The New York Herald Newspaper, December 4, 1876, Page 5

4 *me to say that no story could be gitted with the liveliest bility would bave PARIS GOSSIP. _ Society, the Theatre; the Opera and the Fine Als, THE SOMMERARD UNPLEASANTNESS A Pathetic Paul and an gous ble Virginia. WHAT THE ARTISTS ARE DGING. The Plot of Dumas’ “La Com- tesse R:mani.” , Nov. 17, 1876, ‘The Du Sommergrd affair cont¥pues to occupy public strention here, Saad ig the positive assur- ance givon by that gyntiomaf to the government that the lotter attributed to him, y the Vienna journal was entirely apocryphal. Oy Priday lost, in the course of She discussion of the budgolor the Minister of Agricul- Sare and Commerce @ Chamber of Deputies, M. Tirard, the reporto@t, Py an intorpollation to the Mimater on } swhragen At ye request of the commis. Hon, The $fbestion came UP yeiaentally in connection with thy credit of 300,000 teyefray the expenses of ‘ench department in the Pasdeiphia Exhibition, alluding to the note pubkged in the Journal of the 28tn of Octodor, it enich the govern: jent announced its intention of ting Mf, du Som- mherard to account for the letter in qUojon, M. Tirard proceeded to say that since that tM the official journal had remained entirely mute, and \at no reply bad appeared, ‘It was truo,”” he said, “thy a journal bad" published a letter which was \ repl; put he wus bound to state that this ae aad not satisfied public opinion, which was ibe moro moved by this regretable incident from the fot thatthe functionary inculpated (and it was noed- ‘ess to name him, for his name was on every ane ps) bad not fulfilled, it must be acknowlodged, us functions as Commissaire General at the Philadelphia Exhibition to the satisfaction of French commerce. ‘He (M. Tirard) constituted himself the organ not only Of several of bis colleagues, but also of a great. num: ber of exhibitors who had failed to receive on the part of the Commissaire General the least support or encouragement, M. du Sommerard did not proceed to the United States; he was a Commissatre General in partibus, and, far from coming TO THE AID OF THE FRENCH EXUIBITORS in the diMeculties they had to» surmount, hv did not trouble himsolt in tho least aBout them, It was not, therefore, surprising that public opinion should be moved by the note which had appeared in the Journal Officiel, because it exhibited between the conduct of the Commissaire General and the terms of the letter in question a certain voncordance which called fora reply. The Minister, M. Teisserene de Sort, after ex- plaining that the delay complained of in tho action of the government had been caused by the absence of M. du Sommerard from Paris proceeded to read that gen- tleman’s reply to the charge made ngainst him, It May be summed up in the following sentence:—] have never,” afirmsM. du Sommerard, ‘‘had any such correspondence with the Baron do > U have Rever written to any German journal; 1 declare apoo- Typhul the letter published over my signature, and 1 Gisavow it in the most formal manner.” The Minister Stated that on receiving this reply he had communi. fated it through the Duc Decazes to Mr. Washburne, who declared himself fully satisfied, He, the Minister, felt it necessary to add, in reply to what had fallen rom M. Tirard in regard to the Commissa:ro General ‘not having’ proceeded to bis.post at the Philadelphia Exhibition, that there was no Commussaire General for that Exhibition, When in 1871 the govern- ment instituted a superior commission for international exhibitions it appointed two Commuissaires Generaux ‘whose especial business it was to organize these “solemuities” abroad. These tunetions were entirely honorary, So long as the persons thus appointed are not in active service they receive no kind of remunera- tion, When the project of the Philadelphia Exhibition ‘was started a commissioner was delegated to go to America to protect the interests of the exhibitors, while the Commissaire General, who remained in Paris, took charge of the forwarding of articles tor ex- hibition and of the details connected with the Journey of the delegated workmen. But, again, he begged to say that there was no kind of compensation attached to the title of Commissaire General. THIS PUT AX ¥ND TO THK INCIDENT so faras the Chamber was co:cerned, and the cor- Fespondence with Mr. Washburne which was referred to in the discussion having since been published in the newspapers and found to be all that was described by the Minister it might naturally be supposed that there ‘was nothing further to bo said on the subject. There is a class of people, however, who will not be gatisfled without probing to the bottom the whys and where- fores of things, Thus, although no one has a right to go behind the specific and solemn denials of M. du Bommerard, and which, if I do not mistake, he offered in his first letter to substantiate om oath, there are persons who ask. what pos- sible motives there could have been for any ono to fabricate a letter of this description un- der the authority of his name and to have it published ina Vienna journal. Thon, again, they lay stress on the fact that most of the sentiments expressed in the lotter are in accordance with those which he is known to entertain m regard to the Philadelphia Exhibition andtobein the habit of freely communicating to others. Of couse all this is very wrong and unjustifia- bie, in presence ot M. du Sommerard’s solemn assur- ‘ances to the contrary; but the world 1s unfortunately given to scepticism, and the tendency in this instance has recetved fresh impulse from the fact that the por, ion of the inculpated letter which was suppressed by Yhe’ Figaro has found its way into print, and proved to do an almost equally virulent attack on the French Ex- hibition of 1878. This naturally renders the French republicans irate, and, as M. du Sommerard is a Bona- Partist, they affirm that thore can be no mistake as to the authenticity of the lower, for he ts known vo be jealous of the credit which tne Exhibition ts likely to reflect on the repablican régime in Franco and to be determined to neutralize it as far as itis in bis power as an official intrustea with the management of such matters to do so. The irritation caused by the affair bas received fresh animus from the publication of a triumphant article in the Figaro yesterday, embracing the statomonts of Captain Anfrye, the French delegate at Philadelphia, to a re- porter of the Naw York Hexatp, and which would appear to have sorved as the basis of the calumnious and shameful letter attributed to M. du Sommerard, AUL AND VIRGINIA,” Lat me qifit this unpleasant subject and pass on to one with which none but agreeable and gratetul feelings are associated, Iailude to the proeauction after re- peated postponements and the most disheartening fisappointments of Victor Massé’s opera, ‘Paul it Virginie,” atthe Théitro Lyrique. No event of squal interest occurs to my ‘recollection alter thirty years’ acquaintance with the = lyrical stage Vortainly no more genuine weil-meriwed and complete success has ever fallen to the lot of any French composer. The result has fully justi- fied the confidence jely tn the work by M. Massé, and the many sacrifices which he has made to securo its production wuder proper conditions. Similar credit should bo awarded to the director of the Lyrique, where it has been brought out; for, although embar- rassed by obstacies of one kind or another, not th least of which wag an insuilicient gubvention, ho has presented the work to the public with a liberality and sonscientiousness which attest at once the soundness bt his judement and bis faith in the public taste, I do not remember to have ever seen a work of this kindyput upon the stage with such a determination to nder each ré/e, no matter how subordinate, perfect * \n siself and worthy of the whole, It is neediess tor tod by a com: ‘poser which at once offered so many difficulties and #0 «many fruitful sources of inspira. tion aa that of Bernardin de St Pierre, To the great majority of modern composers these NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1876.-TRIPLE SHEET dared to grapple ic worthy of the simplicity and beauty of such s story the com- poser should, in short, be possessed of the poetic imagwation and inventive resources of the author himself, Inthe score of M. Massé we find an aston- ishing identity of conception amd mode of treatment, Never was music written to a libretto which more fully and effectively characterizes the sentiment and the situation. Hence that sense of perfect enjoyment and satisfaction so rare to blasé opera’ habitus, which in common with a crowded dnd critical audience I had the good fortune to experience at ite first representa- tion on Wednesday, I have already intimated that the cast was of an unusually gatistactory character, THY CREATION OF THR ROLE OF PAUL had, it was woll known in musical circles, been long a labor of love witn Capoul, and never did this ad- mirable artist exhibit more enthusiasm and, at the same time, judgment in the interpretation of any part. It was so much out of the line of characters which he is in the habit of singing that he might well have been excused a few solecisms of interpretation; Dut it was evident that he had bestowed tho closest study on the text of the story, and cared as much to realize faithiuily the author’s a8 the composer's cou” ceptions, You have heard somotbing before from me of the difficulty which was experienced in finding a suitable representative forthe réle of Virginie. Tho youthiulness and poetical simplicity of the part, with the qualities of voice required for the proper effect of the music, reudered it too trying for the acceptance of the only lady artist to whom it could be offered. In this embarrassment some one suggestod tho sister of the pianist, Ritter, a.young girl of seventeen, whose musical education could hardly be said to be-as yet complete, The brother was spoken to but could with difficulty bo tn- duced to give bis consent, and the young girl herself, seared at the proposal, begged bard to be allowed to continue her studies some years longer before being subjected to such an ordeal, Finally their objections were overcome and she left Marsellies, whore she was being educated, for Paris to study the part. Some idea of tho feclings of dread and dis- trast with which she undertook the journey may be formed from an incident which is related,as having occurred on the eve of her departure, All her little economies had been devoted to promoting the comfort of anumber of poot people in her neighborhood, and one of the reflections which troubled her most in her projected change of !ife was that of leaving them un- cared for; She sent for them to take leave of them, purse, about 150 feancs, among them. Then, gulpiog down her tears, the poor girl sobbed out, ‘Mes amis pries pour mot,” and broke away from them. No doubt the prayors of the bereaved poor earnestly fol- lowed THE YOUNG GIRL ON HER JOURNEY, and holpod her to face cheerfully and energetically her dreaded ti To the courage and bopewulness thus acquired may perhaps be attributed the extraordinary success she has achieved, and the good fortune of the author and composer in finding, physically and vocally, the best representative of Virginie ghat their most | sanguine hopes could have desired. I have lett myself | no space to enter tnto a minute criticism of the music of this charming work, Suffice it to say that it is re- plete with tho most delicious melodies and there aro two baritone airs sung by Bouny, in the rdleof a negro, which cast {nto the shade all that bas hitherto been attempted in the way of negro minstretsy. The Théatro Italien has beon giving ‘Aida’? again this week, the ‘*Forza del Destino”? failing in attraction. The clumsy, gloomy character of the plot has indis- posed the public toward the musié, which has unques- "tionable merit, though it is the least attractive of Verdi’s works. I bave just heard that an engagement has been concluded with Nicolini for this establish- ment, to commence this month, Another piece of news which will, no doubt, surprise you, is the state- ment which I received at the same time that there is a probability after all of Adelina Patti again declining to go to Russia and accepting an engagement at the Salle Ventadour. AT THE GYMNASE, A new three-act piece, entitled **La Comtesse Ro- mani,”” was produced last night at the Gymnase with a fair share of success. It bears the name, as author, of M. Gustav de Jaulin; but this is only a pseudonyme, tho real Simon Pure being, it is said, M. Aloxandre Dumas, It belongs to that class of monstrous social anomalies, to designate them by no severer term, which has estab- larity, The countess {s an actress who has charmed away the’ heart’ of a young italian nobleman, of respectable family, and he has married her, notwithstanding the resolute op- position of his family, The curtain rises on the first act, representing Cecilia, the ennobled actress, Mme. Pasca, playing the part of Foraarina tn somo private theatricals, She has ruined her generous and con- fiding husband; she has also dishonored him, and she fs tormented by a desire to return jto the stage. He upon his part wishes ber to retiro with him fora time into the country and livo on the small remains ot his property, trusting to bis ambition and bis name for & bighor place in the world by and by; but in a scone of exquisite pleading she charms away his con- sent to allow her to return to ber profession and re- habilitate their fortunes, The arguments for and against the life of the theatre are admirably put forth, and, indeed, Cecilia, rejected by her husband’s family, discontented with berself, enamorcd of wealth and joy, and scorning the poaco of the hearth, ts in every way unworthy of the high-hearted and chivalrous gentleman who loves her with a devotion so pure that it captivates her imagination though it fails to touch her heart. Tho first act concludes with an emotional dialogue, in which the actress is carried away by the power and trutn of her husband’s love; and when Count Romani declares that if she is false to him he will kill himself, she replies with genuine pathos, “Do not stop there; kill both of us’? The second act depicts the return of Cecilia to the stage and portrays tho exciting and pagsionful life which goes on bebind the scenes as only a great artist familiar with the theatre could describe it. Fi- nally Count Romani, learning from a scurrilous news- paper that his wife has dishonored him, and that she ig quito carried away by the enthusiasm of her profes- sion, offers still to pardon her if she will follow him to happiness and quict. But her Bobemian Instinct is too strong for her, and she refuses He then plants himself at the door of her dressing-room and deties her to go on the stage lest he should kill himself in despair for his wasted love and his lost good name With an inexpregsible look of disdain, however, the guilty woman is about to sweep past him to make her entry on the stago, when he stabs himself, and the cur- tain falls upon her iotolerable griet and repentance, which shows itself in a wild agony very sudden and terriblo, The third act shows us the Count restored to health, and a passionate scono in which he ox- presses the love which he feels, notwithstanding ber faithiessness, tor his beautiful and unhappy wife, but he takes ieave of her forever; and then she purposes to kill herself, when au oxperienced old actor calls on her and convinces her that she is merely importing the fifth act of a tragedy Into real life, This seems to awaken her cut of the fronzy of her despair, and at Jength thoroughly cheered and comiorted by his pleading, she agrees to fulfil her engagement and to retarn to the stage immediately, ‘What shall I say to our comrades who await you?’ says this sensibio counsellor, langbing hor histrionic bonors to scorn with some vastly worldly-wise reagouing. “Tell them,” sno answors, “tell them that I will act to- morrow.” AN AMERICAN ComPASy. Myers’ American Circus bas reopened its doors atter @ prosperous campaign in England, which has recom- pensed the proprietor for the heavy iuwsuits entailed on him by the lavish expenditure in which he indulged in connection with bis Paris enterprise, He expects this season to recover all the money that to lost in tigation He has added a great many new features ot attraction to his programme, aod thus far bas had crowded houses, THE PAINTERS have ecarcely set to work agai for tho noxt Salon, Bouguereau, who usuaily at this time ts well advanced with some important work, bas searcely put brush to canvas, being threatened with the loss of his wife, who 1s suffering from a lingering disease, The sculp- tors are alsu backward, I paid a visit yesterday to Falguiere, who handles equalty well the brush and the chisel, and whose picture of The Wrestlers” ai tracted so much attention at the Salon last year. He has just finishea the model for a statue of St. Vin- cent de Pani for the Pantheon, It is a noble work and will add greatly to his roputation. His neighbor, the young Auattian sculptor Beer, one of the most prom- @ificultics wore not the less insurmountable, because bs: artists of the day, has finished a superb bust of Michael Angelo for a Paris virtuoso, which is equally Pray wore the result of temperament, and mone but a] remarkable in its way. and before parting she shared the contents of her Little | hshed for this writer an equivocal dramatic popu- | | be. OUR BOOK SHELF. Tue Atumxiax Exrrmr. By George W. Cox, M. A Scribuer, Armatrong & Co. ‘This 1s one of the most fascinating volumes In the series on “Epochs of Ancient History.” It is perbaps a bit more interesting than some vf the others, be- cause every scholar feels an intense sympathy with tho futile attempt of Themistocles and Pericles, the two greatest stavesmen of classic times, to bind into per- petual confederation people of different habits and am- Ditions. They failed because their thoughts and plans were a full century in advance of the population they tried to mould into ao empire. Again, it ts interest ing because the fate of all endeavors at popular gov- ernment is instructive to Americans. The history of the Atbeaian pire 18 the history of two geaerations only. And yet these seventy-five years, beginning with the rebuilding of the walls of Athens in 479 B. C, apd ending with the blockade of Peiraicus by Lysan- dros, which resulted in the surrender of Athens and tbe utter dismay and demoralization of its inhabitants, are big with events which have thrown their shadow on all succeeding generations. So long as we have any in- terest in poljsical experiments aud the practical work- ing of all the elements of progress we shall look back vn the history of Athens for insight and instruction. Mr. Cox has done his work with the honesty of a true student, It shows persevering scholarship and a de- termination to get atthe truth. Tbe book ia the re- sult not of a cursory glanco at Thucydides and Xeno- phon alone, but ot exceedingly carcful reading in every direction. He has shown his earnestness by wading through the dail and droary compilations of Diodorus and of other writers not more luminous and not less prosaic. We have a welcome corner on our shelf re- served for it, Tux ANDERS AND THE AMAZON, Harper & Brothers. ‘There is @ curious fascination about books of travel thron;h only. partially explored regions, All the de- * sails of camp life, the hays and mishaps of a company of adventurous men who leave civilization behind them and force their way through forests and over mountains, have an interest peculiarly their own. We have followed Humboldt in his trip over the Andes years ago, and all the more recent explorers who have made longer or shorter journeys Irom the Atlantic or Pacific coast, and come back with their marvollous stories of picturesque scenery, of deep chasms, of eternal snows and of conflict with wild animals and the scarcely less wild aborigines. Mr. Orton and his company of scientific and hardy campers-out seem to have gone about their work of exploration with a zest and a daring which were a sure prophecy of success, The book which {is a result of their journey has al- ready reached its third edition, which is a sufficient guarantee of its worth, Long before they reached the ond of their trip they iound themselves ovorladen with specimens of volcanic rocks, land and fresh water sbells, plants, fs! reptiles, birds, bats and mam- malian ‘fossils. With great labor they succeeded in getting all these treasures hume, and then submitted thom to the critical investigation of a large number of learned professers scattered all over the country. The result is that besides having the only accurate map ever published of tho most interesting section of South America we have a good view of its mineralogical woulth and possibilities and acarefully prepared re- port of the personal habits and retigious observances of its Indian tribes, The expedition, which was under the anspices of the Smithsonian Institution, affords usan immense amount of valuable information con- cerning the resources of a part of our Western hemis- phere which is destined, at no very distant day, to | attract a great deal of attention. It would not be sur- | prising if within the next decade as many silver and gold mines aloug the route taken by these travellors should be opened and worked as are now in full opor- | ation along the northern coast of South America and | within easy reach of the Caribbaau Sea, The same ad- venturous spirit which developed California has already found its way into the regions of the northern coast, and tne introduction of expensive machinery bas made tho natives open their eyes in wonder, if not in admiration, of that love of gain which is willing to submit to sny privation and to run any risk in order to obtain for itself an inexhaustible bank account, The chapters which treat of the game, the fruits, the valuable woods, the drugs and dye stuffs of the valley of the Amazon are also worth caroful perusal. The volume 1s well bound in cloth for library use, and the letter press and numerous engravings serve to render it very attractive. By James Orton, M, A. LITERARY CHIT-CHAT. The Atheneum, which we have~ received through Brentano, contains an article purporting to be a re- view of the Marqais de Talleyrand, Perigord’s ‘*Ktudes sur la République des Etats-Unis a’ Amérique,” vut whieh is little léss than a criticiam of the HrraLp's review of that book. The Atheneum is surprised that the Hxratp took exception to the Marquis’ wholesale denunciation of America asa civilized nation, To be sure we are not abused by a Marquis every day, but to be sat upon by the Atheneum is no new sonsation, and Wwe submit to that through force of habit. Captain Nares is writing an account of his Arctic expedition, i ‘The Taylor family is to be immortalized by Mr. P. A. Taylor, M. P., who has written a history of the Tay- lors from the time they were Taylards to the present day. Tho Odd Volume Register and Book Exchange !s tho Bame of a new monthiy to be issued in London in the interests of the bookworm, ‘The London weeklies of the present week, which may be had at Brentano's, contain some interesting | editorials on the political situation in America, Thoy are well worth reading, for it is often entertaining to see ourselves as others see us, General McClellan had unusual advantages for study- ing the military and political situation in Egypt during his recent visit, and his forthcoming articles in Scribner's will have more than the ordinary interest of a@ tourist's journal, They will be iitstrated from re- cently taken photographs and engraved expressly tor } thesé articles. These will be followed by other of the General's travels. Miss Sara S. Rice, who gave rise to the Poe monu- ment, has written a memorial to the melancholy poet which contains new jacis concerning his early life, The book will be embellished by a photograph taken from a@ hitherto unknown daguerreotype, Turnbull Brothers, of Baltimore, will be the publishers, Now look out for a fight, (or any new item published about Poe always causes a literary row. Chambers’ Journal retells to an English audience Mr. Charles Barnard’s intoresting story of the co. operative community of Springfeld, Vt, first published in Scribner. Mr. Barnard, it will be remembered, w the author of the paper on “Philadelphia Assoc! tions,” which stirred up so much discussion on the subject, In an early numbor of Scribner he will a scribe the English building associations, whose work- ings he has recently studied on the spot for the ben- efit of the Scribner audience, “Under Canvas; or, Tent Worship in Summer Months,” is quite an interesting brochure addrossed to the Christian public, I is of a representative charac- ter and the first of its kind offered to the various con- gregations. Men of ail denominations occupy a place in it, and one of its chapters is especially addrossed to that influential ehurch class called ‘Christian Workers." The great ‘Musical Conversations-Lexicon’’ of Herr Mendel has reached the end of the sixth volume. It seems that Bret Harte’s “‘Two Men of Sandy Bar,” which was printed in Osgood’s littio classic series, will never be published. Mr. Robson holds tho copyright on the piny, and he could not control it abroad if printed. He demands that the edition bo suppressed, and it is no more than right that i should When he’ paid $6,000 for the play he considered that it was his outright, aud so it seems to us tt 18. Mr. J. W. Bouton bas published a new odition of Tom Mooro’s “Epicurein and Alerphron,” with beauti(ul vignette illustrations by Tarner, Tne book is handsomely gotten ap with an eye to the holidays, An admirable book by G. W. Cox, of London, en- tutiod ‘The Athenian Empire,” gives a suceinot ac- count of whatis best worth knowing im Grecian his- tory. Mr. H. H. Howorth has written a most elaborato “History of the Mongols, from tho Ninth to the Nine- teenth Century.” i FOREIGN LITERARY CHAT. That British aristocratic magazine, The Whitehall Review, will soon publish a series of portraits in tinted crayons of ladies best known in Koglish and Conti- nental society. Longmans & Co, are just bringing out Miss Amelia Edwards’ elegantly ilastrated book ot travel, “A Thousand Miles Up the Nile.” Au important new bovk on the law of nations, by Sir Edward Creasy, is entitled, *‘A First Plastorm of Inter- national Law.”’ Max Miiller has the first of a series of papers on the “Veda and Its Influences” in the last Academy, The Saturday Keview, which Brevtano sends us, says of Mr. Eugene Schuyler’s ‘Turkistan’ ‘Though frankly criticising English policy, as ne is entitled to do, he does not spare his friends at St, Petersburg, and we pay bim asincere compliment when we say that any civiliab or political officer high in Lord Lytton's confidence, or any accomplished member of Parliament on olther side of the House bent on mastoring the whole subject of Contral Asia, might/be proud to have written these two volumes.” The -Keview is good enough to say that Mr. Schuyler does not bolt his travels like most of his countrymen, and that bis book is free from ‘Americanisms of speech.’ M. Ernest Feydeau has published his “Algerian Re- miniscences”’ in a small volume called ‘‘Souna,” in honor of a washerwoman whose story forms part of the work. It is intoresting to know that in some newly discov- ered Indian wanuseripts is found “the text of the Rig-Veda Samhita, according to the Sakalasakha, di- vided into maudalar abd Ashlakas, the sdhyayas being numbered from one to sixty-four.” It would be worth one’s woile to stop at Brentano's to got the Athenmum und read the notice of Bryant and Gay’s History of the United States.” It reads as though it had been written by an American turned Englishman (the worst kind of a snob). The writer graciously says that Mr. Bryant is “distinguished above ali his countrymen as a writer of genuine and Idiomatic English.” Mr. Kelly, of Dublin, bas ready the first volumo of Rey, J. O'Hanlon’s great work, “The Lives of the Insh Saints.’’ It will cover twelve volumes when fin- ished. Mrs. Graco Calvert has presented Owens College, Manohester,. with $3,500 tor the foundation of a schol- arship in chemistry, in memory ot her late husband, Dr. Richardson's ‘Diseases of Modern Lifo’’ is about to be translated into the Polish, THE CESNOLA COLLECTION. The $40,000 1n gold required by the Motropolitan Museum of Art, to warrant the purchase of the Ces. nola Collection of Works of Art from Cyprue, together with the objects in gola and silver found under tho temple of Kurium, was subscribed in time to enable the trustees to secure them tor New York. Tho par- chase has been concluded, and the Museum has agreed to pay General di Cesnola the sum of $60,000 in gold tor the whole of his collections, It is proposed to raise the additional $20,000 required to complete the pay- ment and tho expenses of transferring the articles trom Uyprus to New York by further subscriptions ‘and by the sale of duplicates from tho present ard newly acquired collections: belonging to the Museum. ‘A portion of the objects purchased are alroady in Now York, ana the Kurium Collection now in General Ces- nola’s possessian in London, will, it is understood, be immediately sent here, and the whole, as far as the space in the present building permits, placed upon ex. hibition in the Museum tn Fourteenth street. Due notice of this will be given. ‘The following is a completo list of the subscriptions gold) received toward tho purchase up to t ff 3 Catherine L. Wolle J. 8. Morgan (London) J. Plerpont Morgan. G. F. 1. Reed. 8. G. Ward... William E, Dodge. Miss 8. N. Hitchcock. James Stoker William E. D J. W. Binchot, R. L, stuart... D. H. MeAipion Vauderbil Levi Haydon Stephen Whitney Phenix David Stewart. Richard Butler Theodore Roosevelt. Mrs, George de Foret Theodore Weston, Joseph H. Choate... Ruthertord Stuyvesant. . Harper & Brothers, John ©. Phiilips,. ‘The annexed is a conden: ot purchased by the Museum, showing a total of over 7,000 pieces of sculpture, gold and precious stones, silver, bronzes, alabasters, Greek vases, terra cottas, glassware, &c. Murvie sarcophagus, with colossal head. ........ 1 Stonesarcophagus, {ull of sculptures........ +0. 1 ‘6 und scuravie pieces... 272 Objects in piece: 440 Objects in ai tine, piece: 125 Egyptian, Ggeok and Roman jamps.. 545 Terra cotta siatuettes, heads, bles &e., pieces 800 Stone statues, vas reliefs, he statuettes, kc, pieces....... mee desccsansiy MAO Glassware, oimtment cups, bottles, bowls, &c., DICCEB. .ssessseeeee vee o 750 Phowuician, Greek and Roman vat 2,400 Cypriote, ‘Phoenician and Greek 1 pieces. 45 Egypuan “ 110 Sundry articies, mosaic, &o.. 50 Total minimum of collection,........ nese oO Among the gold ornaments ihere is a necklace com- posed of sixty-seven guld beads aud ninetoen gold acorns, With a medallion in the centre representing the head of Medusa, ({'his 18 of Greek workmanship.) Anecklace of Egyptiap workmanship, compused of forty-nine gold lotus flowers aud fifty-five gold beads, with a woman’s head as a medallion, A necklace with twenty-two gold promegranates and twenty arrow heads as pendants, forty-six gold beads and a small vase in the centre (Greek work), A large Assyrian gold bracelet with cenire medallion, Earrings in the turin of beeti bulls’ heads, A great variety of rings, some plain and some set with st A pair ofarmiets in gold, with inserip- tions im Cypriote letters; weight about three pounds. A numbor of engraved Babylonian cylinders (some of these are of meteoric stone). A silver amulet wito Phornician figures engraved, Silver gilt. cup with fine Egyptian designs embossed upon it, Fine silver jug. Silver earrings and bracelets. A very tine bronze statuette of Apollo, A large bronze bowl embossed with antelopes ip a field of lotus, Bronze caadelabra, four tvet higi, with statuette of Venus on top. Variety of bronze lamps, statuettes, &c. Very fine and valuable marble sarcophagus, weizhing about 6,000 pounds, huve a colossal head of a woman sculp- tared on the lid (Greek and unique). Several statu- cties, in marble, An Assyro-Phcenician sarcophagus of gréat antiquity, with sculptures on all sides, Iu high relict, A unique specimen trom the tomo of one of the Kings of Amatnus, A fine Greek vase, painted with Hercules and the lion birds, and lions, and inscriptions yn ancient Doric dialect. Other important Greek and Pheenician vases, Ruro specimens of Phoenician and Greek giass, some with inscriptions and quite unique. ART NOTES, Mrs. Alexander Mitchell, of Milwaukee, wife of the President of the Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, has just parchased a painting of the Third Lake of Madi- son,” by Thomas Moran, Mrs, Mitchell is a liberal patron of art, and has a fine collection of pictures in her gallery. She is herseifa dexterous worker in Ro- man mosaios and designs, and paints flowers clev- erly. A loan collection of pictures will be exhibitea in Newark, N, J.@beginning December 11, at the Academy of Music, m connection with the fair for the benefit of tho Home for the Friendless, The exhibition will be managed by Afrs. Bethnel Dodd. Mr. L. G, Selistedt, tho well known Buffalo artist, has been in this city for the past fow days gathore ing pictures for the annnal exhibition in that city, which promises to ‘be a good representation of New York artists. Mr. T. W. Bolles, who has his studio in Newark, N. J., bas on his oagel a remarkably good pictare of Hu- go’s “Esmeralda, ”’ Mr, Thomas Moran has nearly completed his of illustrations in India ink of Longiellow’s “Hiawa- tha,” which aro being etched by his brother Peter, who, by the way, was the only etcher awarded amedal atthe Centennial Mr, Peter Moran has beon ealled the Unger of America, Ho certainly is the best etcher we have. Miss Mary Hallock has not deserted art since she became Mrs. Foote, but is just as busy with her pencil oct in Catiformia as sho wasat her romantic home at Milton, on the Hudson. Miss Maria L. Oakey, whose picture, ‘A Womai Sorving,’”” was among the most remarkable in tho spring exhibition at the Academy of Design, has just returned from Paris, whore she bas been painting in the studio of Couture. Mrs, Thomas Moran, who shares hor husband’s talent, has Just finished a painting of a meadow scene. She recenuy dold a beautiful picture of a scene near Euston, Pa., to Mra, A. Kirkpatrick, of Newark. A lot of valuable bric-a-brao ig Deing catalogued at Vitt's for early sale THE NORTH POL English Opinion of Dr. Hayes’ Letter to the Herald. EXCITEMENT IN ARCTIC CIRCLES. Lospvox, Nov, 17, 1876, All absorbing a8 the Eastern question now is it doos not swallow up every other topic, and those who are tired of the backings and fillings of diplomacy and of following step by step the evolutions and develop ments which seem to be leading Europe into a terrible and disastrous war, turn with relief to the interesting controversy now raging in the columns of the Daily Telegraph Upon the Arctic expedition. The letter of Dr. Hayes on tho subject was like oil upon the flames, and bas brought new interest te the discussion. Since the day when tho Alert arrived at Valentia the expe- dition and what is didn’t do have been, next to the | Eastern question, the topic of the day, Tho returning ships were received in Portsmouth Harbor with man- ned yards and the cheers of assembled thousands, The illustrated papers havo been full of splendidly executed wooilcuts representing the veseels and their crews in every phase of the voy: Officers and men were made the pets of the country, and the Com- mander himacif basked in the sunshine of royalty. It would bo too much, perhaps, to say that a change has taken placo in public feeling on the question; but there is no doubt that, now that the first flush ot delight 18 past, impartial observers are beginning to think that, after all, there was not quite so much done as there might have beon, and that glad as the country fs to know that the explorers, saving four whom they left bebind in icy graves, are safe and sound, there would not have been any very terriblo apxiety on their behalf had they remained unheard of for another year. THE BXPRDITION AND ITS CRITICS. The discussion on the subject has becn, and 1s being, stoutly matataindd on both sides, The principal champion of the expedition is a gentloman who signs himselt ‘‘An Old Arctic,” while the malconteuts havo beon represented by “Arcturus,” “Polaris,” the vete- ran Aretic traveller John Rae, and last,§out not least, Dr. Hayes himself, The questions brought into the debate, beforé the last named powerful opponent threw his sword into the scale, were the extraordinary out- break of scurvy which crippled the expedition, the sleages which were used, the temperature recorded by the explorers, and in a general sense the entire result of the expedition ag stated in Captain Naros’ own famous telegram ‘Pole impracticabio;” the two unfortunate words which at the very first disappointed the country andeven called forth a growl trom ‘My Lords’? of the Admiralty. Salted pemmi- can, preserved potatoes, grog, musk oxen, mustard and cross, pickles—all these have been squabbied over, The rango of the thermometer; at Great Bear Lake, at Yakutsk in Siberia, in Montreal, has been adduced to show that the cold experienced in tho “Paleocrystic Sea’? (we aro sure to have a comia song with that alluring refrain before long) was not so ex- traordinary after all And then tho sledges, there has beon a battle royal over the suggestion that the sim- plo tabogans used by the Hudson Bay Company's factors would have answered the purpose better than the hage conveyances especially made for the expedi- tion, Rae, the Arctic traveller, who ought to know, writes:—‘If thoro is any difference, such as is alleged, between siedge and tavogan, it would be all in favor ot the tavogan for tho higher latitude, if it is true what wo bear so much of as to the loose and deep snow met with by the late éxpedition. We should have had no suoh ridiculous spectaclo as that repro- sented—so admirably pictured in one of the Graphic's Mustrations—whore five or s!x strong fellows are straining evory nerve in hauling and two others,in lifting the bow of a sledge out of a snow bole it has got into after running down a slight dechvity. A Hudson’s Bay sledge from tts form of construction would, under similar circumstances,» have run smoothly down and probably half way up the opposite ascent.’? THR LETTER OF DR. HAYES has acted on tho “Old Arctic” likea red flag on a bull, and that gentleman has gone for him futl tilt; but the best comment upon Dr, Hayes’ communication to the Hegaup has appeared in the columnsof the Echo, “Smith's Sound,” says the writer, ‘is, except from books, a terra incognita to most Englishmen, It ts not 80, however, to Americans. Kane, Hayes and Hall selected itas the sceno of their Arctic exploits, and were much more familiar with it than any English navigator, Hall died in Smith’s Sound, and Kane of a broken constitntion, due to his hardships on the same battling ground. But Dr. Hayes. who was not only the surgeon of Kano’s expedition, but the Com- mandor of the United States expedition in 1861, is suill livieg. His criticism has been eagerly looked for, and in the New York Heratp of October 28 is a letter from him, aissect- tpg Captain Nares’ results. This letter 18 too im- portant to bo hastily passed over, as the effect created by it botd in America and on the Continent ia already seriously affecting our reputation. Milk and water writing has never been the weak point of our trans- atlantte cousins, and certainly the first of their living Arctic explorers doos not err on tho side of concealing his sentiments.” Reviewing, then, and quoting the strictures of Dr, Hayes, tho Echo points out that, ‘However severe they are they are only founded on the telegram of Captain Nares. In his official report ho deliberately, with, we think, doubtful taste, attacks Kane, Hayes and Hail and rather tries to deprecate the results achieved by them. When th document is recvived in New York it will no doubt bo greeted with such a tornado of abuse as probably no document emanating from the British Admiralty ever was,” THE _RETORT COURTKOUS. Now let us seo what ‘‘An Old Arctic” bas to say to the criticisms of the author of “The Open Polar Sea” Dealing first with his other opponents above men- tioned, apon the subject of the ‘Sea of Ancient Ice: The Paloocrystic Sea,’’ he maintains that only Collin- son, McClure, Allen Young and the officers of the lat expedition are competent judges as to whetber tt is practicable for an extended journey. “Arcturus,” be goes on to say, ‘quotes Dr. Hayes as an Arctic author- ity, I consider ythat writer’s statements to be utterly Sea” ali the land that the American maps lay dow! near it; for the American geographers deny at preseot that Markbam’s Polar party were even quite clear of land at their farthest vorth, Unfortunately, whep the “Paleocrystic Sea,’”’ which stopped them there, 18 confessed to be no more than “McClure’s Ice,’ it te hard to make all neighboring capes and continents dis appear undor its rigid billows, For that species of ice must be land-locked or crammed up in close stratie—-i@ fact, it Is the close imprisoning environment of the land, the existonee of which, it will be noted, the evio gists of this expedition claim they have disproved, that renders their so-called “Paleocrystic Sea’’ possible. I do not care what ‘An Old Arctic’ chooses to call “MeClure’s Ice,” I culled it “Polar pack,” and it T was “in error’? in doing so I erred in company wita Nares himself, who, in page 28 of bis official report, uses the samo expression. Mr ©. R. Markham also ip the “‘Aretic Papers” describes McClure’s Bank's Land ice, and in doing go, 1{ I recollect rightly, ho uses the word “pack.” At any rate, in his ‘‘Thresnold of the Unknown Region” he certainly says that the ice “op- posite the MeKenzie River Is of the same tormidablo character,” and to this he applies these words, ‘the mighty polar pack.’? But suppose “An Old Aretio” will scoff at him as he does at me for being only an ‘‘arm- chair geographer.’? With regard to “An Old Aretic quarrel with Dr. Hayes I havo nothing-todo. It isa very pretty one as it stands, I still tink the Doctor isan “eminent Arctic authority,” and, though your correspondent calls him a ‘‘worthless’? and “absurd” one, the Royal Geographical Society seem to be of a different opinion In 1867 I read in their records these words:—‘'Dr, Isaac L Hayes. Patron’s medal.—For his memorable exped % tion in 1860-61 toward the open Polar Sea.” I no more admire the tone of Dr. Hayes’ letter than I do that of “An Old Arctic’? in bis rude attack on Dr. Rao’s veracity. But ‘‘An Old Arctic’ does not tell your readers of the provoking and unnecessary om. slaught made on the work of Hayes and Kane, who fs dend and not able todefend his honor, by Captain Nares in the oficial report of the expedition, where, indeod, it seemed to mo strangely out of pince. Whate’ ever may be Hayes’ faults, he is @ brave man, and he was a warm and generous advocate of our expedition when it went out, He 1s at least the last in the world to fancy that a Polar picnic can be converted by ‘‘sen* sational temperatures” und a ‘aleocrystic sea’ inte an Arctic expedition. DINING AND WINING. An indulgent country, however, continues to ove look the shortcomings of her song, and honors are being lavished upon them. The Quecn has ordered modals to be struck for distribution to the officers and crews of tho Alert, Discovery and Pandora. The Mayor of Portsmouth will give entertainments te thom, and the Lord Mayor of London will offer a simt- lar compliment, Finally, we are informed that the Prince of Wales himself will undertake the presidency of an Arctic meeting of the Geographical Society on the 12th of December, and may actually denver a complimentary address. Still the resuls of all the ventilation of opinion must be, sooner or later, the despatch of another expedition up Smith's Sound, and, in fact, the same journal, from which quotation h already beon made, states that ‘a menting of private Arctic explorors will be held at an early date, to con- siacr tho stato of mattors brought about by the failure of the expedition under Captain Naros, These genwe- men, who comprise some of the most distinguished English yachtsmen and Arctic navigators, are far froin satisfied with the results achieved, and as already a movement ts in progress in America to organize an- other expedition to Sinith’s Sound, the queation sow to be considered is, how are we to save our glory from being oclipsed by another nation? Tho government have apparently made up their minds that Eoghah expe:litions, via Smith’s Sound, have come to an end. It remains therefore for private individuals who still believe in that route to devise? ways and means to carry their ideas into effect.” AN INTERNATIONAL EXPRDITION. Now America and England have both worked at the. probiem independently, both have striven to solve the mystery of the Pole, to plant their faj m: mitofthe earth. Over the grave of the yg can who led the last forlorn hope to the assagita kindred race has sinco hoisted his country’s flag and fired a salute. Amerioa and England bave mit to- gether in those distant wastes, Why can not theg jor their ‘orces? Why should we not have an interna Nonal expedition, whose united alm 4t shail be te reach the North Pole of the carth and to plant there, aide by side, in the name of the Angi xon Pace, the commingled folds of the Stars and Stripes and the Unton Jack? There have been enough international boat raées and Tifle matches between the two peopics, and it would be a refreshing change to find them om the same side for once, especially in an andertaking ac thoroughly adapted to the temper of both. HEBREW FREE SCHOOLS, TOE TENTH ANNUAL MEETING O¥ THE ASSOCI& ‘TION—SYNOPSES OF REPORTS. The tenth annual meeting of the Hobrew Schoo! as sociation of New York was eld yesterday moroing in the largo ball of the schoolhouse, No. 41 avenue C, There was a full attendance of the directors, A. Octtin. ger in the chair, The first business brought before the meeting wat the tenth annual report of the President. 11 shows that at the present time four schools are in active op- eration, but that the school in East Twenty-ninth street had beer compelled to close, owing to a lack of funds, and that one of the teachers in the Sixth aves nue school had been discharged for the & reason, The oumbor ot scholars in it the schools on December 1, 1876, was 580—439 boys and 141 girl, The number of teachers employed is ten, The per capita cost for tuition comprising the entire schools is only fraction over $9, 4 much less cost than that expended by most freo educational in- stitutions. ‘The report referred at considerable length to the urgent need ter more school accommodation. Mission schools are springing up in every part of the city, and reports are being received from the parents of Hebrew children that greatofforts are being made to prosolyti: 4 that the only remedy ts th tion of mo flebrew schools. During the yei there has been an increase of 180 in the number of members, the roll now containing 580 names, but of these a largé number had neglected to pay their annual dues. During the year a number ot donations had been received, without which the Fioance Committee would have been unable to meet halt the demands made upon them. The principal donation was the sum of $3,000 ieft to ti ociety by tne late Louis Phillips, and the report recommended that a tablet bo erected to nis memory inthe avenue O school, and thata yearly prize shouldbe given to the most successfal scholar, tobe known as the “Phillips Prize.” The report concluded with a suggestion that @ special meeting should be called to go aller the bylaws on membership that hereafter any leraciite could be- worthless. If the Arctic expedition now returned had done nothing else it would have done good service in thoroughly exposing the worthlessness of Dr. Hayes’ work and the ‘unreliability’ of his statement, I have seen the disgracatul letter of this Americas ‘Arctic authority,’ and the admirable reply to it, sald to bo from the pen of Mr. Lawrence Oliphant I will sow only point out ono of his many contradictions, “In his letter to the New York Henao he coolly asserts thatho crossed and explored Lady Franklin Bay. in nis book he tells us that he did not cross 11, much less explore it. The truth is that he never was near it. Asa rulo his latitudes are thirty to forty miles out, the error of course being in placing them too far north. The absurd theories of Dr, Hayes are basod on worthless data, Isay this advisedly and ‘with the means of proving it." There ts not much ‘water in this milk, oither; in fact, it isa pretty strong dose, and the “Old Arctic’? will no doubt hear from the Doctor in due course. A SUPPORTER OF NAYES, Meanwhile, however, “Arcturus” returns to the charge in a lotter in tho next day’s Daily Telegraph, and makes some telling remarks apon tho Paleocrystic Sea, with regard to which he says:—‘'We soe how near the truth Hayes has got when he conjectured it was only a land-clinging ice belt, which no ex. plorers mistook for an impenetrably frozen Polar ocean. We all know,’’ continues ‘‘Arcturus,” “how ‘MoUlure’s Ice,’ off Banks’ Lana, is formed.” Such ice 1s piled up, according to Markham, tu 4 virtaally land. locked sea or bay, or in a narrow strait Its very existence implies the existence of land near at hand, and if the failare of the Polar party was due, as “An Old Arctic” says, to the absence of laud trending borthward, it.i8 stran; what the presence of “McCluro’s Loe’ did not suggest to them that they must,have been actually then in a land- locked formation. In fact, the revelation about the 'Paleoorystic Sea’’ being only “McCiure’s lee, even the imperfect const survey of Greenland of much of its importance, It indicates that Beaumont has Jailed to prove that Greeniand ceasos to go northward, and that he was only following the sores of a groat |. bay which, after a bit, rounded away northward to the Pole, The most prominent feat ot our Alerts has been, as the world knows, to drowa ia the ‘Palecerystuc come a tile member on payment of $100, a patron on payment of $10 a year and on annual mber oa payment ol $5. Tho report was adopted d the suggestions contained therein approved. Tho President was also authorized to appoint as mittee to prepare a snitable address to the the city calling attention to the financial state of the : association ani asking for immedi id The Secretary of the G ported recommending tl lished as soon #8 possible in the neighborhood of Bax- ter street, and that the Board of Trustees should at once take the question of providing a high school into consideration and report to the general members, THE FINANCK COMMITTRR, Mr. 8. Herman, the chairman of the Finance Com. mittee, reported bis balance sheet from December 16, 1875, to December 1, 1573, as follows :— Receipts (from all seurces) Disbursement: Balance in bi rer... The association then elected the places of those whose torm expired in December, The foilowing gentiomen were elected:—A. Octtinger, Hi. Koho, M. 3. Isaacs, Joseph Lienthal, K. M. Kagel, Jacob Cowan and Julius Katzenberg. After a short discussion the Committee on Discipline were authorized to engnge a general superintendent (or all the schools and the meeting adjourned, AGED AND INFIRM HEBREWS’ HOMB, The society which supports the Home for the aged and Infirm Hebrows heid {18 annual mesting yester. day at the Home of the Institution for the purposo.of listening to the reports of the officers and to elect » Board of Managers for the approaching year, Thit society, composed entirely of ladies, pow io the sixth year of its organization, ana started with but 300 mem. era, numbers at present 1,600. It received favorable mention in the published report of the “Ladivs’ Ven. tennial Committee in Poiladeiphia,” mo “Onari- tios in All Parte of the World.’ ihe officers aro Mra P. J. Joachimsen, president; Mrs, 8. Hermai vico president; Mra. J. Uchotio, treasurer, and a board of wix direotresses. All of these wore re-clocted, with the exception of the treasurer and two directresses, When this soci was started It engaged «small house in Seve street and accommodated but fifteen inmates. The nambor increasing it removed to a 7 howse i: Thirty-socond street, aud finally to its present quar. ters—a large and handsome edidce, formerly the coun Mr, John Jacob Astor, corner of treet nod avenue A--whieh contain tw ny harry: . jet tn joplo fur the most part aia Very advances aving to reach sixty bolore sacy are cvaniertar Ok, _Wiled (0 ite provection,