New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-17

support the burden Of the gifts II In only expected
to hold the Illuminating candles, aud " diffuse
sparkling rays and resinous Odors over the scene
while the gifts lie the tables by. The traffic IN
these trees Is during the holiday season. prosperous
branch OF commerce. They brought into the city
from the Immediate neghborhood, and displayed III al
open The places made inpassble
as an Indian Jungle The streets frnged for blocks
and blocks with the verdant bushes, between which
and then little booth rears its modest head The
traffic is chiefly in the hands OF mddle-aged women
with spacious waists brawny hands. and tongues wen
trained in the slang OF trade. Male assistants are ofte
there to help the trees, hold them in the most
captivating position and If necessary even to deliver
them. but with these mental duties their part ends
The glory OF the occupatiOn-thc supple manipulation
OF facts the cunning play OF recommendation the ds
play Of linguql dexerity. the exercise Of the swu
power Of fascination, the cruel and final exc
cuton of the victim-these are privileges with which
the stawart matrons allow nobody to interfere.
The OF gift articles within moderate prices If
hat larger here than in The cheapness
Of labor and the longer development enjoyed by many
mechanical arts, give even Germany advantage ana
if her products inadequate can reach Paris
In sc hours German prominence in certain articles OF
vertu IL well known. The Munich founderes and shops
turn out every year great number OF bronZes or all
and prices, but all far cheaper than they can DO
made in America Berlin porceains are famous and
cheap. In suffering other countries 70 Outsrip her In
the art Of printing Germany untrue to herself IL Is
the fact however my Judgment that that art is less
advanced here than in France, England, or America
In fact, book making in general is here very inferior
Paper poor printing poor and binding poor German en-
CRAVING is perhaps next to French in merit but German
illustrated books often put together with painful
want OF taste and congruty II really oiiends the eye
TO see a splendid collection Of drawings by Kaulbach-
Goethe's Hermana ind DOrothea for example. or Illus
trations of Schller-prnted this sickly paper and
fral which crack like dead leaves
when they touched They order those things better
IN France. even Germans are forced to admit
Christmas this year is a melancholy one the death
Of the dowager queen Elizabeth has obliged the Court
aud the vain little ladies who are not and never expect
to be of the Court to assume mourning and this gives
somber aspect to society, even II the ladies' faces
show none of the wasting effects OF grief The state Of
the Emperors health which is if not threatening
il a source of anxiety, aud fatal 10 the cheerfuness
of many q household here. But cause
more powerful than these IL the condition OF
business 10 is problem with observers
here whether the present state OF things will precptate
us into panic lead by slow and impereepilble
cure 70 health. change OF some sort must soon
intervene Prices are runously high rents are SUE
copy OF New York rates commercial houses are
going under one after another labor - scarce,
dead, and all souls weighs dreadful sense Of insc
curity That last is the most depressing circumstance
Nobody knows what IL impending, and III the absence oi
certain knowledge people with money ACT az III Tue
uncertain was the worst Confidence III business rel-
tous not simply In the market ITSELF but between nan
and man, have pretty nearly disappeared; ~ Us pos
lively dangerous To trust anybody crime Is assuming
grand proportions. and thanks to the stupdty OF our
police is rarely detected and punished. AS nave
already said no one knows whittier We are drifting
one thing is certain, the evil grows worse as uninter
ruptedy the earth revolves on us axis III MIS- an
minds win anxiety puts Christmas ieetVlies o Oh @
reach OF thousands and spreads sort OF pan over "ha'
uClt TO he q Gay or lntITliDcnt anu ItJOicihb'