Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-20

rIoNs-rHE DESTRUCTION OF sEABRIoBT-
INFECT OF TIE HOT sPEIL
Special Correspondents of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, June Is. 1891.
DUCK THIS WEEK HAS A VERY FUNNY
u brace Of sketches, in the first Of which o
house owner 10 showing . new servant his wine
and cigar cupboard, telling him that he doesn't
believe in locking mp such treasures from SER
wants and that he must fight any temptation 70
indulge. The next scene shows the butler in q
fearful state Of collapse, with the liquors and
cigars strewn about the floor. The indignant
house owner reproaches him for his fall Sc
verely, and reminds him that he was to make Q
fight against temptation "And 90 did, |" hic-
cups the butler, but was outelassed." This
fable teaches that good men may be upset BY
temptations that are too powerful, and the ap-
plication just now il to the case Of those who
are charged with such colossal responsible
ties as are attached to the leading Offices
In corporations like the New York Life
Insurance Company. The alleged Irregular
ties IN the management Of this vast business
have been the principal topic of talk in fnan-
ciai circles during the week, not only because
OF the Importance of the direct issues, but be-
cause the case is q typical one. We have hardly
yet become accustomed to dealing with private
enterprises which involve hundreds of millions
OF dollars. and 1t is not to be wondered at that
men OF tried integrity are dazzled by such I'M
heard OF opulence. One il reminded of the
retort of Warren Hastings when accused OF
corruption as governor general Of India, that
he was only surprised, with the treasury Of
India open to him, that he took SO little. A
greater gold mine than barbaric India 10 one
OF these gigantic corporations Of civilization,
and those who have the key to the safe must
have almost superhuman integrity.
The troubles in the New York Life have nat
urally stirred disquieting rumors about the
two or three other great concerns that are
similar In scope and extent Of operations. But
nothing tangible has yet occurred to Justify the
rumors Of the street The great safeguard in
all these concerns should be such a system of
checks and balances that it would be as sure
death to commit fraud as in the United States
Treasury. No one will put his hand on q red
hot stove. and no one Will steal If it is abso-
lutely certain that he will be caught. But the
trouble is that all these great corporations are
obliged, or think they are obliged. to spend
large sums of money in secret and doubtful
channels. Great transactions have to be closed
with a smile or a meaning glance, and the very
men who. are supposed to be incorruptible as
regards the interests of stockholders are ex-
pected to corrupt Legislators and to undermine
competitors by secret and even INSCRIPTIONS
Vaccinations. And then the stockholders and
the public are very much astounded if these
men apply the same principles to internal
policy that they are expected to use toward
outsiders.
THE DESTRUCTION AT sEABRIGHr.
The fire fiend is not expected to lash its tail
and spit fire in June in any watering place.
Such conduct on its part is almost invariably
reserved till October, when the season is nicely
over: but We have Just had one of the most ca
lamitous and unreasonable fires possible in the
destruction of that charming suburban resort
Seabrlght. This was one of the few really ele-
CANT and delightful seaside resorts near to New
York. AS a rule these suburbs are of q very
mongrel and rowdy sort, but it was the charm
of Seabright that it was convenient and at the
same time dignifed and beautiful Even the
Sandy Hook line OF boats is by far the pleas
ATTEST that ply our harbor and
neighboring waters. These boats dash to
and fro at the rate of twenty knots
ar hour, and are splendidly equipped with
every comfort, and at the same time perfectly
seaworthy. They are uniformly crowded by
some OF the best people in the city, of which
We had striking proof furnished by the
prompt and substantial way in which passen-
gers aboard the Monmouth on Wednesday con-
tributed to relief fund. About $1,000 was
subscribed on the boat during the hours run,
and among the names We find such as Presi-
dent Hyde of the Equitable, Matt. Borden, the
great Fall River cotton manufacturer; L. S.
Auchincloss of thread fame, Cornelius n.
Bliss, John Sloane, the carpet man; Jesse Selig-
man, the banker; A. ID. Juilliard the commits
sion merchant; ex-Gov. Hoadly, and scores OF
ether prominent men. 1t is doubtful If Sea-
bright regains Its popularity for this year al
least though Its position will always make it q
fayorite resort.
NEW YORK AT BLOOD HEAT.
The fierce heat early in the week had the
usual result Of pushing up the death
totals One might almost use these totals
as thermometer, SO delicately do they register
the heat. The worst sufferers are the tene-
ment house babies. These poor little creatures
however, are looked after nowadays pretty
closely by the charitable. The st. John 8
Guild, one Of the noblest of our benevolent So
cieties, has already opened its summer cam
paign, which largely consists in daily picnics
down the bay on spacious barges that carry a
regiment of urchins each trip. Hundreds if
nually by these excursions. The city in gen.
eral took its first ''hot spell" in anything but q
resigned and pious temper-not at all like that
OF the Shepherd of Salisbury Plain. However
all is now over for the time being. One man,
perhaps only one man, was enrageI to observe
the rising clouds which betokened rain and
GOODNESS. This person 1 noticed on Broadway
casting upward the most resentful and hostile
glances at the darkening sky. He was palm
leaf fan peddler, who had been enjoying rush
Oh traee, OUT now peuel0 porIents OF doom
written in the sky.
This is still a democratic country. especially
In hot wave. 1 was very much impressed
with our free-and-easy manners when l saw
yesterday one of the leading merchant princes
OF New York and of the world. and the head Of
perhaps the largest trade corporation in New
York city, sauntering along Broadway in hi,
shirt sleeves. To be sure 1t was awfully hot
and still doubt if even temperature in thret
figures would induce merchant Of this rank Il
adopt such an informal and neglige costume IL
Oxford street or the Paris boulevard.
Mr.. PULITZER AND HIS VISIT.
1 was told yesterday by one Of the leading
writers on the World that Mr.. Pulitzer's health
is very much better and that his sight, while il
is still very weak, is in no present danger Of
| being entirely lost. His sight varies gooc
health, and Just now shares the strength Of hii
physical condition. There has been a very un
easy feeling lest his return should mean one Of
those cyclonic shake-ups that characterize New
York Journalism, but l am told that he viii
make very few If any changes and that as qui
! city as possible. Mr.. Pulitzer returned x
Paris by o Wednesday steamer.
THE GILLIAN EFFORT IN THIs COUNTRY.
The insurgents in the Gillian war are max
ing desperate effort to get the recognition Of
neutral powers, and they are spending grea'
deal of money in this city and America inhu'
encing the government and public opinion
Some of the heaviest commercial houses in the
country would find it to their interest to have
the insurgents win, and they are giving them
sub rosa, very influential aid and comfort
understand that ex-senator Evarts has been re-
tanned by the insurgent influence to chap pior