The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-12

Prom Ow O,rn Correspondent
New YORK, Aug. IL, 1870.


majority of citizens imagine that, taking into
consideration the Intense and long-protracted
heh of the weather, New York is remarkably
healthy In view of that consideration 1t may
indeed b. remarkable that New York has not
Teen visited by an epidemic; but, apart from the
singulsr absence of any visitation of that sort,
this city has not enjoyed extraordinary
amount of health. The death columns in the
newspapers are unusually long, and metropolitan
filth, fostering in the lnfammations of the sun,
has generated a number of dreadful dseas es
which are peculiar to that cause. One of
tn sse diseases is the relapsing fever, which
is upon the increase. During the week which
ended last Saturday there were no
less than thirty-fve of this disease. The
cases OF smallpox were comparatively few,
only six having been reported as occurring
hin the same dates as those between which
the cases of relapsing fever occurred. In New
York the average death rate at present is twelve
hundred per week, or about three times as large
it usually is at this season. The presence of
yellow fever, also, in Philadelphia does not add
to our feeling of security. do not know that
our quarantine regulations enforced any
better than yours are. But whether or not we
cont nue. to be altogether exempt from yellow
fever, it is certain that the long-lasting dirti-
ness Of our streets gives us no guarantee so long
as the hot weather lasts, that the public health
will grow better and the death rate exhibit
tendency to decrease. The STRENGTHENING au-
thorities have lately voted themselves an in
crease of pay, and therefore cannot be expected
10 care much whether not their duties are
discharged.
The champion Dutch-American Dramatist.
Mr.. Charles Gayler is a successful dramatic
carr enter. His intellectual tool-chest has been
pretty constantly at work during the past thirty
- hoe al loo1 1Nfx,
cessful saving, planning, and chiselng of a
dramatic nature. He possesses at least one
merit which writers for the stage attain only
after long experience, namely, real or we'll
pretended Indifference to newspaper theatrical
criticism. No one knows better than he does
Except Mr.. Brougham, who from being so per-
feet in it himself, has thorough appreciation
of hat grade of work. that his plays are trash.
He is profoundly aware of that interesting fact,
and the ingenuousness with which he admits his
conviction of it is one of the most refreshing
phenomena to be encountered in the history of
modern dramatic carpentry. But the trash is
good after its kinda frst-cass specimen Of a
last-class thing. That utterly silly and worth
less Dutch-American monster, Fritz" the
latest coinage from the bullion of his BRAIN
has been showed upon the American public for
the last nine months, and engagements have
already been made to continue the showing for
fifteen consecutive months longer. His success
is credtable to Mr.. Gayler's discernment of the
fact that there are enough asses among the
theatre. going public to make the writing of
worthless plays very profitable employment.
H. therefore, adapts his literary fodder to the
digestion of that large proportion of the public,
and surrounds them with sounds and sights
suited to the length of their and the short
ness of their vision. For more than year to
come he and Mr.. Emmett have made engage
ments at various theatres-East, West, aud
South-with the understanding that nothing but
''Frtz" is to be played by him. About one year
ago Mr. Emmett was popular music-hall per-
former of Dutch specialties. Mr.. Gayler thought
he saw IN him aptitude that would show
to better advantage elsewhere than on music
hall stage. Hence Fritz-one of the most popu-
lar, one of the most paying" and one of the
trashiest plays that ever disgraced American
theatrical literature. Mr. Gayler, who is a right
good, whole-souled fellow, and absolutely inca
pable Of taking offense at any criticism, how
ever harsh, provided it is not malignant, knows
as we'll as l do that is a statement of the fact.
But by writing such plays he puts money in his
purse, and that contents him. 1t is a pity 1t
should be 1t is greater pity to be obliged
to believe that nne-tenths of the critics who
abuse him would follow precisely in his wake if
they had the opportunity.
New Case for MIR. Dunphy.
Nr Thomas Dunphy is prominent member
of the New York bar, and, in conjunction with Mr..
T. j. Cummins, of the New York press, is the au-
thor of a recent book published by Diossy & Co.,
of this city and entitled Remarkable Trials in All
Countries" OF course the next edition of the
volume will include an account of the Nathan
murder trial; but there is one amusing incident
connected Herewith which Mr.. Dunphy will
scarcely care to name. That incident is his own
arrest, which took place in Brooklyn, on Tues
day evening, on the charge of having committed
the murder. The arrest took place as Mr.. Dun
ply was walking along one of the streets of
Brooklyn, and is supposed to have been made at
the instigation of some anxious to play
upon Mr. Dunphy practical joke. Perhaps it
was made at the instance of some spite
full client who imagined that Mr.. Dun
ply had neglected his interests, and who
accordingly was waiting to ''serye him out. ;
At any rate Mr.. Dunphy who was pointed out
as a Mr.. Gilbert of dreadful reputation, was
arrested by an officer of more zeal than
prudence, and was borne in triumph to the
Brooklyn Police Headquarters. Thence he was
victoriously conveyed to Superintendent Jour
dams official sanctam in this city. The Super
intendeEt was not there, and the remorseless
officer therefore took Mr.. Dunphy, at dead of
night, to the Superintendent's residence, No.
1yo Prince street. The Superintendent was not
at home. The rain was coming down in torrents,
and the officer pulled the tongue of the bell
nearly out of the throat of the house
(attribute the violent fgurativeness of my