New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-01-16
POLICE BOARD MATTERS.
GENERAL SMITHS RESIGNATION DENIED-A oUEs-
TON ABOUT MR., FRENCH's SALARY.

GENERAL SMITHS RESIGNATION DENIED-A QUEs-
TON ABOUT Mr., FRENCH's SALARY.
In regard to the statement in The Star that Cen
eral William +. Smith has resigned as Ponce
Commissioner and that Mayor Grace has accepted
the resignation, Mayor Grace said yesterday that
General Smith had not offered his resignation nor
General Smith said to reporter of The TRIBUNE:
"The position of Police Commissloner interiors;
arrange matters 80 that / can overcome this shall
feel TEN tied to resign. have not yet resigned,
however, and do not conemp ate dong so az once y
more than three months from this time. At present
have not positively determined to resign.
A question has arisen owing to the anxiety OF the
Police Commissioners at a recent session to comply
with the forms of the law in the election Of a preS
dent of the Board for 1884, 1t was proposed to con-
prevailed; lest, however, the view of General
Smith, that the president holds over until sue
cessor is elected and that hence no formal election
was necessary. should prove incorrect the Board al
Mr. French's own suggestion. took q formal voe and
reelected him to the office for the year 1881.
The president of the Police Board is not among tue
presidents of departments who. urder the Public
Burdens act will receive higher salaries than their
fellow mGeofOr Sc the % tSf
other Commissioners receive only 5000 1t is now
reasoned that Mr.. French, having been formally
ira salary and hereafter range with the other Com
missoners. On the other hand, the claim is made
that Mr.. French was Commissioner before the law
was passed and therefore cahnot come under lis
operations.
CELESTIAL BUT NOT HEAVENLY MUSIC.
Strange sounds issued from the paror of the st.
Julien Hotel yesterday afternoon. Ihey were made
by All Foo and Paru YbOunts two Chinese mu-
scians. The instrument used by the former rese'a-
made of the skin of boa constructor and the Keys
are as large as clothes-pins. The guitar has only
three strings, which are manipulated by the per,
former with great rapidity. Paru Yhounts played
an extraordinary kind of fiddle, in which the bow Is
introduced between two strings and works mysterl-
ously around the neck of the rumeDt IN the pro-
duction of Chinese music. banjo. also used by the
players with the exception OF the strings, 10 made
entirely of wood; The body OF the lnstrnmeht Is
hollow. Chang, the Chinese giant lowered above
his fellow cOuntrymen IN corner OF the room anu
called for some martial music. The PLAYERS re-
sponded with an air pitched IN very mgn Sev; ne
the squeak Of the bag-ppo and the linking OF the
banjo combined. The theme was rep Gated with end
cested the lively notes Of quickstep polka ant!
then funeral drge. The hign notes We're 80 shrlll
that they were painful to the ear The perior names
seemed to think that they were producing exquisite
strains. Chang sat wrapped in thought and told an
amused inquirer TO his silence that the music re-
minded him of his native land. The players had to
be ordered to Stop when the audience was surfeed,
ss their music evidently has no natural ending.
They are said to be accustomed to play the same ar
by the hour. Youk San was sick and could not per-
form on his instrument, which remotely resembles
nos snng n was called for It began in cultural cry,
continued in o weird chant and ended with pro,
ionged howl. Then Chang sang solo accompanied
by the curious instruments, in quicker tine, how
ever. and in different key. Whatever harmony
there was was not apparent to the ordinary nearer,
but it NAV be said, without fear Of contradiction,
that New-York has never heard snch music before.
The performers come from the interior OF China,
where they played at weddings and anniversaries.
They wanted to establish Chinese theatre III this
city but were panied ~ learn that there were not
enough Cinnamon of aesthetic tastes in New-York to
support such an enterprise. They are said to possess
also some dramatic talent from Chinese point OF
view. =.
The performance concluded by Chang producing O
silver box curiOusly engraved. The lid flow up and
Q tiny mocking-bird OF brilliant plumage appeared
Tapping ts little wings and executing variety OF
triils Then the bird lay down in its nest and the
lid closed WITH snap. rbe Chinese musicians are
10 appear at Bunnel2s Museum.