The New York Herald Newspaper, September 26, 1875, Page 17

NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1875.—QUINTUPLE SHEET. THE BOOK WORLD. An American Attache'’s Impressions of English Life, ‘CHATS ABOUT NOVELS. “The Calderwood Secret”— A Question of Honor.” ‘A WING SHOT AT THE QUILL. ‘The lawyer, not id be outdone by the doctor, secured ‘A surprise for the Book Club at its last meeting that ‘ereated the greatest enthusissm among the members, "This surprise lay in an advance copy of Mr, E. 8. “Nadal’s “Impressions, of English Social Life,’ which ‘Sorlbner, Arinstrong & Co. will publish in a few days, fhe book has already appeared In England, published dy Macmillan & Co., and has been well received by the ‘moat conservative journals. “I consider this volume,” said the lawyer, addressing ‘tho club from his favorito stand on the rug before the ah “tho best thing of the kind I have read tho pen of an American writer, with {perhaps the one exception of Hawthorne, Mr. Nadal ‘was an attaché at the Court of St. James for some years, ‘and {n that capacity ho had an opportunity of study- Qing noble Englaud such as falls to the lot of few. On the other hand, his tastes and pleasures led him among the less titled, but more intellectual mon, and betweon the two he gota thorough acquaintance with English Social life. His book is strong, brilliant, delicate and ‘witty, He greatly admires the England of to-day, and oes not hesitate to say so. His appreciation of Eng- Ushmen ts rare in an American, and his book abounds in beautiful imagery and subtle thought, Tho Doctor—You have quite whot our appetites to hear something of this gifted author's writing. Can't ‘you give us some characteristic extracts? Tho Lawyrr—If I should attempt to read you half of the passiges I have drawn my pencil ‘longside of I ‘Would keep you here all night, However, I cannot re- wlst making some quotations, Speaking of the inimi- able self-assertion of English people, he says:—‘ ‘Pose’ Is the name given to this wiso, refined and successful manner of self-assertion, It may be defined as the Quality of absolute quicscence, By tho ald of it we move with the semblance of unconsciousness through a throng of which we are inspecting every individual,” The chapter on English Sundays and London churches Gontains a good deal of food for thought, ‘Tho English Sunday is more sombre than our own, * * Tho gon- tool English think it common and snobbish to dress much on Sunday. Of course they ascribe this notion %o their nicer sense of propriety, but how much is due to tho tradition that snobs dress on Sunday because Persons of their station are compelled to work on othor days, I don’t pretend to decide.” Avausrus CuarLes—I guoss that it is the snob tradi- tion that influences public opinion, The Lawyer—In this chapter ho tells of St. Domi- pick’s church, in the heart of business London:—‘dts aisles have been the resting placo of city worthies as Jong as London has had Lord Mayors or London wo- mon bave been comely. Their quaint memories aro Upon the windows—‘Thomas Watson, citizen, of Milk stroot, 1515.’ How many generations of listless chil- dron, lying back in their pews during the long service, Rayo spelt out his virtues on tho marble undernoath nd wondered what a quaint old fellow he ‘was, and how strange it must be to bo @ead 60 long, and have ono name scratched fn such queer characters under the painted figures of saints and martyrs, then sighed to think What an age it would be till dinner time.”’ Mr. Nadal has made a most delightful chapter out of his two Visits (o Oxford, There is more of the atmosphore of the place about what he says than anything I ever read in the same form, Of course there are books that give tho every day life of the Oxons, but I do not rofer to those, Mr. Nadal also spent some time at Cambridge, The life among the fellows of these two universities must ve the ideal life to men of lettors. Until they Marry thoy draw an income of from $1,000 to $1,500 from the university, and for this they aro under no obligation to return any labor, The tutors receive extra pay. The Doctor—I wonder how long before wo have any Such system in this country? Thero is no encourage ment for students with us, In the struggle for bread a man has no time to devote to the higher branches of literature or science. The Association among those university men is worth a great deal of itself, The Lawyun—In the description of English Court festivities the writer is quite at home, Let mo read a fow paragraphs. This is of the Prince of Wales’ leyeo:-— ‘The Prince and several of his brothers and cousins started up in arow, Next to the Prince, on his right, stands Viscount Sydney, the Lord Chamberlain, who ¢alls off each detachment as it approaches, * * # One may often guess the rank or impertance of tho courtier by the manner of his reception, If he = shakes hands with tho Prince you may know he is somebody. If ho shakes hands with all five or six of the princes, you may know he isa very great person. But if he gives the princes ya wide berth, bows hastily and glances furtively at them, and runs by skittishly, then you may know that he is some half-pay colonel or insignificant civil servant. Something, too, may be inferred from the Tongth of time the Lord Chamberlain takes to decipher the name of the comer on the slip of paper which is handed him. If he scans it long and hard and holds it & good way from him, and says, ‘Major To-0-e-bosh- bow,’ then, in aloud yoico, ‘Major Tebow,’ you will be safo in thinking that Major Tebow is not one of the Breatest of warriors or largest of landed propriotors,”” “The Queen's levees are very much longer than those of the Prince of Wales. Then, at all ceremonials where there are ladies, men aro com- pelled to wear, as I have said, silk stockings and knee breeches, shoes and buckles. One can support this costume in tolerable comfort in a warm room, but in Betting from the carriage to the door it is often liko walking knee-deep in a tub of cold water. A cold hall or a draught from an opon door will give very unpleas- ‘fant sensations, In many of the large rooms of the pafaces huge fireplaces, with great logs of wood, roar behind tall brass fenders, Once in front of ono of these the courtier who isn’t a Scotchman feels as if he would mever care to go away.” The Parson—Picturesque but uncomfortable, I should Bay. The Lawren—The chapter on dancing school is very amusing. I should like to havo scen the young attaché gpinning like atop around Mrs, Watson's foors, In the chapters on ‘Contrasts of Scenery” and “New York and London Winters” thore is some beautiful and delicate word painting, and some that is very piquant, For instance:—“I may here say that one Great disadvantage for any person desiring to look at an English landscape is the absence of good fences to sit upon; the ground is usually too damp to permit one to Hie fall jongth. I missed very much tho rail fences of my own country. 1 would come to a pretty prospect, and my legs sinking under mo, I would look about for a place to sit, The imhospitable landscape Had not a single Buggestion, There were no stones, and a hedge was, of course, not to be thought of.’ Hero is a protty pictare:—“If you would sit in somo rose embowored porch while yet the blue-oyed mist lingers in the farthest recesses of the mountain gorge, then it is to the Susquehanna or the Kanawha you must go. There, where the chostnut shade cools the edge of the hot, humming meadow, you may lie, your hands stained with the dark, deep clover, On indolont afternoons Your scow will float through those silent scones, you hearing only the dull lapping of the river at the thirsty kool.” Miss Evrnemia—That is exquisite, The Lawy It ig indeed; but this is the most Denutiful conceit in the book to my mind:—There is a vital hour of the landscape, which, at summer sunseta, is evanoscent, The day concentrates into its parting Blance a swift, intense meaning. Turn your back upon ita momont, or shut your eyes, and itis gone,” I might 83 well end my quotations here, for! could go on all the evening, Tho Docton—And we could go on listening all the evening, “THR CALDERWOOD SkORET,'’ ‘Miss Kvrnemta—t supposo that everything that goos Sato ‘Harper's Library of Select Novela” ia sure of sortain sale, otherwise 1 would be surprisea ar the very ordinary stories that often find their way into that series. Here is an American novel, ‘The Calderwood Secrot,’? by Virginia W. Johnson, ot which it can only be said that it is utterly inoffensive. The plot is as old as the hills, and the characters are neither fresh nor interesting. There is a wicked old “father, who has a wicked son and a not much better grandson. Each one of these porsons is named Buckley Calderwood. The old man bas a daughter who was ‘‘crossed in love," and is consequently sour and cynical. There is an old house- keeper, who knows the Calderwood secret and keeps the old man under her thumb. ‘The second Calderwood, being a good-for-nothing, is kept on one of the farnily estates with his wife and son and daughter Austice. Miss Eleanor lives with her old fatuer, and, scenting @ secret in the air, detormines to find it out. She hada little Chinese key and she dreamed of a little Chinese lock that it would fit. So up she hopped in the night and found the lock she wanted in the pack of a curi ously carved Chinese idol. She turned the key and out Tolled “the last will and testament of Silas Calder- wood” and “directions for advertising my eldest son, James Calderwood, or his heirs," Miss ALMAYIVA—This is becoming exciting. Miss Evruxaia—Thore is mystery enough in the bock. Well, Eleanor discovered tho secret, which was that hor grandfather, Silas Calderwood, had driven his eldest son Jamos from his house, believing him guilty of a crime that Buckley had committed, and these papers were for the purpose of making atonoment, but they bad been concealed by the perfidions Buckley. In tho meantime Eloanor’s nephew and nico young Buck and his sister Austice, having half of their mother’s blood in their veins, develop into something better than their paternal ancestors, Thoy love; Buok is enamored of Margaret Keith, a bouncing blondo, the daughter of arich manufacturer, and Austice loves Bugeno Dillon, and they made love in the garden while the mother drummed on the harp in the parlor, Avavsrus Cuaries—The writer evidently wants to impress her readers with the idea that her people are old time gentlefolks, and {hat although some of them have fallen from grace they should be treated consid- erately on account of their ancestors and acres, They are continually talking about family, which is as bad a sign in an author ag it is in the persons themselves. Even when Keith finds Calderwood robbing his office of private papers in the dead of night she tries to screen him in a measure because he is a gentleman, forsooth. The sayings and doings of ber characters do not proye them gentlemen and ladies; you only suppose they are because sho tells you so on every other page. Miss Eurugw1a—To resume: thore is a great deal of plot and counterplot and supplying of miss- ing links, some love-making and other matters necessary to the make-up ofa novel. At last old Buck- ley dies, having at tho direction of Mra, Todd, the housekeeper, left all his money to charitable institu- tions, Of course, the heirs disputed such a will, taking for thoir ground that the money was not his, but theirs, until the heirs of James Calderwood should come to claim their own. It was not long before an heir came to light in the person of Eugene Dillon, who was tho son of the dead James. He proved to be a generous follow, pensioned his relatives and married his cousin, Austice, and, in the language of the book, now “the duat of Silas Calderwood might repose in peace after a completo, if tardy, reparation.”’ “A QUESTION OF HONOR,'? ‘Here is a book,” said Miss Almaviva, taking up a copy of Christian Reid’s “A Question of Honor’? (D. Appleton & Co.) from the library tablo, that every one is reading, and which most all thiok interesting. The sceno is laid in the South, and the characters are Rosa- lind, Madeline and Basil Severn, Gordon Lacy, Mary Carlisle, @ blind heiress; Arnold Devereaux, James Champion and Helen Champion, Basil Severn is em- ployed in Mr, Carlisle's factory and is ongaged to Helen Champion; Rosalind is engaged to James Champion; Madoliné is engaged to Gordon Lacy, and Mary Carlisle is engaged to Devereaux during tho greater part of the story. The trouble is that nearly overy one of these persons is flirting with the fiancé of the other, which, naturally enough, makes some littlo difficulty, AvGustus Cuartes—Not a bad idea, A little danger* ous in real lifo, perhaps, but quite exciting for the par- ties concerned, Miss Atmaviva—Devereaux had some claim against the Carlisle property and the right to settle it by mar- rying the heiress, Her affliction gave him an opportu- nity for flirtation that Rosalind was not slow to avail herself of. Mies Evruemta—There is something horrible to mo in the idea of marrying a blind person. I think that Dovereaux’s engagomont almost justified his flirtation, Mrs, Craev—You know, my dear, that he engaged him- self to marry of his own freo will, She was a charming girl, quite good enough for any man, and Rosalind was simply detestable, I wonder why it is that plain, straightforward men, like Champion, 60 often choose such girls for their wives, It must be owing to the law of contrast. Mniss Aumaviva—Lacy and Madeline are not well matched either, In this case the man was the bad ono, It was a happy day for her when sho found him out, Helen was much better suited to his ‘poetic’ tempera- mont, Itisa little strange, but in books literary mon are represented generally either as knayes or fools; the samo with literary women. My oxperience is that literary people, with some notablo exceptions, aro just like other people. They are not, and there is no reason they should be long haired if men, or short haired if women. The day for such eccontricities is passed, or, if itis not, it should be. But, to return to the story, Devereaux is not the fortune seeker that one has reason {0 believe in the first instanco. He never marries Mary, for the good reason that sho dies before he has time. Sho tolls him oa her dying bed that she Is go ng to make her property over to him, but he begs so carnestly that she will not, that she grants his request. Madeline is chogen for hor heir and inherits all. She is a good, innocent sort of a girl, and, though she is touched by Mary's kind- ness, would rather not bave tle money. She finds a letter that Mary wrote to her before she dies, in which she tells her that Devereaux loves her (Madeline) more than all the world bosides, though he believes that there is no hope for him, and bo wants to marry Mary, Mary 1s so fond of Madelino that she does not get angry at her betrothed's confossion, but makes her will so that ho and her rival shall haye her monoy, and dies happy in Devereaux’s arms. Madeline is, of course, surprised at this stato of things, and as she {s not in love with Deveroanx, and is en- gaged to another man, sho refuses to touch the monoy, Devereaux refuses, too, and this is the question of honor. Lacy hears of his fancé's determi- nation and tells her what he thinks of her conduct in terms that show what sort of a fellow he is, She for- tunately finds him out and thoy separate, and he gocs to New York and marries Helen Champion. This move surprises Basil somewhat, but he Is glad that the blow came before it was too late, After two years’ waiting Devereaux and Madeline got married and thus settle the question of honor. Mrs, Crexn—It is a ctever little story and I enjoyed it not a little, PIGEON SHOOTING ABROAD, Bocarovs' Trip TO ENGLAND, containing akotches of Western shooting. By Adam H, Bogardus, champion wing shot of the world. New York; The American News Company, 1875, ‘The news of Captain Bogardus’ return to America is hardly cold before we are treated to a book from his pen descriptive of his doings in Groat Britain. The book opens with somo remarks upon the fall shooting of 1874, which lead up to ® description of Captain Bo- gardus’ contest with Mr, Ira Paine, in which Paino was dofeated and Bogardus was acknowledged the first trap shooter in this country, Many people wore curious (o know why the Captain went to great Britain at all. Tho coincidence of his visit with that of the American team favored the sup- position that this coincidence was a preconcerted ono. Such was not the case, Thero is a natveté about tho style of this doughty pigeon slayer which ig quite re- freshing. e ‘The account of the international rifle match at Dolly- mount will be found useful for the purpose of reference, but with it wo aro not at present concerned. Once on English so) the Captain lost no time in getting to work, Witness his challenge of the 19th of Juno, inserted in Bell's Life:— Captain A, 1. Bogardus, tho champion ‘apt » yar 0 champion pigoon shot of America, boing in giant for a short ame, would be glad to make a match to shoot 100 pigeons against any ono for the champtonship of the worla and a reasonable stake, combined with a gold medal, Half the birds to be shot under tho Prairie Club (Chicago) rules, and tho acceptor tv name rules for tho other half, "3 Life to be referee and stakeholder, To take place between tho 10th and 26th of J in or near London, or elsewhere if spocially ‘arranged "This," saya the Captain, “was the frat anmounce- mont I had made of my presence in England.” A thoroughly characteristic one, too. While waiting for a champion to appear tho Captain amused himself with such trifles as the following:— To shoot at twenty-five pairs of pigeons and to kill thirty-eight birds {rom two spring traps, forty yards apart; the shooter to stand on a line between the two traps, which are sprung ut the samo time, To kill twenty-five pigeons in four minutes, the Captain to load his own gun; two birds to be on the wing at the same time. The non-appearance of an English antagonist allowed Captain Bogardus to witness the international rifte contest. Ho thinks that its importance domands tbat he should give it a prominent place in his book. Wo can hardly agreo with him, Tho public would bave been quite agreoable to see Vaptain Bogardua in oxclu- sive possession of his own book, But it was quite as well he went there. We will let him speak for himself agai Betng now on Irish soit, f determined to make my abilities known thero, and [ accordingly issued a general challenge to any man in [reland to shoot at twenty-five birds, according to the rules to bé fixed by the acceptor, the match to come oif July 1, at the grounds of tho Athletic Club, Lansdowne road, near Dublin, I fixed no stake, leaving the matter as open as possible, to draw outacontestant, I had already arranged to have an exhibition shoot on the ground, to come off either in connection with the challenge or independontiy, a8 the case might be, Before the mateb and up to the very day a spirit of opoualiice, Was manifested among & certain class of short-sighted humanitarians, who did what they thought was very effective in keeping away the specta- tors, For this purpose they had prepared large placards, on Which in staring capital letters was the toscription, “DON'T GO TO THE PIGHON BLAUGHTER,'! These were The result of raded up and down tho main streets, 1 this notoriety, given unintentionally, was to bring out a larger crowd than ever, many taking the instructions not to go ax an appeal to the natural perversity of human nature to do what is forbidden. It was looked upon as a shrewd American advertising dodge, and operated in every way satistactorily to my interests, ‘The more important of tho matchos in which Captain Bogardus subsequontly became engaged, in all of which he was the victor, have been duly noticed in these columns, It is, consequently, unnecessary to refer to them here in detail. Cortain incidents. may, however, be briefly noticed; for instance, whero the’ Manchester man puts a dead bird in tho Captain's trap. Tho writer of the book is short and decisive on the Manchester typo, He quotes ono of tho newspapors, and adminis. ters no corrective :— Manchester sporting men—tho professional sporting men—are not very refined beings. They have a strong family likeness, too. Generally, they are short, thick- set mon, bullet:headed, and, physiognomically speak- ing, they are nota prepossessing order of the genus omo. Aglance at them {3 quite sufficient to put a stranger on his guard. If they are uncouth in outward semblance they aro also particularly rudo in specch, like Othello, and you require a moro than ordinary con: centration of wits about you before you do business with them to come out of your dealings with satisfao- tion to yourself. In fact, I den’t like the Manchester sporting man, ‘Thore is a good deal of the rogue in him, and a great deal more of the bully, than honest, quiet: going citizens like to meet with. There is one thing, apparentiy, that every Manchester man who dabbles in sporting mattors can do—according to his own opinion—and that is, lick creation at piggon shooting. LITERARY CHIT-CHAT. The publishers are yery well satisfied with tho fall outlook. James R, Osgood’s announcomont of a special sale is the topic of conversation in publishing cirelos, If Tumor is to be relied upon, it is tho outgrowth of a disagreement between that firm and the Messrs, Leavitt. Foster’s “Life of Jonathan Qwift,” announced by Harper & Brothers, will contain unpublished poems and 150 hitherto unpublished lettors of the distimguished divine. By way of a Christmas book this firm will issue the ‘Catskill Fairies,’ by Virginia W; Johnson, illustrated by Alfred Fredericks. General Doubleday’s ‘Recollections of Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie’? will be published by Harper & Brothers, as will also a new volume of Will Carleton’s poems, entitled ‘Farm Legends." A new novel, by R. D. Blackmore, will be published in one of the Harpers’ periodicals during the year, The Edina edition of Barns and a volume of English poets will be publishod for the holidays by D. Appleton & Co. This latter book will be uniform with “Gorman Pocts,’” and will contain sketches of the lives, with photographic portraits, of distinguished English poets, among whom will be found our own Longfellow. he thirteenth volumo of ‘‘Appleton's Eneyclo- pwdia” contains sixteon pages of matter devoted to Philadelphia, and is filed with illustrations made for the purpose, The first number of the Bryant “History of the United States” will be issued by Scribner, Armstrong & Co, this fal. A magnificent steel portrait of the yeteran poet has been engraved for this volumo by Burke. Some of tho illustrations for the book have been made by the famous Fronch draughtsman, Emil Bayard. A new volume of ‘Talos Out of School,’’ by Frank R. Stockton, will be published this fall. “The New Day,’’ a volumo of poems, in songs and sonnets, by Richard Watson Gilder, will be published by Scribner, Armstrong & Co. this fall, Mr. Gilder is known to the readers of Scribner's Monthly as the writer of the ‘Old Cabinet.” Bret Harte’s novel ‘Gabriel Conroy" will step into Scribner's Monthly as Dr. Holland's story steps out. Mr. Harte’s story will be published in Australia, in tho Australasian, tho largest paper in the world, a weekly of sixty-four pages, Frederick Warne & Co, will publish this novel in book form in England, Tho same firm will publish Dr. Holland's story. Tne hero of Mr, Harte’s novel is said to bo drawn from life, Mrs. Oliphant is engaged to write a series of papers on Windsor Castle, treating of its history and the child- life of successive royal genorations, for St. Nicholas, The “Life of General Burgoyne,”’ which Macmillan & Co, will publish, contains a great deal of frest-material concerning that soldier and the Andro and Arnold epi- sode, It will also contain a fac-simile letter from Gen- eral Washington, in which he expresses tho highost ro- gard for General Burgoyne. ‘A new lot of the Walter Crane toy books will be pub- lished by George Routledge & Sons for the holidays. ‘The pictures in these books are beautiful as works of art, Thoy are after the Japanese achool, and are quaint in design and strong in color. This firm has just issued the “Sermon on the Mount’ in a series of illuminated texts in colors and gold, a full page being devoted to each verse, Henry Holt & Co, will bring out a new edition of “Taine’s Art and Litorature” this fall, Mrs, Alexan- der's ‘Hor Dearest Foe’ will appear in the “Leisure Hour” series beforo it is finished in England. Hardy's “The Hand of Ethelberta’’ will appear also in this series, The fourth volume ia Holt's Amateur Sories will be Berlioz’s autobiography and musical grotosquos, “Bread and Oranges" is the singular title of a now story by the author of the “Wide, Wide World."’ J, W. Bouton announces for early publication “Mon- umental Christianity, or the Art and Symbolism of the Primitive Church,’’ by the Rev. John P, Lundy with over 200 illustrations; ‘Ancient Faith Embodied in Ancient Namos, or an Attompt to trace the Religious Belief, Sacred Rites and Holy Emblems of Christian Nations,” by Thomas Inman, M. D, Roberts Brothers will publish Miss Alcott’ Cousins” this fall. M, Taine is at Annocy, France, where he has just fin- ished the first volume of his ‘French Revolution." M. Rénan has beon compelled to leave off work by a severe attack of gout, The French Academy has just awarded to M. L. Gau- tier, the Guizot prize (3,000f.) for the most remarkable biographical and literary work on a great French writer. J. W. Bouton will publish “The Story of the Stick in All Ages and in Ali Lands,”’ from the French of An- thony Real. It is a curious volume, The Portfolio for September contains a beautiful etch- ing from ono of Turner's “Venicos,"” Anew story by Mrs, Charles, author of the “Odrom- berg Cotta Family," will be published this fall by Dodd & Mead, It is said to be written in a livelier vein than anything Mrs, Charles has written since her husband's death. Sheldon & Co, will publish in November ‘The Life of Eliphalet Nott,"’ for sixty years President of Union Col- lege. Also a volume of “Lectures to My Studente,’”? by ©. H. Spurgeon. This firm will probably publish the novol that Theodoro Tilton ts engaged upon, and which is sald to take charity as its text, Mr. Scudder’s new juvenile, “The Doings of the Bod. ley Family,” will be published by Hurd & Houghton, Tho book is uniquely bound and prottily illustrated, Mr. Leypoldt and his assistants haye under way an index or short title finding list to preface the “Uni- form Trade List Annual.” Ono hundred and twenty catalogues will be found in this volume, and tho tndex, Including educational list, will contain 22,000 titles, ‘Right REAL ESTATE. A Chapter About Tax Sale “Scalpers.” How the City Profits at the Expense of Property Owners, GREEN'S BASEMENT SALES. $$$ $e ] Aabitués of the Comptroller's auction room for the rour- Views of Pine Street on the’ “Noiseless Panic.” Rents Sympathizing With the Decline in Real Estate. There have boen during the week x0’ developments in the real estate market of frosh importance, at least no transactions have taken place calcutated to please either the “bulls” or the *‘bears.”” All agree that there have not been for years so few sales at this season of the year or as few offers made for property by capitalists, who, driven out of the bond and mortgage market, as explaincd in the Herstp last Sunday, by the monopoly given the savings banks and insurance companies, are ready to take advantage of tho decline in values and purchase parcels the moment holders discover that their interests will be subserved by roloasing a portion of what they have carried in cx- pectation of arise, A member of one large firm, on being questioned as to the condition of the market, turned away from the letter he was writing, with the remark :— “What did you say, sir, have you property to sell f’” “Oh, no,” sald the writer, “I merely calicd not to— sell—but—to learn whether thero is any cha‘ace to——"’ “Chance to sell! my God! nobody wants to buy. There is no market."’ “But I want to inquire what the prospecis aro of a rise in the market. I have taken——’’ “You have taken chances? my dear sir, to speak plainly, there 1s no chance. The market is a:\ dead as the devil and——"’ “Bat, air, not so fast. There must be a future in tho real estate market and I wish to know from you ex- perts whether there is any chance for capital, to be profitably placed.” “No, sir; no, sir. Haven't you read tho Henwap’s review of the panic of 1836-7, and what led to it, Wo can’t sell anything, That article told the story, <All I can say is to beware of the figuro “7,” Evory year ending in the sevens, as you will see, has boon fivtal. Take a goat, sir, if you wish to remain, and hear mo further. I’m just closing a letter and will be happy: to chat with you in 4 moment, if you wish to offer on very low terms.”’ When the letter was finishod, this gentleman wae informed of the nature of the visit, when he stated that at no time within his recollection had the situa- tion been leas bright. I havo no hope,” said he, “of the market withstanding a panic unless the per- ‘sonal tax on mortgages is removed, so that capitalists can advance upon property, and, by improving it, In- crease its value.” Another said:—‘‘Tho markot is duller than ever. It is inclined to bo ‘ panicky,’ if I may use the word. The Hyratp's revival of the rocollections of 1837 has checked the few who wero disposed to venture into purchases, and caused those whos property is not mortgaged, and who have means to pay the taxea, to hold on to it. My own opinion is that we are coming back to spocie payments, and capitalists, who have money lying idle, could profitably bay now at reduced values, with inflated currency.”” Mr, Anthony J. Bleecker, the oldest operator on the street, takes a very gloomy view of tho future and ap- prehends that a repetition of tho scenes of 1837 is near, so far as speculators in fancy lines of property are con- cerned; yet he hopes that tho holdors of valuable city Property that has not in past years been inflated, will be able to hold it and weather the threatening storm. Mr. Williams, of Williams & Raynor, bore testimony to tho dullness of the market and the disposition of all operators to hold back, In his opinion there is trouble ahead, unless relief comes by taking off the personal tax. PALL IN RENTS. While property has gono off one-third in valuo rents have not sympathized with the docline to the same ex- tent, Yet it is admitted that leases given this summer and fall on uptown stores and residences on the bus@ ‘ness avenues, on tenement housos and residences in and about West Morrisania, Tremont, Mott Haven, Fordham, West Farms and portions of Brooklyn havo fallen all the way from ton to fifty por cent, according to locality and facilities for reaching the city. Ono of the finest villa seats noar the dopot at Melrose, valued at $40,000 and last year hold at a rental of $1,200, was rented in May last for $750, Some fino two story and basement brick houses on the hill about 139th stroot, Mott Haven, hold in May at $800, aro still empty and there are few taken at tho prosont price of $400, ‘These are but a few instances that might be given of decrease in rents, In Hunter’s Point, Greenpoint and Williamsburg rents aro belay Cptiyag f and landlords who held their houses and rs at high prices find them empty and unable to get tenants at a reduction of twenty-five per cent from the figures of May last. It is estimated that in Greenpoint there are vacant over 150 houses and 300 floors, while in Williamsburg, ac- a to population as compared to Groonpoint, there is noarly as large a percentage of vacant tenements, The severity of last winter in blockading the Rast River with ice has doubtless had much to do with bringing down rents in. the places reached by ferry- boats, and a greater fall will likely take placo next spring. ‘ THE TAX SALE ‘‘SCALPERS, "’ While the salos made by the city of lands and tene- ments for arrears of taxes and assessments has no viei- ble effect upon the real estate market, it is a feature of real estate sales that property owners should know more about. Every year sales of this nature are held in a dingy room under the Comptroller's office, and the noxt sald will take place October 5. Usually property to the value of from $1,250,000 to $1,500,000 changes hands ostensibly owing to the neglect of the owners to pay taxes and special assessments levied upon it, or to their ignorance of such assessment until their property: has been sold by the city for such default in payment of assessments, Under chapter 38% Laws of 1871, the D partment of Figance is empowered to chargo twel per cent interest, upon all sums unpaid up to tho timo of sale, which shall be advertised in the City Record, and an’ addition of $5 for advertising on every piece, For instance, if the assossment on a piece of property ig $500, the interest of twelve per cent added is $60, and tho advertising $5 makes a total o} $565 recorded against the parcel or lot at the time of sale, The bidding ig according to the timo and not as to the amount. The purchaser agrees to pay all assexs- monts for the past, and bids the property off for 1,000 500, 100, 50 or less years. Itis knocked down to the viddor who accepts it for the shortest period, After the sale the owner has two years in which to redeem it, but he mast pay the purchaser all he has invested in the property and interest thereupon at the rate of four- toon per cent per year. When the two years have ex- pired the purchaser must notify the owner that unless he redecms it in six months and pays the additional in- terost of fourteen percent per year a deed will bo taken ont. Ifthe owner still defaults a deed is given by the city authorities, Mr. Cady, Clerk of Arrears, reports that about five per cent only of the parcels sold eventu- ally change hands, ninety-five property within the two and a half yoars or acquiring a title to iheir property later by special agreement with the purchaser, Those sales afford speculators fine opportunities for investment, and there aro men about the City Hall and the Comptroller’s office who take special pains to at- tena these sales and capture ali the property they can got. They are styled ‘tax sales scalpers.”” As the time approaches for these salos they withdraw their de- posits from the savings banks, where they only receive six or seven per cont, and invest in these sales, where they are sure of realizing fourteon per cent per year, or at that rate for a shorter period. Beside the ‘‘soalp- ers"’ who attend are many persons who hold mortgages upon property to be gold, who bid upon it with a view of strengthening the title. Sometimes two parties may have liens upon tho property, and a warm compe- tion rostlting to get an additional lien, the property goes down to a short period, but seldom below 100 years, Mr, Cady assigns as one of the reasons for so many defalcations in payment of assessments that the heavy assessments made against unproductive property rende it dificult for roperty own- ers to meet thom in time, The sales are very profitable to the city, and tho greater tho number who default the more tho city realizes. Abundance of money can be borrowed at seven per cent to run the city government un © sales re- alize the city principal and interes: thatim the end the city makes five per cont out of every defaulter. The sale of last December realized about ‘$1,500,000, and there being 3,891 parcels advertised for sale on October 5, it 1s believed that the amount will be evon Iargor this year than it, and that many who never before werd ‘‘scalpors,’’ now that there aro no chances at Archania will Compote with the old teen par cent per year, SOM OF THE DSPAULTERS. Among the yarcels advertised for salo on October 5 and eybsequent days, are lots assessed to many well known citizens and institutions, In every instance they may not be the owners, and may have sold the nny f long ago, but their names are still on the books in the Bureau of Arrears as such owners. Willtams & Butt, Dutch Reformed church, St Joseph's Orphan Asylum, Duane street M. E. church, Tami Boekman (Guany Ward achool, No. 12, parools), R. C. Orphan Asyluin, Mochanics and Traders’Bank, Ailaire Iron Works Dutch churel, Terence Fart vy Jersey Cantral Railroad, Continental Hank, KB Bout! Primary sehool, No, 29. P. A &T. B. Hogeman, Reformed Dutch eburch, Motropolitan Gas Company, Third Avenuo Railroad Uo., on, Murray & C an, W. U. Dikemaa, John Townsend, ‘ It. Dickman, Judge E. W. Stoughton, ‘fnomas Murphy, Jolin McCool, General D, Buitorfleld, St. Vincent Ferrer church, William B. Astor, J. M. Livingston, St. Ji ‘sand Drovers Bank, at Geravan Hospital, M. Livingst: Cooper Inst Bloooker Stract Itailroad C: “a % aa. England, je Rallway Co. Chaureh of The Rest, iy Charch of Holy Apostlo, Ntih Avenue Baptist ch’ch, 5 2G. Sottroys, Union Theologien! Seminary, it, t Railroad Co., Mrs. W. H. Wickham, Siators of Meroy, Harlem Railroad Company, Children's Aid Society, William J. Blodgett. Bagsttion hayinz, Roman Catholic Vometery, Jowish Cometery, J.C. Pinkney, Shilob Church, big ett ne ane. J. Joseph's Orphan, Asylum, ners Loan and "Trust 0 FP. rvelt, Ch. of Our of Soro. Ambrose Adama, w, | ¥. Beekman, Empire Skating Rink Co., dson Railroad Compaay, Gordon, Fellows & McMillan, Rutgers Instituto, ‘oun Conover, St. church, Ex Judge J. #, Coulter, Bpotford & Mleston, Fernando Wood, Church of the Holy’ Cross, Courtlundt Pater, ‘Thomas Collyer, Hebrow Benevoleui Society, Church of 3t, Boniface, D. Sh Colktmbla College, * New R. 0. Cathedral, R. B. Minturn, Jobn H, Talman, Previous to.the w Orphan Asylum, all O. Roberts, St. Stephen's chureh, Eli Hoyt and Gould & iLoyt. 0 of tho act of 1871 very fow of these salen for arrears. of assessments stood & contest in the courts, but lawyers and real estate mon-| report that in no caso has asale been set aside under the present law. Formerly these sales, or rather a full description of every piece, with the name of the party to whom assessed, were ailvertised in the daily jour- nals, where overy one in tod could read them. Then the “sculpers’’ had little chance, and the city had few dofantters. Since they appear only in tho City and in a printed catalogue that cam be obtained at the Bureau of Assoesmonts THOUSANDS HAVE NO KNOWUKDGE | of the facts that assessments are mado against thoir property until after the sale, and many not until the two years oxpire, when they are notified by the buyer to redeem it. a It is chargod that there are abuses ih the Comptroller's | office, growing out of these gales, that aro very op- pressive to victims; real estate men charge that attachés act in the interest of owners, in getting sules set aside, and charge for this servico oxceasive sums. Ono law firm, who prosecute proceedings in tho courts to set aside those sales, states that one of thoir clients was charged $500 for supplying the ovidence to have a sale set aside, while they charged but $100 to conduct tho legal proceeding before the court. Deputy Comp- troller Earlo, Chief Clerk Storrs and Mr. Cady, Clerk of the Bureau of Arrears, declare that they have no know- ledge of such irregularitics. by tho clerks, but there can be no doubt that some receive perquisites from real estate men beyond their regular salaries from the city. THY RYFRUT OF MIKAVY TAXATION UPON THR MARKET, There is no doubt of the fact that ono of the great causes of the stagnation In the market is the heavy taxation upon unimproved or unproductive property. It will be seen from the following Ogures that the rato is higher this year than ever bofore, higher even than in tho last year of the reign of tho Tweed-Connolly family compact, when it was $3 17 on the $100, against $2 94 this year:— Assessed Value, Assessed Falue, Real and Per. Year. Real Estate,’ sonal Proj Rate, + $769, 306,410 $1,076,253,633 $2 17 72 797,125,115 1,104,074,537 2 90 73 +++ 836,699,980 1/129, 139, 2 50 1874.0... 881,547,995 —1154,020,176 = 280. 1875. 3,643,545 — 1,100.943,699 2 Ot It will be seon that while the vaiuation of real estate has increased this year by over $2,000,000, as compared with tho provious year, the rate of taxation has been ndvanced from $2 80 to $2 940n tho hundred. This fncreaso is accountod for by the fact that the personal emtate has largely fallen off since last year, Persons who had heavy amounts in taxable securities, such as bands, stocks, &c., have withdrawn them and placed ther 'in non-taxable secur.ties, Hence the rate has been incroased as well as the valuation of real estate, Tho inability of many holders to mee¢ thoir taxes om unproductive property is shown in the fact that, while the sales at the Exchange rooms show a falling off in prioos of fifty per cent, the valuation by the city has boon increasod instewl of decreased, and the rate of taxation increased as well, The decrease in personal property since 1874 has beon $55,181,027, which is not sufficient to justify an increased municipal valuation and rate, This fact has excited much com- ment in real estate circles, and has had a tendency to provent persons Investing in unimproved property lest noxt year they may be cailed upon to pay a much heay- ter rate of taxation at an increased valuation, SUBURBAN PROPERTY, Roal estate on Staten Island and in the towns in New Jorsey suffers from the stagnation as well as this city, and Westchester property to even a greater extent it some instances. Long Island , Which have been greatly inflated, cannot find any buyers, The only sale of the fall that brought anything like its old value was made by Jere, Johnson & Co. on Thursday, They sold forty lots of a quarter acro each at Cornwallon the Hud- son, for an average price of $600 per lot. We hear of no other sales of this kind of property. THE BRAZILIAN EMPIRE, MOVEMENTS OF THE EMPEROR—REPUBLICAN TENDENCIES—RIOTOUS RESISTANCE TO THE CONSCRIPTION LAW, Bio Jannino, August 25, 1875. The Emperor and Empress are stifl in San Paulo, whither they wont on the 16th, and we are looking for them back here on the 30th, tho Emperor, in his usual manner, doing all the lions of that go-ahead province at railroad speed, one day darting off to tho iron minos of Ipanema, another to the west, then to the north, northeast, north-northwest, and wherover thero is a raitroad to open or a model colony to examine. In fact, the Emperor is the most indofath§ able of tourists, whether at home or abroad, and if he sees nothing it is not from want of early rising and steady viewing. It is in classic ground the Emperor ts now troading, and tho Paulistas, though STRONGLY LEANING TOWARDS REPUBLICANISM. in their sentiments, have reeeived him as the son of the man who threw himself into the arms of indepen- dent Brazil on that memorable day on the plain of Ipiranga. While the Paulistas are ‘fostejando”’ the Emperor and Empresa, there 1s a decided fooling of hostility: dis- played all ovor the rest of the country toward the Con- scription law, and from all parts come the TIDINGS OF RIOTS at the parish enlistments, resulting only in the dostruc- tion of the books, because the police are too weak to resist the mobs and wisely do not attempt. matters look considerably squally for the realization of the drawings next July, and the government has no force at its command to enforco the law in & single pro- vince even should the resistance be generai in it, Among the laws passed during the eession of the Chambers is one which makes foreigners committin, abroad offences against ‘tho indepenaenoe, integrity an: dignity of the nation,” against the ‘constitution of the Empire and form of government,” against the “chief of the government” or counterfeiting national monoy or stuck or bank bills, liable to pi ution here if they come voluntarily or are broaght oy extradition to Brazil. The same lability incurs fm case of crimes of forgery, perjury, swindling or other unbailablo offence committed abroad against ians; or they may be surrenderod or expel Tho same law permits international exchange of evi- dence, the execution of foreign civil judgments, and the judgment of crimes committed on board Bra. zilian vessols at sea or in territorial waters, or on board foreign vessels in torritorial waters or’ ports, Ac: quittal, punishment, pardon or haere ge abroad will stay Brazilian proceedings im all cases. The chief mo- tive of the law was to attack counterfeiting of Brazilian money abroad. Afairs with the a oo Confederation remain without movement, The last from Bueuos Ayros is that Argentine negotiations with Paraguay were to be reopened at Buenos Ayres, In fact, LONGFELLOW IN MALNE. The Bridgton (Mo.) News says:—A flutter of oxcite- ment was created in his village Tuesday evening by the report that the poct Longfellow had arrived and was to stop over night at the Brighton House. Not that it ts by any means an uncommon thing for dis. tinguished porsons to visit our place, but it is but once in a lifetime, perhaps, that we aro honored with the presonce of tho groat Longfellow. Professor Long. fellow came exprosely to see for himsolf tue beauties of the Sebago Lake route, and we are gratified to know that he speaks in the ‘highest terms of it, especially the passage throagh tho Songo, which he pronounces as owe ol the most delightful scenic oxperfences !n tis country, The steamer, with the large party of Odd Fellows, came up through the Notch, ageing the Im: which latter awoke something akin 0 ent m the poet's heart, for there was the very “Cave” which his friend Hawthorne used to visit whon a lad, and other spots frequented by the great novelist, Mr, Longfellow was accompanied by his two oungest daughters, now grown to womaal his other, Samuel Longfellow, of Cambridge, and his sister, Mrs, Ania Pierce, of Portland, who wore equally enthustastic over the trip, and who returned with him on the steamer the next morning. The world-famous poot shows the encroachments of age, so far as looks aro concerned ; though bearing tho weight of sixty. eight years, figuro ts as erect, bis step as firm, his physical health apparently as good and his wonderful intnd ag clear and brillant as twenty yoars ago Yi SHIPBUILDING. Work in the Shipyards of Nvw York and Suburbs. VESSELS RECENTLY LAUNCHED, The past ton years have developed some remarkable changes in shipbuilding, as the once prosperous yards from whence hundreds of our handsomest vessels were launched are now comparatively deserted, and the only. work in hand appears to be repairing and patching up old vessels. This rather alarming condition of affairs has not come suddenly upon us, as ever since tho war, the activity im the shipbuilding of New York and tia Vicinity has been on the decrease, In the lapse of tima {ntervening between the years 1850-55 the ship- yards of ew York had all the work’ they could carry out, and some handred vessels of largo tonnage were launched and added to the merchant’ navy of the country. Ever since the war the trade appears to have been very dull, and one by one old: firms whose names were known in every portion of the world retired from the business as they found theie | trade was gradually drifting away. There ore different ways of accounting for this stagnancy in shipbuilding in Now York, but they nearly all have issue on what may be termed war prices. Eyer since the close of 1865 labor and materials havo been rated at a high figure, and the cost of building became so extravagant that merchants found it cheaper to buy up old vosaela and patch them up so as to stand two or three voyagos. Karly in 1870 the trade appears to have brightenod up alittle around New York, and some few vessels of considerable tonnage were built during the noxt three years; but in 1874 the work stopped, and the yards of such men ag Polllon, Steers, Van Deusen and others were filled with vessels undergoing repairs. The condi tion of affairs may be seen in a glance, when itis known that a pilot boat forstho Cape May pilots com- prises the entire list of new vessels that the Poillons have turned out this season, It must not be undere stood, howevor, that Amorican shipbuilding is on the decline, as in reality the business is nearly as good as ever, but it has changed its venu, and now the han somo vossels known in foreign waters as “the smart Yaukce clippers,’’ that used to claim New York asa birthplace, are nearly all the handiwork of Eastorm builders. ‘Talking yesterday with @ well known New York ship- builder another explanation of the declino of the business was given to tho Hxnatp reporter, On boing asked how business wus, the following conversation ensued Saiprvitogr—Business! There is literally no bust- ness, with the exception of what is being done in the way of repairs, Our yards are kept pretty full, and our hands employed, but they work entirely on repairs. Rueorrer—How do you account for this lack of bust~ ness ? Smirsci.pgr—Various theories aud opinions have boen advanced on the question, but I betieve it is mi attributable to the fact that New York merchants ay pear to prefer buying what they want rather than go the troub!e of building. RurorterR—Do you not think prices have something ‘to do with it? SnirncitprR—Not so much as the fact that Rastera. shipyards are supplying tho market, and as New York shipping houses find they ¢an buy what thoy want thoy do not care to build. Rerontkr—How is it that there is so much more enterprise in the trade in the small Eastern towns ? SuivsvrLpkR—From the fact that there is more per- sonal pride in the growth of their towns, Now York is a cosmopolitan place, and business men hero think mainly of the pecuniary benofits that will be secured by number one on the outlay of his money. East there is a great deal of competition in the small towns, and all the storekeep- ers are more or less interested in shipbuilding. It is not an uncommon thing to find one vessel with twenty or thirty different owners, each interested from $500 to 000, Rerorrer—ts there any prospect of the trade returms ~ to New York? Hie BurLpER—There has been no indication of the kind, as at present I do not know of any large vossot that ‘is being constructod im this vicinity, ° work is all being carried out in such towns as . Kennobunk, Brewer, Newburyport, Belfast, Rockland, Yarmouth, Camden, Richmond and East Boston. Rerorren—In your opinion, is ship building on the decline in the United States? Sar BurpxR—No, Ido not think it is, a3 judging from mercantile reports shipyards in the East are turning out as much work as we used to do some fit toon years ago. The mercantile community do not appear to think that the docline in the ship building trade of New York is owing to any lack of enterprise on the part of mes- chants, but rather to the fact that froighting is now done to a great extent by steamers. The competition betwoen steamers and sailing vessels has resulted ux the former twig | goods at the same figure as the latter, and having the advantage of a quiek delivery they se- cure the majority of the business. In fact, there is very little choice to the shipper, as he naturally —— sending goods by tho vossel that will take them throug! in twelve days to risking them in a sailing vessel will not make the voyage under thirty or forty days. He saves the interest on the value of the goods, and also socures an carly market, Down in Maine Lal Pager gman there be plenty of activity in ship building, and some very fine sailing veasela have beon launched this yoar. ‘Many of the small seacoast towns are nearly entirely supported by that branch of industry, and therefore its merchants are forced to keep up the work in order to give labor to the mechanics, whose earnings are spent in the towns, If the mechanic gets thrown out of work he naturally has no means of livelihood, and the stores lose the trade on which they depond for support. Vessels are bailt in Maine from fittoen to twenty per cent cheaper than they can be constructed in New York, as both labor and timber are cousiderably cheaper. The follow. ing vessels have been 1s nched from Eastern yards during the past six months Nene si Tonnage. Place Built, TST......Bast Boston, Ella Voae. eee cy id John Shepat . Newbury Waltor Armighton. 2 ‘Rockland, Me, Bonanzi 1,856...) Bath, Me. Charles x 1,710, Richmond, Me. City of Philadelp’ 1457... .. Bath, Me. Albert Russell. .... 762...... Newburyport, Mass, ‘St. John, N. Sarah M. Loring. Admiral. . Centennial. Lucy A. Ni ge8ede WH Mare *360......Portsmouth, N. BL Florence L. 600 G, Rensens,.«.. ary Kalalis. 560, Mary Jonnes# 505, A. 3. Davis. 1,599. B 1472 1419. 1,928 Bath, Me, 1,602......St. John, N. B, 1,608. ..... Kennebunk, Me 5 581 «Kast Boston. The above list pares ably with the work that was accomplished in the busy years of 1854 at HUMAN SALIVA KILLS SNAKES. The Marietta (Ga) Journad was told by a gentleman the other day that human spittle was as deadly to poisonous snakes as their bites were deadly to man, He says while picking up a bundlo of straw and trash under his arm, while cleaning a field, a ground rattle. snake, four fect long, crawled out from it and fell to the ground at his fect, He at once placed his heel upon the head of the snake and spit in its mouth, Shortly afterward the snake showed symptoms of inactivity and sickness, and ho picked it up by its tail ond carried it to the house and showed it to his wil telling her he had spit in tts mouth and that it ws poisoned. At the expiration of fifteen minutes the snake was dead, To further hee pene he came ross a blowing adder (snake), which ejected from its mouth a yellowish liquid. He .caught it and spit in ite mouth, and it died. caught another blowing. and it refused to open Its mouth. He spit upon a stick and rubbod the spittle upon the adder’s nose, and it died, ‘Afterward he came across a black snake, regarded ag not poisonous, and ho caught it and spit in its mouth, Instead of the spittle killing the black snake, as tt did the poisonous reptiles, it only mado it stapidly from which it recovered. This conclusively shows poisonous snakes have as much to fear from the spittle of man as man has to fear from their bites, A BABY BURIED ALIVE, {From the Cynthiana (Mo,) Democrat, On last Friday Mr, Thomas A, Lemmon, who resides in this county, about six miles from this place, wet out to his barn to attond to some business, when he heardacry as of something in distress, He at frat thought it was a cat, but could not tell, and began searching for whatever it might be that was making tha noise, After looking for somo moments he wenttoa ile of logs that wero piled up ander the cave of the barn, and upon finding that the noise camo from it, he began moving the logs, and, after moving them, he found a heap of fresh dirt and the cry (evidently of @ child now), seeming to come from under the groans and upon digg tho dirt away he was horrified to nt about three or four days old, which had beom It was still alive, having been laid on ite back, a handkerchief placed over its face and two wide boards over it, 80 aa to not touch the baby, and tho dirt on the boards’ making a nice little grave. The child ia alivo and well, and, although it is not certain, still thoy think it is koown bill the ebiid thore, and the: Va will continue sami certainty im an imi buried alive,