Year: 1868

3 For over two days now we have had
here almost continuous rain The streets
are almost impossible, covered as they
are hills and lakes of mud and water,
while the most dismal accounts come to
us from the country of rivulets turned to
rivers, highways to canals and praries to
swamps The. spring trade was opening
beautifully, but this untowarI weather
has nipped its buds of promise, and mer-
chants say, put back the busy season
fully three weeks. At present there are
very few country merchants in the city
and their purchases are not large So
much for business, what little there is of
it to write about Now for more cheer
ing 5heme A


For long while German influence has
been growing stronger and stronger in
our city. The Sunday concerts at Turner
Hall were more and more popular The
German Opera always drew crowded
houses. The German balls never were a
failure. The German tragedienne ''scoop-
ed RlstorI even In public estimation :;
last but not least, the Germanic tide
reached its flood in the grand Germanic
maennerchor masquerade which came off
last Tuesday night at the Opera House.
1t ecllpsed everything ever seen here,
more than that. it left nothing for other
like efforts to improve upon and fer all
time to come it shall stand singly and
alone in the annals of Chicago as the
big thing the grand triumph of Prince
Carnival. 1t would take up all the space
you would allow me, and more, to give
anything like description of the gran
deur of the scene, the magnifcence OF
the costumes, the mad spirit of revelry
and mirth which seemed to possess every
one participating in the affair. OF all
the fantastic funny carnivals, the acme
was reached when the procession of
masks made their entree and ''the corner
stone of the temple of fun, satire and
foolery' was laid by one who ia form
and feature, in voice and bow, in Jest and
gesture was an admirable caricature of
Andrew johnson, the great Impeached.
In the procession which he headed were
representatives of all countries from
all the powers and potentates of the
earth (even Mephisto, ''Konig die un-
tercvelt) with multitude of beasts, birds,
fishes, etc. Before the procession enter
ed, the great hall seemed full of maskers,
-afterward they swarmed, like bees ina
hive. Oh! how soon morning came.
Dull. cold, leaden down was the magical
wand which reduced all the fairy scene
to practicality again and not until its torch
came did the gorgeous bubble dissolve.
The morning after the masquerade
was recently the theme of comic picture
IN one OF the illustrated papers. Harle
queen and Columbine lay asleep and
over his head ran the legend mo voice,
no legs, no money, nothing but a head
ache and Colestine. How many, after
the German ball, realized the truth Of the
satire.


Another magnificent public entertain
nj mt came off last evening at the Opera
House, reception given by the
artists Of Chicago. All the studios in the
building were thrown open for visitors
and after sufficient time had elapsed for
the due admiration of the beautiful pic
lures which adorned the walls, series
of Tabieaux, in the highest degree arts
tic and effective We're presented on the
stage and the evening concluded with a
dance Notwithstanding the very un-
favorable state Of the weather the attend
ance was quite large. .-., q. $e.srg
z Speaking of the Opera House, it has
been finally resolved upon that this shall
be the place of assemblage for the great
Republican National Convention, in May
next For time it was deemed certain
that Farwell Hall would be the chosen
spot for this convoeation and after that
building was burned everybody favored
the erection of great wigwam for the
occasion Now however the matter has
been definitely settled. The cost Of this
house must be immense, almost If not
quite up to the expense of new build
ing.


The exorbitant prices demanded for
gas, and the uncertainty and danger at
tending the use of lamps, have OF late
directed the general attention OF our
people to the discovery of some new and
more available agent for illumination and
after the Most thorough experimental
tests, public favor seems to have attach
ed itself firmly to the Automatic Gas
Machine" an invention which seems to
me well worthy of notice and commenda
ton to your many readers. This ma
+chine is an ingenious apparatus for the
mixing of air with gasoleine vapor, with
out the agency of heat, simply by me-
chanical agitation and the results thus
attained are in the highest degree success
full By thorough tests, applied by sci
enti6c men the gas thus made has been
satisfactorily proven free from all dangers
of explosion, much more economical than
gas and capable of diffusing a much
stronger, steadier and more mellow light
than any other gas or lamps now in use
It is being largely introduced in mills,
stores, churches and dwellings, through
outzthe Northwest and everywhere gives
entire satisfaction These valuable ma
chimes are made by the Northwestern
Automatic Gas Machine Co., who have
their Office OF No. l6 Metropolitan block
whence all desired minute information
concerning the apparatus may be obtain
ed


The market reports for the close of the
week show a tolerably active general con
dition. Wheat closed S20S for No. | !;
50. .0lA for No 2; $l.S7 for No. 3. Corn,
at Sale for new No. 2; S74 for No l..
Oats, at 572. Barley at 50. l3as2, Is.
NEWS ITEMS.