The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1869-01-28
CITY TOPICS.


The excitement which was created at Dumon-
tells corner, on Canal street, about O'Clock on
Monday afternoon, by the arrest of agenteeiiy
r,ocea young Spanisrd. for being concerned IN
,ape q, few minutes previously at the
corffer of Canal and 81. Czass- zt-.s -, had It's
origin in one of those unfortunate applications to
ball committees for ladies' invitations, which have
caused innumerable difficulties and some fatal
affairs in this city. II appears that the Spanish
gentleman had applied to the managers Of one OF
the numerous balls now being given, for an in
yitation for lady friend. but the invitation not
being forthcoming he called at the Office OF the
president of the association giving the ball, and
INQUIRED into the cause of the refusal. The an
swer was that the committee had not thought pro-
per to issue it. This was unsatisfactory to the
Spanish gentleman, who insisted upon obtaining
then and there the desired invitation, otherwise
he would hold the president responsible for the
refusal.
After an exchange Of words the two gentlemen
parted to meet few hours later at the corner of
st. Charles and Canal, when the Spaniard struck
the other with bis cane and retrested few steps,
while both drew revolvers, the president of the
association firing one shot which, however, did not
take effect, through the lucky interference of
by.stander. The Spsniard, in his excitement, for.
got to cock bis pistol and vainly pulled on the
trigger until the police arrived and arrested the
other gentleman. The Spaniard was. as we say
above, arrested at Dumonteil's corner.
The first grand masked and fancy dress ball
given by Etna Conclave, 8. W. NJ, at Odd Eel
lows Hall, on Tuesday evening, was one Of the
most brilliant entertainments of the season in
every respect. If there was a fault it was that
the hall was too crowded to conveniently admit
of dancing. The treasury of the conclave was
certainly not depleted by it. The writer wishes
to tender his personal thanks to Mr.. W. E. Fitz.
gerald for his kind attentions.
The s250,OOO appropriation bill to pay the ex-
penses of the General Assembly was finally acted
upon yesterday by the adoption by the Senate of
the amendments of the House, excluding from the
bill the provision for the payment of separate
committees sitting during the period espsing be.
tween the two sessions. But the report of the
conference committee, which was also adopted
provides for the deficiency by allowing q con-
tingent fund of SIS COO to the Senate and $4,000
10 the House, out of which the committees and
their clerks of the respective houses may draw
their mileage and per diem. The form is different,
but the result the same.
John Ray, senator from Ouachita by the grace
| of the freedmen's bureau, etc., etc., has become
Democrat, and is trying to break up the General
| Assembly of Louisiana. (Who would have thunk
| itO At least we should surmise that he is from
the colloquy which took place between Senator
Blackman and Oscar Dunn, after the Introduction
by Mr. Ray of bill to repress vagrancy, which is
simply reenacting the old law repealed at the last
session. Mr.. Ray having asked for a suspension
of the rules to put the bill on its second reading,
| found an opponent in Mr.. Blackman, Democrat
to the surprise of ell the members. The president
| asked Mr.. Blackman whether he was apprehen-
sive that members of the Legislature would be
affected by the provisions of the bill. "Yes,
sir" answered the gentleman from Clai-
borne; 81 will 60 further. 1 fear that the
bill, if passed, will preclude the possibility
of quorum in the Legislature" But finally
| Mr.. Blackman withdrew his objection, aud
there we're excellent prospects that the BILL which
was advocated by the president himself and ia
not only desderatum, but necessity, would
pass. Mr.. Pinchback, however, in the absence of
| his colleague, the Hon. Curtis Pollard, promi.
|
the law, took the floor and insisted upon refer
ence of the bill, using the same arguments as Mr..
Pollard, who maintained that the bill affected too
many colored people, who might be reached by its
provisions not through their own fault, but from
want of employment. This, in the face of the fact
that planters are constantly complaining of the
scarcity of good hands. The argument is parallel
one to the assertion of the Radicals that they are
in q large majority in the State and yet are pre-
vented from using the right of franchise by the
small minority. Why, then, not repeal the va
grancy clause in the metropolitan police bill?
A prominent city topic this morning will be the
eclipse of the moon which took place last night.
| II commenced about $50 and lasted little over
two hours. We vouch that there were but few
persons in the city who did not take look at the
free exhibition, which therefore certainly drew
well. OF the causes of eclipses in general and
this eclipse in particular. scientifically consid-
cred, we have nothing to say, as
they are well known to astronomers, and
other people care nothing about them and would
| be bored to read of them. But we would respect.
fully suggest that this one was occasioned by the
moons being too full, that is, having had her
horns too full too many times, the result of which
was a partial suspension Of her nightly labors
Be it understood, though, that this is merely ar
hypothesis which we throw off to be adopted OF
rejected as each reader shall for himself deter
mine.
On Tuesday last. about the time when business
was at its height, quite crowd of the prominent
merchants and factors of New Orleans might have
been seen gathered around the telegraph pole
which stands at the corner of Common and Caron
delet streets, and gazing with attentive eyes at
point on the pole about midway between thu
ground and the top. The object Of this unwonteC
excitement was a monkey belonging to peram
bulating music manufacturer, yclept an organ
grinder, which having thrown of the yoke by jerk
ing his chain out of his masters hand, had uset
his newly acquired liberty in getting as near thu
clouds as possible by ascending to the top of thu
telegraph pole. But unlike that famed ANNA
Il ~