Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-03-04
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
Special Correspondence.
New YORK, Feb. 25, 1878

Opinions may possibly differ as to |
the sky's action on the I'D. Whether |
It's protracted and violent weeping in
this vicinity was due to its regret that
the illustrious G.. w. was born, or, on
the other hand, to its unassuageable
grief that he should ever have died and
left name behind him to be tackled
onto some 500 American towns and
100000 American tayerns and saloons,
is question which wont venture to
decide off-hand. At all events, the l46th
anniversary Of his first appearance in
these oppressed colonies was of all gloomy
days the gloomiest. All the open air
programmes had to be abandoned, and
such celebrations as the pouring rain
permitted to our dropping spirits had to
be carried on indoors. The most notice
able event of the holiday was as usual
the grand Martha Washington Reception
and Teas-party in the evening. of which
this is my third annual notice As in
previous years the Academy of Music
and Nillson Hall were brown together,
and connected with Irving Hall on the
opposite side of the street by covered
passage way, which the decorations had
converted into veritable fairy grotto.
The grand affair was opened by re-
ception on the stage of the Academy, in
which Martha Washington was person
ated by Mrs. Thomas Francis Magher,
and various danes of the Republican
Court by other prominent ladies, all
in appropriate costume. Among these
ladies was Mrs. Lewis Washington, a
veritable grand niece of G. w. himself.
Irving Hall was arranged to represent a
Chinese tea-garden, all the appointments
being in keeping, including the absolute
novelty of a genuine Chinese orchestra
pig tails, tom-toms and all.
The tea-garden was an exceedingly
interesting feature of the occasion. Be-
hind each booth. all simply but appro-
priately hung with straw mating, stood
graceful and becomingly dressed young
ladies accompanied by their chaperones,
and in front were one or two grave Gel
estials, who poured out tea and survey
ed the crowd with great composure.
Upon the counters were offered for sale
little boxes containing real Chinese tea,
and sold each for sl.50. These met
with ready sale. At the farther end
of the hall was small booth in which
were seated the members of the Chinese
orchestra, which was directed by Hall
Waco. The Cinnamon played contin-
uously during the evening; sometimes a
slow, monotonous air, with an accom-
paniment of drums and stringed instru-
ments, and then, changing suddenly,
would break into a wild dance-tune
played upon shrill instrument resem-
bling a clarinet.
The whole was, as usual, under the
auspices and for the benefit of st. Johns
Child, and made about $4,000 which,
in the hands of this worthy organization
will do much for the comfort of the sick
and poor during the coming summer.
A set of mild, pleasant young men
they have down at Princeton College; a
nice set for small tea party or thee.
logical seminary. 1t isn't many months
ago that they hilariously burned up 8
small lumber yard, and played a few
other merry little jokes of kindred
nature, which the citizens did not fully
appreciate, and which narrowly escaped
resulting seriously to the students ant
the institution. Some two weeks ago
couple of these playful youngsters be
longing to the Sophomore class got hole
of Freshman, and faithful to college ira
ditions, performed upon him the senslbl
! and useful ceremony of "hazing." wit
, great vigor and numerous variation
The Freshmen, also conforming to tradi
ton, got their backs up at this tirannica
insult and vowed revenge in pursuanc
whereof some dozen of them entered th
/ rooms of the offending "Sophs" the 9th
er night with masked aud blackene
/ faces, and after shaving the heads G
their victims and beating them blac
, and blue. gagged them to prevent a
i outcry and retired The latter 500
J effected their release from bonds an
gags and rousing their classmates CAV
: chase Coming up with their natura
, enemies, the aggrieved Sophomore pull
{ ed out revolvers and began shooting. Th
c Freshman blazed away in return an
t succeeded in laying out ''Soph" wit
r serious and almost fatal bullet wount
Such are the amenities with which polit
: literature and the study Of the classic
: are varied at the brightest educations