The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1883-02-03
Our New York Letter.

the Legislative Investigation into State
Prison Abuses iegan this week, aud
Tammapy and John Kelly deserve the
thanks OF the people for getting it go.
ing. We read of the horrors Of Siberian
aud Russian Prisons. The savage Cor
sack Yaskmasters are angels compared
wi b the civilized fiends who tortured
the unfortunate criminal, with tine-
m Mt of cruelty which makes the reader
of tn testimony shudder. The telegraph
has already informed you of the facts
ELECTED, so that l need not give you an
extended resume. But when one hears
tell Of men made ravipg maniacs by
"p .ddling, douches, starvation and
beating With clubs, convicts throwing
themselves down two or three stories in
order to break leg or an arm that they
might get into tue hospital, prisoners
pleading to be shot rather than be pur.
ished, and starving inmates given live
rats for food" then we must GO back to
the Indians or other snvages TO find pun
ishment severe enough for tho fends
cruel enough to iuf.ct such monstlosi-
ties.
The people Of the city are at length
waking up to the constant danger to their
lives and safety by the steam heating sys-
tenn. The entire down town portion Of
tie city is undermine, and two explos-
ions in two days give q foretaste of what
might be done. This work gives you an
idea of how gigantic schemes are passed
through in New York, First come the
Board of Aldermen, generally composed
of German or Irish liquor dealers, men
with greed for money equalled only by
their unblushing cffrontery with which
they seek it. When the Steam Heating
Companies first came to the front with
their scheme, and applied for franchise,
the press and everybody denounced it
as being sure to turn out a public nuis-
ance and a colossal "Job." Still in
spite of that enough of Aldermen could
be got together to favor it. The work
was done in TIE cheapest way, and the
result is that there are constant leaks
and breaks. 1 understand now that q
number of property owners have quietly
got together and are gathering evidence
with a hope of first taking away its fran
chise from the American Steam Heating
Company, and second to have its officers
criminally indicted for the injuries which
several persons suffered. 1t is useless tc
proceed against it in a civil suit, with 6
view of getting damages. The property
is SO laid out and mortgaged that it i:
impossible to recover.
The ball season wages merrily on
This is the last week before Lent, ant
everybody Is anxious to make the mos
of it. Last evening the Elks ball wa
enjoyed at the Academy of Music. Thi
is the great theatrical ball of the year
and everybody in the "profesh," an,
everybody with fohdness for it is there
In former years the Elks always gave
fancy dress ball, but this year it was
civic affair. AS the price of tickets hl
b zen lowered, the throng was simply aw
full and dancing was practically imposs
ble. The best class of actors and az
tresses shown by their absence. Some
body had said that on account of il
cheapness the ball would be "ham-fa
ters" affairs This hurt it so far as qua
ity was concerned. But quantitatively
hamfat or no hamfat. it was a success.
An amusing adventure happened to a
, ex-Alderman MIR. Thomas S., a fe
. days after the ball of the Sparkling Cc
terie at the Academy last Thursda!
This is THE Catholic ball of the year, an
of course always largely attended. III
Alderman is bachelor on the sum
: side of forty, with a penchant for ladi,
! society. He was introduced TO a charm
a ing young lady, the wife of a rising your
S lawyer Her sprightly manner al
d graceful dancing interested him 50 muc
i that after the dance lie continued TO CHI
i with her, and finally asked her TO take
a drive with him. The young lady saw
d his manner that he had mistaken Mr.
8 for Miss upon being introduced TO b
e and believed her TO be unmarried. II
l. mistake amused her md she determine
y to make the most of it, She consents
% with some alacrily. Now Mr.. S. b.
% not learned his manners on the sum
l. side of Murray Hill. He had risen
s fame and wealth among the denizsrs
II the down town portion OF the East Si
10 and thus in his behavior with yoGl
% ladies was more direct than elegant. /
d stead of asking her to name a day VIII,
n he might call ut her house with his tri
10 TO take her out, lie said "meet me
IL Second Avenue and - Street day aft
ID tomorrow at two o'clock. l will wri
I you tomorrow The young lady CD
'e sented and ON the way home told
1e husband about it. He entered into t
spirit of the fun and with bis wifo {
at termined TO make the most of it.
of The second morning aftor the b
MS came letter from the Alderman aski
It, Mrs. --- to meet him at the Place
q ignated at two o'clock that afterno'
be Her husband put the letter in his poe
d. and accompanied by the lady's brotl
lrt they sailed foIih. II must be ado
ad that both We're we'll acquainted with
ia- Honorable gentleman. Sure enough
lie the corner he was, seated ia a fine b
net gy to which were hitchei smart te
red of bays. Hello Tom" saii the h
nd band, "what are you 6eing here?
be- that you have got an appointment wi
ion lady" "oh. NO" replied the ingeni
yer Alderman. Il was simply duy
to through this street for change,
ey. happened to stop Nt the corner becau