Year: 1877




Like all OF Dr. Hollands stories, "Nicholas Minturn"
(scribner, Armstrong h Coz with purpose
In novel Dr. Holland takes the tramp question by
the horns, and this question Is just now againg
the public prints, the Doctor assured OF u large
audience. But that sensation to this writer
for his books always start of with edition of 20 O00
which doubles before they have been long upon the
market. '.Nicholss Minturn" Is tho story of young
man with plenty OF money, who Is thrown upon the
world before his back bone has sti1encd UP. Ho is
looking for q model to build himself upon, and when
he thinks he has found he finds IL stuffed with
sawdust The number OF vagrants In New York ex.
cites his youthful sympathies and him look
about Tor Tor their relief He entertained
tramps at his rooms and showed them his art treas
ures Then he got up a series Of lectures, charging
cents admission the ticket being loaf Of bread
or q bar OF soap, or Whatever else Tho sub
ject OF tho lecture might be. AT last Nicholas
called a meeting OF members and officers OF
plan for tho suppression OF the tramp al should Ike
to seq said he. every charitable organization exist
ing in this city (Nsw York; including my own enter
prise, swept out OF existence would like to see cs-
tabished IN their place single organization whose
purpose to work radical cure for paupcrsm. l
would nkc TO sec the city government, which Is
directly responsible for than naf the pauperlsm
we have, united IN Administration with tho chosen
representatives Of the benevooncc oil the city ia the
working out OF this grand cure / would ike to see
the city divided into districts small that man
can hold In each, not only registry OF every family
living IN It, but obtain and preserve knowledge OF
each familys circumstances and character l would
have labor bureau In every district, IN connection
with this local superintondent's Office. would have
the record OF every man and woman more con-
nj linn var IN nd bv
mercante agencies l would have such vagrancy as
we and illustrated by the iramps and dead beats who
swarm about tho city sufficient crmo Tor
condemnation to hard labor In prisons and
factories built for that purpose. would make beg
gary the streets misdemeanor pun shable by i'm
prisonment l would have every helpless person
understand whore help in emergencies can always be
had by representation, subject 10 immediate and
competent examination. 1 would see the matter 90
arranged that premium would be put upon truth ard
. ban upon fasehood. Temperance and intcmpcrarcc
should always he considerations in dealing with the
poor There Is limit to the benefits which such an
organization as this would have the power to inaugu
rate perpetuate; and, gentlemen, verify believe
that under It's intelligent and faithful admin ration
We could banish bcggars from the Streets introduce
new oi prosperity virtue among oil the suffer-
ing poor, ourselves forever IRON the terrible
paupcrizaton that and almost kills the cities
Of the Old World"


As this is the mature plan OF DR.. Holland, who has
given ycars Of study 10 the subject OF tho reef OF
pauperism, 10 worthy Of consideration. or course
there Is love story running all through tho novel.
and the general reader Will be tho most inter.
osted


TnB sEw YORK METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY.


The annual report for 1876 OF this useful institution
prepared by the director, Dr. Draper, is one Of tho
valuable contributions 10 scientific literature. II is
compiled with care and illustrated with charts, show
ing the annual and average rainfall az New York, as
compared with other citcs tho Atlantic coast 1t is
to be regretted that tho position Of the observatory at
the arsenal Is not better adapted for It's purpose. Its
sunken site does no, permit satisfactory result In OBJ
servations OF the wind directions II the ornamental
building on the elevated edge OF the old reservoir In
Central Park could bs adapted for Of