New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-08-05
BEYOND THE BIG BRIDGE.
WHAT PEOPLE IN BROOKLYN ARE TALKING
ABOUT

ABOUT.
DIT. storrs's letter to Mr. Bowen. which The rrfbu,
printed In full Thursday. has naturally and inv.
tably excited the liveliest kind Of interest in Brook,
which has been the dstln guishcd clergyman,s homs
and the scene of his labOrs and trumphs for ov..
two-ffths of a century. DIR. storrs is really N.
leading citizen Of Brooklyn, and he is man whom
Brooklyn delights to honor and to see honored n.
has always been a Republican, and his friends Ar.
now greatly rcjoced that the ntimaon that he va.
about to desert the party with which he has been "A
long identified proves to be without any foundation
whatever. At the time II Is felt that n,
Storrs has earned tho right to crIticsc freely ana
frankly, and while It is thought that his strctur..
upon the party's action at Chicago not aoeeth.
justified, 1t is readily perceived that this letter "a
an important contribution TO the literature Of ths
campaign (This word campaign. bv the way n,
Storrs In his letter takes pains inclose In quota
ton marls) II there still any waverers and
doubers the strong and stirring words Of the eminent
pastor of the Church OF the Pilgrims ought IN n.
sufficient to rcassure them, and convince them tbaA
tho Of safety for the country lies In the restora
ton to power OF tho party Of Protection and homes,
temperance reform.
This letter. however, is by no so notable
contribution to the campaign discussions AZ ths
great interview with which DR.. Storrs favored Thu
Tribune in tho Blaine ard which was printed
in the columns Of this paper on October 10, 1884
It's significance at once recognized and Il vas
instantly reprinted in Brooklyn as campaign traetI
1t is violating no confidence to say that while thu
general outline Of the questions submitted to tia
Doctor by member OF Tho Tribunes staff, the an
swers were written out by him with care and afte,
thoughtful dclberation so that II the wellcon.
sidered expression of his views that The Trtbuns
was able to present. and not the hastily caught words
that so many interviews made up OF. II IL
gratifying 10 see that Dr. st0rrs is uncompromisnc
a Protectioplst ever what he says on this
sa N n the i interview Of g Ills go%nr u aa
to the character OF the Republican candidate for
president: as nmosc n bs SGusnia
In his tastes, Of friendly and generous spirit" cannot
but have much weight
Dr. Storrs's style even in bis letter 10 Mr.. Bowen
possesses many OF the characteristics which so
marked feature Of his most carefully prepared
public utteTances. One Of his favorite rhetorical
embellishments Is the use OF ALTERATION. This IA
something that car easily be overdone; but Dr.
storrs while induging in 1t freely docs not overdo
1t. 1t crops out In this letter. as for instance whers
he alludes to DR.. Cuylers ready and racy pen" In
his sermons and addresses he makes Of II with
excellent effect. recall at this moment such ex.
pressions resident and rcgnant In the human
heartr power and plenitude.7 fringes Of floating
foam" and others, which he has employed in recent
sermons
It must occur to a good many people that Dr. cuylsr
owes the humbest sort of apology to his CONGREGATIONAL
ungusrded expression in familiar and Of course
fdential conversation, and subiecting him to mis-.
understanding and misrepresentation for he srsce Of
a month DR.. Storrs's remark about taking
to the woods" plainly not intended for the public
ear 1t in reality literally represented the fact,
he was then on his way TO the Adirondcks, and wA
not intended to have the slightest serious political sie
nfcance No class of men quicker than the clecy
in resentinx anything which seems like an abuse Of
privilege the part of reporter in writing out an
interview, in making use of what was intended for
the intcrvewers private ear alone Yet here we have
an instance Of one minister reporting the words Of
another spoken in the privacy of familiar and friendly
talk, and putting false construction on them which
cannot but have been annoying IN high degree 70
the man whose friend thus abused the privileges OK
friendship Dr. Cuyler's apology should be public
one, and tho people who find fault with reporters fcr
this instance and learn that II pit TO the test they
themselves might fall short.
There was an odd sight observable from the windows
Of train on the Brooklyn Elevated Railroad the other
day As the train passed the City Park. as the squae
lying between the Navy Yard and Park ave- IS called
a could be seen going through the motions OF
swinging a scythe. Presumably he was cutting
swah but at that distanceand It was not grcAt-the
collection Of cut grass which he should have left be-
hind him invisible One reason why the growth
thin to make this as 1t was, IS that In the
parks of Brooklyn such thing as sign to Keep of
the Grass" is almost unknown. And In spite Of the
fairly well except when there is reason OF drouth
and the suns rays burn out the roots Probably tho
man referred to had been set at work by the Park
authorities but 1t not necuently happens that people
steal the grass from the Park meadows for their cows
and goats. This portion OF the Park IS not closely
may be seen carrying away grass in bags and baskets
or whatever receptacle they may be able to lay the
hands on
Now that the formal transfer Of the street
railway lines of the Bushwck Company TO tho
Brooklyn City Company has been completed IL 10
to be hoped that a system Of transfer tickets Will
soon be put into practice. Several of the Bushwfck
lines run across and the Philadelphia idea can
be employed to good advantage II the Brooklyn
City Company should adopt the plan, doubtless other
companies, such as those running cars in Nostrant-
and FIankln-av and the CroSstown Company,
could be induced to adopt IT Also Brooklyn extends
over so much territory and In many directions thai
travelling from one part of another IS easy
or an economical matter. Tho suggestion here MADE
%Saa iacae %ae bss se an rScerDt x
ample For single fare Of five cents one can rue os
that wealthy corporation the brooklyn city Company,
which now controls some twenty strcetcar lines, go
fve-cent ride all over the city but transfer tickets
for seven cents would be public boon
The need of signs the street in such Brook
Ign streets as are lighted by electricity great Espe-
Unless one Is familiar with what may be called ths
lay of the land' 1t is impossible for him to tell where
he is. What is wanted IS sign that can be- readily
at light from the platform window of a street.
car. Tho Aldermen took some action I'm the matter
long ago March but there IL seems to have ended
II Brooklyn had such Mayor Mr. Hewitt some.
body would be likely to receive letter on the suoecs
at an early day, couchcd in unmisakable terms, anu
so forcble as TO be needed without delay.
Tho Editor OF The Century, in his Topics OF the
Timer In the August issue Of that magazine psys
Brooklyn a compliment which will be certain to MIS-
lead those who are familiar with the actual sta's
OF things on the other side Of the East River. He -
speaking Of the reason why municipal reform gees
forward so hangly, and says that II the executive
departments OF a city so organized that VIII
take several years change the admins ration, IN
efficiency and rascalty pretty likely to intrenca