Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-12
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.

CIETT Observation-Disclosures BLUNDERS-PER-
soNAL MATTERs-BRIEFs, ETC, ETC.
Special correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.
NEW YORK, November II.
There has been an election in New York Mr..
VIM. Aston has not proited by II, and the light OF
his presence will be denied Washington this year
In some respects this is misfortune, for Mr. Aston
meant well, but he did not know. As statesman
he did not please New York city In the meagre
Held In which he has hitherto exercised his abil-
ties That does not mean that they were not well
intended, and that in their character as In their
OBJECT they might have been ever so much better
than the people could appreciate. He is ambitious
SO was julius Caesar, but the Mark Antony who
mas slain him has no such plea to beg
MS deaths excuse. as the other one had
He sought political preferment for no
other reason beyond the one that he wanted to
move in political life. His object is, therefore, in
one sphere OF criticism that may be very far re-
mote from any other Nevertheless his defeat Is
apparently matter of general congratulatior
and OF pleasure. He liked to try; he did It; he
tailed Personally Astor is one OF the best fellows
.e se sr men q, Sgm his nus
opinion beyond dispute He never has put on airs,
has never held himself aleof from the world, has
done many good things and until this canvass few
things to invite public disfavor. In appearance
cular, with good face bearing an honest express
sion, with large pleasant Intelligent eyes shining
OUT OF 1t, an unaristocratic nose, a strong mouth
ana chin, well kept moustache, and an easy, I'M
hurried way OF doing things. He Is not drink
Ing man, nor one who carouses He owns the
largest yacht that sails, owns a racing stable
RES; never plays polo, Or such nonsense: is good
friend, a relentless enemy, and, generally speak
parts; but by no means brilliant man, and
perhaps is Just as famous because of his
been elected. The man who goes down to wash
lhgton TO take Levi P. Morton's place is better
fellow than Astor He will be popular in society
ana elsewhere, and strange to say, the people Of
New York are just as likely to think more OF him
than of any other representative they have in the
government, the President alone excepted. He is
Jovfal companion and generous man: a grace
full, hospitable host ana a charm ng talker. as for
the other Congressman New York state has named
10 represent their several districts, don't believe
We care much here, and don't think you do.
PATTI yICiR1x
Financially considered, Patti is monstrous
failure. She sung night before last to something
less than fun house, that represented something
less than s., 400. The ten-d0llar-a-tcket business
was just little too much for even the extravagant
people OF New York; but nevertheless she sang,
and II her audience was made UP of a short num-
Der, they were class Of people by whom the idea
or monetary value was never considered in con-
necttOn with the grandeur OF the musical feast
they received. And how she did singl And
spplausel The like Of 1t, 50 am told by those
whose years enable them to speak with some
For my own part, it was the most persistent,
enthusiastic and hearty l ever heard The notes
were as pure as a ''rhapsodized chant by an angel
choir" and they rang the voice OF music rs only
muSjcS voice can. ASSuredly no such human
Vegetation has ever been heard in America. That
said every body who has heard the singers of the
last four or five decades, and when you hear an
ancient opera or concert gOer speak without
remembering Jenny Lind, or some OF the ones who
are gone, then, bear you 1t Wen In mind, his
antique SOU has been stirred to its depths The
audience VS. brilliant one, and in the social emil
have ever seen in this country where PATHS come
at rare intervals AS to her failure in financial
way, that is her business, and if reports agree it IS
likely that she VIII stir her management about
With the sharpest kind Of stick, and thus make it
matter Of her own individual personal business
with vengeance.
JOHN KELLY NOT DEAD.
The grand sachem Of Tammany hobs UP pretty
serenely to-day. The vote he polled, now that it
Is counted, shows that the warrior OF an hundred
camp fires still has belt to put scalps in, and he
Is man who is very likely to get them.
Nobody ever had the hardwood to risk his reputa-
ton for wisdom by saying Mr.. Kelly is an idiot.
If they did they were bitterly preudced He
may be. indeed he really is, 4 tr1e stubborn. But
If ne makes mistakes according to the Judgment OF
his critics he, Perhaps has light Of his own, and
the errors are those ne suffers by. In all other
relations, except those In which Mr.. Kelly has
stood in against the fire OF criticism in public life,
he Is much misunderstood man. His face Is
people an ant3gOniSm at once undeSf lved as 1t
is unjust. He Is an American by birth, If that is
70 De said in his favor for the benefit OF those who
diSapprove OF him. He Is an educated man,
scholar In many branches of literary and scientific
pursuits, and his business relations, outside OF
him, are conducted with gentle consideration
toward his employ es and the essence Of fairness
transactions In his home and Social life he he dis
plays the qualities OF gentleman, is q good
husband and father, and, removed from politics, is
after all. in the opinion Of the people who think
about him only the weather-vane OF their beliefs.
SOCIETY SENSATION.
The other night there was ball at the Casino,
which, socially considered, was highly 1mpor-
tant affair. 1t was d1gnif1ed by the fact that it
was given in honor of the French and German
visitors In its results, it bids fair to be an
irregular torpedo that will go on exploding itself
for many long day to come, and give New York
society no end Of trouble. Now the facts in the
case are that it was the SWEETEST affair New York
has had for long time. Music, supper fecora-
ton and hail hire, they had to hire halD, cost
near to $75,000 Fifteen hundred tickets sold at
$40 each was the contribution or the chosen guests
paid the rest OF the money Is matter OF curious
and unsatisf1ed inquiry. The supper
g guns We're as anandnns as a9 the n nos
unquenchable appetite could ask. The manage
ment was diretully bad except in some matters o.
that 1t all went to pieces because 1t was drawn too
fine. There was g card OF precedence, although on
what precedent 1t was framed for the occasion is
matter belonging exclusively to the realm Of
7aguest speculation. Col Won Steuben was to
take in to supper the society leader, Mrs. John
BigelOw, wife OF the ex-minister to France. He
some way or another, caught on to Mrs Jay, OF
the family OF the ex-minister to Austria. The pro-
cession had moved, and the leading couples were
entering the dining room when the fact was
learned by the managers that there was nOn-ob-
servance OF the arrangement OF detail So they
stopped it all, notified Col. Won Steuben, and
trouble began that has not ended yet, although
the German visitors who were present, and OF
whom the colonel was chiefest in rank took French
leave precipitately. Now, society Is angered at
the marshals OF the day. or at least part OF it is,
and the rest like the first great RADICAL crying
"Why? why?" The lines Of contention have been
strongly drawn and marked, and the act that
brought on an internecine feud bids fair to be the
Starting place OF great work that will divide our
very best society into two integral parts.
BRIEFS.
Now it is the poets grave In which moulders the
clay OF Joseph Rodman Drake that is neglected.
Somebody or people are going to fix it up. The
tomb is within the city limits, but miles from the
c1ty's center. 1t is on the granite stone
ing away, that are cut Fritz Greene Halleck's
lines:
nro0 In <H,o