Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-03-07
For the Republican
GOTHAM GOSSIP.
NEW YORK, March 1st, 1883.

A rather singular and let us hope for
the sake of humanity, improbable rumor
has made its appearance apopos Of the
panic in the German Catholic School
on Fourth Street. It is claimed
that the fire which caused the disastrous
alarm was not the result Of an accident
but the work of fendish incendiary,
and that the william WAS a member of the
Socialists and Communists whose head
quarters is in the German section Of the
city. One of the sisters claims that when
she came out of ber school-room after the
alarm had been given, she was knocked
down by a strange man who was III IN
corridor at the time, and the first of the
would be rescuers, who rushed into tue
building and did so much harm that they
could not have done worse had they
tried. The police are quietly working
up the matter, and shoulG it be found to
be true it will 90 hard with the fiend
An interesting literary event is the
publication OF the correspondence between
Emerson aDd Carlyle by the Osgoods.
This is the most remarkable book that
has been issued this year, and although
it did not make its appearance until Sat
urday, yet am told that the edition has
right well been taken up. The Letters
are among the most remarkable cOntrlDu-
tiCns TO the Literary History of this cen
tury, and in addition to that they are
perfect storehouse of facts and gossip
about some OF the most leading men who
shaped the affairs OF England and Ameri
Ca durin,, the last half century.
n n
town-for that it practically isis rap
idly approaching completion Some
thing over a year ago Mr.. Tilden decided
to transform his two fine houses, No. IL
and 10 Glamercy Park into one, and
proposed to expend about $4,000 for
that purpose. The work has been going
on since then, but the expenditure al
ready foots up nearly 100000. The
new structure is not one of those preteD
tious and snowy affairs where the Van
derbilts, the Californians and the nou-
Ueaur riches generally effect, but it shows
general good taste and familiarity with
architecture. The main style is Gothic,
although the excellences OF every other
known style of architecture is.introduced.
The house has frontage OF 70 and a
depth of ITO feet. On basis of Jersey
brown stone rises the superstTucture OF
delicate pink scotch sandstone. Narrow
belts of highly polished Maine granite
unite the two. The main entrance
which is the Governors old house is
fine specimen of Architectural design.
Four columns OF polished Maine granite
support the porch. On.the columns rest
four half length figures representing the
seasons Of the year. They uphold a
granite sab forming the roof of the porch.
Two bay windows run up to the third
floor, and between it is panel Of brown
stone, in the centre OF which Is cut the
head Of BENJAMIN Franklin. The heads of
Shakespeare, Milton, Goethe and Dante,
occupy the four corners. Stained glass
windows will admit the light in all the
lower floors, and some of these are mar
vels of this revived art The interior is
being fitted up with all that quiet and
refined taste can suggest. Mr.. 1llden
has not exactly a large or rare library
1t contains about twenty thousand vol
umes, but outside of his law books, it
contains large number Of valuable rare
volumes immeasurably useful to the stu
OGuL. i uGIG are uO CuI1OSILiSO t1AC1C
simply for the sake of being curious,
everything must have purpose.
The Electric light in g very short time
will supersede gaslight to a great extent
in private houses 1t is already in use
in a number Of fine establishments, and
the absence of heat generated by the
current, has been found to be crafty
ing change from gas. In ball rooms this
is Invaluable. In one or two of the
houses alluded to the light is filtered
through colored glass and the effect is
charming indeed. The application of
electricity to photography is rapidly gain
ing in favor, and theimprovementsi in the
methods of taking pictures by the electric
light are keeping up steadily. When
first likenesses were taken with the cold
white light between the carbon points,
the pictures were apt to be harsh and
lack that nice distribution of light and
shade as we'll as that warmth of finish
which are main essentials to the perfect
photograph. was shown some pictures
the other day, which were wonderfully
good and could scarcely be distinguished
by even the most experienced eye from
those taken by the aid of sunlight.