St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-01-03
Oar New York "Radix" Letter

merry Christmas, observed with dill
gence and glee by every religious de-
/ wIInOuJ renglOn. falace and tene-
ment house, prison and hospital alike
shared in the blessings of the glad
season. and to top all we had snow to
rejoice the hearts of all who like exer-
else to aid in the digestion Of the ma
tiopgl bird. 1t was emphatically a
day for sieighs, from the inexpensive
sled of The small boy to the gorgeous
plume -bcdizened Russian importation
of the millionaire.
And yet there was dark side to it.
The papers next morning recorded
murders, suicides and burglaries i'll
rather more than average supply. 1t
would seem that the sight of others
| Joy, which their own fault or misfOr-
tune had denied themselves, drove
wretched men to desperation, One of
the suicides was especially romantic
and melancholy. A young German
|
otously in the fatherland, and fled af-
ter killing a fellow student in a duel
about IL young lady. He turned over
a new leaf here and devoted his income
to honestly paying his debts while he
received but the smallest pittance ~
aid him, aud pitched right in for the
first work he could get. First as wait
er in restaurant, and then as drug
rist's assistant, he made friends every
where, and on Christmas eve was the
life of social party. Unfortunately
in his determination to regain his good
name, he put off his marriage to an es-
timated period Of six years. His be
loved, pressed by her family to wed Il
wealthy and impOrtunate rival,
couldn't stand this, and babe him an
affectionate farewell. The baron
thereupon poisoned himself.
Santa Claus in the flesh appeared in
somewhat zee tece RfX HG out 66f"aa66I o,r
preacher, with very practical benevo-
lence, who distributed provisions to all
c0mers, from the steps of the city hall.
| His constituents we're of the poorest,
rs might he supposed. He will not re
ceive money, but all contributions
must Ice in kind, and he will take and
speedily dispose of anything eatable of
whatever nature. His supplies never
fail, which speaks well for the kind
illness of his purveyOrs, He holds sim
liar distribution parties every Satur-
day, thus insUring Il Sunday meal to
everyone not too proud OF lazy to ask
for it, provided it is hot procurable in
any other way.
The snow has not been an unmiXed
blessing rather the contrary. Mixed
with the filth of great city churned
into giutinous paste of utter abomin-
alton. it has befOuled clothes and
cheated travel, caused enormous pro-
family and many accidents. Awnings
have fallen and crushed hapless pas
sengers, and falls have been frequent
and painful. The most distinguished
sufferer WAS General Grant, who, at
this writing, lies in agony after ii week
of sleeplessness from the effects of
very bad slip in front of his own door.
The usual war between the home rail
way people and the public goes brave
iy on, The ten horse snow plOws
throw banks to blockade every dwell
ing on their track, and the property
owners. ordered by the police to clean
the sidewalks, throw the stuff back
again, while even the Illegal sailing
the tracks fails to materially reducs
the mass. Heavy rain, with a slight
infusion of a gulf stream thunder
storm, helped the STRENGTHENING COM
missiOners somewhat.
When the surface roads are impassa-
bic people begin to appreciate the ne
cessity of the elevated railroads. They
have proved a sweet boon, and the cry
here and in Brooklyn is for consider
able extension of the system To re-
lieve the overcrOwded tenement dis
tricts and enhance the value of real
estate uptown on both sides of the
growing cities, several schemes are
projected, and Gen. Viele. the father
of the Central park, and one of the
park commissioners, is very energeti-
cally striving to bring loose ends !
together and get up perfected combi- |
nation for crOsstown as well as up and |
down town rapid transit, at a uniform
rate of five cents, while in Brooklyn |
the mayor is also energetic.
Talking of Brooklyn, the new fea-
lures of municipal government inau- |
gurated by Mayor Low are winning
general acceptance in spite of the
of machine politicians. His |
latest device of civil service reform
was put in shape on Friday night.
where fifty We aspirants for something
approaching TO permanent positions
under the government wholly uncon-
nected with personal or political iniiu-
ence, and not necessitating the devOt-
ing half their wages and more than
half their time to working" around