St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-05-31
Our New York Letter.
REPUBLICAN.
lyndon, VT, May 81, 1873.

THE CHINANIEN IN A FIX-MELICAN
MANS LAw-PETER COOPER's TRIALS
"GROUP TwENTY-FIvEn-THE STENCIL
FACTORIES - CoLUMBIA's FOUR-A
COSTLY FAILURE.
NEW YORK, May "a, 1873.
To the Editor of the Caledonian
The Chinaman still remains one of
the subordinate questions with which
society has to deal here in New York,
and he is with us, as with every one
else, puzzler. Despite his taciturnity
and his child-like blandness he is al
ways getting, innocently or otherwise,
into any amount of trouble. For in
stance, here are three full -blooded celes-
tials who, according to the traditions of
their race, engineer wash house over
on the East side. They had some mis-
understanding with a customer about a
week ago, owing to delay in finishing
up the latter's work. The customer,
by way of making his dissatisfaction
known, overturned everything movable
in the place, and wound up his explana-
ton by breaking burning lamp over
the head of the pig tailed boss. Then
when one of the dazed washermen had
got enough of his breath and his senses
to start after policeman the irate pat
ron would not permit him but, lodging
out of the door, locked it on the outside
and left the luckless COnfucian Gagged
with fire which the oil from the broken
lamp had started, while he himself went
off for reinforcements. Returning short
ly afte with several boon companions
the insatiate customer aided his fol-
lowers to break all the windows of the
place and lombard the idolatrous anna
teur firemen, who were still struggling
with the flames, with aged eggs, de-
ceased cats, ragged brick bats and other
assorted missiles. At this juncture there
happened an occurrence about as rare
as total eclipses of the sun. A police
man actually came along and arrested
all concerned. Arrived at the station
house the official inquired of the China
men if they wished to make charge
against their adversary. No answer
being rendered, the question was re-
peated till it was evident that none of
the three spoke English enough to say
what was necessary.
The riotous customer took in the sit
uatiOn at glance. He stepped boldly
up and preferred a charge of assault
and battery against his we'll nigh mar
tyred victims, alleging that while he
was in their shop they had sought to
slay him with flat iron. The charge
was duly entered, and the unfortunate
washermen, after having suffered thus
grievously in mind, body and estate,
were remanded for trial and led speech
less away, while their assailant walked
off with his friends, the picture of in
jured innocence. At last accounts the
poor heather were still trying to figure
out the situation and to get the hang of
the Mclean mans law.
1t is hardly probable that our vener-
able philanthropist, Peter Cooper, will
want to run for president again. Not
only did he find his following rather
scanty in 1876, but now he is being
dragged over the Goals in law suit for
libel, brought by Wallace P. Groom,
who was his henchman during the eau
vass. MI. Groom wants $50, 900, which
is the amount, in his opinion, to which
his feelings and character were dam
aged by Mr.. COoper's accusation that
he had Incorporated certain of the
funds belonging to the Greenback party.
The suit will probably amount to moth
ing beyond showing what queer set of
politicians the worthy old gentleman
fell among and how they handled him.
And now through the stir and hustle
of the new Worlds fair comes tardy
echo from the Centennial. For two
years the publication of the Official Re-
port on "Group 25" has been enlarged,
thus rendering possible the controversy