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| | POLAR EXPLORATION, bly necessary to have some other means than men for the transport of food, for which purpose dogs had be- fore that time always been employed by Polar expedi- tions, Before setting out on the main expedition it was, therefore, necessary to go toGreenland to buy Professor Nordenskiold’s Special His- } dogs ana to study their employment as draught ani- tory of Twenty Years’ Work. His Personal Efforts, Patronage, En- durance and Successes. Travel Toward the Great Ice Basin of the North. GEOGRAPHICAL AND BOTANICAL OBSERVATIONS. A Scientist’s Struggles Against Accumulated Difficulties. MR. OSCAR DICKSON’S LETTER 10 THE HERALD The New Highway Between Europe and the Russian Asiatie Empire. mals. an 1870. With this end in view I went, in 1870, with a small expedition to the Danish colonies of Greenland; but I returned with the conviction that dogs would not well answer the purpose; in the first place, because tt was impossible to get a sufficient number from one or two colonies, and if the dogs had been collected from several different settlements it would have been impos- sible to exclude the very infectious and fatal diseases which are peculiar to the dogs of that country, and which, when once introduced, would have soon spread through the whole pack; and, secundly, because a dog cannot transport food for itself for more than sixty days, which makes {t Impossible to employ dogs for a long distance in sledges where there is no chance for them of hunting on the journey, This negative result of the Greenland expedition was richly counterbal- anced by its important scientific results, of which space will only permit me to mention ‘A TRIP ON THE INLAND ICK of Greenland, undertaken by me and our celebrated bot- anist, Dr. Berggren, which first gave us a real idea, founded on actual observation, of the aspect of our globe during the glacial period. During this trip the immense crevices with which the ice was intersected Sr, Purersura, Nov. 28, 1876. To Jauus Gorvon Bennett, Esg., Proprietor ov Tux New York Hexaup:— Duar Sin—During the last twenty years a number of expeditions have been sent from Sweden to the Arctic seas for the purpose of investigating the natural history and geology of the Polar basin, and for penetrating, if | possible, ‘nto a region hitherto unknown. MISTORY OF THR DIFFERENT EXPEDITIONS, The first two of these expeditions were despatched in 1858 and 1861, under the command of M. Otto Torel, nd were equipped partly by him and partly by the Swedish government Up to that time the flora and fauna and the geology of Spitzbergen were almost un- known; but through the researches of a number of Bpecialists (Blomstrand, Malmgren, Nordengktold, Dunér, &c.), who accompanied the expedition, the natural history of Spitzbergen, an island which stretches from 763 to 81 degrees north fatitade, at once became very well known, It was found that in this part of the Polar region there existed a very rich and abundant flora and fauna of the wery greatest importance for a knowledge of the distri- bution and the migration of plants and animals in Burope, as well as in America’ A survey was made for the measurement of an arc of a meridian extending to four degrees of latitude (240 miles), im the immediate wicinity of the Pole, which will add important informa- tion to our knowledge of the earth’s form. i 1864, As this survey could not be finished in that year | ised), the Swedish government, at the instance of the | Academy of Sciences at Stockholm, sent out in 1864 | another expedition under my command, which for that | purpose visited, besides other places, the Storford on | the east side ot Spitzbergen. During this expedition also our former zoological and botanical researches | were continued, and many important additions to the | knowledge of the geology and geography of Spitzbergen | were made. Among other things we found in Iceflord @atitude 78 deg. 79 min.) remains of - GIGANTIO SAURIANS, showing that in early geological periods even the Polar regions were inhabited by animals whose nearest rela- tions are at present confined to the tropics, and King | Karl’s Land, on the east of Spitzbergen, which was for- | merly known only through the reports of walrus hunt- ers, was seen for the first time. CONTINCANCE OF THE WORK OF RESEARCH. ‘The success of these expeditions and the importance of their researches, even for Scandinavia, made it very desirable that they should be continued, For this pur- pose an appeal was made by Count Ebrensward to the | fich merchants of Gothenburg, who immediately placed | st my disposal the money necessary for equipping a | ew expedition, with the aim not only of carrying on | our former scientific researches but also of going dur- ing the autumn by ship as far as possible toward the | Pole, Ithought it probable that during that season the | fee would be very much destroyed by the heat of the Summer and the storms, and that therefore the sea, would then be more open and navigable than at other times, and the result of the expedition confirmed my ‘opinion. THE HIGHEST POINTS NORTH. On the 19th of September we succeeded in attaining | by ship almost the eighty-second degree of latitude. that is, farther north than any previous expeditions by | ships. 50 by your celebrated compatriot, Hall. fing point there still remained about 500 miles to the Pole, the hitherto unattained aim of all the Polar ex- peditions; and expecting still later in the season to | find the sea more open, I renewed the attempt on the 4th of October in the same year. eighty degrees we started farther northward, and in a | few hours reached eighty-one degrees. storm soon came on. Our ship was ‘THROWN BY AN IMMENSE WAVE on an iceberg, and had a large hole knocked in her side Thanks to the presence of 2 years later, however, we were surpassed | But at our turn- From a barbor at But a violent Jost on the water Jine, mind of the Captain of the vessel, Baron Von Otter (at present Minister of the Marine of Swoden) and to the excellent Swedish iron of which the vessel was con- structed, we were all saved, and were able to reach an anchorage on the west coast of Spitzbergen, where the damage was repaired. Later in the same autumn we RETCRNZD TO SWEDEN with zoological, botanical and especially geological collections of great importance, and with the fact that even during the most favorable season of the year it @ Was impossible to reach the Pole in aship, a result which, however, has not been recognized by the cele- | brated geographer Petermann, who still maintains with great warmth the theory of AN OPEN SHA around the Pole, The geographical authorities of :Bweden did not share this opinion, and a controversy vensucd which induced me again to renew the attempt | sto go to the Pole from Spitzbergen, but this time by | going over the ice with sledges drawn by dogs or rein- | deer. MR. DICKSON, OF GOTHRNDURG, who had largely contributed to the expenses of our | former expeditions, again furnished most of the money for this new expedition, which, however, was aiso en- eouraged by the government. The Academy of Bolences furnished the expedition with a large number ofall sorts of instruments and « rich collection of aolentific works, Altogether the library of our winter station consisted of nearly 1,000 volumes. It was my dntention to winter ON SEVEN ISLANDS, at 80 deg. 40 min. north latitude, and to go thence on the ice northward, But to be able from there to pene- 4gate far into the north I saw that it was indispensa- om. , | so frightened our Esquimaux tollowers that they soon Jeft us and obliged us to continue our journey alone. ‘The discovery of A LARGE NUMBER OF FOSSIL PLANTS, of great importance for the knowledge of the old cli- mates during the different geological periods of the globe, showing that, for example, during the upper cretaceous age, figs, magnolias and other sub-tropical plants abounded in these now icebound regions, which, at a yet earlier period (lower cretaceous) were covered by a totally different tropical vegetation of conifere and ferns, The collection of fossil plants brought by us to Sweden {s also of great and special interest for a knowledge of the fossil flora of the United States. SEVERAL LARGE METEORITES WERE DISCOVERED at Ovifak, on Disco, the largest of which weighs 50,000 pounds and ten times surpasses the celebrated Pallas meteorite in St, Petersburg. It is the largest mass of cosmic iron yet found on tho earth, but with the means then at my command it was impossible to bring these metorites to Sweden. is 1871, it was accordingly necessary to send for this pur- pose a new expedition to Greenland, consisting of two ships, which, under the command of Baron Von Otter and a numerous scientific staff, started for Greenland in the following year (1874). The brilliant manner in which Baron Von Otter executed the dif- ficult task of transporting these meteorites is well known, as well as the lively controversy in the scientific world about their orgin which took place after their arrival in Europe. At present most of the celebrated notabilities of this branch of science— Daubré, Wobler and others—seem to agree that the | Ovifak iron is a real, though fossil, meteorite, which has fallen during the Miocene period, GREENLAND AND LAPLAND. At the same time that I went to Greenland to study tho employment of dogs for sledge journeys Mr. Dickson sought information in Lapland as to the con- venience of using reindeer for the same purpose, and the information which he obtained proved that these latter were much preferable to dogs. Accordingly forty fine reindeer were bought for our now expedition in Lap- | land, and were transported to Mussel Bay, on the | north of Spitzbergen, where a large wooden house with three observatories was built tn latitude 79 deg. 53 min. north, It then was, and probably still is, the most | northern house in the world, and was on that account named by us ‘“‘Polhem,” or “the Polar home.” A SCIENTIST’S MEMORY HONORED, Polhem was a great Swedish engineer of the last century, and the principal steamer of our expedition also bore this name. PASSING THE WINTER, In this house we passed the winter of 1872-73, with the intention of commencing our journey toward the Pole in the spring. MISPORTUNRS MEAVY AND VARIOUS. But our expedition was followed by a crowd of mis- fortunes. Three Jays after the reindeer had been landed they fied into the interior of the country and were nover seen again, excepting one which returned wounded by a Polar bear, Tho day before the ships which had transported the house, provisions, reindeer, | &e., to Polhem were to return @ violent storm from the northwest filled our harbor with large pieces of ice, ‘The ships were beset in the ice; accordingly the crews | could not return to Europe, and instead of having twenty-two men in our winter colony we had sixty- seven. This was the more unfortunate, as there was not enough food for so many; so that we had to reduce | the rations to two-thirds—a reduction which, in these regions, is generally very dangerous to the health, ‘The same year seventeen Norwegian fishermen wore | shut up at about two degrees (120 miles) south of us in adeserted house built bya Swedish manure (guano) company on the west coast of Spitzbergen. Although this house was well provided with provisions tne Polar climate, the long winter night and want of exercise proved fatal to them, and they all died of the scurvy. The same tate overtook two other fishermen, who were obliged to winter in atent of old sails at Grey- hook, on the western side of Wijde Bay. discipline and continual exercise, we, on the contrary, although obliged to live on reduced rations, did not Jose a single person by this iliness, On the 20th of January we had astorm so violent that, although we were Inthe middle of the winter, the ice was broken and all our ships were much dam- aged and nearly Jost in the port. A PARTIAL GEOGRAPIICAL FAILURR, BUF MMPORTANT RE- SOLTS OTHERWISE, purpose of reaching @ very high northern latitude. But the expedition brought home tmportant scientitic results, among which I will mention, First~A complete series of magnetical and meteoro- (1872-73) been made, Second— Collections and observations made by sound- ings and dredgings in the sea during the whole winter, showing that, notwithstanding the absence of the sun | during four months and the cold, the animal life in the sea was quite as much developed in the winter as in the summer, and also giving the unexpected result that the life of marine plants reaches its greatest develop- ment during che winter months, a fact which stands in the physiology of plants, Third—The discovery of a whole microscopic flora, rowing exclusively and giving to the for the most part before unknow: on the surface of the ley glack {eo not only a reddish, but also a greenish and brown- 6b tint, and furnishing to the botanist a number of Thanks to | This expedition, therefore, could mot accomplish its | logical observations, the most northern that had then | contradiction to many of the prevailing doctrines of | NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19 1875—QUADRUPLE SHEET. Rew small species which, although first discovered tn these remote regions, will probably be found on the surface of glaciers in other parts of tho world, Fourth—Besides this, a very important geological collection was made, especially containing fossilized plants, which give usa very complete idea of the cli- mates during former geological epochs, showing, for example, that the theory lately embraced by many eminent authorities—namely, that hot and cold climates have often alternated on the surface of the earth—is not founded on real observation ; on the contrary, all the fossils found by us in the Arctic regions show that until the commencement of the cre- taceous period a tropical climate prevailed from the Equator to the Pole, and that after that time the climate only became colder by degrees until the glacial period, 4 GENIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THKIR GREAT VALUE. The great favor with which these and other scientific results were accepted in Sweden consoled us for the failure of the attempts to penetrate far into the north ; and on the very day that I returned A NEW EXPEDITION TO THE ARCTIC REGIONS was planned, the means for which was again furnished by Mr. Oscar Dickson. Thitherto most of our expedi- tious had examined Spitzbergen and the adjacent seas, scientific and the nature, flora, {auna and gaca of these parts of the icy uninhabited Arctic regions are now much bet- ter known than those of many old European countries, It was therefore determined not to return to Spita- bergen, but to extend our scientific researches to Nova Zembla, a country which had thitherto been but slightly explored, especially ag to its eastern shores, and tothe adjacent Kara Sea, THE KARA SEA. For ten years the Kara Sea has been regarded as en- tirely inaccessible, and almost all the expeditions for- merly sent there have been obliged to return before tt the fishing at Spitz to diminish, and the Norwegian hunters were forced to seek fresh places for their trade, they went to Nova Zombia, first to its western shores and afterward, when the walrus and seals wero frightened from there, to the Kara Sea; and their experience soon showed that dur- ing certain seasons this sea was not so imaccessible as was generally believed. On the contrary, it seemed probable that the Kara Sea, whose icy masses had thitherto formed an insurmountable obstacle to all pre- vious attempts to reach the mouths of the large Siberian rivers, might at certain seasons be completely open. Besides, the fauna and flora of the Kara Sea were entirely unknown. These considerations doter- mined reaching But when bergen began walrus TUE PLAN OF THE NEW EXPRDITION, which was to go at the commencement ofJune from Tromso to Nova Zembla and to spend the summer there in sctentific researches, being accompanied for this purpose by four learned Swedes—viz, Drs. Kjeliman and Londstrom, botanists, and Drs, Theel and Stuksberg, zoologists—and then to make an attempt later in the season to penetrate | into the Kara Sea, and, if possible, to reach the mouth of the Yenisei or of the Ob, whence I, with a part of tho expedition, would return by way of Siberia after hav- | ing sent my ships back toNorway, I was able to fol- tow this plan almost exactly, as I have had the honor of giving to the readers of your influential journal (tne HgRa.p) an account of its most interesting phases. A. E, NORDENSKIOLD. LETTER FROM MR. OSCAR DICKSON—THE GRAND AND NEW HIGHWAY BETWEEN EUROPE AND THE RUSSIAN ASIATIC EMPIRE. Gornennvne, Nov. 26, 1875. To James Gonpon Bexwetr, Esq, Prorrietor or THE New York Huraip:— Duan Sin—The interest evinced by so eminent a patron of geographical research as yourself for my ex- | pedition to the Yenisei under Professor Nordenskidld, | ie highly flattering, and I shall gladly avail of your kind offer to receive further communications of interest | that may be sent me to by the Professor. I have lately | forwarded one such letter to Captain Allan Young, | which he, no doubt, has ‘handed to you, Dr. Potermann, in his Mittheilungen, paper 21, cal- | culates the watersheds of the Ob and Yenisei to em- | brace 193,950 German square miles, whilo all the coun- tries of Europe, Russia excepted, contain only 81,632 | German square miles. From this statement an opinion | may be formed of the great consequences likely to re- sult from the highway now opened up between Eu- rope and the Russian Asiatic Empire. Iam, sir, with greatest regards, yours very sincerely, OSCAR DICKSON. THE LATE DR. ANDERSON. | TRIBUTE TO HIS MEMORY BY THE BOARD OF | MANAGERS OF THE WEW YORK caTHoLic | PROTECTORY, In many circies of New York society in which de- votion to the amelioration of the less favored classes of the community 1s a constant object and study, the | memory of the late Dr, Henry James Anderson has / been recently honored with marks of esteem for the | services rendered among them during his lifetime, | The deceased gentleman's natural kindliness of dispo- | sition and unselfish desire to labor for the good of | others connected him tn this city with several works of charity and benevolence, and by his co-laborers in these his efforts are cherished. “Asa member of the | Board of Managers of the New York Catholic Protec- tory his labors were especially zealous, and as a tribute to bis memory on their part the board of that institu. tion met afew days since and passed the following | resolutions:— ‘Appreciating his virtues as « citizen and as a Christian, and his servicos stitution ; therefore Resolved, By the Board of Managers of the New York Catholic Protectory :- First—That we have heard with sentiments of deep sorrow of the death of Dr. Heury James Anderson, by which sad event society has lost ati ornament, the Church of God a sincere and devout member, and this Protectory an able, efficient and zealous manager, ‘Seco h recalling bis many virtues and good deeds, and his amiable deportment in the t inter- | course he had with bis colleagues, we can but feel grateful to bis memory, and can but accept and propose his life as ‘an example for our own and for the imitation of the young. Third—That, as murks of respect for bis memory, we direct that the portraits of the deceased in the city | office and institutions under our charge be draped in emblems of mourning for thirty hat the Presi. dent of the Prytectory and the committee reporting those resolutions be appointed a special committen t9 nasish in receiving the rémaftis of the eased or their arrival in this cijy apd to make suitable arrangements for the mem- pots ofits board und others connected with ite work to wt- tend the funeral in a bo Fourth—That said special committee mak in due time for a requiem mass in observance of the mind at St. Patrick's Cathodral for the repose of the soul of our late colle Figth—Tb ny of these resolutions and preamble be | engrossed, signed by the President and said special com- mittee, framed and bung in the city office of the Protectory, | and that another engrossed copy be prepared and sent to tis aillicted family of the lamented decease: HENRY L. HOGUET, President, | Committes, arrange | MUNICIPAL NOTES. One hundred and eighty clerks in the Finance De- partment have not received their salaries up to the | present for the month of November, It is stated tho warrants have been in the bands of Mayor Wickham since the Ist of December, but the entente cordiale bo- tween that official and Comptroller Green still remains to be adjusted. Next week comes Christmas, Many of these gentlemen have families depending upon them | for support and it would be weil that they should pro- | cure their justly earned salaries betore the great | holiday. The new: Board of Aldermen are prospecting as to | | the officers and employés to be appointed after the Ist of Junuary. It is generally conceded that Mr, Samuel | A. Lewis will be elected President and Mr. F. J. Two- | mey clerk, Ittsdoubtful as to successful candidates for other positions, Eleven days more and Commissioner Fitz John Porte erm expires. The Aldermen are non-committal | on being questioned a8 to whether or not they will voto for the gentieman’s confirmation should his name be sent in by yor Wickbam for reappointment as bead of the Department of Public Works. The Sheriff's office looked sombre yesterday after the terrible drama of Friday. Officials talked in wh ra, Nothing new was given out a® lo the Sheri | movements for recapturing Tweed, | most popular physician, Drs. Michaeli | Altshal, HL Wetzler, A. Arkkush, | Newburgh, B. Brownold, R. Loeb, THE HEBREW FAIR. SUCCESSFUL PROGRESS OF THE CHARITABLE UN- DERTAKING—THE ATTRACTIONS OF THE FAIR AND THE OBJECT TO BE ACCOMPLISHED— CREDITABLE FINANCIAL RESULTS, Whoever is interested in procuring relief for the needy may study with profit, not unmixed with pleas- ure, the mothods in such effective use at the Hebrew Charity Fair, now in progress at Gilmore’s Garden. ‘There the thoughtful will find interesting subjects for study and the charitable may have the amplest oppor- tunities to exercise their generosity. The plan of this fair doos not differ notably from ordinary events of the kind. Its arrangement is more elaborate, however— possibly there is more untiring zeal evidenced by its workers; certainly its wonderful success is a marvel. Since its openimg on the evening of the 6th inst, the receipts have reached the splendid figure of $100,000. With such success what need is there to consider any other system of relief, especially when the cost of a charitable enterprise of such magnitude will not exceed for the same time $20,000? These are the financicl results, but who shall calculate the amusement afforded ? ‘The visitor who goes to the Hebrow Fair intending to bestow his mite in aid of the suffering and distressed who are in its charge, instead of being confronted with painful pictures finds something entertaining on every side, Amida blaze of beauty he moves to enjoyable music, feasting his eyes on things uselul and ornamen- tal, prettily arranged at myriad booths tended by Israel’s fairest daughters in their most captivating moods, Is itany wonder, then, that more is heard of the attrac tions of the fair than the claims of its clients upon public charity? Certainly not; the average contributor would have to be more or less than human if he were not more concerned for the moment about the pretty girls who ask his contribution than the sufferers to whose benefit itis applied, This isa feature of all our fairs, aad in this respect we may be said to differ from other people whose charity, we are told, often lessens in pro- portion to the distance at which they are removed trom {ts objects. Astory is told of a Frencn lady of rank who visited a neighboring convent on a winter day and found that the poor monks had no wood, but must rely upon their fervor and prayers for warmth, On return- ing home she was greatly pained at their condition, and while some logs were being placed on her own fire sho ordered her steward to send wood immediately to the convent, Moving closer to the fire she had for, gotten the cold when the steward entered to inquire how many loads of wood he should send, “Ob, you may wait,” she said, indifferently, “the weather now is much milder, THE HOSPITAL. Doubtless there are many visitors to all our fairs who would never have troubled themselves to ascer- tain whether the institut@ns in whose aid they are es- tablished were really deserving, if those who plead for them were loss attractive. But the merits of such an institution as the Mount Sinai Hospital, for whose bene- fit the Hebrew fair was started, cannot long remain un- recognized, It is a noble charity, so broad in its scope as to embrace all sects and nationalities, although the members of the HebroW faith are foremost in its sup- port and management. ‘The hospital is situated at the corner of Lexington avenue and Sixty-sixth street, and has space for the accommodation of some 300 inmates, It was last benefited, as in the present manner, in December, 1870, when, for the joint aid of itself and the Hebrew Orphan Home, a fair was held in the Twenty-second Regiment Armory, which netted $150,000, In the same month the Catholic fair for the Foundling Asylum brought in $70,000. These were probably the largest amounts realized atany fairs since the great Sanitary fair, whose re- ceipts excceded a quarter of a million dollars, The present, it 1s likely, will be the last fair that will ever be held’ for the Mount Sinai Hospital, as the manage- ment expect to obtain a sufficient sum to place the in- stitution on a self-supporting basis, On next Wednes- day night the fair closes with am auction of the goods then remaining undisposed of, Meanwhile, what, it is asked, are the present attrac- tions of the fair, apart from the Lage charitable side ot the question? In answer to the public curiosity it may be truly said that they are so numerous and of such merit that justice cannot be done them tn the brief enumeration and description here attempted. An inspection of the fair will best satisfy this curiosity. Recent visitors to Gilmore’s Garden remember its countless and varied lights; let them fill in the picture with rustic temples, Chinese, Moorish and Indian Pagodas, and tastefully arranged booths by the score; the lights augmented and the colors heighten by myriad contrasts, Then add 10,000 ever moving buman figures—men, woman and children—none poorly, many very handsomely, some elaborately dressed, aud you may have a faint idea of what the He- brew fair looks like as you enter it, But it is only when you have entered and mingled with the mighty throng that you see the hosts of pretty applicants for charity, who are ever on the alert for ‘‘chances’’ on all sorts of prizes, some of which may endure for a life- time. Are you thirsty? Go to the fountain near the wav- ing palms, where Rebekah, with other maidens of Is- racl, give lemonade to retresh the waylarer. They are hot barefooted; neither do their white veils glisten in the sunbeams; but a calcium light sheds its reful- gence on forms as fair as those of the bright-eyed daughters of Israel of olden time, who grew into beau- tiful womanhood cherished by all who knew them, as they pursued the simple routine of their domestic duties, ‘ Tne modern Rebekah is Mrs, Charles Lewis, Various other ladies lend their presence from time to tume, The Eleazor or Isaac, who nightly looks upon this fair vision, also contrasts as much in dress with his ancient rototype as do the maidens with the first Rebekah. ie comes wrapped in an Ulster or with flowers in buttonhole, not tired and travel stained, saying, “Let me, I pray tee, drink a little water. "” About a step removed is Flor: Temple, a graceful | structure, covered with evergreens and trailing vines and topped with rich plants from the tropics. jaden behind great bouquets are seen the nymphs that dis- pose of these favors. The music of sweet voiced canaries adds to the attractions of this spot. Not far away is another pretty structure, one of Eastern do- sign, bright in color, with a predominance of gold. This is Mr. Cohn’s pagoda Here are found the diamonds so dearly prized by the fuir sex. At this siand about $3,000 bas already been realized for the fair. Miss Jenny Cohn presides here. Mr, Cobn erected this pagoda at an expense of $800, Oppo- 2 is a temple containing the Book of Life, in which e recorded the names of generous donors to the hos- tal. i Pitnother and important feature in this vicinity is the | art gallery, containing a collection of more than 100 | paintings, loaned by persons interested in the success | of the fair, Many of these pamtings are very tine and woll worthy of inspection. Several of the various ex- | celiences of the painter’s art are here to be secon. | Landscapes and cattle picces, works notable for vigor and coloring, beauty or expressiveness of tace or atti- tude, make up the collection. There are tho.stern fe tures of Cromwell, a genuine Van Dyke; “Marguorite in Prison,” “Crossing the Stream,” by Bougereau; ‘In the Sierra Nevada,” Albert Bierstadt; “Tbe Spanish Dance,” another excellent work by Bougereau, and, among the rest, a large painting crowded with figures, representing the Doge of Venice rescuing virgins from irates, . Are you eager for a peep into the future? Go to the fortune teller’s tent and Mrs. Richman or Mrs. Ben- nett or any other lady who may be in attendance will tell as much about it as any fortune hunter would wish to know. Go to the Creedmoor rifle range if you would shoot, and If you cannot reach Rebokal’s well content yourself with soda water at the grotto, If you would ‘witness a stirring theatrical representation Mr. Punch — and nis lady are at your service. In all this variety rely noone can fail to find something of interest. | The fact ts that there are so many interesting things to be seen that it is feared one visit will not suilice, But it were a task even to mention all the attrac- tions When you bave seena part only you will wish to pause in your bewilderment to listen to the familiar strains of Gilmo: Band as they flood the garden with jcome harmony. It must not be supposed that even the receipt of $100,000 bas robbed the stands of their chief attrac- tions, Start again when the music is over and you find other equaily striking features. Here is stand No, 50, presided over by Mrs, Louis Lavanburg, assisted by Mrs. C, Minzesheimer daughter, Mrs, Aronson and daughter, Mrs. Dittepbocter, Mrs. J. Scholle and sister, Miss Felsenheld, Mrs. A. J. Dryfus, the Misses Lichtenstadter, Annette Kohn and Carrie Kohn. In addition to other attractions Mrs’ Lavanburg has on exhibition a splendid easy chair presented by Mr. Hoss, exquisitely wrought and upholstered in rich tex- This chair will be voted to the nd Jacoby tures from abroad. have the highest numbers of votes thus far, ‘Stand No, 22 1s conducted by Miss Zipporah Hart, as- sisted by Mrs. E. E. Hart, Mrs, D. 8. Hart, Mrs. Esty Rocheli, Misses Constance Hart, Josephine Hat Josephibe Lewis, Rosalie Lewis and Bella Myers. It is | furnished with some of the richest articles at the fair, including music boxes of elaborate workmanship, bronze ornaments, silverware and jewelry. Mrs. William H. Stiner reside over stands Nos, 36 and 60, assisted by Mra. k. Ikelheimer, Mra, &. Frank, Mrs. &, Sommericn, Mrs, B. Sternieis, Mra, 8, Stincr, Mrs, M. Goodkind, Mrs, B, Goodkind, Mrs.’ J, N. Blum, Mrs. H. Rodh, Mrs H. Harstall, Misses J, Herrman, F, Friday, KE. ©. ©, Stiner, Le A. Loeb and A. Altsbul. The wares displayed are varied and vaiuable, running from dolls to oil paintings, and the ladies tn charge do a thriving trade, Stand No, 32, Mrs, V. H. Rothschild, President; Mrs, | Stietel, Mrs. Max Rothschild, Mrs, Siineon Gutman, Mrs. Solomon Strauss, Mrs. H Ackerman, Mrs. Strauss, Mrs. Henry Nordiinger, Mrs, J. Lindheim, Mrs. ©. V, Cohen, Mrs, Charles Kohlman, Mrs. B. Solomon, Misses Sophia Goodman, Clara, Kohlman, Rosalie Rindskopf, Yerith Frank, Rebecca Nussbaum, Sarah Braitel, Tillle Sautand Emma Newburger, as- nts, Among the articles here exhibited are two | paintings, silver tea set and fruit dishes, rich laces, gold and diamond jewelry, statuary, bronzes and toilet articles, At tables Nos, 6 and 7 are oxhibited costly bedroom nots, together with a variety of ladies’ garments and Jace embellishments thet appertaining, These tables are presided over 9! Mrs, J. Goldstein, assisted by Mrs, A inger, Mra. Hirschhora, Mrs. 1. Smith, Mrs, K. Arnold, Mra, ©. Lane, Mrs, H. Schuman, Misses | Tillie Goidamith. Rebecca Goldsmith, Kuma Goldsmitp, | cide is not known, or | d Mrs, Josoph H. Stiner | | letters and 77 bags of papers, distributed among the Rachel Hess, Theresa Worthheimer, Gertrado Stett- heimer, Minnie Fisher, Katie Smith, Emma May, Georgia Rosenfeld and Annie Hirschhorn. ‘These are a few of the prominent stands, and there re many others of equal interest to the majority of the visitors, ‘There ia, in addition, a restaurant, with Miss Levi Samuels and Mrs. L. Minzesheimer in charge, assisted by a captivating volunteer corps of lady waitresses, At four o'clock every Friday afternoon the fair has hot to open in until half-past six o’clock on evening, wi ts usually an extremely busy night’ The following are the receipts daily thus far:— December 964 15; Tth, $12,012 04; 8th, $4,880 13; Le a $1,156 55; ‘Lith, $14,004 10; 13th, $6,080 57; 14th, 20; 15th,’ $5,475 06;' 16th, prs 33, Total, 9% And still they are not FINE ARTs. GOSSIP AMONG THE STUDIOS AND ART GAL- LERIES—A LIFE-SIZE PORTRAIT OF HENRY M. STANLEY, THE HERALD EXPLORER. R. Ortiz, a Spanish artist, who has been but a few monthe in this country, will, about December 21, place on exhibition at his studio, No. 23 Union square, aportrait of Henry M. Stanley, the Heraup African explorer, The figure is full length and life size, and represents Stanley standing in the dress worn by him while travelling in Africa—Prussian tropical hat of gray linen, white coat, pantaloons of heavy blue flannel and boots reaching above the knees, The figure is posed in an easy, careless attitude, Stanley holds his rifle in @ manner which gives the idea of support, though it does not touch the ground. The face browned from long exposure to the flerce rays of the sun and has an expression of great firmness and self- reliance, but without a particle of conceit, The artist as placed an open background beyond the figure, sug- gesting an irreg»lar rocky plain, but it is not carned into detail from fear of detracting from the interest tn the figure. The color is generally cold, almost purple in tone, but in the face is some of the rich color of the Spanish school of Velasquez and Murillo, the flesh tints being indistinctly seen through the skin, Mr, Ortiz has several Spanish scenes in his studios, His figures are full of spirited drawing and brilliant color. They represent dark-eyed beauties with the national headdress of lace, college students singing in the streets, matadors preparing fora bull fight and @ miniature bull fight, in which schoolboys take charac- ters of both men and animals, Mr, Ortiz is a valuable acquisition as a figure painter to New York. Robert E. Minor is at work on a landscape, a piece of powerful work. The scene is a mill stream ia Litch- field, Conn. A wooded bank lines the shores, and the water dashes furiously around a bend in the river and over the rocky bed, forming the foreground of the pic- ture, This work promises to be one of the strongest landscapes ever painted in this city. Two other large landscapes painted by this artist are destined for the Centennial One isadaybreak over a scche where grand old oaks are seen with their roots immersed in the water, which is gradually killing them, as it bas some of their companions, The companion is the hour after sunset, as Byron says:— When the last snnshine of exptring day In summer's twilight weeps itself away. The local interest of this picture consists in its being in the vicinity of the battle flela of Sedan; but that is Jost in the poetic feeling which pervades the picture, giving it high rank as a work of art. The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts will, about New Year's, open that portiou of their new builaing on Broad street, Philadelphia, devoted to tho antique and modern schools for the benefit of students, The per- manent collection of paintings and sculpture is the best of any public institution in the United States, The grand opening of the building will take place in April, when the Harrison, Fell, Fales and other collec- tions will add interest to the regular spring exhibition, which will probably remain open during the Centen- nial celebration, In the same studio are two land- scapes by Charles Du Bois, who is now in Europe, They also are specimens of thorough artistic work, Both Minor and Du Bois are pupils of Diaz, of Paris, and Van Laupen, of Antwerp. George W. Maynard is at work on a strong piece of figure painting for the Centennial. In his studio is the picture exhibited at the Academy last spring and sev- eral studies showing the same fine touch and good color as his more finished aoe Miss Julia Griffin occu portion of Laura Keene’s old residence in Bond street as a studio, Here may be seen the results of her work, in the casts of portrait busts delineating the features of many of our promi- nent citizens. The late Mayor Havemeyer’s portrait is above the doorway, and arranged around the room are those of Professor Barnard, Dr. Fuller Walker, General Jourdan, of Brooklyn; President Matsell, of the New York Police Board; Henry W. Sage and others. Miss Griffin is now engaged in modelling the portraits of Rev. Dr. Chapin, Judge Brady and Dr. White, of this city. Miss L. A. Blake has recently completed a portrait in oil of Judge James, of Tom’s River, N. J., and is at present at work on a portrait from a photograpn of the late Rev. James H, Andrews, of Brooklyn, and the late Dr. James. A portrait in India ink of Charles Gore is a piece of strong freehand drawing. The ninth annual exhibition of the American Society of Painters in Water Colors will be opened at the gal- leries of the Academy of Design January 31, 1876, Ex- hibitors must send notice to the secretary before Jan- uary 12, that the porters may know where to call No picture will be received after January 19. The society requests the loan of important foreign pictures in water colors not before exhibited publicly in New York, Works in black and white are solicited from the artists and others, and works from artists in the city will be called for and returned at the close of the exhibition free of charge. Those out of the city must have ex- pressage prepaid. ‘The Brooklyn Art Association will have the pictures | (with the artists’ consent) exhibited at thoir galleries for two weeks after the close of the exhibition in New York. James D. Smillie is president of the association, J. C. Nicoll secretary, and Edward Brown will have the management of the sales. ‘The opening of Snedicor’s new gallery, at No, 176 Fifth avenue, took place last week, Most of our best artists have works here. Among them Samuel Cole- man bas placed a number of interesting studies and | water colors, made during a three years’ sojourn in tho East. The names of the members of the Committee on Selection appointed by the Centennial Art Committee are Daniel Huntingham, Thomas Hicks, Jervis McEnteo | (in the place of T, R. Gifford), J. Q. A. Ward, Henry K, Brown, Richard M. Staigg, Boston; Samuel B, Waugh, Philadelptia; W. H. Willcox (in place of W. T. Rich. ards), Boston; Thomas Robinson and Howard Roberts, Boston. Christopher P. Cranch, the poet-artist, bas deserted New York and taken a studio for the winter in Boston, The artists of Chicago are to have another auction sale of their pictures about December 21, and hope, this time, to receive, at least, the price of the frames enclosing them. G. P, A. Healey bas finished a full length portrait ot Mrs. Potter Palmer, of Chicago, Miss Eva Hammonds painting portraits of prominent men in Chicago, Among them are the Webster Brothers of that city, Miss Hammond is a graduate of the National Academy of Design im this city and has tho advantage of European study and experience, POST OFFICE NOTES. The Post OMice deposits of the past week amounted to $62,100—December 13, $9,000; 14th, $10,100; 16th, $12,100; 16th, $0,800; 17th, $9,500; 18th, $11,000, Among the Improvements of the past week in the Post Office building have been the placing of large bul- Jotins at the front entrance, giving full directions to all departments. ‘The foreign mails of yesterday consisted of 66,780 | following steamslups:—City of Richmond, 25,300 let- ters, 33 bags of papers, Bolivia, 1,580 letters, 7 bags of papers; Oder, 20,600 letters and '37 bags of papers ‘As there is now no Inman or Bremen steamship sail- ing on Saturday the mails for Great Britain and Europe of next Satnrday by ordor of tho Postinaster General will be despatched by the steamship Elysia, of the An- chor line, which has been tendered to the department | by the agents, Messrs. Henderson Bros. In order to give quick despatch to the mails the steamer will stop at Queenstown, Last Thursday morning the fast mail train on the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad took out | 47,503 pounds of mail matter. A SUICIDE RECOGNIZED. ‘The unknown man who was found dead in the woods near the Richmond county Poorhouse farm on Thurs- day last, with @ bullet bole in the head, bas been iden- | | tified as Charles Brandt, a clerk in the store of Ridley & Sons, Grand street, New York. It appears that the do- ceased had been in the employ of that firm for six years, resided in Second avenue and had been missing from his home since the 7th ist, ‘The cause of his #ul- THIRD TERM NOTES. OPINIONS ON THE ACTION OF CONGRESS. The President is credited to-night with an observa- tion somewhat too lively for his wits, When he heard of Blaine’s blank refusal to vote on the third term ques- tion he said, “Blaine needn’t be so damn careful. He don’t stand in anybody's way."'—World’s Washington ‘The third term received a stunning blow in Congress yesterday from which {t will hardly recover. In fact, the third term may be considered past praying for. ‘The pious prayers of Brother Gil Haven will hardly avail.—Harrisburg Patriot (dem.) Assuming that the republican party does not mean to destroy itself by the renomination of General Grant, who could not even carry Massachusetts, and would certainly lose New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio, it is time to look to the considerations which should deter- mine the selection of & candidate.—Harper's Weekly (rep.) At present we do not hear this popular clamor for Grant’s re-election; but, if there is anything int@e ‘signs of the times, tise rising storm of public opinion ‘that will sweep Grant and his Washington rings from power, and they will never be reinstated. —Los Angeles Herald (dem.) Mr. Springer, of Tilinols, says he sprung the anti-third term resolution on Congress because he is a Methodist and wanted to test tho value of Bishop Haven’s nomi- nation, And now the question arises, will a Congres#- man’s vote outweigh a bishop’s prayers ? —Philadelphia Press (vep.) In any event, his name !s not likely to be brought forward in the Republican Convention, backed by any formidable show of strength. There has been a too general expression of opinion within the republican party in favor of taking up a new man to encourage any hope which the few advocates of a third term may have permitted themselves to entertain when the subject was first brought to public notice.—Zroy Times (rep.) ‘That awful hobgoblin which has been so fraught with danger in the eyes of numerous people, the third term movement, has received another heavy blow, this time from the House of Representatives, by a vote of 232 te 18, without any debate on the question, Yet with this tremendous opposition to a third term we suppose many foolish persons will keep the cry a going. —Addt- son (N. ¥.) Advertiser (rep.) This (the vote) appears to be the measure of the third term strength in the House, There is no strength about it, however, even among the republicans.—Phila- delphia Herald (ind.) We would like to believe that this vote ends the third term agitation.—Utica Observer (dem.) Grant's renomination would be the forecast of serious trouble, His very unpopularity makes him dangerous, His unreasonable and unreasoning desire to perpetuate his power makes him dangerous. His success in break- ing through the limitations of the constitution and ignoring the restraints which law imposes, as illustrated in the Louisiana case, makes him dangerous. Hia despotic control over a trained army of office-holdera makes him dangerous. The apathy of the people, which leads them to look with apparent indifference upon acts of usurpation, makes him dangerous. —Utica Observer (dem.) It is generally conceded that Bishop Gil Haveh killea Ulysses and Springer set up his tombstone.—Harris burg Patriot (dem.) We judge that the third term bugbear has about run its course, We never believed that there was anything in it; that the President ever seriously thought of # third term, or that there was the least probability that the Republican Convention would nominate Grant, Recent events confirm us in this opinion.—Zrenton (N. J.) Gazette (rep.) i Grant says in his Message ‘declare Church and State forever soparate,” and Bishop Haven responds imme- diately after at a church gathering by nominating Grant fora third term. Wo you see, my fellow citizens? You tickle me and I’ll tickle you! is the way it wags with Grant and Haven,—Lockhaven (Pa.) Democrat (dem.) The President can tell when he looks over the thira term yote in the House where his strength is located. All the colored members of the House, with a single exception, voted against the third term declaration, and in the case of the exception he did not vote at all_— Cincinnati Commercial (ind.) CROOKED WHISKEY RING NOTES. “Let no gilt-edged man escape" is the new way an exchange puts it. “Let no guilty man escape,” said the President, and the words are worthy the successor of Washington, Jefierson and Jackson; but we cannot forget that the same President said, ‘Let. us have peace,” and then proceeded to make war.—Springfield (Ill) Register (dem.) Itis said the Kentucky Bourbon manufacturers are mixing their whiskey with the waters of “Bab-bling brooks.”” ‘The dismissal (of Henderson) was a very foolish ag well as a very wrong step, The President should have courted instead of checking investigation of himself and his friends, and he will find it difficult to get out of the awkward position in which he is now placed by his own act.—Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle (dem.) This din about Henderson has no meaning beyond the effort of the democracy to create the foeling that the administration is not prosecuting the whiskey con- spirators in good faith. But the work is still going on in Milwaukee, Indiana, Chicago and in St. Louis, and the President has simply shown that in the prosecution of the guilty men his enemies shall not use their oppor- tunity while under pay to claim the fruits of the inves- tigation for the democratic party by blackening his administration in their speeches,—AMinneapolis Mail (rep.) The pretence that Mr. Henderson is dismissed for words spoken in his speech on the Avery trial, words which contributed to the conviction of a guilty office- | holder, {8 a palpably false and ridiculous pretence, Mr. Henderson is dismissed lest Mr. Grunt’s guilty parasite Babcock should not oscape.—Chicago Times (dem.) It is hardly within the range of probabilities that General Babcock would attempt to deceive the Pres dent on this point [Babcock’s innocence), and it is still loss likely that the President couid be so deceived.— Chicago Inter-Ocean (rep.) However justifiable the dismissal of Mr. Hender- son, special counsel for the government in the St. Louis whiskey frauds, was, or however great was the provo- cation given by himself for his removal, it still must be conceded that the act™n of the President was inexpedi- ent and unwise,—Philadelphia Inquirer (rep.) The indictment of General Babcock cannot fail to cast suspicion upon the President. Circumstances point strongly to the conclusion that if one is guilty the other must be guilty also.— Augusta (@a.) Chronicle dem.) POLITICAL NOTES, Mr. Randall's amendment to make one term of six years for the office of President will have numerous supporters, But Grant’s last administration will make many wish the term reduced to half its length. Con- sidering the brevity of life, six years make too long = term for a bad President, and four are too short for a | good one.—Harrishurg Patriot (dem.) After one session of (he present Congress there will not be much ase of a democratis candidate for the Presidency. —Philadelphia Press (rep.) Connecticut loses the chance of having a most exeel- lent Governor in Secretary Jewell's declination to ac- copt a nomination. —Philadelphia Press (rep.) There are people in the country who think if Jim Blaine was put on oath he could tell how the Foster letter came to be published, He has never denied that | he received it. —Harrisburg Press (dem.) SHALL CHURCH PROPERTY BE TAXED? ‘The question of the taxation of Church property is an important one and one that deserves close attention from the people; but it is not @ national question in apy sense and las no proper place in national politics? It is @ State question exclusively and should be settled by the people of each State in the way that best suite themselves. —Pittsburg Commercial (rep. ) Grant's declaration in favor of disestablishing Amert- can churches and leaving them to be taxed like shoe- makers? shops, bakerfes and profane rum mills bas pro. Seoretary of the Methodist Sunday School 7 fepudiate the premature renomina- by Bishop Haven and the preach- Dimes (dem.) Orporation has no more right to expect that the people will pay its taxes than a railroad or @ banking corporation, aud the President is sound in the position he has taken,—Chicago Tribune (rep.a