Year: 1875




MEssRs EDrroRs: The smoke of the
recent battle in the local political field
has finally cleared away, and the oppos.
ing forces are not only beginning to real.
ize, but to accustom themselves to its re.
suits Some of the defeated Tammany.
ties are still bowling mournfully over the
unlocked for dsarrangement of various
carefully laid schemes, but very little
attention is vouchasfed them outside Of
their own select circle, for the waves Of
New York life follow each other too rap.
idly to admit of the prolonged elevation
Of any single one however important !;
and the average citizen, having read over
the results of the election, turns quickly
back to his own pursuits, to bear his bur.
dens and pay his taxes as best he may
till the revolving circle Of time gives him
another opportunity at the ballot box to
work what change in them he can for
better or for worse. As to tho effect of
national politics upon the metropolis
there is little to be said at present writ.
ing. The daily papers have been poking
little fun att he "triumvirate" of speech
makers, President Grant, "Boss" Shep.
erd, and ex.architect Mullett, who ad-
dressed sereuading party at Washing.
ton the other night, and drawing various
differences from their connection on that
occasion. But that is only little of the
harmless sparing in which they are won
to indulge during the intervals of more
serious business Some little excitement
was caused by the news of Mr.. Wilson's
sudden illness last week, enough ! think
to indicate a marked increase Of the vice
presidents importance during the last
year but this news was so soon followed
by the dispatch stating his recovery that
the ripple died out at once. 1t is rather
amusing to those behind the scenes to
observe the quiet activity which little
scare of this kind excites in our editorial
sanctums-in that department | mean
which "does the obituary notices" OF
course | do not intend to convey the
idea that there is anything particularly
mirth. provoking in the death of our pub,
lie men. The fun comes in only when
they recover, and the carefully prepared
articles which wasted the midnight gas Of
a score Of enterprising scrbes have,to be
pigeon holed to become dusty, and per.
haps forgotten before the occasion of their
appearance finally arrives. l was talk
ing with one Of the editors Of leading
journal here the other evening, when this
subject came up and he remarked with
rather an injured air that this recovering
from serious attacks was getting to be
Of very frequent occurrence that he be-.
lieved for instance that he personally had
kept Alexander II. Stephens alive fo
several years by making due preparations
for his decease, pulling him through or
many occasions when he had been given
up by his friends. | hinted to him that
thought it would be proper for him il
snch cases tn randor hill for ;na;-noi
medical services, at which suggestion b,
frightened and seemed to think that OF
some such basis as indicated, he should
be willing to overlook what must other.
wise appear to him as objectionable tri.
fling on the part Of venerable and illus
trious statesmen.


But whether men live or die, the bus
mess OF New York rolls in a river o.
mighty, and to the casual observer almo.
unvarying volume. A good many peopl,
complain of dull times, but for all tha
your correspondent can see, there are q.
many people in the streets and stores, q:
many bales of goods on the trucks, and
as much freight in the depots as ever
In certain departments, and especially il
book publications and literary periodicals
there seems to be at present in fac
greater activity than usual. Many new
papers of the latter class are starting
some of them being extremely promising
A striking illustration of this is the new
enterprise, @ Of +, tho Family Journal Co.
inent literary and fashion monthly Of tha
name which has an enormous circulation
throughout the country. They are now
establishing the Family Journal Week
ly" u very handsome story and fashion
paper, and are doing it on a scale o
which it may interest your readers t.
learn something. In the first place they
have arranged to have the mechanica
part-paper. press work and illustrations
of the most elegant description, and pro
mise to Introduce tho brightest novelties
in their story and fashion departments
In the second place they have printe,
and are circulating gratuitously from
Maine to California one million copie
of the opening number, and in the thir,
place they have gotten up especially 70
subscribers to this paper splendid grea
tinted engraving containing many nation
al subjects and called Centennial Amer
ica," which as the advertisements say 81
worth double the subscription price :;
and in this case it seems MS if that mus
be literally true.


Such firms are what tho city wants
and not only this city but the country q
large 1t is generally acknowledged tina
the lack Of confidence is largely responsi
hle for hard times, aud if more bushes
tuou "oulu pursue eimllaT POllcy
would go freely into legitimate enter
prises. employing labor largely and keep
ing their capital actively engaged, NOR
good would be accomplished than by vol
umes of theorizing


In the amusement world things ar
moving quietly. Edwin Booth. in hi
magnificent impersonation sat the Fiftl
Avenue theatre, w. j. Florence. in tn
much criticised but highly successful pla
"The Mighty Dollar" at the Park thea
tire and the great German tenor Wach
tel, at the Academy Of Music. have beer
together with one elegant Thomas col
cert, the salient points 10 the past week
programme.


The event of the present week is to b
J the opening concerts OF DR.. Hans Vo
/. Bulow, one Of the three greatest liviu
pianists. In my next l shall probabl
, be able to give some account Of thes
concerts and various other matters of il