Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-12-23
OUR NEW York LETTER,


For the past two weeks, the en-
forcement of the recently codified |
Sunday laws, for many years dor
mant, has been a matterof much
hubbub in the city. 1t was source
of much pleasure to the police force.
who thoroughly appreciate the adj
ditional authority thereby vested in
them. The law went into force the
Sd inst, and that day was made
utterly wretched to the newsboys,
bootblacks, BARRIERS, tobacconists
and others, who had hitherto en-
joyed perfect freedom in the pursuit
of their business. The police courts
were crowded with these criminals.
An officer watched decrepit old
woman for an hour until she sold
newspaper, when he marched her
off in triumph; tailor, delayed
with an overcoat, was arrested for
carrying it home early in the morn
ing; people who had the audacity
to ride or drive, sin a secular man.
ner," along the streets, and grocers'
wagons and iuilk-men, delayed
beyond the nine o'clock grace
allowed them, were promptly haul
ed up-and so on, cases without
number. Great was the indigna-
ton of Gotham. The newspapers
have made war holly against the
revival of these old laws, inadvert-
emily allowed to remain in the
statutes, though not in force, for so
long. Even the clergy, while up
holding a reasonable observance of
the Lords Day, have deplored gen.
orally the idiocy which the police
have shown in the execution of the
law. 1t now appears that there will
be a slight relaxation of severity
otherwise treble the present force
of policemen would be powerless to
enforce subservience. Many cases
of open defiance have already Oc-
Cured, and several injunctions have
been obtained. 1t must be said
that the police have made one ex-
ception to the general enforcement
of the law. Every dramshop in
New York was in full blast through
out the day, as usual, and not an
arrest was made amongst them.
Cold weather has set in. There
have been one or two light snow
storms, and at present the weather
is cold and clear, with stiff breeze
blowing. Apropos of the "Blue
Laws" a man was arres ted last
Sunday for cleaning away the snow
from his front steps.
A sad accident occurred Thursday
evening at Schuylkill Falls. A
crowd of small children were skat-
ing on a miIl-pond, when the ice
gave away, and it is reported that |
probably fifteen or twenty were
drowned.
OF course, all political excite
ment, and almost all interest, has
for the present subsidized. The Re-
publicans have set strict watch
over the actions of the elected Dem.
ocrats with the hope of turning
their defeat into victory in 1884.
Mayor Cleveland, the Governor
elect of the State, has been inter-
viewed by hosts of journalists and
politicians, and the general impress
sion appears to be that he is very
clear-headed, sensible and honest
man. The Democrats place great
hopes upon his conduct in the Ex-
ecutIve chair. Thereupon rests, in
great measure, the result of the
next Presidential election, as it is
generally conceded that the vote OF
New Yorkcwill be cast for the sue
cessful candidate.
The recent settlement of the rail-
road war in the west has had great
influence already, upon the finan-
cial portion of the city. Markets
are stronger, and the dull feverish
tone that has prevailed for some
weeks gives place to renewed activ-
ity. The Senate "committee on
Grain Corners" are in the city,
prosecuting IL searching inquiry in
to the legality of the system of buy
ing and selling produce by STU
lures" {or contracts to deliver what
you haven't gOD. Vanderbilt,
Hatch, and numerous large fnan-
ciers have been examined, and,
while the impression prevails that
the business should be stopped,
doubts exist as to the possibility OF
stopping it.
The theatrical season is at its
height. Mrs. Langtry, Patti,
Modjeska, Lolita, Emma Abbott,
Mary Anderson, Minnie Houk, Bar
rett. Mccullough, all the "stars"
have been enjoyed by the play
going. public of New York and
Brooklyn lately. Henry Irving,
the English rival of Edwin Booth,
is promised to appear before long.
The new opera, "Iolanthe," by
Gilbert & Sullivan, of "Pinafore"
renown, is received with somewhat
dubious approval by the critics.
Mrs. Langtry has made financial
success of her engagement here,
though it is more than probable,
had it not been for her previous
fame as a beauty, that she would
have been most unceremOniOusly
hooted, both as to her pretensions
to extraordinary beauty and her
acting,-if her self-conscious poses