New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-22
WHAT BROOKLYN TALKS OF.
TOPICS on PEOPLES TONGUES IN THE
FOIrRTH CITY OF THE UNION.

..ary and curator of the Brooklyn Institute, had
an. reat Measure of announcing to the large audience
thai assembled Thursday afternoon 10 near foeSol
T,vidsop,s lecture that the bill in the interest OF
A. rnetitpte which lately passed both houses OF the
LEGISLATURE had been signed by Governor Hill at =
.,n,ock that day. Naturally the announcement
was received with the hearcst expressions OF delight
The readers Of this column do not need to be tod ta1
This bill authorizes the city authorities TO issue Dohus
IN the amount of $780, 900 for the erection Of museum
bnilding for tho Institute the East side Lands near
the entrance Of Prospect Park The Legislature this
yoar IN passing this bill has supplemented the action
Of the LEGISLATURE of last year. which provided sl'e
for a possible future museum. The present Dill mas
really encountered no opposition whatever Two Oh
+c BROOKLYN papers looked at ID rather askance' but
soon found that there public sentiment 10 sup
mort their position and then relapsed Into silence INC
other gave the measure hearty support IRON 'ie
outset II was thought at early stage That pup
Ne meeting nj chit be required show the Legislature
what Brooklyn thought about the project. but IN vie"
of the general acqucscence and the general opinion
that It would be excellent thing for Brooklyn, TINS
was not found necessary. It is to be assumed that the
officials who control the city's pursestrngs Will as
soon as possible make provision for the proposed eX
nonditure The sooner the museum building IS pro
yied the better 1t will devolve upon the Institute
and particularly upon lis department OF architecture to
nr,vide the plans for suitable structure, which shall
intimately prove part Of great institution
There are. two mysteries in connection with the
Ere which destroyed General FOwer's house last sun
day morning and caused the death of his son. The
origin Of the fire and its rapid spread constitute one
Of these According to the story told by the domestic
she went to the cellar T. look after the furnace fire
shortly after daybrcak, and while doing this heard
cracking noise behind her. Turning, she found the
cellar stairs in flames The Investigations of the Ere
Marshal have led him to the conclusion that the fire
had its origin in defective ue though the only hueS
in the cellar were on the opposite side. unless the
pipes for carrying hot air from the furnace be taken
into account. That the fire could have been caused
from the ues in the adjoining house does not appear
at all likely. The police have insisted that there was
explosion OF gas. Now, suppose that the gashght
in the cellar had been left turned down low the
previous evening Suppose that it had by puff of
wind in some other way been extinguished suppose
that the servant, never having been warned Of the
danger of doing so, had struck match on entering
the cellar in order to relieh the gas. An explosion
would have occurred and rapid spread Of the flames
would have ensued. This seems the most reasonable
explanation of tie origin of the fire, though i am
aware that the official explanation is otherwise. AT
all events, il suggests the importance OF not running
the risk Of accumulation of gas in cellar well
as the necessity of avoiding the possibility of
pOsiOn by giving careful instructions TO dOmestcs as
to their duty under such circumstances
The second mystery is the failure Of young Mr..
Fowler to make his escape 1t is evident from the fact
thet portion Of his clothing found him that he
heard his fathers call and started to dress himself
II the door of his open he would insnctively
have closed it in order to keep out the smoke. If
after dressing he found the hall filed with smoke and
flames that lie could reach neither the stairway
the passage TO the roof why did he not betake himself
TO the windows and shout for helpf Indeed would
seem that strong young man might under such cir
cumstanccs have climbed TO the roof since with the
aid Of the and the blinds he could proba
bly, have reached the cornce and drawn himself mp.
Tie only explanation to be that after throwing
of his clothing he jerked open tie door only to
be met with burst Of fame and smoke that
lin so that he could do than stagger back TO
the bed and sink down overcome. IL Is most melan-
eholy occurrence and startling one. The house is
one of row recently constructed by builder Of ex
ceent reputation and it is hard believe that there
was any fault in the building of it. Moreover, it has
been occupied for about three years and IL there was
any such defect has been conectured 1t would have
been apt 10 disclose itself earlier.
As was anticipated the sedl society's season"
brought to a close in blaze Of glory. The song re-
cal on Tuesday afternoon, at which the members OF
the society acted ushers, and the rule of first come
first served strictly adhered to- was decided sue
cess in numbers and from musical view point. The
"Parsfaln concert brought together the largest audi
the winter and though the affair was conducted on
dGerer basis from that of last year. II satisfactory
and in all respects. The remarks OF not
few on entering the lobby related to the absence OF the
special decorations pictures etc. which turned this
part Of The building into drawing-room year ago.
and one lady heard to remark: "Well, 1 don't
feel The frvor that did on coming to hear Parsifh
East year, The society spent nothing in decorating
Inc house. though the display OF flowers in front OF
and mon the stage was uncOmmonly rich. The con-
cert was one connected whole. Instead of being divided
into rwo parts The participation OF the chorus addeo
TO the interest and all Of the singers acquitted hem
selves with much credit. The proceeds OF the song
recital -. the way TO be added to the sOcetys
benevolent fund and gOOdly sum must have been re
allied
No one should neglect to visit the exhibition Of geo
graphical appliances which is being given In the
Arcade Building under the direction of the Gcograp
cal Department Of the Brooklyn Institute 1t Is
revelation and delight. The exhibition has been III
proIess since March l. and this Will be the CLOSING
week. The number OF maps, globes, aliases ana Quiet
things Of interest geographically is surprisingly id1o'
and many hours may be spent proiitably IN examining
them and comparing the work done In different conn
tries. 1t must be confessed that the United s'a.es
does not make very good showing as compared "iti
Germany and Austria for example. Most OF the eA-
hlblt, are the property Of the Institute ana VIII NC
placed on permanent exhibition III the new museum
building Meanwhile they are 10 be taken 10 seVeIai
other cities which anxious to see the most iodD0
show OF the kind that has ever been given In this
country. Indeed 1t is said by those who are COM
pctent to affirm 1t that Of the geographical OK
hibltiOns abroad has surpassed tins one. Inc cA,
hibiuon is free and the attendance thus iar ias Gco
Ia &C. Too much credit for It's success cannot DC GNcn
u The PRESIDENT of the Geographical Department,
Cyrus c. Adams who has been indefatlgaoIe m u, ,
hlos In fins direction for more than year TIC h'le
received GER ron, assistance from his associates on
the committee In charge Of the eAmDItoh' o"' '''0
Hons share OF the work has been his.
The pirlctt IrbInaun Bridge bill Is not in as GOOD
Position as II was week ago. This Is due 70 the OK
uaOrl!nary ACTON of senator Richardson whose mop
the lii ha, been one OF the most extraordinary III
The annals of LEGISLATION In the short space OF one
week Mi Richardson saw great Lighter solneti'ns
else Al the middle Of week before Iast ne was ., an
enthusiastic ennotcr of the measure, not only v0uhS
for favorable report upon t. but stTennoosH com %D
ieclng TO sending il back 10 the committee OF non
mece and Navgation a, requested by its calrin.l,