Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-01-15
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE. |

The Bradley Martins and their
daughter, the little Countess of Cra-
ven, are not he outshone by the Mari
boroughs, even if the latter are few
pegs higher up in the p-arage. Had
there been no Blenheim festivities,
the earl and countess go onmemorution
Of the biith of an heir would have
thrilled New York society to the core.
But the Marlburoughs New Years
ball got over the cable first, and the
Cravens' seemed tame in comparison,
if it wasn't discounted by the
ducal affair. Other matters nearer
home are agitating New York society
these days, and whether they are
worth mentioning or not, they are
surely amusing from an abstract point
of view. At this long range the deci-
nation of the ranks of the so-called
-Four Hundre | throws II new light on
American society. All those whom
two or three se!f-appointed autocratic
leader admit as 'society" num-
Der less than 100. They will toll
crate Il few others at a pinch, but
- is the royal figure, replacing
, that abused "Four Hundred of Mr..
McAllster's day. These - are, then,
the elect, 'the toppest top as Clyde
Fitch puts ii in his clever book, "The
Smart Set, aud very lonesome must
they feel, especially when influenza or
gout keeps one OF them at home. The
fact is, this Greater New York is in
danger of being ridiculous. The New
York Sun halls it"The imperial city,"
seemingly forgetting how far is the
salutation from the American idea.
Assemblyman Trainor's idea to
make separate state out of the
Greater New York territory will be
revived again this winter with new
and startling features. 1t is proposed
now to create state that will take IN
string of counties reaching up as
far as Schoharie. The general plan
has been discussed among the Demo-
Gratis until all are impressed with the
belief that a new state that may be con-
trolled by their party is a certainty
for the future, and the near
future at that. Surrounding the cen
trail thought of which Mr.. Trainor
is the exponent, there is ae gem
eral idea of Tammany control reaching
out into the Empire state. AS rule
the Democratic leaders do not discuss
this in any but the most guarded
manner. They have, however, ad-
mitted that such an idea prevails and
have more than limited that if it be
found that Tammany cannot get the
control of the rural Democracy with
out struggle, then the plan to create
new state will be pushed. The !
scheme, as near as can be learned, in
cludes a we'll defined intention to
secure the elect on of Democratic con-
gressmen and through them secure
the necessary action.
The front door of that vast extrava-
gance, the capitol of New York state,
has just been opened for the first !
time, and Governor Black walked |
into it in company with G. w. AL
bridge, superintendent of public |
works, who has been in charge of the
work since Black cleaned out the
capitol commission. For twenty-six
years this pile has been building, and
the region roundabout has been will
derness of scaffoldings and masons'
sheds and blocks of stone and debris,
while contractor after contractor has
gone upon his scandalous way, getting
rich by not.dOing the work that was to be
done. Now Superintendent Alridge
has had the sheds and the fences torn
away, and for the first time the people
of Albany could actually see the front
OF the capitol from State street and the
governor could get in at the front
door instead of one of the side en-
frances. But he has to get thither
over q board walk laid for the purpose.
The division of the Republicans out
lasts the late campaign. There is a
committee of 53 appointed by con-
ference of anti-machine Republicans
to devise reorganization of the party
on the ground of fair representation
of all Republicans and the elimination
of the trading managers. This COM
mittee was enough in earnest to
muster AZ of the members at its first
session. Mayor Strong called the
committee to order, and William H.
Kenyon was elected permanent chair
man, and Henry B. Smith permanent
secretary. Mr.. Kenyon is not known
in politics; he is lawyer, a member
Of the University, Colonial, Lawyers
and Delta Kappa Epsilon clubs, and
the New England, Phi Beta Kappa
and st. Andrews societies.
A campaign fund of 5000, 900 for the
Seth Low movement here looks rather
large, but it is to be borne in mind
that the movement was gotten up and
conducted outside theregular political
organizations, and SO required good
deal more money than would other
wise have been the case. 1t was an
educational campaign that was con-
aud no money was spared in sending
out campaign documents and in pro-
mO,ing the spread of information
among the voters by other means. 1t
didn't elect Mr. Low, but it brought
out a great vote for him, and it edr
Gated the people. So it was not mis-
spent or thrown away.
The park commissioners distin-
guished their last regular meeting on
Monday by naming a lot of small parks
after eminent New York statesmen
Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, De
Witt Clinton, William H. Seward and
Hamilton Fish. There was small
protest against using the full name
in each case but the argument pre-
vailed that we want to know what
particular person of the name was