Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-01

The fact that the property owners on that
street are divided on the subject Of allowing
street car tracks to be laid in Fifth avenue is
OF itself evidence that the character Of New
York's fashionable thoroughfare will be wholly
changed in q short time, at least from Wash.
ington Square to Central Park. II is as plain
a. anything in the future can be regarded tina,
1t is tor no longer a street Of exclusively fash
1ooable residences, but the busy center of fash
ionable retail shopping. Nearly every square
for larger part of the length indicated
is already invaded by trade, in some form OF
other, and new foothoIds are constantly being
secured by enterprising and far seeing dealers
In goods of the more expensive kinds. Many
Of the real estate owners on the street. whose
houses are not too costly in themselves to be
advantageously converted into store rooms, are
ready now to accept the inevitable, and are
willing to see horse cars introduced at once, be-
1feving that the value of their property for
commercial purposes will be materially and
speedily enhanced by the greater convenience
TINS afforded TO the public. Those who are
opposed to the invasion Of the street by so pie
beian aconvenience as street car are the Astors,
the Goelets, the Stewards, the Vauderbilts, and
the other moneycrats, whose palatial homes
are too expensive TO be either torn down or con-
verted into marts of trade,-even IL they could
be adapted 10 the latter use,-and whose desira-
b4lity a. private residences would be greatly
lessened If surrounded by business establish
ments Of any character. The fight is being Bit
terly waged by the two factions, and 1t Is I'M
possible to tell which side will conquer for the
time being. 1t is only question of Time how
ever. when the once almost sacred character of
the avenue will be lost, and trade become its
dominant characteristic. In square battle
between commerce and obstructive exclusive
ness, the latter has been invariably driven to
the wall In the end.
No more shameful episode than the Rev.
Downs scandal has recently afflicted this couii-
try. Such performances "a his harm religion
more than the attacks OF a dozen open foes. II
Is gratifying 10 see that the reprobate finds no
sympathy or countenance whatever among his
religious associates. Yesterday the Baptist
ministers conference of Boston expelled him
by a unanimous vote, on the ground that he
had "by his recent conduct ana utterances
brought public disgrace upon the ministerial
profession and done great damage to the cause
Of Christ
That in the face of the courts and of the church
he can still find hall full OF followers who are
disposed to sit at his feet for religious guidance
only shows that there are a good many queer
people in Boston as well ~ in Brooklyn.
The thought Of the country will center to-day
on the funeral pageant at indianapolis. Around
the open grave, in which are deposited the re-
mains of one who a few days ago represented
the second choice Of the nation for its chief citi
zen, the rivalries Of faction are forgotten and
the country sorrows under a common affiic-
tion.
Gen. Prendergast comes to the rescue of the
bedimmed prestige of the British arms by his
swift and complete conquest of Burmah. And
from all accounts in King Thebaw's suppression
the world is we'll rid OF a monster.
Owing To the large pension payments, there
was no reduction OF the national debt last
month. We used the surplus to pay the debt
We owe to the soldiers, not the bond-holders.
That Is an interesting find of natural gas on
the Potomac fats, but wait till next Monday,
when the spouters on Capitol Hill burst forth!
Winter made its bow this morning in q SNOW
furry.