The Hawaiian gazette., 1879-08-20
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
Especial Correspondence Of tAs Ga.stts.l

New York in midsummer IS place to be abhor- |
red, to be fed FROM and the memory Of it consigned
to the deepest oblivion. No but Paor man or |
a lunatic stays in New York during midsusmer.
Heat, dust, and discomfort reign supreme. The !
stage horses slowly along in state of stag
gering imbecility. The drivers sit supnely on their
bexes patiently waiting to be sun-struck. The sun
glares down upon the streets and smiles sarcasticay
at the efforts of the pedestrian find his old shadow.
Everything willis, and everybody mathematics the
weather and blesses the inventor lager beer. The
theaters are closed and the actors away washing
of last seasons paint in the surf. Business is at
stand STILL the clerks in the stores having nothing to
do but fan themselves with hardly strength enough
to do even that. There is nothing going on, and
body talks about anything but the actual state of the
Thermometer to-day, its possible state tomorrow
1t is somewhat amusing to note the anxiety of the
press of the United States to claim Hanlan as an
American that he has been successful in his
rowing contests in England. The fact that be was
born in Canada of Irish parents would seem to uili
tate against the idea that he be anything but
Britisher; but then is not Canada the continent
of America, and not Hanlan victorious? OF
course of course, then he must be an American; let
the eagle scream, have whipped the Britishers
once more.
On the 25th Of this month, If nothing occurs to pre-
vent, two human beings, woman and her paramour,
will be sirangled to death in Jersey City. They have
been convicted of the crime of killing the husband of
the woman, and the chief point of Interest in the
matter is that so many people think the verdict un
just that fund has been raised for the purpose Of
obtaining trial. aude to Mrs. Jennie
Smith and Covert Bennett who under sentence of
death for the murder of policeman Smith. They
MAJ he onilf nd sh-
ment but that two human beings can be deprived of
their lives on such meagre evidence as was adduced
in this case is fact startling enough to make the
most unthinking person pause and ponder. know
that amongst intelligent people the opinion seems
general that whether this man and woman guilty
or innocent the crime has not been proved against
them. Crcumstantia evidence has been SO often
found at fault, when the chain seemed complete,
that perhaps it would be well that sentence of
death should be passed when conviction is obtained
in this way. 1t is better that all the guilty ones
should escape the extreme penalty than that
person should suffer it unjusty.
The yellow fever has not fortunately amount
ed to anything far. but the OF even a
few sporadic should be q warning to which the
municipal authorities throughout the country would
do well to heed. II should teach them the danger of
trusting too implicitly to the theory that the winter
cold killed all the germs of the disease, and they
should be alive to the fact that epidemic once
started may extend in unexpected directions. Here
in New York We might be more careful thln
Many of our streets in filthy condition and the
sanitary regulations not enforced strictly
they should he. If disease such yellow fever
once gained foothold among the reeking
crowded, and filthy tenement houses, it would be
difficult to stay its progress. But with proper pre-
cautions there is not much To fear and the health of
the city at present is excellent.
Those people who made such outcry in the
newspapers at the time of the loss of the German
steamer Ponerana about the cowardice of the crew
10 saving their lives in preference to those of
the passengers, may now find opportunity to pub
sh the second edition. of their indignation, only this
time they will have dedicate it, not to the Germans
but to our British cousins. The steamer State of
Virginia Of the Allan line ashore ON Sable Is
land and though all the saved four women
and five children were drowned. Sixty head Of cat
rle saved also. anu perhaps indignant letter
writer may in that fact another instance of COW.
ardy selfshness on the part of the sailors who thus
allowed their passengers to perish while they looked
after the safety of their beef 1t is true that the
tie thrown overheard to tighten the ship and
saved themselves by swimming, while the women
wepe lost in the surf ih attempt to get them
shore, but these trfes, and before long doubt
we shall have the indgnants hard at work, regard
less of either facts common sense.
Most people doubt have either heard read how
the red and white striped pole of the barber origin
ated in the times when it the custom for BARRIERS
to act also in the capacity of bloodleters, the red
aud white representing blOod-stained bandage.
But doubt if many are aware that the two occupa-
tions still sometimes combined, in large
cities. certainly did not expect to find instance
of the survival of this ancient in the heart of
New York, yet the other day l saw old fashioned
looking dingy barbers shop having in front the usual
red ribboned pole, and in the window placard in
forming the public that it could have its hair
be shaved have its cOrns removed, or be cupped
leeched all at the lowest prices The routine of si
in this shop must differ in marked degree from
that in the establishment of ordinary nineteenth
century barber, and if ever advertisement
for young surgeon who cut hair and shave, or
for a barber who also understands the of the
know Is n n hon
fde advertisement.
Travelling in street-car is not ordinari produc-
tive of much pleasure in fact is thing rather to be
suffered than enjoyed but there certain friends
in human form who out of pure unprovoked cussed-
ness do their utmost to make the horse almost
uncomfortable One is the loud.tongued friend who
discourses at the top of his voice to his friend about
his private affairs and takes the whole load of
passengers into his confidence. have heard man
converse in voice which could be heard from one
end of the to the other the subject of recenl
addition to his family, the condition of the mother,
and other interesting details Then there is the pea
nut fend, who seats himself pacdly beside you
pulls out bag Of his favorite fodder and coolly
begins to devour it. The of the festive peanut
is stencil, and the person who enjoy it and in
tlct 1t upon his fellow creatures must be possessed
both of depravei appetite for vile smelling things,
and total disregard for the comfOrt of anyone but
himself Who has not met the whistng fend You
are sitting calmly thinking perhaps upon the abstract
relationship of the unconditional to the inconceya-
bic (If you are from Bostonl you may be evolving
from your inner consciousness unheard of and
wonderful mouse-trap or clothes-peg (if you are
New Yrrk mani which is to make your fortune when
your speculations interrupted by the doeful
notes of "In the Sweet By and Bye" or "My Grand
fathers Clock whistled dreadfully out of tune BY
your next neghbor on the seat. You cast upon the
calow youth (they nearly always are callow youths)
glance of scorn and reproach, he it not. his
vacant stare fixed upon the roof of the car and be
pipes up the dreadful sounds in blissfu ignorance of
the fact that the majority of his fellow passengers
are itching to pack him of the car and hang him
on the nearest lamp post. JJF