The New York Herald Newspaper, February 3, 1879, Page 8

‘TRIPLE 6 NEW YORK HERALD BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, TROPRIETOR, neem THE DAILY HERALD, pullished every day tn the year, ‘Three cents (Sundays excluded. ‘Yen dollars per s for six months, two dollars and fifty cents fone dollar per month for hs, Sunday edition included, RALD—Ono dollar per year, free of post- fts on Now hor of these letter, All n- Remit in dra hi wlegraphic despatches must ean, nto ould he properly sealed. s will not be returned, AVENUE DE LOPERA, YO. TSTRADA PACE, advertisements will aine terms us in New ¥ TO-NIGHT. ine Couteen Bawn, BROADWA THEATRE COMIQUE. BAN FRAN TONY PASTOR’ WINDSOR TE COOPER iw COLORS. |. M. 8. Prvarore. SHEET. ‘EBRUARY 3, 1879. NEW YORK, Lhe probabilities are that the weather in New York and ils vicinity to-day will be eold and partly cloudy or fair, followed toward night by rising temperature. To-morrow it promises to be warmer and fair. Ovr Lonpoy Lerrer this morning paints a somewhat gloomy winter picture of the British metropolis. The weather is unusually severe, crime is rife and the spring outlook is far from encourag Tur Westchester! AKMAID, Who undertook to outwalk Mine. Anderson, has given it up after a short trip of five hundred and sixty-six quarter miles. The other quarters were equally slow in the counting. : Montreat’s CATHEDRAL witnessed @ curious ceremony yesterday—the second step toward the canonization of Sister Marguerite Bourgeois, the foundress of the Congregational Nuns of Notre Dame in 1653. Tr Witt Nor be the most fortunate thing in the world for the country if Paul Boyton during his visit to the capital shall succeed in teaching the politicians the secret of buffeting the political waves. The drowning of a batch of them now and then is, on the whole, a good thing. Ir Wut Be Seen from our Dublin letter that the extraordinary Bagot will case still oceupies the attention of the Irish courts. Mr. Butt, in his argument against a new trial, sustained the reputation of the Irish Bar for eloquence and wit. Tux DeatH Notices in our advertising columns this morning present a remarkable record of longevity. Fourteen persons whose deaths are announced lived in the aggregate within two of one thousand years, the average age of each one being seventy-one years. In Tis Snare Wintr: THER the upper Hudson is the scene of some exciting although dangerous sport. For some weeks the ice yacht fleet Las been coursing over the frozen ri and the marvellous speed of a mile a minnte is said to be not an unusual occurrence. ‘Tux Nove. and interesting experiment of attempting to save life by the transfusion of human blood was recently made in Brooklyn. It will be seen from our report that the patient ‘was slightly revived by the operation, but the nature of his disease precluded the possibility of effecting a com ‘Tne Sermons YEsTERDAY, as a rule, were of a plain, practical character. Dr. Armitage was eloguent upon the theme of Christian magna- nimity, Dr. Newman on “Christ as the Great Teacher,” and Dr. Hepworth on “God In- carnate.” The low tone of morality in religion and sensational preaching claimed the attention of Mr. Beecher, and the trials and vexations of life were explained by Dr. Quinn. Mr. Talmage made the terrible threat that he intends to preach for the next thirty years in his present vein, but was comparatively tame in his treat- ment of the cities, in which he at last begins to gee some good. Tur Wratuen. t eastward move- ment has taken place in the disturbance over the Northeastern distriets since Saturday, but the pressure decreased steadily until it reached the very low figure of 29.00 inches. In the afternoon, however, a gradual recovery of the barometer was noticed, but so slight that it did not affect the p ing conditions very much, The rometer is low over the Middle Atlantic and England States, it is high but falling slowly over the lake regions, and is highest from the South Atlantic coast to the Roeky Mountains, Snow has fallen in the s, the Middle Atlantic and New ates. In the northern part of the latter district the increasing temperature caused the snow to change into rain, Clear weather generally prevailed throughout tlie conntry, ex- cept in the districts affected by the northeast- ern disturbance, and the northern lake regions, where the mneter fell somewhat during yesterd fternoon, The winds have been brisk over the Middle Atlantic and New Eng- land States, fresh to brisk in the lake regions and generally t elsewhere, With the ex- ception of w slight rise in the Northwest and the northern portion of the New England States the temperature has fallen, It is likely that the pressure will increase during the early part of today, but will commence — fall- ing again toward night. The tempera- ture will, also rise considerably, The giadients will become steeper on the Middie Atlantic and New England coasts, and stormy weather will prevail on the ocean between Jatitudes forty and fifty. The weather over the British Islands is still unsettled. Rain is fall- ing, accompanied by southerly winds. The weather in New York and its vicinity to-day will | ve cold and partly cloudy or fair, followed toward night by rising temperature. To-mor- row it promises to bo warmer and fairs Retrenchment of Diplomatic Expenses— Our Navy ‘the True Symbol of Na- tional Dignity. The latest of our diplomatic sppoint- merits is that of Senator Christiancy as Minister to Peru, made last week and unanimously confirmed on the same day. ‘The reason publicly assigned for this ap; pointment is so futile as to be ridiculous, Mr. Christianey, who is not in good health, thinks a tropical climate would bencfit him, An envy extraordinary and minis- ter plenipotentiary is to be commissioned, not for any public or politica! or inter- national reason, but on purely sanitary grounds, with a view to enable an estimable citizen to try an experiment on his health at the expense of the national ‘Treasury. We concede that this is a more respectable motive than the one by which most of our diplomatic appointments are prompied. Instead of being a hospital or sanitarium for men physically disabled our foreign missions are, for the most part, retreats for maimed or crippled politicians, who are supported at the public expense. Mr. Christiancy is a iavorable specimen of this class of appointees, since his maladies are merely physical, and his intellectual and social qualifications are equal to the position, . But still it is none the less a farce to bestow such positions for sanitary reasons and for the mere private advantage of the incumbents. Why should Mr. Christiaucy rather than anybody else travel for his health and re- side in a southern climate at the expense of the government? The vacant mission to Berlin is not yet filled, and it may be difficult to find an appointee so accomplished and popular as the late Bayard Taylor. The fact that no public interest is thought to suffer by the long delay in selecting his successor is an additional proof of what everybody knew before, that the German mission is of no practical consequence. Everything goes on precisely the same and precisely as well under a temporary chargé d’affuires as under a regular minister. This honorable posi- tion was given to Bayard Taylor, not tor any important diplomatic service he was expected to render, but to facilitate his re- searches for writing a life of Goethe. What interest has this country in the great Ger- man poet to justify an investigation of the minutest particulars of his history at the expense of our government? It was, of course, a great deal ‘better to send to Berlin ascholar capable of employing his time in so respectable an investigation than it would have been to fill the place with one of the herd of vulgar politicians who are ignorant of the language, people and history of Germany; but for any serious business purpose the mission of Bayard Taylor was as useless as if he had been an ignorant politician of the ordinary type. What, then, is the: use of missions which may be filled by mere brokendown politi- cal hacks, or by men of letters who covet them for facilities of literary research, or which may be left vacant for indefinite periods, without loss or detriment to the country? The Hznacp advocates the discontinuance of thé greater part of our foreign missions and a reduction of the expenses of the half a dozen which it may be ex- pedient to retain. Whena sudden emer- gency arises, or when a new treaty is to be negotiated, special envoys may be sent, and the appropriations for the contingent expenses of the State Depart- ment should always be sufficient for such occasions. With such a provision nearly all the foreign missions could be discon- tinued without detriment to any public in- terest. The few retained should be regarded as posts of honor, to be filled by eminent citizens willing to accept the honor as the chief part of their compensation. The first in point of time and the greatest in capacity of all the diplomatic agents employed by the United States-—every in- telligent reader will see that the reference is to Dr, Franklin—strenuously main- tained that the most important po- sitions in the government should have no pecuniary compensation attached to them. The illustrious exam ple of Washing- ton had some influence in shaping his views, but they rested on reasoning rather than precedent. Franklin was a member of the Convention which framed the federal consti- tution, and in that body he made a speech against allowing salaries to executive offi- cers. Ina note to this speech by the best and ablest of Franklin's biographers it is said: - ‘Franklin and Washington taught in the most eloquent way, though unsuc- cessfully, the impolicy ot allowing any compensation to executive officers ; they both declined to accept what the law awarded them. Franklin con- sented to receive something less than ninety dollars to cover his postage account while President of Pennsylvania, and in his will bequeathed the rest to various charities.” In the clause referred to.in Franklin’s will he seid:—‘It having been long a fixed political opinion of mine that in a democratical State there ought to be no offices of profit, it was my intention when I accepted the office of President to devote the appointed salary to some pub- lie uses,” &, We have not space for quotation from Franklin’s vigorous speech on this subject in the federal Convention, which may be found in full in the third volume of Bigelow’s excellent “Life.” Its purport is sufficiently indicated in the foregoing extract from Franklin’s wiil, But we cannot forbear to insert the graceful compliment to Washington with which Franklin concluded his speech. “To bring the matter nearer home,” said the venerable speaker, “have we not seen the greatest and most important of our offices, that of general of our armies, executed for eight years together, without the smallest salary, by a patriot whom I will not now offend by any other praise?” Franklin ended his speech by declaring that the mere saving of salaries was not his object, but a wish to elevate the public service above mercenary considerations, In applying the argument of Franklin to the circumstances of our own time it is obvious that the safest place for trying the experiment is in our diplomatic service. If, contrary to all probability, it should be found impossible to fill five or six first class missions with eminent citizens willing to serve without compensation, no public in- terest would suffir by the failure, since it is a matter of everyday experience that when foreign missions fall'vacant there is no haste or wegeney to fill them, and that no complaint is ever made, even by party malice, that the country loses anything by the delay. Sudden occasions can easily be met by speciai envoys, and aside from sudden emergencies it makes no real difference whether even the greater missions are filled or vacant. There might be some hazard in trying the experiment whether aa able statesman would serve as President for the mere reim-~- bursement of his expenses, but it would be perfectly safe to try this experiment with any or all of our foreign missions. We have no doubt that the mere honor would give us abler ministers than any prospect of emolument. But whatever might be the result of e trial it could be attended with no serious disadvantage, since it is of such slight consequence whether any particular foreign mission is vacant or not. Our diplomatic service is merely a method of keeping up our national re- spectability, but this object is habitually defeated by the appointment of unfit men. Incompetent minisiers are appointed be- cause our interest in foreign governments is so slight that it makes no real difference whether we are ably represented or not, or whether, indeed, we are represented at all. The dignity of the United States would be best represented abroad by a gallant and efficient navy, serving at once as a symbol of our power and a proof of our ability to resent and punish national insults, Diplo- macy can do nothing for us except in rare special emergencies, but a powerful navy would make foreign governments so consid- erate and deferential that we should easily steer clear of international disputes, Extend the Hoars. A bill has been introduced in the Assem- bly requiring the ‘‘L” railroads in New York to run trains at five cents fare from half-past five until nine in the morning, and from four until eight in the evening. This proposition is by no means unfair to the companies, as the extension of the hours for cheap trains will, we are confident, actually increase their receipts. It is only just to the public, because the main con- sideration pledged as a return for the valuable franchises bestowed on the companies was that the poorer classes of our citizens should be afforded the privilege of travelling at five cents fare, and tho hours now set apart for the cheap trains are entirely insufficient. Many thousands of persons who cannot afford to pay ten cents fare do not go to their work until after half- past seven in the morning, at which time the cheap trains cease running. This is espe- cially the case with female employés, who frequently do not leaye work before seven o'clock, and so lose the advantage of the reduced fare both morning and evening. There is no reason, therefore, either on the ground of equity or of public advantage. why the hours set apart for the running of cheap trains should not be extended. But it will be far more satisfactory to the people if the concession is made voluntarily by the rapid transit companies, instead of being forced upon them by legislative action. There is astrong disinclination to see the Legislature intermeddle at all with rapid transit. Already a bill has been in- troduced to prevent the construction of the Second avenue “I,” road, and other equally suspicious movements may be in store. Visions of obstruction and blackmail will force themselves into existence whenever a proposition comes from Albany to inter- fere with the business of a corporation, and the people of New York desire that the Legislature shall keep its hands off rapid transit. Mr. Field at a meeting of the directors of the New York “L” Railroad Company, on Thursday last, stated that the proposition to extend the cheap hours is al- ready under consideration, and we have no doubt that both companies will assent to so reasonableapublic demand. The best thing the Legislature can do is to leave the rapid transit roads alone. The people are not yet hopeless that the desired improvements and concessions will be made in good time. Safe Steamships and Chartered Death bs Traps. If anything is worth doing at all it is worth doing well, and we believe the sub- ject of the safety of human life and prop- erty at sea is of such paramount importance as to warrant the thorough investigation we have been making of the safety water- tight bulkhead systems of steamers engaged inthe ocean and coasting trades. If we accept the assurances of the proprie- tors and officers of these vessels we must be convinced that everything is done in their construction and manage- ment to assure safety. But as vessels of the class to which we refer have foundered from stress of weather or have gone to the bottom by reason of collisions and other mishaps, it is safe to doubt that pertection has yet been reached in steamship building. The effect of our investigation cannot fail to be beneficial, because its prosecution will enlighten the travelling public on many matters about which people are ignorant. It will also show the steamship companies that the popularity of their lines must rest on some more substantial basis than mere wordy assurances of safety. It will not pay to build steamships on speculation, and under that dangerous system by which the builder gets a smali price and the owner bad work, When the matter is con- sidered there is nothing so easy as to build a good steamship if the parties to her con- struction are honest men. We may feel certain that when a vessel proves to be defective in any important particular the hand or influence of dishonesty has been at work on her, Underwriters can do much toward driving deathtraps from the seas, because a iegitimate business in marine insurance cannot be done in such bottoms. It is more gambling, in which the owner, though paying o high premium, generally wins in the end. We commend to our renders the article printed else- where, the third of the series on “Safety at Sea,” as it contains much information of in- terest to travellers and shinnera, Anxiety About Nordenskjold. Onyr special cable despatch from London, published this morning, conveys to our | readers an idea of the painful anxiety that possesses the public mind in Europe re- gurding the fate of the famous explorer, Professor Nordenskjild, whose vessel, the Vega, we recently announced, was beset in the ice northeastward of Behring Straits. After a sneeesstul voyage, during which Pro- fessor Nordenskjild discovered a practi- cable route from the Atlantic to the mouth of the River Lena, the Swedish expedition started to complete its journey of explora- tion by entering the Pacific Ocean through Behring Straits. Just short of the wished- for goal, however, the Vega was caught in the ice floes that drift southeastward from the Arctic Ocean toward the narrows of ‘the straits at the East Cape of Siberia. now lics imprisoned in the ice; far, vory far, unfertanately, from any Siberian set- tlement whence her party can derive assist- ance. But Professor Nordenskjéld and his gallant companions have not been forgot- ten by the hosts of friends whom they left behind in Europe, and the first intimation received of their perilous position through- the columns of the Henaup roused into ac- tivity the practical sympathy of all lovers of science and admirers of heroism. The memory of the exploits and the anhappy fate of Franklin and his companions have stimulated the personal and scientific friends of Nordenskjild to. take prompt | mehsures for his relief, and we do not | doubt that these efforts will be crowned with success. It is to be expected that the Vega reached her present position with her stores much reduced after a long voyage, and that her people will suffer considerably on that ac- count; but we do not anticipate any such serious consequences as are feared by Pro- fessor Nordenskjdld’s European friends. We know where the Vega is held by the ice, the distance to be travelled to reach her and the difficulties of the way. Such could not be said in the case of Franklin, and his loss may be attributed to the fact that vitally valuable time was expended by the search expeditions in the endeavor to dis- cover where he should be sought for. The American Arctic expedition, which will leave as soon as the Behring Straits are practicable, will, as M. Sibiriakoff hopes, probably reach the point where the Vega is beset, and rescue the Swedish ex- plorers. But in the meantime the re- lief expedition sent overland by M. Sibiriakoff and tho. sledge parties of the Russian man-of-war Abrek will work north- ward, and perhaps as far as the coast line near where the Vega lies, so that provisions may be sent to her. Experienced voyagers like Nordenskjéld and his companions are not likely to sucoumb even to an unusually severe Arctic winter. They may suffer from but they will undoubtedly survive it. Already we find the fruits of Professor Nordenskjéld’s enterprise and skill as an explorer being gathered in the trade cre- ated between a hitherto isolated but pro- ductive region and the world of markets and consumption. We feel confident that Nordenskjéld will return in safety to’ his country to receive the honors which he has so worthily won and to witness the realiza- tion of the grand projects for which he has braved the dangers of hitherto unknown Arctic seas. “Always With You.” Under the above head the Heratp has during the winter published considerable information about deserving persons who were suffering all the privations peculiar to utter destitution, ‘From the small sum of the contributions which have been received at this office for the benefit of the sufferers we must assume, out of respect for chari- table New York, that benevolent people have preferred to do their alms privately and personally. ‘This is as it should be, if the work has really been done; but who knows what cases have been relieved and what have been neglected and overlooked ? ‘This is a matter which public spirited citi- zens should investigate. The members of the Chamber of Commerce, the Stock Board and other prominent bodies which did so generously by the yellow fever sufferers a few months ago are certainly not the men to let equally deserving persons dic from anequally horrible but more protracted trouble in New York. One half the world does not know how the other half lives, but if any good hearted banker or merchant wishes to know what starvation literally is he can find out for himself within half an hour by consulting the appropriate column of the Heraty and making one or more per- sonal ‘calls at the addresses given. Men of this kind, who are quick judges of human nature, ave just the ones to see through an impostor, if any of these people have deceived our reporters. Business men who have wives and children will be able to tell at a glance whether the families alluded to are really well fed and have suf- ficient clothing. Certainly no man of ordi- nary humanity has any excuse to wonder what these siories of destitution amount to |’ if he has a few spare moments and dollars, And we can, in advance, assure any one who will investigate for himself that he will get the worth of his time and money in the shape of a new sense of his own per- sonal lot and comforts. Real Kstate Improvement. Thore is no reason to doubt that real estate’ in New York has seen its worst troubles, and that its steady improvement is now certain, Rapid transit, as far as it has gone, has caused a marked revival in the market, and has given an impetus to building that cannot fail to continue and to increase. Yet the real advantages of rapid transit to uptown property aro yet to be felt, ‘The ‘Third avenue line has only been open to Harlem Bridge for a short time, and its facilities have not been equal to the accommodation of the travel, The Sixth avenue line at present stops short at Fifty-eighth street. When the west side “‘L’ road is open to 159th street and the Second avenue line is constructed the movement in 1eal estate now distinctly perceptible will be- come active The great flood of east side travel will then be fully accommodated, while the most beaatiful Here she was overtaken by the winter and | NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1879—TRIPLE SHEHTY. and most healthful locality in the city will be brought within easy reach for residences on the west side. the evident improvement in real estate is that it is gradual and moderate and has in it nothing of a spasmodic or speculative character. People are beginnimy to build residences up town beeanse there is a de- mand for them and because the facilities of rapid transit will induce thonsands to leave | crowded tenement house districts and seek | localities, - From an article published elsewhere it is | evident that New Jersey has taken the | alarm and sees that the rapid transit roads must draw back to New York thousends of our citizens who do business here, but who | have been driven to make their homes in that State, The advantages of living: in New York are conceded, and necessity oniy has induced our business men, clerks and others of limited means to scek residences outside the city. When they can hire houses at moderate rents in the upper part of New York and reach their homes from the City Hall in half an hour or less they will no longer be willing to cross the river and submit’ to the many inconveniences of a New Jersey residence. Andalusian Notes. To read of Arctic explorations is one of the keen delights of some imaginative New Yorkors in the summer time, and for a sim- ilar reason our Cadiz letter, published to- day, will affect many people as most deli- cious reading matter for a winter day. Cadiz is not only a city of sunny skies and soft winds, but a venerable, picturesque place, where people have leisure in which to love on Sunday and pray daily through- out the week—where sailors sing while sober, men serenade their sweethearts with- out being arrested by the police, and every- body finds time in which to walk to the Battery. Could anything be more unlike New York ? Louisiana Politics. A correspondent at Washington sends us some interesting comments on Louisiana affairs in the shape of an interview with ex-Marshal Pitkin. The Marshal assumes that the republicans will succeed in the State election of next year, owing to help from the conservatives and nationals, these having proceeded principally from the democratic party, to which they will not return. Republican success is to be sought also in the exclusion of some leaders, so called, who will promptly constitute them- selves millstones around the neck of the de- mocracy, while the defection of the conserva- tives will deprive the democracy of the amount of money usually demanded of it by the “short haired” element. The conserva- tives are reported as thoroughly in earnest and willing to work with any party honestly meaning reform. There is a world of sug- gestion in the Marshal’s admission that only two or three of the federal office- holders in the State would be accepted by the combined: reformers. The success of the coalition thus outlined is declared to be the only hope of Louisiana’s creditors, although the State is said to be fully able to pay if expenses are reduced as they may be without detriment to local interests, All this may seem too good to be true, but as Louisinna has not since the war been at any time in fully competent hands, and as there is certainly a fair proportion of hon- esty and ability among her citizens, the coalition alluded to may become possible. It certainly would bo effective. PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE, The following Americans were registered at the Paris office of the Henaup on Saturday :— Bergen, G. C., Brooklyn, No. 39 Boulevard Hauss- mann. Cook, Dr. C. D., aud family, Brooklyn. Dow, W. L., and wife, Florida, No.9 Rue Bien- faisance. Emery, J. J., Cincinnati, Ohio, No, 25 Rue Dephot. Francis, James B., and wife, Massachusetts, Chat- ham Hotel. Gill, John, and family, Baltimore, Md., Bedford Hotel. Grace, Miss A. G., New York, Continental Hotel. Grace, W. w York, Continental Hotel. Knight, H. Williston, New York, Continental Hotel. Lamberton, Charles L., and wife, Philadelphia, Hotel du Couronne. McClintock, E. W., New York, Continental Hotel. Punett, Rev . Baltimore, Md., Bedford Hotel. ‘Cower, Miss N. P., 8t. Louis, Mo., No, 39 Boulevard Haussmann. Haweie calls music the language of the emotions, In playing “Hamlet” Mr. Irving uses black hair, President MacMahon pardoned 1,800 Conaunists. Gerster is the very dentist of opera singers. She draws. Miss Kellogg, the diving singer, loves pigs’ feet pickled. ‘Tennyson loves Euglish farm life in its most prac- tical ways. Bret Harte’s family call him “Frank,” which is really his first name, ‘The weather in Canada is thirteen degrees below Charles Francis Adams. A Fach Bavarian is supposed to drink fifty-three gal- Jona of beer in a twelvemonth. Mrs, Elizabeth Cady Stanton has been lecturing on “Hereditary Parentage” in Chicago. Tu heaven the deacons will not be able to conceal chewe of tobacco while thoy pass round the plate for pernies. Mr. W. H. Bishop, who represented the Atlantic Monthly at tho Pacis Literary Congress, hus returned to thix country. London World says that the statesmen who rule @ nation should keop the wind of the people occupied. If we are not mistaken this is what a blacksmith does with horses. London Sporting Nmes:—"A thrifty father took hiv boy to adoctor, ‘It you can cure him for less than the faneral expenses,’ said he, ‘go ahead; buat it you can’t, sonny'll have to take his chances.’ ’’ Danbury News:—“By boring a hole through a sil- vor dollar and tying it to stag a Connecticut man sent it through the mail fora cent, whereas if he had put it in an envelope it would have cost him three cents, No one but a New Englander would have thought of such # device, and it is this prompt grappling with the situation that gives New Kngland its mighty influence upon the world.” London Truth:—At the same time that he is such 4 fluent musical writer Offenbach is oncommonly industrious and energetic. Even when acutely sut- fering from gout, which is @ frequent ailment with him, he never gives up writing. ‘This accursed leg will not let me walk,’ he said once to a friend while suffering agonies in his arm chair, ‘but it will not prevent me from writing a waltz.’ And so he wrote one there and then.” Bo august a body as the Senate of the United States is supposed to bo should long ago have made an order prohibiting persons not entitled to the privileges of tho floor of the Senate from intruding there. It was only last winter when we saw the Reverend Talmage and a few other theological brnisers sitting against the wall, just Dehind men like Dawes, Teller, Jones and Weilaco, Suppose Jack Joaan aud Matt Garoan- ter had bean there. One promising feature of | homes in more herlthful and more pleasant | 4), i AMUSEMENTS. BooTU’s THEATRE--GRAND CONCERT, A fair nudicuce filled the above place of amuse mont last night, attracted by the announcement that Mule. Hina De Murska, Mme, Teresa Caren, My. Gh. Vritseh, Siguors Tagliapietra, Susini and Mr, jugene Wiener would appear as the leading artist) ‘Tho programme comprised the following admirable Selections, nearly one of which called for am encore from respective singers:— Grand aria, +i Lombardi (Verdi), Sig- eador's song from “Car- piano solo-— ne. Teresa Car- (Bellini), Mile, tron “Boli- Signor Rigoletto 0; Casta Diva, froin de Mureka; grand duo, (Donizett!), Mr. Vritseh and Signor grand fantasia for ute (Th, Bochm) ‘ener; Tes Ramewux “The Palas" (Faure), Yaghiapict’a; “Phe Hungarian Pastorat ” (Duppler), MMe, Tua De Mnrska; ‘the snte obligato by Mr. E, Wieher} “Good-Night (Franz Abt), Mv. Charles Fritsch; Piano solo, a, “Berceuse™* Le Printemp” (‘Lhe Spring) (Carreno) arreno; “Pho Laughing frie” (Martini), Mile, Ima De Murska, Mr. Fritsch and Signor Susini, ‘There were two or three features of the evening which Ceserve special comment. One was. the exrel- lent rendition by ‘fagliapivtra of the Yoreador’s 801 and Les Rameaux. If this really tine artist, however, would throw into his tace more expression while singing he would largely add to the eflectiveness of his performance. Another was the Casta Diva of Mile. De Murska, which was supplemented by “Man- do'inata, The Hungarian pastoral song, with a fiute obligato by Mr. E. Wiener, was likewise one oi the inusical gems that was warm; spprociated, Mr. Wiener is an artistic flutist. He hus a fine embouchowe, plays with remarkable delicacy and grace, and both as a soloist and accompanist shows good tuste und culture in the management of an i strument thet requires unusual excellence to make popular. Mme. Carreno was in her best vein, and Messrs. Fritsch: and Susini in their respective rendi: tions exacted not a little praise from the audience. MUSICAL AND DRAMATIC NOTES, ‘The second soirée of the New York Philharmonic Club will take place at Chickering Hall to-morrow evening. ‘the soloists are Franz Rummel, pianist, and Miss Antoine Henne, contralto. Miss Genevieve Ward and Mrs. Séott-Siddons are contemplating an appearance st Booth's Theatre in Shakespeare’s ‘Winter's Tule,” with Miss Ward as‘ Hermione and Mrs, Siddons as Perdita. During the engagement of Mr. Boucicault at Booth’s Theatre he will be supported by Mrs. Bouci- eault (Agnes Robertson), John Gilbert, John Brougham, Harry Beckett, Dominick Murray and Miss Adn Dyas, all of whom were identified with the early presentation of his most popular plays. For the production of “Pinafore” at the Fifth Avenue Theatre, Miss Blanche Corelli, Miss Bertha Foy, Miss Gurney, Miss Ida Foy, Mr. Henri Lau- rent, Mr. Vincent Hogan, Mr. J. H. Burnett, Mr. James Horton and Mr. Hart Conway have been specially engaged. Mr. Burnett will play Admiralty Lord, The fourth concert of the New York Philharmonic Society will take place on next Friday afternoon and Saturday evening. The programme include Mendelssohn's Symphony in A, “Woltan’s Fare- well” by Wagner, and a new symphony in D (No. 3) by Tshaikowsky, The doloist will be a young lady pianiste of much reputation, Mra. Leonie Groessler-Heim, who recently arrived from Europe. She is a pupil of Professor Speidel, of Stuttgart, and also of Dr. Franz Lizst, and is most highly spoken of by the best German critics. At the Germania Theatre “‘Nette Leute” proved @ very fine attraction during the past week and drew full houses. There is very little plot to the piece, but it is, nevertheless, highly amus- ing in the many grotesque situations, Mr. Oscar Will, ‘Herr’ Rauk, Miss Helene Kuhse, the lately arrive’ soubrette, and Miss Heller share the honors of the play. ‘o-night and to-morrow evening ‘‘Nette Leute” will be repeated, and during the balance of the week Victor Sardou’s comedy “Dia alten Junggesellen” (The Old Bachelors) will be pro- duced. The editor of the New Yorker Musical Zeitung, who took occasion to criticise the correctness of M, Edouard Beményi’s statements in a recent interview published in the Herat, concerning the Hungarian dances said to have been composed by Johannes Brahins, has written a note of regret and will follow it with a public review of the origin of the dances, ‘The act is alike honorable to the critic and a tribute to the experience of the virtuoso, It isa wonder, however, that the musical community should so long have been imposed upon without a protest, and ac- cepted these beautiful compositions from prominent orchestra leaders without an explanation of the real facts. ‘The Society of Composers have presented a protest to the Ministre des Beaux Arts against the suppres- sion of the Théitre Lyrique. It concludes with this declaration:—Since the creation of the Théatre Lyrique, in 1846, that theatre has brought into no- tice more than thirty composers to whom the doore of the Opéra and Opéra Comique had been completely closed, and during twenty years has alone rendered more services to musical and dramatic art and to composers aud lyrical artists than the Opéra and Opera Comique united, although the latter have been largely and generously sustained by enormous sub ventions.” OBITUARY. GENERAL, WILLIAM GURNEY. General William Gurney, federal commandant of Charleston toward the close of the war, died yesters day morning at his residence, No, 163 West Forty. eighth street. He came from Charleston in July last suffering from Bright's disease. General Gurney was born in Flushing, L. L., August Wl, 1821. He spent his Loyhood on his father's farm near that town, In 1837 he came to this city and entered as a clerk the wholesale provision establishment of Messrs. A, N. Brown & Co., on Dey street. He continued here until the war, rising first to the position of junior partner, and finally be-oming the senior partner in the house, which changed its name to Gurney & Un- derbill, He was a thorough business man, and et this time was very actively engaged in many works for the public good. He was deeply interested in the work of the Five Points Mission, He was at one time a private in the Washington Grays, but left that organization to accept the first lieutenancy of the fourth company of the Seventh ng ment of this city. At the inning of war he was still lientenant in the Seventh, and in April, 1861, he entered the United States sere vice with that regiment for the three months’ term, Roeturmng from that, he accepted a commission as captain in Colonel John Cochrgne’s (Sixty-fitth) New York regiment (the Fighting Chasseurs), and served with that regiment through the early campaigns of the war. In 1862 he was appointed an assistant in~ spector general and examining ofticer on the staff of Governor Morgan, i» which capacity he was required to pass upon the qualifications of ap) for commissions In the New York regiments. In July, he received wuthority to raise a regiment of hie and in thirty days he recruited the 127th New York regiment, at the head of which he returned to the field, joining the Twenty-third Army Corps. ed to the command of the Second bei of General Abercrombie’s division in October, 1862, and in 1864 he went with his brigade to join General Gillmore’s command, on the south Carolina coast. he was severely wounded in the arm in an Lon os ory at ‘s neck, and was sent North for valescing ho war assigned to the command of the Charieston t, The Charleston News (democratic) of October 16, 1472, when Gurney was expected the republican candidate tor Congress for the Charles. ton district, said that, as commandant of meni nner “he manifested & quiet spirit of firmness justice, bringing with him none of the tional = asnimosities which seemed to ani- mate some of the federal officers, and manifested no spirit of revenge or bit- torness aainst the members or families of the gallant Confederates who had lately been his enemies.” While in command of Charleston he was promoted for gallantry in action to the rank of brigadier — of United States voluntecrs; but he returned to New York with his it aud wae mustered out in July, 1865, He returned to Charleston in October, J4ad,and eatablished limvelt ase wholeaale grocer and commission merchant, tho business gradu. ally changing to @ cotton and rice fne~ torage line. In October, 1870, he the position of treasurer of county, which he held for six fay He was Elector toy South Carolina in 1872, and in 1874 waa epucises by President Grant a Centennial Commis cs junet, being elected a vice president of the commis. He was ® past master of Continental Lodge, F. and A. M., and was a member of the Morton Comtmendery and of Adelphi penne. He will ba buried with Masonic honors from nie Tem ‘Twenty-third street and Sixth aventio, at one o'clock on Wednesday afternoon. The Rev, H, Yaihor, will Ueliver the addrens, Geuural Guruee Fathor, ver 5 net janvea & widow aud five children, s