The New York Herald Newspaper, December 31, 1878, Page 6

6 _NEW YORK HERAL BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. ——— "AMES GORDON BENNETT, PROPRIETOR. ——- THE DAILY HERALD, puldishot ccory ‘Three cents per copy (Sundays exciudod). year, or ata rate of. tye dollar per mouth fox ay period long in the year. Ten doliaes por six or five dollars six months, Sunday edition ded. roo of postage WEE! HERALD— One dollar por year, free of poxt- axe NOTICE TO SUBSORIBERS.—Remi York or Post Office money orders, aud in drafts on Now neither of these nuouered letter. AML lor to insure atten- tion subseribers wishing their address changed must give “their old as woll as their new address, ‘All business, now’ lotters or tolographic despatches must be addressed New Yorw Haar. Letters and packages should be property sealed. Rejected comin be returned, SOUTH SIXTH PHILADELPH rr O « . STREET. LONDON y THE NEW YORK HERALD— WALLACK’S THEATER: UNION SQUARE Th BOOTIT'S THEATRE FIFTIL AVENUE THE. STANDARD THEATRI NIBLO'S GARDEN—Pri OLYMPIC THE NEW YORK AQUARIL GLOBE THEATRE—OstY GRAND OPERA HOUS! MANIA THEATRE. ‘ARMER’S DAUGHTER, ue SuAUGHRACK, Poaus, WINDSOR THEATRE—Vanner TIVOLI THEATRE—Vanrery. EGYPTIAN HALL—Va THOMAS OPERA HOU! The probabilities are that the weather in New York and its vicinity to-day will be cold and partly cloudy or fair. To-morrow it will be warmer and clear, followed by gradual clouding. Watt Streer Yesterpay.—T! he stock mar- ket was active and strong. Gold sold at 100 1-32 a 100 1-64. Government bonds were firm, States dull and railroade strong. Money on call ‘was easy at 4a5 per cent. Maroe Coorer will not reccive to-morrow— not even applications for oflicé. Ose Mitton ayo a H. LLARS in sub- scriptions to the four per cent bonds yesterday shows that there are some very level-headed people around somewhere: Ix tHe Oprsion ot the Secretary of the Treasury resumption day here will be as quiet asa May morning. The reports of a probable excitement are, of course, exceedingly absurd. Tue Interstate Convention of militia offi- cers in this city next mouth promises to be very lapels. attended. A deep interest appears to be the proposed aan of the ser- viee. AxotueR Henoic Deep must be set down to thé ‘credit of the life-saving eorps of Nan the Newsboy, As usnal, the ungrateful person whose life was saved soundly abused his bene- factor. Tue Drersiox of the Supreme Court of Mas- sachusetts that millowners are not bound to provide fire escapes in their establishments is perhaps good law, but it has little else to com- mend it. Tue Mars Bopy of the Potter Committee has arrived in New Orleans. If it could only be in- duced to keep its seasions inviolably secret the whole country would feel like indulging in a general thanksgiving. Governor McCisi1an in refusing to calla special session of the Board of Pardons has de- stroyed the last hope of Hunter, the Camden murderer. He was fairly tried and the justice of the verdict cannot be questioned. Tur Dectston in the Marine Court yesterday fm regard to the powers and duties of the har- bor masters is of very great interest to ship- owners and captains. These officers, it is held, are, as it were, the police of the port, and as such must be obeyed. Tr Wut Be Seen from the correspondence on another page that General Grant was the re- cipient of a warm welcome at Pan from the Awerieen colony in Southern France. Coming from his own countrymen the courtesies shown him must have been doubly gratifying. A Surr for the recovery of five hundred dol- lars, elsewhere reported, throws some curious light on the machinery of public receptions and testimonials, and suggests a new lino of busi- ness for our military and other heroes. In the case in question ‘Little Mac’s” distinguished presence was the consideration for the sum in litigation, but inasmuch as he did not make a speech payment is refused. A little practice will probably improve things, and make the ions growl as well as exhibit themselves. Tur Wearner.—Although the pressure has not decreased very much during the past twenty- four hours in the Northwest the general condi- tions indicate the approach of a depression over the British possessions from the Pacitic Ocean. In the Gulf districts the barometer has risen slightly, the area of high pressure that overlies the Central Valley districts having waved southward. The zone of high barometer now extends northwestward from the Middle and South Atlantic coust to the Missouri Valley and thence into Coloradoand New Mexico. The centre of highest pressure is over the Obio Valley. Rain has fallen throughout all the Atlantic and Gulf coast districts and snow in tie lower Juke regions, the Middle Atlantic and New Eng- Jand States, The winds have been trom fresh to brisk in the northern lake regions and the North- weat, fresh on the Gulf coasts and generally light elsewhere. The temperature has risen in all the districts except the Northwest, where it hhns fallen decidedly. The weather throughout the British Islands is very unfavorable. The cabled reports from different stations on the coasts state that the pressure is low, with rain and = strong winds, increasing in ome sections to gales. This stormy weather was predicted by the Hernanp Weather Bureau on gre 26th. Telegraph reports from San Francisco state that rain began falling yes- terday afternoon. Advices from the interior in- divate that the storm is general throughout tho State of California. The weather in Now York and its vicinity to-day will be cold aud partly cloudy or fair, To-merrow it will be warwer aud cleyr, followed by gradual clouding. NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1878.—TRIPLE SHEET. in some respects, one of the most impor- tant in recent history ; but we can think of nothing which is likely to mark it as a great epoch in-human affairs. It has been fruitful in scientific discoveries of first rate importance ; but having recently gone over that ground we will drop great achieve- ments in science from the present retro- spect, In the sifting process which is necessary on these annual occasions there is no better rule than to estimate the importance of events by the proba- bility thet they will be fruitful in important consequences—a rule which cannot always be observed in the publica- tion of current news from day to day. Let us illustrate by an example. The most exciting occurrence of the year in this city was the robbery of Mr. Stewart’s grave, which occupied more space in the news- papers and roused deeper feeling in the community than the opening of the rapid transit roads, which as far transcends it in importance as it is inferior as a piece of sensation news. But in a review of im- portant events it is necessary to readjust the scale, leaving out of view the transient sensations of the year and recapitulating only such things as will stand as landmarks in the progress of the age. Beginning with our own city, which is of deeper interest to its people than any other part of the world, the great event of the year is the one to which we have just al- luded—the successful establishment of rapid transit, which is’a turning point in the history of this metropolis. The inaccessi- bility of the upper parts of the island with- out a wearisome consumption of time has caused for many years a great overflow of our population into New Jersey end upon } Long Island and Staten Island, arresting | the growth of real estate- values in the {city and crippling our municipal revenue. Although the rapid transit roads are not yet running to the Harlem River and beyond, they are proving so remunerative and the prepara- tions for extending them are so far ad- vanced that the experiment is relieved of the last vestige of doubt. It requires no prophet to predict the consequences. ‘The time required for reachihg any one of the Jersey ferries, crossing it and getting seated either in a street horse car for points in Jersey City or Hoboken, or in a steam car for Newark or Orange, is greater than the time that will be required for landing a passenger at points north of the Har- lem River. Almost everybody will prefer to reside in the city when it requires less time and less ex- pense to go back and forth from places of residence to places of business, shopping oramusement. Our fashionable stores and our theatres are moving further and further up town, and people ijiving at the uppet extremity of the island will have great ad- vantages in point of time, convenience and expense over the people of: Brooklyn and New Jersey in reaching all the centres of resort in this city. ‘here has been no event since the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 so important to the growth of New Memorable Events of the Year. The year which closes to-day has been, the rapid transit roads in 1878. Readers must pardon us if we dwell still further on the affairs of this city, even if weare compelled to slur over the impor- tant events of the year in Europe at the end of this article. Within the last few days an arrangement has been announced which will rank in the events of the year as second only to the establishment of rapid transit in the fruitfulness of its conse- quences to the prosperity of the city. We refer to the new line of steamers, fourteen in number, which are about to commence running in connection with Mr. Vander. bilt’s railroads. ‘he grain trade of New York has for several years been tapped by other Atlantic cities which have af- forded better aud cheaper facilities for the transfer of grain from cars to seagoing vessels. he experiment which Mr. Vanderbilt is on the point of introducing will immediately give fall employment to his one large elevator, and necessitate the building of others, until grain elevators be- come as conspicuous a feature in the harbor of New York as they are in the harbors of Chicago and Buffalo, Mr, Vanderbilt evinces wise forecast in providing for the cheap transfer of grain to ships in this port, because it insures a constant increase of business to his roads, which terminate here. The Erie road and the Pennsylvania road will be compelled to furnish equal con- veniences, and the ultimate consequence will be a concentration of the export trade in grain in New York city. Next/eto rapid transit Mr. Vanderbilt's new arrangement for shipping grain is the most important event of this year, which has so close a connection with the business of New York. ‘The success of the anti-Tam- many coalition in the last election is too trivial and too doubtful in its effect to be regarded as of any particular consequence in the municipal history of the year, When we extend our roview from the city to the State of New York we find nothing worthy of special commemoration, The preparation of the scandalously expensive pile of architecturo called the new State Capitol, for receiving the Legislature of 1879, deserves only a passing reference. The signal success of the republican party inthe State election is only an or- dinary partisan triumph. The only thing of real importance in State affairs is the splendid business done by the canals under low rates of tolls. When we pass beyond the State to the nation we cannot ignore one event of the first magnitude—an event which will make the year which is now closing always memorable in American history. We of course refer to the successful and trium- phant preparations which have been made for the resumption of specie payments. In the Inter months of the year the premium on gold has been reduced to zero, and we are at last on a sound monetary basis after the long suspension of seven- teon years. The other memorable events of the year have no title to rank with this in importance. The unprecedented balance of exports over imports is of value os as~ suring the immediate success of resump- tion, but mot otherwise, In the future York city as the demonstrated success of. growth of our commerce we must buy al- most as largely as we sell. As we do not "giveaway the productions which we export we must receive equivalent commodities in return, The unéxampled harvest of the year is one reason why our exports are so large: ‘The excess of our ex- ports for the last three years has brought home the greater part of our government bonds held abroad, and it is always good policy to call in our debts. But, except the payment of debts, we must buy in proportion as we sell, and tho recent heavy balances are in their nature tempo- rary. The ravages of the yellow fever in our Southwestern cities, although one of the most prominent events of the year, is of that exceptional character which leads to no permanent consequences. This con- cludes the list of really memorable events in the United States. Among our neighbors on;the Western Continent nothing very noteworthy has oc- curred, except in the Dominion of Canada. The parliamentary jclections, which have brought the protectionist party into power, may have an important influence on trade between the United States and the British Provinces. The appointment of Lord Lorne, the husband of a royal princess, as Gov- ernor General, is an interesting event, which may or may not answer the expectations which are founded upon it. It is intended to strengthen the ties of loyalty which bind Canada to the British throne, It is a hazardous experi- ment. If Lord Lorne and the Princess , prove on trial to be popular the sentiment of loyalty will be. strengthened; but if, on the other hand, they should by excessive pomp and state, or otherwise, lose their hold onthe affection of the Canadians it would bea serious blow to the loyal attachment of the Canadians to the reigning family. Noth- ing very noteworthy has happened in the American nations to the south of us, the assassination of an ex-President of Peru being a merely personal event. . We have no room left to go into any de- tail of the events of the year in Europe and Asia. The success of Russia in its war against Turkey, the Berlin Congress, the “peace with honor” which Lord Beacons- field boasted that he brought back from Berlin, the conversion of that boast into irony by the Afghan war, are topics of ex- cited discussion in England. Far more important in its bearing on the future of England is the severe commercial distress which has followed the ex- plosion of the Glasgow Bank. It has become a widely debated question whether the commercial prosperity of Great Britain has not passed the point of culmination and is not verging toward permanent decline. In France the events of the year have consolidated the Republic and dispelled all immediate fears of its permanence. Germany is still struggling with financial difficulties. Italy -has been the theatre of important events. The death of King Victor Emmanuel in Januury and of Pope Pius IX. in February put a new ruler both in the Vatican and the Quirinal, and the relations of the Papacy with Italy and with Germany seem to be undergoing a gradual change in the direction of amity. The most portentous thing in the Buropean history of the year is the growing strength of the nihilists in Russia and of their brethren, the socialists, in other countries. The attempts on the life of the Emperor of Germany and the King of Italy have created an uneasy sense of the desperation existing among the dangerous classes, which tends to soften international differences in view of alarming domestic perils. The necrology of the year is not very re- markable. With the exception of Pius IX. and Victor Emmanuel, already alluded to, there have been no deaths in 1878 which make any change in the ordinary current of affairs. The death of personages like the ex-Queen of Spain and the young Queen of the same country, and of the Princess Alice, have only a social significance. In the list of American dead we may mention Gideon Welles, Benjamin F. Wade, William C. Bryant, Joseph Henry and Bayard Taylor. ‘here has been a large mortality among European scientists, Dr. Petermann being one of the most conspicuous and George Henry Lewes, better known in letters than in science, one of the most recent. All the prominent statesmen both of Europe and America who were active at the beginning of the year have been spared to its close, with the exception of Victor Emmanuel. Fears for Nordenskjold. We print this morning o special cable despatch to the Henstp from Berlin stating that the German ahd Swedish friends of the famous leader of the Swedish Arctie expe- dition, Professor Nordensijild, are much alarmed by a telegram to the Hrzaxp from San Francisco, which we printed on De- cember 11, announcing that his ship was probably beset in the ice above the East Cape. We suppose that the receipt of the Henatp in Berlin gave the first intimation of the danger that possibly surrounds the Vega ond her gallant party. The San Francisco despatch, which we find quoted by cable, states,,“‘that a ship, believed to be the larger of the vessels of the Swedish Polar expedition, is blocked in the ice above the East Cape.” Of course there is no absolute certainty that this ship is the Vega. Yet, judging from the recently reported movements of the Swedish expedi- tion, the Vega would be about in tho position mentioned if she failed to pass through Behring Strait into the Pacific Ocean. Whatever ship has been seen she is in the Polar counter current flowing from the northwest toward Behring Strait, and is likely to be held by the ice ficlds that would extend southeastward from Kel- ‘let Land and Herald Island toward the East Cape. To test the teuth of the San Fran- cisco whaler’s report the friends of Professor Nordenskjild are fitting out an expedition for the discovery and relief of the Vega. Following the northward course of that branch of the Kuro-Siwo, or warm Japan current that penotrates the Aretic Ocean through Behring Strait, a relief ship can easily reach the Asiatic coast close to the East Cape, whence relief can be sent to the ship beset in the ice. After the glori- ous efforts of Nordenskjéld to accomplish ¢ @ northeast passage to Japan had so nearly achieved success it is a great disappoint- ment. that he should be locked in the ice within sight of the gate of the Pacific. But while the fears of his friends aro justified by the perils incidental to an Arctic winter in a ship that is probably short of supplies, after a long voyage from Norway to Behring Strait, we do not ap- prehend the worst if energetic efforts are made to send relief. The greater the diffi- culty the more glorious is success, and when the Vega, breaking from her icy prison, sails southward into the seas of Japan, the world will witness the accom- plishment of an unparalleled feat in pe ihe navigation, Fair Promises for Rapid Transit. ° Mr. Cyrus W. Field's views as to the pro- posed impioved facilities for travel on the Third avenue elevated railroad, as explained to a Heraup reporter, are set forth in another column, Summarized, they favor the running of mixed trains, comprising one first, one second and one third class car, at fifteen, ten and five cents fare re- spectively ; the extension of the City Park terminus to the Post Office building as soon as the necessary authority can be obtained ; the relief of travel during the busiest hours of the day by means of special trainsstarted from switches or ‘‘pockets” at the most crowded depots, and of a third track for through trains between Fifth street and Harlem; separate trains from Third ave- nue at Forty-second street to the Grand Central Depot, to be reached by passengers by a bridge over the track, and the running of trains all night for passengers and freight at such intervals as the public convenience may require. ‘These are mainly admirable propositions, and it is gratifying to find that Mr. lield is so ready to adopt Suggestions for the ex- tension of the benefits of rapid transit, and so desirous to accommodate and serve the public. So fur as the authority to extend the City Park terminus of the road to the Post Office is concerned, we do not believe that there would be any attempt to obstruct tho immediate adoption of such a neces- sary step, and we can see no good reason why the work should not be continued to the netural and proper terminus at once, | when it can be done with greater convenience and at less expense than at some tuture time. If no one raises an ‘vobjection to the extension of the road to the south end of Park row, the company ought to be glad to constract the short additional line without delay, and the authority, if any should be required, will no @@ubt be forthcoming in good time. ‘he idea of a third track for through trains between Harlem and Fifth street is an excel- lent one, provided the structure on Third avenue is strong enough for the pur- pose—a question that will of course be satisfactorily decided by competent autho- rity before the attemptis made. Equally excellent are the propositions to relieve the main line by discontinuing the Forty-sec- ond street depot trains, and to run cars for passengers and freight.at all. hours ef the night. Mr. Field’s idea of adopting the Earopean plan of mixed trains does not strike us tavorably/ We do not believe that the classification of railroad passengers into first, second and third class will ever be popular or successful in this country. The proposition to charge fifteen cents for a first class passage and five cents for a third class, with the ten cent fare sandwiched be- tween them, takes the appearance of a de- sire to make the well buttered fifteen cent car compensate for the dry bread five cent car. We can conceive of nothing better calculated to make a road unpopular. The single five cent car attached to a train would scarcely ever be sufficient to aceqmmodate the people desiring to ride for the cheapest fare, and this would lead to overcrowding on the car and delay at the depots, unless passengers made up their minds to pay the ten cent rate, which would then look to them like an imposi- tion. Besides, the conclusive argument against mixed trains is the fact that five cents fare will greatly more than double the number of passengers on the elevated road, and thus bring more money and larger profits into the company’streasury. The deficient accommodation supplied by a single five cent car on each train would not increase the travel as it would be increased bya uniform five cent rate on allthe cars. If the road can make enough money to pay large dividends and enrich its owners rapidly at five cents fare all day long there ean be no need of experiments, and tho company ought certainly to be satisfied. We hope that Mr. Field, having progressed thus farin his views, will boldly advocate the liberal policy of tive cents fare, and we are satisfied that his well known energy and sincerity may be relied upon as a sufficient guarantee that his other promised improve- ments will in good time be faithfully car- ried out. Dean Staniey’s Impressions of America. It is announced that Dean Stanley will not write a book about his recent journey. Although a record of his observations would be widely read, both here and in England, we think he decides wisely. The incessant courtesies of which he was the object pre- vented him from seeing more than one sido of American life, and the most favorable side. He was the honored guest of many wealthy families, and the people invited to meet him—or at least that part of them with whom he had much conversation—were persons of more or less social distinction. He doubtless gauged this part of our people with intelligence ond accuracy, and it would be highly interesting to know what he really thought of them, But it is a social impossibility for a gentleman like Dean Stanley to entertain the public with a faithful delineation and critical estimate of people whose hospitality he had accepted. They exhibited to him the most amiable side of American life, and, however pleasant he may have found it, his grateful recognition would convey littlo instruction to the public on either side of the Atlantic, What he learned of American society in general and of American institutions was conveyed to | him in conversations which he could not from writing a book in which he could make no use of the most valuable part of his materials and would be precluded from a free exposure of faults and shortcomings. Dean Stanley is said to be profuse and untiring in private expressions of the pleasure and instruction he derived from his visit to America, and, although he is not writing a book, he has recently devoted a public address on the subject. Having been invited to. deliver the annual address at the Midland Institute in Birmingham, he avoided the usual range of subjects, and gave his whole discourse to American his- tory and public life, ‘The London Times re- marks of it :—‘‘Whatever else we may say of his address we must allow its originality. The old theme is treated in a perfectly fresh manner, illustrative of the originality of the speaker,” The Dean of Westminster's chief point of view is that we area new society, and are interesting as an illustration of what Euro- pean nations were in an earlier stage of their growth. ‘This view seems to us fan- ciful, Our ancestors were offshoots of an old people placed in new circumstances. ‘They brought with them the habits of thought of Englishmen of the seventeenth century, In the forms of civilization which depend on wealth we were behind, not England, but the affluent classes in England. In the civilization which depends on thought we have never been a young peo- ple, because the best productions of English genius have been accessible to us in every stage of our existence. The idea that we resemble European nations as they were several centuries back is at least amusing. We cannot even conceive what European society would have been in the time of Henry VIL, with the railroads, the steam- ships, the telegraphs and the thousand forms of manufacturing industry which place the United States in the van of truly modern countries. “The Man from Peru.” Mr. Barraud, alias Ramel, alias Cour- celles, whose personality and present lodg- ings were described in yesterday's Henan, is allowed to-day to relate, in his own way, his mode of “operating.” It is a quaint chapter of human gullibility, and shows how those wide-awake people who manage great businesses are sometimes entrapped; but it is not a great showing for the im- postor. In a career of two and a half months he managed to pass three weeks in an insane asylum and to wind up in prison. One thing is curious—namely, that the dis- covery of the “trick he was playing in one place by no means barred him from attempting it im another. A certain false shame on the part of busi- ness men at having been duped gen- erally secured him from unpleasant con- sequences. Inu a Connecticut deacon and a pious Scotchman he, however, found two individuals that had no squeamishness about turning him over tothe police, This is another proof of the good of early picty. We cannot say that we desire to check the hospitality of our business men, but we wish to point out a gentleman who will par- take of all that is floating about, and then go round the corner to ‘laugh up his sleeve.” Whether his delight over his lit- tle succesges is the result of being bad or mad, we leave to others to decide; but look- ing back from the calin of his prison cell he evidently recalls them with unmistakable pleasure. Which Is the Real “Forefathers’ Day?’ In on address delivered Jast evening Dr. D. P. Holton challenged the authen- ticity of the date which has been hitherto accepted as that of the memorable land- ing on Plymouth Rock, and presented o historical argument to prove that the true date was December 30. Thisis an assertion which will be novel to almost all our read- ers, even to those most familiar with New England history, and it should receive the prompt attention of the magnates of that “New England Society” which annually, on December 22, gathors about its festive board the élile of our American society, and is rarely satisfied with orators of lesser grade than Senators or Cabinet Ministers, The question is forced upon us whether our traditional ‘‘Forefathers’ Day” is not, after all, a solemn humbug, which must be relegated to the limbo of colonial my- thology along with the tomahawk of Pow- hatan and the little hatchet of George Washington, An anniversary is nothing if not accurate. What is the use of cele- brating on the 22d an event which really occurred on the 30th? Perhaps some sceptic of heroic mould will next prove that the Pilgrims never landed on Plymouth Rock at all, but will substitute other locali- ties on ‘Cape Cod and all alongshore” as the Meccas of New England ancestor wor- ship. But, whatever the result, let us havo the trath, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. ‘Will a Broadway Ratiroad Benefit Real Estate? The fact that a Broadway railroad from Union square to the Battery would bea pub- lic convenience cannot well be denied. The opposition to such a road has heretofore come from the owners of Broadway prop- erty, who have entertained the idea that the running of horse cars on that thoroughfare would impair the value of real estate. This may have been true some years ago, when the retail business of the city was princi- pally conducted below Union square, and when it was desirabie to keep Broadway clear for carriage customers. It may be a groundless fear now that the character of Broadway business has changed and new modes of transportation aro in operation. Business houses will not locate themselves where customers cannot conveniently go, and many people now be- lieve that a surface railroad is needed on Broadway, below Union square, to keop the trade on that thoroughfare which might otherwise, owing to the accommodations of rapid transit and horse cars, seck the adja- cent parallel strects, Besides, the business of that part of Broadway on which horse cars nowrun has been benefited by the street railroads and the owners of property would not now consent to the romoval of the tracks. It is argued that tho advan- tages of « Broadway railroad would be repent in detail without violating confidence | greater below than above Union square. and hospitality. He judiciously refrains The Post Office is the central point at which all business men conventrate, and no doubt there is an advantige in bringing cheap, eavy and rapid means of communi- cation as near that spot as possible. Horse ears and rapid transit liaes now carry pas- sengers from the immediate neighborhood of the Post Office on all the streets and avenues on both sides of Broadway. But to go up Broadway itself from the Post Office to Union square it is necessary to ride in a lumbering, jolting, loitering ten cent stage or to hire a hack. (Phe advocates of horse cars insist that this leaves the principal thoroughfare of the city, with its fine, commodious buildings, at a disadvan- tage, and that a surface railroad, with com. fortable cars run nt a good rate of speed, is needed to keep up the value of property on that part of Broadway. They argue that Sixth avenue was made one of the principal business avenues of the city through a good surface railroad, and that what has beea accomplished in the past for Sixth avenue is now demanded tor Broad- way. It.is certain that the violent opposi- tion to a Broadway railroad, which was prompt to show itself on every appearance of that project a few years ago, has now moderated considerably, if, indeed, it has not entirely disappeared. Dwight’s Testamentary Dinners. " Mr. Walton Dwight became insolvent last year. He had always believed in in- suring his life, and after going through bankruptcy he insured more than ever. He made a will and then he died. ‘There was some talk among the alarmed in- surance companies of contesting the claim of his estate to the insurance moneys on the ground that Mr. Dwight had maliciously done himself to death for the benefit of his family; but this was wisely abandoned, and the moneys, it is under- stood, will be handed over to the execu. tors. The will was probated at Bing- hamton yesterday and will be found in another column. While provid. ing comfortably for his family and expressing some common sense ideas on the way the testator desired his sur- viving ‘son to be brought up, it devotes sums, large in the aggregate, to his personal friends and toa variety of charitable and philanthropic objects. He evidently be- lieved in dinners. He leaves ten thousand dollars for Christmas dinners to the poor of Binghamton, five thourand dollars foran annual dinner tothe Fire Depart. ment and one thousand dollars for an an- nual dinner to the newspaper men, Ina carping, hard-fisted world this will be called eccentric if not positively baneful; but it will do the poor good, will do the Fire Department no harm, and, since the donor is dead, should not demoralize the newspaper men. We suppose thot in the existent slackwater of national politiés the brethren can manage to eat and drink together in unity, and, indeed, as long as the present affable and courteous trustees survive. Put life is short, and the time may come whea the “hell hounds” of the Banner of Lil« erly and the “sycophants” of the Ket- tledrum of Freedom will glare at each other across the hospitable table—happy that the table is between them, As it is, each editor-in-chief will feel a grave: re- sponsibility when ‘his fiery and untamed “local” is brought face to face with his rivals, If there is any dark passion in the human breast more baleful than the rest it is the hate of one “local” for another. Civilization will watch with breathless in- terest for the first dinner of the series that is to march down the centurics, PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE. Senator Francis Kernan is at the Fifth Avenue Hotel. Senator John P. Jones, of Nevada, ‘is at the Bt. James Hotel. Senator William Sharon, of Nevada, is at the Fitth Avenue Hotel, on his way to Washington. Galignani’s Messenger :—“,Tho tournure or panier is attaining higher but not wider proportions.” The members of the Bar of Rochester gave a banquet to Judgeelect George F. Danforth last night. Visitors to St, Paul's Cathedral, London, carry opera giasses so as to have a good look at the preacher and the bonnets. ‘The United Congregational Church and Society of Newport, BR. I., have unanimously voted to invite to tho pastorate the Rev. Henry J. Van Dyke, Jr., of Brooklyn, N. Y. London Fun :-—“We heard of thoroughgoing man of business lately who would not only do nothing by halves, but even refused to buy wheat at & most ad vantageous price, because it was sold by the quarter,” Galignani’s Messenger :—“Pearls are the fashionable Jewel this season. Dead gold ts revived for the set- ting of them, or diamonds. Filigree ornaments in silver and gold have reappeared, and also mosaic jewelry.” The President and Mrs, Hayes, accompanied by Secretary Evart¢,Gencral Sherman and daughter, and Attorney General Devens arrived in the city yes terday afternoon, by the limited express, from Wash- ington, and are at the Fifth Avenue Hotel, “Iam convinced that the world is daily growing better,’ remarked a reverend Aberdeen gentleman to brother minister; ‘‘my congregation is continually increasing.” “Curious,” replied the other, who happened to be @ penitentiary chaplain, ‘for so is mine.” Galignani’s Messengér :—""The newest trimmings have been described in former reports; a new gal- loon-like border has appeared, called dentelle-mousse, Itis not the plain bordered Breton now already so popular, but a ruching of narrow lace edgings closely sowed together on a strip of net.” ‘The Society for the Preservation of tho Irish Lan- gusge has memorialized the British government in favor of placing the teaching of the Irish language on the results programme of the national schools. It says the people are desirous of learning their native lan- guage, and over two thousand teachers are able and willing to teach them. ‘The high death rate of Dublin, as compared with that of many English cities, has beon a subject of comment even from the pulpit. One Roman Catholic clergyman remarked the other day that to the allitera- tive description, ‘dear, dirty Dublin,” there should be added another epithet—that of “doadly.”” Galignani’s Messenger :—“Tho handsomest materia of this season continues to be streaked and striped velvet on satin ground. Satin and moire antique mixed como next. Plain faille, with combinations of satin, follow. Cashmere, with combinations of lace, continue the prevalent styles of the day on a less ex. pensive scale,” London World:—A story is sent to me about tho late Mr. McNab, eurator of the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens. When Dubute's celebrated paintings of Adam and Eve were on exhibition Mr, McNab was taken to see them, and was asked for his opinion, ‘I think no great things of the painter,’ said the great wurdencr, ‘Why, man, Eve's temptin’ Adam wi’ a Pippin of a varicty that wasna known until aboot twinty years ago!’ Aw gennine a bit of eriticiem as that of the farmer who told George Morland that he had never seen eight little pigs fevding without one of thom having his feet in the trough. “Morland altered the picture,’