Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-10-24
NEW YORK NOTES.
The Political and Religious Topics That
Are UppermOst

Il
A VISIT TO ROSWELL p. flowers HoMr-wnAr
HIS SEIGHBoRs THINK OF HIM--THE THIN ICE
| IN TIE PRESBYTERIAN sySoD-wARDrxa OFF
/ An ExPLosIoN-A WASHINGTON GIRLS DEBUT.
| Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.
| NEW YORK, Oct. Il, 1891.
T PASSED AN INTERESTING DAY YES
Il terday at the charming frontier city of
watertown, rejoicing in the crisp October air
as it camo straight from the Adirondack, and
which not only lit up the foliage with the gay
est hues but brought warmer color into the
cheek and brighter sparkle to the eye. "Oh,
what fools those mortals bel" exclaimed that
wise urchin Puck as he few over the Adiron-
dacks in October and found all the summer
boarders gone back 10 toll and moil in the
| treadmiii OF cities.
| Blu. just now watertown has two special OBJ
jects of interest 20 wit: Follow-citizen Flower
and the Presbyterian synod OF New York. Be-
tween the two themes local talk rarely grows
dull. Roswell P. Flower Was born and raised"
| in watortown still keeps up the old home
stead here and takes lively and genuine in
terest in the place Here the millionaire
banker and the politician with-a-bee-in-his-
bonnet is still '.Ros." to every hanger-on at the
| blacksmith's and the depot ''And he likes
| nothing better said friend to me yesterday.
than to put on old clothes, shoulder a gun or
| fishing rod and go back into the woods with
some old country cronles
WHAT rs THOUGHT AT Flowers HOME.
tits held by the WATERFOWL gossips that
'Ros." has pretty much given up the idea of
being President of the United States, though
they credit the report that he has invested
$500, 600 on the chance Of being governor OF
the state of New York, with White House possi-
bilities as a corollary. Half o million dollars is
dazzling sum of money; more than most men
would know how to spend in a months cam
paign. and very much more than most candi-
dates have at their command to spend. But
Ross neighbors think that he is worth
So 600 900. and if this be he will still be able
to sign checks after the election.
Whether RIOS will get the whistle for
which he is paying so handsomely nobody just
now can tell. What would be the fun in poll
tics but for that fortnight of delicious uncer-
tainty which precedes all elections? Fassett is
making splendid canvass, and then he Is one
Of the lucky sort. He knows the ''get thore"
secret; in what he attempts he succeeds. This
type Of man makes an awkward antagonist
even for one who has the longest purse Tor
friend.
SKATING ON THIN ICE.
The other local topic of "contemporanecus
human interest" in Watertown just now is the
Presbyterian synod of New York. This is
rather a notable ecclesiastical gathering at all
times, but at present the ever-hovering specter
of '.heresy" makes the transactions of synod
doubly interesting. As the Briggs trial is down
for the November meeting of the New York
presbytery it would obviously be very
previous for the synod. as an appellant court.
to put itself on record in advance. Yet the
subject is uppermost in every ones mind. and
it is hard to bottle up the abundance OF the
heart and keep the mouth shut.
How thin the ice is appeared during Wednes-
days proceedings. Part of the routine is
pastoral letter to the churches. supposed to
cmbody the fatherly counsels of the synod.
though, in reality. little more than a series of
platitudes and written ordinarily by the type
of clerical that the more frivolous would de-
scribe by the opprobrious epithet, 'old fossil"
A DANGER SIGNAL
This harmless letter was duly read in the
synod's hearing yesterday, and no one would
have dreamed that it would bring out criticism.
But one Of the glowing periods came out stifiy
for the trustworthiness of the Bible; whereupon
up jumped bold young clergyman in far cor
ner and wanted to know if the adoption of this
pastoral letter as read committed the synod to
the ''inerrancy of Scripture" Instantly the
bland indiferentism of routine vanished from
the assembly. and for a moment it looked as if
the next the battle would begin and that soon
ecclesiastic bombs would be bursting in air.
But before the affair got beyond the skirmish
invaluable parliamentary expedient Of a COM
mittee, and on his motion the synod. very will
ingly. pigeon-holed the troublesome letter till
it could be so patched up to be innocuous.
But it was very suggestive to see how the synod
bristled up when, for the moment. it seemed as
If they were to be forced into discussing the
one topic they at once long and dread to debate.
THE oMNIvERoUs GARDEN.
Washington would be particularly interested
in the unique exhibition going on now at the
Madison Square Garden, where a group of
bicyclists are trundling themselves around the
elipse night and day in great six-day contest
We have been acquiring a love for this sport in
New York. thanks largely to the tardy reform
in street pavements, and whether New Workers
know anything about bicycling or not they are
| as fond as the old Roman Of any kind of glad
iatorial show. The great garden has been de-
cidediy bear garden all tho week, and
philosopher must smile at the dramatic
changes which this same vast auditorium sees
1t was pretty sharp change, for example.
from the most classic and refined orchestral
music to bowling, betting, tobacco-spitting
concourse of men interested in athletics such
as it has seen this week. Next week. for aught
l know. it may have a flower show or a spelling
bee, and learned yesterday it has been en-
gagged for the next national convention of the
Society of Christian Endeavor. at which time
preparations are being made for the reception
and proper handling Of $4,000 delegates. Surely
the garden has no prejadices. Like Gold
smiths host. it will welcome every stranger
that can pay.
FINANCIAL INDEX FINGER.
One Of the straws that shows which way the
financial wind blows is the announcement that
the New York Central railroad is to increase its
dividend rate probably per cent Many will
remember the CONSERVATION which attended
some years ago the reduction of the rate by
this company. 1t was supposed to be ''as good
as gold at per cent, but il had to Weld to the
situation and come down to the per cent
basis. The price Of the stock followed suit.
and there was great distress For a time MANY
believed that the road would get into the hands
of the SPECTATORS, if not of the wreckers but
such . calamity averted. The immense
traffic called for by the big crops has taxed the
capacity Of the road to the utmost. and GER
tainiy if there is any money in railroadina the
Central ought to be able to save per cent ont
Of its business. Taking the trip l have mem
| toned. to Watertown and return, it was simply
amazing to see the prodigious traffic on the
main stem and to notice the number and vol
ume Of the contributory branches that spread
out in every direction.
NoN-RAPID TRANSIT.
Perhaps by the time that the youngsters in
the public schools Of Washington get ready to
see the sights and perhaps make their fortunes
in New York they will be able to get up and
down town with some sort Of speed and COM
| fort The report of the rapid transit COM
mission, as published this week, offers a