Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-01-02
Our Wv Ynrk Later.
CHRISTMAS IN GoTHAM-ELEcTR1c EDISON AND
THE RABBIT HUNTERS -sESTEScED MURDER
Frs VIEWS ON HANGNG-YEr ANOTHER MA
rtoNA1 uyMN-suApows OF THE SEASON.


TIoNAL HYMN-sHADows OF THE SEASON
New YoRK, Dec. goth, 1879
Santa Claus had pretty rough time trav-
cling this Christmas. Four days of the
meanest weather, in spite Of the noble exer-
tions of ex.clubber street cleaning Captain
Williams, SO covered the city with slush that
the reindeer got tired the famous sleigh got
mired, and having to avail himself of the SER
vices of New York hackmen, their charges
were so high that the old Saints money gave
out. In sober fact, business though so brisk
for some weeks whom people with cash took
time by the forelock, simmered down when
the disgusting warm storm came on and
many people put OF their purchases to the
last minute. Then the weather might be as
mean as It liked, they were obliged to com
plete their purchases, but they didnt-uot
half The crush in the stores was terrific,
and il any one got just quarter of what he
set out to buy he might consider himself
lucky. Broadway was jammed from early
morning till late at night, in q way that
threatens TO become historic, hats were
smashed, clothing ruined, and all the world
and his wife will long have reason to remem-
Der this rainy Christmas One thing about
it is that Santa Claus, with many families, is
likely to put in a second appearance. Toys
and holiday presents generally are marked
down all over, and the generous patron of
tho babies feels particularly good in these
promising times. Not even in the war was
there ever seen such a rush of business
among retail merchants as during the past
few weeks. and expensive presents were the
rule, people seeming to pay of arrears bred
of prudence enforced during the dismal time
since the panic. The jewellers are radiant as
they reckon their profits, and other purvey-
ors of esthotic gifts from artistic candy in
theImost original imported caskcts, to cash
mere shawls and exquisite silks have shared
the bounteous harvest. The rain will no
doubt aid in introducing the French custom
of New Years gifts as supplementary to the
kindly remembrances OF Christmastide.
Auctoning off church pews, a custom in
troduced by Rev Henry Ward Beechers peo-
Pile, has become naturaized in Brooklyn, and
in SOME cases in New York. The practice is
indirectly very significant sort Of financial
| barometer There may be some ostentation
in the desire of pillars of the church to pay
heavy premiums for the choicest seats in the
| synagogues, but the most naughty Of PhRri-
sees has drawn in his horns since Black Fri
day Now, there is u manifest rebound. A
few days ago, at the sale of pews at DR.. II.
N. Scudder's Central Congregational church,
| 81, 800 were realized in premiums as against
| $500 last year-no mean addition TO the S20,-
900 annual income brought in according to
the ordinary valuation of the seats.
Electricians are greatly excited over the
announced intention of Edison to light up
Menlo Park, N. j., on New Years Eve and
show the doubling Thomases how he can
| furnish cheap and safe illumination for the
million. 1t is wonderful how many scientific
persons have taken to hunting for rabbits
around Menlo Park of late. The general
| public is scarcely so much interested as one
would expect the subject having been so
much before them that it has been worn
| somewhat threadbaro We shall see what
we shall see. Whether the professor sue
ceeds or not there is likely to be an interest
ing stir in the matter, and / shall probably
have something to say on the whole matter
before long. happen to know some of the
| most prominent workers in the cause Of the
most brilliant of all artificial lights, and they
seem one and all to be almost bursting with
big secrets. When they burst I'll let you
| know their true inwartnoss promptly.
An enterprising morning paper has been
interviewing everybody on the subject of
what is the best substitute, if any, for hang.
| IL. - I
the murderers confined in the Tombs, our
city prison. Perhaps it is not strange that
they all objected to hanging and most of
them seemed adverse to discussing the sub
ject Chastine Cox, the colored murderer OF
the aged Mrs. Hull, advocated shooting, be
cause it was the death of o soldier"
An ex-army chaplain, who served his coun
try for eight years, has fallen victim to the
proverbial recklessuess and brutality OF New
York truck drivers, who invariably consider
pedestrians have no rights they are bound to
respect The good old gentleman was run
down in the Bowcry and crippled for life
The scamp was sentenced to twenty days il
prison, scarcely a compensation for the suffer
ing of the victim.
Gilmore the industrious leader of orches
tras, has been for some time past working
himself into fever over a new nationa
hymn, Columbia" by which lie claims t,
have been suddenly inspired in au almos
miraculous manner. Elaborate preparation
were made for its production on Christina
day at the Academy of Music, and several sta
singers and large specially trained choru
took part in the rendering of the new piece
1t did not excite the enthusiasm expected b,
the composer.
In miserable den in Mulberry street, op
posite Police Headquarters, lived a squat,
old man by the name of Houston and
vicious tom-cat, the only friend he would &C
knowledge. His only luxury was tobacco
This he burnt freely and it nearly burnt him
An alarm OF fire attracted attention to tn
strange household, when the old man wa
found nearly sulTocated, and his cat quite SO
by smoke. spark from his pipe had fallel
on the rags which he used for a bed. Tn
unhappy wreck of humanity was once pros
porous merchant in Bridgeport, Ct, wher
his daughters reside in comfortable circum
stances. He lost his wife some time ago, an
letting the misfortune prey too much on him
lost his business, chiefly by his own negleC
) of it, and then almost lost his reason, ceI
, tainly all interest in his life. His relative
were willing and anxious to provide for an
cheer him up but without avail. There ar
some queer people in this city.
coffin is dismal sort Of Christmas boz
Many people have them, though, but it is nc
often that like piece of furniture has to b
| provided on another holiday close by. I
lose her husband in time for Thanksgivin
and the eldest Of her two children just befoI
Christmas was the sad fate of poor destitut
German woman. Her loved ones wen
buried by st. Pauls Church.
RADTX