Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1883-01-30
Our New York Letter.
TIE s1etghfng and Skating cnnsrar
Scenes on the Road.-1he Gath
olic University Project.-John Kel-
ly as a Builder.-1ze Hig,ram.
New YoRK. January 20. 1SS3.

New YORK, January 20, 1888.
Not for long time has sport on
the ice and snow been as good as du-
ring the past week The ponds in
Central Park has been thronged with
skaters every day; the devotees of
that fine old Scotch game, curling,
have gathered admiring throngs about
them. and the fancy skaters who in
former years displayed their agility
and skill mainly in private Kinks have
this year taken to the Park, and
showed us the high art of skating as
well as the poetry of motion. 1t is
on the road however that one sees
life at present. We read about what
the tourists abroad tell us of the Corso
in Venice during carnival time. 1t
is not marker to st. Nicholas and Je-
rome Avenues of afternoons at pres
ent. Sleighs in every variety from
the light cutter to the comfortable
carry-all for families dash down the
white, broad and admirably kept
driveway like so many phantoms.
The horses excited by the jingling
of tens of thousands of sleigh bells,
send the drifting snow flying like
boys bathing in the surf, and above
the din one hears the merry banter of
the drivers, or now and then the
warning voice of the mounted police
man who sits on his horse like a rid
ing master and from a distance looks
like centaur. Fashion allows but
little variety in sleighs this winter.
For parties the Russian vehicle with
rumble behind is the proper trap,
but for single driving the cutter rs
Indispensable. Cutters are made so
light at present that they come as
low down rs fifty or sixty pounds.
and yet are strong, durable and per-
fectly safe. Thus horse really has
no more weight to pull than if har-
messed to n sulky. But to drive, a
man has got to be an artist and to
possess plenty of muscle in his arms.
The road viewed from n distance of
an afternoon, is as dotted with sleighs
as sugar barrel when opened in
summer is covered with flies, and vet
accidents or upsets seldom occur,
and yet one awkward or inexperienced
driver might block up the whole line,
for no one would dream of travelling
at less than racing speed.
The papers here recently devoted
some space to the project now under
active discussion of establishing n
Catholic University in this country.
This scheme is not n new one. 1t
has been under consideration for at
least twenty years, and am assured
by leading banker, who is at the
same time an active Catholic. that
the project will be carried out beyond
doubt. should Bishop SpaIding who
is the main advocate of it at present
get the consent of the Pope for it.
The Bishop is at present in Rome.
but is expected back some time in
February. The money, even should
two millions be necessary, will be
subscribed almost Immediately.
On the 18th of next month Peter
Cooper the venerable philanthropist.
will celebrate his ninty-second birth
day. and some rattlebrain people are
trying to start a movement to erect n
monument to him somewhere near
the Franklin statute in Printing
House Square. Mr.. Cooper, himself,
however. is strongly opposed to the
scheme! Monuments in these DAYS
are like the orders which the petty
German! princes used to give out in
the days when they owned principal
ties. Everybody could have them
for the asking almost, and therefore
nobody wanted them. Mr.. Cooper's
most enduring monument is the
Cooper Institute in which tens of
thousands of young men and young
women have received practical in
struction in the industrial arts and
applied sciences. which have helped
them to fight their way through life
with advantages to themselves and
their fellow men. The venerable
gentleman feels that his life work is
nearly over. He finds that his mem
DRY is growing hazey, and his power
of concentration weak His sight
and hearing are impaired, and his
sense of touch the only one left I'M
weakened In fact he is anchored
in the haven of scnility; and yet his
mind trained in activity from early
infancy is still active though its work
ings can be seen but as through veil.
lie is alone in the world. True, his
children, grand children and great
grand children surround him and en-
deavOr to make his declining days as
happy as lays in their power. but all
his old friends the men with whom
he worked in his days of labor, and
with whom he discussed his plans are
gone. and his thoughts are bent on
the time when the summons will be
sent him to join them. His health
has grown so feeble that he can take
but little exercise. all he does is to
throw little india rubber balls against
the walls of his study. Beside his
desk stands n basket full of them. for
his sight is so weak that after he has
thrown bail he cannot find it again
and thus keeps supply on hand.
John Kelly, the Tammany Chief
tain has been out of that kind of poll
ties which pays for nearly two years.
He has not grown very poor however
during his retirement. His architect
has. just filed plans for n row of new