The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-05-20
NE wy o N HKIs M y .
FrOm Our 0lcn Correspondent

NEW YORK, May 20, 1869.
The underground railroad, the new Post ONCE, the
East river bridge, are the three subjects which em-
ploy public gossip when other subjects fail. The
time is not long since past when it fondy feared
that we were going to have a subterranean track,
but the bill that has already passed the Legislature
seems to have cast out that fear. The which the
bill authorizes is a very different affair from that
which was at first contemplated The original bill
contemplated track underground throughout its
entire length and extending the length Of the island
IL contemplated likewise the use on the line Of
such swift Of loCOmoton would
enable business do the distance
between Harlem river and City Hall in at least the
same time as that consumed by the surface-roads.
The charter it now stands, however, does not
qure the road to be either wholly or in part under
ground There is nothing at all to prevent its being
throughout surface road, unless the specification
that it shall follow the "open cut" plan, instead OF
adherng to the lines OF Streets be called an obsa
Gle. Originally, it was intended that the line should
he extended at least as far as Harlem river but the
charter leaves it to the option of the company
whether not the terminus shall be at Fory-second
street.
The Methodist clergy have been agitated on the
woman question, and discussing whether women
ought to receive licenses local preachers or
horters. They met in room in Mulberry street,
and argued the matter with mixture of piety and
perspiration-saving grace and unsaved grease.
Some were greatly afflicted about the matter, and
thought that the meeting ought to refuse seriously
to consider any crochet of this kind, Matched by
few 'hallucinated" men, Several other members
thereupon sprang.to the floor, demanding whether
the term "halucinated" were used in a Pckwickan
sense. II looks however as if the women will gain
the day this question: for the Bible has undergone
great deal Of twisting at the hands OF their defend
ers, and the next thing it will be made to prove,
suppose, is that Adam was made from rib taken
out of Ewes side.
The "Sorosis" has been holding another meeting
at Delmonico's and its last paror topics have been
seduction, infanticde, and founding hospitals.
Mrs. Ernestine L. Rose, who has an interesting lisp
and is a Pole by birth, thought that founding hos
pitfalls only promoted the crimes they were intended
to remedy, and thought that the men were greater
social evil than the 'social evil" itself no longer
pretend to understand all the distinctions that exist
between the Soross and the Workingwomens Asso-
ciattOn. The interests of the two are hardly ident-
CAL and yet the members of the one constantly
blazing away in the halls OF the other But / pre-
sumo the Workingwomen's Association does not dis
dan any influence in its favor from any quarter.
Like Rowland Hill, it will accept favor, even if it
be bestowed by the Devil How much more when it
comes from the hands of the Sorosian angels
Are you aware how extensively the private detec-
tive system has increased of late ? Who of us know
that we are NOT followed by our ''shadows ?" That
the places go to- the friends call on, the people
we entertain, the amusements we patronize, the
money we spend, the private pursuits we engage in,
are not known to some paid spy who reveals them to
our enemy that is lying in wait to spy an open place
among the greaves of our armOr? Numerous firms
of this city spend almost much money in paying
spies they do in the salaries of their new clerks.
The number of private detective agencies has like
| wise increased within the past week, and any man
with plenty of cheek the step Of cat, and no sense
of honor, can respectable living by the pro-
of 'spotting' suspected individuals. 1t is thus
that the 'young from the country" is put to the
test Nor is the detective himself too much trusted.
The spy himself is spied, and dogging the heels OF
every Vidocq there Is a Javert. The personal curo
sity OF their employers is satisfied, and that is the
| bulk of the good that is accomplshed-if it can be
| called good.
The Quaker City, lying still at the foot OF Twelfth
street. is curiously eyed by persons in that locality
She is owned by Captain McAndrews, of Long
| Island, and she has little corner which is believed
| TO be very interesting to Cubans just at present.
Gossip says that Great Britain is interested in this
handling of the Quaker City, in order that she may
play Off new game in the question of the Alabama
claims. Gossip also asserts that fifteen gunboats for
| the of the Spanish Government are being built
| in our own immediate vicinity-at Mystic, Connec-
| ticut, Williamsburg, and Brooklyn
| The velOcipede mania is dying out. Nearly three
dozen, which originally cost between $3.50 and 5000
apiece, sold yesterday at Nassaustreet auction, at
an average price OF fifteen dollars. The riders and
pedestrians OF Central Park proclaim them nui-
sance and the medical faculty say they are as bad
| for the men as skates are for the women. &c. OF
| course, they must be.
At the theatres pantomime and burlesque are
| overrunning everything else. l should hardly be
surprised 10 hear that spectacle in preparation
at Booths. With the 1st of June the regular
will end at Walacks, pantomime will be produced
and into the winter If the public will so decrees
without any new engagements being made with
members of the old stock company. Pantomime is
also in the ascendancy at Woods Niblo's, the Tam
many, and the Olympic. l don't know what Mr..
Brougham has done to deserve an "omnibus" bene-
ft but he got one yesterday at the French Theatre
and Niblo's Garden. II he has no money it's his own
fault and II he has, the members of his dlsbanded
troupe need help more than he does. However,
such is lfe-particularly theatrical ALI BABA.
DISHONEST CLERKS.