Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-21

Gates. shimmers, TO bursts OF Joyous
clsmor. Banks Of girls stand in golden
rain in their pink tights. They don't
do anything in this world but come and
20 and sing about 1t, and In the centre
Is a nucleus Of Lillian Russell, translu-
cent, doubly pink.
This is the Lenten eventin the amuse-
ment world. Think Of it. The peal Of
Ash Wednesday had not died out when
this appeal was made. And mind you,
this is the in,erdicted thing that comes
in between the world and the devil.
suppose that "Pepita " will be
what is called great success. There
are no reasons within reach Of the re-
viewer to account for it, except that the
world wants to see the notes dance in
the sunbeam now and then-which, after
all, is perhaps better than to see them
dance in our neighbours eye.
POLITICAL MATTERS.
A curious political deal has been
made, which, sooner or later, is bound
to attract national attention. The State
Senate is Republican by eight majority.
II has the power to either confirm OF
reject the Governors appointments.
The greatest plum within the Governor
gift is the Office Of health officer of the
port OF New York. 1t turns in TO It's
incumbent in fees between $4,000 and
$50, eco year. The present officer
term ran out in 1882, and he has held
over for four years. He is a country
physician, Republican, and a
friend of Thomas G. Plat, who,
with Roscoe Conkling, resigned
the United States senatorship soon
after President Garfcld's inaugu-
ration. The country doctor is in BAD
odor with the anti. Plat wing Of his
party. lie is accused Of sailing down
his fees and of not making any party
contributions. Seven Of the twenty
Republican senator's are Plat men, aud
they have refused to 90 into caucus or
vote for the confirmation OF any candi-
date for the place now filed by the
country doctor The health officer,
however, is not the only piaceman who
is holding over. Three quarantine
commissioners, all Plat men, and one
Of them Plat himself, are in the same
boat. A commissioner Of the Board
Of Claims also holds over. The
Platt senators are thus manning
the guns of fortress that bears
directly on the United States senator
ship soon 70 be vacated by Warner
Miller. This fortress can only be cap
tured by a combination Of the twelve
Republican anti-Platt senators with the
democrats. This combination has been
made. and all political eyes are now
turned toward the outworks. Inc
Governor has nominated a well-known
city physician for health officer and Two
anti-platt Republicans for quarantine
commissioners. One OF the latter IS
DR.. John II. Douglas, the physician
who attended General Grant on his
death. bed. The other is Marshal Is.
Blake. late collector Of internal reye-
rue in the richest district in the United
States. The two remaining nominees
are Democrats.
EX-pREsIDENT ARTHUR.
Local political interest has been cen
tired in Marshal Il. Blake. Scores OF
Republicans in the city are far more
popular, and every body has been won
deiing who is backing him. Ii has Just
leaked out that his hacker is eX-Presi-
dent Chester A. Arthur. He has taken
quiet hand in the deal. apparently pre-
limnary to rcsuming his old place a.
the leading Republican diplomatist in
local politics. For years Arthur
conducted all the negotiations with
waIrirg Democratic factions in the
city. and always successfully. AT
one time nc fed Democratic feuds
so admirably that the Republi-
cans. although in a minority Of
10000 votes, controlled more than
half Of the patronage in the city de-
partments. His resumption OF the
helm means lively times to come. 1t
will have an important bearing on the
election of United States senator next
winter, and it would surprise few
local politicians if it landed Arthur
himself in Warner Millers's chair.
| am informed by leading Demo
cratic senator that the Governor 5
nominations will be confirmed. The
situation, however, is rather delicate.
1t is predicated on the obstinacy OF the
Platt senator's. If four of the seven
give way. the two Republicans may be
confirmed and the Democratic nominees
rejected. This, however, would leave
Piatt intrenched in the citadel, with his
outwoIks in the hands Of his enemies.
As matters now stand, the Republican
nominees cannot be confirmed without
the votes Of the Democratic senator's,
and the three Democrats cannot acquire
office without the support Of the anti
Plat senator's. One thing, however, is
worth noting Arthur has again dab
bled in politics and stands to win
either way.
FINANCIAL AFFAIRS.
The stock speculation is practically
as dead as the proyerbial door-nail, and
the majority of the brokers' firms are
at their wits end Row to make daily eX-
penses. Outside orders have ALSO
lutely ceased, and whatever transac-
tons occur on the floor of the Exchange
are almost exclusively the petty trading
Of professional Board members. In
fact, the stock market was never so near
the famous simile of the late jim Fisk
that it is like graveyard those who
are in cannot get out, and those who
sre out don't want to got in. Business
hours in the Offices are passed in play.
ing backgammon or chess and In dis
cussipg the Oregon disaster, Mrs. Nor
CAMS art sale, and the two last fashion
able diyorces-that Of Mrs. Turnbul
and that Of Mrs. Frederick W. Stevens
The loss Of the Oregon is Of more in
terest to Wall street than to the rest o.
the community, for apart from the de
sire of learning all the details and the
cause of the calamity, brokers want to
find out what is to be done in regard t
the securities which were on board an
which went down with the ship. 1t il
Said that the OreOon was bringing owe