Chicago daily tribune. [volume], May 17, 1875, Page 4, Image 4

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‘HC TRIBUNE.
TERMS OF Tl
■Am •» •MwarrxioK (r*TASLr m advakc*).
Pontage at it.!* Office*
Dillr.l ■la.OOlWMklf. 1 yMr....S I.JW
nri.wertir,. «.OUe"? 18 * -t*oG
Bnn<t• j HqlUod, Teneopte* 14.UU
double sheet 0.001
I'aite ef e year at the lamerate.
WANTKDyOnearUre atont In each low* oaOvtUftte.
Special arrangement! made with «ucn.
tivecitnencoplei lent free.
To pterrnt delay aod mlelakw, be enre and straFee*.
Oflice addm* In full, Including State and Ceunty.
Eemluinmmay bemade either by draft* espreas* Po»W
CB.ee order, or in rrglaterod letter!, atonr rlak.
teams to citt ■rMCiu«tna.
Dally, delivered, Sunday excepted, 2H cents per week.
Dally, delivered, Sunday Included, 30 cent! per week,
Adclrcaa TIIR TRinU.NK OOMPANT,
Corner Attrition and Dcatborn-vli., Chicago, IU.
TO-DAY’S AMUSEMENTS.
MOOI.EVfI TIIKATRR—Randolph meet, betwean
Olattaod luiSalla. Uiuenon'a Mloitrela.
M’VIOKKR’S THEATRE— Mactbon itreeL between
Dearborn and Stale. Rogagemenl of CUarlea Pope.
" Sainton."
ADRl.rm THEATRE—Dearborn aimW eornat Man
roe. Variety Hulartalmnent.
AOADBMY OK MU3IO-HM»»ed afreet,between
Mon and Mourns, r.ngspftrnnt «f tho Pox Pantoninio.
Treupe. " Umnptr Hunipir.”
BUbIMESS NOTICES
FROM IWDMNO GIRLHOOD TO WOMANLY
t»«iurl‘T. itiul cron fir lnn» tho cv«.,lng of Ufa, a p>yo
an j radiant onmnlotinn may lie preiarvod by the Tegular
iSint to*" beVlbDatttl alHwa-AtltVata, LMtA’attWtnof
Youth. iSnltl by all nnwglits and fancy g <.> di dealnft.
Uht dnftfuaxi (HVilmnc.
Monday Moraine. May 17, 1075.
Extensive seizures are to bo made in Now
Orleans, whore, it is said, the distilleries sus
pended operations whoa they came in con
tact with revenue officers who could not bo
bribed.
"Wo print this morning the full text of
Judge Dillon’s decision in the Union Pacific
Bridge suit, tho ro-mlt of which affects so
contrariwise tho feelings of Council Bluffs
and Omaha.
Jesse D. Biuojit, cx-Sona*or from Indiana,
concerning whoso political career, long since
terminated, tho most charitable course is si
lence, is lying dangerously ill of rheumatism
of the heart, at his. residence in Baltimore.
Davenport scandal-mongers are crooning in
chorns over an exposure which, our dis
patches state, threatens to overwhelm divers
citizens cf that city who have hitherto sat in
the uppermost rooms nt feats, and had no
lack of salutations in tho market-places.
It is now positively slated that Iho suc
cessor of Supervisor Monk boa been elected,
and that the appointment will ho made
known in ft day or two. Tho now incum
bent, wo aro told, will bo an Internal Revenue
Collector of Illinois, aud one of tho oldest
and best-trained officers in tho service.
At Dwight, 111., yesterday morning, they
bad to break tho ice in tho open-air troughs
before their cattle and horses could drink.
And yet there ore poets who are sad because
“Beautiful May" is more than half gone;
bnt they don’t drink out of troughs, to be
sure, nor, as a general thing, got up in the
zooming until the ice has molted.
Tho death of tho late Mayor of St. Louis
immediately after bis installation into oflice
necessitated another election, which took
place Saturday last, and resulted in tho choice
of Col. J. H. Britton, a Democrat. Over
seventy persons to whom, ns tbo reward of
staunch advocacy and earnest campaigning,
had been promised tho appointive places of
honor and emolument in the city, saw their
chonocs vanish with the sudden demise of
their friend and champion.
Ex-Attoracy-Gcucrol Williams is In a fair
way to bo called upon to exercise his moder
ate supply of legal ability in his own bohalf.
A year ago ho forbade a newspaper corre
spondent named Sawyer the entree to iho
Department of Justice, because of the car
roplilioaii procurement of some papers In tho
Credit-Mobilior cases, os well os some unfa
vorable comments written in connection
therewith. Sawteb now threatens a libel
suit, proposing to provo that the papers wore
properly and regularly obtained by him, and
that what ho wrote was true.
A. merchant in tins city boa received a lol
terror a a correspondent in Nebraska con-
Leaning information which, if true, must
prove gratifying. It is to tbe effect that,
though the grasnhoppers have developed
in tt at locality by myriads, thoro is
aa active enemy preying on them
in Un. form of u small red bug, of a
description not hitherto seen. Thin bug at
tacks tbo grnarJioppors in bnlk, and destroys
all it attacks. If this bo true, and the bug
become general in the grasshopper districts,
limn its appearance will be welcomed. That
bug ought to bo cultivated, that it may prove
the deliverer of the country from the threat,
cnod plagues.
T ho report of the Commissioner dispatched
by Tub Tainona to Cincinnati for tbo pnr
]>Of e of obtaining information concerning tbo
-luma Vista atone is published in this issue.
Pram the investigations maile, and from the
opinions and views of exports, it appears thftt
tb 3 individual who was so fortunate as to se
er re tbo contract for freestone for tbo Chi
ci.go Custom-House has enjoyed oxlraor
d.nary facilities for maldug an enormous
profit out of tbo job, both on account
of the extremely high price ho bos
received for the stone, and because
of bis singular good fortune in being able to
furnish poor and cheap material without lot
or hindrance on tbo part of tbe Supervising
Architect. Some queer developments ore
made, and tbo result is to strengthen tbe
conclusion already reached—that Mullett
and ItayaiH wore removed none too soon for
too good of the Chicago Custom-House.
The Chicago produce markets wore steady
on Sa turday. Mesa pork was qniot and do.
dined -Oo ' per brl, closing at* s2l.Bo cash,
and $21.85 seller Juno. Lard was dull and
dec’iincd 10c per 100 lbs, closing at SIB.BO
oash, and 15.87j@10.40 for Juno. Meats
w»>io quiet and unchanged at for
shoulders, llj}@l2o for short ribs, and 12j@
12} o for short doors. Tlighwlnes were nou.
inally unchanged at sl.lß per gallon. Lake
freights wore quiet and firm. Flour was
quiet and steady. Wheat was moderately ac
tire and }@Jo higher, closing at sl.o2j} cash,
and sl.o4j} for June. Com was quiet and
easier, closing at 73{0 cash, and 78Jo for
June, Oats were quiet and easier, closing at
CBi}o cosh, and Cso for June. Bye was quiet
at [e-mail]. Barley was quiet and firm
at $1.86 cash, and SI.OO seller September.
Hogs were fairly ictlve and firm, with sales
of oogiPioa to astra light at $7.50@7.00, and
common to goo<C>flC«Ty at .$7.73(5)8.2r». Cat*
tlo sold were firm at Friday’s quo
tations. SI? -*>P were scarce and nominal.
, TEW'iU v. Father Riordak. pastor of St
James’ (<s Stholio) Church in this city, gave
his poonj a some plain, sensible talk ycator
day. Tiloy aro about to erect a now houso
of worship having already purchased a lot
on Wabash' Avenue, and the new church,
Ft.lhcr Itioßn.r declares, shall bo built with
money not of' the devil's furnishing; there
shall bo no Stories, soiling of liquor, or other
such immoral schemes resorted to for tho
rais’ng of funds. 'Ho had already
earned the bright to doroand that
the church bio built olono by sub-
Bcripliou and Voluntary gifts, for, as ho
told his congregation, in four years ho hod
saved out of his private and personal revenue,
derived from marriage and birth offerings,
etc., a sum exceeding SIO,OOO, which ho had
given back to tho parish to aid in purchasing
a lot for tho now church, in which ho can
havo no title or ownership. Hero is an ex
ample of dovotlon and real, allied to a high
order of intellectual ability, which is entitled
to tho x'romineuco that wo assist in giving it.
It is now probable that tho Beeches case
will bo snHmlltcd to tho Jury by tho Ist of
Juno. Messrs. Evarts and Porter, who snm
up for the defendant, will oooupy about five"
days; Mr. Beach, who olono will speak for
tho plaintiff, wilt perhaps consume three days
more; and it is announced that Judge Neil
son’s charge will toko, probably, a day and a
half. Altogether tho case will have occupied
several mouths. Now tho question is, How
long a tirao will bo allowed tho jury in which
to agroo upon a verdict ? It may bo that they
will be prepared to render a verdict immodi
otcly, or wilhiu tho time usually allotted to
ordinary juries in ordinary cases; bat this Is
not likely. If they oca as divided in senti
ment ns the public, and havo boon as much
confused by the moss of conflicting
ovidcuco they havo hoard, it is too
much to expect a ready agreement
to a verdict either way. Now it
is usual to hold a jury together for a day and
a night whon they aro unable to agroo on n
trial which has only lasted a day or two. If
thus ho taken as a fair proportion of tho time
which a jury should havo for deliberation,
thou tho jury in tho Beeches eoso ought to
bo kept out at least threo months unless they
can agroo to a verdict before that time. It
would be Inhuman In this case to follow tho
usual practice, aud deprive tho jurymen of
anything to cat or drink for threo months’
time, and it might defeat the ends of justice
to permit them to live sumptuously, pursue
tho usual avocations, or associate with tho
outside world. Tho only way we aeo is to
compromise tho matter by keeping thorn in
close confinement and giving them sufficient
broad and water Co sustain life. Tbroo
months of this regime may not bo a very
cheerful prospect for tho Beeches jurymen,
but justice must bo preserved though tho
heavens fait
THE CITY BUDGET.
Tbo Comptroller has submitted to the City
Connell the estimates for the appropriations
for tho year ending March 31,167 C.
The five principal departments of the City
Government havo estimated for their onrront
annual expenditure as follows t
Board of Public Works,
lleiltb Department.....
Police Department....,.
Fire Department
Ocbool Department
Total
These deportments, however, do not em
brace within their jurisdiction all the city ex
pend! lures. Tho Comptroller docs not ap
prove these estimates, and advises their re
daction to $4,023,404. Tho Comptroller es
timates for tho other expenses of tho city,
not included in tho department expenses, tbo
sum of $1,253,823. Wo bavo, thou, the fol
lowing opposing estimates:
DKTABTMJtIfT EBTtHATV.
Firs departments
Add for other city purpoiea.
Total, department estimate .......$7,10J,815
couprnoLi.tn'* mtixute.
Five tlopartmeule..
Other expenditure!!
Total, Comptroller's cillmata 13,277,310
Tho difference between tbcso two estl
timatcs is the trifling sum of one million eight
hundred thousand dollars?
It will bo seen that the several departments
hare estimated for 40 per cent more money
than tho Comptroller thinks is required; and
Uiis difference, when tho sum is in millions,
is of considerable signlflcanco to tho public.
The Comptroller estimates that n tax of 15
mills, with tho ordinary miscellaneous re
ceipts, will produce tho revenue to meet the
expenditures ho recommends. Tho miscella
neous receipts for 1874 wore $260,000. Al
lowing them to bo $300,000 in 1875, this will
leave $4,077,820 to bo raised by taxation. If
the rate of taxation bo 15 mills, then tho eg
gregato assessment must bo $830,000,000.
Tho aggregate assessment in 1874 was $303,-
705,140, on which a tax of 18 mills was lev
ied, producing $5,400,003,
The Comptroller proposes to rodaoe tho
rote of taxation 8 mills, but also pro
poses to add $37,000,000, or 9 per cent,
to the aggregate of the assessment Wo
question whether the salable or produc
tive value of tho taxable property in tho city
has generally advanced 0 per cent within the
year. Tho Comptroller’s aggregate estimate
of revenue to bo raised by taxation is a re
duction from last year, and, if that amount
of money only is to ho raised, it matters very
Utile whether tho rate bo reduced and tho
assessment increased, or tics term, tho actual
tax will bo tho same in both cases. Tho
pabllo will bo very willing to compromise
now and accept the Comptroller’s estimate.
Hut tho Common Council have to act.
They are, under tho new charter, only lim
ited by their discretion, and, oven under tho
old charter, can go to the utmost extent of
the estimates. Taking the department esti
mates aa far as they go, and adding thereto
the Comptroller’s estimates for other branches
of tho service, the sum is $7,103,640. De
ducting from this sum $300,000 for miscel
laneous receipts, there will ho $0,600,000 to
bo raised by taxation. To raise this sum will
require, on an assessed valuation of $300,-
000,000, a rate of nearly 23 mills ; and, on a
valuation of $330,000,000, a rate exceeding 2
per cent. It Is to be greatly feared that the
struggle which is to lake place In tho Council
on this subject will result not only in the In
crease of the assessment, but in the Increase
of tho rate of tax necessary to produce the
highest sum demanded in the way of appro
priations.
Under (be law the Mayor may veto any ap
propriation made by the Council) but then
the Council have the power to overrule the
veto,—a power which theywill probably exer
cise. _
The position of City-Attorney JiwrcsoM
relative to the contempt case of the Alder,
men is worthy of note a a consistent, honors.
THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE t MONDAY/ MAT 17, 1875.
bio, nod professional. When the Injunction
was first issued, tlio Corporation Conned was
absent, and tho opinion of tho City Attorney
was aikod by tho Aldermen. Ho advised that
a disregard of tbo injunction wonld clearly
bo contempt of court, and render every Al
derman disregarding it amenable to punish
ment by fine and imprisonment, as well as
counsel advising such a course. As tbo in
junction -was temporary, lasting only ten
. days, and pending an argument of tbo pro
ceedings, this advico was not only in accord
ance with the law, bnt also in hooping with
the dictates of common sense ond tho pur
poses of ponco and good will. When tbo
Corporation Counsel returned, ho, along with
other lawyers employed for that purpose, ad
vised a violation of tho injunction, ond a
majority of tho Aldonnen proceeded to vio
late it. Since that time tho City Attorney
has not receded from his position, ond his
name has not boon found in tho caucuses and
eocrot conclaves hold by the Mayor and Alder
men. His conduct in this respect is worthy
of every commendation. Tho injunction
against tho Aldermen was an individual
action, ond their violation of it was also indi
vidual. They have no claims whatever upon
tho public law-officers, who aro paid by tho
city to attend to tbo city’s business. Tho
public law-officers who aro acting with tbo
Aldermen in this matter ore going outside of
their duties altogether, and the other law
yers who bavo beau retained must look to
tbo Aldermen individually, and not to tbo
city, for their fees.
THE PRICE OP GRAIN.
The country can hardly foil to be struck
with tho anomalous condition of the grain
raarkot at the present time. Tho prico of
grain in Chicago is higher (freights included)
than in Now York or Liverpool. And this,
too, notwithstanding tho warehouses of this
city aro packed to their utmost capacity.
Tho prices for Juno and July delivery show
a liberal advance on present prices. In tho
meantime, Now York dealers seemingly treat
tho matter as if tho grain was hold hero on
speculation, and that Chicago dealers wero
seeking to forco tbo purchase at fancy prices.
Never was thero a more serious mistako.
This grain is not hold hero by speculators.
Is is in store here on account of
tho owners who live in the country and not
in the city. Those men own tho property,
and ore able to hold it. They bavo reached
tho conclusion that a largo area of winter
wheat has boon killed and tho ground plowed
up; that tho spring was so late that far loss
grain of all kinds has baou sown this spring
than usual; that tho winter, though unusual
ly severe, failed to destroy or materially re
duce tho grasshoppers, whoso depredations,
already begun, will thisyoar bo extended over
amoro eostwordly section of the country, and
that for these and various other reasons there
will be generally a much reduced crop in
1875. Upon this basis the owners of these
many millions of bushels of grain in Chicago
are holding it for tho advanced prices
which they fool certain will prevail tills year.
Tho East makes another mistake in supposing
that Chicago cannot corry grain for any con
siderable time, bat must forward it for solo.
The time whon that was tho rale has gone
by, and every day the rule Is getting stronger
which requires that he who wants to buy
grain mast come or scad for it. Except in
extreme cases, shipments East for solo aro
getting fewer. Chicago has several custom
ers who como hither to purchase or order
shipments, ond this is to bo eventually the
rale in this market. Notwithstanding oar
elevators ore full, and the grain is hold in
bulk in the country waiting room for storage,
aud that tho East refuses to buy, every change
in prices is an advance and not a re
duction. There mast, therefore, soon bo
n surrender. Ponding this “ wait ” on tho
part of sellers and buyers, the transportation
companies aro comparatively Idle. There is
grain enough here to give them all employ
ment, but somebody mast buy before there
can be a shipment. In a very brief time
navigation will bo opened, and tho St. Law
rence trade will bo resumed. As grain con be
delivered at Montreal much cheaper than at
New York, it can bo purchased for that market
at Chicago prices with less loss than it can bo
purchased by New York. So with Boston,
Baltimore, ond Philadelphia, and if Now
York concedes that it oan no longer compote
with those points, then it must expect that
the groin trade will find its way to other
places.
.U,501,818
. IM/JOd
. 523.150
. 1,191,*77
. 1,119,939
.$5,890,010
,*1,(110,019
~ 1,39:1,899
.$(.033,4!U
. 1,353,M0
80H00L0 FOR THIEVES.
It has not been throe months sinoe tbe
Grand Jury of this county bad before them
certain cases, wherein a licensed pawnbroker
of this city purchased for §BO nearly $3,000
worth of diamond jewelry. For one article
worth SI,OOO ho paid the thief $5. The thief
was a boy employed in a hotel; bo bad stolen
tbo goods from a traveler, and posted off with
them to wbero be could sell them, and, once
there, was compelled to tako what bo could
get for them. That case was never prose
£dcd to conviction, because the owner of tbe
stolen goods, living in another State, could
not bo obtained boro as a witness.
Now we have perhaps a worse cose. A boy
1G years old, employed in a wholesale dry
goods bouse, has, it seems, been stealing lace
shawls, and silk by tbo piece, and other cost
ly goods, and soiling them to certain persons
licensed as pawnbrokers. For these goods
tbo lad received but a small pittance in
proportion to ibolr value. For two years ho
has been engaged in the traffic, aud bos
doubtless varied the lino of goods appropriated
by him according to the demands of the
market. Tbe owners of those goods reside
hero. Tbe boy confesses bis guilt, and told
whore bo bad sold tbe goods.' Tbo alleged
purchasers at first denied having bod any deal
ings with him, but portions of the property
having been found in their possession, they
pleaded their licensed business. Those oases
ought to bo soon ready for judicial Investiga
tion.
Wo have repeatedly called attention to the
foot that tho pawnbrokiug business gen.
erolly, as conducted in this city, was but a
thin disguise for receiving stolen goods. The
profits of this business ore enormous. Nino,
ty.flvo per cent of all tho business done over
the counters of pawnbrokers in this city is
done In stolon goods. The legitimate bus),
ness is comparatively very small, and is con.
fined to a very few respectable establish,
monts, conducted by honest persons. All
others are more fences for thieves. Burglars
and thieves do not steal property for the pur>
pose of holding it. They are always ready to
return such property to the owners upon
the payment of 80 per cent of its
value in cash. All they steal is con.
verted into money speedily, and it
ia converted at these so-called pawn-shops.
They receive from these shops from 10 to 10
per cent of the vslue of the property. The
keepers know every thief { they know when*
ever stolen property is offered them i they
off* the thiol what they ahoooa, aadtha Ui>
tea Id OO tv JJ, m*“*» «•*««
they offer o boy —a dork in a rlry-goods storo
—s2 for a loco shawl and $5 for n piece of
ullk, who con question the guilty knowledge
of the purchaser ? Those Btolon goods are
of course never reclaimed by Die thief 5 lie
would bo exposed If be dare to do so; find the
even more dishonest receivers pocket the whole
profitsof the trade. In fact, it in estimated, and
with probable truth, that of all the property
stolen by burglars and othorjthievcs, money,
bonds, etc., excepted, the thieves sell 00 per
cent of it to pawnbrokers, aud thot the latter
reap 80 per cent of the real value of whot
they buy.
The most murderous business done by these
people is that they carry on with children,
and Ibis business is a large one. Boys and
girls living with parents, or living at service,
ouco tempted Into dishonesty, have that dis
honesty continued in thorn by the money
paid to them by those pawnbrokers, nnd their
pilfering onconmgod nnd reworded by these
dishonest fiends. They become absolute
masters of the children whom they once deal
with. They not only terrify the children
into renewed stealing, hut each time toko a
larger share of the robbery unto themselves.
Wo ore not slating anything that is new.
We are stating matters that are notorious to
the police, to Grand Juries, and to the Pros
ecuting Attorney. Still, so imperfect baa been
the law and so close the confidence botftcou
thieves aud pawnbrokers, that convictions
are rare. When there docs happen a case
where the evidence is complete, conviction
ought not only to bo swift, but the punish
niont severe. The keepers of this class of
shops are the educators of thieves ; aud it is
not, perhaps, extravagant to assume that
they have their unfortunate victims and pu
pils in hundreds of stores of all kinds in this
city, stealing and bringing the property to
them nt beggars' wages.
This business could not bo done except un
der cover of pawnbroker's licenses. Those
pawnshops are tenfold more criminal than
the mock-auction shops. Both are licensed
by the city \ neither could do business with
out the consent of the Mayor. Every one o!
them can be closed by the Mayor at any mo
ment. It is a daily occurrence for the police
to find stolon goods—notoriously stolen—in
these pawn-shops. In every such case,
if the Mayor should revoke the li
cense, there would bo at least one
fence broken up, and one school
for stealing disbanded. Suppose the Mayor
try his hand nt It. If any person were to
open a school in this city, and advertise to
teach boys, girls, men, and women, how to
steal and not bo discovered, such an establish
ment, if not mobbed, would bo broken up by
the police. Here are fifty or a hundred schools
of this very kind, with their hundreds of pu
pils of all ages and sexes, not only teaching
how to stool, but paying for stealing, and oil
these establishments are doing business under
license from the city, aud may be closed at
any moment by tbo order of the Mayor.
THE TEMPER OP PUBLIC MEN.
Ho degree of greatness seems to divest
men of the passions, prejudices, or personal
weaknesses to which they aro suhjeetby nature.
They may attain sufficient self-control to
repress the influence of thoso personal
characteristics to some extent, but from timo
to time they yield to these influences and
allow them to affect public affairs. If the
story ha true about Gen. Grant’s being ob
stinately silent on tbo Third Term because
ho received on anonymous letter threatening
hisiife ia case he did not speak, it is a caso
in point. This story, however, lacks tho ele
ments of probability, and wo prefer to be
lieve that Gen. Grant is silent because ho
considers it in bod taste to decline an honor
which has not been offered to him. But a
notable illustration of the tendency
we have mentioned in pablia men
is to be found just now both
in Germany and England. Both Bismarck
and Disraeli have for many months permit
ted their personal temperaments to affect tho
coarse of pnblla events, and even to disturb
the political intents of their own Govern
ments and all Europe.
In Disdasli’b case it is not improbable that
tho Tory party will encounter defeat on ac
count of his indulgence of his own personal
predilections. He io a haughty, arrogant
man, of ropoUant characteristics. Ho has
chosen to endeavor io disguise these charac
teristics, rather than pat them aside alto
gether, by assuming an (dr of honhomU that
sab well on Palmerston, but is unbecoming
to him. When any member of tho House
has questioned tho Government on the
serious relations of Great Britain with
tho other nations of Europe, Disraeli
has either snubbed him or passed tbe
matter off with a joke. Ho has occupied tbo
timo of the House with tho moat trivial mat-
tors. Ho has permitted Dr. Ksniully and
tho affairs of the Tioiidornb claimant to
monopolize moat of tho time, and spout days
In contesting tho reception of a petition for
tho release of Orton, which proves to havo
been the handiwork of a solitary grocn-grocor
in a little town colled Frittlewell. With this
sort of policy, Mr. Disbaeu has about pre
pared tho people for a return of the Liberal
party to power,
Bismarck's temper seems to bo even more
unfortunate than Disiueu’s, and he gives it
greater latitude lu tho management of public
affaire. He is described as boiug exceedingly
petulant, obstiuato, and quick to anger, and
tho big scars which has been got up ovor tho
Belgian notes is attributed almost entirely
to his nervousness mid irascibility. It
is the general opinion in tho best circles of
Europe, os a Berlin correspondent expresses
it, that “ Bismarck should consider Germany
so strong that eho can afford not to notice the
kicking of tho Belgian Ultramonianes." The
affair is regarded ns at an end, and it would
never have created tbo excitement nor attract
ed tho attention It has if Bisuasok had not
allowed his personal feelings to carry him
away. He bos gone into the crusade against
the Catholics with so much personal feeling
that it Is said ho cannot look upon a Catholic
priest or ceremony without losing bis tem
per. And ho has evidently permitted this
personal feeling to lead the Gorman Empire
into unnecessary entanglements in the Bel
gian matter.
The Nation, commenting upon Uia abuses
of the contract system for public works, il
lustrates thorn by the comparison of a strip
of asphalt street pavement In front of the
Arlington Hotel in Washington, which was
pat down several years ago by Ur. Coacomu
and other property-owners, with the pave
ment of the same kind laid more recently by
publlo contract on both sides of it. The
private pavement, though twice aa old aa the
other, is In excellent condition, while the
publie work is already going to pieces. This
leads the JVaffc/t to suggest that, where
public work is ordered, which is to be paid
for by apodal assessments, the property*
owners (tying lot it shook! be tb
in rln the work themselves.
This plan has been in operation in
Chicago to some extent for the past few
years, and wo think, on the whole, with Im
proved results. On several streets whore
paving has been ordered by the Council, (ho
property-owners have done tho work by pri
vate contract. They have paid the same
price, but frequently loss, but have bad tho
advantage of having the work dona before
they paid their money, wore not required to
pay for those who evaded their taxes, and
generally secured a bettor character of work.
The full benefits of this plan have not been
realized, however, because the organization
of the work was generally left to tho con.
tractor, who interested himself in getting tho
agreements. If, when the paring of a street
is ordered, tho property-owners of every
block combined together to got their own
work douo at tho cheapest nnd best rates in
compliance with tho specifications, there
would undoubtedly bo great advantage in it.
Not only docs the City of St, Louis appear to
have gained now life recently, but many of her
citizens are evidently doing the same thing In
the same way—namely, by the Infusion of fresh
blood into Ihotr veins. Tho moat illustrious
patient is Coo. Frank Blur, upon whom the In
fusion experiment has boon tried tbreo tiroes
with no small benefit to nis condition. One
other Instance is given by a local paper, in which
Edmond Pinero, of tho law firm of Pinero ,t
Poqoc, was treatsj with an infusion of blood
from the arm of his partner, Mr. Poqdk. His
ailment was rheumatic gout. It la Indescribably
refreshing to find lawyers willing to shod tboir
blood for one another, hut it opens up a series
of interesting questions. Is not Pinero
now a fraction of Poqdb ? Mas not
the latter acquired some sort of Utlo to
tho former ? Wilt the credit of a legal
decision coming from Pinero be duo exclusive
ly to Pinero ? Will not Poqob have a ngblto
fcol proud when Pinbbo is elected to tlio Boucb,
exclaiming, “Blood mil tolll"? These ato ques
tion!! lor the future, and perhaps tho eminent
legal firm which has been maintained at Toque's
expense will giro an opinion on tlio legal aspect
of the case. It will naturally bo open to tho ob
jection of being “ too unanimous," tut this will
be offset by its basis of experiment. Tlio,.opin
ion Is the more valuable to us because Cbicago is
at present building up Bt. Louis In tbo eamo
way, and so naturally wont to know whether or
not wo have some light to rejoice over tbo suc
cess of our slater oily in such matters as bridge
and base ball. It ia a question, one might aay,
of vital iuloron. Tbo only tangible fact at
present is that Blair, Pinero, and Ut Louis are
all feeling far more sanguine than they did, and
It la tbe transfusion which baa done it.
Tbs New Orleans Pfcayunesoriouslycongratu
lotos its readers on tbo abolition of tbo dotocllve
force. Burglars aro now caught, It Bays, regu
larly within a few hours after the commission of
tbo offense. Wo do not question tbe advantage
gained. By tbo abolition of this useless sad ex
pensive class of (ho police service, tbe amount
of corruption prevented daily would bo enor
mous. As soon as tbo Temperance Committee
of Seventr died a natural death in Chicago a few
years ago, the Saloon-Keopore'Leagus died also.
By abolishing the detective force and assigning
competent officers to their duties, tho gang of
thieves frequenting this city would soon bo dis
persed. They are mutually beneficial.
Philadelphia publishing firms have none too
high a reputation for honor and strict business
integrity, and it is only au ordinary announcement
that ono of tbom has engaged In pirating tho
Enoyelmpediaßritannioa. Tho proprietors of that
work h&vo accordingly bson driven to adopt tbo
plan first devised by tbo Ouaurbbs, of inserting
In future volumes copyrighted articloa by Amer
ican writers. Perhaps no branch of industry,
not prohibited by law, la mors disreputable and
Immoral than tho business of preying upon for
eign authors. Philadelphia has tho misfortune
to be tbs headquarters of tho adventurers so
gaged in this sort of trads.
TUB OBJOIRHAXI FESTIVAL
Tho Cincinnati Festival of 1675 la over and
gone, and, like Us prodoooaaee of 1078, baa be
come part and parcel of tho musical history of
the West. The groat chorus, whose swelling
harmony hoe boon as the voice of many waters,
has finished Us laborious task and, now rests un
til eummonod again to moot under tho baton of
Mr. Thomas. Tho players h&vo folded tbolr
tents liko tho Arabs and gone. Tho organ's
voice Is hushed, and Exposition Hall, which has
reverberated to tho muaio of tho melodious mul-
titude and tho tramp of thousands of foot, now
hoars no sound in its vast spaces. Tho great
crowds hovo left tho city, and Oluoinnati coco
more, after a week's esthetic rest, resumes its
application to business. It is a good time now to
take a bird's-eye vlow of what has been accom
plished ; to compare tho results of 1875
with those of 1873} and to consult tho musical
oracles of the future, for tbesa festivals have
not been ephemeral ovonto whose purpose ended
with (ho final choral chord, nor raoro passing
shows for the enjoyment of tho moment. They
havo left enduring marks which cannoc he
: effaced. They stand and will ovor stand as mon
uments to mark progress in Western culture,
taste, and general esthetics. These Ohio lUvnr
festivals havo home tho same rotations to music
In tbo West that the Lower Bhine festivals do
to music in Germany. Thoy represent tho cul
mination of years of labor. They aro tho full
and rich-leaved blossoms from seed sown with
many misgivings, and thoy In torn will drop
thoir seed into fruitful soil tar still more beauti
ful tloworlng In the future.
In making a comparison between the festivals
of 1876 and 1871), tho starling point 1j tho pro
grammes. Ur. Toomas lisa always enjoyed tho
highest reputation for bla skill as a programme
maker. His programmes have been constructed
not atoue with regard to conferring tho highest
possible pleasure upon tbo hearer, but also with
regard to “ tno eternal fitness of things." Ho
has laid them oat with as much care and regard
for the relatione of the various numbers as a
pointer would arrange the lights and shades of
his picture, or an orchiioot tho lines and orna
mentations of his structure, so that there might
bo no jarring or dissonance between the various
parts. Cortsiu fixed relations of harmony and
symmetry have characterized them so absolutely
that there boa bsea no distarhauco of effects.
Each of (ho programmes of tho past week
stands dietluol and Individual. Tho matinee
programmes, which wore moat charmingly ar
ranged, not only so as to givoovery soloist his or
her opportunity, hut also to add to tho beauties
of tbo general ensemble, stand perfectly
Oiotlnck from the evening programmes
nod, as It ware, frame them in a graceful setting.
Ihe former i ess ruble some old cathedral, majeaUo
and colossal la its proportions, august and
solemn In Us Inspirations, while tho latter are
the graceful vines which twine themselves
about it.
Grouping the programmes of the week to
gether In their proper classification, you will
find that the standard of art is the same high
and noble one, and that (ho difference is only m
the proportions of the work. For instance, tho
great vocal works produced were as foltowsi
1. Triumphs! Uyran, op. 85 ~brahma
3. Bums from “ Lohengrin ...Wegner
8. Oratorio, “E1ijah**......... MenJelmoliQ
A, Megulficeklu Uech
B. Churn* of the Ninth Symphony Ueethovea
0. Canute of “Prometheus" ..Lies!
Of these, the first, fourth, end sixth numbers
wore given for the first time in America. The
smaller vocal works were as follows t
I. M Wulant Farewell" .Wagaor
I. The Prize Boo* from “HeUtersangw Wagner
a, DleAUmacbt ............. ..Schubert
4. OaaUU, “ Praia* of Fri*ndahlP M Mozart
5, Coaoart Aria, u lafsUoe,"op. at U&adfiJHolm
fl, Spirit Sous *....H»jda
I, Berninaotun ** temihsnSe#«... «... Vigor
Tho great instrumental works w«ro as follows!
1. Symphony No. 7 in A, on. W,............R0fth0r0a
3. Hymphnny No. 0 In 1) minor, op. 128 Iteethown
:i. Symphony No. 9 In o .........8 Imbert
4. The *• Lnfieoßrtn " mualo W«gner
8. Tim " MeUlerncnser " mu5ic............... Winner
C. Tim '* Wjikuero "music .....W'gncr
7. The symplionio poem, "Trometlieii*"........Met*
The smaller Instrumental works wore as /ol
lofffll
1. Ithapiodle Ifongrolie No. 3..
2, Overture to " OUefon
a. Hnltligung.i March
4. Fast Overture
ft. Overture to " William Toll",
0. Kourello Meditation
7. Overture to “Tatinhauaer".
8. Dance*., ..Drinin*
t). Hclieno Hcruimallou tympbotiy. M'ndc.aiolm
10. Overture to “CouacriMliou of tbe llouia”ltcclhomi
11. Overture—Ltounre No. 2 .... lioelhoveu
As compared with the programmes of two
years ago, thoao of 1875 almw a tong atop for
ward. At that time, the principal works per*
formed wore as follows t
1, DeUlngen T« Damn ..Handel
9. At® Verwm ...iltv-arl
8. Orpheus
4. Twenty-third I’/ulm,
f>, Walnurp.ln Sathl...,
(5, Qyi>*y Ufa ,
7. rifih Hymiihony.
H. Ninth symphony.
li. Hullo No. 8.
10. Hjrnivbouy lu 0.
11. TiUdO
12, Nine Faust Overturn Warner
18. Corlolauur Oyerlure .Beotbovoii
Tlio most superficial student of music will no*
lico at a planoa the point of difference in those
programmes. Tho Ninth Symphony wan given
at Loth festivals with substantially tbo name ma
terial, except hi tho solo quartette, in which .Mr.
Vaui.rt ami Mr. llodolphsen sang in 1873, and
Mr. Winch and Mr. Hbmhsutz in 1876, Alin.
Smith and Miss Cart singing upon each occa
sion. Comparing tho two programmes, thorn of
1673 wore light as compared with thoso of 1876.
The latter represent a higher, in foot tho high
est, grade of music. In culoml majesty, digni
ty, and grandeur, nothing tins been heard like
the “MaßUillcat," tho “Trluraphlied," “Lo
hengrin," end tho Ninth Symphony, and
in short works it would bs difficult to
exceed tho Liszt cantata of “Prometheus"
in dramatic construction and harmonious
effects. Bo far as technical work is con
cerned, nothing has over boforo been attempted
lu this country so ulaboiato, so involved and
complex, so much HUo a auccoFslnn of musical
problems, lu fact, as tho •• Magnificat" and
“ Triumphllod." the latter running throughout
in eight parts, Mr. Thomas remarked of tho lat
ter that it wan tbo hardoat work bo had over lod,
and complimented tbo chorus that tbov had
learned it at all. A prominent musician of the
modern school moro tersely said that the second
part of the “TrlumphUod" was tho davit's own
invention. Tho fact that these extremely difficult
aud elaborate works vroie not only produced,
but produced woll. shows that groat progress has
boon made by tho Cincinnati chorus. A prac
tical Illustration of this is tho fact that tbo cho
rus saug “Elijah " an easily and fluently, not
withstanding Mr. Thomas' rapid tempos, as if it
bad boon the alphabet.
These being the programmes, what was the
material with which Mr. Thomas had to work ?
First and foremost of all was the chorus, which
was (ho foundation of tbo festival, in composi
tion and numbers it was almost identical with
that of 1873, and with the exception of about
eighty voices it was entirely from Cincinnati. In
nationality it was almost exclusively American.
In membership it was composed of ladies and
gentlemen from the highest ranks of Cincinnati
society, wbo have been not only willing, but en
thusiastically willing, to giro tbolr leisure for
nearly a year to the preparation of four days*
music. Tbo question is often asked, Why does
this Cincinnati chorus sing so well ? For two or
throe reasons:
1. It is a chorus which le young as to ago; con
sequently the quality of tone Is young, fresh,
and beautiful. It is a chorus of ladles and gen
tlemen ; consequently the quality of tune la pe
culiarly refined. It is a chorus whose heart and
brains ore in its work; consequently it sings
with lovo and enthusiasm, with oppreoiation and
intelligence.
2. It is a chorus which has not been afraid to
work, and no cue who has not witnessed that
work can form any idea of its arduous character.
For tea months it gave itself to weekly study of
tha music under the direction of Mr. Sixa&n, who
is thoroughly .conversant with Mr. Thomas' ideas,
tbo two meu standing almost in tbo relation of
brothers to each other. For nix weeks it
met two or throe times a week and rehearsed.
During the week previous to tho festival
it rehearsed day and night. The day before tho
fostivallt went to Its work at 0 o’clock in the
morning, and it only ceased at midnight. That
is business. Such energy, ambition, and deter
mination as that are as sore to succeed as tho sun
is to rise.
8. It yielded itself to » discipline almost mar
tial in character. Its attitude towards Ur.
Thomas woe almost that of a subject to an onto
ernt. It was freed from one curse, which is
nearly always tho despair of chorus-singing.
Although there was magnificent material in Us
ranks, there was no possibility that any singer
would have a eolo, consequently there was no
ill-feeling, and none of thoeo insane Jealousies
which are so ruinous to vocal success. Instead
of this, all wore placed upon tho some level,
millionaires’ daughters from Clifton in satin
and (ho girls from “ over tho Rhine ” in
plain attire, and all felt tho responsibility
resting upon them. They gave constant atten
tion to tho conductor. Ono oyo was upon tho
eoore, tho other upon Ur. Thomas' baton, and
that baton never diminished or Increased Its
tempos that tbo groat chorus did not follow it
with the keenest sympathy and tho roost uner
ring precision. Tho result of all those elements
was sucosbs. It made no difference what the
music was. whether the problems of Bnauus'
"TriumphUod," the Intricate fugal passages of
the '* Magnificat,” the stupendous choruses or
“ Lohengrin” or tho smoothly-flowing measures
of M Elijah,” that chorus was always In tuno and
always In time \ every entrance was made in ex
act precision, and every phase of expression was
regarded, although sometimes they woro neces
sarily very abrupt, and, in the '• TriumphUod” and
"Prometheus,” the intervals ;woro often simply
appalling. That the singers could strike those
Intervals with snob unfailing precision shows
that they must have commuted ovary note by
heart,
The second element of this material waa the
orchestra, and of this little need De said, as Hr.
Tuouas’ own orchestra was the nucleus, and
this waa reinforced by players from Now York,
who have played with tbo orchestra in Mr.
Thomas’ symphony concerts so often that they
can almost be considered as part of bis own or*
ganlzatlon. There were not many Cincinnati
players in the ranks, hat they were effective
meo, nhp soon merged themselves into the gen*
eral whole. It la a common remark with regard
to Mr. Thomas’ men that the last time they
played was the best. They any have played be
fore os well as they did In Cincinnati, but U Is
extremely doubtful. Those moat familiar with
its work, Bast and West, were emphatic in tbs
declaration that they had novel played the Sev
enth and Ninth Bektuoybn Symphonies and
Boucusut’s lovely Swan Bong, the 0 Symphony,
so well before. Bo that as It may, tbeie three
performance# are among (he brightest recollec
tions of the festival.
Tbs third element of material was (he soloists.
In 1873 the solo work was taken by Mrs. 11. U.
tlxmi and Mrs. Darren, sopranos ; Miss Cabt,
alto; Mr. Vaulst, tenor, and Mown. Rudolph
axM and WiUTNBt. baritone aud bass; this year
by Mrs. It M. Smith and Miss Amins Wuinnkut,
sopranos; UlssCabt -and Miss Coancu. altos;
Mr. Winch and Mr. Bisodow, tenon, and Mr.
UeuiiKUTa and Mr. Wuitnbv, baritone and baas.
As a whole, the* eolo work waa not up to (be
standard of excellence displayed by the orches
tra and chorus; neither In tbo quAttaU* was It
equal to the quartette of two yean ago. Mrs.
gjuta'ft yolss tu word, and aha displayed
fationo. nrohsblT nirlne to Urn fsot that «tm most
of iho rousio was now to liar, ticccsHUititig
almost constant practice each day. jjj K(
WimtNßßir added nothing to tho infer,
ont of tbo festival ( on llio other
hand, seriously Interfered with the auccsm of
concortod parts. Mho Oanr was in magnificent
voice, and was always rollablo. Mr, Woven w»*
not la good voioo nntii llio last night of the
festival. Ho sang the "Magnificat "as If ha
wore entirely nnfamillar with It, and in the
" Elijah" his voice constantly broke in its npptr
register. Dibuuof?, our Cblcngn tenor, was j n
lino voice, and did superbly. Thomas baa pm
him Ihrouob a nurgaloryof piaciice, and Is msk.
lug an artist of him. lie lias inspired him «Uh
a laudaldo ambition, and given him irises which
be never had before. The result was appnrenl
in hie woik. It was worth going to Cincinnati
to hear him fling ilia “ Bwan Song" in "Dolan,
grin." As compared with Cann’s version
of it hero, it was almost a revelation. At
one of the matinees ho give Hcuuubbt’i
" Dio Mlnnclil” with a purity and fervor ol
stylo which wo have never beaid excelled. The
Chicago people present woro very proud of bid,
for although ho hod not do much work to do ae
somo of the others, ho stood. In point of oxeeb
lonco, by tho aido of Miss Caiiv and Mr. Wur>
imr, and dcsorviog of tbo same praise which lias
boon awarded so lavishly to them. Mr. Wot*.
nkv sang with all his customary dignity, solidity
and Btendincsfl of manner, although hie voice ap.
peered to bo somewhat lighter in its upper tonea
than usual. Mr. lleumkbtz waa not always rs
...Wilt
..Wober
,
..TjCIItTI
.Iloiclnl
,nonnod
,lvi(;nc-r
riuck
....JJolmhorl
.MoudrlsAihw
.Hi-linirnim
. Ueelhuvcii
.Uie'.Uovcii
.yoiuiriann
Llitzl
liable, hat at times ho outdid himself. What
could have been nobler or moro impressive than
his singing of that wonderful farouoli of Wonn
to Buunuilue, with (ho orchestra back of him
picturing lu Us weird and powerful tones tiio
streams of Are with which Loon, tho flro-god,
surrounds tho lovely maiden. In Imnoi.
Ing and majestic physique, and In dignity ami
improssivoucssof manner, Sir. ItEUMErvrzlHalir.
ing realization of (he father of tho weird Walks
oron sisters, who chant their songs in mld-ah,
above the battle-fields, and weave tho fates of (hi
struggling warriors. Individually, (he soloists
were nearly always good, but in tho concerted
numbers they were not always effective. Tin
qnartotto In the Ninth Symphony chorus was not
nearly as well snog as It was two yonrs ago. Tin
groat terzetto in the Bach “ Magnificat " (Mr?.
Smith, Mibb Whinner?, and Miss Cart) would
have gone all to pieces had not Mr. Thomas tak
en advantage of a sudden noise lu tho audience
to stop it just at a critical moment, and give tie
trio another chance at it.
Wo have now glanced at tbo programmes an)
material which Ur. Thomas utilized for tbeir
performance, but there are one or two otbir
elements of success not yet mentioned. Tbs
whole City of Cincinnati took part m (his As*
Ural, and made it a matter of pride to carry It
through to success. Cincinnati took thrro
fourths of tbo seats in the building for the sea
son. The whole population, without regard to
tank or condition of life, joiuod in the goner*!
decoration. The writer of this did not see a
bulldiup in Cincinnati, however humble it might
have been, which wan unado ned. Thousands
of houses, lived in by p o >So too poor to go to
the concerts, nevertheless wore marked by dec
orations, and it was not until you got out 5
or 0 miles Into the country that these dec
orations ceased. The locomotives carried flaps.
The steamers on the river also. The Chamber
of Commerce gave expression to the unirenal
eootimont in its motto, ‘•Commerce lends a
helping band to Art.” Even the church-spirts,
high abovo the cloud of smoke which always
hangs down upon tbo city, were crowned with
flags at their summits. The Executive Commit-
too was composed of the wealthiest btuiosm
men of Cincinnati. They were not ornamental
appendages, but live, active, stirring men, who
lot their business go for a time, cud gate them
selves to work, attending to every detail. Win a
tbo nahors had more work on hand than they
could do with the vast crowds, the Executive
Committee wore not too dainty to turn in and
help, and millionaires showed hundrodalroa
to thalr seats, kept baokmon orderly, and helped
sell tickets. Whcn'the festival closed, these men
said ** Wo will have another.” Was the chorus
ready ? Every mao and woman. When Thomas
said to fiLvaua t '* Will you be ready for mr
next programmes ?” the Assistant Director
proudly replied, “ Anything you can suggest, my
chorus can do.” Said Josh Suujjto, the dry
goods king of Cincinnati, to Joan Cuunon, the
muslo-doalor, “Tbs festival is over; don't you
tbiok wo ought to put up a building on a scale as
grand os our festival 7" “ Yes,” sold i'r.
Cnunon. “Then wo will do It,” said the other
John. And it will bo done.
And now docs this city know that dlnolnnstl,
that sooty, smoky Qnoeo of tbs Ohio River, is
tho musical centre of tho United State*, and is
loavlug New York, Bouton, and Chicago far In
the distance from tbo musical point of Tie* 7 U
■o, what are yoa going to do aboat It 7
POLITICAL HOTEa
If miUtary men were available, what a ean-li
date Qeu. BaeuuaN would make.
The Now York Assembly's Ouban-Indepond*
once resolutions are auspicious, coming from
that quarter.
Will not the Detroit Post shake bands screes
tho bloody chasm if Tun Tcibukx notices that
ox-Senator Obaxulku has been mentioned for
tho succession of Delano 7
If Bavano should be elected President, the
whole Democratic party would expect to sit
down at bis dinners. He would have to build •
double-gauge lunch table from Maine to Cali
fornia.
Ur. Wffcrxsrn, of the Wnextun Compromise,
to again mentioned for a place on tho Preside*
Ual ticket. The Boston Journal, however, mil
not forgive him for saying what it said be would
not say. Bo be has no chance.
Borne of (ho Inlcraal Revenue officers ecm
promised by recent revelations may see tbs in
side of prloon-walla. They richly deserve such
punishment, and tho Government can scarcely
afford to give thorn leas than their deserts.
Spotted Tam can't tell where the lying and
stealing begins, but ho knows whore it ends.
Borne of It ends in Spotted Tail, of oonmoi
and we should thick the Interior Department
might Inform tho country whero some of it be
ghis.
There mast be a Rood deal of quivering end
cogitating in tbo Now York Custom-Douse about
now. The allk-frauda only amount to a million
dollars, and Secretary Buistow will be aare to
went to know wbat baa become of the other
mtlliona.
Secretary Ddistow found a firm and conslitout
backer for bis campaign against the whisky-ring
in President Quant. The statement Is authorita
tively made, and not anywhere denied. The
military experience of the Pre*idaat and Bear>
tary waa of great service la making the ex
posures.
001. Bodkbt Dm Amoks, the Deputy Collector
of New York, who la implicated In the ai’k
frauds, waa one of the earliest product* of Olv.l-
Servioa Uoform. This ta an excellent opportuni
ty for the Botlkbs aod such to indulge la she'-
low criticism of the whole Be form system. Aj
If one swsllow made a summer.
After sib the Republican party Is (be party of
decency. Ask the merchant* of any large city,
and learn if this is not to. Country dealers
may as well lay In a little useful Information
along with their tpilng stocks. Chicago is a fluo
point of observation, and bor merchants will tell
wbat they see.
Oeouob 0. fIOROAtf, Secretary of the United
States Senate, has returned to California. Qe
aspects to receive the Republican nomination
for Governor and to be oleojed. Ho expects
much more than most obeenrom of political
events. Still, he has won a small victory already
by securing the organization of the Young Mod’s
Republican Club in Ban Fran cisco, and Urns de
feating ths first movamsut of (boss ItapobUsaas
whs «Uh to affiliate wUh ihs ladapeadsa*