Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-04-03
NEW YORK LETTER.
-. SPECIAL coRREspoNpENCR.1


1t is already evident that the Grant
monument inaugural parade of April
~ is to be one of the most remarkab bio
! public demonstrations ever witnessed
in the metropolis. A glance at the
returns thus far in the hands of the
grand marshal shows that American
statesmnnship and finance, commerce
and manufacture, labor and capital,
federal, state and municipal govern
ments, aud every fnctor in our M.
tional life, supplemented by repre-
sentutves from the nations of two
continents, are to unite in the common
cause of honoring fifty the memory of u
hero of the republic whose character
and whose deeds must challauge the
admiration of future generations ns it
challenged that of his contemporaries.
There will be not less than eight full
regiments of The regular army, and
the cadets from the West Point aca-
denny and the National Guard of this
city, Of course, represented by its full
btlcuSlu, uuu NNGHs buulCA SuttCt hCAN
has made successful plea at Albany
for an appropriation of $50, 900 to en-
able the militia of the entire state to
participate. No such military dis
play as is thus assured has been
witnessed on Manhattan Island
since the close of the war, with
the single exception of the Washing.
ton centcnni Il parade in 1889. The
other features of the day will be not
less impressive. The Legislature has
declared April 27 legal holiday.
Business will be suspended, the schools
closed. the city decorated as it was on
the memorable flag day, and hundreds
of civic and social organizations will
take their places in line. The town
will be in gala dress, and the children
of today wi II speak with pride to their
own grand children of the glories of
the scene which accompanied the ded.
ication of the beautiful muusoleum
that rises in white and stately splen-
dor upon the city's western border.
One of the most remarkable changes
made in New York for many years
will be accomplished this summer in
the removal OF the old city prison, tue
Tombs, which is to be replaced by o
tremendous modern pile 1913 feet
high, having front of 1856 feet, q
depth of only As, and wrought in a
severe style OF architecture which will
reveal the prison at once. while looking
nothing like so gloomy us the Tombs.
Simply as specimen of Egyptian ar
chitecture there mny he some reason to
regret the Tombs, but in no other re.
spcct. The new hotel for criminals
will have all the modern improve
ments, and cost about S720,O00. 1t
seems pity that the city should not
have been able to build the new prison n
somewhere else, for the necessity of
tearing down the front half the
Tombs in order to start, will crowd
the prisoners into very narrow quar-
ters, and it may be bad for their
health, especially rs the digging for
the foundations will have to go down
nigh 100 feet. since tho Tombs stands
on the tilled-in site of the old Collect
pond.
What to do with New York's big
Madison Square Garden is still AN
open question. The city couldn't we'll
get along without it, for it needs al
arena of great capacity for its annual
horse shows and similar exhibitions.
Yet the problem is to make it pay.
The mere matter of taxes on the big
concern runs ZIP to $29, 900 year, and
there are other incidental expenses of
similar magnitude. Architect Stan.
ford White, who made the plans
for the building, suggests that the
city take long lease OF the struc-
ture, retain the arena for its present
uses and transform the Madison.
avenue front now given up to a
theatre and assembly hall-into All up
town postoffice. 1t seep's to be gener-
ally conceded among those who have
canvassed the situation that the failure
OF the front of the building to bring
o fair return is responsible for the
present troubles, rather than any lacl
Of profit in the big garden itself. II
this is true it would seem pity tc
sacrifice the structure. Some plan
will doubtless be devised for making
every part contribute Its share to the
adequate maintenance of one of New
York's greatest enterprises.
Our hand to New York's worthy
mayor, with hearty wish for many
happy returns of tho dayl Seventy
years of nge, aud rs clipper as u boy
of fifty. Blessed with vigor OF mint
and body that enables him IT'LL to live
in the future and not in the past
Loved by his friends, and respected
even by his enemies. Enjoying I
popular preferment not inferior in i'm
portance to that of the Governor
ship, and not wanting in this world
goods, Colonel Strong is in position
to enjoy thoroughly tho congratula
tions that hive reached him. He In
recently and publicly attributed all hi
success in life to the influence of hi
mother, who lived to be "a; and il
doing SO has given new proof that thu
Decaloguc has place in municipa
government. We desire to pledge th
mayor in huge bumper Of his favor
ite and renowned beverage ont
lump of sugar and just a dash o
cream, if you please. May he still b.
frisky at eighty!
Permission to change their motive
power to the underground trolley ha
been granted by the New York state
railroad commissioners to severa