St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-03-01
Our New York Letter.

GEORGE wAsHINGToN's I46rH BIRTH
DAY-THE MARTHA WASHINGTON RE-
CEPTIoN-A CHINESE ORCHESTRA
THE PAPAL ELECTION-QUICK JOUR-
NALIsTIC wORK-AMENITIEs OF COL
LEGE IMPRACTICAL DARwINIsM-
MEN OR MONKEYS?
NEW YORK, Feb. %, 1873.
To the Editor of the CaledOnian
Opinions may possibly differ as to the
sky's action on the 22d. Whether its
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
Il name behind him to be tackled on to
some 500 American towns and SOC, 900
American taverns and saloons, is a
question | wont venture to decide off
hand. At all events, the 10th ami
versary of his fist 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 no.
ticeable event of the holiday was as
usual the grand Martha Washington
Reception and Tea-party in the even
ing, of which this is my third annual
notice. As in previous years the Acad-
envy of Music and Nillson Hall were
thrown 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.
i'll which Martha Washington was
personated by Mrs. Thomas Francis
Magher, and various danes of the ere
publican Court" by other prominent
ladies, all in appropriate costume.
Among these ladies was Mrs. Lewis
Washington, veritable grand-niece of
G. w. himself. Irving Hall was ar
ranged to represent Chinese tea-gar-
den, all the appointments beingin keep
ing, including the absolute novelty of a
genuine Chinese Orchestra-pig-ta tails,
tOm-toms and all.
Inc tea-garden was an exceedingly
Interesting feature of the occasion. Be-
mnd each booth, all simply but appro-
prlately hung with straw mating, stood
graceful and becOmingly dressed young
ladies accompanied by their chaperones.
and In front were one or two grave
Celestials, who poured out tea and sur
veyed the crowd with great composure.
Upon the counters were offered for sale
little boxes containing real Chinese tea,
and sold each for $3.50. 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 Hal
Waoe. The Cinnamon played contin-
uously during the evening; sometimes
a slow, mOnOtOnOus air, with an ac-
compartment of drums and stripged
instruments, and then, changing sud
denly, would break into a wild dance
tune played upon a shrill instrument
resembling clarinet.
The whole was, as usual, under the
auspices and for the benefit of st. Johns
Guild, and made about $4,000 which.
in the hands of this worthy organiza-
ton, will do much for the comfort of
the sick and poor during the coming
summer.
The election of Plus ks successor
was watched and anticipated with the
closest interest here, not only bv the
thousands who owe spiritual allegiance
to the Roman POntiff. but also by the
other thousands who are fully aware of
the greater or less importance to all
clVllized governments of the powerful
rerglous organization of which he is the
head; Happily Leo XIII is, according
to all accounts, the most accentable
prelate to all countries who could have
been chosen, and general satisfaction is
expressed over this result.
Journalistic enterprise commensurate
with the magnitude of the occurrence
was displayed by all the papers in re-
corning, with the greatest promptness
and particularly, the proceedings of
the COnclave, which were indeed SO
rapid and so brief that Cardinal Nc
Cioskey, who started from here imme-
dlately after the death of Plus TX TO
take part therein, did not arrive in
Rome until all was over. The election
OF the new incumbent was formally pro
claimed from balcony of the Vatican
at i:l5 IN the afternoon, and at about 2
o'clock the Boening Mail was out with
an account OF the election and BIZ
ography Of the successful candidate,
which, even allowing for the difference
OF time between the two cities must be
admitted to be a pretty wide awake
performance. This only accords. how
eyer with the new reputation which
the Mail has been building SINCE the re-
cent change of ownership to which l
referred at the time of its accomplish
ment. Its present owner, Mr.. Clark
Bell, has brought to its management