The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 18

small and large boys, who do not take enough the faot that in framing a measure of tho imnor oruiser was probably applied to the Maine more WALKS ABOUT THE CITY. OUR WASHINGTON LETTER CAPTAIN HENRY FRENCH One yonntr woman related a wonderful story about a pet oat, which still nourishes in the family honiestoad on Macon street. My oat, yon know, is a Maltese," she began, "and very aristocratic in her ideas. She wont fraternize with common cats, and I was so very much surprised, and even pained, when she appeared on the back stoop one cold moonlight night, some ten days ago, in company with one of the moat disroputable specimens of the oat tribe that I ever laid my eyes on. I pulled my own pussy in tho doorway and chased the stranger off.

My eat cried piteously to get out again. I placed four fine slices of meat on a plate and set it in front of her. She picked one of the slices up in her mouth and crept toward tho door. This time I turned the knob and let her go. In the bright moonlight I saw her run to a corner of tho yard, whore her disreputable looking acquaintance was crouched, shivering in tho cold.

My cat laid the meat down and seemed highly gratified when tho other one swallowed it with one or two ravonous gulps. Then she rushed into the kitchen again and oarried out. a seoond pieoe, then a third, and so on until the plate was cleaned and the strange cat's hunger satisfied. Then St aria that's my pussy's name came quietly into the house with the air of a sewing society matron who had been saorifioing time and personal convenience for the benefit of the South Sea heathen. Now what do you think of that for intelligence?" And a general hush fall alike on the credulous and the inoredulous.

I am not superstitious, but I oonfess that some, times I am inclined to give tho spiritualists credit for somethinc better than humbug. Occasion OPENING THE DOOES "THE SAME OLD GAME. thought of what they are about to ohoer for any particular candidate, successful or defeated. The abatement or tne custom may oe leit rorpro claiming chief magistrates and efficient police. who, it must be admitted, have made little ad.

vance in that direction. Bat Fourth of July has greatly changed. There are nervous people. timid people, people who for whatever reason do not want to be disturbed by any unusual noise. They object to the Chinese firecrackers, as fiercely as some other people object to the Chinese themselves.

These nervous people, soma would describe them as extremely selfish people. havo been able to exert great infiuonoe upon public opinion, the ordinances and the laws. So the Chinese firecracker has had to go, in larger numbers and more obviously than the human Chinese have gone. So have other things which manifest in an ebullient fashion the joy of the youthful patriot in recalling the faot'that his great, great, great grandfather once fought, bled and died for his country. These supersensitive and refined persons, who oannot tolerate the en jorment of anybody but themselveB, are in favor of a qniot and orderly celebration of the Fourth of July.

They impressed their views upon local mankind so far last year that there was no celebration at alL For the first time in the history of Brooklyn there was not a sight or a sound to romind its inhabitants that they have a oountry or ever had brave fathers. The Rambler was asked the other day whether these nervous re formers had finally triumphed or whether the Fourth of July was coming back by and byf This story was told to the Bambler by a yonntr man a few days after Thanksgiving: "It is not very often I dream, but when I do it is generally that things happen with great minnteness. Now, this is gospel. On the Tuesday night before Thanksgiving day I dreamed the exact score of the Yale Princeton game. 6 to 0, placing the winner correctly.

Being a believer in Yale, however, I was offering to bet 5 to 1 on the blue the next day. Thanksgiving morning I incidentally related my dream to a friend, saying that dreams usually went by contraries. He astonished me by stating that a friend of his had exactly the same dream on Sunday or Monday night, I forget which, and said he gnessed he would bet on it. I did all I could to persuade him not to be so foolish; that Princeton could not possibly win, and I didn't want any dream of mine to be responsible for his losing his money. He didn't say anythingmoro.but hustled aroun and got 5 to 1 and put up $10.

Thanksgiving night he was 450 richer. I have been kicking myself ever since for not having faith in dreams. and Til play the next one, win or lose. And what's more, he did not even offer to treat on it." The adoption of an invention by means of which the trolley oars can be heated by electricity has been decided upon by the Atlantic avenue railroad and there are now many of the cars of that company which have been equipped with the neoessary heating apparatus. There are four of the heaters in each of the cars and they look like miniature steam heating registers.

They are placed along the front of that they are very much out of sight, and unsuspecting people feel the heat long before they know what it is that makes them so warm. In many ways they seem thus far to bo superior to the old manner of heating the cars by means of stoves. They are in the first place far cleaner, doing away entirely with coal dust and ashes and the bother of taking care of them. The room taken up by tho stove affords seating capacity for one more passenger. They are also arranged so that each one of the heaters can be turned on or off separately, and in that way the heat in the car is much more easily regulated and there isless waste to the company and less discomfort to the passengers.

The heat is generated, of course, by a resistance coil which is supplied with electricity from the wires overhead. It is said that the expense is no greater than heating with stoves and the results are far more satisfactory. So far all attempts of the BrooRlyn elevated road to secure for the station clocks that will keep time have faSed. The last attempt was made by an advertising firm whose manager was sure he had hit upon the right thing. After a year's trial and an utter failure they were all removed last week.

August Diercks, an old conn try clockmaker in the employ of William Wise, says he has a clock of a peculiar movement that will not be affected by the jarring and vibration, and he has placed it at the Third street station as an experiment. Yesterday it had been going for a week and showed only a variation of twenty seconds. The clock that will keep time at sea will become demoralized on the elevated, and it remains to be seen how long the Third street dock will resist the shaking up it sets. The section of the midway which is now on exhibition in New York city has set men to relating stories of the curious things which they saw there. The Rambler met one of those men who has not yet got through saying "when I was at the fair." and he told of meeting a Westernerin one of the Turkish bazars in the midway.

"One day I was strolling through the plaisance," said he, "and I thought I would look at the Turkish rugs exhibited for sale in one of the Constantinople shops. I went in and saw oriental rugs and occidental people. The people were as interesting as the rugs. They wore store clothes and looked with unconcealed disgust at tho dull colored rugs. They liked gaudy things.

I stood near a handsomo silk prayer ruff thaty was marked 88,000. It was one of the moat beautiful things of the kiud that I had ever seen. The stitches, for it was embroidered with a needle, were fine and the silk was rich and gloBsy. A man who would have made a good model for Uncle Sam soon came in my neighborhood and ho looked at tho rug too. Then he looked at the price mark and exclaimed: "Whew! Eight thousand dollars 1 What is there in it that makes it worth so much?" I remarked that it was made by hand.

"Made by hand he said contemptuously. "This is God's country here, and we don't have to make things by hand." Then he strode off thinking doubtless of sewing machines and reapers, threshing machines and knitting machines. The rue was not worth $8,000. but it was more beautiful than any American factory could produce with its steam looms. Yet, as the Westerner said.

I suppose this Li God's country. Bambleb. Th county aommittfin of th reorular Damo oratio party ol Hudson county, N. hasiBsaed on address to the voters urging the necessity of reorganization. anoe of the tariff bill, some mistakes were bound to creep in, and they have signified their willingness to correct these' errors whon they are pointed out.

and have the bill as nearly perfect as possible when it placed before the house. For instance, take the matter of playing cards. The committee decided to placo a small tax Upon every pack of playing cards made in this country, which was antici pated would bring in about 8400.000. This brought the manufacturers of playing cards to Washington, and muoh to Chairman Wilson's surprise he found that 'many million packs were manufactured in this country, yearly, and that the proposed tax would greatly cripple the industry. He.

therefore, at once agreed to change the proposed rate. This course will be adopted in qnito a number of oases if the committee bo comes convinced that it has committed an error. The howl of the sugar men, as voiced in an article in the Bboosxyn Eaole, stating that the big refineries of the eastern district had declared that if the new bill beoomes a law they would ei jher have to close down their factories or place their worliingmen npon lower wages, has not had the desired effect here, where it is known that the refiners have been making 3 a barrel as a minimum upon refined sugar, and it is considered a disgraceful intimation on their part that, instead of lowering their scale of profits on watered stock, they threaten to reduce the wages of their workingmen. It is said that the refiners, during their long period of prosperity, have not bhared profits with their workmen, but have kept them on starvation wages. Attention is called to" the circumstances of the striks of these workmen, mostly foreigners, not long ago for shorter hours, when the men claimed that, owing to their intense suffering from the heat in the refineries during the summer months, they could not continue to work the long hours roquired.

Their demands were refused absolutely, and ey were forced to submit. It was the opinion of Chairman Wilson when the sugar matter was under discussion, that, controlling as they do the market price of raw material that comes to New York, as well as the price of the completed article, that the refiners, even with the proposed change in the tariff, would be in excellent condition to compete with foreign production. It appears likely that an effort will be made early in the tariff debate to separate the sugar schedule from the main tariff bill and make a special measure of it. It is argued that in this way the two Louisiana senators, the senator from Southern California and the Populist senator from Nebraska will have no excuse' for obstructing the tariff bill of the upper house, as they threatened the ways and means committee to do if the bounty was left off of sugar in the new bill. Taken all together the sugar question at the present time is very far from being set tied.

The running of the blockade at Bio by Admiral Mello in the Aquidiban, and her possible meeting with Flint fc hastily constructed men of. war Nictheroy and America, is a matter of orreat interest to navy peopie. The Aquidiban is a steel armored fighting cruiser, very much like the Maine, now at the navy yard at Brooklyn, only smaller, she being about tho tonnage of the Chicago or Baltimore. She is heavily armored, with a trained crew, even if they are Brazil. ians, and although her gunnery performance has not been very successful in the harbor at Rio de Janeiro, yet practice and she has had plenty of it makes perfect, and she ought now to be able to pnt up a very good fight.

Against her is the Nictheroy and the America, two hastily converted merchant steamships, with undisciplined crews and no armament to speak of, unless, of course, we allow, for the dynamite gun on the Niotheroy. But that vessel must get within two miles of the Aquidiban to make it tell, while the latter can hit her with her Whitworth guns at least four and a half miles. Then again, will the Nictheroy dynamite gun do what is claimed for it There is much doubt on this point expressed by ordnance exports, both of the army and navy, with whom I have discussed the question. One thing is sure, if a vessel like the El Cid can, in three, weeks' time, be made a full fledged man of war, sent to sea with a hastily picked up crew and in a fight vanquish a regular steel built armored cruiser, supplied with all improved naval appliances, offensive and defensive, like the Aquidiban, then a great and rapid revolution will take place in naval management and administration. I oannot help feeling sorry for the people on the Nictheroy.

Although they have gone freely into a foreign fight (possibly the wages were a great incentive), they are our countrymen mostly, and we can only hope they will be able to come out as little harmed as possible. That the system of employing navy yard work men, originally the plan of ex Secretary Tracy, will be carried out by the present administration is assured, as the message of President Cleve land clearly indicates. In that part of his mes sage relating to the navy he expressed satisfac tion as to the plan of navy yard employment. and it must be gratifying to the ex secretary of the navy to see the wisdom of his course ap proved, even by a politioal adversary. Secretary Tracy's plan is clear and honost and founded npon the plainest, commonest rules of business sense, and it is a marvel that any thinking man should fail to indorse it.

But there are many politicians wno nave all along believed that the happy days would return when a few hundred men conld be put in the yard merely for election purposes, and if the primary or the election went wrong, apply in turn the political ax. President Cleveland's words put tho final damper upon tnese patriots, and navy yards hereafter will be run 8B other great public institutions just for the public good, and that solely. The quickness with which the revenue steamer Corwin was made ready to sail for Honnlnln from San Francisco, upon telographie orders received from Washington, a journey of 2,500 miles, is an object lesson to the navy. Had a similar order been issued by Secretary Herbert to the commander of a naval ship by tho time it had gone through the commandant, the hief engineer, the genoral store keeper, the purchas ing paymriBter and other officials, a month at least would have elapsed before the ship officials would have been ready for sea and then onlv after repented telegrams to this or that bureau. Happily for the country the revenue service is still controlled by the orders of Seoretary Carlisle and remains unfettered by long wind.

ed regulations such as seem to afflict the navy. The purpose for which a na tional ship is intended is thns oarried out and the interests of the people who put up their good dollars for a national service, is better served. Perhaps in a few months Secretary Herbert may see fit to considerably change the present navy regulations. They were approved Secretary Tracy jost before he gavo up his port folio, and I know that he did it very reluctantly, as he w.mted to make himself more thoroughly acquainted with them. A careful revlow of them would make one believe that the purpose of a navy ship is to lay at a navy yard or in port the better part of her days.

Tho whole bookis written as if no sudden emergency could arise," and the entire system of naval command and administration is made by these regulations a perfect mountain of red tape and delay. No one seems to be willing to take responsibility 'put it on somebody else and say it isn't regulation" is the scheme. From a little book of twenty five or thirty pages, orizinallv compiled about 1853 by an old fashioned naval officer, to meet tho simple business demands of a ship or squ.idron Tally as big as our Present navy, the rules have jjrown to a book of five hundred pages, and that for a navy of a few thousand offloers and men. The articles of war, whioh are part of the revised statutes, seem to deal with the essence of naval government and to supply all needful authority, but by degrees, as naval officers have been permitted to assume civil functions at the navy department, they have piled up regulation on top of regulation until it has reached a point where if these regulations are Btrictly carried out the navy ceases to be an efficient arm of the national service In looking over the list of what is popularly known as "the new navy," it will be seen that the most striking thing about it is the largo number of different types represented therein. In faot it might be termed a navy of typss.

Probably no navy in the world haB so many different classes of vessels belonging to it as our own. This state of affairs might be attributed to Yankee ingenuity, as in naval engineering as well as in all other branches of industry, the American inventors hare displayed wonderful tact and inventive skill. The typo of vessel which ia distiuctly Ainerioin. is the monitor class, represented by suoh vessels as the Terror, Amphitrite, Monadnock and others. Even in this class we have two other types evolved therefrom, namely, the barbette ship and the coast defense vessel, represented respectively by the Puritan and We have a seagoing battle ship in the Iowa.

and coast line battle ships in the Indiana. Massachusetts and Oregon. The Texas belongs to a.non ieserint class all by herself; she is not muoh of a battle ship and will probably, make a very po or cruiser Then we have armored cruisers in the Maine; New York and Brooklyn. The same armored out or courtesy than anything elae.ua she can eearoely he classed with suoh magnificent vessels as the Ne York and Brooklyn. The advent of the Columbia brings forth a decidedly distinctive class of what might properly be termed commerce destroyors.

to distinguish this boat and her sister ship, the Minneapolis, from the regular proteoted cruisers. Tho protected cruiser class is probably tho only type of vessel that has, with us, reached its full qnota, as vessels of this class now comprise the major ity of our new ships. There is very little distinction between the protected cruiser and gunboat type, oxcept in size and speed. All cruisers under two thousand tons' displacement belong to the gunboat type and the principal representatives are such vessels as the Yorktown, Concord, Bennington and Machias. For ordinary duties in times of peace, they are probably the most useful vessels that we have.

Among' the special types of war vessels we find the harbor defense ram, of which the Katahdin in the pioneer. This vessel is another distinctively Amerioan production, as is also the pneumatic dynamite gunboat Vesuvius. We are also to have two torpedo cruisers, but at present they consist only of some plans and an inadequate appropriation. Lastly we have the regular torpedo boats, but there are so few of these that it might be said, we have only the beginning of that type. The Gushing and the half finished Ericsson are the only boats we have to whioh that title can be applied.

Several times during this reconstructing period we have been in danger of having other new types thrust upsm us, notably among them was a vessel to be known a an armored ornislng monitor, which originated, in the fertile brain of a Western congressman, now numbered among the en. An appropriation was made for this veBsel and her plans were completed, but it was finally deoided not to build her. The latest type to be brought out is the sub marine boat, an appropriation for the construction of whioh was made by the last oongress, but this type also seems doomed to the same fate that has befallen similar vessels. From the fore going it would appear that we have gone about, iar enougn developing types and should in the future devote our ship building energies to increasing the number of some of the more important classes of vessels that we are in need of. Seoretary Herbert in his first report has ly decided that the two types of vessels that we are in need of are sea going battle ships and torpedo boats.

In this it would appear, from a glance at the list, that the secretary is right, especially so in regard to torpedosboata. While other nations number their torpedo boats by the score, we have only two. and as their ooBt is not so great, it is earnestly hoped that the present congress will start the good work by appropriations for at least ten of these useful auxiliaries to a modern naval engagement. Dr. Edward Bedloe, ex United States consul at Amoy, has been renewing assurances of respect with old friends in Washington during the paBt week and getting ready to deliver his first lecture on the Orient, which event will take place in this city.

He has a choice collection of new stories and a fund of odd and interesting information upon eastern topics that he has gathered together during his four years' residence at Amoy. Here are some of the things he said that are worth remembering: "Professional services in Chinese 1 aw have in the main no leoral value. In nraetice a physioian keeps a memorandum of his services, but seldom, if ever, cends a hilL When his work is done the patient usually hands him an amount of money equal to what would have been charged under the American system. For this no receipt is given. The same principle applies to scribes, mediums, priests and other professionals.

As a check upon non paying customers, shrewd professional men insist upon a note, I or bond before doing any work. The document, no matter what its form, is as binding 88 ordinary business paper. It maybe well to add at this point that a creditor has means of collecting debts which seem ridiculous to the western mind. He depends upon the profound love of peace and tranquillity so characteristic of the Chinese race. When a patron or client shows a disinclination toward payment he visits the latter's house, sits upon the threshold and weeps and harangues until his bill is paid.

It seldom requires more than an hour of lamentation to colleot any reasonable claim. Debts of honor are paid to the extent of about 60 per cent, of the amonnts incurred. Of the 40 per 20 per cent, is unpaid because of the insolvency of the debtor and the refusal of his kin to make him any advances. So far as payment is concerned, legal debts present the same figures. In cases of insolvency legal debts and those of honor are almost invariably paid by the debtor if he retrieves his position.

In very many cases the obligations of a bankrupt have been assumed by his children and even grandchildren. This is a legal duty when the debt is legal' in character. When it is a debt of honor its payment by a second generation is considered an act of high filial piety. A oustom, probably peculiar to China, is that of mutual forgetfulness. Business men who have advanced moneys or sold goods on oredit and find it impossible to col.

leot their capital or to obtain payment in full Nof the amount due them, but who are on rnendiy terms witn their debtors, will, after many years, call npon the latter and agree to forget everything to date. This is equivalent to a mutual release under seal and is highly favored by the great magistrates and priests of China, Commercial litigation and insolvency are much rarer in China than in Europe or the United States. The number of tribunals, magistrates and court officers is scarcely one third. and the amount involved not a tenth of what is at stake in the courts of Christendom. Beyond the fear of going to law is the greater fear and disgrace of being a delinquent debtor.

A Chinaman who becomes financially embarrassed will sell himself for a plantation coolie, go into exile for twenty years or even commit suicide. It is part of his religion to pay off all" he owes in the last week of the year, in order that he may begin the next one free from oare and obligation. If he had "not enough money he will give a note or bond signed by relatives to tide himself over to a more prosperous season. At this time of the year creditors are lenient and liberal. Where they are satisfied with the bona fides of a debtor thoy will compromise on easy terms, and on many occasions will forgive the debt entirely.

In addition to those social features is the power of inertia. A man is born into a trade, in many instances into a certain shop or work yard. In his mfanoy he learns the calling practiced by his father and forefathers for centuries. He learns no other and bares for none. He is satisfied with a oom fortable living and seldom has the opportunity to amass a fortune.

There are no great magazines, no trusts, syndicates, pools, patents, copy rights or monopolies in China, and few of th ose influences or causes whose end is bankruptcy." This has been a week for stars at the canital theaters. At the New National jolly little Bosina Yokes and her excellent oompanyhave played. as they always do in this city, to big business. The largest audiences were attracted on the evenings in which she appeared In "Maid Marion," the clever one act comedy dramatized from her book of the same name by Mollie Elliott Seawell, the popular young authoress of this city. Miss Seawell is so well known in society here and so universally liked that her friends turned out in force whenever her play was produced.

At Albaugh's Grand Opera house we had Mme. Patti on Monday night and M. Coquelin and Jane Hading the rest of 'the week. Patti drew a big house at big prices, so from a pecuniary standpoint sho was a success. In deference to her great past it would perhaps be kindest to say as little as possible about her singing.

She is no longer the Patti of old, and those who have listened to her matchless voice at its best will regret it if they hear hor this year. I remember hearing Mario during his farewell tour of this country. His voice was gone. He came out and sang one of his favorite airs and then bowed his way into the wings and stood there waiting to be recalled. From my.

seat I could see him distinctly waiting for. the applause that never came, for his failure was so lamentable that there was no reoall. It was the most pitiable spectacle that I ever saw. Thero was applause enough for Patti the other night, but it was not the kind of applause that she has been accustomed to; there was no enthusiasm about it. The two French artists from the theater Comedie Franoaise gave ns delightful performances.

Almost the entire diplomatic oorps greeted them nightly and made them feel at home by their appreciative bravos. At the Academy of Music James O'Neill appoared in "Monte Cristo." Next week we havo Nat Goodwin at the new National, Marie Tavary and the English opera at the Academy of Music, and Carrie Tumor in "The Edge of Sooietv at Al baugh's Grand Opera house. Since the dosing of the tracks atGuttenburg and Gloucester the races at Bennings have been well attended but they have brought into town a crowd of rather shady citizens, jockeys, tonts and gamblers. On the street yesterday I saw Kid Miller, the old side partner of Joe. the bunco expert.

After being driven out of New York by Inspector Williams. Mr. up his ronldonoe at Gloucester. The Washington police are probably not aoquamted with his interesting but they are likely to hear from him before the winter racing i over. A.B.A; The Week's Events at the National Capital How the Opening of Congress Has Transformed the Sleepy Southern Town Into a Cosmopoli tan City, Foil or Life, Bustle and Aotivlty, Gossip of the Army and Navy.

(Correspondence of the Eagle.) Washisotok, D. C. December 9 Baggage wagons loaded high with trunks, hotels and boarding bouses full of guests and an ever chang. ins crowd of people from every section of the union movint: up and down the principal thoroughfares, aro tho signs that indicate that congress is again in session and the season of gayetyonce more in full swing at the national capital. Despite the reports to the contrary, the President's message was listened to with olose attention and marked approbation by a ma jority of the members of his own party in the nouse.

laklng their cue from certain alleged Democratic newspapers a few congressmen nave opened what they call a warfare on administration since its publication. According to these wiseacres, there is great danger of serious injury to the national pride by the use of United States soldiers in overthrowing what is falsely termed the existing rennblic of Hawaii. The men who are cultivating this bugbear under stand that there is no suoh thine as a republic of Hawaii, but they would be inconsistent with themselves if their attaok upon the administra tion was based upon a charge having a semblance or truth. The simple fact is that these opponents hate everything that looks like redeeming the promises made to the people by the last Demo oratio national convention. These disguised Republicans seem to have an idea that Democratic promises are only made to be broken.

They have bo long been in full sympathy with Republican pouoy and Republican measures that it has become impossible for them to appreciate the changed conditions. There have doubtless been in every state many earnest Democrats who have been grumbling because of tho Blownoss with which changes have been made in federal offices. But these grumblers have had recent oocasion to talk with their representatives and have learned that good reason has existed for the ex. tra cue oxeroised by the administration. Moreover, it has already dawned upon the rank and file of the Democratic party that the people who make the organization effective are not sitting up nights to hail an incoming; postmaster so much as to see what steps are to be taken toward securing better conditions for men engaged in every branch of industry.

In his message to congress, the President has simply asked his party representatives to obev the commands laid upon them at the last Democratic national convention. There comes from the Whito House no intimation that this great people are incapable of self government. Mr. Cleveland does not repeat the claim of his predecessor that the electorates are Incapable of instructing their public servants. Mr.

Cleveland does not believe that McKinley or Beed or any of the other distinguished advocates of protection have any better understanding of economic laws than the great body of electors who spoke so plainly last year in favor of a reduction of their bur dens. The President comes from a state wherein many are engaged In what have been termed protected industries. His friends say that all over the country there are idle furnaces which will be running again when ever that unnecessary burden which has oaused the fires to be put out shall have been removed. They say that it is no secret that men in the iron and steel industry are looking, with anxious expectation, to the passage of a tariff bill which will make it easier for them to compete in the markets of the world with the producers of other countries. They say that men recresentinir the largest concerns have avowed their ability too compete in any market whenever they shall be allowed to buy their raw materials upon the same terms as manufacturers in other oountries, and that this applies to every industry in whioh human effort is engaged.

I am told that friends of General Carr in the senate are making ready to oppose the confirmation of Qeneral Otis as brigadier general. Carr will not reach the retiring age until March, 1894, and his supporters Bay it will" be hard, indeed, for him to see Otis, who entered the servioe nine years after him and who has many years yet to Berve, get the promotion over his head. Controller elect Ashbel B. Fitch of New York is back among his old friends in congress. He returned this week for the purpose, of being present at a dinnor given on Thursday night at Chamberlain's by Isidor Strauss, the well known New York merohant.

At the time the silver fight was hottest Fitch gave a little dinner, at whioh were present Colonel Lamont, seoretary of war; Secretary Gresham, Collector Kilbreth, Congressman Tracey of Now York, Mr. Spender, a member of tho banking firm of DrexeL Morgan it and Controller Eckles of the treasury. During the repast the prospects of the repeal of the Sherman bill were actively oanvassed and an informal ballot was taken as to the vote in the senate. There was one" Southern senator who was considered doubtful, but Fitch declared positively that he would vote in favor of repeal. Several of the others, however, did not agree with him, Mr.

Strauss being among them. Fitch held his ground and Strauss offered to bet him a dinnor for the party that the Southerner in question would vote against the bill. He voted for it and Congressman Fitch won. Merchant Strauss paid the bet Thursday night and the same company gathered around the festive board. "We may represent different factions in New York politics," said Fitch, in talking with me about tho dinner, "but we are all' Cleveland men." I believe that Ashbel B.

Fitch will make a good record as controller of New York. I think he feels the extent of the responsibility he is called upon to assume and will endeavor to do his duty. Speaking to me about the matter, he said: "I have liked my work in oongress very much, but have for some time wanted to get back to New York, because that city is my home; my family reside there and I want my children to grow up there. Just before tho last election for district attorney in New York I was offered the nomination, but. as I had never had any experience in criminal law practice.

I declined in favor of Delancey Nicoll. The nomination for controller came to me in a vory handsome and agreeable way. Mr. Croker asked no pledges from me and exacted no promises. Of course, I know that it is a hard thing to follow Controller Myers at this time.

He is my friend and I like him, but many people, I am well aware, imagino that things will go wrong in the offioe beoause a Tammany man is at the head of it. But I wish to say now to the business men of New York and to those who have dealings with the controller's office, that they need have nothing to fear. My administration will be clean, fair and blameless. I am a Tammany man, but an honest one; I could not be anything else. I do not think I am egotistical in saying that I brought a great many votes to the Tammany ticket in November.

This the organization expected me to do, and they were not disappointed." In regard to the proposed antt Tam many organization Congressman Fitch said: "The movement iB too young yet for me to pass judgment npon it, but I believe the organization, when the time comes, will bo, in a position to hold its own." "There is the Harrison boom," said an old time politician to me one evening last week at the Arlington hotel, pointing oer to a corner where Louis T. Michener nnd Hamilton Diston Philadelphia were sitting in olose and animated conversation. "What rot it is," he continued, "to talk about ex President Harrison living alone anddosertodat his home in Indianapolis, forsaken by his friends and forgotten by his party. I am sorry for it. but nevertheless I am very sure that Benjamin Harrison is very muah alive and anything but neglected.

You mark my word, he is still a power in Republican politics, and his friends are working constantly to bring about his nomination in 1800. There are fewer shrewder politicians in this country than tfie ox President.and the sooner his enemies realize this fact the better. When they try to 'turn him down they simply show their ownlaok of judgment. A good general never underrates tho strength of his enemy. I should like to bet that VilIiam McKinley is not making any mistake of this sort." I see no reason for changing the opinion expressed by mo in my letter of last week in regard to the speedy passage of the new tariff bill through the bouse.

As the days roll by the Democratic congressmen have had time to study over the bill, and the more they look into itthe better they like it and the more strongly they feel that under the circumstances, the committee accomplished a great deal and turned out a bill in everyway worthy of support of their party. Chairman Wilson and his associates on the committee are not at all pigheaded, but they realize Observations athered From All Sections of Brooklyn. Seal and Sham Democratic Reorganization A Hnmor of the Recent Campaign Evolution of Brooklyn Holidays When Drrama Come True Clocks That Fail to Keep Time. A machine politician says the talk of Democratic re organization makes him "tired." No Wonder. Although he has heard similar talk before without turning an eyelash he knows now that it means somethinc.

The old crowd of thrifty wire pullers is visibly stirred. So long as they could maintain a hold on "pap" and plunder reformers might agitate and take it out in agitation. Now that the supplies are to be cur Jailed a chance in policy ia suggested. What is tile, chance proposed? Do tho machinists moan reorganization in earne.it an organization that will permit overy Democrat to have his say in laying down party policy and nominating party Not at all. All that the machinists Offer i to "throw open the doors" of the discredited association.

An uninformed observer would Infer, from this sudden departure, that voters clamoring for admission; that tho widening of the portal will be followed hy a mighty influx of citizens who pro. fess the Democratic faith and that, when the re enrollment of applicants is completed, a multitudinous re enforcement will have been added to the parent body. Little inquiry would be needed to show how far these representations are from thn nntnnl tmt.Vt Aa uwu. W4. t.W., the only regulars who show the least spirit or Interest in the future of Democracy are those Who look forward to a complete success for the reorganization movement.

Thoy are temporarily held in check by the plaoemen who retain control of the machinery, but they are prepared, at the first opportunity, to forsake the shaky and dismantled hulk on which they find themselves unwilling passengers. After the bread and butter brigade, the petty office holders who have domineered over self supporting Demo. crats, are relieved from their stations at the public crib their followers will probably disperse in short order. There will hardly be enough of the wirepullers left a year hence to present to their adversaries anything resembling a formidable front. Machine talk of reorganization is all bosh.

It Is started in tho hope of pulliug the bosses out of the mud of defeat and humiliation. If it should be effective and the Democratic independents should surrender their vaniase ground, the familiar farce would bo repeated. It roquires only another formal "withdrawal" of tho "honored leader" to parallel the burlesques enacted when Willoughby street heretofore has found its fortunes on the ragged edse. No sooner would the reorganization on machine lines be completed than the boss would again blossom forth in all the plenitude of arrogant authority. To "open the doorR," as matters stand, means only to add to the number of collar wearers and umbrella holders who, from sheer force of habit, are willing to fawn at his feet.

There is not the slichtast likelihood that the independent Democrats will bo beguiled or misled by tho machine invitation. are determined to proceed with tho task of Democratic reorganization along genuine Democratic lines. If the old machinists want to come In they will be permitted to do it on Democratic terms. They will, if thoy scouro admission, never be able to exercise the autocratic sway which heretofore has distiniruished their mismanagement. The cartoon forcibly depicts the intentions of the independent Democrats and what Would follow if they gave way to machine blandishments.

The machinists will be more tired than they are now before progressive an thoughtful Democratic voters ever again place their necks under the oppressive aml.exacting Weight of one man power. There is too ranch manhood in Brooklyn for such an inglorious termination of the reform movement here. The Strangest thing about it is that the old bosses do not know that their raoe is run. There is no sturdier Democratic regular than Arthur H. Walkley.

Mr. Walkley swears by the machine. He is chief clerk in the distriot attorn office and lives the Sixth ward. During the recent canvass his neighbors in the Republican faith tried to raise a campaign fund. They Cent out a circular for that purpose.

"You tore," thoy wrote, "in some of the earlier cam parens, kindly assisted us financially in our ward expenses. This is an important part of the work in all campaigns, a fact that too many of our el low citizens overlook by sending all tholr contri butions to the general headquarters, leaving nothing for their wards, anil to be entirely frank it is making a few of those who do the work and foot the bills just a littlo bit "tired." They think there Should be a chance. Will you, therefore, help us in our efforts to improve and purify the govern ment of Brooklyn by sending us a small donation, the receipt of which will be duly acknowledged and appreciated." A copy of this almost pathetio appeal was mailed by mistake to Mr. 'Walkley. Under date of November 2 he answered thus: In reply to your favor of 30th soliciting my subscription to the end that the gov rrnent may be improved, I beg leave to say: WUat i ever I may have done in the past I propose at this time to lend every possible aid pecuniary and otherwise to advance the election or Davii! A.

i Boody. In lieu of a pecuniary donation I will contribute a little advice which future develop will demonstrate to be sound. If anvtle laded rainbow 'chasers are weak enough to yield coin, save it. for it is goiue to be a cold winter. For "that tired feoling," Ayer's Samparilla is recommended.

Now Mr. Walkley 's Republican neighbors have the laugh on He takes it serenely enough the oonsoliug reason that the district at torney's office will be in Mr. Bidgway's hands till the close of 1895. Thus, while Mr. Walkley was the real rainbow chaser, he is by no moans "out in the cold." They were seated in the parlor of a Hancock Street: mansion the night after Thanksgiving, when the conversation, which had at first touched upon every topio from turkey to foot ball, gradually drifted into the channel of anecdote.

The Commanding Offloer of the He Became a Member of the Looal Department When New Lots Was Annexed to Brooklyn. The story of His Transfer to the Eastern Among the commanding officers of the local puiioe department none is more widely Known or more popular than Captain Henry French of the Sixteenth preoinct. Of this man it may be said, also, and with truth, that few public officials in Brooklyn ever obtained such a hold as his npon the esteem and affection of their fellow citiKn For all who havo had to do with him it is easy to understand why this is so. Though he is still a young man Captain French has been, a policeman for eighteen years. He waa born on the old uiove road, Uctooer 30, 1849..

His lather kept a famous road house there, known as French's uutei. xnu was situated at a point aDOut opposite the present "dte of the Sings county penitentiary. Before Flatbush avenue was cnt through the Clove rood was die main one to Coney Isl. and, and French's hotel was the principal house thereon. It was as familiar to the residents of Brooklyn forty five years ago as the oity hall ia jr.

lug proprietor, xom Tiencn, as waa. called, was known, not only in Brooklyn and New York, hut all over Long Island. He was an ideal bonlfaoe. and the old timers tell to day many good stories of him and his Clove road hostelry. Tom French, who died at the age of 82.

was the father of eleven children. Of the five are now living. Thomas, the eldest, died a few months ago. Only, one of the six girls is alive. The surviving sons are, beside Henry, William the Twenty fifth ward supervisor, and exsrixs vxssca.

Bartley, the contractor. Henry attended in Flat Dusn, Erasmus ball, and in Brooklyn, the publia school on Bedford avenue, near Fulton street. After he left school young French was ambitions to own a store and his father started Mm in the grocery business. He did not keep this long, however, for ha and a oonple other young fel iuwa awiaeauui iDnuaoi were awaiving xnem in the West, and thither they went. They intended to settle in or near Denver, hat within three months they made up their minds that life was far more agreeable in the East and thoy came back to Brooklyn.

Then it occurred to young French that he would like railroading. The father of the present corporation counsel was a friend of the elder French and he gave Henry a letter to President Richardson of the Atlantic avenne railroad Anm. pany, who appointed him a oonduotor. After ward he was employed in the same capacity on the Broadway line. But this life was not con genial to the young man ana again ne went into business, starting a fruit, fish and vegetable store on Atlantic avenue, near Pennsylvania.

He was doing fairly well here when on June. 28, 1876, he was appointed by Commissioners. Pyburn. Briggs and Hurd, member of the New Lots police department. The New Lots force, which was under control of the Brooklyn authorities, numbered six men.

The station on Bradford street was considered a sub of the Twelfth of Brooklyn, then in charge of Captain Kayser. Afterward a bill was put. tbrnnirh thA lncrtfUatrira refltnrino the OATitrnl nf the force to the town authorities. Patrolman French was seated upon the steps of' the Truant home, where he had been sent to keep the peaoe between the rival superintendents, Galvin and uiara, wnen a coapie oi txie sown omciais came to him and offered him the command of the New Lots force. He declined to accept the position.

W. F. Early was made captain and French sergeant. Afterward there was a fight between two boards of police commission ers, one comprising jreter sutler, ur. oan s.

Powell and Biohard Pickering, the other, John Bergen, Adolph Eiendl and Mr. Pickering. Sergeant French chose to obey the former, which the courts sustained, while Early cast his lot with Messrs. Bergen and Eiendl. The result was that French was made captain.

He interceded for Early, who would have been dismissed otherwise, and his late superior was retained as a sergeant. This was the. situation when New Lots was annexed to and became the Twenty sixth ward of Brooklyn and for police purposes was designated the Seventeenth pre. cinct. Captain French was sworn in as a captain of the Brooklyn department.

The Twenty sixth ward is in many respects a neouiiar section of the olty. Every Sunday during the summer time fully one hundred and fifty thousand strangers pass through East New York, as it is called, on their way to Coney Island, Bockaway and Canarsie. As these resorts draw to themselves all classes' of people, not only from Brooklyn and New York, but from the entire oountry, it will be seen that the police have a floating population to contend probably unequaled anywhere else in the land. There is a part of the permanent papula, tion also that is out of the ordinary and not easy to handle, as anyone at all familiar with the Brownsville distriot will testify. Nevertheless the Seventeenth, under Captain French, was one of the most orderly in the city.

The crooks of both sexes, who always go where there is a 3 11 5 11 4 1 UllfWU, ITCiO UUH MIUnDU HJ U(Q iUUK, Pickposkets and other criminals of their class were locked up wherever found and more than one house in the precinot, at a hint from the oaptain, was expeditiously vaoated by its fair tenants. The captain's aim in life is to treat other people as he would like to have them treat bim. Ho was a recognized leader in the Democratic party of the ward, but he fought his opponents only on election day. The result was that friends were made in the Republican party as well as in his own. A man who needed help and came to him was asked neither in regard to his politics nor his religion.

Some of the Democratic ward leaders became jealous of his popularity. They thought that their own positions were assailed. mi a i 3 and Harry They had the ear of Hugh McLaughlin and he had not. The oaptain refused to use his powers as a police official to whip certain recaloitrants, principally saloon keepers, into lin. Ho also refused to get out and make a personal oauvass for Harry Adams, when the latter was running for county treasurer tne last time, ueauor rumcen of the Nineteenth ward wanted to get rid of Cas tain Gorman of the Sixteenth preoinct.

Leadev Adams of the Twenty sixth ward wanted to get rid of Frenoh. They both appealed to Wil loughby street, and Mr. McLaughlin transferred the. men from one precinct "to the other. At once Captain French's party friends formed tha' Democratic league of the.

Twenty sixth ward, to demand his recall. On tha rolls of this organi zation aro the names of 1,500 Democrats, com prising the young men of the party. Harry Adams' pull was all powerful, however, ana French was compelled to remain iu the Hixtcenth precinct, us does not now oaro to resume poltoe control of the Seventeenth, oven if the opportunity is given him by the incoming commissioner. His twenty years of service expire in 1890. He intends to retire then and devote himself to other interests.

His home is in the Twenty sixth ward and there be intends to reside, but to take charge again of the preoinct would mean a couple of years' hard work for the benefit of his suocessor. BoBide that, tho Sixteenth precinot ia a pleasant place in whioh to work, comprising, as, it does, the best Eortion of old Williamsbnrgh. The people have ecome much attached to 'ptaiu Frenoh since ho went there, a year ago last May, and would not like to have him leave. In ftot, when it was reported after election that he might return to East New York a petition was circulated asking the commissioner to keep him where he is. Captain French is married and lives in Brad ford street, near the old station house.

Of threa ohildren only one. a daughter, is living; "Tho oaptain, who, by the way, is a striotly temperate man, is fond of hunting and fishing and all outdoor sports. He is aso a lover of good horses and is the owner of a handsome pair. He belongs to the Varnna boat club, to tho Canarsie yacht club, the Bnshwiok clnb. The Lib.

erty Hose association, for he was a volunteer fireman; to thn Lntonian and "RltrtTi nlnhft. TTa is a member also of the Order of the World, of tne iron noil ana Jtioscern otsx. ally perhaps it is only due to a torpid liver I am almost prepared to agree that the power of Harmachis and the spirits of KHem are something more than the jugglery of a mesmerist or the creation of a Rider Haggard. About two weeks ago I sat in a room surrounded by singing birds. The robins and the canaries sang low and sweet as I told this column two weeks ago to daynot noisily as they usually did.

anditseemed to me as if their mournful sonnds were voices from some other world. Of course I wrote my impressions. Just one week later, on the very same day of the week, one of my two robins died, and last Sunday, just a week after the paragraph was published, the other red breast died. Two funerals in seven days and the chief mourner at little craves in the back yard a tearful, fond, great heartod woman. The low estimate which certain business enter prises place upon the City of Brooklyn as a field for expansion and multiplication is more evident as the holiday season advances.

The Rambler has referred before now to the extraordinary fact that tho fourth largest city in the Union has scarcely one respectable book store, the odd department or two maintained in several of our larger dry goods stores for the sale of books alone being excepted from that statement. As Christmas time comes nearer at least one big New York establishment comes across the river and opens a book mart in the very center of the city's business activity. Fulton street from the comer of Tillaryup almost to tho asphalt line of Bedford avenue is dotted with candy shops, toy stores and similar enterprises calculated to entrap the dollars of the generously inclined. All of these, or nearly all, will probably oeose to exist after the sun goes down on ChristmaB day. Their existence represents an aggregate investment of thousands of dollars.

Their disappearance simoly shows that tho men who are responsible for their appearance here erred in jud gment when they considered Brooklyn as a place where money is to be made only at certain seasons and intervals. The time cannot bo long distant when some firm, with enterprise and capital at its back, will realize that this city offers a magnificent field for the establishment of some completely equipped book store like those which New York, Philadelphia and Boston oan boast. Brooklyn is a field for tho i tudy of tho evoln tionof holidays ns of other things. Thanksgiving, an Eastern institution, naturally came to Long Island where so many New Englanders found their way in earlier and later times. At the same time, the kindred and complementary annual fast day made littlo or no impression.

The feast of the fruits still goes on its way with full vigor. A diminishing number of "connections" go clown East to celebrate the festival, while an increasing force of relatives of New England unite here with the descendants of those who went out from the old family roof trees to found other homes. The origin of this feast of the looal population felt the influence of the coolness toward Christmas which grew ot i of Puritan opinions, inasmuch as it bore a flavor of church feasts. This sentiment, in turn, was largely offset, not only by Episcopalian opinion, but also by the inclination of the Dutch side of the first making of Long Island. The Hollanders made much of the first Christian anniversary and Kriss Kringle held his time honored place as weil advanced as Santa Claus'.

Christmas is as widely celebrated asaver, oven by those who have lost the significance of what it religiously recalls. Another annual largely owed to the colonist from Amsterdam is New Year's day. This celebration, free from tho unfriendliness of whatever religious people, commended itself to people of every nationality. The brief calls of courtesy and friendship among hardby was regarded aa fitting and agreeable. It spread and found favor among all classes in the early times before abnses crept in.

That abuses were introduced and produced a discouraging effect is true, though it has quite probably been exaggerated in accounting: for a discontinuance due really to a change of fashion. By and by the people who call themselves "society" put an end. a they thought, to New Year's day. They announced that "Nobody receives calls now." Yet it could bo easy to prove by observation that very many people do receive New Year's calls. The long columns printed in tho Eagle of names of people who frankly announce that they intend to receive and expect nd ask other people to make calls seem conclusive as a refutal of the assertion.

The custom largely continues and it is by no means sure that the once brilliant and busy anniversary might not yet be revived with its once popular features. There is one more evolutionized holiday which finds illustration in Brooklyn. For the bonfir demonstration of election night can scarcely be said to stand of itself as a thing of significance It is little more than. the unmeaning hurrah of 1 St 1.