New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-12

known. Judge Folger was always against Tweed
In every form, and even the stories OF his
enemies about his election to the Bench were
always based upon the notion that IL was
James O'Brien, Tweed's bitterest enemy, VINO
gave him Democratic support. The TACT tnat
this support came from the OBuen wards
would be conclusive even without the testimony
which has all along been readily accessible to
any one who cared to know the facts. 1t
would be Just as sensible to talk of Judge
Folger as representing the Sultan or the Car
on the Bench of the Court of Appeals as to
say that he represents Mr.. Tweed.
The Secretary Of State exposes a curious
abuse in his communication to the Legislature
on the subject of the Sheritfs' reports. Inc
sheriff of New York, for instance, receives
fifty cents for every conviction reported, anu
frcm this one source gets somewhere ABOUT
$50. 900 for furnishing information when Is
of no use to anybody. Mr.. Bigeow's recon-
mendation that this abuse be swept away
ought to be needed.
With all that the wits have had to say OF
late IN disparagement of Brooklyn, IT was never
supposed 10 be quite such an abandoned city
as its own Sheriff now makes it ont to be.
His repcrt to the Legislature shows that out
of the %, 639 persons convicted of various
crimes in that city during the past year only
two received religious instruction, whereas IN
Now-Y0rk, which has never set itself up as
city of churches, every one Of the 2S,34G per-
sons convicted during the same time is re-
ported by our evangelical Sheriff as hav-
ing received "religiOus instruction " This
il an exhibit which should fill the
official bosom of Brooklyn with shame.
To think that in that city %, G37 criminals
were left altogether without religious in
slructou," while Ncw-Yorl City, fast in the
grip of an umrcgcncrate Democracy, yet gives
all of its $4,000 prisoners their choice OF doc
trines at the hands of Jealous Sheriff But
Mr. Birelow indicates Brooklyn with the re-
mark that the rcuoTts are simply humbuS-
viudlcates everybody but the Shcrihs.
Whether the Ncw-York Academy of Sciences
succeeds or fails in acclimatizing the eucalyp-
tus, the effort TO supply new shade tree TO
our streets and parks VIII be fully appreciated
by our citizens None of the shade trees seem
exactly to meet requirements. The ailantus
and the willow grow fast enough, but the one
is likely 70 give for,h a horrible smell from
It's flowers, and the other. is dangerous from
the tendency OF it's limbs to break in high
Winds besides having a shape that is filter for
gIaycyards. All the lindens were long ago
eaten uD by the worms. The maple htters the
sidewalk with leaves too freely IN Fall. The
paulonia has a sCraggy outline, lll-concealCd
by its broad leaves The horse chestnut grows
too slowly. The catalpa invites street Arabs
to climb IT in pursuit OF smokinS-bcans. Elms
are handsOmcst when very Old Forest trees
in general would only be set out by those who
hope to rival Capt. Lalrbush in age. Give us
new shade tree, ye s2ges and we Will he
thankful, even if it's Christian and family
names arc each five tyilablcs long
After having sounded his telephone to lis
tening ears in Boston and he ,'laSes around,
Prof. A. Graham Bell has acccp,ed IN invita-
ton from some of the scientific gentlemen OF
this city ior course Of lectures and expert
mcnts and gave a private exhibition oil his
talking telegraph here last night. The instru-
ment did all that was expected of 1t, though
in rather quiet way; LOUD enough for par
Tor audience when transmitting the notes OF
cornct, only half audible to such an audience
in giving Il song, and requiring the ear to be
close TO the metal disk to distinguish words IN
conversation over the wires. How much fur
thcr or in What directions the power and use
fitness OF the new invention may be deyei-
opcd, il is impossible to say. Already it has
shown q capacity for indicating magnetic cur
rents that are passing in the eath; the de
feet :yeress of tclegaphic connections; any
Other signals going over other wires that are
on the same telegraph poles, and variety of
other things never before shown by instrn-
menls. From the dcicacy Of It's indications
alone, il evidently points the way to new