The New York Herald Newspaper, January 1, 1874, Page 3

NEW YORK HERALD, THURSDAY, JANUARY 1, 1874. NEW YEAR’S DAY. Fashionable of the Hour. The Agony Thoughts and Speculations Con- cerning the Coming Year. Peeping at the Present and Guessing at the Future. Perhaps one of the advantages of that state of happy immortality to which most of us are looking forward with more or les8 confidence is that no good resolutions are ever broken there, for the simple reason that none are made. The wheels of post-mortem vitality never need oiling, but life runs on in one smooth eternal rat, which never gets clogged. We know of no satisfactory reason good resolutions should break out, like moral rh at the beginning or the year. But they do. How is it that the new diary is bright, and its pos- sessor Matters himself that every page, without ex- ception, shall bear the record of a victory accom- plished? Literally, no day is to be without a line, 8nd that line is to be worth recording. This would be very pleasant, perhaps, were it practicab: Only the world would be freer of prigs, and human- ity would be so exceedingly virtuous that it would cease tabe amiable. Sometimes we think that man and woman would be a very nice sort of thing if it were not for the human nature in them—the hu- man nature that is 60 full of meannesses that when we meet a maa of moral grandeur he seems to be of kindred toa god, Still, we have fo disposition to say anything very severe against a custom which is not without its good side,and which probably prevents a good many tngenuous young people'trom being quite so “fast” and careless as they would otherwise become. It is better that good resolutions should be made and broken than that they shoulda not be made at all. The trouble 1s, in the case of the confirmed offender, that what he mistakes for @ resolution is only a Meeting phase Of feeling, a passing impylse toward good, that the emotion of the next { moments will obliterate. We must say that we have more admiration for that moral resilience which Tennyson nas described in his blank-verse portrait of St. simeon Stylites than for that supine remorse which everiastingly mourns an irrevocable sin, without striving to out- grow it and forget reclaiming the blasted ground of individual crime and error and pianting beauti- fui blossoms and healthy fruit upon spots dese- crated by the mildew and the blight of guilt. THE COMING YEAR. These thoughts by way ofthe new year, which dawns upon us to-day. It 1s impossible to cross this fresh lintel which Time, that venerable car- Penter, has just laid down, without wondering what sort of a house this new year is which we are going to inhabit, Is it a house of glass at which the past and the future may throw stones? Will it be inhabited by good actions and worthy Motives that will bear the light of day and the inspiration of the historian, and not prove un- worthy of our record asa nation? Unhappily it is not dificult to reply to such questionings. Social changes are wrought too slowly ior it not to be easy to predict that the general characteristics of the coming year will very much resemble those of the year that is justover, At rare intervals, under the prestidigitation of some great political leader, a Mighty change ts effected at a blow, and a new order of things springs {rom a coup d’élat accom. plished ina moment. But, as arule, events do not overstep each other and impinge on one another’s heels. The process of the sun’s is a gradual one, and when we come to the end of life we find we have just seen enough to have our curiosity piqued to the utmost and catch ourselves wishing to live, if only to see how the thing is going to turn out. We would a great deal rather linger on to a good old healthy centenari- anism and revisit the earth for a little space after the lapse of 500 years. Upon a moment's re- fection such a visit implics @ host of contradic- tions too obvious to combat. The very prospect makes one feel just as “eerie” as an invitation to go back in person to the fourteenth centary with all one’s nineteenth century ideas fresh upon him. The nineteenth century man would have peen burned or beheaded or imprisoned for life 500 years ago, just as he will be regarded as a smart savage, ‘an embryon of civilization, 500 years hence. Look @ little mto the matter and you will see that this * mew year has not so much to felicitate itself upon @s you may at first suppose. Some time ago one of our daily papers declared that the exer- tions in the midst of us of a ‘Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ were evidence of a high state of civilization. Not so. On the contrary, it isevidence of a low state. A high state of civilization would render such @ society absolutely unnecessary, for the best Protection of the animals woald be public senti- ment. Doubtless our present stage ts better than / Many past stages, but the transition point is at too er low a level to deserve any very hearty congratula- tions. Doubtless, too, the coming year will do something toward raising that level. Let us in- quire briefly into some of the matters in regard to which the year that has just dawned may be imagined as exerting itself to some purpose, LOCAL CBIVALRY. Without taking into view those wide questions which are of universal application and effect, the history of the race and humanity at large, let us limit ourselves ‘o local facts and speculations, ‘Will the coming year effect any great change in our local chivalry? The idea of chivalry is associated with the Middle Ages, and 1t is only justice to the modern New York man to acknowledge that he is true to that idea and acts as though he had no concern with an institution that flourished five centuries before ume, If the New Year can do anything valuable for as it can improve the conduct of tue average man toward the average woman. “The politeness of American gentlemen is proverbial.” you will say. True. The liteness of a gentieman, be he American or thiopian, is wiWays proverbial. But how about the politeness of the American many Is that proverbial, too? If so, let us make it somethin, more than proverbial; let us make it matter ol fact, The impoliteness, the brutality, of the average New York mao and boy ia nowhere more jorcibly and aise ingly exhibited than on steamboats which ply between this port and Brooklyn and Jersey City and neighboring places, and on the street cars all over the city, Men may elbow each other with impunity, or, if any one oe too sharp & poke, a healthy retribu- on 1a likely to reach bim im some form or other. But the elbowing of women, young and old, the squeezing, the pushing, the crowding of the weaker sex, the monopolizing of seats espe- cially designed for ladies, are evidences certainly of not a very high degree of civilization. And the game spectacle which 1s seen at steamboat land- ings and in the ladies’ cabins of steamboatais be- heid at the depots of the street cars and in the cars themselves, The element 0; savagery must be pretty strong in the man who can jostle aside ® weak woman, make use of that advantage by obtaining @ seat and complacently con- template nding before him during a Jong and tedious ride the victim whom nts. This is is not a sentimental exaggeration. It is a fact that itself nun if daily. We are quite aware that mt omen are better able to keep their feet than some men, gnd we do not pretend to lay down @ universal rule which shall determine the precise amoun id degree of concession to be, y culines in every case. The problem Of determining whether the robust lady with the fine complexion and the nealthy sparkle of eye is not much better able to remain standing halt fo hour than that thin wisp oi aman who looks &s though @ breath of air too much might cause the place that now knows him to know him no More ts one too diMicult for us to solve. For aught We know the lady ah preserve only the sheli and outside show of health, and be sinking daily into the grave by inches, perceptible to none but the family physician, and the gentleman may sess one of those exasperating constitutions which run their possessors sate through to nonagena’ and retuse to gratity the expectations of @ hos poor but affectionate relatives, Neither is it neces- Sary that We should solve the problem. We may be quite sure that the consumptive lookin| entieman Will never offer his seat ‘vo the flort dy, and that be would be equally certain not to do it were their sanitary conditions reversed, In fact, it seldom nappens in @ New York car or Steamboat that any lady meets trom a man the compliment of @ proffered seas unless old: or be visibly infirm or have a baby in her arms. In these cases the consciousness his own brutality impeis the man to offer the seat, where, on almost every Other occasion, he go lin- @erigly ensconceys himself, Heavens} how, at ali calls, he clings to tnat seat! You mign Ftd ogee der ry he he is so long abadon- ing it and £0 quick to returo to itat the very first excuse. Don't say that we are too hard upon the men. We know periectly well what w talking about, and we repeat that, on all ordimary occa- stons, the average male Yorker, on steam- boat and tn street car, acts more like @ savage than @ gentleman when the question of ae bis seat is concerned. He will you that he has paid five centsforit. {8 the bargain such @ splendid one that he cannot afford to let a Woman reap some advantage from it? Did he pay away all his finer feelings of a man, 10, or have only five cents worth of those feel- ings about him? These are questions whose s0- Jution seems to ug peculiarly appropriate to New Year’s Day. NEW YBAR'S CALLS, Now that we are on didactics we hope that the good natured reader will bear with our prosin until the end, promising not to offend so again a least for another year. It would be easy to add to the homilies that nave been written against the custom of drinking intoxicating hquors on New Year's Day. We prefer to leave the writing of homilies to those who believe that they will accomplish any good. practical — view of the matter assures us that plenty of men and women—ard plenty of men and women who in every conventional respect are ladies and gentlemen—will to-day and this even ation, warning, argument, entreaty, harrowing pictures of present foolishness and subsequent remorse, have been tried too oiten to render it likely that they can now be employed with any commensurate effect, We would not rate too severely the indis- cretion into which many & young manyand, we grieve to say, not a lew young ladies—wiil to-day be entrapped, Buta bird’s eye of the ensem- dle may suggest & not wholly uninteresting New Year’s thougnt. In what respect is our present mode of celebrating New Year’s Day an evidence of high cultivation ? Certainly in one respect only— in the fashion it preserves of exchanging senti- ments of peace and goodwill, It is a beautiful and noble fashion, one eminently worth keeping in vogue. It seems a pity, indeed, that so many people should devote the rest of the year to disturbing that tranquility which they so religiously devote the first day of the new cycle to invoking; but we suppose thisisone of the con- tradictions that give piquancy to human nature, and therefore will not criticise it too closely. It may be long ere our festivals shall be celebrated with that intellectual and moral simplicity which the author of “The Coming Race” has described with such arte, and compassionate satire. But probably the time will come, and’ when it does the aecessories with which the vast majority of civil- ized humanity at present welcome the New Year, will be regarded asthe indices of an age hardly escaped from barbarism. The time will arrive when the New Year’s inebriate will be held in as strong reprobation as those habitual topers of half @ century ago, who were always left under the ta- ble after dinner, and were regularly,in a state of un- consctousness, assisted by their valets to bed. New York society 18 not yet prepared tor sucn a mighty change. In such a pure and inartificial condition the hues seem to us tame, the light harsh, the adoWs unmellow and unrich. And so to coming es the local spectacle presented nt be York on few Year’s Day will be a@ brilliant, bewildering and heated phantasmagoria, glaring with hot colors and splendidly disordered lights, tremblin; through the mists Of dissipation, haunted wit! @ riovous glamour and reeking with wild music and voluptuous perfume, It is a picture not with- outacertain strength and beauty, but its most vivid hues catch something of their essence trom debauchery. There are many delightful eruptions, and upon these it is pleasant and perhaps bealthier }to dwell. There are numbers of houses where the receptions never edge iuto a rout, where exhilaration never adumbrates into ebriety. Let us hope that there will be more receptions of this kind than ever before. It would be sad to reflect that the amount o7 head- aches Young America will endure to-morrow will be exactly proportioned to the number of cails he es to-day. Strong coffee 1s frequently pre- scribed to patients who are recovering trom recent overdoses of more stimulating liquids, Now, if callers could only be prevailed upon to take their coffee to-day, the more stimulating liquids might safely be left until to-morrow. But we despair of wide immediate reform. STAGE, PULPIT AND PLATFORM. The public is s0 constantly occupied with politics during the course of the year that it can well afford, at the beginning of a fresh twelvemonth, to turn Jor a littie while irom that entrancing theme, and wonder what now revelations stage, pulpit and platform intend to present us with, ach of these departments is se important enough to claim a considerable share of attention at such a@ ume as this. It has been said that the stage and the pulpit ought to walk band in hand together; but they never have, aud considerable modifications will have to be made in each belore they ever will. The only way in which they have hitherto preferred to handle each other 1s without gloves. Itis not our object to quarrel with either, but simply to inquire What thoughts they suggest to us in connection with the new year. Of course things cannot go on forever, either On stage or in pulpit, as they have been going on. We must have less sensation in the one and more sensation in the other. The stage ought to show us human nature as it is, the puipit human nature agit might be. Instead of this the stage too often shows us human nature agit never was, and the pulpit exnibits it to us ag it never can be. Theone degrades too low, and the other ex- alts too high; the one exaggerates the animal, and the other throws an ultra re- finement over the spiritual The practical, the realizable good that is in human nature should furnish the substratum to which both shouid aj peal. Has the new year any hope to offer usin this respect? Will the vulgar realisms of the modern stage gradually disappear and be suc- ceeded by a drama whose foundations are laid among the sterling qualities of humanity, with enough of human repentance and human siruggie to do right brought Co light to prove that if we are a little higher than the apes on one hand we are only a little lower than the angels on the other? Will the pulpit, instead of uttering, as it too often does, timid commonplaces, which sow no new thought in fallow minds and plant no saving sting in seared consciences, wake to a sense of its vast PPA, pee Uh) privilege, independent of creed and logma, of speakin; to the human _ soul upon every topic whose proper acceptance can raise humanity trom this nineteenth century siougn Which We call civilization, and place it upon a level high and dry, beautilul and ciean, fertile and pic- turesque, abounding with those affiuent undula- tions waich proceed [rom a purer morality, a higher intelligence, more exquisite sympathies with each other and civilizations not so far advanced ? Will the platform aid pulpit and stage by borrow- ing some of the best features of both, and thus reaching a class which neither of the others alone can expect as easily to influence ? There are indi- cations that @ change like this may be gradually accomplished, and this is one of the brightest thoughts that the new year brings. THE LOCAL NEW YEAR. It may be remarked that the panic does not seem to have materially diminished the passion of making holiday presents. If Fate shaves us harsbly sne sometimes seems to stop and ask whether the razor hurts, in order that she may og us alittle ‘let up. One of these “let ups as occurred just now. The panic cry was no sooner raised than the new year supervened, and every one set to work to spend the money his neighbors accused him of hoarding. There is évery pices that to-day will be as hospitably cele- rated as it has ever been in the past. The number ofnew hats, new suits, new dresses and new gloves that have been purchased exclusively for the occa- sion will bear comparison with tnose of any pre- vious year, and an investigation among tatiors, hatters, tin iy dressmakers, dry goods stores and gentiemen’s furnishing stores will ratify this statement. So faras fashion and society are con- cerned, therefore, the new year comes gayly in. And then stop and marvel at the splendor of Young America as he runs pp ibe steps of the first brown stone iront upon his list. NEW YEAR'S EVE IN THE CITY. It was bright and wintry yesterday in the city. The air was clear, bracing and penetrating. The aky was biue; there was, in tact, a summer in the heavens and @ winter on the earth. It was just the weather to send the blood tingling through the veins with a healthy rush. It was the last day of the year, too, and the weather helped to the Universal spread of o kindly feeling towards the old year’s dying hours, and the result was that everybody you met seemed not only to be very busy getting ready for the new comer, that Is al- ready christened 1874, but to have nothing but pleasant recollections of the friendly year that was just avout to say ‘‘Parewell” forever. Broadway, which is said to present the most cosmopolitan ap- pearance of any city tn the world, was more thronged than on ordinary days, but not more thronged than it was on Christmas Eve; for Onrist- mas Is pre-eminently the time for presents, and, therefore, the stores are thronged with eager pur- chasers. Yesterday, however, showed that New Year's morning may be made use of for unex- pected delights, and that Santa Claus can go down the chimney to leave a present for wife and child, for huaband and even for 4 mother-in-law on New Year's day quite as well as on Christmas morn. Lt is quite certain that he will be engaged in this pleasant pursuit to-day, if the thousands of BRIGHT, ROGUISH BYES of hundreds of young ladies who were seen gilding in and out of the Broadway stores yesierday meant anything. That which was seen in Broadway was on a smaller degree visible in the Bowery. These two principal highways of the city are, by a kind of tacit consent, understood to represent that which the St. James’ and the St. Giles’ of the English me- tropolis represent—to be, in fact, the synonym, of, the rich and the poor. This characteristic was manifest yesterday, and especially in the evening. All “the dollar stores” were crowded, and from ‘these vast repositories of the useful and the beau- téful—admirable institutions for the honest work- ers of limited means—there came presents for loved and dear ones that will iden human hearts as truly as an expensive bronze or $1,000 paynying will to-day Li More Dslatial resi- @ences, The stages, the ears and the ferries were crowded onusually early in the evening. Every- body seemed anxious to get home—the merchants, the business and the pro fessional men were all with T intent turning their backs apon the business 4nd prolesazonal cares of 1873, and when they next came to “the city” tt would be literally to turn over @ new leaf in the book of time. It was inter- esting to uotice how many of these men were en- cumbered with parcels. Some of these parceis were small and some large; others had pew books and the latest periodicals under their arms, and a few—but it was ouly a few—curried heavy wicker Nasks, with GALLON BOTTLES inside, containing manifestly something in which the health o: the’ new year would be drunk heartily some time on the following day or night. But the multitudes that thus thronged ferries ana cars did tnot leave the “downtown” part of the city deserted. The saloons in all the lower wards were well patronized; a “parting drink,” a deter- mination to see the old year out. even if they made themselves “blind drank” to do it, was the evident settled purpose of crowds of men of all and occupations in life. Towards the midnignt hour there was here and there a staggering, drunken object, followed vy another staggering, drunken object, both shouting to one another, “A happy new year!” interspersing tne greeting witn mach profanity cf conv! and more “hiccups, Some of these characters would get mixed with is Of brothers and sisters who were just ‘ing the Methodist temples, where a solemn “Watch Night” service had been held, the affectionate demonstration lor the crowd of wor- shippers, and the seasonable and unseasonable greetings which the confused tnebriate scattered as (reely around as his spirituous utterance would permit him, formed a strange but sugzestive mani- Jestation of the dominion of the carnal and THE SPIRITUAL. From Canal street to Spuyten Duyvil Creek New Year's Eve was equally well kept, though with probably a little more propriety. The theatres were ‘out’? before twelve o’clock struck, and the res- taurants that do a ‘night business” were well patronized. Everybody therein seemed deter- Mined to begin the year with @ spice of dissipa- or ae to greet “Uld Father Time” as a merry old soul, In the mansions and “brown stone fronts” of the avenues the music of the Stringed bands, the glare of lights and the Measured footiall o1 the dancers told how merrily, how pleasantly and with hearts of brimful happiness the year was begun. Dull care was driven away in the year’s early hours at least; and when these hanpy parties began to break w and stand on the stoop, all coated and shawled, kissing “‘goodby’s” and “happy new years,’’ the conscious gas had begun to grow pale with the knowledge that daylight was coming, and the early newspaper wagons demonstrated that the 1st of January, 1874, was a veritable iact, and that it was here in the fulnese of the day, and was as bold as any other day tnat had preceded it, RINGING THE NEW YEAR'S CHIMES, Last night the chimes made hilarious music in the belfries of Old Trinity and Grace churches to Indicate the departure of the old and the arrival of the new year. A number of people were assem- bied at Trinity church to listen to the tintinabu- lation of the bells from the steeple, antl at twenty minutes betore twelve o’ciock last night the con- cert began in Trinity, the bell ringer, Mr. Aylitfe, Performing the following airs :— “Changes on Eight Bells.” “Yankee Doodie.” rom La Kiglia du Regiment” ‘ave the Queen.” Scotch Melodies trom “Guy Mannering.” Pa ‘burch Bells Ring.” Happy New Year to Thee.”? “Miscellaneous Melodies.” Finale—*Home, Sweet Home.” The ringing concluded at midnight, when a new concert began, to nerald the birth of the new year, and lasted 20 minutes, AT GRACE CHURCH. The Grace church chimes commenced immedi- ately after the great bell had rung the hour of midnight. The following airg were teency by the bell ringer, Mr. Joho H. S8nia. The perform- ance was as follows:— Ringing the. inges on eight belis. “God Bless ur Native Land.” Sreation,’? ssionary Hymn. Song ot the Hells.” Air trom “Fra Diavolo.” e “Thou Art Mine O Coming Through the Rye.” rols.”” fe Let Us C! “Yankee Doodle. “Home, Sweet Home.” THE METHODIST WATCH NIGHTS, Their Origin and Character—The Meet- ings Last Wight—Character of the Exercises. It is related in the history of Methodism that as early as 1742 John Wesley, its founder, instituted the custom of holding religious worskip upon New Year’s Eve, extending up to the hour of twelve, When the old year receded into the oblivion of tne Past and his youthtul successor, fresh and joyous, entered upon the scene of action. Although a Tegularly ordained priest of the Established Church, he was refused access to the church edi- fices, and so went out in the public squares and market places, the byways and hedges, preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ to the poor and lowly, and among the miners of Cornwall and the colliers of Newcastle he reaped the richest rewards of his labors, Teaching the doctrine that man is JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, and appealing tothe emotional rather than the intellectual natures of his hearers, a religious en- thusiasm was created all over tre land, which at times degenerated into fanatical frenzy. Out of this intensity of feeling grew those social meet- ings in which it naturally found vent and which have been a distinctive feature of Methodism unto this day. These are the prayer meeting, the class meeting, the love feast and watch night, all au- thoritatively recognized as regular means of grace by the discipline of the Church. These meetings have always justified the name of social applied to them, the exercises consisting not only of preaching and exhortation by the clergymen, but Of religious experiences as related by the laity ol both sexes, interspersed with singing and prayer. Divested of the tormality of worsuip peculiar to most other churches, they have been marked by,an emotional expression, which has been their glory or their shame, according to the feelings or pre- juaices of the observer. The Watch Night, or New Year’s Eve Meeting, has always been, as it is, an especially interesting occasion to the Methodist, and it was observed as usual last night through- out the various churches of the denomination in the city. The exercises consisted of a sermon in the early part of the evening, iollowed by a social meeting of prayer and praise, followed by another sermon at ten or hall-past ten o'clock. This was succeeded by a prayer meeting, continuil up to within five minutes of twelve, when all vocal exercises ceased, and the entire congregation knelt in silent prayer until upon asignal from the fea and as the hour arrived all joined in the mn commencing— Come, let us anew our journey pursue, which, followed by the benediction, closed the meeting. In some o! the churches the exercises were varied by the presence of what are known as praying bands, whose name denotes their char- acter. They are composed of a number of men and women, most of whom are accomplished sing- ers, who go irom church to church, taking the Jead in the social meetings. ‘They sing the old fashioned airs peculiar to the persuasion, many of which are of great beauty; and, as they are very fervent in prayer, they add materially to the tn- terest of the occasion, At @ majority o1 the churches the attendance was large, and a deep, earnest feeling was manifested, MOVING DAY AT THE SHERIFF'S AND OOUNTY CLERK'S OFFIOE. At the Sheriff's office the confusion attending upon the removal of Sherif Brennan, Under Sherif Joel Stevens, and all his deputies, owing to their term baving expired, during the past few days, was most intense, especially yesterday. Each desk, drawer and closet revealed some new document which had escaped the notice of the owner, and at the last moment the remaining papers were hur- ried into bundies improvised tor the occasion by the frenzied oMciai, who evidently made all possi- ble haste to beat a retreat from the office. THR DEPUTIES’ BOOTHS, or six by Wag Pou EL LF presented a demoralized appearance. The few that boasted a carpet had that article removed, and as the floor was not even swept the dirt thereon was several inches thick, and only needed a good dose of fertHizer to make @ first class tari) The desks and ciosets, being the property of tie county, were allowed to re- main, Ii tie bew deputy sheriffs have any desire to have thetr sniall offices neatly fitted up they must go to some expense of their own w doso, SHERIFF BRENNAN and his Under Sheritt, as also Order of Arrest Clerk Judson Jarvis, were up to their armpits in papers, and intensely busy tn effecting their exit from the County Court House before the old year expired. Ef dint of exertion they accomplished the fact. Sherif Brennan will be at the ofice this morning until Sherif! Conner assumes the functions of his office at twelve o'clock noo: AT THE COUNTY CLERE’S OFFICE everything progresses as quietly as ever, and there Js not the slightest indication existing that the head of the office, occupying the ition for the past six years, ‘eo the last ictal there yesterday. Mr. ries BE. Lowe was the only one In that office who was engaged in moving, bat he Sirs thered his own papers in his private ofMce. all furniture therein, although the private roperty of Mr. Lowe, he ieaves to his successor. it is understood that the major portion of the em- ployés are retained by Mr, Walals NBW YEAR'S EVE IN THE COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE, Yesterday, as will be seen by the list of pay- Ments below, was @ busy day in the Department of Finance, ail the officers and empioyé¢s, from Comp- troller down to the messengers, were busy in get- ting the colls audited and the warrants signed in time for payment of city and county salaries before the close of the year, The office was kept open all the evening tor payment as rapidly as watrants were registered by the bookkeepers, and tt was aiter ten o’clock P. M. before the last attaché of the municipal government departed with his check, with which to make glad the hearts of bis amily on New Year's Day. Warrants, Amounting to Mayor's Office in 2,845 Fire Departm uo 231 Finance Department.. 93 74h City Court... a 7,801 joard of Education a 6273 Bureau 8 ‘960 Board of b 2,500 Clerks of Board ot A\ ay 1919 Board of Assistant Aldermen, a 6,999 Clerks Board of Assistant Aldermen. 12 1249 Board of Aldermen, 4 4749 7 1647 0 579 0 Nol 19 6.549 uM 340) FI 6,038 County Clerk's office m S893 Court of special seastoni ood 1,500 Supreme Court. . rd 2,400 Court of Common Pieas. 29 iso Marine Court... 16 1600 20 2,000 3 8,933 1 416 in i 2.500 Department o: 38 Tass Cleaners... 104 a5 Health Department, 20 «ou Board of Assessors. 1 Le 4 21698, 26 26,9108 Department Taxi ‘se: 88 29903 Commissioners of Accounis. s 1,250 City Record........ 3 ‘68 General sessions 2 Recorder's ofc 4 1 Health Department 82 Marine Court ry Departinent of % Chy Courts 1 Law Depariment 5 Inspectors of Election, & 1,025 Totals... 2,859 DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN WILLIAMSBURG, ¥en Poor Families Rendered Homeless. About two o’clock yesterday morning a fire broke out in the three story frame dwelling No, 311 Second street, Williamsburg, occupied on the first floor by Joseph Denarow as @ barber shop, the sec- and third floors being occupied by George Fry and Mrs. Margaret Kirk as a dwelling. The tre gained rapid headway, communicating with the buildings on either side, the families occupying them being turned ouv in the bitter cold, homeless and almost naked. The preinises damaged are as follow: Nos. 309 and 311. owned by Jobn U'Neil, loss $2,000; insured in the Williamsburg City and other com. peniee for $1,000, Nos. 313, 315, 317 and 319, owned y James Woodward, loss $4,000; fully insured in various companies, names not ascertained. The majority of the tenants were partially insured, Fire Marshal Thorne will make a rigid investig: tion into the cause of the fire, there being sowe suspicious circumstances connected therewith, OIL TANKS ON FIRE. A fire broke out yesterday morning in the oil tanks of the Gas Company on Eleventh street, near avenue D, ‘The fire was caused by a leak in the tanks located near the river. The fire is still burn- ing, Damage unknown. FIRE AT WES:PORT, CONN, Valuable Blooded Stock Burned. Westrort, Conn., Dec. 31, 1873, This morning, at half-past two o'clock, fire was discovered issuing from the large farm barn on the premises of Mr. Stephen H. Alden. An alarm was sounded and the fremen promptly came, but, de- Spite their efforts, alded by many citizens, the structure soor became amass of ruins. A horse, jour Alderney cows (worth $1,000 each), a large quantity of hay, grain and farming utensils were burned. The loss cannot be less than $10,000; no msurance, During a seven years’ residence in Westport Mr. Alden has s@tfered by no less than six fires, and his losses will aggregate $7,000. Two weeks ago, on the 16th, a grapery on his premises, built by the late R. H. Winslow, of New York, at an expense of $7,000, was set on fire and burned. ‘he THE ROSTER FOR 1874 Our City and County Government as Recon- structed by Election and Appointment— Officials Who Assume Duty To-Day and When Their Terms Expire. On the commencement of the new year, as usual, there is a large number of officials under the city and county government compelied to vacate their lucrative oMices and seek other means of live- lthood until such time ag the potitical wheel of for- tune jifts them again into new positions in the service of the city. Below will be found a roster of the principal oMcials nolding over, as well as those who enter apon their duties to-day for the first time, with the date of the expiration of the term of office of all the chief ofMcials :— EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. Mayor—William F. Havemeyer; term expires De- cember 31, 1874. CHIBF ULERK—D. 8, Wendell. Mayor's MARSHAL—D, 3, Hart. PERMIT CLEBK—S, Wise. HERIP¥’S OFFICE. SHERIFF—Wm. C, Conner, term expires Decem- ber 81, 1876. UNDER SHERIFF—John T. Cuming. ORDER OF ARREST CLERK—Wm. H, Quincy. Wakpgn oF LupLow Sraget Jait—Win. ham, COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE. County CLERK—William Walsh. Dsgrcry County CLerk—Henry A. Gumbieton. CORONERS. Richard Croker, term expires December 31, 1876. Henry Woltman, term expires December 31, 1876. et Eickhof, term expires December, 31, 6. Adolph Kessler, term expires December 31, 1874. ALDERMEN, S, H. B. Vance, President. Patrick Lysaght. O. P. C, Billings, Robert McCaderty. S. V. R. Cooper, J. A. Monheimer. John Falconer. John J. Morris. Richard Flanagan, Oswald Ottendorfer, Edward-Guon, John Reilly. Peter Kear, Jenkins Van Schaick, George Koch, Jo-ephC, Pinkney, Clerk. Terms of all expire December 31, 1874 ASSISTANT ALDERMEN, Dist, tate 12—Patrick Keenan, 13—William Wade. 14—Jonn J, Kehoe, 15—Edward Brucks, 16—George Kelly. Dun- ist, 1—Thomas Foley. 2—Jeremiah Murphy. 8—Charies M, Clancy. 4—Jonn C. Keating. 6—Henry Wisser, 6—Michael Healey. 1 ephen N,Simonson i—Thomas L. Thornell, 18—Philip Cumisky. 8—Jonn The: 19—Henry A. Linaen, 9—George F.Codington. 20. ac Sommers. 1o—Joseph P, Strack. 21—Benjamin Beyea. 11—Wilham 8S. Kreps, All legislated out of office 1874, . Dononue, Clerk, from December 31, FINANCIAL DEPARTMENT, COMPTROLLER—Andrew H. Green; term expires November 12, 1876. ASSISTANT COMPTROLLER—Richard A. Storrs. CHAMBERLAIN—George W. Lane; term expires May 1, 1877. Depcty CHAMBERLAIN—Frederick W, Whitte- more. AUDITOR OF ACCOUNTS—A. L. Earle. COLLECTOR OF City REVENUE—Lhomas Dunlap. RECEIVER OF TAXES—Morton F. McMahon. CLERK OF ARREARS—A, S. Cady. SUPERINTENDENT OF MARKETS—Thomas F, Devoe. PUBLIC WORKS. COMMISSIONER—George M. Van Nort; pires December 29, 1875, Deputy CommisstoNER—Edward P. Barker. CaiEF CLERK—Robert H, Clifford. CHIBF ENGINEER OF Croton AQUEDUCT—Edward H. Tracy. REPAIRS AND SUPPLIES—A. J. Campbell. SUPERINTENDENT OF STREETS—Edward G, Gil- more. SUPERINTENDENT OF STREET IMPROVEMENTS— rd Gibbs. SUPERINTENDENT OF Lamps.—Andrew Kinness, WATER REGISTER—H. N. Snerwood. WATER PURVEYOR—W. H. Lockwood, m ENGINEBR IN CHARGE OF SkWERS—Stevenson ‘owle. Khe IN GuaRGE OF BOULEVARDS—M. A, ellogg. SUPERINTENDENT OF ENCUMBRANCES—E, H. Sha- fer. KEEPER OF Crry HaLi—Charles Sutton. DEPARTMENT OF DOCKS. ComMIsstonsas—Jacob A, Westervelt, President, term expires oy 1, 1879; William Gardiner, term expires May 1, 1877; William Budd, term expires term ex- present fire is undoubtedly incendiary. THE RUTLAND, VT., FIRE. RUTLAND, Dec, 31, 1873 The fire in the Bee Hive block was got under con- trol late last night, baving spread no further than tha’ block. The aggregate insurance, $18,000, will cover the losses. It is in several companies, in- cluding the Royal, of Liverpool; the Atlantic and Pacific, of Chicago; the Glens Falls and the Ver- mont Mutual. PIBE IN LOWELL Low8Lt, Dec. 31, 1873. A builaing on Middle street, occupied by,the Lowell Card Oompany, was partially burned this morning, causing damage to the card stock and Machinery, mostly by water, to the amount of $20,000; covered by insurance. HABDWARBE FAOTORY BURNED. Brrpagport, Conn., Dec. 81, 1873. The Hotchkiss Sons’ hardware factory, situated in the southern part of the city, was destroyed by fire this evening. The main building was upwards of 100 feet long and three stories high. It was re- cently completed and was to be set in operation on Monday next. The loss is heavy. Insurance 100,000, the amount being distributed between rtford, New York and English companies, MURDER OF A GERMAN BAKER, PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 81, 1873, Godfried Kungle, a German baker, On Frankford Toad, below Girard avenue, was murdered this Morning in his bakehouse by Fritz Yuung, a Ger- man apprentice in his employ. Kuhnie was killed with @ blow ofa shovel while engaged in legning into a barrel of flour, death being instantaneous, Fritz then went into Mrs. Kuhnle’s room and ai tempted to strangie her, but she waking up struggle ensued. le beat and bit her, and ove: owering her, pushed her under the bed, beiteving her to be unconscious, Me then robbed the bureau of $55—all the money jt contained, and changed his clothes in an upper room. Mrs. Kahnie reviv- ing, locked her door and alarmed the neighbors, but the murderer escaped (rom the house. le was captured in a neighboring lager beer saloon from the description given the officers, having lost the ttle finger of bis leit hand. He gave his name as Frederick Heiderblat and contessed his guilt. The money stolen was found on him. ‘GAS FOR THE OITY, Under a law passed by the last Legislature the Mayor, Comptroller and Commissioner of Public Works were appointed 8 commission with the power to advertise for proposals to supply the city with gas. This commission held a session yester- day, at which seven sealed proposals were re- CI The @ward will probably be made on Sat- urday, MONTHLY COAL SALES, Seventy Thousand Tons Disposed Of ata Decline in Prices. The regular monthly sale of Scranton coal took place yesterday at the salesrooms of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Company, at No. 26 Exchange place, There was a large attend- ance of buyers and spirited competition, The amount offered for sale was 70,000 tons, There was an average decline in the prices obtalaed on all the classes, particniarly on chestnut and stove, when contrasted with the prices obtained at the Sale of last month. The following ts a comparative table:— November. December. $485 a $490 $420 Rn — 4% a 500 4Wa 495 530'a — 530 BAe a 5 50 5 37% 4 Stiga 4 576 4305 MORTALITY IN BROOKLYN, There were 194 deaths in Brooklyn during the past week. Of the deceased 40 were men, 49 women, 55 boys and 60 girls; 135 were natives of the United States, 33 of Ireland, 14 of Germany, 7 of England and 2o0f Canada, Pueumonia carried off 2%; scariatina, 12; consumption, 41; bronchitis, 9, and croup, 15, SUICIDE OF A LUWATIO, Warden Burke, of the New York City Asylum for the Insane, Blackwell's Island, yesterday informed Coroner Keenan that Martin Sauer, a patient under his care in t inatitation had committed suicide by hanging himself in his room. ATTEMPTED SUIOIDE, Thomas Fletcher, aged 42, of No, 182 Madison street, attempted to take his life yesterday while intoxicated, by cutting his throat with He was sent to Bellevue by ti enth precinct: eo razor. the Sev- May 1, 1875. SECRETARY—Eugene T. Lynch. Cuigr ENGINEER—Charles K, Graham. DEPARTMENT OF POLICE. CommisstongRs—Henry Smith, President, term expires May 1, 1877; Oliver Charlick, term expires May 1, 1878; Hugh Gardner, term hoe ee May 1, 1876; Abram Duryee, term expires May 1, 1875; John K, Russel, term expires May 1, 1874. CutkF OLERK—Seth (, Hawley. SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE—Geor . Matsell. CarTaln OF DericTIVEs—James Irving, DEPARTMENT OF PARKS. CoMMISSIONERS—Salem H. Wales, President, term expires May 1, 1875; Philip Bissinger, term expires May 1, 1877; D. B. Willlamson, term expires May 1, 1876" Samuel Hall, term expires May 1, 1874. SECRETARY—William Irwin. DEPARTMENT OF LAW. CORPORATION COUNSEL—E, Delafield Smith. ASSISTANT CORPORATION COUNSEL—George P. An- drews. CORPORATION ATTORNEY—H. M. Ruggles. PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR—I°aac Dayton, TAXES AND ASSESSMENTS. CoMMISSIONERS—Jolin Wheeler, President, term expires May 1, 1879; George H. Andrews, term ex- pe May 1, 1817; 5. D.¥ Moulton, term expires 1, 1875. . . BOARD OF HEALTH. CommissionERS—Charles F, Chandler, President, term expires May 1, 1877; Stephen Smith, M. D., term expires May 1, '1875; Henry Smith, ez offcia, Xpires May 1, 1877. CLERK—Emmons Clark. CHARITIES AND CORRECTION. ComMIssioNeRS—William Laimbeer, President, term expires May 1, 1879; James Bowen, term ex- pires May 1, 1877; Meyer Stern, term expires May 1, 1875, ” Cuier CLerx—Joshua L. Phillips, SUPERINTENDENT OF OUTDOOR PooR—George Kel- lock, FIRE DEPARTMENT. CommisstonERS—Josepnh L. Perley, President, term expires May 1, 1879; R. D. Hatch, term ex- oe May 1, 1877; Cornelius Van Cott, term expires lay 1, 1875. SeEcRETARY—Willtam B. White. FinE MarsHal—Georgg Sheldon. DEPARTMENT OF BUILDINGS, Commrssioner—Walter W. Adams, pires May 1, 187% CITY RECORD. SupPervison—A. Desbecker. BOARD OF ASSESSORS, ‘Thomas B. Asten, Chairman; John McHarg, Mun- son H, Treadwell and Valentine S. Woodrui, a term ex- REGISTER, Franz Sigel, term expires December 31, 1874. Jadicial Department. JUSTICES SUPREME COURT. Exptres, John R. Brady.. Dec. 31, 1877 George C. Barrett . «Dec. 31, [885 Noah Davis, Chief Justice . + Dec. 81, 1886 Abraham R. Lawrence + Dec. 31, 1887 Charles Donohue.... + Dec. 31, 1887 JUSTICES SUPERIOR COURT. Jonn J. Freedman William E, Curtis Jonn Sedgwick. Hooper C. Van Vorst.. Ciadius L. Monell. Gilbert M. Speir CLERK—Thomas Bosea. JUDGES COMMON PLEAS. Charles P. Daly, Chtef Judge Frederick W. Loew. =Dec. 31, 1887 -Dec. 31, 1887 Dec. 81, 1886 Dec. 31, 1875 Charles H. Van Bru ec. 31, 1884 Joseph F. Dal; Dec. 31, 1834 Hamilton W, Dec. 31, 1884 Richard L. Larremore «Dec. 31, 1884 CLeRk—Nathaniel Jar JUSTICES—MARINE COURT. George Shea, Chief Justice, Deo, 31, 1877 Michael C. Gross..... -Dec, 31, 1875 Philip J. Joachimsen.. Dec. 31, 1875 Alexander Spaulding Dec. 31, 1877 David McAdam Alker .. wears» RkK—Alexander V. Davidson, SURROGATE. Robert C, Hutchings... GENERAL SESSIONS. John K. Hackett, Recorder... sosiah Sutherland, City Judge. SPECIAL SESSIONS. Held by Police Justices, Dec. 31, 1879 Dec. 31, 1879 He} OLE! +Dee, 81, 1875 Dec. 31, 1875 Dec, 31, 1378 CIVIL COURT JUDGES, Deo. 31, 1875 Dec. 31, 1874 10—Joha Flanagan POLICE JUSTICES. 1—B. F. oes Walter H. Bixby. 2—Thomas D, sherwood dames F, Kilbreth. 3—Charies A, Fiammer. Marcus Otterbourg 4—Henry Murray. «Dec. 31, 1880 B, 0. Wandell Dec, 1, 1882 6—F. 8. Smith «Dec, 31, 1881 George B. «Dee, 31, 1880 Dec. Bl. 1864 3 DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. Disrricr arrorNeY—B. K. Phelps; term expires December 31, 1875. ASSIsTaANTS—George W. Lyons, Horace Russell, Danie! G. Rollins. Derory Assistant—Henry C. Allen. CHIgF CLERK—Moses P. Clarke. OITY GOVERNMENT OP BROOKLYN, ‘The members elect of the city government of Brooklyn, who will take their seats to-day. are ag —John W. Hunter. » Reoisten--Whliam Barre. County CLeRe—George Herman. ComMMIssioNER OF CHARITIES—Bernard Midas, Jcsrick or Sess1ons—Stephen |. Voorhies. Surgeme Courr—Jasper W. Gilbert. ALDERMEN. The following 198 list Of the members of the Common Council for 18747— Ward, Ward, 1—Ripleytkopes, 18—Demas Strong. 2—William Dwyer, William A. Ray. 8—Joseph Platt, 14—Francis Nolan. 4—Altred Dorion. Thomas J. Keana 6—Joho M. Clancy. 15—Jonn T. Parker. Edward H. Gardner. donn H. Synder. 6—Thomas H. Rodman. 16—Henry Kieter. John Dobbin, Mathias J. Petry, —A. E, Rowley. 17—Jonn A. Connolly Edward Fry, 18—Henry Eckert. 8—Johu McIntyre. 19—Jonn H. Zindel 9—Daniel O'Connell, 20—Abijah Whitaey. 10—Chas. T. Trowbridge. Chas. H. K, Smith, 1D. 21—Georre Brown. u—Wm. 22—Wim. Richardson. James Howell, Jr. 23—F. B. Fisher. 12—Daniel O’Retily. 24—Wn. S. McKinny, James Donovan. 25—Robert Hill, CUBAN AFFAIRS IN THE CIty. The friends of Cuba sent yesterday a delegation, of their society to attend the funeral of a child of Commander Braine, of the United States steamer Juniata, This delicate compliment was intended asa mark of respect to this gallant officer, who was unremitting in his kindness ana atten« tions to the Virginius prisoners while they were under his care, The prisoners themselves went in @ body, out of sympathy for the bereaved father, to testify by their presence at tne last rites of burial their regret for the loss he has suffered, Private letters which were received by wel known members of the friends of Cuba irom Tues~ day’s steamer, the Morro Castle, state that Generay Manuel del Portillo, the ultra conservative com- mander of the Cinco Vilias district, had been superseded, and that trouble was expected with the volunteers in consequence. The death of the notorious Colonel of the Regtle ment of Naples. Don Demetrio Quiros, is announced in Santi Espiritu. The Spaniards aver that his decease resulted from natural causes, while the Cubans, writing te their iriends here, assert that Colonel Quiros died of wounds lately received tn the direction of the Trocha, between Santi Espiritu and Camaguay. This indicates an invasicn in for of the Cinco Villas district oy the patriots, and go to show the inefficiency of the celebrated Trocha as a@ line of defence to the Villas and the Western Department. Mr. Aldama states that the Virginius prisoners have been taken charge of by their respective friends, conveyed to their homes or placed im boarding houses. There is a number of the men who will go to Jamaica, some seven or eight of whom are English suojects. ‘The Cuban agent reiterated a former statement, to the effect of having received trom his govern~ ment instructions to send out no more arms, bute ammunition only. The forces In the field are already weil armed, and all required now is w plentiful supply of ammunition, together with some artillery, in order to enat.e the patriots to assume @ vigorous offensive attitude. THE HAVANA PRESS. ‘What the “Diario” Thinks About the Retirement of President Cespedes—The United States Government in a Fix. Under the title of “A New Phase” the Diario of December 25 8a, We do not wish to deny that we find ourselves financially in a very lamentable situation, and that we must send more soldiers to the columna of operation to puta speedy end tothe struggle that tortures us, If we concealed this we would indirectly tr reas the truth, and we have re- peated that the country should know the ills by which {tis surrounded. Among so many adverse circumstances we have; two in our favor. These are the impeachment of varlos Manuel de Cespedes and the situation cre- ated abroad by the capture and delivery to the United States of the Virginius. We are iar from conceding to Carlos Manuel de Cespedes great at- tainments as a revolutionist or a warrior, but for five years he has carried the banner of the revolu- tion, and the partial eulogies of his friends have imparted @ certain celebrity to him in this province and outside of it. He who gave him the least credit conceded his qualities as a man of sine oe tenacity ; and there are those who represent 1m a8 being, in the Cuban revolution, like a second’ Washington. According to news In our possession the retire- ment of Cespedes has been eitected without a collision; but at the same time we are assured that it is the work of the New York laborers, of the members of the dissolved junta in that city, of an- tagonisms among the patriots; of the enemies of Manuel Quesada, Aidama, Mestre and Echevarrt: who did nos like the President since he depose them from the geueral agency and the diplomatic commission to place them in the hands of his enemies, If this ts 60, and there can be no motive to doubt It, we may be essured that the patriots Will disapprove of the impeachment and work against President Aguilera. it we confine ourselves to the mere change of persons there can be no doubt that Cespedes is of More importance than his designated successor, and also that he is outside of the island must be taken into account, and to ggt there he may have to encounter very grave difficulties—as grave as those encountered by the expeditionists of the Virginius—if he should attempt it, which appears to us very doubtiul. It therefore follows that the impeachment must weaken the rebellion at home and abroad, exasperating dislikes which existed of old among the faborantes and patriots, and that. the elevation of Aguilera cannot tn any case give ft strength, if it is not limited to an election void) result. Having satisfied their Mottin the government of Washington have comprehended—perhaps because proois to that effect had been presented—that re- claiming the pirate steamer Virginius they have placed themsetves in a highly compromised situa- lon, exposed to more disagreeavie aud onerous circumstances than those of England when some ships which were converted into Confederate priv- ateers left her ports, The retirement of Cespedes and the false post- tion which the government of the United Stat have created by their tempestuous reclamations in reference to the steamer Virginius are two favorable circumstances, of which we ought to prof, tn favor of Spain, in favor of Cuba, and even in favor of our own particular interests. We need men and gold. Men and gold we shalihave. Every vacillation 1s @fault. Hurrah, Spantards! To the sacrifice or the combat! Now or never! POLICE MATTERS. Ata meeting of the Board of Police held yester- day the territory lately annexed to New York was laid out in police districts. These will be known as the Thirty-third aod Thirty-fourth precincts and Thirty-fourth sub-precinct. The Thirty-third takes in the lower corner of West Farms and Morrisania, and the station house will be situated at the Uourt House in Melrose. All the upper portion of New York Island to the valley of Tubbyhook will com- rise the Thirty-fourth precinot, of which he station house will be at Tremont. The Twenty-fourth sub-precinct will in- clude the remainder of the territory, with the station house at Kingsbridge. A resolution waa passed directing the Superintendent to issue a general order instructing the force that the police authority will extend over these districts on and alter the 1st of January, 1874. The charge against Captain McElwain, of the Twentieth precinct, was considered of too trifling. nature for the considera- tion of the Board and was accordingly dismissed by Commissioner Gardner at the trials. a hearin the cage of the Captain of the police boat will be held on Friday next. The charges are grave and it ts understood the Captain stands in danger of losing his shield. FATAL RESULT OF A CHRISTMAS CAROUSAL At a place called Junction, in Hunterdon county, N. J., 0m Christmas night, a dancing party held forth at the house of s Mr. Landenburger. A quarrel took place between the doorkeeper, a named Jones, and one Robert Burr ou) about, Bi very trivial matter—the kicking of & Nat (Burr's hat) by Jones 18 en Md the for= mer. He sprung after Jones, threw him to the 4 on him until the prostrate maa He died a few mornings since. junter- floor san Cie was near feless. Burr was krrested, and is confined in the don jail. VETERANS OF THE MEXICAN WAR, Ata regular meeting of the New York Associa. tion of Veterans of the Mexican War, held at Knickerbocker Cottage, Sixth avenue, on Tuesday evening, the following genuemen were appointed delegates to the Convention of Veterans to be held in Washington, D.C., on the 16th inst. :—Colonel William Linn Tidbail, Vice Admiral Stephen 0, Rewan, United States Navy; General Gates Gibson, United States Army ; Captain James U. Mar- riott, Generai J, H. Hobart Ward, General Francis E. Pinto, Major William Garey aad Francis D, Clark. Any other members of the assoctation tno to be added to this delegation were requ to send their pames to Major General Hooker, President of the Associauon, in time to receive proper credentiais of appoiutment,