Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-18
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.

THE POLITICAL CHANGE-AAyoR GRACE-THE BROOK
LYN LADIEs-How TREY SPEND THEIR TIME-THE
PHILOSOPHER OF MADISON soUARE-A I. STEW
ARTS sToRE-THE NEW PLAY OF YouTH-sIR HENRY
PARKEs-THE W ATER-CoI.oR ARTISTS ETC
Special Correspondence of THE EVENING STAR.
THE NEW POLITICAL DEAL.
New YORK, February nth.
Since the last Tammany performance at Albany
it has been easy to distinguish Kelly's followers
in this city at sight They swagger around with
happy air ana beam with smiles. 1t is also easy to
tell county democracy man. who looks vcxed
and serious, and becomes profane when be talks
The c0mplacency with which the republicans
view this little acrobatic act OF Tammany Is also
amusing, and one spoke for good many when
he said, "Let 'em come on: there's room
enough Tor more Of. them" The pliability
OF the human mind in politics is wonderful
To a disinterested observer there is moth
Ing surprising in the performance, for when
you prod a mule with due respect to John
Kelly ten chances to ono hewiu kick. But what
is surprising Is that Hubert o. Thompson and his
associates have apparently been looking for the
Tammany members to turn the left cheek
around when the right had been smitten, when
the only law they have ever known has been an
eye for an eye, &c. The most complacent obServa-
ton have heard made was that or Mayor Grace,
who says that the deSerterS nave been drifting to
the republican party for some time and that 1T
was simply matter OF going over, boots and all.
But the calm philosophy OF the mayor is not
shared by many Of the Tilden men; they tune
about what they call treason and conspiracy, and
declare that there should never be an attempt
again to make terms with the adherents of Kelly.
A few county democracy men are to be found
who graveiy admit that there has been mistake
Much OF the blame Is attached to Hubert O. Thomp-
Tweed was. He is commissioner of public works,
an important Office In the municipal government
Instead OF attending to his duties here he has been
at Albany for about two months pulling political
wires. Meanwhile incompetent SubordinateS have
been having good time In his department. Well,
the deadlock has been broken in both houses of
the legislature after six weeks struggle, and pub
lie business has begun once more.
MAYOR GRACE
has surprised New York, socilliy speaking. Before
his election no one ever heard OF him other than
as a quiet citizen with South American interest,"
but now he IS in the middle OF society's whir
There is never a swell dinner or fashionable ball
without the mayor nowadays His stocky figure
heavy neck and characteristic face with its gold
spectacles is seen everywhere. He has his clothes
made by an ultra fashionable Fifth avenue tailor,
and he drives stylish horses in the park His Old
est daughter toe, has become quite society leader
in very small way, her ''germans" being among
those talked about, but Mrs Grace is rarely seen
This change in the mayor was as unlocked for as
1t is complete 1t was even feared on his election
that he might be too crude, and he isn't exactly
polished but his social aspirations are backed by
Immense enthusiasm and he Is very popular.
BROOKLYN LADIES.
Brooklyn girls always interest me- I mean
viewed as whole. The city has the reputation Of
having more really pretty young women than any
other in the Union, and nobody seems to deny 1t.
In Baltimore there more really beautiful faces
and In Washington and New York more striking
and stylish looking wOmd4, but for pretty, grace
full and charming girls Brooklyn undoubtedly leads
the van. But 1t Is not about their beauty wish
tospeak much as about their extr aorunary free
dom Of action in the streets In New York lady is
never so circumspect, careful and discreet when
in
man. II woman is at all careless or flirtations
in the street in New York, it simply
Ts eert wht h does p o pd ss10y ns 2
there are allowed the most extraordinary
freedom. Their fathers and brothers come to New
York to business after breakfast and do not return
till night, and the women left entirely to their
own resources and to the attentions OF class OF
young men who are too young, or too indolent to
go to business, and spend their time instead In the
streets The girls parade up and down the aye
nues, go for long trips in Prospect park, drive nd
be well enough as an illustration OF the idea OF
the early part OF the century that woman in
America may go whittier She may and always be
Brooklyn girls closely and am bound to admit
Of every Ser as To Of rrn n
Of the useless young men before alluded
and first one pretty girl viii LOOK over ss her
shoulder and ogle young man swinging along
behind her, and then another girl will smile in
half-baShful, but wholly charming. way at
youth struggling with cigar en- the opposite side
OF the street. He generally STnirkS In SheepiSh
way and sometimes tips his hat awkwardly, but
When he meets his friends thu story he tells or his
''maSh" would astonish Chinaman. The girls
are usually between the ages OF sixteen and TWEEN
tyone years They often reckless in flirting but
wish to be understood emphaticaliy that they ara
almost never vicious. II flirting can be an entirely
nn on pana 1t Is IN a Of these Is
with the young but the pefnciOuS effect OF
the pastlne, or whateverit may be called, is ap
parent. think l am Sale in saying that the
Brooklyn girls have worsa straet manners than the
girls OF any great city in the country.
THE PHILOSOPHERS OF MADISON SQUARE.
The other day CHANGED upon the philosopher OF
Madison Square. He was sitting in the corner OF
the reading room Of hotel In Fourth avenue, with
his usual esthetic bouquet as big as mans hand
pinned on the lapel OF his coat. The corner he
has appropriated as his Office and he Is to be fouad
there every day with two chairs drawn up 10 his
knees, newspaper slips and manuscripts on one
The older u gness Of th hg On snn deh ter
phenomena; newly arrived guests stare at him in
am cement AS he converses now as the deaf
With considerable difficulty. Not knowing whether
he would even communicate In this way, wrote
''You are a very Industrious journalist"
When this was handed him he looked from his
work and smiled. Then he TOOK up pencil and
farce that brings you here. I'VE are on the eve OF
startling changes CITIZEN G. F. TRAIN"
''What subjects are Ginning your attention
n0w?" was written On another Slip.
81 throw Off PSy-chC-gralnS On various topics,r
was the written answer. "ShOw up all Shams
at sight. Write on everything at a moments
notice. This evolution Force taps the source OF
nature"
'When did you resolve to become silent phil
lOSOpher?"
Last April"
"Why2"
"Because the Silly park commissioners refused
to let the children skate In Madison square, came
back on another Slip
"Do you think they Will abolish the park board
at Albany?"
EYES,"
"Will you then unseal your lips AGAIN."
"NO! Have made wonderful (s!lent) discovery
which no one would understand"
rs silence another step in the evolution of the
soul ?"
'' 1t is. Coming ower-earthquakes-
typhohes.volc1nosa are silent till they speak-Citi-
zen g. F. T. to Citizen"
" Your thoughts are SO valuable" next wrote
that one Is repaid for the trouble OF writing eve
rything out"
&c If you knew what the world does" he replied,
writing rapidly on his little pad, "you would see
It's value. Ten thousand people Will be standing
In Madison square without knowing why they are
there! hold the power OF life and death! This
house Is full to overlooking just by my sitting here