The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-05-08


"give and take" The kings and emperors, on
the contrary, do not wound and kill each other,
but wound and kill each others subjects. Not
having the fear Of God before their eyes, aud
moved by the instigation of the devil they pro-
coed with "malice aforethought" to slay and
mprder those who never did them any wrong.
Here, then, is theme for the pulpit, for the
religious press, and for the anniversary orators.
Here Is large game-a high quarry worthy of
their pursuit. Such affairs as that Of Heenar
and Morrissey, or that of the "Benicia Boy"
and Tom sayers, for the championship of Eng
land, which is yet to come off, are mere
bagatelles compared with the disastrous and
wide-wasting prize fight for the championship Of
Europe which is about to ensue, or probably has
already begun. When and where the fight will
end Heaven only knows. Nor is it within
be scope of human calculation to estimate
the consequences. Would it not be well,
therefore, for the anniversary folks to sus-
Satan and his works among the heather,
and turn their attention to his strongholds
and his terrible assaults nearer home! The
object of Christian ty was to establish "peace on
earth, and good will among men," But it seems
the devil reigns with more absolute sway in the
very heart of Christendom than among the most
benighted heather nations Of Asia or Africa or
the savages of the most remote islands, who
have never heard of the name of Christ. The
worst heathenism is at the very doors of the
missionaries, and their efforts ought to be first
directed against that-for charity begins at
bome. TIE conversion of the enormous sinners
who wade knee deep in human blood-the royal
and imperial prize-fghters of Europe, is the one
thing needful-that which has the highest and
most urgent claim upon evangelizing zeal and
upon Christian philanthropy at large.
Is THERE ANY COMFORT FOR GAS Con-
sUMERs THE appointment of an inspector of
gas meters under the recent act passed by the
Legislature, seems to have given very general
satisfaction, for gas consumers nowadays will
catch at straws, It is said that the gentleman
VINO has received the appointment, has
practical acquaintance with the machinery
used in the measurement of gas, and has, be-
sides, the reputation Of being an upright
and correct principled man. 1t is asserted that
the act under which he has been appointed is an
unconstitutional one; but if he acts up to the re-
quiremen's of his new position, and sustains in
it the hopes Of the people, we are quite sure that
the public will not be disposed to question the
legality Of his proceedings. Neither Is it to be
presumed that the gas companies will throw any
technical obstacles in his way. They profess to
be as much dissatisfied with the present plan of
measurement as the consumers themselves be-
cause the responsibility of it is thrown entirely
upon their servants. They prefer, they say, an
official supervision, such as will be effected
under the new act, and which will remove from
them the suspicion Of an unfair tampering with
the meters
We can understand how painful it must be for
gentlemen placed in the position of directors of
important companies like those which
supply our cities with gas, to be sub
jected to the vulgar, and, of course, unbound
ed. imputations of unfair dealing which are
continually being levelled against them Con-
sumers are class proverbially given to doubts,
and in respect to no article Of daily use are they
SO incredulous as in the case of gas. 1t is such
an impalpable element, and has such faculty of
escaping where it shouldn't, that it is not sur
prising that there should be captious specu-
lations as to where it goes. Then, too, when in
the face of such fact consumers find their bills
whether they use gas or not, for several
successive months of consumption fraction
ally the same, we can hardly blame them
for being little skeptical as to the honesty
OF the meters or the directors. The companies,
Of course, cannot be held responsible for these
eccentricities of the index, which, in nine cases
out OF ten, they gravely assure the consumer
must have originated in his own extravaganza
or leakage"
However this may be, we are rejoiced for the
reputation of the companies as well as for the con-
tentment of the consumers, that means has at
length been devised of doing away with their
distrust Of each other, although we have not yet
been able to comprehend how one inspector is to
find time to regulate all the meters Of this great
State, or even Of this great city. If the con-
sumers will only take the trouble to make them
selves acquainted with the working of the index
they may in future satisfy themselves that
they are honestly dealt with. But as many per-
sons either will not or cannot learn the system
on which it is arranged, we think the Legislature
ought to have added clause to the new act
compelling the companies to furnish to their
customers, after each inspection of the meter by
their employees printed fac smile of the dals
with the hands traced by the pen just as they
register at the moment of examination If this
be done the consumer can Immediately verify
their exactness, and although he may not under
stand the mode of computation, he will at least
be satisfied that the figures recorded are correct
This is the plan pursued in London and other
European cities, and it has been found to remove
all suspicious Of inaccuracy or unfair dealing on
the part Of the companies.
There is another alteration in the nrasant |