St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-08-22
Our New York Letter.

A GENUINE TEA FIGHT-THE GREATEST
OF swIMMERs-MoRE ABOUT THE
STEWART sCANDAL-YET ANOTHER
BROOKLYN DISTURBANCE-A START
LING INTIMATION.
NEW YORK, Aug. Is, 1879.
To the Editor of the CaIedOnian:
A bull in china shop isn't circum-
stance to the connection created by the
great tea and crockery fight now being
waged in this city. 1t appears that the
tea dealers have given up chromos of
late, and adopted as bait for their
customers who dearly love bargain,
the idea of offering some inexpensive
article Of crOckery thrown in with each
package of tea or coffee OF ehicory as
the case may be. The thing has been
so successful as to exert a marked i'm
preston on the minds and trade of the
crockery dealers, and they are up in
arms about it. 1t is hard to say why,
for the goods have to be bought from
them in any case, and it does not seem
to the outside observer that it matters
much who buys them, whether the ul-
dealer. Perhaps, however, the expla-
nation is that the profits of the trade
are enormous, and that the tea man get
ting goods at wholesale rates and Civ
ing them away-a thing he can only do
because his own profits on tea itself
must be so great-utterly spOils the
crockery mans cent per cent. The pOr-
celain people are wild, and now propose
to give away packages of tea to all
their customers. Human nature is
such that most people like to get some
thing for nothing, and easily acquiesce
in semblance of that arrangement,
willfully shutting their.eyes to the facts
Of course it would be mere common
sense for people who want tea, or cups
and saucers to drink it out of, to buy
them at the lowest price as they want
them at the legitimate stores for their
distribution, instead of paying twice
the value of either, in order to get a
gift of something they probably don't
need. Akin to this is the five cent tin
ware counter OF some country dry goods
and general stores which has sent the
hardware people almost into fits. Their
peculiar trade journals are full of the
trouble.
A very solid Englishman, Webb by
name, and apparently web-footed by
nature, has been astonishing us all by
bis wonderful swimming ability. Long
ago he crossed the English Channel in
nasty, chopping sea, and established
himself in marvel of manly endur-
ance, but his latest feat, little cruise
in the broad Atlantic, among some of
the ugliest possible currents, is even
more remarkable. On Wednesday he
started from Long Branch and swan
over to COney Island, ten miles, as the
crow flies, seventeen in actual distance
as measured, owing to currents and
tides. He was under contract not to
land till late in the afternoon, when
most of the visitors come down, and
stayed more or less uncomfortable for
three hours little way off the land af-
ter the crossing. The water was so
rough that the steam launch which ac-
cOmpanied the bold swimmer was near
ly lost, and BOyton, the famous life
suit man, couldn't manage to get across
the surf to welcome Webb, which was
part of the programme.
The unsavOry remains of the late
great dry goods merchant, A. T. Stew
art, still furnish forth a ghoul-like feast
for the imagination of enterprising de-
tectives and reporters. 1t was long ago
stated on very good authority that the
cOrporeal elements of the defunct mill
ionaire, were in the possession or under
the immediate control of his very for
tunate legatee, ex-Judge Hilton. but
according to prominent journal, usu-
ally well-informed, this is by no means
the case. 1t is gravely stated that Judge
Hilton has pulled the wool over Mrs.
Stewards eyes, and persuaded her so
strongly that it is difficult now TO nm
deceive her, that he has already regain
ed possession of the body; but. as a
matter of fact, the robbers ale still me-
gotiating for its restoration, and now
demand $25O,OOO. AS a proof of their
wrongful ownership of it, they have
sent on a sample of the part of the
velvet pail which they stole with it. a
diagram of its size, corresponding with
the piece now missing, and some of the
silver ornaments of the coffin. 1t is a
revolving affair.
There is queer fight going on in
Brooklyn. The city is undoubtedly