davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

rangement would not apply to Congress-
men, State Legislators and Aldermen, or to
Presidents and Governors who shape and
carry out the peculiar principles and policy
Of the party they represent. 1t would, how-
ever get rid of great deal of the political
place hunting and patronage which lie at
the foundation Of our civil service short
comings. AS sound basis of reform we
commend the suggestion to the attention of
the civil service reformers. 1t may receive
the serious attention of political parties if
the Presidents laudable effort to separate
the public office-holders from politics should
unhappily prove failure.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19
!. A FLORAL DISPLAY.

isgencrally conceded that the present. tho forty
sixth annual exhibition Of the American Institute IL
superior many respects to any fair given hereto.
fore BY the association. Notwithstanding the .hard
nmes'' the attendance has tnYs lar been large. Tho
exhibition OF machinery, csuociay OF household and
agricultural implements and in manufacturing pro-
cessos Is very notable. Yesterday was ed-lctter
day in this seasons iar 1t being tho opening OF tho
:. second sericsH OF the floral snow. Iho following
were the principal floral exhibits
Table design and basket OF flowers, rustic stand and
funeral designs trained trees Eucaypius--anti-
fever tree. display OF cut flowers, verDenas dahltas
and Wardian case orchids ~ bloom, collection OF
cocus aud achyranthcs, new geranium, carnations;
Wild nowers nnd autumn leaves variegated caved
plants, night blooming and a specimen ger
anium, "Happy Thought collection oi greenhouse
plants, forms and lycopodums. rne night blooming
ccrcus was particular object Of attention. From ap.
pcaranccs the petals Will fully opcn witnna very
few hours.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19
Did He Eyer Saw IL.

All the American journals reproduced q
few days since recent article in the Lon
don World, purporting to be an interview
with General Grant, in which he was repre-
sented to have made remarks about the late
Commodore Vanderbilt and his son, Mr..
William II. Vanderbilt, which are so un-
called for and so unjust that we can hardly
conceive the possibility of General Grant
having made them. 1t seems great deal
more likely that the reporter of the inter-
view misunderstood what General Grant
said, and then in writing out the conversa-
tion from recollection exaggerated his own
misconception. Had the interview been
with some flying European tourist who
had just returned from this country it
would not have been more absurd than the
notions which credulous travellers fre-
quently carry home with them but General
Grant should be too intelligent to fall into
such mistakes. 1t is more probable that an
English interviewer, in reciting from men,
ory conversation which he represented
to have lasted several hours, should have
got things as badly awry as tourists in this
country often do in relating what they think
they have heard from Americans on this side
of the Atlantic.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19
eAN FRANCISCO nrINSTRELs,

II the San Francisco Mnslrels continue to have
such large audiences that Of last evening they WAL
be forced 10 extend their borders An attractive bill
has done its work. and the cosey little theatre is
hacked TO see the novelties. OF Charley Backus,
Wambold and Birch, in the parlor entertainment or
s,-around part OF the programme, there is nothing
new TO be said. They are always good Mr.. Backus
has added piaEo playing TO his other accomplish
ments and is encored nightly. The new feature
of the present performance is little sketch called
.uclen's Babes, - IN which Mr. Bob Hart plays Mr.
Burton, and Mcssrs. Brch and Backus Toado and
Blu igIe respectively. The un ia irresistible, as ono
can readily Imagine. No better cure Tor the blues
could be recommended than sight OF this amusing
performance. Mr.. Itabberion would never recognize
The children OF his brain, but he would enjoy good
laugh should he them mpersonatcd py Charley
Backus and Billy Birch,
The New York herald., 1877-10-19
How Shall we Elect Our Presidents

Efforts will be made by this Congress to
so amend the federal constitution as to
avoid in future the dangers which assailed
the Republic last winter. A motion has
been made in the Senate to appoint COM
mittee OF able and experienced men to de-
wise and digest plan, and Nh. Springer, Of
the House, has already matured plan Of
his own which he will soon present. We
are glad that the necessity of such amend
ments is generally recognized but we do
not think it expedient to discuss the details
of any particular scheme until after the sub
ject shall have been submitted to an able and
responsible committee. Mr.. Springer's plan,
which We print elsewhere, has plausible fea-
lures. Its substance is direct vote in each
State for President and Vice President, and
a division of the electoral votes to which
the State is entitled among the candidates
in proportion to the number Of popular
votes which they may respectively receive.
We sec no urgent reason for starting this
subject in the extra session, and should
Senator Morton be able to attend the regu-
lar session he ought to be the chairman of
the committee as he has bestowed more
study on this question than any other pub
lie man Of equal ability.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19
Congress Yesterday.

The House was not in session yesterday,
and the Senate was occupied nearly all day
on the question of the admission OF the
Louisiana Senators, which was finally re-
ferred to the Committee on Privileges and
Elections. The debate did not touch the
merits OF the question except in general
way, and the speeches on either side were
as rule free from partisan bitterness
Both sides seemed to be reluctant to open
up the old story and to be conscious OF the
fact that the country is sick and tired OF the
dreary tale. The contest was whether the
credentials of Mr.. Spoford should be re-
terred to the committee, and that course
was decided upon by strict party
vote of SO to 33, Mr.. Davis, Of
Illinois, voting with the democrats. Al
though Mr.. Christiancy voted for the refer
ence he made the significant declaration
that he should be governed entirely by the
legal and not the party considerations in
volved in the case Senators Booth and
Matthews also voted with the republican
majority, which plainly shows that the Presi-
dent has not made the admission of Mr..
Spoiford an administration question, in
which position he will be fully sustained by
the good sense of the country The second
vote, on instructing the committee to report
on the first OF next month, was perhaps more
significant than the first one. If the motion
had been sustained it would, of course, have
brought the question squarely before the
Senate in O short time I: but it was defeated
by nearly the same strict party vote, and
if the committee is so disposed it can hold
Messrs. Spofford and Eustis in their present
delightful state of uncertainty until the end
of the session, unless, which is not very
probable, the Senate should order other
wise. This action looks like an indefinite
postponement Of the Louisiana question.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19
AMUSEMENTS.
"DIvoRcE" AT WOODS THEATRE.

s'DvoRcE" AT WOODS THEATRE.
The purpose OF Mr. George Wood, the manager OF
Woods Theatre in Brooklyn, seems to be to offer to
tho public entertainments OF real vauo and artistic
excellence, and thus FAR this season he has well
proved the possibilities OF success. He has already
given the stage formerly occupied by
Hooley's Minstrels q and rep
utable character abode OF the moral
drama. one Of the most marked steps in
the progress of this endeavor has been the engage
men, OF Augustin Daly's Fifth Avenue Company, who
since the beginning OF this week have presented to
cultivated audiences characters which could not fail TO
please and Instruct "rhe Princess Royal" was last
evening succeeded on the boards by tho highly emo
tioual drama Of "Dvorce,n aud II was played
in commendabe manner Miss May Davenport
filed role OF Fanny Adriance with grace, forco
and fitness of portrayal which promise we'll tor tho
future OF her career Her beauty is OF that noble yot
yoluptuous order which tascinates while IL awes and
In this respect Is adequate for idealistiC
sway over her admirers han that Of her more famous
sister. In the Trying and highly wrought enactment
OF the anguish OF wiIcy and maternal feeling she showed
remarkable power The nneness OF her sympathetic
instinct and the consistency with which she pursucS
her conception OF her part TO It's artistic finish
admirable. Lu Dewitt was personated by Miss Edith
Blande. Her vivacity and impulsvencss well suit tho
character to which ner plquant beauty is slight
complement. Certainly she plays tho wayward and
giddy gfl wife in fashion which leaves little to be de-
sired hen she bursts iorth IN tempest ofinpetuosy
IN the quarrclling with the old husband. and
winds her childish temper up to the pitch OF wilful
anger the spectators fcc hat episode OF real life
IS before them. Mr.. Fawcett Jtt, the divorce law
yer and Mr. Fisher Burrt the detective. are ire.
sistbly amusing. Mr.. Barrymore is not good actor,
and his rendition OF Alfred Adriance Is almost wholly
bad In the last act, however. he somewhat redeema
himself and loses tho alectaton and self
CONSCIOUSNESS which at other times too apparent
Mr. Parkes, whose merit the stage may be
summed up in the prettness OF his form and tho
sickness OF his ATTIRE usual the elegant walk
ing gentleman, but nothing more Mr.. + Bennett as
Judge Kemp equal to the possibilities OF hia
\ thon.r mt
on MONDAY will be revived the meiodrama OF "Cn.
dor the GasigLt.n
The New York herald., 1877-10-19
Rem ember the Enemies Of Rapid
Transit.

At the last session OF the Legislature the
HERALD had occasion to call attention to the
names Of certain New York members of AS
sembly who had disregarded the wishes Of
the people and the interests of the city by
opposing rapid transit and laboring in the
service of the horse car railroad companies.
1t is probable that some Of these unfaithful
representatives may again be candidates for
the State Senate or Assembly, and the
people should in all cases vote against them.
The main difficulties in the way Of rapid
transit in the courts have, happily, been re-
moved by the decision of the Court of Ap-
peals declaring the law OF 1875 constitu-
tional; but bad legislation may embarrass
the work and postpone the great public i'm
provcmcnt on which the future progress
and welfare of tho city 50 much depend.
No Senator or Asscinblyman who will sit at
Albany the representative Of horse car
corporation rather than of the people of
New York should receive support at the
polls. Party ties are OF little consequence
rs compared with a question involving the
best interests Of the city and Of it's inhab-
itants
The New York herald., 1877-10-19
An Important Issue.

A meeting is to be held at Steinway Hall
on Monday evening next to urge upon the
people of the city and the State the impor-
tance OF securing the submission Of the pro-
posed constitutional amendments providing
for the future management Of municipal
governments on an honest efficient and
economical basis. The Committee of Ar
rangemonts is headed by Royal Phelps, and
comprises the names of some of the
wealthiest and most prominent merchants
and bankers Of the city. There is danger
that tho machine politicians, who do not
desire well guarded and economical city
government will secretly labor to secure q
large vote against these amendments, and
should the friends Of retrenchment and re-
form neglect to agitate the question they
may be defeated by default, although really
favored by large majority of the electors of
the State. The meeting is timaly, and the
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

The WEArHER.-Thc rapid and remarkable
development Of the depression from the south
west is the main feature Of the meteorological
conditions observable in the United States.
This disturbance gave certain indications of its
approach on the 14th, VIXEN it was duly an
nounced BY the HERALD as among the proba-
bities for this week. Since that date it has
been gradually extending III, n northeastcry
direction into the Mississippi and Ohio
valleys, and now influences the weather
from BuffJr to Galveston and from the
Allegheny Mountains westward to Colorado
The areas Of high pressure. which were united
in advance of the depression, have been scpa-
rated BY it on the line indicated by the HER,IL,
of Wednesday. The northern zone of high
pressure now extends over Canada, the
upper lakes ard the regions west OF the Mis-
souri, River, while the southern zone pre-
sents q great pocket on its northern
margin. in which the depression is moving
eastward Hence the advance Of the rain
area attendant on the storm is likely to bring it
over the Middle and South Atlantic States, and
when il reaches tie ocean it will move rapidly
northeastward toward Newfoundland, where it
will unite with that of the depression passing
eastward from that locality. The heaviest rains
have fallen in the Lower Mississippi Valley and
on the Texas coast. West Of the Misss-
sippi the temperature has fallen quite low,
converting the rain ut Cheyenne into snow yes
tcr,lay morning. Eastward from the great river
the temperature rises toward the Aleghanies,
whence it falls again to the ocean. Except in
the Northwest and West the winds are modcr-
ate the atmospheric inflow being generally to-
ward the depression in tho Lower Mississippi
Valley. The weather in New York and it's
vicinity to-day will be warm and cloudy, with
rain.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19
The Central Park Suicide.

The particulars of q very sad and distress
ing suicide printed in our news columns
this morning. Mrs. Leroy, the unfortunate
lady whose body was found on Wednesday
in one of the lakes at Central Park, belonged
to that class OF society in which self-de-
struction is one Of those crimes to be read
about in the pages Of romance or in the
vulgar records Of criminal life. There was
no reason on earth why she should have
left it in the way she did, and the mystery
of her ending will, in all probability, never
be explained. The only reasonable theory
of the deed is that she took the fatal plunge
while temporarily insane. Trouble and
misfortune had come to her recently. Her
husband had been unfortunate in business,
and there was, in measure, loss OF that
social prestige to which she had been ac-
customed. But still there remained to her
a Fifth avenue home and o stainless name
and the love of children and affectionate
kindred. These were certainly strong
reasons which should have hold her back
from tho awful step she took; but as the
result shows they we're not sufficiently
powerful to influence mind temporarily
weak and unsettled. 1t seems the deceased
lady had been in the habit of taking long and
lonely walks, and few evenings ago she
strayed to Central Park. The surroundings
were all calculated to strengthen the resolu-
tion she appears to have formed before she
set out, and the rest is known. At first it
was supposed that sho had been murdered,
that another horrible crime had been COM
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

nobody so far. The more he pressed them
to what the Methodist brethren call ''con-
viction" the more they replied that they
were already saints-who had been serving
the devil for while; to be sure. but had
after all cheated him in the Lords interest
all the time. did he mean to reform the
civil service? Oh, yes; but it was already
''the best civil service on the planet" cried
the general chorus. and in the sacred name
of liberty they all protested against being
disturbed. And now, after all, he is slowly
routing them out. and, whether he likes it
or not, must face the music which he
evokes.
The republican leaders felt very comfort
able under the last administration. They
they had at their command the Southern
question, with the help of which they We're
always confident of "hring the Northern
heart" and carrying enough States for their
purposes. They have not by any means
given up this question their President has
put it aside, but they mean to revive it if
they can. They know how to play upon
that one string, and they are furious with
the President for Offering to deprive them
of it, OF what use is it tor him to talk to
these men of new questions, new policies,
new ways? They do not want them the
old clothes suit them best. lie is entirely
right when he tells them that the future Of
the party demands that it shall drop the
old and stale issues and take up
new and live questions. But he ought to
see, and he will be forced to see by and by,
that they nre not the men to lead their party
into the new paths. They cannot dol it; they
ara too old-.too used to the old ruts. We
sincerely wish him success in his efforts at
his party but we say frankly
he needs new men to- work with. He must
be strong enough to impose new leaders on
the party; he must know how to call the
young men, the fresh men, the men un-
trammelled by old policies and unconnected
with the old machinery, to the front. He
has scarcely begun to do this, and yet he
stands on the brink of the great battle of
his administration. Does he know it? He
stands now where General Grant stood in
the first month Of his administration-an
where General Grant broke down and failed.
Will President Hayes win the battle which
President Grant lost? We hope SO, for it is
for the countrys good that he should; but
we must say it is at least uncertain.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19
How TO Get Civil Service Reform.


The. Tammany County Convention yester-
day wisely followed the advice rendered by
the HERALD and indorsed the republican
and anti-Tammany nomination of Judge
Brady for the Supreme Court, thus taking
this important judicial Office out OF poll
tics Judge Pratt, in Kings county, has
received similar Endorsement at the hands
of both parties. This disposition to keep
good judges on the bench cannot be too
highly commended. But why should not
the example be followed in regard to all
offices that are not Of q political character
when the nominee is fully acceptable to the
people? The fight made over such offices
as Sheriff, County Clerk and Register, in
the city, or over the subordinate State
offices, is one simply for the spoils.
1t is struggle for the patronage
that pertains to those positions. The most
direct and surest road to civil service re-
form would be to ignore politics and make
unanimous nominations whenever a civil
officer is to be chosen whose position has no
association with the political principles OF
opposing parties, leaving the person elected
to dispense his patronage with view SIM
ply to the proper discharge OF the public
business and without reference to the
dividing party line. }es
OF course this happy and harmonious ar
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

BUSINESS MEN GENERALLY will find in the
deliberations of the Tanners Convention some
valuable ideas and suggestions. The necessity
Of foreign markets seems to be particularly felt
by this important branch Of trade, and we know
that similar want is experienced by other
heavy manufacturing interests conference
Of the different industries affected in this way
might aid in securing whatever legislation is
needed
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

mitted; but all the facts in the case go to
show that this supposition is untrue ana
that it was pure selfdestruction. The whoie
story is the saddest we have been called on
to print in a long time.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19
T r RIPLE SH e e Il .
NEW YORK. FRIDAY. OCTOBER 10. 1877.

IMpoRTAST NOTICE TO ADvERTIsERs.-Io
insure The proper classi fcati0n Of advertisements
IL is absolutely necessary thai they be handed in
before eight o'cioca ece,.y cre,,ing.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

A CURIOUS CHARLEY Ross story comes from
Richmond. Two gypses who stole the adopted
child Of wealthy Quaker declared, when cap
tured in Southern Ohio. that they believed the
boy 10 be Ross, and had been in correspondence
with his father on the subject for long time
Their representations are probably false.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

WALL STREET YEsTERDAY.-The stock market
was active and feverish, with prices generally
lower. Gold was quoted at 1929 at the open
ing and close, with decline in the interim to
1929. Government bonds were steady, States
higher and railroads weak. Money on call lent
ut ner cent.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

The STRIKE OF THE CIGAR MEN has thus far
been conducted i'll perfectly lawful and unob-
jectonable manner which shows the good sense
OF those participating in it, A speedy adjust
ment OF the trouble seems probable.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

SIR HENRY HALFoRD, who possesses his share
Of British pluck, intimates that our ritlemen
will soon recei:c . challenge to shoot ut VIM
bledon. There can be no doubt, of course, that
a team will be found to again compete on British
81
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

From osr reports this morning The probabilities
are that Uc iccatey IN Ne,c York and its rici,,ity
to-day ,cu be rasn aud cloudy, tciM rain.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

AT FLEETWOOD PARK yesterday the racing
was excellent and the attendance the largest of
the The prizes unusually large.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

SENATOR MORTON, according to the latest
dispatches, is very much better, and there is a
prospect that he may be able to be in Wash
ington in a short time.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

STATISTICS or PREsBYTERIANIsM in this State,
as presented to the Synod now in session, chow
an encouraging condition of affairs.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

THE CUBAN PEACE RUMoRs are emphatically
denied at Havana.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

SEVERAL Of the Brooklyn street railroad com
panies have been authorized to use steam on
their lines
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

THERE WAS A LARGE SALE Of unimproved
property yesterday, for which very fair prices
were obtained
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC cele
brated its eleventh anniversary in Philadelphia
Yesterday.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

ACCORDING to the Department Of Agriculture
the cotton crop is us large as that Of last year.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19
ADJUSTMENTS TONIGHT.

BROADWAY THEATRE-G GIRoFLg-GIRoFLA
GRAND OPERA HOUsE-uNcLE TONS CABIN.
BowERy THEATRE -LIsK on the BoRpEn.
NIBLOS GARDEN-JIpBESAisosAY.
FIFTH AVENUE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OPERA.
PARK 1HEATRE-CRUsnKp TGAGEDIAM
UNION SQUARE THEATRE STRUCK OH
GERMANlA THEATRE-DER LoRwE TAGEa
EAGLE THEATRE-MAY Cory.
AMERICAN INSTITUTE INDUSTRY AND MECHANICS.
CHICKERING HALL-sINGiS' sxEwL
wALLACK's THEATRE-MARRfAGE.
STEINwAY HALL-TnoxAs' CoScERE
OLYMPIC THEATRE--yARErY.
SAN FRANCISCO MlNsTRELs
EGYPTIAN HALL-vARrEry
COLUMBIA OPERA nOUsE-vARIErY.
BRYANTs OPERA HoUSE-MISsrRgLsY.
TIvoLI THEATRE-vARIErY.
THEATRE COMIoUE-vAnIErY
TONY PAsToR's-vARlarY.
NEW YORK AQuARIUM-THE ocroPus.
The New York herald., 1877-10-19

subject should be taken up and brought
prominently forward in other parts OF the
State
The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1877-07-16
The Crops.

From returns made to the department
of agriculture, at Springfield the following
are the reports of crop prospects in this,
Mercer and Henry counties:
Rock ISLAND ornis small and poor
stand, owing to wet weather, poor seed
and wire worms. Winter and spring
wheat look well, but suffer from insects;
little winter wheat sown. Oats look very
fine. Meadows promise good crops.
Potatoes very good, but are troubled with
bugs. Apples nearly total failure.
MERCER. is backward from ex-
cessive wet weather, but in some parts Of
the county large crop is expected.
Winter wheat, small acreage but good
yield: Spring wheat. condition only tolera-
bic, some chinch bugs. Oats look first
rate. Meadows are very fine. Irish DO.
tatoes promise good crop. Apples are
total failure.
HENRY.-Corn, small and backward.
had to be replanted on account of wet
weather, in many places Spring wheat
looks very well, not much sown. Oats,
heavy, growing too rank, may possibly
lodge badly. Meadows promise very fine
yield. Irish potatoes very promising. 8
few bugs in some localities. Apple CROP
almost a total failure.