Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-06
MANI 4TTANISMS.
THE POLITICAL cALDRoN BUBBLING IN
THE METROPOLIS.
A Literary and Artistic Rec ption-
Cyrus W. Fields wealtn-Blow-
ing to Some Purpose
New YoRg, October IS. 1880.

ing to Some Purpose
New YORK, October rs, 1880.
The campaign was begun very late this
year; but It's shortness has been offset by
great activity in the State and city on the
part of both Republicans and. Democrats.
The past week has been sufficiently ami
mated to suit the most ardent politician.
There had been plans, caucuses, organiza
tions, meetings, serenades, professions,
without number, and they continue at
present with augmented briskness. The
metropolis is throbbing with political ex-
citement in every quarter everybody is
thinking OF, talking about and working for
the election with energy and zeal Every
adult citizen was asked, last week, at least
twenty times day, Have you regis
tered ?" Women made the inquiry as often
as men, and politics was and is the chief
topic of conversation ia counting room.
street car, theater, clubhouse and society.
Whatever the result, which viii be known
before this letter has reached you, nobody
can say that defeat TO either party has been
the consequence OF incidence or apathy.
REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS HAVE
WORKED
And are still working like beavers both
pretend to be confident of victory; each
feels that il cannot afford to be beaten, and
has reason for feeling so The outcome of
the approaching election, whether on one
side or the other, viii be more than TEN
porary, if indications mean anything. The
Democrats are even more persuaded than
the Republicans are that they cannot al
ford to endure another overthrow and
you may be sure they won't--if they can
help it by fair means or foul During this
campaign the Republicans have been fairly
aroused, even in this city, where they
have hitherto been so hopelessly outnum-
bered as to make very little, if any, effort
| toward the reduction of the prodigious
Tammany majority. They seem to have
resolved now to be diligent and vigilant,
and it viii be very strange II they do not
show. next Tuesday, strength which will
surprise their ancient enemies. They more
fully understand than they have ever done
that Manhattan Island is the true battle.
ground of the country, and that it is their
patriotic duty to fight hard battle. They
appear to have grown tired of being mis-
governed by Irish ruffians and rum sellers,
and to be determined to try earnestly and
forcibly to effect modification, if not
change. Nor will they surrender their pur.
pose, even if they should fail this year OF
In re,uor IF thair They ave
plucked up courage and expectation, and
viii not be likely TO fall again into their
old Indifference. | dislike to make any
prediction about New York but do not
hesitate TO say that the municipal govern
ment will not, in the future, be so bad as
it has been or as it is now, and that it will
steadily, however slowly, improve. Be,
fore the century has ended dare to hope
that Manhattan will lose the unenviable
reputation of being the worst governed city
on the globe.
To so from politics to society,
ONE OF THE FIRST RECEPTIONS
OF the season was given Saturd ~ night to
Miss Mary N. Prescott, sister of Mrs.
Harriet Prescott Spofford, by Miss Mary
L Booth, editor of Harper's Bdz4r, whose
Saturday evenings have grown quite ia
nous here. She has now had recep-
tious for five or six years, and
some Of the pleasantest persons notably
representatives of the journalistic, literary
and artistic guids-are TO be met and en-
loyed there. Her house IS sort OF social
and intellectual exchange for many of the
clever men and women OF the metropolis,
and not few distinguished strangers are
usually to be found under her hospitable
roof. Miss Prescott is like her elder and
better. known sister, Mrs. Spoford-a
poet and story writer-and many of those
invited to meet her were of her calling.
Among the guests were Mrs Mary Mapes
Dodge, editor of So. Nicholas, the popular
writer for children and author of Hans
Brinker :" Charles E. Webb, more readily
recognized as John Paul, " the humorist,
formerly of California Richard Henry
Ssoddard, the poet, and Elizabeth Stod-
dard, the novelist; David Demarest Lloyd,
of the Tribune; William Sartain, artist;
Colonel Thomas w. Knox, author and
traveller VIM. T. Clarke, of the Esenmg
Express Mrs Sophia NJ Towles, artist
VIM. A. Crofut, paragraphist and author
of the libretto of 6 Deseret, the new comic
opera Mrs. Laura Curtis Billiard, prom
inent member of metropolitan society;
George Perry, editor of the Home Jour
nal Constant Mayer, artist; Mrs. James
S. Merriam, daughter Of Celestin Hippeau,
the Partisan litterateur and Professor in
the College of France; George Inness, Jr.,
artist Mrs. Fanny Barrow tAunt Fanny,
the benevolent and literary friend of the
little folks; George T. Ferris, journalist
and magazinist VIM. Courtney, the vocal
ist, and Charles A. Clapp, publisher.
ENGLISH OPINIONS.
a number of the women, both maidens
and wives, were noticeably pretty, and
most elegantly dressed. Although they
were not in larger proportion than they
often are at social assemblies here, they
particularly attracted the attention of an
Englishwoman who has been but short
time in the country, and she declared she
had never seen 80 many handsome women
in a company of that size. " / have fire.
quently heard" she added. q of the ex-
traordinary- beauty of American women,
but l had supposed it an idle story. Now
| am convinced by my own eyes of its
entire truth. They have not had justice
done TO them. They are perfectly lovely"
An Englishman present was introduced
to two Indian girls of the (domesticated)
Tuscarora tribe, who had been brought to
the reception by lady interested in their
education. They were quite novelty, as
you may infer, and drew much notice.
But when the Englishman had been pre-
scented he accepted them as matter of
course, and soon after remarked to an
American acquaintance :' Not many Indi.
ans about this evening, see. Thought l
should meet good many of EN-, you know,
in New York society. Good many Indian
lodges, dare say, around Central Park.
Expect to go up there tomorrow, you
know, to see a regular war dance. Must
be awful jolly to live side by side with the
red men. Do you often hunt buffalo with
them! Rare sport now, dare say. ex-
pect to do the Indians thoroughly in New
York, you know" Englishmen's ignorance
of America passes all understanding.
THE DINNER TO CYRUS FIELD
By eighty of his friends. as they very often
put it lean any man have half so many
real friends y, at the Union League Club
Tuesday evening was one of the most
elaborate entertainments OF the kind ever
oiven there Its entire eost was 7 boar