New-York tribune., 1903-07-12
GOSSIP OF THE BOROUGH.

A story was told by member of Plymouth
Church the other day of latter day prophecy
that rather strangely came true at the time that
the Rev DR.. Newell Dwight Hills succeeded the
Rev. DR.. Lyman Abbott pastor Twelve years
before that on Sunday morning, March 27, 1897
the Rev Dr. Thomas Armitage of Manhattan,
preached in Plymouth Church, and toward the
close of the sermon he said: II remember wor-
shipping this spot when it was a Presbyterian
Church and when Mr.. Beecher's name was not
known in Brooklyn. God had him educating him
in the West for you. And God has young man,
possibly somewhere in a seminary in his first
church. full of hope, full of purity, of a totally
different character, and when the right time comes
He will say to that young man: Move on further
and bring him 10 you. Then time and experience
The young man" was Newell Dwight Hills,
who was born in Iowa, and was at that time a
before he entered the seminary Mr. Hills was a
strong admirer of Henry Ward Beecher, who rep
resented his ideal of man and preacher He had
read and reread every one of the great preachers
of Pymoufh m Church Few members of the chupcG
had ever heard of DR.. Hills when DR.. Abbott
signed.
Odd flashes of human nature are seen in the police
courts of a big city A grzzled old Irishman
arraigned before Magistrate Manner. in the Gates
ave. court. the other day. He admitted that he
had been intoxicated the night before. Then the
magistrate, using old dodge, said: Your face
is familiar. When were you last arrested"
'Forty-hve years ago" replied the Irishman,
What were you arrested for?" asked the magis-
Sure. an a big spalpeen was batin' poor sick
Graham" replied the magistrate calling the
ey ana m b 6 1GS a OF YOURS ours ort
now. believe you are speaking the truth. Sen
tence suspended"
One of the marked features of the summer sea-
this year is the revival interest in Coney
Island among Brooklynites and Manhattanites of
is n
the gradual development of amusements of a
higher order, which began last year and points
what Coney Island might become If the i'll
famed and ill-smelling Bowery and its surround
ings could be wiped out Then dive keepers and
panderers TO vice. which infest those places would
fee away like rats and vermin desertng a sink
ing ship. II is a for reproach that the great
metropolis longer allows the finest stretch of
the world. to remain polluted by the dives and
that that the desire of Park Commissioner Young to
the bs9e bee0 0 cbecd and dor m
proposition laid for consideration until next
Improvement with a loud and unanimous voice.
and every months delay viii on only add H thousands
condemn the property.
Those persons who this year providing a
spectacle class of entertainments and recreation
are 10 be commended. They have been repaid
amply in the almost unparalleled success of their
ventures and the knowledge of their success has
inspired others 10 pian o-her ahiusel-ehbs VI IKE
nature A well known minister was talking the
other day of the change in sentiment among good
people toward Coney Island. He said he found In
going about among his parishioners that persons
who last season would not have thought of men,
tioning Coney Island now talk freely or going
there The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company also
bears testimony to the high class Of people going
20 he this year. II has more lines gong
10 C.oney this year than ever before. and even
now az times IL finds it's facilities overtaXed 1t
says 1t is carrying more than twice as many peo-
Die 10 the island this year as last Notwithstand-
Il. TO
n,frnbe of people going II the other beaches. and
In fact Rockaway is now catering 20 more pleas
iIre seekers than before. All OF which goes
10 show that the people are growing more ana
more welded to the outing heplt each year