Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, March 17, 1878, Page 3

i i ] THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 1878—SIXTEEN PAGES. REAL ESTATE. Caoses thet Are Stimulating the De- mand for Real Estate, Actirify in Reuts---The Principal Leases Made Last Week. The Silver Law, Eastern Capital. ists, and Chicago Loans. gow Large a Proportion of Chicago Real Bstate Is Mortgaged. New Building Project---Sales, Loans, and Building Permits. The spproach of the 1st day of May always gtimulates the market for sales as well as rents. Persons who bave “the means to bur and are compelled to move, begin 10 Jook about for pouses of their own. The Tcal-estate agents gre having numerous inquirics from intending purchasers of thatsort. The sccumulation of the savings of the classes that have hitherto pnmnixcd gavings banks is being diverted into ead estate. One agency that has controlof a picce of acre property in the southwest part of e city, around which a larze population pas gettied, report frequent applications for Jots. The property has been foreclosed; the time of redemption has ex- pired; and ina week or two the property will e forsale. ‘This firm expect to dispose of it rapidly by sales of single Jotsto residents in the inity. Tbese people have litle sums of money to inv They bave -made up their minds that a little parcel of REAL ESTATE IS A SAVINGS BANK {hat mobody cun break, and that is what they wish to put their money into. Ingeueral the market is reported by con- servative men o be in a better and more confi- dent state. The public are beginning to follow the Jead taken two jears ago by aur sbrowdest capitalists, and most sue cessful merchants, These gentlemen have Leen putting their moucey steadily and confi- dently into real estate. They have picked up the choice bargains and are looking about for more. Real estate caw’t be embezzled, por re- ‘pudisted; no such questions can be raised about it as are azitated about municipal and other se- carities. 1t can't be broken like a savings bank or National Bank, It may pay 2 low rate of {aterest, but TIE SECORITY I3 ABSOLUTE. Such considerations, and the growing demands of our populaticn for houses and stores, make Clicaro real estate at present prices the best of +fovestments. ° The following were the important transfers of the past week: . 61 Grand Loulevard, 24x124 feet, sold for 0 ,st:\flES Charleston sold to Paul Rothbarth fJot'on Ohio stzect, 80 feet west of North Dear- ‘born street, north frout, 40x100 feet, for $11,500. Lot on South Dearborn street, 49 6-10 feet north of Vau Buren street, west front, 233(x 1033 fect, sold for §12,500. George E. White sold to Susan A. Koon lot on Carpeater street, 100 feer south of West Lake street, east front, 30x125 feet, with fm- provements, for §7,000. . ienry E. Brown sold to William Wheeler No. disus avenue, 24317734 feet, for §10,000. William L. Beaton solato Thomas B. Scott 40 acresat the northwest_corner of ~Fifty-tifth sz}r\-]cculx;md the Chicago & Danville Railroad for Mead & Coe have sold the southwest corner of Loomis and Madison streets, 50x125 fect, for £5,000, and a lot on Superior street, between Dearborn and Clark, for $100 a foot. SATURDAT'S TXANSFERS. The following instrumeuts were filed for record Saturday. March 16: CITY PROPERTT. West Monroe st, 160 ft w of Canal st, nf. 20x189 {1, dated March1] ... .. -$ 3,000 West Monroe st, 180 ft w of Canal &t, 0 £, jpmded i of 0801, dated March West Monror &t, undivided dated March 16.. <3 750 West Monroe et. undivided i of eame, dated March 19.. RETL ) West Monroe st, undivided i "of Faic, dated March 11... 750 Diller 1, u e cor of Rinzie &, w £, 189x 1195 1, dated Marcn 15 . 2,000 Green st," 200 {t § of Van Buren st, w f, 505125 1t, dated March 15.... 4,250 Spruce st, 46 1t w of Loomis &, * 1114t, dated Dec. 13, 1877.... 4,000 Suruce £t 165 1t w of Loomis st, s 11111, dated Dec. 15, 187 1,000 Weat Trwenty-firet £t, 1 ¢ cor 81, 505100 fL, duted Feb. ceeen 3,000 Clinion st 134 Tt s of Van Buren &£, W1, 22x151 1t, dated March 16 .. . 5,000 Armold st 336 {¢ ¥ of Thircy-Afifst, e, 243120 7¢, dated March §.. et 1,200 Vernon av, 148 ftn of Twenty-ninth & e, 205100 ft. improved, dated Fev. I (0. "I, Southworth to’ Werstum aud . - 7,500 2,000 f, 243148 1L, dated March 15 1,560 West Randolph st, 50 ft w of Curtis st, n 1, 35x100 11, daied March 15 L. 2,500 Bissell et, near 8 ¢ cor of Centre st, w1, 505125 1, dated Dec, 13, 1877......... 2,000 Bissell st, the undivided half ‘of the above, and also Spruce &1, 96 fiw of Loomis 61, 6 f, undivided Imif of f72x 111 {1, daied Dec. 15, 187 ceeeie 2,500 Market 5. 160 {1 # ¢ of Yan Buren st, 5w 1, 20x100 ft. dated March 16........... 1,800 Oakley av, 117 fcs of West Adams st, & (, _J6x8Y f1, improved, dated Sept. 2, 1874 4,000 West Madison et, 125 Tt w &1, 253195 1t the premises No. 309 West_Monroc er, dated March 15 (Joln k. Wheeler to William B. Ruce) 8,000 Dasbiell et, 04 fu5 of Thirty-cighth st, o 1, 243123 {t, dated March 1 seasae 500 Dashicll st, 118 ft & of Lhirt Siphil ot 1. 24x123 11, dated March 13.... 500 West Adams st 51 ftw of Oakley av, s 1, 100 ft ruuninz vorth 1o Wilcox st, with o front of 150 ft, aated March 13 (Edward Peil 1o Robert S. Pettivoue).. 20,000 Weet Juckson e, n w cor of Dakley av, 5 1, 99376 It (except n 40 £t of Lots 12 and 13), auted Murch 1 8,500 SUMMARY FOR THE WEEL. ‘The following is the total amount of city and suburbun transfers within 3 radius of seven miles of the Court-House filed for record dar- fngthie week ending Saturday. March 16: City saics, 82 consideration, $271,702; south of city Jimits, eales, 73 consideration, 500. Total sales, 89; total consideration, 3 RENTS, J. C. Sampson & Co., for Charles Tobey, have rented the store and basement of the building on the southeast coraer of State and Jackson streets to the Singer Sewing-Machine Company —for tbree years at §4,000 2 year. The Howe Company have rented quarters on the south- Fest coruer of State and Jackson strects. There isamest of sewing-machine companies fu the vidinity of State and Jackson streets. The Davis Sewiug-Machive Company, as we buve alrcady aunouniced, has taken the north- west corner of Quincy and State strects; the mington Compavy are on State street, just north of Jackson, and the Grover & Baker are on Jackson strect, just east of State. Mead & Coc bave renewed at §16,500 a year the lease held by John Wilde & Co. of the store on the orthwest corner of State und Magison streets, Tue price paid Jast year was 313, The buildine wow occupied by the Singer Company kas been leased by J. C. Sampson & Co: 10 Schweitzer & Beer for $7,000 8 year. The store to be vacated by Schweitzer & Beer on State street, near Jackson, bas been rented to Btory & Camp for 36,000 a year. Fairbanks & Co., the furniture-dealers, bave leased of S. M. Wymman, the manazer of Stein’s Doliar Store, tué building' now_occupied by Fairbanks and by Webster for £10,500 a year Ior two years. The first-floor front will be re- modeled,” and one grand entrance opened for the tvo buildiogs, which will be tbrown to- gether, The Tobes Block, southeast corner of Jack- gon aud State streets, bas been leased by Mr. Clarles Tobey to W Singer Sewing Machine Compuany, to be occupied by the latter May 1. - OFFICE RENTS. Office rents will ave: about the same a3 4 vear, according to tue azents. In the Major Block, for instance, Mead & Cue report that they have raised the price of some and reduced that ©f uther otlices, The reduction isin tue high rents, aud the increase iu the low rents. Tens &uts paving bigh rates want - to cconomize, and soexpensive otfices are weaker, while the de- and for cheaver quarters bus becoine stronger. Geo. G. Newbury bas leased S8 State street to Merker Bros. for 4,000 for onc year; the sccond foor of 45 and 50 Ktate street for $7303 161 Washingrton, store and busemeut, 1or $1,203; 77 Dearborn street to Tom Audrews for $2,100; 2nd the fourth fioor of %) State street to Barry Bros. for $100. _ Ulrich & Barnes leased the large brick resi- dence at Kenwood, just south of Forty-seveuth strect and Greenwood avenue, forJ. t. Lathrop, 1o the Rev. Galusha Anderso; Cl,x‘gglzndl]nivcrsizy. lerson, President of the e advance of rents on State street is she by the increased rental obiuined by W. E. &;’!: Trom the upper floors of Lis building at State and Washiugton :streets. The leases of the fourth and ifth floors, made five vears ago, :'Lh;ndlxsm:cs"sn Vs atb s oest, have been re- cwed at a total advan 3 5500 4 g ce for the two floors of fect ias been roduced upon the minds of capi- Lalists by the Silver law. Wright & Tyrrel), i answer to fnquiries, stated that of all tnelr Drincipals only two had mentioned the subjoct. Oue Liad expressed his fears that bis loan would e repaid in depreciated silver when ft. fell duc, whereupon the mortgager had offered to pay vow in fezal-tenders. ‘This offer 1o anticipate ihe date of maturity was accepted. The debtor paid up, and bad © the satisfaction of treeing lfs property from {beumbrance, and the leader received his money back, principai and interest, in good and lawful mouey. Only one person Lad asked to have the loan he offered MADE PATADLE IN GOLD, and these terms had been readily sceepted by the borrower, Not a single capitalist had with- drawn from Chicago, Other loan agencies res vort eubstantially to the same cffect, and it is cevident that the predictions made by the East~ era press, that Eastern iuvestorshyould 10se cone fidence fn Western mortgages, were as wide of El;?dmm’k s their propheuics about the price of 1n the real-cstate loan market the market is still droopivg, borrowers are searce, and loan agents bave but little to do, spendine their leisure moments in gathering up the fragments ©Of busivess that passed through their hauds in the paluy days before the panic. \Where the borrower is mot in a position to settle, capital- sts renew the loan at low rates in preférence to Joading themselves down with real estate. The prospects of any immediate improvement are Dot encourasing. There are no heavy specula- tions that require assistance to tide them over a dull feason. The only ing feature is thc continued ° increase iu_ the proportion. of payments to new Jiabilities. * Mouey is comiug in much faster than it is going oat, and the' mortzage indebt- edness of the city is being rapidiy reduced. The following were the IMPORTANT TRANSACTIONS of the past week: Northeast corner of Paulina and Indiana streets, 121373144 Teet, $16,000, five years at 7 per cent. Archer avenue, 25 feet, frant, runniug through to Elgin street, vertheast corner of Twenty- sceond strect, $7,500, five years at § per cent. Northwest corner of Lasalle and Elm streets, 253119 feet, S7,00, five years at 7 per cent. Michigan aveaue, detween Twenty-ninth and Thirtieth streets, east fraut, 355174 feet, $5,000, five years at 7 per cent. West Madison street, 100 feet east of Leavitt street, south frout, 205130 feet, $6,000 three years at 8 per cent. West,_Washington street, between Clinton and Jefferson streets, south trout, 62102 feet, $13,000, ive years at 7 per cent. COMPARATIVE STATEMENT PO TIE WEEK ENDING MaRcH 1 T L Instruments cheer- 2o, | Csiderat'n { Csiderat'n. Trost-decds| §6'S 174408 111ls 270,800 Morigages..| 33”4548 B0 “oplaar Agzregate. 219,851 Releases ... T Losss sassisss COMPAIUTIVE STATENENT FRox aancx I 7o Mancy 16. i 1578, | 187 Instruments———— {7 ___ No. | C'siderat'n|| No. | Csiderat'n. Trost-deeds| 1595 413,810/l 3095 561,602 Mortgages.. .362{| 81 131801 Aggregate..| 251/ 482,672(| 200[5 896,063 Releases.. 200{... ... .... [T o MORTGAGES ON CHICAGO FROPERTY. Very cxazgerated Ideas prevail ut the East as to the proportion of Chicago property that is under morteage. This misapprebension is shared by a good many Cnicago people. In conversation with a leading lawyer, one of our principal real-estate deaiers remarked yesterday that ** Not more than a third of the property in the busiuess part of the city 18 mortgazed.” “ That is absurd,” replicd the lawyer. e all bhave to acknowiedge that pearly all the ‘Dproperty here is incumbered.” *You are entirely wrong,” was the answer, as I can com'iucc& ou in 8 moment.” The real-cstate dealer, who is personally famil- jar, as the result of many years' experience, with the history and_condition of about every plece of groverty in the ceatre of the city, then ran rapitly over the principal buildings. A tally wus kent of those morteazed and unmort- gaged, and, to the surprisc of this doubting friend, it was found that fully two-thirds of tho business property was FREE OF DEBT. A TRIBUNE reporter who happened to come up asked for the list of mortgaged and unmoit- gaged property, so that ihe public mizht sce for themselves how much the mortgage ndebt- cdness of the city was generally overcstimated But the real-cstate man shut up like a clam at the mere suggestion. 1t would ralse the town,” he siid, *to mass tne mortmages tozether in print in that way. But you may fay that by actual count there is not mare than one- third the property on Wasbington, Randolph, Lake, Wabash avenue, State, Dearborn, La- Salle, Clark, Fifth aveune, Madison, and Mon- Toe streets incumbered by mortzage. ‘This would not have been true three years azo, but ‘what with sales by weak holders “anu foreclos- ures it Is true to-lay.” . BUILDING. Dearborn strect is to have another valuable improvement. C. W. Culehour and Afr. Kaentz- ler, of Kaentzler & Hargis, are about to ereet s foe four-story avd busemevt build- ing on_the northcast corner of Monroe and Dearborn streets, on the lot leased by Kantzler & Hargs two years ago. The building will bave u frontage of 130 fcet on Monroe street and 180 feet on Dearborn strect. The building will be mainly an_oflice building, but fifty fect m%{ be rented on Monroe street in floors. ielq, Lieter & Co. will oceupy the building on Mouroc street, between LaSalle street ani Fifth avenue, owned by Mr. Leiter, for storing their goods. BUILDING PERMITS. Thenumber of building permits issued during the week was sixty-six, an increase over the preceding week. Thirty of these buildings i1 cost $69,000. °“The permits were: A. B. Fiedler, three-story dwelling at 443 Wells street, to cost §9,000. “Smith Brothers, two- stary store aud dwelling at 141 Cornell, to cost $3,000. Jonathan Clark, two-story store at 53 Stawe street, to cost $5,000. M enzlein, two-story dwelliug at 6335 ‘Sedgwick street, to cost §3,000. George Willard, two-story store and dwelling,corner of Henry and Laflin, to cost 3 M. U. Wells, three-story dwelling on Congress strect, near Michigan avenue, 1o cost $3,900. George Baldwin, two-story dwelling at 121 Vernon avenue, to cost $2,500. L. A. How- land, two-story dwelling on Calumet- avenue, near Thirty-second street, to cost $4,000. E. C. Preble & Co., two-story manufactory at 38 and 40 West Monroe, to cost §6,000. John Peters, wwo-story dwelling on_ Brown, near Tiwelfth street, to cost $4.000. Georze C. Schicrer, two- etory dwellinz at 90 Elm strect, to cost $4,500, J. F. Temple & Sons, addition to 330 South Canal, to cost $2,500. M. J. O’Brien, two-story dwelling on_indiana aveuue, near Thirtieth, 10 cost 34, ————— THE TARIFFITES, ALLENTOWN, Pa,, March 16.—~The demon- stration to protest atainst the passage of the Wood Tariff bill was agrand success. The vis- iting delegations came into the city with banas playioz and flags fyiog, aud by noon _the city ‘presented a very animated appearance.. Trade was generally suspendea, and ail the bustness houses and many vrivate dwellings were pro- fusely decorated. A procession formed, with Mayor Younzr as Chief Marshal, and it was estimated tbere were 15,000 mea in line, mostly iron-workers, with the civil and military authorities, firemen, lodges of all kinds, citizens on foot, and tradesmen of every description at work on wagons. The banners were almost without number, and contained sentiments expressive of the feclingsof the community towards free-traders in gencral. After the procession, specches were made from four stands by G. A. Grow, B. Markley Boyer, John W. Killinger, J. §. Biery, Edwin Atbrighi Edward Harvey, Col. Willium McMichael, 2 J. P. Wickersham. The speakers were enthu- siastically reccived. ————— OBITUARY, Nswoung, N. Y., March 16.—Commodore John Hodges Graham, of the Uuited Staics navy, aied of apoplexy last evenivg, azed 34 ‘The Commodore was onc of the twelve oflicers who took part inthe midnight expedition against the British stronghold oppositc Black Rock. Nine of the oflicers were killed or severely wounded, Graham receiving a wound in the apkle which caused the amputation of the limb afterwards. PRILADELPHIA, March 16.—Henry Disston, aw-manufacturer, died to-night from paralysis. PARIS. A Farewell Benefit at the Thea- tre Francais. Bressant Retires from the Comedio After Twenty-three Years' 2 Service. A Wonderful Programme, Including Sarat Dern- hardt and Honnef-Sully in “*Othello e Some Ancedotes of Dressant, Literary and Artistio Gossip~The Com- ing Salon—New Books—New Plays—Musical. . Special Correspondence of The Tribune. Pams, March 1.—We should have to go back a good many yearsto find a parallel for the magmificent represcutation which was given at the Theatre Francais ou Wednesday night, when Bressaut, the popular and talented actor, bade farewwell to the stage after having beenconuected With thefirst theatre in the world for upwards of twenty-three years. The benefit had been expeeted and promised for several weeks before, but nobody outside a certain privileged €et freally knew when the great event would come off till the bills announcing it for two days later were placarded on Monday. Then there was a grand rush for tickets. All the prices were trinled or quadrupled; but that did not scem to stop any one, though the times are £0 hard, as we know. The boxes and stalls were advertised at 40 francs, and the rest of the place in proportion. In a few hours all the £eats were snapped up but those in the amphi- tehatre; and the receipts, which, on a first-rate ‘*Hernani? night even, hardly reach o larper sum than 7,000 francs, had swollen to the re- markable figure of 82,000 francs,—the highest, T believe, by a long way, ever taken at the theatre. Aud no wonder, with such an extraordinary prozramme. We had Meilhae and Halevy's “Llete de Ia St. Martin' asulever de ridenu; an admirable revival of Alfred de Musset’s beau- tifal © Caprices de Marianne,”—perhaps the most delicate of all the “ Comedics and Prov- erbs,” but that pearl of comedies, **On Ne Badive Pas avee PAmour;” a couple of scenes from M. Aicard’s new translation of Othello,” plared by Sarah Bernbardt and M. Mounet- Sully; the whole of Moliere’s sereaming comeay, “ Monsiear de Pourceaugnac? (with the inci- dental grotesque dauces and music); and, as an intermede, nothing less than Adolphe Adam’s **Noel,” sung by Faure bimself, whom we bad almost thought Jost to us forever; the “Swal- Jow Song » from Gounod’s *Mireille,” sung by Mune. Miolan-Carvaibo; and two or three selec- tions from *“DonJuan,” fuwhich we heard both these once inseparable artists singing as well as in their best days. The prices might have been decupled jnstead of quadrapled,—it-would not have made theslightest difference in theattend- ance; but even 8o, Bressant can’t complain. The casts of the “Caprices de Mariaune™ and “ Mousieur de Pourceauznac” may be termed, without exaggeration, pheaomenal. Hardly an actor or actress of note uow on the boards of the Tlicatre-Francafs was absent, and even the most insignificant roles were filled by artists who at another theatre would be stars. Imagine Delaunay, Got. Coquelin, Worms, and Mlle. Croizette playing togetherin Alfred de Musset's comedy! Worms as Celio, the love-sick adorer of the fair Yariannc ; Delauuay as the mudeap Octave, who pleads Lfs friend’s suit so success- {ully that the bard-earted beauty at Jast re- Tents, alus! only to bestow her love on_Celio's ambassudor; Got, too, inimitable in the comi-tragic part of the jealous ola Judge Clawdio; and Coquelin, the prince of humorists—as _his obsequious follower and toady, Zibia/ Icared less for Croizette, who olayed the capricious heroine (why capricious, by-the-by? Marianne was no coquette, in spite of the title of tle comedy): She has no womauly charm about her, Iet her admirers rave as they will,~and, as we are all aware, her 2d- mirers are Legion. Croizette is neither a great actress nor a beautiful woman,—if the chiel beauty of woman lie in the graces of face and manncr rather than in mere éplendor of form, cold coquetry, and extravagant toilettes. I mever look at her without thikking of & sparrow. Her every movement s birdlike,—a strange mixture of grace and impudence. Her wose (no offense to it) resembles a beak; her cyes twmkle with the same hard, cold bright- mess a5 a parrot's or a linnet’s: and her volee is as harsh and metallic as a cockatoo’s, With all this, however, she has yreat talent of a certain sort, which fits her cxcellently for the parts of prillfant courtesans and dashing demi-mondaines, but (to come back to the point I started {rom) uniits her absolutely for playing any character needing womanly softness, delicacy. and charm. They are celebrated for tho perfeet finish of their stoge-cllects at the Francais, as well as for their fluished actiug; but, in all former re- vivals of “Les Caprices,” a rigiculous tolerance had been extended to the habit of plaving the ehort., but most exquisite, closing scene (which should occur in the cemetery) with the scenery already used for the rest of the comedy, and which represents a strect, with 1 view of Muriaune's house. Not to be open to “further reproach, the Francals re- stored the cemetery scene last Wednesday. 1t is superbly paivted. Inthe foreground is the tomb of "the unhappy Celiv, stiaded, just as Alfred de Mussct’s own resting-place, by the drooping branches of a weeping willow. To Tight and left are dark masses of cypress: and, bebind, the nighs is closin in above the long, blue range of sullen mountains. The short fragmenc of % Othello,” which was played by Sarah Bernbardt sud M. Mounet- Sully, coufirmed me in my ovinion that there is noone on the French stage at present able to do full justice to Shakspearean tragedy, and na French audicuce wholly capable of appre- ciating one if there were. The scene chosen (that in which Othello smothers Uesdemona) afforded & capital opportunity of judging the actors’ strenath and weakness. Sarab Bern- hardt was fairly cood, though she wns too dreamy and mystic for Jesdemona; but Mounct~ Sully, as ] quite expected, made a wretched Othello. e has always . tendency to exagwer- ate, and this exaggeration was more marked than ever. When b came i, his white cyeballs gleaming horribly " from out -a” col- lock face (for he had taken the negro theors of Olhelio), and began the cei- cbrated soliloguy, * It is the cause, "iete., in bis most _absurdfy-sepulchral sone, there was & general titter, which soon swelled into a laugh, —and the whole effect was in an instant ruined. Bressant. himsclf was too ill to appear on Wednesday, so a_farewell was spoken for him by " his old companion, Coquelin. Bressant was born on the 23 of October, 1513, and is consequently nearly 63 years of ase. He made his debut as an smateur oo the humble Doards of the Theatre de Montmartre, when he wus but 16, much to_ the disgust of bis family, who did everything they could to dissuade hitn from taking to the stace, but in vain. Thus early he was stage-struck, and it was not loug before he threw up his situation at o law- yer'sto sign an engagement at Montmartre, He did not_lanzuish lone in the suburbs, how- cver. In 1833, Dartois, the manazer of the Va. rletles, enzraged bim for the ** Amours de Paris.” Tiwo vears after, at the exeeptionally early aze of 20, he was 'offered an_cogagement, ot the Comedie Francaise, but be declined to leave the Varietes, where he had just found a wife in the daughter of one of the persons artached to that theatre. In 1833 be set off for St. Peters- burg, but his career there was as ghort as it was brilliant. He was obiized to leave the banks of the Neva to eave himself from theconsequences of certafn scandalous intrigues in which he was much mixed up, they say, Bressaut was always 2 polishied and captivating fellow. The Russian ladies thought so too, it scems. Un his return to Paris he cutered the Gym- 1nase, and plaved for some years in *Clarisse Harlowe,” “Le Fils de Famille,” “Le Mar- riace de Victorine,” ana other picccs, With ft- variable success. Hisconneetion with the Com- edic Francais (another way of saying Theatre £ Francaise) dates from ~ 185{. During the tweuty-three years . he - adormed the boards at this lhouse, be appeared in more plays than L can call to mind for the mo- ment,— Les Femmes Savantes,” “Le Lion Amoureux,” * Adrienne Lecousreur,” © Les Faux Menages,” etc., ete. Since 1571’ we have secn very little of him, however, for & wild youth and lone, hard wopk had aged him great Iy He was, with Rezmier, one of the Professors a: the Conservaioire for many years, and among his pupils are some of the tost Hsivg and success{ul actors and actresses of Paris. Sixare at the Theatre Francais,—Miles. Croi- zette, Samary, and Martin, M. Mounet-Sully, Villain, and Haiilet,—whilé “several more are likely o be there ere fong, : Bressant was very popular both with the pub- lic and his fellow-actors, although he was an in- corrigible plaver of practical jokes. Inumer-- able tales are told of hispranks at the Gymnase. Oue day, Lesueur was on the staze, attired, a la ouis X VL., in knee-breeches,sill stockings, and buckle-shoes. During oneof the scenes he had to staud at the back of the stage, listening . to some speech that Was being made him. Bressant watched bitn from® behind the scenes, and, while his attention was diverted, took a long ironm rod, with a hook at the end. which he quickly thrust through & crack in the c3nvasand fastened in Lesueur’s shoe,—so that, when he wanted to make Lis exit, for 2 long while he couldn't move. All his suppressed entreatics were - availing,—Bressant_was pitiless,—and at last, to gt off, he was oblized to take off his shoe with what dignity be could, and retire from the seene - bare-footed. — Aaodher favorite tricic of Bressant’s (il Landrol, of the Gymuase, is to be trusted) was to trip actors up with his ft Just when they were roing on the stage. One night he tried the joke on Lesuenr, who. to the astouishment of ihe audicnce, as you may suppase, Lwnbled in wher his time came, swearing audibly. The best of the thing 15, thit, in spite of his facetious tastes, Bressaut Das been always looked upon as the very model of cold, correct elegance. We are beginuing to look forward to the Salo already, whicli promises this year to bs very interesting. Amousst the chicf pictures eaks truth, a % Napoleon i Eurvpt,” by Detailie; a *Louis XIV, fe i Conde," by Gerome (who was a defaulter last ycurl); ‘a Magdalcen, by M. Tienner, the painter of the John the Baptist iu the 1577 Salon; aud auother picturc of a_scene in the Franco-Pros- sian war, by M. de Neuville, “The Capture of the Chureli of Le Bourzet.” The second volume of Victor Hugo's History of a Crime” persists iu not coming forward. First it was promised for the 20 of December, then for the 15th of Junuary, and again for the 2d of March (to-morrow); but, on inquiry, 1 was told to-night that the real time of its appes ance is still doubtful. The latest *luts” in the book-market have been M. Victor Tissot's “ Yieoue et Ia Vie Viennoise,"—n Jight, chatty account of astay *n the Austrian Capital; Ad. Belot’s “ Venus Noire,” amd a curious book book bearing the sugpestive title of * Les Mille et Une Nuit’s Matrimoniales, by 3L Quatrelles. A new play with a political moral, by Sardou, is being produced to-nizht at tbe Vaudeville, At the Revaissance, Lecocq’s * Petit Due? draws crowaced houses nizhtly. Priuce Ru- dolph, of Austria, has taken o box for this evening’s representations and 1. X. H, Alvere Bdward of Wales and his brother the Duke of Counaught will pay the theatre a visit to-morrow, The programme at Sun- day’s_ Couservatoire ~ concert includ- ed Decthoven’s Eighth Symphony and the masic to Mendelsshon's “Midsummer- ight’s Dream.” We are to have a noyelty in upe of Niel Gade's “ Erl-King’s Daueh- at the Chatelet concert on Sunday next, and, on the same day, M. Pasdeloup will zive us Liszt's ** Tusso ' music at the Cirque. With all this (aud mueh besides) to look forward to, we should be diflicult fo satisty if we coms plained. Harry Sr. Micuzr. RUSSIA. . Public Opinlon In St. Petersburg, Corresuondence London Tomes. St. PErerssune, Feb. 2L—At present it Is often said that the Russian Government “main- tains its expectant attitude.”” The phrase might be more properly apolied to the Russian peopte. Tley are waiting—anionsly waiting—to know the practical results of the tedious,and to them unintellizible, diplomatic campaign which has succeeded the brilliant military operations. Why there should be a diplomatle eampaizn at atl, they cannot understand. We have peaten the Turks, they say, without foreign assistance, aud, therefore, Wwe Lave & perfect right to gdictate what terms we please without farcign interference. Why should sve not do with the Porte s Prassis did with Austria iu 1866, and united Germaoy did with France in 1870¢ Those who bear the sacrifices and gain the victories have alone the right to determine the condi- tions of peace. This argument scents to the great majority of Russfaus quite unanswerable, and accordingly the idea of a European Cone ference or Congress is intensely unpopul That Western Earope, the determined enemy of the Slays, should huve a preponderating in- fluence in Slavonie affairs seems to be at on an injustice and a humiliation 10 Russia Equally unpopular is the idea of 2 compramise of any kind, and_accordingly the recently pub- lished preliminary conditions of peace have given great dissatisfaction. On reading them tac patriotic Russian reasons thus: Why is the autonowy of Bulenria not to be com- pletet Why are the emancipated rayahe still to pay tribute? Why are the Turklsh troops to re- main gt certain points of the emancipated tersito- 131 Weare apparently about to anply to Bulgarin the eystem of pradua! emancipation which has proved 50 gisastrous in the case of the other Chris- tian provinces of Turkey. Within a few years wo shall have disturbances, insurrections, and diplo- matic nezotiations for the withdrawal of the Turk- ish garrisons; and, when that has been obtained, we ‘ebiall again bave disturbances, insarscetions, and diplomatic negotiatious for the abolition of the tribote. - Why notavoid al this by giving complete independence at once? Why have we euddenly stoppeu when a few steps more would have taken us (o the goal? 1fad we marched boldly into Con- stantfnoole without paying any attention to repre- sentatious, protests, and threats, all scrious diii- cultics wonld have disappeared. The Sultan would bave crossed into Auia. a great part of the ussul- man subjects would bave followed his example, ana this thirteentn war with Turkey would huve ‘been the last. The men who bave the dircction of foreign af~ fairs are, it must be_confessed, iu a very dis- agreeable position. Well actuainted with the difficuities of the question, aud feeling con- stantly the responsibility which weizhs upon them, they bave to be cautious in their acts and moderate in their dewands. But outside of their own litcle circle their good qualitics are little appreciated. Their cattion seems pu- silianimity, and _their moderativn foolishness. Because they refrain from giving expression 1o the wild dreams aud far-reaching asvirations of irrcsponsible amateur politlcias, they are ac- cused of beiug wholly devoid of gen- uine national instinet.” Every concession they make 1o political mecessity is con- demned as a symptom of culpable weuk- ness a0d almos: as on act of treason. Herc in St. Petersburg their diplomatic skill is to a certain extent appreciated, but in Moscow they are spoken of in” terms by no means com- plimentary. Morethau once I have heard them of late laconically and fmnmmuy described as “ces imbeeiles,” aud frequently I bave been warned not to pay any attention to their views and intentions. It is said: They are Jike children who imagine that by rais- inz little piles of atoms they can top the onward conrse of an avalanche. 'They do not understund, and do all they can to_oppose, the great histoncal movement in which they are 'supposed {o play o Jeading part. But they will inevitably be swent Quward by the natioust will and by che ircesistiblo forceof circumstances. As Russfa i$ o country with an nutocratic form of government, it may naturally be sup- posed that the statesmen and diplomatists cin dlose their ears to vague talk of ‘this kiod, aud follow steadily the course which calm refiection indicates. Thev have no factious Parliamentary opposition to face, and are never troubled with the apprehension of clamorous public meetinis or otber popular demonstration. They may live, therefore, in a world of diplomatic_attrac- tion in which dissensions are prevented by the infiucoce of bureaucratic discipline. All they require i3 the sanction of tbe Emperor, who is neither a dreawer nor 3 fanatic, and who, in the reatest as in the most iusignificant affairs of tate, s frca to mct as he pleases. Theso suppositions snd conclusions are to some extent in accordance with reality, and help to cxplain the fact that Russian forcign policy is is generally firm, decided, aud logical; bui it would be mistake to stppose that the Russian Government is entirely free from the inifuenc of public opinion. Tlie Emperor and his coun: selors are Russinus by birth and education, and live in the same intelléctual atmosphere as their fellow-countrymen. Though they have far more freedom of action thana Cabinet of re- spousible Ministers, and do not require to think of Parliament or constituents, they naturally strive to give expression to the popular will in 80 far as it does not seriously compromise the interests of the country. Prince Gortschakoil, for instance, thoush he occasionally affects to be indifferent to the o populi, is by no means insensible to the approval, con- eratulations, and applause of those who call themsclves geuine Russians and profess 1o have what they, term the “fibre nationale’’ As to his Majesty, it is sometimes said that he i3 compelled to make concessions to popular fecl- ing. The expression is not strictly accurate. ‘The Czar bas such 4 large reserve supply of real power in the boundless unreasoning devotion of the masses on any particular cceasion, boyw- ever important, he could act contrary to the popular will without fesring opposition or im- mediate disastrous consequénces. But, on the other hand, if.by computsion be meant moral ‘influence, the remark s true. Even an en- ergetic, sel-willed Czar must feel that, when the country is in danger, the sceret of his strength lies chiefly in fuil ‘and hearty agree- ment with his people. That o mlpnnd hearty agreement daes not exist at the presepy-moment, is painfully ovi- dent. ‘Though the war had caused great Szeri- fices and imposed heavy burdens, the announce- ment that an armistice had been concluded, aud that the preliminars_conditions of peace had v il be, i report sp the ter? "becn signed produced disappoivtuent rather f the eyem the than satisfaction. In houo: police of St. Petersburg and oscoyy suegested an {llumination; but in the former city the sug- zestion was coldly. responded to, and in the latter it was, 1 am told, not responded to at all. On the other band, the news that the troops were about to ecnmter Constaatinople Jas most enthusiastically received, especially iu the provincial towns. In Saratof, for it stance, there was a bolsterous demonstra- ton in the theatre, As soon ns the news Arrired the representation was interrupted, and the national anthem was played repeatedly mid the voclferous hurrabis of the audience. When it became known that the Aannouncement Was premature, there was a good deal of disap- pointment and munnuring. ~ During the last few days fn St. Petersbure public feefing has oscillated between enthusiasm aud despondency, according as the chauces of the troops entering Constantinople ruse or fell. The peace party bas for the mowent_ disappearcd, or, at least, become silent. — During the swnmer and the autumn I used to hear dozens of people com- plaining of the war, condernning the short-sight. ed, bellicose fanaticism which had led the coun- try tuto difliculties, and ardently hoping that peace would be coucluded as soon as possible. Of late T have_heard very few people speak in this way. Many of those who formerly condemued the iar with Turkey as most disastrous for the economic and political proz- ress of the country, aud ruinous for the nation- al tinances, have uow forzotten their prudence and gloomy forebodings, and are remdy to en- gage with a lisht heart iu o great European struggle, the consequences of which would be for Russia far more disustrous, eveu it she were victorious. The ehange is, L believe, the result of various causes. In'the first place there is that feeling of reckless: which is express~ ed in the vopular sayivg, **In lor a penny, in for a pound.”" At this momen: I cannot recal any Russian "~ equisalent for that homely phrase, but I have no doubt that oue exists, for that peeuliar speefes of recklessness is far stronger and moro frequent in the Russian tha in the Englishman. - Many stravge mani- {estations of it on a large scale” might be cited from the history of the last tiwenty years. At the ttme of the Emancipation, for example, a larze number of proprictors who bad at firsg opposed the measure, suddenly turned round as 500n as they saw it was {rievitable, and, making a holocaust of their aucient rights, demanded. that the rcform should be as thorough as possi- ble. Something analozous scems to have oc- curred mow. *“Iwas strongiy opposed to the war,? said a fricud 1o me the other evening, Hand decply resretted the commencement of hostilities; but, now that things have gone so far, I should like to see the question thor- oughly solved, even though it shouid cost us_preat sacrifices.” Many hold this view, and they can adducé very strong arcuments i support of it. I do mnot speak of the peoble who preach the “bag-aud-bazgasre” doc trine in its extreme form, and who are ready to sacrifice 50,000 human lives for the satisfaction of seeing the Cross put in the place of the Cres- ceut on the dome of St. Sofia. "I speak of sensi- ble, moderate men, who think more about the ‘present interests of Russia than about bistorical missions or the pussible future of the Slavonic race. 'They hold that, sconer or later, the work must be done, aud that it is better to finfsh it now, beeause, If it be left unfinished, 1t must all be done over again, and all the sacrifices must. be made a second time. But what is_this **work" that is so often vacuely referred to and so seldomn accnrately defined? Of .course, each one iollows his own conception of it, and sume of thesc conceptions are very fantastical. *4n auonymous politician, for example, writes to the Sovremenniya Tsvestiya s follows: Ifas the time not come for completing the Cra- £ades begun by the Western Christians nearly 500 years ago? Ts it not lhe proper moment_to revive the {dea which Christendom strove to realize in the cleventl century? May uot our preseut strogule with Mahometanism be the beginning of the end of tne Christian asvirations to emancipate the Holy Tlace in Palestine? Surely now, when we carry on a strugzle for the liberty of the Christians who have o long sullered under the horrible yoke of Islam, it s the proper moment 1o say to the Chris- i id, **The time hus come for completing rusades’ and for frecing forever the Holy Places.” Let there be a frce, Christian, interna- tionul province of Jeruealem, etending from toe sea to the River Jorvun, and endowed with free, international institutions. 5 1 quote this curious document in order to illustrate the extravrdinary conceptions of the great work »’ which are oceasionally to be met, with; but it must not be supposed that suchi fantastic notious find geueral ncceptance. Though educated Russian possess mauy char- acteristics of “the proad Slavonic nature,” and often conceive grand schemes shich seem to the practical Englishman thoroughiy utopian, the; hase o keen sense of the ridiculous and s consid- crable amount of political sagacity. What the majority of them understand by “the great work " 1s the emancipation of the Southern Slavs from Tarkish rule, and the obtaining of certain political advantages for ther own country. At the begivnivg of the war, the former of these two aims was almost exclusively thought of, but recently the latter has been brought prominently forward, and threatens to bring about & couflict with otaer Poswers. The intention of annexing a large part of Turkish Armenia is wot likely to be resisted, but the desire to make the Black Seaa mare clausum will probably mect with decided opposition. What Russia wishes is to bave a fortress at the northern end of the Bosplorus, so that in time of war she could withouta fleet effectually ‘rotect her southern coasts. That such a con- cession may be extorted from the Sultan in his present belpless coudition is mot gt all improbable, but whether Europe will sauction the arrangement is a different question. The desire 10 recover the strip of land at tae mouth of the Danube may also lead to grave dilicalties, and already it las raised a violent anti-Russian fecling in Roumania. On this sub- feet, o Russian correspondent, writing from ucharest, suy: Our allies, the Ronmaniaus, abuse us unmerci- fally. There is not a single Roumanian paper swhich does not say eomeibing disagreeuble for ns to bear, aud the crowd is 5o excited that we sball probably have our windows broken. In spite of this the Cabinet of St. Petersbure shows 1o signs of withdrawiug its demand, and &till hopes to ind some compromise. It will be curious to watch how it extricates itsclf from its present awkward position. THE ZUNI INDIARS. Peculiarities of n Progressive Tribe of Arl- zonn Savages, Au Arizona corresponacnt writes: The Zuni Tudians are located in New Mexico a few miles east of the Arizona line. They are au industri- ous, economical people; are kind and hospitable 10 stravgers, hive almost wholly within them- selves, raisc. cattle and sheep, weave blankets and cloth for their own clothing. They live in four-story buildings, the entrances being in the top story, which they enter by means of ladders which they take up after them at night, and then cousider themselves secure from enemies without, and, so far as the rude implements of war the lndians use are concerned, are undoubt- edly correct. Tuese Indians have no traditions of the past that counect them with tne ancient people who once densely populated this Terri- tory, but from their mode of living, the archi- tecture of their buildings, etc., they are un- Qoubtedly the last remnant of that great people who had large towns and cities and who carried on cxtensive agricultural enterprises. Sume distance from this Zuni village, on the Arizona sideof ti:c line, is a salt lake, and all arousd the lake the brine has evaporated, leaving vast deposits of beautifal white and chemically pure salt. To this inexhaustible tountain the Zunis Lhave gone for their salt for a period so far back in the misty past that the unlettered Zuni has no knowledge of the date of commencewent, but probably many centuries before our anves- tors landed from the Mayflower on this conti- nent, oreven long before Columbus discovered that there was such & country, the dusky Zuni maiden and her liege lord repaired hither to this bountiful source of supply, and in peace and security gathered what necessity required. Time rolied on aud,the pale-faces came and sst tled pear, and were shown this wonderful de- posit and were invited to share its fruits with thoir dusky brethren. A few years azo one more avaricious than the rest concluded to Jo~ cate and make it bis own private property, to settle there and become a tollgatherer. In vain the Zunis reasoned with bim that they had for centuries enjoyed the fres use of this lake; that, by priority of discovery, occupation, and use they were the right(ul owaers, and if any one could make s mouopoly of its use they were the proper parties, but that thes did not seek for advantages of this kind, but did urge, 1 the most solemn manner, that it be lett free for all to o and partake of it at pleasure. The new oceupant insisted that Lie biad a legal right to it;that it was his own propertys; that he in- tended to hold and enjoy it for his'own use and advantage. [t was not long after this that bis cabin was found abandoned: his things, such as gun, awmuniiion, provisions, and blankets were undfsturbed, buc he bas never beco heard of siuce. Whether he became disgusted with his own illiberality and wandered away to parts unknown, or whether the Zunis sent him on a voyage of discovery, is not known. But no one has since had any desire - to monopolize this salt mine, and people of ail nationalities, creeds, and tongues go there in barmouy and gather what salt they want, and they invite the civil- ized world to core -and partake with them, as they claim there is enough for ull. CITY AFFAIRS. The Efficiency of the Fire De- partment Not to Be Affected. Some More Policemen Dropped—-- Slanghter of the In- nocents. The Mayor and the Aldermen will have no controversy. The former is master of the situa- - tion, and the latter know it, and, althongh twenty-five policemen were dismissed, and tlirty-three firemen requested to retire, yester- day, the Aldérmen Qldn’t even protest. Per- haps there has been a compromise. But the Mayor says he koows nothing of it. It is cer- tain, however, that the Fire Department proper is to remain futact, and very probably not more than = sevents-five * policemen .will be dis- charged. No further reductions will be necessary in either - service, it the $30,000 iu miscellaneous recefpts set aside for cach is available. Ever since the Council appropriated $250,000 to be derived from this source, his Honor has said that no such amount would be raised. Sapr. Mickey is of the same opinion, going so far us to say that no more then one- half as many saloon licenses will be taken out this year as last. He attributes the falling off to the Red-Ribbon movement, asserting that such anumber of drinkers have signed the pledge that luck of business will compel over 1,000 saloon-keepers to abandon the busioess. Others who have almost as good opportuni- ties for gaining knowledge om this point, @o not place the figures so Ligh, but they do not question that there will bealarze shrinkage. Instead of §203,000, the sum paid by saloons Tast year, perhaps not over $130,000 will be re- ceived this year. It is proposed to make up the amount of $250,000 by licensing people who are not now licensed. The Cammittee on the sub- ject has already agreed upon making the livery- ‘hacks pay a fee, and an effort will doabtless be made Monday night to take action to secure the Iicensing of street-car conductors and drivers. ‘While the Corporation Counsel has decided that the street-cars themselves cannot be licensed, it is cloimed that, as the Council has power to license hackmen, omnibas drivers, “~and others enzaged in a similar business,” it can reach the conauctors and drisers. The companies, and not the men, would have to pay the fee, which swould perbaps not be over $10. Aldermen are looking-over the charter to see Whoclse can be licused. They will unques- tionably make some business for lawyers. THE POLICE. The twenty-five polivemen who received no- tice ¥riday evening that their resiznation would be accented at 10 o'clock yesterdny morning ap- peared ap the police headquarters on time and delivered up their stars and clubs. Thirteen of them belonged to the *Lake street squad,” five on the North Side, and seven on the Soutn Side. They got no pay, and will receive uoth- ing for the service they have rendered for sev- eral mouths, There is no money available, and the Mavor declines to {ssue any kind of a war- runt uutil the injunction case s decided. The district most aflected by the: movals is that d by the river, Jackson street, the South Branch, and the lake. Ounly six police- men were on beat inall that territory yester- day. There were four others at street-cross- inys, but their orders are not to leave their posts, The officer who bad the “ big Iadies’ corner,” Washington and State streets, has been dropped, 80 the ° *‘big ladies " will now have to Tun the gauntlet without assisiance. Monday, twentv-ive of the South Side officers will be invited to step down and out. None of the station-houses will be abandoned, since the property will bave to be taken care of, and * the sembiance of a department must be ixcpt. up,” even though the force of men is small. ~ As to reductions in the Lieutenauts and Sergeants, nothin has yet been determived on. It 1s cons tended that nove can be dispeused with, one of cuch befug essential to every station, the Lieu- tenaut for day and the Sergeant for nient duty. Two, and, perbups, three, of the hesdquarier detectives will be ordered to do patrol duty. ‘Who tie unfortunates will be is as yet simply o matter of conjecture. THE PIREMEN. In the afternoon Fire-Marshal Bepner dis- charged two of his men and retired thirty-one others. The former were “sups™; the Iatter the watchmen at the enginc-houses. While these watchmen will not draw recular pay, they will have the preference in case auy vacancies occur or men are needed to take the place of any of the rezulars who get sick or are injured; that is, ther will be placed on the roll of appli- cants, and will be griven work temporarily when necessity requires This is a precarious 1meauns of obtaining a livelihood, and the greater portion of the thirty-one will ubdvabtedly wan- der off to other pastures. Their cutting-off, bowever, is only & saving of 10 per cent. The other 5 is effected” by sbaving tne vay of every ome in thé¢ Department. 1f, as seems tol be anticlpated, city warrants will be giver in licu of cash, and they mast be dis- counted, a firemau's pay will, in reality, be materially reduced. But an effort will be made to save the men from any shove beyond the 5 per cent. It is velieved that the business men of the city have at heart the swelfare of the Fire Departinent, and that they can be induced to take the warrants at their face value, and use them for taxes; or that a pool will be made up by subscriptions larze enough to cover the salaries, say $300,000, s0 that the warrants can be carried outil the money 1s in the Treasury to take them up. This proposition came frofi a merchant, who was of opinion that it would meet general approval. Whether it will, re- mains o be seen. 3 “ You bave gotten out of your diflicalty ot Iast?”? said a reporter to Marihal Benuer. o o companics will be disbanded?” - Not one. We will keep in service all the appsratus, including the chemical engines.” ** You disagree with Supt, Hickes on the sal- ary question, and prefer to keep your men?” S opposed to reducing the salaries, bat the Mayor said to me, *1 hold you responsibie,’ and be gave me orders to curtail expenses aad keep within 85 per cent of the approprintion. He said to me: *1 don’t care how you do it, but it must be done. ~ Consult the best interests ot the Department. If you van savein one por- tion, all right: let it go to make up the balance.” By discharging the two subs, putting the Watchwen ou the walting list, and reducing the salaries of all the men 5 per ceot, L can puil through. .But this makes the Department carry a great barden.?? “How sol” = “The city is in a very pecullar financial con~ ditlon. It was simply s question whether I should disband four or tive companics and dis- charge seventy odd men, or do a5 I have douc. If I had discharged the ecventy and disbanded the companies, what would have been the re- sult? The insurance companics would have raised their rates, and some of them would have canceled their policies aad withdrawn.!” “They will not do so now " “1 don't thiuk they will, Butif they bad done 50, the peole would save been obliged to pay ivereased rates from $230,000 to 350,000, to do whati—n order to save $75,000. Now as to the burden. The pay of the men has been cut down. Supppose they are pafd in warrants! How much will they bave to pay to get them 4 hed? ! “I don't know; 15 or 20 per cent, per- baps.” Phxactly. A pipeman would reccive $630 instead of $300." nium, dou’t you think the plan to have the warrants taken up ot their face will be & suc- cessi ! *\Vhat scheme? " # Haven't you beard of it?" o I understand an attemot will be be made to form a pool, or to get the merchants to take the warrants and use them for taxes.”” I that could be dong, ft would be a great benefit to the men. Who made the proposi- tion#” [ can’t tell you, but T know a friend of the Departmest {8 ialking the matter up.” I hope lie will succced. By retaining the Depariwent unimpaired, propérty-owners will save a larze amount in insurance rates.” “How will the men take tbe reduction?”? “Idow't know. 1had a school of Captaing Friday aflternoon, anG called their attention to it, and, for my own gratification, asked them to vote ou the cat in the salary or the discharge of men avd the closing of the houses. Three- fourths were in favor of the 5 per cent. They didn’t desire to see any men dismissed and the DcPulmcnt crippled.” “The men will be satisfied ' Some will not be.”” “ Those who don’t like it can resizn.” “ Certainly. Therearea great many menin the Depratment who have been_ connected with it for a number of years, and they take a personal pride fn it, and, while they hold the lower positions to-day, they are looking for- ‘ward to promotion. Tam satisfied that some of them would resizn il it wasu't for the expecta- tion of getting advanced, since by resigning now, if they were taken on again, they would Tose their prestige.” ! i é SUPT. BARREIT, s : of the Fire-Alarm Telemraph, has a small De- -partment, but a very important one. He is limited to $17,000, of which $3,000'is for sala- ries and 39,000 for miscellaneons expenses, the whole appropriation being $20,000. ‘~Can you get along with the $17,0001 said the reporter to him. “ I can, ana retain all my men.” s Their saiaries are shaved 5 por cent3™ +Yes. *How will you save tbe ather 102 By econamy.”’ “In what direction??” “Well, I can buy the raw battery material and manufacture what Ineed myself. What cost 83,000 Iast year I can make for 31,500 :And 1 have paid 60 cents an hour at the electrical works for repairs. Ill take off my coat and make_them myself, and my men will help me. Then I'll not make some extensions of the lines that I contemplated. Our Department is dif- ferent from others. 1If one part is thrown out the whole s worthless.” *The best firealarm system in the world? will not be allowed to deteriorate “No, sir. THE PETS, The bc‘a:s and eagles and other animals in Union Park ara to be killed. It costs §0a month to feed them, and <conomy i3 necy 5 i orde that 1o men i charge of the grouods ny receive tbeir salaries. It has been sug- gested that all the fish in the pond be i since they also are an expense. Were done, there would be four or five courses for a x)_a! ufi;l]‘x‘l’ewmuh Il}le Aldermen could be in- L, —Aldermen who vate ¢ Vet ted for sewers and So far the Comptroller has made no reduc-: tlons fu bis olfice. It hus been decided, how- c{zl‘.‘(a‘uul fm&:;ies 15 per cent, since that iz about the ouly thing upon which to 3 or three clerks may have to o, e 100 A sedrehing feTRANCE: o searching {nvestization of the {nsurance of- fices on LaSalle street yesterday afternoon lct&lztfl torevealanyactionon the partof theundersriters £reyuc out of the peculiar tuancial condition Of.the city and the threatened reduction of the Fire Department. They do not propose.to do suything until the city authorities commence on areduction. In that case they will be guided by instructions from the home offices. In sows iustauces the agents have taken advantace of th&: snuuzllyg to mncli“l uun-gl:slmhlg risks, and redace policies on others, where they th there was too much at risk., AN THE SCHOOLS, The Special Committce of Elght, appointed by the Board of Education at its last session to consider the great and pre aestion, ** How can swe cut down expenses?” held a see ¢ret meetine yesterday afternoou in one of tho Board rooms, and applied_themselves for over o hours to a colution of the question. It wus not to be expected that the Committee would get through the business at one sitting, nor did i ft. As" made up, it consists 13 the Chairmen of 'mearly every m- portant Committee in the Board, so that when the prumng-knife is applied fo any special department, the Cnairmun of the Com- muttee coutrolling that Departeent has a chanes to rise and explain just how possible or impos- sible it is to eut dvwn its expenses, and, in the Iatter case, to show how broper It would be to climinate sundry items of cxpense in others. ‘The only matters touched upon yesterday were those of supplics, repairs, ete., abd, after mucn talk; the concluclon tiually arrived'at was that by © & course - of strict ecomomy in of chalk, penails, pens, paper, blackboard-rubbers, 'maps, = soap, brushes, brooms, and the one thousand and one other etcetera, something like $10,000 could be eaved in this Departwent. The question of salarles was not touclied. Probably it will not be, since the sense of the Boird seems to by that the teachiens’ pay is low enough as it fs,and. that the decrease should be maae 1o other w: thus keeping within the $5 per cent which will collected ou the appropriation. Further mectings will be leld Monday, Tuesday, . aud Wednesday, and the Committee Wil report at an adjourncd meeting of the Board to be held Wednesday evening. 2 THE CIRTIFICATES. No more certificates are to bie redeemed or in- terest paid until the injunction case is decided This course was determined upon yesterday ‘morning, for should the courts grant the in Junction the Comptroller ana ‘Treasurer would be liable for ull the money paid out on the cer- tificates from the time- they received otice, throuh the Law_Departmeut, of the filin of the application. Iu fact, no summons has been served, but the city accepted service Friday, when the bill was ‘sent for. The - Corporation Counsel is at work on an answer, and the argmnents may take place Monday. Tt was i timated on the strect yesterday that the ro for shutting down on the certiticates was t. a non-resident holder a chance to apoly for pav- ment, aud, by the refusal, hure groands for in- gnping a suit in the United States Court. There can, however, be no truth in this, since it implics a Inck of faith on the part of the city authorities in the legaliry of warrants. ok, STREET-CLEANING. To the Bditor of The Tribune. Maren 16.—The condition of our vithin a few weeks past was worse than at apy tiwe to which the memory of man ruu- neth,—counting out the ante-pavement sci~ tlers. The great improvement, which Is ap~ ‘arent, is wholly duc to private effort, and this sugeests the queries: Why not make it ob~ ligatory upon all to keep tueir street, as well a3 thelr sidewalk, clean? Has mnot the Council power to rezulate the one as well as the other? Why shoula the city pay over $100,000 for that which can be as well dooe for one-third of that amount, withaut resortiogto a general tax, and at a comparatively slight expense to those immediately benefited? These are important. questions at o time when retrenchment and ceonomy are growing fashlonable, even to tha extent of regardiug our.highest Interest, the public health, as a subordinate one, becuase it is thought antazouistic to the public pocket. It the city canuot legally act in the manuer sugzested, o public sentiment can be created wiuch will briog about the same result. Chi- cazo bas always risen superior to her misfor- tunes, and should casily surmount this. While_asking questions I want to pat oo other. Why can we not dispense with nearly all of our'night police force, and replace theit with private watchaten, givivg che lacter police authority within certain limits! { venture the assertion that the service rendered will be equally satisfuctory, while the expeuse to the dty will be nil. Lwould also a) D!{ the same rule to our Fira Department. Cut it down even more than the Mayor suggested, and permit those most in. terested to replace at their own expense, wiving them authority even to keep their own steamers. for the protection of certain sreas. It can easily be done by co-operation. Our city is passing through a great crisis, but it has met worse ones. What is nceded is to compel its citizeus to think and act for them- selves, aud ot put the city to the expense of being head, hands, and fect for them. . We sub- mit to too much governing, and rings prosper because we throw material for plunder in their Wway. I, A. Nresoy. THE STEWART IQAUSOLEUM. Special Dispatch 10\The Tribune. New Yorr, March 16.—The crypt under the chancel of the Cathedral of the Incarnation ac Garden City, in which is to repose the body of the late A. T. Stewart, has been designed. 1t is in the form of a polygon, wish sixteen sides, twenty-two feet fn diameter, and twenty fect in helght. Each angle is to be or- namented by a clustercd pillar of variegated ‘marble, surronnded by claborately sculptured foliated capitals, from which will spring two vaulted ribs of the ceiling. Theseribs converse at the centre, and give the appear- ance of a dove. The gruning of the camopy will be nighty decorative. The space between the pillars wiil be richly paneled and sculptured in- fine white Americon statuary marble, and _the ceilwg will be of the same material, 95 will also be the tesselated fioor. Nine windows will grive lizht to the erypt, and the two approaclies will lvad frum haadsome vestibules, which will conucet with the Cathedral above. It is probable tie crypt will be completed simnlianeously with the Cathedral, ——— An Eccentric Well. it City Derrick Wells in the ofl regions have tlowed salt wa- ter, fresh water, gas, and ofl. We now have in- formation that awell in Butler County bas been - flowing balls of fire. To ada to the Interest of the phenomenon, cach of these balls of fire ex- ploded with aloud report. The well is sitnazed on the McCandlesa farm, in Butler County, Pa., considerable distance beyond developments. It was finishec some time ago, snd was drilled a3 a test well for that locality. About the time it was completed an immeuse vein of water was struck, which flowed 100 feet ioto the air. “Re- cently the family Jiving ln the vicinity of the well were startled by a loud, rumbling zonnd, Dot much nnlike thunder. Thney found, on go- ing out of doors, the noise proceeded from the well. Balls of fire arose above the cofuian of water and exploded with considerable violznce. phenomenon continned for some time. Then the rumbling nolsé ana the balls of fire, ceased. &