The New York Herald Newspaper, December 22, 1875, Page 6

TOR TAMORTAL, EIGHTEEN Sketch of the Few Who Dared To Do, * Although They Died. THE REASONS WHY THEY DID I. The Men Who Represent the Third Term Sentiment. (MPERTINENCE OF THE DEMOCRATS. ‘atriotism, Patronage and the Preservation of the School System. ‘Theirs vot the reason why, Theirs not to make reply, Tennyson. It bas been well said, “‘Some are born great, some whieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon hem." Of the first two it were somewhat supertiuous © speak, as the conventional schoolboy, whose vast wudition constitutes an ever existing encomium on wur threatened common schoo! system, can mention wny number of examples. Nor ts it indeed necessary © our present purpose. We have only to deal with he last one. The greatness which ts thus thrust upon ts subjects i8 generally without their consent, and hough, perhaps, agreeable evough in itself, often nyolves experiences which they would fain avoid. it was so with the 600 officers and men who, as corded in English history and verse, rode tuto the aws of death at Balaklava Had they been consulted wn the subject they would probably have declined the jreatness at suchexpense, Still at is recorded of them hat, oblivious of the greatness and the fact that their Ittle excursion was to be barren of any practical re- sult, save, perhaps, to furnish Mr. Tennyson with a theme, they rode on, and we all know the resutt— some 200 of them sat down toa recent banquet in celebration of the event. In these latter days of ours a similar opportunity has been afforded a smaller number of equally devoted souls, and they haye rode into the jaws with a readi- ness which io the not remote future will furnish all needful inspiration to the incipient poet now enjoying the benefits of the common school system before ro- ferred to. It is, perhaps, needless to say that we refer to the immortal eighteen, who, gathered from various portions of the civilized and uncivilized world, differing tu lineage aad hue, of vastly varied expericnces and occupations, so heroically rode into the jaws of politi- cal death in support of President Grant’s aspirations. I: is not consonaut with tne practical, utilitarian char- acter of the modern newspaper to celebrate their hero- ism in verse, however much the occasion may warrant, We can, therefore, do no more than furnish the poet laureate of Ulysses I, with the details necessary for a proper appreciation of the subjects of his song in that good time coming when there shall be but one term, and that for life, DUDLEY ©, DENISON, Representative from the Second district of Vermont, was born in Royalton, that State, on September 13, 1919, He was educated at the University of Vermont and adopted the profession of the law; was elected to the State Legislature and also to the Senate; was for a time District Attorney for the United States, and in 1874 was elected to the Forty-fourth Congre: coustituents regard the common school system as es sential to present, if not future, salvation and Grant as its prophet, his vote Js easily understood, JEREMIAH HARALSON is. result of the war, previous to which he was known on the plantation as “Jerry.” He now represents the First district of Alabama, He was born in Muscogee county, Georgia, of slave parents, April 1, 1846. ‘tie became {ree at the close of the rebeliiou and settled, in Alabama; acquired a knowledge of English by means of bts own personal efforts; in 1868 he first took an inter- ost in politics; in 1870 he presided over the Convention which nominated B. 8. Turner for Congr: in the same year he was elected to the State Legislature; in 1871 a justice of the peace; was for three years Presi- dent of the ‘Alabama Labor Union;’’ also elected to a Convention of bis own people held in New Orleans; in 1872 he was elected a State Senator, and in 1874 he was elected to the Forty-fourth Congress {rom the State of Alabama His constituents have been taught to believe that Grant is atthe bead of the existing “Jubulum,” | and, of course, they desire to have him remain there. HARRIS M. PLAISTED represents the Fourth district of Maine, having been elected to fill a vacancy caused by the death of samuel ¥. Hersey. He was born in Jeficrson, N. H., Novem- ber 2, 1828. He passed his life on his father’s farm in teaching school until 1549; graduated at the Waterville College, in Maine, in 1853, and was again connected with schools; graduated at the Albany Law School in 1855, and came to the Bar in 1856, living in | Maine; in 1861 be entered the volunteer service as lieutenant colonel; as colonel he participated in all the battles between Yorktown and Malvern Hill manded a brigade at Charleston, and was with Grant bejore Richmond, and became a major general by bi vet, He served two years in the Legislature; was a deiegate to the National Republican Convention of 1868; Attorney General for Maine from 1873 to 1875, He believes in Grant, and thinks that estimable soldier and statesman could be made President any number of times without detriment to the common school sys- tem. JON ADAMS HYMAN Fepresents the Second district of North Carolina He was named ip honor of the founder of a race ot Pre: dents; came to the surface on certain recent amend- ments to the constitution, having been born of slave parents at Warrenton, N. C., July 23, 1840. Ho is col- ored, After his emancipation in 1565, with that versa- uility of talent to which the atmosphere of America is $0 favorable, he became a merchant. In the same year he became a member of the Board of Education tor Warren county; was a member of the Equal Rights Convention of 1866; of the State Constitutional Conven- tion of 1868; served in the State Legislature from 1863 so 1874, and was elected a Representative from North Carolina to the Forty-fourth Congress. He was Vice President of the State Council of the Union League curing its existence in North Carolina and a delegate to alithe State republican conventions which have as- sembled since the year 1865, ROBERT SMALLS represents the Fifth district of the Palmetto State. He As bis | | was born at Beaufort, S. C., April 5, 1839, and, like the | others of bis race, received no education until the close of the war, His experience has been somewhat varied, “ead though possessing no great culture he fitly repre sents the predominant party in his native State, He lived at Beaufort until 1561, when be went to Charleston and worked at the rigger’s trade, and led a seafaring life along the coast of South Carolina and Florida; ba ing acquired a knowledge of the bays and harbors of the coast, went on board the steamer Planter in the Con- federate service in 1861, acting as pilot; when the op- portunity offered he seized the boat and joined the United States fleet outside the harbor; he was then en- tered on the navy list of the federal’ service, and was subsequently commissioned as second lieutenant of the Thirty-third regiment of colored troops, and per- formed efficient service during the war on sea and land, for which he was prometed to captain; returuod to Beauforg after the war; was a member of the Constitu- tonal Convention, and in 1868 was a member of tho House of Representatives of the State, and also filled an unexpired term in the State Senate for two years; in | 1872 was re-clected to that position; he was made brigadier general and afterward major general of State troops, and jn 1874 was elected a Representative from South Carolina to the Forty-fourth Congress. Like the majority of his constituents he believes the existing order came in with and owing to President Grant. It may be destined to go out with him, 60 it is better to take no chances. He thinks, moreover, that The day of jubilee am come. JOSIAH T. WALLS resents the Second district of Florida and reajdes at inesville, in that State. He rose amid the recon- ruction turmoil, which brought many worse men to the surface, He was a member of the Forty-third Con- gress for the State at large and was re-elected to the present House when the State was jaid out in disirie Fecently, He has not heretofore beeu known to fam bor was it necessary that heshould be, The changing political sentiment in Mr. Walls’ State renders 1t proba- bie thas he will go out with the existing second term, He believes in Grant as the dispenser of a variety of good things, RICHARD #. WHITING, momber from the Ninth district of Lilinois, was born artford, Conn,, January 7, 1826, and, having received & common school eaucation, onght to have known bet- ter, He removed to Liltnow in 1848, when he engaged in business asa merchant. He served his country as Pa er in the federal army, ard {tis not improba- ji@ that the military araor there engendered prompted his desire to continue old ehicfiain in command, He bad beld office in Internal Revenue Depa: ment for some years prior to bis fourth Congress, Probably, if bis vote may be taken ag an indication, be does not intend to revurn thei OLINTON DUGALD w'DOUGALL represents the Twenty-fifth district of New York, com. | prising the counties of Cayuga, Seneca and Wayne, and 18 a republican and @ native of Scotland, where he was born June 14, 1889. According to his record in the Congressional Directory be came to America with bis yarents in 1842, received an academic education, studied was engaged in the (ory belreae trom 1856 to 1808, Taisea 4 company for the Seventy-fiih New York Volunteers in 1861, went to Florida with his regiment, was made leutenant colonel of the lilth Now York Volunteers in August, 1862, and colonel in January, 1863; commanded the post at Centreviile, Va, to June, | 1863; joined the Army of the Potomac in which he commanded the Third brigade, Third div)sion, corps, at Gettysburg, and afterward the Third brigade, Firat division. Second corps, until the close of the war! ‘Was brevétted brigadier cenora) in L864, returned home ie was appointed postmaster of the cit; March, 1869, was a member of He voted inst Springer's resolution because, as he says, he thought the House had no more to do with ‘that question than had the Methodist Bishop Haven Ho is really not tn favor of a third term, SOLOMON L, HOGE at Columbia, 8. C,, and represents the Third ot of that State in Congress, the district being the one which Jono ©. Calhoun camg from. Mr. Hoge, while ative of Bellefontaine, ORio, comes of an old Virginia family, and bas been @ Southern man in his more {mmediate personal, Symapeinies aad: feelings with- out being sectional in hig patriotisi, He has been @ resident of South Carolina for ten years, and during that time bas been, in succession, Judge of the Supreme Court, and quite recently Comptroller Ge: eral of the State, having held the latter office for three years. Mr. Hoge, who wi member of the Forty Congress, and has’ alwa: mn & republican, is yer, and (hirty nine years of age. While he does not his great liking for President Grant, he does not feel that be has committed bimself by bis action in voting against Springer’s resolution. ‘The matter of a third term ig purely a question for a convention, and Mr. Hoge believes that be ts more likely now to be a member of such a convention than some of the republicans who voted the other way. The third term resolution was a piece of impertinence, and the House bad no busineas to raise the question He thought it wasn’t the democrats’ funeral, and they had no right to meddle with it, = ANDER §. WALLACE represents the Fourth aistrict of South Carolina for the fourth time in Congress successively. He resides at Turkville, York county, where be was born in the year 1810, ts a vencrable looking gentleman, tall and slender, with heavy gray hair and beard. He isa planter, but bas held the offices successively of local magistrate and member of the Logisiature, having been elected to the latter seven times. He was de- feated for the Legisiature on the union ticket in 1860, ‘but was electod on the same tssue ip 1865. Previous to yams to Congress he held the position of Collector of ternal Revenue for the Third district of South Caro- lina, He is an enthusiastic republican and a oeliever im the propriety of keeping President Grant in office for at least one more term. G. WILEY of the Second distriet of Mississippi, was United States District. Attorney for the Northern district of Misssis- eippi, and was an able and honest officer, He opposed the misrule of Governor Ames in his State, and was elected to Congress as an anti-Ames republican and epresentative of the honest republican element in ississipp!. He is a Northern man by birth, and went 0 Mississippi after the war to practice law and live ere, dasiness at the close of the war to pursue peaking} 4 last Congress. JOUN R. LYNCH represents the Fourth district of Mississippi and is a resid@t of Natchez—a colored man. He is satd to be a preacher at home, and was probably moved by a desire for patronage and the fear of his constituents, who are colored people and favor a perpetual re-election of General Grant, According to the sketch of him in the Congressional Directory he was born in Copcordi parish, La, September 10, 1847, a slave, and he remained in slavery until emancipated by the results of the rebellion. He has by private study acquired a good English education, engaged in the business of photography at Natchez until 1869, when Governor Ames appointed him a Justice of the Peace. He was elected a member of the State Legisiature from Adams county and re-elected in 1871, serving the last term ag Speaker of the House, and was elected to the Forty- third and Forty-fourth Congress as a republican. JAY 4. HUBBELL, who represents the Ninth district of il was born at Avon, in that State, in 1829; gradi Ano Arbor in 1853, and was admitted to the Bar in 1855, He moved to Octonagon, and thence to his present residence, Houghton, in both of which places he held the offices of District and Prosecuting Attorney. He is largely interested in the mining industries of Michigan, and was a member of the Forty-third Congress, having been elected by heavy majorities on the republican ticket, CHARLES B, NASH is a colored man, representing the Sixth district of Louisiana He is a new member, and probab.y on the lookout for patronage. . HORACE FRANCIS PAGE is a resident of Placerville, Cal., and represents the Second or richest district of that State. He was born in Orleans county, New York, in 1833; emigrated to Indiana in 1853, where he taught shool; went to Cali- fornia in 1854, and mined on the Yuba River with reat success; afterward he ran a sawmill, n 1860 he settled in Placerville, where he is now engaged in the stage business, being (ages ye of several large lines and a mail contractor, ‘n 1869 he was nominated for State Senator on the republican ticket, but was beaten by Henry Larkin, whom he has just now, in turn, beaten for his present seat in Congress. He was a member of the last Con- ress. He is the only republican representative trom ‘alifornia in the Forty-fourth Congress, He thinks the third term resolution was an insult to the House, to the President and to the country at large, He was in favor of the best man for President, and he believed he had a right to vote for whom he pleased. If Grant proved the best man he should vote for him, Since the Des Moines speech General Grant bad been steadily gaining ground. From personal in- terviews with the President and the President’s friends he did not think that General Grant expected a re- pomination, and he knew be was hot intriguing for it | In this connection Mr. Page was prepared to say that if Grant continued to be the most available candidate at | the Republican National Convention and the desire for his renomination was unamimous the President ought to accept, bul not otherwise. XATHAN B. BRADLEY resides at Bay City, Mich., and represents the Eighth district of that State. He voted lor the third term as a protest against democratic bullying. Mr. Bradley isa native of Berkshire county, Mass., where he was born in 1831. He moved to Ohio’ in 1835 ; learned the trade of custom clothier, went to Oshkosh, returned to Ohio and became a lumber manufacturer. He has been Justice of the Peace, Supervisor and Alderman, and was the first Mayor of Bay City after it obtained its charter, declining a renomination from both politi- cal parties’at une close of the term; was elected to the State Senate in 1866, but declined a renomination at the close of the term in consequence of pressing busi- | ness duties, and was elected to the Forty-third and Forty-iourth Congress as a republican. HENRY 0. PRATT, of Charles City, Iowa, represents the Fourth district of that State. He was born in Foxcraft, Me., in 1833 and was cducated in the academy in that town; studied | law and graduated at the law department of Harvard | University ; removed to Iowa in 1 was poor, had not | five dollars and bad to work his passage; served as a | private iv the army%o suppress the rebellion; com- menced the practice of law at Charles City in 1864; waselected to the Iowa House of Representatives in 1869 and re-vlected in 1871. He was in the last Con- gress He is a self-made man and was always a repub- ican, Personally he is not in favor of the third term, bat he likes Grant and believes in him, and he voted against Springer’s resolution because he thought it was a free country and the people bad aright to elect a Presi- | dent “for three or as many years as they liked, If the people wanted Grant he was in favor of Grant’ He thought Blaine was an able man and was gaining strength inthe West. Eastern people did not appreciate the Western vote, The destiny of any Presidential candidate was in the hands of the West the power of the continent lay there, The day when a few Eastern politicians could control the election bad gone by. JOHN D. WHITE, Of this gentleman {t may be said he represents the Ninth district of Kentucky, the only republican repre- sentative from the dark and bloody ground in the present Congress, In view of his recent yote, it may safely be predicted that the ‘unanimity of the demo- cratic delegation from the State in the next Cofigress will pot be broken by him, BISHOP HAVEN AND THE AFRICANS. | - [From the Mobile Register—dem. ] ‘The Methodist Episcopal Church is a strictly North- ern affair, and has no connection with the Methodist Church as it is at the South, Whon the war was over the Northern political Methodist Episcopal Church at- tempted to'nationalize itself by evangelizing the Ameri- can citizens of African descent and by stealing the churches of the true Methodist Church. With this view it gobbled up a good deal of Methodist property in Tennessee and Louisiana, and would, doubtiess, have stolen all the churches in the other Southern States bad the administration at Washington felt itself strong enough “to run the churches,” to use the homely Janguage of Mr. Lincoln when he refused to aid in the theft of a Memphis church. Itthen proceeded to establish its own churches with negro congregations. For this pur- Pose it secured as agents white men of the baser sort, who organized the blacks into Zion churches and led them to the polls. One of these Zion leaders, in a neigh- | boring county, is on record as loyal presiding elder, | | betore admission extreme protection and soft money; next, Mr. Bilal Protection and hard money; third, Mr. Garfield, hard money and very little protection, and last, Mr, Burch- ard, bard money and free trade.” ‘The St Paul Pioneer Press {rep.) says it would “gladly see the Presidency limited toa single term,” and lays General Grant quietly on the shelf as a candi- date for another term. The Worcester (Mass.) Gazette (rep,) does not know what Mr. Blaine will say to the one term project, and adds that “just at this moment he seems to be more nearly tnterested in such a change than anybody else in the country."” LIBERIA, MEETING OF TER, SMERIOAN COLONIZA’ SOCTETY. The American Colonization Society, an associatic formed many years ago for the purpose of assistin| colored people to settle in Liberia, held a very poor!; attended meeting last night in the lecture room of the Broadway Tabernacle. Rev. Dr. Samson occupied the chair, and there were present Bishop Jaynes, Rev. H- B. Blaxo, of Wilmington, N. C.; Rev. Dr. Spaulding, Rov, Dr. Orcutt and Rev. M. Terry. Tho meeting was opened with prayer by Mr. Blake, and Rev, Dr. Orcutt followed with an address upon the recent troubles tn the colony. The occasion of the war between Liberia and the na- tives was on account of the title, The natives claimed that the possessions of the Laberians embraced in the county of Maryland, at least, belonged to thom, and that they had a perfect right to trade with foreigners without Interruptions or Custom House restrictions. ‘The Liberians, on the other hand, claimed that they had a valid title to all the land they possessed, and stated that they did not intend to relinquish thelr rights in any case, Upon this the two parties resorted to the sword, and six or eight battles were fought prior to October last. The first two occurred at ‘the town of Philadeiphia, about ten miles from Cape Pal- man; the third at Jacksonville, the fourth at Latrobe, and the fifth and sixth at Tubman Town, But few per- sons were killed or wounded in these battles, and inevery case the Liberians were victorious. In case of any future trouble arising 1,100 soldiers were stationed at Cape Palman under the command of General Gardnor. After @ sojourn of about s month or so Brigadier General Crayton resolved upon an aggressive movement, to be executed upon Saturday aight October 9. General Sherman and others remonstrated against it, but without avail Atdaybreak on Sunday morning, after a fa- tuguing march, they reached the native town, and a battle immediately b It had not been long in rogress when General Crayton, from some cause best nown to himeelf, retired from the field, The battle, however, still went on and finally resulted in the de- feat of the Liberians, who retreated, leaving seventy of their number dead or wounded on the field. Em- boldened by their success the natives, on Monday, Oo- tober 11, made an attack with a large force upon Tubman Town, which was garrisoned by only fifty men. The latter reserved their fre till the enemy were within ashort distance and then charged upon them with s1 telling effect that the latter retired in confusion, leaving everything that could impede their flight. This was the last battle of which we have any knowledge and is probably the lastone fought. Our jovernment has ordered the war steamer Alaska, of the juropean squadron, to proceed at once to Monrovia to aid and protect the Liberians, and it is reasonable to infer that the warfare is ended, at least for the present, Bishop Jaynes made an address in which he showed the importance of work undertaken by the society, and stated that the commerce between Liberia and this country is rapidly growing, and that ere long Libertan ships built, owned and officered by colored natives, will be seen in our ports. That state of affairs, he said, would necessitate the residence of their consuls in our ports, and the colored people of this country being t and seeing the power and wealth of their —_Liberian brethren would be induced to emigrate, Rev. Dr. Samson made a few remarks alluding to the enterprise of Mr. Stan- ley in penetrating the wilds of Africa, and quoted from his letters to show the necessity for a greater number of missionaries. More than 500 people from Alabama alone, it was said, have made application for transportation to th colony since September last, and 3,000 have been sent there since the war, THE SCHOOLSHIP MERCURY. HER PRESENT CONDITION,. AND WHAT SHOULD BE DONE TOWARD REFORMATION. In the early part of the prosent month the Commis- sioners of Charities and Correction requested a com- mittee to visit the schoolship Mercury, then lying off Randall’s Island, and recommend any improvements in the régime of the schoolship which occurred to them. The committee yesterday sent in its report, the prin- cipal points of which are that the ventilation of the ship pearance of the ship is neat an@ alean; in places, particularly the b, pteoensya the seamen, “known as the forecastie, which was found in such'a discreditable condition as to neutralize the favorable impression first made upon the Board. The boys were found in a bettar state of heath than gould have been expected from, their very light clothing. jeir general ap- plowsing; that is to say, Jong the ranks, many and in the main the ato be cheerfnl. nearly ali expressing the one to gotosoa. But the prevailing odor of the er deck and school room was too plainly indientive of & want of personal cleanliness not to be particularly no- ticed. Tne bedding of the boys, too, was scanty and dirty, In moral and academic training’ the examination was not at all satisfactory. There was no opportunity of secing the boys exercise uloft, as the sails were unbent and the weather too cold. But from such examinations as could be made the Board was not very favorably impressed, either with the method of teaching or the proficiency of the echolars. ANNUAL COST OF SCHOOLEMIP wkncunY, 1870-1874, occupied by Date. No. of Boys. * Annual Cost, 1870. 277 $59,846 53 $216 05 54.146 22 192 79 83 182 77 212 67 149 75, 147 09 “for ten months! 4 ‘The Board begs leave to recommend that some definite and well digested system be adopted us eurly as practicable and put in force to regulate the admissivn, training transfer of the beneficiaries of the schoolship. It was ascer. tained, for example, that one boy hud been on board the Mercury six years, whereas two years is the utmost a scholar should remain ander training. Again, boys were found who were physicully and mentally unfit’ for the vocation of sailor; others who evinced @ positive distaste for soa life. ‘It is a mere waste of time, trouble avd expense to such boys ship. . Two of the should be confined to the homeless and destitute and those who have been com- mitted for juvenile delinquencies. Even these should ted to @ rigid physi id mental examination, and only the robust, intelligent and those who evince a taste or aptitude for a sea lite be selected, Statistics showing the number, nationality and offences of the boys, with such other information ax might be thought desirable ‘should be published ennually, ‘Such publica, tions. would remove the popular belief that. the boys ais. A routine of studies and exercises School should be prepared without ther Joss of time and rigidly enforced. Each bo; should be required to 6 two bammocks inste of oni ent, and mattress cover. These should (as would be prescribed by = proper routine) so as to keep them in a wholesome condi. tion, The ship should be sent to sea on regular cruises; and both before going to sea and on returning she should be in- spected by an expr Semi-annual examinations should be held, to which visitors (shipowners, shipmastors, and others) should be invites The Mercury will shortly taxe her departure from Hart’s Isiand, where she is now anchored, and, it Is understood, will visit several of our Southern ports, Several important changes have been made in her, In accordance with the suggestions of the examining com- mittee, The following officers will command the Mercury during the winter cruise:—F. F. Gregory, Captain; Chas. E. Davis, executive officer; Georgo W. Pratt, second officer; Samuel 8. Gordon, third officer; John Johnson, instructor; William H. Jackson, surgeon; Geo, Ort, captain's clerk; Patrick H. Clark, engineer! Charles Berghold, steward, SPARKS FROM A LOCOMOTIVE. . senha TWO THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS RE- COVERED FROM THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY, Trenton, Dec. 21, 1875, statesman and dealer in counterfeit money. Bishop Haven is the bishop of these African Zion churches. To him i condded the apostolic rod with which to reach | the bucks of the obdurate and stif- necked white rebei When, therefore, Bishop Haven renominated Preside t Grant for a third term he did it in the interest ‘of the African element and that other elemeut known as CURRENT POLITICAL NOTES. A Washington special to the Louisville Courier. | Journal says;—'Mr. Blaine is rapidly looming up as the republican nominee for President, and is gaining strength every day.” A Maine republican paper enys ft would “rather vote for ‘somebody else’ than Grant for next President.” A modest way of putting in @ good word for thi ‘orite gon of Maine," who was born in Penn- ° yivania The Eufaula (Aln) Times (dem.) avers that “Mr, Blaine ts coming to be looked upon as the leading republican | Opponent to the third term acheme, and he Is thereby Guining a strength equalled by none of bis rivals Secretary Bristow.” The Hartford Times (dem.) thinks thata good many sound reasons can be given in favor of Mr. Randall's one term amendment, and advises the frionds of honest government to sustain it ‘The Augusta (Ga) Chronicle says if Grant has with. drawn, 98 the Cincinnat! Gazette confidently affirms, “the candidates will be Blaine, Conkling and Morton, with the chances decidedly in favor of the first named."” The Harrisburg Patriot (dem.) thinks there is “a touch of humor in the manner in which Mr. Speaker Kerr bas shaded off the republican membership of the ave | For several days past the United States Circuit Court in this city has bad before it a case of peculiar impor- tance, Samuel A Allen was the plaintiff, and the Pennsylvania Railroad Company defendants. The plaintiff claimed that in July, 1873, timber and soll to the extent of fifty-three acres, belonging to him, and uated in “Bear Swamp,’ near Lawrence station on the line of the railroad, were destroyed by fire which originated from sparks scattered by the defendants’ ; locomotives, He assessed his damages at $8,000. The case was hotly contested, a largo amount of evidence was adduced and counsel on both sides made very ex- | baustive arguments. To-day the case was concluded. Judge Nixon, in soerging, the jury, instructed them &* follows:— You must be satistied that the engines of the defendants did the damage, and that there was gross negligence on their part. It wa ry dry sea- gon when the damege was done, and this fact should Hoe “that railroad companies must use all practical means to prevent the communication of fire along the line of their road. Every locomotive must be provided with a screen, so as to and when an engine causes fire the barden of prow is thrown upon the defendants to show that they were thus provided. If you find that they took all practical means—used the best methods to guard inst fire— then your verdict must be for the defendants, If they did not do thie then you must find for the plainui?.” The Judge refused to charge on seven propositions submitted by Mr. Green, defendant's counsel, The jury re.urged a verdict for the plaintiff for §2,200, A DISGRACE ‘TO HIS CLOTH. The Rey. Father McGill, who has been arrested four times within tho last few months, and is well knowh at the Hudson County jail, was again arrested for so- hefting alms for Catholic institutions in Hoboken. He was sent to Snake Hillander the vagrant act by Re- corder Bohnstedy Committee on Ways and.Means First is Mr, Koliev. event a8 much as possible the escape of fre, . OTHER WORLDS THAN OURS. PROFESSOR PROCTOB'S THIRD LECTURE ON THE WONDERS OF ASTRONOMY, The third of the Proctor series of astronomical lectures, entitled “Other Worlds Than Ours,” attracted & magnificent audience to Steinway Hall last night. Hitherto the eminent lecturer nas confined him- self to the discussion of purely astronomical problems and phenomena. Last night he entered upon the discussion of a question which, for many ages has aroused the keenest interest and evoked the most passionate religious dicta to which the human race has evor been treated. Even of late years the question as to whether the planets were inhabited has given rise to long and viru- lent controversies. The positive theological tenots of large section of Christendom forbade the notion that ere could be animated beings (i. ¢ beings with souls), any of the other planets, imas- ag one of the persons of the had died for the redemption of mankind, and, to the Mosaic cosmogony, the sun, the fixed stars wore all made for the benefit of thout going further back it willbe remem- celebrated Dominican, Giordano Bruno, the stake in Venice, in the year to advocate pantheistic doo- the specific heresies of which he was jurality of worlds,” in the senso in earth as a world—namely, & ings like ourselves. The sturdy man. His body was reduced to survived and found many since his death this has been one of the ons of cosmic theology, In treating, then, the’ yn of other worlds than ours, last night, Professor Proctor touched apou & topic of intense interest to all classes of thinkers. Professor Proctor began his lecture by saying that one of the great difficulties which beset scientific men in the discussion of questions of this nature {s the In- terference of religious men who have no scientific knowledge, or, at least, very littl They seem to think {t their bounden duty to forestailf and prevent all discussion of these questions in order that their own religious theories may be allowed to har- monize undisturbed with their own cosmonogy. Now, although he intended to discuss the question as to the existence of other worlds than ours, still he could not help thinking that, as far as we are con- cerned, the question ts one of no great practical tm- port, It reminded him ofthe story of two Highland- ers, ong of whom sald to the other, “Sandy, can ye tell me whether a bumblebee isa bird or a beast ft” The other replied, ‘Na, mon, dinna be troublin’ me wi’ your religious questions of a week day.” There ts no question, either, that science treats of and inquires into a great many odd and curious things, {nsomuch go that, at times, scientific men cannot help but think of the old doggerel as to what scienco asks about :— . Bones and sealin And why the sea is boiling hot, And wherefore pigs have wings. But, joking apart, the Professor contended that tt was a great mistake for religious men to perpetually step in and to arrogate to themselves the right of dic- tating how much science should say and how much she should not say. The aniverse as it exists is a fact which no amount of ‘religious theory can undo, and as God has created the universe it must necessarily bein harmony with what he has tai rax and things, he Now, with regard to the question whether there were OTHER WORLDS INHABITED than ours, there are two theories. The first Is that maintained by Brewster, Chalmers and Dr. Dix, which contends that all the orbs are eithor the abode of life or are intended to support life, The other is that ot Whewell, the celebrated Cambridge mathematician, who contends that, as far as we know, this is the only inhabited world. To attempt to decide positively be- tween these two theories would be much like attempt- ing to decide as to whether the bumblebee is a bird or abeast. Professor Proctor has a theory which. the old scholastics would probably term a via ye~ ‘tween these two extremes, Ho says that tho life of a planet includes a practically infinite time before ant- mal life is possible upon it, and also a eriod, practically infinite, when animal Rite can no longer subsist. Now the period during which animal life can exist on a planet is to the other two immense periods just the same asa ripple ison the surface of the Atlantic. If the period in which we are living were central in all time we might be justified in referring to this present period of our life on our own earth the question whether or not life exists in other worlds, and wo might ask whether the planets are now inhabited ? Now, in reality we have no reason for tak- ing this present period rather than indefinitely remote period ag that to which the — question of life in other worlds should be referred, and, knowing how short the period of lifo of @ pianet is, compared with the preced- ing and following lifeless periods, we perceive that the chance is exceedingly small that any planet, taken at random, is now the abode of animal life, In the illustration of this theory Professor Proctor, mong other diagrams, exhibited the following one, showing the various dimensions of the belt of Saturn, which astronomers have concluded {s formed by num: bers of satellites This planet completes its orbit in twenty-nine years, and for two ‘the planet which ears there {8 @ portion of : iA in absolute black darkness, so that it is impossible for life, as we conceive it, to exist upon that planet, This portion of the planet varies, as will be seen from the subjoined cut. YARIOUS DIMENSIONS OP SATURN'S BRIT. It will be clear, from this cut, that, during the yari- ous periods of its orbit, avery latge surface of the solute darkness, whicli Is tantamount to it cannot support life such as we have Janet, where both light and he are Indispensable to lif, The lowest figures in the diagram exhibit tho planct as though truncated, and show {tas receiving neither light nor heat from the sun. If we imagine the effect ef sucha want of light and beat on the earth, and then remem. ber the immensely greater distanco of this planet, we shall have a proper idea of tho atter {mpossibility of hfe ander these belts of darkness and cold on this Janet. y The Professor next exhibited the subjoined views of Vonus, showing clearly, from the distinct twilight line thas Veous bas an atmosphere, TIRWS OF TESTS, Hore was displayéd & moving sterescopic view, illus trating the diffiguity of taking any observations of that planet Mars was the aext object ot the Professor's attention, and Ina few beautiful views he showed how seas and continents could be mapped out upon that planet; but contended that, owing to the excessive heat of tho planet, no form of life, such we have, could exist upon Mara’ surface, Incidentally, Protessor Proctor touched apon the difficulty ratsed by some scientist to why, if, in the lier stages of its existence, the earth was warmer than now, We should have the glacial period. This was accounted lor by the eccentricity of the carth’s orbit, which gives summer to one hemisphere while it gives winter to another. The great pl Jupiter was aext dealt with. Itia given immudiataly It is computed, at the least calculation, that these cloud belts of Jupiter are about 2,000 miles In depth; and when we remember that our own atmosphere ex- tends only about forty-nine miles we have a notion of the tremendous pressure of the cloud masses on the face of Jupiter, It is clear from this that upom the planet Jupiter such lifo as exists upon this earth ts utterly {mpossible, The dimensions of th lanet, its density ag compared with that of the earth fee ultleinte stirlunye an bulk, were dwelt upon, But yh Period at which this planet will be a fit rece ong) a t for animal life, as we understand {t, Is 60 remote may be dismissed, As a kind of Aors d'auvre the orbits of the three satellites were mext discussed. Orbits of the Satellites The fllustrations to this were about fifty in number, but they all tended to show that the satellites would to the future inhabitants of the planet act just as the clock does to us. In the upper and lower portions of the above diagram it will be seem that the satellites stand perpendicularly over each other on the right, Just as the hands ofa clock at midday. SATURN'S BOUNDING BELTS. Above are shown the belts of Satarn as they appear. The uppermost represents the belt of Saturn’as it will appear in the year 1877, and the Professor recom- mended those who had silver lifted Totrgctors to repair to take off the silver and enjoy the view of the planct as they would then have It. Although the Professor was obliged to conclude that, £ far as we can see, the only planet which can be in- habited in our solar system ts Venus, and that the fact of her being inhabited 1s extremely problematical, he showed a series of stereoscopic vie’ of the stars, im which there were myr- fads upon myriads of worlds, and eaid that although if one took any Individual star or planet, it was highly doubtful whether {it was inhabited, still, considering the infinities of worlds, the ¢hances were infinite that some of those worlds were inhabited. T! lecture was listened to in deep silence, but the audience relieved itself atthe end bya loud and unanimous outburst of applause. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS, ORGANIZATION FOR MUTUAL PROTECTION, Tho members of the music and musical instruments trades held their first meeting at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yesterday afternoon. The call for the meeting ts in itself sufficient to indicate why the different piano manufacturers should be compelled to organize a trade Protection association, The call reads as follows:—- Whereas, by a late decision of J nd; bidet 2 of the Court of Common Pleas, it has been decided that the landlord of a hotel or the proprietor of a licensed boarding house can solze & piano or organ which has been hired to ® person or persons who owe such landlord of a hotel or proprietor of a licensed boarding honse for board; and whereas » | number of questions of vital import to the trade are now before { We, the undersigned members of the musical and musical instriments trades, do hereby call » general meeting of these the Fifth Avenue Hotel (parlor DR) on Tuesday, December 21, 1875, at two o'clock in the afternoo for the p of forming: a “trade which shall have power to cousider and above or any other questions, as may be the true interests of the said trados, In answer to this call a large number of musical in- strament manufacturers assembled at the Fifth Avei Hotel The following well known firms were repre- sented:—Chickering & Sons, Albert Weber, Mason & Hamlin Organ Company, George Steck & Co., Sohmer & Co., W. A. Pond & Co. ‘8, T. Gordon & Son, Dunham & Sons, D. R. Stanford & Co., A. Brautigam, Sherwin & Herbert, Steinway & Sons, Decker Brothers, W. Knabe &Co., Haines Brothers, Hazelton Brothers, Peloubet, Pelton & Co.; 8. C. Osborne & C Horace Waters & Son, 8, X Ball & Co., Lighte & Ernst and Charles J, i The meeting was strictly private, the members of the press being also excluded. THE PROCEEDINGS, When tho meeting was called to order there were more than fifty interested parties present, who repre- sented millions of capital Mr. Hazleton presided, Mr, William Steinway made a motion which was seconded by Mr. Frank Chickering, to this effect: — ‘That the gentlemen present do hereby form an organ- ization to protect the interests of the piano, organ and musical instruments trades. Mr. Albert Weber bitterly opposed the resolution, which, however, was at last unanimously carried. Mr. Steinway then proposed the following motion, which was seconded by Mr. W. A. ond :— “That the Chairman appoint a committeo to draw up brief articles of association, to sugzest a proper name for the society, to look up the existing laws bearing ‘upon the cases before the mecting, and report at a eub- sequent ior Sed be called by the Chair. Mr. Albert Weber also opposed this resolution, but after @ long argument {t was unanimously carried.’ The Chairman appointed upon thie committee the following entiemen:—Messrs. W. Steinway, Frank Chickering, |. Hazleton, W. A. Pond, Albert Weber and H. Mason.” The meeting adjourne bout four o’clock P.M, Yesterday was the first time that the piano, organ and musical instrament manufacturers of this city bave over held a meeting. ASSOCIATED LIQUOR DEALERS. The first regular meeting of the new organization, formed by the liquor dealers of this city for the pro- tection and advancement of the interests of their traffic, was held at Masonic Hall, East Thirteenth street, evening. Mr. Mark Lanigan called the meeting to order and announced as the first business to be transacted the siection of permanent officers. In- spectors were appointed and the polls were kept open id CBS when the following ticket was found to be elected :— President, James W. Collier; Vice-Presidents, John Koster, J. O'Donovan Rossa; Recording Secretary, James ©, Hynes; Corresponding Secret , Phillip Opp: Financial Secretary, James W. Kinj ‘reasurer. Jami jan; Sergeant-at-Arms, William Millen. An executive committee of fifty members, well known liquor dealers from all parts of the city, was also elected. While the voting continued several members expressed their opinions of the nt Excise law. The oppressions of the old Excise Commission were con- domned, and it was said that ¢! late organization of liquor dealers did not carry om tho affairs ot the society in such @ manner as to benefit the trade generally, This dofect it ts intended to remedy in the present organization, which is to bo mado permanent and to work for the benefit of its members, The name of, the new society Is “The Asso- ciated Liquor Dealers," Those engaged in the liquor trade in this city as proprietors number about 12,000 persoms. CHESS. Mr. Bird, the eminont English chess player, is by profession a railway accountant, He has been in this country several times before the present visit. In 1860 he was in Canada as a junior partner of Colema: Turquand, Young & Co., London accountants, and w: engaged on the accounts of the Great Western Railroad of Canada, and afterward on the New York Central. In 1865, he again came to America for the same firm, and spent some months in Pennsylvania amalga- mating the books and preparing reports on the Atlantic and Great Western alway Company. dn 1866 Mr. Bird wag appointed auditor of the Atlantic and Great Western but retired on account of ditferences which arose in London as to the extent of information and mode of stating the traffic and accounts and the re- quirements of that road. | _ Mr. Bird and Mr, Mason have played quite a series of | games, the former winning in the proportion of rather more than two toone. A match has been ‘anged | between these gentiemen, and it will bo commenced on | Mr. Bird's return from Philadelphia next week. Mr. ¢ames thus far contested, one having been drawn, The seventh aonual tournament of the New York Down Town Chess Club is progressing slowly, HOLIDAY PRESENTS, SANTA CLAUS IN COMMEROE—MAGNIFIOZNT IN- VOICES OF COSTLY WARES AT EHRICH’S, KIN- ZEY'S, CONKLING & 00.'s AND OTHER STORES. No brighter scenes can be found in the commercial universe than are to be witnessed In the great marta and emporiums of this city, Santa Ciaus has settled im the city, and his wares, presents, goods and treasures are on exhibition in every showcase and win- dow. Tho large stores are crowded from morning till night by the wealthy and the small ones afford fair examples of the warm feelings with which everything appertaining to and smacking of Christmas choer ig. cherished, One would scarcely believe that anything Uke hard times had ever been known in the city, so many thousands seem to have the money wherewith te purchase holiday presents for their dear ones and friends Each of the prominent dry gooda, fancy and millinery stores, Ehrich Brothers, Sterna, A. T. Stewart, Kinzey, Macy, Meares, Conkling & Co., Rodgers and Orr, Bloom, Arnold, Constable & Co., Doyle and Adoiphi, Haskell & Co., J. & 0. Johnston, A. O'Neill, Altman and Lissam’s Palais Royal, have been lit erally packed with people during the past woek from noon ‘till night, most of them, sooth to say, purchasers; many of them sight- seers, The attractions aro undoubtedly great, and few hearts are obdurate enough to withstand the temptations so gorgeously displayed and arrayed. A word to the wise should be sufficient, therefore it ought to be superfluous to say more than that it is simply dangerous to slim-pursed personages to so mucn as enter one of these palaces of holiday treasure this wock. ‘The very dollars tingle to be spent and goods of such merit invite attention that it is almost impossible to re- sist the invitation to buy. Lastevening a» Heraup ree porter visited the establishment of tho RERICK situated at Nos. 287 and 289 Eighth avenue, The place was alive with men, women and children, Every ap- proach to the building was thronged, and the groups of youngsters around the windows uttered screams of de- light and ejaculations of astonishment at every new toy displayed. Certainly the old were as surprised as the young; and the faces of gray-bearded paterfamilias and buxum matrons glowed with delight as palpably as | Bird has won tenand Mr, Alberoni nine of twenty | those of their offspring. It was with no little diMeuity§ that an entrance to this man- of windows was effected by tho porter. And once within the portals he could do else than move along with the living stream of semi-bewitched spectators, Now and again his pro- ress toward the point whereat he had been informed 7 would be likely to encounter Mr. Louis Ehrich, who was sald, possessed the knowledge requisite the thousand and one things that had been brought by Santa Claus for the delectation of the deserving chilaren of Gotham, Cash girls in swarms, with a skill peculiarly their own, twined and twisted through the crush in answer to the never ceasing pencil taps upon the glass cases that surround them and the oft re; cries of ‘Cash here,” “Change there’ The alleys or isles were filled with young and old, two solid lines inging each counter on either hand, and a colum: densely wedged in the centre way between them, tend ing slowly inward and upward to the floors above. At last, with this body, the reporter perspiring profusely, reached the landing of the second floor, and, after re- covering his breatn, asked a young lady for Mr. Louis Ehrich, After a search of several minutes that gentleman was found, and, coming to the visitor’s aid, undertook to tell him’ briefly of the mysteries at- tracting so much public attention. ‘The t is, sir,’” said he, Ican only say to you something about the fur and furnishing departmen' Mf the toys and ar- ticles of virtua my younger brother knows everything— I very little indeed. As you perceive, we aro as busy ag we can be, and I am tired out almost. The throngd you find to-night are but repetitions or suc- cessors of those we have had yesterday and the day before, Our business has been flourishing beyond fair expectation, and will continue todo solhope. Inthe fur department we have a fine assortment of real seal skin sacques at moderate prices, pier 4 from $85 to $125 and upward. Fine seal skin moffs we sell from $7 65 upward, and rich Westera mink sets at $25. Our assortment of real seal skin caps, you may notice, 1s as fine ascan be found in the market, and they are of all dimensions fitted for ladies, gentlemen and children. I want to call your attention specially to fur sets, such as are usually purchased by panies employers and bestowed at thia season upon their hired people, servants and attend- aunts. These sets we dispose of as low as $4 75, $5 and $0 each. Then there ts our cloak department.’ In that particular branch of our business we have been ex- tremely fortunate this year. I might almost say that not another house, excepiing one, has sold ¢o many cloaks as we have, The reason this class of goods has been so popular isto be found in the fact that our cloaks are cut by journeymon tailors, and each of them fit @ lady as neatiy and easily as a gentieman’s coat fits its wearer, Our prices are | reasonable, too, and our goods have given unusual sat- isfaction to customers.’ Certainly Mr. Ehrich’s state- ments touching the popularity of this branch of hia business was sustained by the presence of so many cus- tomers in that department, The saleswomen and sales- men were kept busy as bees, and that purchases were being made was attested by the continual cry of “Cash here i" alone, it concerain; THE MARVELLOUS TOYS are undoubtedly the greatest charms to the visitors, The lower floor on which they are displayed is crowded all day long, and at eve is almost impassably packed by all sorts of persons. Mr. Julius Ehrich presides here and, though a YOURE man, seoras to have a sort of pater- nal regard for the youths of his clientelage. He has taken great pains to secure the most extraordinary and varied collection of toys manufactured at home or abroad. It would be useless to attempt anything like an elabor- ate description of the marvels of this department; suifice it tosay that nothing, from a glass globule for Christmas tree decoration to what may best be designated as “the mysteries of the toilet,” is omitted from the Invoice of this class of merchandise to be found at Ebnich’s. A word more concerning this mystery of the toilet It 1s one of the most perfect of toys now on exhibition in the city, It isa lady in full dress standing before her looking glass, paff in hand, and just pute ting the finishing touches to her fash- Jonable complexion, The machinery which con- trols the lady's operations being wound up and set in motion brings her iadyship into play and sbe applies with careful delicacy to her unblushing cheek the poudrette which is to make her as fair as she can be She stoops gracefully forward, peers into the glass and then, with the aid ofa smaller, mirror, in- spects her operations aud their results Her Movements are as graceful as they can be and as deliberate as good breeding and solicitude can make them, For the edification of the host of young ladies in the store, last evening Mr. Ehrich set the lady goithg and she enchanted ail beholders, Alas! she cost $60 .n yold on the other side of the Atlantic, She is expensive, and !n accordance with hor lofty estate and general worth can only Selong to the child of afflu- ence, The walking baby, whose perambulations are governed likewise by machinery, was also ® source of envy and delight to the ja- vonile spectators of actions, It could walk the floor, shake its rattle and actually call mamma and papa Then again there is the enily attired and equipped young equestrienne, who rides a brown horse around the storeand plies her whip gracefully. These and hundreds of other beautiful toys are on exhibition at Ebrich's, and despite their excellence are not dear. AT KINZEY’S fs another realm of Santa Claus. Every showcase and | counter in the building is laden with elegant toys, ver plated ware, bronzes, Parian goods, desks, boxes, protty Swiss carvings, Russia leather goods, tollet ar: ticles, perfumes, | soaps, bonbon boxes, _al- bums, ‘dolls, baskets, ' stationery and ‘every conceivable article mentionable, Miss Cushman, the supermtendent to whose courtesy the reporter owed all bis information, called especial attention te the vast throngs of visitors to be found in the store daily. The continual rapping of the saleswomen’s pen- cils upon the counters indicated the Gaancial success ot the place, for every rap meant money to be taken and goods sold, ‘ere and also AT CONKLING both stores each on Broadway, the one ir Ninth street, the other at No. 763 Broadway, were doing @ rushing business all the wook. At the latter Mr, Kaugbran, the superintendent, called particular atten- tion to the admirable stock the establishment has now on hand in dress goods, serges, merinoes, vigogue cloth, silks in black and colors, novelties in laces, silk muflers, piano covers, Balmoral skirts, snow flake camel's bair cloth, yard wide, at 26 cents per yard; plain camels hair in dark mixtures, 15 cents per yard; | real thread lace barbes at $1; embroidered piang covers, $6 50. CHRISTMAS ON THE ISLANDS. ‘The Commisstoners of Charities and Correction are making extensive arrangements to give the prisoners, paopers, lunatics, children and hospital patients @ grand feast on Christmas Day, Toward this 14,00¢ pounds of poultry have been ordered, which will b¢ divided between 3,600 prisoners, 1,400 paupers, 2,20¢ lunatics, 1,600 children and 1,900 sick and disabled pa- tients—{n all, 10,600, Beside the poultry, there will pe many other luxuries, procured from the private purses of Commissioners Breunan, Cox and Builoy and War- den John Fox. TWO BURGLARS CAPTURED. Trevtoy, Dec. @l, 1875, Two burglars, who gave their names as Elijah Dis. brow and Charles Robinson, were arrested hero shortly after midnight last oight while tn the act of raiding upon the residences of Mr. John Stuart and Mrs. Cook, on State street, They are suspected to be “protes. sionals.” This morning they were arraigned in the Police Court, when Robinson confessed his guilt and Diebrow pieaded innocence, and said in extenuatios that he was a railroad laborer and accidentally got inte bad company. They were fully committed, The crime of burglary ts becoming very prevalent In this city, A fow aights ago Mr, Gary’s store, on Broad street, was entered and a huge baal of plunder was about being taken away whon the barglars were | detected by private citizens, They succeeded in escap Ing, owing, no doubt, tw the negligence of a policeman, who was asleep in aa engin: