The New York Herald Newspaper, December 25, 1876, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR pease | eck Shh THE DAILY HERALD, published every Gay in the year, Three cents per copy (Sun- day excluded). ‘Ten dollars per year, or at rate of one dollar per month for any period less than six months, or five dollars for six movths, Sunday edition included, free of ‘tage. All business, news letters or telegraphic despatches must be addressed New York Henarp. Letters and packages should be properly sealed. Kejected communications will not be re- turned. PHILADELPHIA OF FICE—NO,112SOUTH SIXTH STR LONDON OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK HERALD—NO. 46 FLEET STREET. PARIS OFFI AVENUE DE L'OPERA. NAPLES OFFICE—NO. 7 STRADA PACE. Subscriptions and advertisements will be received and forwarded on the same terms as in New York. GRAND OF BLACK CROOK, ats, M UNION MISS MULTON at 8 P. STE CONCERT at 2 P. M CENTRA CONCERT AND je "ARK GARDEN, GARDEN. AZURINE. mouse ‘ Ss ; GiwaraE, DAN'L BRUCE, ar NC Mat BOWERY M. Oliver 30 P. ML A ah a BOSS, at sit. oud Byron, Matinee, 2 NEW BROA ¥ THEATRE, CORRINIA, at 8 P.M. Matinee, 2 P.M. GERMANTA THEATRE. IN FREUD UND LEL P.M. Matinee, 2 P.M. KELLY & LEON'S MINSTRELS, atS P.M. "iatines) Pr. THEATRE. - Matinee, 2 P.M. HOUSE, . Me HELLE PRESTIDIGITATION, 5 COLUMBIA OP! VARIETY, ats P.M, Matine: THEATRE oc VARIETY, aide ae M VARIETY AND Dt TIVOLI eens ats P, M. BNEW AMER TRE. « VARIE1Y, at 8 P. ifs M, NEW YORK AQUARIGM. oe daily, TARIETY, ats is At VARIETY, at 5 PHILADELPHIA 7 THEATRES. THE Pov tia L THEATRE. KIRALFY'S ALHAMBRA PALAC AZURINE; af sage Ne TO CATARACT OFT THE GANG NEW YORK From our reports this morning the probabilities are that the weather in New York to-day will be cold and partly cloudy or cloudy, possibly with light snow or rain. “Goop Wut To Mex” was part of the first Christmas song, but singing is not every- thing. Tne Suepsenps who followed the Star of Bethlehem carried their own gifts without waiting for ‘organized charities.” Tne Quickest Passace.—The steamship Britannic, which left this port on the 16th inst., arrived at Queenstown yesterday morn- ing, making the passage in seven days and thirteen hours—the quickest on record. Tne Street Carn Contixvas to be a porta- ble refrigerator because its owners do not see how io warm it. If they would take the greenbacks from in front of their eyes their vision would improve immediately, Rermpeer Sierous are not on hire at the livery stables, but anybody who wants to play Santa Claus to the people who need gifts will find a well filled coal cart equally useful and far more appropriate. We Unpenrstanp that a new gas company has been organized up town, and we hope it will relieve the people of the broken roads, bad light and exorbitant prices which have been endured for a year or more. Competition is as necessary in gas as in ocean telegrams. St. Domixco is happy once more. She has had another revolution. When we con- template the Dominican's dearest delight, and the lack of any provision in our hum- drum constitution for such recreations, President Grant's annexation scheme wears | an aspect of malignant cruelty which is simply appalling. GeyxenaL Grant said yesterday that he had no knowledge of any democratic armed conspiracy. There were organized rifle companies in the Southern States outside of | the militia, but he had no fears of a colli- sion. The reports of the committees would | show the real result of the electoral vote, and he thought the people wowid be made satisfied by a fair count. He expressed the opinion that the President elect might | take the oath of office immediately after the | declaration of the electors, though, of course, | he could not enter upon his duties until the 4th of March. A message will be sent to Congress shortly in regard to sending troops South, 5 Tue Weatuen.—As predicted in yester- day's Henatp the storm in the Gulf has reached the coast and is now central west of Florida. The gale at Galveston yesterday morning was very severe, and high winds may be expected along the Atlantic coast during to-day, as the storm centre advances | | northeastward. Owing to the influence of the high pressure and low temperature ip the North snow fell last evening in the Mississippi Valley at Cairo, in the Missouri Valley, over the lake region and in the Northwest. A low pressure still prevails | over Nova Scotia. The weather in New York to-day will be cold and parily cloudy - or plondy, possibly with light snow or rain. | view. NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1876. The Lesson of Christmas Day. To-day the civilized world celebrates, as the most joyful festival of the whole year, the birthday of One who had not where to lay His head at night, and who, born in a stable, consorting all His life with humble men and executed as a malefactor, developed to the fishermen and other common folk with whom He spent His days a theory of the conduct of lige and of society to which a great part of mankind has ever since been pretending, and with more or less success attempting, to conform itself. If we remember only the number of pris- ons and other penal and reformatory insti- tutions, which constantly increase in civil- ized countries; the multitude of those who prey on society, and with more or less suc- cess strive to maintain their places among the undetected part of mankind; and more- over the greed for wealth and _ position which afflicts other multitudes of men and women, the selfishness and other debasing passions which appear to rule men’s con- duct toward their fellows; and if we add to this the attitude of civilized nations toward each other; the enormous fleets, forts, arsenals and armies which are maintained in Europe in times of peace; the great wars of the last decade, the present threat of a general European war and the disturbed condition of our own country, where evil and dangerous passions are aroused by a disputed election—if we remember only these things we shall be tempted to think that Christianity has gone but skin deep after all these centuries, and shall despair, as did the prophets of old, at the predomi nance of evil.- But this would not be a true It is ensy to pick out evil and wrong and display them ‘as the characteristic fruits of our social system ; but the true, because both the broader and deeper view, is very different ; and though the so-called Christian nations are as yet in but a lamentably slight degree animated by a Christian spirit in their intercourse with each other, and though of masses of men it may still be said that their motives are often Jow, and sometimes evil, society as it now exists could not continue did not everywhere, at bottom, the truly Christian spirit of self- sacrifice, of céntentment, of love to the neighbor, largely predominate, and were not this spirit continually gaining in power and strength. It has been wisely said that the civilized man differs from the savage mainly because and in the degree that he is able to forego present gratification for the accomplishment of afuture end. It is a true saying, and has its foundation in that faith in a future life which some German philosophers are nowadays trying to upset as only a ridicu- lous superstition. Men are intelligent and moral beings in the precise proportion as they are able, patiently and in an orderly and systematic manner, to work toward ob- jects in the far-away fature; ‘to sac- rifice their immediate advantages for something worthier in the distance, something which perhaps not they but their children or children’s children only shall enjoy. ‘After us the deluge” is the proverb of a pagan or an Austra- lian bushman; and as it is.the glory of Him in whose birth all Christendom rejoices to- day that He ann ced and declared a future life to mankinu and sought in all His instructions to the disciples to connect more intimately in the minds of mankind the present with this future existence, so to-day the essential and necessary spirit of Christian society holds out tomen and na- tions, as the highest and most honorable achievement, the sacrifice of immediate and personal gratification for the ultimate gain of a real and general good. What else but this is it that has kept the American people absolutely peaceful, patient and orderly, under the extraordinary ex- citement of the last six tedious weeks? Hero we stand, arrayed in two opposing parties, each kept at the highest spur and tension by unscrupulous and reckless partisans, and the people on this Christmas Day would, if they were not at bottom deeply imbued with the spirit of Christian- ity, have their hands at each other's throats in a wild struggle for the temporary predominance of one political party or the other. The Union was never so great, so sublime and beneficial a spectacle to the world as it is to-day. The war presented us in one aspect great and powerful; but, after all, war is the natural condition of mankind, and nothing would be easier for us to-day than to fall into another civil struggla ‘Any fool can get up a dog fight.” The ways of peace are more | dificult, for they require patience, self- | restraint, and that greater courage, not to strike. To decide important and deeply ir- | ritating without violence or | breach of order—this is true greatness in a nation. If, as we pretend, we are a Chris- tian people, this maintenance of order will be our greatest pride; for we shall remem- | ber that our Union was not founded for | adny or for the temporary advantage of a party. We shall remember that it is the heritage of our children to the farthest gen- eration; that we are butas helmsmen tempo- rarily in charge of the ship, in whom it would be an act of the vilest bad faith to turn her from her course or, for a merely selfish gratification, to run her aground, We are but trustees. Shall we make away with the estate of liberty ? We celebrate to-day the birth of One who said, ‘‘ Blessed are the peacemakers,” and part of whose mission it was to show the way to social advancement through order and self-restraint. We profess to be Chrig- tians, Can any one doubt to-day what would be His way of settling our great dispute, after whose name we are called? or whether He would counsel violence and civil’ dis- order? Mr. Lincoln, in the most impressive of his addresses, spoke of the dead at Get- tysburg as those who nad there died in order that government of the people by the peo- | ple ond for the people might not perish from the land. Tle was right; but the living | of to-day have as solemn and important a | | } questions charge as had their brothers who perished in the great war. Itis ours, too, to take care that no harm comes to the Republic, and we | are to doit, not by the musket of the soldier, but by insisting on order, peace and self-restraint, whatever may happen; by frowning down sternly every attempt to inflame factious excitement or create civil disturbance under any pretext what- ever. In a free government, and with peace and order, all wrongs and evils can be reme- died. Patienceis the most important virtue of a free people, and those who have it not are not fit for liberty and cannot maintain | it. No matter in which way our present political dispute is decided there will be dissatisfaction among a part of the people, and perhaps a distrust of the justice of the settlement. What then? Are the dissatis- fied and suspicious to take to violence? What good will that do? Is it the patriot’s part to plunge into irretrievable ruin and disgrace those free institutions which every man among us must wish to see handed down securely to his children? It is most anxiously to be desired that this Presidential dispute may be so decided as to satisfy all reasonable men that justice has been done. But this may prove impossible. The interference and the schemes of politi- cians may result in leaving the final decision open to just suspicion, Suppose this proves so, Will men be excusable if, even in that case, they seek’ by vio- lence to overturn or resist that which shall be established? Are we not, rather, as freemen, to whom our free institutions aro precious, to remember that in two years there will be another election ?—that there are constitutionally appointed ways in which we can right all wrongs or suspected wrongs? ‘Blessed are the peacemakers ;” that is the lesson of to-day. We celebrate the birth of One who came to bring ‘Peace on earth and good will to men.” Itis fit that we shall conduct ourselves as a Christian people; as a nation determined upon peace and order as the necessary basis of all our prosperity, and of our continuance as a free people. We bail it as a good omen that this Christ- mas is immediately preceded by a cogent appeal to Congress in behalf of peace, signed by the most eminent citizens of Philadelphia without distinction of party. This appeal comes appropriately from the City of Brotherly Love, the birthplace of American independence; but Christians and patriots have no duties there which are not equally binding everywhere. Those emi- nent Philadelphia citizens say that ‘‘in their belief the citizens of the United States are almost unanimous in their de- mand that the questions arising from the late Presidential election shall be dealt with in a spirit predetermined to harmonize con- flicting views irrespective of the success or defeat of individual candidates.” We have no doubt that this language expresses the real sentiments of the great body of the American people who have not become heated by political strife; and we trust that such truly Christian sentiments will be strengthened by the interesting festival by which we celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace. Art in the Household. It is pleasant to discern among the straws that drift down the tide of our hundredth year some hopeful signs of real msthetic progress, A popular lecture like that de- livered by Mr. Goodyear at Cooper Institute, last Saturday evening, upon reform in household art, deserves more than passing notice. Gerferally speaking the era now closing has been one of mechanical rather than artistic advancement. We have con- trived much, but adorned little. In the implements of war, of agriculture, of loco- motion, and even in the utensils of domestic convenience, our workmen have left little to desire; but in the quiet arts of household architecturo and decoration we are greatly lacking. Up toa very recent period the in- door aspect of the typical American dwell- ing was strained and ungraceful. There is even yet a general prevalence of square comfortlessness of architecture and mathe- matical precision in the disposal of fur- niture. A lingering tradition of Puritan rigidity may have something to do with this, or it may be merely the expedient of a people to whom life is a business and the art of living an idle and undesirable pas- time. In almost’ every European country art is a familiar household dweller. It is visible in neat and cosey architecture, in tasteful furniture and decoration and in simplicity and grace of arrangement. Woe are glad to observe an increasing tendency toward these effects here. The liberal patronage of the recent art sale was evidence of the growth of this tendency among the wealthier classes, and there are equally plain indications of a similar gen- eral disposition. The closing of the Phila- | delphia Exhibition threw into the market a | number of collections of artistic pottery, lacquer work and various other articles of a | like nature, and in every instance they have | found a ready and even eager sale. ‘Lhe in- | fluence of the Exhibition itself was very powerful in this respect. ‘Thousands of people were unconsciously made acquainted with the desirability of art in household decoration who had never even suspected | its existence. That the influence of this | single event will be made manifest and bear | fruit throughout the country cannot be | doubted. And as a valuable auxiliary to | the development of artistic ideas we hope | to see more such popular teaching as that | of Mr. Goodyear, Tait Promisep Opera Hovsz.—What has | become of Mr. Strakosch’and the Italian opera | he was to have given us? The establish- | mentin Fourteenth street is dead and has left us no heirs, and the impresario’s project is either dead or sleeping soundly. Mr. Strakosch is our musical Messiah, and we do not look for any other; so let him fulfil the hopes he has excited. Let him build an opera house between Thirtieth street and Central Park; there are at least a dozen plots of ground avail- able, while money for a building of modest but sufficient size and appointments can be had with but little trouble. Let Mr. Strakosch organize with Mr. Maplesona company of stars; the London season will oceupy Patti, Nilsson and the great tenors during the summer, and in the winter they can flash across the ocean like meteors into our operatic sky and receive the attention which brilliancy always excites. Life is | short aud we want our musical millennium | now; Mr. Strakosch can give itto us. Why does he not do it? “Manny Curistmas To Att,” and in every heart may the wish be the father of acts that shall make it more than o wish. The New State Government, There will be no very marked changes in the State government at Albany with the incoming of the new administration. Gov- ernor Tilden will retire, but his place will be filled by Governor Robinson, who is already well known at the State capital, both as a legislator and a State officer, and who has been a part of Governor Tilden’s administration. Lieutenant Governor Dors- heimer retains the position he has oeenpied for the past two yeurs, and the Senate, over which he presides, is the same as last year, with the exception of the two new members— Mr. Sprague, of Buffalo, elected to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Senator Rogers, who’ ran on the republican State ticket for Lieutenant Governor, and Mr. Wagstaff, of this city, who succeeds the late Senator Booth. There will be but few changes on the Governor's staff, and proba- bly one of those old stagers of the Assembly, Husted or Alvord, will reappear in the Speaker's chair. There will be a new Comp- troller in place of Governor Robinson, but Governor Tilden has not yet announced who is to be the appointee. So there will be no great revolution at the State capital either socially or politically when the new year and the new State administration come in together. The majority of the Senate is politically opposed to Governor Robinson. But the republican Senators will make a mistake if, on that account, they offer factious opposi- tion to suth reforms as the people have indorsed by a large vote, or if they obstruct the thorough reorganization of the Insurance and Bank departments at Albany. The constitutional amendments adopted at the last election by a large majority provide for the appointment by the Governor, with the consent of the Senate, of a Superintendent of Public Works and a Superintendent of State Prisons, to take the place of the pres- ent State Prison Inspectors and Canal Com- missioners, This is a measure looking to economy and efticiency in the government, and the Governor will no doubt promptly appoint the new officers. If, his nominces are properly qualified and acceptable persons for the positions the republican majority of the Senate will scarcely venture to refuse to confirm them. Legislation will be necessary to fix their salaries and carry out other de- tails, but this can be done subsequently. The change in the system of canal and State Prison management indorsed by the people should be made immediately. The offices of Superintendent of the Insurance Depart- ment and Canal Auditor are vacant and the term of office of the Bank Superinten- dent has expired, the present Superinten- dent only holding over until his successor shall be appointed. It is notorious that the Insurance and Bank departments have been scandalously mismanaged, and the republican Senators will be held respon- sible by the people if they refuse to allow those departments to be thoroughly re- formed. One of Governor Robinson's ear- .liest acts should be the appointment of 4 Bank Superintendent who will protect the depositors in savings banks, and an Insur- ance Superintendent who will see that un- sound life insurance companies are not per- mitted to prey upon the public. If the re- publican Senators refuse for partisan pur- poses to confirm proper nominees for these positions the political complexion of the State Senate will be changed by the people next year. Sentimental, Secret, Sad. The romantic story of Bonfanti’s marriage will be read with tender interest by every one whose heart is in the right place. No possible blame can be attached to the fasci- nating woman who neglected cities full of admirers to give her whole heart and life to the man in whose affection she found them again. But after the heartiest admiration is accorded to woman’s love and faithfulness there is still something in the story for at least one class of readers to think over. Had the sentiment of the devoted husband been guided by other feelings equally honorable and tender he might yet be a woman's joy instead of a tenderly sor- rowful memory. The anxiety and trouble brought on by an unfortunate secret did the principal work in sending George Hoffman to en early grave. Wedded love is some- thing more than a mere amusement to which everything elso is to be sacrificed. Its influences last as long as life itself, and nothing that hampers it with burdens and sorrows which a straight- forward course can prevent is consistent with the affection which every true woman deserves. “There are thousands of young men who need to learn this lesson so thor- oughly that no spirit of romance nor any intensity of feeling can make them forget it. | No amount of patience, hindrance or separa- | tion could ever have been so galling to the hero of this sorrowful romance as the neces- sity of writing as he did to Mr. Puleston. Winter in Europe—Probable Spring Floods. As a more intimate knowledge of the science of meteorology is obtained by a study of the phenomena it presents to our notice, many. calamities can be averted by a timely preparation to meet and neu- tralize the causes that have hitherto. pro- duced them. Wo have had to record year after year the dreadful destruction of life and property along the valleys of the great rivers of Europe by sudden inundations ‘caused by the rapid melting of immense ac- cumulations of snow at their mountain sources and over the watersheds which they drain. The distressing scenes in the valleys of the Rhone and the Danube in the early part of the present year created a profound impression by the scale on which they were enacted and the widespread devastation that accom- panied them. Whole villages were sud- denly swallowed by the angry floods and the results of the patient labor of years effaced in a moment by the overwhelming, rushing waters. It is, therefore, a matter of the gravest moment that the recurrence of such terrible calamities should be, if possi- ble, prevented. ‘To this end we desire to call the attention of the governments of the countries liable to be involved in these dan- gers to the fact that 1 winter of unusnal se- verity is before them, and that an extraordi- nary snowfall is probable in Central Europe. As we have recently stated, the weather con- ditions that affect Europe eross the Atlan- tic from our shores, and consequently we experience them a week or more before they reach that continent. We have already sent to the British Isles two remarkably severe storms, but the Heraxp gave notice in each case oi their progress in that direction fully seven days in advance of their arrival on the Irish coast. Now, it being clear that our American weather largely governs that of Enrope, and when we look forward to a severe winter in the United States we also regard it as equally probable that Europe will experience a similar season, it is, there- fore, our duty to warn the authorities of France, Germany, Austria and England that a timely preparation for great spring floods can alone avert disasters, and we do so with the hope that our warning will be heeded. Bull-dozing in Mexico. Recently one uncertainty as to the Presi- dential election in Mexico was terminated by a battle which decided that Lerdo was not the mar. Then the troubles were all over fora day or two; the new government provided a new constitution, or one as good as new; gavean evidence of the sincerity of its purpose by collecting new taxes, and was enthusiastically received by the peo- ple. It may strike the indifferent observer that there is no good reason why the Mexi- can people should be enthusiastic in regard to a new government; but it should never be forgotten that in welcoming a new gov- ernment there is involved the happiness that at least they are rid of the one that preceded it. There was no Marcellus in Mexico to reproach the fickle people with the fact that they were shouting over Julius Cwsar Diaz as formerly they shouted over Pompey Lerdo; but if there had been the people might have responded that at least the event afforded them a new show—was equivalent to putting a new slide into the magic lantern of their politics—and that the existence of one government rather than another was of little further consequence than that to them. It appears by the chron- icle that now another uncertainty requires to be terminated by the same process, and therefore another battle is imminent. This time the count is between Diaz and Iglesias, and Diaz will doubtless be counted in, for he has got the best artillery. This experi- ment in republican politics is worthy the public interest. The Centennial Christmas. It does not happen to ns, as it did to the ancient Hebrews, that religion is clothed in agarb of patriotism. The sacred festivals of the Jewish Church were also national celebrations. But’ Christianity, not being a local religion, designed only for one people, has but slight historical-associations with the anniversaries of’ the nations that profess it, and it is not often that they coincide with important national events. But when such coincidences do occur it may not be improper to notice them. So long as woe continue to read the Hebrew Scriptures in our public worship there can be no incongruity in blending the sentiment of patriotiam with our religious anniversaries when the union is suggested by a date. ‘The Christmas of 1776 is one of the most memorable days in the history of the American Revolution. It brought the first dawn of hope after the period of misfcrtune and gloom which fol- lowed the Declaration of Independence. All the military operations of the summer and autumn had brought defeat on the American arms. It was at that time of de- pression that Paine published the first number of “The Crisis,” containing the memorable phrase, ‘hese are the times which try men’s souls.” The army of Wash- ington had been compelled to retreat from Long Island, compelled to retreat from Man- hattan Island, to retreat from White Plains, to cross the Hudson, to abandon Fort Lee, to retreat through the Jerseys and take refuge in Pennsylvania on the west bank of the Delaware. This series of disasters had shaken public confidence in the military abilities of Washington, and there were intrigues in tho,army, supported by a faction in Congress, to supplant him as Commander-in-Chief. It was at this time of deep discouragement and gloom that Washington revived the hopes of the country by the bold military stroke which he executed on Christmas night and the following morning, and which refuted the charges of timidity and inde- cision which had been the staple topic of his critics, and filled the country with renewed hope and joy. This important event is to be celebrated in a unique manner on the spot where it occurred. ‘The crossing of the Delaware is to be repeated to-night in a mimic representation, and to-morrow morning the battle of Trenton and capture of the Hessians is to furnish a spectacle in which the fight of a hundred years ago will be reproduced in all its features except the bloodshed. It is the only military event of the, first year of our independence which can be recalled with much pride, and the mode of celebrating it by a dramatic repeti- tion will make the vera act of the cen- tennial one of t Sprtz0PrHoBra.— he Spitz dog is not appre- ciated, Like many another tamous influence he is out of his proper sphere. He should , ‘move on,” even if the services of the police must be exerted to make him doit. Washing- ton would be a good place for him. There he might exert his peculiar abilities to the last- ing benefit of the nation, If the Cuban patriots could get hold of him and persuade. him to attend strictly to business the ex- tinction of the usurping Spaniards would be a foregone conclusion. Pending the ful- filment of these ideals he may bo profit- ably used for decorative purposes. Nothing looks prettier on the mirror-like surface of a mighty river than the graceful nose, the pointed ears, the velvet paws and the fleecy robe of the defunct Spitz dog. No yuigar prejudice should stand in the way of his being transformed into the savory sausage, for between biting him and being bitten by him no sane man would hesitate for an in- stant to decide, But whatever is done in recognition of his special merits should be done at once, and as in this case the easiest way isthe best we invoke the immediate aid of whoever skilfully handles the stout stick, the nimble knife, the persuasive vis- tol or the business-like brickbat. UDR ETRE EY Shake aeatete ee The Insurance Department's Neglees of Duty. The Insurance Department at Albany seems to be fully as remiss as the Bank Department in the discharge of its official duties. It is evident that the supervision over the affairs of life insurance companies required of the department by the laws for the protection of the insured has long been a mere farce. Any man of ordinary sense and experience could discover, from the reports of some of the companies which have re- cently gone into the hands of reccivers, tha bankruptcy was inevitable, Yet the officers whose especial business it: is to scrutinize the reports, and whose duty requires them to make thorough investigation into the af- fairs of # company whenever there is reason to doubt its solvency, have allowed these suspicions exhibits to pass unnoticed, and have suffered the tottering institu. | tions to stand until their managers have got ready to close their doors. A sudden movement toward an examination has been made since the press commenced the agita- tion of the matter, but under an efficient department it should have taken place long since. ‘Taking the Continental company’s report, showing its condition on the 31st of last December, we find that the total premium income for 1875 was two million one hundred and forty thousand dollars, in round numbers, including notes, dividends, reconverted additions and surrendered policies, Out of thig the net amount of uncollected and deferred premiums was seven hundred thousand dollars. The Mutual company had in the same year a total premium income, wholly in cash, of fifteen million seven hundred thousand dollars, with a net amount of uncollected and deferred premiums only one hundred and fifty thousand dollars larger than the Continental. Among the year’s disburse- ments of the Continental appear the follows ing items:— Commissions Salaries and expenses of agents Medical tee: Salaries of Stationers, Tncidentals These large expenditures and the fact that among the assets appeared the enor- mous amount of nearly two million dollars in premium notes, ought certainly to have opened the eyes of the acting Superintend- entto the trne condition of the company and have shown him the necessity of a thorough investigation of its affairs. Un- fortunately .too many of the life insurance companies show extravagant expenditures in agencies and salaries, The Mutual last year paid nearly half a million to agencies and three hundred and twenty-eight thousand dollars for sal- aries. The Equitable, another large company, paid three hundred and seventy thousand dollars for commissions and twa hundred and sixty-seven thousand dollars in salaries, There is altogether too much of the Anglo-Bengalee Disinterested Loan and Life Insurance Company's style in such expendi- ;tures. We have Montague Tiggs in America as well asin England. Life insarance com- panies and savings banks are provident in- stitutions, designed to benefit the dependent classes and not;to enrich their managers, The policy holders and depositors are the real parties in interest, and they should be protected either by an efficient supervision of the management of such institutions or by the courts. The Lactometer. The lactometer is an adaptation to a special fluid of the hydrometer, an instrument con- trived to show the proportion of solid sub- stances to water in any given solution. In wine, for instance, or in milk, or in the apothecaries’ tinctures, or in sea water, or in the common mineral watets, or in spring 01 river water, there is always present a certain proportion of vegetable, mineral or animal substances held in solution. by the water, and the combination of which with the water gives the fluid its particular character, its color and, in the larger number of cases, its taste. This little instrument is a glass tube, with a bulb so filled with air as to bo buoyant and so weighted that the tube is maintained ina perpendicular position. On the tube that is thus held upright in the water are marked the numbers of a scale as the num- bers are marked on an ordinary ther- mometer. If this tube is placed in a fluid it will stand further out of the water or deeper in it, according to the proportion of solid substances held in solution in that fluid. Placed in a specimen of good milk it will stand, say at the number 100. Any number may be taken for illustration. Sup- pose the given number to stand at the sur- gace, Add water to the milk, the fluid bee comes less dense and down goes be tube to ninety, eighty, or proportionately as the quantity of water poured in is greater. On the other hand. add chalk, or flour, or arrowroot, and the tube rises again up to the point that indicates good milk ; add more, and it will indicate superior milk ; and you may thus make a mixture of flour and water that the lactometer will practically inform you is “richer” and ‘‘purer” than any milk that ever camo to this market. It is the wonderful genius of the Board of Health doctors, however, that foists these words, The lactometer knows nothing of richer o1 purer. It only knows ‘‘density” and “tenuity.” It does not perceive the nature of substances except as to their fluidity ; it indicates the precise degree of that charac. teristic. It is evident, therefore, that if milk is freely watered and not otherwise tampered with the lactometer will tell the story; but if the milk is adulterated by the addition of substances equivalent to the volume of water, then the instrument ceases to be a guide, and we are of opinion that the use of the lactometer as an official guide to the quality of milk will lead to this viler adalteration—the addition of substances to meet the difficulty made by the water. Ick 1x tax Lowsr Bay.—The shifting of the ice fields caused tho disturbance of several buoys from their moorings oa the night of the 23d inst. The dangerous Southwest Spit had two buoys, Nos, 81-2 and 10, dragged seaward; Flynn's Knoll lost buoy No. 8, and buoy No, 51-2 on the Falso Hook. a larca,