St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-01-25
Our New York Letter.

JOHN BROUGHAM's BENEFIT-A TWELVE
HOUR PERFORMANCE-A GRATIFYING
TEsTIMONIAL-THE PARIS EXHIBITION
-TALNIAGE ON FIRE AND BIRTHSTONE
A TAX RIDDEN CITY-THE THEATRES
NEW YORK, Jan. 1S, 1878.
TO the Editor Of the CaIedOnian:
The week just past has had remark
ably few salient points in the way o
| local events. Those among us who are
not too full of business to care much fol
sensations, have had to amuse them.
selves for the most part by talking ovel
the recent series of heavy business fail.
ures, or wonder whose time is coming
next, or what will become of the silver
bill, or who will give the next swell
patty, according to their varying tastes
TO he sure, the theatrical record is 4
good one and most of the prominent
clergymen have been discussing from
their pulpits the enlivening topic OF
eternal damnation but on the whole
New York has been rather poor picking
for the news gatherer.
Speaking of amusements the Brough-
am benefit which announced last week
us shortly to be given came Off OH
Thursday and was quite Il remarkable
performance. 1t reminded us somewhat
of the Chinese theatrical performances
which are said to take anywhere from
~ hours to Il week to get through with.
In this case though there were nominal
~ two performances, the acting lasted,
with only mtermission enough to clear
and refill the house, from one III the
afternoon till after midnight. This pro-
tracted session gave opportunity for
sixteen different representations, the
roles in which were sustained 10y Edwin
Booth, Charles Fechter, Z. A. Sothern,
John McCulloch, John L. Raymond,
Charles F. Coghlan, John Gilbert, Jas.
O'Neill, Geo. Fawcett Rowe, Clara Nor
riS, Nine. Modjeska, Maggie Mitchell,
Maud Granger, and hundred or so
others, the whole making up galaxy
of talent such as is rarely collected on
one stage. This one day Melted about
$4,000 for the benefit of this sterling
old actor, whose popularity was never
so satisfactorily tested us now. Several
more benefit performances will be Civ
en-, the object being to raise for Mr..
Brougham fund of $50, 600, which will
place him in comfortable circumstances
for the rest of his life.
Although rather tardy in taking the
steps necessary to IL proper representa-
ton of this country in the Exposition
.,t Inn,
have at last walked up to realization
of their own interests in the matter,
and have commenced pouring in appli-
cations to the COMMISSIONER General in
this city ut rate which assures the
United States against the shame of be-
ing the only civilized country making
no showing ut what promises to be the
grandest Worlds Fair in point of size
that was ever held. The benefits to
business resulting from the Centennial,
and the interest ill our export trade,
which is growing with immense rapid
ty, render it certain that this means
will be taken to place the products OF
American soil and American ingenuity
prominently before the world. Already
there are signs that the universal de-
preston and depreciation about which
we have so long been complaining, are
really Il blessing in disguise. Before
their commencement hardly anything
i'll the way of manufactured goods could
be sent abroad in competition with
Europe. Now, with the fall in prices
of material and labor, it is seen that
foreign trade is easily attainable, and
that the time may come when the Unit
ed States are recognized as the work
shop, as well as the granary of the world
IA result which, if accomplished, would
well repay the country for the suffering
of a few years.
An unlocked for amount of feeling
has been expressed over the recent re-
ports of John Morrissey's fatal illness
down in Florida. l really did not sup
pose that the man held any such place
in the esteem of New Yorkers as it
seems he really does. Much genuine
sorrow was shown when the telegram
indicated his speedy decease, and there
has been genuine rejoicing, the last day
or two, over later reports of his con-
valescence.
As noticed above, the ministerial pro-
tession in this vicinity seem to be con-
siderably stirred up about the future
condition of the wicked, and have been
giving their respective focks the ben
eft of their opinions on the subject,
which, as reported by the press, range
all the way from straitest Calvanism to
Universalism. HTabernacle Talmagen
has as usual seized this opportunity to
create sensation, and last Sunday en-
deavored to convince his hearers with
his exaggerated vehemence and wild
gesticulatiOn that any departure from