The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-12-30
GOSSIP OF GAY GOTHAM.

Kelway has chosen for the subject OF his
Grafton at the memorial services attending
the passing away of Brooklyn as q separate
city From Great to Greater" Will
Carleton will read an original poem. Mayor
elect Van Wyck may attend the services.
and thus witness in Brooklyn the beginning
of his term OF office.
An orchestra composed OF women Is
= novel feature In ITSELF but when one
adds that each member OF the orchestra
| is a. skilled musician. that each woman
plays stringed instrument, and that the
ensemble playing has received praise
from the keenest OF musical critics, one
invites incredulity. Nevertheless, that is
exactly what the Wowans String Or
chestra society Is. 1t was founded a
night ago and 1t is now permanent In
stitution. In addition to three special
concerts the orchestra plays at private
musicales, weddings and receptions.
The only distinctive characteristic
of an ordinary New York hpuse is its
front door. Metropolitan hnizcs. taken
as a whole. in the residence districts of
the city, with the exception Of some few
OF the more elegant are as much alike as
peas in a pod with the exception CT the
front doors. This is thoroughly APP
preciated by the house dwellers them
selves. why said one Of them, de-
scribng her mansion the other day, IL
have the handsomest front door on the
block" She forgot TO say that there WAS
also mortgage on it.
An Italian woman knocked on the door
of fashionable fiat. She was accom-
panied by curly-headed lad with large,
round eyes and the face OF a cherub.
When the door was opened. the pair began
vouble appeal in the language OF their
native land. The impression conveyed wa.
that they were strangers in New York.
Money was at once forthcoming for the
woman. and a kind hearted tenant brought
out slice of bread and butter for the
boy. Up to this point the conversation
had been carried on In Italian only, but
the lad looked up suddenly. and with an
unmistakable Bowery accent said: Say,
Miss, won't yer put some sugar on it?'
The babes education has been neglected,
but he'll get there just the same
An interesting application of re-
cent invention to the work of construct
ing the modern sky-scraper is shown in
large office building now going up not
far from Broadway. When the building
had reached height of but two or three
stories the contractor had no difficulty
In mounting To its top and urging the
workmen On 10 renewed effort; but eight
or ten hoors addea made him ponder
SO he conceived the brilliant idea of hav-
ing megaphone constructed to con-
meet his headquarters in the first story
Win the top, where the men were at
work. When the work !ags now. OF any
conflict of authority arises. the cone car
lies his cuss words straight o the seat
Of trouble which is now seventeen stories
above his coop.
Pipe and hydrant connections for the
hre boat service viii soon be added to the
hame-hghting equipment OF the city. The
hreboat pipe systems in operation in other
cities have been inspected by commit
tee of experts, and their report vii, it is
said, favor the Introduction of a similar
system here, especially in The sky-scrap-
ing section. The machinery of the New
YORK hreboats is very powerful, and a
greater volume OF water can be pumped
through rigid iron pipe than through
heXlole hose. Chi9f Bonner saw in Detroit |
nrepoat pumping water through an UNI |
foreground pipe TO hydrant one and one !
half miles away, and he was convinced On |
N'p spot' tltlsbuFgS hrs boat boomers |
might secure all the data they desire nv |
getting next to the chief of the 1netropoli |
tan department
Plebeian Fourteenth street will ba got |
aside for aristocratc Fifth avenue as tho
center of political power and influence |
with the incoming municipal administra-
tioh' Croker has spoken. After January |
the Tainmany court will be transferred to
1ne paiatial rooms of the democratic club |
ne colhIlttee on membership We're given
.Ieh instructions in an interview which |
M croker made public today These are
rIeeuoni from any trace OF nugwlmpery.
d a,. Tue ABILITY TO pay Initiation fees and
us. me democratic club is the ont
Growth of the Young Mems Democratic
my, wbicn was organized in 1871 as a
~, nnuen democratic organization. In 1880 n
"ss incorporated as the Democratic cIuh
US; Jus piah and scope broadened and the build
i nnI on flish avenue, purchased for $780,
w., AZ undoubtedly the finest club
n ;.,nis owned by purely political organ
i' ~ the city. except the Union
~. re, IL is generally understood tbnt
MT Mt Croker will be made president ~ the
De eiitic club in January. OF this he
fuses 10 talk, but he has not vet dnniad
that he Is a candidate. 'e"isu
|
FOREIGN NOTES.
OF the 250,931 recruits for no c,.,,,
army examined last year only qs5 49,,
unable TO read and write WYE