The New York Herald Newspaper, June 22, 1873, Page 7

J NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, JUNE 22, 1873—QUADRUPLE SHEET. ITALY THE FESTIVAL OF THE CONSTITUTION The Italian Boys Making Fireworks and Fourth of July Demonstrations Under the Windows of the Vatican, EFFECT ON THE POPE’S HEALTH. Trying to Catch an Old Bird . With Chaff. Coaxing the Pope to Iluminate St. Pe- ter’s and Join in the Rejoic- ings of the Heathen. The Festival and Iluminations---The Re- view---Fires and Firemen. eae taye HOISTING THE ITALIAN FLAG. IRELAND IN ROME. Mazzoni, Sir Walter Scott, Garibaldi. Rome, June 8, 1673. Rome celebrated yesterday and the day before, ‘the first and second days of June, together with the other Italian cities, the Festival of the Statuto er Constitution granted by Carl Albert to the Pied- montese in 1848, and extended by his son,- the present King, gradually to the whole of Italy. The @ay is sacred to the Italians, like the Fourth of July is to America, bemg commemorative of the birth of Italian constitutional existence, gnd at the same time of the achievement of Italian unity. ‘The spirit in which the Jestival was celebrated in Rome may best be gathered, perhaps, from a peru- fal of the Syndic’s address to the citizens, which ‘was placarded all over Rome during a week before fee day of the sete, “ « ROMANI Phe constitution represents:— Liberty, because it substitutes the law to the despotism of the individual and of castes. Unity, because it isa pact which has gathered in &@ single body the scattered members of the nation, Independence, because it is the barrier against the past, the guarantee for the tuture, guarded by 25,000,000 of inhabitants ready to fight in its de- Jence. With d reason the commemoration of the statato has been declared a nationalséte. Rome, more than all other parts of Italy, aspires to cele- Drate the occasion in a becoming manner. The constitution sworn to at Turin by the august father of Victor Emmanuel has been received by him upon the battle field of Novara, guarded and valiantly defended by his sword and that of his son. He has known how, with the co-operation of the entire nation, to restore the ancient capital to its true position. How many among us, 0! my fellow citizens, have by sacrifice of all kinds co- eperated in this noble enterprise! We can with pride recall to mind the facts and exclaim:— “We have attained the goal! Rome is to-day the capital of Italy—one, free and independent!” recall with pride the day of the plébiscite, which completed the work of the statuto, in re- uniting Rome with Italy. In consequence of that vote we are to-day the capital of a grand nation. Victor Emmanuel is in our midst, the Parliament holds its meetings within our walls, and an august sovereign stranger honors our city by her presence. Let us respond to the calumnigs, to the boastin; of the reaction and anarchy, and prove to the world he are still the Romans of the 2d of October, NON-PARTICIPATION OF THE CLERGY. The fetes passed off quite successfully, although the participation was by no means universal, the clericals keeping conscientiously away, and in many cases showing their displeasure by refusing to illuminate their houses or to display the Italian Mag. More than athird part of the houses, and more than half the palaces of the city, were distin- guished by the gloom that rcigned in and outside on the night of the ete. There is a large element @1 the population yet to be satisfied vefore the sete Of the statuto will be celebrated by liberals and clericals alike. The clericals of Rome refuse to acknowledge any auch thing as an Italian constitu- tion. The government consequently ignores their existence, and dn the other hand sought to treat the loyal portion of its subjects to a festival which should compensate for the loss, or eclipse the grand festivities of papal days, at Easter and other church /etes ofthe year. The programme included illuminations, pyrotechnical displays, mimic confagrations, music, reviews, distribution of medals, a general holiday aud other harmless but edifying spectacles calculated to amuse the people. The authorities had likewise, intentionally or unintentionally, determined to give the sick Pontiff the tull benefit of these noisy demonstrations by letting off ite fire crackers, tire wheels and big guns immediately under the windows of the Vatican. This was an unpardonable thought- lessness, to say the least, on tne part of the munici- pal authoritie8; for the noisy spectacle was well calculated to send any sick man of ordinary powers gnto convulsions, and the only wonder is that the Pope is no worse after the ordeal. Permit me to speak on this subject first, and to discard any attempt to describe the festivities in chronological order. AFFLICTIONS OF THR PAPACY. In no other country of Europe would the first ecclesiastical dignitary of the land be treated with such disrespect as has been shown towards Pope Pius 1X. durihg the past month, and especially dur- ing the past few days of national rejoicing. While the Holy Father lay at the point of death (for his Condition must always be considered precarious) the government and Parliament insisted on pass- ing the laws against the religious orders and against the Jesuits, when all just-minded men, of whatever religion they might be, Jelt that every fresh measure against the tathers was a new Sword-thrust directed at the* breast of the sick Pontitf. Whateffect, then, would be produced upon the Pope by the firing of 100 cannon and the roar of 4,000 rockets sent simultancously into the sky, the revise of a Foi3'th of July dispiay concentrated in one point, not five minutes’ distance from St, Peter's and the Vatican’ Presuming that all readers are wot acquainted with the topography of Rome | will gstempt to m: the situation of the festal displaf clear. The ‘Tiber separates the city proper from the Vatican side of the Fiver. Crossing the ancient bridge, or Ponte St. Angelo, we see directly in front the massive circular tower called the Castel St. Angelo, otherwise termed the Tomb of Hadrian. In general appearance It may be likened to the structure of Castle Garden when viewed from a distance. A huge relic of past grandeur it 18, Without beauty, but historically interesting as the mausoleum Which Hadrian erected for huis ‘ashes, of which Byron sings :— Turn to the mole which Hadrian rear’d on high, Imperial mimic of old Egypt's piles, Colossal covyist of deformity, ; Whose travell’d phantasy trom the far Nile's Enormous model, doom'd the artist's toils ‘To build for giants, and for his vain earth, His shrunken ashes, raise this dome! How smiles The gazer's eye with philosophic mirth To by the “huge desiga which sprung from such 4 irth | Converted into a fortress in the fifth century it was shortly afterwards deprived of whatever beauties it may have once possessed, and afver- wards formed a Papal fortress until the entry of the Italian troops in the city in September, 1870, Durning to the leit alter crossing the bridge. and passing through a narrow street, the wonderful Btructure of St. Peter's and the palace of the Vat- ican burst upon the view. The distance between the tower and the'palace is not great, being only @ walk of a few minutes; in fact, the wo edifices are connected by @ subterranean way, which was used in former centuries by the inhabitants of the Vatican. The tower was used during the Faster festivities of former years for the display of fire- ‘works, which, in connection with the illumination of St. Peter's, produced an effect whose grandeur will never be forgotten by those who Witnessed the scene. A BAIT POR THE HOLY FATHER. Well, the Castel belongs now to the government. Bt. Peter's is still the possession of the Pope. The authorities had at one time, in the innocence of their hearts, expected thar the Vafitan anthoritics of St. Peter's would consent to iMumination | and thus help thom ‘eelebrate the festival of the Btatuto, They ex) that the Papal authorities would ‘secornte columns, the cornices, the frieses, the bands of the dome and all the details of the wonderful edifice with the thousand sarane, which, lighted instantaneously as by the wand o! the cian, should, with the play of fire around the figure of St. Angelo, evoke the plaudits of the thousands of thousands of spectators assembled to celebrate the festival of a govern- ment which has shown itself at enmity with the Church and desirous of taking away the last ves- tiges of Papal power and grandeur! The idea was absurd; and fy the people imagined that the Vatican could be “gulied” into participating in the festivities, even if only in honor of the Empress of Russia! ‘The Catholic Church ever refused to par- ticipate in the festivities of the Pagan gods,” said a Roman ecclesiastic to me, ‘and the present /éte has too many heathen characteristics about it to permit of His Holiness gtving his sanction to it,”’ THE FETBS. So the government had todo its best with Cas- tle St. Angelo. As a pyrotechnic display it was of a trath a great success. The designs brought on the front of the castle were both tasteful and artistic, and represented a monument having for its central figure italy depositing her vote in an urn, symboli- cal of popular suffrage, and at each side two alle- rical figures representing the Italian Senate and amber of Deputies. Two other figures repre- sented the liberty of the press and the liberty of public Saserais. the right and left were trans- parencies bearing the mottoes:— Qeennnenn nen nee ronnee nt ONDEEDLOIT IE DE DE LE DODE DE: Con Lealta di re, con Affetto di Padre, Carlo Alberto, 1V. Marzo, MDCUCXLViI. PORN TORN NONE SEIONE TE LEIDEN IEEE. OOO NEREODIOOOE NE BONNIE NE SOOT OO: ¥ A Koma Ci Siamo e Ci Kesteremo, 3 Vittorio Emanuele, XXVI. Novembre, * MDCCOLXXI. DONO NIIOLILENENE OIE IIT LODE PREIS porate Rt repair nema pr aee “With the Loyaity of a King, with a Father’s 2 Affection.’’—Carl Albert, March 4, 1848, OIA LOLOLI NEIDIO IO LOLELE LD DOLE SOLED DS ONL IOLE LENIENT EERIE RODENT LODE “We Are, at Rome, and Here We Will Re- g main,”*—Victor Emanuel, November 27, 1871. ANCL TO NOLO ILIEDELE DO TE TONE D6 OF. This design illuminated produced an exquisite effect, which was further heightened by the firing simultaneously, at the commencement of the ex- hibition, of 4,000 rockets, and at the close a bouquet of 4,500 baguettes. This display, together with the roar of cannon, the tiring of rockets lke the discharge of mitratlieuses, the music of seven or eight regimental bands, the clapping of hands of @ hundred thousand people, produced a noise that startled the owls among the ruins of the distant Coliseum, and a glare that illumined every stone of St. Peter's. And in tne sick chamber of the Vatican there was seated, in a high arm chair, the venerable Pontiff, surrounded by prelates aud watched by the three physicians of the Vatican. Fortunately there were no serious results. In fact, His Holiness is now much improved. He said mass on Pentecost Sun- day for the first time since his recovery. He had beiore attended mass, but had not said it himself, VICTOR EMMANUEL, The rest of the festivities were tame enough.’ Farly Sunday morning the King held review of the Roman National Guard and of the regular regi- ments in Rome, consisting in all of tive or six thousand men, His Majesty looked well, and on leaving the scene was gTeeted by the people with the clapping of hands and the waving of hanaker- chiets by stair sight-seers. A curious incident oc- curred the night previons on the occasion of a gala representation at the Apollo. The King had forgotten that the representation ‘was a gala one, and arrived at the theatre in an ordinary dress of gray stuff, Immediately on his arrival the performance was stopped, and the band struck up the national hymn, while the peo- ple rose from their seats to greet the King. Victor Emmanuel, becoming aware of the ungala charac- ter of his dress, attempted to bind the defect of his appearance, He, by retiring a moment, bor- rowed an evening dress coat from one of his aides and a white cravat from one of the lackeys, and in this dress coming forward io bow his acknowledge- ments to the people. His appearance, however, was anything but kingly, since the coat he had procured was too small for his burly form, and rendered it impossible for him to move and bow with the grace and dignity of royalty. By his side stood the unfortunate aid-de-camp, clad in the King’s gray jacket, twice too large for him. An audible smile spread over the faces of the audience, ITALIAN FIRES AND FIREMEN, The second day’s festivities consisted in planting an Italian flag on the cross of an obelisk on the Piazza del Popolo, and by an exhibition of the drill and eficiency of the Roman Fire Brigade. For such @ small show s0 lai a crowd was never perhaps assembled. The vast ‘square of the Popolo, the were drive leading up to Monte Pincio, and the brow of the hill itself were crowded with the people and beauty of the city, who bore the heat of the fortunately declining sun with great patience and patriotism. A gentle burst of applause, con- sisting in the clapping of hands, rewarded the skillful men who succeeded in planting the Italian flag on the slender monolith on the square. For the display of the skill supposed to be possessed b: the ‘Roman Fire Brigade three or four thousan jrancs had been Cea eee by the municipality in the erection of a high wooden frame house on the great square, together with a rough, shed-like structure, thatched with stri The feat to be exhibited with a house was this:—First it was to be set on fire, and then the fire brigade, with its hose and escapes, to immediately proceed to ac- tion. The fire was started and the firemen, having already laid down the water plpes, commenced playing on the dames, extinguishing them and drenching the house belore they had time to take hod. Several attempts were made to set the house on fire again, but without success. Once, indeed, terror-stricken people were seen at the third Stogs of the edifice, geSticulating and crying out for stance, according to the programme, and they were immediately rescued. At last the firemen gave up the affair iu disgust, swearing that they wanted nobler duty. So their attention was directed to the little straw-rooied house or shed close by, from which the FLAMES BEGAN TO ISSUE in pretty large volumes. Ithen jearned that the municipality, in order to test the Hil dase Ee qualities of the Fire Brigade, had placed a lamb in the structure, and the great feat to be accom- pilshed was to rescue the animal irom the flames. ‘his time the flames proved too much for the two or three fire engines pumped by the guardians of the public peace, alias policemen; the little lamb and the straw-roofed shed were both destroyed. It was a very fortunate circumstance that the Piazza del Popolo is a distance of over a miie from the Vatican, otherwise I am afraid that the noise created by the firemen and policemen over that abortive fire, the creaking and screaming of the two old hand engines that, never having been used since the last fire halfa decade ago, needed oiling; the screams of the people of the house erying out for deliverance trom the flames, and the terrivle din created by the music corps of the Roman police, would have given a shock to the nerves of the sick Pontiif from which be would never have recovered. The Pope can comfort himself with one thing, however, that as longas he had to give the people fireworks ae amusements, he gave them on a grand scale, an sent home natives and foreigners picased with the brilliant show, IRELAND IN ROME, “Oall that a fire, indade, and thim squirts fire engynes!”’ exclaimed a Hibernian citizen of New York to me, “I ratherjguess that my ould coom- pany and meself would have put out tue fire and got out the lamb widout the aid of thim squirting @pparatus at all.’’ And continuing the train of thought suggested by the incident, he gave vent to his ideas of Rome and the Koman people in amusing strains, the more amusing to me since, although he has been in America twenty years, he returns when wrathial to the language of the Green Isle. “To tell ye the plain, honest tratn,” he said, “and I have bane here a week, thase Italians are aquare people. Whare are the great Romans of ould’ Look at the buildings about us— the Pantheon, the Coliseum, the arches and forums and the big water aqueducts and the baths and all the old ruins. They were built by men. These pecnis are pigmies. They talk about the patricians! Bedad, methinks they are all plaabeians, and the only gintlemen in Kome gre the poor, begging praists, Who have nothing in the world to live on; and the way they trate the Pope! I am Catholic mesel’, anda good American, and I think not even the Turks would trate him worse than these sons of Italians.’ Although not a subject of His Holi- ness, I could not help agreeing with the remarks of my friend, and consequently feel justified in giv- ing them here as faithiully as my memory serves e. I had almost forgotten to describe the illumina- tion on the Capitoline Hill on the eve of the f tival, when the square of the Capitol and the stair- way of the lions leading up to it was illuminated, and on the tower of the Capitol itself was exhibited the illuminated STELLA D'ITALIA, or the Star of Italy, while two bands of music dis- coursed to the crowds of people assembled, The ancient square has seen many brilliant gatherings and festivities, and if the bronze statue of Marcus Aurelius could speak for once he would say that he had never been treated to such tame ceremonies as on this special eccasion. Had he not aud the bronze horse beneath him taken an important | part in ail those festivities connected with the raising of Cola de Rienzi to the dignity of Roman Tribune? True, they were stationed in front of St. John Lateran on that memorable occasion when wine was made to flow out of one nostril and water out of the other, But away with regrets for the past. Iam afraid lam becoming imbued with the spirit of hostility towards the Italian government which animates the clerical breast. I cannot, of course, share their prayers ior the downfall of United italy ana the re- estublishment of the Papal temporal power and the hopes again revived in the Vatican that France may interfere in favor of securing Rome to the Holy Father. Let us to-day join in the enthu- siasm of national Italy ‘if we can. she has great cause for rejoicing. ‘A period of twenty-five years,” says our Roman contemporary, “has elapsed since Carlo Alberto gave a constitution to his subjects, and during that period italy has ges some of the greatest changes recorded in her history. Freed from the Austrian yoke in her northern provinces, trom the temporal sov- exeignty o! the Pope in the Romagna, and from the Bourbon rule in the two Sicilies, she has become a@ united kingdom, and has in this respect realized the ardent, life-long desire of her reat patriot, Count Cavour, With a constitutional ing La a pies Parliathent eae is » Lhe to Lng rosperity and progress opened up er people, i they have the courage to support with firmness the burden of taxation necessary to the consolias- Hon of the kingdom and that perseverance to win the prizes of empire which the combined fertility of their soil, situation of their commercial ports, manufacturing skill and high artistic taste so ad- mirably unite in fitting them to command.” BAPYIBM OF JEWS AND TURKS, Resides the festival of the Statuto some minor festivities have taken place during the week in Rome, aud which I may notice. One churebly ies- tival I may mention a8 a curiosity, The 3ist day of May is set apart.in the ecclesiastical calendar of Rome for the baptism of Jews and Turks in the Church of St.John Lateran, A Roman journalist made the pilgrimage thither for the purpose of witnessing the ceremomes. He reports that he found neither people nor converts—only @ woman at her devotions who, when he spoke te her on the subject, replied, “But, signor, we live now in a time when the Christians themselves have become Turks and the Turks themselves are olten better than Christians.” She meant to say, “see, the Pope of the Greek Church sends his wife with presents and words ef coudolement to our sick Pontiff, and the princes aud kings of Protes- tant and Catholic lands come with sympathy for him, while Catholic Italy robs him of his earthly possessions and temporal dignities.” It is generally lieved that the Empress of Russia came to Rome more for the purpose of visiting the Holy Father than the King of Italy, Rumor says that she had believed for many years that the blessing of the Pope might prove beneficial, if not miraculous, in its effects upon her health. Her reception at the Vatican was very cordial, she is said to nave COP Scat pleasure at being able to greet the he: of the Latin Church in person; of being able to send word to her husband, the Czar, an account of the Holy Father's improved state of health; and tt is likewise asserted that she presented him with a@ purse of gold—some sa} a million francs—with the hope that it woul prove acceptable in view of the restricted resources of the Papal treasury. His Holiness is said to have made some aliusion to the persecution of the Cath- olic Church in the Russian Empire, and complained of the condition to which he had been reduced by revolution. The conversation was confined chiefly to goneral ropes, the Empress’ journey, her so- journ in Italy andin Rome. An anecdote is mak- ing the rounds of Russian circies that when the paaee was about to take her leave the Pope looked around for his crutch to rise Jrom his throne and accompany his august visitor to the door of the apartment. The Arch- duchess Maria, perceiving the crutch, ran quickly and presented it to the Pontiff, who then thanked her cordially for her delicate attention, More romance would have been added to the event if the Grand Duchess Maria Atexandrowna, the pre- sumable bride of the Duke of Edinburgh, had per- formed this little act of courtesy. THE EMPRESS OF RUSSIA and her daughter have charmed the Romans by their unassuming ways, ana the delight they evince in visitin; se interesting sites and sights of Rome, One meets them everywhere, clad in the ordinary gray silk overdress, and riding in the simple carriage belonging to the Russian Embassy. Now she is borne on her litter among tne grand Tuins of the Couseum; now she is carried pone the endless museums and galleries of the Vatican; now her carriage 1s seen among the hun- dreds that invade the gardens of Villa Borghese before sunset, or on the gay promenade of Monte Pincio, The beggars of Rome are, however, too much for her. Ido not mean the ordinary street beggars of Rome—the most harmless and civil set of their class in Italy—but the writers of petitions, begging letters, &c., of which she receives 6,000 a day, besides about two hundred packages ‘trom tradesmen with solicitations to buy. ‘The latter nuisance became at last so great that the Russian Minister published a card to the Roman trades- people begging them to desist from further impor- tunities. All petitions for assistance are referred to a Commissioner of Police, who has a large sum of money at his disposal Jor such cases, where charity Would be a virtu MANZONI—WALTER SCOTT—G ARTBALDI. It should not be forgotten that Italy can mourn as well as rejoice, The solemnities connected with the burial of Manzoni at Mijan were Fomnbos the most imposing ever witnessed in Italy. Princes Humbert and Amadeo head the cords of the coitin agit was borne to the grave, and the great men from all parts of Italy were present. Ineed not describe the solemnities which other pens who were present have done. It is a noteworthy tact, however, that the clericai journals have been almost silent on the virtues of the great Italian. Can the reason be that his dying words were a parce Jor God’s blessing upon his King and the royal imily? The journals now produce many anecdotes and characteristic traits of the deceased poet's life, Once Sir Walter Scott paid him a visit and congratulated him apropos of his “Promessi Sposi’’ (“The Betrothed.”) ‘All that I have done,” re- sponded Manzoni, “I owe to the study of your works.’ “Then,” replied the illustrious author of “Waverley,” “if that is so,then your romance is my chef Weuvre! Garibaldi visited the great poet in 1861. Ana what was the offering which the victor of Varese and Milazzo brought to Manzoni? A bouquet of violets! Manzoni treasured these flowers piously until the day of hisdeath. Though Wwithered-and dead, they are, after fifteen years, the same “touching evidence of two hearts in which the pulse of patriotism beats in unison.” ANGLO-AMERICAN SCHOOLS. Before closing this letter I would mention an event of interest to Americans. Some two or three years ago a philanthropic lady—Mrs. Gould, an Amerizan—opened in Kome a school for Italian children, with whom she had great success. Now, I believe, she has some eighty or ninety children under her charge, some of whom are taught on Froebel’s Kindergarten system, and the older ones provided with an excellent general education. She lately determined to open an industrial school for the purpose of training Italian boys to some useful occupation, and selected the séte, the 1st of Jane, as the inaugural day. At present she has secured six boys for her new school. They are given entirely over to her charge until they attain their seventeenth year. For thetr ac- commodation she has secured spacious apariments in the old Maronite Cloister. In her treatment of her Italian scholars Mrs. Gould has pursued a praiseworthy course. The Italian government has on more than one eccasion shown its idee hte for her labors. We have, uniortunately, in Rome an American philanthropist (?) who considers it his mission to make converts of boys he induces to at- tend his schools. Such over-zealousness does more harm than good, The Romans have honored America by opening on the day of their great festi- val a library for the working classes and giving it the name of the “Library Frankliniand.”’ MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES, The Maretzek opera season begins on the 6th of October and continues three weeks, the company returning for the: closing performances in Febru- ary. With Tamberlik, Lucca and Di Murska the Season ought to be a very successful one, for we are toid the mise en scene is in every way to sus- tain the reputation of the theatre, It is promised that the scenery and effects shall be superior to anything ever seen in New York when opera was given. Mr. Dan Bryant takes a benefit at the Grand Opera House on Thursday evening. There will be minstrelsy, of course, and besides, one act from the “Colleen Bawn’? and the whole of “Handy Andy.” Mr. Bryant plays two Irish characters, and he will be assisted by Mr. W. R. Floyd, of the Giobe Theatre, Boston, who has not appeared in this city in two years; Mr. Davidge, Miss Mary Cary and other artists, ‘The season at the Fifth Avenue Theatre closes on Saturday evening with the joint benefit of Mr. J. H. Tooker, the business manager, and Mr. A, Appleton, the treasurer. There will be a special effort to please on that occasion, both at the gate and at the box office. Salvini, the distinguished Italian actor, who begins his season at the Academy of Music on the 2ud of September, has a large rcpertotre, which in- cludes Othello, Hamlet, and Shylock, in ‘The Merchant of Venice,” Giacommetti’s “Sophocles,” “Michacl Angelo” and “Civil Death,’ Blum’s “Gladiator” and “Figlio della Selve,” and “Orestes,” .““Zaira,”’ “Samson” and “Saul.” Speak- ing of his art, Mr. W. W. Story, the sculptor, in his “Roba di Roma," says his ‘‘Saul is a wondertul per- formance, worthy to stand by the Louis XI. of Modena. The mixture of rage and insanity in this tormented spirit, his trances when the facts of the world around him disappear before the terrible visions conjured up by his brain, the subsequent intervals of painful weakness and senile sorrow, are expressed as only an actor of great imagina- tion could express them.’’ And of Salvini’s Moor Mr. Story remarks:—‘‘Nothing is European in his embodiment of Othello; it is the inflammatory passion of the East bursting forth like fire, and consuming a neble and tortured nature, itis the Moor himself, as Shakspeare drew him.” These are excellent recommendations from an excellent source. ; The committee of arrangements of the recent charity performance in behalf of the Foundling Asylum have passed resolutions of thanks to Mr. Daly and the artista who assisted on that occasion, ABT MATTERS. Art and Angling. GThere are those who are fond of art and there are those who are found of angling, and whoever wishes to see the two things amicably united ought to inspect the library of Thomas Westwood, Esq., at Mr. J. W. Bouton’s, 706 Broadway. It includes more than four handred works, many of which are exquisitely illustrated—the only point which we are now considering. Trolling, bottom fishing, Sy-Ashing, every device known to Izaac Walton and his followers, here receive the finest and rarest illustration. The library is emphatically a Wal- tonian one, fitted to elicit the admiration of na- turalists and sportsmen, while the number and the merit of the illustrations appea? to all who appre- clate the niceties of art LOCAL POLITICS. + A Definition of the Present Prospects of the Approaching Fall Campaign. WHAT WILL BE DONE ABOUT IT. Interviews with Sheriff Brennan and the Chair- map of the Executive Committee of the Apollo Hall Organization—The De- mocracy ToBe a Unit—Conditions of the Union—A Chance for the Democracy—Will It Be Thrown Away? City politicians are very busy discussing the prospects and probable results of the coming Fall elections, On all sides this is the topic of the day. ‘Considering the warmth of the weather men are ‘much more in earnest about it than the topic would seem, at first sight, to be worth. During the last few days a reporter of the HERALD has seen and talked with a large number of persons, of varied political creed, of varying social position and of different political influence, and the buraen of their talk, when it has been got down to a fine point, is that of discontent, Storekeepers say they are not doing the business they ought to do, and they attribute the cause to retrenchment in the public offices, thus giving the employés less to spend, Livery stable keepers complain that “the boys’ don’t order carriages and ‘mounts’? any more, and that if there was ‘steal- ing’ there was at least good trade, Con- tractors say all public improvements are stopped, that in the old times there was at least employ- ment, and you got paid for your work when you did it. Now there is no work, and you are not paid for what yon have done. Ali the people who deal in luxuries and the requirements of life utter the same complaint of diminished custom, The oficial class too, the public servants of the tower grade, are also discontented. Their salaries have been ruthlessly and suddenly diminished; many have been discharged from office altogether, and they form a small army, who go about lamenting “the luck"? that projected them ona reform era, It was the duty of the reporter to ascertain whether these regrets were well founded, and, in compilance with that duty, he reports that the complammt is universal, and that, whether the al- leged cause is the real cause or not, the people generally seem to believe that itis, Should tuis belief go on strengthening it will be bad for . THE REFORM MOVEMENT, and, therefore, the reporter pursued his inquiries further and tried to ascertain the views of repre- sentative politicians as to the probable results of the Fall campaign. Two of these interviews are given below. Sheriff Brennan, as a power in Tam- many, speaks by the card, and Mr. Nooney, as Chairman of the Executive Committee of Apollo Hall, speaks as one having authority. Men of minor note were seen, and they but echo the senti- ments of the above more promivent politicians, There is a universal sentiment that the democrats will win everything worth having at the next elec- tions—if they are wise. This “if is an important “4 when it 18 analyzed, There is not the shght- est difference o1 opinion that the democracy united can carry the city and State, But this victory de- pends upon the character of the men who are pnt on the ticket. Grave doubts are expressed by men of large political experience that Tammany will yield to putting men from the rank and file of the party on their ticket; that this will not be accepted by Apollo Hall, and, imthe trouble that will then arise, THE REPUBLICANS WILL RUN AWAY again with all the patronage. Between this and Sep- tember great changes and modifications of public opinion are expected, and the result will doubtless be somewhat different from that which is now presented, In. the meantime there is a discon- tented people, a dissatisded brigade of oMce and ex-oilice holders, and an army of hungry appli- cants for spoils, all waiting for the time when “old things shall have passed away and all things shall become new.’’ WHAT SHERIFF BRENNAN SAYS. Sheriff Brennan, on one of the recent warm after- noons, was in his private office, at an open win- dow, taking a rest and trying to-keep cool by fan- re himself with a Japanese fan and by dispensing witha coat. His face bore marks of the tervent heat of the noonday sun, but otherwise the fa ‘Was a8 Calm as the quiet afternoon. There was no cloud on his brow, and the persecution of the Comptroller he had buried in oblivion; and at that moment he looked as though he had answered satis- Jactorily to himsel! the question of Tennyson— “Why should lie all labor be?’ In the midst of this sunlight reverie a reporter of the HekaLD en tered the office, and was greeted by the Sheriff more cordially, under the circumstances, than might be expected. “Sheriff, what do you think of the munictpal po- litical situation?” ‘Now, don’t you think,’ answered the Sheriff, “4t’s alittle too hot to talk politics? Don’t you think that you had better wait a bit and let’s have a rest till it gets a little cooler?” - “That's the Way you may look at tt, Sheriff, be- cause you know pretty well how things will be fixed; but we newspaper people have to think of the people who don’t know and who want to know, you know, all the time, The people, Mr. Sheritt— the people, the source of all power—a good old democratic doctrine, and one that I know you believe in.” “That's all right,’ replied the Sheriff, fanning himself with renewed vigor. “I think we know retty weil What the people will do at the next fail elections, speaking in @ general way; but when it comes to saying who is going in and who is going out I don’t think anybody will know much about that until September.” “Combinations, giving and taking, talking over suitable men for the ticket and the strength of dif- Jerent political organizations, will be the topics of the day and night when the politicians get to New- port, to Saratoga, Long Branch, and may I say Green wich, Sheritf ?” “Well, we'll leave Greenwich out this time,” said the Sheriff, with a smiie; “but there will be, no doybt, a good deal of talk of that kind at those places which may forma kind of basis for action later in the year.’? “What do you think of the recent Apollo Hall movement, Sherif?!" “Well, I don’t think very much aboutit. Of cour: is very desirable to have a united demo- cratic og » but there se some of those fellows in Apollo Hatl that Idon’t think Tammany would have anyway. I don't think anybody would have them. If the best were picked out, and they chose to unite with Tammany, I don’t think Tammany would have any objections to receive them, But as to receiving Apollo Hall as an organization into the Tammany Society, I don’t think that can be done; nettuer do I think it is wise that it suould be done.”” “The adhesion of Apollo Hall to Tammany would would be of great service to Tammany in the next elections, and it is better to have the democratic pariy united.’ “Well, there are men in Apollo Hall that would be of great service to Tammany, but there's a good many there that would do it or any other organization harm, and that is where @ selection is rendered inevitable if the democratic party is going to redeem itself thoroughly.” “What do you think of the chances of the demo- crats for the next Fall elections ? “Very. good—first rate—couldn’t be better. I think we shall have a demonstration on the Fourth of July that will surpass any other celebration for many years. When men come voluntarily to pay their assessments and are volunteering to help us, men who were holding back before when things didn't look quite so well, I tell you it’s a pretty healthy sign.”’ “Ig that caused by a confidence in the ultimate success of democratic principles, or is it the reac- tion consequent on rejorm?” “Well, [don’t think itis either. You see this re- form cry 1s pretty well blown; everybody seems dissatisiied; trade is a long way from being what it was, Men say, ‘Well,4f there was stealing, we could get our money, and we had a better trade, but now all public improvement is stopped.’ Men who have honest claims can’t get them, and this creates an army of discontented ake on “But don’t the people who complain in this way fall to discriminate between republicans and demo- crats, and won't the ‘silent vote,’ as it is called, be a ‘silent vote’ as it was before the people were aroused to their danger in the reform movement?” “No, that is just where the democrats come in. This reform movement was mainly a republican movement; at any rate, they took advantage of tt for their own political ends. Well, they don’t turn out to be any more honest than anybody else. We saw that when they tried to put their charter through the Legisiature, and this charter they have passed is not going to last.’ “Then, if the people have that opinion of both political parties, where does the prospect of the success of either come in?” « “It comes in in the nomination of good and trusted men by the dominant political party. Tammany has shown itself a good executive power, and all that needs to be done is to put good etal he Tammany ticket and Tammany will “It won't matter about the patron: being in the hands of reformers and rej mbiicase, wilt? Many of the leading offices, both county and city, are held by republicans, and when It comes to an Steatien that is an important elemen: of considera- jon. “That would be so if the offices were held under the same powerful party grip as Tammany held them belore the break up. But is there any har- mony in the publie departments? Are they not all at cross-purposes? Have the Mayor’s appointments suited the people generally? Has not the effect of the appointments been to cause bickerines and quarretlings even in the Commissions themseives, 80 that when the departments are called upon to act politically, why, they won’t respond; that is all there isin that?” This last remark led to the relation of a number of anecdotes and reminiscences, in which the Sheriff was the principal figure, from the time ne was Captain of Police to the present day, all of which were very interesting, and were listened to by the reporter witn great delight; but, inasmuch as they do not bear immediately upon the present question, they are not reproduced, WHAT MR. ROBERT NOONEY SAYS, Mr. Robert Nooney, of Fourth avenue, is the chairman of the Executive Committee of the Apolio Hall organization, and he. was called upon by & reporter of the HERALD to give his views of the present political outiook, “Mr, Nooney,” said the reporter, “I have called upon you to ask you if, as chairman of the Execu- tive Committee of the Apollo Hall organization, you have taken guy action in reference to the offered union of Apollo Hall with Tammany,” “No, sir; the meeting that was held the other night was merely an ordinary meeting, and the op- portunity was taken to make a declaration of prin- ciples, or rather overtures, that would show that we were not desirous of being antagonistic to the growth of true democratic principles.’’ “No action has been taken by your committee on that declaration?” “No, there would not be much practical good in taking any notice yet, Everybody is or will be away until Beplempar, and therefore it would be useless to seek the action of any political organiza- tion in relation thereto.’” “Shall you take any steps in the direction of forming & union with Tammany?” “We have no desire in that direction. The object of the resolutions was simply to show that we were democrats, aud that we regarded the recent devel- opments in the city government as unfriendly to true democratic principles, and I think we ex- pressed that pretty plainly.” “In what respect do you think, Mr. Nooney, that democratic principles have been ignored in the re- cent appointments?” “T think it 1s pretty manifest that certain nation- alities have been ignored, Now, political organiza- tions or party ties don’t depend upon nationaiities. Butin all political organizations there 1s a large representation of other nationalities, and to ignore t fact is to ignore the political organization virtually,” “Then you Propose to unite the Apollo Hall or- ganization with Tammany in order to present the democratic party as a unity’? “No, that is not our motive. This city is un- guestionably a democratic city and we think there ig room enough in it for two democratic organiza- tions, We think, also, it will be far better ior the pore, that there shouldbe two, The effect would e, we think, to prevent, to a large extent, that corruption that becomes so potent when any one political organization assumes the uncontrolled power,” “Then, on what is it that you desire to unite?” “On men, ‘That is really itin one or two words; or, in other words, we shall try to agree upon a ticket for the Fall elections, That will be our only tie of union, We don’t care which organization the men come from, All we shall insist upon will be that they be men whom the people will be able to trust and know on their presentation. TI! Tam- many will do this we will unite on electing that ticket, preserviug Our organization, our boxes, and, indeed, our own machinery complete.” “What do you think of the chances of success if this programme is carried out next Fal ?” “There can be no chance about it. The democratic party must carry this city and State. There is nothing to prevent it. Iam certain of that, and it is to accomplish this that Apollo Hall has put that piatform before the Peonls. If Tammany ts wise she will accept it.. If not, why we shall go on in our own way, but always as democrats,"’ ‘Thanking Mr. Nooney or his very valuable infor- mation, the reporter left, satisfied that Apollo Hall had at least one man whose head was level. EXPLOSION OF CARTRIDGES. A Whole Family Almost Annihilated— The Danger of Playing with Fire— One Child Fatally Injured and four Other Persons Dangerously %o—Two Persons Blown Into the Street. Passers by in Dey street, about noon yesterday, were thunder-struck at hearing,the terrible report of an explosion which seemed to shake the very air around them, At the same moment there came from the inner portion of a store a cloud of dust and heterogeneous particles, which for a few moments made it impossible to see ten paces before one. It was evident that something very singular and unusual had happened, and by, standers who, for the first few seconds after the explosion seemed to be paralyzed, rushed to the spot. The full extent of the catastrophe could then be seen. It appeared that about the time mentioned Mr. Nathan Harsh, who keeps a hardware and govern- ment store warehouse at 49 Dey street, was stand- ing at the back part of the store in company with another gentleman and his three sons, Forrest, Harry and Grimth Harsh; a porter, Charles Leon- ard was also near by, Mr. Harsh was at the time endeavoring to extract the powder irom a metallic cartridge, The instrument came in contact, it is supposed, with the detonating powder, of which a part of the cartridge is made, and it exploded, The ball, fying through the air, struck with full force against a box of the same kind of cartridges which stood close by. In a second the whole box gave one terrific explosion, followed by a number of weaker detonations. The entire building was shaken to the foundation, and several buildings adjacent received more or less ofa shock. A por- tion of one of the walls was torn down, and a number of articles in the store were thrown from one place to another, so that the whole wasa scene of almost unparalleled confusion and dismay. Mr. Harsh and the man Leonard were the first to receive the discharge, and both were frightfully mutilated and burned, Of the three sons of Mr, Harsh, two—Forrest and Grimth—were very badly hurt, but the eldest, Harry, a boy of about seven- teen years of age, escaped all serious injury, having only @ few slight bruises on his hands and face. When the exptosion took place two gentlemen— Messrs. Kingsland and Theodore Haeglen—were talking together in the front portion of the store, bat, in spité of the multitudinous missiles which flew around they were untouched and unharmed, but were literally blown out of the store, The four injured persons were taken to the station house in Liberty street, and an ambulance soon arrived and transported them to the Park Hospital, Of all, the man Leonard seemed to be the most severely hurt and presented a fearful sight of suf- fering. He was not recognizable and seemed to be suffering horrible torture. During the pis a reporter of the HERALD called at the Park Hospital, where the sufferers were confined, They are all placed in one ward of the hospital. When they were taken there they were Immediately attended to by Doctors Fiuhrer and Hardy. It was found that the young boy, GriMth, was the worst injured of all. His ta n hands and parts of his body were literally black. with the burned powder. His eyes had been burned to a cinder, so that even should he recover it is impossible that he should ever regain his eyesight. Itis thought hy the doctors, however, to be exceedingly improbable that he will live. He lies in his bed in the ward perfectly quiet, but pre- senting in his appearance little that is human, The man Leonard is the next most injured but itis probable that, with the aid of his natural health, he may get over the effects: but he must remain disfigured jor life. His arms and hands, face and neck are burned on afl their surfaces and are covered with bandages, He can barely speak. The fatuer, Mr. Harsh, is also terribly injured, but will no doubt live, Here, also, the face and hands and neck have suffered most. His hair is burned quite from his bead, and nothing remains but a charred mass, He was con- scious enough last pleat to speak of what had occurred, He says that when the explosion took place he was picking a cartridge, but does not believe that it was this which caused the explo- sion, He believes that some one must have stepped hard on one of them and thus caused the explosion. He was perfectiy sensible after the occurrence and did not feel the pain for some time. He thinks it very fortunate the front door was open, ‘allowing a vent for the air to pass out. Had it been closed the whole building might have been demolished, It was in the back part of the store that he stood, and the explosion also foand vent throngh some skylights in the rear, Atany other place probabl; every one in the store would have been killed. Mrs. Harsh was at the hospital the whole after- noon and evening attending to all the wants of her pig This calamity bas been @ terrible blow 0 her. When the explosion took place several fire engines rushed to the spot, but as there was no fire they soon returned. The extent of the damage may be estimated at about eight hundred dollars, THE CANADIAN PAOIPIO RAILWAY, Toronto, Ont., June 21, 1873, The Mai, & government organ, this morning saysi— We are informed on good authority that ing of the directors of the anadian Putte Nake way has been called for the 4th of July, in Montre: to ratify an agreement entered into with parties in England. It is believed the agreement is of a kind Which will commend itself to the Board, and that the country may confidently look forward to the success of the enterprise, Sir Hugh Allan and his associates left England ateamar for Canada, on Wednesday las the gd jeetay last, by A Busy Week in Prospect at th> Great Seats of Tearain;—B coalaureate 8:rmons To- Day and the Week’s Programme— The Closing of the Public ‘Schools, The commencement season at all the institutions of learning in the land is now fully inaugurated, and already the ceremonies have passed at mapy. of the most famous colleges in the various States, Rutgers Female College, the New York University, Madison University, Wisconsin University, West: Virginia University and other popular seats of education have had their commencements during the past few days; but the week now opened will} witness the commencements of some of the most famous colleges in the Union, and the results will be traught with the deepest interest to thousands of people, not merely of the present time, but of future generations, To-day the baccalaureate services of no less than fifteen stitutions will inaugurate thelr com- mencement exercises, as follows:—Yale College, New Haven, Conn,; Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass.; Princeton College, Princeton, N.J.; Brown University, Providence, R, I.; Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. H.; Hamiiton College, Clinton, N. Y. Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.; Pepnsyl- vania College, Gettysburg; Bates College, Lewis- ton, Me.; University of Syracuse, New York; Mich- igan University, Ann Arbor, Mich.; St, Lawrence University, Canton, Ny Y.; Iowa State University, lowa City; Northwestern University, Evanston, Ind.; Davidson College, Mecklenburg, N. C.; Wes- leyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass.; Norwich Uni- versity, Northiield, Vt. Fs Alter these fitting proemial ceremonies the real campaign of brains will commence, and the week will, deed, be a busy one, with its long array of orations and essays and the struggles tor master- ships and bachelorships of arts and laws and the strifes for medals, and the fierce longings for the stamps of merit from alma mater. ‘fhe pro= grammes of exercises prepared for the various schools, whiversities, colleges and institutes are very unique and attractive, and the number of graduates wii this year be extremely large. The following Is a list of nearly all the commences ments yet to be held, and the chronology of the events in the history of the various institutions :— MonDay, Jive 23—College of St. Francis Xavier, New York city. WEDNESDAY, bridg ASS. ( ton, N. J. (126th) 3 (1l9th) ; Brown (106th) ; St. Lawrence Universit: (17th) ; University at Lewisburg, Hall College, South Orange, N. June 26—Harvard College, Came h); Princeton College, Prince. Columbia College, New Y University, Providence, R. I. Canton, N. Ys . (26th) ; Seton 7th); Williston Seminary, Easthampton, Mass, (82d); Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass. ; St, John’s College, Fordham, N. Y.; Bordentown (N. J.) l’emale Col- lege; Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y. Tuurspay, June 26—Yale College, New Haven, Conn, (173d); Dartmouth College, Hanover, N. fl: (104th) ; Hamiiton College, Clinton, N. Y. (618t) 5 Wesleyan. University, Middletown, Conn, (42d) $ Pennsylvania College, Gettysburg (4/st) ; Michigan University, Ann Arbor (82d); Bates’ College, Lew- iston, Me. (loth) ; University of Syracuse, N. Y. (8d) 5 Iowa State University, lowa City (isth) ; North- western University, Mvanston, TiL (isth); David- gon College, Mecklenburg, N. ©, (36) Wittenberg College, Springtield, Ohio (29th Smithson Col- lege, Logansport, ‘Ind (24); Leic (Mags.) Academy, College of the City o1 New York. soe June 27—Cornell University, Ithaca, N. (5M). ‘Moxpay, June 30—Lafayette College, Easton, Pa, EDNESDAY, July 2—Union College, Schenectady, N.Y. (78th) ; University, of Rochester, N. Y. f ys Marietta College, Ohio (38th); Connecticut Liter- ary Institute, SuMeld; Maine Central Institute, Pittsfield, TauRspAy, July 3—Trinity College, Hartford, Conn, (50th); University of Virginia, Charlottes- ville (48th) ; Indiana State University, Blooming- von (45th). WepNespay, July 9—University of Vermont, Bur- lington (82d) ; Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me, T1st). (iAuaspaY, Jaly 10.—Amherst College, Amherst Mass. (52d). WEDN AY, July 16,—University of. California, at Oakland (18th); Massachusetfs*Agticultural, at Amherst (6th). The commencements of an especially local char+ » those of Columbia College, Seton “ge and John’s College, which take ce on Wednesday Francis Xavier College, norrow, and the lege of the City of New York on Thursday. ‘The new hall of Dartmouth Chapter, Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, will be dedicated at nine o'clock on Wednesday morning, and tue following members will officiate:—W. W. Niles, 1845, orator; BE. EB. Smith, 1868, poet; A. B. Crosby, 1853, toast master. THE AGADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART, Annual Distribution of Prizes. On Tuesday, June 24, the annual distribution of prizes of the Academy of the Sacred Heart will take place. This is some days earlier than usual, as generally the 29th or 30th of the month is chosen. These exhibitions are, and have been for the past five years, strictly private, the only persons parti- cipating in them betng the scholars, the ladies of the institution, the Archbishop and sixty or seventy of the most distinguished clergymen of the city. ‘the programme consists of music, singing, recl- tations, dialogues, &c. Then comes the distribu. tion of prizes by the Archbishop, one very pretty feature of which is that ail the young ladies receiv- ing prizes kneel before him and are crowned by him with a wreath of white roses. Each of the graduates next kneel before the Archbishop and 1s presented with a gold cross, on one side of which are engraved the name and the date of the occasion and on the other the coat of arms of the institution, Sne is then crowned with @ laurel wreath, expressive of her triamph, ‘The valedictory address closes the entertaiment, Up to within five years ago these exhibitions were public—that is to say, the parents, guardians and relatives of the pupils were allowed to witness them. The present number of scholars is over three hundred, and of these five will graduate on Tuesday next, On the following Wednesday all the young ladies will proceed to their homes, vacation: commencing on that day. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. wo J The Schools to Close July 3 gng Resame September 1—The Recep’gons to Take Place=The Salary Qu‘stion, The time is rapidly ApPraching to which 75,000 litte ones attending OUL-pyDiic schools look with delight for a vacaticn and rest from the restraints of the class roo';;, On the 3d of July all the schools will close, aid not reopen until Monday, Septem- ber 1, Many, whose parents are able to gratify sném, will, doubtless, hie away to greem fields, the woodlands and the mountains, for two months of enjoyment, while their class mates who are poor must sweat in the heated and sickly city until called again to their booke and biack boards for another term of hard study and discipline. Nearly all the examinations for class promotions have already been held, as well ag many of the receptions that occur in this month, Among the receptions yet to be held, are the folk lowing :— No, 22, corner of Sheriff and JUNE 25.—School Stanton streets, male department, at nine A. M. This is anew school and they will celebrate the opening exercises. Grammar School No. 45, in West Twenty-fourth street, near Seventh avenue, female department, JUNE 26.—The commencement exercises of the College of the City of New York will take place at. | seven P. M. at the Academy of Music, The prize Speaking will occur at Association Hall at eight P. . on the 2th. The graduating class numbers about forty persons, School No. 10, Wooster street, near Bleecker, female department, at two P, M. The exercises will consist of music, recitations and addresses, Frances A. Pona is the principal. School No. in Twenty-eighth street, near Ninth avenue, female department, at ten A. M. JUNE 27,—School No. 63, at the Bast Side Assocta- tion Hall, Yorkville, female department, at three “JULY 1,—Colored school No. 8, Forty-first street, near Eighth avenue, male and female departments, at ten A, M. At 7 P. M.—The reception of the pupils of the Normal College wili take place at the Academy of Music, when about one hundred young ladies will be graduated. The salary question stil agitates the teachers of the public schools, The report of the Special Com- mittee, made on the subject at the last meeting of the Board, having excited severe criticism, the committee are preparing a defence of their course, which will, it is expected, be sent to the press om Monday evening. PATAL RAILROAD AGOIDENTS. WuttTeFIe.p, N, H., June 21, 187% Henry Bishop, @ French Canadian, aged twenty years, was knocked from a Concord and: Montreal Railroad gravel train by a bridge, below Lancaster. No hopes are entertained of his recovery. bas pi Mass., June 2, 1873, Frank W. Grant, by twenty years, was killed at Newtou, on the Boston and Albany last night, while getting of a@ freight train on which he had taken passage, having missed the last passenger train, — A 8AD ACCIDENT, Bangor, Me., June 21, 1873, Miss Mary, daughter of Hon. John H, Rice, wag thrown from a wagon yesterday and hv probably. fatal mjuries, . bbisrahine