Year: 1878

Z
tleman be allowed to ask few Of his friends and
neghbors to dinner without setting half the news
papers guessing what they could have talked
about


There can be no doubt that the Elevated Railroad
IN its present condition is something ola nuisance, and
that the unfortunate residents of the streets through
which it passes have right to insist upon relief.
Bat we must be careful not cOnfound the right of
the householdcrs to compel the abatement of I'M
necessary noises with the imaginary right to re-
quire the removal of anything which may interfere
with their comfort or depreciate their property.
The railroad company Will no doubt do its best to
reduce to a minimum the noise of the trains and
the annoyance of smoke and cinders; yet after
everything possible has been done, must submit
to many changes in SiXth-ave. Even Professor
Edison will hardly be able to make life pleasant in
a street where a heavy railway train runs
every two minutes in front of the second
story windows. The avenue will soon cease TO be
used for dwelling houses. Other homes will be
found for the people, and othor uses for the build
ings; and although property for time may decline
in price it will soon find fair market under the
new adjustment of business which must follow the
completion of this great public improvement. This
perhaps will be incOnyenient and even Improbable
for the present housoholders of Sixth-ave but 1t
will be a good thing for the city at large, and the
agprieved hOuseholdcrs must remember that they
are after all but very small proportion of the great
aggregate of tho metropolis


Professor Silliman, who is visiting London, has
been writing for an American journal an account of
the indications of progress in science and art which
he has observed at South KensngtOn and else
where He visits London opportunely. The Emma
Mine case il again before the courts in
connection with charge of conspiracy and an
action for damages, and the latest London pa
pers contain report of the examination of
n witness who testified that in recommending the
mine 10 the British public "he relied upon the
port of Professor Sillimau." This is calculated to
revive the good professors fame in England, and to
increase the warmth of his welcome. We have no
doubt that the scientific authorities Of Great Brit
ain will De Interested in learning from the American
iournals what Professor S;lliman thinks of them
and now if they will kindly confide to the press
what they think of Professor Silliman, We shall be
happy all around.


The young man who was arraGned for murder
Yesterday and who urged in extenuation of his
crime that he was under the dominion of rum when
he committed it, will hardly find that this plea
eommends him to the mercy of the court Ii was
more than thirteen centuries ago when Beisarlus,
on his way to Africa, gbbeted two of his soldiers
for an act of violence. And when this
summary punishment aroused some mutny
among the comrades OF the executed men.
the General explained that the crime alone
might not have been visited by this terrible
retributi0n if it had rot beun aggravated by the
fact that the perpetrators. were drunk. This is
pretty sound law to-day. Surely man will not be
held less guilty of crime because he deliberately
prepares himself for it by shang all that is human
in his nature and stimulating all that is brutal He
should rather be held morally responsible for all the
other possible crimes which the alcohol he swallows
would drive him to commit if opportunity offered.


The latest New-York discovery is COney Island.
The amazemont il arOuses would indicate that until
recently nobody on Manhattan Island deemed that
such a paradise of surf could be found within
less than a days Journey. They build railroad
down there now every mOlth or two, and have
lately opened another immense hotel. The beach is
no better than il was when everybody
poohpoohed it, and rushed off to Long Branch or
farther But at the principal resorts the character
of the crowds is enormously changed for the
better and it must be admitted that the ar
rangements for bathing. particularly at Manhattan
Beach, are simply the finest in the world.


Mr.. Potter's subcommittee at New-Orleans has
resolved not to take any testimony respecting the
intimidation of voters" in the Felcianas, bat is
greedily taking the testimony Of all Democratic
witnesses who will swear that no intimidation was
practlsed. That, you see is a very different thing.


The Potter Committee resumes business to-day
and yet the experienced perjurers throughout the