davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1878-03-27
A Bell Punch Excise.

Mr.. Erastus Brooks proposes to inquire
whether the Moffett bell punch, by means
of which tax is collected on every glass of
liquor or beer sold in Virginia, will not
settle the excise difficulty in New York. A
resolution introduced by Mr.. Brooks in the
Assembly calls for u report from the Excise
Committee on the subject and if the re-
sponse should be favorable we may soon
expect to hear every time customer is
served over New York bar, the well known
sound which records on our street railroads
tho wonderful conversion of the horse car
conductors. In Virginia by means of this
Moffett punch liquor sellers mark every
drink they sell and on the amount recorded
they pay to tho State q tax of two cents
and a half on each glass Of liquor and half
cent on each glass Of beer. This tax, it is
said, will bring six hundred thousand dol
lars into the State Treasury this year, and
despite the heavy percentage it takes out
of the liquor dealers pockets it is gaining
in popularity. 1t seemed at first TO be al
most farce and was literally ridiculed,
no person supposing that it could be en-
forced. But as it is made penal offence
to omit to punch every time customer
drinks, and as most of the liquor and beer
consumed is sold by bar tenders who do
not care to risk the penalty. it Is believed
The New York herald., 1878-03-27
The Theatrical Flower numbug.

The romances of the coulisse always begin
with bouquet-that is, the written ro-
manoes. There is card on it; it comes
regularly every night to the. budding
stage goddess, and it always is woven Of the
same flowers. She dreams of the donor,
who is noble, handsome and young. They
meet at masked ball. they know each
tating moment! Love, crosses in love and
reconciliations chase each other until she
walks to the altar to be made duchess ut
least We have all read of her, Of dozen
of her. But, alas when we grow older we
know better. Yet the old illusion holds
it's place. Let us look back twenty
years or d SO and think of the
prima donna Of our youth. Was it
Norma, with her bare, rounded arms and
her sickle of gold, warbling to the Druids /;
or Norma smiling. as she stopped to gather
the flowers tossed to her in showers by the
house rs she came flushed before the curtain,
that haunted us longest? There was magic
in the song and romance in the nosegays
Well, perhaps we threw bouquets ourself,
and when we passed the flower age it glad
dened us to see-as in London, Paris or
Dublin--the beauties in the boxes at some
divine song bend over gracefully and drop
their lace-edged posies at the feet of the
Casta Diva. by and by we began to smell
the manager in the enormous flower beds,
and we became cynical. We began to be-
lieve the stories of bouquets hired and re-
sold-.of the florist taking them at the wings
from the lady on the stage. 1t has struck a
great many here in America that the
theatrical flower business is run into
the ground. Performances are interrupted
that the pretty farce of handing flowers
over the footlights may be gone through,
not one in ten of the audience being de-
ceived by the patent humbug There are
times when there would be significance in
q bouquet. Audiences have been known to
literally pelt an actress, ora cantatrice with
genuine floral offerings but the deadly de-
liberateness of the usher with his nocturnal
pyramids and ships and initials and names
starting on his mission ahead Of the ap-
plause and in the middle of an act has
become nuisance. The public has good
many gudgeons in it's numbers, but few are
to be caught nowadays with managerial
flower bait. Selfrespecting managers should
give up the habit or, at least, if they are
incurably welded to it, only carry on their
floral antics when the curtain is down.
The New York herald., 1878-03-27
Property and RobBery.

The prompt capture of Mercer, the thief
who snatched at midday of Monday pack
age of bonds from under the arm of an aged
but agile citizen who had just crossed Fifth
avenue at Thirtieth street, was very credit
able to the officers, but shows one of the
many dangers of our great city. So many
aged citizens carry home ordinary bundles
without molestation that the conviction is
forced on US that the thief or his confeder-
ates must have had pretty exact informa-
ton of the contents of Mr.. Moore's
package. 1t is not very difficult
to trace how the thieves came to expect,
when Mr.. Moore appeared on Broadway
carefully hugging package and looking
axiously about him all the while, that the
package contained bonds. Mr.. Moore's
house was robbed by burglars some years
since of half million in bonds. The greater
portion of the property was recovered, the
owner paying tax of forty thousand dol
lars for the transaction. The thieves were
punished, but Mr.. Moore, doubtless, went
on the thieves register as an old party who
kept bonds in his house and carried them
back and forward. 1t is not improbable,
too, that the thieves were aware of his pur-
chase and his errand on Monday to have
the bonds registered, and followed him and
watched their chance. We suppose that to
the end of time there will be criminal
class numbering many acute and daring
men in its ranks, and that daylight will be
no bar to their operations But there are
certain precautions which can and
should be always taken. We do
not think that taking seat in q
street car with thirty-fve thousand-dol-
lar bonds under ones arm and scanning
anxiously every passenger is good prepara-
ton for ever so short a, walk across quiet
side streets uptown. A CAB would take a
man to his door at greatly reduced risk.
1t may be asked, ''Why should man be
forced to spend more than five cents to go
up town. If the man has thirty i've gro
Gerry chromos we should say, "Why in
deed ?" But there are people who always
want to run their bond business on n
chrome basis, and yet insist that they
should run no more risk. That is an error
which the robber who represents the grim
logic Of events endeavors to point out. The
tax on property must be paid one way or
another, although we all agree that the
State Prison is the place for unauthorized
collectors like Mercer, alias Meyers.
The New York herald., 1878-03-27
GiYA IL n Oh lamee

The announcement of the rules, regula-
tions and charges that are to prevail ut the
Working Women's Hotel has drawn forth
considerable criticism, and some not of q
favorable character. 1t is insisted that the
prices to be paid for rooms and accommoda-
tions are too high to enable the poorer class
or even the general body of workwomen to
become inmates, and that the rules are
oppressive. But it seems to be forgotten
that the institution, while it will not suit
one set of female employees, may fill the
wants of another set, and that to those
who can afford to pay for its ac.
commodations it may prove very great
advantage. The late Mr.. A. Il. Stewart
when he conc eived the idea of the hotel
evidently intended it for women who earn
fair salaries and can pay fair price for
board, but who in such home might have
comforts they could not expect elsewhere,
and especially escape the danger of enter
ing strange lodging houses in large city.
Mr.. Stewards foundation of the hotel was
charitable act, for which his memory de-
serves respect. There is no reason to sup
pose that it has not been carried to com-
pletion in accordance with his known plan
and desires. If it should prove a success
in it's way it will probably encourage some
other charitable person to establish n
cheaper home, on similar model for
women who earn salaries too small to
enable them to pay the charges at the hotel.
1t is an interesting experiment, deserving
a fair trial, and may be useful as an illus
tration of the moderate prices at which
large hotels may be run.
The New York herald., 1878-03-27
Cynoph.bin.

While we are deploring the utter con-
tempt of,the law which led in West Virginia
to the numbering of murderer by mob,
we are called on to chronicle the extra
ordinary doings Of party of dog-lynch-
ers upon Bergen Heights, in the ncighbor-
ing State of New Jersey. A ferocious dog
last Thursday bit and severely mangled a
child. The citizens became excited, and q
gang Of men, masked like the people down
South and out West who take prisoners
from jails and hang them to trees, made an
onslaught upon all the dogs of Bergen. We
do not admire the average town dog; we
loathe the white-coated Spitz therefore we
can be acquitted of any false sentiment in
the matter but a masked band, armed with
clubs and pistols, slaughtering dogs by tho
hundred some Of which, no doubt, were
valuable animals, looks little wild, within
few miles of New York Hydrophobia is
terrible thing, but you must kill all the
dogs if you will abolish it. 1t will not be
enough to kill half or three-quarters, or
nine out of ten Of the dogs of Bergen, but
you must kill all the Bergen dogs, all the
Jersey dogs and the dogs of all the States
bordering on Jersey. This is too much of q
task for any masked gang. Thorough" is
the most impossible of political or social
maxims The French Revoutionists took to
cutting aristocrats' heads off to abolish aris-
tocracy, but they did not cut enough to pre-
vent the fresh crop. Here we have one
child in alleged danger of hydrophobia,
and half the community runs mad with
cynophobia. What the sight OF water is to
dog in the rabies the glimpse of dog
was to the cynophobic Bergenites. They
foam and fire pistols at the wag Of n mon
grel's tail, and yet they will not kill all the
dogs. The police of Bergen took no notice
of the affair. Where is Mr.. Bergh? This
new disease may prove catching, and we
look to him to dognose it and prescribe and
apply the remedy.
The New York herald., 1878-03-27
that tolerably faithful record of the sales

that tolerably faithful record of the sales
is kept.
The bell punch arrangement would seem
curious to our people at first but II the
quantity of liquor sold over the New York
bars is not greatly overstated the tax would
soon pay off our city debt. Responsible
liquor dealers who keep reputable establish
ments would observe the law, and their
punching would, no doubt, be done with
the strictest integrity. There might be con-
siderable evasion in the lower class Of drink
ing houses. whose customers would pay no
particular attention TO the bell, at all
events after it had been sounded few
times on their behalf; but we see no
reason why such law should not be as well
enforced in New York as any liquor laws we
have heretofore had. There are certainly
some good features about the Virginia sys-
TEN. man who hears the tell-tale bell rs
he lifts his glass to his lips must neces-
sarily be reminded of the number already
punched" to his account. The constant
ringing is likely to impose check on
chronic "repeaters" for very shame. AS the
bell gives forth an audible sound it might be
practicable for a curious person on the out
side of the door to discover how many
times customer was served and this re-
Election, while it opens up a prospect Of
domestic trouble, may have sometimes
wholesome effect. If we are to have the
Bell Punch law. however, the temperance
people ought to insist on one improvement
over the Virginia system. There ought to
be bell punch dials for the consumers as
we'll as for the sellers, and the people who
drink ought to be compelled to carry their
record about their person in conspicuous
place, like fremans or policeman's
badge, so that every person might see how
many times they have contributed to the
public treasury. We do not insist that the
heaviest drinker should be regarded as the
most public spirited citizen, but these indi-
vidual records would be n useful check on
the dealers registers and would, moreover,
prove curious and instructive study.
The New York herald., 1878-03-27
SOCIETY OF AMERICAN ARTISTS.

Tho exhibition by tho Society Of American Painters,
which has attracted SO much attention at tho Kuriz
Art Gallery during the past few weeks, will close on
Saturday evening next Some changes have been
made in the arrangement OF pictures, aud several new
paintings have boen received. There i've
paintings by Duveneck, OF Munich. including .por-
trait OF himself; number by Twachtmann, and new
Inucss During the first week OF the exhibition the
daily attendance OF visitors sometimes exceeded i've
nu Trad
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

WALL STREET YEsTERDAY.-The stock market
was fairly active and prices were strong, par
ticuarly for the Northwestern issues. Gold
opened and closed at 1O1 *, with IL few sales at
1O1. Government bonds were stronger,
States steady and railroads generally higher.
Money Oh call was active ut 5 per cent, closing
ut . n [; Dcr cent
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

CoSGREss.-Ihe leading features Of Congress
yesterday were the speech OF Mr.. Blaine on the
Halifax award, the reporting by the Senate
Judiciary Committee of the bill to repeal the
Bankrupt law. the discussion of the Pacific Rail
.oad Sinking Fund bill, and the adoption of "a
'csoluton making the tariff bill the special
rder OH the ith of next month. 1t is evident
hat the House intends to at least discuss the
latter measure,
The New York herald., 1878-03-27
LADIES' ART ASSOCIATION.

An entertainment will bc given at hali-past two =.
~ Thursday, March 2s, at Lyric Hall, Sixth ave.
and Forty second street, for the benefit OF the
Ladies' Art Association. Dramatic rectatons and
music, vocal and INSTRUMENTAL BY professionals, will
be part OF tho programme The object Of the asso-
ciaton ~ tho advancement OF art
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

TIE PROPOSITION to make the seaers of
weights and measures salarcd officers is u good
one, but it will be necessary to devise some plan
of making them earn their wages.
The New York herald., 1878-03-27
Il RIPL E SH e Ell
NEW YoRk, WEDNESDAY, MARCH a. 1878.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ADvERTIsERs.-Io TO
insure tie proper classification Of advertisements
il is absolutely necessary that Mey he hunded im
before eight O'Clock erery erening.
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

A CuRIous BILL TO suppress intcmperance in
the county Of Ontario was considered in the
Legislature yesterday. 1t authorizes magis-
tratcs on the complaint of wife to notify liquor
dealers by advertisement in "a newspaper not TO
sell liquor 10 her incorporate husband under
ncavy penalty. But one OF the speeches made
Dn it more curious still. Mr.. Jones, of
Oneida, defended liquor selling and maintained
that to apply the epthct OF intoxicating to
whiskcy is entirely wrong
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

TIE WEATnER.-Thc storm centre has passed
III tho New Brunswick coast, and its influence
= slowly decreasing that district, with
nodcratng winds and clearing weather. In
hc West the pressure has fallen from Manitoba
q the West Gulf, and great barometric trough
werlics the whole length of the Mississippi VAL
.cy, with rains and snow ut its northern cx-
trcInity and in the lake region, and brisk mar
yinal winds. The temperature in the Central
Mississippi and Lower Missouri valleys continues
vcry high, and, with the existing differences Of
temperature, pressure and humidity prevailing
IN the lake and Ohio Valley regions adjaccntly,
The conditions are favorable for high local winds,
possibly torhadoes. The pressure is highest but
gradually reccding on the South and Middle
Atlantic coasts. The indications of an APP
preaching change OF weather for this district are
therefore very marked. In New York and its
vicinity to-day the weather will be partly cloudy
Or cloudy and warmer, with light rain. To-mor-
row will be cloudy and warm, with rain, followed
by slightly colder weathcg.
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

Mr.. TILpES has been badly beaten in the pre-
lilniEary legal skirmish over his income tax.
The right OF the government to recover has been
sustained, and II jury will shave to settle the
amount, il any, of his Indebtedness.
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

The NEW CAnTAGE ordinance adopted yester-
day will be acceptable to the truckmcn. 1t
docs not matter much whether business men or
houscholdcrs are satisfied or not
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

GOVERNOR RoBINsoN's VLTo of the bill em-
powcring courts Of record to issue writs for the
production of prisoners TO be used as witnesses
was rejected yesterday iy the Senate. 1t is
seven years since a bill was passed over u veto
in that BODY
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

The PUBLIC WILL be interested in the answe er
OF the elevated railroad companies to the inquiry
of the Aldermen as to the non-extensiop of their
lines to kingsbridgc i'll accordance with the con
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

SECRETARY SnERMAN's request to the city au-
thorities for permission to move some Of his
bureaus into the rooms in the Post Office build
ing not needed for the courts or postal purposes
shows that he does not particularly care to put
the governments title in jeopardy.
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

TIE AcoUITTAL yesterday Of II couple Of con-
tractors indicted for manslaughtcr ON account of
the killing Of u man by II blast will not tend to
the dimnution OF that class Of so-callcd acci-
dents. The verdict ought to have been, "Kllcd
according to law"
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

The probabilities are that ne aceathey in Neac
York and its ricinity to-day scW be aoarmer and
partly cloudy or cloudy acih light rain. To-mo,-
row ,ciH be ciotdy and warn, ,cih rain yolloued
by slightly colder reaUer
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

THE PROSPECTS of the formation Of n New
England college rowing association arc not very
bright.
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

II TIE VIEWS of the House Naval Committee
are adopted shall not have much Of navy
only eight thousand two hundred and fifty
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

GREAT BRITAIN has tliscove cred that our cigars
in their way as good as our beef and oysters,
and has begun to import them on an immense
The New York herald., 1878-03-27
Shall Tweed BE Released ,

Mr.. William M. Tweed was called as
witness on the part of the city yesterday in
the Brown contract suit, but on being sworn
he read Gpaper setting forth his reasons for
declining to answer any questions in that
or any other case in which the city or State
may be a party until he is set free. He
claims that he appeared as a witness before
the Aldermanic investigating committee
last autumn and gave evidence regarding
the ''Ring frauds" on the promise
that he should be liberated from
imprisonment for so doing, and he acts
under the advice Of counsel in refusing
now to testify on behalf of the city. Comp
troller Kelly addresses a letter to the Attor-
ney General, stating that Tweed did receive
promise of his freedom provided he made
q Confession and gave up all his property
Mr.. Kelly claims that he made the confes-
sion and is ready to give up all he
possesses, and that it is unjust and of
no public advantage to keep him
longer in confinement, especially as he
can give testimony in various suits
advantageous to the city. Both as private
citizen and as public officer Mr.. Kelly
asks the Attorney General to make the re-
lease. Whatever may be thought of the
propriety of suffering the great public rob-
Der to go free without having restored to the
city any of the millions he has stolen
Comptroller Kelly will be respected for the
frank, bold manner in which he has spoken
his sentiments on the subject. He thinks
Tweed ought to be liberated, and he does not
fear to say SO in plain language and in
public manner. Many persons differ
from him and think that the notorious
criminal should be in a State prison and in
convict's garb instead of in Ludlow Street
Jail. Many others doubtless agree with
Mr.. Kelly without having the moral cour-
age to take the open position he has taken.
It is for the Attorney General to decide
what action justice and expediency demand
in the case.
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

1876 but they will differ in one point, and
that point OF the greatest moment In 1876,
when England refused her consent to what
the other Powers proposed to do. she simply
withdrew from the negotiation and stood
still, and events followed their course. She
contented herself with protest She can
not do that now. 1t was not course that
redounded greatly to her honor as she pur-
sued it in 1876. She encouraged the Otto
man to fight and left him to fight alone
That was not creditable, but it was notigno-
minious. But with her ships in the Sea Of
Marmora, with her great preparations on
foot and her campaign plans under discus
sion, she cannot simply turn away now and
permit events to go by default. She must
swallow the Treaty of San Stefano and make
believe she likes it, or she must fight.
The New York herald., 1878-03-27

ut Boston,
Alice Oates aud her opera company arc this week
playing in Boston.
Mr. Joseph Jefferson follows the "Exies" In Phila-
delphia, on tho 1st Of April.
dramatic SKETCH entitled "The Telephone" is an.
no1nccd at tho London Strand Theatre.
De Cordova lectures to night at Chickerng Hall
the SUBJECT 'Our Amateur Thcasricals" u"
Miss Fanny Danzgcr, who Is iavoraby known in
New York musical circles pianist, recently made
her debut in Chicago
Morritz, who has recently made sensation in
London as Othello. used to play Boston, under
other name, as amateur.
Sardou ays--"The toilet OF actress is what the
envelope is TO a letter; the ono always makes VI
guess the contents Of the other"
Mr.. Leonard Growers drama "Lispet" s being
hearsed for production ut tho Bowery Theatre next
week. The story Is laid In New York.
The Long Island Railroad tomorrow will bring ex-
eursion parties from PaschoGus and intesmsdists
towns to witness the "RxIss," new being performed
at the Broadway Theatre.
"Uncls Toms Cabin" is to DO reproduced under
the administration OF Messrs Jarrett Palmer Al tho
Academy Of Music Il Will be The farewell represen-
taon OF the play before tho departure OF tho troupe
for London. 1t is said that 500 odme ''cotton held
han" will appear In tho plantation festival.
Mr.. j. s. Clarke's engagement at tho Fifth Avenue
Theatre ceases Saturday. On Monday, April l. Mr..
Fske proposes to revive "Unce Toms Cabin" with
the original Topsy and Virginia troupe OF jubilee
singers Several applications are said 10 have been
made by Sunday schools for a special Wednesday
matinee. In which "rel,gious melodies" appropriate
to the Lentcn season are to be sung.
Marion Lamar, assisted by Mrs. J. +. Frobisher,
Mrs l.. c. Elliott, Mr.. William c. Baird, Mr. Henry T..
Browne aud Professor j. f. Frobisner, gave enter.
tainmont at Chickoripg Hall last evening. The pro-
pramme consisted OF rccitations and music The
audience small and fashionable and evidently en-
joyed tho performance The recitatons were both
humorous and serious, and the music both popular
and classic
The sixth extra public rehearsal to Theodore Thomas
symphony will take place to morrow afternoon
Fantasia, op. 81 (now) Rheinberger; prelude, Inter-
and Fuaue. Capricsio. op. 10y request) Her
mann Graedner Concerto No. In r. Hat List, Mr..
Max Plnner symphony No. g, minor, op. u,
Beethoven Allegro con BRIO Andantc con moto.
Allegro. Finale.
Tho musical testimonial to Mr.. Carl Wofsohn, at
Chicago is represented TO have been successful and
brilliant. Miss Thursby and Mr.. Whitney sang, and
the orch estra piano wore taken by Mr. Wolisohns
own pupix Mr.. wolsohn is rigorous master, but he
is very energetic and his aim s much above the ordi.
nary level wofsohn's own playing. which Is ssneat,
ito use the word It's exact sense because play.
ing Ia never tawdry or whimsical, many lovers Of
music In New York will remember. IL Is also intc-
iectus and his pianissmo like the rufe OF zephyr
ON summer laka
The New York herald., 1878-03-27
ADJUSTMENTS TONIGHT.

sOWERY THEATRE OUR BOARDING HOUSE.
RouTu,S THEATRE-ITALIAN OpEgA-IL TRovAToRE.
NIBLO'S GARDEN CRAIGA DnoUL
STANDARD THEATRE fANcnoN.
BROADWAY THEATRE -Tng ExiLHs
Park THEATRE -ouR BAcmKLoss
GRAND OPERA HOUsE-kvASGKLIsE-
THEATRE COMIQUE-A CsLspgArED HARD CASE.
FIFTH AVENUE HALL-llELLaas' WONDERS
wALLACKS THEATRE-MoNky
UNION SQUARE THEATRE--A cELKBRArEp CASE.
NATIONAL THEATRE-RENoasR.
GILMOkE'S GARDEN-GREAr LONDON CIRCUS.
FIFTH AVENUE THEATRE iiEIRAr LAw--TooDLEs
NEW YORK AQUARIuM-BRoScmo HoRsgs
GERMANIA TiIEATRE-voS siEBES DIE HAEssLIcRsTs
San FRANCISCO MINsTRELs--ouR HASH HOUSE.
rIyoLI TiiEATRE-yAGigrY.
EGYPTIAN HALL-vAgIErY.
TONY PAsTOR'S--vAs