The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 4

1 4 THE BKQOKLYTST DAILY EAGLEUITOAY, DECEMBER 23, 1888. GALLERY AND STtJDIO. AT THE OLD CAPITOLINE. IN A STRANGE VILLAGE. the northeast, coming down finally somewhere in Connecticut.

There are very few people who lived any length of time in Brooklyn between 1802 and 1880 who were not familiar with tho old Capitoline ground, and with its earlier history are connected the names of Arthur W. Benson, John W. Hunter and scores of other substantial men of Brooklyn, who. There are copies, also, of engravings from the old masters. Sun nntt Sliade is a promising and pleasing periodical.

Wunderlich fc Co. have just published a plate by Stephen Parrish that ranks in beauty with any of the charming and forciblo works of that etcher. It ia a scene on tho Banco and is entitled "Eveu iug in Brittany." The placid river spreads in front, with a rudo boat partly beached on the grassy shore and a net with poles boside it. Groups of peasantry are seen, their day's work nearing its end, and the sagging roofs of their quaint, comfortable looking cottages rising to view over the tops of apple trees and hay ricks, while a church with stubby tower capped by a spire, and sundry lean and Fren'chy poplars are characteristic features in tho landscape. The etcher's touch is free and spirited and tho effect of the work is broad and Bolid, but there is no slighting of detail.

Among the fat portfolios in the Wunderlich stock is a remarkable etching by Axel Haig of an old castle, on the Neckar, shining in a passing gleam of sunlight, while the hills and river beneath are darkened by a fall of rain. The Architectural League is giving an interesting shoyv of plan3 at the Fifth avenue galleries, Now York. c. M. S.

NATIO.VAL PROVIDF.JiT UNION. Concord Council's mntercainuicnt Council matters. source of profit in tho business though, which helps us out. For instance, many of the boats lying in here now are loaded with grain which belongs to some of the big store house companies along the water front. It is cheaper for these companies to keep their grain during the Winter in this way, for it saves tho expense of transferring the cargoes into the elevators and also grain is yvorth more afloat than ashore.

The lucky man yvho gets a boat load of grain to hold during the Winter receives $3 for the first twenty days and i2 a day thereafter up to tho 1st of April. If tho grain is not removed by that time the boat owner can collect damages at the rate of 3H per cent, a day on the gross amount of freight. Again, a number of boat owners bring into Winter quarters cargoes of apples and potatoes which they can afford to sell for less than the market rate to the city markets and groceries." "Where do boatmen keep their stock in Winter?" "Mostly scattered through the State on farms There are men who make it a regular business to keep canal boat stock during the Winter and at the close of the aeason they come into Albany to get the animals. Their charge is $1 a head per week. "Are not steam caualboats exclusively used now "They are, and there are a number of them lying here at the present time.

Most of the steamboats belong to the Pennsylvania Bailroad Company, which uses them so as to fulfill the terms of its advertisements of through freights to the Lakea. This Btyle of boat is coming into use more and more, however, even by private owners, allowed, and no intoxicating beverages were permitted to bo brought on the ground. When the grounds were in preparation the Capitoline Club made a proposition for the use of them. This club had been using Suydam'B pond, west of the old Hunterfly road (that is, west of Rochester avenue and south of Pacific street). An arrangement was made by the club with Weed fe Decker, uuder which the club issued season tickets, and the pond was to go by the name of the Capitoline.

The club was to dispose of 1,000 tickets, beside those to their regular members. The tickets for gentlemen were $4 and for ladies $2. During the first season it was necessary to join the club in order to get a ticket. The amount of red tape necessary to get an application in and acted upon was rather a drawback and affected the patronage somewhat the first season, but nevertheless the Capitoline pond was a success. It was opened in December, 1863.

The local chronicle, making a note of it, said: The opportune cold term which set in on Saturday, the iJOth, made glad the hearts of skaters, who availed themselves of the delightful exercise for which such long and careful preparation had been made. The various ponds were crowded by jovous throngs. Tiie soft weather of Christmas day put an end to the sport, and the skating carnival is for the present suspended. The Capitoline pond was visited during Christmas day by one of the most respectable and fashionable assemblages we ever have seen on a skating pond. From early morn till dewy eve it was thronged with the subscribers, who expressed themselves highly gratified with the arrangements made for their comfort and convenience.

Of course the ice after fl A. M. became soft and water collected on its surface, but not to an extent to prevent the venturesome from risking a ducking. Fully two thousand people must have been present at one time and the ice felt the, pressure and yielded to it in a slight degree. The next cold anellwe have will leave, the pond in What May Be Seen Far Down in South Brooklyn.

The Canalhoat Colony at' the Erie Basin A Conversation With Mr. Eugene Sullivan Life on Board Hen Who Own Their Craft Statistics of the Business. Away down in South Brooklyn there is a queer village of which it is safe to Bay but few citizens of this great city know. The inhabitants of this village are nomadie and like the first inhabitants of this continent do not live in houses. Moreover unlike the Indians they do not live in tents and yet few people are more comfortably sheltered from tho icy blasts of Winter than they.

Furthermore they have all modern comforts of homo life including the most improved cooking ranges and culinary arrangements to match. To sum up many of them have in their homes pianos and know how to play them too. The village is a community of canal boats. Last week I boarded one of the Erie BaBin cars, which pass the Court House, to visit a scene of which I had vivid remembrances. Years before I had been to that part of Brooklyn known as tho Erie Basin and ever since when thinking of my visit, there has arisen in my mind a picture of unutterable drearinessnot only the dreariness born of uninteresting surroundings but one accentuated by the prevalence of miserable shanties and heaps of things thi'owu aside as useless.

The day upon which I started upon my second visit wan an exceedingly uncomfortable one. The sky was leaden and a Bouth east wind pregnant with snow indications blustered through the crevices of the ear. I was glad enough when the ride was over and I had alighted at the termination of the route. Not knowing the way to tho canal village I was forced to Beek the information at that compendium of knowledge of the goings on of isolated neighborhoods, the saloon. The proprietor was suave, Teutonic, and so indefinite in his directions that I left his establishment Iosb wise than when I had gone into it, and started on a voyage oi discovery for myself.

Turning into the first side street to which I came I entered it, feeling vaguely conscious that it led in the right direction. On one side of the street was a big iron foundry and piled up against its side were heaps of rusty anchors and chains and one ship's cannon of antique design. The other side of the street was occupied by a shanty into the yard of which a fat (i year old child was driving a still fatter little pig. Beyond the shanty spread acres of marshy land made by filling in. The stroet was typical of the neighborhood around the basiu and after groping through several others of a similar character I at last found myself at the end of a pier which stretched away for hilly a half a mile toward tho sea, finally' losing itself in a maze of masts and steamers' funnels, From the German's flood of jargon I had evolved one idea and that was that this pier led to the village of which I was in search.

I found upon reaching the end of the pier that my village was indeed there. Enclosed, on one side by the long pier and on the other by a pier extending at right angles with the first, it lay in as safe and snug a harbor as any ordinary village would wish for. It was washing day and over the tops of the two hundred or three hundred canal boats flapped and fluttered in the sharp sea breeze strings of parti colored clothing. A few figures were moving about on the boats, but most of the residents were below. Before visiting tho village a call was made upon the clock master for some in formation regarding it.

He was unable to give any but the most general and referred me to Mr. Eugene Sullivan, whom he said I would find in the little red house at the end of the second pier. As 1 yvas leaving the dock master's office I was for an instant startled by what seemed to me at first to be the body of a large man clothed in white suspended, by a rope wound several times about his neck, to a beam in a shed near by. Closer observation showed me that the body was of wood, in fact, the huge graven image, probably of some shipowner, which had once adorned the prow of a gallant ship. This counterfeit presentment had a very stern cast of features the severity of yyhich yvas accentuated by closely trimmed mutton chop whiskers.

In its left hand it held a roll of manuscript and its right was extended in oratorical gesture. There yyere other figure heads scattered aroyynd, but none appealed so strongly to my sense of pity as did this. I found Mr. Eugene Sullivan, who is a sort of factotum for the village, in his little house on the pier and stated my bnsineBB to him. He seemed at first unwilling to give me any information about tho village of which in Summer time he is an inhabitant, being himself a canal boat proprietor.

"I talked with a New York newspaper man one day about our mode of said Mr. Sullivan, "and he grossly misrepresented us in his paper. He called us 'canalera' and made fun of yys." I assured Mr. Sullivan and the two or throe other boatmen who were present that I certainly had no intention of making fun of them, much less of misrepresenting them. "My only object," I said, "is to learn as much as I can about your life, both here and upon the canals." "Well," said Mr.

Sullivan, "if you are sure you will treat us fairly I will tell you all I know. In the first place," he continued, "we are not 'caualers' as that term is understood. 'Canalers are more particularly the men yvho work on the canals for wages. With a very few exceptions each one of us owiib from one to three boats. Each of these boats costs from $3,000 to $4,000, so you see it requires some capital to go into tho business.

The life is not an easy or a varied one nor is it at the present time, when freights are so low, an especially profitable one. Our harvest time is the seven months between March and November, and during the Winter mouths yve are practically idle." "Where do these boats run to?" "From New York to Buffalo by the Erie Canal. If yon have chanced tn be some Summer evening on a part of the Heights from which you can see the water you must have noticed a long, low, side wheel steamer lying the middle of the stream between the Battery and South Ferry, Brooklyn, making up a toyv of canal boats to take to Albany. If you 'were unacquainted with the method of 'making up' you have undoubtedly wondered why the Btenmor lay in the stream so long, now drifting with her tow under the influence of the tide and again steaming forward and stopping again to drift once more. The secret of it is that she is waiting to get her complement of boats which are brought by tugs from the various docks, where they have been loaded during the day." "What kind of freight do you carry?" "All kinds, merchanjilise, produce, lumber, grain, If we can make expenses on the up trip we consider ourselves very fortunate, our profits all conic from the down trip.

Most of tho freight carried by us to Buffalo is obtained from the Western TraiiB portation Company, the Union Steamship Oompany.and Western States Shipping Company. All these companies ship' goods as far as Dumth, from which point they are distributed through the West. The distance from New York to Buffalo by river and canal is about five hundred miles and the trip occupies from twenty five to thirty days. Although a boat's capacity is about two hundred and forty tons we consider one hundred tons of up freight fair load and for carrying this to Buffalo we get 00 cents a ton. To make expenses we would have to re ton." "What are tho expenses of an up trip?" "Well, the towage from New York to Albany is $1 8 per boat.

Each boat if run separately carries four horses or mules. These animals arc in the majority of cases owned by the boatman and are. kept in stables on board. As a boat is on the go night and day two horses are used at a time and the teams are changed every twelve hours. On each boat there is generally a crew of five men, including the owner.

They are divided into day and night gangs just as are the horses, one man, of a gang driving and the other steering and the oyvner keeping a general lookout. In some instances there are but four men including tho owner, who does his Bhare of the work with the rest. The common way, however, is for boats to go in pairs and by this plan six horses and four men are all that are needed for the two. When the boats are run singly I should say the expenses of an up trip wotild be something over $100 and if run in pairs something under that sum. On the down trip we carry mostly grain and lumber and many of the boats are arranged bo that either or both can be transported upon them.

If we get 5 cents a bushel for wheat we can make about J150 on a trip, but if we can get but 'iVt cents, which waa tho rata last there is no money in boating. There is another 1 Reminders for Many People "Who Used to Visit The Favorite Skating Resort History of the Neighborhood Weed Decker's Pond EnterpriseA Club that Flourished a Score of Tears Carnival Times Transformation of the Place. One of the most rapidly growing, prosperous and wealthy sections of Brooklyn is the Twenty third Ward. Its development has been rapid of late years; but forty years ago it all lay in farms Bedford avenue, the western boundary of the ward, wasthen the eastern boundary of the paved streets. At that time there were few houses along the line of that avenue, which was almost identical with the old Cripplebush road from Fulton street to DeKalb avenue.

There was, in fact, but one very old house on this line, at the time named, and that was the DeBevoise farmhouse, which was built by Michael Vaudervoort in 17713, and torn down about twenty years ago. The DeBevoise farm extended eastward from Bedford avenue (or what was originally the Cripplebush road), between Jefferson and Monroe streets, and the old house stood about one bunded feet back from Bedford avenue, on the east side, and just north of Putnam. The well of this farmhouse was formerly about fifty feet south of Madison street and the same distance north of Bedford avenue. On the west side of the Cripplebush road, in what is now the bed of Bedford avenue, and extending a short distance into the block on the west side, about midway between Putnam avenue and Jefferson street, was the DeBevoise private burying ground. There were other houses along; Bedford wenueat the period of which I write, forty years ago.

but none sooid. On the same siduoi'theavenuo, about one hundred feet east of and the same distance south of Jefferson street, stood an old farmhouse on land belonging to the estate of Judge Left'ert Lefferts. This farm extended east from Bedford avenue, between Jefferson and Hnlsey streetri. the line between the DeBevoise and Lefferts farms running about fifty feet north of Jefferson street. The old Cripplebush road diverged to the eastward from the line of Bedford avenue, at street, so as to strike Fulton street about one hundred feet east Bedford.

This would bring the line of the old road just back of Avon Hall, which stands on Bedford a little north of Halsey. About where is now the north wing of Avon Hall was fonnerly the Hempen family burying ground, between the old Cripplebush road and the present Bedford avenue. In the block between Bedford and Nos iruml avenues, Halsey anil Hancock streets, was an orchard belonging to the Lefferts fai n). What is ii.nv the end of Halsey street, as tar west as the Cripplebush road, and taking in part of the ground im cither Mde, was at that time the graveyard of Bedford Village. Tins farm of Lelfert Leffevts was originally the property of Cornelius Vanderboef.

On the nortbea. 1 corner of Bedford avenue and Madison street was the new Do Bevoise residence built in 181)7: nearly opposite, on the west side of Bedford, was a small house. On the east side Bedford, on the of That, is now street, wis one. and a half story house, and another of the same character on the west side, between Monroe street and Gates avenue. On the west side of Bedford, just north of Gates, was a one and a half story house, about twenty five by thirty feet, owned by W.

Ireland, the grandfather of John Ireland, who still resides in the vicinity On the west side of Bedford, between DeKalb and Lafayette, was a two and a half story frame house, and on the northeast corner of Bedford and Lafayette avenues was a hous which had to have one of its wings removed to permit Lafayette avenue to be opened. There wen no houses east of Bedford avenue, between and Lafayette, lav east as the Ileid Lett' lai it used, to be known, a dittanceoi' nearly a mile to the eastward. in it. A. Veil cuuic over from and went to boarding at the old DeBevoise He was a builder and was engaged in hi regular occupation in this newly opened section.

Tb DeBevoise farm having been cut up into building lots, Mr. Weed bought four lots 1 OH feet east of Bedford avenue, running through from Madison street tn Putnam avenue, and built himself a house, on one of them on Madison street. He subsequently built another house on Putnam avenue into which he moved and in which he atili resides. B. S.

Decker was then living with his father. Stephen Decker, in the old Lefferts farmhouse mentioned above. Stephen L. was a farmer, and had moved in from New Lots in 1840 to rent the Lefferts farm, where the Deckers remained until 1880. InlS78 this larm was sold and divided no into eity lots, and in that year R.

S. Decker started in the feed business, on the corner of Fui ton street and Held avenue, and subsequently moved for residence into the same neighborhood In the last named year (1880) there were a few houses on Halsey street, but the building boom had not fairly started. One of the first buildings to be erected on the old DeBevoise farm, after it was subdivided, was the Koman Catholic Church of St. Francis. was erected in ISoT.

It is located in the middle of the block bounded by Bedford, Nostrand and Putnam avenues and Jefferson street. When tie' DeBevoise farm was laid out the Rev. John Raf had charge of the Church of the Holy Trinity, on Montrose avenue (E. thought thai it would be a good locality for a German settlement, and at once made arrangements for the erecti of a church, and St. Francis' was the result of his efforts.

The Kev. Bonaventure Keller was the first priest in charge. It did not prosper, however, as anticipated. The lots were held rather too high for the Germans and were only sold in blocks of four, and as a result the Germans did not buy and settle. From 185!) until 1800 St.

Francis' Church was attended by supply from the Church of the Holy Trinity, when the Kev. N. Balleis was placed in charge, and has since been pastor. Another church was erected partially on the DeBevoise farm in The East Reformed Dutch Church, on the east side of Bedford avenue, midway between Jefferson street and Putnam avenue, was located on the line of )3 De Bevoise and Lefferts farms, and the fr 'fit occupied part of what was formerly the Cripplebush road. The congregation had previously worshiped at the old Bedford school house, which stood near to the present northeast corner of Fulton street and Bedford avenue, and a portion of which still stands in the grounds of W.

Payne. In 1 S7'' the church building was bought by T. Washburn, and in 187 1 the congregation went to worship in their new $140,000 edifice, onthe corner of Bedford avenue and Madison Hjpuet, yvhich they were unable to pay for, and, as a result, it has recently been Bold to the Masons and converted into Aurora Grata temple. The old church building purchased by Mr. Washburn was converted into a livery stable, and is stiil used as such by him, with addition of wings on either side to enlarge it.

li: January. 1S01. the skating mania broke out in Brooklyn. Though its citizens had always indulged, more or less, in this pastime, skating on the various ponds which were numerous in its suburbs, it was not until the year named that it became the fad of old and young" alike. The Brooklyn Skating Club was organized under B.

B. Jordan, (). Wetmore. T. B.

Ball, G. C. Ack erman and others, and soon attained a membership of L'oO. So popular was skating in fashionable civic. that, on February 2, 1 SG2, the Cap itoline Club was organized.

In view of popularity of the amusement, Messrs. Weed Decker, mentioned above, conceived the idea of making a large pond which would accommodate a great many skaters, and also have it so arranged (hat there could be comfortable Quarters to go to oil' the ice. as well as a lunch room in connection. The grounds, including the blocks lying between Putnam avenue and Halsey street, Nostrand and Marey avenues, were leased and ineki. ed within a ten foot high board fence, with an entrance on Nostrand avenue.

They exeavat. about eighteen inches of soil, and then formed a connection with the Nostrand avenue water main, whereby water was obtained to Hood the excavation, which, when done and frozen, supplied KOOx 1, ,0 feet of skating surface. Above was a building on the grounds feet the first floor of which was divided into e.pirtiiienis for the clubs. On tiie second floor was a hall r.TixSO feet, lighted by chandeliers and fitted up with seats, piano, etc. It hail a glass looking out on the pond.

There was a restaurant in the building, but no bar was ever 1 a A lance at the Collection in the Metropolitan Museum. Ancient and Modern Art Still Laekine; Room Remarkable Mummies Gems The Old Masters Etchings. Many people who visited the Metropolitan Mu seum of Art on and after its opening day last week were a little surprised at the lack of novelty in the exhibits placed there, but the public is apt to be unstudious and impatient, and it was not to bo supposed that there should be a radical change in the contents of the museum because its officers had acquired more room. The opening of the yving has been of decided advantage in that it has relieved the congested state of the galleries the main building and has put many of tho curioa and objects of art in a light where they can be better seen. It has also made space for ynany things that wore not known hitherto as possessions of the institution: furniture, antiquities, metal work, fictile aud textile fabrics, etchings, photographs and a tine group of casts from Greek statuary and reliefs.

Yet there is not room enough as it is. Tho dark basements hold piles of boxes, wherein treasure is hid from daylight. There is, for example, a collection of coins that have historic as weil artistic interest, but that cannot be shown, the directors say, for want of Bpace. The Catharine Wolfe bequest of pictures has been transferred to larger halls that it may. grow in accordance with the provision in the lady's will.

The laces presented by Mrs. ABtor have been placed in glazed frames hinged to center posts, and may be readily seen. A similar arrangement has been adopted in the settiug of photographs from the antique, and the drawings by old masters are in new cases. Around the sculpture hall are portions of the frieze from a temple of Apollo in Arcadia, and a series of wall linings from the palace in old Nineveh, of a king who rejoiced though his friends could not have done so in the name of Assurnazurapli. The wounded lioness is from one of the more or less stately halls of Sardauapalus.

The enameled relief, "The As. sumption of the Virgin," by Lucca della, llobbia, is already known. General Oesnola's Cypriote pots and priests ace newly placed and the beautiful iridescent glass of his ointment bottles and tear jars still shines. The Egyptian additions are among the more important and interesting, aud the mummies and their sarcophagi are the best preserved and most brilliantly decorated that can be seen in this country, excepting those in the Boston Art The Metropolitan, by the yvay, has now advanced nearly to the Boa toncse standard. Several of the mummies were found by Maspero only two years ago and were brought to light in almost perfect condition.

The caskets retain their freshness of coloriug and their gilding, aud the hieroglyphs havo been translated, showing that obituaries in old times were not unlike those of to day, except that they were coupled yvith strong appeals for protection to the dusky divinities of tho sttnrieo land. The type of heads and proportion of form show like yviso that the human race has perhaps not progressed as much in the last two or three thousand years as it thinks it has, for the Egyptians had brains as well as structural solidity and grace; and when we brag of our architectural accomplishments let us explain how we would aetupaTheban temple or apyramid withont steam engines. In the swinging leaves of standards are seen a number of specimens of Egyptian cloth work and embroideries, with mummy linen and inscribed papyri. The glass collection Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Venetian, Florentine is now said to be the richest in the world. Several antique musical instruments have been put on exhibition, among them a 4H octave piano made in 1058 and conspicuous for the old time elegance aud high finish of its case.

There are also chairs and clocks, cabinets and whatnot that are marvels of ingenuity and patience. The main hall has on its gallery fronts a row of casts of friezes from the Parthenon at Athens and the mausoleum at Halicartiassus, while the largo blank yvalls at either end give excellent show ground for the Lavergno taiwstries, which are a century old this year, and to the big, impetuously painted "Diana's Hunting Party," by Makart and the flanking canvases by Knaus: "Victory" and 'Peace." A room of American antiquities and Washington, Franklin and Lafayette relies and portraits has been opened, and in a corner gallerv on the aecond floor will be found a rare and de lightful array of coins, gems, Babylonian and Cypriote seals and cylinders, gold and silver work, hangings, rugs aud altar cloths. The Maxwell Soinmerville collection of engraved gems is the largest and most beautiful ever seen in this country and is perhaps unexcelled anywhere. The color is of every variety possible to precious and semi precious stones, and the engraving by both ancient and modi rn masters is superb. Changes in the picture galleries are not many, but the Museum is beginning to acquire so many good pictures that a tour through the hulls is not the tiresome thing it was.

The Inness landscapes, so generously contributed by Air. Seney, can never give aught but pleasure, and as tor Davis' "Evening," one stands before it in the attentive silence that fine poetry or music commands of him. George II. Boughton has a landscape with a better color scheme than is usual to him and that breathes of a rural peace that nowhere seems bo content and Hccuro as in rural Ungland. Corot is seen at his best, there, is a snappy Hico, Cazin has a remarkable and unusual large landscape and a smaller one that is delicious in color and poetic in sentiment, and tho ideal quality in the work of Delacroix is partial excuse for the wretched drawing and brush work in tho vaunted example of his genius.

Houghton's "Tam O'Shanter" is weird, ltousseau is healthful, Troyon is strong and Inabey decorative. The old muster gallery is untouched, and the loan collection is an improvement on it, for it contains fine examples of Rembrandt. Van Duyck, Velasquez, Iiuysdael, Gainsborough, Turner, Kubeus, Reynolds, Constable, Hals, Clonic TeniSrs andZurbaran, few of which, all the same, are any better than pictures painted every year in New York and Paris. It is a satisfaction to find that the Metropolitan Museum is growing with the city, and that our American Louvre is not a thing of the far future. A number of new etchings and plates suitable for holiday gifts and pictures are acceptable presents to almost everybody are to be seen at the Knight, theSherk, the Field and other local galleries.

Miss Mary Hurst has completed a fruit piece that is believed to mark an advance in her work. M. Vercstchagiu was ou exhibition at the rooms of the Ladies' Art Association, New York, on Wednesday night. He was praised to his face as much as he could reasonably desire and gave American art another little dab. ne rightly charged American buyers with encouraging otily foreign art, and when he went to Baltimore to see the famous Walters collection he discovered that it was made up of French pictures.

The famous Russian yvill probably sail for Europe this week. John Ward Stimson has issued an extensive circular setting forth the advantages of his New York Institute for Artist Artisans, at 140 West Tivent3' third street, New York. He has gathered an efficient stall' about bim and instruction is given in decorative work, anatomy, perspective, drawing and painting from the antique, still life and living figure, modeling, sketching and illustration. There is a normal class alao, and it ia intended, as soon as practical, to add departments in architecture, wood carving, weaving, metal working, etching, engraving, cabinet work, glass making, pottery, tiles and lace. Mr.

Stimson has intelligence and enthusiasm and his school deserves to thrive. The fourth number of Sun and Shade, which is printed hero in Brooklyn by the Photo Gravure Company, contains a diversity of subjects. Tho first is a copy, in dark purple ink, of Raphael's Madonna of the Chair," while there is a hint of the Christmas season also in Morris' Shadow of the Cross," an infant Christ toddling toward his mother, the sunlight throwing the shadow of his body and extended arms on the desert Band the form of a cross. A pretty little girl sits for "The Golden Age," and the direct photograph is warmed by tinting. One of J.

G. Brown's familiar bootblacks, blowing bubbles, and C. IJ. Wcl don's odd "Flirtation" between a Japanese and an American doll, have been seen at the Academy. Tito and John Morgan a pictures are of children's games.

The child statuette is from nature, not porcelain, and the groups of small boys who are ready to hook apples or engage in any other inisciiief are evidently from nature. I i I in the earlier years of the skating pond, were among tho most regular attendants. It is even stated that District Attorney Ridgway, whose time is now given up to the prosecution of evil doers, was one of the most mischievous and un ruly boys of the old Capitoline. The old DeBevoise farm iB now nearly all built up solid. The old Lefferts farm is covered with brown stone fronts, with scarcely a vacant lot.

The old Capitoline Grounds are almost entirely covered with houses, one vacant lot on Hancock atreot, near Marey avenue, showing the level of the excavation and a portion of the old bank. There are probably half a dozen vacant lotB now whero the thousands of amusement seekers used to flock in both Summer and Winter seasons, and lots that formerly commanded from $350 to $400 when first laid out are now rated in the market at from $3,500 to $4, 000. Tho famous Capitoline, surrendered less than a score of years ago to the real estate agent, is now but a memory. For eighteen years it was one of the most popular places of amusement Brooklyn has evor had and waB made famous throughout the country by its great games of base ball. Though it now presents an almoBt un broken array of brown stone fronts, thousands of old Brooklynites who journey that way upon a moonlit Winter night will once again see in imagination the broad sheet of clear ice, the lights of the pavilion, hear again the music, the cboi'UB of merry laughter and the clear ring of the skaters' steel; for the ghosts of happy days departed always linger around the scenes of their former revelry and joj ous memories never really die.

H. S. AX ECLIPSE. The Total Obscuration of the Sun, gnat, 1SS7. An As the time for the eclipse drew near, the number of visitors to the castle greatly increased, and the preparations, extended through long weeks, received their linal touches.

At last the 19th of August dawned "the great, the important day," ushered in with the clearest of skies and the most radiant sunbeams. Twenty or thirty of the guards, in snowy dresses, watched the castle and all its entrances, and none except the specially invited guests were admitted. The instruments were carefully adjusted for instant use, and, in spite of the torrid heat, we were all astir with eager anticipation. The guests quietly gathered in the open space below the instruments, and a subdued hum of pleasant conversation filled the hot noontide. The eclipse was to begin at 2:37.

About an hour before this, a delicate little white cloud floated up toward the zenith and spread very quietly over the bright, blue Bky, until even the visitors began to look upward, with some fear lest the afternoon might be only partly clear after all. And that little white cloud not only grew into great Rize itself, but it was joined by other and darker ones from all directions, which, as they seemed to gain confidence from numbers and blackness, soon shut out tho sun completely and spread consternation over every face around us. The beginning of the eclipse was not seen at all, but we caught a few glimpses of the sun afterward a gradually narrowing crescent. As it became apparent that my part of the work which was to draw tho filmly, outermost steamers of the corona could not be done, I left my appointed station and hastened to the upper castle wall. Here, standing near the instruments.

I watched the strange landscape under its gray shroud. Even inanimate things seemed endowed at times with a terrible life of their own, and this deliberate, slow moving pall of cloud seemed a malignant power, not to be evaded. At the instant of totality a darkness and tilence like that of death fell upon the castle and the town and all the world around. Not a word was spoken; the very air about us was motionless, as if all nature were in sympathy with our suspense. The useless instruments outlined their fantastic shapes dimly against the massing clouds, a weird chili fell upon the earth.

Darker and still darker it grew. Every trace of color fled from the world. Cold, dull, ashen grey covered the face of nature; and a low rumble of thunder muttered ominously on tho horizon. Even at that supreme moment my thoughts Hew backward over the eight thou and miles of land and stormy ocean already traveled, the ton of telescopes brought with such care, the weeks ot patient waiting at tne oiu castle all that long journey and those great preparations for just these three minutes of precious time, which were now slipping away so fast. And already they were gone One sharp, brilliant ray of sunshine flashed down upon us.

Totality was over and lost! This tiny rift in the clouds showed the slender edge of the sun for a second and was gone! And a profound sigh, as of great nervous tension relieved, came up from the crowd below. The calamity was too great to be measured at once, and it was some minutes before we cared to speak. We had trusted Nature, and she had failed uh, and our sense of helplessness was overwhelming. Every astronomical student now knows how the. track of this illfated eclipse was followed by clouds all along its course, and how totality and the wished for corona were hidden by clouds from nearly all the eager eyes and waiting instruments through its entire length.

But an astronomer must be philosophic; and our astronomer nobly displayed this quality. And so, gradually, our visitors left us, and the ound of demolishing and packing was heard on the hill. The tents were folded, and the party dispersed. St. A'chotus.

CHRISTMAS. The OTiwsioil of Cheerfulness Performs. Which it The intensity of modern life and the deepening of consciousness through intelligence breed sadness. We think too much and work too hard to have time for enjoyment, and if we. suddenly discover that we have noed of it we tako it in inor dinate quantities, rather than in simple and natural ways; we go out and buy pleasure at so much the hour instead of somehow contriving to live a mirthful life.

Close observers of modern society, like Walter Besaut, have discovered that a main lack in the lives of the poor is that of cheer, and he urges that philanthropic plans should embrace measures for daily brightening the lives of tho people by i simple experience of a pleasurable, sort. It would be a Bomber fact if the number of those who Jive through a day without a laugh or even a Bmile could be ascertained a strange miscarriage of nature, since man is the only being within her dominion who is capable of that action. Christmas has rendered the world this good service, that now for many centuries it has called men to sympathetic cheerfulness. It comes, indeed, but once a year, but for some days the cloud on the brow of humanity lifts a little and the wail dies out of its voice. At times it has been too obstreperous in its mirth and called for puritanic check, but for tiie most it has been true to its origin and stirred the human heart to sympathetic gladness and hope.

We shall soon hear the growls of the pessimistic critic over the wastefulness of ChriHtmas gifts and tbo irrationality of Christmas mirth. Heed him not; he does not know that the ke.vnotc of the universe is joy, and that Christmas laughter is only a stray echo of an eternal hymn, and nearly the only one that has reached us, and it is well worthy of being caught if we would ever hear the whole. Therefore, fathers, give gifts to your children, even if you have to lessen tin daily portion, remembering the wisdom of Mohammed, who said that if "he had two loaves of bread he would sell one and buy hyacinths, for they would feed his soul." And. ye children, stir up your fathers to mirth; Christmas comes but once a year, and the years left to them may not be many. Cmtury.

NO POISONOUS I.VSECTS,SEUPE.TS Oil PLANTS. While discussing venomous reptiles it will perhaps not be out of place to add a little information which seems to me remarkable, and which will be news to nearly all who live east of the mountains. When I arrived on ruget Sound I was informed that thoro wore neither poisonous serpents, insects nor plants on the shores or islands of the sound. Having never Been aplace entirely devoid of poisonous animal or vegetable life I was rather inclined to doubt tho assertion, though assured by many old settlers, as well as I new, that such was the case. However, a careful investigation since then has convinced me that it is true.

In all my hunting and fishing expeditions I have never seen a specimen of poisonous reptile, insect or plant. I notice an entire absence of both poison oak and ivy. which I have heretofore encountered wherover I have been As far as I can learn, what I have said in regard to Puget Sound bIbo holds true of all the country lying west of tho Cascade range. Forest a nd Stream. Concord Council No.

59 gave its fourth entertainment at Braun's Hall on Wednesday evening. President E. B. Rodgers presided. The proceedings commenced with a piano duet by the Misses Holland and Everett, followed by Miss Diekman, who sang "The Night Birds' Loving." A recitation entitled "The Last Hymn" was given by Miss Louise Tootfie.

Young Mr. Harry and Miss Blanche Fry performed on the violin and piano. Little Miss May Kehoe sang "Alice, Where Art Thou A banjo solo was played by Mr. Traynior. Secretary of the Treasury William H.

De Hart was to have given the official address, but being unavoidably absent President Rodgers gave it instead. He revieyved the order from its foundation in 1883. The duct "Minute Gun at Sea" was sung by the brothers C. E. and F.

W. Hol land. Master Herbert Fry on tho violin and Mrs. Billin on the piano followed; then a recitation by Miss Louise Toothe. A duet, "The Gypsy Countess, by Mrs.

Billin and Miss May Kehoe, was sung. Miss Holland played a piano solo. Messrs. Bryant and Traynor kept the large audi ence in roars of laughter with some banjo comics. Tiie "Little Boy Blue" yvas sung by little Miss M.

Billin, and this highly successful concert was brought to a close by Mrs. Billin singing "The Song That Reachod My Heart." John Hancock Council No. held its regular meeting in Johnston's Building on Friday, 14th inst. This new council, under the lead of Presi dent Sturgis and Vice President Wardle, promises to do good work for the union. It already has thirty six active citizens and is making ar rangements to give a gram bail and reception.

MontioeUo Council No. 53 displayed much en thusiasm at its meeting hold on the 17th inst. and has elected the following officers to serve for 1889: President, William L. Drain; vice president, Daniel J. Creem; secretary, Joseph S.

lones; treasurer, John L. S. Bergen; collector. James F. Roach; counselor, John A.

Drain, and for trustees, Patrick Francis, George Harris and George M. Purdy. Benjamin Franklin Council No. 42 had a happy time at Arcanum Hall ou Tuesday evening, 18th a largo number of its citizetiB being present. It has elected the following officers to serve for 1H80: President, Henry W.

Toothe; vice president, Henry Levy, treasurer, William J. Allen; collector, John Coots; counselor, Charles Locke, and trustees, Robert Graham, Henry W. Toothe and Philip H. Boice. This enterprising council has issued tickets for a graud ball ami reception, to take place on the 10th of January.

An excellent programme has been arranged and the proceeds are to be devoted to the sick and relief fund. I.MGRASJIERE CHUR.Cn YARD. Green, Coleridge, Arthur Clough and Other Who Lie Buried There. Die grave of Green, the painter, with its beau tiful WordsH'orthian epitaph, bids us pause; but we return to that tomb of Hartley Coleridge's. Above his dust the oak leaves wreathed upon the cross, the crown of thorns and the legend, "By Thy Cross and Passion," are eloquent of a life of constant effort and sorrow that awe us as wo gaze.

There are figures that haunt this holy spot. A sexton stands, rule and spade in hand. It is January 7, 1 and with him are Wordsworth and Hartley Coleridge's brothers. Wordsworth tells the sexton to measure out the ground for his own and for his wife's grave, and then a third plot for the dead Hartley. And Wordsworth is much in thought of Dora's and William's funeral two years ago in 1 847, "When I lifted up my eyes from my daughter's grave, he (Hartley) was standing there.

Then, turning to the sexton, ho said: 'Keep the ground for us: we are old people, it cannot be for long." It was not for long; a year and a few months passed, and in April, 1850, the ground that day measured out opened its grassy dooi' to receive the aged bard. Wo note the yew trees, eight in number, brought by Wordsworth's direction from Loughrigg Tarn and planted with his own hand here. Wc listen to tho murmur of the bees in the sycamores: yve hear the undersong of the River llotha close beneath the low church wall. Our eyes fall on the name of Clough for to him there is a monument in this place that knew him well, and in a moment there rises before ns the possible form of one who sang of that first Arthur, of one who ol'times meditated here; his memorable music comes to mind; we leave the poet's corner, saying: Keep green the grass upon his strive. Oh.

Botha, with thy living wave; Sing him thy best, for few or none Can hear thee right now he is gone. Thence to the grave we go, ten paces to thenorth west, and there, beside Arthur Clough's monument, we realize that we are standing over the remains of a family whose bead was honored by being taken as the pattern parson of the dale in the soventh book of the "Excursion." These grassy heaps that lie amicably close are the graves of the family of Sympson ami on the low stone we read: "Here lie the remains of tho ltev Jos son, Miinsterof Wythburn for more than fifty years." We leave the churchyard, expecting to find by the southwest, wall the very seat of stone whereon that old vicar and his friends are represented in the sixth book of the "Excursion" as holding their high discourse Cornlatl llwjazine. DANTE KOSSETTI. I will begin by sketching the appearance of my brother, as I remember him toward the age of thirty five, or in 1803. He was of rather low middle stature, of barely five feet eight in height.

He had in youth been thin, but was now tending toward fatness: at times this tendency became rather marked, and anon diminished again. He was well proportioned, save for being somewhat abnormally wide at tho hips: tho shoulders and chest fully developed, the bands and feet small and delicate. Thchands, indeed wereisoft enough and hardly too large, for a woman's. HiB head was massive without being large; the forehead broad and spacious, and rather noticeably bigh, the eyes grayish blue, well shaped and'yvell sizod; the nose nearly straight but prominent, with a remarkably strong indentation at its spring from the forehead; wido nostrils, moderate upper lip; tcetli ordinarily good, lips full and not very shapely, chin moderate, ears in good portion and form. At this date he mustaches and a short beard only.

The cheeks, clean shaven, were full but not heavy; and the line of the jaw, which had in youth been rather angular and tapering, had become amply curved. His hair was not abundant at this period of life, but neither was it all scanty: baldness only began many years later, and it had not proceeded very far even at the date of his death. The hair was dark in color, with a certain remains of auburn brightness, and waa of soft and rather silky texture. His complexion was both warm and dark; something sanguine and quick blooded in it, thongh there was no particular ruddiness in the cheeks. He looked more Italian than English to me: and in fact was bo, save in the accident of birthplace; and in Komo points of character.

The general expression of the face was, I should say. decidedly prepossessing: it had force, fire, predominance, frankness, and a certain winning quality which seemed to meet sympathy half way. Neither in his visage nor in his bearing nor, I may at once say, in his charac tcr was there the least jot of mawkish aentimen taliam.a quality which has been freely imputed to him by such persons only as knew him not at If it is asked "Was he handsome?" I will only reply that several people considered him cm inentiy so. I hardly suppose, however, that this was the prevailing opinion; but would have hesitated to say that he looked like a remarkable and interesting man of whom one would wiliiiia ly know mure. Magazine urArU and they are really much more profitable than the horse boatB, as each of them can tow three consorts beside itself.

A steam caualboat costs from 10,500 "Is there much money made in boating now Not near as much as there used to be. It is only by the closest management that a man can make a living, and at the Bame time lay by something for a rainy day. The steamboats make the most money, and season before last one man is said to have cleared $3,500 on a steamboat and itB two consorts. This statement has been disputed, however. You see unless we can get yvork to do during the Winter months or are lucky enough to have grain loaded boats, wo make no money for nearly half the year, and our expenses go on just the Bame.

To be sure, our living expenses are small, for our provisions are purchased right here, from one. another. On the other hand, yye have to pay rent at the rate of 35 cents a day. It used to bo 35 cents a day for a loaded boat and 1 2 a season an empty one, but now it is 35 ceuta a day for both empty and loaded. This rate, however, iB much lower than that charged at tho Atlantic Basin, the other harbor for caualboats.

Most of the boats that lie in there are loaded with apples and potatoes, and constitute a floating market. Onr villago ia not yet as large as it will be later on, when all the boats haye arrived. ast season there yvere 400 lying in this basiu." "If there iB bo little money to be made at boating, yvhy do you remain in the business "Because we are used to it, that's why. In many instance our fathers were in it before us, and in their day there was money to be made. Why, I havo known the time when cents a bushel was paid for bringing wheat from Buffalo to New York.

Another reason why we cling to it is that after a man has gone into a business and invested his money in it it is hard for him to leave it. Force of habit has much to do with it also. One of our number, Mr. Robinson, is esMmated to bo yvorth $50,000, and yet so long haB he been canaiing that he hangs right to it and probably will until he dies." "What amnsemonts or recreations do yon onjoy during the Winter?" "We manage to have a pretty good time in a very quiet way. You see moat of us are married men, yvho.se families are yvith us, and we don't need the excitement, without which many men right in the city think life is not yvorth living.

One fact I should like stated, as it bears upon our standing as a quiet community: during the eight years yve have Wintered here tho police have never taken a man from this dock either for drunkenness or any other breach of the peace. We have a general gathering room, which you can see on the dock just below here. In there are benches, aud a stove, and during tho long Winter evening. the men sit there and play checkers or dominoes or tell stories. There are about one hundred children in our little community and all of them yvho are old enough go to School No.

27. on Nelson street. For religious Bervicea some of us who are Catholics go to the Catholic Church just above tho place yvhero you got off the car. Others attend the Methodist Church, which is also near by. During the Winter yve have a number of bails dowu town.

For mental recreation we. enjoy the free reading rooms on Van BruntBtreet. and when we have nothing eke to do, we amuse ourselves carrying water for the women." At this point Mr. Sullivan turned me over to Mr. Rowland, who volunteered, although it was washing day and Iub yvife would be Bure to scold him for bringing a visitor at that critical period in the household economy, to take me to his cabin.

It waB a cozy little house that I found and there were three of the rosiest, healthiest children imaginable, to make it lively. Mrs. Iloyvland was very kind, and showed me her household arrange ments, which were as compact as possible. She ssid it wan no easy task to keep house in ouch small quarters, with three children tumbling around under her feet, and I quite agreed with her. V.

nY.UE.VBAh, Sharp The Third Street PreBbytenan Church, of Dayton, 0., was the scene of a pretty yvedding on Thursday night. Miss Gertrude Gassert. of 30 South Lindeu avenue, Dayton, and Mr. Frederick W. Sharp, of 1(37 Sixth avenue, this city, were the contracting parties.

The ltev. Dr. J. II. Montgomery performed the ceremony in the presence of a large number of the friends of the bride and groom.

Miss Gassert wore a court dress of yvhite faille, with decollete neck and long tulle vail, and solitaire diamond earrings and ring, the gifts of the groom. There yvere no bridesmaids. Miss Adelin M. Childs waB the maid of honor. The bride waa given away by her parents.

Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Gassert, formerly of thin eity.

Mr. W. Huber and Mr. Edward James were ushers, and Mr. Ernst Huge, of St.

Petersburg, Bussia, was best man. A reception and dance at 30 Lindon avenue followed the conclusion of the marriage ceremony, Mr. ami Mrs. Sharp slipping away at an early hour for their honeymoon trip. On their return they will reside at 107 Sixth avenue, where Mr.

Sharp carries on his professional duties. ltA(MK)Al) VANDALISM. I read with some amusement recently a letter in the Pall Mittl Gazette, headed, What we May Expect," which took'for its text a paragraph yvhich announced that a railway is to be run through the Pass of Glencoe. The writer of the letter sarcastically declared that "Melrose Abbey, having been roofed over with slates, and rendered Bomewhat presentable with a new coat of stucco, has recently been converted into a Young Men's Headingroom and Mechanics' Institute. The Abbey lighted by an installation of six Swan and Edison burners, so that there is no longer any necessity to 'visit it by the pale Still further the writer announced that "Burns' cottage had been pulled down to make room for a beer house to be erected on the site." The old proverb says that many a true word ia spoken in jest, and I am sorry to see in the Scotch papers a paragraph referring to Burns' cottage at Ayr which goes far to confirm the proverb.

The whole of the contents of the house, and of "AUo way's auld haunted kirk." are advertised for sale at an upset price of so that in the. event of none of the innumerable admirers of the poet coming to the rescue, the various relics accumulated at Ayr will be scattered. The trencher from yvhich he ate hiH kail, the chair in which he sat, the bowl from which he "supped his parritcb," the table at which he wrote all are to be sold. We cold Southrons are sometimes accused of want of enthusiasm and poetic appreciation: but, on the Whole, I venture to think we should not permit such a holocaust as this tn the case of relics of our leading poets, simply and solely because their exhibition did not pay expenses. I suppose in these hard times it is as well to be canny and careful: but surely there are plenty of Scotchmen who are both, and yet might be able to spare or subscribe a few hundred pounds to preserve tho relics of a poet whom most Scotchmen regard with a feeling akin to adoration, in the town where ho was born.

I should not be surprised if the upshot should be that the Burns souvenirs will go to the United States, where the people, to do them justice, are very far from mean when they wish to purchase anything that inter ests tliem. Kathleen, in Jeds Mercury. excellent condition and a joyous crowd will no he reiiiK to iidvriiitiii'e of It. The neens nf tiie Csmilnlmi' noml is now fullv established, and all the reports of "it won't hold water," having been pronounced false, there is, of course, great demand for tickets. Unfor tunately for applicants, all have been taken up, There is one chance, however, and that is in there being manvof those who have applied for tickets being neglectful, in which case others may cet their tickets.

N'one but those of first rate character are admitted to membership, and as none but subscribers are admitted to the pond, it follows that a select assemblage will always be presen t. Dr. Keep was one of the principal men in the Capitoline Club, and took a very active part. In the second Winter of the Capitoline pond a por tion of Capitoline Club members, under the leadership of ('harlcB Sawyer, formed the Musi ola club, and there was considerable rivalry' be tween the two organizations. Both used the pond, and sold tickets, Weed Decker conducting the business.

In the third season, the Winter of 1 Weed Decker conducted the pond entirely independent of the club. The season was successful, but not nearly so much so as it would have been if parties had not swindled them. Family tickets were soid, which would be used for admittance and then passed out. through a crack in the fence for others to ue over again. The proprietors finally refused to issue tickets and only sold admissions at the gate, and then they made money.

The Capitoline continued to be one of the great institutions of Brooklyn up to 1880. Winter alter Winter the youth and beauty, and the mature! citizens of Brooklyn as well, assembled at the pond and held high carnival. Glancing at a diary kept by Mr. Weed we find such entries as the following: 1808 November 30, water turned on. 1 e.

emlier i.r.i'ly skated for first. December 0, skating all day, ice in good condition. December 11, open full blast, band of music, comber 18, Chichester commenced straightening un the boys. Christmas day, pleasant, but wind blowing hard anil cold. Large, party tint during the day.

180!) January 10, good skating. Miss Bailey commences her six days engagement. January 27, grand carnival day Match in the afternoon between Dollard and Brady for a gold medal. In the evening a fancy dress carnival: i bout one hundred in co itnme. Danielle, the on hand.

Medal won by Brady 08 to 00. 'detween three and fonr thousand people out during the dav and evening. 1871 January 11, cloudy and mild. Base ball mutch on the ice between Atlantic and Mutual clubs. Atlantics won.

And thus the entries go on, noting incidents which will recall many a pleasant day to a large number of Brooklyn's citizens, some of whom were mature men then and old men now: some who were then mere, boys are now heads of families. Twenty years makes a decided difference in the boys and girls'. Among the, other amusements introduced on tho Capitoline was racing with ice boats. W. Payne made the first, a rather small one, and introduced it on the pond.

After that several larger ones were made au'd the amusement of sailing them became finite popular. An entry in Mr. Weed's diary for Febnia.y 3, 1871 reads as follows: Pond open day and evening. Not many out. Walking very bad.

Wind southwest. lee hard, (ce boats running. Captain Ha Heck carries away the mast of the Lady ot the Lake: Cantain Decker carries away the bowsprit of the Bully Boy: Cap in Chichester outrides the gale with tho Atlantic and arrives safe in port. The school children too, it soems, took a hand at times in the amusements, for on the 15th of December, 187 1. there was a grand jubilee of Public School No.

3. Eleven hundred children marched from tho school house, on Bedford avenue, at 1 o'clock, with music at tho head of the procession. There were skating races and Miss Cookson won the races, and Master Keller won he gold pencil. On January 31, 1872. there were 500 school children in attendance and Febrnary.7 was another school children's day, when about one thousand were present.

On the of December, 1871, tho performances were diversified with a blindfold wheel barrow race for a turkey; a race for a silver cup, and a football game on the ice. Oaltey won the eup, Bennett won the turkev, and Brady's side won the ball match. The Capitoline was still populariu 1.878. 10 years after it was first opened, judging by the following taken from the Eagle of January 4 of that year: The young folks of the city who revel in the healthy recreation of skating had their hearts made glad yesterday by the advent of Jack Frost tor 18 8. the old tellow having kindly covered the Capitoline Lake with a sheet of glittering ice, three inches in thickness, for his special friends, and yesterday it was taken advantage of by the largest assemblage of skuters, of both sexes, that has marked an opening for some years past.

It was quite nn old time assemblage and such a gathering afforded ample evidence of tho fact that our young people are just as eager to enjoy the invigorating sport of skating as ever they were. 'I lie scene presented at 4 P.M. was enlivening, especially to the smiling proprietors, who had begun to despair of getting any ice for their patrons. But the Winter appears to have set in all at once. Among the experts on the i yesterday, who disported themselves gracefully, were the members of the Capitoline Skating Club, a new organization which has engaged a club room at the.

Capitoline Building and which yesterday had its opening day. The members include Messrs. H. Plympton, W. Ellsworth.

A. Cam meyer, W. Gibb, 1). Unit, W. II.

Clark, F. H. lSaldwm, A. Treadwell, It. E.

Burton and J. Neff, id they embrace some very good skaters, etc. But it was not alone tho skating, ice boating and the carnivals which made the Capitoline Ground famous in the eighteen years of their existence. In the Hummer season there were other amusements there, prominent among which were base ball, and, in fact, it may fairly be said that it waB on tho Capitoline Unit "our national game" got the start which has made it so universally popular. In the Summer of the Capitoline Park was fitted up as a base hall ground, with seats at the Marey avenue end, and the famous Atlantic Club used it for their matches, and in 8(50 the Excelsior also had it, and subsequently the F.nterprise and Stars played there.

The Atlantics and the Athletics of Philadelphia played a match there. But the most famous game was the match betiveen the Atlantics and lied Stockings of Chicago. Nine innings were played with nothing but "goose eggs" on either side, and in the tenth inning the Atlantics got one run. The excitement was intense. The lied Stockings had never been beaten when they arrived in Brooklyn, and, consequently, there was great interest manifested.

An extra force of police was on hand to quel! any disorder, but. Brooklyn crowds are law abiding and they had little to do. There were 5,000 people out to see the match. Another occasion which will be remembered by large portion of the citizens of Brooklyn was the inflation of the mammoth balloon by Professors Wise and Donaldson, preparatory to their trip to Europe via their air ship. It took considerable time to prepare, and they procured a tent from Jeremiah Johnson, which was erected on the grounds.

After the balloon had started on its voyage the seats, tent, were sold. The tent was purchased by W. Payne, and he still haB it in his possession. The weather was unpropitioue, and it seemed impossible to get the monster balloon properly inflated. At last a day was set to go, and go they did.

Mr. Weed cut the rope which held the balloon, and away it sailed. Not having been fully intlated it did not rise rapidly. It swung along low and bumped against Home new houses on Marey avenue, and then sailed away to.