W -Darstede: Iny hands on the e | hydraulic’works there, iix the sluices, and pass s0 lfm \y other. cases, a'taste:bad. to be arquired, . and that the first-trial was ot conclusiye. . The, T, howdver, was' really palatable. White: shipbuildfig trade. .We rel If it were not for this, th trust that a- better fortune is in stare for:tl ra Tecords of crimé would be almost a blank. 1t is PUROER * GOSSIP FOR LADIES: | @pihorto the conpirotors o vy s, bivot Blaecu [ wal LT PR L3 BT RS Yeer 1877 in Ireland, and How T |t Has Left the Country. Beview of Political, Agricultural, . ind Commercial Matters in : the Green Isle. Times in Eugland---Misery in the Wales and Birmingham Iron Districts. n Hflim i y and Holland—How Long Wonld mgma the Former to Gobble Up the Latter ? sin Cermany--4 Dolefal Christiastide ~Hippophagy in Paris. i Tise IRELAND. a6 FEATURES OF 1T IN TITE GREEN 15LE. Cor rrespondence London Times. Dec. 3L~As we are now at the DoBLE 3 k of snother year, it may be of som inter- T look back upon the most triking features }ine oné which has just run its course and sce : ‘;m condition is has Teft this country. B ancing first at political and cocial affairs, it ytifactory to find that Treland was SEVER ORE PEACEFUL AND LOTAL st present. Tts tranquillty is absolute and iversal, and sigulficant proofs of its loyalty Febeengiven in the cordislity, and even enthu- fam, with which the people of al classes have qeywnese received the popular Viceroy ,;:1 tbe equally vopular Prince who so vty represeat, the former in his official o e latter in his personal character, ber poct gracious Majesty the Queen. -Althoush ge Dake snd Duchess of Marlborough were saparative stranzers when they first took up peirresidence at Dublin Castle i the begin- sz of the year, they are mow firmly estab- Jibed fn publie favor. They have won the con- giemee and esteem of all parties by their {opurtislty, consideration, and kindness in the \ininisiration of the Viceregal office, jn the onotion of useful works. and in acts of gen- tms benevolence when desersing objects dsimed their sympatby. The hosvitalitics of ‘Dablic Castle bave been dispensed with a liber- girand splendor which reealled the memory o fis best days, and 2 new clement of sub- suntisl Intercét bas been imparted to them by the thouzhtful efforts of the Duchess of Jisfiorongh to make them contribute to the reiral and development of focal industries. A request on the part of her Grace that the ladics yending the Court shomld wear Irish manu- fitires has been responded to with advantage totheworkers in cambrics, lace, and poplins. Brd new regulation which fixes the opening of the season a fortnight earlier than hitherto, i I hoped that more of the nobility and gentry of the country WILL BE ATTRACTED TO THE COURT. Shey are only birds of passage on the wing to the prest metropolis, and the new arranaement yillenable them to sip the cream of the Dub- Insesson before they plunge into the mayeties of London society. -They will probably apre- dte the motives of the Viceroy in making this which will be inausurated by the hald- bxof the first levee on the Sth of Ju.uary, and il be glad of the opportunity to pay their re- écts 10 the Queen’s representative. It has been said that the Duke of Connaught shared the popularity of the Viceroy. A re- markable instance of this aud of the loyal 1ecl- e awakened by the vresence of is Roval Eighness in the country was afforded by the tanquet given by the Mayor of Cork in honor o ‘éne ince. The eloquent .epcech of the ‘Raman Catholic Bishoo on that gceasion, abound- g in_seutiments of loyal attachment to the Eovereigm and Copstitution of England,—senti- ments which called forth an enthusiustic re- sonze from the company,—sill not be soon for- Toiten. While such omens of good are reflected from {be past, there have been few circumstances to cuce any seitled fecling of disquictude. The political horizon has beeri sometimes overcast, i the storm of Obstruction burst, with what wasmeant to be fary; but thougivthe clouds seem to be gatheriug again, and to be charged with the elements. of mischicf, ample tune has been afforded to guard against them. There is ABSOLUTELY NO AGITATION wirth speaking of in the country. A few fitful sttempts have been made to excite the people wponthe Land question, but, except in con- zection with the Mitchelstown ease, which sup- ‘plied some materials for the manufacture of fricvances; of which the most has been made, ite sttempts have proved total failures, and evon in that case the suceess has been very par- tial, The whole extent of popular symvathy may be méasured by the few hundred’ pounds which'were collected for the defense of *‘tbe Galtee Bog™ in the Queen’s Bench: and the eridence given upon the trial showed that the siatements which had becn made asto the Iréatment of the tenantry were exagtrerated. The Farmers' Clubs and Tenants-Defeuse fons meet ds usual in their little Tooms, wrangle. among themselves. - complain tht fands are not fortheoming, wake the same sound of speeches, and pass sweeping resolu- tions agaiust the Land laws; but their pro- ceedings attract little notice, and their move- mént, it can be called a movement at all, av- Pewrs 1o lave declined rather than increased in otgunized encrey and etrength. There is no otter question which has any chance of stirring the masses of the-people. Asto Home Rule, it scems_destined to be de- Youed by its own children. 1Its failure in Par- Yiament last session is admitted, and has exas: Pperated some of the more advanced'snd busy Dembers of the party. The country. bowever, manifested but littic sustained intercst in. its fortunes, though the single combats Oftheleaders on the floor of the House of Commons and on public platforms Liave been Wewed with cager curlosity. ‘There has been a growing beliel, which circumstances have strenzthened, that their antipathics, or differ- cuces, as they are calied by a mild euphemisa, e ireconcilable; and this has tended (o pro- duce 2 Lelpless, hopeless apathy on the subject. Xothin can shiow wore clearly the DISORGANIZATION OF THE ‘‘NATIONAL" RANKS dben the confusion which has bsen_caused by be potice of an early meeting of Parlinment. y 4 ouzh the resolution to- hold a National ference, which should settle the disputes Detwecn the chiefs and lay down a fied line of policy for the future, was passed_carly in Octo- . the preparations for holding it are odly mow, it may be said, begun; a1 the ' committce to whom they e intrust ed, having first thomebt 1 Decessary 1o obrain an extension of time for a ek beyond the day originally appointed, were lsposed to abandon the Jutention of holding: omeatall when they found that Parhament Fould meet nearly 4 fortnight before the ex- S’ndad date of the conference, abd only resum- theirtask under the pressure of an admoni- Loty resolution passed by o majority of the Couneit of the Leagne,—for the members of the omell were themselves divided in_opinion on ¢ €ubject. Meanwhile, some of the most able mmnmm supporters of - the cause keep b faltosether from the procecdings of the mnittee and tne Council, or cepse to be Danbers, It is likely that the Hon. Secretaries foiy be induced fo withdraw their resizuation, hl‘flmumnm with a resolution of the Council, Fho declined to aceept it, thongh- a member &'}D\!sednn_nmcndmenn (which' was not sec- ;fl) that it * be instantly accepted.” Part from Towme Rule, there is no political by 100 10 create the shelitest agitation, There fopowerer, a social question upon which public tisug hag boen decply moved—it is the ques- "il SUNDAY-CLOSING. st an be no doubt of the carnestness and me’smmh of the movement in its favor, and, on ShiSher band, of tne formidable opposition mchhn been ormanized against it. This is wlly assuming somewhat of a political e, in consequence of the attitude of the 'G“M!‘fflmem, who, with a dogred determination ol force of public opinion, bowerer b erful, has been able to shake, have success- b ‘i Pursued s policy of passive resistance lé € Sunday-Closing bill, though its princi- o bas becn repeatedly affirmed by the mbseol Commons. The sagitation on this {m Wil be carrfed on with redoubled vizor mhe Approaching session. Some: close ob~ 0rs think they see signs of reaction in the ™ mind with respect to it, and that many. o pupore ardent advocates of the total closing o lichouses on- Sundays_are_beginning 16 X !;xorcngodunte views. It will be the ob- by r:> Mr. Smyth’s supporters to show thav ;ht“nzln favor of the bill is unchaneed, Touphitoue which bas peen raised will be Terpe OBt With obstinacy and bitterness, ‘for ¢ eide seems willing to accept-any com- The vice of fntem, perance, which appears to 800 the Increase, 15 the onis Blot oh the na- only in offenses which spring from it that the, criminal statistics show an: . Crime fiah by 'y increase. Serlous STEADILY DECLINING FOR MANT TEATS, . and the winter assizes which bave lately been held carroborate the evidence supplied by il the superior tribunals as to the great decrease in agrarian and other crimes of a grave character which some years nzo were a subject of deep anxlety to the Government, aud alarm to the ‘peacesble inhabitants of the country. With some marked ~cxceptions in the southern counties, the calendars with which the Judges had todeal, though they made a clean sweep of the criminal records of several countles mto one heap in each assize-town, contained only very small lists of comparatively trivial offcuses. While the moral asoect of the country shows 50 gratifying an improvement, except for the staiu_of intemperance, it must be frankly ad- mitted that its material prospects are not €0 en- couraging. The country has suffered not mere- Ly from external causes,—chicflv the depression of trade in England,—but also from the effects of a deficient harvest. ‘There is reason to ex~ ectthat the returns made up for the Local Government Board will show a general inercase of pauperism, though, strange fo say, in the cost of relieving it there is no appreciable in- crease. the - winter advances the signs of distress are likely to be more evident, and a strain upon the resources of the Poor-law system may be looked for: but there is ample provision to meet it. There is other evidence that the farming classes feel a press- ure upon -them, The number who havo juda- ments out against them for devts to country shopkeepers is larzer than usual, and those who have sinall holdings will 'have a hard struggle for some time. The Tenunt-Defense tious mag find, perhaps. some grim sati:faction in toe effectual stop whith this state of thines will put to the raising of reuts which had begun in a season of prosperity. in cases wherea higher scale has been laid down, it will be diffi- cuit to enforce it. The wheat, oats, potato, and turnip crops TIAVE ALL BEEN SUORT AND LAD. The chief drawback is with respect to the potatoes, in which there hus been a ecrious falling-off, Lot in quality and quantity. Even those which seemed to be tolerably good will not keep, and the farmers are getting rid of them. 7The failure of this harvest will entail a double loss, first in the value of the crop, and next in the means of snbsistence for their families, and that jmportant member of the household, the pig. Prices of live stock and of wool have been lo than in 187, while potatoes have been 30 to 40 per cent dearer than they were last year. To anticipation of a period of severe depression, banks and com- mercial establishments are exercising caution, and restricting their credits aod their specula- tions within limits which appear to besafe. The weather, which at the critical period was injuri- ous to the cereal crops, was favorable to grasses, aud there is an abundance of bay and stras This is of ereat advantazein the butter di tricts, and accordingly there has Leen an i crease in the year of 55,000 casks i butter market, Tepresenting 3 mon at the ordinary rat it will be seen, is an important elen trade of the country. Great attention is be- stowed upon it, so that the quality of thebutter is daily improving. ANOTHER CHEERING FACT is the success of the fisheries during the past vear, especially of the herring-fisheries at Yowth, Arslow, and Kinsale. At the latter place it has been so prosperous that the fisher- men are in good jicart, and are increasing the number of boats and making them of a better class. The want OKKE r-accommodation for boats at Arklow and Kinsale, however, 1s bit- terly felt. The linen trade of Clster is still depressed, and mills are working ouly half and three-quar- ter time; but, notwithstanding this discourag- iz dreumsiance, business generally in the North scems to be in a very sound Ftate, as appears from the traflic on the princi- pal Tines of railway. ‘The aggregate receipts on Irish lines gener- ally show some increase, and it would have been greater_but for tbe unfortunate strike on the Great_Southiern & Western Railway. which caused a loss to the Company of £10, The receipts on the Midland and the Wickiow lines are less by sbout £1,000 each, put on the Great Northern'of Ireland there has been an increase of £5,000, and on the Belfast & Northern Coun- ties Railway there has also been a substantial increase. The Grand Capal Company, which connects Dublin with the midiand and southern counties, also shos's an increase of traflie. This indicates e MORE: COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY. than might have been expected. It i3 also worth mentioning that, although paaperism has increased, skilled Jabor is in demand at good prices, and hard tobe obtained in the country towns. The exports and imports at Belfast and ‘Waterford have. been larrer than in the last year. lnthe port of Dublin the improvements of the docks aud quays are still continued, but though they are extensive. they fall far short of the requirements of, commerce, which have become so great thaf sullicient berths are not obtainable for the cross-Channel steam traffic. Since last year the leading trunk lines of rail- way have ‘been connected st the North Wall, where a fine terminus has been erected by the London & Northwestern Railway Company, ana passengers can now proceed from Cork, Limerick, Derry, and othier cities and towns in the remotest north and west throush to the HHolyhead steamer and thence to London, with- out having to make any delay in Dublin, Tais will diminish the trafiic in the streets of the Trish Capital, but they can afford to part with a ood deal, as at soms points and periods of the day it is scarcely manageable. Business in the clty shows LITTLE SIGN OF DEPRESSION, and shops are still extending, house rents Hsing, and new dwellinzs springing up in_ evers dirt tion. For ihe first time for many years the ex- ports of porter show a falline off of sbout 3 per cent. The towal shipments this year were about 86.000 hogsheads. Those of the Messrs. Guinness were about the same. as in the year 1876, and tney are erecting another larire brewery to meet the in- creasing demands of their tra The shipments of whisky tave steadily inereased for the lass thirteen vears, and are now abous twelve as greatas they were in 1564, stated this year in ronud nuwn and puncheons. 11,000 bogsheads, 1,500 easks, and 6,700 quarter<asks, In the shipments of horned cattle and sheep there has been a fall- ing-off, the number of eattle being 188,000, against 225,000 in 187G, and of sheep and lambs 213,000, oeainst 243,000 last year. The exports of pigs, on _the otier_ hand, lave increased from 145,000 to 174000, and of hotses from 6,600 to 6,700. There has been a remarkable decrease in the shipments of wool. The imports of Ameri~ can bacou have stightiy fallen off. The compe- tition of Amierican dead meat, which at. first, ex- cited some uneasiness, now causes no apprehen- sion. Irish stockmasters and: dealers believe that it'can do no harm as regards prine quali- ties, and it has been little, if at all, felt by the trade. The imvorts into this port have alto- gether ceased, and those who speculated have S purnt their fingers.” The imports of foreizn grain into Dublin have increased from 76,000 quariers in 170 to 830,000 quarters in 18773 tuose of barley, from 50,000 to 105,000; and of flour, from 105,000 ard barrels to 140,000, AMONG THE LEGISLATIVE MEASURES of the bast tession are some which will effect great ehanges, and, it is hoped, prove beneficial to the country. The Judicature act, the County Courts and Officers act, and the new Prisons ac will come into force to-morrow. All the rv arrancements have been made for {fect to them. A areat desl is being done, even fn_the poor- est, partsiof Ireland, to provide residences for the ¢l nder the Glebes Loans act; several bave been built, beautified, and re- modeled; while, as a rule, the parishes are sufliciently, though not_liberally, provided for. The number of sungitants has been re- duced to about. I’MTOJmm ’_',05'11, \!\'_hich \\;:\sl }hc orizinal numper. The commutation eapital bas Deen reduced from £7,500,000 1o £3,300,000, and the anpuities chargeable upon it from '£569, 10 4240,000. The receiprs and contributions continue to average £220,000 per annum. This isa tittle less than the amount which 1t was cal- 871 would be necessary to_maintain gl‘l‘c‘:“é?n’:‘x‘-ct}? The Bishoprics of Meath aund Derry have been provided for, 3 satistactory disposition of the present Bishop’s commutation money. HARD TIMES IN ENGLAND. DEPLORABLE CONDITION OF THINGS IN THE WELSH IRON AND COAL DISTRICTS. Londen Times, J an. 3. There is hardly any aspect of national suffer- ing more painful than the fall of a great indus- try into melancloly and forlorn stagnation. Such a ealamity s usually to be traced directly to some palpable mistakes in policy on the part of either capital or labor, or both; and it lacks that tragic dignity which clothes the visitations . of plague, pestilence, and famine. In the Iat- fer, 100, thore Is always a gleam of Lope behind the darkest cloud; the most merciless epi- demic, the most cruel scarcity, must, we know, come day slacken: and soften, and finally pass away. But when a great industry fa smit- ten, theré Is no guarantee that it will be\;ca e Vi ind_where it once had flour- yive on/ the grou Y doubti surh;,v'e ime new sources of suppls U, bt e e to these by prelercace Thusit banpened with ished: A mew demand will; may_be opcned, comifiefce M0a¥ resort. lished the other day some year only “that the 3 he latter by a iron trade, which is now passing thougli o ‘period ot dcpression that insome parts of the country involves extreme misery amous workingpeople: the ‘The _mislortunes of this in- dustry have contributed to producc similar and RVEN MORE GRIEVOUS DISTRESS. fo the coal districts of South Wales. . We pub- articulars of the statc of the South Wales collferies, where the price of coal has fallen far below a remuner- ative standard, and the_production is, notwith- standing, vastly in_excéss of the demand. At Curdiff Docks, it fs stated; there are miles of laden coal-wagons waiting: for shipment, aud the exportation has fallen off within half a year froni 303,000 toms » month to 215,000.° At Newport the falling off is computed to 2 tons . month. snd at Swan- sca 10,000 . tons. . All _along the Rbondda Vatley, where the output of coal i the greatest jn thewhole of South Wales, the collferics barely Iieep at work, for the mas-, ters alloae, probably with trath, that they lose’ upon the’ sale of every tou of coal, and that they continue production simply for the sake of findinz some cuployment for the laboring vopulatiou. b This pavalysis of the chicf industry of South Wales has produced already widespread dis- tress, exceeding in intensity and rivaling in_ex- teat the misery among the_colliers and_iron- workers after ‘the strike of 1875, Of the 500 collieries fn Glamorguushire and Monmouth- working _fuli shir, omly tweaty are time. At Cardifi the workhouse is thronged, the board-room -and ofliccs ‘have been converted into dormitories, a supple- meutary. stoncyard has been opened for the employment of married men, and the applica- cations for admission are increasing at the rate of about fifty a week. The cost of out-door re- lief, which last month amounted to £200 a week, has risen to £202. POVERTY IN ITS MOST DEGRADING FORM prevails among a population which not Jong ago was well paid and comfortable. The otner day a family of seven persons were found to have subsisted for days on a pailful of brewers’ *graing,” intended for feeding pigs. Others have fed on potato peelings. Men have gone to work day after dav ona dict of raw cabbage leaves. At Merthyr, where the pressure of the strike and lock-out in 1875 was felt most_severely, the Vicar proposes to re-open a charitable kitchen in the drill-hall, at which two yeurs ago he was able to give 5,000 children one ncaladay. *There are many hundreds uow,’ it is added, “in a state of semi-starvation who crowd along the streets every morning, turhing over dust-boxes and refuse,{to picksup anything in the pature of food.” Out of the three ironworks in the Merthyr district onlyone is at work, and_of the twenty collieries none work more than three daysa week. An emi- gration movement on a considerable scale has bezun at Newport. Oue of the Inspectors of the Local Government Board is_at present ad- vising' the Guardians of the Poor in thedis- tressed districts as to the best mode of meeting the demand for workbouse accommodation and out-door relief. In some places, where the workhouses are filled, he has advised the imme- aiate erectiou_of temporary iron sheds, which will av feast afford shelter. ‘But the efforts of tue Poor Law to cope with a catastrophe o far beyond the ordivary measure of its powers, though seemingly incffectual enough, bave not failed to lay a heavy burden upon the ratepay- crs, who, at the same time, are themselves suf- fering by the STAGNATION OF BUSINESS. The tradesmen have lost the majority of their customers; the mechanies have to put up with reduced wages; and it is not surprising to learn that the Guardians of a Poor Law Union the other day reluctantly determined to withhold the Christmas dinner usually given to the in- mates of the workhouse onthe ground that thousands of the people ‘who paid the to provide a ¢ actualiy unable tmas dinner for themselyes. s yet nothing guite so bad as the pauperism sting in the South Wales colliery aistricts has been reported from any of the chief centres of “the iron trade, but it is certain’ that the distress in this industry also must become very severe, unless an improvement, quickly shows itself, of which at present there are 1o signs, We pub- lisied yesterday a report from cur Birmingham Correspondent, in which it was stated that several of the works closed ou Saturday would remain closed” for an indefinite period.” The cconomical hister of 1Si7 in this branch of trade is most discouragiae. At the inniug o the vear there were very sunguine lopés, which might nave opened into reality if the compiications in the East had not produced o palsying eense of uncertainty aud alarm. ~ Yet the foreign de- mand for some kinds of iron was diminish- ing; American competition was threatening; excessive production and accumulation of stocks stimulated a rivalry that caused a general fall iu prices. In some districts an at- tempr: had been resolved upon to make a stand against the elutted markets and shrinking val- ties by a systematie’ limitation of the output. But only partinl success has réwarded the ef- fort. The fali in prices TUS BEEN GRADUAL AND GENERAL and i too considerable to be accounted for by certain reductions in the cost of production as in the price of coal and_jronstone, and in the wages of furnace-men. This fall, morcover, has zone on in spite of the reduction in the producing facilitics of the country. ,Out;of 927 furnaces erected at the beginning of the 5 were in blast, and it is probable, e are told, that no more than 500 arc now at work. Yet those which continue in blast_show an increasing average output, and it is_beliéved ndency'is towards 2 smaller num- Der of producing establishments with a larger production from each. The general result, hoy- cver, is that there s at the same time a reduc- tionin price, n_diminntion in the producing powers of the British iron industries, and a con- sequent bat not corresponding restriction of the output. ugh the war has to some extent interfered with the foreiem demand, it is in the Tiome consumption that the depression of which complaint is made is chiefly visible. Stocks have accumulated in nearly every one of the iron districts, even where the new demand for steel rails has attracted business to the detri- ment of the old iror rail-makinz mills. The consequence is thab the producers of crude iron must in seli-defense limit the output, and this cannot be accomplished without inflicting ;mnv hardships upon a large industrial popu- ation. GERMANY - AND HOLLAND. HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE FOR BIG GERMANY TO GOBBLE UP LITTLE HOLLAND? Puli-Mall (London) Guzelte, Jan, 4. The feasibility of an fnvasion of Ifolland by Germany was, it will be remembered, scriously discussed in France {o 1875 At that perfod the Berlin papers accused the Dutch of having them- selves planned an invasion of Prussia fn 1570, in the event of France being victorious. Capt. Van Tucerenhout tried to clear his countrymen of this charee, but in vain. The MUitarische Blat- ter of Berlin took the question up in a practical manner, and published a serfes of articles headed, “The Low Countiies; Can They Be Defended?” The line of the Yssel was first examined,—alinc the defense of which had been strongly advocated by Licut.-Col. Zecgers Veeckens. The German eritics showed that a very small amount of reaistance could be offered on this line, which is neither naturally orartificially strong; and yet they pointed out that its defense would be necessary ia the event of an invasion, so as to render the defense of the Utrecht fine practicable. The second line can only be rendered formidable by inundation, and to flood the country properly by means of the Leck three weeks or a month would be re- uired. Admitting that this inundation is in- ispensable for the defense of the Utreeht line, it would also be indispensable for the Duteh to Told the line of the Yssel until that operation had becn completed. The Militarische Blatter observed - that the Yssel offers no scrious obstacle to an invading force; it can be forded at several points. and in the winter it is quickly frozen over. Then from the neighborhood of Arnhent to Zuyder Zee - THERE ARE ONLY FIVE FORTRESSES, of mno great fmportance,—fortresses with high brick walls, and not_provided _with bomb- Droofs,—\Westerwort, Docsburg, Zutphen, De- venter, and Zwolle. These works mmighs pro- fect the movement of troops; but they would neither be capable of resisting an attack nor of smylng the march of an army. Zutphen has often been spoken of as an important place; but to the German military mind it has no real value, owing to its pusition. The whole Iine of tlic Yssel being equally wmenaced should be cqually defended; and there is little use in de- fending one or two pofuts more strongly than others. It is to be obseryed, too, that from a ‘military point of view_the Dutch bave commite ted a serious blunder in constructine the rail- road connecting Deventer and- Zwolle on the right bank of the Yssel. . “According to_the _Ufilitarische Biatter, Ger- many, wno could at once bring into the field a force ten times as reat as that of the Dutch army, woutd effect the passaze of the Yssel without any difiicalty, would morch first on Utrecht, then ou Amsterdam, and would oecupy the whole of Holland in five or 6ix days. As regards Utreent. the Germans admit that the pirdie of forts around thatplace has‘been con: siderably improved: bot it sould be possible to prevent ipundstion, which completes the means of defense. Apart from gettin) the Teck. the' Germen army mizht-by & raoid poseession of dry{ooted into the centreof the” Utreeht: line. This wonld only be an affair of forced marches. It is true that the Dutch might in the last TRE DYKE OF THE LECK, 1d onl mark, too, that this svstem of flooding the country sometimes turns to the advantage of the invader, by. constracting for him solid bridees for the passage of his troops. ~This was certafoly the case in 1794, when Plchegru not ouniy mvaded the country, but captured the Dutch flect with his cavalry. According to the Germans, the Dutch secn to leave jce alto- gethier out of their account, When a frost of two or three days may become a fatal enemy to them. Being unable to inuudate, Utrecht, says the Afilitarische Blatler, would uot be able to defend itself, and with the aid of jee it would e the same with Amsterdam, *'lhe Dutch flatter themselves that they possesstothe worth of the line of Utrecht,” at Naarden, an openive, thanks to which they will be able by offensive operations to intercept the sicze works of the enemy. Bup Naarden and Minden are by themselves insufficient to protect Amsterdam. . . _Tha march from Minden to Amsterdam could be accomplished in three hours, and it would require the presence of the whole army to repelan attack of this nature executed in cold weather.” Examining the condition of Holland, after proving the want. of solidity of its lines of defense; the German paver arived at the conclusion that the Dutch, who are always overburdened with taxes, ete., would be UNWILLING TO SUPPORT TUE ENORMOUS EX- ¢ PENSES ‘which would be necessary in order to place the country on a secure military footing. It would therefore be much better for the Dutch to settle watters fn an amicable manner. Capt. Roseboom, of the Dutch Engincers, re- plied to this article, which he translated, ana thanked * the Afilitarische Blatter for having vointed out the weak points in the Dutch lines of defense. Capt. Roseboom admitted that the Dauteh urmy is not what it shonld be, and that it would be impossible to hotd the line of the Yssel. Other points, however, he thinks might be defended, with or without the aiu of jnunda- tion, and the Utrecht-Amsterdam position held loug enough to allow of an_ally coming to the oid of the Low Countrics. With ivhat has been done since the date of this discussion, it is thonght that Holiand, {f attacked, will be able to restst for six months 7], instead of for six days as anticipated by the Gérman steff. ITARD TIMES IN GERMAXNY. A’ PICTURE OF THE GLOOM OVERCASTING THE LAND. Correspondence London Times, Brnwry, Det. 26—According to German cns- tows this is the sccond Christmas holiday, the day of feasting and merrymaking for trides: men and artisans. But the good things of this world are not so plentiful in Germany now as they used to be. The prolonged commercial crisis has come home to every ong in the land, and, what is worse, the symptoms of coming im- provement are few and far between. Read the following from the Neuc. Stettiner Zettung, and you have a faithful picture of the gloowm that overeasts the Jand: To all abpearance everything s exactly as it was years ago: the principnl thoronghfares of onr good old town crowded with people, the sho windows brillisntly livhted up, and wares tast fully and ertistically displayed, fempting purchu To all appearance, I eny, #s in days gone by but on closer inspeetfon there i A MATERIAL DIFFERENCE, a8 for the poor shopieepers the number of bupa Gde buyers and mere gazers contrast lamentably. How many are the shops where the young ‘men have 10 stamd idly bebingd the comiter; “how numerous the houses of busi- ness, the splendid illuminations of which only serve ta enlighten the dearth of customers, and in- voluntarily suzzest the guery, how is it possible, with bugitess at such a 1ow ebt, 10 pay even rent and gas? A bittcr dlsappointment truly that jost those days of the sear wuen religion and long-established cnstom indicate that fora fow hours, at least, we should rise above the petty cares and tronbles of everyday life, should be the days of all others, whed we ar¢ made to feel the most sensubly the pressurc of the times. Five long vears of unczampled depression are’ the bitter penalty we bave bad to pay ‘for ome in- toxicating vear of for. "Last vear the. ledcers of our merchants plainly told iheirtale of hard times, but still the littc ones of tne family knew nothing about it for the good paterfamilias did all he coufd that Christmas ehould be keot in the wonted manner. But this year, alas! isolvency does not merely stand withont,and kmock, but in- trades within” the very eanctuary of the home. dimmirz the eyes of the children with the tears of bitter mortification. in place of the usual bright sparkling of joyous anticipation. Smarting tears sucl'as thesedo not flow from children’s eyes alone; the cmpty till of the nsually busy trrded- man cau MANY A SIGH AND UNBIDDEN TEAR. Should he deal in articles of luxary only, fe will be m atill worse case, forrich gifts, the so- cadenux, will have this year to vield to the neeful, though this is not by any means to afirm that use- ful Chirfstmas presents will find purchasers plenti- ful 08 blackberries. No. those old customiers who werc wont to purchase ortiy useful presents will now bay nothing at all. Any one aware of the importance of his Christmay trade to the middle-clasy shopieeper will compre- hend how grim the fuwure appears -when this ecason docs mot fulfll bis_cxpectations. A his tade ot sach s time iy nee- eskarily A rendy-money trade, &0 that he lias been acoustomed to depend upon s procecds to aiscuarze bis own busimess obligutions. . Thus it comes to pass that Christmas, of all'other periods of the year, gives the truest critenion whereby to judge of thio Luying. eupcity of the wreat palic. 'here i not a doubt that every zaod murw of busi- ness iad foreseen: ful] six months beforehand how trade would be this Christmas, and has not bren taken unawares. Nordo 1 suppose that this town hus been_ a greater sufferer by the general panic than othér German towns, nor that ‘we have fewer Cbrisuinas purchasers than clsewhere, norsthat we slall have longer to besr with the stagnation of trade thinhave othera. T] THEN, 18 THE OUTWARD ASPECT of tho ‘‘joyous, blessed Christmastive.” Iow the'*¢bad tlmes ™ affect the mner sanctiiars of the homie cirgle at the festive season, and how the evil is met aikd fousht azainst, is a etill more _impor- tant and interesting view of thesubject. If only the diflicnlty could be got over by none bt nseful presents being given eud returned, allowing of nothinz - merely uscless and ornamental © to intrnde, - then, indeed, there would be little more {o say ' or writc on the matter. But we know full well that there arc mauy, many familics this year who must entirely forego the Inxury of laying ont money in Chnistmas presents. Such 2 ead lookout to the ‘¢ Hansfrau and teu- der, loving mother, who wishes to save her littie ones the gricvous dis:%{m(nunem of a Christmas without presents, is by her turned into & mo- ment of triumpl We atc nlmost tempted to say, then, from a parely moral standpoint, that it 128 good thing it in " one_year the season of Christmas is less richly cndowed than ot other times. If the **bad timea™ are felt within the recincts of home, still kind thought and good oeling are the more likely to reign fupreme than when abundance prevalls, for do mot the sacrifices and renunciation of self which have preceded the liztle offerings serve to knit the family in closer amid tho storms and vicissitudes of the present time? 1 We therefore invite ‘one and all to share the pleasurcs this joyous senson’ has to offer—even those, t0o, who with a less heavily Jaden Clrist- mas than nsnal are inclined to be dissatiered. The moral drawn from idversity is excellent, and, but for an_unfortunate prepossession of the public mind, might be taken to b There Is & vretty general idea that the com? mercial collapse of Germany is owing to foreign politics,—~in other words, ; 15 CIIARGEABLE UPON NER NEIGHUBORS. & U Thouwh the nation made the war and paid for’| the wwar, three-fourths of the French indem-; nity went to the army to prepare for the next bout. Add to this the anxiety caused by the formidadble . increase of the Greneh, Ruesiau, and Austrian forces, and the_ corresponding auzmentation of the German «army, and trade would find ic difflcult to revive even were there no Oriental campaien. There is a fecling that if an era of war were to super- vene, as Field-Marshal Moltke seemed to appre- liend some time 120, 10 country would be more severely taxed by the infliction” than Germany, the central and most accessfble portion of Europe. It is this uncertaiuty about the future, rather thanactual want of capital and diminished wealth, which prevents trade from reviving. M PPOPHAGY. EATING HORSES IN PARIS. Correspondence London Times, Parzs, Jan, 3.—The consumption of horse- flesh in Paris, which commenced in 1860 in the face of great prejudices, but which steadily ad- vanced and derived a grear stimulus from the Siege, has this year averaged 1,000 animais per month. The Parisians, in fact, consume all the horses in the city which are past work, and have even to obtan some from a distance, while in the large towns hippophagy is also gaining eround. 1ts advoeates are, in these circumstances, natu~ rally anxious that other countries, especially thosewhere meat is at ahigh price, shouldsupple- ment their supplies of food by the flesh’ of the horse, which, they contena, iS more uutritious than beef. and could be had at half the price. With a view to promote its introduction into tbe English dietary M. Emile Decroix, who first, as a soldier, tasted horzeflesh from neces- sity in Algeria, and has since_been one of the most ardent propagandists of its use, on Satur- invited the representatives of dey evening, several London journals to 8 dinuer, at which horseflesh was seryed upina variug of forms—_ £oup, boiled, roast, sm:"zes; ete. Some of the aests were nranared to 4ad thay in ' be effieaciona - if the water in the viver were high. The Germans re- led indeed, for this sear m well eookicd, it was intentionally served up in a plain way, so that there should scem, to have been no attempt' to diswuise: its' flavor by condiments. It was- slightly firmer and darker than beef, but I can’ quite belicve that M. Decroix has rn‘}utedly had gucsts who. Zlép?o:zd themselves all along to be dining’ off cf, table before being incapable of farther work, and in Paris the precaution is taken of inspecting. them before being killed ns well as after; but even were no such precaution taken, M. Decrofx has satisfied bimself by personal experiment that Jiorses suffering from various complaints may be eaten with impanity. FIRES. CHICAGO. 3 A still alarm of five at 3:40 vesterday morning to Engino Company No. 5 was caused oy the burning of a'sidewalk in front of No. 93 West. Van Buren street, caused by a gas jet too close to the sidewalk, Damage, $50. ’The alarm from Box $25 shortly after 2 oclock yesterday morning was_caused by a fire inabarn iu_the rear of No. 54 White street, owned by Mrs. Alice Cody. Damage, $30. Cause, supposed incendiarism, as the barn-door was found open. AT IDAHO, COL. Dexver, Col., Jan. 19.—The Humiston House and Gaw’s brewery, at Idaho, Col., was totally destroyed by fire this morning. Loss on Dboth buildings $15,000. Insurance on hotel, $3,500; oo the brewery, $1,000. Deféetive fine. AT CINCINNATL CrxorsNaTy, 0., Jan. 19.—The stables of the Cincinnati Ice Company were damaged Dby fire this morniog to the amount of §5,000. Insured in city companies. ) AT CHESTER, PA. Cnesrzr, Pa, Jan. 19.—John Maxson’s woolen mill was burned . this morning. Loss estimated at §15,000 to $20,000; fully Insured. — CANADAL ‘Rallroad Controversy~Canadians and Amer- icans Lock Horns~The Hard Times. Special Dispatch to The Chicugo Tribune. MoxTEEAL, Jan. 19.—The position of the two parties in the Montreal, Portland & Boston Rallroad Company seems to be that' they bave conflicting interests-outside of this road. The plan of this reilway is to extend it from West Farnham, Quebee, to which poiat it is now com- pleted, and where it connects with the South- castern Railroad to Frelelghsburz on the fron- tier, to connect with the Portland & Ogdens~ burg Railroad, to which the Montreal, Portiand & Boston is sald to be sabsidiary, thus afford- ing a somewhat shorter and more direct route from Montreal to Boston. On the other hand, the Connecticut & Passumpsic Railroad Com- pany are anxious to stop the extension of the Montreal, Portland & Boston Railroad begond West Farnham In order that it and the’ Southeastern Railroad from fhat point to New- port, Vt., should become a chaunel for tratfic from this city to Boston via the Passumpsic Road, which conncets with the Southeastern at Newport for similar reasous. The Passumpsic Compauy hes been endeavorinz to obtain con- trol of the Jouthesstern Railroad. 'The Amer- iean party at the late turbulent meetinz were oflicers and sharcholders in the Passumpsic Company, and as Mr. Goff and other promoters of the Montreal, Portland & Boston Road desire to complete an independent and competing through route by means of their road, tlic position af the American The new road is already partly ezraded between West Faroham and Preleighsbure, T the_Western ssoctated Press. MoNTREAL, Jan. 19.—Beveridge & Melliwell, importers of woolens, have been attached. Lia- bilities, $75,000. g Mullar) & Co. have received an extension of four, eight, ard twelve months to pay 75 per cens of their liabilitics, the remainder to be mede up ot Mullarke’s private, means witkin two years. The amount of liabilities is 3215, 00; assetsnominally as great. C. Devlins. comtractor, is financially em- barrassed. Liabilities, 390,000; assets momi- nally $103,000: e Ty BUTCHERY An Inoffensive Cltlzen Mortally Wounded— ' Hurgerer Escapes. ‘What bids s 70 be the second murder of the nei year occurred at $:30 last evening on the south side of Thirty-scventh strcet, between Dearborn and Batterficld streets. The neelizence of the police in not reporting the affutr until long after midnizht, and thefr carelessness in mnot obtaining better descriptions of the principals in the offair,- make the details very meagre indced. However, as mearly as can be ascer- tained, about the time mentioned two very rouch and desperate-looking: younz men W into the butchershop™ of Peter Schmidt, No. State streot. They went there undoubtedly to rob the place, but, not finding the prospect ood, parleyed a - short time with- the butclier, and then, suldenly cefzing a sharp steak-knife from off the chopping-blnck, they ran ot and south on State street. ‘Turning west on Thirty-seventh street, they met Hueh McConviile, a_painter, residing at “No. 1960 Butterficld street, returning lome from the grocery- with his young nicce. One of the roughs seized the wirl Dy the wrists, aad with insalting laneuage drug- ged ler after him. She resisted, and McConville, @ may be imaogined, dld his best to 8id ker. He had succeeded in unhanding the villains, when, with an imprecation, one of them stepped to one side. and suddenly tiade a lunge at .W::Cbn\'illc with tbe knife stolen from the Dbutcher-shop. Both then ran southwestward, but up to a late bour had not been captured. The wounded man Wwas carried into a house “close by, and thence to his home. Dr. Marley, who attended him, .found adeep and lengthy gasli across the lower por- tion of tie abdomen, severing theabdominal sack and allowing the bowels to protrude. The wound can hardly fail to result fatally. The young girl fwas so badly frizhtened that she was unable to deseribe theassassin with any © accuracy, but the police have nevertheless strong hopes of rurning them down beforc morning. ‘ MeConville is about 36 years of age, a painter by trade, aud has a wife and several chil- dren.. He has always boruc a good reputation, and his action i last nizht’s braw! vears it out. The blow with the knife wasmost malicious, for McCouville used no force after having rescued the girl. s ——— New York, Jan. 19.—The Lehigh Valey Coal Company-hds announced its prices per ton de- livered on :board: Lump, .§3.75; stecamboat; £6.50; broken,. $3.25@3.50; egg, $3.35@3.50; stove, $3. hestnut, $3.25. ¥ e ———— AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT, * Cuickdd, Jan. 19.~We, the undersiened, em< ployes of Johh-Moore & Co., picture-frame man- Inctarers, Nos. 150 and 182 East Monroc strect, wish to acknowledge their bounteons generosity in paying the funeral expenses and attending tho funeral of the Idt¢ Joeeph Clark, an employe of eald flrm, who was Killed by falling-down the-cle- vator at the manufactory, and we do hereby tender 10 the 82id firm our heartfelt thanks and gratitude. Mr. Clark \¢as at'the time of his demise entirely destitutc.-and Mesgrs, Moore & Co. Jearninz the fact came fmmediglely {o the rescae and emplosed phgsiciany, wnd, after death had relicved his enf- ferings, ihey employed the undertaker, and, with- out askine #ny questions, footed the bills.” Sach generosity tanoot by ns pass nnnoticed. i Tligs al30 strted subscription list for the relief of Wi desiitute. family; Which consiéta of o wife and one child. » Recoznizing the fact that such ac- cidents arp.aligoat of daily otcurrence in our midst, and emploers, paying but little if any attention 10 thew, wehold, with pride, this instance upas an exumple, and hope it may make a favorable im- pression cmoiiz our manufacturers, and hope they may sll follow the same whenever occasion may e “s. F. Smith. James Artley, A. Wintermate, A James Snables, L. Lisk; A. Schuliz, Committee. Detectives Helnzman andScott last eveningmade snother clever haul. _During the day they arrested Michael alias *¢ Fatty ” Mullins and ** Datchy Weinbers, suspected of having stolen a horse and express wazon belonging to J. B. Foss, of No. 182 Superior street, and containing twenty: of pants beionzing to Leopold, of No. 1 1in strcec. The rig was recovered inthe Sonth Park, In the eveninz they went to the Mullins house, No. 64 Forty-third street, srmed with a scarch- sfrant. First taey fonad A few pair of the miss. da, then sonic ¢ nd ko 1tnoy concluded ta cars hinz, 4 cordingly nearly SL.UGO worth of stolen property awaits an owner at the Central Station, There are sbawls, laces, silks, handkerchiefs, fine plugies, 2nd ostrich feuthers, ine human hair switch Jewelry, portions of seal-and fursets, and il sorts riicles, on 1 ‘of weiring upparel, together with & quaatity 2:}"' hosiery stolen from S, D. Luddan, of N 2 West Madizon'street. Mntline was nleo raken y :A Feminine Order of Knighthbod Horses gre never slaughtcred” for the | o arty is cxplaincg.‘ J arr =--*"The’ Crown'of India.” * Sergeant Mary "---A Prominént Doos' tor's'Opimion as to American” Women. Baffled Xight:Shits.-2lfs. Isabelli Béecher Hook: ef-A HMother’s Ruse. . ROSE AND RUE. There was a garden hedged i close and bigh; The zate was locked—no man had found the key. A'flower of snbtle scent grew fair thereln— A flower unlike all other Sowers that be. bl TUnder thie watr, soft rains of Spring it grew; The stnshine dssed it, and the morning-deiv Lay rocked upon its Theart, and all abont™ VG There crept and clung dark leavas and stlks of rae. Ond still; calm night, the petals cnrved avway. Aud Teft the beart bare, 'neath the radiant sky, For one who'at the last has found the key, And bends above tho fower tendetsy. Then drooped the flower *neath cyes so passionate, And lower drooped, until, azainst the bresst Of him who leld the key, it lay cloze-pressed, And there the peials closed in Deatii's sweet rest. The space wherein the flower grew {s Tike A scar npon the garden's face. The dew And sunshine fdll npon the untrimmed paths’ Wherein, half-choked with weede, etill waves the rue. Loww M. W. FEMALE ORDER OF KNIGHTTIOOD. London Gasctle. Jan. 4. ‘The Queen has been graciously pleased, by an fnstrament under her Royal sien manual, to institute and create an order of distiuction to be styled and desiznated * The Imperial Order of the Crown of India,” and fo make thé rules and regulations which " are therein set forth. The “instrument ™ i3 headed ** Victoria,” R. & I. Victoris, by the Grace of God of "the ‘Unhed Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Queen, Defender of the: Faith, Empress of India,” and proceeds to say that hér Majesty has resolyed to commemorate the assumption of ner Imperial title of Empress of India by the institution of ‘an order of distinction’-to be enjoyed by the Princesses of her Royal house and the wives or_other female relatives of Tn- dian Princes, and others. Her Majesty, with her befts and successors, Kings and Queens Rew- nant of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Emperors and Empresses of India, aore to be Sovereigns of this Order, and it is provided that it shall ‘be competent for the Sovereizn of the Order to confer the decoration thereof upon such Princesses of the Royal and Imperial house, being of more than 18 years of age, as her Mdjesty, her heirs, and successors shall think fit. It will also be comptent for the Sos- ercizn of the Order to confer the decoratzon upon the wives or otlier femalerelatives of such Priuces in the Indian Empire, and upon such other Indian ladies, us her Majesty, ber heirs, and “successors shall from time to time think #it. ‘The decoration may furtherbe conferred upon the wires or other female relatives of any of the persons who have held, now hold, or may Tereafter hold the offices of Viceroy and Gov- ernor-Ceneral of India, Governors of Madras - grgfumbay, or of Principal Secretary of Statejfor ndin. A list is given of the first recipients of the new decoration. They are: The Princess of Wales, the Crown Princess of Ger- many _ (Princess Royal of Great Britain and Treland); thé Grand. Duchess of Hesse (Princess _Alee of Great Brit ain. znd Ireland); Princess Christian of Sles- wick-Holstein (Princess Helens of Great Britain and Irelaud); Princess Louise (Marchioness of Lorne); Prineess Beatrice; the Duchess of Edinburg (Grand Uuchess of Russia); the Duchess of Cambridze; the Grand Duchess of Mecklenberg-Strelitz (Princess Augusta of Cambridge); the Duchess of Teck (Princess Mary of = Cambridge); the Mabaranee Dhulecp Siogh; _ the Besum of Bhopal, G. C. 8. L; the Maharanee Scta Velass Dewajee Ammanee Anaro of Mysore; Maharanee Jumna Bai Saheb Gaekwar of Bar- oda; vilawar un-Nissar Begnm Saheba of Hy- derdbad: Nawab Kudsia Begum of Bhopals Vijaya Mohenu Mukta Boyi Ammanee Rajali Saheb of Tanijore: Maharauee Hai Nomoyeé of Cossimbazar: Elizabeth” Georeiana, Duchess of Arrsll; Geormiena Caroline, Marchioness of Salisbury; Henrietts Anne Theodosia, Mar- chioness of Ripun: Lady ‘Temple-Nugent~ Chandos-Grenvitle :Mary Lonisa. Coaut~ ©s§ Dowager of -Elxin aud Kincardine; Blanche Julin, Countess of Mayo; Lady_Susan Georui- 2na Bourkes Mary, Viscountess Halifax; Mary Catherine. Lady ~Hobart; Lady Jane Emma i ne Jane Charlotte, Barous il th, Baroness Lytton: Ifarriette Katherine, Baroness Lawrence; Cecilia® Frances, Lady Northeote; Cathierine, Lady Frere; Mary Aun, Lady Temple; Caroline Lucy, Lady Uenison; Katberine Jane, Lady Strachey. “SERGEANT MARY.” Xeio York Heruld, Jan. 13. There died in one of the wards in Bellevue Hospital from “*Bright's disease,” vesterday,a woman named Mary O'Keefe. She was known to the criminal authoritics of this wty and Brooklyn for years by the aliag of *Sergeant Mary.” She has had quite a remarkable bistory, which she [requently relat ed to her failers and while on the Islaud. She said that when quite youny she formed the acquaintance of @ voung man to whom she was engazed to be married. The day for the wedding was set, but before the bappv event ber lover was arrested for highway robbery, found guilty, and sentenced to jmpris- onment for a term of twenty years. Thisso affected her that she resolved to remain single. Some time alterward she became intimate with another younz woman who had likewise met with many crosses In love and_had similarly re- solved, Becoming intimate, they determined to live together ever after, and agreed that one shonld put on man’s upparel, aud that they should live as wan and wife in another part of the_city, where they were not known. They dreiv 10ts, and by it Mary was made the man. She fonnd ‘male attire, and gssumed & new name. For several years these women passed a3 man and wife, and would possibly bave done so untll Marv’s death but for an’ unforescen accident. While on the strect one day she met a former friepd, who recogmized her and threatened to expose her if she did not return home. Mary told her companion of the dis- covery and they agreed to part. She retnrned to her home. where sbe lived for ashort time, but as her parents used to taunt her she again left home and took to drinking. During the late War she formed the scquaint- ance of & soldier and set him drunk, after which she stole his money aud uniform. She soom spent iz and then went 10 one of the military stations, where she enlisted in a company of volunteers wh ch was thien being formed. Mary remained a soldier for some wecks; but one night she got beastly druok and was ar- rested by the guard. “While in her drunk- cn stupor she told her secret. The Captain of the Guard was called; she was arraigned before him, and, on being closely questioned, admitted that what_she sald_while drunk was truc. Thereupon she was -dismissed ‘from the ranks, not, however. before she had been given the sobriquet of Serveant Mary. On her return tothis cityshe remoined 2 drunkard, and was arrested. time after time. Becoming old she obtained a menial position on BlackwelV's Island, which, of late years, she has beld. A few weeks awo she got ‘sick and was taken to Bellevne Hospital, where she dicd. Her body was removed to the Morgue, and thence it will be buried in a pauper’s grave. AMERICAN WOMED Dr. Fordyce Barker 1 a_New York Warld Reporter. “ Dancing is a good thing. It distracts wom- cn’s minds from the contemplation of their own symptoms, and thercby circumvents an esil. As for Mrs. sherman, I suppose those things aré matters of educatfon. People, you imow, who are pot used to seeinz nude figares in statuary or paintfngs ' experience indecent feelings, and then again, you know, people who are used to seeing that sort of thing don't. Habit, familiarity, and refincment make most of us acrced in these matters, There is one fact,” the Doctor con- tinued, in talking afterwards of the strength of American women and their halisof life and <, **that you might noti and that is that tofvn wonsen are-stronzer. fresher, handsomer, aud lonzer than women who dwell in the country. ‘fhis must be aceepted because 1t is fact, and as well because the reasons for it are apparent. The women in the city. eat better food, they are -able to divert themselves with_ concerts and theatres— the “very streets are a diversion—and they have baths, the benefits of which are incalenla- prdksabetidte it buld it it *Then you think the New York worien. afe , ! © inpood condition?” ‘/fiThev are the finest women in the world- Dphytically, in paint of figure, development, and ce. I'huvd been io Enrope 2 good deal. and find the woraen here better specimens than thofe in London, Paris; Berlin, or Vienna. :There,, bas been a marked chsnze 0 American - .womanhood within twenty years. People returning after a lonz absenceé have noticed it. Our =irls now erowing, or just grown, are maguiticent specimens. The old follies of dress, such as tight-lacing, ete., arc done, and we clothe ourselves to the fnll ss seusibly as the rest of the world. New York women wear flanuels now and thick soles to their shoes. The corsets are loose and are an aid in supporting the skirts, the bands of which without these would act 4s Jicatures und inter- fere with the circalation. We are a city of superb, healthy womeny, perfee: In fizure be- sond any that I know. These ean do round- dancing and no harm come to them.” IS NIGHT-SHIRT. i Detyoit Fress Pres Saturday forenoon a little old woman whohad corae to town in a one-horse wagon entered & Store on Woodward avenne, where gents' fur nishing goods are sold, and asked if they keyt such a thing as 2 man’s nizht-shirt. ‘“Certainly we do,” was the reply’as the clerk reached for 2 box. * Welt, my old man was traveling. down ful Rhode Island last fall, aud bie heard about em, and saw ane,” she continued, *and he’s been balf crazy ever since to own a couple. Things bave comé to a pretty pass when men have 'got tohave one shirt for day and the other- for night, but Thomas is rather childish, and'T thonght I'd git him one.” “ Most all men wear 'em now,” said the clerk, as he opened the box. * What price do you want to pay2” it “ Well, I duno,” she mused, -as she picke up one after another aud let 1 didp’t say 1 wanted one for myself, did 11 *\Why, no; of course not. These are gentle- l\;win’s nichtshirts, madam,~—three different sty i She picked up the plainest one, shook it ottty held it at arm’s len'.'lg. and celdly said: ty “Younz man, do. you pretend to call this garment a night shirt for a man “ Yes, ma'am.” i = _ “Yowde, ch? Youetick fo it that this frill- ing; ang. furblewing, and tuckine, and rulling belolngs to a maw’s night-shirt 2 A <1 do. *iThen you'd better 70 to driving a sund~ WAZon, Young man!™ she suapped as slie threw the: garment. down. “T've worn night-owns for fifty-onc years, and if the day has come when a Younz moonshiner like you puts on airs to tell me that I don’t know what a nizht-gown is, my old man can sleep in 2 harness for all the night-shirt he’ll ever get meto buy. Good-days young man!” & & MRS. LOOKER. Washington Letter to Clacinnati Commeretal. At the caucus on Monday Isabeila Beechef Hooker, Beecherlike, made a tremendous im- . pression. She is a tall, elender, refined-logking ‘Woman, with pale blue eyes and grayish curls about her face. She dresses handsomely, but a little peculiarly. T cannot et it out of my head that a magnificent tragic actress was lost to the world when Isabella Beecher didn’t take: the stage. I never heard o woman say anything at alllike what she said Monday. I can’t for my life make up my mind whether it was swearine or not. I will tell you exactly what it was, aod " may be you can tell. Yirs, Hooker compliment=" cd "the Demozratic Gov. Hubbard, told how, without solicitation from women, hié had caused 1 marrjed woman’s property bill to be passed, wich she hud caused to be "drawn up five years before, without any hope thac it would ever be passed. She gradually warmed up to her subject, until, fixing ber eyes, blazing with exeitement, upon her audiepce, she raised her arm solemnly toward the sky, and in u - voice which rang like thunder said these words: & We bave come here to gain our freedom, and by God we'll bave 11" The cffect was stu- peodous. They cheered her vehemently after 2 moment, but many women looked scared, and some men looked os if their breath had been taken awar for a sccond. Ican't tell vou how it was, but somehow it dida’t sound eitlier. blasphemous or wicked to me. It sounded like a Beecher! A MOTHER'S RUSE. Dispateh to London Telsgraph. Parrs, Jan. 4,—M. de Valdrome married an actress, and, after a short experience of married life, botn parties demanded a separation, which was accorded. Alson, the only child' of the marriage, remained with the father; bur, the father dying, the boy was elaimed by his moth- er. The Court rejected lLer claim, aud deciged that the Iad should be brouxht up by the Do- minicans of Arceuil, and allowed to visit his T tivice 3 week. On Dee. 312 Dominican father bronght the little boy to wish his mother a happy New Year, ime. a¢ Valdrome retained ber child with her, kept the Dominiean futher for several hours in an antcchamber, aressed ler son as a girl, ju- trusted him to some friends who wer starting, for abroad the same day, and then reiurned ‘home to prepare for her own fight. At last the Dominican lost patience, found thit the boy was gone, and rushed off to fuform his tator, M. de Vildrome, of what passed. M. de Val- drome communicated with the police. Mme. de Valdrome’s house was surrounded and she herself was watched, the agents even following Ler to church. ‘There, after her E\mvcrs, she entered the sacristvas Mme, de V aldrome, and, taking ad- vantage of her theatrical experience, left it as o Tittle, bent old woman, well enveloned in a larze wmantle. One of the azents of the palice even sprinkled lier with holy water as she departed. Once in thie street, Mme. de Valdrome of course found & cab. nwaiting her, drove to the station, and safely reached ler little son beyond the frontier. IS SIXTH WIFE. The Cincinnati Zimes of the 1th fust. eays: ¢ A. J. Laboyteaux, ared 48 years, a resideut of Cleves, 0., is to be married to day, at that place, to Miss Burr. There fs no particular importance attached to this announcement, but when we think that Mf. Laboyteaux is . being married to his sixth wife in_twenty-five years, we vause and ask, in_the name of” the late lamented _Brizham Youus, *Will he ever be happy? When at the ave of 23 years, he was marricd, for the first time, 1o Mrs. Rowans, a widorw, with whoa belived happily.® When'she died he was wedded to gnother widow, Mrs. Woods. His third wife was & Mrs. Zimmer- man, and the fourth, another widow, named Mrs. Kingsbury, a dangbter of Aaron Schenck. The fifth Jrs. - Laboyteaux was Miss. Kitty Woods, a cousin of the fourth _ wife. With all these wives Mr. Laboyteanx Jived happily. One of them left him her reat’ property. Before he was married the first tine. he was the protege of a Mre. Thompson, who started him in business. Hoth Mr. Laboyteaux and one of his former. wives, Mrs. Wooda; were at one time pupils of 3Ir. Joe Wright, Secratury of the ‘Southern Railroad. We conzratulate Mr. Laboyteaux on his unusual good luck, and hope that he may live to be made happy ae many more times.” TFEMININE NOTES. The four daughters of & York State man,” named Pints, arc known as half a galion o lasses. A Washington woman has applied to:ke ap+ pointed a Constablc, despairing of catching 2 - man in any other way.—Danbury Necs. Card partics are now au fait, and the’ frentle.” men will think damn gs his female partner trumps his trick.—New York Dispatch. In Virginia, when n young lady dectines an offer to convey ter home, the lover asks per- mission to sit on a fence-ana se¢ her o by. Girls who skate this winter arc compelled, by the pressure of fashion, to_skate on onc foot, and hold the other up likeahen in wet weather. Mistress—** Bridget, how is it you have not’ dusted the what-not!” Bridget—** Ah, thin, ma'am, Tcan’t for dacency’s sake face that naked figzer.” x He bonght material for 3 new dress for his wife, and was surprised to sce the dealer slip the cloth -into an envelope, and say he would : have the buttons sentright up ina dray. “lrodein the carriage with the widower,” £ald the cook, on herréturn from the obse- uies of afriend, aud then added: * He said t. c,rnnem would have been nothing withoat™ ' me? . . A man made 2 bet that he could ride the fiy- wheel in a saw-mill, and, as his widow paid the bet, she remarked: * William was o kind hus- band, but he did not know much about fiy- wheels.” . “THR wicked stand In slippery placés, but for a perfe:t pictarc of reckless insecarity, you want to look at. 4 frightened woman trying to stand on « camp-stool to keep out of ‘the “way of 2 mouse. Coming back from alittle trip to Havrea - Parisian bewails his misfortuncs to his railteay. companicn. *“One thing is certain: you won't catch me on any more of these pleasure excur- elons. I lost mv wife and my cane.” And then he adds with tears in his Volce, ‘A uew.cane. > REr R Rat el by —————— S