The New York Herald Newspaper, November 22, 1878, Page 5

AMONG THE CRYSTALS. Progress of the Explorations at Luray Cavern. CROUCHING, CREEPING, CLIMBI -——_——_— Strange Formations--Their Growtl and Influences, STALACTITE MUSIC. Lupay, Noy. 17, 1873, Thave just made a second and ver¥ prolonged ex- amination of the great cave, during which I explored * large area not yet regularly thrown open to visitors. Indeed, Lam assured by my guide, Mr. Andrew Camp- bell, one of the proprietors, that we have pushed our inspection even further than he had any idea we could go. Re-entering the.cavern at ten o'clock in the morning, we groped, climbed, walked, crawled and squirmed for seven long hours without a halt. As the number of visitors was unusually large we ud to strike off through the corridors and yet away from them to avoid being followed and delayed in our work, so that for tho greater part of the time only two of us scrambled along into all kinds of places, far beyond the sound of voices or ‘the dim glimmering of the lights. I had prepared myself for this second exploration by putting on an old suit of clothes and a pair of common overalls and worsted cap. It-was important that I should be in- dependent of the mud, which lies thickly over unfre- quented and low-lying parts of the cavern, because ex- Perience proved that, in order to reach some of the Most beautiful chambers, it was necessary to creep through some very emall holes and between rows of -stalagmites and stalactites that brnamented the en- trances, but looked liko mighty teeth ret in the open mouth of amonster dragon. If one squeezed down flat « pointed crystal pressed into the stomach in a most painfully incouvenient manner, und if the head was lifted in an unwary moment a spike of crystal punched it so violently as to start a gencral illumina- tion with.stars that were not, but were none the less bright for all thay. Indeed, these charming apart- ments fairly bristled with spikes, like the hide of a hedgehog turned outside in. Then the crevices we crawled through, sometimes heud foremost, sometimes advancing by the rear, often rolling over two or thres times in order to make the correct turns to suit the sinuositics of the course. Really, people never can tell what gymnastic per- formances they are capable of until they are put to the test. For my part I haye looked back with as- tonishment at the apertures I squeezed myself through in this cave in the pursuit of knowledge. My companion, a much slighter individual than myself, got along a little better. Besides, he had been there before aud was not embarrassed as I was by carrying instruments, for I had provided myself with a ther- mometer and ancroid barometer for making some observations for temperature and pressure. These, however, proved of little importance, the pressure in the cave corresponding with that in the open air and the temperature beiug only about four degrees higher inside than outside, However, as to tho last observation, I am not, satisfied that this can be re- garded as a permanent difference of temperature, be- cause on the day of observation the temperature outside had risen very suddenly to about tifty-nine degrees at ten o'clock A.M. and in the cave it was sixty-three degrees, The night before was bitter cold, probably about thirty-four degrees, while in the cave [ feit it comfortably warm, even without an overcoat. A DIVERSI¥IED iNrenror, * In my last letter I referred in gencral terms to the interior of this remarkable cavern. ‘To undertake to describe even cach principal chamber in detuil would be amurderous attempt on the reader's patience; yet there are so many pictures to draw that some sys tem must be adopted in presenting them. Letters previously published in the Hxraup, as well as the sketch map also presented, give » very geod idea of the combination of caverns that form this great “hols.” Let me say that the chief feature of most of the chambers is the stalactite formations on the roofs und sloping walls. Take an area 100 teet square of thick grass, of which it is desirable to de- scribe the form, length and peculiar curving and twisting of cach particular blade, and then estimate the work to be done in giving a detailed descriptian of that grass patch, So with this enormous crop of Stalactites in the Luray cave. They bear a general re- semblance to each other, yet not two of them are slike in detail, The most commonplace one will bear & microscopic inspection, because that roughness which appears on it like a patch is in real- ity formed of the most exquisite arrange- ment of minute crystallizations so’ delicate as to confound the observer with wonder. Yet I presume thousands of people coming to sce these beautiful vaults in the course of years would cast 2 careless glance at that rough and rusty looking pendant, the color of which is something like that of the skin of a raw potato. Turning to another of these wonderful structures the great bulbous forni can be seen suspended by a delicate transparent hollow stem, not more than half an inch in diameter, and so fragile that the slightest touch will send the whole thing to the ground ina thousand tiny fragments; the work of a century, porhegs, destroyed in a moment. There are others, again, whase surfaces are covered by hundreds of minute and curiously twisted little pipings, like roots on a swect potato, only more irregularly placed and strangeiy interwoven. How these are formed I have been puzzling myself fo discover, but have failed two arrive at an entirely satisfactory hypothesis. Take this little stem or root-like form growing out- ward and upward from the stalactite. Below, above and beside it are hundreds of other little pipes, some of which are curled like the tendrils of a vine and others uniting to form loops and strange knots. Here I see a fibrous locking little conduit actually bridging the space between two stalactites and be- longing to both. What process of deposit of carbon- ate of lime can have formed such a perfect yet deli- cate hollow thread ? ,Tho mystery appears to me to be solved not by any means of observing the process, but by the general results produced in the complete Btalactite, The swelling out of its ond sometimes to a form resembling a bunch of small potatoes indi- tates that these globule shaped deposits were not formed in the open air, but were cast in clay or some earthy substance approximating to it that originally filled the space or fissure now forming the chamber. ‘This work of excavation by water would naturally go on from below, therefore the clay next the roof would stick there unt!! its bottom surface gradually droppod away, Then inflation throngh the roof would be in- creased by the gradual drying up of the suspended clay, a capillary action in the reverse order would bo Induced, and the water drawn down to the dried iy as to a sponge would gradually pass into this clay, excavate it and deposit in the excavation the lime in solution, This process would in Mme establish in the clay form a head of wator equal to a few inches, by whichva very slight pressure would be developed On the sides suflicient ta cause o lateral leukage. As all tho water would be depositing carbonate of lime, or, in other words, forming receptacle of cal- careous matter for itself, these tiny thread- like tubes would be formed of the samo substance, No sooner woul@the shell be cast in the clay mould than the direction of the water would again commence to be dewnward and perhaps below the bottom sur- face of the clay. The latter would thore soon dry, aud by tho action of the air pass away in particles, leaving tho curious stalactite and its Little lateral tubes exposed. To form any conception of the myriad shapes taken by these stalactites it is necessary to seo them banging in countless numbers from the roof of this remarkable cave. In lengths varying between five feet and two or thres inches thousands project down- wards from a surface of ten square fect. Betwoen the perfectly formed stalactites ave innumerable little oues in progress of growth, some being little more than minute poiuts, white and glistening with the moisture necessary to statactitic development, As 1 sat crouching, cundla..in hund, in. @ low roofed | ‘ NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1878.—TRIPLE SHKwr. cavity in the very depths of the cavern, I was fairly bewildered by the marvellous beauty of the mitieture grotto that surrounded me. It was so far beyond the work that is produced by human hands that no comparison coald be made betweeu nature and art, To reproduce this little eay- cru in all its details would be simply impossible, even thongh the skill of all the great artists in the world was exercised during a lifetime. This may seem to bo an exaggerated statement, but it is notso, for the }- minuteness and delicacy of the work here could never be copied, xf OTHER YORMATIONS. As Thave already referred to the endless'variety of formations to be seen in the different chambers of the cavern I cannot attempt to describe all those that come prominently before the eye. ‘fhere are sone, however, so striking and “so beautiful that I spent considerable time in examining them closely, in the endeavor to determine the manner of their growth> "Yo do this with any prospect of success the observer must begin by accurately noting every detail of the suzroundings. In a word, he must study the condi- tions with the utmost care before he can commence to trace effects back to their several causes. Let me take, for instance, this exquisite group of stalactites, that forms a pendent from the dark brown yoof, glistening white as the, drivgn snow and drip- ping diamond-like drops of water on the muddy floor, What is it like? Well, if Lean compare it to anything seen in the upper world, it looks like a perfect imita- tion, in the purest white and semi-transparent china, of a bunch of large leaves, with serrated edges, deli- cately tipped wigh a pale pink, Close to the root of the bunch, or where it adieres to the roof, the whole form diminishes in size, as if the leaves came from 4 common stem, ‘There the white fades into a grad- ually deepening purple, which gives additional lustre by contrast to the milky tint of the body of the forma- tion. Viewed closely the folding of these petrified leaves is wonderfully delicate and intricate. The curvings are pertect, and defy the closest inspection to detect adhesions that would give the structure a lumpy and solid appearance under the folds. To add to the effect the surface of this wonderful foliation is slightly corrugated, and the faint lines of shading thrown on its undulations only serves to heighten the illusion created by the leaf-like appear- ancé of the whole. Now, the first thing that strikes the beholder is the presence of such a white and beautiful object among the dark and weird looking surroundings. This is the work of Sevres or Dresden; those are baked adull red in a tile oven, Let me try to explain the contrast. All formations on the roots of caverns are due to the passage of water through fissures in the rock itself. There are no formations of this character except in limestone caverns, because that rock is soluble in water which, as rain or surface water, has taken up considerable quantities of carbonic acid gas from the air or soil. When this acidulated water passes down through the fissures of limestone it actually dissolves the rock itself and carries it in solution to the under surface or cavern roof, where the drip commences. Now, if the fissure is large enough to admit an ad- mixture of the surface earth in suspension with the solution of carbonate of lime when the deposit takes place, the carbonate will be tinted, more or less, by the dull red or muddy deposit of earth that acecom- panies it. The carbonate is deposited as soon as the carbonic acid gas in the water evaporates in the cavern and permits the limestone in solution to resume again. its solid form. Where, however, the water passes into such a smal! fissure in the rock as not to admit of any accompanying substance the pure car- bonate of lime is deposited in forming the stalactite that results, and @ white crystalline substance is formed, The beautiful stalactite to which I have referred as being surrounded by others of dark and muddy hues is acase in point. Its growth is much slower than that of its gigautic neigubors, because the fissures under which it is formed are small and there is no admixture of insoluble silica possible that can ‘discolor the deposit of pure carbonate of lime. Where tintings occur they are due fo the slight lateral flow from adjacent fissures, and their positions on the surface are governed by the relative energies of the primary and secondary flows. If the first is strong over the surfaces of the forming stalactite the coloring matter brought by the second will be washed to the edges of the body und there deposited and fixed by later deposits. If the secondary flow is stronger than the primary, considering the direct flow as the latter, the stalactito becomes cither cu- riously spotted or uniformly colored. Again, cither primary or secondary flow may be temporarily or permanently stopped, and thus a change wrought in the structure of the stalactite; or the rapid growth of a neighboring formation may afiect it by direct contact, and the consequent diversion of the flow from another fissure to its surface. In these ways the many varietics of stalactites to be seen im the Luray and other caverus have assumed strange tints and stranger forms. To account for the foliation’ of the deposit it is only necessary to consider the influences of irregu- larity in the fissures whence they grow and the slow- ness with which they are formed, which admits of the most delicate construction of parts. If we only remember that in the silent depths of the cavern the air is motionless and nothing short of an earthquake can disturb the process by which these forms aro constructed, there is a precision of deposit that could never be attained under any other conditions. Every atom of matter goes to its appointed place. There is no jarring or confusion in this laboratory, and every work produced therein is perfect of its kind. I could instance a thousand cases where there have been more or less important depertures from what migfit be considercd the formula of stalactite construction, but it would be ignoring the common law Of nature to attempt such @ task. Aw the leaves of the forest trees, although similar in general appearance, according to their kind, are not any two absolutely alike, so with the cave ornaments that I have been trying to describe. There is a sameners among thein which @ casual glance presents, but which disappears the moment we-begin to examine one object atter an- other, . SWEET SUDTEERANEAN MUSIC. Thad heard a great deal before visiting the cave of “The Organ” and other musical instruments which the imaginative proprictors and explorers had, us I thought, constructed out of rows of stalactites and stalagmites. I prepared myself to alter their tone considerably when I cogmenced to expose what I be- lieved to bo a piece of advertising clap-trap. But 1 must confess that I am converted and am now a firm believer in the eweet sounds of this subterranean orchestra. As each of the pendant for- mations is the result of a gradual accretion around a central tube, through which the water flows to the point of dripping, they aro 80 many laminated pipes, and with, in the case of continuous or “drapery” stalactite, connecting webs, Each, therefore, is capable of sustaining vibrations withont injury, and when struck by tho knuckle or @ stick emits its pecu- liar tone, grave or sharp. In the greater number of instances these are perfect musical suunds, as sweet and true as ever were emitted from the vibratory reeds of a harmoniam. They gre aiso wonderfully clear, being like the tonesof a bell, and are sustained for several seconds, dying away into silence with the most gradual diminution of vyplume. Taking o litte cane in mg hand while sitting in a stalactite bristling grotto I struck # number of the pendants one after another, and was astonished to hour a succession of sweet tones, like the chiming of silver belis. Again and again Trang the changes on these strange looking musical ‘instruments, and as often got their responsive notes. I aim satisfied that a musician who would mark each stalactite in the or- der of the note it produced could play, by striking, any ordinary piece of music upon them witht litle trouble, The greater and continuous stalactites, some of which are from thirty to fifty feet in length, give out sonorous notes when struck sharply, avd the sounds coutinue for many seconds, At “The Organ” [ timed the vibration of one member of tho group of convolutions, which gave out a musical note that lasted twenty-five s@eonds, Other portions gave sharper but less enduring sounds; and, oa the whole, thore is ynore music in “The Organ” than its appearance would warrant one to expect. i Lam now about to make my third exploration and iuspect a part of the cave where only Mi. Andrew Campbell has made one hurried visit of discovery. Ho assures mo that the formations there surpass any- thing seen in the already opencd-up portions, and that I will be the first to examine them. Indeed, Mr. Campbell has already devoted one day and a part of night to piloting me through his underground exhibi- tion; with such a guide Iam bound to see eversthing Reachable in the place. Without « guide a man wander to the recesses of this labyrinth—but I ven- ture to say he would remain there until death or a seared party delivered him. EFFORTS TO DISCREDIT THE REPORTED DISCOV- ERIES AT LURAY MET AND ANSWERED—INDIG. NATION OF CYVIZENS AND LOCAL PRESS. [By TELEGRAPH TO Tre HERALD.) Lunay, via Newmauker, Va., Nov. 21, 1878. An issue of the Baltimorean, of Baltimore, has reached here in which the statement is made that the Luray Cavern is an old and well known concern culled Ruftuer’s Cave, Nothing could be more wide of the truth than this assertion. ‘The old cave called Ruffner's is known to every resident as a mere hole, similar to many others in this limestone region, and las long since lost any interest it may have possessed as such, The new cavern is situated nearly a quarter of mile distant and is in no way connected with the old cavity. It opens on a side of Cave Hill, so called, but leads in a different direction from Rutfner’s. LOCAL CONTRADICTIONS, The old residents nere fully indorse the descrip- tions in the Hxgarp and are indignant at the Balti- morean's attempt to mislead the public. The local paper attacks the Baitimorean in a fierce editorial to- day. David Mackay, one of the fifteen original ex- plorers of the old cavern, also writes a communicar tion contradicting the Baliimovean’s article, FINE ARTS. GENERAL DI CESNOLA'S THIRD LECTURE OF THE COURSE-—“‘CYPRUS: ITS ANCIENT ART AND mistonry,.” In Chickering Hall a cultured audience assembled last evening to listen to General Luigi. P. di Cesnola’s third lecture of the course on “Cyprus: Its Ancient | Art and History.” ‘The lecturer said in opening that in his two previous lectures he had given a sketch of the early history of Cyprus. In the present one he proposed to show the steady progress of Cypriote artists toward pure Greek art, in spite of the long struggle which the island had to sustain for more than acentury against Persia, The Empire of Pers which arose on the ruins of that of Assyria, possessed, like it, an insatiable desire for European ‘conquest and to reduce the rising Greek States. That Cyprus should at first be its ally against Greece is strange to see, but the temptations were undoubiedly great. Later the heavy taxation of Darius caused a change of base on the part of the Cypriotes. ‘Lhe island at this timo was governed by the mild rule of its native kings. Persia during her mastery had no influence on the arts in Cypras, as sho had no na- tional art. The prosperity of the Greeks attracted Persian cupidity. Then came tho struggle be- tween the despotism of the East and the freedom of the West, which resulted in the triumph of the Greek Republic. Greek art is a controlling influence everywhere. This influence was scen in the statue of Ceres on the programme. ‘The thought and expression there, as in Greek litera- ture, was mode 80 as to appeal to the highest in- telligence. It is free from the bombast of Assyria and Egypt. Through all its internal dissensions and foreign wars, notably the revolt against Persia, str to say, the urts of Cyprus progressed steadily, and the finest examples of archaic Greek art now ex- tant were discover by the lecturer in Cyprus and belong to this period. General, Cesnola detailed Keri ae of a stone sarcophagus in the collection at the Metropolitan Museum, which he considered one of the most important examples of early Greek bas-relief now in existence. . great victory which the Athenians achieved over the Persians at Salamis was a turning point in the struggle between the Fast and the West, betweon Eastern barbarism and Western ci Ha n, and the result was most beneficial to tho detelopment of G art. For Cyprus it was especially momentous, as the Greeks, now being the attacking party, it was used as aseat of war. Evagorus, when he assumed his rightful title of King of Cyprus, made every possible preparation to inercase the prosperity and happiness of the island and looked to Greece for aid. On his death, however, the island sank again into submission to Persia. His reign was the most brilliant fe in the history of Cyprus. It was during it und that of his son Nicocles that Greek art in Cyprus reached its highest point of perfection. It had, however, naturally always the character of provincial art. Besides, the productions in the calcareous stone of Cypyus could not be as good us those made in Parian marble, Here General Cesnola described a couple of sculptures of Venus in the collection, which are of a pure aud ex- cellent style, unsurpassed by any others found in Cypras. . Ene Greeks, unlike the Kgyptians, Phaniciins, Etruscans, and cven the Romans, did not use sar- cophugi; they cut their tombs out of the solid rock. These other nations were imbued with the desire of perpetuatin; n tho sarcophagi some resemblance of the physical appearance of the deceased. One of the favorite household oruaments in Cyprus was the small statuette of terra cotta, gayly painted, of which many specimens are in museum. These were thought to have been made exclusively for use in tombs, but such does not seem to be the case. The rude figures of horsemen which the lecturer discoy- ered in great numbers in Cyprus are of considerable interest, and, he thinks, of very remote antiquity. ‘They show tle very early introduction of horses into losigns and the habit the ancients had of riding them, Homer's silence on the matter to the contrary. A war chariot illustrated in the programme was then described. The use of chariots in Greece was a curi- ous problem, considering the mountainous character of the country, in which such aform of locomotion would not be convenient without good roads, which Greece did not have to any great extent until comparatively recent times. So general was the use of wagons or chariots on wheels in Europe that it causes great surprise when we are told that a race so skilled in mechanical art ae the ancient inhabitants of Mexico uever arrived at the invention of a whee! a8 @ means of locomotion. In speaking of the material used in sculpture in Cyprus the lecturer seid that he wondere? that the island, being so rich in copper, bronze should not have been wséd for aculpture. Little or nothing of this had, however, been discovered. In ancient literature we hear of only one or two sculptors from Cyprus, and it is not known whether they worked in metal at all. . ‘The fourth and concluding lecture ot the course will be given next Wednesday evening. DI CESNOLA’S ARKEST—WHAT THE DISCOVERER OF *ANTIQUITIES THINES OF THE OUTKAGE COM- MITTED ON HIS BROTHER BY THE BRITISH AUTHORITIES IN CYPRUS, A Henanp reporter called yesterday on General Luigi P. di Cesnola in reference to Mr. Hepworth Dixon's account of the forcible entrance of his brother's dwelling and his subsequent arrest on the charge of digging for antiquities. General Ceanola is | naturally indignant at the occurrence, and stated that he thought the Englivh had acted outrageoualy in the affair, They had entered his brother's house, threat- ened to broek down his doors, and subsequently ar- rested him on his appearing betore the Commissioner for Larnaca, Colonel White. Ho was certain that the po- lice could not do that in England. The Evglish scomed to have goue there not to give to the istand English civilization, order and laws, bat to put in execution the complex code used during Turkish misrule, by means of Turkish police in command of kuglish officers. The act was one of brutal force. ven it Buglish laws had beon in force they dé not justify forcibie entrance of 4 man’s house, us if howere wfelon, It was # violation of domicile. The Turkish laws were detestable, but the Turks there uever did such acts as these. The right of exterritoriality extended there to the residences of toi and they were under the protection of their MAD BECAUKE THE ANYIQUITIES WERE TAKEN 1O AMERICA, Goneral Cesnola's opinion is that the aifuir is merely an evidence of personal spite against him- self, directed at him through his brother, becau: Cypriote antiquities had come to Anierica, They seemed to think that his brother was diguing in part- nership with him, wnd that he intended to send the objects found to America, ‘This was not true, as Mr, Dixon had shown, They were for England, ‘He had not received a letter ,from his brother since he left Cyprus. The latter was one of bis vieo consuls when he was, but held no official position now. Mv. Dixon believes that his brother had helped him to excavate the. treasures at Curiam and in the work at the tombs at Dali, Lnis was not true, for when he found the former his brother was living in London, and when the tombs at Dali were excavated he was in South America, Mr, Dison had done no good in thus connecting his brother with him, for it would only incense the Bng- lish more against the latter. An importayt point in the affair was that an English officer, acting as a com- missary of police, and with subordinates composed of Turkish “saptiohe,” went to arrest @ forciner £or having disobeyed a Turkish and not an Bagush law, It had beeu forbidden to dig for antiquities without permiesion all the while the General was in Cyp the law had existed during the whole of his twelv eat esidence there. Nevertheless it was a dead ud evary disengaged puasunt was hard at work digizing secretly on his own account or in the em- ployment of some of the consis, THE BNGLISH CONSULS EXCAVATING, Mr. R. Hamilton Lang, who wae formerly British Consitl, was one of the chief employers of the peasants in such work, as could bo guthored trom lis book. During his residence General Cesuola believed he was hhimaselt the only person who hed afirman from the Sultun permitting him to dig. As (he law was always inoperative under the Turkish ryle how could it prop- erly become operative under theEuglish at p: 2 They must make anew law if they wish no diy Again, how absurd it was that his brother, a fox eynor, should be brought before a tribunal of Tark- ish judges chargett by an English oifieor with a viola- tion ot the Turkish law! Mr. Forbes’ arti fhe Fiasco of Cypi ts,” gave acloar ides of the pi tate of ailuita ture, snd A leiior wiicd. pue General, here gave a | the | | puris had just received from a prominent and influential nercbunt in Cyprus would show what # state the un- happy island was in. ALE » PROM CYPRUS. The writer, af ing that he is glad that the Genera) stil interes himselt in that poor island, says that they had hoped that the arrival of the Eng- lish would have bettered their condition. hut though if was three months since they had arrived the tribunals in part remained with Turks as presid- ing officers. They were under a mili government, which at times seems 4 little severe, but which was just and impartial. The inhabiwants were being taxed heavily for improvements and somewhat, Kents, provisions and service were very high. ‘The little commerce -of the island suffers seriously from all this and the writer hardly knew when there would be better times. MURPHY’ REVIVAL. If3 CONTINUED SU@CESS—INTERESYING EXPERI- ENCES TOLD IN OPEN MEET: Quite a flurry of excitement was occasioned at the noon session of the Murphy revival yesterday by the presence within the railing of Mr.Thurlow Weed. ‘The venerable statesman seemed to take much interest in the proceedings, and when Brother Murphy re- quested him to say afew words he gracefully complied. ‘The mention of his name was received with enthusi- asiic applause, and for some time he was unable to proceed, owing to the warmth of the reception. When quiet was restored he said, he had always fa- vored gospel temperance, for in religion alone, in his opinion, could’ men tind the power to save them from the blight of intemper- ance. He was pleased beyond expression to witness the great interest that had been awakened in the cause of gospel temperance through the instru- mentality of Brother Mury He wished a hearty God speed to all who wi vely engaged in the good work and also to those who had been brought to sobriety. During his long life, much ot which had been spent in the profession of journalism, he had, he said, always used his pen to advocate ‘ance, and he would ever continue to use it in ood cause. All men, no matter what their profession or position in life, could, in Mr. Weed'’s opinion, do something for the cause of temperance. ose Who could not preach sermons could lead lives of eloquent good example. Such sermons were often more powerful than those framed in words. Rev. Mr. Woodruff, Mr. Robinson, Mr. [ves and Mr. Williams made short prayers and addresses. At the close of the ervices. about eighty men came forward and signed thé pledge. VHX EVENING SESSION. The services in the evening were probably the most interesting yet held. Two old topers and quite a number of the righteous made short addresses. Brother Murphy spoke two or three times, and once concerning the blight drink had been to Irishmen, He individualized certain eminent examples in which bright genius had been dragged down to ruin and death. Eecles Robinson made a plea to the respectable to sign the pledge and give countenance and encouragement to the poor drunkards, many of whom hold buck in the body of the church, too faint-hearted to come forward. Tom Pitman narrated the sad history of Mr. “Gin and Milk Smythe,” and held him up as a terrible cxainple. Ho told those present that if a man only spent five cents a day tor liquor he could’ by stopping it save over $16 in a 7 and thus afford three more tons of coal for .the win- ter. He thought that solid business men should come forward and help Mr. Murphy along in the good work. John Carr and R. L. Parker spoke of their conversion with much fervor. Chauncey Shaffer, iu the course of his remarks, asked whetner any of his hearers would not rather have their daughters marry total abstainers than oc- casionul drinkers, He said he would, and if his daughter was not already merried to a temperance man he would watch the young fellows with great caution, Senator Gallagher, of Connecticut, created much amusement by addressing the congregation as “fellow citizens.” Quite a seat at the conclusion of the nieeting signed the pledg TEMPERANCE REUNION, The members of the association known as the “Veterans of the Cadets of Temperance” held a re- union last evening at Martinelli’s, Seventeenth street. After a social conversation of an hour or so in the parlor, during which many a happy reminiscence of bygone days was recallod, the members, to the num- ber of forty or more, sat down to a fine supper. ‘This association was organized in April, 1878, and does not pretend to be 4 temperance society, but purely a social organization. Its object is to revive and perpetuate the memory of the cadet lives of the members while in the temperance ranks. It is com- sed exclusively of persons who were or are mem- ers or patrons of the Cadets of Temperance, and who are over twenty-one years of age. Among those present last night were imembers of the Order of over thirty years’ standing, the organization hav- ing been started as a junior brauch of the Sons of ‘Temperance, and originally composed of youths of from fifteen to cightcen years of ago, but who are now middle aged or gray haired men, showing by their healthful and robust appearance the benefit of their early temperance training. The officers are:—President, Ernest P. Brook; Vice Presidents, Charles Knappman, Newman E. Montross, Robert J. Palmer, Richard E. Bryson; Secretary, Frank $. Pownall; Treasurer, Stephen N. Hallidsy; Guide, J. E. Adams, Jr. While the viands were all that could be de- sired, the vias were simply Croton aqua in nate There was, however, spirit enough in the responses to the sentiments, which wer follow: Welcoming address by the ‘harles E. Gildersieeve, M. alet Days in New York,” Captain George W. Karly Times in Brooklyn,” by Benjamin . P.; The Veterans,"” by Stephen Mer- ritt, P. G. “Tho Grand Old Section,’ Joseph T. Teed, P. G. P.; “The Good of the Order,” by Robert J, Palmer, P, P. ‘The festivities closed with the singing of the ode:— Good night, good night, to every one, Be each hoart free f . Muay every brother sok And find contentinont the: Gibson Cromwell, May joy beam with to-norrow's sun, And overy prospect shine, all our fricnds laugh merrily hat the ald of wine. THE WOMAN'S HOSPITAL. RECEPTION AND ANNIVERSARY EXERCISES— FAVORABLE REPORT OF THE PAST YEAR'S work. The twefty-second anniversary of the Woman's Hospital of tho State of New York took place yester- day. There was besides the ordinary exercises o reception, and the hospital buildings, which are between Forty-ninth and Fiftieth streets, on Fourth avenue, were thrown open for general inspection from two to five o'clock in the afternoon, During those hours there was @ constant stream of carriages going and coming from the main entrance to the building, and every purt of the large establishment was thoroughly inspected by their lady occupants. The matron, Misx Johnson, was kept busy all day attending to the visitors, who could be counted by the hundreds, and she seemed never to get tired explaining the workings of the institution. The domestic cone of the hospital are intrusted to a board of superv cousisting of thirty-five, among whom are found at present some of the wealthiest aud most distingniahed ladies in the city. ‘The officers for the present year aro Mrs. A. G. Norwood, president; Mrs. L. V. Jones, vice presi- dent; “. Henry A. Coit, vetary, and Mrs, Russell = Sage, treasurer. There is a board of managers, consisti of six ladies and twenty-five supervisors. All the ladies connec with the management were gre yesterday, were busy showing their friends through the build- ings. The anniversary exercises proper took place in a large room on the recond floor of the main building on Fourth avenue, which has recently undergone re- pairs. The room was handsomely decorated with towers, provided by the lalics interested in the insti- tution, and presentid a bright and cheerful appear- | guce even on such a bleak, cold day as yestarday was, 4M CONDITION OF THE HOSPITAL. Dr. D. Hf, Viffuny delivered the prayer aud then re- ports were read by the secretary of the Board of Governors, Mr. W. Hoppin, Jr., and the secrotary of the Ladies! Board, Mrs, Henry A. Coit. Mr. Hoppin's report showed that the fluanees of the hospital were in a sound condition, though the expenses for re- yairing the Fourth avenue building were very heavy jast year, Iu Mrs, Sage’s report it was shown that the total running mses for the past year were a little over $19,000 and about $2,000 less than the year Dr, T. Gaillard Thomas, in bebalf of the ard, spoke of the work of the past year and considered that it had been very satisfactory. There were 345 cases treated in the hospital and but fourteci ths, Dr. Thomas, referred feelingly to the death of Dr, Poeaslee, who beon for a long time one of the Medical Bourd of the institution, and whose services a a surgeon while connected with the hospital coull not be too highly extolled. The Rey. Dr. Courtney, attached to St. Thomas’ Uhureh, delivered the ad- dress, He praised the inatitution highly and the ladies who were doing such good work in it. He thought that it was one of the noblest of woman's works to care for the sick, and every effort made by women ia an institution like the Woman's Hospital tended to relieve more or loss of the misery and suf- fering that surrounded them, After the address ben- — was given by Dr, Hall and tho exercises closed, CRUELLY BEAT. Palo and hleeding yesterday morning, Andrey Mar- tiu, clutching the rail before Jutlye Wandell at Kssox Market Police Court, preferred a chargo of folonious assault and battery against Androw Pleshorn, of No. 46 Chrystic street. “It appeared that the com: plainant had been found on the previous evening lying on the stoop of the premises mentioned, in a condition borderti on insensibility. He had been friybttully beaten by somebody, and on making in- quiries the oflicer learned that Fleshorn had belaboved the unfortunate man cither with a “billy” or a billet of wood, He was told by Miss Mattio, « neighbor, that such had been the case, so the officer entered the house and arrested Fleshorn, upder whose pillow he found @ murderous looking Bly, whieh was dis- played in court, #leshorn was Leld in $1,500 bail to ea Wer, THE LECTURE SEASON. SION STERNE GIVES His VIEWS ON THE AD- VANTAGES OF YKEE TRADE AND THE CHANGES WHICH HE CONSIDERS DESIRABLE Li OUK LAWS AND INSTITUTIONS. Mr. Simon Sterne last night delivered, at No. 21 West Twenty-fourth street, the second lecture in a course established by the New York Free Trade Club, for the purpose of enlightening the public “on some of the phases of economic reform that it is the object of this club to promote.’ Among the lecturers en- are Horace White, President M, B, Anderson, of University; Professor W. G. Sumner, of Yale Colle, Dr. H, W. Sell and Parke Godwin, and, us was said, Mr. Sterne de ered the second lee- ture last eveuing. His subject was rhe Causes Which Retard the Adoption in This Country of Financial and Political Reformatory Measures.” He qndintained that in all such measures this country does not keep pace with the nations of Europe. ‘That the mass of our people are better off than those of Europe is due to causes independent of legislation, and that our people are not better off thun they are is tude to carry out the reforms other ue to our inapti nations have ac hed. Our national well being is due to our soil, climate, cheap lands and the facili- ties of intercourse between States rather than to our methods and institutions. At (he time of the organi- ap zation of our govermnant we were not cursed with castes and class privileges and the guild system had not taken.root in our country, Mr. Sterne then spoke and the establish at some length of the guild syste land and contrasted it with that of America, showing the advantages possessed by the latter in its stast. Yet, he said, notwithstanding this and enormous additions to Aicrica’s mater 0 perity, im some way or other thin are so badly managed that individually we are not much richer than the people of Europe. America has nursed a vast public debt; her civil serviee is a byword and reptoach; her navigation laws have been discredited by every nation in Envope; she hax a protective turiff, aud has placod upon her statute book au act which will specdily de- monetize gold and place us below the level of Italy as to our standard of values, One causo ix the forma- tion of the class of politicians which really governs the country. ‘The lecturer then spoke at length on the practice of our legislatures of passing private bills and the growth of the lobby. Our apprehonsion, he said, of the abuse of political power in this country, and the fear of its becoming in the hands of ono class so overwhelining in its influence ax to crush out other interests, has induced us to: fritter away all political power, either by its subdivision into differ- ent departments or dispersing it in tho division be- tween State and national uuthoritios, 40 that no ono power is really and clearly held responsible for the non-performance of the duty of introducing neces- sury remedial meastires. ‘THE FBEE TRADERS WANT TO CHANGE THE GOVERN- ae MENT: For example, though we were on the verge of war in 1876, because of our inadequate and wreich machinery for the election of our President, yet two sessions of Congress have intervened without the’ Passage of any law to prevent such a calamity in the future aud no one is held up to blame tor the clear neglect of duty. To chargo any one as being to blame would appear ridiculons us that duty really devolves upon no one. Our existing system of representation retards the adoption of reformatory measures. The voice of educated thinkers cannot eard against the voice of those who think and feel on public questions as a matter of instinct. Our political partics axe made up of compromises. ‘Ihis part of the demoralization consequent upon our vicious system of representation can only be cured by changing the system from a majority to a totality plan, which would act asa dissolvent of politicwl parties. = On this, however, I shall not dwell this evening. ‘To sum up the causes referred to they may be said to be first, our party system, which is caused by the division of eniployments and the vicious organiza- tion of our laws, which ‘place representation as well as control in the hands of a majority only; second, the extension of the suffrage to matters of municipal administration to which elections are not applicable; then the absence of any large interest that will make head against the specially sinister interests which from time to time control the community; the ab- sence of any law regulating nominations to offic the absence of all scientific and responsible methods of legislation, especially with regard to private bill and, last, the absence’ of a civil service of reform, If parties could be disintegrated; if a responsible Ministry could repla: ©. ' inet officers; if private and public bills could be ; roperly. separated; if the sut- trage could be confined to national and State or really political questions; if the minority could be emanci- pated, we might be led to adopt those clements of success which distinguish other nations and enable them, by a better distribution of wealth, to overcome the fact that they are far behind us in its creation. Wislince still wo lara thaton zach ca are capents ‘upon the skilful distribution of human wealth and means of happiness as cron those bounties of nature which enable us to produce more largely than any other nation that has ever existed. THE TRIUMPHS OF PERSEVERANCE, Mr. William Parsons, of England, delivered a lec- ture before the General Sociely of Mechanics and ‘Tradesmen last evening at Steinway Hall on “George Stephenson—The Triumphs of Perseverance.” Mr. Parsons told the story of Stephenson’s life in an interesting manner. He narrated the strug- gles of the inventor in carly life; his bravery and during in the mines of Northumberland; his first failure with the locomotive and his final snecess and triumphs through perseverance. The lecture was I geteerersh illustrated and abounded in amusing and interesting anecdotes. OIL MEN IN CONFERENCE. The, conference of oil producers and refiners, which was opened on Wednesday at the St. Nicholas Hotel, was continued yesterday afternoon at the offices of the Standard Oil Company, in Pearl street. The pro- ceedings were sceret, but it was subsequently learned that representatives from the principal oil wells in Pennsylvania were present, among them D. F. Stew- art, of Pittsburg, Pa.; George H. Nesbitt, of Petrolia, Pa.; R. Jennings, of Queenstown, Pa.; -O. Noble, of Erie, Pu.; G. H, Graham, of Fairview, Pa.; Georgo Bateman, of Pittsburg, Pa., and George Boulton, of Oil City, Pa. Several of these gentlemen were visited last evening at the St. Nicholas Hotel, but they refused to give any particulars concerning the nd that the arrangemeuts had not aa yet been perfected. Mr. Stewart, of Pittsburg, said it would possibly be two weeks before they came to any agreement, and that, in his opinion, the matter would have to be finally settlod through committees. He admitted that the object of the confercuce wus to perfect ar- rangerments between the refiuers and producers, so that they will not be obliged to send oil to En- rope aud elsewhere at the present ruinous prices. He denied that the conference intended to discuss the question of the alleged monopoly of the carrying of oll by the Standard Gil Company, and suid that this matter had not been touched upon at the meeting. ‘Yhe dealers in petroleum in the lower part of the city did not speak in favor of theconference, and ex- pressed an opinion that it was not an opposition movement to the Standard Oil Company, to which they are ppposed, but was rather in its interest. ‘Lhe Conference will be continued to-day, THE FREIGHT CAR ROBBERS. James Larkins, alias Mud, and Thomas Maguirk alias Pigoon, members of the Shorty Lent gang, who wore arrested on Tuesday night at Jamaica, L. L, by Officers Wilkinson and Hurley on the charge of rob- bing the freight cars of the Long Island Railroad Company, were arraigned last evening before Judge Betts at Jamaica and chmmitted for further examina- tion, Since their arrest Joseph Crawford, alias Pop, au employé of the company, and who, it is al- leged, designated the cars which were tobe robbed, he having access to the way bills, has bech missing and the officers as yet have been unable to ascertain his whereabouts. Since the arrest of Larkins and Maguirk ovidence of a positive character has come into the hands of the authorities that on the night of the 27th of Septem- ber, 1877, Duiley, Larkins and Maguirk, the three being heavily masked, went to the house of John Perry, milkman, residing on ‘Talford Lawn, in the village of Jamaica, Mr. Perry, who is old and infirm, ‘was ut the time ulone, and he had on that day sold a cow for $30, which was about all the money that he was in possessjon of. After entering the house the ¢ bound and gagged the old man, and while one of them stood guard over him with a pistol two of them went to his bedroom and secured the money. Before leaving the house they beat the old man shamefully. This robbery, it i# alleged, can clearly be proven against them, and their conviction would consign them to the State Prison for the better portion of their lives. It is, therefore, the general belict that the authorities will decide to hold them for the robbery of Mr. Perry and thus insure their conviction, THY GREAT CHECK FORGERY, At the opening of the Court of Oyer and Terminer yesterday, before Judge Noah Davis and a jury, Dis- trict Attoracy Phelps proceeded to sum up for the prosecution in the case of Charles W. Pontes, charged with complicity in tho great cheek forgery on the Union Trust Company in January, 1877. Mr. Phelps reviewed the evidence throughout and demonstrated, as he claimed, the participation of the accused in the forgery. Judge Davis followed in acharge which occupied nearly two hours, and at afew minutes to three o'clock the jury retired. At ten minutes past six, the jury having failed to agree and there being no prospect of such a result, a recess of the court was teken watil ten o'clock this morning and the jury left to deliberate, Tn the ineantime the accused was taken i euarye by the Suri, ‘ 5 ——_-—~s PARIS GOSSIP. he Marriage of Mlle. De Bismarck. AN OLD MAID’S BALL. Break Up of the Interna- tional Exposition WINTER FASHIONS. Panis; Nov. 7, 1878 Juvenile in the extreme are the wonderments of Parisizn ladies, Having heard that Mile. de Bise marek was married to the Count of Rautzau yesters day they are endeavoring to form an idea of what be looks like. Aian who in his right senses becomes sismarck’s son-in-law is to French ladies a man most unlike others. ‘Uhey fancy he would not mind pute ting his head in an untamed lion’s jaw, and Mlle, da Bismarck hersclt is supposed to have the potatoes only cooked around her biftecks. aux pomaes, whila the meat she cats raw. It heppens that the bride ia & Most unafected and retiring lady. The only un« kind thing to be said about her is that she had called herself an old maid at the age of twenty-five, andj hereby gave a bad example to » number of young’ German princesses who soon gloried in adding the word “spinster” to their signatures. ‘This idea of making a joke out of single unblessed« ness has spread from Prussian quarters to Paris, andi we are to have spinsier ball here on the 25th inst., which date is that of St. Catharine’s féte day. Soma pretty caps are ordered for maids ranging from dventy-five years to the more advanced period in life of that royal specimen known in history as the virgin Queen Elizabeth. Our present style of dress has little to borrow from the Shakespearaan costumes which are to be de rigueur, and society is looking forward te the transformation of the “Merry Wives” into the “Merry Maids of Paris."” A little fun might lead mem to the altar, as it is plainly shown that “no fun” has failed to do so. BREAKING UP ‘THE EXPOSITION, No fun, either, is the packing up of the Exposition, which is leaving the Champ ge Mars in bales and boxes. ‘Nhe Japanese were the first to clear out, bub they had sold everything, and are giving themselves up to the delights of Capua after « well fought cam- puign, We shali not forget these grotesque looking visitors, nor the decorative fancies they’ have intro- duced among us. The Japanese pelisse, which is a long, black silk night dress, lined with fur, is the height of fashion. ‘The sleeve is loose, and made with a deep cuff on the w: which is velvet, and’ likewise the collar, while th@:lasps are oxidized gold and silver or cloisonnés of rare workmanship. Polite in the extreme is the Prince of Wales with, regard to his Indian treasures. While the British ara hurrying to get clear of their section and the French government have carefully withdrawn the State diamonds, he allows lis to stand as they are so long #a the Exposition is open. He is supposed to ba one of. the few men who know this nation thor- oughly, and may have secn in his dreams the provin- cials who are sure to come the day a bill will be stuck up to inform the world that “le public n’entre pas ici.’* Those who rash beeathless tothe Champ de Mars a day or iw! before this occurs will at least have India to rest in. PROVINCIAL Has, By the way, what a varicty of hats have arrived from the provinces! Various have been public and private vicissitudes since the immortal principles of 1789 reduced and le: what they ‘ain not crush, but the hats escaped. Here we have seen them as in prints of the revolutionary period. We have had them in all shapes, and their wearers went about; under egregious brims as serenely as if their h looked quite sensible. One nice old gentleman, how ever, showed greater discernment. eral for cifferent states of the his shapes were quite in style to have such a fashio: “L never buy a new my old ones.” Ver; at, deep, this theory, but mast preaide over the selection of an old Mat for par- ticular occisions. If antique shapes do come Lack some day or other there is headgear one sees once in w lifetime; at least it is to be hoped so. @ WINTER FASHIONS, On running down dress items we come to the feet, and there is & great innovation to mention in shoe leather. White rabbit aud white morocco are intros duced; the latter are demi-bvots and are ort with w band of furon the top. This is called “Pussin boots style,” and also chatle blanche chaussure, Sharia skin is also very fashionable, but mostly for books, cigur cases and portfolios, although I have seen charming medallions tor the neck made of shark,, and sharks’ teeth are hung round the throat. Fish bones through the ears have been 8 ted for ear ornaments with these. November always the month for suggestions, as winter fashious are at this time somewhat hesitatingly launched, Not so paniers, which rise and do not recede; they alveady cover the tournure region, and, for balk dresses, are formed by gauze puifs and be creme Satin Joops are introduced between, with trails artificial flowers. A great effort is being made to re- vive the camellia for evening wear, but it will be a failure. Camellias have too long decorated gilt lat~ tices and the dinner table; white roses have a fairer field, white being the furore of the present hour. Mile., Sarah Bernhardt # white atelier costume and her white: dress in the “Sphinx’’ have shown how useful, how" warm and how elegant white can be. In the play her robe is white vicuna, trimmed with white teathers down the front; the sleeves are @& handmade tissue of white jet network; her bel& is silver, and her hair, in @ loose, flow- ing plait’ down the back,’ is tied with white, White cloth was much worn at the hunting partica given in the environs tor the celebration of a féte deam to princes, the féte ot St. Hubert. Nothing mixes so. well with white felt, white cloth and white ribbed, velvet as does garnet and the new multi-colored steeE buttons. These buttons are like stained glass Gothio, windows, or like ® mosaic of precious stones; om straps of leather over ouc’s instep they twinkle alsoy like fallen stars. November has likewise introduced’ skirts short in the front, even on dresses trained be= hind, and what trains! We are told they ure to be carried in the day and night time over the arm. THEATRICAL GOSSIP, Another Bose of oy is og Cosegte learn= ing ste: neing seeps. Wi rough dances tobe ‘abolished ithe minyet and pavane are creer masters on their tocs in all the best academies. At @ matinéo lately given les danses caractéristiques had great success, They were Swodish reels executed short walking costumes. Dancing and acting in the day time are now a settled fashion where festive: deyeuners aro preferred to dinners and balls. This reminds me that at some of the theatres evening per~ formances follow so closely on the morning perform. ances given in the same house that the actors ani actresses, having no time to undress for dinner their own homes, have all last woek no! lett their theaires at all, and have dined in their boxes with their paint and ond Rather umusing have these dinners proved., Some of the artists © insisted on cooking their food themmeives. One of thom, the great wit andi punster, Christian, fries a steak better than his own, man, He uses the gaslight iu his dressing room andi says bin — "oo course = Jens He = the same who, having onco introduced fifty pums the part intrusted to Lilin, was desired by his anacen veyon to sign a coatract restricting him not to twent ve. Atthe expiration of tier it he cars ried the contract back to the manager, looking so dee jected that the latter inquired what wax the matter, “Oh, the puns,” replied Christian; “they are accu. mulating insids and weighing me down to the grave." He declared Le could not keep the engagement, f explode the puns must. The manager drew his through the Clause and since then the comic actor let his wit off ad libitum. It brings the house dowa with laughter, while he holds himself wp without s erin on bis features. LEAKS IN A RESERVOIR, * _— ‘The low service reservoir at the head of Seventh avenue, Newark, intended to hold 22,000,000 gallons of “water, has again, for the third time, sprung aleak iq threo places, and yesterday all the water was draw@ off into other basins. Two weeks ago there were indi« cations of a leak, The basin being cleared it was found that there were three small holes in & part of the basin built on “made ground.” The last break, cost about $23,000 to repair, but the oilicers of the Board say tho cost of the present one will be trifling, und that every reservoir is liuble to the same mis! The reservoir just been filled after three months’ Sienoo total cost of the reservoir was over 281,000, . ‘The circumstance of the leaks has given new life ta the isivestigation ordered by the Common Council and begun on Wednesday evening, as Ee thy in yese terday’s Hrnatp. In his testimony before the coms biitteo Mr. Jeremiah O'Rourke, one of the Commin ioners of the Water Board, said he never ¢ com ruption against any member of the Board, but tone neglect; but what he did want to say was that the Board had paid the maximum price for the minimuua labor; every work had been botched that had beea commenced by the Board; the Board had been ram by men who knew nothing about such works, and it hud been repeatedly advised by some of its members. as to the fupracticability of certain Bad and their bad construction; Mesers, Smith, ,» Baker ad himeelt had often protestid suet, certain works belonging to the ud, but no notice was ASS Sromhicn 2 ita invest! to-night. committee amne Board has already spent: sone $43,000,06 of the public funds, * y a,