The New York Herald Newspaper, February 24, 1879, Page 6

6 NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1879.—TRIPLE SHEET. NEW YORK HER ALD “The Pivotal State’—Interviews with BROADWAY AND ANN STREET. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, 1ROPRIETOR, THE DAILY HERALD, published every day in the year, ‘Tree cents por copy Sundays excluded), | Ten dollars per sur, five dollars for six mouths, two dellars and fifty cents for three months, or at a rate of ilar per monsh for any period Jess than three month: jay edition included, free of postace. WEEKLY HERALD—One dollar per year, free of post- a “Novick TO SUBSCRIBERS. York or Post Office money orders ean be procured send the money inn reqisered letter. All remitted at risk of sender. In order to insure atten- becribers wishing their addross chauzed must give Id. as well as their new address. ‘All business, nows letters or telegraphic despatches must Re addressed Nuw Youk HxKALD. Letters and packages should bo properly sealed. Rejected communications wili not be returned. PHILADELPHIA OFFIC nz SOUTH SIXTH STREET. nd LONDON OFFICE OF THE NEW YORK HERALD— NO, 46 FLEET STREET. PARIS OFFICE—49 AVENUE DE LOPE. NAPLES OFFICE—NO. 7 STRADA PA Subscriptions and advertisements wi. #8 in New Yo mit in drafts on New where neither of these IGHT. Pivavorn, Guay Baw. STANDARD THEATER! THEATRE COMIQUE: OPERA HOU SQUARE TH NIBLO'S GARDEN—Tur BOWERY THEATRE—Ax TIVOLI THEATRE— AMERICAN MUSEU: MASONIC HALL—Tae SAN FRANCIS WINDSOR THEATR! GILMORE'S GARDE CHICKERING HALL—C ACADEMY OF DESIG BROOKLYN PARK T! NEW YORK, MONDAY Jak SHORE, FEI Lhe probabilities are that the weather in New York and its vicinity to-day will be cooler and with increasing west to northwest winds and, |, perhaps, light snow. Yo-morrow it will be warmer, with increasing cloudiness and rain toward night. Ir Is To Bs Horep the ramor in Washington that the outrageous Chinese Dill is to be vetoed will prove to be well founded. Tue Report of the death of the Archbishop of Adrianople is denied in the latest despatches. His assassination was attempted because of his pro-Turkish sympathies. Tae Appress of His Holiness to the large delegation of the representatives of different publications in this country and Europe goes to show that the press is coming into favor at the Vatican. k Mr. James Srernens, the famous Fenian, has again come to the front for the purpose, he declares, of “establishing hero the greatest or- ganization that ever cxisted for the liberation of Ireland.” The bonds of the Irish Kepublic ought to go up. In One of the Brooklyn docks night bas been turned into day by the electric light for the purpose of enabling a small army of workmen to repair dhe of the largest European stenmners. Hitherto work of this character at night has been impossible. Coxoress will have to make good use of its time the coming week if it wishes to avert the necessity ‘of an extra seasion, which is desired by no one except the lobby and its followers. ‘With close attention to business there is ample time to pass all the measures that ought to be passed. Is THe Oprsion or Mr. Bercuxr the curse of our modern public men is that they do not place sufficient faith in the saving power of rectitude and goodness. The Senate at Washington has fallen from its high estate, and as fof the House of Representatives—why, it could not fall. They ought tomake Mr. Beecher chaplain. Owrne 10 Some Dexays in its preparation the Army Register for this year will not be pub- lished for several months to come. The article ou another page supplies all the really impor- tant information that is usually contained in the Register, and is therefore specially valuable and interesting to military men. In all there are twenty-one hundred and thirty-six officers in active service. Tue Sermons Yesreupay in nearly ail the representative churches were of an exceedingly practical character. Dr. Hall discussed church membership, condemning the religious Bedouins who roam around from one place of worship to another, Mr. Beecher endeavored to show that the guod men do lives after them; and Dr. Armitage pointed out some of the troubles in everyday Christian life. The moral and the meaning of the well in the desert formed the theme of Dr. Talmage and the spirit of en- thusiasm of Mr. Frothingham. The Rey. Mr. Suow overwhelmed the ignorant scientists who aseail Christianity, and the Rev. Father Kane told his congregation how to prepare for Lent. Tue Weatner.—The centro of lowest press ure has moved eastward over Canada and is now on the New Brunswick coast. The de- pression has* extended over all the New Eng- land, Middle Atlantic aud South Atlantic States, being attended by light rains in the latter and snow in the former districts. Steep gradients have been formed over the western lake region, where heavy westerly winds prevail. The southwestern depression has ad- vanced over the Gulf, with light rains aud moderate to fresh northerly winds. But no stormy indications have as yet presented them- selves. To-day, however, when the depression passes eastward of the Southern Alleghanies, the usuai local storm development may be looked for in the South Atlantic States. A fall- ing barometer, with light snows in the North- west, marks the advance of another disturbance from that direction, Aa there are no areas of high pressure on the casterly side of this de- pression it will move with moderate energy after that which is now reaching the coust. Temperatures are generally high, except in Manitoba and along the upper Jakes and Canada. These conditions favor a “breakup” on the central rivers, and freshets, caused by the melting of the snows over a very extensive area. The weather in England ia threatening, and a large depression is approaching the coast from the southwest. This storm was predicted by cable on the morn- ing of the 20th. The weather in New York and its vicinity to-day will be cooler and fair, with increasing west to northwest winds and, perbaps, light snow. To-morrow it will be warmer, with increasing cloudiness and raiu toward night. New York Congressmen. On Monday last the Hen:tp printed an interesting collection of interviews with the Senators and Assemblymen at Albany of both political parties, ‘hose interviews disclosed so surprising a unanimity on some capital points, and so near an ap- proach to unanimity on some others, that it seemed worth while to test the opinions which prevail at the State capital by com- paring them with those which are enter- tained on the samo points by the gentlemen of both political parties who represent the State at the national capital, We have’ accordingly sought the views of all, and have succeeded in obtain- ing the views of most of the New York members of Congress. ‘They will be pe- rused with curious interest by all who ap- preciate the potent influence likely tobe exeried by this State in the next Presiden- tial election, There are several of tho New York mem- bers who declined to commit themselves at present, alleging that it is too early to open the next Presidential canvass. This simply means that these gentlemen are waiting ‘to see which way the cat will jump,” and are unwilling to do anything which might impair their standing with the successful candidates of their own party. No intelligent politician can fail to perceive that the public sentiment of both parties is already shaping itself with a view to the next Presidential contest. ‘The New York election of the present yeat will go very far toward deciding the na- tional result in 1880, and although some timid politicians may prefer to wait and hold aloof the currents of popular feeling are already setting in the direction of the channels in which they are likely to flowin the spring of next year. In comparing the views of the New York members of Congress with those of the members of the New York Legislature we discover considerable differences be- tween the political atmosphere of Washington and that of Albany. The general drift of opinion is sim- ilar, but on some points of the deep- est interest there is less decision as well as less unity of views among New Yorkers at the national capital, where minds are acted upon by a greater variety of conflicting in- fluences. The Albany interviews showed an un- broken unity of expectation that General Grant will be the next republican candidate for the Presidency, an expectation equally shared by his own party and the democrats. At Washington there is no such agreement among the republican members of Con- gress. While they all speak respectfully and even admiringly of General Grant there seem to be as many Blaine men among them ae Grant men. Other candidates are mentioned —Secretary Sherman slightingly, and Vice President Wheeler has one vigor- ous supporter. But those who favor Mr. Blaine speak of him with a zealous warmth amounting to enthusiasm. It is universally conceded that Mr. Conkling will not bea candidate. he strong expressions in favor of Senator Blaine attest the reeent and suc- cessful activity of his friends in advocating his claims, as well as the personal magnet- ism of this republican favorite, Curious persons may be disposed to ask whether re- publican opinion in Albany simply falls behind republican opinion in Washing- ton and represents a phase which prevailed at the national capital sev- eral weeks ago, or whether there is a settled diversity. If the present Albany opinion isthe mere reflex of a past Wash- ington opinion the Albany view may change before the close of the session. The Washington interviews suggest the possibility that Mr. Blaine is making head- way and may become a formidable com- petitor of General Grant. Asregards the democratic candidate the opinions at Washington do not materially differ from those recently expressed at Albany. Although there is some diversity in both capitals there is a marked prepon- derance of republican expectation that Mr. ‘Tilden will be the democratic can- didate, and on the democratic side a pre- ponderating preference as well as expecta- tion. This is truly remarkable in view of all the noise and scandal which attended the cipherdespatches. This isa virtual conces- sion that Mr. Tilden has passed through the furnace unharmed, or at least unconsumed, although the smell of fire may be upon his garments. He not only holds up his head and boldly asserts his innocence, but even his political adversaries allow that he is not disabled as a candidate. This is a great deal more than could have been expected two months ago. As to gubernatorial candidates there isa much wider diversity of opinion among the New York Congressmen than among the members of the Legislature. The pros- pects of Mr. Hiscock do not seem good in the light of these fresh inter- views. It is asserted that he has no strong following, and it is urged as ao fatal objec- tion to him that he deserted his party in the Greeley campaign. With the ‘stalwart’ tendencies which are developing in the party Mr. Hiscock’s chances would seem to be slender, although he has one or two stanch supporters among the republican Congressmen. General Arthur and Mr. Cornell are ruled out by the favt that their recent antecedents would obstruct the har- mony which is indispensable to success, Congressman Baker, who expresses himself with more decision and, perhaps, more in- telligence, than any other of the gentlemen interviewed, thinks that Mr. Sloan is the fittest candidate for Governor. His qualifications are indisputable, his pop- ularity great, and though a friend of Mr, Con¥fing he was warmly supported by all the anti-Conkling members in the re- cent struggle for the Speakership. Judge Robertson and Mr. Husted are also men- tioned as possible candidates, It is the general expectation that Gov- ernor Robinson will be renominated on the democratic side, although some assert that Mr. Seymour, Judge Church or Mr. Potter would make a stronger candidate, In our opinion Mr, Seymour and Judge Church are, for different reasons, quite out of the question. Mr. Potter would make a pop- ular candidate and might get the nomination with the consent of Mr. Tilden, but not otherwise. Mr. Tilden will either support Governor Robinson or seek to be a candidate himself. Mr. Tilden would want the nomination (if at all) only as ‘a personal vindication with a view to his Presidential chances, If elected he would expect to serve for but one of the three years of his term, and the Lieutenant Governor chosen with him would be on the road to promo- tion. We do not know whether Mr. Potter would consent to take the second place with such a prospect, but if he would Tilden and Potter would make a strong ticket, with a chance for Mr. Potter to be Governor for two yeara, Ne Hope for the Ameer, The Hxnaup’s special cable despatches from Turkestan confirm the report of the dangerous illness of the Ameer, and state that his speedy death is almost certain. Gangrene had set in, and probably no efforts could have saved his lite, although it seems that the Afghan doctor and others of the invalid’s suit objected to resort to such remedies as the Russian surgeon's skill suggested. The fate of the fugitive Ameer isasad one. But yesterday, as it were, he was a powerful ruler, believing himself strong enough to defy England. To-day he is a wanderer, without a home, and dying by the roadside of a painful and offensive disease. Yet his death will be a great’ political relief both to Russia and England. The former escapes from a posi- tion that would have been unpleasant if not quite embarrassing, while the latter finds the best settlement of the Afghan question that could possibly have been reached. Whatever sympathy may be felt for the Ameer, he could not have died ata better time for the Powers that have been involved in his troubles, or, probably, for himself, Had he lived—for we may regard his death as certain—it would only have been to meet further disappointments and to find all his hopes of assistance finally destroyed. E Nordenskjold’s Whereabouts. Detailed information reaches us from Ber- lin through our London office regarding the efforts being made to succor Professor Nor- denskjéld and his companions of the Vega by the Russian government. The main points, however, have been anticipated by cableto the Hznaup. Considerable surpriso is manifested that Professor Nordenskjéld has not communicated with some of the Siberian settlements if the Vega is icebound so near the mainland asis alleged. Itis cal- culated that even telegraphic communica- tion could be had with Europe if the Pro- fessor despatched couriers to the outlying telegraphic station which may be consid- ered the most easterly terminus of the Siberian system of lines. Natives with their dog sledges could, it is said, make the journey to this point at the rate of fifteen miles per day, and so as to have long ago brought news of the whereabouts of the Vega or her party. It is evident that the superior Russian officials in Siberia will tax all their resources to communicate with and aid the explorers. But the difficulty seems to lie in the direc- tion of the relief parties to the proper point, Asystematic search is ordered along the East Siberian coast from Anadyr Bay toward the region where the Vega is said to be ice bound. Inquiries will establish the truth or otherwise of the native reports re- garding the ship seen in the ice near Enst Cape, and give perhaps a clew to the true position of the missing party. It is to be hoped that the Vega was not wrecked, as is surmised by some, among the Wrangel Islands or the New Siberian Archipelago. It is not that we believe the danger to the party would be seriously increased on that account, but their res- enue would be greatly delayed, and the chances of reaching them by a relief vessel, even in summer, rendered somewhat doabtful. Professor Nordensk- jéld must have gone considerably out of his course to make Wrangel Islands, and possibly his enthusiasm and zeal for exploration may have tempted him to delay longer than prudence warrdnted. But such a consummate traveller is not easily sur- prised by even Arctic disaster, and we may hope that news will soon be received that his whercabouts is positively known, aud that the aid generously sent by: the Russian government and by his private friends has reached him. Until the season regularly opens any attempt to penetrate the Arctic Ocean by Behring Strait will be worse than useless. It would be a waste of effort that might be profitably expended in an overland expedition, It is true a ship reaching Anadyr Bay would form an excellent base of operations for sledge parties ; therefore we hope the Rus- sian steamer Obrek, which has been ordered from Wladivostok, can do good service if she makes land anywhere near the bay re- ferred to, A Wholesale Marder, The dreadful accident that occurred at Stockton, Cal., on Saturday last was one of those too common calamities brought on by criminal recklessness of human life. The engipeer in charge of an engine used to test the working of new propeller pump found the steam gange out of order, and, after an unsuccessful attempt to fix it, cut short the difficulty by screwing down the safety valve and “going ahead.” More than two hundred peo- ple were gathered on the spot to witness the experiment, and the engineer must have been well aware of the risk he was ranning. But if he reflected on the danger he must have thought that tho probability of blowing the spectators into eternity did not warrant the postponement of the trial. He therefore “went ahead” until the engine exploded, killing nearly twenty persons and wounding and mangling « still greater number. For- tunately, the man whose criminal. reck- lessness occasioned this terrible calam- ity was among the killed. We say fortu- nately, for if he possessed human feelings his future life would have been a constant misery and remorse, and if he was simply a brute the law would not have been likely to have reached him. A man who commits an ordinary murder may suffer the penalty of his crime, but one who through wilful carelessness or : bravado slaughters a score of people generally escapes punishment. The Plague Spots of the City. ‘The clergy of the city never enlisted in a better or more useful work than that which was inaugurated yesterday. In a number of the churches, in accordance with an arrangement made a few days ago, gatherings were held to -discuss our present tenement house system and to suggest remedies for its evils. The attendance at all these meetings wag re- markable both as to numbers and character, and the earnestness and practical intelli- gence displayed in the discussions prove that the participants in the movement are serious in the important task they have undertaken to perform, Morally and physically the tenement houses of New York are the plague spots of the city. Poverty, vice and crime find in them the hotbeds for their germination, the rich soil for their growth. Persons of very small means but of decent, reputa- ble lives, are driven to seck these pest houses because of the high rents prevailing elsewhere and the absence of such decent dwellings for the humbler classes as are found in some other great cities. They soon become contam- inated by the habits of those with whom they associate. The very atmosphere corrupts their minds as well as their bodies. Drunkenness is a common vice in tenement houses, because men and wee men whose homes are unfit for human beings to live in are often driven to drink as a relief from thought. Besides, in a tenement honse privacy is impossible ; the foul air is anincentive to drink, and in o majority of sach houses a dealer in slow poisons sold under the name of liquor finds an opportunity to ply his trade prob- ably without troubling the Excise Commis- sioners for a license, Thus the poor be- come poorer, the sober give themselves over to inebriety, self-respect disappears and the dry rot of the miserable system soon eats into the body and soul of the newcomer, The city can never be safe from a pesti- lence so long as the present tenement houses in crowded neighborhoods are suffered to exist. Every summer we pro- voke a calamity that would not only carry misery into thousands of homes but would strike o blow at the prog- ress and business prosperity of tho city from which we could not wholly recover in twenty years. In streets never properly cleaned we have buildings in which thousands of unclean people—men, women and children—are packed like cattle in a pen. Ventilation is ao thing unknown and unthought of; and if ventilation existed; it would only let out one current of foul air to admit another equally impare. Closets and cel- lars are used as bedrooms. Cooking, sleep- ing and living are all performed in a single apartment, and without any change of at- mosphere. Bad drainage adds its poison to all this, and yet our citizens who are better off and live in more comfortable dwell- ings, seldom reflect that at almost any moment the monster of pestilence may be warmed into existence by this aggregation of impurities and go forth on a destroying mis- sion into every homeinthecity. Moral dis- ease is indeed doing its work at all timesin this dreadful atmosphere. We are some- times startled at the prevalence of vice among young females in the city. Yet how can girls be preserved from destruction who are brought up under a) sys- tem which” herds males and females together in’ ® common apartment, sometimes with a bare pretence at separa- tion and more often with none at all? What a dreadful responsibility is on a Christian community in which such a sys- tem is suffered to oxist, It is a crasade against this vice and misery that was inaugurated last night. Several practical propositions were made for action, among which was one that all the churches should enlist in the work as branches of a central ladies’ society; that capable ladies should visit the tenenient houses to teach poor and ignorant women how to live in cleanliness, how to buy and cook food and how to preserve their chil- dren's health. It is proposed to urge the Board of Health and the Legislature to ac- tive efforts to suppress the evil. It is to be hoped that the movement will be persevered in and will be productive of good, If we had a foul, putrid, pestilential pool in the heart of the city, threatening disease and death to all, we should not rest until it was removed, We ought not to pause until the presAt horrible tenement house system’ is swept out of existence. The Encouragement of American Art. We recently advocated the establishment of a national bureau and of national schools of art, being convinced that this was the true and only proper and efficacious way of elevating American art to a position among that of other nations commensurate in some degree with that which we in science and industry hold with and over them. The advantages of such a course of action on the part of a government which, to be consistent in its policy, should afford protection to home art in as thorough a man- ner as it does to home industries is ap- parent. Looked at from the standpoint alone of the effect such a course might have on individual expenditure the amount of capital which in course of time could be kept at ‘home is enormous, as will be seen when the one case is cited of the millionnaireo who, on a late trip to Europe, invested half a million of dollars in pictures by foreign hands, In nocountry in the world can we find a parallel to the course now being pursued by our citizens who by their wealth are ina position to do a great service to oar straggling arts, a course which is alike dis- creditable to them and to their country. All over the world collectors of modern pictures, while anxious to possess good work by foreign hands, are proud to num- ber among the gems of their collections the works of the most famous of their country’s artists. The celebrated collections of Europo contain the works of the most tal- ented artists of all schools, including that of the country. of the collector. The love of country as well as personal pride in being Americans should dictate s similar policy to buyers here, ‘he very essence of shoddyism is seen in those of our collectors who, knowing nothing of art themselves, have been impressed by some of the dealers with the idea that our home pictures have little or no artistic value, and that they do not pay as investments. <A true lover of art should never be governed by this cant of the dealer and of the auction room — by this advocacy of the value of work by foreign hands because it can be sold at an advance when desirable. We can readily understand that collectors should desire to purchase foreign pictures, for many of them in subject and treatment far surpass any of our pative work, but what we say is, give alla show; do not neglect admirable home work for careless productions of minor, and in some cases even by great foreign hands. There are artists abroad who, having achieved a reputation, are: careless of ‘it, and throw off pictures as fast as they can cover the canvases with paint, being anx- ious to make as much money as possible, and who rely entirely upon their names to uphold their work. We hardly blame the dealers for exhibiting almost entirely for- eign works, for theirs is a business like any other, and if they can make more money out of foreign pictures than out of American ones why should they net do 50? To be sure they might exhibit more Ameri- can work than they do, and in one well known gallery at least, where the best of foreign work is seen, they do exhibit Amer- ican pictures, though not as many as we could wish. The American artist is much to blame himself ‘or the poor representation he has in the dealers’ galleries and win- dows; he is decidedly intractable and ob- jects to a large profit being made by mid- dle men out of his work. This foreign artists do not, in some cases cannot, and from custom will not, object to. Finally, national encouragement of art by govern- mental direction, patronage and schools would soon have its effect in raising the value of the products of those of the country’s in- dustries which are more or less dependent for their value upon art knowledge as shown in design. Temperance Legislation. Some prominent opponents of liquor drinking are endeavoring to secure the passage by the House of the bill, which has already been passed by the Senate, to pro- vide for a national commission of inquiry concerning the liquor traffic and its relations to the public welfare. The subject is so great, and so likely to be regarded with eyes either partial or prejudiced by nearly every one who touches it, that mem- bers of the Honse are not to be blamed for approaching it reluctantly. It would be pos- sible to construct a commission which could intelligently consider and report upon the subject, but such a body is too good to be hoped for. The majority of liquor dealers are not likely to want any’ report which will expose the frauds of which the liquor business is at least as fall as any other, while it is equally improbable that tho total abstinence men would be satisfied with anything short: of general condemnation of tho entire business. Meanwhile the public and the honest liquor dealers greatly need some national action against the adulteration of liquora—a busi- ness which has reached such gigantic proportions that alcohol alone does not constitute one-half of the enemy which society and business have to fight. While the temperance men are pushing the Dill can they. not work into it some pro- vision for inspection and for the punish- ment of persons adulterating liquors? Then it would contain at least one clause upon which good men on both sides could unite, and which would be sure to be of service, no matter how inconsequent the remainder of the bill might be. PERSONAL INTELLIGENCE. ‘The following Americans were registered at the Paris office of the HenaLp on Saturday :— Bagg, Dr. J. S. and family, United States Navy, 8 Rue Vernet. Benjamin, E., Montreal, Continental Hotel. Bispham, Henry C. and wife, New York, 25 Rue Chaptal. Hamburger, L., Montreal, Continental Hotel. Martin, E. 8., Brazil, Continental Hotel, Moore, W. P., New York, Grand Hotel. Norton, M. E., New York, Grand Hotel. Patterson, J. Wilson, Baltimore, Continental Hotel. Phenix, P., New York, Grand Hotel. Stadlmair, H. and family, Brooklyn, 44 Rue Clichy. Truth says that Belgians are Frenchinen with the froth taken off. 4 ‘The roasted wings of the ostrich taste somewhat like the wings of the turkey. The tendency of popular opinion in Germany is very strongly in fuvor of free trade. London Truth gravely asserts that smoking in mod- eration, even by boys, never hurt any one. London World says that genius, like water, always finds its own level; and that, like murder, it is sure to be out. An English financial writer thinks that bankruptcy should be made more disagreeable to the bankrupt than it is, It is contended in England that cremation would prevent inquests, make poisoning easy and facilitate cases of false personation, London World believes that there never was a time when the spirit of caricature in sping ancestors was so frivolous and contemptible as it is now. It is not everybédy who can afford to go to the Hot Springs of Arkansas, or even to a Turkish bath. Most men can get into hot water right at home, At Italian frontier towns customs officers, accord- ing to law, take from lunch baskets of travellers all fruite and nuts, @ud thea they eat them, according to appetite. When an Afghan in the market place asks a price for an article he will uever take less, and the most innocent child may buy as cheaply as the shrowdest grown person, London Truth, speaking of Lord Beaconsfleld, says that old men are, as @ rale, thoroughly selfish, and that the aspiration of most aged statesmen is “After me the deluge.” There is hardly a city or village anywhere in which onthe principal business streets one side ip not more popular for business than the other. Thus we used to have “the shilling’ and “the sixpenny”’ sides, Labouchére says that a warm gin palace ia better for an ill-clad beggar woran than the cold, bitter streets, and that what a club and brandy and water are to the moralist a gin palace and gin are to the homeless wanderer, Iu regions where red wine is used there is less drunkeuness than there is in countries where white wine and cider are used. The red wine contains taunin, an astringent, which prevents the alcohol from going immediately to the brain, It is noteworthy that in very many cases where the name of @ man, perhaps long since dead, stands for capital, or, what is the same, good will, ing business, the persons owning that business have no relationship with the ofiginal possessor of the name ond business. i, aod aha ‘ ANNA DICKINSON'S PLAY, “AURELIA.” The new play which Anna Dickinson has lately completed, and in which she herself will appear, hae forits motive the effect of love upon a great, hard and imperious character. ‘The title rd/e is, of course, that of the Emperor Aurelian, who, born a Peasant, but by neture # soldier and ruler, earned the Roman throne toward the end of the third century and , reigned xloriously, though Lrietly, meeting his death at iust through thw treachery of a trusted officer, His me ture was in all esscntials that of the typical Roman; he was warlike, patriotic, indomitable, just, yet severe, passionate and in his anger cruel and re- morscleas. Setting forth to conquer Paliayra, which in his day was’ raled “by the yroat’ Zenodia, he subdued that country, but” nccording te some — historiut was himself conquer by Zenobia, whose only ally in the subjugation of the ad warrior was the blind little yoda who ruled in mc as he does everywhere else. ‘The 1 char acters of the play are naturally those of Aurelian and Zenobia; gnother is the daughter of a prominent Roman Senator, which lady, although married, as- pired to the heart of the Emperor, An Hebrew witch appears very effectively in several of thescenes, being by turns a sorcerer und 4 vender of rars gems to the patrician ladies, but always in her pri- vate hopes and desires filled with the peculiar Jewish loyalty to her race, its history, its cnmities and its friendships. ‘The Roman nobles and soldiers who participate in the action of the piece are faithful to traditional ideals, and coutrast . ef- tectively with the court and soldiery of the Palmy- renian queen. The piece itself is oxtrewely compact and vigorous; the author has successfully resisted the tendency to long and stilted spesches which afflicts nearly every one who attempts to reduce periods of ancient history to di ic form. On the contrary, the text of “Aurelian” abounds in epigram and in’ terse, pithy lines, such as the old Ro- mans are believed to have spoken, yet which so rarely drop from modern lips and pens that affect the antique. Each act closes with » tableau, which the text naturally leads to and compels, the finale being of unuspal strength and symmetry. Scarcely any liberties are taken with the accepted historical accounts of the hero aad his period. Aure- lian does not distinctly appear as the soldier of fortune that he was, but such men, when they have reached the sage and honors that were his at the time with which the piece concerns itself, have through the burdensome influence of great responsibilities lost the erratic spirit that marks the successful young soldier. The possibilities and promise of the piece are certainly good to a degree very rare in the modern legitimate drama. i so GRAND OPERA HOUSE—THE DE MURSKA CON= . CERT. A fair but nota crowded audience occupied the Grand Opera House last evening to enjoy another of the pleasant concerts that have recently been given under the auspices of Signor De Vivo. The pro- gramme embraced the following numbers:—Grand aria, from “La Sonnambula,” “Vi ravviso, Sigdor Susini; grand aria (from Lucia’), “Fra Poco,” Mlle, Selvi; romanza, from “Don Carlos,” “Ella Giammai M’amo,” Signor Tagliapietra; piano solo, “Invitation to the Dance,’ Miss Markstein; Hungarian soug, Mule. Ihna de Mursks; comic duo, from “Don Pasquale,"@ Signori Tagliapiet: and Susini. Part 2—Flute solo, “Columbus,” rhe) ie Ameri- caine, Mr. E. Weiner; aria from “Cenerentola,” Signor Susini; Shadow Song from bey ” Mule. Ilma de Murska; romanza, ‘“Spirito Gentil,” Selvi; “La Stella Confidente,” Signor Taghapieti “Lo! Hear the Gentle Lark,’’ Mile. ma do Murske; the fiute obligato by Mr. E. Weiner. Mile. de Mureka was in excellent voice, and has not been heard to any better advantage during the pres- ent season. She was enthusiastically applauded and recalled. Notwithstanding severe hoarseness Mile. Selvi, tho lady tenor, likewise sang her selections with exquisite taste and effect. Miss Markstein, the pisnist, improves ou acquaintance, and is rapidly attaining a reputation as one of the best of our lady ts. “Leah” will be pro@iced at this establishment to- night. GILMORE'’S GARDEN—GILMORE'S CONCERT, An audience of nearly three thousand poople‘as sembled at Gilmore's Garde last night, partly at. tracted by the announcement of the reappearance of the famous band and partly t> witness the beautifud decorations of the place by the Arion Society on the occasion of { cent ball, The entertainment was entirely inst:umcutal in character, but none the less interesting on that account, for there are few local- itics in New York Where @ large musical organiza- tion can be heard with grander effect. The pi gramme was as follows:—Overture, *Yannbiiuser, uartet for French horns, ‘Church Chimes,” Messrs, thus, Nickel, Loescher and Eller; concert mazourka, “Zephyr’s Serenade;"’ cornet solo, “La Favorite,” Mr. J. Levy; grand selection, “The Gems of Faust;”* serenade; Chinese March, characteristic; grand scriptive panoramic fautasic, entitled Band's Tout of the Nations,” erranged’ by. Sig Francisco Fanciulli; cornet solo, ‘Faust Waltz,” Mr. J. Levy, and march, military, ‘Prince Frederick,” “The Tour of Nations” has" become one of the most popular pieces in the répertoire of Mr. Gilmore, It has been materially improved since its first pro: duction by the addition of several national m 3, such as “The Cam] Are Coming,” “The Harp that Once Through Tara's Hall’ and the national-air of Holland. Besides these aro “God Save the Queen,” “Auld Lang Syue,” “The Marseillaise,” national air of Belgium, “Watch on the Rhine, “Hail, Columbia!” “Yankee Doodle,” “The Star 8] led Benner” and ‘Home, Sweet Home!”’—a select calculated to please every lover of popular music, Another jerade promenade rt vince thls evening at the Garden, and the close of the season before Lent will be celebrated by a grand Mardi-Gras carnival ball to-morrow night, which Liege Ferry may attend as they do in Germany, in masks, fancy or civic dress, as they may MRS, JOHN DREW'S BENEFIT, A dramatic event of much interest occurred on Saturday cvening at the Arch Street Theatre, Phila deiphia, when Mrs. John Drew received a compli- mentary benefit. The lady appeared for the first time as Mrs. Malaprop, in. Sheridan's comedy of “The Rivals.” The entire cast was notable, embrac- ing Mr. Harry Edwards, of the Boston Theatre, aa Sir Anthony Absolute; Mr. Barton Hill, formerly of the Arch, now of the California Theatre, as Captain Absolute; Mr. Owen Fawcett. of the Fifth Avenue Theatre, as Bob Acres; Mr. of the Walnut Street . O'Trigger; Mrs. Walcot as Lydis Laaguish, Georgia Drew as Julia Melville and Mr. Hemple a8 David, The house was packed by a disti audience, who so heartily welcomed the beneticiat and other rhembers of the cast us to render the a sort of general ovation. Before the close of fe all the leading people were called before the curtain, and addresses were ruthlessly extorted from Mra, Drew, Mr. Hill, Mr. Fawcett and Mr. Hemple. The actors tinally avoided a continuation of these compli- ments by hastily lifting the curtain on the last act. HOW IT MAY BE STOPPED, ‘To rae Eprron or tHe Hxnap;— The ‘ticket shaving imposition by which theatre goers, if they desire decent seats, are compelled to submit to the extortion of an extra fee, paid nomi- nally to the ticket speculators at the doors, is now more shamefully practised then ever at our places of amusement. The New York managers are very well treated by the public. They are about the only business men Who have failed to reduce their pricea since war times, most of our theatres still char; as high an admission feo as they de gold was at more than two hundred per cent premium. They are liberally patronized whenever a really good performance. is put on the boards, yet not contented with this tl allow their trons to be handed over into the of specula- ra, who add from thirty-three to one hundred per cent to the price of the admission before good seat can be secured. It is said that the managers try to prevent this, but are powerless to do so. That story may do for # particular branch of the public service, Pe Roles ie'ite company applies at the ofice, of a im his com o of a sen te ant in furnished with pope he is Desieged by ticket speculators as soon as he Las paid his Boner is Nowe the diagram of the house to prove that his seats are in a moat undesira- die position, and is then offered a “trade” for wood seats at a premium. If he submits to the proposition the speculator takes his tickets in exe! 0 for better scate’ but the belief is strong that the tickets imme- dtately return to the box offico and are sold over again to afford an opportunity for auother similar bargain. Tam sure that some of the managers are not ties to this extortion, but it is of importance to them this practice should be stopped, ly if = derive no benefit from me Pt thele houses into disfavor and pate, Why not, then, prohibit the practice of ket speculating by law? Theatres are licensed places, ir prices of admission are advertixed, It might be made illegal for them to allow the salo of tickets by speculators or to suffer such operators to make @ sale on or in front of their premises, Besides, it ie an open question whether the Common Council does not fag yy the © to prevent the extor- tion. re aired to procure licenses, avd the Common Council is authorized to “regulate traf fic and sales in the streets, highways, roads and- ublic plases.”” These ticket sellers are pedlera, y charging them @ high license fee and by using the authority to regulate trafic and sales the Com- mon Council can casily make the buginers less profitable than it now is, into whatever ‘kets the profits may go. THEATREGQUER, THE PURIM BALL, Tho. Purim Association will give ite graud mas tucrade bull at the Academy of Music on Thursday evening, March 6. Great preparations sre being made tor it, aud nothing wilt yo) left nudone, ¢) managers say, to make thi event frandor and wore perfect, if possible, than any-obite- prodecessure.