The New York Herald Newspaper, January 25, 1879, Page 5

AROUND THE WORLD, General Grant’s Visit to - Portugal. CONTRASTS BETWEEN SPAIN AND PORTUGAL See areas Prospects of a Federal Republic---Moral As- pects of the Two Countries. CONTRASTS IN AMUSEMENTS. The Bull Fight in Spain—Al- ways a Tragedy. THE BULL FIGHT IN PORTUGAL. Liszon, Nov. 19, 1878, The contrasts between the Portuguese and Spanish character are more marked than would be supposed, And yet it is difficult to select atype of the Spanish character as described in the romances. There is no such thing as Spain. The differences between the provinces of Spain, in language, character, tradition, origin, are greater than between the Spaniard and the Englishman. Spain is composed of various provinces—Biscay, Galicia, Navarre, the Asturias Leon, Castile, Aragon, Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia, La Mancha, Estramadura and Andalusia, The Basque is a type totally distinct from every other in Spain— distinct in every sense. The difference between the blue eyed, industrious Catalan, and the dark eyed, luxurious, sun-craving Andalusian is almost as great. ‘The effect of a central government and one language has been to break down most of the barriers and bring the people together under the generic name of Spanish. But although for centuries this process has been at work, the differences are great. The Basque does not assimilate, and a very ordinary knowledge of Spanish types and character would enable you to designate, in a body like the Cortes, for instance, the province from which most of the members spring. A PENINSULAR FEDERATION. It was this difference which during the time of the Republic led some Spanish republicans to propose a federation like the United States. This was the plan of General Sickles, then American Minister and wielding a commanding influence in the councils of the republicans. Sickles had the idea that Spain would only be strong by reviving the old pro- vincial distinctions and awakening a local feeling cor- responding to what the Pennsylvanian feels for Penn- sylvania and the New Englander for New England. He proposed that these provinces should be organized as States, that Cuba should be divided into two or three States and Porto Rico regarded as one, Each State should have a Governor and local Assembly and elect Senators to a central Senate, as at home, A re- Public based. on these conditions, recognizing in the widest sense provincial feelings and distinctions, subordinate to a central authority, which would direct the army, the treasury and foreign relations, would, it was thought, make Spain stronger than ever, revive all the old national feeling and open the way to a union with Portu- gal—a union necessary to the development of the Peninsula, For atime the republicans accepted the idea, But the cry of disintegration arose, and it was abandoned in a panic. There were demagogues who clamored against it as an attempt to destroy Spain, and their clamor was fatal, ¥YREEDOM IN PORTUGAL. There is every hope that the Federal Republic will revive. Even the demagogues will see that the idea of weakening the body because you strengthen the limbs, of disintegrating a State by reviving its Provinces and giving each section a strong govern- ment, is absurd, As to the differences of character between the Spanish and Portuguese, they are not nearly so great as between Biscay and Andalusia, At thosame time there are differen’.s which you can attribute partly to the government and artly to the communication with the outside world through her seaports. No influence isso decisive and salutary. Spain, so far as the outer world is concerned, is hid- den by a stone wall. She has the Mediterranean, but the breezes that come from the Mediterranean are enervating compared with what come from the At- lantic. Cervantes speaks of the Portuguese as a thick witted, dull people, and in the comedies you find frequent jokes at their expense, as in our com- edies you find jokes about the Yankee and the Cana- dian. But it seemed to me coming to Portugal from Spain that a freer air was blowing. The manners of the people were gentler. That reserve which never leaves the Spaniard—their conscious, published pride—had vanished. There was more freedom. I found this in the newspapers, to which one naturally turns in a country for evidences of freedom. In Spain there are no newspapers. All that world of journalism and pamphletccring which @ourished in the time of Amadeus and the Republic has gone out. The sheets are small and dull, the type a century old, Perhaps the editors do not care to buy type when any morning « civil guard may come in with an order of suppression from Canovas, As for news, I question if » Spanish editor would know an item of news. There are no adver tisements, You read afew announcements of medi- cines, of ships to sail, with long dispiayed notices informing you that such a day is the anniversary of deceased friend, and asking you to go to church and attend mass for the repose of the soul. But all that ‘world of enterprise, ambition and audacity which streams through the advertising columns of # journal like the London Times or the New Yonk Henav, and which mirrors to tho reader the char- acter of the people more completely than any other iniluence known to our civilization—ull this is dead in Spain. It has never been summoned to life. THE PRESS IN PORTUGAL, There is @ higher standard in Portugal. Tho press has complete freedom, and the editors have pride in their work. Take the visit of General Grant to the Pe- . ninsula as an example. Few events in Spain have ap- parently attracted more attention than the coming of the ex-President. Yet the Spanish journals seemed not to have heard of his prosence, or they dismissed his movoments in a paragraph announcing his ar- rival in a town as a general thing about the time he was leaving. In Portugal the journals snuffed his com- ing, and published wood engravings and biographies, The wood engravings might have done for many other persons, but the biographies were as accurate aasuch accounts generally are. Here in Lisbon we caine upon that beneficent influence of modern jour- nalism, the reporter. I don't think a Spanish nows- Paper ever heard of a reporter. As soon as the Gen- eral arrived in Lisbon (he reporters appeared and took possession of the approaches to the hotel and opened relations with tho servants, and every morning we had columns of choice information in the good old-fashioned, homely style. Our reporter was not quite up to the New York style, which heaven forbid, and did not interview the General as to what he thought of the world. Wo cannot expoct everything in «strange land. But ho did well, and told Lisbon how the General looked, and when he walked, and what he had for breakfast, and how he liked his eggs cooked, end the honr of his rising and retiring—all in old-fashioned style. In Madrid if & newspaper peglected to eay in any isau: the King and guard His Majesty many yours, be constructive distoyalty and would incur suppres- sion. In Lisbon there are journals of tho Miguelite faith who will not speak of the king except as a pri- vate prince, and who write of Don Miguel as though he was on the throne. Such an idea as suppressing these journals never occurs to the authorities. ‘They do as they please and do no harm. MORALS IN THE PENINSULA, In morais one perceives @ higher standard in Portugal than inSpain. Ido not think that the Portu- gucse, a8 4 historical character, is any better than the Spaniard, as Spain does not show any crime as crucl as the massacre of the Jews in 1506, Because a Jow ‘ NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, JANUARY 2 5, 1879.—TRIPLE SHEET, would not accept one of the miracles a monk was demonstrating a riot broke out, which only ended after thore had been days of plunder and massacre, costing the lives of thousands, every Jew who could be found being murdered. I know nothing in Spain more cruel than that. But in the way of public shows the Portuguese have a higher and more humane taste than the Spaniards, as seen especially in the national show of the bull fight. THE MORALS OF THY BULL FIGHT. Thave been twice to a bull fight in Spain. The first time I went to see the men kill the bulls. The sec- ond time I was drawn by the hope that I might see the bulls kill the meu. My experiences at a bull fight were like those of Lord Byron. ‘The whole spectacle was so brutal thet I could not remain. Looked at as @ question of mere humanity the Spaniard will dem- onstrate that there is no more cruelty in slaying 4 bull than in slayingafoe, He will point out that the bull has no higher mission in God’s kingdom than to reduce himself to beef, and that since that is his des- tiny, why is it more cruel to kill biz in one way than another? Englishmen kill foxes and give them to the hounds. Their sport is eruclty unredeemed, The Spaniard kills bulls and gives them for food, Their sport is useful and serves @ necessary purpose—the giving of food to the hungry. CRUELTY IN AMUSEMENTS. What revolts you in the bull fight is the absence of all hope for the bull, That wounds our sense of fair play. The fox may finda hole, the plover may take wing, the antelope has the fields and the forests: in our sports we do not tuke an undue advantage. But for the bull there is no hope. The tragedy always ends in death. Let him fight never so well, his valor only stimulates the excitement of the crowd, He has no possible hope. It he is wary or sluggish and will not fight, the dogs are put upon him or firecrackers are exploded in his skin. If he is fierce and so brave that the swordsman cannot do his office, then they creep behind and hamstring him and put him to death in a cowardly fashion. ‘The horses are killed in wantonness, and the more horses the bull gores and rents and tears to pioces, the more enthusiasm in the crowd. Jf even the horse had a chance! But his eyes are bound. He is generally so old and lame that his work is done. He has served his master in every way—pulling, hauling, starving, submitting to blows—and now, when the whip and spur haye no control of his worn-out con- stitution, he is doomed to the bull goring. The whole display is the refinement of cruelty. There were all kind of inducements held out to the General to visit the bull fight. But he could not be per- suaded, THR PAGEANTRY OF THE BULL FIGHT. And yet I question if any show is more imposing than a bull fight. The arena is like the old Roman Coliseum, a circle of benches and boxes under the open sky. There is the multitude—ten thousand sometimes rising tier on tier—comprising the wealth, the beauty, the nobility, the poverty of the town. Perfect freedom reigns and the aspect of such & laughing, chaffing, smiling multitude in high glee is imposing. ‘The bull fighters have national fame, and @ good swordsman is as much esteemed as a great actor and gs eagerly looked for as Mr. Booth on our tragic stage. It used to be said in England that every duke found it necessary to have a ballet dancer as @ mistress to sustain the dignity of his rank. In Spain they used to say that every duchess had a bull fighter foralover. You must not believe all that is saidabout dukes and duchesses, but if you go to the gall<ry you sce that Géya paints a famous duchess attending a rendezvous with two bull fighters at the same time, ‘The picture is so famous that it is repeated in tapes- try. But this belongs to the era when prize fighters were the companions of noblemen, and in England and Spain public taste has changed. At the same time the favorite swordsman, if the favorite appears at the fight, is always welcomed. He comes in the rear of a grand procession. Horsemen in pictur- esque dresses, attendants in orange and crimson cloaks, the swordsmen in the rear—lithe, active men, all eyes and nerves, in closely fitting, brocaded clothes, fantastically shaped; their hair twisted into a small cue, clean limbed, active, their lives at their sword’s point, for they must in the end face and kill the bull. As they march around the ring there are acclamations, the liveliest clatter of comment and gossip, speculations on the bulls, on the per- formers, ever increasing interest until the tragedy begins. , MODERN BULL FiaH'ts, ‘The trumpet sounds. All unnecessary people, musicians and #0 on, depart. The arena is cleared. The horsemen stand at the gate, lances in hand. They are in no danger beyond a fall or 4 bruise, for they are in leather and iron armor. The cloak bearers and swordsmen take their places near the barriers, to jump over in case of emergency. The door opens and out of the dark pen the bull comes bounding into the light, amid the buzz and roar of the multitude. If he is # good bull he will probably justify the description in the Moorish ballad on the famous bull fight of Sanzul:— Dark r? gety on either side. but the blood within doth boil, And the dun hide glows as if on fire as he paws to the turmoil. His eyes are jet, and they are set in crystal rings of ‘snow, But 4g to stare with one red glare of brass upon he foe. Upon the forehead of the bull the horns stand close and near; From out the broad and wrinkled skull like daggers th Te His neck 1s mussy, liko the trunk of some old knotted tree, Whereon the mouster’s shagged mane, like billows curled, ye se His legs are short, his hams are thick, his hocks are lack as night; Like a strong flail he holds his tail, in flerceness of his Paige Like something molten out of iron or hewn forth from the rock. If the bull is sluggish or indifferent the horsemen spear him and put themselves in his way that he may turn and gore the horses, The more horses he kills the more entertainment. This scene over, and it is too cruel and offensive to be described, the horses are dragged out, the horsemen retire and the bull en- counters another enemy. Darts are thrown into his neck—darts with ribbons or decorations. There is some danger in this. The performer stands in the middle of the ring with the dart in cither hand. As the bull rushes toward him and bends his head to strike the performer throws the darts into the shoulder, Theo pain makes the poor beast jump aud turn aud seek elsewhere his tormentor. If he does not turm, or if the darts should fail, then the performer has an interesting problem. He must ‘escape the bull. Sometimes he takes the horns and leaps over him. Generally he makes for the barrier and leaps over it. Occasionally the bull leaps after, and the excitement reaches to faver heat. Tho crowd prod him with sticks and call him all kindof names. The performer leaps back into the arena, and » gate is opened through which the bull is compelled to return to his doom, THR END OF THE TRAGEDY. Panting, tortared, bleeding, dripping from the wounds of the horsemen and the darts, foaming, angry, pawing the earth in pain aud rage, the bull comes back to the arena to die. This is the last act. The capada, tho leading actor,the Hamlet of the company, comes out alone, He bows to the Mayor it he is in authority, to the King if in his box, and says in high sonorous fashion that for the glory of Spain and in the honor of this high company he will kill the bull, If he is a great actor the crowd by this time is exultant, He advances alone to the centre of the arena, hie sword in his hand, gesturing and posturing and waving his sword and testing his arm, just an you see our Hamlets at home when they moet Laertes, ‘Uhia in tho crisis of the play, the ono thing whieh redvems the bull fight. This slight, | agile man, aloue in presence of # tortured, angr bull. He awaits the onslaught, and if he is a ski actor drives the sword into the animal's neck so that it dics at once. But as a general thing he makes several attompts before succeeding, and in the event of failure he must also take to the barriers. Even then there is not mttoch dan- gor. For the moment the bull pursuce he is set upon by a cloud of attendants, who throw cloaks in his face, decoying him this way or that, and lead- ing him ® crazy dance around the ring until the epada is in position again ready for another trial. Sometimes, however, the bull is cloar-minded and not to be deceived by cloaks, or tho espada is not nimble enowgh and the bull drives s horn into him and sends him over the barrier in lofty, passive fashion, ‘Chis now and then happens, Ifthe wound is fatat the espada is carried to a small room, where there is a privst in waiting with the holy sacrament. and if he dies he dies in grace, while the multitude, maddened with enthusiasm over the show, scream for another bull, Such a thing as the killing of a performer does not often happen. ‘The hope that oue aay be slain is a piquant sauce for the entertainment. FASCINATION OF THE BULL FIGHT, Such in brief is the bull fight in Spain. It is the national amusement. Kings attend to win popu- larity. Poor Amadeus, when he was in Spain as Mav- caroui L, tried hard to like the fht, and went often, in the Lope that Spaniards would take to hin kindly ax King. But he never relished the spectacle. ‘They Say it took Montpensier some time to prove himself @ good Spaniard and enjoy the bull fight. It is the amusement of the nation. I suppose there must be something else than cruelty in the spectacle, for one of the kindest and gentlest of men—an American whom I knew in Spain—a man of tender nature, con- fessed to me his passion for the show, and that nothing eutertained him more, But this all- destroying age is trampling on the bull ring. It is not what it was. It begins to fall as the prize ring fell. Itisa mere show to make money. There is even a party for suppressing bull fights. This party has memorialized the Cortes. They say that Spain needs the bulls; that the drain of bulls necessary for thering isa taxon the resources of the country; that a bull has so many higher offices than the bull ring beiore he becomes meat that he should be pro- tected. In ageneration or co bull fighting will go the way of prize fighting and other bratal amuse- ments in which our ancestors took so much pride. THE BULL FIGHT IN PORTUGAL. Contrast the bull ring in Spain with what it is in Portugal and you will see more clearly what I meant when I called attention to the more humane qualities of the Portuguese. The bull ring is as much of an institution here as in Spain, But all the conditions change. It isa comedy, not » tragedy; sometimes a negro minstrel farce. The arena is the same; the bulls are wild. On going into their pens wooden balls are tied to their horns. Connoisseurs divide the bulls into classes. There is the wild, harum-scarum bull, who rushes at everything, and whom it requires only moderate skill to fight. There is the im- petuous bull, quick to attack, but with sense enough to turn around and await the assault. There is the logical bull, which does not waste time on the cloaks. There is the bull who, instead of trying to toss the performer, chases him out of the ring by sheer running power. There is the timid bull, who runs away and gives a great deal of trouble, and the near-sighted bull, who is worse than none at all, Finally there is the cunning bull, who has been in the ring before, and with whom there must be no trifling. GENTLER ASPECTS OF THE SHOW, There is quite as much parade in the Portuguese as. in the Spanish bull ring, but the purpose of the show is to fight the bull and not slay him. The horsemen ride good horses, not abandoned beasts— horses trained to fight bulls, and not simply to be gored and torn. The foot performers are of two classes—those who throw darts, and another class of lively, active young men, who seize the bull by main force and play antics over him. Some- times colored gentlemen offer themselves ag tossing material for the bull, and then the fun is screaming. The performers are quaintly dressed in costumes of past generations; the dart throwers’ & natty costume, like Italian opera singers, short and embroidered velvet jackets, and breeches gaudily tinted, white stockings and red sashes. When the bull comes pawing and prancing into the arena, in- stead of iron and leather clad horsemen on broken- down omnibus horses to prod him with spears, the foot performers in Italian opera costumes throw the darts into his shoulder. This is an exciting feat, but bulls have a way of lowering their heads and taking their time before tossing, and it isin this instant that the performer throws his darts and skips over the barrier. It is a question of nerve and supple- ness reduced into seconds. The pain of the wound sends the bull capering around the arena and other agile dart throwers have their chance. In the mean- time red capes and scarfs are thrown before his eyes to excite him. After the bull bas been worried by the dart throwers and cape danglers the horsemen attack him. The duty of the horseman is to throw a dart about four feet long into the buil’s aeck and so manage his horse as to keep him from harm. Horses are trained to these experiences just as in the West they are trained to hunt buffalo, and it is # dis- grace for a cavalier to allow his horse to come to harm. As a closing act, some daring fellows attack the bnll, jump over his horns, seize his tail and overpower him, This done, and the buil thor- oughly besten, o half dozen trained oxen with bells around their necks are driven in. The bull wel- comes them as friends and goes out in their com- pany: ‘The darts are removed, the sore parts rubbed with salt and vinegar. It is not often that a bull goes twice into the rivg. He learns the trick the first time, and if called upon for # second per- formance stolidly takes his place in the coruer and watches his enemies skip around without budging. CONTRASTS. ‘This is cruelenough to our Anglo-Saxon eyes and we would besorry to see even Portuguese bull fight ing introduced into New York, But how humane, compared with the bullfight in Spain! The two forms of amusement show one essential point of va riance between the two countries, for in nothing can you read a people so clearly as in their amuse- ments. Alike in so many things—shoots from the same tree—contiguous in territory, the languages in affinity, more closely allied in all respects than any other two neighboring nations in Europe. In one you see progress in thought, public freedom, man- ners and morals—an effort to keep abreast of the cen- tury. The best friends of Spain rejoice if they can sec that she is not more than a century in the rear. The influences that have affected Portugal, however, will in time awaken in Spain the better sentiment of her people. “DONNYBROOK FAIR” STOLEN, GLEW'S PAINTING CUT PROM ITS FRAME IN NEWARK, N.7., AND CARRIED OFF. Some time during Thursday night or early yester- day morning thieves entered the restaurant of ‘Thomas Jones, in No. 219 Market street, Newark, N. J., cut from its frame Glew’s mammoth sized paint- ing of “Donnybrook Fair” and escaped with it. From the neat way in which the canvas was cut from the frame there appears to be no doubt that the thieves appreciate the value of the painting and the possibility of turning it into cash, ‘the picture was the property of Mr. Jones. He became possessed of it at the time of the artist's death, having advanced large sums to Glew and | subsequently to Glew's widow. This is the picture which was described in the HeraLp of September 22 last in the course of a remarkable family history given under the caption of “Read-a-Glew,” whici set forth the claims of the Glews to the heirship of a $6,000,000 estate Wales, which has been in possession of the Eng- lish Court of QOhancery for over twenty-tive years. ‘The picture just stolen is not the first “Donnybrook” painted by Glow, who was a native of Dublin, but the second. The first one was painted ina garret in Beaver street, this city, oxhibited at the banquet of the Kmghts of St. Patrick, March 17, 1865, aud was subsequently stolen and sold to a New York house furnishing dealer now deceased, who treated Glew very shabbily in the matter, The second “Donnybrook” was designed to tar outstrip the first, Glew being resolved to revenge himself on his enemies and at the same tine establish his fame aé an artist. ‘This new work of art was spread over @ canvas as large as one wall of moderate gized room. It contains thousands of figures and portraits of O'Connell, Samuel Lover, Carleton, “Zozymus’ aod many other noted Irish authors, orators and celebrities. This painting was to be the obef d'ewore of the artint’s life, On it he worked day and night and often with a pine stomach. To maintain himself and wife—tney had no childron—the furniture of their home the clothing in their wardrobe was sold bit by bit and by piece. Just as he had about compicted the picture and while he was in Connecticut collect- he some funds due him for portraits he was robbed a thi and his collections taken from him, Weary, worn and heartsick he re- turned to his home. Ho was taken fll in his home near the Newark meadows, @ most unhealthy spot, but with the merit of having cheap rents. oor Glew's last days were embittered by the pangs of chill penury aud by the knowledge that bis death would loave his beloved wite slone in a strange land, friendiess and penniless, She has for years been eking out the baresat subsistence in a wretched home in Newark. Recently #he was ordered to vacate the house in which she proerts unless she «i_rent, which heretofore had not beon exacted, Her claim to the estate are in the hands of York lawyers, but owing to ‘the law's delay” and ber lack of funds {t is doubtrul if she will reap any benefit from Read-a-Glow tor many years to come, it ever. Glew valtied his pieture at $20,000 when it would be entirely finished, which it was not when he dicd. Mr. cy vousiders his peinting worth fully balf that amount, MONEY CHANGING IN THE TEMPLE, 1S THE PRACTICE FORBIDDEN BY THE VAT ICAN?—‘‘A WORD WITH YOU, SIR.” BR——, N. ¥., Jan, 23, 1679. To rae Eprog oy tax Henatp:— You will, perhaps, be surprised to receive a letter from this region, dated two whole days ago, and on subject which seemingly concerns only metropolitan Catholics. But thut this question has a wider range is apparent from the interest which the discussion has provoked, not only in Catholic, but in Protes- tant circles, Cui bono, however? Will the flagrant abuse—the monstrous disgrace—be discontinued? ‘Tuesday evening last we received here Monday's Heap, and after reading it the writer happened to be in company with a good Catholic, who very pa- thetically deplored the melancholy situation of Church affairs m the metropolis, and who feared the whole ccclesiastical machine in this country was in such beautiful disorder that the document recently addressed by Cardinal Simeoni to the bishops of the United States hud come too late todo any good. At the same time this good Catholic was loud in his praises of the Henan, because it has at length raised its powerful voice in favor of permitting poor men and women to hear mass on Sundays and holidays. In this connection the Hrgaty may remember how the late Cardinal Barnabo had addressed, some years ago, acircular letter to the bishops of this country, condemning the custom of collecting at the church doors und prohibiting the pious practice for the future. Somebody in or near the city ought to in- form the Hrnaup why the prohibitory directions of that circular ietter have been hitherto disregarded. We do not like the phrase, “paying to hear mass,” and are grieved to think that the Hxnap is forced to ventilate the delicate question at all. “Ushers”? of the city churches must bear all the odium of the ez- posé. Had they been Catholic enough to value ey at one cent the holy sacrifice of the mass their ay: vicious assiduity had never been instrumental in opening up to public discussion the merits of a question which cannot bear discussion, because it cannot be touched without danger to tho practical fuith and piety of the people. The HrxaLp should send one of these grasping officials to Bulgaria. Some pastors have imprudently rushed into print on the subject. Better for them to keep low until the storm blows over. ‘The fixtulent expostulation and petulant gue which an apologizer delivered in one of the uptown churches last Sunday was dainag- ing in the extreme to the cause which he cham- pioned. Manya nil admirart must have pitifully es- ¢aped his reverend brethren when they read how he shouldered his cudyel on the occasion. He yocifer- ated against people “rushing into print!” Pray is he not himself so notoriously fond of that fauit as to acize every possible occasion to commit it, usque ad nauseam?” Wien the gentleman employs English words whose signification he does not fully compre- hend he must be excused on the ground, | suppose, that he was buried ‘twelve years” in benighted Italy. When he was pulpiteering last Sunday and denounc- ing certain parties as ‘“mountebanks” he must have been innocent of the true meaning of the word, other- wise his neryous imagination would have discoy- ered the smart ones of the congregation smiling in his face an “Et tu Brute!” But in the name of St. Bridget and St. Cecilia, too, when thundering against ‘the incoherent nonsense” of some of your correspondents, why did he so far forget his own “practical theme” as to drag in the poor “Saxon invader ?” Surely this consoling epi- sode was ad fucum facientum. Now all this bun- combe and hurrah might be pardoned in him bad he exhibited any symptoins of generosity toward poor Italy. Ungratetui disciple! ‘Eaten bread is soon forgotten.” He was twelve years in Italy! He should devoutly ng 4 the beads every day for the Hinatp men, who thus give him the opportunity of publishing this fact urdi et orbi, to the city and to the world, Lucky priest, who escaped with the faith! Many a man bad to leave his country for his country’s good, Our redoubtable Ulysses left the home and cradle of Catholicity for the good of the Church. Had he been detained much longer in Italy he might, he tells us, be not only @ biazing fanatic but an infidel to-day. Italy hospitably entertained him for “twelve years;” she did her best with him; ail she could do was to make him what he is; aud then it is to be piously presumed that she sympathetically dis- ik her hopeful with a blessing. Well, our American Cardinal. Other cardinals, bishops and doctors of the Church spent years in Italy, and yet we never heard that they ran any risk of losing their faith. Their recollections are pleasanter, as they are more Catholic than those of this gentleman. Perhaps his stay was more tedious and tiresome both to nis entertainers and to himself, At any rate the only good word which he has for Italy is his sentimental “Sic me servavit ».”* Had he not left sooner, ho said, he would have been an intidel, Queritur—Why do archbishops and bishops send students to Italy ? To make infidels of them and bring them home raving fanatics? Surely not. Our nobiesi and best priests, men who arean ornament both to the Church and to the country, have been educated in Italy, CLERICUS, IS THERE ROOM FOR A CONVERT? To rae Eprron ov 1He Henanp:— I read with much interest the articles in your paper upon “paying to hear mass." Catholics and Protestunts alike have written, and Tam sure you will hear a few words from one who has but lately entered the Church, Christmas morning I took 4 Protestant friend to St. Agnes’ Church. I tried to enter the middle door. ‘The door was tightly held and a man rudely said, “No room here cxcept for pew holders.” I then went to the left haud door, and the young gentleman in atteudance gave me a very nice seat, but on the side. I then explained I was & convert and not very fainiliar with the services, and I was kindly given a front seat. So mauy Lave spoken of rude ushers I waut to mention one I found to be a perfect gentleman. Ove Sunday I went to the large church on Forty- sccond street, near Ninth avenue, I hud forgotten my pocketbook, ‘The children occupied the ground floor, so I went to the left hand gallery, offered five and explained my position. ihe reply was ‘That is no fault of mine; I cannot let you Ithen went in, to the right hand yallery and said to the usher, “I have forgotton my pocketbook and have but five cents; is there no room in this immense church for Go home for your pocketbook.” a convert?” I was then allowed to enter. I am afraid to ask a Protestant friend to come with ure to church, tor fear of her being shocked by some rude- ness, although 1 always have money to pay. The churches in Philadelphia are free. Tho Jesuits never turn a poor person out, and the Convent chappls are free to their friends. Is it any wouder that many are kept from the Chureb? You must accept much in becoming A CONVERT, A “STRANGER” AT ST. ANN’S. To Tux Eprtor oy tHe HeraLp:— You have not taken up 4 grievance ia ten years so ‘important to the public as the one prosented in “Money Changing in the Temple.” Nothing but good can come of the discussion, or exposé rather, and the thanks of the public will be fairly due to the Hewanp, Permit me to say, in the first place, that the money changer is not confined to this city or country. Afew years ago, being in London, I went tothe pro-cathedral, and fouad the charge for ad- mission of for a seat one shilling. Spending the severe weather here in the city I went to the nearest church to this hotel, and was told that a seat in the middle aisle was twenty-live cents, or in the side aisies fifteen ceuts. While I was in the church a stranger asked me where he could get a seat. I re- ferred him to one of the ushers, who promptly | quoted their price. The stranger said he thought the whole thing was for the glory of God, and ho indignantly walked out. The rule of that church is, as I subsequently heard the pastor, Very Rev. Father Preston, aunounce to seat strangers without charge. But the class of people that clergymen have to employ as ushers have little or no gumption about things. In the non-Catholic churches the gentlemen of the congregation move around and attend to strangers. I knew on the in- stant that the gentloman who left 8t. Ann's Ciurch was astranger. I knew the pastor would never have allowed hitn to be treated in that manner. Lut there's the fact. The reverend pastor anuowne:d that the seven o'clock mass was free to all, and at the other masses a charge was made. Seven o'clock is | an early hour, and then all the members of a poor family are not able to Pgh 87 Bs time. “The pastor of St. Ann's said that af his church the was no charge at service for adimission; but it is a conspicuous thing for persons to staud near the door during service. Many do stand there, While they stand, or rather last Sunday while they so stuod, there were at least a hundred vacant seats of the church. These people stood there resumably because they did not have the twenty- Rve cents or the fifteen vente. Now, is there any sense or decency or catholicity or Curistianity in keeping poor people standing and the seats vacant? if the churches cannot afford fine seats and tine cushions, then throw the body or the gallery of ti church open, seations and carpetioss, and le: the poo people in to mass en masse, As YOU MAY say, just as they used to attend mass in the “chapel” at home. Key. Father Preston is a gentioman aa well as priest, aud when he cannot get common seuse into the wooden heads who act a ushers tt shows that some radical change is needed. Ln the Sixteenth street church the seats are free at all the masses but the high masa, Une of two things ought to bo done at once abulish the sin or stop preaching the sin of ne the holy sacrifice, or abolish the teen cents charge tor the compulsory attendance that mMpulsory on conscience. It does seem to me that # congregation would without any difticulty make up the deficit, if any were caused, in driving out the money changer. For myself, it [have to pay tor & seat, Ldo so under mental protest. When the Vt comes round Tam glad to have @ penny to f ngle on it, If Igo. to a church where, as a stranger, ‘ain shown to aseat, when the plate comes round I put on itas much os 1 cam advrd, Aud tien 1 uct upon the advice of Father O'Brien, of New Haven, y ayo. He said pay what you can afford, bat your pennics off tie plate. STRANGER, Si. Duwis Hoven, Jan AN ANSWER TO “srBYL,” ‘To THe Eprror or Tax Heratp:— i most sincerely regret that a stigma should rest upon my dearly loved city of Richmond by such sweeping ussertious as are contained im the article headed “A Richmond Lady's Views,” and signed “Sibyl,” in your edition of the 2d inst. I hardly thiuk it represents the views of the Catholics of that city, ov, in fact, true Catholics of any city. In the first place I would ask the lady, What is the idea of pews ina Catholis Church? Are they mot one of he principal means of revenue to them? The amount asked for a seat in any ix not large, and in some as low us five cents for the carly mass If, as “Sibyl” suys, she be truly a Catholic, she must be badly intormed in regard to her holy religion, or she would understand that there can be no such thing as “paying to hear mass." Once insic the threshold, it is possible to hear mass, as inauy thousands do every Sunday, without having 4 seat, not because tuey have not the money to pay, but simply because there is not an unoccupied seat in the church to be had for love or money. After all itis not the poor who go to church to Worship their God in his holy temple who would turn away simply because they hud to stand, They can be found always tered around God’s holy altar, filliug the nooks corners oi the chureh intent on their devotions. is just possible that tie unfortunate people of byl’s” stamp give alittle trouble by paying for one deat and wishing to occupy two, It was my good fortune to meet one the Sunday before last. Sie would not pay even five cents and wanted to occupy the entire pew. The usher did not ask her to leave. in Europe nearly all the churches are pewless, At the door you are tendered a chair, for which you pay one, two, or three cents, and in larger cities, such as Paris, Lyons, Rome or Naples, sometimes tive, ac- cording to the position oveupied; nearer the altar the dearer. But “Sibyl,” no doubi, belongs to the cliss Who want the priost’s services in heat or cold, sunshine or storm, and wish to give nothing to sus- tuin tho life in the bodies of the most overworked, unselfish men the sun ever shone upon—the Catholic priests of the city of New York. MARIE, late of Richmond, Va. DR. JOHN LORD'S LECTURE AT CHICKERING HALL ON THE GREAT DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH. An audience that filled every seat and spread itself along the walls was gathered at Chickering Hall yes- terday morning to hear Dr. John Lord's lecture on St. Augustine. Augustine had been teaching rhetoric in Carthage and was thirty years of age when he entered Rome. The capital of the world was at the decline of its political power when Augustine entered. He did not know any of its illustrious people, but he was drawn to the doctrines of the new academy.’ Its followers were sceptical in their tendency. ‘They gave him no consolation, still his dislike of Christianity remained. He found Rome amoral desert, with everybody immersed in pleasure. The people of Milan wanted a teacher of rhetoric, and they sent for Augustine. There he met Ambrose. Little by little he was gradually drawn nearer and nearer to the truth. He resolved to abandon the Manicheans and turn to the Catholic Church; but his conversion had not come. He put away his Roman concubine, but took another unlawful love in Milan. Augustine had a double nature. A powerful sensual body aud a lofty soul. The evil that he would not, that he did. He did not abandon philosophy, but read the works of Plato, the loftiest development of pagan thought. The mystery of the incarnation offended his sense. Jesus Christ was revealed to him as the restorer of truth. These truths waged a war in his mind, and caused the bitter tears to flow. He held repeated con- Versaiions with Ambrose and wrestled al with himself. As he lay on the ground under it tree one day he heard a voice saying, “Get, and read.” He obeyed and his conversion was accomplished. He ‘was now in the thirty-third year of his age and he determined to devote himself to the new master. With his mother and his son he retired to a country house near Milan. ‘here, surrounded by advisers, the hands of opulent friendship providing for his wants, he studied the highest truths. Three glorious years passed in this study without scandal and the proud philosopher became the humble Christian, In the year 337 he received the rite of baptixin from Ambrose and was admitted into the ranks of the Church. He was oracle, preacher and orator and interested everybody. He taught that self-restraint was better than total abstinence. He argued the necessity of unity in government us well as unity in faith, and this is what has so en- deared him to the Roman Catholics. In the time of Augustine there was but one visible Church, that was the Roman Catholic. He did not indorse the en- croachments of the Pope, but he endeavored to give to the clergy and their leaders the views of the sovernment. Protestants who do not believe in is idexs must remember the times in which he _ lived. Augustine came to the rescuc of the by tog | ot the Cataolic Church, He armed himselt for this terrible conflict, not with David's sling, but with Goliath's sword. He was raised up to demolish with reason, and to leave to posterity the weapons to be used in after days, He advocated a personal God to confess to. ‘Chere is nothing in the writings of Angustine to prove that he believed in the penalties of sin, He was au earnest searcher atter truths, even when cusiaved by the vices of Athens, and he left over a thousand tracts on as many digerent subjects. CIVILIZING THE RED MAN. LECTURE BY GENERAL ARMSTRONG ON THE SOLUTION OF THE INDIAN QUESTION—SPKECH BY A WARD OF THE NATION. The parlors of the Young Men's Christian Associa- tion, corner Fourth avepue and Twenty-third street, were crowded to excess yesterday forenoon by an audience composed of some of our most respectable and influential citizens, who were gathered for the purpose of listening to an ccount of the “Solution of the Indian Question,” as attempted at the Normal and Agricultural Institute at Hampton, Va, General 8. C. Armstrong, United States Army, principal of the Institute, stated the objects of the institution to be the instruction of the ‘wards of the nation” in agricultural and mechanical arts, so that the prin- ciples of civilized life might be imparted to the repre- sentatives of the ted man in the institute and by them imparted to their people who still lived in @ semi-barbarous state. A Cheyenne student of the school, the ouly representative of the Indian race present, made a speech. He said there are some good ndians xnd some bed Indians. The whites have the mastery aud he thought it was better to civilize, Christianize and educate the Indian than to kill him with whiskey and the ritle. Those who were with him at Hampton had exhibited remarkable readiness and adaptability in learning mechauical arts, and were obtaining @ practical education in agriculture and mochanica, ally the latter, which would be of great service when they returned to the people of ther own race and began instruct them in the useful busiuexs of civilization. ‘The object of the present visit of General Arm- ug and Captain Pratt, with ther attendants, to city isto make an effort to raise funds for the purpose of constructing at Hampton a bai suitable for machinery from which the natives of nstrugtion, A public meeting in aid of this object will be held to- morrow (Sundsy) evening at eight o'clock in All Souls’ Chu . Dr. Bellows), corner of Fourth avenue and ‘Twentieth street. William EK. Dodge will preside, and addresses will be made by Dr. Washburn, General Armstrong. Captain Pratt aud others, HELLER'S APPARATUS. DETAINED FOR DEBT IN PHILADELPHIA BUT NOW SAFE IN NEW YORK, At the time of the death of the magician Robert Heller very general interest was felt as to the dis: position of his apparatus, some of which. was unique and costly and largely of his own invention. When his will was published the following clause was found:—“I have spert years of toil and much money to bring my tricks to their present state of perfece tion, und 1 do not see why any one should reap the re- ward of my life of labor.” As Heller, in spite of his physical infirmities, hed always been a genial, crous fellow, and as his half-sister and family were left behind him, this appeared very strango to his friends, and no little comment was made. Subse- quently an informal announcement was made by the press that in his last hours Mr. Holler had revoked the direction to destroy his apparatus, HELLER'S DEDTS, Mr. Heller died in Philadelphia, leaving local debts for ront, stage hands and newspaper bills amounting in all to about $750, It was generally believed, how- ever, that Mr. Heller was a very rich man, and no ap- preliension was felt by his ereditors until they were met by @ refusal to pay, Meantime, before Miss Heller could obtain possession of the apparatus the owner of the Philadelphia hall where Heller had been playing levied on it, and declined to let tt go until his claim, at all events, was satisfied, Other creditors, thinking that was a good tdes, followed it, and it was teared the apparatus must be sold unloss funds could be raised to redeem themt at once. Atew days since Mies Heller and “Dan” Gillette went to Philadelphia and endeayored to arrange with the owner of the hall. As they were not prepared to pay in full their proposition was not at first accepted. After awhile the friendly interference of the land: lord’s lawyer was invoked and an amicable adjust- ment was made. and brought to thi Jection in the inte i connection it is of interest to know that although Mr. Heller ma: ay fast he spent, loaned and lost it nearly as rapidly. je Was also largely interested in stock speculations, and, unfortunately, lost much more than be mude, 5 ALL FOR CHARITY. MR. E. R. TAYLOR'S AID ASSOCIATION (FOB WIDOWS AND ORPHANS)—-HIS ANSWER TO THE CHARGES MADE. The article published in yesterday's HERALD, con- taining Mrs. Josephine S. Lowell’s charges against the “Widows and Orphans’ Aid Association of New York and Brooklyn,” attracted widespread attention andcaused much indignation against Mr. E. R. Tay- lov, who is understood to be at the head of the little society, To obtain his side of thé story a reporter culled at No. 5 Winthrop place, in the afternoon, and expressed his readiness to the substance of any defence the man had to make. Mr. Taylor said that he was glad to have an opportunity to oxculpate him- self, and handed the following card, which he had written in the morni To THe Eprrok ov rue Henan An article 1s your paper of 4th iy \ with au institution in charging me of ree! character, aud does me g cers of the Widows aud Orphans Aid association E.R. RISING TO EXPLAIN, Mr. Taylor was full to the brim with explana tions. Inthe first place, he said the name of Dr. Muhlenberg was used in his circular merely as a compliment to thet late distinguished clergyman, with whom the idea of the association originated, It did not intend to stand on anything but its own merits, After Mrs. Lowell's visit in November it was feared that the association might be called upon by the State “to show that it (the association) was in- formal,” and to avoid the ‘paper notoriety” which that would occasion it was determined to cancel the articles of incorporation. After this a Thanks- giving and a Christmas dinner were given to the poor, but nothing else was done, the president, Mr. G. A. Greene, of the Greenback Labor Advocalz, and all other mule members, saye only the secretary, Mr. Taylor, finding their time too much occupied elsewhere to continue their connection with the churity., The association under its new title, the only change being the substitution of the word “benevolent” for the word “aid,” did not recom- mence its labors until this month. Mr. Taylor searched the office to find the articles of incorpora- tion to show them to the reporter, but the document was not to be found. When asked tor the names of the new incorporators, Mr. Taylor henitatingly gave the following:—Daniel Hamilton, Mrs. L. Roberts, Miss Louisa Dean and Mrs, Pullman. When the residences of the gentleman and ladies named were requested, Mr, Taylor said that the former owned real estate in Wythe avenue, Brooklyn, but had no number; Mrs. Roberts hved in Rush avenue or Rush street, East Brooklyn; Miss Dean had occupied rooms in this city, but was now with her relatives in Poughkeepsie, aud Mrs. Pullman, who had come on from Philadelphia only a tew weeks ago, with ex- cellent testimonials, was living at No. 125 Waverley place. Hers was the only address which he actually knew. But then, as he said, “we are only just beginning.” MISLAID TESTIMONIALS, Mr. Taylor soon began to rummage among the pa- pers scattered throughout the office in quest of cer- tain testimonials as to his good character which he said he would like to show. " ‘There are letters here,’* he remarked, “from men in banks, from Massachusetts and other cities where 1 was superintendent of anin- surance company; letters showing where I heve been tor the last seven years, and that { haven't been con- nected with anything dishonorable or unjust for @ number ot years.” Finally, however, the search had to be abandoned; but Mr, Taylor said he could pro- duce the epistolary proofs of his character whenever it should be necessary. Later on in the interview he said that he had been a man of honor and integrity for fifteen years. He thought he would aye to give up the superintendency of the association, the attack upon which had been instigated by a woman who had been discharged trom its employ last July. ‘The association was formed in tue tall of 1876, but was not legally incorporated till July, 1878, at which time the headquarters were removed from Park row to their present location. During the whole term of its existence Mr. Taylor thinks it has received over one thousand applications tor relief, and has ob- tained positions for about one hundred and twenty- five applicants, besides affording temporary assistance to many more. It does not pay the travelling expenses: of any one sent to the West, though it has procured employment for four or five persons in that part of the country. None of the officers are salaried. Since July, 1878, some $600 or $700 have been received and distributed, besides provisions and medicine valued at upward of $200. Mr. Taylor said that the “patrons” named in the yssociation’s old circular were persons who hud contributed from fifty cents upward. They had not consented to the use of their names, but a circular had been sent to each and no protest had been made. MAKE THE DISTINCTION. ‘No. 245 Easr Tainty-riviu Srreer, Jan. 24, 1879. To ruk Eprron or tHe Heuanp:— Will you do me the favorto say that the Mrs. O, Pullman whose name is connected with “The Widows ‘and Orphans’ Benevolent Association,” and which ou designate in this day’s issue us a “Charity Swine ¢,”” is ot my wife? C. PULLMAN, “ALWAYS WITH You.” The following cases of distress have been investie gate and are presented as worthy of relief :-— At No. 304 Mott street, third floor, rear house, @ family of five are utterly destitute. At No, 386 East Sixty-third street, top floor, back room, a family of sevea are in extreme poverty, They need immediate assistance. A widow and her three children, at No. 323 East Seventy-fourth street, top floor, front room, are in a deplorable state of poverty. A man, his wife an their sick child are in need of immediate relief at No. 20s Forsyth street, second floor. A woman and her five small children, at No, 420 East Eleventh street, second floor, trout room, need food. Her husband is in the hospital. é At No. 157 Attorney street, top floor, front, a man, nearly blind, is in great want. % A family is in distress at No, 99 Sheriff street, top joor. Iu one small room in the rear of No. 247 West Thirty-third street, first floor, a family of six are im the greatest destitution, The mother is # widow, with five childran (one an intant of two months). They have hardly any clothing or bedding and but one blanket, and no fire or food in the house, A family of three need relief at No. 152 West Twenty-cighth street, rear Louse, first floor, At No. 12 Thompson street, rear house, top floor, a family of five are entirely without tood or fire, One of the family, @ man seventy-seven years old, is on his deathbed. A family is in yreat want at No. 151 Hudson street, big 7 floor. it No, 250 West Eighteenth street, first floor, back room, acolored man and his wife are in need of as- ‘The wite is ill, tthe 17th inst. was given the case of & poor woman who was reduced to great poverty and who had a sick husband dependent on her. By ® mistake of the poor woman herself, or by a mis- understanding on the part of a charitable lady who supplied the facts of the distress, the address was given as No. 195 Greenwich street, rear house, instead Ot No, 695 Greenwich street, rear house, ‘The mis- take was corrected iu the HickaLp of the 2st inst., a3 soon as the charitable lady referred to was enabled to find the distressed family. It may be now further stated that the poor woman is very soon to become @ mother and that she is very much in need of assist ance, She was at first sent to St. John's Guild for help by 4 physician who had become aware of her destitute condition. ‘The tollowing contributions have been received at HeEnawp office ;— W. 'f. B.,"" for No. 230 West Ninoteenth street, $55 “Frionds of the Poor,” for general fund, $11 B.," for poor woman at No. 195 Greenwich street, $5; “Wilson,” for lawyer going South, $2; “Harlem,” for Rooney family in Nineteenth street, $1; *N Smith," for Ne 1 Woat Eleventh street, $1; “Mabel and Edith,” for No. 236 Greenwich and No. 321 West venth street, $4; “8. A. S.,” for Mrs, Hughes, $2, Total, $31, A GENKROUS DONATION, JANUARY 24, 1879, To rag Eprron ov Tae Heranp:— Lenclose check for $100, which please use for the Denefit of the poor as you may think best, and ack nowledge receipt under your heading “Always Wita You,” with the initials “A. L.,"" but no mame to be mentioned, AMERICA'S The New Jersey Historical Society bas formally exe pressed its beliof that the bones in the Cathedral Church at St. Domingo are the veritable relics of Christopher Columbus, ‘The society also declare or of the Western World is worthy mument suitable to his wreatness and the ex- pression of the gratitude ot a Christian continent, and that sach monument should be built by the joint contributions of the republics of the Western Conti+ nent.” The matter is to be brought to the attention of all American historical societies and of Congress through the New Jersey Senators and Representa» tives. ALLEGED BURGLARS, ‘The police of New Lots, L. L, yesterday, delivere@ to the authorities of Jamaica two nen named William Batterby and John Loensenfelser, who were charged with having perpetrated a burglary in the house of James Tissot, at Woodhaven, last Christmas Eve, Mr, Tissot has identified some goods found in Lensen: felser’s possession, He says Batterby gave them to him. Both are said to be members of the “Shang” Rogers gauy. They will be examined to-day,