New-York tribune., 1888-04-12

whose tastes are dominated by Italian influences
have pulled steadily at his triumpha car ever since
"Traviata," Trovatore' and Rigoletto' nred
the operatc world. 1t is an open secret that the
composer kept Otello" in his desk for many years.
almost long enough in fact, TO fulfil the Horatlan
adage in order that he might exercise sef-crltclsm
and become convinced that it would not detract
from his fame. It's production in Milan created
the greatest sensation that the musical world has
known since Wsgners Parsifa7 received It's hrst
performance at Bayreuth- The interest OF music
lovers OF all shades of opinion and artistic creeu
will naturally go out toward such an opera, ana
curiosity to see and hear the work will be paired
with admiration for Signor Campannis pluck and
enterprise in providing the opportunity
The Rochester Union expresses the opinion
that il Mr. Arncld lad visited Rochester while
IN this country he would not have complained
that our civilization uolnteresting. we ire
oueptly have had occasion O. protest against
The Union's' variety Of politics, but we have
never claimed that it was not the most modest
Of newspapers
The indefensble position Of the Brooklyn Al
dermen in refusing to sanction MIR. Corblns
scheme for an elevated road III Atantc-ave. bds
been referred TO by THE TRIBUNE more than once
Mr.. Corbin brings it to public notice again in
letter TO Mayor Chaplin, whom he asks to stir the
Aldermen to action. Mayor Whitney tried in
vain to induce them to grant the application.
Il is to be hoped that Mr.. Chaplin will have bet
ter success There is nothing that would please
the people Of Brooklyn more than to see the str
face tracks in Atlantic-ave. permanently removed
The elevated road would accomplish this, be-
sides providing rapid transit from South Ferry
to East New-York, as well connections with
IcIa of hp
transit is furnished, IL makes no difference about
how much the Long Island Railroad profits by
this arrangement. The Aldermen ought to act
without further delay. Their long inaction lays
them open to grave suspicious.
The Albany Times DemJ quotes The Syra-
cuse Courier Dem, with post office attach
ment) as remarlking that the work Of turning out
Republicans from the New York Custom House
can't 90 on with too swift pace to suit the
country" And |" The Times" is at pains to in
dicate that it agrees with The Courier" Thus
once moro we see how lovely a thing is Civil
Service reform in the unalloyed concrete during
the off months.
The person who bought the famous Gillig neck
lace saws il was ordered by hlrl from the other
side and was to be delivered duty paid. If the
duty was not paid, he did not know it. Gllllg
promptly acknowledged the truth II tins story by
paving up an additional penalty because the
corset makers statement as to the cost OF the
necklace was much larger than Gillig's. 1t
would seem, then, that besides managing reading
rooms in London and Paris issuing letters of
credit, storing tourists trunks and performing
other friendly acts, Giig does smuggling for
tradesmen on the other silc, and he's not the Gil
lig he has been commonly supposed to be, il he
does it for nothing This fact may have some
thing to do with the frequency Of his trips be-
tween the two continents, which are always, some
how extensively chroncled in the newspapers.
These are sad revelations.
Mayor Hewitt is great and good man, but he
can never be nominated for anything now " to
catch the Irish vote
Senators Sweet and RUSSELL now that Senator
Coggeshall is announced as positively against the
High License bill, hold the fate Of that measure
IN their hands. 1t is for them to say whether the
Republican party shall go INTO the Presidential
campaign in the pivotal State crippled or not.
What is their answer?
Mr. Froude in his recent work on The Eng
lish in the West Indies" writes in terms of un-
measured severity Of the Panama Canal project.
lie asserts that 81 80, 100000 has been expended
and that only one-ffth of the work has been
done and describes the scene OF operations as
swarming with snakes, alligators scorpions and
centIpcdcs-the natural haunt Of yellow fever,
typhus and dyscntery. He pictures wrecks OF
costly machinery half buried in the mud, and the
skeletons of the human machines which nave
broken down there and been picked clean Dy
vultures. He completes his description with
pointed references to the spectators, adventur-
ers. card-sharpers and hellkeepers who have
I'LL, 4ba Tcfh hrnu
powerful: but Mr. Froude spoils it all by con-
Tossing that his disgust was stronger than his
curiosity. and that when he pressed to go
and look at the moral surroundings OF the
Panama Canal he refused to do so. His descrlp-
tions, consequently, are at second or third hand,
and are not based on personal impressions. III
would have been more prudent in these crcum-
stances If he had toned down his rhetoric and
drawn less loathsome and ghastly picture.
A man who accuses the Pcotoctionists of think
ing they are wiser than Almighty GOi' ought
20 be reasonably we'll informed himself. Mr.
Thomas G. ShearmGn 81 eaks uf the n.cmoerShlp
of the House as 23O and Of the Senate as seventy,
and of total of 800, whereas 325, seventy-sx
and 4Ol are the correct figures. This is small
matter. but the sim Ter the dctail tie more in
cxcusable is ignorance concerning it.
II MIR Cleveland should adhere to the princi-
pie laid down in his letter of acceptance and re-
fuse a denomination; and if Governor Hill should
be made the Democratic candidate for President;
or if Mr.. Hill should refuse to run again for
Governor,-then perhaps Mayor Chaplin, Of Brook
lyn might get the Gubernatorial nomination
Three tolerably big ifs. Mr.. Chapin may as we'll
make up his mind to stay at the Brooklyn City
Hall until his term expires, and then retire to
private life.
PERSONAL
u.nrd has come Of the death OF Mr.. Walter Rache.