Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-12-26
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
An Impending Dry Goods War Earnest
Naval Militiamen-The Theatrical
Outlook This Yeary
Especial correspondcnce.l


war between the big combination stores,
caused by the advent Of very wealthy
western firm which has just started bust
ness. In some inexplicable manner and
without the slightest hint Of it in its
preliminary advertisements this concern
managed to have rumor generally
circulated to the effect that it would
sell number of standard articles at
about one-fourth Of the regular prices.
The Gage Taken Up.
This naturally stirred up the old tim
ers, who attempted to minimize the eff
feet by cutting some Of those goods be-
fore the new people had opened their
store. One firm advertised, 1--WE will
sell goods cheaper than any other
house, clearly conveying the intima-
ton that customer might be sure of
having goods delivered at something
less than the prices quoted in the public
prints by the invading merchants
Meanwhile the heart Of the bargain
hunter is glad. The advertisements are
now the first and in many cases the
only things she reads. Every line Of
travel is almost congested each morning
by the hosts on their way down town.
Some persons declare that the ''war"
is i'll advised just at this time, and that
the only possible result of it will be the
determination of several of the weaker
of the large especial sale" firms. Time
will tell, and from present indications
it will not delay the telling very long if
the rumors which are now flying thick
and fast have anything behind them
outside of wind.
The Egotism of New Yorkers.
New Workers have way of posing as
the most difficult people in the United
States to suit. They delude themselves
into the belief that they know good
thing when they see it and that no one
can impose poor article upon them. In
fact, the mere suggestion that any one
would have the hardihood to attempt
such thing would be laughed to scorn.
That is what Gothamites think. Now
here are the real facts:
There is no city in the United States
whose people are SO constantly and out
rageously imposed upon. There are no
people who submit more humbly, and
there are no people out of whom it is
SO easy to cajole money by means of
things which the resident Of small
town would scarcely deign to notice.
Just look at the evening papers Of
this city. With couple of exceptions
they would not be remarkably credit
able sheets in city of 90, 200 popula-
ton. And yet most of them enjoy large
calculations. The New Yorker will visit
an interior town and sheer at the local
daily and is still content to read every
afternoon while here sheet not nearly
SO good in either its make up, appear
anee, volume of news matter or quality
of paper used. He is SO puffed up with
sense of the greatness of everything
lat home" that nothing, in his opin.
ion, is entitled to commentator that
does not emanate from the Ito him)
"centor Of the universe" New York.
Earnest Naval Militiamen.
A good deal of fun has been poked at
the New York state naval militia by
the newspapers of this city. The effect
has naturally been adverse to the growth
and popularity of that branch of the de-
fensive service, but the members have
gone along in quietAway that cannot
fail to impress careful observers with
their patriotism and earnestness.
Nor are the naval militiamen of neigh.
boring states tagging behind. The senate
committee on naval affairs at Washing
ton is in receipt of some interesting in
formation as to the service to which the
naval militia of the state of Connecticut
has put the out of date monitor Wyan-
dotte. Some wide awake young men
comprise the naval militia of Connecti-
cut and they were not content even
with an old style ironclad, which was
good for nothing but to float about like
"a tub or to lie in the mud alongshore.
Some of the brightest of the Yale seniors,
who belonged to the naval reserve, with
a professor of mechanical engineering,
organized an engineer corps and finally
succeeded in cleaning up the machinery
Of the old monitor so that she could
steam around the harbor. When it is
known that the Wyandotte's furnaces
had not had fire in them for 20 years,
something of the condition Of the en-
gines can be imagined.
New Haven is very proud of her
"coast defense vessel, and if the state
can be prevailed upon to make an ap-
preparation for fuel the boys propose to
take cruise on Long Island sound.
The Theatrical Outlook.
Despite the numerous predictions of
dire disaster to theatrical enterprises
during the coming year, the season in
this city has opened just as though ev
erybody expected TO make money. The
American dramatist will not be very
much in evidence at the important the
lters rs so many managers who pretend
10 desire to encourage native authors
really have the most supreme contempt
for them and prefer to accept the verdicts
of English audiences, which, by the
way, are with rare exceptions confirmed
IN this country. This condition of af-
fairs has started anew the talk of ma
tional theater TO be supported mainly
by voluntary contributions. Until this
is an accomplished fact the average man