New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-25
SEEN AND HEARD IN CITY STREETS.

The typical American Santa Claus has Deen us
covered within two three days In the otherwise un
prosaic letercarrer The packs Of these gray coated
servants Of the public have been overlooking with
parcels as they have Como their rounds, ana IL only
needed Transformation OF costume and the adluoh
Of gray whiskers and curls 10 make any one Oh hem
into presentable St. Nicholas. The little folks nave
not been slow TO notice this resemblance. III gIeH.
throng on Fourteenth st. yesterday chllds eAclted
and eager voice could be heard saying; On,
mamma there goes santa Claus; let's hurry home
before he gets there" Passers by turned in the
direction she pc nted smiled they discovered only
an overwhelmed postman.
On Broadway yesterday 1 observed John jacob
Astor's commanding and portiy figure, English face
and yellow1sh mutton chop whiskers He was strOi-
ing slowly along, stopping and looking IN at tne shop
W ndows with much intenness a his nelghpOrs OF
lesser wealth on the pavement
Ex-secretary George s. Boutwell,, OF Massachusetts,
is dev otng himself the practice Of law In Washng
ton. lie is a wen-preserved with homcly,
old fashioned appearance. He has too, some om-
fashioned ways. One of his characteristics Is the
practice OF extreme economy, although he has ac-
cuuuated Il fortune and attained an eminent position
through public services. III conversation here yes
terday the subject Of the patent laws came up' ana
he said: "With the wealth OF inventive gen US III
this country being constantly exerted' rfacLce III
this branch Of law Is growing wider and wider every
year. Every patent must DO tired first as to IT.
mechanism. and then it must be tried as TO its lie
decision vi the courts III its favor"
Inquiries Of Mr. Boutwell, about politics led him
to talk upon topics, tho first being tho sen
atorship in Massachusetts,, concerning which he said
"In all the letters that have received from Massa
chusetts there has been only mention made Of
the scnatorshlp contest, that cannot claim to be
posted as what has been going on in the State
/ cannot say whether Mr.. Dawes or Mr. Long IL In
the lead Governor Long has the advantage or
having been recently in the position of Governor,
where he became intimately acquainted with the
members of the Legislature and the prominent per-
sons over the State who influence them. MIR. Dawes
has been away from the State great many years in
public service and that weakens q mans hold"
When attention was called TO the fact that Mr..
Cleveland's friends think that he may be able TO
carry Massachusetts in 1883, Mr.. Boutwell, said :
"Ihat is most absurd and ridiculous notion. We
have FILTERED away considerable Republican strength
in the Old Bay state through bad management and in
various ways but not 50 far gone that the
State cannot be carried for any Republican nominee
Mr. Blaine could certainly carry it as against Glove
land or any one else. 1t looks very much a. If Mr.
Blaine would be renomnated II he will accept the
nomination. 1t is, in fact, conceded to him"
Secretary Endicott with his family passed through
New-York yesterday his way 10 Salem to spend
the holidays The Secretary looks II Washln ton
life agreed with him. and his movements full OF
vigor and activity tempered with the dignity Of New
England birth and EN- nent position. Secretary En-
dicott is a advocate Of the improvement of the
coast defences OF the country. He Is at the head
OF one Of Boards that have been investigating this
subject and making recommendations to Congress.
The Senate Committee and the House Committee have
been at work in the same line. The conclusions of
the three bodies have been nearly the Same that
Mr.. Endi colt thinks that steps will be taken at
the present Session which will ultimately give the
country the much needed coast dcfchces and FORTH
cations.
prominent figure in wall Street for severai days
has been Colonel Gaines, the Nashville banker who
is heavily interested in Tennessee and Alabama coal
and iron properties He is TALL spare with
a long face and heavy gray mustache His left
sleeve Is empty the result OF Yankee sharpshoot-
ing The Colonel a Confederate officer of the
1st North Carolina Cavalry. lie was unscathed till
nearly the close Of the although In numerous
battles, when sharp shooter who evidently
aiming at his heart. hit him In the arm instead.