The New York Herald Newspaper, August 12, 1873, Page 4

J ae or two, was, received by Sir Andrew Buchanan, and went on to see the display of Great Britain, In all the imperial progress lasted about two THE INTERNATIONAL JURORS at Visits to Archduke Rainer, Wieden. The Emperor Francis Joseph at His Summer Palace. Historical Reminiscences of | Schoenbrunn. THE ARCHDUKE RAINER. The American Jurors Hobnobbing with Imperialty. THE SEMMERING RAILROAD Vienna, July 12, 1873, The Austrian government has given the jurors and the distinguished persons heve in Vienna at- tending the Exhibition a number of pleasant festi- vals. The first of the series was given by the Archduke Rainer, nominal President and imperial representative in the International Commission, The Archduke lives ina stately palace at Wieden, and on Saturday evening last invited to it the mem- bers of the international jury, announcing on his card of invitation that the hour of reception would be nine o'clock. It was eight when the guests be- gan to arrive, and as they passed into the palace they were ushered into the reception room, where they were formed into groups or sections, according to their nationalities, and were presented to His Imperial Highness by the representative of the country to which they belonged. On tne right hand of the reception room where the company was re- ceived a long balcony extended, with steps leading down to the gardens and grounds attached to the palace. In this garden there was the band of tie Archduke’s regiment, composed of sixty-tlve mu- sicians, diligently playing appropriate music. The grounds were decorated with Chinese lanterns, which threw a soit, pleasing light on the flowers and trees, the fags and the shrubbery. It was | about an hour. perhaps, before the ceremonial re- ception was over and the Archduke was enabled to speak to each and all of his guests. It was about nine o'clock when the doors to the left of the main reception hall were thrown open, and we were all paraded in solemn state into the presence of the Archduchess, the wife o! His Highness, to whom we were introduced by Baron Sciawarz-Sanborn, The Archduke himself took part in this reception, on the right of the Archducness, her daughter, a lady in waiting and an Italian nobleman in the uni- | form of the staff of Victor Emmanuel, covered with decorations. It may interest your lady read- ers to know that Her Imperial Highness wore a mauve silk dress, flounces of white Valenciennes lace, a necklace of pearls, and diamonds sprinkled in her hair, Her daughter was dressed in blue silk, trimmed with white lace, and very little jew- elry. His Highness Archduke Rainer resembles very much bis brother the Austrian Maximilian, who was shot in Mexico a few years ago. Hels a thin, tall, compactly built, German-laced per- son, hair and beard a little touched with | gray, and on this evening he wore the uniform of his regiment, and was conspicuous in the moy- ing throng by his military bearimg and his tall | figure. Among the Americans who were presented on this occasion were Mr. Howard Painter, of Pennsylvania; Robert B. Lines, of Washington; Dr. J. W. Hoyt, of Wisconsin, and J, Lawrence Smith, of Kentucky. Atter we had made our coin- pliments to the Archduke and his wife refresh. ments were offered to ail, and the evening passed away in chatting, gossip and listening to the music, THE EMPEROR'S PALACE AT SCHOENBRUN: On the Tuesday succeeding the Archduke’s re- ception we were asked by the Emperor Francis Joseph to visit him at Schoenbrunn, his favorite Summer residence, The form of invitation to the imperial presence was, translated, as follows :— Deve ners sene rs OOLe lene serene rere sete seseee se se neeess, INVITATION to the i RECEPTION AT COURT, on Tuesday, July 8, 19/3, at ball-past nine A, M., in the GRAND GALLERY AT SCHOENSRUNN, The gentlemen of military rank appear in ser-3 vice uuliorm—i, @, in parade dress; those of 3 civilian rank in dress coat, with white cravat. The ribbons of the Order of the Grand Cross Wil hot be worn over tue coat, for x. ¥. J i ; 3 3 Those who cannot accept the myitation will} 3cummunicate their excuses to the Imperial and? Royal Court Marshal. POLO LE teLELL OLE LOLOL ELELOLEDEDELELEDELELEDE DOLE EE LEG) There is a pretty story lying somewhere in the history books to the effect that Napoleon, pressing his armies upon Vienna alter the battle of Wa" gram, Maria Louisa, afterwards his wife, was {ll in the castle of Schoenbrunn, and that io respect of her griefs and !liness he directed that the artillery should not dre upon the imperial chateau, This Schoenbrunn palace is pretty much in the same condition now as it must have been in at the time ofthe Napoleonic magnanimity, It is about two miles trom Vienna, was planned in the beginning a8@ hunting seat by an emperor calied Matthias, and was concluded by Maria Theresa, whom you all know well, It is a noble place in its way, fincly furnished, containing a number of Portraits of the ancestors of this im- | perial iamiiy, all of whom may not be remembered, | perhaps, except Maria Theresa, the Second | Joseph and the unhappy Marie Antoinette. In this palace we are informed that Napoleon lived after he won Vienua in winning the battle of Wagram, Here he signed the famous treaty of Schoenbrunn, which made a great noise in its time, and carried peace with it, and has passed away into waste paper, like other treaties, and left abundant wars in its train, Here, furthermore, dwelt the Duke of Reichstadt, Napoleon's son, King of Rome, of the French dynasty, and heir to the greatest empire of modero times. Here he died, in 1832, in the thirty-first year of bis age; he might have been living yet, in a hale, middle-aged condition; but he pined away some say, otiers that he dissipated his young life--died of ambition and what not; most probably had little life in bim and played it away before it had realiy begun. We may add furthermore that in this palace of Schoen- brunn was held the sessions of THE HOLY ALLIANCE CONGRESS after Napoleon’s exile to Elba, and here was planned and carried into immortal life the famous Holy Ailiance which all the world knows changed the fate of Burope and made war impossible tor evermore, aencacacnc arse rete sesee be NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 1875.—TRIPLE SHEET. China, from the extreme East and from the West, Among the American faces noticeabie there was our own Minister Jay, who looked as calm and smiling and summerlike as though there had never been an American scandal in Vienna and had his soul racked to pieces by listening to the aMdavits of disappointed tavern keepers. At his side was the stately, genial and familiar form of Mr. John M. Frances, Minister to Greece, editor of the Troy Times, Mr. Francesa happened to be in Vienna on his way from Greece to New York, with diplomatic leave of absence, and those who have not seen him for two years will be glad to know that he looks as bright aud as geuial as ever in his best and youngest New York days. Furthermore, accompanying the Minister, in American uniform, brigadier general's star on the shoulder and long and folded sash, was General Kiddoo, of the retired list of the regular army. He looks well, despite his cruel and aggravating wounds, and is now making a slow jaunt over Europe. These gentiemen were in the diplomatic circle, and while we were noting them THB BMPEROR FRANCIS JOSEPH quietly walked into the room, opening @ door on the right, and wearing @ light blue Jacket designating high rank in the Austrian army, a jacket very slightly decorated and pantaloons of white, around his per- son @ simple belt and sword, a hat of a hussar officer in his hand. We note on the Emperor's face that sad Hapsburg smile which was 80 marked on the day of the opeming—ratiter what the french would call a triste expression of countenance—indl- cating the many cares that press upon His Majes- ty’sbrow. Accompanied by officers of his staif and members of his household, he walked slowly from group to group, saying a few words to the proml- nent members of each group, who, after @ speech with His Majesty, passed out to the portico and down into the gardens to lsten to the music or enjoy the delightiul moonlit and illuminated scene. The gardens were illumi. naicd by oxylydrogen process, the light falling upon them so a8 to make them almost as bright as day. Then came to us walters dressed in knee breeches, white stockings and biue dress coats, bringing ices and iruitsand wine, The gardens were rendered a fairy scene, and legend and his- tory lent interest to many a charming nook. We were reminded that in this garden of Schoenbrunn an excitable, romantic Geran student attempted upon one occasion to murder the great Emperor; but here he was shot for that transaction and ever since has lain buried under these beautiful shade trees. If we were in ®& wandering mood to-night we might find probably in one of the alieys of the palace, under this bright, cilvery moon, what is called THE BEAUTIFUL FOUNTAIN, a fountain ornamented with statues of heathen beings, and as it is called by the Germans Schoene Brunnen it gives the name to the palace, There is also a temple, with a colonnade of pillars, which is called the “Gloriette,” and where, on a clear day, you can see Vicnna sleeping in the sun. We are lhkewise reminded that there is attached to the palace a botanic garden of great extent and value, a palm house, with tropical associations; a collection of Brazilian plants and a menagerie, not in good condition, however, the animals being few. ‘The prevailing trait about the menagerie ts that the bears are jurnished with a bath to them- selves, Your correspondent noticed that in most of the conversations addressed by the Emperor to his guests he merely listened and said but little, speak- ing in German, generally in French, now and then saying a word or two in slow, uncertain English, We observed in the English group the British Minister, Sir A. Buchanan, G. C. B.; His Grace the Duke of Manchester; while in our American group, besides the Minister and is two guests, were Profesor Collier, of Vermont; J. Lawrence Smith, of Kentucky; Dr. Hoyt, of Wisconsin; Professor Hors- ford, H. Bigelow, J.C. Daggett, N. M. Lowe, Theo- dore Lyman, I'rank D. Millett, J. D. Philbrick, Cap- tain Meigs, Joseph E. Holmes, Dr. Ruppanes, George W. Silcox, Howard Painter, Professor Thurston, R. B. Lines and George H. Wood, of Connecticut. THE EXCURSION TO 1B SEMMERING. The general direction of the Exposition are cer- tainly very fortunate in the selection of excursions for us international jurors. A few days alter we | were introduced to the artificial charms of imperial Schoenbrunn we were invited to see the natural beauties of the Semmering Pass, and to admire and be astonished at the engineering skill that has been expended in conducting the railroad over the high mountain range. This time we were per- mitted to have the company of ladies, who helped to make the excursion still more agreeable. They, too, like the jurors, were of all nationalities, tongues and dialects, The party leit Vienna at eleven in the morning of the 12th in three long trains, the destination being the village of Mitrazu_ schlog, in Styria, just over the crest of the moun- tain, 1 haruly need to describe the road to and over the Semmering very minutely, though it is full of interest, of surprises and changing scenery, A busy plain stretches from Vienna, dotted with thriving villages, and pretty villas of wealthy Viennese merchants, the eleva- tions, as We near tne hilly district, crowned with ruins of feudal castles and strongholds. An hour's run brought us to Neustadt, a populous town, noted at its depot for good beer and long German sau- sages, of which our company provided themselves, Then we enter the valley, picturesque and busy, a cheerful rapid river owing through it; to the rignt the snow crowned Schneeberg, of the Leitha range, 7,000 feet above the level of the sea. Then the foot of the Semmering 1s reached at Glog- | nitz, and the ascent begins, In a distance ot twenty miles the line rises, in gradients varying between one in forty and one ina hundred from Glognitz, 1,378 feet above tie level of the sea,to the Semmering tunnel, 2,593 feet above the sea level, whence it commences to sink again. The cost of the road was some eight millions of doilars. It is carried over aqueducts; along the face of the mountains; through them; close by and even through the old feudal castles that once held the pass; in many places some hundreds of feet above the old Sem- mering road, on which the Romans came, and on which Austria sent her troops to Italy; seeing far below you, and not many hundred yards distant, the very road you have. climbed fliteen minutes before. It is a pleasant ride, through romantic scenery, amid an industrious mountain population, Here and there we come to a depot where peasant Women and girls come to your carriage window and offer you bunches of mountain wild flowers and prettily worked mementoes of Edelweiss. Then our brave engine goes to its work again, and alter an hour's further tugging and puifing passes us through the long Semmering tunnel, out into the pleasant valley beyond, and then down hill to our destination, Murzzuschlog, where we are received in right royal style, by the firing of cannon, the music of a regimental band, a mass of enthusiastic Styrians and an army of Kell- ners, who usher us, dirty, hungry and thirsty into the big dining rooms. Then we all sat down, as soon as the two following trains had arrived, Baron Schwarz-Sanborn at the head of the central | table, Duke Rudoipn at his right, Baron von Grogen at his left, aud we other dignitaries in places We arrived at the palace of Schoenbrunn after a short drive from Vienna, the night being very clear and the moon shining brightly down, We found that we were not among the first comers by any means, a great number of carriages having arrived before, and the occupauts taken out. were passed along through alley to balcony and chamber, by the imperial guards who were in | attendance. Your correspondent walked into the grand gallery, where all the tongues of the world were being spoken around him, in a confusion as incessant and perplexing as‘ that which was said to have fallen upon the impatient builders of the | early Babel Tower. The impériai reception room Was oatentatiously decorated, lavish in ornamenta- We | honest dishes, called by German names, The regimental band of the Grand Duke Alexis of Rus- sia’s regiment discoursed sweet music to us from | a very well-selected programme, with only one piece of Johann Strauss’—for which God be praised! | and the Kapellmeister, Besides the military music we had singing by a local singing society, which sang us some Styrian songs of love and war and | romance. Then the toasts began, Baron Schwarz | Welcoming the guests and ‘oasting the Emperor, and J, Lawrence Smith, of Kentucky, the Empress, | Wine flowed freely, and the Bavel collection of tongues began to get freer wagging room with the plentiful draughts of champagne, until at Jast the speeching and toasting were crushed in the bud, The Americans present tion, highly colored irescoes, Chandeliers with | were—L. Bigelow, J. ©. Daggett, Frank Millett, thousands of candies blazing out and filling the Toom with foonday radiance. gathered in sufficient quantity we arranged into columns and groups, duly placed according to country and station in the Exhibition, to await His Majesty's coming. 1 should think there were in nomber at Icast a thousand of us fom all lands, Japan and Brazil, United States and Professor Horsford and daughters, J. D. Philbrick, individuals | of our own choosing. Our bill of fare included good, | Painter, Dr. J. A. Warder and daughter, of Cin- | cinnatl; Professor Collier, of Vermont; Professor Thurston, of New Jersey; Professor and Mrs. Blake, J. R. Pickering, L. J, Hinton, George W. Silcox, George H. Wood, R. B. Lines. Just before leaving the band struck up the appropriate air of “Cham- After we had | Mr, Mitchell, of the Philadelphia Centennial; 1, | He,#raduated from Colam pagne Charléy,” which was duly ‘apprectated by our compatriots and English fellow jurors. We left the charming valleys of Styria at half-past six o'clock, aud arrived once more at Vienna, at a littie after ten o'clock in the evening, well-pleased with our hosts, finding another invitation in our rooms to visit the capital of Hungary. THE PAPAL ALLOCUTION. Allocution of the Most Holy Father Pope Pius IX,, Delivered to the Cardinals of the Holy Boman Church in the Hall of tho Vatican on July 25, 1873. The Freeman's Journal of thia week publishes the following important document from the Vati- can:— VENERABLE BrETAREN—-What we foretold when we addressed you at the close of the past year—to wit, that we might have to uk again Of vexa- tions of the Church daily increasing; the work of iniquity, then proposed, having now been cousum- mated, Our oitice calis us to declare, in whose ears seems to sound that voice oi one saying :—Cry | ‘So soon as We learned that an enactment was to be proposed to that Legisiutive Assembly, which, in this propitious city as well as tn the rest of Italy, was to suppress religious houses and to put up ecclesiastical property .o be sold; denouncing the impious crime, we proscribed any and every project of an eusctment of such kind, We declared nullevery acquisition of property thus robbed, and we repeated tue censures that were incurred, ipso sacio, by the authors and by the pro- moters .of enactments, of such sort, Not. only by the Church has this enactment been branded as antagonistic to divine and eocie- siastical law; but by the light# of public legal science, @9 subveraive of all natural and human justice, aud s0, of ita own nature, vold aud null. But we sce it accepted to-day by the votes of the Legisiative Assembiy and of the Senate; and, tinally, sanctioned vy royal authority, . We judge it best, venerabie brethren, to refrain from repeating ail that we have so often largely set jorth, hoping to decor these wicked rulers irou thetr attempt in regard to the sacrilege, the malice, the end and the most. grave injuries of tlig enactment. But we are forced by tie duty of vindicating the rights of the Church, by the solicitude of warning the careless, and by very charity jor the guilty, to raise our voice and to declare to all those who have hot hesitated to propose, or to approve, or to sanction this aioresaia most iniquitous enactinent; and to all commissioners, proimoters, counselio adherents, executors or purchasers of ecclesias cal property, that whatever they have done, or may do, is tu no Valuable account, but void and null. And Not only so, but they are, in the act of any partici- pation whatever, each and all of them, stricken with the major excommunication, aud with yet other ecclesiastical pains and penalties, according to the sacred canons, apostolical constitutions ani decrees inflicted by general councils, and espe- cially by the Council of Trent, and that they have fallen into the most terrible vengeance of God and are walking in plain peril of eternal damnation, Meanwhile, venerable brethren, while necessary aids to our sovereign ministry are withdrawn more and more, while wrongs are heaped on wrougs towards persons and things sacred, while here and abroad the persecutors of the Church seem to be concerting their piots and joining their forces for the utter smothering of the exercise of ecclegias- tical jurisdiction; and, to give a spectal instance, perhaps to interfere with the free election o! him Who is to sit as the Vicar of Christ in this chair of Peter, what is left tous except that we shouid, with all earnestness, take reiuge in Him who 18 rich in mercy, and deserts never His servants in the time of their trouble? And, verily, the power of Divine Providence 18 shown clearly in the per- fect union of all the bishops with this Holy See, in their nobie steadiastness against wicked enact- ments and the usurpation of sacred rights, in the unbounded devotion of the whole Catholic house- hold to this centre of unity, in that life-giving spirit with which faith and charity are bursting forth everywhere in works worthy of the best days of the Chureh. Let us, then, strive to make ready the desired season of mercy. Let us altogether, throughout the world, try to do a ptous violence to our God. Let all prelates rouse their parish priests to this. Let all parish priests stir up the people of their several flocks. Let us, all and together, prostrate and bowed down be‘ore our altars, cry out, Come, O Lord, come! Delay not! Spare Tay people, loosen the burdens of ‘Thy fock! Behold our deso- lation! It 1s not pleading justifications for our- selves that we pour out our prayers before Thy face, but for the Inultitude of Thy tender mercies | sur up. Thy power, and come; show Thy face and we shall be save And, although we may be conscious of our unworthiness, let us not fear to draw nigh cona- dently to the Throne of Grace. Let us seek that throne by the intercession of all who now sur- round it. Especiaily let us seek it through the Holy Aposties; let us seek it thruugh the most chaste spouse of the Mother of God (=t. Josepn) ; let us seek It, above all, through the Virgin I maculate, Whose intercessions with ier Son have the relation, in a certain way, of commands, But, as 0 preparation for his, let us strive earnest- ly to cleause our conscience from dead works. For it is “on those that are just the Lord sets iis eyes; and it is to their prayers that Hts ears are open.” That this may be accomplished move certainly, and more fully, we graut, by our apostolic authority, to all the faituful who will have duly coniessed and communed, and will have prayed for the necessities of the Church in these matters, a plenary indulgence, to be once ained, on Whatever day the ordinary in each diocese shall have appointed; which indulgence may = applied for the souls of the faithtul de- parted. 4 Therefore, venerable brethren, though countless and very heavy storms of persecutions and trou- bles rage, let us not lose courage on that account, For We are trusting in Him who never suffers those that hope in Him to be confounded. For it is the promise of God, which cannot be forgotten—“I will deliver him, because ne has hoped in Me.’’ The Pope and Cardinals on July 25. The Freeman’s Journal accompanies the above With the following :. There was @ meeting of the Holy Father with Many of the Cardinals on the 25th ult. It Is spoken of as a “consistory,”’ but during the imprisonment of our Holy Father no “cousistories,” in the tech- nical sense, have beeu held, Our latest date from Rome was on the very day of this reunion of tne Uardinals at the Vatican, at the call of the Holy Father, There were twenty-two prelates named for sees, but we have good reason for thinking that the appointment for sees in the United States were none of them preconised. The propositions re- arding new sees, transfers of prelates and the appointinent of a very important coadjutor to a | celebrated see at the request of its honored incum- bent seem to be stillin the hands of the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda, We transiate from the Osservatore Romano the beautiful allocution of our Holy Father. We also give the Latin text. It will be seen that, as time passes and great events are very near at hand, the Holy Father lavishes the treasures of the Church, to provoke the faithful to more earnest prayers. ‘here was the Vorena for the feast of “St, Peter in Chains’—heard of too late (o be much profited by in this country, There is now pending the 7riduum for the three days be- inauigence, conditioned on the correspondence with his desire on the part of prelates of dioceses, " OBITUARY. en Anson Livingston. The funeral of the deceased Anson Livingston took piace on Thursday last, 7th inst., when a large number of relatives and friends accompanied the remains from his residence at Staten Island to the place of interment in Greenwood Cemetery, Upon one of the most elevated points of that “City ot the Dead” has been constructed the family vauit, indicated by @ granite spire or obelisk, bearing a classical inscription, in Latin, of great elegance, from the pen of the deceased, commemorative of his distinguished father, Brockholst Livingston, who died during 1823 while a member of the Bench of the Supreme Court of the United States, The name of Livingston is favorably associated with the most important features of our country, its Declaration of Independence, the constitution, and judiciary of the United States, that of New York, and in tie conventions for its amendments; its great equity tribunal, the pulpit and tue bar, and not limited to one State, The family name as originally known in Scotland was Livingstone, Why changed by the first emigrants t C diiicult to learn. vi vorpaanbeieha | Robert Livingston, uncle and nephew, at differ. ent periods, were the first emigrants to Americ: The younger was wrecked upon our coast and | ee escaped with life, He changed and adapted the family escutcheon to that event by substitut- | ing @ vessel under wreck, with the motto, “Spero | Meiiora,"’ He founded what is known’ as the younger branch, The elder branch, by tne uncie, who continued what is still known in heraldry ag the ancient Livingstone coat-of-arms, Williaia Livingston, of the younger branch, be- came Governor of the State of New Jersey.’ He was married to Catherine, the elder of two daugh- | ters of General (knowa as Lord) Stirling, of keyo- lutionary history, Brockholst Livingston, hts son, was educated to the bar, and, atter holding several important pub- lic stations, was elevated to the Supreme Court of | the Cuited states, He was married to Ann, day ter of Gahiel Ludlow, of the city of New York, ‘The deceased was a’son by this marriage, | bia College and stood an enviabie reputation high i his class, sustainin, or classical learning, which was kept fresh durt the ineasurably incompatible labors of business life and as evidenced by the graceful and impres- sive tribute to the memory of nis father ve- fore referred to, He was o member of the New York bar, generally respected and of unblemished character. He Tarely appeared in COUrt, aud Was alusost CxCiyslyely devoted tg gilice fore the Assumption of Our Jinmaculate Lady. | And now the Holy Father offers another plenary | | | provisions sne proceeded on the surveyin to Y Pacit | Alaska will tal consultation and practice. His domestic and social life was remarkable for every possible kindness and consideration, From the face of a poor man his own was never turned away, and if ‘to do od and to distribute’ secures an approbation far above that of the a use of men, his death cannot be regarded as a subject for regret. His enthusiastic interest in aquatic recreation made him @ member of the New York Yacnt Club, and raised him to the office of Rear Commodore, From the diversifed scenes of his professional avocations, benevolence and harmless healthful recreation, in a moment, after retiring to rest in usual health, and during mict- night, the summons came and life was surren- dered, while surrounded by those whose loss of the husband and father can but be alleviated by the recollection of his well spent life and decease with- out apparent suffering, Edward Watson. A press telegram from Philadelphia, under dato of yesterday, reports as follows:—Edward Watson, of the well-known firm of Watson & Brother, cracker bokera, died last evening of brain fever. He was highly esteemed in.this city, and a resolu- tion of respect was passed by the Commercial Ix- change Association, ALASKA AHOY! Ho! for the Mediterranean Station—The Charms of Serving in the European Squadron— The Officers of the Alaska—Other Veasels Fitting Out for Sea. On Tuesday last the United States sloop-of-war Alaska was formally plaged iu commission at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, As early as the month of March it leaked out among “well informed naval circles” that the Alaska was the first on the list at the Navy Department of cruisers destined for Ruropean waters, Rumor once abroad travelled with the speed of electricity until there waa not an officer amenable to the rules and regulations of the service of Uncle Sam’s wooden walls, s0- journing temporarily on terra jirma, that was not familiar with the fact. hen there poured into the federal naval burean such an avalanche of applications for assignment to THE FAVORED Sure destined for that Eden of all stations, the Medi- terranean, that the worthy Barnacles of the saline warlike bulwark of our liberties were sorely puzzled what todo in the matter of making selec- tions. “From my earliest recollections,” ex- claimed the venerable detachment and assignment clerk, “it has been ever thus. Let a ship be ORDERED TO THE MEDITERRANEAN SQUADRON and we receive applications fron: commissioned officers in sufficient numbers to man the vessel fore and aft without having recourse to the ser- vices of seamen at all; but,” he continued, in a solemn tone, “when we have occasion to find a complement of officers for a ship known tobe bound for the West Indies it is uphill work to find them.” Never more truly spake the magnate of the bureau. It has been so irom time memorial and will s0 continue, doubtless, until time shall be no more. The West Indies is the Slough of Despond among navy stations; none ever seek duty in the waters of that climate, and if an officer or seaman can evade the vigilance of the Department glass when scanning the horizon for the purpose of “mak- ing” out a ship’s company tor that section of the globe he will do so. Not so with the festive Euro- pean station, however; as above told, the rush is immense for assignment in the attractive latitudes of Europe. There is life to be learned from contact with the people of the Old World; there is instruc- tion to be gleaned by contact with the relics ang traditions of antiquity; there is the polish and gloss of aristocracy to be tmparted, and, all things considored from an enlightened standpoint, it is not to be wondered that the contagion of the Medi- terranean fever should be so virulent as to infest the entire line and staff, “horse, foot and dra- goons,” of the navy, even though it be that of a Kepubiic, THR ALASKA, which goes out to protect the interests of Ameri- can commerce and uphold the dignity of the Stars and Stripes in Europe, is @ worthy representative of our naval marine. She made her last cruise in the Asiatic squadroa, and during her three years’ absence performed prodigies of sail- ing. She is a full rigged ship (a very gem in this respect, in the eye of the ancient mariner of the forecastie), rates in the register as a second ciass steam screw sloop, and is of 1,122 tons burden. She carries an armament of twelve guns, ten broadside and two pivot guns on the spar deck, THE OFFICERS who have reported for duty on the Alaska are as subjommed :— Captain—samuel P, Carter. Lieutenant Commanders—Charles W. Tracey (ex- ecutive oficer), Felix Mearty, John C, Kennett, Liewenants—Hamilton Perkins, W, 5. Cowles, Master—b, H. Buckingham, Surgeon—Michacl Bradley, Passed Assistant Surgeon—Robdert A. Marmion, Paymaster—R. P. Leslie. Captain of Marines—W, KR. Brown, Chaplain—John B. Van Meter. Pngineers—Chie!, Robert Potts; First Assistant, ore ee iaad Second Assistant, Charies P, jowell, Midshipmen—M. A. Shufeldt, J. P. Underwood, C. B. Moore, W. F. lle 8. F. Nicholson, 8S. W. B. Diehl, L. 'Towney, W. Hi. Schuitz, Henry Morrell, G. Fowler, T. B. Howard, ©, W. Deering, A. 8. Case and F, A. Wilner. Sailmaker—A. W. Cassell. Boatswain—Thomas Bennett. Carpenter—W liam H. Siekands, Gunner—Thomas P. Newable. The above gives a list of thirty-three officers to the ship all told. Of this number it will be observed that fourteen are midshipmen, and one is @ chap- lain, The latter official is regarded, in the ward- room, steerage, and on the forecastle, as occupying a-position commonly known in point of utility as relatively aproximating to ‘the fifth wheel of a coach.” In the enmeee ofa veteran man-o!-wars- man, “a chapiain 1s in every body’s mess and in no- body’s watch.” Nevertheless these chaplains know how to appreciate @ pene ship and a cruise abroad just as well, ff not better, than the Bop octelihegh the ship. In this respect the cranium of chaplains of our navy is remarkably level, The ‘“middies,” or a majority of them, are des- tined for assigument to duty on board ships-of-war now in European waters. In order to accommo- date these iuture “admirals of the Red, White and Blue” the captain of the Alaska has ordered that forward wardroom apartments from the stecrage shall be cut away. This arrangement, while it facilitates matters for the muidshipmen, deprives one of the surgeons of the ship and an engineer of a room and compels them to “sling their cots” in the wardroom “country,” or, in other words, in the open saloons; not an agreeable biliet by any means as they are cut off trom the privacy of a sleeping apartment. This circumstance naturally leads to unpleasant peeing The Alaska, which was yesterday engaged in ship- ping stores for the yo age, wil receive Ler officers and crew on Thursday hext, ‘The crew consist sf 210 men, inciuding @ guard of marines. She wi proceed to Newport, R. L., where she wili take on a quantity of torpedoes and shells about the 25th o1 the present month, and will shortly after sail for | Europe. Mer engines, which underwent so favorable a trial at the dock the other day, will be again tested to-morrow. THE MONONGAHELA, second rate screw steam sloop-ol-war, eleven guns, is now undergoing preparation for a cruise at the Portsmouth, N. H., yard. She, too, it is whis- ered confidentially jabout Washington, is bound ‘or the yee station, This vessel and the e the place recently vacated by the Plymouth and Brooklyn, both of which vessels have returned home. The Department is bound to keep Up appearances abroad “uf it takes de last cent,” as Dan Bryant is wont to sayjwhen referring to his dilapidated “raglan” in the burlesque. THE OSSIPER, third rate, screw sloop, eight guns, lately returned from the Pacific, 1s fitting out the Brookiyn Navy Yard for the South Atlantic station. ‘The Zaragzza (Spanish frigate) is on the dry dock undergoing needed repairs, and her officers | and men are inspecting “Yankee” naval handicraft tion. about this NAVAL INTELLIGENCE, The United States steamer Powhattan left Nor- folk on the 7th instant for Halifax. She will re- turn to New York about the Ist of September. The Monongahela, fitting out at Portsmouth, N. H., is now ready for her eficers, and they will be ordered toherina few days. The vessel will be ready for sea about the 25th instant, and will be sent out to reinforce our naval forces on the Spanish coast. Mr, George Wilmuth, the oldest boatewatn in the navy, died at Brampton, Canada, on the 5th inst. ‘The Navy Department has received information of the arrival of the Narragansett at San Diego, Cal, on the 10th instant. Alter receiving coal and service which she has been assigned in the Ce Naval Orders. WASHINGTON, August 11, 1873. Captain H, C. Blake, Lieutenant Commander G. C, Wiltze and Surgeon G. R. Brush have been de- tached from the naval rendezvous at New York and placed on waiting orders. Assistant Surgeon F, K. Hartsell has been detached from the Naval Hospital at Washington, and his resignation has been accepted to take eifect on the Sist of October pga the bulkheads or partitions which separate two of | THE COMING CENTENNIAL. Curiosities of the Commissioners’ Correspondence. Samples of American Wit and Humor. Suggestions as to the Management of the Ex- hibition and Applications for Space. HOW THE STATES SPEAK. New Hampshire Offers a Gigantic Cheese, a Philadelphian Wants a Position, New Jersey Submits a Plan of Reform, California Moralizes and After Summing Up the Century Wants to Turn Over a New = Leaf. A Waste Paper Basket of Miscel- Taneous Ideas. THE LAY OF THE LAST ME STREL, PHILADELPHIA, August 11, 1873, There fs scarcely anything im life, no matter by nature how sedate or serious, which does not have its funny side. I remember years ago to have seen € broad smile flicker across the face of a divine just when in the midst ofa most stirring religious appcal, which was provoked by the sight of a coun- try bumpkin seated in the gallery poising a tobacco quid ia such a way that, when it fell, it would land in the extended jaws of a squire, placidly slumber- ing in his seat below; and once a very young rela- tive of mine, while saying his evening prayers, sud- denly shouted “Amen!” beiore he had half finished, and made a dive for a big fy which, while his hands were clasped, had been grievously tormenting him. Iremember, too, the answer which President Lin- coln gave to that hypercritical inaividual who chided him upon his venture to relate a joke just when surrounded by the most important affairs. “Ah, my dear friend,” said the President, “do not blame me. Were it not for this occasional bubbling up of fun I really believe that I should die, IfI could not laugh these terrible and perplexing affairs would kill me.”’ And so itis always. Man must have his langh, and the solemnity of no occasion is too sacred to be unillumined by sparks of fun. In my letters forwarded to the HeRaxp hitherto I nave tried to place before the American people THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF THE CENTENNIAL BX- POSITION, the additional impetus which it would give to native and foreign industry, the extent to which it would increase our commerce and expand our international relations, as well as the magni- tude which, if heartily supported by the press and the people, it would be absolutely certain to as- sume. In order to do this it has been necessary to examine many ponderous volumes, large and badly printed reports, bundles of statistics, dull and dusty and stupid, as well as to negotiate interviews which in many cases have not been concluded until a small and early hour in the morning. To bring up the remark of Presi- dent Lincoln in another form, the writer actually believes that, nad he not occasionally stumbled upon a docutnent the peculiar ideas of which along with its quaintness of construction were calculated to provoke the drollest humor, he would have given up in despair the task of presenting the great American scheme in any satisfactory way before the American people. Dotted all over as his labor has been with vistas of fun, and Inter- mingled as are the applications for space in the Centennial Building with requests at once crazy, grotesque and ridiculous, his labor has been ex- ceedingly pleasant, so that he cannot help stating briefly the peculiar and incidental features which made It so. THE FUNNY SIDE. It has been said already, that though no defi- nite plan has been as yet agreed upon on which the immense edifice will be constructed, still de- ducers of every class—for the proper limits in themselves that [ shall speak, NIT a however, A CENTENNIAL CHEESE, which I eliminate, it reads as follows :— world has never seen; cheese !—hundreds ot thousand United States, and will be capable, when laid down ¥ mands are daily pouring in from all parts of the which to display their wares, It is of the funny the accurate copies of these letters made herein to The first one is from a gentleman of New Hamp- Dean Sins—I speak of cheese—checse, in the grandest of pounds of it. It shall be an immense plain, the coi its side, of accommodating many hundreds of peu. country—from mventors, manufacturers and pro- way in which these applications occasionally shape tell their own laughable story. shire, and, with the exception of a few details and most sublime sense of the term; cheese such as the solldated efforts of every cheese manufacturer in th 6. Such a cheese as the one I speak of would certainly create astonishinent, and would gain for our manutac- turers the admiration of the world. I desire space for such a cheese, Can [have it? Answer. Respectiully, & Now this letter is entirely too serious for a joke, It is the enthusiastic proposition of a Yankee, weihied and devoted to his art. Why not let him get wp this cheese? It would certainly answer a variety of purposes. It would make an admirable race course, for its circumference would certain] exceed half a mile. Its crust would be hard enough to bear any burden; its surface would be even aud free from dust, and when it had worn through the interior might be scooped out, leaving only its shell, so that windows and entrances might be in- serted, and the whole thing might serve the re- uirements of an original and first class restaurant. ése are important considerations, which the Commissioners should careiully weigh. ‘The next letter is from Louisiana, and there is @ vein of wit running through it, which the reader is at liberty to regard as eithey Sportive or sarcastt 7 YO BORTASA Aang FoR noose fe (sx Roo. ~ * GentixweN—The undersigned would like space afforded him to ic F the exhibition of the tollowing artic Firet—“Wax Figgers,” of the crowd of manufacturers who endorsed General Van Buren, late United States Commugsioner to the Vienna Exposition. roud—"Wax Figger’’ of the coming man who thoroughly understands this thing. Third—A large demijohn, supposed to contain the “spiri seventy six,” which of late years hag tailed to intoxicate any one. Fourth—A portrait of the celebrated mathematician | who had worked out an equation of conditions for th Exhibition, taken when sutiering from a rush of astonis ment to the ace, caused by the discovery that the value of the unknown ‘quaniities Was aflected by a “negative radical sign.” Fith—Model of the hall “going to" be bullt, to ac comodate the visitors to the Exhibition. N, B.—Ihe stockholders in this enterprise, being pervaded and Penetrated by that exuterant caution peculiar to thelr titude, and believing that to hasten slowly isto pro- gress autely, have wisely postponed erecting thelr cdl: ice until it fs certain tnat the number of visitors will warrant ihe large outlay of time and money required, Siath—Plan and profiles with estimates of cost of the proposed "Via populus avcomodatus,”” by means ot which it is proposed to transport 10,00) or tore people to and irom the park daily. N. B.—the projectors have judicially deierred entering upon its cunstruction—until they are certain that they will have the above number of persons to transport &c. Respecttully ac., The m4 er of the above has evidently taken into account the somewhat conservative character of Philadelphians, but the letter has been received with the most gratifying good humor, and has made a laugh wherever it Nas been read, The only error made seems to be the supposition that the Exhibi- tion is to be controlled by that conservatism which the writer justly ridicules, when in reality it 1s per- vaded by @ national spirit, and organized by a com- Mission of which a talented man in the writer's native State is a prominent and conspicuous repre- sentative, But asa still more remarkable produc- tion We transcribe the following from a native of this city:— PHILADELPHIA SPRAKS. DFar Sins—My deserts entitle me to something more than a slice consideration. I hope you will try to secure Me & humbel position as time Keeper, gang boss or watch- man. J have never been able to know that any of my ap- plycations have ever been brought before the appointing power. Twantyou to understand thatit you get me & position you suffer me tolive !!! Ii you do not yeu shorten my life. Lam in need of immediate can: not live without it!!!! Respectiull: The reader may fancy that he detects a misery beneath this Iniperative document, brought on by habitual tnebriety; but here is something more spiritual still. 11 comes from New Jersey :— JERSEY SEEKS A CLOSER UNION. To THE CENTENNIAL, CommiTtER Sins—"'Qui proficit In artilus ced defert Inmoribuas, plus Whatever may be said about prog: rts, &c., here, it cannot be denied that there is deficiency in moral, social and political re- rrible. The Declaration of Independ- ead lettex yet, The ogger lack hberty and free from English monarchy in mame. that or worsecin. spitit, 10. contempell tices, while social and sexual relations form, nowadays, co! it to another. isto happiness about as much as the slaves did, and "awe and a are teariul,” Box another, trom one folly brate the Fourth of Jul. that we shall have no nals, no. Rory Bon ‘crime any ¢. temptation to that it cannot be done. : least not all human nature. Corruption and tashiom pervert it, and it might just as well make goodness fash. | jonabie as the contrary. Many men and women are: ves," and will follow ‘where others lead tor good or bad. Our high ladies following the Jemi-monde of Parist Oh, what a shame! The Morions have no poor among , them, and it would be well to imitate them in that. The Shakers (in number several thousand) only need to leave off their stupid dancing to become pare, practical Chris- tians, which cannot be said of other sects assuming thaé. mame. You ask for $10,000,000 to celebrate with; that would go very far towards tal organlent invite plans and projects and Chima: from Africa and Polynesia, from the Freach Communists’ and the Oneida Communists as well Siftoutthe dirt. Let your aim be the vestigate without fear and without pr absolutely needed is a English is shamotully bad, to ask millions of immigrants guage for that. You should offer a reward fora suitable one; get able persons to translate all of importance it that language, and printers enough to print it for all, ana distribute itiree. In the meantime select good sized id. good Territory out West; prohibst settlement there) until your plans are all matured, then goto work. Build houses, establish schools, make roads, and Invite peopl tocome there and form @ model State. Let that be celebration. You may in addition exhibit machinery, well asa model more. It is Lt am 40. trom, State ai , the people, ve Boston, will teach Respeetiully, &c. A PORT LAURBATS FOR THE CENTENNIAL, Comment upon the above is unnecessary, and’ the reader is leit to form hisown conclusions. There was once & man who imagined himself a Poet, not, however, from any effusion which he had piped TEES: but from the tordinate desire which he detected in himself to write. After hours of labor he produced the following:— Pharaoh wasa rascal, because he made the children of Israel wander in the wilderness tor (forty years, suffer or anguish and destitution and mainta. an existence y eating pascal. Either this identical gentleman or some brother of his race has sent in a similar poem to the Com- missioners, We give only portion of it, but enough to indicate its natur ; America, rise to your feet; Let all’nations come ar You at your tirst call, For in history there's nothing go sweet Aéacentenni-all, As @ centenui-all, A centenni-centenni-centennt all, But by all means the most vehement document as yet received is the one whose brevity will per mit us to give it entire, and which is surely moss unexpected and startling. It is from California, CALIFORNIA OBJEOTS, Gexruzwex—Your purpose to celebrate the one hun- dredth anniversary of American independence meets our hearty concurrence. To your manner of doing so we can scarcely subscribe. To our minds Americaisa nation for which the whole world has turnished stock in men and money, becomes us to h out @ report for examination of the various stock furnishers—old nations of the earth. It is paintully true that the balance is on the wrong side, aud that, so far, mankind are losers in this American investment Now let us burn all the State ‘and national records, and in beginning @ new set of books, July 5, 1878, make this general statement:—Tho f this nation was one of vice, ign: ry, anarchy, treason, fraud, bankr rp war, madness, séduction and i ple, weary at thelr own wickedness, arose and held @ solemn festival of liberty, For, if the true Army of the Republic join in the celebration, then, in- decd, must it be @ solemn uprising of the people, and, indeéd, a solemn festival to liberty, and every peisom door from Maine to Florida must be thrown open every man be tree to sce the sun rise upon that immortat day; and every barefooted child must join the feast, tor rchance one, even one may live to see the next conten- !. Then, oh, what a change! War, pestilence and fi gone, organized and ‘the vital forces understood and utilized, the ptatssot ponelales compre~ hended and controlled, and the grand period of gatety, p d_ progress, so long foretold and to which wo jook forward, as did’ the Jews to the land of promise when their weary feet wandered in the deserts of Arabia, fully inaugurated. Truly yours, &c., These letters are no doubt sufficient to show that the enthusiasm in regard to the American Exposi- tion is gradually finding tts way to ‘ALL SORTS AND CONDITIONS OF MEN, and that innumerable plans are daily coming im from all the inhabited parts of our country. Upon my table at present are at least twenty other ters, all similar to the above. MISCELLANEOUS IDEAS, One man wishes the Exposition building to be made of wire which can be contracted to keep out the rain, and expanded to let in the sun. “Please, do not mention this to any one unless you have the utmost confidence, or he might claim the idea. E ei present engaged in the cranberry busiuess, 0. Another man, an aeronaut, says that he has a patent cigar-shaped balloon, and desires the appro- jpelass of $7,000, promising to crown the statue of iberty on the dome of the House of Representa- tives at Washington with a crown of laurel, and ta carefully. envelop it in an American flag, And again, one soclety roposes to erect a tower so high that a calcium light placed upon it “can be seen through- out New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio.” Thera are many Other proposals which we cannot even mention, and one can readily imagine how dificult, itis for the secretaries to answer them, though they really become the means of relieving their tedious labor and of illuminating the dreary routine of their daily work. Therejis something commend- able in all these curious letters, after all, for they show a disyosition upon the part of the peers to aid the Commissioners all they can, and it is these alone which can render the affair of 1876 a signal triumph and a grand success, MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES. Mr. Jefferson, who is now in London, is reported ag in good health, ‘The frequency of suicides recently is attributed to the great number of street bands which infest the city. Mark Smith is in Paris, on his way home from Italy, where his family resides permanently for the benefit of a daughter who is studying tor the operatic profession. Mr. Placide Caninge, of the New Orleans opera house, who has been in Paris for some weeks, haa engaged a fine French opera troupe, and has also purchased the copyright of several new French pieces. The players before the Duke in “A Midsummer Night's Dream,” at the Grand Opera House, will be Pyramus, Mr. G. L. Fox; Thisbe, Mr. Charles Le- clereq; Lion, Mr. C., K. Fox, and Wall, Mr, J. We Jennings. It is now claimed on behalf of Mr. Sardou that a little judgment on the part of his American trans- latora would have saved him a great deal of hostile criticism, Evidently the Frenchman’s star is on the wane, Capoul is studying English ander the tuition ofa young lady, an American who has figured some- what prominently in public. It is an easy way of picking up @ language. M. Capoul has been in Paris, enjoying himself, for a tew weeks, and will spend a short time at his villa near Toulouse pre- vious to his departure for this country. POLITIOAL NOTES, It ig nearly thirty years since Hon. *<osam Allen, the democratic candidate for Governor of Ohio, tools any part in politics, The next Legisiature of New Jersey will choose a United States Senator in place of John P. Stockton, democrat, Whose term expires on the 4th of March, 1875. ey There {s 2 political division among the negroes of Ohio, and a convention is to be held at Chillicothe on the 22d inst. for the purpose of settling the difti- culties, The Boston Advertiser is very emphatic tn ite contradiction of the rumor that the administration will support General Butler for Governor of Massa- chusetts, The Springfield (Mass.) Repudlican says Fred Douglass is in favor of the electionof Ben Butler for Governor. Suppose he is, wherein does that nelp Ben? United States Senator sames L. Alcorn opposes United States Senator Adelbert Ames, Ben Butler's son-in-law, for Governor of Mississipp. They are both radicals. Hon. Matthew Gaines, a radical colored State Senator of Texas, will be absent from his seat at the next meeting of ihe Legislature unless he is pardoned out of the penitentiary. Daniel Pratt, Jr., the Great American Traveller, having escaped from the New Hampshire Work- house, has published a card im the Boston papers, stating that he will stump the State for Ben Butler for Governor on condition that Ben will support him for President in 187 THE NEW OOTTON GROP. SAVANNAR, Ga., August 11, 1873. The first bale of the Florida cotton crop and the second oale of the Georgia crop were received here on Sunday, the 10th inst, A SAD SHOOTING ACOIDENT, WILKESBARRE, Pa., August 11, 1873. On Sunday last, at Tanknannock, Wyoming county, Sidney Major shot and killed, in his gar a @ @ hawk which had been preying upon his chickens. Oscar Mills, who lived next door, was walking in hia garden at the time, and three buck shots passed the hawk and strack him in the hears, killing him instantly, Mills was an assistant en-~ gineer in the United states rete and Was avaite ing orderg at the (ume of hia dea