New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-09
WHAT BROOKLYN TALKS OF.
TOPICS OF GENERAL INTEREST in THE
METROPOLIS OF LONG ISLAND.


sut Of the election apart from the fact OF tho success
At the new Ballot law, which is pre-eminently Re
uublicsn measure and put upon the statute-book
IN spite of bitter and continued opposition on the
mart of Democrats Certainly no Democrat now
claim that the IL inmical to his party. Whatever
effect It had upon the election and Its result 1t did not
IN any sense contribute TO Democratic defeat. From
This election out of which they have saved next to
nothing the Republicans of Brooklyn ought learn
rauabo lcssothe lesson Of the necessity Of harmony
and united action. The factionallsm which has pre-
vailed ever since the result became known years
ago has been In the degree detrimental and the
result 10 that the Democratic ticket is elected by the
largest majority cast by the Democrats Of Brook
En, even exceeding the phenomenal $4,000 majority
given for Tilden in 1876
AS for the new Ballot law, it went into operation
with scarcely any friction. and 1t Is noted as sngu
lar fact that IT not the ignorant class who
made the biggest number of Mistakes these people had
taken pains TO learn whit they ought 10 do in
voting or their party leaders had taken pains for
them while Of good intelligence trusted to their
general knowledge, and sometimes made blunders.
One curious case came under my observation. 1t
was that Of well educated man who thought he
understood the law perfectly, and Who selected his
ballot without trouble and folded all the ballots quickly
when he emerged from the booth and offered the
ballots to the inspectors proved that he had folded
every one Of them wrong side out that is, he had
carefully concealed the Official Endorsement and the
numbers and exposed the names Of the candidates |!
One of my neighbors declined to to the polls, al
though he had registered because he didn't like new
tangled things and was afraid that it would be too
much trouble to vote under the law. II Is possible
that this feeling kept considerable number FROM the
POLLS Certain IL is that In order to vote without
using paster man must exercise a little common
sense, and know at least the names OF the men ne
wishes to vote for
In, tho nS{puh no{h
ably very similar to that Of every other man. Here
is the literal experience of voter in the upper
part OF the city, heard IL from his lips: 1t
was about halfpast 10 when left my house for the
purpose of voting. There was only one man ahead Of
me when arrived at the polling place; SO had
very short wait. My name and address were asked
as stood outside the guard rail then six ballots were
handed me and l allowed to enter The booths
were ranged along the wall and could see that the
first three occupied went into the fourth. AS
soon as got inside took out my watch and laid 1T
on the SHELF On this bottle of mucilage, a
bottle of ink, pen, which no one had used and a
pencil tied fast with piece Of Irvine. There wero
also two pieces of a Republican paster and the on
velope in which the Republican party managers dis
tributed their pastors by mail TO the voters OF the
city. Instructions for voters in both English and
German were posted each side Of the booth. lost
time in examining the ballots. The second one
which took up the that wanted to vOte /
Immediately folded 1t, and then proceeded TO fold the
others rapidly / could conveniently. When all
folded, found that had been in the booth just
two minutes and half. Before going out examined
the ballots for not familiar with the Prohibition
and Socialistc candidates and wished TO see their
names. There was also one Independent candidate
the district and Of the ballots bore nothing but
his name ! might add that the ballots / received
numbered 14l, showing that half about half of
the voters In the district had gone the polls during
fha mn ling haur I NJ hat
many ballots had been spoiled and sets demanded
In place Of them kept my gloves while folding the
ballots, to be but certain that l could
have done 1t In much less time. druggist of my
acquaintance however, tells that he folded all Of
them in half minnie. But then he is used to fold
ing things. and besides, he didn't time himself as
did,
The audience which assembled in the Academy OF
Music Monday evening to greet and listen to Pro-
fessor Bryce was in the best and truest rep
resentative Every seat, apparently, the main
floor of the large house and every In the balcony
was occupied, and the closest and most Intelligent
interest given the distinguished lecturer There
Is scarcely anything to suggest the Engshman in Mr.
Bryces appearance manner Of speaking. He is Of
about he average height and build, look at him
one might fancy him older than the 1fy-two years
which are all he claims. His hair rather scenty on
the top Of his head is gray and his full heavy beard
is also gray His face has kindly, genial expression
especially when full in front. He speaks with |
the which comes only of long practice. Though |
he carried in his hand when he walked upon the plat
form sheets of manuscript, and laid them upon |
the when he to address the audience,
be paid comparatively little attention to them sub
Frequently he stepped to side of che
dcsk the other and talked to the audience the
most familiar terms While not orator, Professor
Bryce forcible, clear headed and effective speaker.
IFS voice is clear, though not particularly rich
strong; stu fancy that none OF the audience had
culty In hearing all he said 1t was noticeable that
ie pronounced government" without the N" In the
econd syllable and two three times when he made
Of what called Americanisms he seemed to roll
hem as sweet morsel under the tongue This was
he case with "disgrunted" and crank both OF
which he seemed to consider valuable additions TO the
ocabulary while he dealt rather gngerly with BOOM"
hch he used twice in single sentence. The audience
ould not be described enthusiastic; Brooklyn au
fences rarely that but 1t earnest even eager,
nd the applause While not frequent, hearty.
rOfessor Bryce most gracefully introduced by DR..
ackus, president of the Packer Institute of the
rookyn Library who referred him as our friend"
sagacious generous critic who had written The
merican Commonwealth" The people of Brooklyn
we least vote Of thanks to the directors of
10 library for the pleasure afforded them in seeing
nd hearing Professor Bryce.
some of the people who were made happy a few
'eeks ago when it announced that the tax rate
his year would be lower than for good many years
asst viii be apt TO find when they come to pay their
AK bills that low tax rate does not of necessity
npy low taxes. limited at tile time that doubtless
ssessments had been largely increased in order TO
ring about the result. As Mr.. Wins said In New
the other day. that Is the familiar device of in
easing the divisor in order TO diminish the quotient
Little evidence this point has just come to my
otlce. 1t is commonly supposed that the assessed
aluaon Of any property Is from 60 to 20 per cent Of
selling value; 20 per cent is looked on as the out
de limit builder informs me that some houses
Inch he put up year ago and sold last winter and
heh pay taxes for the first time this year, are
,sessed at over so per cent of the price at which
sold them. This, Of course is simply outrageous
there does not appear TO any redress for the tax
ayers.
AS expected with confidence at the nme the
II extended TO him, the Rev. Dr. Gregg mas