Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-06-07

oFrIcI0us STORE KEEPERS OF THE
BRAIN"-$lO0,0 600 IN COPrERs-wILLIAx

Our New York Letter.
oFFICIous STORE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE
BRAIN'-$l00,0 900 IN CoPrERs-wILLIAx
CULLEN BRYANT.
New YORK, June 8, 1873.
To the Editor of the Free Press and Times.
The day is rapidly approaching when the
respectable New York citizen will have to
carry around his neck card bear ing GER
tifcate of good moral character from his
clergyman, printed in nice large type, and
backed up by an interpr eter Cor the benefit
Of those guardians of the peace who cannot
read even the largest letters known t.
modern type manufacturers. \ few days
ago, lady, while shopping in one of our
well-known stores, inadvertently took up a
parasol, thinking it her own which she
already had on her arm. She was i'm
mediately pounccd upon by the proprietor,
searched without success, arrested by an
able-bodied policeman, taken to the station
house. where the officer accused her Of being
a common thief locked up for the night in
cell, and brought into court the next
morning. During the examination, the
evidence came out that the prisoner was a
thoroughly respectable lady, and that she
tried to explain how the blunder was com
mitted, but was marched off and imprisoned
as well known thief. Another beautiful
feature of this case was shown when the
lady testified that, after much pleading,
she was allowed to send for her
lawyer. She gave the messenger fifty cents
for the GRAND, and he put the money in his
pocket, put a stamp on the note, and sent it
by mail, and, if the lawyer had not seen
notice Of the arrest in the papers, the lady
would haye probably suffered through
longer delay. The only ray of common sense
connected with the case which has yet pene-
tratel to the public eye. is the emphatic
way in which the judge expressed his dis
gust at the whole proceeding, and threaten
ed the immediate punishment of those
through whom the wretched blunier was
made, branding an innocent lady with
foul title
Another auction sale of patents has lately
taken place here, at which most miscel-
laneous lot of these "children of the brain"
were disposed Of. Almost everything in tho
way Of device was repre- ented, from an
,oot HANGAR IN n ,uarty rrusher frnu u
clothes pin to n perpetual motion machine.
This varied assortment naturally brought all
kinds Of prices from ten cents to several
thousands of dollars. As usual, too, it was
the little. simple contriyances that com
mandei tho highest figures; while flying
machines and new tangled steam engines
went begging at Il dollar or 50, some such
trae as door spring or IN egg beaten
would become the subject of spirited compe-
tition and would finally be knocked down at
a price to rejoice the heart Of its fortunate
protector.
One of the results of the re cent intrOduc-
ton of silver dollars and silver change has
been to turn into the sub-treasury, here,
saehShaou' ohb 'tSubJ VI NpHpeA
nickel coins for REDEMPTION in the more val
liable metal. To show how enormous the
influx is, ! will specify some of the reported
figures. For instance, three of the city rail
way companies send in on an average s. 200
per day in this little stuff. One bank sends
in 81 900 week, and two Of the large fer
ry companies about $1,000. Many city
brokers receive and transmit considerable
quantities, and from out Of town comes prob
ably not less than $4,000 per week add
tlonal. All together | suppose the receipts
OF this petty cash amounts at present to |
not less than $50 900 week. OF course,
all this has to be counted and examined for |
mutisted pieces, etc. and when |
one reflects that this $50 900 is made up of
from hall million to one million coins, the |
amount of work thereby imposed upon the |
may be imagined. 50 accu-
rately and systematically is this labor per
formed, however. that the mistakes made are
small. In one case S75 900 in
small change was counted with discrepancy
Of only 50. Out OF these Accommodations, the
sub treasury supplies all the local demands
for these coins, and the surplus is shipped on
to the Philadelphia Mint. there to
be held or to be gradually returned to
circulation according to the needs of general
trade. AT the time that the above stats
lies were obtained, there were lying in the
ub-Treasury vaults almost 500, 900 of
copper and nickel, packed in bags, that
would by sheer weight protect themselves
from would-bc thieves, quite independent of
.hick walls and triple doors.
While his physicians and friends hope for
he best, it seems probable that before this
etter ia in print William Cullen Bryant, the
,oet and journalist, will have passed away.
While attending the ceremonies in Central
Park on the occasion of unyciling tho bust of
iazzini, the Italian patriot, he stood with
uncovered head under hot sun. At the
lose of his address he appeared to be SUI
cring slightly, although he made no com
,laint at the time. Later in the day as he
vas ascending the steps Of friends house,
10 fell heavily upon the stone platform
nd was taken up unconscious.
Bern at Cummington, Mass. Nov. 3.
79I, at the age of - Mr.. Bryant wrote
The Embargo" political satire in verso.
10 was graduated from Williams College
nd admitted to the bar in lSlG. During
he following year he published "Thanatop
IS" which il probably the poem by which
@ is best known. In lS26, he became editor
{ the Erenmg Posi-. The present il his first
lnoss since a boy. Yours, DALTON. II