St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-08-13
Our New York Letter.

Our New York Letter.
THE GALLONS, GREEDY GHOULs, AND
AUTHORIZING TANNER-ZWEI LAGER
FOR NOTHING-A SMUGGLING SHARP
SHOoTER-BoGUS BULLBATING BY
GENUINE GLADIATORS y WARRIORS
AND WARFARE AT ROCKAwAY AND
COMFY IsLAND-PROMIsEs BY THE
LOCOMOTIVES ON THE LoosE-EDIsoN
SOARING THROUGH ETHER BY ELEC
TRIO AID-ROsY LIPS AS TEST OF
TRUTH.
NEW YORK, August 6, 1880.
To the Editor of the CaledOnidn:
Balbo, the interesting Italian who
killed his wife, and won golden opin-
ions for gentle demeanor while in pris-
on, has at last made an edifying end,
in spite of the reasoning omens of a
white dove fluttering into a cell and a
flashing meteor which illumines it, on
both of which he laid much stress, af-
ter being twice respited after the death
watch had been set and even the gal
lows brought to the prison for his exc
cution. Governor Cornell kept the
poor fellow a long time in suspense,
before he finally decided to let him
bang, and then got out of the way to
avoid the strong pressure for mOdifi-
cation of the sentence which was
brought to bear on him. Tanner, the
triumphant, as suppose 1 may now
call him, is on the home stretch with
his forty-days fast and is as near death
as it is possible for man to be. 1t is
difficult to conceive how, after he has
reduced his stomach to the condition OF
an old sole leather trunk, he can man :
age to get it into working order again.
Like Pyrrhus, he may well remark
that another victory would finish him.
mention these Two cases. partly be-
cause they have been among the most
prominent topics of conversation dur
ing the week, and because they formed
the opportunity for some brutalities
that it is hard to find our fellow Great
ures in the civilized country guilty of.
Among the latest presents to Tanner
was miniature coffin, quite a delicate
and expensive piece of jewelry, with
his name, date of birth and date of
(supposed) death on the last day of the
fast. Could anything be more horr-
bleP Yes, for huckstering hound of
an undertaken actually offered to meas
ure him for gorgeous coffin for prae-
teal accommodation, no doubt hoping
to gain custom by this queer advertis-
ing dodge. Another fellow of the same
stripe made similar offer to the Ital-
ian. 1t reminds one of professional
embalmers who hung like vultures
about the army during the war, and
were always on hand as the troops
were marching into battle, to press
their disgusting professional cards as
a cheerful reminder of the possibilities
attending a patriotic performance of
duty.
A more attractive advertising scheme
has been the distribution of free beer.
during certain hours, by an enterpris-
ing saloon keeper. The thing took i'm
mensely, but can hardly be carried
out, as intended, for month, as the
brewers and adjacent dealers in the
mildly Intoxicating and tonic lager
have made common cause in opposi-
ton. The brewers decline to have
this beer given away, as they say peo-
pie will insist on it that it can't be good
for much, and the gin-mill keepers are
on the rampage.
sold Reliablen Bodine is back from
his victorious campaign at the head of
the American team at Dollymount, but
unluekily had his cherished rifle sliced
by the custom house authorities because
the case was stuffed with all sorts of
valuable dry goods, which were duti-
able, and which he had neglected to
declare presents forwarded through him
by his friends to other friends at home.
He may perhaps get his guns back, but
he has certainly had a severe lesson
against being too goOdnatured in fu-
ture.
Some genuine Spanish bullfghters of
considerable renown have been trying
to get up as much of a bull fight as
Bergh would permit. A number of
Texan steers with padded horns were
let out for them to tease with bright
cOlored cloaks and darts with futtering
ribbons and some sticky substance in
stead of sharp points. There were no
cavaliers with sharp lances OIL weedy
screws, nor fire crackers to stimulate
the bovine brutes and the exhibition
was about as lively as a first-class flu
neral. The costumes were gorgeous as
silk and gold lace and seed pearls could
make them, and were the best part of
the show. The gate-money was hardly
sufficient to cover expenses, and to
crown their misfortunes even that was
attached by former member of the
troupe. The prices of admission were
enormous, and altogether this attempt
to Introduce favOrite sport of the
Latin races proved lamentable fail
ure.
The Thirteenth Brooklyn Militia.