The New York Herald Newspaper, December 31, 1868, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, ~ prOPRIBTOR Velume XXXIII.. oP AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. OLYMPIC_THEATRE, Broadway.—Hourty Dowerr. with NEW FRATURES. BROADWAY THEATRE, Broadway.—Tuk EMERALD RING. NEW YORK THEATRE, Broadway.—Tur BurLEsqus oF BARBE BLEOE=BELLE Hx1.nNR. Broadway and 18th street. — .CK'S THEATRE, mee DOOOK'S LITTLE GAME. CarTaiy oF THE Warcu— NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadwi DON BY NIGHT. BOWERY THEATRE, Madio FLUTE. i PIKE'S OPERA HOUSE, corner ot Eighth avenue and 28d atreet.—CHANSON DE FoRtTUNIO—LES BAVAkDs. AFTER DARK; OR, Lon- Bowery.—CLAuDE Duval— WOOD'S MUSEUM AND THEATRE, Thirtieth street and Broadway.—Afternoon and evening Performance. MRS. F. B. CONWAY'S PARK THEATRE, Brooklyn.— ‘Tur LaNcasuirg Lass. KELLY & LEON’S MINSTRELS, 720 Broadway.—Ermo- PIAN MINGTRELSY, BURLESQUE. ~GIN-NEVIRVE DE GEAW SAN FRANCISCO MINSTRELS, 585 Broadway.—ETHI0- TIAN ENTERTAINMENTS, SINGING, DANOING, &c. BRYANTS’ OPERA SUUSE, Tammany Building, Mth street.—ETHIOPIAN MIN6TRELBY, &C. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, 201 Bowery.—Comto VOOALISM, NEGRO MINETRELSY, &c, HIBERNIAN MINSTRELS, Apollo Hall, corner of Broad- way avd %th st,—O'FLAMeGTY’s DERAME. NEW YORK CIRCUS, Fourteenth street.—EQu’ AND GYMNASTIO ENTERTAINMENT. Matinee a AN CENTRAL PARK GARDEN.—Taro. THomas’ GRAND PROMENADE CONCERT. Matinee at 3. MOME CHAPEL, 29 pova's Lecture, “Mr nty-ninth street.—Dr Cor- Sa) RU: HOOLEY’S OPERA HOU’ » Brooklyn.--HOOLEY's: MINSTEELS—“SANTA CLAUS,” G GIFTS, de, HOOLEY’'S (E. D.) OPERA HOUSE, Williamsburg. — HOOLEY'S MINSTBELS—“SANTA CLAUS,” GirTs, &¢. ees BROOKLYN ATHENAUM, corner ton sts.—SIGNOR BLitz, Matinee at af Atlantic and Clin. NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1868—TRIPLE SHEET. found several articles of interest, financially; among others Senator Morton’s letter on the resumption of specie payments, and others on the same subiect from David Wilder, of Boston, and Treasurer Spin- her, and the opimon of Judge Nash, of Ohio, main- taining that if the Supreme Court decide the Legal ‘Tender act unconstitutional it should be considered political decision and therefore entitled to no re- spect. Itappears that the Mra, Augustus Dickens who committed suicide in Chicago recently was formerly a Miss Bertha Phillips, with whom Dickens eloped, leaving his legal wife at home in England, where she still lives, In llnois, however, Dickens obtained a divorce from her and married Bertha Phillips, the companion of his flight, who was recognized as his wife up to the time of his death. A man named William Astback, sixty-five years of age, killed his wife, who was fifty-seven, in Cin- cinnati, yesterday, through jealousy, and then killed himself. ‘The trial of William Brooks and Charles Orme, charged with the murder of Theodore Brodhead, near Delaware Water Gap, in September last, is pro- Sressing in Stroudsburg, Pa, The death of Mr. Page, a member, was announced in the Alabama Legislature yesterday, but an in- vestigation showed that he was killed in Mississippi, and the matter consequently says the despatch, was dropped. ‘The pickpockets who were hanged by a mob re- cently in’ Tennessee had, 1t is claimed by the Vigi- lance Committee, picked the pockets of an old man of every cent he had. The City. The Board of Education held their last regular meeting of the year last evening. The President in his closing speech stated that during the last year the number of pupils had increased by 11,130. The general condition of the schools is in every way satis- factory, The commuters on the line of the New Haven Rail- road held a mass meeting at the depot in Fourth avenue yesterday, at which Mr. Bishop, the Presi- dent of the road, was present by invitation. The commuters urged that the company should run way trains later at night from the city, and Mr. Bishop urged that the commutation system was productive of frauds and inconveniences to the company. Im- provements on both sides were promised, and the meeting adjourned, A meeting of commeretal travellers was held yes- terday at the Astor House, when It was agreed to test the State laws relative to the license required of travellers selling merchandise. A committee re- NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— SOIENOE AND ART, IPLE SHEET. New York, Thursday, December 31, 1868. THE NEWS. Europe. The cable telegrams are dated December 30. Despatches from Constantinople announce that the Turkish government has forwarded supplies to Hobart Pacha. Great activity prevails in the Turk- ish arsenals. The Greek government, it is said, is ready to com- ply with the Turkish ultimatum. The Parisian press speaks hopefully of the success of the Eastern conference. A suppression of thirty-seven of the present num- ber of captain generalships, governorships and bishoprics of Spain has been suggested in order to reduce expenses. Ten thousand more troops have been forwarded to Cuba and Porto Rico. A large mercantile house in Manchester suspended business on the 29th, Mexico. Our Mexico city letter is dated December 10. Gen- eral Rosecrans had forwarded his letter as United States !Minister to President Juarez and he was to have been formally received on the 11th. A grand demonstration in favor of the independence of Cuba took place at the theatre on the evening of the Sth n3t., aud its annexation to.Mexico wus favored, | Cuba. No authentic advices have been received from the insurrectionary districts. A rumor was current in Havana yesterday that General Quesada, from Nas- sau, had landed at La Guanaja with men and arms for the revolutionists. Porto Rico. ‘Late advices from this island are without news of interest, The prisoners taken in the late rebellion are still awaiting trial in Arecibo and Aquadilla, some 700 in number. Business is extremely dull, and sales of all classes of importations almost para- lyzed, An improvement is expected, however, with the beginning of the sugar crop, now at hand. Hayti. Our Port au Prince letter is dated December 5, It seems the American schooner De Hart, seized at St. Marcs as a blockade runner, was released only when the people of Gonaives, terrified by the threat of the English and French men-of-war to lay the town in ashes, demanded of General Chevalier that he should surrender her. General Domingue, the revolution- ary President, had sent a commission to the United States to purchase a war vessel and select an Ameri- can crew. St. Thomas, St. Thomas dates are to the 19th. The English brig Fred Clark has been entirely abandoned by her captain and crew. None of the cargo was saved. ‘The Columbian is still at the bottom of the harbor, but the divers are now confident that they will raise her, though several attempts have failed. One of these divers was drowned on the 17th, ‘They haf’ pumped out the fore part of the ship and Were all below, without their helmets; the partition gave way, the water rushed in, and one of the Mur- phys fatied to get out. The body was afterwards brought up. A new Catholic church is being erected, A fair in aid was held on the 17th, and donations have been mede by many persons of various re. ligions. Venezueln. By the way of St. Thomas, December 19, we learn that affairs remain quiet in Venezuela. Pulgar, who, after the death of Monagas, was named Provisional President, had been confirmed, Miscellaneous. Our special despatch from Indianapolis says the Erie Railroad Company bas purchased the Colum- bus, Chicago and Indiama Central Railroad at a cost of about $20,000,000, and proposes laying a third rail along its length, thus making the Erie Railway @ tvrough line broad gauge from New York to Chicago. ‘The company, it is also stated, is trying to purchase a line from Indianapolis to St. Louis. The railroad men of Indianapolis think of building anew through line to New York. The Pacific Mail Company have been sued for $4,024,000 by the State of California for landing 4,924 | Chinese passengers without commuting for them. ‘The company claims that the commutation is a tax upon commerce and unconstitutional. The militia at Augusta, Ark., are reported fortify- | ing the town against an apprehended attack from the people outside, The prominent citizens of the town are confined in the jail. Tne cotton along the Arkansas river, it is said, remains unpicked in con- sequence of the negro Jaborers having all gone off to | Join the miXtia, ‘The last rail on the Albany and @squovanna Rail- Toad, to connect Albany with Bingharton, was laid yesterday morning. The road will be open for through business on the 12th of January. Mosby Clark, an old Revolutionary soldier, aged 121 years, died in Richmond, Va., on Tuesday. | Saliy Anderson, the negro murderess, convicted {at | Richmond before a Virginia judge and released by Jndge Underwoed under his decison deciaring in- competent all court officers disqualified by the four- teenth amendment, was set set free yesterday, the Mayor, the county authorities and even General Stonemae Not knowing what to do with her. The hone of having sent the first vessel from the Atlantic coaM to Alaska to engage in the fur seal | fisheries is clafwed by New Lo The bark Peru fa the vessel, and'whe has only recently returned. On our triple shéet this morning will be found some fects in relation Yo our yrain interests, an ac. count of the charitable iftitutions of New York and ported that Attorney General Evarts had expressed himself as opposed to the laws referred to, beliey- ing them to be obnoxious and conflicting. In the Blaisdell case yesterday, owing toa defect in the venire, the order for a jury panel was va- cated and another one made summoning forty-eight jurors for the first Tuesday in January, upon which day the case was set down for trial. The North German Lloyd’s steamship America, Captain Kargesheimer, will leave Hoboken at two P. M. to-day for Southampton and Bremen. The malls for Europe will close at the Post Office at twelve o'clock. The steamship Columbia, Captain Van Sice, will sail from pier No. 4 North river at three P. M. to-day for Havana. The steamship Saragossa, Captain Ryder, of Leary’s line, will leave pier No.8 North River at three P, M. to-day for Charleston, 8. C. ‘The stock market yesterday was strong, with clos- ing prices higher than those of the beginning of business. It was very buoyant in the middle of the day. Gold closed at 13416 a 1345. Prominent Arrivals in the City. Congressman T. M. Pomeroy, of Auburn, N. Y.; General G. F. Comstock, of Syracuse; Dr. T. H. Tom- lunson, of New Jersey; Professor £. M. Tomlinson, of Centre, N. Y.; Paymaster M. B. Cushing, of the United States Navy, and H. B, Norton, of Norwich, are at the St. Nicholas Hotel. General Kilpatrick, of the United States Army; L. G. Estes, of North Carolina; George E. Gibbon, of Atlanta, Ga., and ex-Mayor S. D. Lawrence, of New London, are at the Metropolitan Hotel, Mr. De Fosse, of Washington; Edward P. Boyle, Colonel of the Coldstream Guards, and Mr. Hough- ton, Of Liverpool, are at the Brovoort House. Congressman William Windom, of Minnesota; Ger- rit H. Smith, of Geneva; Peter Gardner, of Washing- ton, Colonel Thompson, of Boston; General D. W. 0. Clark, of Washington: Colonel Hildt and Colonel Kensel, of the United States Army, and Coloncl B. Hi. Jinks, of Pennsylvania, are at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Congressman J. M. Ashley, of Ohio, and Asa Packer, of Pennsylvania, are at the Astor House. The Morse Banquet—The Telegraph Jobbers in Attendance, Yesterday we detailed a full account of the proceedings at the dinner given to Professor Morse. This tribute, so well merited, was particularly apppropriate at a moment when the people of the United States are preparing to take the great telegraphic system into their own hands instead of trusting its fortunes to the narrow management of a private corpora- tion. Numerous speeches followed the toasts which were given. Very happy among them was that of Mr. Thornton, the British Minister, who projected telegraphic improvements for the benefit of merchants, lovers and diplomats quite novel and valuable if they can be carried out. The great speech of the evening was, however, that of Mr. Morse, who gave in detail a history of his efforts, his trials and his suc- cesses. Tracing the homage which Europe | has frankly conceded to American talent, he then explained the broad views which had animated him from the inception of his great idea. These were that the government of the United States should be the sole owner of an invention which so vitally affected the general welfare. Firm in this opinion, Mr. Morse offered it to the Treasury Depart- ment in September, 1837, when he proposed attaching it to the Post Office Department, to which it properly belongs. In supportof this he was not alone; the Hon. C. G. Ferris, a member of the Committee of Commerce in 1842, reported to the committee December 30 of the same year that ‘‘so inviting are the prospects of profit to individual enterprise that it is a matter of serious consideration whether the government should not, on this account alone, seize the present opportunity of securing to itself the regulation of a system which, if monopolized by a private company, might be used to the serious injury of the Post Hffice Department.” Mr, Morse explained why this department did not accept his pro- position to possess itself of the new method of transmitting our thoughts, and showed how narrow were the views of our statesmen at that date-—entirely opposite to those of the great inventor, who says:—-‘' My earliest desires and intentions were that the government should possess the control of such a power as I could not but foresee was in the telegraph.” In contradistinction to these en- larged views were those of the telegraph job- bers who were present at the dinner, to watch over class and local interests in opposition to those of the people, It was advocated that “the telegraph ought not to be under control of a department of the government which is at present under arrears to the government more than three millions of dollars, and which arrears promise to be increased for the year Department by the telegraph. Thus from the mouthpiece of the jobbers themselves we con- vict them. The truth is, it is a matter of self- preservation for the Post Office Department to take charge of all the telegraph lines; for telegraphing has become so common that it shows the inclination of the people to use this in preference to the long and tedious method of letter writing. This will so reduce the rev- enues that the mail service can no longer be carried on in its present manner. All Europe are recognizing the fact that their telegraphic systems belong to the public, and should be so administered that the exchange of thought should not be forced to pay dividends on stock issued and watered in proportion to the pressure that any private corpuration chooses to place upon national intelligence. England has lately very justly taken charge of her telegraph lines, and it pays well. The fact that we have one hundred and twenty thousand miles of wires, and transmit annually double the amount of messages of all Europe combined, is only another argument for making the tele- graph national. Civilization can never work to its full tension in this or any other country so long as it is in the hands of an incorporated company. But it is proposed to turn the greater part of our lines over to the govern- ment for forty millions of dollars—the whole worth, perhaps, ten millions—that is to say that a better and more complete telegraphic system might be built for the latter sum. If philanthropic directors and stockholders are managing their lines for the good of the public why do they wish to bleed us to the tune of thirty millions of dollars? We cannot allow a great national blessing to be dispensed by a few individuals, who monopolize it, tell us how far we may use it and dictate the price we shall pay for it. So much of our national greatness depends upon cheap telegraphing that statesmen of broad views will not hesitate to put their shoulders to the wheel and over- turn the present system. The banquet given in honor of Professor Morse was very unfor- tunately stained by the presence of telegraph jobbers who prey upon the public wants. Their own arguments convict them, and instead of influencing Congress, as they hope to, Con- gress must be disgusted at the disgraceful attempt upon this occasion to perpetuate'the telegraph monopoly. The Case Between the President Going Out and the President Coming In. Inquisitive people, in search of knowledge, are beginning to ask, ‘‘What is this misunder- standing between Mr. Johnson and General Grant, the President going out and the Presi- dent coming in, and what is it all about?” The Italian Minister at Washington gives a children’s party, at which a daughter of Gene- ral Grant is crowned Queen of the Banquet, whereupon in her gracious address she nomi- nates Master Edward Thornton, of England, her husband, and proclaims him ‘‘The Duke of Candies and Prince of Sugar Plums.” The President has several interesting grandchildren in the White House, who ought to be present, but are not, because, it is said, of the unfavora- ble relations existing between grandpa and “the man on horseback.” Next, in the name of the juveniles of the White House, a cbil- dren’s party is given in the East Room, and it is a grand affair; but General Grant's little people are missing, because, as the gossiping old ladies have it, ‘‘their pa don’t speak to the President, and there is no love lost between them.” Lastly, on New Year’s Day, when all the officers of the government in Washington are expected by courtesy to pay their respects in person to the President, ‘‘with the compli- ments of the season,” it is given out that Gene- ral Grant, with his family, has made arrange- ments to be in the “City of Brotherly Love.” Well, then, may inquisitive people ask what does all this mean? Since his election, too, as the successor of Mr. Johnson, General Grant has seized upon every chance to get away from Washington, and the idea has prevailed that he has been dodging about to escape the annoyances of those buzzing gadflies and mos- quitoes, the office-seekers ; but these fellows, it is hinted, are consoling themselves with the fallacy that General Grant’s main object in these pleasure excursions has been, is, and will be Jill the 4th of March, to keep out of the way of Andy Johnsoa, On the occasion of Lincola’s inauguration on the 4th of March, 1861, the President going out and the Presi- dant coming in, “Old Buck” and ‘Old Abe,” rode up to the Capitol, side by side, in the same barouche. That was a pleasant con- junction of the negative and positive ele- ments of statesmanship, snd we have been hoping for the same thing on Ggneral Grant's inanguration. But when st every tea party in Washington the misunderstanding between Grant and Johnson is the leading topic among the ladies there is reason to fear that with the movement of the incugural procession of Grant to the Capitol Johnson will be en route to Tennessee, But still the mystery »roached remains unsolved, while the question, what does all this mean? remains unanswered. It can, however, be answered in one word—Stanton, That is the open sesame to @ cavern of riches— wonderful as the cave of the forty thieves. The controversy of last Januaryand February between Grant and Johnson in reference to Stanton’s suspension by Johnsor and Grant's appointment as Secretary of War. and Stanton’s restoration by the Senate, undetthe Tenure of Olfice law, and Grant's surrenier ther » pon of the office to Stanton, which vas not ord ing to the programme of Johson, are the events which culminated ia tie fearful col- lision and repulsion between Gant and John- son, Their correspondence « the subject involves these facts:—That Jolson from the very first supposed he was using Grant in the War Office against Stanton, wha Grant was using Johnson; that Johnson, in the last resort, expected Grant to hok his ground against Stanton and against tle Senate, and says Grant promised to do ths thing; that Grant flatly says he made nosuch promise, and says, furthermore, in these very words :— “T can but regard this whole matter, from beginning to end, as an attempt to involve me in the resistance of law—the Soithern Recon- struction laws of Congress and the Tenure of Office law—for which you (the President) hest- tated to assume the responsibiity in orders, | ten millions of dollars.” Here we have what the keen foresight of Morse and Ferris fore- shadewed in what we have above quoted— other matters of general Interest. Bisewhere iu our cuiumus Wis Morning wih ve that is, tue serious injury of the Post Oflige and thus to destroy my character before the country.” Reduced to plain English, Johnson in this correspondence pronounces Granta deceitful falsifier, and Grant responds that this is not é0 ; but that he has been only watching Johnson and flanking him as a desperate schemer, not to be trusted. Here, then, is the source of the “unpleasantness” still existing between these parties. And mark the important conse- quences—the general rally of the leading radi- cals to Grant and their abandonment of Chase, the removal of Stanton, the impeachment and trial of Johnson, the looming up of Chase, like the morning star, in the democratic hori- zon; the nomination of Grant as the unani- mous and universal republican champion, the botchwork of the Tammany Convention, the disgust of Johnson and his final pronuncia- méiento in favor of Seymour, when he under- took in the eleventh hour to ‘“‘swing round the circle,” and the triumphant election of Grant in the place of Johnson. Surely, after all these things Grant ought to be satisfied and Johnson ought to throw up the sponge, considering his faith in the will and the judgment of the people. We guess that the difficulty is with Grant. A point of veracity is to him, with his sol- dier's training, a vital matter; while Johnson, perhaps, scans it through the green spectacles of the politician—a medium through which even Grant looks green. But there was a difficulty between Grant and Butler about a bottle, or about Butler being corked up in a bottle, or something of that sort. That matter having been adjusted, why not a reconciliation between Grant and Johnson? The Secretary of State) who could not recollect what John- son said or what Grant said) or Greeley (relieved by Johnson of his Jeff Davis bail bond) ought tostep in as mediator. After all, however, it will probably be best to leave this suspension of relations between Grant and Johnson just as it is; for the President com- ing in being thus free from any entangling alliances with the President going out will be at perfect liberty to clear the kitchen. The Conference and the Eastern Question. From cable despatches which we print this morning it will be gathered that there is now little if any doubt that the proposed confer- ence on the Eastern question will be held. The official journals of Paris speak of its success ascertain. It is not said that the Ottoman government has given its consent that a con- ference should be held or that it is willing to abide by its decisions. Determined to be ready to act with vigor, if to take action be neces- sary, it is forwarding supplies to Hobart Pacha and his fleet, still in the Bay of Syra. In alt the Turkish arsenals the greatest activity pre- vails. The most important announcement comes fromi Vienna. According to the Presse, an influential and generally well informed journal in that city, the Greek government is ready to comply with the recent demands made by Turkey. If this announcement be correct it simplifies matters very much, If it be the object of the congress simply to prevent war its vocation is already gone. The congress, in fact, is rendered unnecessary. If, how- ever, it is the object of the great Powers to remove the causes which have led to the threatening aspect of affairs in the East the congress, notwithstanding the altered attitude of Greece, is as much ® neoossity ae aver, and the presumption is that it will be held. Now thatthe question has been so much agitated, and that the hopes of the Cretans have been excited, something definite must be agreed upon with regard to the island. The best thing, perhaps, that could now be done would be to grant the Cretans complete independence and to allow them to try their hand for a time at self-government. To this course neither Turkey nor Greece could reasonably object. Moreover, if the great Powers agree upon this or any course, objection on the part of either Turkey or Greece, or both, will be unavailing. Good Advice to the Soath, General Longstreet has written a letter which is intended to give instruction to the disorderly elements in the South, in advance of the new policy which is probably to be pur- sued by Grant’s administration. The advice comes in wisely and properly, and has a tone of good sense about it which, if the young blood of the South comprehends and acts upon, will do some good. General Longstreet advises that all the old feelings of hostility shall be buried, that the South shall endeavor to carry out the laws of Congress and shall await the action of General Grant, trusting to his honesty of purpose in the administration of affairs. We hardly think, judging from the antecedents of the President elect, that the South will be deceived in the policy which he will pursue. It will no doubt be directed towards peace, good will and a genuine reconstruction. We notice that many of the Southern papers, the Richmond journals especially, echo the sentiments of General Longstreet’s letter, in which matter they also exhibit their good sense. If this thing of reconstruction is to be dono at all it were well that it is done quickly, The eleva- tion of Grant to the Presidency affords the best opportunity for bringing the whole affair to a healthy solution, andeit is well to see that the South is beginning to comprehend this fact. Ovr Spanish Nuws.—Despatches from Madrid inform us that the Spanish govern- ment purposes sending out ten thousand soldiers to Cuba in the month of January, This looks like business, and seems, at least, to imply confidence. Meanwhile we have another announcement, which reveals very significantly the low state of the Spanish Treasury. For the sake of economy it has been suggested to reduce largely the numbers of captains general, governors and bishops. This may be a wise step to take, if we knew all the circumstances ; but it looks very much ike centralization, Spain certainly needs all she money she can get, and has good reason 0 be economical. In spite of all this appa- vent confidence on the part of the govern- ment it is very difficult to believe that the revolution is yet ® success. A Boremian’s Revenck on tHe Corner Gnocerizs.—Just before our last charter elec- ton a funny fellow and inveterate joker, who publishes a small daily paper in this city, pro- posed the name of a Bohemian contemporary as the democratic candidate for Mayor, asa twin joke to a proposition to send Greeley with his rusty coat and clod-hopping boots as Minis- ter to England. The hard-fisted democracy appreciated the jest and enjoyed a hearty laugh over it; bul the Bohemian took it in earnest, and became go incensed against the democrats for their want of appreciation of his merits and claims that he first qnarrelled with their nominee for Mayor, and then began pitching into the propriators of all the corner groceries in the city, denouncing them as rascals, swind- lers and thieves, and abusing them more fero- ciously than Greeley does because they refuse to vote the radical ticket. The Winter Festival of Flowers. Civilization grows apace. We no longer await the seasons, but weave them into a wreath, turning winter into summer and sprinkling the most delicate and fragrant blossoms of spring mid the frost crystals. Thus we beautify the old and gray, giving it due veneration, while we riot in the ever changing new presented to us by Flora. Even mathematics, mingled with flowers, become poetical, and we elsewhere to-day state the solid, Poetic fact that New York consumes one mil- lion dollars worth of bouquets annually, while not less than one hundred and fifty thousand dollars are expended in these delicate devo- tional offerings during Christmas and New Year's. One million dollars of heart flutter- ing! Yes! but here ‘the product doubles; the exponent is two. For instance, Jennie receives a bouquet from somebody ; this is a proof that somebody’s heart flutters for Jennie ; while, as to Jennie’s heart, it either flutters to think him such a fool or else goes ‘‘pitapat” in harmony. There are many kinds of flowers, to most of which the dreamy poets have attached strong love symbols. These, however, receive but little attention, except in rare instances. We have the Mexican artillery plant, whose seeds and blossoms when rubbed in the hand make a regular pronunciamiento, shooting in all directions, This is valuable in military presentations. One product which appears to have escaped proper attention on the part of the sentimental is the numerous varieties of air plants which come from Brazil and other tropical countries. We suggest that the flower of thisis peculiarly adapted to those creatures who, in the eocene period of love, live on air. The Alpine rose, found mid the snows of the Alps, is the rarest of European flowers that can be given. It does not reach here, although there are not wanting devotees who will buy the choicest. We drain the sur- rounding cities of their floral wealth; even California, India, Japan, Mexico and tropical America yield their rarest plants to cultivate among us a more delicate and keener courtesy. To-day we cull the flowers of the world by our steam communication. The locomotive, solid and practical as it is, is a wandering harper of civilization that puts more poetic polish on us than all the harpers that traversed Europe in the feudal period; for it brings to our senses what they left to our imagination. By our tele- graph, laconic and earnest, we may offer flowers at the shrine of friendship or love, or may lay a wreath by the side of the dead thou- sands of miles distant. Thus, as the world marches onward even its flower treasures belong not to him in.whose garden they are grown, but to all the world. Flora is a goddess who receives more true Worahin shou aii ULUEE 5 Withough ~.. «ilem- ber an Aztec monarch who said that a bed of coals upon which the Spaniards were roasting him was sweeter than a bed of roses. He did not, however, follow the taste of his subjects, especially the Tlascalans, who still hold an annual festival of ‘flowers and feathers, in commemoration of their nationality which sank in blood three hundred years ago. The dreamy Orient furnishes us proof of how the beautiful may be misapplied. An Eastern monarch, tired of his cabinet, invited them to a feast and so showered them with flowers that they were smothered to death. The more practical American would think this a wanton waste of that which might be applied to a better pur- pose in amore delicate direction, and would scarcely show his lack of true politeness by throwing away such treasures for such results, Next to human beings flowers come nearest perfection a3 a work of God. While we in our civilization recognize this in our worship of them, we can also point io the Esquimaux, who, near the North Pole, culls from its icy casket a blossom to decorate some dusky form which he admires. The Patagonian Indian, at the southern extremity of our Continent, pauses in his depredation against the Buenos Ayrean frontier to pick the beautiful little red flower, the “Margarita,” that he may pander to that love of the beautifal which, wherever man wanders, is the connecting liak between him and his Creator. The taste for flowers in our city has grown with far greater rapidity than the increase of population. Our German elenent, as well as our native population, is very much addicted to this taste. The Irish also, with their limited means and characteristic generosity, are not behind. All this shows how quickly we are moving towards a civilization as lofty in the most delicate of tastes as it is solid in every- thing required to produce a great people. Flora riots in midwinter, and American pro- gress is a continuous springtine. Our Theatres. John Oxenford, who visited New York sum- mer before last, said that not London, nor Paris, nor any other European capital has, in proportion to its population, a larger number of constant and enthusiastic theatre-goers than this metropolis. He would be more than ever confirmed in his opinion if he were here during the present holiday season. It is high carnival now atthe theatres, as well as in the streets, in the Park, on all the skating rinks, in all the ballrooms and concert halls and private parlors, and in all the shops and stores, with their spleidid profusion ef treasures of every kind, convertible into New Year's gifts— statuary, paintings, books, honsehold orna- ments in gold. silver, bronze, iron, precious wood, glass, percelain, caoutchoue, paper and papier maché; musical instruments, from the organ or piano to the jewsharp ; jewelry, from a diamond necilace to pinchbeck sleeve but- tons; laces, cishmeres, velvete, satins, silks, trimmings, fe.thers and ribbons, flowers and perfumeries, confectioneries, pastry and pea- nuis, steam engines, coaches, wheelbarrows, sleighs, sleds, skates and voelocipedes, a variety of chillren’s toys that would astonish Nuremberg—everything, in fine, that can be bought and given away, from a chignon ora panier to, @ spade, a sewing machine or a cooking stove. None of the other maltitudiagus distractions ee of the season prevent the theatres from being nightly thronged. The columns of the HERAED contained yesterday morning no less than twenty-nine advertisements of theatrical, musi- cal and other kindred entertainments in New York, Brooklyn and Williamsburg, which are virtually but one city, At Pike's Opera House, “La Chanson de Fortunio” and “Leg Bavards;” at the French theatre, ‘‘Genevidve de Brabant” and one act of “Barbe Bleue ;” at Wallack’s, Lord Lytton’g great comedy, “Money ;" at Niblo's Garden, “After Darky" at the Broadway theatre, “The Emerald Ring;” at the Olympic, “Humpty Dumpty ;” at the Bowery, ‘Claude Duval” and the ballet of “The Magic Flute;” at the New York theatre, burlesques of “Barbe Bleue” and ‘‘La Belle Héléne;” at Wood's Museum, “The Quiet Family” and ‘Ernani;” at Bry- ants’ Minstrels’ Opera House, Dan Bry- ant’s comical impersonation of Gabel’a Pitou in the scene of the gendarmes, iu “Genevitve de Brabant;” at Kelly & Leon's Minstrels’, at Tony Pastor's Opera House, at the Hibernian Minstrels’ and at the San Fran- cisco Minstrels’, the usual fut budget of song and fun; at the New York Circus, a Christmas pantomime, in addition to equestrian and acrobatic feats; and at the Central Park Winter Garden, an extraordinary variety of musical, dramatic, gymnastic and pantomimic amusements, not omitting the wonderful ex- ploits of Mlle. Marietta Zanfretta on the tight rope—such were the attractions offered for last evening. In Brooklyn, at Mrs. Conway's Park theatre, ‘‘ Aladdin ;” at the new Vaude- ville theatre, ‘‘'The Child of the Regiment ;" at Hooley’s Opera House (as well as at his Opera House in Williamsburg), ‘‘ Santa Claua and the Children’s Gifts” are the cards. At the Brooklyn Atheneum Signor Blitz is ven- triloquizing and exercising his prestidigitatory talents. The Brooklyn Academy of Music will be visited on New Year's night by the Wallack company, with ‘Still Waters Run Deep” and “Tei On Parle Francais.” Mme. Von Baern- dorff (Baroness Von Schoultz) will begin a series of representations in the Union Club theatre on Saturday evening, January 9. Ole Bull will give two “Grand Concerts” af Steinway Hall on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, January 4 and 5. Moreover, Signor Albites will give his ‘‘Grand Annual Concert,” assisted by all his pupils, on Satur- day, January 16, in General Ferrero’s fine new hall in Twenty-eighth street. Finally, the date of the initial performancea at “The Tammany,” completely transformed into a ‘mammoth palace of amusements,” haa been postponed to the 4th of January. Thia transformation of Tammany Hall into an im- mense theatre, with innumerable side shows, isas marvellously sudden as any at Niblo’s during the thousand and one nights of the “Black Crook.” Loud promises are made that it will be followed by more gorgeous specta- cles and more variously miscellaneous enter- tainments than were ever before offered by any theatre. It is also mysteriously whispered that something peculiarly attractive has been borrowed for the programme from almost every source—from the theatres, concert rooms, ball- rooms, restaurants, coffee houses, cider cel: ars, veer ceuars, wine cellars and barroome of London, Paris, Vienna, New York aud Ha- vana, and even from the tea gardens of Japan. The directors have obviously been encouraged by their ‘Black Crook” successes to run the new machine under a full head of steam, like a high pressure Mississippi steamboat. But we must warn them not rashly to attempt toa much; fora high-pressure Mississippi steam- boat is very liable to burst her boiler. Is the Big Indian insured ? Untrorm or tie Crry Lerrer Carrmrs.— Our city carriers of the post have at last put on a decent appearance and come out in a new uniform, which does credit to the corps. We want now more promptitude in the delivery of the contents of the mails by the Gencral Post Office to the carriers in order to make the ser- vice effectual and a public benefit, as it should be. If the carriers loiter now every one may mark them, and we shall not lay to their charge the delays that may occur in the letter de- livery. Something a little higher than the car- riers will now bear looking after, Mr. Kelly. THE LAW OF COPYRIGHT. Meeting of Artists. A preliminary meeting of artisis, including paint- ers, sculptors, engravers, lithographers and photo- graphers, was held last evening at Macdonald's studio, 697 Broadway, for the purpose of initiating a movement having in view the protection of the tights, designs and inventions of artists, Mr. Mac- donald was unanimously catled upon to preside, and Mr. George Hows was appointed secretary. The CHAIRMAN openea the meeting with a few forcible remarks on the present patent and copy- right laws, which he held afforded artists little or no protection. The man who invents a new mouse trap or flying machine may take outa patent for every part of his invention, but the patnter cannot take outa patent for his picture. A sculptor pro- duces a statue, but cannot patent it. A photo- grapher can take a view of the siatue and inscribe thereon “Entered according to act of Con: and if the sculptor were to take a similar view of his own work he would be liable to a suit for infringing on the patent of the photographer. Mr. GILBERT BURLING, Secretary of the Water Color Society, submitted the following resolu- tion:— Whereas the laws in regard te the protection of artiste in thelr productions are at present ineffectual in insuring to them the benefits to be derived therefrom, and whereas the ‘Want has iong been felt for proper legislation in this matter, Resolved, That steps be taken to unite painters, sculptors and all having interest in the different branches of the fine arts in a movement to consider the proper steps to be taken by them tosecure such amendmenta and alterations to the existing laws as shall afford full protection to all, After along and highly interesting discussion the above resolution was adopted. Mr. C, ROSENBERG thoved that a committee be ap- pointed to draft resolutions to be submitted at general meeting of artists and designers to be he! at the Cooper Institute or some other suitable pla The motion being passed, the following gentiomen were appointed:—J. W. M nald, C. G. Rosen- t. berg, C. H. Marshall, 1B. M. Pickett. M N. Perry ma per Of speoches and obj 8 which we wetively answered and removed tn the most satisfactory manner by Mr. Macdonald. Mr. Rosenberg made a brief but forcible speech containing many excellent suggestions, and as followed by Mr. Oregon Wiison and a number of eminent “brother brushes," The meeting was thea adjourned anu Saturday, the wth of January. THE NEW OXYGEN LIGHT, The initiative step in the revolution of means fot lighting the streets, public buildings and stores haa at length been taken, and has proved a decided snc- cess, From this tine, therefore, the enormous divi- dends of the gas monopolies will diminish. Oa Christmas eve the large establisdment of Ball, Black & Company, Broadway, was illuminated with the new oxygen light, again last night, and will be for public inspection to-night, The new light is soft, ciear and pleasant, and is produced at & much lowee cost than the uncertain, unreiiable stuit of the od gas companies. { Arsociation norrow, wind e to be sailed The race of the Poughkeepsie |: for the sliver plate is set down for and weather permitting. The viaian is tweaty-iour miles (rom Millon Dock.