Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, February 20, 1881, Page 3

- W withdraw its cireulation. NEW YORK. gankers Making Naughty Faces Over Their Fund- ing Medicine. fig Bigger the Banker the Bit- terer the Dose Prescribed by Carlisle, gamples of Their Indignation as Expressed Yesterday to Sym- pathizing Reporters. The City Banks at Once Proceed to Wield Their Dreaded Finan- cial Power. fhe Business Empire of Gould Exhibiting Yet More Gi- gantic Growth. 41 But Erie of the Trunk Lines Now Absolutely Within His Reach. sCol, Sellers” Has a New Scheme—He Is Going to Get Married. s “Trouble in de Chu'ch” Which Mr. Palmer Bought with : His $70,000. THE BANKERS, 4 WRY FACES. * Bpecial Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune. New Yorg, Feb. 19.—Bankers and busi- pessmen generally are discussing the Re- funding bill very largely, and are, of course, uch divided in their opinions. I met Mr. Haten, of the firm of Fisk & Hateh, this aft- ‘rmoon, and had a short talk with him on the pbject. Of course, he is favorable to {he measure, having worked for it very hard in Washington. He said he was glad the 1ill had been acted upon favorably by the Senste, and continued: *“It is a good thing for the people, although it miy Dot be admired by some of the bank’ officials. In my opinion, the measure will be regarded in a popular light by private investors throughout the eountry.” h “Why do you think so ?” “Because I know people will be satisfied with $per centif they do not have to pay apremium when purchasing them. The3 percents without a premium are ' JUST AS DESIRABLE ss4per cents with a premium. I am confi- dentthat, if 1 had the 3 per cents on my counter for sale to-day, there would be penty of purchasers. Then there Is another advantage, and that is that speculators will not be likely o form a syndicate for ' the purchase of the S per cents for speculative purposes, and thus deprive the people at large of the opportunity of making a safe investment at par.” PRESIDENT DOUD, of the Bank of North America, considered fhe passage of the bill ** an outrage on the banking interests of the country,” and he mid the banks would have nothing todo with the measure unless it was * sweetened ty some future action of Congress.” The sweetening he hinted at was the removal of the tax on bank deposits. President Palmer, of the Leather Manufact- wrers’ National Bank, felt thatthe banks would be greatly embarrassed. The action 0‘[ Congress might have the effect of driving National banks into the adoption of the State banking syséem. President Sherman, of the Mechanics’ Na- tional Bank, said the Refunding bill was THE SHEEREST NONSENSE. teither the banks nor the people would have angthing to do with the 3 per cents. The rate fst00 low for investors. The officers of the Merchants’ Natienal Bank opposed the meas- we. Itseemed to them to be an attempt on gp;:i‘.lot Congress to force the bauks to At Drexel, Morgdn & Co.’s it was thought tobe rather risky on the part of the Gov- emment to throw 3 per cents upon the market at this time. They did not be- lieve that they would be fuvorably regarded by Investors.” Certainly, the National banks would be injured to a great extent. There must be some redress in the future.” TEE PRESIDENT OF TIE CHEMICAL XNA- SI8; 4T do not think that S-per-cent bond : no hink af T-Cen nds Lor $600,000,000 can be xloaptgd, and that mmount is required to_ redeem the 58 ‘l‘![flm €s maturing in_May and July. o the money in_the Treasury, the sur- us receipts of the Government, and, per- ips, some sales of 3 per cent bonds, it is ible that the 6s of 1831, due in July, may Mmid. but I would not_suppose it possible the Government could ‘sell enough 3 per fl;l;gnds toredeem the ones maturing Thke President of the Tradesmen’s National thought Congress had stultified itself. = sald: *] have just made up a statement 'hrbrsentnuon to” our Bourd of Directors, owing that, after payini all the taxes and expenses on circulation and capital, & IT WOULD NOT PAY . n:h keep our notes m circulation if we are m:‘“""d to replace our bonds now held by Government by 8 per cents, The actual mfilwnuld be on our $800,000 of circula- W about $14,000. This would not pay. “:Oould use the money to much better ad- by tage. On the small banks scattered Inl'\)uzh the country the effect will be still e disastrous. Many of them would make Tt 0 or $600 a year on thelr circulation. - ok, if the act as passed becomes gé itwill lead to a material contraction e currency, but 1 do not_anticipate that - contraction will be very sudden. It nid bedmpossible for any bank to sudden- it ‘These notes are SCATTERED ALL OVER THE COUNTREY, d as long as the bank is in a sound con- fouon, but few of their notes reach, their b 1S. They can, however, withdraw se that are received in a mutilated condi- n‘.ll!ul in this way they can gradually of m:fllgelr circulation. 1 have great doubt ks ability of the Government to place any siderable amonnt of the 3 per cents.” m?;z PASSAGE OF THE FUNDING BILL e iSexmte led to promptaction by some of Ban oty banks. The Market ~National retire its circula- osif tiop -, Proceeded to de- k ul reasur’ iy LU, M‘hdmw the bonds to securghnnk circu- L The principal banks making de- Jodts were the First Mation . st Natiopal Bank, m‘é‘ §400,000; - the Awerican Ex- tosge XNational ~Bank, " S500000; and huhn"fl National Bank, $750,000. These ks withdrew their entire_circulation. Their action will be followed, it is_under- Yood, by many other -National banks which Tereunable to secure full meetings of their tors to-day, There are numerous in- es from country banks in regard to gy THE EFFECT OF THE' BILL, n&' one city bank offers amounting to over ool 4 per cent bonds were miade by a dWflden: banks, These offers were o gheclined. The President of ~one fiele banks which lias Tetired its cir- P said to-day: * Congress must be lhipe UP OF @ rare set of ninnics If it Srive 1o 03t. the banks will not hly,l0 preserve their liberdes. It mg paeirbonds to secure thelr circulation, The "3 It proposes coolly, to keep them: g resident of “another bank said with €nergy: “Iama Democrat, but Iam THE CHICAGO . TRIBUNE posed wholly of pestilential obstructionists.” 7o the STALIATION. " tern Associated Press. NEW YORK, Feb. 10.~Tho Funding bill in the Sennte Ie(r fisiyzr%nggtt:cg x\tnn_by some of the citybanks. The Market National Bank procecded to retire its circu- Iation Friday, and yesterday there was de- posited at™ the “Sub-Treasury $2,110,00 to withdraw bonds to sei:\u'e " bank circulation. The princioal banks waking deposits were the First National Bank nboucs;oosooo. the American Exchange National Bank $500,000, and the Third Na- tional Bank $750,000. These banks withdrew %h;m' entire circulation. Their action will be ollowed, it is understood, by many other National banks, which were unable to secure. full meetings of their Directors yesterday. STREET TALK. JAY GOULD’S EMPIRE. Special Dispatch to The Chicago Tribune. NEW Yonk, Feb.-19.—While!the report of late yesterday relative to the purchase of the MecCalmont stock in Reading by Jay Gould was denfed to<lay, the stock nevertheless kept up, and was about the strongest on the list. It is argued from this that there is foundation for the rumor, no- matter what the denials may be from those who are pre- sumably interested in the deal. The coal business, it is said, does not constitute the extent of Gould’s interest in securing this property. This is entirely secondary, his only object veing to secure the railroad connection which this line will bring him. Gould already has a controlling interest in the Lackawanna & Western and the New Jersey Central, and it is believed that, fol- lowing up the ruling passion of his life, HE WILL CONSOLIDATE the two. This done, and the Reading se- cured, he can extend the line to western points of junction with the Wabash system. The report is curreut that Mr. Garrett, of the Baltimore & Ohio, will be represented in the new Board of Directors of the'Central New Jersey, thus giving that road an entrance to this city, on condition that the Kansas trafiic is not interfered with by the Baltimore & Ohio. The Reading purchase will give the Wabash a Philadelphia outlet which may be valuable in the future. Mr. Gould and his associates, including Mr. Vanderbilt, now control ALL THE ESISTING TRUNK LINES except the Erie and the Baltinore & Ohio, and, if the stories current are true, the last- named road will also be in the Gould com- bination. There can be no suceessful oppo- sition to this system of roads until the new lines now projected are completed, and for. at least a year the Gould party will enjoy the monopoly of rail- road transportation East and West to almost the same extent that they now control a1l the telegraph lines of the country. It will bean easy matter for this combination to monopo- lize the coal trade, and 2 movement in this direction may be madebefore long.- Unfort- unately for the public, there is no remedy for this condition of affairs. Mr. Gould is apparently determined to wield the power he possesses by the aid of his money and his skill in manipulating stocks, and there is nothing to prevent him increasing his prop- erty almost indefinitly by his peculiar meth- ods, which result in EVERYTHING FOR GOULD, and very little for any one else. Thestock market is placed in a very dangerous condi- tion by this absorption of railroad and other property in the hands of one man. Conserva- tive bankers have heretofore discriminated against stocks of corporations controlled to a greater or less extent by Mr. Gould, and have not loaned as freely upon these as upon other share-property. It is notreasonable to suppose that they will be less conservative 110w that Gould’s possessions are so widely ex- tended, and that values are so greatly in- flated by his manipulations. THERE WAS MUCH EXCITEMENT TO-DAY in Wall street circles consequent upon the violent fluctuations in the leading specu- Jatives. The bears during the early hours were in the ascendant, and, laying much stress upon theS per cent Funding bill, they offered down all the list. The bank state- ment came out showing a large loss in the surplus Teserve, and assisted these efforts. Most of the selling was done on this financial ides, but some holdersof stocks took fright and threw them overboard in haste. The decline at one period reached 4 per cent. During the afternoon there was a smart Tecovery in prices from the tvantsof thebears themselves, who had oversold the market, and from buy- ers who. considered the stocks cheap at the decline, while leading operators bought large lines for both accounts. Notwithstanding the general outpour of certain “speculatives,” the bulls did not lose control of the market, and put up some of their specialties. THE SPECULATIVE BOOM. NEW Yorg, Feb. 19.—The Graphic says: A majority of the conservative stock op- erators in the street look for a much stronger and higher market next week after the Funding bill “is better understood. As +ed otmy party, It appears W be comn- soon as the Government actually begins to buy $50,000,000 bonds and issue §300,000,000 certificates, a further improvement may be looked for, because the operation to a great extent will prove a virtual expansionona sound basis. There is very large ¢ short? interest in the general stock market.” A “BULL” REPORT DENIED. A decided denial is given to the Teport that Jay Gould had purchased theMcCal- mont interest in the Reading Road. AN IMPRUVED FEELING. The Post says: * The tmproved feeling in the stock market this afternoon is due to o Washington dispatch saying that the House Committee on Ways and Means proposes to take the taxes off of bank deposits and bank- note circulation. If this proves true, and the Houseand Senate approve it, it will do much 10 neutralizejwhat are considered the demor- alizing influences on the market of the Re- funding bill agreed upon.” THE FRENCH CABLE COMPANY has filed a bill in the United States Circuit Court against the Western Union, American Union, and Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Companies, to_prevent the carrylnfi out of some of the prouisions of the consolidation. The French Cable Company has a contract with the American Union Company_for the exclusive use of their cables inall their trans- atlantic telegraph business, which, it is claimed, will be impaired by the consulida- tion. The French Company prays that the agreement or amalgamation that has been made between_the Western Union and other compaties be declared against public policy, and of no etfect. Judge Blatchford granted 2 temporary injunction, on which argument will be heard on the 24th inst. WESTERN UNION. At a meeting of the stockholders of the Western Union Telegraph Company, ay, 325,973 shares voted in favor of the increase of 4tock to 800,000 shares of $100 each, and 100 shares against the increase. ‘The 100 shares Yoted in opposition belong to Wiiliam S. illians, who brought one of the suits against the consolidation. nthe County Clerk’s office to-day, the cartificate increasing the stockof the Western Union Telegraph Company to $80,000,000 was fled. 1tis signed by Norvin Green, E.D. Mory n.AuiuslusSuhell,A‘Durkee.b'nmuel ¥. Barger, Joseph Harker, A. B. Cornell, Russell Sage, John Van Horne, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Wilson G. llunt, E. S. Sanford, Thomas 'T. Eckert, D. C. Mills, O. 1. Palmer, Samuel MMunson, Jay Gould, Auson Stager, E. D. Worcester, and William D. Bisfigp. “T'he certificate is filed “because of questions that have been made as to whether the articles of association under which said Company is organized have provided for the increase aforesaid, and to exclude ail possi- fernng to the suits brought by the cable com panies, he said: + The snits are the durndest sham 1 ever saw. The cable companies practically are one company #s much as we are. They have o working _arrange- ment under = which _business divided, and, “in fact, it can make no possible difference to_them if the land lines are consolidated. The reasons for the suits do not appear in_the legal papers. The chivf reasons are the interest of stock speeu~ lators in opposing the union for o pecuniary purpose, and fear on the part of the com- panies of the lsymF of two new cables by the American Telegraph Cable Company. Gould, who is thoe originator of Com- pany, "has not said one word about these cables to this Company, and no arrangement whatever between the two corporations has been made. I do not know that he has indi- cated his purposes to_any one, but the pres: ent cable companies stand in great dread of the scheme.” * BANK STATEMENT. . The following is the weekly statement of the associated banks: TLoans, increase, S~ 663,200; specle, decrease, 8$1,951,2003 legal tenders, 'decrease, §633,000: devosits, _de- crease, | 8206,200; circulation, decrease, $92- 800; reserve, decrease, $2,558,250. ‘The bauks now hold $3,809,275 in cxcess of their legal requirements. CABINET GOSSIF. Bpectal Dispateh to The Chicaco Tribune. New Yorg, Feb. 19.—Washington, Mentor, and Albany just now are the points of ab- sorbing political interest with politicians here, as elsewhere, The fact that Senn- tor Conkling and ex-Senator Dorsey have recently returned from Mentor, where President-elect Garfield’s carriage is constantly utilized by visitors from the East, and that Chief-Justice Folger, of Albany, has gone to the Amerfean Mecea, has put a thinking cap on the head of many a politician, and to a certain extent given the future of the Cabmetaway. In the mirage of reticence with which the returned pligrims veil themselves, it is possible to discern sundry - certainties, and among them the following: First, Senator Conkling, durmg his very recent brief visit in this city, was in a most cheerful mood. and gave his Intimates and adherents also the right to infer that he had had A PARTICULARLY PLEASANT VISIT WITK GEN. GARFIELD. Second, during his stay he was called on by Chief-Justice Folger and ex-Senator Dorsey, and at the close of the call the former started at once for ~Aen- tor. ‘Third, in the interview with Mr. Dorsey, published a few days since, on the eve of his last visit to Mentor, he said: “New York will undoubtedly be honored by a choice of one of her sons as Secretary of the Treasury.” Putting this and that together, and, knowing the ex- citement that prevailed in political circles here and in Washington in respect to the dinner recently given by prominent men to Mr. Df{fie’" TrE TRIBUNE sought an interview W THE CAPTUBER OF INDIANA, ex-Senator Dorsey, who, in response to a question, said: ““Yes, 1 have recently re- turned fromn Mentor.” z Do you Tegard the Cabinet settled 2" «Nut entirely, but mainly.” “Plaine goes in 2" “Blaine goes in.” “Who will be in the Treasury 2" “] can’t answer.” Can’t or won’t 2 *Won't.” “You were antagonized to Senator Conk- ling, were you not, he wishing Ar. Morton and you some one else?” = “On_the com.rar{, what Ar. Conklin;]v o d wished I wished. What I wished I worke for. Senator . Conkling’s position an services entitled his “wishes lo great consideration, and you = may Test assured that no one_knows it better or acts upon it more emphatically than Gen. Garfield.” “Then you really worked for Mr. Mor- | ton 27 ' “1did.” ¥ “With what result®” I am not at liberty to say.” #DIDN'T GEN. GARFIELD PREFER A WEST- ERN MaN?” “He did, and the country will be indebted to Senator Conkling’s argument with Gen. Garfield's strong common sense that he will select an Eastern man.” “Then, it is decided 2 1t is.” « Does Mr. Morton know of it > «1le knows, as all directly interested have known for some time.” “wDid you know that Judge Folger-had gone to Meutor?” “ Certainly.” « Yle was your favorit, it is said 2" «Nonsense. 1never saw Judze Folger but three times in my life. He isavery strong man, an able jurist, a well balanced, clear- headed administrator, and would honor any position.” “Is he 5 = A FRIEND OF MR CONKLING'S?” “QOne of the closest and truest. Excuse me from goine any further into that. Suflice it as coming from me that 1 could not properly say any more.” “ Ali right. Iow about Bob Lincoln 2 VWell, that is under consideration, Itisa matter purely of sentiment 1 any event.” « How about the Custom-Touse 2 “What of it?” « Are you a candidate for it * No, sir; nor for anythin else, Thereis nooftice I seek. - 1f I wantedany I wouldn’t be compelled to seek it; none that I would under any circumstances accept. I amglad to have an_opportunity, however, of saying ble pretext for doubt rcspecfinfi‘ the same.” But the Company also claims that said ar- ticles do provide for such_increase, and that it has already been authorized and made. 3 messenger_has been sent by special train o Albany this afterncon to filé a copy -of the certificate in the oflice of the Secretary of State. PRESIDENT GRLEYN, of the Western Union Telegraph Company, said to~day that the Compauny supposed the consolidation of the telegraph compunies had been accomplished: that the presentac- tion of the stockholders had been taken_to provide aginst all legal contingencies. this much: . First. that all this gossip in re- spect to an anti-Conkling deal in Mentor is simply bosh. Second, that the \Vashington gossip about the Dorsey dinner is silliness.” A KICKING KIRK. ALL ABOUT MR. PALMER'S RECALCITRANT CONGREGATION. Spectal Dispateh to Ths Chicago Tridunc. NEw YoRrk, Feb. 10.—"1 understand r. Palmer has discharged the mimister, and I'd like to know something about it,” was the remark made by one of the Deacons in the Union Tabernacle, in Thirty-fourth street, near Eighth avenue, at an in- dignation meeting on -Wednesday evening Immediately after prayer-meet- ing, when about 600 of the church attend- ants were present. The Rev. Georze J. Minein, the pastor, replied that Alr. Palmer was present, and that he might speak for himsolt. Mr. Palmer then arose, and sald that Mr. Mingin's time expired on the 4th of April, and that he was about to leave. “-Thatis all there fs about it,” Mr. Palmer added; “I have nothing more to say." E THE STATE OF AFFAIRS that led to this indignation meeting in tho TUnion Tabornaclo 1s* extraordinary. The church is termed an * independent " one, because it is not sttached to any denomination, but itis in reality the most dependent church in the city, 03 may readily besecn when oneof its members couldand did * discharge " the minister. The church has been in existence, on its present footing, since last spring, and the Rev. Mr. Mingin has been its pastor. Mr. Mingin is an old and well-known city missionary, and a year ago be was holding & series of very successful meetings in Grand Union Hall, on Seventh avenue. One of. those meetings was attended by Mr. Francis A. Palm- er, Prestdent of the Brondway National Bank, a gentleman who takes an interest in church mat-. ters, and bas abundant means. 3r. Patmer, it appears, was interested in the mecting, and said to Mr. Mingin after the servico that he ought to have a larzer piace to preach fn. It was nbout this time that the Mcthodist church in Thirty-fourth street, near Eighth avenue, was offered for sale. The church had been struggling along for many years under some of the ablest ministers in the >ethodist Chureb, but nobody ever suceeeded with ft. Mr. Palmer made the Trustees an offer of $i,000 for the building, and the offer was accepted. He thus becamo THE ABSOLUTE OWNER ~ " . of tho property, without any reservation, and spent about $5,000 more, it is said. in makmng repairs. When the puilding was agatn ready for occupancy Mr. Mingin was invited to occupy the pulpit, and be accepted the invitation, tuking a Jarge part of his former,congregution with him. Mr. Mingin’s ministry bégan on the ith of April, 1880, und he was enguged for one year, bigsalary, $1,800, a8 well 03 the runing expenses of the burch, to ba puid out of the voluntary contri- burions. The history of the new church, in the {irst ten months of iis exlstence, is thus brietly told by its pastor: *Itis ‘emphatically & church for the people. The other churches nre all elther very stylish, Tor very rich peo) le, or they \re missions, for very poor people. This churen tries to till the want of a church for mechanics and reapectable people who waot a church to go { 8., to, but bave rot much money to spend. We all work for o living in our church, an THE RICHESL MAX IN THE CONGREGATION 15 a clerk In thy Post-Office 08 $150) a year. The attendunce bis averaged about 600 on Sundny i and from 1,000 to 1,200 on Sunday evenings. Law Sunday evening several hun- Qred people caild not getin. and 1adto go away. The umount rised for all purposes by voluntary contributions lns been $3.0 8o far. Out of this we huve to pay the minister, the tho sexton, the gas bill, and all the expenses, Not miore than 10 $500 of this sum hus betn “contributed by Mr. Palmer. All the rest has been given by the congregation, For we believe Ingiving If we are poor. Tho church has flourshed from the start, and the congregation i8_lirge and united. Itisjust the Xind of a church for this neighborhood. There 1s no use of having a church here for mitiion- aires, for there zre no milllanaires bhere. But it is Mr. Palmer's church, and I don't see any- thing to prevent bim from huving another man to preach in it if ke wants t0. HE CAX AFFORD IT.” «wWhat foundation is there for the report that Mr. Paimer has * diichuryed the minister?™ the rcp;m;r inquired. * Simply this.”” Mr, Mingin replied. Tio andsnid that otr engagement ended on the 4th of next April, md that he thought 1 had bofter take a short: vacution ‘before &I leftr. replied, ‘Vory well' He did not - make iny® exrplanation except that he thought he could de better. He looks upon it entirely as a businesstransaction. He enwfid Tt for a yoar, and the timc IS nearly up. He tacitly suys that hodoes not Wish o renew tho cogagement for .mother year, and 1.do not fnow who has & botier rightto say so. He is a very good sort of msn, and I have not a word to Siy agaiust bim.” ' But the congrezation.—how do they feal?" » Ab, that is another thing,” 3r. Mingin con- tinued. * I never worked barder inany five veurs than I bave worked in the lust year, and ¢ isu source of grat gratification to me 0 know that my heares are my triends. BUT WE ARE POOR, and what can a lot of poor people do? Mr. Palmer fa very wenlthy, nid con cmploy almost any Cclergyman be chooles to preach for niw. He can cusily get n betor one than myself if he de- gires, but L doubt ¥hother he will ind a man \Who will work harder for the good of the con- gregation.” ' Mr. Paliner Is kncwn among, the congregation a8 a very wealthy nan. ~ He is President of the Broadway Nutionw Bank; lives in fine style at. No. 180 Mndison ay2nue, has an elegant country gont ut Stamford, md & Jarge estate in Massu- chusetts. 1f thelovest estimate of his wealth made by the churd peopie is anywhere near correct, he 18 ampy able 10 own & whole row of churches aud ® keep & battalion of min- jsters, If be takes a. fancy that way. e at- tends tho Rtey. Dr. Tuylor's Broadway Tuber- nacle on Sunday manings und the Union Tab- ernacle on Sunday evenings. His notico to quit 10 the pastor wus a great surpriso to the conure- gation, und gnve ris to & great dedl of indigna- tion. Members of the church who were tul ed with yesterduy by a' reporter said that the only explanation of the sudden change was, that Mr. Puimer had detormiied to muke his church A MORE STYLISH AFFAIR thanit has heretofore beea, and that to this end he has fnvited the Rev. Dr. J. P. Newwman to tuke the place. 1 ‘Tt is il right,” sid one of the enthusiastlo members. *If Mr. Falmer wants his church let bim tuke it. He owns;the bullding, but bo doesn't own the_congregnuon. Not by n very large mujority. We don’t want any high-toned preacher. We pay our preacher ourselves, and We will have tho ‘men we want, and Mr. Mingin is the_ man. ‘The matter stands just this way: Mr. Pulner bas a church and $6.congregation;: Mr. Mingin has u congregation and no church. Whether it will be casier for Mr. Palmerto get a congregation, or for Mr. Mingiato getahatl remains tovescen. We have beenusing i free churen, and that's ugninst us: but we ure not paupers, and we will have, something to say aboutavho i3 to preachiforus. Ithink Mr. Palmer fs trying to_cet Dr.Newman to prench to the pew-cushions, He aiid ‘at the meetin last hight thut some perdns thought it would be better to_ engage 1 prowningnt preucher like Dr. Newman. You see, Dr. Newman's timeis out this spring i his present church. It i3 ot likely he will begivon another Methodtst Church in New York (Jty, and he might he will- ing to take this church FOR TIE PURPOSH OF STAYING HERE. But if he does Mr. Pdmer will pag_ his salary, Yor he will not e sutisted with $L80Ou year, and thero will be nobody elie to pay it.” Tpou hear- mg that Dr. Newman hid been fnvited to 11l the ‘vacant pulpit, the rcpoiter went to the Broad- way Bunk and asked:Mr. Palmer whether thore wus any truh in the report. “I cuunot sny anvthing toyou ubout it ut present.” Mr. Palmer replied, “in sbout a month from Tow I will be able to tel.you something detinit. AlL T can tell you just ow is that Mr. Mingio hus Tetired. Come in in abait & month and I can tell You whit urrangemens we have made.” Re- Deated Inquiry at Dr. Nzwmna's cozy churchand Tesidence, in Seventh avenue, was equally un- successtul. The churoh forms AN IMPOSING ORNTRE:PIECE, - tho parsonage a ¥ing on'thie notth, and the pas- tor's study & wing on tie south. Dr. Newman Was not to be found in\lio parsonnge through- out the day or eveulng, for wus he poring over decp theologicul works Inthe study. When nsked who was tq oceupy the pulpit of the Tabernacle until nother clergymun is se- cured, Mr. Mingin repled that. he did not know whetber he was expected to officinte there any further ori mot. Mr. Palmer, he said, suggested tiat he should take o vacatlon till the end of the year, but he did 7ot know that he cared about taking a vacation Justnow. * I havenottada vacation for two years,” he sald, “and Lan wait awhile. I do ‘ot intead to sneak off asif I bud dooe anything 2o be ashained of. 1 did oy bonest best with the church, but if Mr. Paluer thinks be can find gome one to do hetter he 3us a_perfect right to doso. [ have notin my iul the slightest hard feeling against bim.” ITEMS. THERE'S MILLNS IN IT. Speciat Disputch to The Chicago Tribune, New Yonrk, Jan. 10.—1 learn that Jobn T: Raymond, the well-known Col. Sellers of the American stage, is going-to join his fort- unes with one of the’ opposit sex In a few days. ‘The woman he nas selected for this fresh matrimonial experiment is Miss Cortlandt. (Rosa" Barnes), who bas long played with him, and who is a very handsome and winning young lady. Shelsa daughter of Rose Eytinge. The ceremony is fixed for Sunday, Feb. 20. DESERTED HIS CHILDREN. A man by the name of James Rowan, who recently came to New York from Chicago to join his wife, but was unable to find her, left this four chil- dren,—boys,—from 12 to 3 years of age, at police headquarters Thursday while he continued his search.. Ile had not re- turned for them to-day, mnd the police sus- pected that he had lefc them. Rowan claimed to bea bookkeeper, but had drinking habits. THE TUNNEL. To the Western Assodated Press. New York, Feb. 10.—The work of tunnel- ing under the Hudson Rifer is going on sat- isfactorily. ‘The 200 men employed by the Company dig, silt, andiput in iron and brickwork so that the completed portion of the tunnel advances five feet every day toward the New York shore. The Superintendent of the work said yesterday: “Quthe New York: sidethe Company are metting ready to begin work at the foot of Aorton street. A caisson is building, and we will uoosbe working at both ends. The whole distance is 5,500 feet. If we advance at the rate of five feetat each end in every twenty-four hours, it will take something like eighteen months to complete the work.” OVERDUE STEAMERS. There are now six ocean steamships over- due at this port, which are. believed to have been delayed by heavy weather, and are ex- pected to arrive a any moment, The Frisia was dune from Hamburg, and the Zealand from Antwerp Tuesday last. The State of Florida was due from Glaszow on Wednes- day, the Ilecla from Liverpool Wednesday, the Australia from London and Ville de Marseilles from Hayre on Thursday. A COLLISION oceurred this morning above Hart’s Isiand, Long Island Sound, between the City of Bos- ton, of the Norwich Line, and the Elm City, of the Uartfora Line. A dense fog hung over the water at the time. ‘Ihe Exfm City was eastward bound, while the City of Bos ton was making for her dock in this city. There appears to have been some misunderstanding_ regarding the signals. The bow of the Elm City struck tne port side of the Norwich boat abreast™of the for- ward eangway, tearing away tw nty or thirty feet of her guard timbers. The bow of the Hartford bLoat was also somewhat damaged, but not enough 1o prevent the ves- sel from continuing her journey, The City of Boston kept on to her dock and will re- turn to Norwich this evening. No lives lost. TIE FUSERAL OF FERNANDO WOOD. ltlalyor Grace received the following dis- pateh: o & - Wasnryaros, D. C., Feb. 19.—The family of Mr. Wood are positive in thefr adberence to the Dm‘;msmon that there be no public ceremonies or demonstration in New York, und the remains will be taken at once upon their arrival to Trinity Cemetery, Curmansville, there 1o be pluced in the receiving vauit. No objection to The Committee coming nere to attend the funeral. - JomN G. THOMPSON, Sergeant-at-Arms. THE WEATHER. The weather to-day is moderate and clear. The thermometer at 6 . m, indicated 86; at 9 86, and at noon 4L “Sfr. Palner came fo mea fow days | [ SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 20, -1881—EIG_HTEEN’PAGES. bas FLORE From Paris to the Tuscan City— The Mt. Cenis Tunnel. American Painters and Sculptors —The Drive on the Cas- cine. ' M usical Shé*rofies—nmkeyrflhupnm of Labor—Cost of Living The Baptistery of San Giovauni=—Its Gates and Its Ancient Font. Special Correspondencs of The-Chicago Tribune. FLORENCE, Italy, Feb. 1.—The route from Paris to Florence—distance 593 miles, time thirty-six hours—is one of great interest to the lover of grand and impressive scenery, especially that part of it which brings the traveler within the mountain-ranges of the Alps. Leaving Yaris in the evening, these are reached the following morning, and dur- ing the entire day the tourlst is in the imme- diate sight and presence of these -grand mountains,—their snowy crests piled, crag upon crag, high overhead or in the distance, and their immense rock-masses rising almost perpendicularly in many places from the rail- road-track. We wind inand out among these crags, following the course of the swift-rush- ing River Arcat their base, gradually ascend- ing the mountain-side, and every moment making the awful chasms and precipices deeper, and , decper, more fearful to behold, until, about 8 o’clock in the afternoun, we reach Modane, on the frontier between France and Italy. Here we are delayed an hour for examination of bagrage. We are’ now within a few minutes of the mouthof . THE GREAT MOUNT CENIS TUNNEL,— the most wonderful achievement of engin- eering skill in surmounting natural diflicul- ties the world has ever known, being nearly nine miles In length, and costing over 40~ 000,000 of francs. The engine which is used o draw the train Is of the most powerful description, the speed of sbout fifteen miles an hour, requiring about forty minutes to pass through the tunnel, which is lighted the entire distance by lamps placed about 800 yards apart. Emerging at length again into the welcome light of -day, we enter one short tunnel after another, un- der the projecting masses of rock, and frequently on the very edge of most giddy and dangerous-looking . precipices, sheer down thousands of feet without a break. There is no protection, in case of an accl- dent, to prevent the entire train from being dashed Into fragments on the rocksin the Dbed of the rushing river below. 1assureyou s map, howeyer brave is apt to catch his Dbreath more than once as the train, running now at. full speed, swings around these frightful places. The ladies of my party, fortunately, were on the side of the car nearest the mountain, and I was very carefal not to call their attention to the view on my side. Ammonia and camphor, I bave no doubt; would have been immediately-in requisition had I been foolish enough to have done so. Iam sure I AM NOT ANSIOUS again to make the acquaintance of what the railrond officials describe as * the most grand and magnificent scenery in the world.” E thought when I crossed the Allegheries in 1853, before the tunnels were cut on the Bal- timore & Ohio Railroad, that I had about reached the acme of dangerous railrond- traveling; but pshaw! that was but a penny- whistle to a thunder-storm as compared with this. I recotlect the veryemphatic remark of one of my fellow-passengers. a Mississippi steamboat-captain, whom Imet a few days after at Willard’s. e had come to Wash- ington to -attend the inauguration of Presi- dent Pierce. “Look ‘here, stranger,” said he, *if it had been me who had been elected President of the United States, and I knew beforehand I had to travel over that road to Dbe inaugurated, by the holy poker, I would stay on the other side.” When I return to Paris, my present impression is, I will take the Mediterranean route from Gienoa to Mar- seilles. - 7 We arive at Turin at 6p. m., and reach Florence the following morning at 7 o’elock. When we left Paris the weather bad already beeome very cold and disagreeable, aud hiere we found ourselves in the midst of summer and brightest sunshine. 1 think, withoutex- ception, Florence Is THE MOST DELIGHTFCUL CITY I have ever visited, and my opportunities liave not been few. It has been appropriate- 1y called the Garden of Italy. Its situation and surroundings are certainly unrivaied and unsurpassable. Lying as it does in the beautiful Valley of the Arno, the bright and rushing river of that name passing through its centre, spanned by noble stone bridges;, embellished with statnarys surrounded on all sides by hills green to their summits, and dotted with villas at every available point, imagination . stops short In an at tempt to describe its many charming fontures. To one accustomed to the Jevel sameness of our great pralries, the charm i3 simply indqscribable. And then the air isso delicious, perfumed with the bursting bloom of thousands of flowers, even now in midwinters the skies so blue, the sunsets so gorgeous, and the walks and arives so interesting and picturesque. Com- pared with our bleak and wintry climate at this season, it is indeed a perfect Paradise,— adolee far niente to the invalid, and the overworked brain of the student and man of business, many of whom find thelr way here from all quarters during the winter-season. Again, it is the city par excellence, above any other city of the world for a ITS TREASURES OF ART, which have been earefully pieserved here for hundreds of years. Its immense palaces and_grand old churches me filled with the works of the ancient masters, and some of the brightest names on the roll of fame claimed Florence for their birthplace. Dante, Bocceacio, Macehiavelli, Galileo, Michael Angelo, Cimabue, Leonardo da Yincl, Del_ Sarto, _Beuvenuto Cellini, Vespticel, Pisano, Donatello, and many other eminent men of lettt and science, and art, were natives of this city. 2 Florence does not lay claim to very great antiquity, Ancient records and some scanty Tuins indieate that it wis probably founded by the Romans in the first century B, C., un- der Suila; but It must have attained to con- siderable prosperity esrly in the Christian era, owing to its highly-favored situation. Tts history is an exces inizly interesting one; but of that I cannot enter within the scope of a single letter. IS present_population Rumbers about 160,000 soals, Since the re- moval of the seat of government in 1870, 1t has rather.decrensed than increased In popu Jation; and, were It not for its won erful collection of art-treasures, which attract grent numbers, of foreign it would, not- Sithstanding its glorious climate, soon sink into the position of n second-rate_ city. Considerable manufagturing is carried on here in mosales, marbigs, and bronzes, jewelry, straw goods, and earthenware. Fhe stores are rich in costly fabrics, pre- clous stones, marbles, and copies of the old masters, many of which are exceedingly clever and very reasonable in price. Some of the bric-a-bac shops are perfect treasures of antique curiosities, very rare and beautiful. ‘There are quite a numberof | PROMINENT AMERICAN ARTISTS permanen Iy _residing here,—nmong. whom are Alr. H. R. Newman (who has just fin- islied some fine water-color drawings for Mr. Ruskin), Miss Elizabeth Boott, J. E, Craig, J. Dureneck, A. ..me(i Walter Gould, Mrs. 3 William Hasselback, Eagene Meeks. Mr. an Mri. W. J. Stillman, S. W. Van Shaik, and our Mr. Earle, of Chieago, here temnomllyd who is working very Iiard both In oil an water-colors. Among the sculptors are L: kin G. Mead (well known to our people as the artist of the Lincoln JMonuument at Springfield) ; this gentleman also furnishe the plan for the completion and stability of the Washingtou Monument, and is now engnFed in preparing some designs for its embellish- meat), Longworth Powersand Preston Pow- Jitis doubtful it they ever receive any for ers (sons of the celebrated artist of that name), Thomas Ball, P. J. Connelly, Witliamn Couper, J. R. Gould, Miss Dora Abbott, John figfe:‘mdgi. %thrk. W'JG'S Turner, Misg red, ompson, J. S. E. R. Thaxter. ) Dunnergait T had the pleasure of meeting. our towns- mangFernando Jones, who, wi&x his family, are wintering here, and_ the Ilon. AT Bigelow, late'Minister to Frauce, who is also spending the winter here with his family. There is a gentleman here from New York by the name of Livingston, who has long re- sided here, and who makes bimself exceed- ingly prominent_by appearing every day on the fashionable drive, B . WITH TWENTY HORSES open carriage. s turnout re- the appearance of Barnum’s a village, and only needs a brass band in his drag to make the resem- blance complete. Indeed, the Awericans and English, when they liear ‘the clatter of eighty hoofs on the pavement, cry out, «Yiera comes the circus!® Such ostenta- tion, while it amuses the people, seems to me very much out of taste and exceedingly shoddy. 1 never see any ladies In his vehicle, and I understand he dges not wix with the best society here. He seldom drives his Torses out ofa walk, and is securulystmgped in his high seat to prevent being pulled off by the miere weight of the reins in his band. Some years ago Lis team ran away with him. and several of his horses were injured; and I believe after that the authorities forbade the driving of more than six horses as a team on the streets; whereupon Mr. L. substituted mules, and since then he has been permitted to'en?ny his eccentricity without hindrance. His horses are well matched, and are very handsome animals, Four-in-hands are not uncommon among some of the wealthy English residents, and some of the italian turnouts are very hand- some. 1 notice & young Awerican who drives 2 pair of black Hambletonians to » light Con- cord buggy, which attracts attention from its apparent frailness as compared with thecum- brous and heavy-lopking carringes of the En- glish and Italians. Nothing could be more bright and gay than the appearance of THE DRIVE ON THE CASCINE (the Bols de Boulogne of Florence) on a clear, sunshiuy afternoon. The moving and ga_ylv—dressed thronz of pedestrians; the rilliant equipages with resplendent liveries; the smooth and well-kept avenues; the over- hanging trees; the bright green of the hedges; the swift-flowing river on one side; the richly-uniformed officers; the open parks, with fine bands discoursing sweetest musie,— all combine to make it n scene of simple en- juyment, and beauty, and eladness not easily 1o be surpassed, and never to be forgotten. This is but oneof the many beautifal drives with which the suburbs of Florence abound, which I have not space even to allude to at present. The roads are all very smooth, and are_bordered with laburnum, Toses, and many beantiful flowers, ali bloou- ing in the open ai hile the hillsides are clothed with the gray-green foliage of the olive, mixed with the dark-green of the pine, the cedar, the poplar, and the spruce. In a Ve.ri' few days the wlhole surface of the hills will be covered tith violets, Frh.uroses. daisies, and other wild varieties o flowers; " and Lanticipate much pleasure in climbing the hillsides and reveling amoung the fragrant loveliness. b One of my chief delights is to sit at my open window in the early morning and listen to to & large minds one of Circus enter] THE MUSICAL CRIES that come floating up in the clear and balmy air from the venders of flowers, fruits, veg- etables, and other produce. One daes not need any further evidence that the ltalians are truly a musical }Jcople. They do not, as the Paris venders, shock the ear by high and shrill cries, but sing them in the sweetestaud most melodious tones, I have heard some of the loveliest tenor voices—seldow heard off the'stage; and not often on it—issuing from these street-criers. There is one young fellow whose splendid tenor voice would be a fortune in-any other country than Italy. The language itself is so musical that even in ordinary eonversation it is full of melody. It is a pleasure fo pass a bevy of young Italian girls. in earnest . conversi- tion and listen to their ' sweet young _voices,—every tone and _ gesture full of music and grace. ‘Then, in the evenings, bands of singers appear under our windows and regale us with the sweet and melting strains of popular Italian songs, such as only Italinus know how to sing. Every one sings. The donkey-boys sing as they drive their she-asses from door to door; the flower-girls, with ther baskets filled with floral beauties drimez with the morning- dew; the venders of mats, and brushes, and vegetables, and egzs; the blacksmith. sings an_ anyil-chorus at his work, sweeter far than Gilmore's: the carpenter drowns the sound of his saw, and the brick-mason on the ‘Wall the ring of his trowel, with song. The cabman hailing you for a fare sings’ his re- quest; and the boys playing hide-and-seex sing out their hiding-place. ‘The only unmu- sical sound which one hears is the braying of the donkeys; and that, I must admit, has no charm to *soothe the savage breast.” SPEAEING OF DONKETS, they seem to form an integral purt of Italian lite and economy. AS Switzerland would not be Switzerland without its goats, 50 Italy would not be Italy without its doukeys. “Phe she-asses are ariven from door to door and milked on the spot; and the milk is said to be very strenir.henmg to_invalids and sickly children. respectfully suggest this plan to Dr. De Wolf to_secure_good, pure ilk to the suffering infants of Chicago,— substituting, however, cows for donkeys. In passing alonz the country road, one fre- quently sees a moving mass of hay, straw, or fodder; and, approaching it, discovers nothing visible but four hoofs as large as tea-cups and a_pair_of enormous ears,—tha motive power Dbeing a small donkey completely Lidden somewhere under the load. ‘fhe peasants use them to haul their little carts, about a3 large as our hand-barrows, containing country produce, and, as soon as disposed of, the whole family will very often_crowd into the little cart, and, whistling to the doukey, off he goes towards home. ‘All the donkeys, innles, and horses used for draught 1 a wicker basket always over their nose Which is placed Dhay orstraw, which they munchas they trudge along with their loads, 1 have never seen them fed with grain, and food, judging from their appearance. . T am sure anything like labor-saving ma- chinery would be unpopular in a country where labor is S0 PLENTIFUL AND CHEAP asin this. 1was amused, the other day, to see two lusty fellows sitting down sawing a stiek of wood about as thick as a man’s arm. Tt takes two men to shoe a horse; one holds up the foot, and the sinith squats in front of him and drives the nails. Good men-cooks can be had for 50 francs (510) a month, and a butler or valet for 30 franes (S6). Cab-hire is 16 cents for the drive, anywhere within the ates of the city, and about 40 cents per hour z‘r a party not exceeding four. The cabsare very clean and neat, the horses active, and the drivers well dressed and polite. Com- pletu]y-furn‘shed apartments are plentiful and reasonable; and handsome, large, airy rooms, with excellentboard, ata price within reach of moderate income. Blacksmiths, carpenters, masons, shoemakers, stone-cut- ters, and tailors receive from 65 to S0 cents per day, without board; while laborers re- Ceive 30'to 40 cents. Vegetables are plentiful and cheap; while beef, pork. mutton, lard, and butter are quite rs dear as with us. Good tenements of fourrooms are $60, and of six rooms $100 per year. TIHE BAPTISTERY OF SAN GIOVANNI (St. John), immediately opposit the great Duomo, or’ Cathedral, is one of the most in- teresting sacred buildings in Florence. Itis caid to have been built by Theodolinda, daughter_of Garibald,” King of Bavaria, in the year 3%9. The Roman remalns of which it is composed are said to have been brought hither from a temple of Mars which was situated between Fiesole and the River Arno. Thus the stones of 2 temple consecrated to Mars, the tutelar god of Florence in Pagan times, helped to build the temple dedicated {o St. John, the tutelar saint of Florence in Christian times. The octagonal form of San Giovanni_wakes it probable it was from the beginning intended for a Dbaptistery, al- though at oné time it was the cathedral of the town. The carliest baptisteries iere copled from the ancient thernue, or baths, With a font in- the centre, allowing room for the candidates for baptisin, as well as for spectators, as the rite was only performed at Easter and Whitsuntide. The southern gates are of bronze,—thie work of Andrea Pisano,—and were cast as early as 1330, They are divided into twenty panels, ten on :cach door, and ewmbrace the following subjeets: = 1. The Angel announcing the birth of the Baptist to Zacharias. 2. Zacharias struck gumb. 3 7The visitation of Elizabeth to Mary. 4. Birth of John the Baylisn 5. Zach- arias writes the name *Jobn.” 6. John de-- parts for the wilderness. 7. John preaching fo the Pharisees. 8. John preaching to the peohl:.-. 9. John' baptizes in_the ordan. 10. Baptism of our Savior. 11. John reproves Herod. 12..John led to prison. 13. John uestioned by the Jews. 14. Johnannounces e adveut of Christ. 15. The daughter of Herodias ssks for Jobn's head. 16, The be- headal of Johp. erod at supper receives the head of John on a chnrgepe 18. The daughter of Herodias presents John’s head to her mother. 19. The disciples obtain the head of John. 20. The disciples bury the oy, "The northern gates, also of bronze, and di- vided into twenty pauels, are by Lorenzo gl;{:em (1401), and the subjects are all taken - THE LIFE OF OUR-SAVIOR, - commencing with the annunclation of the Angel to the Virgin Mary, and closing with the Resurrection. ‘The storles are told snn‘)ly. and there is a delightful freshness as well as earnestness of thought in thesecompositions, which are finished with conseientious care. _The eastern gates, also of bronze, and di- vided into ten panels, are by the same artist, —the subjects being taken trom the Old Tes- tament, beginning with the creation of ma: :l{nd ending with the meeting of Solomon an & e Qu.een of Sheba. In alluding to the great enuty of these several zates, Michael Angelo, in a burst of admiration, exclaimed, ** These fi‘i‘se."flm worthy to be'the gates of Para- The western entrance was closed early in the thirteenth Century, when a tribune ynnd cumbrous altar were placed in its stead. - b An octagonal font, no_longer in existence ut which once stood in the parish church of St'. Reparta, was brought to the Baptistery in 1128. 1t appears to have cousisted of one large basin sarrounded by sinall basins, re- _sembling those still in use 1 the Baptisteries of Pisa and Pistoia. The centrs sin. Wi intended for adult immerslt:l:.x‘x& basin :\‘m“i reached by three steps,—symbolic of the convert having renonuced the world, the flesh._:md the fl'c\'fl, and of his confession ot the Three Persouns of the Trintty; while the fmamll’eli) gas[gns n"i‘nmd wer:l:l llu!emled for in- ants ptism. was whilea this ceremony that Sersalor Ak DANTE, in his attempt to rescue a child from drown- ing, broke one of the smaller busins,—a fact commemorated in his celebanted lines, where, describing the sepulchral place of punish- ment of Simon Magus and his followers, he s:gs in the Inferno, canto xix., vol. 6: ? *To me less ample scemed they not, nor greal Thao thoss that ia niy howutital i ZAre fashioned for the Place of the Baptizers, ‘And one of which, not many years ago, 1 broke for some one who was drowning In it.” A notice is extant in the records of tha Guild of Wool of the sum paid for the con~ struction of a canal to convey water from the central font to the smaller ones, which were probably used in bad weather. The cupola having been open to the air beforethelantern was built, the larger font was top inuch ex- posed for the rite of baptism. It was alto- gether removed in 1571 by “the Grand-Duke Francis I, on the, baptism of his son. The Temoval, liowever, was & most unpdpular act with the Florentine citizens. The present position of the place which tha larger font once occupied is immediately un- der the centre of the dome, and is marked by eight octagonal slabs of variegated marble, each slab beinx eight feet long, convergi to the centre, where there is a. largze roun siab of green marble, representing the fout, with the three steps leading to it, also in eol- ored marbles. This would give the outside circumference at ninety-six teet, or thirty- two feet in diameter. The smaller fonts wereround in form, and about twelve feet in diameter. The position of these fonts, their size, the steps leading down into_the water, all appear to bear out the supposition that both adults and children were really - mersed in the days when this buptisinal font was innse. This Idea is, however, contro- verled by examining the desizns on the ‘bronze doors, as well as the group, life-size, over the eastern gate,—in all of which our Savior is represented as standing in the was ter, and John the Baptist POURING WATER OVER HIS HEAD. I noticed the same form of baptism repre- sented in a fine painting by Allori (date 1560) of the Baptism of our Lord, in the gullery of - the Utizzi Palace. ‘The usual entrance to the Baptistery is b the southern gate. The sombre light which penetrated through the small, deep-set win- dows of the ambuiiatory leaves the interior of the building in comparative darkness, so itis almost_impossible to distinguish the mosaies which cover the roof and walls of. the interior; and, as I only wish to attempta - description of such things as come withiz- the scope of ny own observation, [ will not_ attempt to deseribe the paintings, niches, columns, and statuary with ‘which this an- cient and interesting building is so profusely embellished. Iintend in my next letter to attempt a de- scription of sowme of the larzer churches, and of the principal galleries of paintines and. statuary, with a few persenal observations on the character and habits of the people. 1 cannot close this letter without alluding to the continued kindness of our extremely. popular and intelligent Consul here, . COL. J. SCHUYLER CROSBY, towhom I am indebted for much yaluable Information. A few days ago I had the pleasure of calling_your attention to his re- markable sagacity in_diseovering. damaging evidence against 3 band of forgers and coun- terfeiters _recently arrested here, and at home, which has vecasioned so much exeite- went on both sides of the Atlantic. Since I commenced this letter, we have had * quite a little flurry of snow (which, however, melted as fast as it fell). which. 1 learn, i3 exceedingly rare in this climate,—last winter being exceptionally eold, the coldest in fifty years; as indeed it was all over Europe. But even this mild cold \eather appears to shrivel up these delicate and summer-nur- tured Italians, and they shivering about in o manner pitiable to behold. This weath- er, Lam told, will only last afew days, and will pmb:\bly searcely affect the out-door flowers, aud seems only to have added greater brillianey to the bright green of the hill- sides. » LR ATiger Loose in a City. At Rangoon, In Burmab, recently, In'one of the rost populous quurters of the tuwn, a tiger wus killed in brond duylizht. Thebrute hud been hunglng about Dallab, the straggling vil- Ilnge ou the other side of the river from Ran- goon, for severul duys, and carly one morning Swam ncross the river to Rangoon. Fagwed witt the long mile through a switt current, and no doubt astonished at the number of peo- ple he. came ncross, be ensconsed himselt Peneath o _house. The District Superiu- tendent of Poiice heard of the arrival, and, armed with o Winchester repeating ritle, went down with another . Englishman in the direction pointed out. They came upon the tger unexpectediy. Entering one of the houses on the river baok, they all of a_sudden discovered the animal only 8 few inches below them, with notbing but the scant protection ot an open bamboo toor- work between them and bim. A bullet between the shoulders, however, dropped bim beforo any harm could be done, and & couple more shots made things sure. Then the Burmuns cawse crowding nround In scores. The Inspector tried to keep thew off with his gun. forgettiog It was at full cock. Suddenly it went off, and u Bur- man was shot through the shoulder, and died & fow hours nfterward. The tiger was just under nine zeet from tip o tip. ————— French Dueling Statlstics. A French contemporury has recently pub- lished w list by whicn it nppears that during the year just pussed there occurred In Frunce twenty-two duels arising from political causes. Amony these were severnl which may be term Journulistic,—the partics including five cditors, cight ‘rimm‘ and three directors. An English duily, hualyziog the list, points out that tho ‘editors were particularly unfortunate or clumsy, s they were wounded In four egeounters out ¢ five. Of the five cases in which contributor were cngaged, the knights of the quill wcva three tunes successful, while onc buttle was s without resuit.”” From 1 political polnt of view, tho Democratic combatant was found to be the weaker party. There werc oaly Two fatal rencontres. 1n the duel which tooi pluce on‘the 2d of Jupe, between the Count e Losta and toe Marquis ge Gil de Olivor(s, the former was killed: nod in tbat between M. Dodier and M. de Marsent, on the 23d ot Novem- ‘er, the former was the vietinm. In two Instances no blood was spilied, pistols being the weapoas. 31, Waddington fought with the editor of a.coun- try puper, and wounded his adversury. Tho journahsts make a very . respectuble sROw (or otherwise) in the dueling statistics. ———————— Not Disinterested. Detroit Free-Press. In the early years of the War a Michigan regiment ot infantry found itself in battle iine before i ~ rightamart ” lotof Confederntes dowi near Winchester. Skiriaishers were out, mus- kets were popping, and the Colunel wasriding up and down in front of the lines, brave uasa lion, \hen a privute sicpped out of the front ranx. advuuced, and makingu sigual for the Culouel 1o hait, said; *Kernel, it's gettin’ purty ot out here.” *Go back! Go back!" shouted the oifi- cor. “Say, you're liable to be killed out here,™ continued tne private us he ducked his head for puilets. **You'd better go to the rear and let me atay here and be shotl” **Get your plice—go brck—go back?™ yelled the Colonel. The man walked back, und ashe took his piace in the ranks hisCaptsin said: * What made you do that? Doyou want to be killed?™ * Not ex- actly,” was the slow reply; ** but I was_wlitin® 20 run all the risks for the Soke of the Keruel's creditors back in_ Blankville. He owes fucher for one, and if he geis wiped out here our family will lose $100 end six onths’ interese!”™ ——————— A Feminine War-Correspondent. Lady Florence Dixie, 170 has Iately published aworkof travels in Patagonis,is o the Cape as_war-correspondent foF mminndun Morning