The New York Herald Newspaper, October 3, 1875, Page 9

THE BOOK WORLD. “Buflets” on Society People by an Tnexperienced Hand. A GEM OF A STORY. American Humor and Humorous American Stories. “pUrrETS.’? “Just lend me that poker, mother,” said the Parson, “I want to tickle the ribs of this grate for about one minute. The fire is all dead and white underneath and two or three well directed pokes will send the flames Jaughing up the chimney. There, now, ,isn’t that an improvement? This is almost as bright and pretty as the Squire’s log fire. What do you say about it Major?” i “Beautiful, beautiful, my boy,” replied the Major, drawing up his chair, ‘it. seems a pity to light the gas when the fire burns as brightly as that, What does tho, honorable club say? Shall we chat awhile by the light of the flames ?”” The Docror—Now listen to this romantic major, Well, to please him we will sit in the dim religious light of a Liverpool coal fire, Of course the ladies cannot go on with their fancy work, but why should they? Mra. Creed, however, would not ‘top her knitting if the Foom were pitch dark (Turns down the gas). There is ‘Rot so much difference after all. I can read the title of this book well enough: “Buffets,” by Charles H. Doe; Boston, James R, Osgood & Co. ‘That’s pretty good for a man of fifty-two, without his spectacles, Avausrus Crartes—Brayo, Doctor! now vell us what you think of this book, The Docror—I have not read it, but Miss Skimmer has, for I caught her in the act the other day. Is it the €reat American novel, Miss Skimmer? Miss Skumen—Not by a great deal. I expect Bret Harte to write that long expected book. This is an American novel, to be sure, but not the one in question Mr. Doe has not the first requisite for writing that one, for he don’t know anything about American society, that is, the type he means to represent, the “upper ten.” The members of the “Twiddler Club,” while they are drawn close to the life, perhaps, are not the “heavy swells” they would seem. They have plenty of money; smoke a great deal, play @ great deal and talk a great deal of small talk, and act very much like a party of newly’ fledged schoolboys, Almost every chapter is impreg- nated with the odor of tobacco smoke and enlivened with the popping of corks. ‘The first chapter is an at- tempt at wit and consists of two lines. The author has fn idea of saying funny things and ho does Bo occasionally, His descriptions of common People are much better than those ofthe “aristocracy.” Jack Houldworthy, who is the hero and one of the Twiddlers, goes to the wed- ding of an humble friend who marries a grocer’s flaughter, He is made the lion of the evening, over the bride and groom. That chapter is pretty good. When, however, the author pretends to tell us that after a gen- Heman foils, if he does so honorably, his friends will cut tim and never call upon his family in their more bumble quarters, then it is time to question what he knows about real ladies and gentlemen, who are never guilty of such vulgarity. Jack goes into a wholesale firug store and is turned the cold shoulder by the-mayor- Ity of the Twiddlers, Of course, he could not live his tlub life while on @ meagre salary, but then there was a0 reason why he should be socially ostracized. AvGustus Cuartes—I should think that Charley Lush might have been banished from society and good reason. He belonged to the very aristocratic Twiddlers, yet he got under the influence of the flowing bowl on the slightest provocation, and went into the presence of ladies when he couldn't tell a hawk from a handsaw, and when going home at night amused himself by breaking off bell handles, The funniest thing in the book to me is Jack’s call on Miss Pullis, of the black tyes, whose conversation was limited, and who, in flesperation, asked him if he didn’t like to look at pho- tographs, He politely said that he did and she opened her album upon him and began to describe the pictures, like a showman at a panorama, “That is my brother | Robert. It was taken after he had just recovered from along sickness and was very thin, That is my uncle Thomas. He went to California, &c, That is my aunt Jane. I don’t know much about her. She died when Iwas achild.” Jack mentally concluded after an in- spection of Aunt Jane’s portrait that this was perhaps as well for her relations, “That old gentleman on tho next page,” Miss Pullis went on relentlessly is my grandfather—or one of them,” she added suddenly, with a praiseworthy desire mot to deceive her listener. “Ah, quite a fine looking old gentleman,” said Jack; ‘‘he was in the seafaring way, I should judge.” “Not at all,” said Miss Pullis, with dignity; “be was a doctor!” “Ah, yes, tobe sure, of course,” said Jack; “I had it in a bad light; and this is your grandmother on the other side?” “No, thatis an aunt of my mother’s!” “Ab, indeed,” said Jack, with that air of extreme interest which young men are compelied to assume when pictures of other people’s aunts are shown them by young ladies, “That,” continued the remorseless Miss Pullis, “is one of my best friends.” “Quite a protty face,” said Jack, “who is she?” ‘Her name {s Miss Munchinello; she lives quite near here, and we see a great deal of each other,” &c,, &e. I greatly sympathize with Jack, for I have been caught in that sort of ascrape myself. 1 don’t mind looking over an album of celebrities, but when it comes to ‘aunts and cousins by the dozens” I fecl that I] am indeed @ martyr, “pie LACY DIAMONDS.’? “You had better lot me try a hand at your fre, parson,” said the Major, “it seems to be running down. Just give me that poker, please.”” Avoustus CHaRL¥s—The Major is the man for a fire, in the house or in the ficld, gee that, already, what a blaze. I can tell the color of Miss Euphemia’s eyes from here. The Doctor—That is singular, indeed. The Lawrer—And I can see the flash of the ‘Lacy | Diamonds,” lying on the table yonder. Miss Evrnkaia—It is not a flashy book, however, papa. The Panson—Ladies and gentlemen, I am astonished that the Book Club, of Ourville, should stoop to such levity. Let usto business at once, Since you have | mentioned “The Lacy Diamonds,” (E.T, Hale & Son), my dear Lawyer, what is your opinion of the story ?”” The Lawyrer—I have read all the books of this ‘suthor and find them fresh and enjoyable, He has no stilted style, but just tells a plain unvarnished tale, with occasional touches of wit that are very amusing, His plots are always exciting, but he relates the inci- dents just as you or I might to the members of this club. Whatever he thinks he says, He describes a ady’s dress very elaborately, and then tells you that he got tho description out of a fashion journal. The author is evidently an amateur and writes because he Joves to, He is fortunate in getting good plots and having hit upon an original way of working them out, His heroes are all athletes as well as chivalrous gentle- men. They are famous shots and fence like French. men. The “Lacy Diamonds” is the third of the series and asort of sequel to “Harwood,” though it is not necessary to have read the one to enjoy the other Their diamonds have long been a curse to tho Lacy family, and no good ever comes to their owner on ac- count of a prophecy accompanying them in these ‘words :— Empurpled with blood drawn from kinsman’s veins; The curse-cumbered jewels their stain do retain ‘Till the salt waves of ocean shall wash out the stain! ‘Who hireth Redkeep, of the Lacy strain, a half score may never attain, ‘Till the tower and the last of the Lacy name Shall pass from tho earth ’mid tempest and flame! ‘The prophecy was fulfilled to the letter, and in the fulfilling there are some tragic and romantic situations, Miss Evrnemta—Who Is the author of these books? Avevustvs Coartes—I do not know positively. It is time for him to tell his name now, for the books have been well received. You ought to like them, Mrs, Creed, for they are pure and healthy in tono, if they are not of the highest literary merit, Miss Evrnemia—I like them because the men are 80 manly and strong, and so like what one’s brothers wight be, “HOOSIER MOSAICS.”? The Docror—Here is a little book I picked up in New York the other day, and which I have read with @ good demi of nlapsura, lh ia ealied “Hapalar, | ject was “The Claims of Literary Culture upon the NEW YORK H#KALD, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3%, 1875. Mosaics,” and is published by E. J. Hale & Son The author is Maurice Thompson, a new name to me, If he is a young man I predict that he will make a reputa- tion by sticking to the vein he has struck. His stories are all of Western life, and are written under the in- fluence of Bret Harte, but are notin imitation of that writer. There is a good deal of humor in his portraits and descriptions, His dénouementsare not as, striking as they might be, but he brings you up to them very cleverly, The first story, ‘Was She a Boy,” is as good ‘as the title, and is very nicely told indeed. ‘*Trout’s Luck” is good. It describes the bad luck of Jack ‘Trout, an Indiana lad, who went toa country fair and spent his last $2 bill in prize-candy packages and lost. Everything went dead against him, while his friend Bill Powell drew $5 for fifty cents one time and a beautiful locket and chain at another. This latter he had the effrontery to present to Jack’s sweetheart in the very face of the miserable Jack, and then walk off with the girl on his arm. ‘Big Medicine” is among the best stories in the book, though a trifle coarse. Big Medicine was told to Paint some advertisements on the fences and sheds, and he undertook to do the job in the night to save time. He didn't know much about the business nor about Webster either. The next morning there was an excitement even in rough Jimtown, when Big Medi- cine’s handiwork saw the light of day. On Deacon Jones’ fence was scrawled the following:—‘Dern yer ole sole, ef yer want good kofly go to Cook & Golding’s nu stoar,”’ John Butler, a nice old Quaker, had the following daubed on his gate:—“Yu_ thievin duk-legged ya and na ole cuss, ef the sperit moves ye go git a broad-brimmed straw hat at Cook & Golding’s great stand at Jimtown.”? Old Peter Gurley found this on his new wagon bed:—“Ef yoor dri or anything you'll find a virtoous kag of ri licker at. Cook & Golding’s,” and 80 on, The good people were angry and amused too, and in the end patronized Cook & Golding. “The Venus of Balhinch” is funny and has some pretty descriptiop, too, If Mr, Thompson is an old hand his prospects are not so bright; but, if he ts young man, I believe, by care and stury, he will do much better work than is in this little volume. Avaustus Cuartes—Just let me have the book, Doc- tor, please; I should like to read some of these sketches (turning the leaves), This is not bad:—A girl is work- ing butter, “I drew my chair somewhat nearer, and watched her pat and roll and squeeze the plastic mass with the cherry ladle. A little gray kitten came and rubbed and purred around her, Again the bulldog peeped in, A breeze gathered some force and began to ripple pleasantly through the room, Far away in the fields I heard the quail whistling to each other. An old cow strolled up the lano by the house and round the | corner of the orchard, plaintively tinkling her bell. Steadily hummed Mrs. Adair’s spinning wheel,”’ ‘The Docror (laughing)—Yes that is very pretty. You would not believe from that introduction what was 80 soon to follow. “KINGSBURY SKETCHES.” “G, W. Carleton & Co, have sprung a new humorist upon us in the person of John H! Kingsbury, who is introduced in a volume called ‘Kingsbury Sketches,’ ’” said Augustus Charles, resting his elbow gracefully upon the mantelpiece. “I should like to know,” said the Doctor, spitefully kicking back acoal that had dropped out on the hearth, “if this is to be a generation of funny men, I think it would be an improvement if the wit floating about the country was less in quantity and better in quality. While we have Danbury News men by the dozens we haven’t one Dickens or one Thackeray.” Miss Atmaviva—Good gracious, Doctor! of course, we haven’t! England only had one, and see how much younger we are, Avustus CuaRrtes—This humorist is a mild sort of fellow. I can imagine that his letters were amusing in a daily paper, but they don’t seem to me worth perpet- uating in book form. His jokes are extravagant, but not coarse. The letter about Parson Wilks’ donation party is not bad. They sent down word in the morning to the parson that they would be around in the evening to surprise him, and when they got there everything was in readiness for them. After all the excitement | they only raised $12 42. The visit of the Pine Grove party to Rochester to hear Miss Kellogg sing is amus- ing. They got in town by five o’clock in the afternoon and wero the first at the concert hall. Knowing nothing about reserved seats they took their pick of the best the house afforded, and kept them until the people who held the checks on them arrived, when much against their dignity, they had to change. However, Miss Kel- logg’s singing mude amends fora great deal, even for the rudeness of some man who stepped on the parson’s hat (borrowed at that), and mado it look like an ‘accordeon. The parson was so well pleased that he asked a police- man if they couldn’t engage Miss Kellogg to sing at Pine Grove. But the policeman was seized with such a violent cough that he couldn’t answer him before he was dragged away by the rest of the party. After ex- periencing a whole chapter of mishaps they arrived home in safety. There is no subtle wit in the book, it is all plain and on the surface. The Doctor—I should say that Mr, Kingsbury had simply taken the material he had at hand and done the best he could with it, LITERARY CHIT-CHAT. T. B. Peterson & Bros, have in press a new work by the author of ‘The Household of Bouverie,’’ entitled “Hester Howard’s Temptation.” A glance at the ad- vance sheets shows that the book contains all the | author’s characteristics of dtyle and startling effects. Mr. George P. Lathrop, whose first volume of | poems wili be published this fall, is assistant editor of the Atlantic Monthly, and the son- in-law of Hawthorne, with whose genius his own is subtly and genuinely sympathetic. Mr. Lathrop is the author of some interesting papers in | the Adantic on the English novel, and a series on our American story writers is announced for the same periodical. The poem of “Jessamine,” which leads the October number of Scribner, has been highly praised. The beautiful accompanying design by Mr. John La Farge, engraved by Mr. Harvey Marsh, will form | the frontispiece to Mr. Lathrop’s ‘(Rose and Rooftree.”” | Mrs. Edward’s ‘Leah, a Woman of Fashion,” which has been running serially through the Galazy, will be | issued in book form this week by Sheldon & Co. Lord Houghton is better known by that simple little ballad, ‘I Wandered by the Brookside,” than by any- thing he ever wrote. Mr. Monckton Milnes, Lord Houghton’s son, delivered the prize poem at Harrow this year. A quarter of a million copies of the Little Women Series have been sold. : Mr. Steadman’s ‘Victorian Poets’’ will be published by Chatto & Windus in London. English readers are looking forward impasiently for ‘Walt Whitman’s forthcoming volume of poems, Miss Hallock and T, Moran will make the illustrations for Whittier’s “Mabel Martin. ’* G. P. Patnam’s Sons have commenced the publica- tion of their series of German classics, edited by James Morgan Hart, LL.D, Schiller, Lessing, Goethe, Herder and Wieland are included in the series, Vol- ume two is now out, Trelawny has written various additional reminis- cences of Byron and Shelley, and will probably bring ‘out a new edition of his book with these additions. Swinburne is writing a new Greek tragedy which, he intends, shall be more purely Hellenic than ‘Atalanta, ”” Some one remarked to Mr. Stoddard the other day that the death ofacertain artist might be called the true euthanasia, to which Mr. Stoddard, who is a great sufferer from rheumatism, rephed that it was indeed, and that for his part he thought that euthanasia was preferable to old age in America. * Miss Kate Field is diligently pursuing her dramatic studies in England and is coming home witha play written especially for her. C. H. Webb (John Paul) is preparing his letters, recently published in the 7ribune, for publication im book form, by W. F. Gill & Co, Mr. Webb has also a volume of poems in preparation. G. W. Carleton & Co, are going to start off with 50,000 copies of Miss Evans’ “Infolicia.”” The general optnion is that Tennyson’s drama will not be a good acting play. Professor Hiram Corson, of Cornell University, re- cently delivered an introductory lecture before the Habnemann Modical College of Philadelphia His sub- Medical Profession.” Professor Corson is the author of ‘Jottings on the Text of Hamlet,” a critical comparison of the latest Cambridge edition with tho firat folio of 1623, and our readera will remember his excellent con- tributions to the discussion in the Herat as to tho authorship of the plays, in which the weight of his authority was entirely on the side of Shakespeare, Arecent article in the Revue des Deus Mondes, en- titled “The Latest Stuarts,” is said to be from the pen of tye Gunga af Huta THE HAYDEN SURVEY, THE CAVES OF THE RIO DE CHELLY—FUNNY EXPERIENCES WITH INDIANS. Sienna Anaso, Utah, August 29, 1875. Leaving the Moqui towns, we returned, after a visit ) of two days, to where we had parted from the train, stopping there the second day out from Tequa, about noon, to rest and refresh ourselves at our well, whjch we had previously dug. This we found to be of such a disagreeable taste and odor that we could not drink it, although the water was cool and inviting to our parched throats, The cottonwood bark with which the spring had been lined had partially decomposed and impirted to the water which it encircled a fetid odor, which 1t was impossible to lessen by baling. As We rested beneath the shade of the solitary tree where had been our camp, the Indians soon discovered us and came down from the corn fields in numbers to trade more cornto us. This was just what we had been wishing, as our last corn had disappeared a couple of days before. We traded some tobacco for severa lots, butas each new invoice arrived it seemed more inviting and tender than the last, so that itaccumulated into several bushels, and we had no means of carrying more than one sackful, which we tied on top of one of the packs, Presently one of the old squaws, more considerate and motherly than the rest, brought A BLANKETFUL OF HOT, SMOKING CORN, boiled in the husk, which we took witnout hesitation and disposed of on the spot, Hungry as we were it was the most acceptable thing we had seen for a long time, and five dozen ears soon disappeared before the ravages of three of us. We camped some ten miles beyond this, and the next evening rode into camp on tho Rio de Chelly just before sunset, having ridden 120 miles in three days, making a total distance of 200 miles which we accom- plished during the week. Returning north by the way we had come, we next camped at our spring near the extensive ruins of the Rio de Chelly, previously men- tioned, and here we took time to make a more thorough examination of them, These ruins are located in three shallow caves a few hundred feet above the river bed. ‘The largest cave contains a line of buildings which comprises seventy-six rooms on the ground floor, and in many places threo stories were still standing, We unearthed seven large, burnt, earthen pots or jars per- fectly whole and lying side by side. They were all of the same shape, about fifteen inches high and ten wide Here they had probably been buried for hundreds of years; but we could discover nothing in them but a hard cement, below which were a few fragments of pottery, some charcoal and calcined corn-cobs, Among the débris was picked up a small, neatly moulded jug, painted symmetrically on the exterior surface, which was perfectly whole with the exception of the handle, which was wanting. It resembled closely in shape some of the ancient pottery disinterred at Pompeii or such as has been taken from the mounds of the mound builders. Among the ruins about fifty of the most exquisitely shaped and colored arrow heads were found by our party, and this had undoubtedly been the scene of a great fight’ From the fact that most of these were picked up near the base of the walls, nearly all with their points toward the buildings, it may be inferred that they were the weapons of the enemy which had been shot toward the walls. In fact, it is a matter of considerable doubt whether the ancient | Moquis used weapons of any sort, especially of defence, for we find no traces of any among their posterity at the present day, although implements of labor, which have descenaed down through a long line of genera- tions, are still quite common in the Moqui towns. On a little knoil, a couple of hundred yards below the ruins, is an extensive burial ground, over which we also picked up afew ofthe larger stone heads. Scat- tered all through the crumbled masses of walls we found pieces of stone mortars, over afoot in diameter, and several pieces of mill and grinding stones, such as .the modern Moquis use in making their ngoom-nec, or flour. IN THE SECOND CAVE, almost inaccessible on account of its smooth, steep, rocky entrance, stood a lot of ruined houses, one of which still showed vestiges of a roof, where tho cedar poles remained in perfect preservation in the walls. This whole collection of ruins was the most extensive and among the most complete of any we had seen dur- ing our entire trip, ‘Those in the first cave reached a length of 550 feet. This, it will be remembered, was but eight miles beyond the San Juan. If we could have spared the ume to examine the Rio de Chelly from its mouth to its source in the Tune-cha Mountains, or the Li-ka-ch@-kas, a8 the Indians call them, we would, with- ‘out doubt, have made many more very interesting dis- coveries, although the upper part of this stream, known asthe Canyon de Chelly, has been explored by other parties to some extent. At our camp near the spring one of the boys brought | in a huge, hairy tarantula, which was as large as any to be seen in tropical climates. This incident made us somewhat wary as to where we spread our beds, espe cially as several scorpions had recently been found in some of our blankets. The next day we returned to our last camp on the San Juan, where we had cached whatever articles we did not require on our journey through Arizona, These we dug up out of the sand and found just as we had left. Taking an old trail from the San Juan up the bed of Epsom Creek, we followed the course of the stream for fifteen miles before camping. On our rignt along line of high perpendicular bluffs reared them- selves aloft, and we soon found that it would be impossible to cross them unless we could find an opening. Ahead of us and a little to the east lay the Sierra Abajo, or Blue Mountains, for which we were bound, and find- ing water some fifteen miles above the San Juan we made camp. In the canyons west of this we spent a day hunting ruins, which abounded through that section, One in the cliff ofa canyon, although notvery large, was remarkable on account of the perfect preservation of its walls, the plastering of which, both internally and externally, was as smooth and uninjured as when occu- pied by the builders, The upper half was painted white, and the lower a dark red, Above the walls, on the back of the cave, were more impressions of nands in pairs, made by laying the hands on the wall and spattering white paint around them, like those pre- viously described as occurring in the Casa del Eco, on the San Juan, We were now in Utah once more, and as we approached the isolated Blue Mountains, or Sierra Abajo, we were aware of a perceptible difference in the temperature of the atmosphere, During the night a storm came up, and the raindrops were so large and heavy that each one as it descended seemed.to penetrate our beds and ‘wet us to the skin; but we could only pull our blankets up over our heads and feel grateful for such a rare boon, The only water at this season of the year in the creck came from an alkaline spring in one of the side can- yons, The stream is very appropriately named, as this water, both in its taste and effect, strongly resembles Epsom salts, One night, while camping at this place, we had all turned in, and were just falling into a first sleep, when Harry was roused by some animal leisurely promenading on his nude breast. Giving it a fling with his hand, it was sent over to Bob and alighted on his head, From a lizard itawakened Bob as a kangaroo mouse, and, passing over him, rag across Jackson, who supposed him to be a rabbit, Proceeding on its bewil- dering way it scrambled over the shoulders of another peacefully slumbering member of the party, who was terrified by supposing that a large sized coyote had mounted his head and was then perched upon his right ear, ready to devour him. This was too much for the little wanderer, which, after it had been dashed a hun- dred feet, disappeared, while the last mentioned indi- vidual retired beneath the covers, head and all, to pass the night in a sort of spiritual “jim jams,” imagining every. noise originated beneath the tread of a mountain lion or a huge bear, BEGGING INDIANS.~ Leaving this spot we travelled up the canyon for about ten miles further, when, following an old trail, we found a pass through the sandstone ridge on our right, Just before reaching this we met a band of Ute Indians on foot, who begged from us everything we had about us. They informed us that they were camped on the other side of the cliffs and that they would be over to trade with as when we made camp. Scarocly had ‘we unpacked, in full view of the mountain and near an alkaline marsh, where we found some questionable water, when three of these Indians approached on two horses, and before they could dismount made known their errand by muttering the word “bish- cut,” Some cold biscuit and bacon were set before them, and what they could not dispose of at one sitting was emptied into their blankets to take back tocamp, As they were about to leave us for Aka Many eer af toe capidentially UVformed WA Maes | acme some of the others in the band whom we had met at noon would steal our horses unless we kept them picketed close to camp. On their departure they stam- peded all of our animals, and as it was now dark it was with much difficulty that they were collected together and brought to camp. We bad scarcely got to sleep be- fore we were all awakened by a terrific noise as of shouting and much trampling of feet. There stood Bill tn the tranquil moonlight, close to the cargo, frantically shouting, waving a blanket in each hand, and dancing a hornpipe on his blankets in his bare feet, while the mules parted into two bands and rushed past him on either side. We all found ourselves more or less on the defensive when we became thor- oughly awakened. One discovered himself sitting bolt upright on his saddle and wondering if anything had happened. Another had hold of a sprig of a bush, which grew at the head of his bed, ready to climb up on further developments, One of the party found him- self standing in a cactus bed in his stocking feet, about five fect from his bed, supposing he had been shot through bis pedal extremities, Tho mules had taken fright at some ac- tual or imaginary noise, and attempted a second stampede. The whole fourteen were charging at fall gallop, seven abreast, toward us as we lay dream- ing peacefully of secure retreats, Bill’s effectual horn pipe was the only thing which turned the rushing tide into two channels ere it overwhelmed us and ground us into the dust, Then, “silence reigned supreme” for a while, only interrupted occasionally by the suppressed thanks of an obstructed windpipe. The next day brought us to the foot of the Sierra Abajo, where we found a rill of cold, pure mountain water, the first we had tasted since leaving the Nancos, five weeks before. Was ever anything so refreshing to mortals as this water to us? On the trail we passed quantities of silici- fied wood in sections of trunks, and even the entire trunks, a foot or more in diameter, lay along the road, turned into stone, but still preserving the appear- ance and all the markings of wood, From this southern base of the mountain we passed around under the foot- hills to the eastern side, some ten miles distant. The train remained here for three days, while a photo- graphic side-trip was made to the north and west of the mountain, toward the Sierra la Sal and the Canyon Colorado, A NUMBER OF DEER were seen around the mountain, but they were very shy and it was impossible to get within gunshot of them. This was the first large game we had seen since leaving the mountains, almost two months previously, and in the then low state of our larder, which contained scarcely more than a httle flour and some fat bacon, the sight of fresh meat was particularly tantalizing. On the return of the party the train moved eastwardly across the country into the Montezuma canyon. We entered it near its head, and it was with much difficulty that we pushed a trail down its steep, rugged wall, in this place 1,000 feet high. But we succeeded in reaching the bottom with no other accident-than the dropping of packs by some of the mules, which is always to be expected in descending or ascending steep places, We were now ready to explore the canyon tor interesting ruins, which we had reason to believe existed here in considerable numbers, CENTRAL PARK, The most interesting as well as the, most charming region of Manhattan Island yesterday afternoon was undoubtedly Central Park, A wondrous variety of faces thronged the neighborhood of the music stand, from which rolled forth the music from Grafulla’s Band. Blondes, brunettes, creoles, quadroons, octa- roons and blacks were among the types of complexion to be seen, The music under such surroundings, with trees rustling and fountaing playing, was thrilling to a degree. There was one fault—the time between cach piece was too long and kept too many people waiting. ‘As the appropriation is not yet exhausted there may be two more concerts before the season is over. Boating on the lake nominally ceases on the Ist of | October, but if many more days like yesterday appear | it will not be relinquished yet awhile, It was said that the waters of the lake near Sixth avenue had recently become 80 full of decayed sedge grass as to render them poisonous, and put the lives of the water fowl in dan- | ger, It is true that six Muscatine ducks died from this cause, but the peril, it is believed, is now entirely past, and the lakes are sufliciently purified to ren- der them safe for the various aquatic birds that have their home upon them, The sewerage on both sides of the Park is very defective, and these lakes can never be made pure until that is remedied. A number of vacant blocks on the adjacent avenues retain pools of poison- ous stagnant water, and as the Jakes are ata much lower level than the pools, and the soil for the most part is sanity, the water percolates through the ground ts + and finds its way into the lakes. The black swan from Australia, the yellow billed swan from | ‘Africa, the wild geese who dropped down into the Park one fine day and had their wings clipped, and the sea gull that fled in disgust from | the wild ways of the Atlantic and quietly submitted to have his soaring pinions abridged, are perfectly con- tent with the water of the lakes, though it be none of the purest. The cause of the poisoning of the water | this season is attributed to the heavy summer rai which washed down the banks to a great extent an cast a quantity of sedge grass and other vegetable matter on the surface of the lakes. ‘There was little intermission in the line of carriages that swept in and out of the park through the whole afternoon. A very noticeable infusion of new and handsome vehicles, some of novel design, evidently im- rted from Europe, struck the sale gazing at the toe string of well known teams ut kept ceaselessly coursing along Fifth avenue. Fall fashions in dresses ‘were out in abundance, SUDDEN DEATH. At an early hour yesterday morning Daniel McDon- ald, of No. 12 Caroline street, was stopped by an officer belonging to the Fifth precinct as he was running down West street. After being stopped by the policeman McDonald fell to the sidewalk at the corner of North Moore street and died. The Coronor was notified to hold an inquest. It is supposed that the man died from delirium tremens brought on by excessive drink- ing. AN EPISODE OF JUVENILE CRIME. A CURIOUS WAY TO GET WHISKEY—A MYSTERY | OF MANY MONTHS SOLVED. AT LAST. For many months back the firm of Lufberry & Ayers, merchants, of Rahway, N. J., have been sorely puzzled to find out who was the perpetrator of several robber- jes made at their establishment. Sometimes the dep- | redations would be made two or three times a week, and | at other times two or three weeks would elapse. | Amounts varying from $30 to $40 would be taken, but | the more frequent practice was the purloining of only afew dollars at a time. The money was taken from the cash drawer in the counting room, and the drawer itself was apparently not opened or unlocked, and no violence was used in gaining admission to the prem- isea, The utmost vigilance was taken, watch- men were placed in the building at all hours, but everything failed to detect tho thief, Soon the money stolen began to amount to thousands of dollars, The robberies continued, and the manner of their perpetration became more mysterious as time wore on. It was ascertained that the fs ‘were committed every time soon after the establish- ment was closed in the evening. The money drawer was never emptied, a small amount being. always left behind. Whether the thief was a ghost, hobgoblin or fairy, was conundrum. At last the mystery was ro- vealed, One evening last weck a watch was set before the door was locked, At dusk a soft tread was heard; a childish form was seen to slip a key mto the lock; it entered and closed the door careiully and glid across to the desk, She (a little girl it proved to be) had an empty whiskey bottle in her hand, which she placed under her arm and then passed her little, tiny hand under the back of the desk up behind and over the rear end of the cash drawer. Thus she reached its almost entire con- tents, A man’s hand could not have done the work, so close did the drawer fit, She witbdrew a portion of tho money and the watcher stepped from his place and ar- rested her, She was taken to the police station and identified as Lettie persia little daughter of a work- man employed im the establishment. Her mother drinks whiskey, and whenever a supply of this article was needed the foregoing means was adopted to obtain it. And thus the mystery was solved which for many months nearly puzzled the wits of Messrs, Lufberry and Ayres, of that Sleepy Hollow, Rahway, THE CHAIN GANG IN TRENTON. A RIGID LAW FOR TRAMPS—BREAD AND WATER ONLY. The City Fathers of Trenton, N. J., are about to pass aglaw which will tend, if faithfully enforced, to diminish the tramp nuisance in that city. It provides as follows:— ‘That all prisoners who may be apprehended and brought ie "te en addition to before a police justice may be sentenced, in tisual fine and imprisonment, all provide the necessary chains, bel 16 food of all persons eonfined ‘in tl city prison shall consist of bread and water only, except fi —QUINTUPLE SHEET, DOM PEDRO OF BRAZIL, The Emperor’s Coming Visit to the United States. THE PHILADELPHIA CENTENNIAL. What an Enlightened Monarch Has Done for His Subjects, A DIAMOND PRODUCING COUNTRY. In accordance with a promise made to the American Minister at Rio Janeiro in 1872, after his return from Europe, Dom Pedro IL, Emperor of Brazil, is about paying a visit to the United States, Recent telegraphic despatches inform us that His Imperial Majesty has ob- tained the consent of the Legislative Chambers to be absent from his dominions eighteen months, in order to spend some tame im vhis country and in Europe. Ameri- cans will be glad to welcome him, both for the sake of old recollections and present friendship. Brazil is a well ordered and progressive State, and to this result the personal conduct of the Sovereign has certainly contributed, Our commercial relations with the Em- pire are not as large as they ought to be, yet they are quite extensive, We import fully one-half the coffee produced in that country, and Brazilians are good cus- tomers for American productions. Their political in- stitutions, though monarchical, are considerably tinged with democratic ideas, ana the recent abolition of slavery in the Empire adds to their claims to our es- teem. Dom Pedro will be present at the Centennial celebration in Philadelphia, and this fact alone will make him a most welcome guest. It will not bo forgotten that Baron de Itajuba, the Brazilian Min- ister at Berlin, was one of the arbitrators who, at Geneva decided the Alabama claims and that he was appointed to that important post by the Emperor. The United States government took an early occasion, after the labors of the arbitrators were finished, to express its high sense of the learning, impartiality and dignity with which the Baron performed his part and made otherwise a suitable recognition of his services, There can be no doubt that the people and government of the United States will extend to the Emperor, who is dis- tinguished by the enlightenment and liberality of his views, during his’ stay among us, every kindly courtesy in their power, SKETCH OF DOM PEDRO. = _ Dom Pedro is now about fifty years old. He suc- ceeded to the throne in 1831 on the abdication of bis father, who returned to Europe in the vain expectation of being accepted as King of Portugal. The Emperor is | tall, well formed and ig a remarkably fine looking man, He 18 of dignified presence, most affable and without the least parade, which he heartily detests. He adds to the Solid things of sound scholarship admirable good sense and capacity. In the exploration of the Amazon and other districts by Agassiz he took a personal interest, and he 1s especially devoted to comparative grammar and philology. He speaks English with ease, He has done much to elevate his people and develop the resources of the Empire. It is said he is accomplishing for —_ Brazil what Peter the Great accomphshed for Russia. His power is constantly exerted for the benefit of his sub- jects, He has given the country a system of railroads | which, though not yet worked out, will in time inev- itably make Brazil a commercial land. He has en- couraged and aided the development of steam naviga- tion at suitable points along its enormous coast line, He has stimulated the culture of coffee trees and tho growth of cotton and sugar cane, and has wyely re, } pressed the excessive thirst for gold and silver mining, | which has been the curse of Spanish colonizations. He has cordially invited the immigration of citizens from | countries nursed in the ideas of liberty, He has en- deavored to systematize and increase inland commerce through its mighty rivers, Ina word, he has not alone been the friend but the father of Brazilian progress | and reform, and it is not, therefore, strange that be is regarded with great affection, by his subjects, THR EMPEROR'S FAMILY. The Emperor has only onc child—a daughter—Isa- bella, the Countess d’Eu, living. She is styled the Prin- cess Imperial, and is expected to succeed to the throne in the event of surviving her father. She is childless, Her younger sister, Leopoldine, who was marricd to the Duke of Saxe Coburg, died a few years since, leaving two children Her early demise caused tho deepest grief to her parents, and it was to seck relicf by foreign travel that the Emperor and Empress visited Europe in 1871. ‘The matter of succession is considered one of serious importance in Brazil. The Count d’Eu, a grandson of | Louis Phillippe, does not relish living in South Ameri- ca, and his wife shares in this feeling. Hopes have been long entertained that Dom Pedro may yet have male issue, but such expectation has almost been abandoned. In April, 1873, the Princess Imperial and her husband jeft Rio for Europe to be absent two years. It was rumored at the time that finding a ditli- culty in having permission to go from = ap- prehension of any accident to her father’s | fife, sho declared that rather than remain { she would abdicate her right of succession in favor of her nephews, the children of her late sister; that her husband was unwilling to return and reside in Brazil, and that she would prefer to remain with him in | Europe. Dom Pedro’s family are closely connected with the reigning houses of Great Britain, Germany, Sweden and Russia, and also with the Bonapartes and Bourbons. ‘TRADE WITH THE UNITED STATES. Brazil is the only monarchy in the New World. It empraces two-fifths of the great South American conti- nent. Its grand staples are coffee, raw cotton and unre- fined sugar. The country is. however, rich in precious metals and diamonds. exportation of the latter is | about $1,500,000 annually, The commercial relations | of the Empire with the United States might be in- creased fourfold with increased means of communica- tion between the two countries, The United States offers the chief mart for Brazilian coffee, which article stands for one-halt the entire quantity exported. We send in return machinery, implements of various kinds and Yankee notions, the consumption of which is greater and greater every year in the Empire, At | present direct mail communication is limited to once a month, Euro} vessels leave and arrive almost daily, go that it 1s possible for a letter sent to New York via England to arrive at its destination within the time taken by the American packets, As long as this state of things continues English, French aud German pro- ducts will fill the Brazilian markets, though for many articles there 1s a decided preference for imports trom the United States, ‘THE CENTENNIAL, The visit of the Emperor to the United States will happen at a period full of interest. The Centennial Ex- hibition in Philadelphia will be honored with his pres- ence, and the productions of Brazil will, no doubt, be fully represented. At the Vienna Exhibition Brazil held a prominent position. The articles exposed to view comprised specimens sent from the different In machinery department there were | es, Sugar and other machinery and coining apparatus from the mint’ Hun- dreds of specimens of woods for carpen- try and cabinet work attested the endicss varying productions of the Brazilian forests, In the ceramic department were displayed vases, pans and other vessels of the native Kaolin, found in the Rio provin together with a collection of clay wares, painted after the Indian style, Samples of raw cotton, from the seven cotton producing provinces, held a conspicuous place in the exhibition, Countless speci- mens of fibrous materials, suited for twine, ropes and coarse fabrics, were furnished, most remarkable among | which was a white silky sample from Mina Geraes, | derived from a climber yielding three cuttings annu- ally, and which has been declared by competent judges to be worth three times the price of flax for textile purposes. In tobacco, of which there was a large and varied display, Bahia and Mina Geraos took the pre- eminence. Ocara, the great coffee bearing country of the north, was represented by Mocha and flat coffee in the skin, and handsome samples were likewise shown from Rio, Pernambuco and other places. The display of | sugar, especially a collection from Bahia comprising all tho grades of the plant, left no room to doubt that Brazil was well represented in this branch. Samples of black aud green India (Chinese) tea bespoke creditable handling. ne culture of this article has been revived in the uplands, where it finds a genial soil and climate, Favorable ee of the several cerealia and farinss roots and plants were ajso on exhibition. A reat pine tree from Pi measuriag ive tect in Shereler ‘and 150 feet in height, was sent in 21 fe ge was set up in the Vienna Exhibition building, wit its branches and cones. ether there were sent 687 fea aug ‘besides sacks and barrels of sarsaparilla, cot- ‘sugar, colton and tapioca, for distribution. Brazil will nodoubt be as well represented at Philadelphia as it was at Vienna, and the presence of the Emperor in the United States must have the effect of stimulating his subjects to renewed energy in respect, TH ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, ‘An event with which the reign of Dom Pedro II. will be imperishably connected was the abolition of slavery im his dominions, The act was finally passed and re- ceived the approval of the Printess Regent in Septem- ber, 1871, during the absence of the Emperor in Europe, but his hearty approval of the measure for the extine: tion of involuntary servitude in the country was well known, and been frequently announced by him im addresses to the Chambers. The law those who labor on the streets who shall secured phe freedom of ali children bara of playe mothers after its passage. Slaves belonging to the ma- tion, who were occupied in the custom houses, dock yards, &c, ; slaves given in usufruct to the Crown atthe well Known desire of and according to the example of longing to him and the members of the Imperial family slaves of masters dying without heirs, and slaves mot claimed by masters, were declared tree at once. Provk sion was made for the maintenance by the masters or by the government of the children of slave mothers un- til twenty-one years of age and securing them occupa- tion, At first it was proposed that all slaves belonging to the religious orders were to be free after seven years, but the Senate refused to concur. However, the Order of Benedictines voluntarily freed all their slaves and gave them lands to cultivate, and it is understood that the Franciscans, Carmelites, yuching and Augustini- aus have since followed thei example. As 800K ag the final vote was taken in the Upper House the greatest enthusiasm prevailed. and flowers were showered from the crowded ge amid cheers and demonstrations of joy. The Regent was seronaded and a general holiday observed. The provision for the abolition of slavery has been of dec! benefit to the material resources of the Em- pire. The laborers work with cheerfulness, and @ cor+ dial fecling has sprung up between the races where be- fore discontent and uneasiness existed, THE EMPEROR'S VISIT TO EUROPE, In May, 1871, the Emperor and mpress loft Rie Janeiro on the English mail steamer Douro, and arrived in due time at Lisbon, where they wore cordially received by their relatives, the King and Queen of that country. After visiting Madrid they passed rapidly through France and reached Dover June 29. ‘They travelled almost in- cognito, attired in deep mourning for the recent joss of their youngest daughter, and declined all official recep- tions or unnecessary display. They put up at one of the London hotels. "The Emperor passed his timo in an active inspection of the principal objects of interest in Great Britain, commencing daily at sx o'clock in the morning, and sometimes long before the people were out of bed. He went from place to place in an ordinary vehicle, and seemed to pass his time as an ordinary travelling gentleman. However, he visited the Queen on geveral occasions and recetved calis from the leading members of the Ministry and the nobility; from foreign Ministers and royal personages then in London. A remarkable cir- cumstance was his attending the Central Synagogue, Portland street, it being the first occasion that a reign- ing monarch ever was present at the Jewish divine ser- vico in England, Dom Pedro subsequently visited Prussia, Saxony and Saxe-Coburg Gotha, and after an absence of ten months arrived at Rio Kaster Sunday, March 31, 1872, His return was hailed with universal Satisfaction, The whole population turned out in holi- day dress to greet the Emperor and Empress, who were accompanied by their son-in-law, the Duke of Saxe, and his two children. The scene, as they came ashore escorted by hundreds of steamers, vessels and boats of every description, with shouts of welcome, the roar of cannon from the forts and gayly dressed men-of-war, is described to have been of the grandest and most {m- Pressive character, and bore convincing testimony to the affection cntertained for him by his subjects. The city was illuminated for three nights on the occasion, NEW YORK CITY. The police arrested 2,408 persons during the past week. There were reported at the Bureau of Vital Statistics 586 deaths, 464 births, 142 marriages and 36 still births during the week. Tne Tammany Hall General Committee yesterday opened their headquarters for naturalizing citizens at No, 19 Centre street. The case of Captain McCulloch was yesterday post- poned by the Board of Police until next Wednesday, ‘owing to the absence of witnesses, A meeting of the New York Neurological Society will be held at the New York Academy of Medicine, No, 12 West Thirty-first street, on Monday next ab eight P. M. The First division of the National Guard, State of New York, will parade on the 13th inst, and will be re- viewed by the Governor at the Worth Monument, Madi- son square. - Maggie Reardon, aged twenty-seven years, of No. 360 ‘West Thirty-first street, fell through a skylight last night at her residence and was seriously injured. She was sent to Bellevue Hospital. A fire occurred last evening in the basement of the three story brick tenement No. 48 Greenwich street, occupied by Sarah Davis as a shoe store. Her stock Mer damaged to the amount of $1,000, and the building 500, Julia Maloney, six years of age, of No, 417 East 117th street, was run over yesterday at the corner of 117th street and Firat avenue by a butcher’s cart and was seriously injured about the head. She was taken to her home and the driver was arrested and locked up in the Twelfth precinct station house. William Ennis, a boy aged twelve years, residing at No. 526 Hudson street, fell from a tree yesterday in front of No. 44 Charles street and received a fracture of the skull. The injured boy was taken to the Ninth recinet station house, where he was attended by Pottce Surgeon Walker, after which he was removed to his home. Jeremiah Dlyberg, aged nine years, residing at No. 30634 Mott street, while playing in the yard rear of his residence yesterday afternoon, was accidentally struck on the head by a piece of falling brick and was seri- ously injured. He was attended by Police Surgeon McLane at the Mulberry street station house, after which he was taken home by his parents. The clerks in the Comptroller’s office complain that the warrants for their salaries for the month of Sep- tember are intentionally delayed in the Mayor's office, On the other hand, many of the attachés of the latter department speak of the outrage committed by the Comptrolier in not paying their salaries for the past two months on the ground that the appropriation has run out BROOKLYN. The average daily consumption of water in Brooklyn last week was 26,000,000 gallons. ‘The amount of money remaining in the banks to the credit of the city, bg 4 as the report of the Treas- urer, October 1, was $463,931 58. Registration of scholars for the night schools will begin on Monday evening and the instruction will com- mence on the evening of the 11th inst. Henry McLaughlin, the Inspector of suildings, who was stabbed by Henry Jeffers on Bulton street about two months ago, was so far recovered yesterday as to go out for the first time. Rev. Henry R. Dickson, of Yorkville, S$. C., has re- ceived a call from the First Reformed church, in Joral- emon street, and will assume the duties of the pastor- ate on the third Sunday of October, Coroner Simms held an inquest yesterday over the body of George Seaman, who was drowned in the river at the foot of Walcott street on Friday. Deceased had been insane for several days prior to his death, At a meeting of the Board of Assessors yesterday it was reported that the grading and paving of Madison street, from Tompkins to Throop avenue, cost $1,221 88; Desmond street, from Norman to Vab Cott avenue, $10,987 99; Judge street, from Devoe to Powers, $2,166 24; Second avenue, to Sixth street, $138,450 92. Mr. John R. Glover, the lumber merchant, who wag arrested on a warrant procured by the firm of Ross & Kurslake, Albany lumber dealers, on Wednesday last, and taken to that city for examination, has returned to his home, They allegea that he had appropriated $3,000 worth of lumber. The case was on examination before Justice Clute dismissed, as it was shown that he was really the aggrieved party. LONG ISLAND. ‘The Suffolk Oounty Circuit Court and Court Oyer and Terminer will continue at the Court House in Riverhead, ‘on Monday, the 11th inst. An effort will be made to get the Kelsey cases on. The Long Island Railroad Company propose soon to begin the extension of their track from Far Rockaway, ‘on the beach, It willrun almost parallel with the South- ern Railroad track, and will be continued toa point some dirtance beyond the Neptune House, Mr, E, A. Wheeler, for several years a blacksmith at Setauket, was found to be missing on Friday morning, and the only trace of him subsequently discovered was tation on the Long Island Railroad, where fe took tne rst train bound west. He left his business ‘and all his stock and tools in the shop locked up, and his relatives and friends are getting alarmed about him. Henry Smith, tho sixteen year old forger, who was arrested at Huntington last summer and sent to the Suffolk County Jail, for obtaining goods trom merchants on orders to which the name of Mr. Elbert Walters was forged, was brought up before County a eyo at the Court of Sessions last week, boldly pleaded n guilty and demanded good counsel. He claimed that he wrote the orders at the dictation of Chris. Doran, at whose house he was then staying, and who assured him that Walters had given him the authority to use his name; further saying that the goods were all used by Doran, and that he had no interest in the matter, The jury found a verdict of not guilty. A second Indict- ment was found, to which he also (ere hot guilty, and the case was ordered to the Oyer and Terminer, Smith is regarded as a precocious rascal, having pre- Vidusly been in the House of Refuge. STATEN ISLAND. The epizootic in a mild form prevails throughout Staten Island, and appears to be going the rounds ~~ . Almost every horse is more byes ed Tenioale ie the car pet fn and livery es- tablishments, but the disease yields readily to judicious treatment, The republicans of Richmond county have nominate¢ Mr, Tompkins Westorvelt as their candidate for County Judge and Surrogate. The democrats have four men is the field for the nomination, viz. :—S. W. Rawson, tng odore . Vermilye, Nathaniel G Wyeth and E. B. Men rill, The Convention will be heid at Richmond on thy Adth inst