The New York Herald Newspaper, December 24, 1871, Page 6

v NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET, JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR AMUSEMENTS TO-MORROW AFTERNOON AND EVENING. BOOTH'S THEATRE, Twenty-third st, corner Sixth av.— Bo.ius Caesar GRAND OPERA HOUSE, corner of Sth ay and 234 6t— Ticket or Leave Man. Matince at 3—Waonret. WOOD'S MUSEUM, Broadway, corner 38th st.—Perform- tances ‘and evening. —SATAN IN Pants, &0. FIFTH AVENUB THEATRE, Twenty-fourth street. — ‘Tur New Duana oF Divouor, Matinee at 13. LINA EDWIN's THEATRE, No. 790 Rroadway.—Orn Bovrve—Bauns Biever. Mchinee a. 8 WALLACK'S THEAT! Broad street. — doun Gantu. am ar eee NIBLO’S GARDEN, Broadway, between ince and ‘Houston streets.—BLack CROOK. Matinee at AIMBE'S OPE! BOUFFE, 720 Broadway.—BaRpe Burvr. Matinee ina PERIONOLE. oe BOWERY | THEAT! Bowery.— MarEPra — GALE BRrezevy. Mallnee at OLYMPIC THEATRE, Brosdway.—Tnm BauLer Pan- ov Humrrr Dower. Matinee af 2 ‘_STADT THEAT! Nos, and 47 .—THe Inon RE, Bowery. GTEINWAY HALL, Fourtesnth strest.—hanpei's Ona- prouio ov Tum Musetan. CONWAY'S BROOKLYN THEA! — Boston. Matinee at 2. ssi mrs. ‘Tue Tai BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC, Montague street— AuEaivane tm Panie—His Last Lage, FARK JHRATRE, oppose Otty Hall, Brookiyn.— THEATEE COMIQUE, 514 Broadway.—Co: vw yueus, Neono Acme se" Matinee at'3r Com FOOALe UNION SQUARE THEATRE, Log st, and Broad. nway.—Nzeno Acts—Bus.eeque, BALLET, &o. Matinee. TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, No. 901 Bowery.— Wneno Roomwratorrizs, Buatrsquts, £0. Matinee. \ BRYANTs HRW OPBRA HOUSE, 24 st, between WiheraeDEvanes Minebezce’ Maite ar ke SAN FRANCISCO MINSTREL FALL, 68 Broadway.— Mam PRANais0o MINGTARLS. Matinge ann" ‘THIRTY-FOURTH STREET THEATRE, near ‘uri ave- Neoro Booswrnicirixs, VOOALICNG, £0. Matinee. NEW YORK CIRC! Pourteentn street. —son: RE Erne, g peg 40, at Bs. oe NIXON'S GREAT SOUTHERN CLRCU: si ume In THE BING SO, Malnon oO oe broadway. WASHINGTON | mo ~ —s ‘Wiltamsbarg.—Biorp Tom, ras ‘DR. KAHN’S ANATO! -~- og py MICAL MUSEUM, 745 Broadway. NEW YORK MUSEUM OF ANATO! Broadway.— ;RNOE AND ART. ee isha TRIPLE SHEET. Now York, Sunday, December 24, 1871. —— CONTEATS OF TO-DAY’S HERALD. rear — Advertisements, S—Onnacmes he om Ariatmas Eve: The Greatest Festival of the Christian Year; The Season of Joy and Giad- ness tn All Christian Lands; Christmas Chimes and Carols; Sauta Claus asa Myth and a3 a Saint; Christmas in the Miadle ‘and Its Ovservance in the Eastern and Western Churches; A Festal Celebration for the Chil- ren at Trinity Church; The Display of Christ- mas Fare in the vity Markets; in the = and the p epectagie of the Streets; A 4—Roligi ‘Thtelligence 8 junday Schools: Th — jools: The Number of Schools and one ee nerve 00} tinned from Fourth Services on it Water: A Sermon by Tov. Mr. Spurgeon on an American Man-of-War— ailairs— Art Matters — Naval Ord a lers—Literature: riticisms of New Books; Literary Chit-Chat—Cornell Jewett and Presi- dent Grant— Brunswick’s Bold Burglar. G—Editorials: Leading article, “rhe Nattvity— ‘The Sacred Songs and Merry Ohimes of Christ- mas''—Amusement Announcements. ‘W—Kaitorials (Vontinued trom Se Page)—Per- gonal Inielligence: Americans Abroad—i H The ‘zmbasey to Washington; T! Bank of France—Rome: Promotion of bishop McCloskey—The Prince of Wales’ Health— News from Washington—Miscellaneous Tele- ms—The Weather—Tne Wesiern Tornado— asiness Notices. 8—Tenement Houses: How and Where the Poor Live; Frightful Revelations—st. Stephen's Chureh Fair—At the Departments—another Abortion Case—Abolition of Fees to Public Omicers—titaly: The Nomination of the New Bishops—News from Ualllornta—Aaffairs in Canada—Bishop Baker's Funeral. 9—Financial Fanny Men: Fun in the Gold Room and Stock Exchange—A Corrupt Police Om- rie BN, , Ree Hw Mes eto D ess—Ratlroad i. rabbere—-Grand Turkey Presentation— Tne jal Trade—! wous Forel Items— Foreign Scientic Notes—Tbe Newark Armory— Financial and Commercial Reports—Marriages Terr ble Exp oat Catastro) 0—Terrible Explosion ; © at the Metro- = litan Gas Works; The ‘ying Bas lown to Atoms; A Wonderful De from a ‘Worse Disaster; Thirty-fourtn Street to Seventy-niuth Street, from River to River, in Darkness—Lochy Ustrom'’s Wili—The All: Aoduction Case—The Erie—City Items—Ooitu- ary—The Reform Movement in Brookiyn— Fires—Telegraphic News ltems—Shipping In- telligence— Advertisements, f21—Drogs and Druggists: How the Now Dru; Clerk Law Was Carried Out—Murder an Lynching in Tennessee—The vost of Tele- raphio Mesasages—The Courts—Bui a Victim of Smalipox—Trotting, Pacing and Running in California—Foreign Horse Notes— liems from Asia and Africa—Shocking Do- mestic Tragedy--Mrs. Van Buskirk at the ‘Tombs—Deach of a Hermit. §32—Keyport’s Terror—advertisements, Goxp 108§.—Gold sold yesterday at 1083, Ybut recovered a little later in the day. Mrmusrer Sorenog anp THe Emma Minixe MPANY, according to our Washington de- patches, have parted company. It is stated at a circular has been sent round to the p holders in London and the provinces nnounoing the withdrawal of the American inister from further connection with the terprise. Cuereme News ror tik Mormons.—A lespatch from Utah states that the current lief is Brigham Young will be in Salt Lake xt week, Perhaps he cannot bear the idea staying away from his family during the olidays. Or it may be he imagines he will tt now be brought to trial, and therefore uns no risk in returning to his home. Crement L. Vatianvicaam’s Last Cuignt as been acquitted. Our despatch from Cin- innati states thet after a few moments’ eliberation in the case of McGehan, who, welve months ago yesterday, killed Thomas . Myers at Hamilton, the jury retarned a ict of “‘not guilty,” and the young man, 0, only two days ago, was almost without was at once handed over to his friends, to go where he pleased. Spurezon Unper tHe ‘“‘STARS AXxD "We publish an interesting report & sermon recently delivered on board the inited States ship-of-war Shenandoah, lying the port of Ville Franche, France. This is firet addrese be has ever delivered before American congregation represented nation. His style is represented as being so his manner so peculiarly bis own, at the words on paper give none of the fect he produces on his hearers, But we those who have had the fortune to bim wiil recognize ite force and piquancy. en is the reverend gentieman to make his in America and inaugurate a religious tournament among our Ameri- divines? NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY. DECEMBER 24, 187.—TRIPLE SHEET. The Nativity—The Sacred Songs and Merry Chimes of Christmas. 1, and it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Crsar Augustus, that all the World shouid be taxed, 2. And this taxing was firet made when Cyrenlus was Governor o! Syria. ‘ ay ana ali weat to be taxed, every one into his 7. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, into the city of David, which 18 called Bethiehem (because he was Of the nouse and lineage of David). This is from St. Luke’s simple but graphic description of the Nativity, from which we are reminded that this sublime event occurred in the golden reign of Augustus of Rome, when Rome was mistress of the world and the world was at peace. But, nevertheless, “‘the decree went out from Cosar Augustus that all the world should be taxed,” and we see too, that his system of collecting bis taxes was somewhat rougher than that of General Grant; for Joseph had to come all the way down from Nazareth to Bethlehem, ‘‘to be taxed with Mary, his esponsed wife.” And her time was at hand; for it was so appointed by a higher authority than Augustus; and the Evangelist goes on to say of the blessed Vir- - And she brought forth her ‘wrapped hi: @ manger; Fs ‘ i g E 5 5 EF 3 5 : z' i s t the Lord. ve a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling ‘clothes, lying in 8 manger. 18, And suddenly there was with fm ge apna host praising Te to God in the nignest, and on earth pene bleh end This is St. Luke’s graphic account of the Nativity. This Evangelist is inspired by the glories of the sublime event, and from his kindling narrative, though thousands of miles removed from that little city of Béthlehem, and though eighteen hundred and seventy- one years have rolled away since the “heavenly host” joined in their divine chorus over the babe in the manger, we can, with the coming of the great anniversary, almost fancy that we hear their glorious rejoic- ings still ringing in the air. St. Matthew, in his narrative of the Nativity, mentions those wise men who were guided by the ‘‘Star in the East” to the infant Saviour; and from the brief statements of the event of Luke and Matthew the Christian world, in many lan- guages and forms, has been singing since the reign of Augustus the coming of the new dispensation, From Rome to the remotest corners of the earth the Nativity by the Catholic Ohurch is celebrated with imposing services; but the Protestant sects and poets are more distinguished for their Christmas hymns and lyrica, Thus sings the majestic Milton in his stately stepping Hymn of the Nativity :— No war or battle’s sound Was heard the world around; ‘r and shield were hi uphung; ‘ne hooked chariot st Unstained by hostile blood, The trumpet spake not to the armed throng; And kings sat still with awful eye, As if they surely knew their sovran Lord was by. And thus, as if thrilled with the inspiration of St. Luke, sings the Rev. Samuel Medley, an English Baptist of the last centary:— In heaven the rapturons song began, Ana sweet seraphic fre Through all the shining legions ran, And strung and tuned the iyre, Swift through the vast expanse it few And loud the echo rolled; The theme, the song, the joy was new— 'Twas more than heaven could hold. Down through the portals of the sky The impetuous torrent ran; And angels flew, with eager joy, To bear the news to maa. And bere we give an extract from the scholarly Charles Wesley, brother of the founder of the powerful Methodist denomina- tion :— Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new-vorn Kiug! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled. Joytal, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumphs of the skies: ‘With th’ angelic hosts proc! 5 “Christ is born in Bethlehem."’ And how, as with the strong and measured tread of an army, Henry Kirk White joins in the proclamation of the glad tidings :— ‘When marshalled on the mighty plain, ‘The glittering nost bestud the sky, One star alone of all the train Can x the sinners wandering eye. Hark ! hark! to God the chorus From every host, from every gem; But One alone, the Saviour, 8] It is the Star of Bethlehem. But here, from Reginald Heber, in his day the English Bishop of Calcutta, we have a Christmas lyric which is as widely known and sung throughout the United States as his “Greenland’s Icy Mountains ":— Coid on bis cradle the dewdrops are shining, Low lies his head with the beasts of the stall; Shepherds adore him iu slumbers reclining— laker, and Monarch and Saviour of all. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us Thine aid; Star in the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where the Infant Redeemer is lala, Quite as widely known and sung through- out this country as the lyric of Heber is that familiar paraphrase from St. Luke incorpo- rated among the hymns of the Protestant Episcopal “Book of Common Prayer,” of which we give the opening verse:— While shepherds watched their flocks by night, All seated on the ground, ‘The angel of the Lord came down nd glory shone around. From the same book we give the opening lines of another favorite hymn of triumph :— shout the giad tidings, exulti: sing; ePtsalenn crtamphay Meswtal Kings r Zion, the marvellous story be telling, The Son of the Highest, how lowly His birth | ‘The brightest archangel in glory excelling, He stoops to reaeem thee; He reigns upon earth. These extracts faithfully represent the Christmas faith, hope and exultation in con- nection with the Nativity, or Christmas fo its spiritual character; but this anni- versary is also day of secular enjoyments, custome, traditions and super- stitions. In another part of this paper, we give e comprehensive article on this branch of our subject, embracing a budget of interest- ing, curious and amusing {nformation. Never- theless, as the shadings of our present picture, we may here give an extract or two bearing upon the superstitious traditions and secular ideas and notions of Christmas, And, first, we have the charming old superstition as recorded by Shakspeare in ‘‘Hamlet.” Horatio, Bernardo and Marcellus have been talking about the ghost they have just seen, when thus Marcellus accounts for its sudden disap- The idie Man.—It faded on the crowing of the cock. Some gay, that ever ’gainst that season comes Wherein oar Saviour's birth is celebrated, bird of dawning singeth all night long; FE? So allowed snd wo gracious the tines HoR.—So have I heard, and do m part believe it. Horatio was a man of intelligence and cul- ture, and yet he did ‘‘in part believe it.” It is to be regretted that even his measure of faith in miracles and spiritual things is fading away, or is degenerating into spiritual rappings and table tippings. But here is a Christmas prophecy which is positively startling with its apparent fulfilment this winter, as far as we have gone :— Big Covatmes day on Monday be, A great winter that year you'll see, And full of winds both loud and sbrill; ee the summer, truth to tell, And great pienty of beasts shall die; He shall be found that stealeth aught, ‘Though thou be sick thou diest not. How delightful are the scenes we are accus- tomed to draw “‘under the mistletoe bough,” and how like a dear and welcome friend comes this favorite music :— The mistletoe hung in the castle bh Zt ban tenn a gt ag Keeping their Christmas holiday... aes This gives us still another side to Christ- mas, a8 @ day of lover's fancies and romances; and if there is one of our young readers or one of “the old folks at home,” for that matter, who in this relation does not entertain some of the sweetest and most precious memories of Christmas, we have no great desire to know that unfortunate person. ‘ Down South in their Christmas celebrations they retain to this day much of the rollicking, festive spirit and usages of the gay Onavaliers, as contradistinguished from thesour and surly Puritans ‘“‘Yown East.” The jolly Southern blacks from this day to the day after New Year, according to their time-honored usages, which neither fourteenth nor fifteenth amend- ments can repeal, will have a merry time of it. During the week, night after night, many 8 freedman’s cabin will be enlivened with such plantation choruses as:— Clar de kitchen, old fol! ung fo! Geviginy ube se Thus having presented this anniversary of the Nativity in connection with its religious faith and devotion, its rough and rollicking amusements and superstitions and its senti- mental fancies and observances, we have only to say, in conclusion, let the celebrations of the season in every relation be conducted upon the principles of the angelic proclama- tion of “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace,” and “good will toward men,” and we promise each and all concerned it will, as far as oan be expected, ‘‘a merry Christmas.” Let our readers devote themselves to their religious duties with extra care to-day and they will all the better be prepared for their duties of good will an€ charity and their social enjoyments of to-morrow. ‘‘Faith, hope and charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.” Tho Missouri Movemont Towards a Na- tional Union Reform Party. The national union reform party in Missouri has recently made an important movement towards the opening of the Presidential cam- paign of next year. Despite the persistent efforts of the administration journals to repre- sent the republican opp®aition, which carried the State last year by an overwhelming majority as no longer in existence, the Brown- Schurz party has not only proved that it still lives, but that it numbers in its ranks the most active and influential politicians in the State. The address of this imposing and successful orgsnization is a powerful docu- ment, and, while temperate in its language, it arraigns the administration as unfaithful to its professions in favor of reform in the various departments of the national government, and as the unfortunate dupe of corrupt and dangerous men, Its platform of principles de- clares as its main plank a thorough, practical reformation in the civil service; and on this popular issne it appeals to the opponents of the present administration in other States to aid in forming a new national union reform party in time for the approaching Presidential campaign, The sudden and overwhelming force that a reform movement may acquire, when once it receives the endorsement of the masses of the people who are independent of political ties, is seen from the experience of New York, where in a day, as it were, a political combination more powerfal than any other in existence was swept away and became a thing of the past, The determina- tion to drive public rebbers from office is strong in the mind of the people, and the signal victory won in this city has acted as an incentive to further effort. The dishonesty of the revenue service is notorious, and the existence of Washington rings is as well known as was the existence of the Tammany Ring in New York. Should the feeling once become general that civil service reform is not to be hoped for at the hands of the present administration we might have a revolution throughout all the States of the Union next fall as overwhelming as that we have recently experienced in our own State. The safety of President Grant lies in the immediate and honest enforcement of the programme laid down by the Committee on Civil Service Reform. The people have no faith in Congress in this matter; and the peo- ple are correct. Every Representative has his political friends to satisfy with some good picking from the national departments,and will not willingly give up the capital derived from his Influence with the administration, In se- lections for office, from the highest to the lowest positions, the capacity and integrity of the appointees are the last and the least considerations. The more unscrupulous an applicant may be as a politician, the greater may be his reputation as a ward bully or asa ‘own organizer, the better are his prospects of success. There may be a great deal of talk in the House in favor of a reform that shall sweep away party patronage and fill the public offices with competent and faithful men, but there will be no practical action lead- ing to such a result, The President, however, has the power to make « civil service reform for nimself. He certainly has failed to do so up to this time, although he has checked some of the boldest and most unconcealed corrup- tion. It is not too late for him to complete he work, independent of Congress, and by this policy alone can he escape the danger that threatens him. Although the chances at present favor an easy victory for him next year, we have already seen how overwhelm- {ng a popular reform movement may become on the instant and without prior organization. By taking into bis own hands the eaformation demanded by the public sentiment he can de- prive the opposition of the only issue upon which they can hope to stand, and olp this Missouri Brown-Schurz movement in the bud. The Bank of France and the Trade and Money Issues of the French Nation. The condition of the Bank of France, with the matter of the heavy pressure which is daily deteriorating the profits of French trade and commerce, are the really vital subjects which present for the consideration of Thiers’ government and the nation. The bill by which it is proposed to permit the Bank of France to increase ita circulation of paper money had not been acted on when the Legislature ad- journed for the holidays. The consideration of the measure gives rise to serious reflection, evidently, as to the conseqaences which may ensue from its realization. France appears to be tending towards the accomplishment of that ‘‘last and best supply” of embarrassed financiers—a small bank note currency. Iu view of the importance of the subject we have illastrated our news telegram from Paris, relative to the Bank of Franoe, by the publi- cation of a statement of the position of some of the ablest of the politico-economists and financiers of the republic on the important matters of free trade, protection, bank note issues and specie payments. Our Geligions Press Reviow. The “‘Genius of the Season” is well repre- sented In the beginning of an article in the Golden Age. The Hoangelist gives us the map of the Presbyterian Church in the United States. It gathers within its limits all Presbyterian synods except those of the Southern States. Dr. Alexander might have taken a little more time, and given a map that would have covered the Presbyterian situation all over the world. We would like to give an ex- planation of this map in full, but will allow space only to copy tho following, as we re- ovive it from the Hoangelist:— The map is believed to be, on the whole, veel as the official records of the General Assembly ani ri various synods have been faithfully followed. some of the synods—Albany, Pitsburg and Erie, for example—it 18 almost impossivie to follow the lines of presbyteries with perfect exactness. In drawing the boundaries of the Presbytery of Wyo- ming there was a difficulty from the fact that the churches of Evans and Greeley are set down in the minutes ag in that presbytery, while the towns ara in the Territory of Colorado, and according to the organic act of the General Assembly the Presbytery of Wyoming includes no part of Colorado, The Observer (Presbyterian) is elaborate upon the topic of “God's Wonderful Provi- dences in Regard to Woman.” From its re- marks we gather the following suggestive thoughts :— American women have no need to monopolize this cause. For tneir sisters in England and in Germany re on the alert for a share in the same grand movement, A magazine is to de startea January 1, 1872, in England, known, as the Indian Female Evangelisti—“to make known more widely the rapidly growing wants of the vast fields now opened with its one hundred millions of women.” It ig intended “to bring before the highly favored daughters of Britain statements calculated to awaken interest, afford information, kindle long- ing desire for the amelioration of our aistdrs in India 80 long downtrodden.” The Observer continues: — While the festive days still linger; while the books, and tollet sets, and furs and statuettes, and Jewels and other ten thousand articles are all fresh in mind, how many of our Christian mothers and duughters will ceiebrate a real Christmas in the heart by resolving and planning for some organized aeant of hastening @ Christmas jubilee of the A “Christmas Jubilee of the World” is good. Suppose it be celebrated on the Fourth of July in 1876 in the city of Philadelphia? Henry Ward Beecher and, probably, Charles Spurgeon, of England, will be there. The Independent wrings the shirt of Neme- sis. Bowen revives history in this way :— Some time in the last century New York honorea @ certain Captain Kidd with the commission to pro. tect her commerce against buccaneers. When 7 trusted city offi that earlier Tweed, turn traitor and robbed tne wealth he was set to guard we do not hear that he was first served with a civil process to recover damages, nor that ae was aston- ished when arraigned and committed to prison on ac nal charge. He had sense enough in his head Vhen he sailed to know that if he was caught he must swing for it. What Tweed has to do with Captain Kidd, “fas he sailed,” unless he sunk his trea- sures ‘‘in the sand” at Greenwich, {s none of our business to know; but the comparison is obvious. The ‘Farmer of Bloomingdale” may know something about it. The “Birthday of Good Will” is an aptly entitled article in the Independent, but the reader would be puzzled to learn from the ar- gument of the writer whether he referred to the birth of our Saviour or the birth of a Berkshire pig. The writers in the Independ- ent are generally ruminous, but in this case it must be confessed that to the general reader it is difficult to see the point. Among the best religious papers published in this country—and, possibly, in any other— is the Christian Union. It is the representa- tive not of a democratic union, nor a republican union, in a religious point of view, but a Chris- tian union which means to carry out its pur- poses heart and soul. Mr. Beecher, as editor of the Christian Union, is responsible for what may appear in the columns of that paper. See how he talks about woman’s suffrage :— The right of suffrage is the right to make the laws on which our happiness depends; to devermine what shall become of our property; to provide edu- cation and opportunity for our children; to guard our families from violence or vice; in short, to secure happiness for ourselves and our children. Suffrage in America includes in it every natural right of man. {tts a method of the exercise of the most sacred rights of human beings. While, tnen, society may reguiate the mere incidents of this grand and central natural right as to times, places and manner, yet society did not confer it, aud nas DO right to suppress it. Why does not Brother Beecher take the stamp on behalf of woman's suffrage, and in- vite Brother Spurgeon, of England, to a tilt in a religious tournament in this country? Our Catholic contemporaries this week are especially alive to the festivities and solemni- ties of Christmas. The country religious press give gratifying assurances that the spread of the Gospel con- tinues, that revivals embodying an unusual record of spiritual visitation are prevailing and that the good work tending toward salva- tion in these pleasant Christmas times still goes on, Tar Prracy iN Ma@paLena Bar.—An ex- amination into the case of Manuel Cobos, who was recently charged in San Francisco with piracy in seizing the schooner Cira Green- wood, shows that the case does not bear the serious aspect previous reports led us to be- lieve, It was admitted before the United States Commissioner by the complainant that Cabos, paid him for the schooner in the latter city, but that he took out papers for her in his own name. What the complainant's charge really amounts to is this—that the vessel be- longing to Cabos and arriving in Magdalena Bay with papers that were false, the latter at once seized his own vessel by force. What other sensible man would. not have done like- wisn The Night College for Christian Werkers. One Ware was hanged a few days ago in the model State of New Jersey. Hosts of missionaries and ministers visited him in his cell and accompanieed him to the gallows. They pressed most im- portunately upon him the responsibili- ties of his soul in view of immediate death. He was deaf to all their appeals. His answer to their exhortations was :—‘‘I do not know anything about Jesus Christ.” He en- tered eteraity without the first consciousness of accountability, if his inner life may be judged by his manner and his words. But he left a most stirring message to all the churches. “If I had received as much attention before being put in prison as I have since I should never have been here,” was his comment on all the care which ministered to him during his last days. The Hzratp preaches this sermon to-day to all who have come into its congregation, The work of the city missionaries in the homes and hovels of the degraded and vicious tends to the best civilization as well as to the spiritual welfare of those approached. Such as they are we have in this community a large number of such voluntary and paid workers. Their zeal is commendable, but not always according to knowledge. They need special training from persons experienced in the different departments of Christian and be- nevolent labor. Visitors in hospitals must be taught how to minister to the sick; in prisons how to spproach the condemned; in homes how to cheer the discouraged. Preachers in the open air need a different sort of oratory from that demanded by congregations in churches with soft and staffed pews. Bible women become twaddlers of gossip unless they are prepared for their work and possessed of tact. Nothing oan be done with fools in such work, but much may be done for those who have natural gifts to lift up the fallen, to speak a word in season to the weary and to chase away some of the shadows of dismal homes. ; } The Night College for Christian Workers is a grand movement in the right direction. The college building is in Forty-third street, be- tween Madison avenue and the Grand Central depot. It is not only accessible to all in the cities, but to our suburban towns. The Board of Trustees is composed of such citizens as James M. Brown, Julius Wadsworth, E. H. Nichols, John D. Earle, A. G. P. Dodge, and Rev. H. Dyer, D. D. A corps of lecturers has been secured and announced adapted to all branches of practical instruction, Among them we find the names of Rev. Drs. Tyng, Muhlenberg, Ormiston, Crosby, Foss, Buddington, Daryea, I. H. Vincent; Revs. George J. Mingins, Ste- phen H. Tyng, Jr., Mr. R. R. McBurney and W. H. Thompson, M.D. Here is an honest effort towards practical resulta in benevolent work. Lectures will be delivered at the col- lege building on every Tuesday, Thorsday and Saturday evening after January 7. Such special instruction in technical Christian labor under teachers so competent should be sought by all who are at work and want to work more successfully. Tickets are furnished ‘‘without money and without price.” Success to the Night College for Christian Workers, Au Anti-Cyclone. The storm of Friday, which has just passed, was a remarkable one in many respects, and seems to be referable to that class now known as anti-cyclonic storms. Such storms are not attended or prognosticated by a fallinz of the quicksilver in the barometer, but, on the other hand, are characterized by an area of high ba- rometer, in which the winds for many hun- dreds of miles rotate around the central wave of atmosphere in the direction of the hands of a watch, while in ordinary gales the circu- lation is in the opposite direction, from right to left, The law of anti-cyclones was first demonstrated by Professor Buys-Ballot, of the Meteorological Observatory of Holland, and in March of this year Professor Pliny E. Chase, of Philadelphia, made some very valuable re- marks, before the American Philosophical Soci- ety, bearing on these peculiar phenomena. He showed that the storms of last January and February had been anti-cyclonic, and furnished some reasons for believing that anti-cyclones “are the usual weather breeders even of such of our land storms as become more or less cyclonic after they are fully developed.” The northeast and east winds on the western and northern sides of the anti-cyclone are just as much from seaward, and hence as highly charged with aqueous vapor—the fuel of storms—as similar winds in an ordinary low barometer gale off the coast of New York and New England. The rains precipitated from these winds, meteorologists show, gene- rate new storm centres. This fact and the fact that the anti-cyclonic wave is followed in its wake by an area of low barometer and stormy weather, should make us look out very suspiciously this winter for every such fine and cold spell of bright weather and high pressure as Thursday was, since it is the premonitor of the swift-following and ugly changes of weather. The old sailor's rule, contained in the fol- lowing couplet :— When the wind shifts against the sun ‘Trust it mot, tor back it will run, is, after all, as true when read vice versa as it now stands. New Bishops of the R. Catholic Church. A telegram from Rome reports that the Pope on Friday last preconized—officially proclaimed to the Christian world—the ap- pointment of twenty-eight new Bishops of the Church. The ceremony was performed, as usual, at the centre of Catholic unity, and thus becomes known wrbi et orbis to Chris- tianity. There can be no doubt as to the Apostolic commission of the prelates who have been so honored in the future. In the matter of their nationality we find that nine- teen of the Bishops are Italians and three Frenchmen, The Italians will, we presame, fill the Sees which have been so long vacant in their country, A wonderful change in the respective conditions of the Holy See and the executive power of France since the day when Napoleon the First delivered his famous Proposition to Pius the Seventh in the palace of the Vatican:—‘‘ Holy Father, you will hold the keys; I will wield the sword of St. Peter.” The exile of St. Helena was not per- mitted to wear even his own army sword just previous to his death; the tron crown of Lom- bardy has been restored to its rightful owner ; the successors of Bonaparte flad shelter with his victors, and Popo Pius the Ninth sends new Bishops to Italy; the Italy which was farmed out to the conqueror’s step- Son, Eugene Beauharnais, in 1805, France gets three of the newly appointed prelates. The Church renews its youth and becomes reconciled to its children ag in the case of Italy. Nations grow effete In their systems of civil government. “The Poor You Have Always with You.” When the thermometer falls below when the beautiful snow is knee-deep in the roadway, and still falling, the rich and the well-to-do peep from their warm and com- fortable domiciles out on the forms hurrying to and fro. Their eyes rest with a glitter on the gayly caparisoned sleigh horses, with their jingling, silvery bells and fur-wrapped load, gliding along at lightning speed. Sleigh suc- ceeds sleigh, and the tintinabulation be- comes monotonous and the eye turns away to enjoy the tranquil luxury of the salon within, Now, fair young lady of the costly robe and maiden heart; good, prudent mother of the world; or you, young Croesus of our ‘‘golden youth ;” or you, stout paterfamilias, of solid wealth and kindly soul, before you turn your eyes from the enlivening scene without, try if you cannot see other forms than those who revel in the carnival of snow. Tl clad and shivering, they hurry along with misery on their faces, despair at their hearts and the weird brightness of hunger in thelr eyes. What cynicism is conveyed to them in the jingling of the grelots, in the ringing laugh of the driver, in the prancing of the glosay, well-fed steeds that pass them as in scorn of their poverty! Think, then, that they are but units who stand for thousands in this great Gotham of ours. Follow them, with us, off the noisy thoroughfare, slipping and stumbling over the snow, into the byways of the city. Stand before the tenament house, with its hundred families, where that shiver- ing, storm-beaten form enters and climbs the rickety stairs. See that man enter his nar. row, squalid, fireless room, where an ill-clad, tearful wife bas been vainly trying to stop the clamor of the little ones for bread with the promise that they shall have some “when father comes home.” He knows that they have been wailing for food, and the bitterness of the thought that he has nothing for them chokes his voice in his throat, and he sits down to think—of what? It is not his fault. Hia miserable pittance of wages made it impossible to save a cent when the sun was shining; now that the bitter wind has frozen up his chance of toil, and the snow has laid its winding sheet over it, he finds himself and his little ones fireless and food- less; and still he thinks. How the honest heart struggles between the thought of going forth to steal or staying home to die we can tell only when a man is dragged to prison for some desperate theft, or a woman and a child or two are found dead of hunger and cold in the place miscalled their home. This is not fancy, fair ladies and gallant gentlemen. It has happened before and is happening now, while yon, forgetful rather than heedless of the groan from that dungeon or the dying cry from that miserable room, pass from your luxurious parlors to the bi liant salle & manger. Think of it, then, and do not pause before you scatter something from your goodly store to lighten the woes of the all but vanquished in the stroggle for life. How much more serene your joy, when you can see the wild light of famine replaced in a fellow human being’s face by the smile of gratitude, and the terrible temptation to crime removed ! Our Saviour, in the sublime pity of His heart, when on this world, loved the poor, and will not ye, O Christians, follow inthe humble stepa of Christ? Generous, indeed, has New York shown itself in such times; but seldom before was there such need of charity as now. An early and severe winter has placed its icy manacles on the wrists of labor, and the misery and suffering which must follow are almost incalculable. There is need of fuel, need of food, and a glance around will tell what need there is of clothing. The poor do not trouble themselves about the fashions. The coat that Dives would not wear for worlds will be as a robe of royal purple to Lazarus at his door. Give it to Lazarus. The fuel that a few dollars would buy will keep the blood warm in a whole family for a winter. The price of a case of wine will feed a family for a month. It is not acase for solitary effort—the rich and the mid- dling rich of our community are called on to help all they can. In former years politicians and others who were suspected of venal motives gave magnifi- cent sums to the poor in special localities, and many were deterred from making donations by the idea that the godlike virtue was being de- graded into a vulgar trade for votes. But all that has been changed, and those whp do not give will not have even that poor excuse, Be- sides, they must remember that God alone is the judge of motive in the exercise of so godly a principle, and we must recall that, whoever gives, it is equally a boon to the poor. Let the great heart of Gotham beat warmly fn response to the call. The wants ase many as your noble gifts can satisfy. Let our rich men and women put their hands deep into their pockets and draw forth the money that will pray to Heaven for them through other lips than theirs. There is, to the rightly-balanced mind, a fascination in deeds of this helping kind te one’s fellow man which transcends all the pleasures of the world in its purity of purpose and effectiveness of act. Beautifully illustra- tive of this is the story that comes to us from the shrouded Past, the story of St, Martin, when a Uegionnaire of the Emperor Constantius, It is told that on a bitter, stormy night, when the © snow was hurling its icy darts over the Swiss mountains, St. Martin was journeying alone, In a wind-swept pass he encountered a man bowed with age and scantily covered. The heart of the Christian soldier was toudyed with pity and love, and, drawing his sword, he divided his cloak with the aged man, who straightway disappeared. Years passed by, and once, when the good man was bent in prayer saddened with doubt of his worth. ineas in the eyes of God, he heard a voice calling to him to be of good cheer; that He, the Lord, was the poor, aged, shivering man with whom he had divided his cloak that cald ' — 7? ee