Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-02-27
Our New York Letter.

Our view HOrk Letter.
dREELEY's INTERPRETER DEAD-RAIN- SHEDDING
BALLooNs-THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE AND TIL
1RoN BooM-MUD AND POLICE MuDDLEs-CU
PID's NIssrvEs.
NEW YoRK, Feb. 10th, 1880.
Bad writing is the joy of the ambition.
proof-reader, but Horace Greeleys at its best
was the despair of most of the craft of de-
cipherers. When he wrote hurriedly, as in.
deed he generally did, he couldn't read his
own writing. One man could He has Just died
His name was John c. Robinson, and be was
in the Tribune from the age of thirteen till
Greeley died. afterwards going to the Sun.
At the time of the campaign for the Presiden-
cy, which killed the old man, Robinson de.
tected at glance a most skillful forgery in
the shape of an article written in the closest
imitation of Greeley's handwriting, recon-
mending a certain candidate whom the Tri-
bune by no means wished to advocate. Rob
inson was perhaps the most rapid reader that
ever lived, and no stenographer could keep
! pace with his utterances when he let himself
out. He has been timed to utter GgG words a
/
hour.
A new industry. the plan of which has at
tracted some attention here, has been sug-
| gested by General Daniel Rugges. of Viz
| ginia. He has observed, as have several mil
lion other people. that the conclusion of the
atmosphere by the firing of heavy guns dur
ing battle invariably brings on rain His
| idea is 10 Sand nm hallnops ,,;tb d,.ua,,;,, 90
be exploded in mid-sir by electricity or time
fuses during dry weather and so let us have
rain to order. In order to make the thing
certain and to enable the gallant officer to
prove his superiority to the rain makers
among the Zulus it is proposed that the Gen
eral should go up in balloon himself and
boss the job
The Irish Relief boom of the Herald has
assumed gigantic proportions and stirred the
hearts of the people in remarkable way.
There is rivalry in every direction. Promi.
nent artists offer their services in music lee
lures or whatnot. The police, fremen. EN-.
ployes Of various firms are in the race 10 see
who will send the most money children give,
clergymen preach, ships to carry cargoes are
offered, ami free truckage and loading and
eIpressage, everybody canvasses everybody
else by letter and by word, and the money is
rolling in. Some carping critics want to know
who will distribute the money and why it
isn't sent. The probability is that the Herald
sends daily every dollar it gets and distributes
1t through its own representatives, who have
been long ago dispatched to make their re-
ports from the actual scenes Of the trouble.
The contributions thus far have reached the
magnificent sum of over $500, 900.
The Columbia College boys who SO gallant
ly maintained their country's credit in the in.
ternational University rowing matches few
years ago, have had to suffer from the das
tardly malice of some contemplate cur or
ours, who broke into their boathouse and
ruined their shells with brutal digs of chisel.
Not one of the expensive and beautiful craft
escaped.
The way iron has gone up together with
most other commodities, has had an immense
effect on building operations, and the con.
tractors who made their arrangements some
time ago, are beginning to look pretty blue.
And then, again, the too prudent property
owner who has been dily -dallying about the
improvements he has contemplated, is likely |
to find them cost considerably more than he
might have got them for had he been more
prompt The Brooklyn Bridge Trustees,
who seem to be always in more or less hot |
water, aud to spend large portion of their
time in investigating and being investigated.
are likely to find out something about the |
price of steel. 1t seems they need thous
and tons or SO TO 90 on with, and they might
have had it three months ago at somewhere
about $500, 600 less than they can get it now
quite an item.
The Police Board are in another wranple
as usual. One of those ousted by the Mayor
a year ago, Mr.. Nichols, has been reinstated
by decision of judge. The others won't
go peaceably, and appeal the case These lat
ter are accused of putting up job on Light
ming Charley, one Of the captains, TO try and
convict him of receiving brides from the
keepers of dsorderly houses. Meanwhile,
MIR. Nichols has, we are informed, resumed
control of the Street Cleaning Bureau. If so,
The old broom won't sweep at all. Anybody
whose business calls him much out of doors
IS apt to be buried in the mud. No deaths
- ouhoSoeloh III oilue nhNo 50 lar been re- |
ported, but the appearance of the industrious
nan, when he goes home, after wrestle with
mud, is appalling to the average wife and
amily. Truly, our constabulary form a sa-
Sory crowd
A remarkable exhibition of 90 plans for
model public schools, in competition for
prizes amounting to $500, has been brought
o close at the Academy of Design. The
ubject is important and has been taken hold
If vigorously, The successful architects will
probably find their reputation greatly en-
lanced and their pocket-books bulkier after
While
Judging from the quantity of valentines
old this year, Uncle Sans mail distributors
must be badly down on Cupid. The quality,
90, has greatly improved. The mere pretty
picture set in paper lace, which used to be
Il sufficient to enchant the FACILITATING bosoms
f fair recipients, has expanded to presents
f very elaborate character something of
se as well as graceful ornament for instance,
atin-lined glove and handkerchief boxes,
properly supplied with the finest gloves and
andkerchiefs perfumed, and perchance with i
musical box cunningly concealed The va
iety is bewildering, and the finest kinds of
alentines are certainly very tempting to
aehelors with well filled purses.
RADIx
Gu ha 10