Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-11-03
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MONITOR
NEW YORK. Oct. 81. 1879.

ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS OF THE MONITOR
New YORK, Oct 81, 1879.
We are all sovereigns in this free
country, but it does not often happen
that they are the fathers of real live
kings across the Atlantic. 1t seems that
the famous John Dunn of Zululand, who
has been enthroned in part of the terri
tory which used to belong to King Cate
wayo, is New Yorker, of Irish birth,
it is true, but grew up here, was good
plasterer, studied law, and also made
money as an architect and civil engineer
till the time of our little unpleasantness,
when he Joined the Corcoran legion as a
captain. Why he disappeared from
among his old friends and buried him
self among his fat. forty, and not fair
wives, is something his old father, very
respectable old gentleman, can give no
reason for.
New York is, I believe, the only city
in the world that has floating public
school. The st. Mary's training ship is
one of the regular schools under the d.
rection of the board of education. 1t is
by no means reformatory institution.
On the contrary, the boys received have
to be of the best character and no little
education before entering on their new
studies. The commander is always an
officer of the United States Navy, and
the instructors are exceptionally able
and carefully selected men. The young
sters are put through regular course of
sprouts az common sailors, and toxic at
least one long sea voyage each year.
When they graduate they usually find
little difficulty in obtaining responsible
positions as mates in the merchant SER
vice. The ship is somewhat an expen-
sive style of school, and on that account
there is always more or less opposition
to it among large class of tax payers
But others are very strongly in its favor
and its examination days. one of which
has just passed. is always great occas-
ion. The chamber of commerce, which
claims the position of patrons to the
school, always turn out in force, with
their sisters, cousins, and aunts, and the
boys have gay and festive time indeed.
The good people of Brooklyn are very
angry and disguised with the ways that
are dark and tricks not in vain of their
various gaslight companies, which have
consolidated, and now threaten to put up
the price of gas. They have long been
an ofense to people, and the way in
which they have been accustomed to
charge for gas during the summer, when
houses have actually been locked up
and empty. has been regarded as ex-
tremely cool. They have not had it all
their own way, however Numbers of
citizens and storekcepers gave up their
meters and took to kerosene, while few
got small gas machines for themselves,
and now the strikers went for them.
A gang of unsavory politicians actually
got incorporated and secured charter
for new company. and for months have
been tearing up the streets to lay mains.
They have been bought out, and nowit
turns out they laid their pipes only two
feet under ground, where frost in winter
would make every one useless, so that it
was evident the whole thing was nothing
but shrewd bit of blackmail. -
One of the sensations of the day is the
announced unreserved auction sale next
week of ffty-six horses, brood. mares,
colts, ETC., of the famous trotting stock
of Mr.. Robert Bonner of the LEDGER.
He does not surrender the two or three
supreme marvels of his stable, but the
records of some of the horses to be offer
ed are rarely approached by those Of
even what are usually considered first
class trotters. The value of the fifty-siz
is probably as many thousand dollars
but the notice of sale plainly states that
there will be no reserve, even If they
don't bring Sl0 head.
The British gold, against which FEM
an leaders have spoken so eloquently
when administered in recent brides, il
pouring in openly by millions, as well a.
other foreign gold. In the last siz
weeks no less $55, 100000 in hard cast
has come over. Every steamship i.
loaded down with gold, and wisest fnan
ciers say that now the country cannot
help prospecting. For the first time il
the history of the country we have /;
currency on gold basis. and there ii
nothing but the widest speculation tina
can hinder our attaining degree O
prosperity as brilliant as the adversely