The New York Herald Newspaper, January 1, 1872, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD BEOADWAY AND ANN STREET, JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROVRIETOR. All business or news letter and telegraphic despatches must be addressed New York AIMUSEMENTS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. pROWERY THEAWKE, Bowery.—Pxpretin—Tux Two OLYMPIC THWATRE, Broadway.—Tue Bavier Pan. ‘ToMIME OF HumPry Dumery. Matinee at 2, ROOTH'S THEATRE, Twenty. = JULIVE C AGAR B, Twenty-third st., corner Sixth av. GRAND OPERA BOUSE, corn 1 Tan OOLLREN Bawite Corner Of 88 ar and tad AIMEE'S OPERA BOUFFE, 728 Broxdway.—Lx ron De SOUPTRA, WOOD'S MUSKUM, Broadway, cornor 35th st. ances afternoon and evening.—OvT or THE FIR —Perform- F. VIFTR AVENUE THEATRE, Twenty-fourth siren. — Tar New DRama or Divoscr. Matinee at 13g. WALLACK'S THEATRE, Broat 1 Wath ae PR nog way ant léth street. NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway, between Pi id Houston streets.—BLACK CROOK, Matinee a o - MRS. F. RB. CONWAY'S BROOKLYN THEATRE.— Monta Cristo. EATER BROOKLYN ACADEMY OF MUSIC, M _ Suni0ve FaMiLy--BLUE DEvtus. sbi sales THEATRE COMI 514 Broadway, —C 19M, NkGRo rir bl Matinee at 334. spot gt UNION 8QUARE THEATRE, Fodtteenth at, and Bront- ‘woy.—NEGBO AOTs—BUBLRSQUE, BALLET, £0. Matinee. TONY PASTOR'S orn Nrano Rooxnratorrixs, Bo! BRYANT'S NEW OPERA HOUSE, and 7th ave.—-Bryvant’s MINSTRE(S. (OUSB, No. 201 Bowery.— ESQUES, &0. Matinee. ‘31 at., between 6th FRANCISCO MINSTREL HALL, 586 Broadway.— Tue San FRANcIBCO STRRLB, ‘i pesto NEW YORK CIBCUS, Pourterntn sroe.--SomNee IN us RinG, AonoMATs, £0. Matinee at 254. NIXON'S GREAT bOUTRERN CIRCUS, 728 Droadway.— MBS CM THR RING, £0. Matinec, patients NEW YORK Sarmyor any DR. KAHN'S ANATOMICAL MUSGUM, 745 Broadway. ~ Bouvos amp Ant. MUSEUM OF ANATOMY, 618 Broadway.— ART. = ee New York, Monday, Jnuuary 1, 1872. CONTENTS OF TO-DAY'S HEGALD, Paar ae a— Advertisements, The Staton Island Ferries—Tho Red Flag—Sup- posed Suicide—Court Calendar for ‘ro-Day— City Govern ment— Advertisements. 8~—The New Year's Nativity: The Turning Tide of Time; Mournful and Gladsome Memories; Gental and Merry Greetings—“‘Le Roi Est Mort! Vive Le Kot "—Violent Deaths —The Coroners’ Report of Suicides, Homicides In- fanticides and Fatal Accidents for the Year 18T1—Vital Statistics for the Past Year— News (rom Washingtou—Ford’s Fatal Frolic— Affairs in Utai—rne Committee of Seventy— literature: Reviows of New Books. 4— Editorials: Leading Article, ‘Trial—Circumstantial Evidence and Sctence in the Case”—Fire in a Hospital—014 Trinity's Chimes—Fish — Cuitnre—The —_ Aldermanic Squavble—Amusement Announcements, 6—Science and Stomachs (Continued from Eighth Page) — Europein Cable Telegrams — rhe Frigate Wabash ; Gencral Sherman Landed at ibraltar—The State Capital: Close Race for the Speakersnip Between Alvord and Smith; The Great Issues Involved—Movements of the | Grand Duke Alexis—-Misccllanecous _Tele- Ser Sniping: Inteliigence— Business No- @—Religious: The Death of the Old Year as Viewod from the Puipits; the Lessons of 1871; Arcb- bishop mepeeeeg a ot the Pontifical Bless- jog; Christian Frothingham on Municipal Thieves and Wo- man's Rights; kev. Henry Ward Beecher on the Victory of Sorrow—The Lunter’s Puint Bible War—Light from Another World—The King andthe Pope: The Holy Father Treated Like 9 Prisoner—Municipal Matters in New- ark—Probable Murder. Q—Spain Waking Up: Alarm ty Madrid Over the Coban Question—Charged with Stealing Watores—Crusned by he says Fight Between Brothers—A Leap for Life—Brooklyn Repovbiican Politics—Jem Mace Wants to Fight Again—Vinancial and Commercial Re- te—-Domestic Markets—Marriages and tha. B—Tae Prison Cell of Mrs. Wharton, the Alleged Polsoner: Intervicw with Important Witnesses in the Case—Science and Stomacha: The Wharton Trial as Seen Through Professional Spectacies; (Opinions of Metropo itan Chemists on the Maryland Professors—Ad vertisements, Tux Sranisn Government enters the New | Wear with a Cabinet crisis. King Amadeus will have a good many ‘‘callers,” Marsa, MacManon declines a nomination fo the Freoch Assembly. He is waiting for something better than the filling of a vacancy fo the present French Long Parliament. Tnx Last Day of the old year, over head | pnd wader foot, was ‘dismal, gloomy and | peculiar.” Let us hope that the first day of fhe New Year will close bright, genial and Tull of promise of better days to come, y' Tae Unirgp States Frigate Wabasu arvived in the harbor of Nice, Italy, last Sat- urday. General Sherman and ‘Lieutenant Grant landed from the vessel at Gibraltar, as | we are specially informed by telegram. Waar Arg You Gore To Do Anour Ir? is the query put by District Attorney Bates, pf Utah, to Senator Trumbull, in the trifling matter of paying fifteen thousand dollara for #xpenses in the Mormon prosecutions. Puwwor Freperick Cuaries of Germany js about to make a personal survey of the aon fields of Italy—of the field of Custozza particularly. So says a special telegram to pie Heraup. Nothing like becoming posted to the more immediate surroundings. Tue Granp Dug, under the wing of Gen- ral Sheridan, will spend this day in making a in Chicago. ‘tA happy New Year” to bhe Grand Duke, to “Little Phil” and to the heroic people who are so bravely rebuilding their late beautiful city. Wit. Mr. Tween go up to Albany in time assist in the organization of the Senate? 'e can’t say; but we think it probable that he will be detained for a day or two yet by important business bere. Furthermore, it is general opinion that he will not be wanted ooh winter at Albany. FRanog AND GERMANY are about to perfect the new postal treaty between the two coua- tries. This news, which reaches us by special telegram, gives hope thata more intimate and [friendly communion between the peoples of both countries will ensue, and that the inter- bhange of thousands of billets will serve to efface the marks of millions of bullets. Tue Conan Ruyo.vriosists are neither an- pibilated nor subdued. Our latest report from Havana is that ‘‘several engagements have lately taken place between the Spanish Broops and the rebels under Modesto Diaz.” fAnd #0 goes on this horrible war among our ext door neighbors, while General Grant's d idea is peace. Why, then, don't he ppeak the word that will give peace to Cuba? Does he owe nothing to the cause of hu- @aaity end civilisation? Lo! tim speaks “The Wharton | NtW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, JANUARY 1, I8T2Z, The Whartee Trial—Circumstantiul dence and Science in the Case. The trial of Mrs, Wharton, of Baliimore, at Annapolis, on the charge of killing General Ketchum by administering poison, is ono of the most extraordinary oases that ever came before the criminal Courts of this or any other country. It has occupied twenty-two days already, and wil! not be concluded prob- ably before the twenty-fifth or twenty-sixth day, it by that time. While there may not be such an array of the highest order of legal and judicial talents as there has been in some other celebrated criminal cases in different parts of the world or at former periods, both the lawyers and jadges have shown respect- able abilities as well as careful and patient investigation. The jury, too, appears to be composed of plain, solid and honest men, intent upon understanding the evidence and Bvt- conducted in a small town and away from the excitement and influence of popular feeling. There is reason to expect, therefore, that the result will be in accordance with the evidence, When the charge of murder was first mado egainst Mra, Wharton people held their breath with surprise. Her social standing in the community and the relations that bad existed between her and General Ketohum precluded the thought that she could have been guilty of the fearful crime. Even those most impressed with the suspicious circum- stances apparently surrounding the sudden death of General Ketchum were afraid to express their suspicions or opinions, The character of Mrs. Wharton in all the relations of life and throughout life seemed to forbid the thought that she could be guilty of such a crime. There was a total absence apparently of a sufficient motive for committing the deed, for even the small sum of money which it is alleged Mrs, Wharton owed General Ketchum seemed to furnish no ad2quate motive, even to a vicious-minded person, much less to a lady in good circumstances, surrounded by the Inxurles of life, universally respected, an exemplary member of a Christian church, and with the best social position in the community. As suspicion grew more rank and evidence began to accumulate, particularly after chem- ists had declared they found poison in the body of General Ketchum and Mrs. Wharton was arrested, people said she must be insane, or, at least, that she was afflicted with that | sort of monomania which sometimes leads its unhappy victims to dreadful freaks of crime. |The impression was general still that there was an absence of sufficient motive for such a lady under the circumstances of her situation and of the case to commit murder if she were sane, and, therefore, as the belief grew that | General Ketchum had been poisoned, it was {thought that some developments would be | made showing that Mrs. Wharto1 was a mono- | maniac, Circumstantial evidence seemed to | be fearfully against her,-and if General Ketchum were poisoned, as the chemists said | he bad been, there appeared to be no other giving a Perdict accordingly. The trial is | Opinion among scientific men—of university chemista—oa the presence or not of poisons in a body, as to the tests used and the results obtained it is clear no one ought to be con- victed of poisoning without concurrent testi- mony on well recognized scientific facts, Our so-called men of science, we fear, are often too deficient in knowledge and ioo much disposed to be positive and dogmatic where they should doubt, Poison, in one form or another, is often found in bodies where not administered to deatroy. In the celebrated Lafarge case in France, some years ago, the famous Dr. Orfila said, we believe, that be could find arsenic in some form in every human body. Tartar emetic is commonly used in medical practice, and its presenco in the stomach cannot be, necessarily, evidence of criminal intent, There are a certain class of people who are so intent in following theories of their own, or that they have become wedded to, that they will not tolerate anything that conflicts with them, Professor Aiken seems to have a theory of his own about poisons. Of course we say nothing of the guilt or innocence of Mra. Wharton—that will be decided when all the evidence shall be taken; but we must say the case appears to have been fearfully bungled by the incompetence of the chemists firat employed to make tests for poison, The question that ought to have been decided be- yond all doubt at the beginning—the question whether General Ketchum was poisoned or not—appears now to be uncertain. However It ends, this case will. pass into history as a remarkable one on account of the soolal status of all whose names have been connected with it, the scientific difficulties and discussion arising from it, and the mystery involved. New Year’s Amusements. The theatres are not behindhand in the celebration of the New Year. The managers, one and all, have prepared an alluring feast of music and drama for their patrons to-day. From elegant comedy at Wallack’s and the Fifth Avenue Theatre, Shakspeare at Booth’s, Irish drama at the Grand Opera House, pan- tomime at the Olymple, opéra bouffe at Aimée’s Theatre and spectacle at Niblo’s, down to the attractions of the circus, the minstrel hall and the variety troupe, the theatre-goer has no reason to complain of variety. Even Brooklyn has not been for- gotten, as Mr. Wallack sends over there a choice company to delight the City ot Churches with two, sparkling comedies. The bill-boards in front Of the theatres are radiant with promises for the afternoon and evening performances. The managerial system of re- ceiving calls is certainly more profitable if not as social as that which prevails among the ladies. It is more pleasant to issue cards from the box officés and involves less trouble than to keep open house all day for friends and acquaintances, Spain Exorrep Over PresweEntT GRanNt’s Messace.—The Hzratp correspondent at hood Hxpiained; Rev. Mr. | Madrid furnishes us a letter, which we pub- lish this morning, giving an account of the state of public sentiment among the Spaniards relative to Cuban affairs. The journals of | person who could have committed the crime. History presents examples of dreadful balluci- Dation on some particular subject in persons | who in other respects appear sane, and who, ‘under the influences of such hallucination, commit crime, and this was the charitable | view taken by many in the case of Mrs. | Wharton. This opinion was strengthened by ‘ the dari ramors current that others had been | poisoned previously by Mrs. Wharton. Mr. | Eugene Van Ness was one of these, thoazh he | Tecovered from the alleged poisoning. The | sudden death of Mrs, Wharton’s husband and } son, some years before, were discussed sus- | piciously, and it was hinted they had been | polsoned also. In fact, this woman, who had been so universally respected and whose moral character no one impugned, was repre- | sented to be another Borgia, or worse than a | Borgia. It was hardly posstble to suppose she could be sane if guilty of these alleged or suspected crimes. Yet since ber imprison- ment she has shown no signs of insanity or monomania, nor is there any evidence to show she ever did. The defence has taken no ground to show such a state of mind, but seems to rely entirely upon overcoming the | charge by facts and carefol analysis of evidence brought forward by the State. In a case like this the public mind becomes feverish and too apt | to exaggerate appearances. The very horror | of such a crime begets other horrors. Suspi- | cions accumulate in the imagination. There | is, unhappily, a morbid disposition for exag- gerating the horrible. This isso espe cially where the alleged criminal is distinguished in any way above the lowest or ordinary class of people. The tedious trial of Mrs. Wharton has been narrowed down at last toa nice point as to the case of General Ketchum’s death alone. | An attempt was made by the prosecution to | bring in extraneous evidence, as that, for ex- | ample, of Mr. Eugene Van Ness; bat this was | not allowed. The first question that arises is, was General Ketchum poisoned at all? This, which ought to have been decided at the com- mencement, is now the all-absorbing one | before the Court. The evidence brought in by the defence throws doubt upon the alleged poisoning or the death of General Ketchum being caused by poison. At least it has been shown pretty clearly by Professor R. S. McCulloch, of the Washington sod Lee Uni- versity, that the teste for poison made from the body of General Ketchum by Professors Aiken and Tonry were insufficient, and that | what they represent as indications or proofs of poison might have been produced by | other causes. The opinions of Professors Doremus and Draper, which we publish to-day, accord in the main witb the evidence given by Professor McCulloch. In fact, Aiken and Tonry appear not to have a leg to stand upon. Yet it was the testimony of these men—thelr science—on which the prosecution chiefly depended. It was mainly on Professor Aiken's analysis and declaration that General | Ketchum had been poisoned that Mre. Whar- | ton was arraigned for murder. We need not | here give the details of the evidence and re- | butting evidence of these Professors, Our | columns bave furnished all that from day to | day as the trial progressed. We cannot see | what additional testimony may be brought for | ward or what light thrown upon the question, | but since the evidence of Professor McCulloch was taken there certainly remains a doubt whether General Ketchum was poisoned or not. Considering there is such # conflict of Madrid of all stripes of politics have been working themselves up to a state of frenzy on the subject, Telegrams from New York’ stimulate their patriotic eloquence. Since President Grant’s Message the irritable Dons affect to sniff nothing but war in the air. Thousands of men are hurried off to Cuba; a new Captain General is appointed for the island; the Spanish Minister at Washington is superseded; King Amadeus desires even to ‘| defend Spanish honor in the tropics, and patriotic editors have become infected and write in warlike tones on the subject. No American dictation is needed is the spirit evinced. The letter of our correspondent will enable our readers to ascertain Spanish sentiment in Madrid towards the United States. Tue New Year.—The old year, 1871, is gone, and the New Year, 1872—leap year, and the year of our Presidential election— has come. Again our little planet Her steady course has run, Of full 81x hundred million miles Around the glorious sun. And an eventful year it has been, at home and abroad—a year of great and momentous and memorable eventa; but are they not all re- corded, explained and discussed in the three hundred and sixty-five issues of the HrraLp of 1871, asthe metropolitan and cosmopdli- tan history of the year? We expect, how- ever, that still greater and more important events than those of 1871 will mark the his- tory of 1872. Without a day’s suspension of our record we pass from tho old year into the new, and, ‘from the rivers tothe ends of the earth,” we wish A happy New Year to our readers, And many returns of the day. Tue Leader, the sprightly Tammany weekly, is gone. It gave up the ghost last Saturday, in the merry mood of Mer- cutio, and the event was marked with all the honors attending the death of ‘Cock Robin.” So it is—empires rise, flourish and pass away, dynasties come and go, political parties and party organs spring up, strut their brief hour upon the stage and disappear; but still the Hgraup holds the field, and still the world wags on. A Neat Comriiment—That of Mayor Me- dill, of Chicago, in bis address of welcome to the Grand Duke, in which he said:—‘‘Greece produced an Alexander the Great, but Russia has produced a greater Alexander. The one was great only in striking down peoples, while the other exbibits his greatness in raising them up.” Very good, Mr. Mayor; very neat. ‘A happy New Year,” Mr. Mayor. Tae Street CLEANING Commission had a meeting the other evening, from which we infer that this business is now so mixed up that we must look to the Legislature for authority for somebody to clean the streets, If so let our city members of the Legislature look to this matter at once, for the condition of many of our streets is simply sickening and abominable. “Monsteur Toyson Come AGAIN,” with the revolutionists in Northern Mexico, and in the shape of old Canales among them. Fanny people, those Mexicans. Their old year goes out with numerous revolutions, and their new year comes in with more of the samo Gort, The State Logisiature—The Struggio for | and other wickedly disposed anti-Grant organs | after all.” the Spoakersbip ef the Assembly. The State Legislature meets to-morrow, and party caucuses of the Assembly bave been held this evening for the purpose of putting in nomination their candidates for its orgaviza- tion. In the Senate there appears to be no opposition to the election of James Terwilliger as Clerk, and as the present democratic Lieutenant Governor presides over that body its organization is a mere matter of formality. In the Assembly {t is different... There a great struggle will be made over the Speakership, and the fight will, no doubt, extend to the Clerksbip and all the minor offices. Our Albany correspondence, published in the Heranp to-day, gives uss view behind the scenes of the several interests at work on one side and the other and of their operations in advance of the caucus, It appears that the issue made at the State Convention has been revived at the State capital, and that the contost over the organi- zation of the Assembly is in reality the old fight between the supporters of President Grant's administration and the dissatified re- publicans, who desire a new deal in the Presi- dential contest of next year. Fenton, Gree- ley, and the whole army of patriots who are baulked in their laudable ambition to serve their country in federal offices, have declared for ex-Speaker Alvord, while the hosts. of office-holders, headed by the fiery young Roscoe Conkling, together with the Republican State Central Committee, Now Work CuctowsThruse,.tha Stata officers, elect, and the general supporters of Grant administration, are enlisted under the banner of Henry Smith, of Albany. To be sure, there are other interests involved in the contest and other influences brought to bear on the result. There is the enterprising and energetic Albany lobby to be considered as no insignificant power in the settlement of a question of such vast importance as the Speakership of the House; and we are told thatthe members of that fraternity, almost to @ man, are supporters of Thomas G. Alvord. Indeed, a main portion of the strength of the old Hero of Salt Point is supposed to be drawn from the members of the State Legislature out of the pay due to them for their votes and for never betraying the confidence of those with whom they may have business operations, on the principle, we suppose, of the old adage, ‘Honor among thieves.” Then there appears to be a powerful canal contractors’ ring enlisted in the cause of Alvord, and rumor attributes to these gentlemen spirited and liberal contribution to a fund of fifty thousand dollars to aid in securing his success. Again, we have a certain number of the members elect, who are anxious to secure positions on most important standing com- mittees of the House, laboring on the samo side. So, incase Alvord should be success- ful, it will scarcely be claimed as a bona fide Fenton triumph. “ Henry Smith, of Albany, on the other hand, appears to stand solidly on his personal strength and the support of the administration party, and hence his chances are supposed to be not quite so good as are those of his opponent. It is, however, 1 good sign that he eschews the favor of the lobby, refuses to show himself at the hotels, and prefers to rely simply on his own merits for the office to which he aspires. So far as regards their qualifications for the position of Speaker the two candidates seem to be pretty evenly balanced. Both are familiar with par- liamentary rales, quick and apt and possessed of sufficient nerve and dignity. Both may be honest men for anything we know to the con- trary; but certainly the associations that have surrounded Mr. Alvord are not in his favor, The support ‘of such then as Mat Bemus, Ben Field, A. D. Barber, and the whole gang of legislative lobbyists, to say nothing of notorious canal and railroad rings, is scarcely desirable for the presiding Officer of a reform State Logislature. While this fight is progressing in the ranks of republicans the democrats at Albany are preparing a shrewd programme. It is their intention, in case the choice of their opponents should fall on the lobby candi- date, to put Samuel J. Tilden in nomination for the Speakership on their side of the house. They will then be able to appeal to the coun- try with good effect, to contrast the difference between the action of the two parties. Mr. Tilden is well known to have been one of the principal actors in the cause of reform during the recent campaign, and to him probably more than to any other citizen are we indebted for the practical results that have been achieved in the detection and substantiation of the fraudu- lent acts of the late city officials, so far as an honest legislative reform is concerned; and to this the republican party was specially pledged as one of the first and most important objects of the recent revolution. There can be no question asto which of the candidates, Alvord or Til- den, would best satisfy the requirements and wishes of the people. Indeed, it is said that some honest reformers and republicans are so impressed with the damaging and improper character of Alvord’s nomination by a reform Legislature that they are ready in that event to support Mr, Tilden, and to justify their action on the ground that he labored and voted with the successful reform party in the recent election, We place little reliance upon this, however, as with politicians strict adherence to party seems to be the chief of cardinal vir- tues. Another, and @ mora probable rumor, is that of an attempted compromise between the Conkling and Fenton fac- tions. It appears that some of the friends of the latter disappointed politician have grown weary of o fight which seems to promise to leave them all out in the cold for some time to come, or drive them over to the democratic camp for a future resting place. They, therefore, propose to patch up a treaty of peace on the following basis :—Fenton to be nominated for Vice President in 1872, or to be immediately placed in the Cabi- net, in place, probably, of Mr. Fish; Fenton’s friends to be fairly provided for in the federal offices, and Horace Greeley to be sent to the United States Senate in Fen- ton’s place, On the other hand, all opposition to Grant’s renomination is to be withdrawn, Conkling to be suffered to go back to the Senate without a fight and the Tribune, fun ‘it have their editorial guns effectually spiked. Now, it strikes us that this is a sort of bargain in which turkey is talked all on one side. In the recent election, as in the State Conven- tion, Fenton’s weakness was made painfully apparent, and it is, therefore, probable that President Grant may be nominated for a second term and that flowery Conkling may again display his ambrosial locks in the Senate Chamber at Wasbington without Fenton's consent. So far as quieting of anti-Grant journals is concerned the bargain would be a direct public injury, for what would the admirera of spicy literature do , without the pungent paragraphs of these patriots out of place? Fenton in the Cabinct and Greeley in the Senate would scarcely compensate for their loss. One thing is evident among all these squabblings, fightings, bargainings and tradings at Albany, and that ts that political reform is & most barefaced humbug, and that the people who honestly thought they had purified the body politic at the recent election stand a good chance of finding a legislative session this winter at the State capital that for corruption, lobbying, buying and selling will cast all its infamous predecessors into the shade, New Year's Sermons, Amajority of the pulpits of this city and vicinity, both of those which are reported as well as those that are not, were occupied yesterday with what may be termed New *Xoar'e-sermona...The ‘church ledgers were written up, and the business of the year was reviewed, | and the balance struck to the question, “How much owest thou unto my Lord?” But the debt appeared to have accu- mulated greatly, and the creditors have nothing to pay. Much that the Church might have done it has left undone, and very much of what it has done might have been done better, or left undone altogether. Nevortheless, if a review of the old year's work will bring renewed zeal and diligence and a higher and purer inspiration for the present year—ell, the labor shall not be in vain, Among the pastors whom we report to-day as having preached Now Year’s sermons are Dr. Rich- ardson, in the New England Congregational church, who made the fleeting hours a. basis for some remarks on the transient nature of earthly things as contrasted with the perma- nency of heavenly things. The Rev. Dr. Armitage, of the Fifth Avenue Baptist church, drew a parallel between the years of the ancients and our years, The former were measured by days and weeks and months; the latter are measured by results. And touching results, the Doctor had something to say about our municipal muddle, the Treaty of Washington, the Chi- cago fire, the abolition of slavery in Brazil, the civil war in Caba and Mexico, and other events which bear upon the ‘social, political and religious life of the nations of the world. His hearers were exhorted to begin and to end the new year well, which we hope they will do. Archbishop McCloskey brought prominently to the notice of his congregation the striking and startling events of the year just closed, which probably has never had a parallel in the years that have ‘passed over the Christian world. The events which have transpired in Europe, and especially those affecting the Vatican were reviewed and commented upon. But, painful as these things were to think about, there is a bright side to the picture in the progress of Catholicism throughout the world during the year. Over twenty thousand pagans in Syria baptized into the Christian faith within a few months is an event of which the Archbishop might be justly proud. Dr. Hepworth still ministers to the Church of the Messiah, notwithstanding his-accept- ance of the doctrine of the divinity of Jesus Christ, and he will probably continue to do so. That faith should make him a better and a more faithful pastor than he was before. Yes- terday he gave his people some good words on Christian manhood and the growth of religion. The religious mysticisms of the olden times was shown to have produced a sickly manhood which excites our sympathy. The manhood of scepticism, now so prevalent, which scoffs at religion and laughs at the credulity which can accept the Bible as the Divine Word, the Doctor does not think can last long. Christi- anity is the bridge across the river, and in proof of this he pointed triumphantly to the great army of Christian heroes who have lived and died in its faith and passed triumpbantly over tothe other shore. The Rev. Mr. Light- bourn, in the Seventeenth street Methodist Episcopal church, demonstrated what kind of preaching would make manly Chris- tians and what would not, A dis- course that has not the Gospel in it is not preaching according to this evangelist, even though it be delivered in the house of God and on the Sabbath day. Mr. Beecher, who is always trying to solve some problem, was yesterday engaged on the problem of suffering and the theory of evil as its cause. Pain and sorrow is in Mr. Beecher’s opinion a necessity of development of moral power In us, When the lower nature of man struggles with the higher there is pain, but the shouts of victory come at the olose. The tuning of a piano causes a hideous noise, but melody is the result, Even 80 he believes it is with us and our sufferings, which we should bear patiently and strive to master. The Rev. F. O'Callahan preached in the Catholic Church of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea on the necessity for the religious education of children by contrasting the respect formerly paid to the head of the Holy See with the neglect, if not absolute disrespect, with which he is now treated. Buta better day is dawo- ing, and we wish the “Holy Father,” as we wish all our readers to-day, ‘“‘A happy New Year.” Paterson has another mysterious murder excitement; but Paterson must puta check upon these things or Paterson will get a bad name, All the surroundings of this great city of New York require a vigilant local adminis tration. THe TAMMANY Sootkty, or what remains of it, held a meeting on Friday evening, at which they resolved to keep the Tammany flag flying in the good old cause of reform, The “big Indians” have been overwhelmed by the deluge, but the “little Indians” have resolved that “it 19 not much Of « shower, oe The action of the meotiag on Saturday gives much point to this determina- tion, namely—the removal of William M. Tweed as Grand Sachem, and the substitation there for of Augustus Schell. Another meeting will be held shortly, when the election of new sachems will be gone into en account of the resignation of Mayor Hall, Peter B, Swoony and ex-Comptroller Connolly from the society. OLD TRINITYS CHINES, As it approached midnight last night Broadway | in the vicinity of the tall, stately steeple of Trinity, | which stood up a black and imposing mass in the midst of the gray, gloomy mist, out of which the strect lights glimmered with vagueness and uncertainty, was crowded by @ surging throng of human creatures, moving slowly along in the drizzle in the air and the ma@ under foot, more like a straggiing array of some @ark spirits of another realm than like beings of the real. As one hurried through the throng slome the slippery and wet sidewalk, and caught close glimpses of the faces and figure, he might discera that they were mostly young, with life and vigor—youths of bod sexes, and of the lower, but, possibly, honest olsasem Cheerful voices rose asthe tide rolled along, an@ the grotesqueness of the scene, mingled wite occasional seems of eyes and lips of ft that were almost bidden, tne words drot bay Witou! zl olden ugh not without some betol of natural awe, was befltting the hour ao rapidly gilding away and ver, ing 80 close on tie Sow niee Of another year, and that year seeming an separate era in life, with undiscovered awaiting all who watched its coming. At the gates of Trinity the crowd collected, some standing and chattiug in groups, others get close up to the lofty, cold, black railings, and peering thro tt in- hospitable bars at the dark base Ol church walls and with awed expression over tombstones, 80 uhickly standing beyond, like semtle nels whose mission was apart from the tenor of human life. The heavy strokes of the bells, the ringing, meiodious sounds see! on aren de out of the mist, but thrilling the ea & tremor lke that of an intense ome. tion, at length were hear fy 4 senit-joyously, with interlud as uf Sadness the changes of the gamut. Tola ended, slight pause of perfect silence followed, and them again broke on the air the rich mellow tones. The following atra*were pluyed:— “The Angelic Host,’ “Pastoral Psalm," “Glorious Things of Tuce ure Spoken,” “Angels from the Realms of Glory,’’ “Happy New Year to Thee.'" Then the slow, solemn, thropbing of the hour of midnight were tolled, and: ere they had finished guns were heard from different part of the city, 4 band of music stationed near Maiden lane began playing an air, and those who were waiting away up in the Trinity steeple heard from below the mingled hum of the voicea of the crowd, im which a jovial accent predominated, The rémainder of the chiming consisted of the following airs:—“The Biue Bells of Scotiand,’* “Evening Bells,’ “Yaukee Doodle,’ and ‘Hol Sweet Home.” Wheh the last stroke died away tl throng began to melt seemingly into nothingness, and in the dim mtst was discernible a faint semblance of the approaching dawn. And so the “happy New Year” began. FIRE IN A HvSPITAL. Consternation Among the Pationts=supposed To Be a Caso of Arson. At about half-past seven o'clock yesterday morte ing @ fire broke out in the German Hospital on the corner of Seventy-seventh street and Fourth avenue. ‘When first noticud it had travelled to the first floor through the dumbwatter, ailing the rooms on the top floors with a dense smoko that almost suffocated the patients. The ‘waiter in which tho fire broke out has not been used for some time, and one compartment of tt on the first Noor was used by the men who work about the hospital for A GENERAL RECEPTACLE, At the time of the fire it was filled with wearing material, brushes, pails and rubbish of all kinds, As soon as the fire got well started the bottom felt out of the compartment used as a storeroom and the draught caused by this opening carried the flames through tue waiter to the top floors ana through the rool, ‘The oflictals of the ipl made eveneuce in their power to rice ds of the flames with a fire apparatus in the building, but not succeeaing, an alarm was rung, and Lhe Ore bri- jade was quickly on the spot. ‘Ihe wildest excite. tient prevailed in the upper wards wuen the flames burst through the floors, and the patients rusued to the windows aud endeavored to escape by Means that came to hand. They were remov however, before any danger was done to THE WARDS ON THE WESTERN SIDE ofthe building. This consternation was prince vally caused by the cowardice of one of the nurses, Who completely lost his balance wien the lire oo- curred, vat the (eons of inind of the physicians and the promptitude with which they acied soon checked the alarm caused by the frightened nurse. The fire was fortunately conflued to tne easterm wing, and only about $6,000 damage was done. ‘This hospital was built about two yeara ago from funds raised by voluatary suvscription, the Barem Freihen von Diergarut giving $50,000, It is used for all kinds of diseases and street accidents, The fire 18 supposed to be the work of a servant girl who was discharged from the hospital about two days ugo. As it was, the flames could not have spread beyond the first floor but for the stubborness Of the Superintendent, wh9 tried to put the fire out himself instead of having an alarm rung. The damage done to the furniture, bed and fitt! of the hospital will amount to $2,500, The place is insured in the Germanta, Im. perial and some other companies. When the authorities of the Jewish Orphan Asyium close by found out that the hospital was on fire they hu- Manely offered the use of their butiding to the neigh- boring institution, bu\ fortunately it was not meeded, FISH CULTURE. The American Fish Cuisuriste’ Association pro» pose to hold their annual meeting at Tweddle Hall, Albany, on Wednesday, February 7, 1872. A num- ber of interesting paperson subjects intimate with the object of the associatiqn will be read by eminent pisciculturists, The writers and thelr oAsays al- ready announced are as follows:—A. S. Collins, “Spawning Races and the Impregnation of Eggs; ‘W. Clift, “the Culture of shad;” Dr. Edmonds, “The Introduction of Salmon tnto American Rivers;”” B, F, Bowles, “Land-Locked Salmon;” Dr. Hunting- ton, “Fish In the North Woods of New York,” and L. Stone, Secretary of the association, ‘The Cultare of Trout,” Aji persons interested in fish cultare gre invited, Thus it will be seen that while politicians will be fighting for the “ioaves” these apostles of the “genile craft’ will occupy theinselves about the “fishes.” THE ALDERMANTO SQUABBLE. Judge Cardozo Refuses to Grant a Stay of Proceedings in the Injunction Case. The coup executed by tne new Board of Alder men in obtaining an order from Judge Brady re- straining the Mayor from recognizing the old Board of Aldermen took the latter entirely oy surprise, as they had anticipated no such step. 1¢ was rumored extensively yesterday morning that one of the Judges of the Supreme Court had been appiled to for a stay of proceedings in this Interesting case. in order to ascertain the facts of the case a reporter tailed upon Judge Cardozv, at his residence, in Forty-seventh street. In reply to jus question Judge Cardozo replied as follows:— “Last night tne Clerk of the Board, Mr. Tardy, presented the writ and inquired whether it was gular for Judge Brady to. grant it white { wag olding Chambers, and whether 1 would vacace it or gramt any order in respect to lt. J, of course, de- clined any ¢c pare inter/erence with Jadge Brady's | order and made no order Whatever in respeot to the matter.’’ Austin, Texas, Dec. 80, 1871. There is considerable excitement here in conse. quence of the probable convening of the Legista-. ture on the ioth. proximo, The term of this body. expired by law on November 4. The alleged object. of the meeting 18 t0 impeach Comptroller Bledsoe, placing the finances of the Staie in the hands of the Governor an Treasurer, Bledsoe retaltates by threatening the sure impeachment of the Gov-. ernor. cinneminsichiiinsbniisiisls THE AVERY KU KLUX TRIAL. Corouata, 8 C., Dec, 8% 1871, Inthe United States Court on Saturday the case of Dr. E. P. Avery was resumed. Much confitcting evidence was introduced, Witnesses for the prose- ntitied the prisoner a8 a prominent partict Santina Ku Kix Ria, and several witnesses for the defence swore positively he was at home on, the, night im question. At eleven P, M., without con cluding tho testimony, tne Court adjourned untit Monday. il SBORETARY PISH AT WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON, Dec 31, 1871. Secretary Fish returned to Washington to-day and Will receive his friends at tha realdqage of Soe. Petar? Ronesou to-mori ow