Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-08-19
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SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS.

1t WAS predicted that the profusion
Of diamonds coming from the South
African min es would 81 lower ths
prices of those gems rs to place them
within easy reach, but the trend is
not that way at nll. The report Of the
appraisers stores shows that daring
the fiscal year ending June 30 there
we've I'M tie here prec.oas stones
to the va,ue of over $50, 900, 0o0, and
this has called attention to the sudden
Use in he price of Diamonds. 1t is
said in Maiden lane that diamonds
have been advancing steadily since
the beginning OF the year; that the
trice is now from 30 to 40 per cent.
higher than it was in Januarv, and
that it is very difficult to get orders
TILED at Amsterdam at all. Those who
indulged themselves in the costly lax.
ury of these precious stones year
ago made, it see MS, good invest
ment. 4 tlawless single carat dia-
mond worth then $50 or $40 should
bring about Sl20 now. The great
factor in the diamond situation is the
attitude OF n vast syndicate.
Music without heer was formerly
looked upon as an impossibility. A
visit to the sunmernight concerts
given in an uptown hall affords evil
Ience that the accompaniment of
liquid refreshment is not absolutely
necessary to the New Yo: kers who
wish to enjoy music informally. All
kinds OF appropriate refreshments are
provided at this place, but the mum.
Der OF persons that taxi advantage of
the opportunity offered is compare,
.ively v small. Most OF the men take
advantage of their privileges and
smoke. The concerts arc worth
visit merely for the sake of realizing
that there is another public in New
York in the summer besides that seen
in the roof gardens.
81 have noticed the greater polite.
nes' OF Southern men to women"
said New York girl. ''I was in a
Southern towl for six weeks, and |
never once go. on trolley car with
ont having the conductor take his hat
of to me. He waited SO patiently.
then bowed so politely when got on,
that the contrast to the New York
step lively was overwhelming. One
thing about the conduct of these con-
ducto:s made it especially agreeable.
Many OF thea belonged to the best
families in the town" That can't he
truthfully said OF oar cable car co H.
ma lders!
Three hundred delegates from all
o"er the country attended the conven-
ton of the National Retail Butchers
Mutual Protective association. j. f.
Callahan of this city, president of the
eastern Iii, ision, said the meat indus
try represented more money than any
other industry, and if harmony pre-
vailed among the retailers they would
be able to fight the trust and beat it.
The general sentiment was in favor of
organizing with retailers in other
trades to fight the department stores.
At many of these stores, mcat depart
ments have beon started.
The newest thing in strikes is that
of the caldies OF the Harbor Hill golf
club, Staten Island. They were paid
80 cents a round, but demanded 40
cents. They ask the extra dime be.
cause they have such long waits while
the golfers visit hotel for refresh
ment. When they were refused they
hoote the golfers fo.' time, aud
then spread over the links, rieving the
direction flags and disks, smashing the
sandboxes and singing stones owe,
the course. The upshot is yet in
doubt; the boys have reason, but
there are more boys.
The people Of this city are intensely
concerned in the question of rapid
transit, and the best minds and most
ceaseless energies have long been
graphing with the problem. The
necessity OF some prompt remedy for
the congestion that occurs so often on
all the present up and town lines
is so apparent that no argument for
greatly increa 3ed facilities is needed.
ANY enlargement or improvement Oil
existing lines seems likely to prove
Inadequate, and it is probable that the
building of an underground road ia
assured.
There is deadlock in the board of
aldermen over the appropriation OF
$3.50, 900 for the Dewey arch. 1t is
shame to the city that public enter
prises of patriotic nature always
meet rebutfs in oar municipal body.
Who can forget the recalcitrancy about
Grants tomb! But sooner or later
things right themselves. Perhaps the
hesitancy is the doubt anIong the
members as to "how much there 10 in
it, for each one or his favorite.
Mr.. William Waldorf Astor is nov
an Engllshman, c,untryman of Mr..
w. :. Gilbert, the librettist of "Pina.
TO e." Mr.. Astor might have been "a
Roosian, Frenchman, Turk OF
Proosian, or perhaps Italian; but in
spite of all temptations to belong t.
other nations" he became an English
man. 1t is his own business. New
York is not at all cast down, though
he casts her of.
Jacob Bebus, who introduced the
tea rose to the New York markets,
and who had dealt in flowers for &c
years, died recently. He was said tt
be the first Wholesale florist in thi.
city. He supplied most of the fower
for Charlotte Cushman's funeral ant
for many years the Delmonicos relied
upon him for decorations of importan
social functions.
KNICKERBOCKER
Stunned and Then Drowned.
Pawtucket. r. l.. Aug. 4-Scarcely