Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-08-22
Our New York Letter.


fever at Memphis and the appearance in
few isolated instances of cases in New York
and Brooklyn, where the patients have eluded
the Quarantine regulations, has excited CON
siderable interest in that old-fashioned safe
GUARD. 1t is, of course, a nuisance to be de-
tanned in quarantine and to consgnees and
shippers when the unloading and loading of
cargoes is interfered with, but properly adj
ministered quarantine is undoubtedly great
protection. Few people know what the in
stitution really is in New York. and many
have a most unreasonable horror of it, The
Quarantine station is, in fact, situated in a
charming locality at the entrance to the har-
Dor, and has marine views that beat Coney
Island or Long Branch hollow. DIR. Wander
poe the Superintendent, has a charming res
idence on Staten Island, but the hospital
proper is on an island about half mile away,
an artificial reef built out in the broad Allan
tic itself. The buildings are all frame huts,
exuuisitely clean, and open to every breeze,
and surrounded by such vegetation as will
grow in such briny atmosphere. The staff
of physicians and nurses is of excellent COM
position, and if there is charm for any sick
man to recover, he cannot possibly find
his lines cast in pleasanter places than in
Quarantine. The soothing lullaby of the
never.resting pillows WOO the feyered to sleep,
while the bright sails of ships and busy
steamers of all sorts and sizes bound to and
from every land in the world serve to amuse
his waking eyes The beauties of the spot
have rendered it favorite resort for very ex-
elusive junketing parties, and in the days of
the Tweed ring the Health Officers yacht
was frequently filed with politicians be mt on
enjoying Nature in way that made them
look with contempt on Saratoga or Newport
In winter, when patients were few, many a
Virginia reel was danced in the snug halls of
the little isle sacred to pestience, and the
consequent thirst assuaged by the contents of
bury demijohns, and disinfection proceeded
with in clouds of the fragrant fumes of Ha-
vana cigars
A very solid Englishman, Webb by NAME
and apparently web-footed by nature, has
been astonishing us a" by his wonderful
swimming ability. Long ago he crossed the
English Channel in nasty, chopping sea,
and established himself as a marvel of 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 comfortably
for three hours II little way of the land after
the crossing. The water was so rough that
the steam launch which accompanied the
bold swimmer was nearly lost, and Boyton,
the famous life-suit man, couldn't manage TO
get across the suIf to welcome Webb, which
was part of the programme.
The unsavory remains of the late great dry
goods merchant A. L. Stewart, still furnish
forth a ghoul-lke feast for the imagination of
enterprising detectives and reporters. 1t was
long stated on very good authority that the
corporal elements of the defunct millionaire
were in the possession or under the immediate
control of his very fortunate legatee, ex-
Judge Hilton, but according to prominent
journal, usually well-informed, this is by no
Judge Hilton has pulled the wool over Mrs.
Stewards eyes, and persuaded her so strongly
that it is difficult now to undeceive her, that
he has already regained possession of the
body but, as matter of fact, the robbers
are still negotiating for its restoration, and
now demand $25O,0O0. As proof of their
wrongful ownership of it, they have sent on
sample of the part of the velvet pail which
they stole with it, n diagram of its size, cor
responding with the piece now missing, and
some of the silver ornaments of the coffin. II
is a revolving affair.
There is queer fight going on in Brook
lyn The city is undoubtedly aud overwhelm-
ingly Democratic. At the same time SO clan
nish are the partisans that a large minority OF
tho wards are Republicans. They all live to-
gether. In Republican block there may be
one Democrat. In Democratic ward you
can't find any Republicans at nj. There's
always plenty of patronage about the City
Hall in one way or another. and just now
there are some remarkably good pickings,
the terms of office of several prominent Of
fcals running out. At this juncture Mayor
Howell, Democratic, is dangerously sick.
The acting Mayor, Ray, Republican, is very
lively Mayor Howell can't go into the coun-
try or even try to get well for fear Ray wi
plump in lot of ultra Republican nOmina-
tons in his absence, the Aldermen being vel J
nearly equally divided in politics. For some
time the Mayor has held the fort and come
down to his office to lie on IL sofa al day and
defeat the Vaccinations of bis party's enc
mics. Now, at last he has grown too III fol
this and proposes to transact all municipal
business at his residence. The Republicans
claim that he can not ''carry his Office round
in his hat and propose to run the local gov
erlment in their own way Several disgrace
full and ludicrous scenes have already occurred
in the Aldermanic chamber, and the public
are rather anxious TO know what viii be the
upshot of it all.
Among us somewhere is, it is said, an arts
tocratic clipping young English lady, who,' ao-
cording to the London paper which advertis-
es her disappearance, 'can be very easily
recognized, as she is tattooed on her left leg
Now this is positively startling Can it be
possible that there are some customs extant
among the British aIistooracy regarding their
personal adoTnment, which have thus far es.
capped the eagle eyes of American travellers
and correspondents? 1t must be SO, for the
newspaper intimates as much, and newspapers
are like Washington about telling fbs. Mean
while our own elite are in great state OF
mind over the discovery that there is an Eng
lish custom that they have not copied, and
hear it rumored that professor of tattooing
is to BIO imported from Burmah post haste.
RADIx.