The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-05-04

which the news from Manila threw them
Monday morning. They have all along
had faith In the ultimate triumph OF Ameri-
oan arms ON sea and on land. but they have
been full CT caution and sboundlng with
forebodinRs.
"You will whip the Spaniards, yes. In
lime, said a member of the junta the 9TH
fr day, "but believe me 1t will not be SO
easy as some think. You may indeed suf-
fer reverses at flrst, and my only fear Is
Jhat an early setback would bring lack Of
aggression. You do not know the Span
iards. 1t is tfue that they are cruel but
they are also brave, and they know how
to fght."
The bulletin crowd, which had already
grown to huge proportions daily, has been
larger than ever since nows came from
Dewey. IL has assembled earlier In the
day, too, good sized but constantly
changing npclsus showing itsolf as early
boards evcS1 day tbia week, 30 far, be
ginning with Monday. But while the peo-
pie In the crowds are yisibly excited and
vastly Interested In every scrap Of news
there have been no hysterical demonstra-
tions of wild excitnbility.
IL is not . nervous, mercurial crowd
that gathers in front Of the New York
bulletin boards, but throng Of self con-
tained, patriotic Americans-men who
have never lost confidence for moment
In the ability and the will Of our fighting
mon to clean up the Spanish mess both in
Manila and Cuba, and Spain, too, for the
matter of that, II need be, with neatness
and dispatch.
The Richest Bachelor.
Interest In the war is naturally driving
almost every other topic completely out of
mind. Tho condition Of the oity's finances
and the rumor that Croker's plan Is to
turn down Van Wyck as mayor and put
Guggenheimer In his place would ordina-
rily como In for excited discussion In all
circles, and tho papers would be filed
with reports, comments and criticisms.
AS 1t Is little Is said In print about either
of these things, and some papers have not
even deigned to mention the rumor with
regard to Van Wyck.
Surprisingly little attention, too, has
becn paid to the announcements OF the ap-
preaching marriage between George Van
the most important piece of social news
day.
Had 1t not been for the overshadowing
interest fe,s in the war" said a well
known clubman this morning, ''pages
would no doubt have been allotted to this
announcement by some papers that In the
circumstances hare boon obliged to dis
miss IL with the scant courtesy OF a half
column.
1.-THE statement that he n the richest
bachelor In the world, which hns been
virtualsv reiterated within tho past week
by every paper In town save one, is far
from the fact, however. There are sew
eral unmarried men In the world possessed
of greater riches than he.
Zone Of them Is Eugene Higgins Of
New York, whose wealth is said to be ut
least . quarter bigger than that Of Mr..
Vanderbilt and probably larger than that
of any other unmarried New Yorker.
"Mr. Higgins, by the way, has good
looks and to spare as wen as wealth. He
is tall, compact of build, with dark hair,
pleasing countenance, graceful manners
and excellent taste In dress. His father
was maker of carpets. who began near
tho bottom, but left surplus Of $40, ,000,-
600 for his son when called to the world
wbero there are neither carpets nor bnnk
notos. Young HigRins has q handsome
house in middle Fifth avenue, a spacious
country seat at Morristown, N. j., near
Son-in-law MoK. Twonhley's place, and
various other estates. Higgins' Fifth ave-
nue. house Is almost literally filled with
costly pictures from tho easels of the most
celebrated painters both living and dead.
His steam yacht isa floating palace. bis
entertainments In town and out are ire
proachablc, and his stables and kennels
IN New Jersey are tonanted by the finest
bred horses and dogs money can buy.
"He Is himself a model of hospitality,
an athlete, good shot and possessed of
the sort of temperament that would have
made him popular even had he been born
poor. just how ho manages to remain sin
gle In all tho circumstances is mystery
TO New York's inner circles. Perhaps the
announcement Of his marriage when 1t
comes will bc ns abrupt as young Wander
bilt's. Like Mr.. Vanderbilt. Mr.. Hig-
gins Is out of the country at present, ru-
NOR having 1t that his is one Of the steam
yachts that Spaniards hope yet to capture
In Mediterranean waters"
Tho Bradley Martins.
Coincidcnt with the Vanderbilt Dresser
marriage announcement comes the state
mont from abroad in the form Of an nuc-
tioncer's ADVERTISEMENT q thnt tho Bradley
Martins will mover, never 1.-Two In America
agnin.
1t is generally understood that their de-
cision to dwell In Europe hereafter was
brought about by tho criticism passed on
their famous fancy ball OF few years ago,
and though some affect to view the war
with Spain In the light of n contributory
circumstance this IL not generally accept
OIL nc founded In fact. Even wero IL entire
D. truo. IL wouldn't DO of half as much
real interest ns correct answers to tho
questions asked in many quarters within
the last few days concerning the ultimate
disposition Of tho Bradley MartlS collec-
tion of watches.
The public has not heard much Of these
watches and might never have known
about them nt oil had II not been for tho
inconsidernteness Of burglar who broke
In and stole few Of them one night some
months before the famous ball. In Its
way, however, the collection IL not great
" surpassed In interest by anything Of the
sort In existence. Mr.. Martin has spent
much time and many thoussnds Of dollars
IN getting bis watches together.