The New York Herald Newspaper, October 11, 1874, Page 12

WwW NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND "ANN. STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR All business or news letters and telegraphic nust be addressed New Youre despatches wm Heraw. Letters and packages should be properly sealed. Rejected communications will not be re- tomed. LONDON OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK HERALD—NO. 46 FLEET STREET. Subscriptions and Advertisements will be received and forwarded on the same terms | as in New York. AMUSEMENTS TO-MORROW. THEATRE COMIQUK, LT Broadway.—VARIE1Y, ato. M.; closes at 1029 PARK K, Broadw. between iwenty and Twenty-second streets DED aGE, at 5 P. M.; closes ab 000 P.M. Mr. John 1. Raymond. BOOTH’S THEATRE, corner of Twenty-third t and’ Sixth avenue.— CAKOLAN'S DREAM, M Mr. and Mrs. barney FAUKY CIRCLE: OR, CC at&P. M.; closes at 10:30 Williams. WALLACK’S THEATRE, PARTNERS FOR LIB, ats P. M.; closes at Mr. H. J. Montague. Froadway. 10:30 P.M. NIBLG’s GARDEN, Proadway, between rrince and Houston streeta —THE DpLUGE, at 8 Fr. Mj choses at 11 P.M. The Kiralty Yamily FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE, Twenty eighth street and Broadway.—B « LLES OF THE KITCHEN, at 2 P.M: cloves at 4 P.M. The Voces Family, Tits HANGING OF THE CRANB and THe OKILIC, at 5 P. M.; closes at 11 P.M. Miss Fanny Daven- port, Miss Sara Jewett, Louis James, Charles lisher. ROBLNSUN HALL, Sixteenth street, between Broadway and Fifth ayenue.— VARIETY, ats P. M. BRYANT'S OPERA HOUSE, Wost Twenty-third street, near Sixth avenue, —NEGRO MINSTRELSY, at$ P.M. Dan Bryant. METROPOLITAN THEATRE, peo aroadway.—VARIEIY, at 3 P.M; closes at 10 TONY PASTOR'S OPERA HOUSE, v 18 P.M. ; closes at 10 P. M. TRELS, AMERICAN INS Third avenue, between Sixt) eireeta—INUUSIKIAL EXHIBI ITE, | aiid Sixty-fourth COLOSSEUM, Broadway, corner of Thirty-fifth street—PARIS BY NIGH, at 230 P.M and 745 P.M. ‘OOD'S MUSEUM, Broadway, corner | inth strcet—NEGRO | NEW YORK HHKALD, SUNDAY, OCTOBER U, 1874 —QUINTUPLE SHHKT, ee ete LCI gL LL Spare Us a Campaign of Slander. We regret to notice that many of the party journals of the interior of the State, both re- publican and democratic, are trying to con- duct the present canvass on the old ward system of assailing the moral integrity and personal honor of the opposing candidates. There was never a political canvass in which this debasing species of tactics bad so little excuse, Its ignoble absurdity is more appar- ent here in New York, where both candidates for Governor are well known, than it can be in the rural towns. General Dix and Mr. Tilden are our fellow townsmen, who have gone in and out before us for many years. If we have any virtuous citizens among us these two gentlemen deserve to stand in the fore- most rank of those who have earned a solid title to public esteem. We cannot doubt that they respect each othor in the same measure that they are respected by all just-minded men in thiscommunity. If Mr. Tilden were not a competing candidate for the same office and were asked what republican would make the best Governor for the interests of the State, we have no doubt that he would name General Dix. And, on the other hand, if the same question were put to General Dix | as to what democrat would make the purest and wisest Governor if ho could be elected, | there is as little doubt that he would name | Mr. Tilden. However much these two gentle- men may differ in personal popularity and magnetic qualities, they aro equally entitled to recognition as upright and public-spirited citizens, The shafts of vulgar calumny will fall harmless at the feet of either. Such is tlte opinion of this community, and the people of the city where both have so long resided are better judges of their character than the hot- headed partisans of the'rural districts. M.. Tilden is assailed by the rural republican organs for his course at the outbreak of the civil war and for the pay he received as a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1867. Both heads of accusation are sheer base- ness and folly, At the beginning of the wer there was reasonable ground for difference of opinion, and Mr. Tilden’s course may have been as patriotic, if not as popular, as that of men who were more prompt to surrender old opinions. The charge about his pay as a member of the Constitutional Convention is pitiful. Itis simply preposterous to arraign a gentleman of Mr. Tilden’s wealth, generosity and public spirit for taking the legal pay which other members received for service in the Constitutional Convention. It is not sup- posable that a man of his standing would sell his integrity at any price, much less for the wi M, ot Thirtieth street.— closes at4:0 P.M. UNDER TH Po. a $2. Mj closes at 10:30 PM. Mr. E. L. Di ‘ OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—VARIETY, at 8 P. M.; closes at 10:45 Bs NEW YORK CIRCUS, a avenue and Forty-ninth street—At?P. M. and ACAD! MY OF MUSIC, we Place.—BARBER OF BEVILLE, at3 P. M.; closes at WP.M, Mile. Biayed Donadia. MRS. CONWAY'S BROOKLYN THEATRE, FRITZ, at 8 P. M.; closes at 10:30 P. M. Jos K. Emmet. October 11, 1874, From our reports this morning the probabilities are thai the weather to-day will be clear ar parily cloudy. 2a iin ea elena achaled Watt Srreer Yesterpay.—Prices of stocks opened lower than at the preceding close, but recovered and developed moro or less of strength. Gold was firm at 110 a 110}—the last being the closing figure. Tae Inpiun Comamsstoy, which has just held a session in this city, reports progress, and congratulates its friends on the success of its missionary operations. Secretary Roxzeson at Paterson, N. J., last night asserted that the President had no idea of a third term. Why should not the Presi- dent say this? It is not Mr. Robeson’s opinion that will satisfy the country. Fientmxa tHe Am—The liberal republi- cans are still, here and there, going through the motions cf a regular party organization, without making any nominations. They come forward, face the footlights, saw the air and adjourn. Cuma has at last taken active steps to build her long projected telegraphs. Our corre- | spondence from Foochow shows the spirit of prejudice which so long prevented this inno- vation, and the military causes which have | compelled the Chinese to reluctantly yield | their prejudices. beggarly pay of an honorary position like that of member of a convention charged with the duty of revising the constitution of the State. And the accusations which the rural democratic organs make against Governor Dix are equally discreditable to their intelligence and manliness. Ht is pretended that he made improper gains in his position as Fresident of the Union Pacific Railroad. No iair-minded citizen believes that this charge has any foundation. This contemptible and pitiable way of managing a political canvass deserves the reprobation of all honorable men. Much as General Dixand Mr. Tilden may differ in other advantages for popular favor, there is no difference of opinion in this community, where both are so well known, as to their in- tegrity and high sense of pecuniary honor. There is a disgusting moral baseness in dis- torting and discoloring facts to make strained inferences against the personal character of either. They are both citizens of whom the city of New York has long been justly proud, and the community which has had the best opportunities for knowing them will scorn every electioneering lie invented against either. The actual effect of these efforts at defama- tion is to excite the renewed zeal of friends. No party cares to see its leaders sacrificed, and the people are chary of the fame of their statesmen. General Grant, in his inaugural address on entering upon his second term, alluded with a sentiment of pride, which was criticised at the time, but was not altogether unjustifiable, to that re-election as a vindica- tion of his character from personal assaults. He had been assailed with unusual acrimony His motives, his administration, the lead- ing events of his career, his justly earned fame bad been aspersed, and, although ad- mitted by the general opinion of the United States and of other nations to be our first sol- dier and citizen, the effort of his enemies was to degrade and belittle him. The result was his triumphant and astonishing success. The common sense of the country, its desire for ARN Aazp Jew was y brought before | the Police Court, charged with having pulled | a handful of hair from the head of a servant | girl. The damsel exhibited the locks as proof, | and they were proof, but not of her state- ment. The severed hair was black, while that upon her head was fair. the Lock’’ was in this case more satirical than Pope's, and the suit seems to have beena very | now in the full tide of successful operation, | and so successful is it in contributors and visitors (Governor Dix dropped in yesterday) | that the managers may truthfully say— No pent-up Utica contracts our powers, But the whole boundless continent is ours, Tae Arrest of a band of counterfeiters in | the West has led to the discovery of some of | their accomplices in this city who have been | boldly circulating worthless imitations of the | “best currency in the world’’ for months. This singular story is told in our columns to- day, and will give sober, moral people a | glimpse of the world of crime by which they are unconsciously surrounded. The funny tale of Mr. Cameron’s adventures in search of the ‘qneer’’ is 9 fitting accompaniment of the more serious offence. Yacmrme aypd Boatixc Evienis are com- | mon on our rivers now, and we civa re ports | of those which have recently oceurred or are | soon to come! Among the first is the race be- | a libertine to a Jacobin. | from his personal probity asa man. tween the Magic and Comet, whick takes | place next Tuceday, for the Commodore's Challenge Cup, and full descriptions of the | two fine scheconers are publisheh An | exciting contest between the Oneida and | Bayovne crews, ia which the formor was vic- | torious ; the races at Oyster Bay, the coming | Yale fall regatta, the mateh yesterday for the | faces at Prospect Park Lake, are some of the | @venta recorded in the Hanaup to-day. fair play and the natural reluctance to see its most conspicuous citizen overturned and thrown into the dust like a common felon, all arose in a protest against the injustice wiih which he had been treated. This result is natural to a free and generous people, Something like it was seen in Washington's The ‘Rape of | time, but more noticeably in the time of Jef- ferson, who was held up to reprobation asa paragon of all the vices—as everything from The foul miasma of slander died away, and the resplendent fame of these illustrions men remained. The same effort was made against Henry Clay, who was | criticised as a gambler and a coward; and | John Quincy Adams, who was publicly assailed as the partner of Clay in his vices and his schemes. Andrew | Jackson was held up to scorn as the cnemy of his country’s honor and credit—a murderer and dueilist. But he maintained an influence in American politics that made him while living the most powerful of men, and has given his name a spell that still lingers in the traditions of our politics. We might crowd these columns with illus- trations of this character. Our history is pregnant with them, and we cannot too ear- nestly apply them to our canvass in New York. Whether Mr. Tilden is relatively a strong or a weak candidate is a question quite apart If the democratic party had nominated Mr. O'Conor instead of Mr. Tilden such a step would have been open to grave objections on the score of political expediency, but any reckless journal which should have impugned Mr, O'Conor’s cliaracter would have deserved the loathing execration of the community. In popular estimation Mr. O'Conor was as wrong as wrong could be in bis sentiments relating to the war, but | in spite of this he is one of the most estovmed | Now England championship, and the miniature | and revered of our fellow citizens, one of the | brightest ornaments of public and private life. His weakness 94 ® candidato would not warrant the faintest breath of unkind im- putation, and there is no bonorabl> man in New Yerk who woul] not resent any insinua- tion against him, We alluds to Mr. O'Conor ag the most striking illustration we gould give of the discriminations which just men practise between the strength of a gandidate and the personal merits of a man, We detest and execrate vulgar partisan ¢ i General Dix or Mr. Ti hope that a canvass in candidates are so enti be lifted into a higher . cussion. ‘ad The Tammany Nealieblibes As we predicted in the b the Tam- many Convention assembled at the Wigwam yesterday and nominated Mz, Wickbam for Mayor and Jimmy Hayes for Register. John Kelly was present, and our reporter assures us that the illustrious bosom friend was “very enthus'astioal'y greeted."’ We donot observe that Mr. Morrissey, the other bosum friend, and forming with Kolly the Siamese Twins of the now ring, was prosent. If so the historian does not celebrate the enthusiasm his presence inspired. Augustus Schell made a docile, harmless speech, which was remarkable from the fact that he told the Convention it had “assembled to place candidates in nomina- tion.” Mr. Schell is a Chesterfield in his courtesy, and could not be expected to say that the Convention had nothing to do with it, and that John Kelly had arranged it all beforehand. There were some little difficulties about organization, but none of a serious character. Mr. Clinton nominated Mr. Wick- ham for Mayor. CaptainIsaiah Rynders, one of theold warhorses, made an effort to substitute Jobn Kelly as a candidate, but our Cxsar put away the diadem. There was immenso en- thusiasm over the suggestion, but hero it ended. ‘The nominations were made “by acclamation.” i So the canvass opens. Tammany is simply the echo of the wishes of a small and insatiate ting of politicians under Kelly, just as it was under Tweed. Tammany, which was to be a reformed representative body, registers the decrees of Kelly just as it regis- tered the decrees of Tweed. The question remains, “What are the democrats in New York disposed to do about it?” One comfort is, that the nominations are not much worse. For this much we thank John Kelly. But it would not surprise us if the action of the “bosom friend” Convention cost Tilden thou- sands of votes in the State, Pulpit Topics To-Day. The bishops and clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church now in Convention in this city will occupy many, if not all, of the pul- pits of the denomination in this city and vi- cinity. Most of the bishops will present the claims of the Church missions, both home and foreign, but Bishop Wilmer, of Louisiana, will speak in Trinity church on ‘‘Men and their Relations to the Church,” and Bishep Be- deil, of Ohio, will preach a memorial sermon on the life and services of Bishop Auer, late Missionary Bishop of Cape Palmas, West Alrica. Dr. Ewer will repeat a sermon on the ‘‘Co-existence of High and Low Church Views in the Church.’’ The Methodist pulpit is represented by Mr. Terry, who will speak about ‘Wise Muster- Building” and ‘Keeping of the Good Wine to the Last,’’ and Mr. Corbit, who will look into the empty tomb of Christ and proclaim his resurrection, and Dr. Doems, who will show up the ‘Folly of Complaining."’ The Baptists will be represented by Mr. Hawthorne, who’ will speak of ‘Happiness Makers” and the “Visits of the Three Marys to the Cross ;”” by Mr. Kennard, who will repre- sent the “Living God as the Saviour of All Men;” by Mr. MacArthur, who will indicate the advantages to bs gained by burden-bear- ing, and will illustrate the power of divjne grace over such a heart as that of Paul, the persecutor, and by Dr. Fulton, who will set forth in glowing colors the sin that threatens the social and religious life of our people, and show the importance of it being known on which side every man is and under what banner he fights. The Presbyterians will have a sermon on the significance of infant baptism, by Mr. Harris, of Woodbury, N. J.; on the Taber- nacle and its contents, by Mr. Paynter, of Springfield, I., and by Mr. Rossiter, who will speak of the ‘Eternity of Right” and “The Position of Demetrius tho Silversmith in Modern Church Worship.” The Congregationalists have a lively rep- resentative in Mr. Hepworth, who will lay down some rules of order for the great army of the Lord ere they march forth this winter against the hosts of the world and sin, and will encourage them in their warfare so that no man may lose his crown. The miscellaneous pulpits of the city and vicinity will have Mr. Sweetser showing us how rightly to use worldly advantages in view of the judg- ment to come, and Mr. Pullman, who will deliver a matrimonial discourse, and Mr, Frothingham giving us his profoundest thought concerning the Holy Ghost as the Lord and Giver of life, and Mrs. Soule point- ing out how and why we should walk in the footsteps of Christ, and Mr. Bjerring on taking up the cross and following Christ. Mr. Nye, of Brooklyn, will give the scriptural and ra- tional reasons why hell is not eternal, in answer to Mr. Haines’ query, “It heaven ig eternal why not bell?’’ And in this way the pulpits of the city will be supplied with instruction of every kind to-day. Reconstruction or THR Riont Kivp—The reconstruction of the federal office-holders, on the basis of honesty, capability, retrenchment and reform, down in Texas. Denmarn’s Retations To Scueswic.—The ‘| history of the treaty between Denmark and Prussia, by which the latter acquired posses~ sion of Schleswig, is narrated in one of our letters from Copenhagen to-day, and is a clear account of the present trouble. Tho second letter describes the harsh nature of German rule, the attachment of the people of North Schleswig to Denmark, and strongly indicates the necessity of a faithful observation of the treaty obligations, Our correspondent has unusually good opportn- nities of knowing the purposes of the Danish government upon this question, and it is almost as sure that Denmark will insist upon The Shakespeare Controversy: ‘When a few weeks ago we asked the Amer!- cen public the question, ‘Who wrote Shake- apeare’s plays?” it was by no means with the desire to create what the illiterate press is pleased to call a Hxnaty sensation. Our pur- pose was to elicit opinions from persons, who were qualified to judge, and to transfer to journalism debate which had previously been almost entirely confined to books. Those persons who became indignant because the question was asked, and considored the'dis- cussion an insult. to the great dramatist, were, we think, misled by their feelings. They do not understand the value of literary investigation nor the importance of ac- knowledging the, new issues which are con- atant!y arisingin criticism. The assertion that Bacon wrote the plays was made by scholars— by such writers as Professor Holmes and Miss Delia Bacon; it had been revived in leading Periodicals, and to speak of it was simply to take notice of a fact. Thero could be no iconoclasm in such a discussion. If Shake- speare wrote the plays the effect of discussion, would be to silence his opponents; if he did not write them the true author or authors should have the credit. In eithor case the de- bate would tend to good results. In this spirit we laid the subject before the intelligent public, and it is their misfortune and not our fault that a few papers have looked upon it as an effort to discredit Shakespeare. But by its own inherent force the question became a sensition—not of the Heranp, but of modern literature. Tho article from Frgser's Magazine called forth responses from hundreds of correspondents, of which many possessed a high degroe of merit. We gave place to a great number of theso contributions, and the more in- tellectual portion of the American press also took active part in the debate. The re- sult was to teagh tho public more of the vital characteristics of the writings of Shakespeare and Bacon in a month than it would have learned without such assistance in years. The two greatest intellects of the Elizabethan age -were contrasted and compared, and we are not surprised to be informed that ono conse- quence has been an increased demand for all books which treat of the important subject. Among those who have contributed to our columns are, prominently, Professor Hiram Corson, of Cornell University; Professor O'Leary, of Manhattan College; Pro- fessor John §. Hart, of Princeton; Judge Pierrepont, Mr. L. Clarke Davis, Mr. Horace Howard Furness, Mr. E. ©. Sted- “man, Mr. A. Oakey Hall, Mr. Henry Ward Beecher, Mr. Richard Grant White, Mr. Bret Harte, Recorder Hackett, Mr. Howard Paul, Mr. Boucicault, Mr. Lester Wallack, Mr. John Brougham, Mr. John E. Owens, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Daniel Dougherty, and even His Honor Mayor Havemeyer. Besides tho opinions and arguments of these distinguished gentlemen, representing nearly all the principal profes- sions, we have published those of an equally large number of ccrrespondents whose sig- natures it is unnecessary to compile. We believe the investigation to have been the most thorough of the kind ever made in the columns of a newspaper. It is only to be re- gretted that so few Baconians came to the defence of Professor Holmes’ theory, for by far the greater number of our correspond- ents opposed it, Up to this time we have de- clined to interpolate our own opinion upon the authorship ; but now, in closing the discus- sion, after yielding ample time and space to those ®ho wished to take part in it, we must say that the weight of testimony is altogether against the claim made for Bacon. Nothing new has been advanced in behalf of the -Holmes theory, while, on the contrary, the internal evidence of the p'ays and the facts of history have been overwhelmingly shown to be in favor of Shakespeare as the author. To go over these investigations and conclusions would be superfluous. It is enough to say that the theory that Bacon wrote the tragedies and comedies which were published as Shakespeare's more thau two centuries ago is more difficult to reconcile with his established character and authentic works than the belief that Shakespeare wrote them is with our ignorance of his career and per- sonality. The evidence brought against Shakespeare's authorship is radically weak, being necessarily founded upon a conjectural | idea of his life. Itis negative, while, on the con rary, the Baconians have to explain away gigantic contradictions between Bacon's known life and intellectual pursuits the claims they put forth in his behalf. We believe, in short, that nothing has been said in this debate to weaken our faith in Shakespeare, whi'e much has been shown which strongthens it, William Shakespeare is, therefore, in our opinion the author of the plays which in his own day and ever since | have been attributed to him by universal consent, and the plea made for Bacon is ‘of such stuff as dreams are made of,” a theory which has for its chief use to make the fame of Shakespeare more glorious. The Fate of Ritualism. Yesterday two or three important doeu- ments indicative of the estimate put upon High Church practices were laid before the Episcopal Convention. Two dioceses at least, Virginia and Maryland, have spoken emphat- ically on these ritualistic ceremonies. The former touches up the House of Bishops for their attempt to daub the breach in the Church with untempered mortar and to cry peace, peace, when there 1s no peace, It then declares that the bishops, being patently powerless to stop the tendencies of certain persons in the Church Romeward, the Gen- eral Convention itself must take the matter in hand and prohibit by canon the obnoxious bowings and kissings and prostrations and genuflexions and candles and crucifixes on the altar and all those things that savor of Roman Catholicism. The two canons presented yesterday, if adopted by the Convention, strict and explicit as they are, will nof, however, put an end to these practices unless the bishops enforce them. And while some of them undoubtedly will, others, it is safa to presume, will not. But the ritualiste are in great trepidation lest they shall be legislated cut of the Episcopal Church and into the Roman Church at once. Hence, instead of the defiant attitude which they assameod a year or two ago, they, reading the control of North Schloswig as that she | the signs of the times, have come down now will never consent ‘to surrender her inde- pendence by incorporation in the German Bund to the level of hoping and praying to be let alone. And to-day Dr. Ewer will present biatorical arguments in proof of the co-oxist- and | —. ence of High and Low Church views in the | are replaced by tho semb'ance ofan army, Church. Whilo the Low Oaurch purty are a | marching away by moonlight to tho Crimean decided majority in the Convention there iso respectable minority ot high churchmen there also, and whenever the campaign opens it will prove highly interesting to the public. The Religious Press on Current Events. Dr. Talmage has brought down upon him- self the condemnation of the spirits because of some recent strictures of his on Spiritual ism in the Christian at Work. He therefore publishes in this week's paper o poetic éx- tract from some ghost who had need of the schoolmaster when he (the ghost) was in the flesh, and this need has not been supplied in ghostland. Dr. Talmage, therofore, invites those spirits who have opened correspondence with him to come to his office any hour of the day and he will give them some lessons in orthography, and perhaps also in merical composition, The Independent reviews the letters of Re- verdy Johnson and Charles O'Conor, which have been -published in the Henaup, and agrees with the latter that the President made @ mistake in behalf of Kellogg in New Orleans, It is the duty of Congress, it maintains, to correct this mistake and guarantee to Louisi- ana a republican form of government A usurpation founded on fraud, in utter viola- tion of the laws of the State and sustained by federal bayonets, it adds, is not and cannot be such a government, The Christian Union charges the troubles of the South to the supineness of the edu- cated planters and merchants of the South, who havo hitherto refused to take part in the government of their respective States, and have thereby thrown it into the hands of the vicious of the Southern people and the ras- cally carpet-baggers of the North. “The Penn movement,"’ says the Union, ‘so peaceably effected throughout the State of Louisiana, has created for Southern ability a degree of respect which never before existed. The South, in her sorrow, has the sympathy of the intelligence of the entiro North; and were the violent masses of the South re strained, were individual crimes against per- son and property promptly, legally and ade- quately punished, were confilence estab. lished between intelligent whites and blacks, the South would receive from her sister sec- tion a support which would, make her too strong for any faction of party or of govern- ment to dare to resist.’’ The Christian Advocate, reviewing Professor Tyndall and the spread of modern doubt, thinks it would be better *for the men of the pulpit, and of the religious press, too, to say less about these apostles of unfaith, and to teach their people more earnestly and fully the truths delivered to the Church by Christ and His apostles. ‘The calling of the Church is at this time,’’says Dr. Curry, ‘much more to cultivate its possessions than to defend them ; its words should be didactic and hortatory much more than polemical and apologetical."’ Tho Christian Intelligencer has a timely arti- cle on “The Poor and the Coming Winter,” in which it advises the wealthy to lay aside something for the help of the poor, and rec- ommends the latter to provide for the winter by practising the most active economy, by ex- ercising increased application and industry, by acquiring a knowledge of additional handi- crafts to be used as substitutes for their regu- lar callings when these fail them, and by abstaining from liquors, amusements and to- bacco—those constant drains upon the purse and upon vitality. The Examiner and Chronicle sees in the in- creased number of students in the Baptist theological seminaries a cheering prospect for the future. In regard to the movements of temperance men the Evaminer concludes that as the case now stands voting for prohibition candidates for State officers has about as much to do with advancing the reform as seeing the moon over one’s left shoulder. has with coming trouble. The American Theatre and Drama. The New York stage has everything neces- sary to complete success except a literature. There are no finer theatres in the world than those in this city, and the untravelled lover of the drama may safely content himself in the fact that when he goes to Wallack’s or Daly's he sees a stage which London or. Paris cannot rival. The Parisian actors are un- | equalled, for art to the lively French is a second nature; but in other respects our best | theatres need fear no rivalry. To go to either of those we have named is like entering a parlor | | where only the footlights divide the guests. The perfection of everything that is seen re- minds us of what we have read of the famous private theatre which Louis XIV. created at Versailles. The time was in the recollection of present theatre-goers when scenery was scarcely more than a hint or suggestion of | that which it was supposed to repre- sent. The complaints which Shakespeare (not Bacon) made of the poor resources of his stage might have been echoed by the audi- ences of not many years ago. In the histori- cal play of ‘King Henry V.”’ he particularly laments the wretched manner in which he was obliged to present his themes. Each act is introduced by ‘‘Chorus," impertinent but in- dispensable appendage of the ancient Globe Theatre, and nearly every introduction is an apology for an empty stage, Thus in the first chorus pardon is asked of the spectators, and Shakespeare adds: — Can this cockpit hold The vasty fields of France? or may we cram ‘Within tais wooden 0 the very casques ‘That did afright the air at Agincourt ? They were, therefore, desired to ‘‘suppose’’ and to Think, when we taik of horses, that you see them Printing their proud hoois 1’ th’ receiving earth. The third chorus also urges the spectators to “work their thoughts and therein see a Le dailigs Still be kind, And eke out our periormance with your mind, In the fourth introduction Shakespeare's impatience of tho barren stage is even more expressive, and in reference to the battle, ho exclaims: — ¢ Where (0, for pity !) we shall much disgrace With four or fye moat vile and ragged loile, Right 1u-dis posed, in brawl rlaicu.cus, ‘The name of Agincourt”? English literature happily toses nothing by the poverty of tho Elizabethan stage, for it unquestionably caused Shakespeare to com- pensate for its deficiencies with his own mar- vellous descriptions. found himself obliged to be scene painter and dramatist at once, But how different is itnow! At Wallack's, in the fine play of “Ours,” the four or five most vile and raeced foils, “Henry V.,’’ especially, | is filled with pictures, as if Shakespeare had | wars. This spectacle, during our own war, moved to tears many a mother, who had thug seen her son’s reziment marching through the streets of New York. Indeed, in tho com- pleteness and variety of their appointments our modern theatres are almost too perfect. The scenery is no longer illusion, but reality. ‘The mimic parlor is a real parlor; and in the study of Joseph Surface, books and all, would do for an actual home. With this splendor and luxury it is well that our theatres combine intelligent acting, and that the tendency to make scenery and costume suprems is resisted. Tho picture is often worthy of the frame. The great want of the American theatres is, as we have said, American plays. Why they sre not writtem (for if they were written we believo there would be no difficulty in hav- ing ‘them produced), we eed not now attempt to decide. It is certainly not because of want of talent, for there is abilily enough in every other department of litera- ture. We cherish with pride the native hie torians, novelists, poets, but where aro the American dramatists? Mr. Mark Twain's “Gilded Age,’’ now being performed at the Park Theatre, is an amusing produc- tion, with one fine character, which is finely performed, but it is not one that will live. It will not be always the case that, with the best theatres in the world and actors only surpassed by tho French and Italians, we shall depend upon other nations for our plays. Tax Tames Espanxment is fully de- scribed in our letter from London to-day, and the importance of that great work to the health and prosperity of the city is clearly shown. The Thames, which was formerly the receptacle of the sewers, is now purified, and inundations of the streets are prevented. ‘The embankment has not yet come into gen- eral use ; but when other local improvements contemplated by the Board of Works are finished the Londoners will appreciate its advantages. But New York, with her mag- nificent river front, still endures a system of docks which is a disgrace to the country. PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE. The cooks have a club and the Presidens @ pamed—Fry!t The latest intelligence about John Bunyan is thas he was not a gypsy. Congressman H. A. Hathorn, of saratoga, is stay- ing at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Major T. J. Gregg, United States Army, is regis tered at the Sturtevant House. General 8.0. Armstrong, of Virginia, is among the latest arrivals at Barnum’s Hotel. A new book on “British Popular Customs,” by Rev. T. F. Dyer, 1s in press in London, Major John U. Cash, of the United States Marine Corps, is quartered at the Hotei Brunswick, Mr. Washburne, the American Minister te France, has returned to his residence in Paris, Mr. W, A. Tuomson, a member of the Canadian Parliament, is sojourning at the Brevoort House. Speaker James G. Biaine, of the House of Repre- sentatives, arrived last evening at the Filtn Ave nue Hotel. On the gate of a cemetery tn Normandy fs writ- ten:—‘‘This cemetery is only opeued for those whe live in the village.”” The title of Dr. J, W. Draper's new book in Ap- pleton’s press, ts the ‘History of the Conflict be- tween Religion and Sctence.’” Associate Justice Joseph P. Bradley, of the United States Supreme Court, ts residing with bis family at the Fifth venue Hotel. Chiet Justice Morrison R. Waite, wno has been in attendance at the Episcopal Convention, left this city last evening for Washington. That prolific author, Rev. P. ©. Headley (the Ursa Minor of the Headley family), is again in print with a book entitled “The [sland of Fire,” Twenty-eight models in plaster fora proposed monument to Lamartine, to be put up at Macon, were lately exhibited at the School of Fine Arts in Paris. Vice President Henry Wilson left this city ycster- day for Springfield, Iil., woere le is to assist at the dedication of the Lincoln Monument during the coming week. In Savoy the rivers Arne, Dranse and Fier have been poisoned in order to kill the fish, which tha queer fishermen, who operate in this style, gather up dead on the surface. At last we are to have the famous German phil- osopher, Schohenhauer, tn English, His principal work, “Die Welt aus Wilie und Vorsteliung,” isin the press of Chatto & Windus, London. Alfonso, Isabella's son, 1s at Berlin, for Berlin ts the fountain of power in Europe, and Alfonse wants some. But the only man of any conse- quence in Berlin does not “regard his causo wita favor.” It ig rumored that the German government may make some observations to Austria on the subject Of the residence of the Count of Chambord in the Austrian dominions. Bismarck seems to have the | bit in his teeth. In Germany & law has recently been promui- gated by which the holder of a ratiway tieket may stop at any pointon his journey, for any period— the ticket remaining good til used. Sound com- mon sense and piain justice. Tue Duke de Frias committed sutcide by drowa- ing himself on the bathing ground at Biarrita, and his body was assiduously bat vainly hunted for for many days, At last it was found at the very point where the Duke was last seen altve. Kladderadatsch wevotes two illustrations to the Porto Rico toptc, and holds that the Porto Rico that Germany wants 1s not the isiand of that name, but the good smoking tobacco, and thus tne subject naturally “ends in smoke.” An American edition of Alzog’s great “Manual of Universal Church History,” the leading and ac- cepted work among Catholics on this subject, will appear, under the sanction of Archbishop Purcell, from the Cincinnati press of Robert Clarke & Co. Dr. Deems hopes that no person will be em- ployed to sing in a church choir “whose morat character is below that of a clergyman.” Here’s richness! As for morality, dear brethren of the cloth, there are pleaty of singers who can Beecher on that. ‘The story that Pazatne would take service in Spain is revived with circumstancés—wh'ch are communications between Bazaine and the Duchess de la Torre (Madame Serrano)—and ietters from the Spanisn War Minister found in the prison after Bazaine’s escape, Anew poem by Victor Hugo! An English iady in the tsland of Guernsey asked Hugo if he could not write some English wods inher album, aud he wrote immediately as follows :~ Pour chasser le sploen Sentrat dans tn in; La je bus du qa, Et God save the Queen One of the men who writes to the papers wants to keew “What in the advantage of boxing op @o7z8 "—es,ecially those who sei! tickets at rail- way atations, Perhaps it is ont of regard to the safety of the public, If these fellows who are gen- cra/ly 80 lavish of impudence through a littie hole in a partition had a free chance at humantty they might be dangerous, At the fanoral of Victor Lejonr, as the comn was about to be Jowered into the grave, ainan tn & biouse, With tears in Lis eyes, besought one of the men at tho cords by which the coffin is let down to cede his piace to tim, He was a machinist In the theatre, and had puiled the rope by which, in one | of Lejouc’s playa, & sip waa drawn across the Stage, and he had a fricndiy impulse to be oF sor. vice once mors, as the handing of the ropo | pernaps revived hia reladoas ta the definot,