Morning journal and courier., 1884-02-05

The Boston Journal is heartily against the application of the New York and New En- gland railroad company to the Massachusetts legislature for permission to make further issue of $2, ,2O0, GOO second mortgage bonds, being the balance of the $5. .ooO. 900 author ized by the legislature of 1882. Of the $2, 800, GOO already issued the State holds $1, 700, ,o00, a controlling interest. If the new issue is authorized this control would be lost and the value of the bonds now held would be depreciated some forty per cent. Another and greater objection made to the bill is that it proposes an exchange of second mortgage bonds for preferred stock; that is, to exchange bonds of which the State holds B majority for stock the majority of which would be held by other parties. The Jour- nal says the first business of the legislature is not to look out for the interests of the un- fortunate road, but to see to it the State's $1, 700, GOO Is made secure.
 The ladies of Berlin are painted in most unhattering colors by M. Vasili in his paper on Berlin society in the present number of the Nouvelle Revue. As general rule, he says, the Berlin woman of the upper classes neither reads nor works nor occupies herself in any useful way. She passes her existence in gossip and in the frivoities of the toilet. She has not two serious ideas in her head, nor two elevated feelings in her mind. Her preferences are vulgar, her influence insig- ni6cant. She lacks grace, education and tact. She tries to ape Frenchwomen as well as she can; but she only succeeds in reproducing their defects. It is impossible to make her converse, so little does she know of what is going on in the world, so completely is she absorbed in admiring herself and criticising her rivals. The morality of the married ladies is, according to M. Vasili no higher than the standard presented by the average French novel. In short, Berlin society has, if we are to accept this account of it, all the vices of the French society of the last cen tury, without the redeeming wit and grace.
 There is considerable excitement in Koch ester, New York, over the will of the late Henry s. Potter. This will is remarkable document. By it's provisions the vast estate of two or three millions is to be preserved in
  testator's two grandsons, when it is to be closed. The millionaire left wife, two sons and two daughters. By the terms of the will Mrs. Potter is to receive the family home stead with it's fixtures; also sixth of the net annual income of the estate. To the daughters are left each one-sixth of the net income. Alfred, one of the sons, is to receive as much of one-sixth of the nual income as shall be necessary, with his own income, to support his family and educate his children. The sixth provision of the will requires the testa- tors son, Charles B. Potter, to abandon his wife, Jennie B. Potter, before he can be en- titled to one.sixth interest in the estate. Mrs. Potter is said to be lady of many at tainments and during her married life was considered one of the millionaire's favorites. Her friends can ascribe no reason for such clause in the will. The strange document was not admitted to probate and further pro- ceedings were adjourned until the seventh of next month.