Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-01-28

The CLOUD LIKE MANS HAND-THE WORK
INGNEN-DIME-NovE RoBBERY-THE SUN
COMPELLING ART.

To the Editor of the Free Press and Times
The little cloud of the size of mans
hand, which some of the sharper political
eyes saw in the horizon months ago, begins
to be discernible to ordinary vision. Inc
logic of events in the Cuban matter brings
conviction that something is in the wind'
but Just what it is, or whether the gather
ing storm will burst or pass us by, none ou'
a few sensation journalists venture to as
sert. A private, or l might almost say Sc
cret, letter, sent out by our Government 10
feel the pulse of Europe on the subject OF
Intervention, together with the sudden over
hauling OF the Navy and the sending OF coal
and stores to Southern ports, can hardly be
without meaning, though the probabilities
would seem to be against SPANS venturing
to take up third war, and that with
power like our own. Still, it is not impos-
sible that the crafty Spaniards, feeling their
inability to subjugate their distant and de-
ternined province, yet unwilling to ac-
knowledge the fact. now seek more
honorable egress from their dilemma,
by preclpitating conflict so mani
testify unequal that they can grace
fully yield to overpowering force. Should
that programme be carried out, 1t requires
no prophet to foretel the destiny OF Cuba
carLet-bag governor, half a dozen carpet
bag congressman, one or two hundred patriot
ic postmasters, few municipal rings for
Havana, with a good conscientious New
York Boss" to encourage the religious ele-
ment in ward primaries, and personally de,
fend the purity of ballot and bench, and,
presto the thing is accomplished our
glorious republican institutions are firmly
rooted in her priest-ridden, blood-drenched
soil import duties drop off our best cigars
the immoral and degrading bull-fght disap-
pears before the refining influence OF dog
and prize-dghts, and the American Eagle
stretches his protecting wing over the island
generally.
New York workingmen are Ike their
class the world over, more turbulent and
troublesome when they can't get their own
price for work than when they can't get
! work at all. There are thousands here ut
terly unemployed, but We hear far less from
| them than from some noisy crowd of strlk-
ers who would have steady work ii
| they pleased, but who prefer no loaf at
all TO halt one. Just now it Is the ship
caulkers. who, 10 the number Of three or
four hundred, are standing round with their
hands in their pockets, sulking and threat
ening over the reduction Of their wages TO
| -. 50 per day-an income which would seem
nothing less than princely to many an hon
| ct fellow who walks the cold streets look
inr yainly for an odd job TO beat back the
wolf from his door. Such strike is worse
than foolish In this case, at least. II can
not be successful, and meanwhile work is
going to neighboring towns. so that when
these gentlemen are starved into accepting
market rates, some af their number are sure
10 find themselves out in the cold.
Another Of those romantic rObberies and
resolutions which are occasionally record
ed has lust occurred here. About week
ago. the messenger of a Wall street firm
was mysteriously relieved Of So 900 in
bonds which he was taking TO the bank. The
firm stopped payment and set all the detec-
tive machinery in motion to discover the
thief Failing TO get any clew, they ad-
yertised a reward Of 81 900, and Immediate
" received an anonymous note appointing
place of meeting and designating mem
Der Of the firm to effect the transfer. lie
went 70 the spot Indicated accompanied by
his PARTNERS. bat found no one but boy,
who merely handed him a note stating
that the broker must be alone, and appoint
inc another rendezvous lnstructing his
comraui1n- 10 follow at distance our friend
] 81. ] -,
a second note saving that nothing could be
done till these followers were dismissed and
namin. q third spot. this time on promi-
nent corner of Broadway. Finding that his
ceutiemanly correspondent was not to be
imposed upon. the broker then hurried to
the appointed place, and there under gas
lamp in the crowded thorough-iare, with
perhaps hall dozen policemen within call,
the unhappy man was forced to count out
the : 900 into the hands OF a well-dressed
youth, who then handed him the bonds and
disappeared The whole transaction was Of
the checklist and most exa>perating de-
scription.
Ex-Mavor Oakey Hall proved to be not
star. but meteor in the dramatic SKY.
After three bret weeks Of strutting upon
the mimic stage be has hidden final fare
well to the tootlights and returns to
his briefs a sadder and wiser man.
/ ncxuectei a. was this retreat, and
I inslorious As it may seem, it shows
boIh courage and common sense. Find
Ing boz actual experience that he
could not be a successful actor, he has pre-
/ ierred retracing the false step at once, 10
uersstinr IN course which could only re
salting IN bitterness and disappointment.
/ The pres, which is a little inclined usually
/ 10 kick a man when be l. down, has. 10
! do it Justice, treated Mr.. Hall very well, com
mend.ng his change of purpose and welcom-
ing him back to his profession.
For the rest, amusements remain in statu
quo. the successful PLAYS heretofore men
/ toned stil. holding the boards, and nightly
I filing the different houses.
The next best thing 70 witnessing these
actual stage performances, i TO behold and
admire the elegant and wonderfully accurate
reproductions Of the principal scenes and
/ characters in current plays, which are al
/ ways displayed by Mora, the leading Amer
lean photographer The extent to which he
has developed and perfected his art in late
years Is marvellous. and his portraits in
pose and effects of light and shade, reveal
an artistic sense which 1t must DO acknowl
edged Is far in advance Of some of our
pretentious portrait-Tainters. 4 visit TO
hi elegant gallery on Broadway, filed
with the highest expressions Of sun-c0mpell |
ing art-statesmen, poets, journalists, mu-
steal and dramatic stars, and the elite OF the |
city-is one Of the peasantest features Of
the sight-seer's programme. One Of the |
most interesting objects there exhibited is a |
large album containing. besides numerous |
celebrities, pictures Of about $50 Of the most |
prominent perSonages in New York society, |
taken in the costumes worn at the grand |
fancy-dreSs ball which August Belmont gave
at Delmonico's at an expense Of $50 900. |
For this album Mora has refused the snug
sum Of two thousand dollars.
One of the first bills passed by the recent
ly-convened Legislature Of this State was an
act repeating statute Of 1915, which for
babe the wearing Of masks at any place of
public entertainment. This statute rendered
unlawful an amusement dear to the Teutonic
heart, 50 much 50 that sufficient pressure
was brought to bear even in the early and
busy DAYS Of the session to remove the OBJ
noxious restriction.
During the last week Mr. John b. Cough
delivered at Chickering Hall, n lecture which
possessed the unusual distinction of being
his 736jth within thirty years.
Yours, DARK.
PLYMOUTH cHuRCH-THE REyWALisTS-B
NESTLE POSTAGE LAW, &c.
NV YORK, Dec. 22d, 1876.
To the Editor Of the Free Press and Times
The motions of Plymouth Church may be
called erratic. if nothing harsher Its last
performance was to summon Mr.. Bowen,
editor Of the independent, to a church meet
ing to hear grievances against him. The
charge az inst Mr.. Bowen was, in substance,
that when church demanded that he should