The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-09
CHAT BY THE WAY.

| this morning in the Slavonic language
CHAT BY THE WAY.
There are very few men poor that they can't
| keep horse. o hobby horse. at least
There some people who seem to have no other
mission than to get in everybody way. and they do
| their work better than most of us.
1t is said that the late Professor Agassz had pc
| culiar power over animals. and that whenever he
| entered a menagerie he eagerly welcomed by
the lions and tigers. This is not SO important dis
tinction between Agassz and ordinary mortals
al might think. We have stood close
| to hungry lions cage ourselves whom we
had q strange feeling that the brute would give us
verv warm welcome il would come inside. We
remember that Agassiz never did that sort of thing
however, but always magnetized them at distance,
and SO we never went close enough to put our pet
theory that could tame the widest beast to the
| test.
There is in Russia. and exhibition what called
happy family. It consists of two bears two lions and
two large dogs. Two hyenas and two wolves are to
be added and it Is expected that the peace and
mony Of the group will not be disturbed. Darwin
is right. and certainly have made descent from
the brutes II you should put two Jews. two Pres
byterans and two Baptists together. and then add
small but lively Universalist the result would not
equal that Of the Russian collection.
DIR. Collyer gave his Chicago people queer rea-
son for coming to this city. He told them lie was
worn out ana needed change. New York is not
exactly q restful place, and the Church of the
Messiah hardly presents inviting field to jadcd
man. We welcome Mr.. Collyer u man Of genius
but instead of resting his he will find it
necessary to pull hard against adverse current.
Unitariansm in the pretty little church Murray
Hill does not to resemble railroad terminus,
Int opIy a fha
1t would be we'll for young men to remember that
II they live on their income they will probably
have no income to live by and by.
The world seems to 20 hard with poor Mr. MUIR
raw. He Is . many sided genius. but this time he
seems to be on the wrong side of himself He has
been treated by his creditors. not exactly as the
trustees Of q church apt to treat their popular
and eccentric pastor. but ordinary the or
binary business walk of life treat each other
has, therefore, very little to complain. Having
hung the clerical vestments the peg behind the
door and assumed the cutaway of the merchant he
must expect men to want their money when it is
due and if he can't pay it he ought not to be
prsed if they try to get it the best way they 1t
is pretty hard world to live in any way. but for
clergyman who wants to make more money than his
profession allows him to- and who leaves the pulpit
for the Market it is certainly the very world
that ever heard Of.
There is q certain theological instinct in mankind
which Is apt to put hard questions. We speak of
Deity being onnpotent. not because the word is
good one. for. indeed. it is very bad and
factory one. but because it is tho only word which
approxlmxtes to the expression of our idea of
power in its supreme development. II language
were like the German might make word
of seventeen sylables and convey all
the necessary limitations. As it is we do the best
with the materials at hand. We are there
fore compelled to shrug shoulders when some
one asks IL Omnipotence make two hills
without q valley between. Human language is not
good for much when VIC try to express exact ideas.
The word irresistible is certainly good and
important one. and 1t means something reasonably
definite The word immovablc is also good word
and could hardly get without it, Practically
1t expresses about what mean But when
we bring the two words. each expressing an
extreme inter-juxtapostion how futile 1t is
to try to say exactly what mean. For instance.
suppose ask what the conse quence will be when
the irresistible strikes the immovable? We arc in
fog in on instant And we are in precisely the same
kind Of fog when we try answer the question
which the little boy asked when his teacher tried to
impress upon his youthful but not quite reverent
mind the fact that God can do everything. The boy
thought of the problem for q few moments and then
said, "Can He make stone so big that lie can't lift
itY'
Paris is getting to be very expensive and also a
very wicked city. Crimes are committed there
which never drcamod Of years ago. The
poverty in some parts of 1t is simply appalling.
Men and women. half naked or In rags and moro
than half starved. to DO seen any day by those
who know where to look. On tho stage you have
the brilliant .ootlghs ana the colorcd fire and the
exquisite scenery. And these are the things
which foreigncrs-yes. and tho Parisians them
subsequently, SEQ. But behind the stage,
in the gloom and darkness. is squalor
unspeakable. In certain quarters. such as Saint
Ouen La vilette and tho banks OF the Bievrc chit
drcn may be seen with haggard faces and hungry
stomachs huddlcd together for warmth on the piles
Of rotting ordurc. II is not TO DO wondered ut II
such children. when they grow to DO men, become
communists aud criminals OF the worst type. Paris
has been startled during The last two years by rapid
succession OF robbcrics aud MURDERS and sho is Just
beginning to ask tho meaning OF this change for the
worse. As for household expenses. We Americans
have a beautiful theory about living in Paris
In order cconomize but the facts are all the other
way. Twenty years ago the man Of moderate means
could go to Paris and live In comparative luxury.
To-day It is astonishing fact that costs more to
live there than in New York. or course a man may
40 from Fifth and live In an obscure street
aa noseme for small of money. but IL he lives
in Paris in tho style In which he
lives In New York 1t will certainly cost moro
money. The same apartments which in 1si9 cost
5OOf. MOI 1.G9of One could live very comfort
ably thirty years ago 7.0oOf. per annum and
ia while indulge in the luxury Of the theatre and
tho ballet. but to do the thing now would cost
at least 250OOf. There are other parts OF Europe
which have not become yet SO highly civilized
that they ovorehsrss for but Paris 10 tho