New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-01-03

Drifting uptovn yesterday on tho legal New Years
Dsy which was observed as tho LIST OF January instead
of the Cd had occasion to inquire incidentally at half
dozon leading hotels concerning the condition OF hotel
business at this season, rs compared with former
years. Tho botel business In this city IS almost Is
certain criterion of business feoling tho country
as tho Iron business of general trade When there
is wide commercial confidence and rushing business
over the country tho New-York hotels have always
had numerous guests at New Years. This years
beginning has been dismal one. The Hoffman House
register at bore two signatures OF tho arrivals OF
tho morning. The Filth Avenue Hotel has not held
few guests the first day Of any year since It
was opened, twenty-cght years ago. The st. James,
Brunswick, Victoria and GIlsey House registers tod
similar stories. Explanations offered varied In
Character. At some OF the hotels, an effort seemed
to be made to withhold the fact the clerks evidently
not approaching the cOnd'fi.'n AS general AT tho
Fifth Avenue Hotel, Of tho oldest employees,
shrewd and careful observer said There has been
marked decrease IN business every day since MI
(ievelands message was sent (, Cong ess. fancy
The fellows arc staying at homo and hugging tine
stove"
Among rare holiday gifts, the "hingeless' watch
has been prominent this season. The jewellers art
has become perfect that the hinges which formerly
protruded from the cases of watch aro now dell
cacly concealed inside the case, while tho outside
Is perfectly round and smooth. 1t Is only within
year that this perfection of watch making has
been reached and only the finest watches finished
In this way. 1t is possible, by the way, 10 get
watches for almost any price from 81 so to as
many thousand dollars a purchaser might DO
willing to pay for diamonds or other jewels on tho
Tho inventive genius of American watch
makers, stimulated under protective tariff and pro-
tccng patent laws, has produced machine made watch
cs that beat the world
The genial and rotund clerk OF the Holman House,
r. T. all, has for boon Chief clerk at
the New American Hotel at Richfed Springs He
will take departure the coming summer rs he
been selected manager of tho summer noteI or
E. S. Stokes at saybrook, Conn. branch OF the
Concord school OF Applied Science and Philosophy
will DO established BY Mr.. Wall at saybrook for The
summer.
Thomas Nichol, q hard worker for Senator John
Sherman during his incumbency Of the Treasury De-
partmeDt, and later private secretary Of General Car
field, Is Ill at the Cambridge family hotel ip Fifth ave.
His disease IS a one, by which he is rendered
unable to walk. The slightest touch Of clothing upon
his body gives him Intense pain Ills maiady re-
sembios la particulars that from which oliver
r. Morton, OF Indiana. died
John Roach's able son, Garrett Roach. Is anoua-
lousy termed long headed when a. q fact, his head
Is nearly round He Is long headed In the hgurative
sense only. 1t BY looking into tho future that 10
has become convinced that some day steamships Will
go down to with motive power supplied by sonic
other fuel than the bulky and weghty anthracite coal
I'm He thinks that petroleum Is the lhcl ol
the future for steamships. With this Idea Ia mind he
has secured possession and control OF several patented
devices for The of kerosene oil To produce sfedm
and Is experimenting for their perfection and practical