The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-09


LAR6E MErEoR.-A brilliant white meteor shoe
into the atmosphere at fifteen minutes to ten o'cock
last evening at point in right ascension Of loS de-
grees and ON north declnaton twcntyelght de0reess
OF Ve aegrees south OF the lunar star Castor IN the
degrees. moving from south to north.
CHECK SwiNDLERs.-For some time past a greag
MANY complaints have been lodged at police headx
quarters against certain parties who are at present
doing good business by playing the Old game
known as fraudulent check passingn with success
that often quite painful to tbe party OF the second
part" who happens to get one OF The checks mo
n,odls OpeIdndi consists in the swiuder's entering
say clothing store, where he purchases some ar
tcle OF attire worth $50 $780, for which he tenders
In payment q certified, ana sometimes an uncer,
tided check some bank IN the city. The check
always exceeds the amount or the purchase made
so the consequence never tails 10 be good cash
balance in the sSindlers pocket when he leaves
lookout for these fellows, else there may bc
cause for grief over "hlthy ucre lost"
THE sotIETY OF PRACTICAL ES6NEERs.-Thc usual
fortnghtly meeting OF this ASSOCIATION was held last
evening at room No. "a Cooper Institute, Mr.. James
A. Whitney acting president. A paper waA
read by Mr.. w. P. Harrison on improvements ird
Mining Engineering.n After speaking OF the pecu>
liar properties Of gold and silver their maeability
beauty and resistance TO oxidation the essayst
ferred to the mode OF mining tnen referring TO the
various uses of the pick, the washing pan and thet
rocker. He gave the result OF the washings irons
the mines Of Hungary, Honduras and California, and
USE
VIZ, hand tools, fire, gunpowaer and machinery.
With regard to the uses or gunp0Wer he dwelt az,
considerable length and contrased the effect OF this
glycerine and dynamite. At the close OF the paper
a short discussion took place. in which Dr.. Hall, Mr..
Whitney and the essayist took part
BOARD OF HEALTH.-This Board met yesterday
but transacted business OF no particular public i'm
porance. The Registrar OF Vital statistics, In his
weekly report on the health OF The city, says tho
death rate Is far less than usual at tins season the
year. and this welcome fact is ascioed as the result
OF sanitary improvements. The report concludes as
foliOws.-The corOners OF New York made returns
upon thirty nquestS four OF which for deaths
by burns scalds. Other deaths by justly named
''burnng fluid" and fancifully named naphthous
petroleum are reported in the suburban villages.
Few people seem to be aware OF The learfully vola-
tile and iniammable nature OF The lighter oils which
are obtained with tempting cheapness from petro-
leum, but which community should permit to be
sold used in lamps. The civilized world was for
years justly horrlfed at the voluntary burning OF
widows upon the funereal pyre Of the "Suttee' in
Hindoostan, bat the burning OF entire families
even the mother and her baDes-oy volatile naph
thous oils In our enlightened communities far
more iamentabe and criminal.
FEAST OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
Catholic Church in this country having been placed
by the Fathers Of the Church under the especial pa
tronagc OF the blessed Virgin but that alt
the festivals devoted to her honor should be hers
particularly observed. Among taose festivals that.
dedicated to the Immaculate Conception now holds
u
calendar having been placed there Ofiicially by D
decree Of mis- Holiness Plus TX, promulgated before
the College of Cardinals in 1854, III which the belief
in the Immaculate Conception was made an article
Of TIE faith and the Sth day OF December the day
for the celebration Of the especial favor shown By
the Almighty to Mary in preserving her from the
stain OF original sin. The belief had ex-
listed, however, ever since the beginning OF the
Church and was frequently alluded TO by the great
writers and teachers OF Christianity and even BY
Mahomet himself. When the Sti Vi December was
set down as the day OF the festival 1t was not de-
clared holiday OF obligation The recent council
at Baltimore, however, deemng 1t but right that tho
day should be particularly observed in this country,
for the reason given above, formed decree declar
ing the festival holiday Of obligation. This decree
was promulgated throughout the churches and yes
terday the festival celebrated for the first time
In accordance with the wishes expressed by the
assembled preates.
AT the various churches throughout the city the
faithful attended In large numbers and the children
comprising the sodalities connected with the
churches performed special services in honor OF the
Blessed Virgin to whom the sodates are dedicated.
Dressed in neat and handsome uniforms OF white
ana blue, wearing wells and wreatns OF flowers on
their heads, the majority OF the young ladies' par
took OF the Holy Communion and added to the
lemnity and beauty OF the celebration by their hand
some appearance and charming singing OF the OK
qusite and appropriate hymns ana anthems