New-York tribune., 1900-12-26

Next year at about this time the oldest in
habitant will tell his story about the extraordi-
nary mild weather. 1t will be we'll to remind
him then of the fact that on Christmas 1900.
open cars running several of the New
York lines, and that they were well patronized.
Influenza is raging in Russia with such viru-
lence that the operations of the Government de-
partments have been gravely obstructed, and the
overworked physicians of ST. Petersburg
almost in despair. This has been an excep-
tional year for destructive epidemics in many
countries and the resources of medical science
of certain maladies. War and pestilence have
been busy in checking the increase of popula-
ton. and the disciples of Nautilus have renewed
their faith in his theories
The air of Brooklyn used to have repute,
probably not altogether deserved, as being bad
for pulmonary complaints. Its effect upon
"chestiness' is worthy of careful notice.
The Harlem River Speedway has been so
cessful that other cities are tempted to follow
the example Of Manhattan. Even on a foggy
Sunday the multitude of delighted spectators
the sidewalks watching the contests of the
trotters is extremely large. This has been
wonderful year for favorable weather for our
Speedway, and with the exception of few icy
days even December has been kind and gentle.
Bishop Potter. in an address to young on
Sunday, in which he spoke of the bad taste of
the wearing of tawdry jewels. told story of
William NJ. Tweed which calls to mind the his
tory of the Count Esterhazy who wore the cele-
brated diamond coat. Like Esterhazy, Tweed at
times dropped gems if they were ordinary.
commonplace brass buttons. Tweed was in the
habit of wearing noted headlight in his shirt
front-a vast diamond, somewhat "off color"
like its owner. With the passing of Tweed the
practice on the part of the Tammany boss OF
displaying precious stones of huge size became
more honored in the breach than the observ-
ance. John Kelly never cared to go about
blazing like the window of Bowery pawnshop.
Richard Croker has always been abstemious
to "sparklers." But when Barney" Martin and
Paddy" Diver mount the steps of Ta1nmany
Hall the eyes of the faithful are dazzed. The
era of the shrtfront headlight is passing away.
and few Of the conspicuous politicians wan
der to and fro arrayed like a Rangoon rajah on
dress parade. Times change and even tawdry
Tammany changes in some things.
The Tammany Committee of Five Purity Cru
saders has furnished the police with lists of
faro banks which ought to be shut up Why
doesn't this committee scatter its lists broad
cast? Then something practical might be ac-
complished. The members Of the committee
convict themselves of insincerity when they con-
fine their attacks vice to confidential whis-
perings at the MuIberry-st. Headquarters.
Experiments in France with cannon firing to
protect the vines from haistorms are reported
to have been successful. Threatening clouds
have been torn asunder by the explosions, and
beneficial showers have descended in place of
the destructive little balls of ice novel plan
to disperse the thickest OF London fogs has been
suggested recently. This scheme involves the
quantities of guncotton in the upper air. When
a British fog is rent apart in that way the sky
will fall and roasted larks will drop into hungry
mouths.
Spokane's new enterprise will assure the hold
ing of at least three international exhibitions in
the United States in the first two years of the
new century. II such rate is maintained. the
twentieth century will go far toward realizing
1.-The parliament Of man"
On the western border of Missouri Kansas
CITY leader of thought has announced a series
of free lectures for newsboys on dancing, de-
pertinent and etiquette. That professor should
come to New-York and spend few hours in
Park Row as the afternoon "extrees' pour pip
ing hot from the presses. The newsboys Of
Printing House Square might give him a few
free lessons in dancing. department and et-