The New York Herald Newspaper, February 11, 1877, Page 8

“NEW YORK HERALD | BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. icc aeanaN JAMES GORDON. BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. At business news letters or telegraphic despatches must Le sddressed New York HynarD. ‘Letters and pack i be properly sealed. ejected commumtentions will not be returned, LPHIA OFFIGK—NO. 112 SOUTH SIXTH QNDIS OFFICE, OF THE SEW YORK HERALD— PAKIS OFFIGEAVENUE DE L'OPEKA. e Saoceript a veriisemente: wilt be’ received and ‘in New York. ri n BOWERY THEATRE. —P:avr. BROOKLYN RINK.—P.’ ACADEMY OF DESIGI STADT THEATRE,—Uwi EGYPTIAN HALL.—Sexsationat, Vaniery. PARISIAN VARIETI cee COLUMBIA OPERA HO TONY PASTOR'S THEATK: TIVOLI THEATRE—V. SAN FRANCISCO MIN NELLER'S THEATR! QUADRUPLE SHEET. NOTICE TO COUNTRY DEALERS. ‘The Adams Express Company run @ special newspay over the Penuaylvania Kailroud and its connectio Aquurter past four A. M., daily and edition of the HxRaLD wx fur uth to Washington, reaching st six A.M, and Washington West as Har Philadelphia at a quart atone I’, M. From our reports this morning the probabilities are that the weather in New York to-day will be | warmer tnd clear or partly cloudy, possibly with morning fog. | Wate Street Yestenpay.—The stock market was dull ‘and irregular. There was a further de- celine of 31g in New Jersey Central, in which stock the largest transactions were made. Government | and railway securities were steady. The bank statement shows a decrease of $2,442,000. Money was easy at from 2 a 3 per cent, with best prices at 2 a 21g per cent. Gold opened at 1057, rose to 106 and closed at 10553. THE Juventty Guarpian Society threatens to fight; may the best man win. Anoruer Iicir Distitery gone; fortu- nately no election day is near at hand. Tue Porice Commissioners have certainly been reading the HERALD; witness the reform ordered yesterday. ALDERMAN Dosovan, of Brooklyn, is second only to Justice Bradley as a Warwick ; taxpayers Rray anp Oscuwa.p, under the gallows, are at last reposing their hopes in a power that legislatures hinder as seldom as they help. Tue Cross or Love has just cost a prominent firm fifteen hundred dollars, the object of their affection having been a ferocious Siberian blood- hound. Tue GENTLEMEN who have bought Western Union so industriously have no more idea of forming a pool than the little boy in his neigh- | bor’s apple tree had of stealing fruit. Tue Crry is still in trouble by lack of a gen- eral dumping ground. Why nottry Albany? If the garbage and ashes were heaped about the new State Capitol so as to hide it from view the State would save millions. Ir tue Trenton Porters are so fond of “striking” why not strike those of their own number who annoy workmen who have re- entered the potteries ? A brickbat would be the proper thing to do the striking with. ‘Tus Excust Orrerep for the formation of a new coal combination is that in no other way can the decline in coal stocks be arrested and the re- cent losses made good; but why consumers of coal should be made to supply the money for these purposes is one of those things-that no fel- low can find out. Tne Boarp or Epucatton is to prepare a bill, | to be submitted to the Legislature, allowing the transferring of money from one account to an- | other. If the bill passes it is to be hoped that a “ventilation” account will be opened at once, and that school children will be permitted to breathe nir at least as good as that of the Tombs cells or any ordinary livery stable. ‘Tne Cosrei between citizens and city pfficials resulted in a general interchange of | opinions. The Mayor volunteered a reduction of | his own salary and believed the bureaus under his control could be managed for ten per cent less money than at present; the Comptroller could not seq how further retrenchinent could be made in his department, and the heads of the Police Department, Bureau | pf Charities and Correetion, Board of Education, | Department of Parks and that of docks were of the same opinion regarding their own offices. | fSenator Morrissey declared that one-half the de- partments might be abolished or merged with | others, they having been originally created | tu comply with selfish political requirements in- stead of to serve the public welfare, The end is not yet. OS aa ‘Tar WeraTHER.—The western depression has | moved slightly to the eastward, but still remains central west of the Missixsippi. No precipitation | has ne yet attended the low barometer, Indeed, aturing the past two days scarcely any was re- gorded in the United States. The winds, how- ever, continue strong in the regions eastward of the centre of the depression. A decidedly low | pressure is reported from the Pacific coast, par- ticularly over Southern California, This area will probably move, across the mountains and present itself in the Platte Valley region within ® day or two. The areas of highest pressure are in Manitoba, Texas and on the Middle Atlantic coast. High tempera ture and fog during the mornings prevail at many points in the Western, Middle and South Atlantic districts. ‘The Mississippi bas risen northward of Cairo and fallen to the southward pf that point. ‘The Ohio has generally fallen and jin anyeone department. |In «a x ; e f : ¢ NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1877.—QUADRUPLE SHEET. Omece. Within a few days a brutal husband, mad with rum, killed his wife in the open street. ! He had lain in wait for her several bours. He had traced her to a certain den—run her | to earth, as the hunters would say. He had then demonstrated at one issue of this den | so as to frighten her out at another issue, had then moved around to that other issue just as she came out, and then, in full view, had overtaken her, stabbed her and killed her. All this was done precisely as if it were an organized hunt to killa wild beast in the forest. But the wild beost’ was a wretched, trembling woman, and the forest was a street of this more or less Christian city, patrolled from time to time by two thousand policemen ; a city with authorities of all sorts on good pay to watch one enother. But the police is very well handled and knows all about the event. At least two policemen on their beats spoke to this murderer while he was also on his beat, waiting all night for this wretched woman to come out that he might drive his weapon to her heart. He had asked the policemen to assist him— to help get his wife out of her refuge. They had both recognized that this was no part of their duty and naturally re- sponded to that effect. It did not occur to them, it does not seem to be recognized in our municipal usages, that there was in the case a distinct duty for ther to perform. They did not reflect that ifa man was thus waiting a breach of the peace with bloody consequences was im- minent, and they do not seem, as would have been done in most cities, to have re- quired that the man should ‘move on.” That easy duty rigidly performed then would have saved this life. The indifference apparent in this case illus- trates the one glaring defect of our system of slip-shod administration, the want ofa sense of responsibility and the consequent carelessness in the performance of unob- served details of duty, In the streets, in regard to the public peace, in the adminis- ! tration of various departments, in the range of executive duties that fall between the as- signed spheres of departments, or that is outside that sphere, there is a want in the public service of that tone which ina pri- vate service is produced by the operation of “the master’s-eye.” It is true we are such thoroughgoing republicans that we have no master as a people; but in the main- tenance of our municipal household there are services to be performed and servants to perform them, and a master over these is a necessary condition of having efficient ser- vants instead of dilatory ones—of having their services rendered efficiently instead of negligently and indifferently. Every ser- vant of the public does ‘what is good in his own eyes,” because there is no power to see that he does what the public good de- mands. 3 Why is this? That is an inquiry that goes into the history of our municipal poli- tics for some years past, but more particu- larly into the history of the office of Mayor. Ata period not very remote, except for@ people that change so rapidly as we do, it was.felt by some good citizens and some political sharpers that a remedy must be provided against the gross evils and cor- ruptions of our municipal politics. There were, no doubt, gross evils and startling corruptions, for people stole then out of the whole city till as much as has been commonly stolen since Our political philosophers decided thatthe evils were due to universal suffrage, and to that common re- sult of universal suffrage, the domination in the city of the politicians who ran the party machine. They held that as long as the government was run by a Mayor whom the people elected, and by Aldermen and As- sistant Aldermen whom the people also elected, with the assistance of Tammany, it would be the same; so they went to Albany and changed it. They gave us au- thorities that practically issued, not from the suffrages of the city, but from the suffrages of tho people ot the whole State by the appointment of the Governor. To one commission thus appointed was given one function of the Mayor's office, to another commission another function, and so on, and the Mayor's office and the two bodies of the ancient Corporation were thus. stripped of all the powers commonly possessed by such bodies and officers in municipal systems. His Honor the Mayor was left in office to license cabs, though there were no cabs, and to review from his office window civic proces- sions that passed the City Hall, though the police tried to keep such processions up town. | In short, he was perhaps left in office be- cause the Legislature had not imagination enough to conceive of a city without ao Mayor. Experience of the evils of that system, and the great municipal reaction against thieves which drove ont Tweed and his confederates, have done much for us in the restoration of power \to its proper place. “But the restoration is far from complete. Much has been done, however. No depart- ment is absolutely independent of the influ- ence of the executive authority vested in the Mayor, and there is no department as to which the Mayor can fairly consider that he has not a@ function to perform, transition state it sometimes happens that we get all the evils of the condition from which we move and of that toward which we move, and the advantages of neither. With the commis. sion system not really broken up and the legitimate system not altogether restored we are somewhat in that dilemma, Our government is in the condition of those great houses where a dozen servants have each an assigned part of the work to do, and where they contrive things so thata greater part of what has to be done is nobody's duty. With the streets in charge of one department, the public health in charge of another, the docks an- other, the sewers another, the parks another, it is managed so that a vast range of public duties | no one’s share ; and yet if the Mayor should the Missouri is nearly two feet lower at Leaven- worth. The weather in New York to-day will be ‘warmer and clear or partly cloudy, possibly with mornima fog, respects he wonld probably be called to account as encroaching on some one's de- partment, Insecure houses and dangerous Municipal Government—The Mayor's | walls are condemned by the proper depart- falls to | take aduty upon himself in any of these | ment, and no action is taken ; thestreets are obstructed and are are not cleaned; the street | cars are permitted to be a disgrace to civili- ! zation ; the docks are neglected ; the Board ! of Health is s sleepy committee out of the Castle of Indolence, In_ short, there is no vigor, spirit or move- ment in any part of our munici- pal administration where they should | | exist. It seems to us there is a field here j for the Mayor's efforts. He is the legitimate | authority to stir up sluggish or indifferent | Officials, and certainly is responsible for the ; performance of every executive duty that | ; does not fall distinctly within some depart- ment. He must assume all doubtful pow- ers, and if disputed make a fight over them, so that it shall be impressed upon the public mind just where the duty lies. He must not permit the heads of depart- ments to bull-doze him into any condition of timid tranquillity. He was put where he is by the people in ® very great degree in defiance of party machinery, and he must not forgetit. He has the people behind him and is the de- i fender of their interests in the city govern- ment, and is the only part: of the govern- ment of which this is true, Some of the vim and resolution that made Fernando Wood conspicuous in our government, and made him an excellent Mayor, would not injure Mayor Ely’s prospects for permanent popularity. 1 & Pen Picture of the Lords. ' Having already digested the heavy matter of the Queen of England’s speech, the American public can now © enjoy the sparkling description of the his- toric chamber of the Lords, at the ! moment the Royal Message was read, which comes to us by cable this morning. Linked with the occasion, which for the | English mind had perhaps its greatest at- traction in the fact that Queen Victoria was | present in person, was no less an event than the installation of Benjamin Disraeli in his earl’s seat in the House of Lords. | This will doubtless attract a wider | interest here than the presence of the Queen. It is the culmination of a life of ambitious struggling. To be Premier of England was surely more than | to be Earl Beaconsfield; but it was Disraeli’s long nursed fancy to be both. It is as though this daring adventurer had resolved that he would show posterity how high he could go and how few the stations were which his daring genius could not invade. The picture of the House of Lords glowing with color, sparkling with jewels and pulsating with all the pride of place, consciousness of power and charm of beauty, will impress itself on the imagination. It is the great show which the monarchy’ offers to itself and to the world. In the installation of Earl Beaconsfield we see an old man grasp- ing honors which none in all that proud assemblage, even the Queen, could refuse him. There was a pageant of blood and a triumph of brain in the glittering spectacle our letter describes. \ Reform in the Dining Room. Nobody doubts that the dining room is as much in need of reform as is the disposition of the Spitz dog or the finances of South Carolina. The dyspeptic head of the fam- ily, his languid wife, his bountifully fed yet unsatisfied looking. children, all show in face and temper the need of achange. The question has not been overlooked. Men have tried to settle it by increasing the amount of their bills with the butcher and grocer and by calling in the wine merchant to undo the blunders of the cook; but both endeavors have failed. In din- ing room troubles it is always ne- cessary to go behind the returns, and this operation takes the investigator at once into the kitchen, where language fails as utterly as if it were trying to de- scribe the political iniquities of Florida or Louisiana. To look to the cook for the needed reform is useless; the ‘‘ins” of the kitchen are as reluctant as those of govern- ments to make any changes for the better, and the only hope must be reposed in those before.whom the ‘ins’ do tremble. It is only when the lady of the house realizes that the head and heart are pitifully depen- dent upon the stomach that Bridget and Gretchen can be frightened into bring- ing forth fruits meet for repentance, During the past three’ years this idea has dawned in the minds of about one in every ten thousand of New York housekeepers, and these have taken lessons at the cooking school with results surpris- ing to their neighbors and discouraging to their family physicians. Through this means many stupid husbands have uncon- sciously become as interesting as if they were newly found lovers, and women in search of hitherto unknown household com- forts have stumbled upon roses for their own | cheeks, Their example should be imitated everywhere. It will bring health to the household, discouragement to the rum- seller, bankruptcy to the coffin maker and Hl prevent the commission of more sins than charity ever covered. | — | An Ashtabula Expert, An expert witness, the last before the Ashtabula jury, seems to be of opinion that there was nothing of any special conse- | | quence the matter with the fatal bridge. | Some of tho braces were not attached at the best points, but this ‘did not materially in- | jure the bridge.” The ‘displacement of the main braces” was ‘not all right,” but yet, and yet and yet, he ‘would not con- sider that these defects would constitute a fatal element of wenkness in the bridge.” If this bridge had not fallen the believers in its instability would feel them- selves and their opinions annihilated in the presence of such experts. Now there is a very practical point in that evidence for | this community, It comes very near home, This particular expert testifies that he is ‘a | civil engineer employed by the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad Com- pany.” Does it come within the line of his duties to inspect the condition of bridges for that company? If it does we hope he is less amiable in the discharge of his duty | than he was in the giving of his testimony; | forifheisnot—. @ \ ‘ Will Theré Be an Election? The action of Congress yesterday on the report of the republican majority of the Electoral Commission in the Florida case was, in one view of the matter, of some in- terest. After the two houses had separated, to consider the objections made by Mr. Field to the report and the vote thereon had been taken in the House, a motion was made for a recess until ten o'clock on Monday morning. The republican members opposed the mo- tion, raising the point of order that under the Electoral bill the joint convention must ; meet again immediately, and hence could not take a recess. The Speaker ruled against the point of order, and then the House took a recess, as proposed, until ten { o'clock on Monday. Carefully as the Electoral law is drawn there appears to be some discrepancy be- tween two of its sections in regard to the power of either house to take a recess after voting on an objection which the joint con- vention has separated to consider. Section 1, in reference to separations to consider ob- jections to a vote or votes from States from which there shall be only one return, says:— “When the two houses have voted they shall immediately again meet, and the presiding officer shall then announce the decision of the question sub- mitted,” But section 5 contains these words:—‘‘Such joint meeting shall not be dissolved until the count of the elec- toral votes shall be completed and the result declared, and no recess shall be taken un- less a question shall have arisen in regard to the counting any such votes or otherwise under this act, in which case it shall be competent for either house acting sepa- rately, in the manner hereinbefore provided, to direct a recess of such honse not beyond the next day, Sunday excepted, at the hour | of ten o’clock.in the forenoon,” &c. If the majority of the Houge chooses to exercise this power to adjourn for the day after every objection has been voted upon, it might easily throw over the result until after the 4th of March by multiplying objections. 'Fhere are yet thirty-one States to count. From and including Monday there are eighteen working days before March 4, The contested cases of Louisiana and Oregon are not likely to take less than four days together, leaving fourteen days which might be consumed in this manner, if the demo- crats should be disposed to factiously ob- struct the completion of the count. This would leave the President of the Senate to fill the duties of President of the United States for the year and necessitate a new election next autumn. Our Amusement Season. Our metropolitan amusements are now more brilliant than at any other period of this winter. All of the theatres ‘are doing well, and if at some of them the changes of Dill are frequent the public does not object to the variety. Fun seems to be the prevailing spirit of the stage, the principal exception being the powerful drama of ‘‘Les Dani- cheffs,” so admirably mounted and acted at the Union Square Theatre. There are “Lemons” at Daly's, which promises to hold tho stage indefinitely; ‘‘Wild Oats” at Wal- lack’s, “Fifth Avenue” at Booth's, “Our Boarding House” at the Park, ‘‘Around the Clock” at the Olympic—all rich in humor and enjoyment. Those who seek pleasure in the theatre can hardly go astray. In ad- dition to this we have had a carnival of balls and masques all so well attended that the story of hard times seems to be only a popular superstition. The musical attrac- tions present. and future range from the severity of Wagner to the aerial grace of Offenbach, and, as both are bitterly hated and ardently loved by different classes, the public has only to pay its money and take its choice. Mme. Essipoff, the best pianist who has recently visited this country, will this week reconcile the disputants by a programme of more than usual variety. Operatic companies have long claimed, and not without justice, that the privileges demanded by the stockholders of the Acad- emy of Music and the peculiar rules of that establishment prevented them from produc- ing operas with the completeness they de- sired. The public has in good faith ac- cepted this excuse, but it has sometimes been found insufficient. The Kellogg English Opera Company has just finished a remarkably successful season ,of three weeks, and the merit of the singers and of the works performed gave great pleasure to the public. We do not think, however, that the stockholders are responsible for all the de- ficiencies of the. opera. The popular suc- cess ought to have been the foundation of reform. Instead of that we saw the same old scenery which has done duty for years and heard an insufficient chorus and a weak orchestra. A signal example of neglect is found in the production of ‘Lucia di Lammermoor,” in which the costumes were of a period antecedent to the time of the story, and Scotch Low- landers appeared armed with spears like the ancient Highland barbarians. The same weapons and dresses would have been equally suitable in ‘Fra Diavolo." This want of historical truth isan injury to the opera. Ifa play should be produced in any first class New York theatre in the ‘| style in which “Lucia” was brought out at the Academy it would be hooted from the stage, and deservedly so. We do not expect perfection should be attained in a short sea- son, but the public has at least the right to demand an effort in that direction, It is to be hoped that the next opera company which visits this city will profit by this well meant advice. Pulpit Topics To-Day. In our pulpit topics to-day we are in- formed that the present is God's time to save men; that there is power in the Gospel to save men and a law of success in its pre- sentation, and that the law is » schoolinas- ter to bring us to Christ. We suppose that is why the preachors use the schoolmaster to flog the pupils, as they do sometimes most unmercifully. But they probably intend by this means to force religion into business affairs and to show us what it has done to improve the race. But in tho world's per- plexity the great question is to be answered to-day, What is it to belive in_ Christ, and what is the cause of Israel’s ine efficicncy Large and small hearted | people have attended Mr. Bell’s ministry in | Brooklyn for a year past, and to-day they | will review their past career and take soundings for the future. They must be careful, however, of the delusive way, lest their gain turn out a real loss and an ac- cusation be raised against them that they shall not be able to overcome or outlive. The blessing of sonship to God is a precious boon that Mr. Kennard will make the most of to-day, while Dr. Armitage will make un- seen realities visible, and the mountain difficulties will be removed from the hearts | and paths of men by their admission of Him that knocketh at the door. The divine wit- ness to Christ, the death of the sinner, the resurrection of the spirit, the proper treat- | ment of an erring disciple and popular scepticism will also be discussed in our city pulpits to-day. Our London, Paris and Berlin Cable Letters, Paris up to its eyes in social enjoyment passes the Oriental and all other difficulties by with the pretty airs of a woman. It will talk scandal, but it will not borrow trouble, so it just now amuses itself by making grimaces behind Gambetta’s | back because he was cold and haughty. and did not dance when he went to a state ball, London is so much agog over its Parliamentary squabbles, present and prospective, that she scarcely thinks of @ny- thing else. Your Englishman is a mighty occupied person when he has arowin prospect. At presenthe would eat a Turk or Russian, according to which side he takes in the Eastern question. They are bringing out new tenors in Paris, and one of them is said to be the greatest since Mario. We like to see this announcement from time to time. It encourages music lovers and does no harm, but, somehow, the great tenor seems never to bea Mario or even a Giuglini, not to talk of a Rubini. The drama and fashion present their novelties in the French capital, and both are sure to be appreciated. From Berlin we have some caustic after dinner chat by Prince Bismarck, which is alto- gether in the vein of that sharp- tongued and heavy-handed statesman. It is tolerably safe to say that whatever was interesting in Europe yesterday and that would keep its interest aftera journey of three thousand miles will be found in our cable letters. How to Clean New York City. We protest against any more experimental plans for cleaning the streets of this city that do not provide for the placing of the entire control of that work in the hands of a responsible public officer. We have already tried every system that could be ap- plied by health boards, police departments and bureaus through the agency of special contractors and corps of street sweepers and cartmen directly employed by these author- ities, Failure has followed all attempts hitherto made to secure clean streets because of the shortcomings of officials who were in no way responsible to the peo- ple and who held their positions by virtue of special legislation. A like failure will undoubtedly attend all future efforts unless they are directed and controlled by some one in whom the public can place implicit conffdence as to his integrity and from whom astrict accountability can be exacted. A majority of the Assembly Committee on Cities has reported favorably on a measure which purports to provide a remedy for the evils that threaten to brand New York asthe dirtiest city in Christendom. But, judging from our past and present experiences, no beneficial result can possibly follow the enactment of such a law by the Legislature. Our machinery of government by com- missions instead of being useful to public interests has become a powerful engine of political power that is constantly coming into collision with public rights. Letting the cleaning of the streets to contractors under the old Health Board and the Street Department failed utterly in its object bo- cause the officials never enforced the strict letter of the contracts. present Street Cleaning Bureay of the Po- lice Department has proved to be as rotten as it is inefficient, because, with a discredit- able administration and the utter irrespon- sibility of its officials, the Bureau is practi- cally independent of any control, and, therefore, defies public opinion. If, with large annual appropriations and unlimited powers, the Bureau has hitherto failed to give us clean streets, how is the mere subdivi- sion of the city into districts and the clean- ing of the streets by contract under the same authority going to effect any improve- ment? Indeed, there isa danger that such a plan would simply strengthen the political engine which has kept the Police Depart- ment so long independent of all control or interference. We are now beyond any ques- tion fortunate in having an honest Mayor of New York. But we do not know whether he will prove a capable one or not, and the best ' way to test his executive ability will be to charge him with the duty and responsibility of giving us clean streets. Let Mayor Ely be clothed with the fullest powers to organ- ize as he deems best an efficient system of street cleaning, but let him also be held strictly responsible for its success. By no other means can we ever secure clean streets in New York except by concentrating all authority relating thereto in the person of our responsible Chief Magistrate, PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE. Rubenstein is forty-seven, Boiled onions may bo slightly santéd in butter, Riding horseback is the best remedy for consump- ton. Simple Simon met a woman. to the jair? The coal mea are in a sort of bitter, bewildering melancholia, Ip fact, even many of tne coal carta have the dumps. “This,’’ said a man on Broadway, ‘is afresh, pearly day, like Italy,’? Then he sat down fn an inch of black mud and sang ‘Milan’ |”? Among the passengers in the steamer Colon, S. P’. P. Grifiu, from Aspinwall February 2, 1877, arc ex. Prosidont ot Mexico S. Ledo de Tejeda, General Mari. ano Escobedo and Seiior Manael Romero Rubio. Evening Telegram:—Yhe Rev. Petroleum V. Nasby concurs with Jud, burch tm denouncing the Elec- toral Commission. “With Bradley on the commis- sion,” thoy both say, “the Corners is cicerly uv the opinyun that itis unconstoosbael,"” Simon, are you going The system of the | PARIS. BEPORE: LENE. | The Eastern Question Voted Stupid. by the Gay World. GAMBETTA AT. THE ELYSEE A Flutter of Curiosity Among the Brilliant Throng. DOINGS AT THE THEATRES. Bouquets and. Boots—New Floral and Pedal Languages. ey (BY CABLE TO THE HERALD.] HERALD BUREAU, No. 61 AVENUE DE L’OPERA, Paris, Feb, 10, 1877. Since the failure of the Conference at Constanth nople Eastern affairs have not attracted general attention here. Socicty is-busy enjoying itself, and , hence while small talk Is incessant and occasionally brilliant, what would be called news is not gener- ated as activély as at other times. Even the fallof Midhat Pacha has, awakened but little discussion. ‘The deposition and doing so dismally to «leath of the Sultan Abdul Aziz; the short, haunted reign of Mu- rad, his removal from the sight of men, ond the acvession of Sultan Hamid have so effectually taken the edge off interest in doings at the Porte that the fall of a mere Grand Vizier fails to stir the pulée of Paris. “Ifhe had been a bowstrung,” said a faneur on the boulevards the other day, “one might buy an evening paper; if Midhat had set about carving up the Sultan, as Hassan, the Circassian assassin, tried to carve up Midhat and did carve up Hussein Avni, one might ask a friend for the latest news, but merely exiled—c'est (rop fort.” Which may mean any- thing but what the good-natured cynic desired in the way of the fate of a Grand Vizier. So he passed on, and you might ask a dozen of his kind what they thought of Midhat's fall and get similar answers, Alter Mardi Gras all that will be changed. Society, under the lead of Mme. Ja Maréchale de MacMahon, looks more to Lenten observance than it did unde1 the Empire, and so we shall have time to tatk poll tics until Easter. The only opinion I could reach concerning the disgrace of Midhat was, curiously enough, that it wil! pave the way to peace. There Is little doubt now that the removal of the Grand Vizier was caused seems to have been afraid that the active Midhat— would take the most modern plan of getting out of a Turkish dificulty such us the Porte finds itseifin at present—namely, by having another change of Sultans. Jeaiousy is the fruit that ripens quickest among polygamous nations, and amid thought it pleasanter to kick out his Grand Vizier thin have the latter's underlings some fine morning take him boating down the Bosphorus to have his throat cut or the veins of his arm opened, as happened to his uncle Abdul. GAMBETTA AT A BALIn The event of the week has been the appearance of the great republican leader, Gambetta, at the State bail given at the Palace of the Elysces. Let itnotbe inferred that the ex-Dictator indulged in a carma- gnole, or anything of the kind. He isa stately man, with an eye single to the public good, he having plucked out the other himself when a boy because his father wanted him tu study Greek. His pres- ence at the ball evoked the greatest curiosity ta see how he would act, but those who expected something extraordinary, and they were as numer- ous as their expectation was absurd, were disap- pointed. He stalked into the magnificent salon with the full dignity of a President of the Budget Committee. All eyes followed him. Ladies ceased toying with their fans, and—immense sacrifice for a Frenchwoman—stopped chattering their exquisite nothings as the terrible republican ad- vanced to pay his respects to Mme. de MacMahon and the soldier President. Having complied with the prescribed forms M. Léon Gambetta, attera short pause, stalked out of the bailroom with the majesty of an entire Budget Committee, and look: ing as though he had conferred @ great honor on the Marshal, THE BALL There was a large attendance, you may be certain, for the scramble to get an invitation is one of the features of Parisian life at this time of the year. There were a great many Americans, and their women, by long odds, the handsomest and best dressed of all the lovely fowers of womanhood and butterflies of fashion present. MUSIC AND DRAMA. The new drama at the Odéon entitled “L’Het- man,” is a decided success, The rehearsals of “Le Roi de Lahore” at the Grand Opera give fair promise of success, At the Italiens next winter Adelina Patti wil, sing the dramatic parts and Mile, Albani the light parts. The tenors will be Marini and Goyarre, the latter believed to be the greatest since Mario, The Lyrique produces immediately Camille St. Saens’ “Timbre d’Argent.’’ Its success ts doubtful, Lecocq’s new opéra boufe, styled “Marjoraine,” is just as successful as that composer's “Fille de Madame Angot.”’ This is owing, no doubt, in a great measure to ‘the acting and singing of Jeanne Gramers, who surpasses both Mile. Judic and Schneider, who created “La Grande Duchesse,”” FASHIONS. ‘The latest thing in boots is a shape called ‘La Pensée,” so that to ascertain a lady's sentiments admirers must look at her feet, not her eyes, The new bouquet is “Le Bonquet Parlant,” which constitutes @ sort of shorthand of the language of flowers. You can express every emotion with a few sprigs. A new cloak, of Venetian cut and of canonical colors, 18 called “L’Abbé Galant.” It is large enough, to cover as much as charity. AMERICANS IN PARIS, Among the Americans registered at the Paris office of the HeRraLp are General Horace Porter, Dr. Borland and family, Mr. George L. Crosby and family and Mr. W. H. Lippincott. HEROISM REWARDED, Ortawa, Canada, Feb, 10, 1877, The Department of Marine and Fisheries have pre cured valuable yold watch for presentation to Cap- ain Osborne, of the American bark ©. £. Jayne, asa yoken of appreciation of his heroic bravery in rescuing the crow of the wrecked British anip Bothichom, by the personal susceptibility of the Sultan, who |