Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-14
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.

Mr. Asro. AND THE ELEcrroN-rArn v1crRrx-so-
Getty Observation-Disclosures BLUNDRRs-PHE-
s0NAL MATTRRs-BRIEFs, ETC, ETC
Special correspondents q THE EVENING STAR
NEW YORK, November H.
There has been an election in New York Mr..
VIM. Astor has not pTonted By 1t, and the light OF
his presence will be denied Washington this year.
In some respects this Is misfortune, for Mr. Astor
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 abu-
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 Ceasar, but the Mark Antony who
| has slain him has no such plea to beg
his 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 q matter OF general congratulation
and OF pleasure. He liked to try; he did it; he
failed Personally Aston is one OF the best fellows
! among the rich men of New York. His manner
opinion beyond dispute He never has put on airs,
has never held himself aioof rom the world, has
dcae many good things and until this canvass few
things to invite public disfavor. In appearance
he is tall, straight young man, sinewy and mus
sion, with large, pleasant, Intelligent eyes shining
out OF It, an unaristocratic nose, a strong mouth
av Of aed an Easy
Ing man, nor one who carouses. He owns the
largest yacht that sails, owns racing stable
RES; never plays polo, or such nonsense; is good
friend, relentless enemy, and, generally speak
pars 81 but By u no means Brilliant man' and
perhaps Is just as famous because OF his
defeat as he could have become had he
Tn0 nyxyt,r Voc
ingtOn to take Levi P. Morton's place is better
fellow than Astor. He will be popular in society
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
1ovial companion and generous man; grace
1ul, hospitable host and charm ng t<lker. 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 v1crRIx.
Financially considered, Patti Is monstrous
failure. She sung night before last to something
less than full house, that represented something
less than S 400. The ten-dOlar-a-ticket business
was Just little too much for even the extravagant
people OF New York; but nevertheless she sang,
| and IL her audience was made up OF short num-
Der, they were class Of people by whom the idea
OF monetary value was never considered in con-
nection with the grandeur Of the musical feast
they received. And how she did sing And
applause! The like Of It, SO am told by those
whose years enable them to speak with some
For my own part, 1t was the most persistent,
enthusiastic and hearty ever heard. The notes
were as pure "rhapsodized chant by an angel
choir" and they rang the voice of music only
muSic's voice can. ASsuredly no such human
vocaliZation 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
are gone, then, bear you it well in mind, his
antique soul has been stirred to its depths The
hence ofits individuals was far beyond anything
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 will stir her management about
with the sharpest kind of stick, and thus make it
matter OF her own individual personal business
Win vengeance.
JOHN KELLY NOT DEAD.
The grand sachem Of Tammany hobs up pretty
| sereney 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 a man who is very likely to get them.
Nobody ever had the hardihood to risk his reputa-
ton for wisdom by saying Mr.. Kelly is an idiot.
If they did they were bitterly prejudiced. He
may be, indeed he really is, trif1e stubborn. But
ii he 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
strongly marked in lines that awaken in many
people an antagOnism at once SO undeserved as it
Is UNJUST He IS an American by birth, If that is
to be said In his favor for the benet OF those who
disapprove OF him. He Is an educated man, q
scholar in many branches of literary and scientific
pursuits, and his business relations, outside OF
politics. In which connection am not speaking OF
| toward his employees and the essence OF fairness
and SquareneSS with those with whom he has
transactions In his home and social life he dis
plays the qualities OF gentleman, IS q good
husband and father, and, removed from politics. is
an estimable man, and, even in politics, he 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 a highly tmDOr-
tant affair. 1t was dignified 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, decora-
| ton and hall hire, they had to hire a halD, cost
near to $4,000. Fifteen hundred tickets sold at
$40 each was the contribution OF the chosen guests
paid the rest Of the money is matter of curious
and unsatisfed inquiry. The supper
yoaay se aps s sn%pagne and 9e @
| unquenchable appetite could ask The manage
ment was diref1lly bad except in some matters OF
IL w
that it all went to pieces because it drawn too
fine. There was card OF precedence, although on
what precedent 1t was framed for the occasion is
matter. belonging exclusively to the realm Of
vaguest speculation. Col Won Steubea 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 thc-ex-mnster 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 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? why7" The lines OF contention have been
strongly drawn and marked, and the act that
brought 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 1t 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
citys center 1t is on the granite stone now wear