The New York Herald Newspaper, December 24, 1872, Page 3

- CHRISTMAS EVE. Observances and Preparations for the Great Christian Festival. Jaunting Among the Shops and Markets—The Stockings To Be Filled To-Night—Shopping by Rich and Poor—The Masses and Chimes. ‘Stockings play a very important and very grate- fal part in the economy of costume, and have, doubtless, played more important, though less generous parts in history, romance and crime. Without stockings there would have been no need for garters, and the world would be without that moral motto framed by a not over moral monarch, “Honi soit que mal y pense.” A pretty lady’s maid in France, who happened in her lady’s cham ber to admire her own physique when attired in her mistress’ apparel and dropped the vain remark, ‘‘Here’s @ leg for a stocking.’ Her- mistress was murdered that night, andthe mur- derer, who overheard the maid’s remark from his place of concealment, was fooiish enough some months later to repeat the utterance of the girl. It J¢4 %@ hig grregt and conviction, and he was shortened by a head jor it. So Taaeh for eka where “ . BYQCKINGS HAVE VIGORED indirectly, perbaps, in history and crime, and if any proof were wanting that stockings were an ele- ment inromance too it could be found at ten e’clock to-night alongside ten million firesides where they dangle in plethoric distortion after the Aight of Santa Claus over the rooftops and rafters of chiidhood’s homes, And the filling of these stockings—There’s the tab.” It is this auty which leads to the gala appearance of the shops and thoroughfares during these days and nights, when al! the world seems out of doors making preparation for the celebra- on and enjoyment of the Christmas festi- val. To-morrow the Christian world celebrates the most joyons of all its anniversarics, and for the pagt week, and notably dyring to-day, the peo have been anf ater A Tis Aiing commemoration. That it originates from a Christian source is, of course, undisputed; but it seems that the manner of its observance is less in ac- cordance with Christian notions ana is at least susceptible of debate, It has become a season of feasting, congratulation, gift making and gift tak- -Ing and of CARNIVALISTIC ENJOYMENT GENERALLY, For this reason, then, all the sources of produc- Mon have been drawn on to an inordinate extent, and it seems as though the whole army of the na- \ion’s preducers and factors had moved in com- mon assault on the metropolis. Railways, steam- era, ships and every mode of conveyance, from the most rapid down to the lumbering market wagon, have been roiling one enormous avalanche of ‘owths and manufac to the ci and it Seems gorged WoW fo Yelneate ig MARKET PLACES, SHOPS AND STREETS wear the appearance of a vast and continuous bazaar, and the only wonder seems to be where all the goods are stored at night. Broadway yester- day was alive with bnyers, dnd Bhop windows ang lewalks bristled with goods waiting to be bought fe paid for. id the orn rolled - ceaseless i ou oppers, emed no pranch o} trade In enat th ro Ru es not patronized by purchasers of holiday goods, Even the hard- ware stores—think of it—ugh! Who “would pur- é -> A PIECB.OF HARDWARE as a Christmas Meee) No one, Wigsapes but a wretoh of @ husband who had lost all the poctry of his nature and had come down to hard facts, He will give his wife a new set of stove. furniture— pots, pans and griddles—and so hardware dealers 8 holiday trade. But, then, there are not many wretcbes of husbands in the world, let us nope, and so the metal men lon’t do the bulk of the festival business. It was the toy shops, the dry goods establish: mel ‘the book stores, the jewellers’ shops, the art emportums, that the great mass of people surged,’ and it was a weary, weary day to at- tendants and salesmen. Men and women, ‘misses and boy: each had their purchases to make, an the streets looked as though there had beena universal scramble some- where and barns ser had got a hand in the pile and brought it out full. At no time of the year in any land could a larger number of be seen ‘doing their own porter. age. Fat womon struggled on the muddy and crowded sidewsiks in the endeavor tos sorry. pions. 5 an te reels with one pair of Theis loads mee Co eee. MEY Wouta uve Lae Bt ot thelr loads > ‘eaistance with the other uai. Dainty ladies carried a small parcel or two, and boys and men wrestled their pathways Song the throng as they Sane with stout clutch to rock- \ng-horses and perambulators THE CURBSTONES WERE FRINGED with the carriages of the wealthy, whose elabo- tately attired occupants were jostling the poor along the thronged counters o1 the shops. It made comparatively little difference with any i had purchases to make; and the man who wanted to buy a pair of warm Winter socks for his child was as intent in his business, and, perhaps, 38 happy in trans- acting it as the millionnaire who was ofdering a 61,000 India shawl for his wife, because she, per- phance, had pac nine to wear.” Nie most noticeable thing, however, of all this crush of trafic Was the evident pleasure that lighted | na eighteen yeare of sen the faces of the traffickers. Everybody secmed to feo! as though it was in fact a holiday work and they were brightened up to A HOLIDAY ENTHUSIASM. Ordinary trade is too severe a strain to meke py oh anu sellers look very good natured; bu this was all ‘fun, and mén and women were wading on a firm basis more than for profits. “I want to get a diamond bracelet,” said a gen- vieman toa jeweller’s clerk inthe most fashionable store up town. he was payin, bam 4 minutes 1,200 for a gemmed circlet which suite Had he been buying that bauble for any ee a but as a present he would have wanted $1,150, But his od nature was gushing out with the oocaston, the object and the season, and he didn’t barter. in a Sixth avenue dry goods store a widow was buying a cheap cloak for a little girl, ‘How much ‘is that one worth?” she asked, as the child stood in pride, with the garment on her shoulders, “Six dollars and a half,” replied the clerk. The woman drew a sigh as she sald, “I don't fo feel as thongh I ou; r a minute or two she paused, depated silent! the condition of her pocketbook, and then, as though summoning courage, said, “Well, I guess PU take it, but wind,” as she turned to the child, “you must be careful of it, for it will have to last you @ year.” Jt was holiday time, and holiday trade and THE WIDOW, LIKE THR WEALTHY wm. buyer, was ‘willing to strain her good nature a le way. A woman in faded dress crept timidly into an east side corner grocery and asked the price of a later ehicken hanging on a le “How much a pound Ie it?” she inquired of the PAN Sy rosy-chee! Dutch boy who was wait- ing on her, “Twelve cents," he answered, indifferently. “Weigh this one for me,” she said, “Three pounds and @ haif,”’ he muttered. “Have you one about a couple of pounds weight?” asked thespoor purchaser; “I can’t afford such a large one.” She had a quarter of @ dollar, which she felt she could afford to invest in the luxury of a chicken, a goat js about her limit, and so the ote chases went on, and will ¢ on to-day, some ae for luxuries Br others for bare necemeitiey but f tent on at least doing some Christmas ptirghasing. | syrae-- a Syu- DOWN SN THE MARKETS thé Acene was a Babel of Market, that festering of the city, was almost burstin witi he mass of edibles — that lepende ‘om every rafter and hook, and lay in piles on the floors. Meats, vegetables and fruits from the great prairie farmg of the West and the market gardens of one island and New Jersey fairly cloyed the sight and senses, and it was a fearful tas) to pass through Vesey street on the way to this great bazaar of provender. The arrow sidewalks were rendered still more inconvenient by the skirmish line of hucksters that do such a y business along the curbstones. Plaster images, glassware, shoe laces, children’s knitted mittens, pewter whistles and all manner of trinkets that would turn the brain of a Fiji isiauder are here exposed for sale, and STOUT, MATRONLY WOMEN, housewives all of them, and each armed witha mar- ket basket, fairly tear their way down through the narrow thoroughfore. Fulton Market is a shade more endurable than Washington Market, and the ap- proach to it is somewhat pleasanter; but even thi erent resort was crowded to equal discomfort yea- rday. a, THE CANDY SHOPS TR all over the tity presented decidedly the most gala like sront of uli the thousand forms of trade, and the windows in hundreds of instances were marvels Of skill and taste in display. And right on these is where the eye of childhood loves exceed- ing well to linger. Bon bens, caramels, jujubes and chocolate buttons have a wondrous charm for people of tender age; but never does it become so much a passion as at this season: To be candy fed is @ right which all children have at Christmas tine, and which no decent parent dares to disrespect, and if th parent can only ring home those candies in a paper cornucopia @F enamAias box so WUE better Will UY Emioy- . Washington SPURS on the tack | A | ( NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1872—-WITH SUPPLEMENT. ment of that right be appreciated by the budding citizen, Toys, CANDIES AND FRUIT. form doubtless the largest — of al! Christ- and there is not much hazard in time in all the nights that go to year wiil there of pleasure in our night, when annual tiip of and h-s fairy caravan is listened for in vain until little eyes droop off to sleep, and wake with the to find that the benevolent old man has come and de d, leaving his tokens behind, wil! be ce of the charcnes ni and Sit form ® pretty and beautifully ap- propriate way for the thoughtful to welcome in the great festival day. Among the churches where such services are to be held are St. Albans (ritual- istic), St. Alphonsus, Church of the Holy Redeemer, and at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and the Church of the Annunciation in Manhattanville. THE CHRISTMAS CHIMES, On Christmas Eve Mr. James Ayliffe will ring the following chimes and carols on Trinity church bells, commencing at hali-past two P. M.:— 1—Ringing the changes on eight bells. 2-Carel, “Angels trom the Meahns of Glory.” 3—Carol, “Christmas Tree.” 4—Carol, “Christ Was Born At mo and of the on Christmas Day.” fui.’? ‘aro! wake, Ye Faithfui. 6—Carol ‘ing the Beils for Christmas Morn.” 7—Carol, “Ring Out the Belts,” On Christmas Day Mr. Ayliffe will ring the fol- rigors programme, beginning at haif-past ten 1-Ri the changes on eight bell rol ’Christinas is Come Again.” “Christmas Guest.” {-Qurob «Ring the Bells for Scent. 'Chytatmaa Bells,’? 6—Carol, “Ring Out the Beils. “HELP THE FOUNDLINGS.” peepee Little Waifs of Washington are—The Assistance of the Gencrous Asked For—Eleven Hun- dred and Seventy-two Children Pro- vided For. Now that the glad season of Christmas has come, bringing with it Kindly thoughts of home and charity to the distressed, it would be well for those who bave plenty of the world’s goods and who are generously disposed to call at the Foundling Hospital in Washington square, at which institu- tion 1,172 children are taken care of by the good Sisters of Charity, under the supervision of Pe ne, PS, Superintendent, A HERAL oat Talia Yesterday afternoon at the house in Washington square, and was shown over the four floore and basement of the building in the most courteous manner by Sister Irene. -Every room in the house was crowded by babies, some of whom have been under charge for about two years, One little girl, named Marie, of about five years, sang @ verse of a song for the reporter, and all the children had toys ia their hands, many of the precious little toddlers coming forward and shaking the hands of the reporter and then retiring with a baby’s idea of doing somethii smart, About one hundred and twenty chilaren are nursed in the house, and 1,050 are boarded in:the city and suburbs at $10 @ mont with decent poor families, to whom the $10 @ month is a great help for rent and firing during the Winter. Some times there are ag many as ty unfortunate mothers of the children taki care of their babies in the Washington square house, who are in pias 3 taken gare of by the § Sisters of Charity, Owing to unforeseen circhinstances the Home now run bebiud for want of money, and those Who Co adord Ls should come forward. at shoe and give what can ke spared. Dra. Pardee, ) othekw “have Given that Shion! service fat and without cost to the institution, and they are needed, for there are now in the infirmary five or six children dying of diseace transmitted to them by their unknown tended The new buildings now nearly erected for the use of the institution on Sixty-elghth street, between Lexington and Th L yery fine, and are described as follows cportiaer te centre of the lot on Sixty-eighth street, 1s placed the administrative building, 90 :ect wide by 60 feet deep. and five stories high, exclusive of the basement. ‘This building will contain tue chief offices, parlors for visitors, kitchen, dining rooms, pantries, work rooms, bathrooms, closets, eleva- tor, dormitories, and infirmary for the Sisters. To the north of, and connected with, this building, wiil be the chapel, 40 teet wide and 80 jeet long. the basement under the chapel will be the play rooms for the children. On each side of the main building and parallel therewith, will be two wards, each 30 feet wide and 90 feet long, with a pavilion at each end of the same about 40 feet square. These wards will be three stories high, exclusive of the basement, and be placed at a sutticient dis- tance apart from each other to allow an ample free circulation of air anda full play of the sun’s rays around them—to aid which, the corridors connect- ing them With the centre building and with each other han amd ale 9 im nee Hetgits of extending but one story in height. eigh fhe’ weveral fyeke in the centre Pah ing an wards are fellows :—Base! i ij tory, fifteen feet tix Sucies ascent Ins Inches; 5 x ae i six inches; third, fourth and fie ator ns fost niet; alin tne dle Christmas Morn.” In the basement story of the various wards Wi, oftices for the physicians, the dispensaries, waiting rooms, nurses’ and sewing rooms, small kitchens and store rooms, As far as possible all our infants are wet nursed; that is, as in all intant poanitals, one wet nurse suckles and feeds two infants, ex- cept in a few instances where a wet nurse cares for only one infant. But, as the institution will ac- commodate enly thirty-eight wet nurses, we are limited to that number, while at times a much larger number of infants are received than we can wet nurse either within or outside the asylum. All the wet nurses in the institution enter accompanied by tueir own infants, and while they Temain with ns nurse also another. Some of | these nurses are very young, only fliteen, sixteen age. or course these young girls are not is Wel nurses, but they apply | for admission with their infants; and they are as much in want of @ home and protection as their Ants Whoa ttis fuposelble to wee ae Bottle- le to Wet- fant, it 18 spoon-fed upon condensed mlik. feeding, with the utmost care, wes long and thor- oughly tried, but 3; cop peding, has been substi- tuted for it, foy with the latter we have less of overfeeding and its consequences, also less: air is swallowed and greater cleanliness can be ensured. All the food for the infants is prepared under the supervising care of one of the’Sisters. The great mass of our infants are boarded about the city and im the surrounding country, and with but few exceptions are wet-nursed. Though many of them thrive, yet we find that many of our infants within the inetitution do as well as any out at nurse, while a proportionally greater num- ber at wet-nurse outside fail and are returned to us in a dying condition. Our experience with nurselings upon a large part of Long Island, espe- cially the eastern and southwestern portion, has not been at all gratifying. Yet, again, many in- fants who have graduall; failed under the influence of hospital air, &c., have greatly improved when wet-nursed outside. In spite of this, experience forces us to acknowledge that the chances of rear- ing infants in a Strcalionne institution, with large, sunny, well-ventilated halls, are fully as good 'as in the outside nursing or boarding. We can procure only a few wet nurses in the rural dis- tricts, within any reasonable distance of our city, for our small farmers have no necessity to tax ‘their wives and families with the care of nurselings. And we have @ great number of infants returned by their nurses to the asylum in a feeble and aying condition, who live many days longer with us than if left to die outside.” CHRISTMAS CHARITIES. To THB EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— Dear Sin—After reading in yestérday’s HeRaLp an article on “The Head of the family and His Holiday Troubles, I venture to write a word or two on behalf of a class who, unfortuyately, have no such troubles. I mean a class of persone who mn be termed “respectable poor people,’ w.ho by their position are bound t inake a respectable appearance and yet whose means are wholly inade uate to meet their demands, For such @ class there is no such, trouble iu store, It takes but Very little time and consideration, if any, to select their Christmas gifts, There may, as in my own experience, have been long illness and loss of business, but still the appearance must be kept up to the eyes of the Tew oF else they are at once condemned, The inal {nif still wear a good coat and his wife and fainily be well dressed whon *” oy appear in public; but who shali tell the prim ations they have to undergo in many things. ‘91’ which thelr richer brethren have no conceptyn » No toys or candies will fill their children’s stockings tts ear, and the little Ones will Wonder in vain how fis that “Santa Claus" hae forgotten them, “Our poor,” thanks to the liberality of our rich, are pro- vided for with dinners and toys; but the class of which I write, for them there is no help; they must suffer in silence lest tncir poverty should become known. I venture to say that many of our wealthy ople, if they would but think, know many such, 4g whom they might, without ostentation, sen: some little help which would giadden many a weary heart and make it to them in reality a merry Chrisi- mas, Yours, trul; 1 SNE OF THE UNFORTUNATES. D&CEMBER 21, 1872. CAB CASUALTY IN HOBOKEN. At nine o'clock last evening Mr. Grand Val, @ well-known resident of Lake street, West Hoboken, narrowly escaped a melancholy death ashe was riding on the rear platform of a horse car goin from the Hoboken ferry. te was suddenly hariet from his position by a jolt of the car, and being thrown to the ground, sustained a contusion of the brain. He was kindly attended to by Dr. Benson, who pronoynged ls injuries nyt necessarily fatal CHRISTHAS- AT THE CAPITAL, Preparations for a Season of Festivity. What the Diplomatic Corps Will Do. WEDDINGS IN’ PROSPECT. Personal Sketches of Distinguished Leaders of Washington Society. WasHInaTon, Dec. 23, 1872, Even society puts on a human aspect at times, and is just now so busy with preparations that coucern the home and the family as to leave but a poor harvest for the gossiper’s pem. Christmas is a deep-rooted festival in the old Southern tradi- tions of the capital city, and, amid the ever- changing elements of its upper class population, keeps a firm hold. Many come here from parts | the country where at smail Are le Bet by Christ mas tluié, yet they find the homage paid to it 80 Pleasant that they fall as readily into the custom ag those to the manner born. The Christmas charities of Washington are one of the noblest features of the season, and for that, if for naught else, one may wish that Christmas tide may never be in less esteem than now. Here, for instance, is @ reminder of the day and its duties in the form of @ paper bag from the children of St. John's Episco- pal Home, and labelled ;— Pm an empty Christmas bag, Fillme up! All me up! Southwardly from here Christmas ig the one festival of the Winter season, but the official and private receptions of New Year’s Day raise the latter with us to at least an equal rank. THE EXODUS FOR THE HOLIDAYS. The railway trains are well filled both ways with the outflow of members of Congress and other gov- ernment officials, homeward bound for the holl- days, ahd the indow of ladies coming, as is their yearly habit, to assist their resident friends in the pleasing duties of New Year's Day. There are some distinctive features in these receptions that ren- der the duties of receivership attractive to non- residents, and nearly every lady presiding in her gas-lighted and decorated parlors is supported by friends from abroad, If nothing more be accom. plished the foundation is laid of friendships extending all over the Union, and the strangers find a pecuilar interest in meeting face to face so many men of representative character and na- tional reputation. This constitutes the great dif- ference between the New Year receptions of Wash- ington and those of other cities. Society with us 1s yet compact enough to admt of a call upon all properly within its charmed circle, 80 that one may count on seeing all the lions wherever in the circle gne may be, | 1, She GHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR over and out of the way the Winter's rout fairly begins, and the woman of AQ Tesident or stranger, must forego al but dressing, riding, visiting, gossiping and eating. Sleep must be fought off from Sunday to Sunday and from New Year's to Lent by brief concessions of troubled hours, for in the bright Jexicon of Washington society there is no such word ag rest, Rising on Monday, prepirations must begin for the afternoon reception of tho wives of the Judges and the ladies of the Marine Barracks and Navy Yard. On Tuesday Mrs. Grant holds her reception at the White House. On Wednesday the Cabinet ladies receive, and on Thursday the wives of Senators. On Friday various lady residents monopolize the day, and on Saturday everybody goes to the Arsenal, where General Dyer has his Tesidence, and to Brentwood, the pretty suburban home of Captain Carlisle Patterson, of the Coast Survey. The evenings are taken up with the RECEPTIONS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS and with a miscellaneous host of other entertain. ments. The foreign ladies who are to receive this Winter are Lady Thornton, wile of the British Min- ister; Madame Blacque, wife of the Minister of Turkey; Seiora Treyve, of Peru; Sefiora de Car- valho Borges, of Brazil; Madame de Soza Lobo, of Portugal, and the Marquise de Noailles, of France; Madame ite of the Argentine Confederation, Wi I. al Bil tue Wines, & ROCA) Gaianiity which nothing but the Dp aébut of the Mitquise could make engurable. The latter is not yet settled in her rieW home, but society no longer doubts the value of the acquisition. TRE MARQUISE is very pretty and vivactous, and speaks excellent English with a charming accent. She is of medium height and rather tull figure, with dark hair, eyes and complexion, anda face decidedly French and unmistakably Parisian in expression. Aided by her husband’s rank, wealth and pedigree, and by the handsome young attachés with whom he is sur- rounded, the Marquise will reign this season by common consent. Next to the Noailles mansion, the house of the Turkish Minister will be the diplomatic point of attraction. The Bey ts the dean of the corps, hav- ing succeeded Baron Gerolt, Sue VEER rae oF FRUBRIA. ae pa Germany, who he en iiere 8d long that it ates as ita utual forgetfulness had falten upon him and his government. With him went out of the country as good an American as was ever born or adopted, apd society, as well as “the rest of mankind,” saw him go with sorrow. Blacque Bey, the rent Dean, is a Frenchman by nativity, a Turk by adoption and an American in all else. If he represents anything Oriental it is undoubt- edly Young Turkey, and the government that keeps him in high ce, in its service cannot be wholly efiete. The is quite a hand- some man, tall and robust, with black eyes and hair and heavy beard and mustache. He is an excellent scholar and a famous musician in private circles. His first wife was a native American and his present one is a native Turk, educated in France. Madame Blacque, who is one of society's favorites, is a handsome brunette Ta especially remarkabie for elaboration and skill in the arrangement of her plentiful hair, Her man- ners are easy and agreeable and she speaks Eng- lish well. The Blacques keep a picasant and socia- ble house, into which they father nearly all of the pleasant people of the west end. . SIR EDWARD THORNTON ives one large party dur! the season. His resi- lence is on I street, @ ly pile in the Gothic style. Inside everything is stately and massive. ‘The servants are all dressed in livery, and the for- | mality of an English household stamps itself upon everything about the premises, Sir award himself, a tall, thin man, with gray hair and short, gray side whiskers, 18 as thorough looking an Englishman as can be found on either side of the water, He dresses neatly in black, of ber cut, and is a and unyielding as an arrow in his carri & periect Weston for walking, and pro! more about a Sg Lt of the District of Colum- bia than anybody else init. In his manner is cold, but always courteous, Ryeipor Sir Edward, and it is doubtful if Her Teajenty or Her Majesty’s predecessors ever had a more useful representative at Washinton, wile, LADY THORNTON, oe is tall, like her husband, and, like him. type of her native country. She is reserve(, but wholly free from afectation, and 18 of goméstic rather than social tastes, She has t™> aaughters, of about fiteen and thirteen, Who ‘gre dressed aé children pnd Teinaae igoing unattended upon the cI of g that incipient womanhood which is characteristic of our own country. have oper. TEMPERANCE ORGANIZATIONS mas *, ly knows ued War upon egg nogg and other Christ- tr and New Year's beverages, and society is vubled about it, not knowing how to banish the accustomed compounds from its tabies, and yet disliking to retain them in the face of protestations that it is social drinking which lays the foundation of many @ young man’s ruin, In the end a compro- mise between custom and conscience will probably be effected by groriog tea and coffee and com- mending them to their visitors, while leaving to the latter their own choice. Miss Van Wyck, a member of one of the old Knickerbocker families of Washington to gladden socie young lady, who is exceedingly aristocratic in ap- pearance and manner, has quite a reputation as a musician and as a painter, ADMIRAL WORDEN, better known to fame as Captain Worden, of the Monitor, is pomee re Washti n as chief of one of the navy bureaus, bringing an appreciable addi- tion to eur society in the person of Mrs. Worden. There has been one wedding during the past week—that of a son of Mr. W. R. Drinkard, who was chief clerk of the War Omce under Secretar; Floyd, to a young lady on H street. we we still to come off are those of the daughter of the Hon. James Brooks, with a New Yorker; Captain Breese, of the navy, with the daughter of ex-Governor Curtin; Miss Paschal, daughter of Judge Paschal, the annotator of the constitution, with Mr. Gass- away, @ young financler and society man, and Miss Nicholson, rand-niece of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, toa Mr, py ec a scion of a Virginia family a8 iilustrions as her own. Those who affect THE “OLD SCHOOL” are scioiclng in the retusy Of Mr. Clement Hii). of New York, has come to | for the Winter, This | respects ; | yesterday. Maryland, who kept a high rank in the society of bygone days. P r the young people the most important of com ing events is the German of the Bachelors’ Club, of- which Colonel Audenreid, of General Sherman's si though married, is still a leading member. Be dsome aide-de-camp, who accompanied the ne} ral to Europe and Egypt. ie once more settled in Washington society w: his equally handsome wife. General Marcy, father-in-! Of General McClellan, has also brought back his family for the season from New Jersey. WINTER WEATHER. eR IF DOE | Yesterday’s Tom perature—Outdoor Sports Well Patronised—The Skating, Curling and Sleighing at the Park: The excessively cold weather of Sunday gave Place yesterday to a pleasant and agreeable Win- ter day. One’s cars did not tingle five minutes after reachjng the street, nor waa it required to beat a tattoo on the pavement to keep the feet from be- coming benumbed. Everybody was delighted at the change, and shopkeepers were almost beside themselves at the scores of customers that thronged their places, and blessed the sunshine because it. put men and women alike in good humor. Seldom have the sireets been 60 crowded as yesterday from early morning to late in the evening. Broadway, from Canal street, and even below, was almost impassable, but there | had that pleasantness and absence of all ill temper that makes a crowd enjoyabie. The streets, too, were blocked with vehicles, and at one time, late in the afternoon, Broadway was so jammed with every conceivable character of carriage and wagon that there was a dead lock from Trinity church far 3 OBITUARY. ‘This eccentric and widely-reputed artist expired at his home in Jersey City, yesterday morning, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. His reputation is aromal with wampum and War-paint, and were we to construct an allegory to his memory we might represent art as @moking the calumet over his remains and criticism as burying the tom- shawk beside them. Never ao representative American artist, #0 far ag his relations to his pro- fession were concerned, yet he is in some sense typical painter, having been the first one to enrich his canvas With studies which owed their inspira- tion to the Rocky Mountain region. Catlin was sat- urated with our Indian traditions, and if he never concentrated his efforts into one magnificent epic, ifhe never painted a companion picture to the “Hiawatha” which Longfellow wrote, he has at least expressed his experiences and his aspira- tions in hundreds of smaller works, that have se- cured him a unique and honorable nook in the his- tory of American art. Catlin was born in Wyoming in 1796, and after the period of infancy lived ten years in the Ocquago Valley, employing his hands alternately with the plough, the rife and the fishing tackle. Five years he devoted to the classics, and then, following the advice of his father, studied law un- der Reeve and Gould, of Connecticut. He attended the lectures of these judges for two years; was admitted to the bar; practiced three years asa sort of “Nimrodical” lawyer, as he himself, in one above Chambers street, and this continued for sev- eral minutes, On many of the side streets there was the same character of a blockade, and for an hour or so the detained cars of the Sixth, Seventh Eighth avenues and Broadway lines extended from the archway on Yoeer street as far up as Canal street, delaying hundreds who wished to get up town to early dinner. The genial day and the excclient condition of the ice at the Park drew together on the ponds all who delight in the exhilarating pastime of skating. At noon there was but few found on the Lake and the pond near the Sixth avenue entrance, but as the afternoon wore on they came in scores and at four o’clock the scene was most picturesque. The Males outnumbered the females, but the latter had noted representatives present who, by their grace- ful evolutions, drew arqund them at times quite @ crowd, every member of which appreciated their Retierpn tp /he art of skating, From four o'clock usk, and iong after, the hie end when thé ire 8 1g Ake ani a Venu paE i heehee the ncthece WY the ol ae val occasions, The moments passed merrily with the majority ofthe vast number present, and when word was passed about half-paat ten o’clock that the lake must be slegred within half an hour, there «Were many sighs 0} fap ointment that they could not remain until midnig! it. The curlers, too, were on hand at their pond, be- tween Seventy-fourth and Seventy-fifth streets, and, as the ice was solid and had an even surface, there were several scrub games played with much satisiaction. It has not: yet been definitely settled when the regular games will be commenced by the several clubs in end around New York, but they will probably be inaugurated next week, and then the Scotch- men in our midst will be delighted. A new curling club has been formed in Brooklyn, composed en- tirely, it 1s said, of stonecutters, It takes several ofthe players of the Caledonian Club of that city into its ranks. In addition to the skating and ete at the Park tne sleighing was capital, and all day long handsome turnouts glided along the drives out on the road. This amusement was all the more enjoy- able owing to the pleasant weather; but once and awhile there swept across the vast space raw west- erly gusts, that were decidedly uncomfortable. ie a all, however, the day passed cheerily ut the rk. FROZEN TO DEATH. Early yesterday morning one of the track-walk- ers on the South Side Railroad found the body of an unknown man lying in an open lot, near Berlin station, in Jamaica township. The deceased was apparently a German, upwards of forty years of age, Was thinly clad, and evideutly died from ex- posure and cold, as his hands, feet and face were frozen stiff and black. It appears that the unfor- tunate man was seen in the village of Jamaica on Sunday evening, when he entered a saloon, his hauds being partially frozen at the time. The Proprietor kindly gave him some supper, and, alter giving proper attention to his hands, di- rected him to the Town Hall to get lodgings for the night. It seems, however, that he did not go there, but attempted to find the house of a friend, who, he said, lived on the outskirts of the village, am probably became bewildered and lost his Hoh Ac- cording to the man’s statement while the saloon, he for some time past had been an inmate of the poorhouse at Freeport, which anstitution he left on Sueday morning, and walked to Jamaica, Coroner Allen has the matter under investigation. SKATING IN OBNTHAT PARK. To Ti Eprror oF THe HeRaLp:— Tbeg to submit a plan which occurred to me on visiting the Central Park skating pond, by which many of the destitute poor of the city might earn the means of subsistence during the Winter. Let the Commissioners, in conjunction with or through the benevolent societies of the city, give permits to deserving objects of charity to keep portions of the pond swept for fancy and figure skating, the sweepers receiving voluntary contri- butions irom the persons using the portions so swept. Tam a skater and can confidently state that every amateur of fancy skating would willingly contribgte a little forthe comiort and convenience sHorde them. by such a plan, Ihave conversed with several Park officials and they, 0) Od ity stated they would willingly give all ibe fafa heir power towards carrying it out, In Londo scores of families are ued from utter destitution by this identical arrangement, Trusting that you will give this communication a place in your valuable columns, I remain your obedient servant, eg ICE GORGE ON OHIO RIVER. H Cincrnnatt, Dec. 23, 1872, The ice gorge at Newport Bridge gave way last night, Hengehold and Jenner, coal dealers, lost between eighty and ninety thousand bushels of coal, which was in barges, fast in the ice. All the steamboats escaped Gamage by the constant efforts of the men engaged on them. Further losses are expected when the gorge above the bridge gives way. CLOSING OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, MeEmPnis, Dec. 23, 1872. Navigation is virtually closed above this point, ‘The river is filled with peavy ice and the weather is excessively cold. KITCHEN RANGE BOILER EXPLOSIONS. CINCINNATI, Dee, 23, 1872. In addition to the accidents reported yesterday from kitchen range boiler explosions, caused by the cold snap, the following are reported :—The hot water pi of the cooking ran; in the Great Western Rotel, @ small house of entertainment, exploded yesterday morning in consequence ot the formation of ice in the fee@er, and Mrs. Heiss, the wife ot the proprietor, was injured by fragments of the pipe and by scalding water. Another explosion from a similar cause occurred at the private residence of Dr. P. F. Mallery, but po one was injur OS NO eS. — OBSEQUIES OF A PUBLISHER. : ¥r ral of the Late Geo. P. Putnam. The funeral of the late George P. Putnam, the well known book publisher of this city, took place The remains of the deceased were conveyed from his residence to the Madison Baptist church, in Thirty-first street, at noon, and the sacred edifice was filied with sympathizing friends. The casket was of polished rosewood, with sjlver mountings. The | plate bore the simple inscription, ‘George P. Put- nam, aged fi ht years,” and the floral offer- Inga Were m: and beautifu#. The pall bearers were Messra. C. Bryant. J. T. Johnson, Henry Holt, Vincent Colyer, D. Houghton, J, 0. Sargent, A. ©. Atmatrong, A. D. F, Randolph, John Wiley, S. F. Gifford, Charles Collins and sera Baxter. The funeral services were conducted by the pastor of the church, Rev. Dr, Elder, who paid an eulo- gistic tribute to the memory ‘of the deveased, and the Rev. Mr. Anderson pronounced the funeraj | oration. The remains were then conveyed to the Woodiawn Cemetery. of Post-Mortem Examination. By request of the relatives of the late Mr. George | P, Putnam, the eminent publisher, who recently died suddenly at his place of business, corner of Fourth avenue and Twenty-third street, Deputy Coroner Cushman on Sunday afternoon le & at-mortem examination over the remains of the Recensed at his residence, 328 East Filteenth street, and found that disease of the heart and lungs caused death. Coroner Herrman beld the inquest. ARRIVAL OF PRUIT FROM MALAGA, SPAIN, Boston, Mass., Dec, 23, 1872. The brig John Brightman, at this port from Malaga, brings a full cargo of raisins, consigned to a firm in Chicago. This is the first cargo ever re- ceived at Boston consigned to ap ‘land port of entry of hig books, confesses, devoting all his leisure to the measaide of the rife. He then sold his law oks in disgust, exchanged his rifle and fisning tackle for pots and brushes, and spent five years in Poiladelphia at portrait painting. A visit of fifteen Indian chiefs there, properly tinted and tasselled, plumed with war-eagie ie! and gorgeous in tunic and manteau, ‘hrilled him wath {1 icturesqueness, and he forth- with determined to devote a great part of his life to familiarizing himself with all the Indian tribes of North America. In 1832 he tore himself from his wife and aged parents and for eight years lived among these savages. During that time he visited forty-eight tribes, speaking almost as many differen’ languages and OG) 400,000 souls. He brought home 310 portraits in oil, representing Indians in their native dresses and in wigwams, and 200 other paintings, containing 3,000 ful! Hoy figures and delineating every variety of Indian Weapon and every sachem and sagamore that wielded it. He resided consecutively at the mouth of tne Yellow Stone; Mandan village, on Mangon vl a etina’ Minataroe Vviioge, Lite he 1 of ‘ston; Fort Leavenworth: af ite abu of the ‘Fane ‘ashita, and at Fort Snelling. The work for which he was most celebrated, and which he published on his return, is his 2 upagradcn of the Manners, Customs and Coudition of the North American Indians,” with letters and notes written during eight years of travel and adventure among them, ‘With 360 engravi! from original paintings. ‘This Work was in two e volumes and ran through nine editions. It contained fifty-eight letters and three appendixes, in one of which the author gives his reasons for believing the Mandana to have per- petuated the remains of the Welsh colony estab- lished by Prince Modoc. ‘The. volumes are supplemented with a vocabulai of Indian Jan, 8, Showing their dissimilarity, and a com- arison of the original character of the race with its secondary or engrafted one. Subsequently Mr. Catlin went to Europe, where he remained eight ears, and where he took his Indian collection, is account of his European sojourn was after- wards published in two volumes octavo by Burgess, Stringer & Co,, of this city, in 1848. In England he was received by Disraeli, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and other distinguished people. In France King Louis Philippe was much interested in him, and Mr. Catlin painted for that monarch, and had exhibited in the Louvre, filteen Indian scenes and portraits. The King of the Bel- gians presented him with a gold medal, and the reception Mr. Catlin encountered abroad must have in some degree consoled him for the Simappolnemeny he experienced in his own ele Gy uring his eight years’ travel among the Indians he had spent not leas than $20,000, had been sustained neither by private nor public patronage, and had been animated simply by his own invincible resolution to become the artist- historian of a dying race, to whom all his sym- pathtes were given. né points to which we have alluded are the chief ones in this artist’s career. Mr. Catlin was essentially a portrait painter, but by no means one of the first class, Aside from his identification with our Indian traditions, he would probabiy have failed to make any great impression upon the pub- lic. His numerous paintings are full of instances of correct and graceful drawing, but he was with- out that romantic fancy and daring saa nation which might have bestowed -upon his efforts an indefinitely greater artistic value, Mr. Catlin was, at the best.a disappointed man; and the many who visited the recent exhibition of his works at the Somerville Art Gallery will probably learn that the industrious brush which excited so mach admiration was wielded by a hand that had Ee weak from inappreciation. Still, the place ¢ filled is one that no one else has ever filled so well, and the memory he 4% entitled to 1s ag nonor- able as bis forte was peculiar, James Capel. By advices from London the death is announced, at the age ofeighty-four years, of Mr. James Capel, head of the firm of James Capel & Co., of that city, the oldest member of the Stock Exchange, and formerly Chairman of the Board of Managers. He was also for many years Chairman of the Committee of Spanish Bondholders, Mr. Capel went up to London from a small Mie near Worcester, and Wag taken into the office of Sir Edmund Antrobus & Co., of the Stock Exchange. So valuable did he become that as soon as his age justified a partner- ship @ share in the business was offered him, and from that time to the present—about sixty-two or sixty-three years—he has been an active member of ‘Change, ” LITERARY CHIT-CHAT. age AMONG FORTHCOMING historical works of jocal in- terest is Hammonda’s “History of Medison County, New York,”’ to be issued by Truair, Sinith & Co,, of Syracuse. THatT DELIGHTFUL French novel ‘Fleurange," by Mrs. Anne Craven, author of the “Récits d'une Sceur,” is being published in successive issues of The Catholic World. THERE 18 NO TRUTH in the late alarming reports concerning Mr. Thomas Carlyle’s health. ‘They are all zero,” as he expresses it. He is in full vigor and spirits and takes his long constitutional walks daily. DR. Couenso 1s about to popularize wis re- searches on the ‘Pentateuch” into one volume, the six volumes already published being too bulky and erudite for general readers, delayed by the care required in printing and edit- bulky octavo volumes absolutely crammed with cals, or now first printed from his manuscript; the allowing glimpses of its expanding scope and plan, and extracts from nis ‘‘Common-place Book," ali bearing testimony to his immense reading and his steady purpose of bringing its resources to bear onthe completion of thie work of his life. The work appears under the auspices of Miss Helen Taylor, the step-daughter of John Stuart Mill, and itis not too bold an assumption that the super. vision of that gentieman has been bestowed on the literary remains of his late friend and dis+ ciple. Tue Moscow Gazette publishes statistics of litera- ture and education in Rassia that aré by no meahs flattering. Of the entire population only nine per cow and St. Petersburg, there are 349 book shops and 236 libraries—or only 585 collections of books among & population of 55,000,000, Mrssrs. Lacrorx & SvyoT are publishing in Paris & “Histoire des Prolétaires.”’ account of the remarkable literary brothers, Julius and Augustus Hare. Thetr ancestor, Bishop Hare, ‘was aman of great learning, but poor common sense, This was evinced in his compelling his son Francis to speak only Greek in conversation, and he held him with so tight areim that the young man, when old enough to choose his own course, broke into dissipation and joined the ‘‘Hell-Fire Club.” From such @ mixed ancestry came in after | years two of the finest intellects of England. COMPLETION OF A NEW BAILROAD. Burraxo, N. Y., Dee. 23, 1872 ‘The last rail on the Buffalo, New York and Phila- delphia Railway was laid to-day, near the Empo- rium. There will be a general excursion over the road on Saturday, the 28th inst, Coal from the Cameron mines will be brought over the road at once, * | Mr. BUCKLR’s “Miscellaneous Works” have been | ing such an immense mags of literary material as | they contain. The work forms three lange and ! matter. This consists of an extended notice of | Mr. Buckle's ine; misceiiancous papers on various | subjects, brought together from different periodi- | collections for the prosecution of his “History of | Civilization” in various stages of completeness, | cent know how to read. In Russia, outside of Mos- | In “MEMORIALS OF A QuIRT LIFE," just published | in London by Augustus J. C. Hare,’ we have an | | He said that all he wante SCUTTLING A WHALZR. secieieseeionemeiees Four of the Crew of the Bark Falcon Arrested and Arraigned for Attempting to Scuttle the Vessel—Records of a Cap- tain’s Alleged Brutality. Boston, Dee. 23, 1872. + Last May the bark Falcon sailed from New Bed- ford on @ whaling voyage, under command of Captain Allen, a resident of New Bedford, having on board abont twenty-five men, several of whom bad never been on along voyage before. On the 18th of last October, while lying om and off Fayal, it was discovered that the bark was filling with water, and the pumps were set at work, finally relieving her so that she was taken ashore, and it was found that a half dozen augur holes had been bored in her sides, below warer-mark, showing an evident ATTEMPT TO SCUTTLE HER. Indeed, the vessel probably would have gone down had it not been for the tarred paper which Was forced into the holes, partially stopping them. For various reasons four of the crew, named Charles Hill, Charles KE, Mills, Samuel Bennett and Charles 0. Barlow, were put in irons, taken before the Consul qt Payal, an examination had, and the four, with Frank M. Spinner, August Renstle and John Francis, in custody as witnesses, were sent to New Bedford on bvard tue bark Fredonia, which arrived at that port on Saturday. The prisoners and witnesses were put in charge of Deputy Mar- shal Cobb and his assistants, and brought to this city this forenoon. ‘They appeared belore Commis- stoner Hallett, of the United States Court, and were committed to the Charles Street Jail ior ex amination on Thursday hex THE ACCUSED, Hillis a young colored man of St, Eustatia and was a boat steerer. Mills was the carpenter and belongs in Boston, Bennett is from well aid Barlow from Stoneham, All are. young and bright looking. They are charged with attempting to scuttle the ship and there seems little doubt that somebody on board did it. They all complain ot constant abuse by Captain Allen, which nev 4 they can prove, not only by the evidenee of other, but also by that ol the witness yf the gov- ernment. Milla, who appears to be an intelligent young man, kept a diary, in which he had recorded all treatment on the pr of the captain and which gives a good idea of the life on board some whaling ships. hether their statements are true or not remains to be seen. The following are extracts from Mills’ records t= A THE CARPENTERS CALs ‘Sunn 3, 1872, Captain Alten, of the bark Falcon, sexed me ‘by the face, shoved me against the main, scratched my face and called me names, I told him I' had done accordi to orders, He told me Iwasa —— liar. [told him did not come here tobe abused. He shoved his closed hand against my face aud. told him or he would break my tace. ——. [made no shipped as @ carpenter and was ised worse than any foremast hand. “SAID HE WOULD KNOCK MY BRAINS OUT.” JuLy 15, 1872. Have been sick below for three ays. Came on deck, but was not able todo much, The captain called me to get a piece of board. Went up to him and he cursed me and told me to move, He seized me by the collar; struck me several times with a stick he had in his hacd, untilhe broke It into several pieces. He struck me several times with his fist in the face; then kicked me forward alter a bore. He seized a cooper's adze, and said he would Knock my brains out It 1 did not hurry. Called me everything but aman. I never said one word back to him. “I did not feel able to stand on my feet. MAKING SHOR PEGS AS A PUNISHMENT. Sarunpay, Sept. ve been sick about two weeks, but kept on di fear of being growl Could gave up standing wate anything tor three d eat, Captain asked a Stowiag away, oft , 1872, for 1 ten . id not get anything I could feltany better. told him I did 1d he told me Thad played itlong enough, 1 sai: Twas not playing it, He cursed me and told me to stand my watch, Went below and got into my bunk untii ny turn. The Captain came down, struck me, dragyed me out ot my bunk on the steerage floor, kicked me three or tour times and dragged me on deck, and made me stand for four and one halt hours making. shoe pegs with my knite, in my bare fect. The deck was damp, and I got mora cold. ‘T told him I was siek two or three times, and he told me If sald that, again he would break my lace. was one blow at me to end my days, ‘The remainder of the record, whtch is up to-day, is of a similar character, and refers only to abuse by the captain and a desire on hk: part to leave ithe vessel, LAUNCHING A STEAMER. - e A New Boat for the Stonington Linc— Th Rhode Island Leaves the Stocks— Her Dimensions, Steam Power, dic. Yesterday afternoon a multitude assembled at the shipyard of Henry Steers, Greenpoint, L. L, for the purpose of witnessing the launching of a splendid steamer, lately constructed for trafic on the Sound, The Rhode Island is a vessel which merits more than ordinary notice, as she is inferior only in size to those colossal river palaces— the Bristol and Providence—and her length is 340 feet; beam, 47 feet; depth of hold, 15 feet. Her frame 18 composed of white oak, cedar and live oak; her decks are of white pine, 3 by 6; her bottom plank white ‘oak, 334 to 4 inches, and she is diagonally braced with trop strape, She has water-tight iron bulkheads, ia copper-fastened throughout, and draws, when loaded, about eight feet of water. HER LINES are exquisitely fine and are the result of life-long calculations on the part of her originator and de- signer, Captain Babcock, the President of the Stonington line, to which the vessel belongs, The passenger accommodations will be replete with every comiort. There will be 220 state rooms and accommodations for iy Meas 700 passengers. She will oe fitted with two Saloons—an upper and a lowé¥ dhé—Ana her life-saving apparatus will Consist of ten metallic liteboats and several patent Ta{ts, capable of sustaining 1,000 persons. ‘The engines ofthe Rhode Island are almost ready for disposition, They are constructed by Messi Roach & Son, of the Morgan Iron Works, and a | capable of working up to 1,000 horse rr. She is fitted with a beam engine with fourteen foot stroke, more than two feet above that of any river | steamer running. Her cylinders are 90 inches in diameter, her wheels 38 feet 6 inches in diameter, with floats 13 feet by 3 eet. Her gross burden is about one thousand tons, and she will ply between NEW YORK AND STONINGTON, in connection with the Boston and Stonington Railroad, appearing on the route about May 1. Yesterday was not @ particularly pleasant day for launching a large vessel, yet the number of ladies and gentlemen present indicated the amonnt of interest taken in the début of the new vessel, the chocks being driven away only a few minutes after the hour named. . THE PREITY ORAFT glided likely a stately swan into the smiling cle- ment which is to prove her home or grave. Ring- ing cheers from the muititude saluted her as she shot into the silvery stream, and those who felt most interested in the welfare of the new vessel adjourned to the office of the builder, there to toast everlasting success to the Rhode Island, THE GREELEY FUND, Where Shall the Statae Be Erected! | To rae Eprror OF THE HERALD:— When you generously proposed the Greeley Fund 1 begged you to accept my subscription of $50, As the original intention has been abandoned, I now make my offering to the present purpose of the Fund, But let me ask, whether, after all, Central Park is appropriate for this particular statue of Horace Greeley? That the great editor was inter- ested In our beautiful Park is true, but that he was much more interested in int- | ing House square is truer. Greeley desired no greater fame than to be ibered as “The Founder of the New York 7 Are we not sure, then, it would have pleased bim immeas ably to have been told that, after death, his ‘‘coun~ terfeit presentment” should haunt the spot en- deared to him by every act and aspiration of his busy life? Printing House Og al honors Franklin, the printer. What more fitting com- panion for his statae than that of Horace Greeley, the editor? Hoping your committee will take into oonaideresion, & suggestion — by others as weil y f, Lam, cordially, yours, ps a ia Tee ATE FIELD. 25 GRAMERCY Park, Dec. #3, 1872. mn THE GREELEY WILL CASE. By mutual consent the Greeley will case, at the Surrogate’s Court, White Plains, was yesterday adjourned until January 13, This 1s thought by e to mean an impending compromise of some kind, but this is denied by partisans of each side of the cause, Only the counsel for the Misses Greeley appeared in Court yesterday, the arrangement for an adjournment having been projected a day or 60 ago. CARD FROM FATHER BURKE. To tHe EDITOR OF THE HERALD:— ‘The course of lectures in reply to Mr, Frouce, de- livered by me, will be published this week by P. M. Haverty, of Barclay street. These alone have been revised by me, and I beg to state distinctly that 1 will not be responsible, either on this or any other occasion, for lectures or sermons of mine published by anauthorized parties who may wish to make money by such pubitcations, | Bk. Sr of my reRs eS THOMAS N. BURKE, 0. P. CONVENT OF ST, VINCENT FRRRER, NEW YORK, Dec, 20, 1872 ’