New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-07-18


What have tue Commissioners of Accounts to say
TO the proposition of the Grand Jnry to appoint ex
pert from the banks to examine the Con-
trollers system of doing busnessf Is it not to be
regarded as serious reflection on them One is
reminded of a stock joke Of the late Mr. Backus.
who asked. when Mr. Birch proposed to :" hold the
stakes" put up ON a wager, But who Is to hold
Blrchf"
The opponents Of classical studies. encouraged by
the recent raid of Mr.. Charles Francis Adams, IT,.
are renewing tho old-time plea that German ought
20 be taught at the colleges in place of Greek. But
why teach German III place of Greek when 1t is
already taught. together with French. in all the
colleges OF the first rank The usual practice Is to
make Greek aud Latin full studies during the first
wear and either half studies optional courses
during the second year. and during the
mainder of the academic course either to
discontinue them altogether or to have them
OPTIONAL with one or two Rotations O week.
French and German are each given year, and in
some colleges advanced classes arc allowed to devote
additional time to the modern languages. SO far as
German is concerned 1t is frequently made senior
study so that the graduate retlres from academic
scenes with fair acquaintance with the grammar
and pronunciation of the modern language, and a
moderate knowledge OF It's literature, where
rs his memory of Greek has already become
impaired. The Brown graduates of the present gen.
Grafton for example have entered upon the prac-
teal business Of life with their Thucydldes much
the worse for wear. but with a practical acquaint-
ance with German derived from thorough class
room work which was rs fresh In their minds as
ANYTHING they had acquired during their college
course. II is not worth while to diminish the
number of studies in the college curriculum Ii
will be wiser to teach them all more thoroughly,
aud in this way to put graduates in the way of
keeping up their studies after college
1t was reserved for two of the despised race which
insists on being designated with capital N to de-
monstrate that the duello at tho South is not wholly
farce. This they did near Helena, Ark, where.
at twenty PAGES distance. one with rifle and tho
other with an army muskst they killed each other
at the first fire, according to the CODE Their ex-
ample is commended to Virginia and Texas editors.
In the opinion of The Utica Observer. "thc Repub-
hcan effort to make boss out Of Governor Cleve-
land Is o midsummer caprice rs foolish as il Is
futile" We were not aware that any such effort
was In progress in any quarter IL it Is, we quite
agree with The Observer that 1t Is foolish and futile.
Governor Cleveland endeavored to play the boss
during the last session of the Legislatures He tried
TO boss the Tammany Senator's He achieved
conspicuous failure. Mr.. Murtha was not con-
frmed. Cleveland the woud-bs boss, was bossed.
John Kelly did the bossing
General Butler says that his sympathies have nj
ways been with the under dog In the fight Now
VIC know to what name the under dog in the fight
answers. Call him Butler and he will come to you.
The interesting news was telegraphsd over the
State yesterday that John Kelly was In favor Of
all honorable means to preserve harmony In Demo-
cratic ranks" OF course he is and Of course II ba