Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-10-31
NEW YORK LETTER.
ESPECIAL coRREsPoNpENCR. |

SPECIAL CORRESPOSDENCE.
New York has "caught on" to new
idea by which to get urea enough for
the accommodation of her small army
OF schoolless children. The idea is to
erect sky-scrapiny school buildings.
The first experiment in this line is a
tive.stOry school building for the Hsr-
lem river district. II this building
meets with little objection there is
likely to rise seven-story one, then
q uine.story and so upward.
The tive-story building to be erected
is intended to accommodate 1000
scholars A tifteen.story building
would therefore seat 5000. Perhaps
New York may yet redeem herself by
rearing educational mansions in. the
skies. A 25 or 3O.story schoolhouse
might not only be made to ac-
commOdate whole district, but
would be guarantee that the chill
dren were getting up"in their studies.
Whatever objections may he brought
forward against sky.scraping school
buildings, they are certainly prefera-
BILE to ignorance. Ii nothing else will
do, the people may even resort to roof
garden schools.
In round numbers about 300, 900
persons will vote in this city on the
3D. OF November. In order thus to
find ont the will of these 800, 900
citizens the public must spend as fol-
lows: Rent of 1,3lOpolling. places in
stores at $50 each $25, 500; rent Of 81
street booths at $lO0 each, 49,, 200;
hire of 5,568 inspectors at $50 each,
$167, O4O; hire of 2, 7s4 poll clerks at
$40 each, 1927, $40; hire of 2,7S4 bal.
lot clerks at $5 each, S13,92O;
salary of chief of bureau, "a, 900;
salary of chief clerk, $4,000;
printing of 2. 500, 900 ballots, 1927, 900;
poll lists, tally sheets, etc., $4,000;
fitting up polling places, ETC., 1000;
stationery, maps, ETC., $40, 600; cart
ing booths, ballot boxes, ETC., $4,000;
miscellaneous expenses, $1,000; ad-
vertising, S6O, 900; board of canvas
sers, 50, 600; total, $402, 500.
1t thus costs the public little more
than 81. 81 for every vote that is cast.
A judicious economy might reduce
some of the larger items considerably,
perhaps. Inspectors, for example,
might be had at something less than
$50 apiece, while $50 for each little
cigar store used as a polling place is
clearly exorbitant. A good many
thousands of dollars might be saved in
these two items alone.
But the cost of elections is not
grudged by q public desirous of honest
and actual self.government. All this
expenditure is intended to secure the
fair, free and secret expression of the
actual will of the voters, and every
dollar so spent, every dollar used to
protect the public and the voter
aasseeiiDhs. aaseeiiSDhs. fsH"dao fs daolfaff' WRgeligpe i"t"i-
Society's female exemplars are to
have regular tea house, where they
acquire naughty taste for strong
Oolong and lounge about like "Cholly"
at the Calumet. This startling inno-
vation, will, it is believed, prove 80
exciting a novelty that it will enrich
its two women promoters.
"You see," said the junior partner,
1--WE women have absolutely no place
to lounge in like you men. You can
go into the Waldorf, or Del's, or into
your clubs and drink anything you
want, but women can't do that. We
can't even go into the swell restaurants
without escorts; it's not good form
you know. But if there is nice little
tea house where only we ladies are
admitted, it will be positive boon to
the sex. OF course there will not be
cigarettes or anything naughty like
that, but there will be all kinds Of tea
the heart could wish for served in the
daintiest Dresden and Sevres. Just
think what fun it will be for us to get
together and comment on the gowns
we have seen in the shopping district
and along the avenue.
"The surroundings will be so cum
ming. Dainty curtains, portieres and
little cozy hooks, and all that sort of
thing, don't you see? The little tea
house will be on Fifth avenue, some-
where between tue Waldorf and Forty
second street. There we can have per-
feet freedom with no men to ogle
you, and wonder if you're drinking
demi.t or benedictine, and we can
all of us do just as we please. All the
ladies have seen think it will be per-
fectly delicious.
An enterprising landlord of the up.
per West side has devised unique
plan to attract the scrutinizing eye OF
tue fiat hunter. 1t is a somewhat diff
ticult task to estimate the advantages
and attractions of a vacant fiat, and 30
this progressive property owner lends
his aid to prospective tenants. The
top floor of his building he has sumpt-
uously furnished, so that all the beau.
ties and conveniences are made up.
parent. This furnished flat is also
used as reception room for those
seeking apartments. When all the
flats in the building are supplied with
tenants the furI iture is stored until it
is necessary to rse it again. 'It takes
little trouble" said the landlord to a
Mail and Express reporter, "and find
it profitable investment.
The New York clergymen are pro-
n 4