The New York Herald Newspaper, December 22, 1876, Page 2

. SQUARE AND ale fect order. on above 16th RING anos, & i al rent, «num GRAND PIANO FOR $00; ”) and upward; other Pianos oportion tor holidays, to rent lower | 5. X. BALL & 0O,, 15 Bust 14th st. WINDSO PORTE POR SALE ED Six | AA months made to order for present | Owner; cost $1.2 of $30Y, including Stool, Cover und Music st $109; also an upright Piano, 250, all private r 120 West 23d st., near Gth av, astalmeuts ake GOLDSMITH” SAUTIFUL, ROSEWOOD PIANOFOKT. PSG; 7 octave, round corners, carved legs; instalments, 85 Mmontuly. J. BIDDLE, 13'Waverley pince, near Broudwa, NY PARTIES WISIN Jor Organ will save xt least We are offering tif cases, at prices that defy competition, elsewhere please 51 all in perfect con**tion, and on land ; also second hand PM { other makers, Attempts are constantly made in this eity and elsewhere ents to sell name spel Avgent square ‘zr Tior toned, riebly ea Brooklyn. “A GRE WE wus, new an Waters’, of first Dr from $50 10 $100, { WATERS & SONS, 40) PRIVAY & Son's PAMILY WILL SELL THE © round rosewood a shipping. ¢ tO PURCHASE A PIANO 5 per cent at our Warerooms. guns, in their new and beau- After looking all & WHEELOCK, 14 Enst 14th st. PERSONS D. ROHASING Piwno are invited to | er of Steinway Pianos, y now, are constantly instrament Tall, ew York. to is 100 class 0; box tor ‘all private residence 47 West between | Sth and bth avs. LL TuO8k WHO WANT TO PURCHASE AT dAcin suve mone Lirect of the manufacturers, BEHRING and ist ay. aud Sd ay, and 47h 5 MUSIC THACHER, NEEDING MONEY, OFFERS $190 magnificent Pian 5000 last Septem 3O East 12th st., near Unive Oe & PIANOS ATV ERY them used but a very short and realy aimost as good as nied in every resp: Ploase call at the WEBER WAKEROOM. rth av. aud 16th st. ARGAINS ON AC WOVAL.—UPRIGHT and square Pianos, § $5 to S10 monthly till paid, or rent $8, upward. Be EAT REDUCTIONIN y and warerooms corner way and goth ON AIL TO ATTEND THE SALE OF THREE superd Parlor Organs and two tine second hand Pianos ue TUNIS JOHNSON’S, 87 Nassa VERY ONE THINKING OF PU ASING A CAB- inet or Parlor Orjaryshould extl at the Warerooms of the Mason & Hamlin Organ Company, 25 Union square, whera they will find the larwest assortment of the beat organs in the country, which will be sold for cash or easy payments. 1t is believed thut prices and organs choa| tained elsew! {LEGA ARL Yuve sold at auction n xt once, for cash, will seil for $800, C, ART, 24 Sth av., New York. 9 EF & SALE and square Pinnos; will be sold cheap to close the Call at 198 Sd ay. H & BACH sq East 2 id st. Sentennial “Exhibition; almost new, of Mare .& HAMG! ANS—CASH BARGAINS; Pianos, 7 veta) one like new, $175 RDON & SO. E N BETIER FOR HOLID. AN than a splendid Standard American Piano, ceedingly low tor the hol, fore yon bi Pri c Wareroom, 62 West 14th at. PURCHASED or rent, rms now offered make those as well as better, than any which can be ob- | 5 Tt will pay to see them bi WILL }. 37 Nassau st. BR PIANOFORTE GANT 7 OCTAVE UPRIGHT busi- Pianofortes; warerooms o a few our own make, on x e- v1 N Bios. PM ote the Dalance of thelr stock of magnificent eautifully finished Vianofortes at N; And tully In aeeordanee Be sure to see them betore purebasl br. comer 2ist st. Every pinno fully warranted. Pianos to rent, ENDID DOUBLE ROUND ROSEWOOD PIAY at sacrifice f sold Immediately; tne toned. och st Wi st bas $290. Pranos with the p and duced prices sed times. 149 and 147 Sth New AT 153 ¥ UPRIGHT AND SQUARE ‘of; witreroomns, 810 Browiw UNI PIANO COMPANY, > dUsis, KOUMS, &C., WAI pi In this Cit Brookly BY SEASON OR YEAR, to $400 a month, by excellent ess JACOL V. D. WYCKOFF, Ryo WITIT POWER WANTED, IN NEW YORK OR Jersey City; n Room on ground floor, suitable for manu. facturing spring with 10 to 1 Address, hor¥e, power. stating location, size and terms, SPRING ollice. Warts can funily of three adults, a Mo not over two fit 23d und 40th sts. wo, box) ith and Sth avs Herald Uptown offi necting tloor, Koom, furnishe: . running cold and war location, Letweon 23d and Hoth sts,, and Sth and 10 Address, stating: fail particulars and lowest terms, M. Post office box 818, derate rent. auning waters Id office. KLIN, He AKER, Herald , of five or Six rooms, ts up, water aud gus, west side, between Address, stating terms, water; we. sEWERLMY, rN Watches, J ought of Diamonds, DADWAY, CORNER 4TH 31 welry, Silks, Laces and Person: tion Doaght and soll. Le JAMES T S08 BROADWAY, OPPOSITE monds, Watches. Jewelry and Perso @very description bought and sc tablished 1801 ROL BROADWAY, UNDE OUT SAL ated YREAT BARGAINS ‘American stom-winding Wate! We ASUS FLOuwAY, Pee TS.—DIAMOND BARRIS to $400; Studs, $10 to $200; Rings, $10 to BL00: &. ); Neck Chaim to lows, Bols rnitar fet, Wha ive N, B.—An elegant Winasor rie, quarter cost. “A GENTLE Wiss 10 BUY Tue E) Arum or snail house; will pay exsh. Lu Ai BROADWAY —MONE “ s= NPUALL NEW ¥ ¢ Diamond Lockets, $4 to 8. ny ‘und spring Mattresses, V1 Extension Table, But {al at w bargain, OUSEKEEPING W) five story bri ORK LD CASED HAUS, 64 Nassau st. 340 100; TIRE Ad | Bithard | Oth av, near 16th ut, | very able, PRIOES.— CLOSING da Dining Room Suits, Tables, & at factor Teh st, 7] ARGEST STOOK AND LOWEST PRIOKS FOR FUR duiture and Carpets for ensh or | et COWPERTH WAITS 155 and teen large warervoms. CLOTHING. AV. At, HARRIS. Si 6TH AXplace, the urmost vraine oi Be. Address Mr. or Mrs. T FLATTO’S. Si6 OTH at eas pr Mr. or Mrs, FLATTO. Meet Aa A. Kine A —DR. AND MME. complaints, whave ie “| .. DR. AND MME MA A cisco.” Sitieo, 19 Literty COMPLAINTS SVE st NEA ry at., fleet door frow Suh w RINDLE C the matter, 142 West 48th Advige free. VEL NEW METHOD —SarE, s 10 to GU; advice tre, 195 Kast 40th st. RS LYONS, FEMALE PUYSICTA AN, CUKBS complaints; no cure no pay. No, 40 Kast 20ch st. 0 FEES UNL on Dr, or Mme, WLS, 45 Bleecker ., near : AV, NER 40TH 8 paid for east-of Clothing. Address ESs CURED.—IN ALL CASES CALL Broad al terms of payiaent Chatham at Thire “WAVERLEY t-off Clothing, ESTELLE. SPDWIFE SINCE 1840, NOW RB ALL FEMALE st RS’ PRAG- ALL way. NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, DECEMBER DANCING ACADEMIE:. LLEN DODWORTHS DANO: HOOE, einoved tu No. GAO Sth ay.. the’ reception lls, For particulars send fur elreular. —CARTIEWS DANCING ACADEMY, PLIMPTON Building, Stayvesant and 9th sts, Private lessons, Gilde specialty. Soiree Mondays De® PEND DO'S DANCING ACGADEMIE: ner 3d av. (bank building). | Sng) Academy, 57 East 50th st pour. 3 BILLIARDS. LOT UF SECOND HAND BILLIARD TABLES IN AAporiver order, oqusi to new. at very low prices ms TL W. COLLEN DER, 733 Broadway. TANERICAN STANDARD BEVEL BILLIARD | TA bies, with Delaney’s wire cushions, indorsed by all lead- ing professional play; xtra inducements now olfered; necond hand Tables » } ILLIARD TABLES AY GREATLY REDUCED prices at PHELAN'S factory and warerooms, 36th st, Tub a DEC denew w RCO. HAVE REMOVED TO 4 Broadway, where they are selling oond hand at great bargains. ] KAUTIPUL ARTIFICIAL TERTH, $5; ., single, $1; warranted. “New York Dental Roors,” 26: Established 186 | “MARBLE a i | GQTEWARTS SLATK, MARBL XD WOOD N. | }Oteu, new and elegant designs, from $10 up. The trade liveraily aealt with, > wn West 234 ot, ST. PAUL AND THE PETTIOOAYS, REV, M&. SRE'S TRIAL FOR ALLOWING WOMEN TO PREACH-~-HIS DEFENCE. The lecture room of the Second Presbyte- rian church, Newark, N. J., was filled with ladies and clergymen yesterday afternoon, in | attendance upon the trial of the Rev, Mea Sce for alleged violation of Church rule, in that he dis- oveyed St, Paul’s injunction and allowed women to preach in Lis Wickliffe street pulpit, The session was taken up by the reverend respondent in a interesting and exhaustive defence of his conduct. He was, he began, a Presby- terian from bis birth, had always been connected with the Church, and knew of none other to which he could belong. He took the broad ground that St. Paul preached for his own and not (or ail time in all matters. The Apostle was not infallible, Like other great men in God’s Church he was liable to err, Christ himself had told the Jews of a coming glory. ‘That glory had been rising for centuries and iIluzwinat- jug dark places, This it was doing now, ‘The light of truth was irradiating the caverns of darkness, Conscience was being given more and more hberties, Customs which haa kept women circumseribed and restricted from exercising her gilts—t gilts of the Holy Spirit—were being put aside, and God’s best and lovoliest gift to man Was being given opportunity to prove that she, as well as man, tight preach God’s Word when guided by the Holy Ghost, The Scriptures wore quoted in various places to prove that even in the times of Christ and the Apostles women had preached. Mury, when she proclaimed the resurrection to the world, preached; Priscilla preached; so did other women. Mr. Seo went on to argue at great length that wherever and whenever the greatest liberty was given to woman there and then was she purest avd noblest. On the contrary, wherever and whenever women were restrained and subordinated to mau there and then were they little removed from slaves. He cited the great public good that had at various times been accomplished by women in public sphores— iu the Fulton street church, 1 the Methodist Church, which the speaker praised highly for its wisdom in allowing women to exercise the gifts of public teach- ing when possessed of {t—in the West, whero a noble band of women had heroically ‘ied a crusade uguinst the beastly vico of imtemperauce. The more women’s sphere in the Church was enlarged the purer aud more virtuous she was. Give her the right to exhort aud her sex would be elovated, not debased. Her morals would be heightened so that, like the ood Mrs, Crane (a revered brother’s wife), she might say modestly, but with pride and not shame, that she was the mother of ten children. (Sensation and applause.) Toward his close he said that the voice of God was marching on with the spirit of the times, and was in unison with Liberty of conscience as regards consecration of scriptural texts, Tbere was nothing in the law of the Church specilically prohivit~ ing women from preaching. The General Assembly bad declared that it Was a matter to be left to the discre- tio of elders and pastors, All he had done was simply to exercise his discretion, At the close of Mr. See’s argament the Presbytery adjourned till next Wednesday, It was pluiu to be Seen that tbe audicnce and a considerabie portion of the Presbytery, 11 not a large majority, were in sympathy with the defendant MR. ENGLANDER'S DIAMONDS. THE STORY OF A SARATOGA ROBBERY—ARREST OF THE COLORED COLONEL PARK BLAINE. On September 14, 1876, Mr. Marcus Englander closed up his jewelry store in Saratoga for the season, and expressed to this city a trunk containing diamond jewelry valucd at $22,000, Whilo in transitu trom Saratoga to this city the trank was stolen. The case was roported to Sergeant Kealey, of the Central Oilice, and a few days after William McKenzic, a colured deck band on the Albany and Saratoga boat, was arrested fop the robbery. After being confined at the Centrai OMce for aweck McKenzie confessed that he had stolen the trunk, and in an affidavit made before Justice Bixby stated that he bad stored it in a bourd- mg house at No, 8L West Third street, and bad subse- quently given Charles Hill und Colonel Wallis Varick Blaine, alias Park Blaine, an order to receive the trank. Both Hill and Blaine were colored men, the former keeping a saloon known as “The Senate” in Vine street, Philadelphia, and the latter being em- ployed as a waiter im the Grand Union Hotel Mo- Kenzie admitted having taken $2,000 worth of the jewelry, which was recovered from his Wile aud in a number of pawnshops where it had been pledged, He Was convicted in the Court of General Sessions and sent to State Prison. Hill was arrested in Piuladel- phia and brought to this city. As the lady who kept No. Sl Amity street could not identify him as one of the iwo a who calied at her house with MeKenzie’s oracr and took away the trunk, he was discharged. No trace of Blaine, how- ever, could be tound until afew days ago, when tue formation was received that be was hiding Somewhere oa Staten Island with his wife. A close watch was kept on the ferries, and yesterday morning, when Blaine came over trom Staten Island with his wife, he was closely wuitled up and disguised, From the ferry he was followed to the steamer Alhambra, of the Black Star line, on which he had engaged passage to Bermuda for bimselt aud wite. Both were arrested and taken to the Central Office, Nowe of the stolen property was found in bis possession, On being brought beture Justice Bixby, at the Washington Place Court, yesterday atterdoon, Mrs. Bluine was discharged and Blaine remanded to Police Headquar- ters until to-da, THE SNYDEI RiFLE DISCHARGED. Mrs. Bertha Snyder, of No, 38 East Fourth street, the boarding house keeper charged by Mrs, Eusebia Fitzgerala, of San Francisco, with stealing her box of diamond jewelry, valued at $3,000, was honorably dis- charged by Justice Bixby, at the Washington Place Court, yesterday, Counsellor McMahon, represcoting Mrs. Snyder, was about submitung some remarks to the Court, when Justice Bixby said; —‘Lu all kindness, counsellor, 1 do uot think it is necessary. 1 have made up my mind in this cage.” The Judge then said to Mrs. Snyder:—*You are honorably discharge¢—go home.” Mrs. Suyder thanked him and went away. A tew moments after Mrs. Fitzgeratd came to che Court, avd on hearing of the Judge’s desision became very angry, 8 that the matter would not end there, In explaiuing bis decision to the reporters present, Justice Bixby said:—“it Mra, Fitzgerald was a woman of undoubted good character, and had not been mixed up with this St. Martin, she wouid have made 4 strong case against Mrs. Snyder. CIRCUS TIGER.” tHE Charles Roberts, the cowardly scoundrel! who made & murderous assault upon his wife with a hammer, as reported exclusively in the Hakan of Wednesday, has not yet been capiured by “the best police force the world ever saw,’ although his face is well known, and he had no money wherewith to travel any distunce. The position of Roverts in Mr. Barnum’s show was that of supernumerary aud he was not recognized as o member of the profession, MRS, ‘PAT MACKAY. The examination in the caso of Mra, Rosanna Mackay, charged by her husband Pat Mackay, the gambler, with being an babitual dronkard, was con- cluded before Justice Bixby, at the Washington Place Court, yesterday, Mrs. Lucrezia Browne and Mrs, Anna’ Quimby, two respectable ladies, and Nolly Woods, a servant gir!, who lived in the’ bouse with Mrs, Mackay, Lestified that they never saw her intox- cated, The Judge took the papers and will render his decision to-day “A KOSE BY ANY OTHER ——” The Boulevard is hereafter to bo known as Broad- way if the Mayor by a veto does not object to the change yesterday formally decided upon by the Alder men. A RAPID LOUR. rtropticon,’’ the people who will bo present at the entertainment to be given this evening in aid of the Sabbath school in the Maat- son avenue Retormed Dutch charch, corner ot Madi- son avenue and Fifty-seventh street, will be able to mak tour xround the world ia two hours’? At jeast the charitable tnanagers of the entorvainment say that the thing can be dono, LTRS AND THLEGRAS Agitation on the Inviolability of Correspondence. MR. HEWITT’S CHARGE IN THE HOUSE. pees te LIS IES Action of the House on the Recusant Telegraph Manager. What Is Said in the City cn the Violation of the Mails. Wasuixaton, Dec. 21, 1576. in the House to-day Mr. Piatt, of New York, of- fered a resolution, reciting that Abram 8. Hewitt has asserted, on this floor in a speech, that hig letters pass- ing through the Post Oflice at New York have been filegally opened before delivery, and while in charge of the postal officers or empioyés of the United States, and providing for a committee of five to investigate such charge and whether the same be true or false, and by whom, if by any person, said criminal acts were committed. In connection with it he sent to the Clerk’s desk and had read a telegram received to-day from Postmaster James, at New York, pronouncivg Mr, Hewitt’s accu- sation utterly and absolutely false, and requesting an investigation, Mr, Hewirr objected to the preamble as suggesting language that he bad not used, and asked that his ac- tual language be quoted. Mr. PLatr modited the preamble accordingly, quot- ing in it the following sentence from Mr, Hewitt’s re- marks yesterday :— I wish to say that daring the last month my attention has been called to my own letters passing through the New York Post Olive, and according to the best judymeut I can form, and the best judgment of gentlemen I have submitted my letters to, they are apparently not infrequently opened in'the Post fice und reciosed by the use of mucilage, which iy s0 affected that tho steam used is showu on the euvelope, which hus @ puckered appearance. REMARKS OF MR. HEWITT. Ma. Hewitt proceeded to state the circumstance under which he made the charge. He said about a month ago he received an anonymous letter stating that the writer was an employé im the New York Post Oilice, and that he felt bound to communicate the fact that ‘‘Flints httle kettle’ was at work on his iet_ ters, The only attention which tie bad felt called upon to pay to this anonymous letter was to observe closely the letters which he received. He had found thata considerable number of thom presented an appear- auce of having been opened, the flaps of the envelopes presenta; a puckered or corru- gated appearance. He called the attention of gentlemen intis offlico to the fact and they haa Deen able to pick out two classes of letiers, those which had been apparently opened and those that had not been, When be had come to Washington he was struck with the fact that letters received irom Boston, Chicago and other points had a pertectly smooth sur- Jace on the flap of the enveiope, while frequenuy letters {rom New York presented that corrugated ap- pearance. He had happened to showto Mr. Purke Godwin, a friend of the Postmaster, one of these en- yelopes'and asked lim if it had ‘not been opened. Mr. Godwin iooked at it and said that it jooked = 80, He had then asked = Mr, Godwin to see Mr, James, in whose Integ- rity he (Mr. Howitt) had entire confidence, and whose valuable services should be retained through all mutations in politics, and to wention the matter to him, He (Mr. Hewitt) wished the House to under- stand that he did not think Mr. James would bo or could be a party to any tampering with letters, He had shown two letters one morning to the gentleman trom Maite (Mr, Hale) and had pointed out the corru- gaied appearance of the envelopes, and Mr. Hale had told him that he ought to cail the attention of the House to the matter if be thought his letters were tampered with, But it would ve readily secn that it would be hardly possible to bring forward any other ovideuce than the tact that the letters had this appear- ance. He had, therefore, not stated it as a fact, nor did he now state it as a tact, but he had that suspicion, which amounted to a belief, that his letters had been opened, and he had acted on that belief by sending by express special letters, and requesting gen- tlemen who had such special letters to forward them by express. It may be that in doing so he Was taking unnecessary precaution. lt might be tat higayes de, ceived him, or it might bd that a commiitedd! inves- tigation would be abie to get at facts of which he had no knowledge. He had no objections, of course, to a committee of investigation, but he thought it probable that no good would cot of it and that no im. portant facts would be discovered. Hence he had not been willing to put the country to the expense of an investigation. But if it was the wish of the House or of the gentlemen on the other side to have one he should cheeriully assent, Untortunately he had thrown in the waste basket the anonymous letter, as he did all auonymous letters, as he received from ten to twenty aweek, Therefore its handwriting could not be ideu- tifled. So, too, with the envelopes, they had been thrown away, and it was a remarkable fact that nope of the letters received by him to-day presented any appearance of having been tampered with, Mr, Kassox, (rep) of lowa, said he had favored the introduction of the resolution, not merely because it concerned the administration of an ollicer of the highest reputation, but especially because the public contidence should not be destroyed withozt cause in the Post Office Department. During his own connec- tion with that department, at the opening of the Jate war, 80 sacred Was the rule of 1violubility of cor- respondence that, aitbough repeated representations were made by local posttuasters as to the importanee of ascertaining hosule proceedings through let- ters deposited in the Post Uilice, an order was issued from the department probibiting the tampering in any way witu suci lette ‘The only alternative for the investigation suggested was that the Postmaster General should make it. But that vificiat had not the power which the House had to make a thorough investigation, He might send special agents, but the power to summon witnesses aud to take testimony did vot exist in him as it did in a com- mittee of the House, — Unless, therefore, the gentie~ man (Mr. Hewitt) would satisty the pubic mind by Statiug that he bad uo sufficieut ground for his charge, he did not see that the Hoase could withhold its assent to the resolution. STILL REMAINS TO THR CITIZEN, it was very clear to bin tat this was amatter which the House should mot let drop, The loviolability of the Post Oflice Department was a thing that shutld be tatmtained and upheid by every power of the government. It was all the savre important now thut that department should be undisturbed and unmolested. Since yesterday the House bad taken irom another branch of communication between man and mab all that it ever bad of inviolavility, The post office still remains, and the House could do nothing Deiter in the exercise of its highest power than Loterret and prove such a matter tothe bottom. Let the in- this charge was 29. “4, be valuable to the cause of truth. He thought, how- ever, tha: the question before the House souid be re- ferred to the Judiciury Committee, and careful inquiry mado whether the paper read could be properly ana rightlully treated #8 au autuentic report of & commit. tee. He also begged the How to look atthe other fiGe of the question, aud imagine a committee calling for the telegraphic correspoudeuce of the democratic mugoates of the country for the lust nine months. If the telegrams of seven citizens could do called for, why, he asked, suould uot those of 700, and if 700 why not those of all of the adult population of America, It was, ho said, a naked, foundationiess demand, made witbout proof of the existence of the despatches called for. Mr. McCarary, (rep.) of lowa, said he would take for granted that the telegraphic communication. Was gen- wine, and he would not question it, He desired to ineet fairly and squarely the other important question, whether tolegraph cotnpanies can be required to pro- duce the correspondence of citizens without the com- mittee having before it any testimony that any de- fpatches material to the inquiry are in the hands of the telegraph company? It an aifirmative decision ‘on that question was made by the House there was no sacredness for any privute papers, and the provision of the constitution which declares that citizens shall be secure against unreasonable searches would ve ren- dered nugatory. Mr. Woop, of New York, expressed his regret that the whole question was not under some statutory reg- Ulation, for he was opposed to either legislation or Congressional action as a mere matter of expediency to meet @ particular emergency. He believed there should be general laws on the subject passed at «a time when there was no public excitement like the present. He diifered, bow- ever, with the gentleman as to the sacred character of telegraphic correspondence. Letters passing through the mails were kuown only to the writer and the recoiver, but i} was not so with tele~ graphic despatches, which were not only known to the writer and receiver but to the opera! of the line, Telegraphic despatches had lost al! privacy and secrecy, o much so that ail important communi- | cations in commerce and trade were conducted in cipher, Hoe believed, however, that it whuid be very difficult to trace in any political despatches anything tocrimipate anybody. He therefore did not take the position which he did because of any belief that the committee could procure anything of substuntial im- portunce from the telegrap) oilices, but if the House would carry out the rule adopted by 1 yesterday this recusant witness would have to be brought before the House to answer for contempt, Mr, Hoan, (rep.) of Mass, =u ted that tnasmuch as Mr. Orton bad expressed his willingness to be governed by the order of the House, « peremptory order of arrcst should not be issued until this witness: had an opportunity to go again before the committee and say that alter the adoption of the resolution yesterday he is willing to obey the order of the com- nnittee. Mr, Woop replied that thero was no difficulty about that, because if the witness should now obey the order of Lhe committee the warrant of arrest would not be executed, Mr, Kassox, of lowa, concurred with Mr. Gartield in the belief that it wouid be better to ask the Judiciary Committee to examine the report and ascertain whether there was any legal ground for the issue of a warrant of arrest. The House could not be too care- tulin the business of arresting citizens. He thought that ail the members of the Houge would feel better if the Judiciary Committee would make a more careful examination of the report. ‘Mr. Kyort, of Kentucky, fortifiea the position taken by the House yesterday in declaring that telegraphic communications were Do more privileged than oral or other communications, and quoted a decision made by the Supremo Court of Pennsylvania sustaining that idea, that decision, be said, should dispel forever the spurious and new sentiment that there was something about a telegraphic despatch which made it more fucred than the holy name of the Deity, which tor- merly could only be provounced once a year, and that by the high priest in the sanctum sanctoruin efthe temple. The order of the Superintendent of the company to this manager not to produce the de- spatches did not excuse him, Who bad made tho Superintendent his muster? Who had given the Superintendent the right to abrogate the law of tho land? So far from that prohibition being binding on the witness, it only rendered the Superintendent Lim. self liable to be arrested and brought up for contempt of the privileges of the House. ‘The vote was then taken, and the resolution adopted without a division. THR LATK SENATOR CAPERTON. The Srgaker then laid before tho House the action of the Senate in regard to tho death of Senator Caperton, of West Virginia, when remarks appropriate to the occasion were made by Mes: Heretord, Faulkner and Wilson, of West Virgin! Goode and Tucker, of Virginia; Kasson, of lowa, and Harden- berg, of New Jersey. The customary resolutions were adopted, and the House at halt-past five P. M., adjourned. ¥p | WHAT I8 ENOWN AND THOUGHT IN NEW YORK OF MR, HEWITT’S CHARGE—A MYSTERIOUS SOUTHERN LETTER—A CARPEI-BAG THEORY— MR. KINSELLA’S OPINION—A PARALLEL CASE. Mr. Hewitt's charge, made on the floor of the House, that his mails were violated by republican Post Office employés, has created quite a stir in po- littcal circles of this city. It is wonderful how the Rubicon of politics divides public beliet on almost every, topic. While the republicans pooh-poobed the charge os a baseless fabric of Mr. Hewitt's fertile imagination, the democrats, as a rule, believed it to be true. Areporter was sent to investigate the facts as far as they were kuown to the intimate personal and political associates of Mr. Hewitt, and, as the sequel will show, his inquiries resulted tn establishing the fact that the alleged tampering with Mr. Howitt's mails had been spoken of here by bim and his friends long before he went to Washington, The result of these inquiries shows that Mr. Hewitt was not led by the heat of an acrimonious debate to inake a sudden onslaught upon the republican party and to spring thig unexpected charge upon the other side of the House, but that he had already proviously complained of the tampering with his mails, CORROBORATIVE CIRCUMSTANCES, In this connection another fact should be montioned which goes to lend some color of probability to nis story—namely, the wholly partisan use made by some of the republican postmasters of their oilic.al station during the recent campaign. In justice to Postmaster James it should be stated that no sach complaint was ever made of the New York Post Uflice, but in certain small towns repudlican posimasters were charged with having purposely delayed political documents and other printed matter commg from the democratic committees, if not with tampering with private mails, All this shows that this startitag story, while still lacking the positive evidence which should be cousid- ered necessary to establish it in the minds of tair- mindéd men of either party, is not entirely without calor of probavility. PRTER COOPER'S STATEMENT, ‘The first gentleman visited by the investigator of the venerable philanthropist, Mr. Peter Cooper, Mr. Hewitt’s father-in-law. Mr, Cooper and Mr, Hewitt reside in the same house. They are ou the most intimate relations, and, 1 anybody, Mr, Cooper should certainly have becn informed by Mr, Howittot the facts, sic, Cooper, however, suid that ir, Howitt had been preoccupied with Governor Tilden and the election business generally that he bad seen bY sou-in-law but very litte during Ube last vestigution be made most searching and complete, and jet tue House know whether there had been any inter- ference with the correspondence of any gentleman, and more especially of the ,entieman trou New York (Mr. Hewitt), who be da foremost place in one of the poli- tical parties of the country, THE TELKGRAM QUESTION. The SPEAKER laid belore the House a telegraphic communication from W. R, Morrison, chairman of the Louisiana Luvestiguting Commitiee, tracsmitting a record of the proceedings betore the commitice in the case of B. W. Barnes, manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company at New Orieans, who reiused te obey the subpana duces tecum, ana produce the tele- grains which ho had been ordered to bring with him, The order of the committee was that the Chairman should communicate to the House tor its information the reiusai of Barnes to produce the telegrams. ‘The reading of the papers baving been concluded, Mr. Ganvinip, of Olio, called attenuion to the Lact Ubi the report did pot bear the signature of Mr. Morrisoi Dut was in the handwriting of the telegraph operator. Mr. Kyorr, (dem.) of Ky., then offered a resolution directing the Speaker to issue a Warrant for the arrest and bringing to the bar of the House without delay k, W, Barnes, to answer for a contempt of the authority of the Houge aud a breach of its privileges in retasing to produce the telegraphic despatches, that he may be dealt with as the law under the facts may require, Further objection was made to taking acvion ona telegraphic communication, as if it were an ofieral re- port, but the Speaker overruled it, Mr, Kxorr moved the previous question on his reso- jution, and declined to accede to Mr. Garfield’s reque! to allow some time for discussion, When the vote came to be taken on seconding the previous question the republicans resorted to the plan of withholding their votes so that there should be uo quorum voung. ‘Again. Mr, GARPIELD suggested that some time snould be allowed for discussion, but Mr. Know’s reply to it was a motion fora call of the House. The first roll call showed the preseuce of 196 members. i Mr. Woop, (dem.) of N, ¥., then rose and said that his side of the House had no disposition to prevent dis- cussion, and he suggested that the previous question red seconded, and that the hour to which Mr. Knott would then be entitled shouid be di vided equaily between both sides of the House. Mr. GanvieLp—That is ail we have becn insisting on, The suggestion was agreed to. Mr. Kassox, of Iowa, then submitted in writing a point of order, that the report being without verilica- tion and in the handwriting of telegraph operators, presented no legal parhamentary grounds for adopting an order of afreat of an American citizen. ‘Lhe SrBaKRR overruled the point ot order, and stated sist any thorough and complete tuvestigation touch- ing the late election. The devper that subject was ioto the more he shoald be pleased, tor he had ket far evough toto the question in Louisiana to ortwo, [twas probuvly tor this reason, Mr. Herthought, that Mr, Hewitt bad tailed to mention atter to him However, Mr, Cooper gave 1 as his opmion that Postmaster James, of this city, would not be guilty of tolerating such an out- Tage x8 the Vwlution of private twatis, und it such a thing took place that 41 must have been tie work of some subordinates, who acted without the Postmnaster’s knowledge aud were bribed or otherwise influenced by some reckless aud uascrupulous mana- gers of the republican election machine. Mr. Cooper recalled, with glow of personal interest, the times belore the war, When, he suid, the chieis of the pro- slavery party were su reckless in the pursuit of tueir objects that they even did not seruply to violate the suuctity of ther mais, THY ENVELOPRS UAVR BREN KEPT, Mr. King, the sceretary of the Democratic National Commitice, Was found al the Everetc House, where a parlor 18 Still set apart for the ses of the commit- tee. Mr. King was found in the back room, alone in bis glory, When asked whether be could give some 1 formation vo this subject Mr. King replied sbat ail h could say Was that the Violation of Mr. Hewitt’s mais was Often laiked about in the committee roon knew from Mr. Hewitt that the latier had complained that some of bis letters were opened, and ue also kuew that some of the envelopes had been retained to prove the fuct. These envelopes, Mr, King said, bore unmistakable tr of haviug been previously opened, — Nevertucless, he thought it would ve very dificult to prove the charge, although the very fact that so caretul and conservative aman as Mr. Hewitt made it proved tts truth incon testably in Mr. King’s opinion, Mr. King then went on to describe how the letters could have been opened by the application of steam, as charged by Mr. Hewitt, ut there seven a better way of opening Jetvers,”’ said he, “and this Consists In cutting a letier open at the igh Hern ah Aperture three or four inches in length, throug which van be inserted small jorceps or compasses, to roll or twist the letter into such a shape that itcan be slipped through and then put back in the sume way.”? Mr. King thought that either way the crime leit scarcely any trace if skiilully done, and hence woald be very dillicult to prove. A CERTAIN SOUTHERN LETTER. ‘The most important statement, however, was elicited from a near ‘© of Governor Tilden, who isin a mt Position to speak authoritarively on anything Dei ing Within the Goveruor’s political househvid. the gentleman Was at first reluctant to give any tuforma- Mion on the ground that the charge had been made by Mr. Hewitt at Washington, and that ail further tn- formation should come thence. Iie was wiliing to say tus much, however, that Mr. Howitt had during aud bitterly complained of the viola. that the report came to bim throagt the usaal channel | ion of bis mail hich Was quite a notorious fact io of telegraphic communication. 1 was tor the House, | the small circle of Governor Tilden’s intimate iriends. however, not for tne Chair, to devermine as to the are | Thero was more particularly ove Southorn letter rest of a Fecusant witness, which idoubiedly boro clear traces of hav- Mr. Ga , of Ohio, dec! that there was on | ing been opened by the application of steam, his side of the House uo purpose or willingness to re- | This letter = emanated = from a prominent Southern democrat, whose name Governor Tilden’s Fopresentative was unwilling to state for publication, apd Which passed through the New York Post Office. The preciso date Of the letter or its delivery this koow shat an bouest and thorough investigation would | gontioman was unwilling or unable to give, nor would ateach end | 1876.-WITH SUPPLEMENT. he allow the envelope In question to be even inspected by the writer. WHAT SOUTURRN CARPET BAGGERS MAY DO. “The postmasters im the South, you know,’ suid he, “ure rather a different class of meu from those of thi North, They are mostly carpet baggers of a low type, and are far less scrupulous and reliable in the conduct of their amfairs, As New York Post Ottie concerned, let mo say this to you, that we have all beou always satisted that Postmaster James never had apything to do with or even kvew of this outrage. My own opinion is that the letters were never Violated at this Post Oilice at ail, but that it was done at other Best ofons, and in most cases probably at those of the ath. '* 7 GOVERNOR TILDEN’S MAILS RESPECTED, Governor fideu’s relative was then asked whether the Governor’s own mails had f been violated, aud ho denied it, saying that if they ever were it was done iu such a clever manuer as to have never excited sus- picion. And thus the motter stands, and the ery is suil, “Give us the proofs, Mr. Howitt,’? AT THX POST OFPICE. Postinaster James was in 4 somewhat more compla- cent humor yesterday, having got over the first ex- citemeut consequent upoa the Hewitt allegation. Yes- terday afternoon the Postmaster received the toliow- ing telegram tn reply to his Gespateh to Mr. Hewitt on first hearing of the charge Wasminaron, Deo, 21, 1876. TL. Ja Postmaster, New York Your telecram is evidently based upon erroneous report ot wy remurks. See Record. I beheve that my letters have been opened, but I never suspected that Es would tolerate such abuse. 4 5. HEWITT. This putting another complexion on the matter, Mr, James auswered it us follow. New Yorx, Dee. 21, 1876, Hon, A. §. Hewrrt, Washington, D. © Your telegram réceived, for which you have my thanks, It would be limpossivle for uch an outrage to be committed in this ottice. nothing more sacred than T beg that you will at once jo tho Postinuster General ai prompt and extiggation, ay » Postmiast The subject buving been referred to the Cougres- sional Gommittee to Investigate Alleged tection Frauds, now siing at the Si, Nicholas Hotel, of when Mr. 5. & Cox is chairman, it will undergo a thorough examination. Postmaster James courts a rigid inquiry MR, KINSELLA’S OPINIONS. Mr. Kinselia, of the Brooklyn Hagie, was sought by a Hekalp representative, and was asked for uis views on the subject, in the iirst place, as a public man, con- pected with one of the great political parties of the country, and in the pext 4s an ex-poctmaster, who would therefore have the knowledye of au expert con- cerning the tacilities of the Post Oilice Department for tampering with the mails, Mr, Kinsella preferred not to be interviewed on the subject, but yielded to some pressure, and thus gave lus views to the reporter:— “TL assuine,” suid he, “there can be no two opinions that letwers should pass inviolate through thePost Oflice. 1 am satistied trom uil I know of Postmaster James, of New York, that ifthe republicans got agents to tamper Wity the letters, he was never included among them, but I heard during the campaign that there was ‘a con- spicuous political apporutment inade in the New York Post Oilice to which Mr. James objected.” Mr. Kine sella suid that he did not wish to mention any names. “[ do not give this,”? he continued, “of my own knowl- edge, but I heard it stated during the campaign that anuctive republican partisan was appointed in the New York Post Office in spite of Mr, James’ remon- strance, ‘hat statement fastened itself the more on my mind because the alleged appointee was formerly ot Brooklyn and bis party regarded him as a most un- scrupulous politician and so discarded him when he Was u candidate for a prominent political office.” in reference to the facihitios which exist in the Post Gftice tor tampering with letters Mr. Kinsella said that having bimseli filled the oflice of postmaster ho was prepared to say that there were umple facilities for the opening of letters by subordivates, just as there were chances for flching lettors altogether; but be could not imagine that any man of charocter, in- trusted with the office of postmaster, could for a moment be a purty to such a fraud. If any agent had been employed in the matier he believed he was a subordinate agent. ‘By the way,” said Mr. Kin: “the emoiuthents ofa postinasior are not of such a character us to induce unscrupulous politicians to louk after such a pi: They are very poorly paid, and think Mr. Jain lary 18 beggarly When contrasted with the responsibihues of his position, the duties of it and the wealth of the country.” On thesubject of an investigation he did not seo how Mr. Hewitt could decline to go into such; but it would, he said, amount to nothing. Suppose that they were able to show that these letiors seem to havo beea opeued by the use of steam, as alleged, and closed avain with mucilage, that ig asfar as tuey would be able to go with the business, TH CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION, The following telegram received by Mr. Cox, chairman of the Election Fraud Congressional Com- mittee, just before the committee adjourned yeater- day :— Howse or par IRRSATIE EH U, 8. ec. 21, 1876, i 8. 8. Cox, Chairm: The follow de. :— resolution has just been passed :— t the committer now in New York, of which said committce have power to send for persons # in the prosecution of this inquiry. Will send copy by mau, — JOIN G. THOMPSON, Sergeant-at-Arms, IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT DECISION, In the case of an appeal taken by John H. Bergen from an order made by the Supremo Gourt, on December 7, 1872, commanding him to pay all taxes and assessments upon certain premises sold by him as referee in a foreclosure sale, the General Term of Kings county bas rendered a decision affirming the order of the Court below. Prior to the hearing of this appeal Bergen had mace a motion to recover back from Albert Day, the respondent, $150, which ho had been fined tor disobedience of tie order to pay the taxes and assessments; but the Court denied the mo- tion on the ground that the order was in fall for whieh imposed the fine. Day had paid the parchas money into the hands of Bergen, amounting to about $7,000, and Mr, Bergen refused to apply it to the pay- Ment of taxes and assessments on the property, as re- quired by the decree of foreclosure. Lt 1s claimed by Day that both the Supreme Court and Court of Ap- peals have held with him that reterees in foreclosure suits must pay the taxes and assessments on the prop- erty out of the money received by them, and that Mr. Bergen bas been guilty of a contempt of Court in this instance in having disobeyed an order of the Court to that offeet, THE »OROSIS RIBBONS. . Delmon:co’s parlors in Fifth avenue were crowded yesterday with a Jarge and brilliavt gathering of indies and gentlemen, the occasion being the first Christmas party of the “ Sorosis.”” Every gentloman on entering was provided with a bracelet made of a ribbon ofa certain color, aud it was his duty to find the lady who bad a bracelet of the same color und to devote his at- tentions exclusively to ber during the eveuing, This was the cause of much atusement, and led to many not entirely unexpected meetings, The main attrac. tion, however (next to the jadies, of course), was a large Curiztinus tree, resplendent with lighted tapers and loaded with elegant hitde knickknacks, which were aiterward uistributed among those present, There were singing, speechmaking and many enter- taining amusements suited to the ocgasion, alter which an elegaut collation was served. Besides Mrs, Croly, Mrs, Mary d&yle Dallas, Mrs. amater, Mrs, Bergholz, the olficers aud the other mbers of the society, there were present Mr. and Mrs, Bayard Taytor, Colonel Kuox, hrs. Secretary Bigelow, Mark Twain, Mr. Roosevelt, Constantine Meyer {he artist, and numerous othor guests, Tho party came off with ali the splendor and elegance that characterize the euvertainments of this society, and there was no ‘one present but met with a spiendid evening’s enjoyment, FANN'S CONJUGAL HISTORY. George M, Fann, who, as published in yesterday’s HERALD, attempted on Tuesday vight to take bis wite’s Ife with a carving knife, was brought up for examina- thon at the Fiity-seveuth Street Court yesterday. Mrs, Fanu produced a certificate of her husband's marriago in Williamsburg to a woman named Helen Bohn, woo is stili living. Judge Wandell said that the vertilleate was not suilicient; Mrs, Fann No, 1 herself shoald ap- pear i court before proceedings for bigamy could be commenced against the accused, Faun was then com- mitved for further examination to-day. It halt whut bis present wite alleges against him be true he deserves an unlimited sojourn within prisou walis. She says that sue bas been married to Fann ouly six weeks. Lu bis apd scraps sue Obtained from him au account of bis previous history, According to his own statement to ber he was married 10 Ger- many toa widow who bad alovely young girl ofa daugh- ter about eiguteen years of age. {le became criminally intimate with the girl shortly after bis marriage 10 her mother, aud the result was that sho died of shame and gret. Heand tis wile then emigrated to this country, where bis wite died in confinement, which, it is alleged, was premature because of a kicking he gave her, Helen Bobo had teft him because of bis braial treatment, and Mra, Fann hes po doubt that Helen will appear as a Witness against their common husband when noutied. THE SKATING. YESTERDAY. ‘The snow of yesterday did not lesson the throng of skaters (hat since the commencement of the season has daily visited the lakes. The inkes at Central Park, Prospect Park, Capitoline Pond and the rinks were crowded all day by lovers of the sport. At Central Park, particularly, the scene was a most animated one. The drives surrounding the lake were covered with sieighs of ail descriptions, dashing here and there, tho Unkling of the belis mingling barmoniously with the merry lwaghter of the skaters, making altogether an augiug and beautiful scene. SMOTHERED IN A SLEIGH. On Wednesday night Mrs. Keys, residing at West Bloomfeld, wont out with her husband sleigh riding. She took her infant boy in her ari and wrapped & buffalo robe around her % cop: i warm, When she Toached 4 trieau’s house she discovered that her child had staotherea in her arma, DEATH AT THE WHEEL. Tho pilot of tho the steamboat Rattler dropped dead at the wheelhouse while tho boat was at Quarantine yestorday, HOLIDAY GOODS. 4 TRIP THROUGH SOME LEADING STORES—AM ENDLESS VARIETY OF ARTICLES. Stern Brothers, Sixth avenue and Twenty-third street, have just opened several cases of brand new articles for the holidays direct from Europe. There are gilt and bronze articles, Paris oxydized goods, Russia jeather goods, Paris and Vicnna fans, toilet articles and albums, Besides these are articles for wear, such as ladies’ cloaks, dolmans, sacqucs, paletots aad wraps, at half price to reduce the stock, real laces and lace articles, made up lace goods, embroidered collars and culls, ribbons and neck wear, silk bandker- cbiels and mufllers and linen handkerchiefs, Lupin’s kid gloves, six, ten and twelve buttons, and Cour- voisier’s kids, at $175 for two buttons and $210 for three; lined gloves, castor gloves and silks, vel- vets and trimmings in endiess varieties, One is com- pletely uonplussed at the cheapness of goods; they seem to be really given away. There 19 nothing like rivalry to bring down the prices of things, and there seems to be a good natured disposition among our merchants to underbid one another and put goods down to the lowest possible cash prices. The rule for doing business nowadays seems to be quick sales and small proiits, At Stern’s the sales will be found quick enough and the prices so low that it seems as though the profits must be small, That man or wo- man who has but twenty-five cents to spend on Christmas gilts would be surprised to see how far the money will go at Stern Brothers’. It would buy a Pocketbook, a cake of soap and a bit of ribbon at least, Seeing 1s believing, and a trip across town will prove ‘what we have stated, Sixth avenue is running Broad- Way a pretty close race, and tho carriaged rich as well as the pedestriau poor find {t to their interest to cross town for their shopping. MACY'S. i Marvellous Macy’s! There 1s nothing under the sun Uhat cannot be found on that corner of Sixth avenue und Fourteenth street, You need not leave thut store two clothe yourseli from top to toe or furnish your house from gurret to cellar. There are any number of people in this city who do all their shopping at this don marché. At uo place can you get better goods for so small a price. Wo have found articles there such as were bought at the Centenuiul for genuine Egypuan and Moorish at about half whatwe gave for them. Even if you do not want to buy it is worth a trip across Fourteenth street just to see the crowds that flock into that favorite place. The counters ure surrounded tour or five deep from early in the morn- ing till late in the evening. To enumerate all the arti- cies one can iad at Macy’s would be to give a list that would take every column of this paper. Besides the regular stock of lace goods, embroideries, hosiery, loves and underwear, furs, white goods for house- weping, books, stationery, china ware, &¢,—the china ware, by the way, 1s well worth looking at, tor it is pretty and very cheap—bvesides all these there are loys for children of every age. Such an end- Jess variety of dolls, wnolo families of these dear crea- tures—papas, mammas, babies, half-grown girls and boys and marriageable young ladies and gentiemen; dolls without any covering to their backs and dolls with trousscaus that a bride might envy. Santa Claus must certainly buy his gs at Macy’, ~ RICHARD MEARKS’. No one in quest ot holiday goods of superior quality and at low prices should tail to visit the establishment of Richard Meares, corner of Sixth avenue and Nine- teenth street. Ladies’ and children’s turs, sealskin, mink, Alaska sable, &c., ure offered at considerably re- duced pric sets may be had ior $1 16 to $4, and ladies’ sets, muff und boa, for from $3 75 to $7 50. Black und colored gros grain silk cos- umes aro solling at from $69 to $88, und cashmere suits, trimmed with silk, at from $25 to $33, Beaver cloth cloaks have been marked down, ranging in prce trom $6 75 to $15. Worsted and alpaca dresses may be had at prices ranging from $8 to $14 apiece, while large quantity of mourning wrappers of all colors and designs are offered for from $2 50 to $26, Trimmea hats cost from $8 to $15, and aro displayed in all the most fashiouable designs. Matelassé cloaks, trimmed with silk and silk fringe, cost trom $18 to $25, The gentiemen’s furnishing goods, aud, indeed, all ti departments of a dry goods house of the first cl are to be found in this store, well filled with goods, suitable alike tor holidays and working days. i O'NKILL & COR, H. O'Neill & Co., Nos, 321 to 329 Sixth avenue, cor- ner Twentieth street, make an unusually rich display ot holiday goods of every description, and at prices adapted to all pockets. inthe glove department t display 18 particularly tempting. The stock comprise: 10,000 dozen pairs, in every variety of color and shade for street and evening Wear, ranging in price trom 75 conts to $1 98 Nearly 25,000 silk handkercbiets are oltered for sale at 25 cents a piece, and one-haif that umber at prices ranging Irom 60 cents to §7 50, Ladies’ neckties cost irom 75 cents to $2 76, Sash ribbons of siik gros grain cout trom tS cents to $1 25, while 12,000 Roman sashes are ollered at prices rang- ing from $1 60 to $7 50. A fine display is made in the lace goods department. special ins are to mi in cloaks and suits, and 2,000 suits are offere tor sale at from $7 50 to $150 a piece, Silk v ts are displayed in great variety, and there i s fine oppo! tunity to purchase hosiery and French flow a greatly reduced price. Feit hats cost 'from 75 cents to $1 10, and a superior quality of silk velvet hate are Bold at $1 70 a piece. i BLOOMS". A great place 1s Blooms’, in the Bowery, between Bond and Great Jones streets. Always a woll stocked store, the holidays bave tested the capacity of its counters and shelves, which are covered with every- thing th: tempting in the fancy goods line. The are glove, hanukerchiet and tollet boxes, in silk, satin and velvet, and there aro satin covered pin- | cushions for sixty-three cents. Then there are state | Mettes, inkstands, ash, card and match home and Parisian jardinieres, filled with tropical planta, ixed in with the odor of plants 1s that of Lubin's, beigrig dh | Atkinson’s and Wenck's perfumes. These are flanke: by all sorts of laces and guipure, Made up lace goods attract the Juxurious, as do kid gloves in endless variety. Fans of the latest Parisian desigus and lowest New York prices tempt the buyer, Blooms’ windows aro ainong the most attractive in the city. Ono can there get a good Jook at what he wauts to buy belore-he goes inside, If he once stops there he is gone, for such prices aro perfectly irresistible, The hosiery department bere will be found unusually weil stocked or stockinged, Broadway, the avenues and the Bowery remind ove of the Centennial, the crowds are so vast, ana all on the lookout for sights and bargains, and they find them on every hand, WALLER & M’SORLEY’S. Waller & MeSorley, No, 245 Grand street, near Bow- ery, offer for sale at a scule of prices whick has under. gone considerable reduction to mect tho demands of the present hard ‘times a rich and varied stock of goods for the holidays. Silks, di goods, shaw! Cloaks, cloths and cassimeres are displayed 1n all fash- ronald colors and designs, About 1,000 pieces of Guinet black silk are offered at prices ranging from $1 upward, Nearly 5,000 dress patterns, varying in length irom sixteen to twenty-four yards, cost from $2 to $12, and 3,000 pioces of black cashmere, bought at last week's auction sales, are to be had ata reduction of frém thirty-five cents to upward of $lon the yara La- dies’ cushmere, cloth and beaver suits au ues are offered at prices ranging from $9 to $15 and upward, There is also an assortment of black and colored silk Suits to be had at from $25 to $100 apiece, Shawls of izes, colors, materials and quality are exhibited in great quantity. THE LABORERS’ CHRISTMAS. Comptroller Keliy was yesterday authorized by the Board of Apportionment to issue Park Improvement Fund stock tothe amount of $26,009. This will bie the Comptroller to pay the laborers in this depart ment their wages before Christmas Day, THE HEBREW FAIR. Tho fair in bohaif of the Ladies’ Hebrew Benovolent Society and the Forty-fourth street synagogue 1s now in active progress in Masunic Temple, and to judge from the well thronged hall euch night, even when the weather is absolu‘ely forbidding, Its tnanc'al success is assured, The drst night's receipts amounted to over $7,000, while each succeeding evening has netted $1,000. Tue managors aro gratified at ihe generosity shown by the members of all congregations. A SCHOOL isECEPTION. The primary department of Grammar School No. 68 gave avery pleasant Christmas reception yesterday morning. There was a large attendance, Addresses wore delivered by Messrs. Fuller and Polston and other gentlemen of the Board of Trustecs, A PENITENT THIEF, A very singular cage of penitence came under Super- intendent Wailling’s notice on Wednesday, He re ceived a letter signed “Out of Work,” acknowledging that the writer had, in a moment of foolishness, taken another man’s overcoat from a house on Lexington avenue, and, having carried it to a cigar store on Sec- ond avenue, lett it there, His anxiety was to have the Ni garment found and restored. Suporintendent Walling sent Detective Dorcey to the cigar store, and the cout ‘was obtained and returned to its owner, Mr, Bloss, Na, 49 Loxi mn avenue. ‘Tho fuliowing 1s the letter:. Decruren 19, 1876, Dran $tu—I performod a vory scurvy and dishonest tran Action ou last Sunday evening, at six o'clock, and it bel may initlutory faux pas, and 1 being penitent, | beg so a our Assistance iu restoring what, by no manner of reason. dws thy property. the evening above nanied 1 applied and paid for lodg- ing and breakfast at a Lourding house, and being left alone in'the parlor for @ short time I deliberately, but without malice prepense, waikod off with an overcoat or talma, and regrettod my sin within five minutos, boardia is located on Lexington ave bly, soutn of Twenty-six avenue, The aunver on. t from No. 3 up to No, 53, Bi oceupants of dweilings wiong the al douptloss discover thy ow « sear ot material. ‘Twentieth street. I bough ehienrs on last Friday might, amd woman in attendance, saying 1 would call for 1t. that I was non compos teom the effects of wing in a crime, and I have sui ~ i contrition theretor, Do me th note in Youk bienau revered the to the law wed over ations '