The Sun (New York) Newspaper, December 21, 1872, Page 2

DEC “EMBER 21, 1872. Nooth's Theatre The Lily « Rowery Theatre—F Canterbury Vartety Theatre Det, Merrker and Heaton Lee and Leta Metin te 14 Pelt Faort, Mallon = ee ‘Terms of The Sua, aihy. wer year, tomail wubicriberty. 6 ee eee O81 bak | 2 . Boy: ty and Beant Woes " For the accommodation of up-town resident tsewents for Tux SN will be received at our regular rates at the up-town advertisement offices S14 Weat Thirty-recond street, Junction of Broadway and Sixth avenne, and SOS West Twenty-third etreet, opposite Opera House, and on the east side at O11 Grand roadway, from SA. M. to S130 P.M, — Things for the Thamb of the Thought- ful. It was charged by the Liberals in the late campaign that the Administration press circulating falsehoods concerning Horace Grecuey, the Liberal candidate, Witness how within a fortnight that press without exception has eulogized the man It so lately reviled, It was charged that the North C slection was carried by fraud, Witness the bargain by which Mennimon was elected United States Senator and the threatened fnyestigation into the frauds taved off. It was charged that members of Congress were corrupted by OAKes Ames with his Credit Mobilier stock. Witness the explanation of Ganrrenp, the statement that the money was used for “charitable and political purposes,” and the committee of investigation sitting with closed doors, It was charged that the San Domingo soheme would be revived. Witness the purchase of Samana Bay, the mission of Secretary Drr.ano to the West India Islands, and the open advocacy of annexation by the Administration press, It was charged that the policy of the Ad- ‘colina ministrai.cn and the party was one of cen- tralization. Witness the recommendations in the President's message of magnificent schemes of internal improvements to be maite by the national Government, At was charged that another feature of its policy was interference with local self- government. Witness the action of Judge Du L and President Guant and the use of Fed- eral troops in Louisiana; and witness the kindred transactions in Alabama, It was charged that such menas Siw CAMENON were the ruling spirits in party. Witness how the Senate at Cameron's bidding refused to allow any tribute to be paid the memory of Horace Greetey, It was charged that Ue party was cor- rupt. Witness the election of United States Benators by bribery in South Carolina, and by trickery and fraud in Alabama, We recommend the thoughtful citizen to put his thumb on these su tive facts and watch the progress of events. And that we may do the party no injustice we name here the only promise or profession it has approached the fulfilment of, In the matter of civil service reform, though the mischievous Jesse R. Grant, the dis- honest Casey, and the incompetent Cra- MER have not been removed, there has been an Assistant Postmaster promoted in Phil- adelphia. the re Constitutional Reform in Connecticut, There is a general disposition to re- vise the Constitutions of the several Btates. Illinois has just entered upon & new political existence under a Con- Aitution adopted last year, In| which certain bold political experiments are Sttempted, and some new theories put to practical test. Pennsylvania has just elected a Constitutional Convention, New York has a commission in seasion consider- ing various proposed amendments; while in many other of the old States it is com- ing to be the leading political topic, ‘The | from the Newspapers in Connecticut are just now discussing it with some earnestness. In that State it takes sometidug Of @ nou. partisan aspect, though the Liberal press thus far seems mo: positively to favor constitutional revision; while the Adminis- tration organs, seeing nothing specially to | Sition, Lor be gainca for their own party by a change, seem a little suspicious and not cordial to- ward it, The movement takes tangible form in an address originating in Bridgeport, and signed by leading men of both parties, commending the subject to favorable con- sideration, und advising the election of friends of constitutional reform to the next Legislature, Since the publication of this address a similar one bas been circu- lated in New Haven, and similarly signed. Phe objects to be gained, as stated in the address, ure a more equitable system of representation in the Legislature, @ trial of the systein of cumulative yoting or minor- ity representation, change in the time of elections and sessions of the Legislature, aud in the tenure of executive, legislative, and judicial offic of course suggest themselves to @ cony tion when it is organized; these are only the more prominent. The present Constitution was adopted in 1816, aud in its essential features remains unchanged, To alter or amend it, the reso- lution proposing the amendment must be passed by a majority vote of the Legisla- ture which originates it, receive a two- thirds vote of the succeeding Legislature, aud then be ratified by a popular vote. The second step in this process, the two- thirds vote, is the most difficult to pass; and though almost every Legislature pro- poses an amendment by a majority vote, {tw successor rarcly gives it the requisite | and two-thirds, and 80 the organic act remains unchanged, ‘The last amendments adopted Were in 1854 6, incorporating the reading fest for voters, aud changing the judicial life tenure to p term of oigut years, the Constitution #0 as to do away with the double capital arrangement ; but the oppo- nents of the change have so far found it easy to defeat the effort in the second stage of its progress, ‘The proposition now is to avoid the ne- cessity for a two-thirds vote in the Legisla~ y the passage of a public act calling a Constitutional Convention which shall not alter or amend the old but make a new Constitution, to be submitted to the people for thelr ratifiention—in short, a resump- tion of all delegated powers by the people in their own proper sovereignty. This movement naturally originates at this time, as the political conventions will be held in the course of the next two months and the State election in April; tt starts in Bridgeport also very naturally, as that city is the most notable sufferer from the existing unfair system of repre- sentation. Bridgeport, with its population of 20,000, has but one representative in the Legislature, while Union, with a popula- tion of about 600, has two. In the cities and large towns the movement will doubt- less meet with approval; the amall towns which are unduly represented will doubt- less oppose it now, as they have always done heretofore, So far as partisan action is concerned the probability is that the Democrats and Liberals will come out squarely in favor of the mensure; while the Administration party, should it touch the question at all, will be likely to handle it gingerly and not commit itself either way. Connecticut Republicans have shown great facility in that kind of treatment of tick ish questions. Besides the Inequality of representation which a new Constitution would be ex- pected to remove, there are other serious defects to be considered and cured if pos- sible. The mooted question of one or two capitals; the change of elections so that members of Congress should be elected before the date of the Congress to which they are chosen, Instead of s month later; the disqualification of members of the Legislature for judicial and other appoint- ments made by themselves; the limitation of special legislation; the enlarging of the powers of the Governor, who is noy of less actual account than any other official in the State; and a radical change in the time of elections, tenure of office, and sessions of the Legislature, would all come up for consideration. Inthe matter of rot- ten borough representation, no State in the Union presents so strong an argument in favor of a change from the present system. Repeatedly within the past eight years it has happened that a majority of the voters of the State have practically had no yoice in its councils, they having elected a Governor and State officers who had neither power nor patronage; while under the township system a minority of voters have chosen a majority of the Legislature and made such laws as they pleased. ee Negotiations Respecting Cuba. Much astonishment and no little disgust was manifested among Americans, who closely follow our foreign policy, when a few days ago they learned the details of the treaty arranged at Washington by our Government between Spain on one side and the American Republics of Chile, Boli- Peru, and Ecuador on the other he treaty contained a clause which could only have found its way into such a document by very powerful inducements, The clause referred to stipulates that dur- ing the armistice agreed upon between Spain and the Republics no aid should be given by any of the latter to the Cuban patriots, except upon two years’ notice to the United States Government. That Hamrron Fisn, whose son-in-law is paid counsel to the Spanish Minister, should have not only consented but have been anxious for the introduction into the treaty of the clause referred toyis natural enough under the circumstano4s, and ia accord With his every action since the sizn- ing of the treaty in all matters concerning Spain and Cuba. But it takes two at least to make @ burgain, and surprise is ex- pressed that any representative of the Re- publics, parties to the treaty, could have been found who would dare to send such a clause to his Government for confirmation, One member of the diplomatic corps in Washington, representing not the least im- portant of the South American Republics, is currently reported to have been “ seen" on the matter by the then Spanish Minis- ter, Don Lorez Rongnts, and to have been over-persuaded by him, This same diplo- mat, on the breaking out of the Cuban revolution, was in profession, and appa- rently in his action, @ warm friend of the patriots, @ determined enemy of Spain. Why shouldn't he be, with the Spanish outrages on Callao and Valparaiso still fresh in every one’s memory? Thus the departure of the Spanish DeLaMaTer gun- boats found at first much opposition South American Eespubli+ can Miuisters Resident in Washine- ton, Subsequently this opposition was withdrawn, and the gunboats allowed te depart on their mission of preventing the access of all foreign aid to the Cuban patriots, For the withdrawal of this oppo- z Ropents is believed to have paid fifty thousand dollars in gold to some of the Ministers Resident referred to. Shortly thereafter, Don Cantos Hor GurN, Senator from the State of Antioquia, in the Colombian Congress at Bogota, in- troduced a bill into the Senate of that country, whereby the Executive was au- thorized to propose to the Governments of the other Latin-American Republics to send representatives to an International Congress to be held in Panama, the pur- pose of which was to enter into a compact whereby the several Goveruments which they represented would be bound to aid in driving Spain out of Cuba, and giving the patriots their independence, ‘Theassembling of such a Congress would unquestionably have sounded the immedi- ate death knell of Spanish dominion in Other points would | America, and the Spanish Minister in Washington s0 understood it. He at once hastened to “see” his purchased ally, the Minister Resident referred to, and for a very valuable consideration obtained the latter's promise to crush the plan by which Colombia proposed to free Cuba. The then Colombian Minister in Washing- ton, Gen, Saxros AcosTa, was carefully approached by his colleague, who assured him that if the Government of Colombia should persevere in so foolhardy a plan it would inevitably come to grief; that Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Ecuador would desert it, and that it would consequently have to bear alone all the brunt of Spain’s power Spain's vengeance. Thoroughly alarmed, it is said, Gen, Sawrog Acosra left by the first steamer for Colombia. On the day of his arrival in Bogota the DIM presented by Cantos Horauiw had Re- | already passed ita third reading in the Peated attompts have been made to change | Senate. It was to have gone that very day to the House of Representatives, and in three days more would have become a law. President Gutrmernes, after Acosta’s in- terview with him, and believing the spe- cious lie forwarded by the Minister refer- red to in Washington, prevented the bill from being sent to the House. The Span- ish Minister had gained his point, the Minister, his tool, had filled his pockets, Colombia was deceived, and Cuba sacri- fleed, From the very day when the treaty be- tween Spain and the Republics waa signed, it was evident to all people having any knowledge of the love of liberty and the hatred of Spanish domination entertained by all the South American people, that no Government of any of those countries would dare to confirm the treaty. This has happened. The treaty has been unconditionally rejected by Peru and other Republics, as we now learn from La Tribuna of San Salvador that a new pro- posal has emanated from the United States of Colombia, whose object is the liberation of Cuba from Spanish rule, The plan as proposed by the Colombian Government is that all the Latin-American Republics, in unison with the Government. of the United States, unite ina request to Spain to grant Independence to her colony, even if it should be necessary to pay Spain an indemnity for the cost of the war, to be subscribed by them pro rata. The letter of the Colombian Secretary of State making the proposal to Salvador, and the acceptance by the President of the latter Republic, will be found in another part of this pay Sy Mistaken Censure, The New York Times condemns the Directors of the Erie Railway, and espe- cially Mr. 8. L. M. Bartow, the counsel of the company, for compelling Jay Gounp to surrender nine million dollars belong- ing to the Erie stockholders, and for giving Gouxn a receipt in full when the property was handed over. This, says tho Times, “seems very like compounding felony.”* If the Erie Railway Directors had com- menced a criminal prosecution against Jay Gov_p there might bo some force in the criticisms of our contemporary; but the fact is that they had only begun a suit against him for the recovery of money. He comes forward and pays the sum, and of course that ends the suit. What else should the Directors have done? If they had refused to take the money for which they were suing, would they not have been unfaithful to their duty and fools into the bargain? If Jay Goup has been guilty of felony, as the Times asserts, it is the duty of the District Attorney to prosecute him, and nothing that has now been settled in this suit for the recovery of the nine millions need in any way interfere with his per- formance of that duty. We are delighted to learn, as we do, from the Pres, that though “there is no doubt that there have been discreditable transactions” in the Credit Mobilier matter, no one will believe that any of the gentiemen whom Col. MoCome implicated had any hand tn them. The Ameri- can people will experience a feeling of relict when they hear that these discreditable trans- actions did themselves, and that nobody is to blame for them. —$—<—————— A controversy has arisen in England over adecision of the Bishop of Lincoln regarding the right of a clergyman to omit @ portion of the burtal service ata funeral, A rector had de- clined to read over @ deceased parishioner of immoral life the words of the service which con- sign the body to earth “in sure and certain hops of a Joyful resurrection,” as he did not be- lieve that the deceased had died in the grace of the Lord. ut was made to Bishop Worpsworrn, and the bishop decided that in dealing w h unhappy persons, if the cler- ayman pntic that there are ex- pressions in the burial service which he cannot use, he is not to be condemned for leaving them out. This case becomes the more inter- esting when considered in connection with that of the Key. Mr, Curyer of Chicago, who was censured and suspended from the exercise of the clerical office by Bishop WHITEHOUSE for exer: clsing his discretion in omitting @ word, not from the burial, but from the baptismal ser- vice. The English rector, from conscientious scruples, omitted the promise of a Joyful resure rection from the burial service; the Chicago rec- tor, from slimilar motives, omitted from the baptismal service the declaration that an infant was made “regenerate” by baptism. The Eng- lish bishop decides that the first named omis- sion ts justifiable; the Illinois bishop decides that the omission of the word “ regenerate "is a sufficient cause for degrading the clergyman who owite it. —<——___ The Washington Chronicle understands that the virtuous Mr. Oakes Ames desires to make a full statement of the facts in relation to the Credit Mobilier,so that it may bs known how much the Government was plundered, and who got the benefit of the plunder. This, the Chronicle thinks, would be a very good thing to have done, but it says “the committee has a specific examination to make—designed to clear the skirts of members of Congress who havo been slandered—and cannot properly go beyond it.” The design of the committee Js stated with great frankness, to say the least, oo The inhabitants of the newly-settled country on the line of the Bloux City and St. Paul Railroad in Minnesota have been in a state of great alarm under the apprehension of a dearth of fuel, This region 1s a naked prairte, which has been lately settled by thousands of families, inexperienced in the West, who de- pended for fuel on the facilities afforded by a railroad company as inexperienced in the un- certainties of a pratrie winter as themsclys, ‘This railroad was some weeks ago blockaded by unexpected snow storms, leaving the people al- together unprepared for the severities of winter Exaggerated reports of suffering caused Gov, AUSTIN to visit the exposed section, where he found cause for anxiety, though very little dis- treas has occurred as yet. ‘The railroad company had enough wood along {ts border Mne to last with economy until Christmas, and will run wood and coal trains to supply the people to the utmost of its ability, so that if another blockade should not occur the country will be amply stocked with fuel In a short time, If another blockade should prematurely happen, however, organized plans have been made for crowding the people of the endangered settlements into a fow towns, and into as few houses as possible, In this way they hope to get through the winter without freezing to death, even if worse comes to worst. Mr, Merriam has introduced in the House of Representatives a bill restricting the publication of the yearly advertisements for pro- posals to carry the mails to one or more news- papers printed in the Congressional districts or Territory where the routes begin, pass through, or terminate, If this bill becomes a law it will effect amuch needed reform, At present col- umns and columns of proposals for mall service are published at great expense In partisan news- papers where there i# no possibility of their meeting the eyes of probable bidders, In this ways double purpose is effected, The owners of the partisan papers are rewarded for their subserviency by the patronage thus bestowed Upon them, and the proposals forbids are con- cealed from the view of honest bidders, giving the favorites of the Post OMce Ring great ad- vantage over all competiters, THE SUN, SATURDAY. SOME NEW BOOKS, ——— ‘Reoaven andthe Future Life, In his Letters on the Future Life (Clax- ton, Remsen & Haffolfinger) the Rev. B. F. Ban- Rett of Philadelphia presents tn @ brief and popular manner the main features of Emanuel Bwedenborg’s teachings concerning heaven. ‘The ostensible occasion of writing the book is a romark made by the Rev. Henry Ward Beech 1n his sermon on * The Hereafter,” published in the Plymouth Pulpit in March last, to the effect that the life beyond the grave is a mystery, and that no certain information about it has been Youchsafed tous. Mr. Barrett thinks that Mr. Bosober is in error here, and that wo are fur- nished in the writings of Swedenborg with not merely a genoral; but with @ particular revola- on on the subject. This jation he proceeds to submit to the consideration of Mr. Beecher and of the publlo, and to advocate Ite claim to be aocepted as true, It is certainly something In favor of Bweden- Dorg that, aftor the lapse of so many years, he has the adhesion of numbers of intelligent and eultivated people, Mr, Barrett, for example, ts scholar and a thinker, and shows no evidence of laboring under mental hallucination, Yet he and, if we are correctly informed, hundreds and oven thousands equally sane aro fully con- vinced that Swedenborg has told the truth in what he says about the spiritual world, and was in no respect animpostororamadman. Unlike too, ordinary religious enthusiasts, Sweden- borg’s fame has gone on increasing instead of diminishing, 80 that his following Is far greater it present than it was at the time of his death, a hundred years ago. A fact like this shows that there is more than mere nonsense In Lis writings, whether they be all that they are as- sorted to be or not. Mr, Darrett's argument on behalf of Sweden- borg Is, rst, that ho was a good and honest man, and therefore presumptively to be believed ; and, secondly, that his revelations are in themselves conformable to reason and In har- mony with the fragmentary information fur- nished by the Bible. In regard to Swedenvorg’s personal character, he cites the testimony of his contemporaries, including several clergyinen and noblemen of rank, and shows that they agree in speaking of him tn the highest terms One says that“ be loved truth and justice in all his feelings and actions ;" another that he was “a pattern of sincerity, of virtue, and of piety; others, again, accord to him great learning and wisdom, Joined with uncommon humility. Prof. Girres, of the University of Munich, after re- viewing the evidence on the subject, declares that Swedenborg was in life and disposition so blameless that no man dare ever intimate any suspicion of concerted deception. His writings, too, Mr. Barrett says, show him to have been a truly religious man, and to have had in view nothing but the greater glory of God and the good of mankind. If this be all so, and we know of no reason for doubting It, It ought to be made geverally known, and Mr. Barrett has done aser- vice in laying tt before the world. The answer of the incredulous should be, not that Sweden- borg was a wiiful decetver, but rather himself deceived, and that his pretended visions were but the hallucinations of @ disordered mind. This, wo imagine, ts the position commonly taken by those whose Inquiries have not led thom to recoguize his claims, and It ts to refute this position, therefore, that Mr. Barrett cbiedly addresses himself. ‘The theory on which alone Swedenborg’s stories are oredible is that the spiritual world is not another portion of material space more or leas remote from this world—so that to get to it one must make a journey through the alr or ether—but that it 1s, as its name tmports, spir- {tual and not natural, and therefore subject not to the laws of matter but to those of spirit. This theory Mr. Barrett adopts, and following Swedenborg, contends that the spiritual world is within the natural, as the soul is within the body, and that going to {t {s nota progression through space but an awakening of the spiritual faculties to a consclousness of Its existence, very much ag the opening of the eyes Is going from darkness into a world of light. We are all of us, he says,in the spiritual world now, as to F spirits, and Lf God should please to open our spiritual ¢ could see that world as plainly as we seo the things we now see, The Lord did please, he asserts, to grant this priv to Swedenborg, and he, therefore, without quit- ting the body, or being carried away in the body, saw and ed with spirits and angels and observed a multitude of particulars respecting heaven and hell, all of which he has faithfully reported for our benefit. In support of this view Mr. Barrett calls attention to the various instances recorded in the Bible of the appear- ance of angels, and of visions of heaven by men in the body, and, it must be admitted, with great force, It would seem, indeed, that in the Hible throughout, the spiritual world ts treated of as being close at hand, and not afar off, and that admission Into It was effected not by trans- portation but by some mysterious change of mental or bodily condition. After all, the inquiry ls narrowed down to this ove! What is the practical value of Sweden- borg’s revelations, adinitting them to be true? Mr, Barrett affords his readers the moans of answering this question for themselves, by giving them copious quotations from Swedenborg’s works. He cites what Swedenborg says concerning death and the resurrection, the form of the spirit, the sun of heaven, light and heat in heaven, the objects seen there, the essence of heaven, its social or- ganization, the changes of state which take place there, time and space there, the houses, governments, temples and worship, speech and occupations of the angels, their peace, happt- ness, and Innocence, thelr marriage relations,and many other eqnally Interesting topics, Concern- Ing hell, too, he makes a number of extracts, the drift of which rather conflicts with popular ideas, and is more tn accordance with the newer views of the essential goodness of God. And he adds, at the conclusion, this personal declare- tion: After a careful and prayerful study of this alleged revelation for more than thirty years, brinving to bear upon itthe best powers of m: understanding and the deepest experiences o my heart, Tcan testify to Its reasonableness, its consistency, ite entire agreement with all known truth, and the immense spiritual comfort and satisfaction it ls capable of ministering.” ‘This is emphatic enough, and betokens an earnestness which commands respect if it does not produce conviction. oid ES Corruption in the Courts of Philadelphia, Froma Recent Manifest of the Reform Association of that Ouy. It has become notorious that political offenders need not be afraid of justice, and tho laws are paralyzed by those to whose guardian- ship the approaches to our courts are entrusted Crime stalks deflant through our streets, and is rewarded with political preferment, No one who has not obtained an insight into the oor- ruption that festers under the surface of our municipal administration can truly appreciate the disregard of law, the contempt for Justice, the utter obliteration of all sense of right and wrong that bas become chroulc among those who rule us; and who are resolved at ali hagards to perpetuate their domination, If there ts not inherent virtue among our people to rise up and throw off the apathy which renders them sub- Ject to such brutal and degrading oppression, it needs no prophet to foretell the downfall among us of republican institutions, —— Another Petition to Railroad Presidents, To the Baitor af The Sun, Sim: A Passenger, in a letter published in yes- terday’s SUM, asks you to request the Presidents of cer- tain railroads to prevent drivers from eating their meale on the seats tnalde the care unless they place ® paper or towel first on the seat, T second the request, and for the same reason—the spoiling of my pantaldons from sitting where the dri- Vers had eaten, espe Mavoum Naxbap, ship Sacramento, San Francisco, Deo, 20.—Aavices from Ban Diogo todicate that noarty all of the cabin farnitur some of the cargo, and® part of the machinery of tho steamship Sacramento will be saved. ,The steamer Fideleter brought away so ECEMBER 21, 1872. HOLIDAY NOTES, — pe oppers. The world of New York requires no alma- nao to tell it that Christmas (which “comes but once a year,” alas!) is near at hand, The win- dows proclaim it; the snow-storms herald it; the childron’s eager faces smile its speedy ad- vent, and more than all, everybody carries bun= dies! From the gravest banker, whose white Paper packet tells of jewels not to be trusted out of his gloved fingers, to the store porter with an unwieldy toy wheelbarrow for his sturdy heir, allthe men carry bundles; and as for the femintae portion of our busy promenaders, thelr arms, muffs, and satchels teem with mysterious parcelain brown and yellow and white wrap- pings, all silently saying “ the year is old ; Christ- mas Is almost here. R. W. MACY & CO. One of the holiday spectacles of late years has been afforded bya visit to Macy's Bazaar. Since last season the building has been remodeled and the exterior made amore worthy exponent of the treasures of art and beauty enshrined with- in, The windows present an ever-changing eye- sight delight, and are always surrounded by an eager throng of bright-eyed children who mingle their “ Abs!” of astonishment and their “ Ohs of admiration in @ Juvenile symphony of shrill trebles. Although the stock of this plictur- esquesly beautiful bazaar presents unwonted at- tractions to the whole world of “grown- ups,” still childhoods needs and fancies have been made so preéminently an object infthis ea- tablishment that they overshadow those of “children of larger growth.” A sign of tho spirit of the ago is shown In toys 45 In things leas serious, It ts not many years since the doll of the perfod was as much like a baby as art could counterfeit nature. ‘The girl mind craved amimlo motherhood, ‘Tho doll of to-day Is a Parisian belle of the bleached blonde varietydwho is born with a French trousseau,and owns kid gloves, Jewelry, a parasol, bonnet, fan! But if sentiment has lost in this transformation, art has gained inuch. We dare hazard the state- ment that parents purchase these diminutive wonders as much for thelr own gratification as for that of their children, so fascinating are these miniature portrayals of everything we full-sized mortals enjoy and desire to possess. What would our dear, dead and gone grand- mothers tay to any one of the large families of Parisian demoiselles who He or stand in con- scious beauty at this headquarters of King Lilll- put? Hair dressed to distraction, silk hose on feet, and French shoes of exquisite!finish ; underwear to have delighted the fastidious Anne of Austria's dainty tastes; and a dress copied from the best models of the most worthy map-milliner, Worth; to say nothing of the tiny fan ia her kid-gloved fingers or depend- Ing from her belt, itself an artistic chef 'd @uore, Christinas ls not a good time in which to coolly moralize upon the tendency of all this redund- ant luxury, or we should be tempted to repeat the observations of a‘ Wise Man of Gotham” upon having his attention called to a marvellous costume for; a twenty-Inch-long lady upon the front breadth of whose dress afond mamma had Just stitched thirty-seven tiny kilt-plaitings | But even he would have been dazzled by the Perfection of all the tiny luxuries in this doll kingdom—the dressing cases, the travelling satchels, complete in its inch and a half of Russia leather, the shaw! straps, tollette glasses, shoe cases, boxes labeled “les gants de ma pou- pee,” writing desks from which to open tnvita- tions to doll parties and doll weddings, clocks and watches by which to know the hour of starting In the coach prepared for their use, camel's hair shawls under which to protect thetr Parisian costumes, eye-glasses through which to quiz the beau of the period, whose clothing 1s even more elaborate in finish than thelr own, and—but description or enumeration, unlike the doll stock, has @ limit. Up stairs new rooms have been opened for larger toys. Foreign skill and manufacture would appear to have reached perfection long ago, yet each year the sight Is surprised and gratified by novel importations a shade more desirable than those that appeared faultiess before. Beholding these, the juvenile mind, falling on Christmas eve “ asleep in lap of legends old,” may wel! marvel how Santa Claus gets down our narrow chimney flues with bis bursting pack, or indeed{how the fairy chariot with its fleet coursers can hold or drag them. Still the realm of childhood does not banish tm- possibilities as improbable, and its faith works the miracle, Ifany one has not yet been to Macy's, they should go as a holiday duty, since space and the dictionary are too limited to tell what Santa Claus has done for his true worshippers at this, his chief headquarters. JAMES M'CREERY & CO, From the iuevitable black s!Ik—several dresses of which must always form the founda- tion of @ fashionable lady's wardrobe—to the Palest thought of a tint destined for a shadowy toilette according to the last edict of French fancy, the dress-seeker can lod her taste suited at this favorite store, corner of Broadway and Eleventh street. Gentlemen who wish to sur- prise their wives with a New Year's now silk can rely on having as good an assortment from which to choose as tho city affords, In black allks the famous Bouvet's black satin finish has been reduced to $2 and $2.25 a yard, and the Poncet, Gourd, Ginnet's, and Bellou's drap de France range from $1.25 to $3. During the past week there has beon opened a new stock of one hundred pieces of the latest neutral tints, sulta- ble for evening or house wear, at $3 ayard. Some of these are of most peculiar softness and beauty of shade, and appear as if suggested by the ten- der tints in some of Sountag's sunrise or sunset skies, just Mt to form the atmosphere, a0 to speak, over which should float the cloud-like drapery of transparent tulle or the more tangi- ble frost work of point applique or filmy Valeu- clennes laces. A holiday feature at this house isa counter devoted to the exhibition of “five thousand | dress patterns,” cut and labeled, from which to select glita for your domestics or humble friends, to whom a dress, not of calico, {s aluxury, For all presents should be divested of a too evident practical purpose, Even the holiday dress should be something beyoud mere everyday ral- ment to the recipient. Tho laces at McOreery's are noted for their extreme beauty, from the bridal vail and flounces for the daughter of a millionaire to the one “best” collar owned by the lady-like wife of some honest mechanto, Camel's hair shawls (which we can know are real, by the country girl's rule, “She saw the camel's name on 'em!") with most artistic designs and rarely embrol- dered borders, and striped Persian shawls in every vurlety of admixture, seeming to enfold “tho pride of Turkey and of Persia land,” aro here in endless profusion, In the ladies’ de- partment the lingerie is of rare beauty, and a trousseau or layette could be selected without even giving an order, Among all these useful things is scattered a myriad of fanciful articles especially designed for presents, beautiful boxes for the gloves and mouchoirs near by, being always the daintlest of gifts, SMITH'S PATTERN BAZAAR {son Broadway, near Twentieth street, and af- fords an indespensable aid to home manufacture of wearing apparel, Patterns are fitted to the form and warranted perfect, and the cloth models to be obtained with each pattern pre- Vents any mistake or perplexity, W. K. PEYTON, AND BRADBURY BROS, As all are not blessed, or cursed it may be,with & profuslon of that commodity the love of which is the root of all evil,” it 1s neo: fow places where feminine taste can be gratified at a less expensive rate than at the Broadway dry goods palaces, This desired haven is un- doubtedly discovered in the vaunted vicinity of the Bowery, which is asynonym for cheapness in price, Peyton ts particularly noted for cheap and fashionable ready-made suits, These are Very conventent for business ladies, who have no time to make thelr own dresses, and cannot afford to pay the extravagant demands of modish modiste’s, yet who wish a costume at once taste~ fuland stylish, Fine shawls, mantles, and a full line of housekeeping goods are here offered, Bradbury & Brothers, 819 and 814 Bowery, offer 4n extensive variety of materials wherewith to adorg the outer woman, besides fancy goods, and 4 i the countions odds and ends of dainty frip- | pory, by whose means fair dames are mado fair er, yet of which handkerchiefs, gloves, ribbons, furs, laces, embroideries, neckties, and orna- ments form only a unit of the rest, JACKSON'S MOURNING BTORM. The days when folks mourned soberly and sombrely are past, or it may be dress has become 80 symbolical in its character that divers grada- tions are noeded to express exactly the degree of mental regret indulged In by the wearer of “the trappings and the suite of woe.” At any rate Jackson's has long ago afforded the “mourners” a temple consecrated to their use Bverything, from a black pin to that crape en- velopment technically called # vail, may be pur- chased here; and bonnets, from that close cot- tage worn by those who are “ widows indeed,” to a dazzling admixture of lavender and spark- ling jets, that make the consoled and resigned wearer seem as if “perked up in a glistening arief.” Black is so widely used as a fancy dress, and the hues of second mourning so varied and lady-like, that it fs not only those suffering under bereavement who are grateful for such estab- lsments as Jackson's. KINZEY'S FANCY STORE. ‘This wonderfully stocked store truly deserves its oft-applied epithet of popular. It is a demo- cratic place of resort, and @ genuine Obristmas spirit seems to pervade the entire establish- ment. Rich and poor meet alike with the most courteous attention, and the little bootblack or newsboy looking for arattle for his baby brother might be sure of the same pleasant assistance in his purchase as my lady of Madison avenue se- lecting @ set of point lace for her fortunate daughter. Up stairs the variety of toys, dolls, and fancy goods seems endless and inexhausti- tollet sets and glasses, scent bottles, brack- ets, boxes of all sorts, Christmas tree novelties, dolls’ furniture, boys’ wagons, animals, and a host of tasteful trifles affording a petit souvenir at a moderate outlay. One admirable feature of this store is that the goods arc plainly labelled, so that one can shop with an increased ease, which, added to the low price of renily good articles, creates Kinzey’s @ doubly *)opular” resort during the festive sea- son. THR DOLLAR store. For the middle-class millions many of our su- perb metropolitan repositories of art and costly luxury appear like sealed arcanas of beauty, thelr stocks being for them among the unattain- able and only-to-be-longed-for things of earth. ‘To those, as well as other sensible shoppers, the Dollar Store is a “sweet boon.” You may lotter there, knowing that some one of the myriad of pretty things may be yours—for who has not a dollar? The holiday stock 1s particularly fine, comprising an indescribable variety of ornamen- tal and usoful gifts, The morocco case has ® remarkably cheap assortment of lady's compan- fons, well fitted up, ATS AND FURS. The days of snow and ice and rain naturally suggest furs, and for New Year's calls a hand- some new hat {s one of a gentleman's first requi- ites. For up-town Indies who wish to present & Ono seal-skin cap, gauntlets, or collar to a friend, the establishment of Knox, under the Fifth Avenue Hotel, will be convenient. Gen- tlemen down town can make their purchases at the same hatter’s, 212 Broadway, or at Burke's, corner of Fulton street, who ts famed for his fancy furs, Espenscheld {s'also ready for ail in search of articles in his line of trade at his Nas Sau street establishment. UNION ADAMS & CO. have an attractive variety of all articles of gen- tlemen's underwear and the many tasteful ad- Juncts of the masculine tollet. Smoking jackets, gloves, handkerchiefs, cravats, Jewelry, canes, and such luxuries are excollent articles for that diMoult object of choice, a gentieman’s holiday gift. At MRA, DINNS'S MILLINERY DEPOT may be found hats for New Year visiting needs or to accompany all of the fresh suits which are inevitable at this season. Evening or reception bonnets in light colors are also a seasonable in- vestment, also feathers for head dresses. EARICH'S TEMPLE OF FASITION, situated on Kighth avenue, near Twenty-fourth street, 1s an emporium of fancy goods and toys in every style; things for little children and things for big ones; toys for the stockings and pretty trifles for the Christmas tree, Furs are also made a specialty at this store, and a fancy set for a little Miss combines ornament and use, and {sa good gift for a fond grandpapa or a doating uncle, Scent bottles and toliet sets, work baskets, satchels, purses, and all fanciful dainties are here to be seen in a most admired confusion.” A. A. VANTINE & CO. must be visited if you have an eccentric friend who loves curiosities and novelties with @ dim suggestiveness of the Orient and the “far countries,” which Lord Bateman went ." Here are Japanese and Turkish cases, trays, puzzies, teapots, and, of course, boxes ad infinitum ‘There are many to whom nothing {s more delightful than some such curious, original bit of foreign china or Oriental oddity to be stored away ina cabinet or collect dust on ® senseless etagere. Gratify them by all means. ‘Then go to SQUIRE'S, FULTON STREET, if your “bright, particular star” has hitherto proved scornful to all ordinary wooing. He bas “gems of purest ray serene,” and Armand s: “play diamonds if you would win a woman. And a greater than a French satirist has written that Dumb jewels often in thetr aflent kind, More than quick words do move a woian’s mind.” BOOTS AND SHOES are very essential articles of equipment in this wintry season, and we are giad to note that while the pretty and ornamental in foot gear are provided for in-door wear, the solld and sub- stantial are not overlooked for out-door use. A great reform has been wrought in this direction of late by the more conscientious manufactur. ers, for examples of which we refer our readers to Cantrell of Fourth avenue, and Miller of Union square, Holiday presents of this charac~ ter are seasonable and sensible, THE GREAT AMERICAN TEA COMPANY have made extensive preparations for holiday trade, Delicate aromatic teas and fragrant cof- fees of the best quality are supplied by this company at moderate rates and unexception- able quality, Prudent housekeepers, who bat aneyeto the comfortable and the economical ‘at Christmas and New Year's, will govern them- selves accordingly. Receunting the Boston May: y Vou Pierce Elected Lustend of on. Boston, Deo. %.—The committee on recount- ing the yotes for Mayor and Aldermen concluded the Mayoralty count this afternoon, and thetr figures elect Henry 1. Pleree lurality of seventy-nine votes over Mayor Gastc recount of ballots in the Be ond Ward shows 4H) Votes, and other war 0 show discrep The coumuilttee ls how ¢ gaged turing up the votes for Alderuien, aid & repurt Wil be made fy full to the board neat Mouday, $$ — ‘The Guardian Savings Institution, To the dilitor of The Sun, Sin; Permit me through the columns of Tr SUN to make @ suggestion to Mr, Jeremiat Quiulan, celver of the defunct Guardian Sayings Institution. More than six months ago Mr. Quinlan promised depost- tors that the 8 per cent, due them [should be paid. At ‘# subsequent time he sald he would uot in the next divi. e to pay In full, a8 previously promised, but Je.10 two Ineballmeuts, and that it was" ouly question of time how long he would be compelled to withhold the final settlement.” As one of the victin take: eles. Soutidence, I woul) say to Mr. Quit Ke many hearts iad if he will But pay ZO OF before Christuas, Mr. Quinlan says Mount dug depositors will f he know whereof he makes this pos! for unm diate payment on part or U be willing to make a liberal discount Quinlan, aeneenaeeiiemeenes Reconstruction of the Dominion Cabinet, Orrawa, Dec, 20.—The Citizen, Sedat, AY Sacht woes pable of leadiuy the Preac the'Wovermment instead of bir Canadian supporters of George Cartier, Cabinet. Mannrp, Dec, 20,—The erisis in the Cabinet, whieh was anticipated by the Jmparcial on Weduesday last, has occurred. The Ministers of Finance, Public Works, and Colos have red. Sefer 7 mitered buryeue oe Berristea' ycuies oh, Soar eres A FIVE YEARS’ MYSTERY. ee SUDDEN DISAPPEARANCE OF a ONONDAGA FARMER, —_ > Ms A Cry of Murder Heard Five Years Agoa ‘The Missing Farmer Supposed orrespondence of The Sun, Cottammr, N. Y., Deo, 15.—Situated ag thts village is, In the northeastern part of Onone daga county, away from the line of any railroad, {tts seldom that anything occurs hero ta inter rupt the settled monotony of our rural surround ings. But we have lately had a sensation that ig destined to increase in interest for some time to come, Five yoars ago James Blodgett lived on m farm about ® mile from the village. {Ho waa about 00 years of age, and had lived there for many years, He had grown-up sons and daughe ters. By a life of hard work and shrewd manages ment Blodgett had accumulated considerable money, and became the proprietor of one hun« dred and thirty acres of as fine Iand as there is im the county. He stood high in the estimation off the community, and was for twelve years asses sor of the town of DeWitt. MR, BLODOETT missiNa, One night about five yoars ago Mr, Blod started for this place on some business, as he stated to his family, He did not return. Thas same night a widow Breed, living near Collam was aroused from sleep by tho noise of som persons quarreling in front of her house. Bi was afraid to look out, but heard distinctly @ severo struggle in the road, and the cry of “ Murder |" raised by some one apparently being overpowered. ‘The cry was heard but once, A parley was then held by the others, in a low tone, and abort time afterward the sound of footsteps retreating hurriedly down the road wag heard by the terrified widow. Sho believed that. some terrible crime had been committed, but had not sufficient courage to make any invostigatio: ‘The nextday tho news was spread around thi Blodgett had not been seen since he left home, Mra. Breed at onco related what she had the hight before, It then became a settle Hef with the missing man's family and fF the had been foully dealt with, and his disposed of somewhere in the neigh! For months arch was kept up, but of the missing man could be found. AUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN MURDERED. Nothing positive leading to the detection of any person guilty of his murder could be obe tained, although @ notorious bad charact amed Carey was suspected. The theory that fr. Blodgett had been murdered” was strengthened by the fact that he had, om the ‘night he disappeared, « sum of money in his possession, with which he tne tended to pay for the building of abarn on hig farm. 4 others knew, it was sup} f this fact, nce the commission of the deed. apie duspiclon that Carey was the mire lerer of Blodgett was made almost a certainty in the minds of the residents of the communi when, some time subsequent to the disappear. Bnce of the old farmer, he brutally murderod. & man named Johnson. For this crime Carey waa sentenced to be hanged. The Governor, hows ever, commuted his sentence to imprisonment for Ilfe, which sentence he Is now serving out La the Auburn Penitentiary. THE RSTATE SETTLED. After due lapse of time, the old farmer's hetrty believing as they did that he had passed fro earth, all search Fraitiens, haa search for him proving administrators appointed on his estate, accord= ing to law. The affairs of Blodgett were sot. Ued up, and his property satisfactorily divided, amo} o ae heirs. For Give years matters were this rit Blodgett was sincere mourned by his children, and a neat inot e ‘Was erected to his memory in the family bu ground, Time had worn + Ae) oignancy ol grief, and the horror attending the manner of the dead man’s taking off. ‘The heirs were Pioapering, and the sad episode ta thelr fami! latory wad likely to be forgotten, until a wee oreo oe It Was brought fresh to their mewory, A LETTER FROM THE DEAD MAN. Among the Blodgett family mail matter taken from the post office at this place about that time, was a letter bearing the post mark of Eins Rorlim, Pa. a village in the oll rezions. A thune lerbolt falling in their midst could not have pro= duced a more startling effect than did this letter when its contents were known. It was written and signed by James Blodgett. who claimed to be the missing farmer! He said he was in des~ titute circumstances, but gave no particulars as to what he had been doing in the years he had been missing. He related the circumstances ate tending his disappearance from home. but said nothing whatever of any attempt upon his IIe, No reason was given in the letter for his extras ordinary act. He wanted one hundred di sent him, in order that he might return | ‘The family held a consultation. They t into consideration the fact that this letter have been written by some sharper who h some way come Into possession of the du the old man’s disa play upon the cre ceive the one hun alls of ppearancesand who hoped to ulity of the family and re= red dollars. ‘The writing, compared with other writing In, the possession of the family known to be that of Blodgett, bore astrong resemblance to the genuine... Still It was argued ‘ht be the work of aviever ‘orger, Who had me way obtained scraps of r. Blodgett’s writing and bis signature, THM LONG-LOST FARMER FOUND. After talking It over some days it was decidod that one of the sons should go to Emporiut his expenses to be paid by the others in cou mon, and ascertain if the writer of the letter was reaily the long-lost head of the family or ppostor. This Japhet in # h ofa father arrived in the oll regions, and proceeded to the point frum which the lotter had been res ceived. After long and laborious search and {nquiry the son found.4n an obscure boarding house of the lowest grade, a man who answer his description of his father given to Persons in the town. The individual f no impostor, but the veritable and venerable James Blodgett, the long-missing farmer of Cole jamer, ‘The'son at once took him in charge, and one day last week arrived with him at the hoi stead. ‘The meeting of the old man and differs! members of his family {s said to have been ve Affecting. He has not as yet given any accoun of how he spent the flve years that ha has been one, and all attempts to gvt him to speak about it have thus fur proved unsuccessful. ‘The res, appearence of Blodgett among his old neighs bors ts he return of one from the dead, 90 Positivewere. all that, herwas no longer really among the living. ‘The Inhabitants for milew have flocked to see the old man, refusing to box Ueve the extraordinary tale of his return withy Out optical demonstration of the fact. A MYSTERY TO UNRAVEL. Two questions have arisen since Blodgott's ra jum, which occupy the thoughts of our peoping One 'is, whet ts the explanation of that mids night ‘struggle, five years ago, in front of Mi reed's house, and the’ terrible ery of “Murder|” that broke on the widow's ear? Blodgett says that he was not attacked on that night, Was some other unfortunate way farer done to death and his remains buried fn kom ous of the way place, orsunk inthe water & Bome of the older {nhabitants of this village now remember that a Jew pack peddler, wha formerly made periodical visits hereabout, and was here about the time that Blodgett disaps peared, has never been here since. ‘Two om ree Years ago a portion of the skeleton o man was found on the beach of Oneida la! apolntafew miles north of Collamer two facts are now put together, and a th. advanced that the peddler was murdere C= x front of Mrs, Breed’s Ove years ago, by the Cwey or some other gang, and bly body taken Oneida lake, under. cover of darkness, and anchored beneath lis waters. The theory |s plausible, but its truth will of eo never DO hown unless some guilty participator in the alleged crime shall at some future day be come pelled by remorse to confess the deed. WHO OWNS THR BLODGETT FAUM? The other question 1a, Who owns the [lod sett farm?) Whether the cuna! ded a n Will Jouve the question to courts, or whether they Ww favor of the old man, time will pvements have b value roatly ent re re are goiLe hi, tf the case goes In less lead to extended litig: by some who profess to. ki Blodgett will assign all bis right and property to his children, only. askit ported by them the remainder of | ‘Taken all in all, this case is one of thy extraordinary on record, and hus created Ua Greatest excitement for uilles around. erty which the law di the Confirmations b: Senate, WASHINGTON, Dec. 20,—The Senate in exec tive session to-day confirmed the fo!low|ng nominatiouss George Bliss, Jr., Uuited States Attorney for (ie Suatie ern District of New York; John 7. Croxton of Kegs tucky, Ministor Resident at Bolivia, rico L. Markbrelly recalled; William B, Crosby of New York, Cone General at Rome, vice D. H. w. Armstrong, resigned Brisbote of Wisconsin, Consul at Viv K g. recalled; A.J. Cassard of Lou oa ey, deceaa H. Alexandria, s Michigan fornia) G. A. Ji Ageucy tri ky ey for the Rasterd Diatrict uf Missouri Temple, United States Atioruey for Westera Arkauntt, Collision of Vreight Trains. Parnapenpasa, Deo, 80.~About 10 0 clork laat Right freight trains from Camden to Jersey (ily ARG ersey Cty t@ Cainden came tn cottision Detwern Ber i Blown sad tyenton, Nineteen care were complety ed and Gas porvou was sliguily injured.