New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-15
CITY ITEMS.


burst forth in very joyousness at the prospect that
frosts should be no more until after the Summer
sotice In the suburbs the air redolent with per-
fnme. and all tie trees would have been vocal with
music but for the barbarous practice of killing birds.
II was the rt day that has made feel the burden of
boots and winter coat. In the afternoon there was
BIC sunshade and signs Of rain, but all signs fail in
div tine Still it is not very dry, only the surface
needs little shower to make seeds vegetateandth then
with such weather how everything would grow, glad
denng the hearts Of producer and consumer Such
weather viii soon bring early Summer fruits.
BABY- SHows.-We are no advocates Of baby-shows
never have been-but il strikes that some OF the
objections are untennble One paper calls baby
show beastly," and compares II to show OF
"calves, to prove that good blood and good feed
"inr had something to do with their appearance
Well and it has. And in so far a. II Is beasty to
improve the human we 90 in for beasts and ba-
bes. We believe in improvement and that the human
family need It about much cattle and if showing
the finest specimens Of America will have any tend
ency to improve the general stock had better have
a babv-show every month But Barnum's show only
ars to exhibit the choicest specimens OF the pure
white breed By way Of contrast, there should be
some Of the worst Let US by all means have in the
show dozen of those squald beings that arc born By
thousands every year in this City, conceived in rum
and brought forth in drunkenness. That will show
whit is and what is no, "beasily' about the breed
and feed of babies. Let u by all means have
cbance TO sec what is the effect and value of improve
ment. Perhaps the rumseiers could get "aid
and comfort" out Of such an exhibition and the
" rest Of mankind" would be able to see all that
"beastly" abou; baby-show.
MAKING MoNEY.-For the first time since it opened
now it is nearly empty the Crystal Palace Is making
money-not for the stockholders, but really making
more than the expenses Of keeping IT open, ami pay
ing money into the hands of the receiver True, the
clorv Of tie Worlds Fair" is not there now-ony
shadow OF what has been and what II might slil
have been if the same economy Of management had
been observed from the first. Then there was an
"army with banners, Of policemen, doormen, ticket
sellers. money-counters and money-keepers, and I'M
fortunately money-spenders. Now, n solitary money
changer sits at the door, takes your quarter and bids
! Won enter he has no tickets and there is no door
keeper nor need of one. There il Superintendent,
and all told five men, and with this force the Palace
Is managed and kept clean and entetans 400 visitors
a day. 1t is great lesson of economy-un
learned too late for Crystal Palace interests but worm
an application to all other business to learn how by
saving expense to make money
THE MERcASrILE LIBRARY.--It may be interesting
10 notice as an item of literary statistics the fact that
during the months of January, February, March and
Apr there have been about orty thousand visitors to
the readingroom of the Mercantile Library Associa-
ton of this City, where are gathered probably a
lsrrer and better collection o! periodicals and news
papers American and FORE than can be found IN any
similar institution of our country There have been,
|
| on an average. $50 daily to visit this commodious
room not only to consult the daily and other papers
and the magazine but also for purposes OF reference
study and miscellaneous or recreatlye reading there
having been some two thousand works called Tor IN
this room during that period. There have been also
delivered from the Library Department about twenty
five thousand volumes during the same period being
an average of 24O daily Beside this circulation there
nav also be added large number from the down.
town Office where there have been over twelve thou
sand orders LEFT by members of the Association during
the past four months being an average of 100 daily
The number of volumes in the Library il rapidly In
ceasng and the increase Of members has never before
been so great. Mr. s Hastings Grant, Librarian o
this Association has just sailed for Europe where h'
intends TO spend some months in visiting the great pub
lie libraries and educational institutions of England
France and Germany
| IRyIYG's LIFE OF WAsHINGroS.-We are happy 70
announce The speedy appearance Of this long expected
work. The first edition will be published in tes
weeks in three large and elegant octave volumes con
tanning at least three portraits OF Washington, with
variety of maps and plans. This edition, We are III
formed. will be sold only TO subscribers and an ex'en
sye system Of agency in preparation to afford ever
American family an opportunity to obtain what vii
doubtless be the standard biography of the Father
his Country The work Is published by Putnam
Co.. and Mr.. c. T. Evans, NO. 81 Cilsey Building
corner OF Broadway and Courtlandt-s Is at the hea
of the organization for canvassers and subscribers
| FASsY FrRS AND THE PUBLIsHER-A ne" s'o'.
by Fanny Fern Is announced to be IN prePa'a.io"
and will shortly make it, appearance IN me -"s
York Ledger. The publisher of that journal IS 'A
TO have conrasted with the auhoress for the story
the liberal rate Of 300 a column. he douo'e'
knows too well which tide his bread buered 70 PA
such round price for the production without oeIn
assured Of its popular money-making qualities
| poRrRArr OF ARCHBISHOP HuGHrs.-"e na'e IL
csived portrait of the Rev. Archbishop Hughes ei
prsved on Steel BY J. ONeil. II gives iar 'epi'
septaop. though not aatterins one OF 'he 'es'Di'
| Of the celebrated prelate.