Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-27
NEW YORK NOTES.
Subjects of Absorbing Interest to the People
Of Gotham.

SUBJECTS Of Absorbing Interest to the People
Of Gotham.
HILL AZ sPRrNrER IN THE WHITE HOUSE RACE
AND THE CHANCE OF TRIP-HEIeHr OF THE
PICTURE sEAsoN-aENIUs AND INsANrrY-yAY
GOULD As An EVANGELIST
Special Correspondents of The Evening Star.
NEW YORK, Feb. Is, 1892
MEL, THAT BAD BOY HILL MADE HIS
w point at the convention the other day,
and it is claimed that there is now very little
between him and the goal We can't deny that
he is q rusher, dodger and q Splinter. Some
how or other he gets past the rush line, and
the half-backs and the quarterback and with
the White House under his arm. so to speak. is
Logging It at dangerous pace up the avenue.
Perhaps he may still be tripped and the prize
be snatched from him, but it is beginning to be
little discouraging to make predictions along
this line Hill Is strong because he is thor
oughly in touch with the average New York
democrat. He has carried the state repeatedly
because he is thus truly representative man.
1t is just as true that he is extremely obnoxious
to section OF the party-in either party. for
that matter-who insist upon lofty personal
standard in a candidate. Much depends now
on the outside states. New York has spoken,
and the revolt within the state will amount to
much or little exactly as there is a genuine or
simply formal protest in the country
at large. 1t is generally believed,
however, that In any case Cleveland has disap-
peared from the situation. II subsequent de-
velopments prove in the opinion of the coun-
try that the Cleveland men nave a power of re-
yenge sufficient to imperil Hills chances in
the state this fact will destroy Hills chances as
a candidate. Whatever the result the specta-
Gle has been most extraordinary and dis
graceful one. 1t would be impossible to find in
the political annals Of America a case to equal
the personal canvass which Hill has made for
the nomination. The wise Lord Bacon in his
essay on friendship, calls attention to the fact
that a friend is often necessary to the ambitious
man, because there are certain things which
must be done which he cannot do himself. Such
efforts as Hill has lately been making certainly
fall under that class. He is his own Warwick
to most impudent and astonishing degree
and if he shall fail at the last it will be because
the American people refuse to ratify such con-
duct in q candidate.
TEE LOTTERY OF ART.
We are at the height of the picture auction
season once mere, though the altitude is not as
lofty, either in prices esthetic glow as usual.
The market gives signs of saturation with the
familiar masters and masterpieces of the mod
i
this world has been the two days sale of the
Harper collection. 1t was conducted by Mr.
robert Somerville at Chickering Hall, and thus
had every advantage Of time and auspices. Mr..
Somerville is in his line quite as much Of an
artist as any Of those whose canvases come
under his gentle and persuasive, but firm and
energetic. hammer. 1t was Mr.. Somerville who
conducted the famous Spencer sale some years
ago, and speaking of that event and of collec-
tons generally he observed that the love of
speculation entered largely into the purchase
and sale of paintings. People who wouldn't
dream Of induiging in lotteries or speculation
OF any sort delighted In catching up bar
gain at a sale or in shop. adding presently
another, and so on till the expense Of carrying
grew onerous, and then came the equal fun of
seeing what the bargains brought
1t may be added that more important sale
than that OF the Harper collection is the one
advertised to consist OF the 5000 paintings and
articles OF taste owned by the late Mr. Robert
son OF the American Art Association. This
bids fair to mark quite an epoch, as the Robert
interest and value.
THE faint IN THE BLOOD.
The poet Dryden tells US: "Great wit to mad
ness Outlines is allied and small partitions do
the two divide" We seem to be having a strik-
ing illustration Of this fact in the melancholy
adventures of the Field family. The proceed
ings in this case are of the most painful char
acter. The alternative seems to be a very grim
one 10 save the family escutcheon from in
delble lnfamy 1t is necessary to admit that such
a faint OF insanity runs in the Field blood as to
make it plausible to believe that the frightful
misdeeds of Edwin NJ. Field spring from dis
ordered brain rather than a wicked heart
Enough has been shown to prove that the Field
stock, like that OF SO many other families that
have been distinguished to an extraordinary
degree for original force. is perilously near the
lima uhapa
and that into insanity. We know that great
French author has defined genius as one species
OF insanity, and no doubt what tine world calls
genius is often. il not commonly, abnormal and
unsymmetrical development Of the mind and
nerves. II we were to look into the family
history, including the locked closets. of several
OF the American families that are famous for
their brain power We would find terrible skele-
tons, 80 that we common folks may perhaps
take comfort in the thought that il not Of
dazzling brilliance We may for that reason be
more sane and safe in our minds.
JAY GOULD AS AN EVANGELIST.
The famous though girl at Harrigan's ex-
claimed in one Of her impulsive condolences,
"Me moneys as good as ebay Goulds." No
doubt 1t was earned as honestly, but there was
good deal less Of 1t, a difference which re-
suited in the fact that the tough girl" never
held q reception for the Presbyterian church
extension committee. This gathering has made
the town smile today, and yet what in the world
are we going to do with such person as Jay
Gould? Here is a man who controls far greater
powers than most sovereigns, certainly than
most sovereigns OF any age before our own.
In scarcely hgurative sense is he king of
men. 1t is merely a confusion of words ana
series OF legal fctiOns which differentiates his
reign from that Of the crowned and anointed
sovereigns. He incarnates O wOrld-embracing
power. 1t is not simply that he could write
his check for twenty or fifty or a hundred
million dollars and have it cashed without
question, but that he controls whole fabrics of
social order and is the central and ruling
spirit in vast combinations of human effort
that gives him his imperial place. 1t
isn't that the parsons truckle to money,
but they recognize the force Of which
money Is merely the convenient expression.
They know that they are in the presence of one
who has only to write lis name on piece of
paper and churches will spring up, universities
will be founded. q battalion OF missionaries
will be dispatched into the dark places of the
world and a whole chapter Of modern miracles
will be worked as by divine fiat. There is
something awful about the possession of such