New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-05-19
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
The FOsfer-Putnam Murder-Delsarte's
Theory i'm America-The Dress Ques-
ti0D: Morning Dress, Afternoon PrOme-
made, Full Evening Dress-At the Sea-


side.
Especial Correspondence of the Republican,
New YORK. May l3, 1871.
The trial of Foster for the assassination
of our well known citizen. Mr.. Putnam, in
the Broadway cars, promises to be as full of
dramatic interest as the trial of Mcfarland.
Then there is good deal of romance con-
nected with the ease
The first announcement made Foster a
common street rowdv, who insuted the
Duroll ladies, under the protection of Nh
Putnam, and then brutally killed their pro
tector with carhook, after he had uttered
the menacing threat: "Wait till you get
OFT, then I'll fix yOur' 1t now transpires
that Foster is the dissolute son of one of our
wealthiest citizens. Fifteen years ago, his
father cast him off on account of his chronic
badness, completely despairing of his refor-
nation. His mother suppressed her natural
affection for a wayward son, but now that
he is to be tried for his life the paternal tie
becomes strong again, and the old man
comes forward with fathers affection and
one hundred thousand dollars to rescue his
disgraced offspring.
William Foster is thirty-fye years of age.
He was born on Eleventh street, went to
the city schools till he was fourteen years
| old, and then his father sent him to Jones'
| vile Academy, sixteen miles from Troy.
| The boy went to several schools, but was
always expelled for bad behavior. In 1857
he married Miss Jane Norton, of New York,
81,
| ing there until 1860. He had low appetites,
and always showed an absence of pride.
His father is builder, and when he turned
the young man off, he 1.-THE SOM fell into the
same trade of his fathers workmen, and be-
came q mason.
On returning from Australia, young Fos-
ter went into local politics, becoming in
spector of sidewalks, etc. In 1867 his father
set him up in business, purchasing a livery
stable and five cOupes. The son failed to
make anything out of this and the business
came to failure Foster next appeared
as a street ear conductor on Fourth avenue
and then on Seventh avenue, where he re-
manned until day previous to the murder.
He has made sort of confession, which
amounts simply to saying: Il was stupidity
drunk, and don't know anything about
what did myself, though | remember dis
tinctly what Mr.. Putnam and the ladies
did
His mother is cast down with grief, and
the papers promise to be full of the murder
Gus particulars for the next ninety days
He will probably be convicted of murder in
the second degree, as the Car hook not being
an ordinary weapon of death. it can hardly
be held that the assault was premeditated
His devoted but heart broken wife remains
with him in his cell almost constantly
DELsARTE.
Who is Delsarte! We have not heard
much of the old man till lately. and now
intellectual New York is all in a frenzy
about him Delsarte, a French priest. with
all the religious ardOr of Fra Angelica, shut
himself out from society and studied up
and perfected system of gestures with
the hands, arms and face-a cosmopolite
system, by which he claims that he can
represent every emotion and passion of the
human heart, without the aid of words A
few nights ago Steele Mackaye gave a
second representation of Delsarte's system,
before an audience of savans, elocutionists.
and actors like Booth and Beecher. Del
sarte has studied expression in gambling
houses, in hospitals, on battle-felds. in
churches and in prisons. Quietly Mr.
Mackaye would sit before the audience at
Steinway's last night and enact scenes of
horror devotion, love and agony, erc., with
simply one hand. Then he would do the
same with his face, then with an arm.
Then he portrayed every sentiment, emo
ton and passion, from the angelic to the |
demoniac. with face, hands and arms, while
the audience were charmed into perfect !
silence. | only speak of Delsarte and
Mackaye now, because the furore for these !
men and the theory has just started, and |
you may as well get an idea of the thing at
once, as the sensation will sweep all over |
from here to New Orleans within the next |
six months. Delsarte gives us the gram |
mar of the language of gesture. Rachel |
was his pupil and the old monk is coming |
to New York.
THE DRESS QUESTION.
May be your New Orleans beaus would |
like to know how New York or a London |
beau makes his toilet, especially just before |
they go to the watering places! Your New |
Orleans tailOrs are notified that these rules |
emanate from the highest authority on the |
dress question in New York 1t does not |
come from tailor, but from % gentleman |
who has travelled from Rome to Moscow,
and he gives what he calls downright re-
ligiOus talk to the boys.
For business in the morning, if you have |
chosen to breakfast in velvet coat, wear a |
double breasted "Newmarket," cut away in
front, with double breasted vest, Stanley or
Marquis OF Lorne scarf, Byron collar, Lon
don drab trousers, an Oxford hat and |
Scotch broad dsOled shoes. There is no ex-
cuse for a cOlOred shirt. That it does not |
show dirt is dreadful admission, and as
bad as the woman who, for the same reason,
used cOlored crockery.
For afternoon promenade and theatre,
wear the double breasted English frock.
dark material, with tie and vest to match
the coat in color; also, London drab
trousers, brogans, and a high dress hat
with light gloves and a standing collar, if
it becomes you. Gloves should always be
lighter than the coat. Light DcvOnshire
kcrsey overcoats, very light ones, are worn
by gentlemen to drive in, and by gamblers
on the street. They are too bright for
street wear, and destroy the effect of the
drab trousers. A gentleman's street over
coat should be OF quiet color. A dark drab
would do, but the white coat must be left
to the gamblers who affect these loud
cOlors.
The writer noticed at Mrs Marshall o.
Roberts afternoon reception gentlemen
yariously dressed. from those wearing over
coats, with dress-hats in hand, to those in
full dress Now, the proper thing was to
have gone with crush hat in hand, double
breasted English frock coat, dress boots. very
dark trousers, and amber or lavender gloves,
e IL IL,