St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-04-04
Our New York Letter.
A TELEGRAPHIC REVOLUTIONARY ELE-
WAITED SMASH UP-THE "POT-LUCK
PICNICn-A BIGGER IN sILK-TRYING
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. AND THE MAY
New YORK, March %, 1879


AND THE MA
OR.
New YORK, March %, 1879.
To the Editor of the CaledOnian
Telegraphy has been so long in un
versal use throughout civilization, an
its existence and modes are taken S
much as matters of course, that proba
bly, but few people realize that tn
science is yet almost in its infancy
Recent experiments are said to hav
opened up vast possibilities in the di
rection of improvement and it is eve
claimed that a great deal has alread
been practically accomplished. A com
pany has just been formed here with
large capital to establish lines in com
petition with those already existing be
tween the great cities-an enterprise 81
costly and so difficult that nothing bu
some vast improvement could Justify
attempting it. The managers of the
new company state that by their plar
they confidently expect within three
years to be able to telegraph ordinary
business letters to and from all parts Of
the country, at about ten cents apiece
They claim that by virtue of their new
discovery they can transmit sixty thou
sand words per hour.
Another indication in the same line is
the recent establishment of a new ocean
cable company which expects by work
ing under new system, to flash two
thousand words a minute along the bed
of the sea, from Europe to America, OF
rice UerSa. All the promoters of these
new enterprises are very positive and
sanguine in their statement, and even
taking off the usual discounts from their
stories, it seems probable that we are
upon the era of what may fairly be
called new Geographic era.
A little more than a week ago, the
new and very impol tant branch of the
East side Elevated Railroad running
from City Hall Square to Chatham
Square, was opened for travel, and only
a day or two after this event, there oc-
CURED on this road the first really seri-
Gus accident i'll the history of the ele-
waited system. Two trains collided,
fortunately at Il low rate of speed, two
engines were smashed and Il number of
persons seriously injured. Everything
about the accident, except the occur
renee itself, was miraculOusly fortunate,
and no one WAS killed outright. 1t is
said that it would be almost impossible
for the event to be repeated without
the trains to the streets below
with murderOus results. The accident
was due to a misplaced switch and has
created so much fear and anxiety that
the company have announced their de-
termination to abandon branch switches
altogether, and transfer passengers at
functions as IL measure of safety.
That was unique entertainment
which was given 10y Il prominent mem
Der of the Roosevelt family the other
evening, and christened by the host "a
pot-luck picnic" The distinguishing
characteristic of the affair that all its
vlands were supposed to have been pre-
pared by the ladies and gentlemen pres
ent. The cards of invitation stated
hat ''any guest feeling within herself
)r himself the divine confidence of
cookery, is requested to supply the dish
II which he or she eXcels." In several
asses, the recipient of the invitation was
informed of the nature of the eatable
which he was expected To provide.
The result was Il triumphant success.
Fhe company was large, distinguished, |
md hungry, and each course was natu-
ally the subject of the livelest inter
st.
Mr.. Roosevelt himself contributed |
ublime fish chowder, Mrs. j. C. Croly !
Jennie June") President of Sorosis, a |
loble plum pudding, Clara Morris a |
peach custard, Joaquin Miller |
made the coffee, eX-MayOr Ely officiat-
ID us sort of chief cook, and various
'ther lesser notabilities laid toothsome
offerings upon the astronomical altar. |
The whole affair was such Il novelty |
md such success that it is likely to |
ct a very pleasant and enjoyable |
ashton.
One OF the many queer incidents daily |
omlng to the surface of New York life, |
occurred on Wall street few days ago.
\ young woman stood on one of the
orners of the street begging aims of
he passers by, and attracting much It
entiOn from the fact that she wore a
Xix dress and had every appearance of
icing Il lady. After while some one
Inspected her of being insane and caus-
ii her to be arrested and taken to a
'olIce Court, where it came out that
he was the wife of a well known gen
leman III good circumstances, living in
iarlem. She gave as a reason for her
TRANCE exploit, that her husband did
OF give her all the money she wanted
nd that she had taken this method of
decreasing her stock of pin money. She
aid she had done the same thing before
'lthout her husbands finding it ont,
nd she didn't see any harm in it. Her
usband was at once telegraphed foI
nd took her home to her waiting chill
rem.
After good deal of preliminary pa
lver the Brooklyn Presbytery have got
own 10 work on Brother Talma@e's
ase, and are now trying the celebrated
ulplt contortiOnist with as much gray
y as the subject will admit. The in
lctments found against the reverend
thlete charge him with falsehOod and
ecelt and with lack of reverence for
acIed things, as displayed in his public
Whatever may be the
ate OF the former count, there should
e no reasonable doubt of the result of
he latter charge, for not even the most
'lolent scoffers at religion treat church
elvice with much less respect than the
.astor of the Tabernacle Of course
here is no hope permanently supnress-
ng Mr.. Talmage, but still the proceed
ngs may not be without their use.
Inc excitement in municipal politics.
ONE I'm "details of which l gave last week
TIL RACES. Tammany, after few DAYS
Il Ominous quiet has declared omen war
Win Mayor Cooper, and a long stru@-
ne Is llkely to follow, The Mayor has
ven received an anonymous letter