The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-05-07
IrRou OUR OWN coRRxsPosDESr.I

NEW 1ORk, AldEcD' 1oiU.
The gay season has closed. The great balls and
routs are finished, and the amusements of lent
season will be Ga euieter order than heretofore.
Yet the reIi sious seasons do not make such sharp
divisions Of the year with as in European
countries The Catholic element Is not very
large in our fashionable society; and even the
Eni-cluaIiin, It's most numerous element. does
not form the maJ1rity Of it that the stranger
or casual visitors in New York might fail 10
observe any marked change in the tone of the
city during the season OF fasting. Yet it exists /;
and the gIddiest people are taking breathing
spell, AID outstanding their energies for the gay
cites Of Easter and the coming fatigues, excite
ment, and worry of what is satirically known as
'summer recreation - in the country.
The Williams College Alumni had their annual
dinner, last week, at the ST. James Hotel. About
hundred gentlemen were present, and repre-
sentatives of twenty classes. Venerable DIR.
Hopkins was present. and spoke with vigor yet
the years are beginning to tell upon the old
"Prex," =" and hs frame is bent; he still retains,
however, his excellent memory of faces and names,
and IS never at a loss 70 recognize an old gradu-
ate. After the dinner the ladies came in with
the dessert, and tine labOriOus solemnity Of
speech making began. David Dudley Field pre-
SIDED, and announced the toasts. William Cullen
Bryant made the best of the speeches, one that
contained real thought well expressed while
many Of the other orators merely talked with
their MOUTHS" as homely folk say. Rev. Mr..
lying, Jr., irreyerentIy known in New York as
"Tng-a-ling-Iing," since his noisy martyrdom,
three years ago. in his trial for violating the rules
Of the church, responded to the toast in honor of
the Ministers of Williams. Rev. Calvin Durlee,
the rotund historian of the College, made genial
speech, Iamenting, however, the shortness of the
chapter in bis book which enumerates the dona-
tons To the College. President Hopkins an
nounced that the recent effort to raise fund of
100000 for the College had proved successful,
and that - Old Williams - was now for the first
time standing upon satisfactory pecuniary
basis. \ half of this fund has been subscribed
by private individuals, and a half by the State.
Judge Allen, of Honolulu, present, and
made one of the best speeches of the evening
William L Dodge discoursed upon that exhaust
less subject, the character of Williams, (not the
drinnari' ay-Ln- bsls tho Esrvds1 Of the College
and the talk lasted till twelve o'clock.
captain Hall, the Arctic explorer. is again
ousIiy asItating the question OF the North Pole
He believes that With a carefully chosen crew
and the outfit necessary for sedge.journeys he
can force his way, within three years, to the
Pole, and pin down his visiting-card upon the
very axis itself. He is now engaged in raising
means for the proposed voyage. The Germans,
however, have themselves profound interest IN
toe North Pole, and threaten to be the first to
hoist the flag upon it. They are now pushing
Arctic explorations with great vigor and Cap
tain Hall has need to be promptly on the path
again If he would win his laurel.
The Darien Canal expedition, the departure of
which from New York / mentioned IN nv last
letter, has arrived safely at Aspinwall, in Colom-
bia; and reports from it assure Us that Captain
seitFitge's command will push forward the ex-
Piora'ons - cautiously, until the Indians get
somewhat accustomed to the Yankees" The
Cap'ain VIII then ''push on again, 4" we told,
" penetrating the fret day short distance only,
and returning at night to his camp" The re-
ports Of the Darien Programmes are quite sug-
gescive Of John Phoenix's celebrated survey of a
stage-route in the city of San Francisco
The FIRST section Of the Pneumatic Railway
under Broadway in this city is completed, and is
no" on exhibition as curiosity, at twenty-five
cents admission, to sdmiring public. 1t is
cylindrical tube Of brick, seven feet in diameter
lined with iron, and provided with cars for the
transmission of mails and merchandise at high
rates OF speed A steam engine exhausts the air
~ 'ne fArther end, and the car rushes in the