The New York Herald Newspaper, May 17, 1874, Page 6

6 “HETROPOLITAN CHURCH MUSIC, \A Review of the Present Status and Personnel. The Protestant, Cathotie and Jewish Churches Musically Considereds PAY OF CHOIRS. Who the Musicians Are, Their Salaries, | &o,—Cariosities of Metropoli- tan Choire Whatever may be the theories held concerning Church musfe (and these theories are numerous and conficting) the fact’ are that im the city of New York the tendency boas of late years been towards the introduction into our churches of more ¢laborate and florid music than was favored in the earlier and more Puritanical portions of our history. This tendeucy has been more especially marked in the Protestant Episcopal churches of vhe metropolis, which are gradually rivailing in their musical attractions the ritual of the Roman Catholic Church, in which the music has ever been &@ distinctively prominent clement. The revival of church muste ag a distinct feature in the Episcopal | Church in the city of New York should be, toa large degree, credited, 30 to speak, to the account of Edward fodges, musical doctor, of Cam- bridge, England, who was the organist of “Wid Trmity” from the year 1838 to 1858, This § gentleman was thoroughly versed | tm church music in all its branches, and did more, perhaps, t8an any one man of his time to advance the cause of sacred music in the metropolis, In- direct influence of an important character has also been exerted in this connection by the ex- ampie and efforts of the Rev. J. I, Tucker, D. v., reoter of the Cnurch of the Holy Cross, in Troy, N. Y. Tats gentieman, himself a thorough musician a3 Well as an accomplished divine, introduced the choral service mto his chureh about thirty years ago, and for hearly @ geveration sung the bass Dimself. He was the compiler of the “Hymnai’’ of the fHpiscopal Chureh, and has ever been deeply interested in the church music of the metropoils. The Rey. Dr. Muhlenberg, author of the hymn, “I Would Not Live Alway,” has also associated his name with the early history of church music in this country, and has become, in a measure, identified with its improvement, Within the lagt cen years the advancement of church music towards a high standard of elabora- tion has been More marked than at any previous period, and the last four years have witnessed xapid strides in that direction, FACTS AND PIGURES ABOUT CHURCH CnorRs. Az a class of men and women, church singers and musicians in New York are fairly paid. Some claim even that they are paid too highly, and that too much attention is devoted by some to the mere money they receive, and that vo acertain ex- tent the religious eharacter of their services is entirely iguored. @ representative of the HERALD by a prominent Tousician, himself a church organist and musical director. Ou the other side, a gentieman equaliy Prominent in church music expressed the opinioa that church music was in a lower status than it should be, simpiy because the — salaries paid were too small to command the best talent. The figures are these :—Onurch organists receive salaries from $1,000 upwards, one organist Teceiving as bigh as $2,600, Soprani receive from $300 to $1,500 per annum—cases have been known in which they have been paid asd high as | $2,000. Tenors receive about $1,000 per anmum; contralti from $700 a year Upwards. A bass voice 1s well paid, some cases receiving as bigh as $1,200 to $1,500 per annum. These figures seem ‘Jail’ when it 13 considered, on the one hand, that a high | 1, order of musical ability aud cult is requir and, on the other hand, that the positions require but one day’s service during the week and not more than one night's average reiuearsal. Sometimes the ergauist is intrusted with the entire “appropriation” jor the music of the charch and makes ali engagements and pays salaries, Sometimes the matter is in the Lands of &@ committee, and the organist himsell ranks merely as one of the musicians. In one case in this city an organist has undertaken to “job ous’ the music of several churches, taking the ‘‘appro- priations” of them all, and outof it securing ma- ns by the wholesale. To this course the mu- S generally object. The atti ergymen towar aurch music 1s not yet altogettier satisiactorily setuied. some divines regard music 48 @ great auxiliary to devo- tion; others regard it rather as a frivolity, not to Say a enare and a delusion, while a third class of ministers absolutely seem to regard their musi- cians as tier rivals, and to cherish no very Kindly feelings toward them im conseqaence. Then, again, some clergymen are themselves accom- plished musicians. Others, again, know litte of music and care less. Some ciergymen adhere to the English cathedral sysiem, and all their service ia sung Or chanted by mate voices. Others beheve iu “mixed voices,” in the combination of the sexes and in soloist, while a third class of divines have ® controlling preference for “comgregationai’ singing. Consequently, where so much diversity of opinion prevals, there ia found aa eqvai diver- | Bity of practice. Prominent among the Episcopal churches in the peculiar character of its music i the Church of St. Thomas, at the junction of Flity- Uurd street and Filta avenue, under the pastoral care of -Rey. Dr. Morgan, This is one of the very largest and finest church ediiees in the country, and the service here is very imposing. Perhaps more time and trouble is devoted in this church to church music than in any other Episcopal parish in this city, and it May, therefore, be taxen as affording a fair sample of what is being done among us in the metropolis in the line o/ sacred music. The organ of this church is a remarkably fine and large one, and is Of peculiar construction, being a doubie organ, divided into two parts, one side being placed at each side of the chancel, the part removed from the organist being play underground communication also exists between the two portions of the organ. Tne choir is, like the organ, arranged in two divisions, one on each side of the chancel. The orgauist of the church, Mr. George W. Warren, is an American and a New Yorker, and though a young man still, has been an organist Jor twenty-eight years; he is also a pianiat and @composer, He 18 an enthusiast tn church inusie, and ander his direction the music of St ‘Thomas’ is avtracting deserved atteution, CAL INNOVATION. A The choir of the ch urch Consista of a quartet and & chorus, with organ and harp accompaniment, The introduction of thé harp into the rewuiar Church service has been regarded with diatavor by foie 48 4D Innovation, but its advocates contenu t as David, the great paalmist, was a great gg the harp i much older than the e innovation is periectly justified, theo- rotically ; wiulo, as a matter of ipct, tere’ ince doubt that the introduction of the parp tar an improvement to the music, as it blends sweetly alike with the peal of the organ and the voices of the choir. The quartet at this church is one of tae finest and best trained in tue city. it consists of ‘irs, P, D. Gulager, soprano, a vocaltst of practised experience; Miss Louise Finch, contralto, both American ladies; wile the tenor is Mr. Nilsen, Norwegiar. and the basso is M. Morawskt, a Pole, The haryiés ts M. Friedman, au artist. Tae soprano receives & salary of $1,000 per an. nom, the tenor @ similar compensation, the contrallo receives and the basso a& like amount, Im addition to the quartet of skilea salaried singers St. Thomas’ church rejoices in the possession Of & special musical (eature, a volunteer chorus of mixed voices, generally numberiug about forty, Whe take part tn the regular services every Sunday as well as on (he hi leasts of the church. ‘this chorua Gompriaés twenty sopran), six contraltl, six tenors and bass #ingers, and is vhorougiuy drilled. In counection with this cho- rus there Is established under tue auspices of St. Thomas’ charch “A TRAINING SCHOOL #08 CBRUROH MUSIC," aN excellent institution, ome contatming the germ of an idea which is capable of extensive elabora- | tion and aniversal introdaction. The school meets every Tuesday evening (rom the 1st of October to fhe Ist of June, at eigut o’ciock, in the music root in the rear and npper portion of the churem Th Toom is of fatr size is eleguntly-farnisued, ane here the Weekly rebearsals are held, Witi the piano These views were expressed to | 1 by electric wires; an | NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, MAY 17, 1874.-QUINTUPLE SHEET. der the Mrection of the organist vhis school the members of the voluuteer Cc e honorary pupils, who thus receive every Tues- | day in gratuitous instruction the full equivalent of | their gratuitous servicea on Sunday. | Applicants enter tue choir through this school | and nyust possess good and powerful voices and be able to read plain music jatrly, This train- ing school for church music is in full tide of | operation, has been @ success from the start and | contains the nucieus of an edueationai school | Which may yet accomplish great results for the cause of church music, Ovnnected with this sehool is @ large wad Well selected library of church mu- gic, one Of the finest m the city and valued at | $4,000. It embraces the collections of twenty years | and comprises @ large and choice assoriment of oratorio’, masses and anthems, English and Awerican, In addition te Rumerous manuscript | compositions, The pecullar characteristic of the | music st St, Thomas? is the attention to the | old English masters of the art of melody—to the | old Enghsh church music of cathedral days. | Clarke’s compositions are held in high favor, and many of the compositions familiar to the years unmediately succeeding the Keformation im Eng- jand have been revived in this church, At the sume time considerable scope is given to congre- ational singing 5 while com; uons like Gounod’ First Te Deam’* and the ‘Hallelujah Chorus” have | been finely rendered on occasions. 4 GENERAL MUSICAL SURVEY O¥ THE EPISCOPAL | CHURCHES, Another Episcopal charch in which the music forms a prominent feature is the Church of St. artholomew, This parish possesses a fashionable | aud wealthy congregation, and no expeuse cr | trouble is spared to make the music spectally at- | tractive, Mrs. Brown, now in Europe, the former soprano of this chureh, recetved at one time | the highest regular aw salary paid | | any one church singer—$1, per annum. | | Formerly the choir of this church comprised a | | doubie quartet of soloists and a chorus. The pres- | ent soprano is Miss Kosa MeGeacny, a Vocalist of ower, though of uo extensive practice; Miss Anna | | Buckley, contralto; Mr. Eugene Clarke, tenor, and | Mr. Keimmertz, basso, General Dodge, an am teur mnsician oO! great ability, 18 the director, aud | devotes a targe portion of his time to the duties Of his geli-imposed task. | Grace church was formerly under the mastcal | Girection of Mr. Warren and of Mr, Morgan, one of the most uoticeavle New York churches, in a musi- | | cal pomtot view; but of late its music has at- | tracted leas attention than that of some of the Younger charches. Still, its quartet of singers is | | Well selected, Mrs, Oliver being soprano, Miss Drasdiii contralto, J. S. Clarke basso and Mr, | | George Slupson, one of our flnest musical artists, | | beinw the tenor. Tae organist is a comparatively, young nian, named Gilvert. This is one of the choirs ‘farmed out’ to Mr, Fischer, in conjunction with the choirs of two other Episcopal churches, “Old Trinity” bas long been notable for its | cathedral style of music. The choir here consists | of men ane boys (aiter the Engtish fasion), who | are trained tor the porpose, Mr. Horsely presides, musicaily, over St, Johu’s chapel; Mr. Gdbert rules at (rimity chapel, and Mr. Monier is the organist and masicat director of Trinity church, | . the Chureh of the Holy Saviogris noted for its | floridly elaborate style of music. Miss Lehman is | | the organtst, Miss Louisa Thompson soprano, Mr. | Maas tenor and Mr. Glipert basso, ‘The Church of the Ascension Las a fine quartet | under the direction of Mr. Muller, the organist. | Like most of the ‘low’ charches the mustc here is light and elaborate, Somewhat strange to say, the very “high’? po clurches pay more at- tention to the chancel than to the choir, to the | | services than to the singing, and consequeatiy in | the “high’’ or ritualist urcues the music is less | Claborate than in the “iow” churches, The music, | tor instance, at St. Albans’, St. Ignatias’ and St. Mary the Virgin’s, though creditable, does not call for Speciai comment, The Chureh of the Holy Trinity, under the mu- sical directorship of Mr. 8. P. Warren, the organ- | ist, bas assumed @ position in the van of | musical advancement, Mine. Salvotti is the so- | prano, Miss Dayidsou eontrato and Mr. soust passo, The tenor has been lately changed. The | congregation ip old times was content with a pre- centor, but i now velongs to the juost advanced | school oi church music. | At Calvary church Mr, Mosenthal is the organist, Mrs. Thatcher is the soprano, Mrs. Payne tue cop- tralto, Mr, Thatcher the tenor and Mr. George Bostwick the barytone. The music of this church is fneiy rendered, At the Church of the Incarnation church music nas progressed of late. Mrs. Borie, tue soprano; Miss Kyan, the contralto, and Mr. Nortoa, the tenor, huve sunz in te choir of this church, of which J, i. Wardweil was the director for several years. Some time stnee the masic at Christ church was the most elaborate and certainly the most ex- pensive in the city of New York, Mr. Haten, the | banker, had the contro! of the choir, and engaged the services oi Mrs. H. M. Smith, Of Boston, as hia leading attraction, at $ per annum, while Messrs, Whitney and Variey were likewise en- gaged. But Mr. Hatch ileally relinquished his superintendence Of the music and the singing birds departed. Miss Florence Rice (Mts, Kuox) was formerly tue contraite o1 this church, THE OPBER PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS, The otuer Protestant denomimations, as disth from the Bpiscopal churehes On the. one kaw ge | the Catholic charehes on the other, have caught the contagion of the tims in music, though to a | » less deere 623i Lhe Catnoies or Dpiscopaians, Lhe Briex church, late Rev. Dr. z's, corner oi Thirry-seventh street and Fifth avenue, has a fine quartet, embruciag Signor Cari Florio, or- | ganist; Miss. famblin, soprano; Miss Jewett, con- tralto, and Mr. Daniorth, basso, Rey, Dr. Robin- ‘s Memorial Presvyterian church has a well ned amateur choir. Vv. Ur. hogers’ church, Twenty-iirst street ana Viitn avenue (Dutch Reformed), was r reaily a represeniative church in music. lta quartet embraced Miss Beebe, soprano. Mrs, Leon, née Bull, contralto; Mr. W. T. Hill, tenor, and Mr. W. H. Beckett, basso. Of late some of the congregation have protested against “the musical innovations,” aud some coniusion has thereabout arisen. Sue Dutch Reformed Collegiate chureh, Twenty- ninth street and Filth avenue, possesses @ ine quartet, thovugi comparatively little iatitude or opportuanty is allowea them for display. At the Methodist church, Twenty-second street | and Fourth avenue, Mr. Walter Johnson is organ- ist. There is a fine quartet of soloists, and quite a musical display is permitted. ‘The fabernacie, Sixth avenue and Thirty-fourth street, possesses a very fine choir, comprising Jules Lombard, as basso; Miss Toedt, the Viviin- ist, a3 contralto; Miss Stark being the soprano a Mr. Rockwood the musical directos., Mrs. Curistopher is the organist, m Rev. brs Adams’ Presbyterian church, Madison avenue and Twenty-fourth street, has a quartet choir, Comprising Miss Simon, soprauo; Miss Henue, contralto, the tenor being Mr. Chanes Fritseh aud Mr. Herman Trost the basso. “ou cuureh, under the direction of Mr. George Bristow, the first musician im America, pos- #esses @ Superb cuOir, embracing Mis3 Roseberg, soprano; Misé Barou, coutralto; and Mr. Borrows, tenor. . Aiken, basso, } 4 always been mu- y ble. Miss. Abbott, now abroad, was jor- | erly the leading singer of the choir, which now emoraces Miss Tinrsby, soprano; Mine. Frida de Gebele, coutraito; Mr. Deyo, basso, and Mr. Tobias, venor, | Rev. Dr. Bellows’ church choir 1s also notable. | Mr, Danielis is the organist aud Miss Hewlitt the soprano, Mr. Munro the tenor and Mr, Grier the basso. Rev. Dr, Vincont’s Presbyterian church is in- debted for its fine music to the Rey. Doctor bim- 821i, Who Is an accomplished musician and one of the vest flute players in tie country. The Unitarian Coureh of the Messiah, under the | direction of Mr. Howe, the organist, has a fine peo are embracing Miss Wells, soprano; Miss ‘Treadway, contralto; Mr. Duelmere, tenor, aud Mr. Henry Meigs, basso. | Several of our prominent chnrenes, however, such as Rey. Dr. Howard Crosby's Pre sbyterian, Rev. Dr. Paxton’s Vresbylerian, and the kev. Dr. Hepwortn’s, have paid Mitle attention to music, Dr. Paxton’s church las not even an organ, but still retains the pitch pipe and precentor “of the olden time.” THE MUSIC OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES. The ritual of the Roman Catholic Church is coniessedly more emotional, mure dramatic and therelore More adapied for musical effects than | that ot any other church; consequentiy the musio | given in the Catkolic churches is generally of a | Inore elaborate character vhan any given else- | waere. For many yeara no attempt was even | made by any of the other churches to rival | these musical attractions; but of iate years the Protestant Episcopal Church, aud, in a minor degree, some churches among the other uenomina- tions of Christians, have diminished their musical inferiority tn this respect, and are approximating equality in their instrumental and vocal attrac- | tons with the Roman Chureh services, Still, | in elaborate, florid, ornate, dramatic music, the Cathole Churen in this city is yet supreme, For a Joug period it was held by counowseurs that St. Stephens’ caureh, in Kast Twenty-eighth street, conld boast of the most elaborately artistic music in toe cily. Father Cummings, the former pastor, paid special attention to the musical aepartment of his churen services, and on the great teasta of the Church crowds were wont to gather irom ail parts of the city and from all denominations of Christians, 0 hear the grana ritual roly rey. dered by tie most distinguished musiciana, Vocal | and insirumental, in the country, But since the death of that iamented pastor the music in that church has sadly degenerated. The organist Is Mr. Daniorth. ‘The quartet consists of Mile. Bredelli, soprano; Mile, Munier, contraito; Signor Collett, the basso, and M. Bernard, the tenor. The tenor at this church ia changed frequently. } There have aiso been several changes among the | organists. ieller, the prestidigateur, was formewy | the organist of this church, and was remarkabl for the briliiancy of his st e. Ann’s cuureh, in hast Twelfth street, occupies the most prominent musical position. [te solo Singers are wocauly fine, while ite selections of music are in advanced taste, Mile. Corradi, the soprano of the choir, has suug in our Puiltarmonio concerts, She has been a popular operatic artiste Jo Lisbon, Milan and other Continental cities; Miss Gomien, the contraito, haa been a favorite concert singer: M. Poeuger, the tenor, has supported Mme, Lucea in opera; whitie the basso, M. Blum, is well | Known to New Yorkers, For the great holidays of | the Church a choras of forty eight iemale voices nas been organized, and tietr masical drill has | been pronou 1 by competent jadges perfect. | During Leat the music of the Koman Oath glic churches. is severely solemn aud classical, | The works of Beethoven, Mozart, Hadyn and | | sometimes Schabert are drawn upon lar y at this solemn season, and ‘Btabat Mat ru is given with great effect. During the Raster gnd | | their synagogues, set, o1 oe te | ec and is making creditab.e attempts tn that dic | to-day. | hours he died in terrible convuisions, foaming at | pled regularly with | fearfully melancholy death of Ada Ciare from the | fresh in the minds of our readers, of the church, | the Christmas season the music is simple, leas severe, classical, re ornate, dramatic and sparking, women gua Gounod’s . 5 Grapdvai's “Stabat Mater,” &¢., have nec ancy renter ab St. Ann’s charch, under the direction of Mons. Louis Dachauer, the who has himeeif | Composed several fine masses, though he bas been Ooliged to go to Europe to get them published. The organ at's. Ann’s is valued. @t $15,000, and is one of the finest in the le A third Catholic church which is justiy held prominent in a musical point of view is the church of che Jesuits, St. Francis de Xavier's, in West teenth street. The mustoal director and orgamst here 1s William Berge, former head of the now | defunct Meudeissobn Union—an inséitution which | deserved a longer life than was destined to It. | ‘The soprano and contralto of this church wre te | Misses Wernecke, sisters-in-law of the organist. The tenor is the favorably known Signor /amaro and the oasso ig Signor Bacelli, One churacter- | istic of the niuste at St, Francis de Xavier's is cat | it relies chiefly upon the masses of the Italian Composers in preference to those of the moderu French schooi, whieh are generaliy given at St. and other Catholic ehurches. “Lambiliote, the Jesuit composer, 18 trequently given at this church, ja bis various masses, 4c. Very dine music is also given by tl tached to St, Peter’ church, in bare ay s\vect. Here no particular style or school is a nered to, but a choice miscellaneous selection of music Is afforded. Mr. Pecher Is the organist, Mrs. Lastou ig the soprano and M, Staud fs tne basso. At St. Patrick’s Cathedral the music is of a fair order, though nO special pretentions are made in this department, There is a quartet, witli | Urchs as basso, under the direction of the cele brated organist, Gustave Schmitz, assisted by a Volunteer choir and chorus on great occasions. HESREW CHURCH MUSIC. It may here be remarked a8 @ sign of the times that the liberal, re'ormed, or progressive Li Ol the Metropolis are adopung the e.abor: of cburch music; and have of late introduced Mozart's masses and similar compositions ito febrew words. Al the new Jewish Tempie, on xingion avenue, the music is very elaborate; also at the temple ou Forty-second sireet, and the tempie, corner of Fith avenue and Forty-third street, {¢ strould also be mentioned that several of the singers en- gaged at the Hebrew places of worship sing in rotestant or Catholic Churches, One singel sinss in all three—singing on Saturday at synagogue, on Sunday at a Catholic church and on Sunday evel | ing at a Protestant place of worshtp, | CHURCH MUSIC IN BROOKLYN, Though not as progressive in musicai matters as the metropolis, Tae City of Churches” has become impressed with the importance of good eo urch mu- tion. The Church of the Holy Trinity has a choir of a quartette and twenty-fve voices, and its vile! musical attraction is the singing of Mrs. Stetsun, & super contralto, S. B, Whiteley, an Hnyiish | aruste, is the orgamst. St. James’ Episcopal church Basa quartette of soloists and a chorus. Mr. Fitzhoghis the organist and Mrs, Comstock the soprano, Henry Ward beecher’s church possesses a fine soprano, Miss Clementine Lasar; a fine contralto, Miss Dunphy, recently from Cincmnati ; Mr. J. W. 1111 being the tenor, and Mr. Henry Camp, a geutieman of large experience, basso and leader oi the choir o/ fiity male and Jemale voices; the organist being John Zundel, In this church the congregation jo in singing the hymns, the muate being printed on the same page ih the books with them. Rey, Dr. Storrs’ church has also @ choice soprano in Mrs. Butman and is characterized by pleasing music, whie the Brooklyn Taberaacle can boast ofthe services of the renowned organist, G. W. Morgan, the singing being congregational, under the Jead of a precentor. | CA\S AND DoGs, Dangerous Pets—Shall We Be Protected Against the Propagators of Hydro- phobia !—Recent Fatal Cases. This is not by any means an attractive heading for a city article in the HERALD, the phrase ‘‘cats and dogs” having come to denote, by common ac- ceptation and vuigar interpretation, the existence of a condition of affairs which is destructive of do- mestic comfort and completely opposed to tho en- joyment of pleasures by exercise out of doors, “I am sure we have lived a cat-and-aog life of it,” wrote Coleridge. “They fight like cats and dogs” is frequently said by uncharitable persons of uear man and wife who are coupled together in what + appears to some of their neighbors to be an ex- cellently well regulated household, “It rains, or did rain, cats aad dogs," are words wiich are very frequently heard from the lips of ladies, gentiemen and loaiers; of ladies and gentlemen, who | go out to theatres and picnics and have to return | therefrom im a drenching rain storm, just because thay they went withont consulting the proguostications | of “Old Probabilities, and of loafers Widare ever | opposed to a healih-giving eptink whether the moisture comes naturaily from the clouds or | involuntarily by the bands of the Warden’s assist- ants on Blackwell's Isiand, “Let dogs delight to bark and fight,” said the venerable Dr, Watts, a poetic renderiag which, with its sequel from the kame pen, goes far to prove that tie reverend plilanturopist did not entertain the same exalted notion of the pactfle disposition of the canine | species generaily as does the kindhearted Mr, Bergh Dy. \Watis being of a poetic ‘urn of mina enjoyed, 1t may be, an anticipating inspiration of tue leeling which moved Qliver Goldsmith tm alter | years to caution his readers agaist occa~tonal acis of treachery on the park oi the dog in the words— This doy and man at first were friends; Bui, so the story ran, the dog To gain some private ends Went mad and bit the man. Sir Walter Scott, in tis portrait of the consnm- mate vilaim—wi m he presents in his tovei of “Kenilworth Castle’—who betrayed poor Any Ropsart to her aeatn, sa “He has the stealtay pace of the cat, the Jerocity of the tiger aud the lawning duplicity of tie spaniv! dog.” Lord Byron asserted that the dog is “denied in heaven the soul he held on earth; a terrible idea for the dog, more particularly ii the cu/se bas been broughs abous py the commission Oj acts oj tuiideiity or treachery on the part of the deiuuct dumo guardian. Hi From all this it will be seen that cats and dogs | constitute an important feature in the animal cre- ation, and also that that they may very irequently become diseased and “ugty,” and require to be closely Watched. Let us just reflect tor a moment, Last New Year's morning an estimable man, & citizen of Brooklyn, was bitten sigitly on the fore finger of bis right band by a cat, Tne cat had been confined accidentally in a wardrobe over night, When the man stretchod ont his hand to unhook his coat in order to dress ‘or church, the angry feune nipped him aay on the finger. ife paid no attention to it. thin forty-eight the mouth and imitating the purr of an angry cat. Medical skill did not avail him in the slightest de- ree, On the same New Year's morping, in New fork, a pet cat which had been foudied to the very utmost and careruily tended and su; food and drink, Decame suddenly farious. It attacked the members of the family. It lacerated the hand of one lady with its teeth; tore severe marks on we leg of @ gentleman, wno started from bed on hear- ing the alarm, with its claws; knocked down @ entia and tore the flesh of its leg deeply with ite claws, and was finally, and with difficuity, kuled when making an attempt to bite a second adult lady, ‘The Wounds were cauterized imstantiy, deeply and at all points, Poultices were applied and suppuration induced. No serious results have foliowed, but the injured persons each and ail bear the marks of the cCat’s ciaws to-day. The dreadful results of the bite of pet dog are and do hot require recapitulation, Two members of a& uptown family have just been atiacked by @ Strange cat woich they found crawling near the Biairs of tueir dwelling and attempted to eject, aud there is itttle doubt but that injuries from the bites of dogs and the claws of cats are becoming of Irequent occurrence. THE QUESTION of “cats and dogs” thus becomes of vast interest to society. It is one well wortiy the attention of the municipal aad police authorities, Ine warm weather wiilgoon be upon us, Prevention Is bet- ter than cure. Should cata or dogs ve kept it tenement houses? Should these animals be per- mitted to rogim in halls and on stairways in every | possible state of temper ahd mood, subject to | sudden irritation by the entrance and passage of strangers, and apt to resent injuries, amoten- ional perhaps, which they may receive at the hands or feet of the passers? Peopie must look out for the summer, and im this matter particu- larly it may be alleged that a ‘stitch in time’? will “save bine” at the hands of the surgeons, [tis to be hoped that Mr. Bergu will hunt upa list of the cases In Which human beings have been attacked, od recently, by cats and doys, and that | Will pot continae to ‘hrow all the | gieam of his beneficent countenance on the side of the brute creation. Seriousiy, we would say that the important feature of our daily do- meatic economy, the keeping o! cats and dogs Im tenement houses, is well worthy of tne attention of the Mayor and Chief of Police. ‘There are tene- ment houses in New York—one in the Nineteenth | ward—where cats aro ashe chained in rooms, and put out, im chains, tor airing on the stairway and Yn the yard daily. Suppose the feline shouid break offin anger and bite and claw a Jeilow tenant! Who would be liable for damages? Where would ‘te felony-lie? LIGHE WANTED, No, 12 Torro Stree, April 96, (874. To Tne EpiTor oF THE HERALD :— J went this Morning to the Manhattan Gas Light | Company to have the gas meter of the house No. 12 Third street transferred tomy name, ‘ihe de | osit On that meter by the former party was $10; Bae the Vice President required irom we a vepostt of $20. 1 you by What jaw this corporation 1s empowered to double the amount ol deposit ow meter where ia mo Change whatever except inat the party occupying the guine dweiling. Ke- BDECLULY YOUR, A. HALL. | them in inventions, but equal them in flowers. | In this greevhouse or series of | over $12 | mostl FLOWERS, New York from a “Flowery” Point of View. Greenhouses, Conservatories, Florists and Flower Girls, THE TRADE IN FLOWERS. The poet iaureate assures us that “in spring a young man’s fancies lightly turn to thoughts of jove,” and he might bave added ‘“flowers;” for althoaga there are no more flowers in New York city during the spring than there are in the fail, or in the winter for that matter, yet certainly the thoughts of the average New Yorker turn to flowers more persistently and more pleasantly now than at any other season of the “varying year.” A PLOWERY DEFICIENCY. We are far, very far behind our English cousins and our transatlantic rivals in the cultivation of tinguished people, especially to operatic ana tne- atrical favorites. Sometiues these floral presenta. tons are made to the “distinguished” actress by her (riends—are Oona side presentationa, some- times even genuine surprises; but occasionally they are rank humbugs, and are “presected’”’ to the distinguished acireas by herself, being paid outof her own pocket, Sometimes tney are paid for by the manager and the “star” “jointly ;" and, alas! there Lave been cases In which they have not been paid for at al. Perhaps the most expensive floral present ever Made in this city was a huge basket of flowers, Standing Over six fe@t in height, vresented to Miss Pauline Markham by two of her fashionable a mirers during the early days of wer success in New | York. This “tmbute” cost the donors about $500 and rematned in bloomabout a week, | Im more recent times Christine Nillgon and Miss | Neilson have been javored recipients of floral tributes, The former lady has received, it is cal- culated, over $2,0u0 in flowers from her admirers, male and female, while the latter lady has been honored with Cay ae floral testimonials, Costing each over $10 In one theatrical contract, signed and sealed not long ago, it was distinctly stipulated that the mana- dd ‘Was to see that a certain specided number of ouquets, baskets, &c., were “presented” to the “star” during her engagement, and a ‘‘row trans. pired behind the scenes” one night because the Ihanager had not complied with this engagement. In another instance in which che “star” had Made arrangements for her own “floral testimo- nials,” &c., the “star? decamped without paying her bill, leaving her poor florist tn tue lurch, Fashionable parties are all in a florist’s way, and | vited guests, independent of the floral adornments flowers, We Americans are stilt @ young, @ very | young people, and are so busy with material things and money-getting that we have not yet had time fully to develop that loye of the beauti- ful whteh pre-eminently mantiests itself ia Qowers,” More attention is given to flower cuiture in Eng- land tuan in the United States, The wealthy classes abroad devota more ttme and expend more of their means upon their conservatories, hot- houses, &c.; the cultivation of plants is made more of a specialty, and the horticultural fairs of England are superior to anything of the kind given in this country. In France and Germany also, and espectally in Holland, more attention is paid to fowers than in the United States, “thirty acres of roses’? being a sight not absolutely uncommon abroad; whereas in this country it is @ rare spectacle to behold four or tive acres of Nowers, Our wealtny citizens, too, though they have a penchant for the fine arts, do not seem to possess an equal taste for flowers. Cur private conserva- tories are not equal to our private hbraries nor to our picture galleries. Still, along the Hudson, attached to the summer residences of several Of our merchant princes, there ave to be found some quite creditavle hot- houses and dower gardens, ‘his is especially the case in the vieinity of Tarrytown, Sing sing, Yonkers and Garrisou’s. One of these collections of flowers is estimated at over $50,000, and there can be no reasonable doubt that in the course of time we stall equat the older countries not only in wealth, but in beauty, and will not only surpass AS for New York city im itself, the love of flowers is characteristic therein: a fact which accounts for and is proved by the corresponding fact that not only ig there a very large business transacted in flowers, but this business is constantly increasing, A FLOWERY HISTORY. Among the first to introduce the sale of flowers on a large scale into the metropolla was an eccen- tric character, weli Known in his day to all “men about town,” catled “Bouquet Johnny,” though scale of prices, his real name was George Brower. This personage was lank and tall, and ubiquitous and persistent, He vaunted alt places of publie resort, and was ndelatigable in his efforts to sell his flowers, Though he was not above peddling his wares, he | also kepta flower store on Broadway, and was | well patronized by our jeunesse dorée. He is called “che father of the fower business,” and has passed through quite a series of adventares. present said ty be in Washington, D. C. Aman named Merriweather succeeded to the flowery leadership vacated in time by “Bouquet Joluny,”’ and he in turn was succeeded by a num- ber of other florists. By this time the “flower bust ness” had become firmly established, By this time, aiso, the custom had been intro. duced of wearing a flower in the buttonhole of one’s coat, as one went down or returned up-town. And the institutions Known as “flower girls’ were | algo troduced and became almost as numerous if not as noisy as the newsboys. Fiower stalls or stands were also placed at the corvers of the streets, the rivals of the apple women, FLOWERY FIGURES. At the present time the number of florists, | though in less quantities. There are dower standa | annum lor lowers alone, one house has sometimes sold Over 6100 worth of flowers on one of these occasions to different, in- of the hostess aud her residence. The love of flowers, however, is well diffused, and the poor buy them as eagerly as the rich, aud shops on the cast side, patronized by mechan- ics and their sweethearts, which do quite @ thriy- ing business, And men buy more flowers, or, at least, are more liberal patrous of the florists than women, ‘Tos, perhaps, is to be expected under the circum stances, as men are Made “to give presents,” and a4 no presents are more acceptabie to the fair sex than dowers. The items of floral expense In a young “swell’s” account are often quite Jarge. One lucky fellow, “the son ofa rich man,” iately hguidated @ bill at his forist’s amounting to $351 4v, incurred be- tween the first days of January and oi May the cur- rent year; being at the rate of over $1,000 per A FLORAL PRICE LIST. The price of Nowers is, of course, avery uncer- tain thing, as it necessarily Varies with the season ofthe year. The rose 18 the most popular hower, and sells from ten cents for a tea rose up to $1 lor # Marshal Neil rose, under certain circumstances, Violets come next to the rose in general popu- larity. A bunch of these modest beauties rates | at about ten cepts. Lilies of the valley are next in demand, rativg at irom fiiteen to twenty-tive cents a spray. iteliotropes are in demand {rom five cenia upwards. Carnations are trequently called for at about the same rate. Camelias, wuen in season, range irom twenty-five to fiity cents a piece. Tube roses are held how at ten cents each, and the list could be indefinitely extended, Vhe dealing in flowers requires in its details a good deal of taste and even Of Manual dexterity, 80 as to be entitled almost to rank as “skilled labor.” For, even alter the flowers have been | sown and grown and cut and brought to town, a good deai of delicate manipulation and skill is demanded in the keeplug them, clipping them, arranging them in,bouquets, &c. The arranging of flowers in artificial forms, such as crosses, anchors, wreaths, ships, &c, is also quite a serious and care-demanding item of the business. But perhaps the most interesting features of the trade in dowers to the phiiaathropist aud humani- tarian are tuose littie creatures iamiliarly known | as FLOWER GIRLS. One of these little ones earns about $14 da from her innocent trafic, and supports a bed-rid- den mother and @ little brotuer thereon, Another flower giri, a little older, sold in the month of De- | cember last $38 worth of flowers; but then this was a halcyon perlod—*the holiday season.” These flower girls purchase tueir stock at the He 13 at | beggars. | street stands and have a tolerably well-adhered-to ‘They sell what cost them tive | cents for ten, @ ten cent buncu is sold by them | for fifteen, &., and they have of late acquired a | | dim idea of trade union, for a little girl wo some time ago sola a flower under price Was “set upon”? | by ber companions ‘in the business” and severely* beaten for “underselling.”’ Some of the class called “flower girls’? are simply scamps, frauds, thieves and blackmailers, | With whom the selling of flowers is merely a | “blind,” who are skilled in the iniamous mysteries | of down-town dens; others are merely trainps and | Many such cases are known to thie | | police. But not @ jew of the sisterhoou are asin. | nocent, if not always as Sweet, as thelr own | flowers, OPEN THE PARKS, To THe EprToR or THE HERALD:— The ancient Athenians considered themselves aggrieved because they were subjected to the THE EASTERN QUESTION. Some Curious Royal Sports in the Ozicat—Tho Chit-Chat of StamboaL ConsrantinoriE, March 27, 1874 There Is nothing salieyt to record this weck om either the political or dnancial state of afuire in Turkey. The Eastern question, which seems to have cropped up once more, at least im the imagl+ nations of European journalists, occupies bus small attention here, and the local press abstaing from touching on the delicate question altogether. It has not become known whether our powers. that be, aroused by the European press, ar@ troubled with nightmares of a speedy Russtar invasion, to be followed by the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire; but certain it is that to- them the Muscovite in the far future ts far less of a bugbear than the present state of impecunt- osity in which the Porte finds itself and the Im- possibility of persuading European capitalists te come to its help, Nor does His Imperial Majesty, as it behooves a sovereign at peace with the whole world, allow idle newspaper talk to come betwen him and bis rest. He is ever keen to improve his opportunt- tes, and, favored by the Eastern divinity, ow shish, his collection of gold coins of the reaim and of Japanese curiosities (vis latest hobby) is. growing apace. When satiated with possession and growing weary of is two treasures, he is said to have resort to more exciting recreations, Am Eastern despot is supposea to have savage in- stincts lurkmg in some far corner of nis bosom, which he must satisfy im some way or other. ‘The days are passed when at @ word he could make his Ministers’ heads roll in the dust; so, instead, he is compelled to reserve his savage feclings tor bis poultry, and accordingly he causes more plates to be heated, on which are placel a number of turkey cocks, The antics of the tortured birds are, of course, very ludicrous, but are said to move the enlightened but morose sovereign to fits of laughter. e 7. When it is remembered that Abdul Aziz is the son of Suitan Mabmoud it would be hard to blame. him for having inherited, after all, 60 snail a pore tion of his father’s cruelty, Pachas’ heads were counted as nothing in the reign of that Sultan, generally considered as one of the most efficient and enlightened rulers Tarkey ever had. When the Imperial Guard became too strong for hig iron rule he determined on their destruc- tion, and in one night 30,000 Janizaries were mer- cilessly put tothe sword. I know of only one sur- Vivor of that once formidable corps, and he es caped because he had been instrumental in the de- struction of his fellows. Led on by a bitnd obedience to his sovereign’s orders, he was among the foremost at the slaughter; but that night of horrors upset him altogether, and the next morn- ing he sought the Sultan’s presence, and, throwing, himself at his leet, he tendered him his yataghan, reeking with human blood. “Great Padishab,’* says he, “your orders have been obeyed. Iam the only Janizary alive, and now my turm is come, for I cannot survive my com- panions, At your hands I shall joyfully mett my death.” So saying, he stretched his neck for the fatal blow; but the Sultan did not choose to give it, and the man was still alive, some years ago, leading an obscure and forgotten existence in one of the provinces, The young imperial princes havetnherited some of this fierce family spirit, and the two elder are’ sald to have frequent fights., A favorite subject | Of quarrel is based on the merits of their respec~ uve births, The youngest had the advantage of. coming into the world after his father’s accession to the throne, and his birth was therefore pro- claimed with all due honors; whereas the eldest- saw the light of day at a time when his father, ag heir apparent, was jealously guarded in a secluded wing of the Sultan’s palace and was supposed to. have no right to beget sons of his own. In the event of an accidemt oc curring of 80 undesirable @ nature the speedy asphyxiation of the new-born offender sway of thirty tyrants, How much more can we, | the citizens of New York, complain, who are | | placed at the mercy of every petty official and who suffer from the insolence of the meanest of our paid servants? ‘The police force is not the only one which can boast of ruflanly membecs, Tne Department of Public’ Parks employs men who are as rude and objectionable as flower dealers proper, in stores and shops, {8 cal- | any of the M. P.’s who have lately drawn culated at sixty-eight in the city of New York, of | ypon themselves the odium of the community. whom over twenty are located on the line of Reservolr Park is in charge of a lazy, brutal Broadway. ‘The bumber of dower stauds I8 e& Xoeper, who locks the gates whenever he desires timated at over 200, while the flower girls vary so at diferent times t %is impossidie to estimate tuem With any & Of iate years the ten- dency of the Hower trade has been to concentrate itseli around or gbout the junction of Twenty-third strect and Broadway. O% course the city florists country hothouses and gar- 3 deus, ‘The seatiered in ail directions hear the city of New York, especially at Astoria, Union fil, bayside, L. 1, and similar locaiities, sowe of Ulese grecnhonges and gardens are quite large and © varuable and will wel repay a visit. Vue oO! the is (be green- largest in the Apa 4 house v! Mr, Sauger, at Bayside, Ly are over Here there FOUR ACRES UNDER GLASS, One solid glass structure here covers over three- fourths of an acre, and irom it sometimes over 2,000 roses are taken in @ single day without being Percepubiy inissed, The value of the glass used reenhouses @3 ceeds $75,000, and the whole garden is valued at 000. At this piace the growing 0! the Marshall Niel rose is made a specialty. his rose _ is large, yellow, and quite fragrant rather than pungent in its odor, It has been a iavorite with the ladies, ia often at worn at partios, &c., and has sometimes brought a8 high as $1 singly. About thirty men and boys ure kept constantiy employed at this greeniouse, and the produce is brou, directly to the city and sold daily on Broadway. The total number of greenhouses in the ord of New York city has been computed at about tity, most of which are comparatively mall, Their averuge cash value may be computed ry 000 each, Making about $1,000,000 thus in- vested in public greenhouses alone, There are several valuable greenhouses situate Within the limits of the city itself. Of these two @re located in the upper part of Filth avenue and one upon Fourteenth street. Mr. Wilson’s green- house on Fourteenth street ig estimated as being Worta over $75,000. Several o! the sirect flower stands are suppiicd from littie gardens out of town, owned and cuiti- vated by tue proprietors of these stands. The flower stand near the Astor House ts one of these. Another stand, farther up Broadway, which is tended by a comparatively young man, is supplied from a one-acre garden near Fiashig, owned by the mother Of tuis youth and cultivated vy her as siduol Tnis woman, though over seventy years ol age, is as Itthe and acuve and intelligent as though she hailed from the Hub—yet she was never in New Wngiand in her lie. DETAILS OF “THE FLOWER BUSINESS.’ The deaiers in flowers are up in the morning, almost as early as the milkmen, selecting and as- sorting thetr ‘iragrant stock, ‘Wiich, of course, oust be kept a8 fresh as possible and be constantly renewed. For severai hours im the moroing the | trade in flowers for button-hole bouquets, &c, 13 | quite brisk; then there ig a lulltu the midale of | the day, and dually, towards evening, the demand for fowers increases again and Keeps up tue de- mand till alter the opening of the tueatres and opera, ton the-occasions of great bails or parties the de- Inaud jor Sowers (s of course increased, On wet days, of course, “the flower business” Is poor, “The rose” Waich had been “washed, just washed in @ shower,” may be @ very fine thing for poets to write about, but customers dowt venture Out Into che streets just to give it a cuanee to get washed. Warm days, too, are poor days for the trade 1 flowers —ti wilt and wither so 800n in noh Weather, The summer season, though the ‘glorious time’ of the whole year jor fowers in the mapas forms the dull season jor flowers in the city. Flowers are then so plentijai aud so cheap that nobody wants them, Besides, being | in season then, there 18 nothing exclusive about their possession; $0 the luxurious rich don't care for show, Tue real harvest time, therefore, ior the fasvionable city florist 1 the fal) and winter ason, from Noveinber to Maren mclusive, WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS, There are two wreat occasions to which the city Norist instinctively looks for patronage and proit— weddings and iuperals. He i# almost as impor: tant @ persunage in the former as the minister, in the latier as the undertaker. As # rule all city florists agree that inuerals “pay” better than weddings; consequently they sympathize more reaaily Witt tue undertaker thag with the grooms- men and bridesmaids. For &@ wedding all sorts of Mowers are admissible, and the wedding veil is the most reenerché snap in which to combine them. For@ funeral it is a ine qua non tiat the flowers should be white, ‘The flowers themselves may vary with the season For funerals tie flowers may be camelias or im- morvelies or tube roses, ko, The tabe roses are used in festoomng, The camelia in the fall or wioter is the most appropriate emblem of mourniag, FLORAL PRESENTATIONS. One quite comm ip the city 01 New York is to present them to dis | to, and uses the vilest language toward those wno } | | eleven o’ciock—surely a reasonaple ‘Toh regula- | tion oj the Park Comuussiouers. Hoping that you, | Will agitate this subjectin your widely read col | amns and will use your great influence in this gen- | use ty Which Nowers are put | | rich slorekeeper’a Mott, perchance linger @ moment aiter his whistle is | own to tuspire another draught of pure air. Not | only is the park ciosed very early in the evening, | but it is also opened at 4 comparatively late hour | inthe morning. Last Sunday evening 1 went to tais place with my wile, and was delighted at the prospect of enjoying the cool breezes which there | wept through the trees. But what Was my dismay | and astonisiment, when, at five minues past eight | o'clock, @ man with a bunch of keys in his hand | accosted me with “Po you expect me to | stay here for you all night?” I told him that night | had barely set in and that he had no right to close | the gates at that time. But bry Ay was of no avail, and he iulormed me that he acted under the orders of his superiors, which fact, however, lam. loth to believe. I proceeded to leave the park, when this insolent tellow (possessed of just suill- cient power to annoy) went up to auother gentle- Thad, WhO Was quietly sitting with his wife and ciuild, and teling him be Would have lum arrested ii he did not leave immediately, succeeded in hay- | ing the gates closed at seven minutes past eight. | di the parks are not mere ornaments, bus are | really iniended for the use of the people, they | should certainly be opened earlier anu closed | later than they are at present. The people for whom the parks are meant are the middie and poorer Classes (for the rich flee from the city on the approach of hot weather), and the only | Opportunity they have jor visiting them is at different hours from those in which they are kept open at resent. It ig | an outrage and a@ shame to force the people , from the parks at the only time when their bene- | fits can be properly enjoyed and appreciated. If | the above statement of the keeper is untrue— | namely, that he acted under the orders of ms Bu. | periors—the Park Commissioners cau readily prove it by a relutation, and if it be really true, then they | slould order the park to be kept open till ten or | tion, and one which the citizens of New York have an incontestible rigat to demand, Thisis & mat. | ter of the greatest im ortance, and now that the | summer is at hand requires the Immediate atten- who have always been the champion of the people, Uine Work ol reform, lvemain yours respectiuily, | Eskay, te New York, May 18, 1874, To THE EDITOR OF Tak HERALD:— Your paper yesterday contained a truly Ameri- Can, just and liberal article on the license ques- tiou. Please permit me to call your attention to | ‘8 great affliction and injustice that an indus. trious class are subject to from selfish, tyran- nical, unequal and un-American laws that nar. row-minded, grasping monopolists caused to be enacted by State Legislatures and municipalities | against commercial travellers, Such laws in this | enlightened age and this so-called free country are @ reproach and a disgrace to us, I often ielt mortified and humiliated when abroad amo! business Men, When, in the course of conversation, that topic would cue up. Our Presidents swei that they wil protect, presorve, and defend vh Constitution of the United States, (see art. 11, sec. | J., 8), and yet they allow State, county, and mu } nicipal authorities ro trample on articie 4, section 2, | part 1 of the United states constitution, that pro- | vides that citizens of eacn State snail be en- titled to all the privileges and immunities | of citizens in the several States. an | illustration, let a travelling merchant go over to Brooklyn to sell gouds, he ts forced to take out alicense that his wealthy fellow cluzen Who keeps store 18 not subject to, and asa further piece of injustice the travelling trader must be a resi- dent. You did not suppose we fad so near us & city that copied alter the Velestiais, no privileges to outside varbarians, The autnorities of Brovk- | lyn swear to support the United States constitu. | tion, and yet, although laboring under au oath to | do a0, they will not compiy with the Fourth article | of the constitution, It 1 to be hoped when wo take them under our protection Apt liberalize, Americanize, and, though iast, the mos important, Christanize them, to remind them of the obligations of an oath, My remarks about Brookiyn are applicable to many parts oi the United States. The states of Pennssivauia, New Jersey, Massachusetts, &c., are degencrated irom vie spirit of their fathers, Live and let live sould be our motto, By obvervi manera tet unto | pihers as you wonla be done ” should ve every | thon store ; CHARLES GRATAM. | was the remedy applied. Inssaf Izzedin formed am exception to tne general rule, having been | Smuggled out of the palace and his existence was | kept a profound secret until his father succeeded | abdul Mejid. This chronological disadvantage im | his birth is looked upon as casting @ slur on his | legitimacy, and his younger brother casts it in his, | teeth in their quarrels in the plainest terms. The Grand Vizier bas at last acceded to the | British demand and has given orders for the ree lease of the captive Lakjiau chiet, Mr. Locock, the British Chargé d’Ataires, deserves much credi¢: for the firm and dignified manner in which he hag brought the Grand Vizier to book, Accustomea’ hitherto to bamvoozie British representatives, the Turks were quite taken by surprise to find one who would not stand their nonsense. Sadyk Pacha is supposed to have concluded some financial arrangement im: Paris, but of 80 complicated @ nature that few understand it; anyhow, it Is satisfactory to be ag sured that it willcarry the Ottoman Empire over: the next nine months, Folks here are, however, not very hopeful about 1t and the funds have not. improved, As the Porte is specially anxious to keep all news regarding Sadyk Pacha’s mission to itself, the government has laid an embargo on all” telegrams addressed to private individuals i, cipher; and the other day great scnsation was oc~ casioned through the ignorant mistake of a tele« graph clerk. It was said that a number of tele. grams in cipher, containing, no one doubted, ime portant news of an unfavorable nature to the in- terests of Turkey, had been stoppea by the gov- ernment, The dangerous message—it turned out to be only one—was carried off to competent par- ties to be examined, and when properly read 1t waa found to be perfectly harmless, Great, therefore, © ‘was the disappointment of the Constantinople pub= lic, whose greed for sensational news had risen to fever pitch to learn that the telegram, read im plain. English, meant that a certain steamer named Alexander JL, had been cast on asand bank somés. where ou the Black Sea coast and would be glad of the services of a tug to pull her off. The clerk im, his zeal had mistaken the Roman number Il, 98 & cipher of dangerous import. We are threatened with a famine in the meat market unless help comes to us from abroad, It is. unusual in this country to make any provision of food for the use of cattle during the winter months, : | The native farmer 1s strong in the bellef of faith | & TRAVELLING TRADERS COMPLAINT. | without works, which docirine suits best his con~ Stitutional indolence, and Providence is expected to assume the responsibility Of seeing the live stock, safe through the winter. But the extreme severity, of this season has surpassed all former experience, @nd the unfortunate cattle have lain down and died from sheer starvation, by thousands and tens, of thousands, alf over the coantry, An imperial firman has been published abolish. ing “affairs of blood”’—a kind of “debtor and cred. 1vor account,” py which people in Albania have for settling their differen MERE overament refuses to tolerate this buss more. Possibly the /ormidavle consequences of @ murder—except In cases where the vicum was unprotected—consisting in the trang- Kinloss ses generation to generation of a heredi- tay may ave deterred many, who might other’ havo been partial to hointeide, trom taking the life of a fellow creature, 1 Cus tom, nevertheless, Was productive of ‘cease!eas, trouble and annoyance to the authorities, who, besides, saw in the practice a serious obstacle t@ the increase of the population. Whether the irmam will inspire the Albanians with greater respect for monaa te Piet ce tah wpae to which the whole , jatio: herited irom thels roreiae Rites 1a dificult to eradicats nm MRA laches AN ELEPHANT A THBP, The elephant at the Zoological Gardens, Dublin, yo lala got Lis keeper into troubie on the wd of tar Surgeon Luckie, who had been in the Ashantee war, dropped in the gardens & ring, taken among’ the Airican spoils, the elephant Saw the ring drop, put forth pis trank and picked itup. Being in the habit of giving to lis keeper coils and other indigestibie presents made to hid by admiring spectators, he gave tue rim fo ala Keeper, So far the Keeper was sa e—the el Was the unconsetous vines Bat ihe whole transad-- tion Was seen by others; and the keeper — taxed with having the ring 1m his ,ossesst D. he knew nothmg avout 1. He was then vbserved to throw someting away, whieh was ound to Le the ring. He was dued twenty aiiliiigs aa. ‘The elopiaut appropriated ovmex wevale™ goods, The keever was the receiv cr.