.i > >
. . , > .
THE' OMAHA DAILY'BEE ; SUNDAY , JJECEMBEK 2 > , issg-T\viiSLV'ig PAGES/
B4DEAD ON BIG DINNERS ,
Christmas leasts in Martial Camps and
Guarded Palace Halla.
AND COUNTRY CUSTOMS.
I'lmti I'nildltii : In Knclnml and Creole
HtnllcR In Culm tlraiit'n last
ClirlslmnH on Hnrtli
Viilo-1/o I'nn ,
NBW YOIIK , Dec. 23. - - [ ( 'orrepoide.iico < !
of Iho ltii.j : : Christinas lies logothor
' .vents and clinrnclcrs and scenes and
'cars that oflon have no olhor bond ; for
ncmory is a thread on which a man may
tiring his many experiences at his will.
i have spent Christmas in camp mid
Christmas in Knglish country house ? ,
Christmas in a raptured town ,
Christmas in a pnlaco at Havana ,
Christinas at the white hou o at
Washington , Christmas in London ,
dining wilh ambassadors ; Chrislmas at
tlm Century Club in Now York , Christ
mas In hospital wounded ; Christmas at
Delmonlco' . " , Christmas atCranl'tt Jioitsc
when he know ho was doomed to die. 1
hardly know which ghost or picture to
summon from the past.
I'AMdVS IIOMDAV TIMKS
1 can recall nt the Cenlury club in Xcw
York in my narlmr days. The crowd of
gav and promising men Unit gathered
there when Uichard Hunt and haunt
Thompson and Church and llicrntadlaml
Jtootlt and Stoddurd were rollicking
young follows , seems to me in the retro
spect moro brilliant than any 1 have
known on Ihe same spol in later years.
I remember , moro than once , thai thirty
or forty of us determined to see the old
year out , and the hum board was
stretched across the double room , ami
very good punch was brewed anil very
good songs were snug , and stories told
iind speeches made. At midnight wo
rose anil sang , "Anld Lang Sync , " and
"hero's a hand and there's a liaml , " were
given and exchanged. The handsome
faces glowed and the lithe forms \vcro
full of spirit and strength , as tint arlists
and poets and orators pledged each
other in all the pride and gaycty of youth
and genius and ChrUluias time nearly
thirty years ago. Alasl How many of
those forms are bunt , or mayhap ,
crumbling now ; how 11111113' of those
smiles have faded , how many faces are
wrinkled if not forever chop-fallen ?
Where bo yoiirgibosnowY your gambols ?
your soiigsV your Hashes ol merriment
that were wont to sot the table in a roar ?
How many , now , to mock your own grin
ningf
WIIKN TIII : WAR mioKi : OUT
I became a soldier , and there was an end
to clubs and club dinners for a while. My
nc.\t 'hristinas was passed in South
Carolina. I accompanied Sherman on
his expedition to 1'ort Koyal , and in
December wont with a rcconnoitoring
parly lo the interior. Returning to our
cami > at Hilton Head , 1 found one of my
niessmales jll with the fever of Ih'e
country. His other comrades on Slier-
man's stall"wcrn absent on oilier duties ,
but I was only a volunteer nid-dc-canii |
then , without rank or pay , and could
command my own time. I remained with
my now friend and nursed him until ho
recovered , anil that was the beginning of
an intimacy of moro than twenty years.
That man was Horace 1'ortor , with whom
I passed many : i night on T.ybco Island ,
under the samp blanket , during the hiego
of Fort 1'nlaski ; who shared my tent , ot
1 his cabin , all throuirh the. Wilderness
campaign , and Iho long year at Citj
I'oinl ; with whom under ( irant , ! inarchci :
to Appomattox ; with whom 1 messed for
four years afler Iho war , in Washington
and who , at another Christmas ( in 18(51) ( ) ,
invited me lo become his groomsman. J
was wounded al the time ami nimble ti
travel to Albany , where the marriage
look placo. My wound was in the foot ,
and when 1 made my excuses , I'orter ,
rv'itli a Hash of Iho wit that is known at n
linndrcU dinner tables declared bo could
hardly expect a man to stand up will :
him who had lost the nso of his foot.
The lir.st Christmas that ( irant spent al
the while house I dined there with him
others I passed , while he was gciioral-in
chief , at his residence at the capital. One
Christmas dinner I remember with him
at the house of ( icneral ( iallatin Lawrence
ronco , and once , I think wo wont to : i
children's party given by Mr. Coiruli , tin
Italian minister. Many a Christmas hayi
i spout with the American minister ii
London ; sometimes it was ( jencra
not ticlioiiek , .sometimes Mr. Welsh , and once
I believe Mr. 1'ierropont.
Moro oflon , however , 1 look my
ri.t'M iTimiM ) IN JNCIAM : >
with Thomas Hughes , the author ol
"Ton ; Itrown's School Days. " lie am
his wife were among my earliest am
latest English friends ; they hail two boys
only four or live years olif when 1 lirs
went to London , types of Knglisli chil
dren ; ono with long golden red hair , tin
other with golilcn yeJlow ; both fmr am
fat , and beautiful as a vision ot fair
i and. They were dressed alway :
in blue , with Iho shortest of skirt
and sleeves , so as to show their leg
and necks and arms , and wore callci
1'ip and Plump. They had other names
1 suppose , but I never heard them ; am
1'ip and Plump and 1 were dovotci
friends. There was always a plain family
dinner for them at Christmas , ami a froli
afterwarils , and 1 was always wclcom
V- to both. There were moro children
oldor--a whole brood of them
- - , boys an
girls but wo thrco wore the ospccia
mates. Sir William Harcourt was 1113
only rival. Ho was Mr. Vernon Harcour
then , and ho came , too , at Christmas , an
brought presents ami lay on the Moor an
gambolled with the boys.
rir AND 1'i.r.Mr
always returned my visitor. Iloxiug day
the day after Christmas , and of hit
years almost a greater festival in Kiiglau
than Chrislmas itself. Wo had a nine
and snapdragon afterward , and a Chrisi
mas tree , ami they stayed till dark , whic
comes very soon in Kngland in December
comber , and then wo wont to a imnto
piiine. For at all the London theatres
{ hero is a pantomiiia at Christmas
Jonndcd on Aladin , or Cinderella , o
Jack the ( Jiant Killer , or some olhe
classic of Ilia nursery and gel up wilh r
greal deal of euro and splendor. Truir
iron cily , and ovou opera , trivo way to this en
an tcrtaintncnt , ostensibly provided for th
inr children , but which the elders find i
lien1 necessary to supervise in very lanro mini
[ ins bors. 1 confess that 1 invited half th
Ohildran of my acquaintance in turn , uni
\tins \ wenl Iho round of the pantomino.
1 taught Pip and Plump to hang n ;
) holr Klqokincs for the delightful legcni
of St , Nicholas is unknown to Hughs !
children. To many a little friend have
recited the exquisite linos.
, * Kf " 'Twas the night before Christmas
vo when all through the house , " and alway
to rapt and attentive listeners. In returi
they explained lo 1110 the mysteries o
snapdragon , and darkened the root
afler lunch and cama in with sheets an
laml whitened faces to terrify mo , while th
blue ilamos of the brandy were blazing
Al ono of these frolics 1 had
MIIS. NKI.I.1K UIIANT SAItTOIUS
loll
Mai and her eldest child , then a chubby beef
oil of three years old , to uicel my Kuglis
Uil allies , The grandson of ( iranl wa
dressed in white , with white fiirund white
shoes ; bis hair \yns long and llaxeu , and
christened him "Father Chrislmas "
lalu.1 wo ,
tkvl us 'ho stood under my green trca and
picked on" the bon-bons and oranges , and
blow out the candles , When 1 tirst saw
his mother , a little girl of oighl or nine ,
th. . ; playing in front of her 'father's lent at
Cily .Point , 1 little th light J bhould ever
balul
lo ol
welcome her an Knplish matron with an
Kngii h son in my own hou. oiiiKngland.
lint the old fashioned Christmas that
Washington In ing tells of in the Sketch
Hook is no longer celebrated in England ,
though in the country sonio traces of the
delightful fcstix al .still linger hero and
there. 1 have been asl < cd to Christmas
parties nt great houses where a hunt
breakfast and a limit ball and a meet of
the hounds formed part of the entertain
ment ; but usually there arc only family
reunions and children's merry-making
on thcso occasions now.
1 lived , however , tor several years in ft
box near London , a dowrr house in an
ancient park , where I had my own little
establishment and pleased myself with
keeping up on a reduced scale the
Christmas customs that yet survive Tim
IIOIIMJ was always Imnir with holly and
genuineinMetoo ; thcservants had a pres
ent a piece alt around ; the children of
the gardener , nnd there was a host of
them , were all brought In to see the
Christmas tree. Always U > my extreme
delight 1 heard the waifs long after mid
night , and in the morning 1 was awak
ened by the children singing Christmas
carols.
Once I had a servants' parly at Christ
mas. My coachman married the house
maid , and I went to the ceremony. They
were married in the parish church , just
like Lord Thomas nnd Lady .lane. I remember -
member that the groom had forgot the
ring , but tlicv got along without it. 1
think the bride slipped on" one ofwr \ own
and handed it to thu minister. Tim wed
ding breakfast was laid in the house
keeper's room , for my establishment was
not grand enough to boast a
cervanPs hall , ami as I ha-1 furn
ished the cakn and this wedding
down I was asked to a glass ot wine.
When I unlcrc.d the room tins whole
mrty rose , and 1 felt for n moment quite
! iko'an aristocrat among my retainers.
.There must , have bnen half a do/.en of
them , besides the guests. Hut 1 fear the
nialoh was not a happy one for all thi.s
splendor. I used to hear that the bride
groom heal the bride , though she never
complained to nnj.
Twice 1 spent
niiiTMA- ! rt n \ .
Ono Christmas eye I passed with an
American lady married to a Spanish mer
chantand went through the ceremonies of
i Cuban dinnerwith wretched attend
ance , its coarse but not altogether unin
viting menu , its high-llavored lish and
high-seasoned .soup , its musses of garlic
and minced meats , its litcions fruits and
heavy red wine , its genuine hospitality
spicing all the unfamiliar and sometimes
distasteful viands. Seated at Christmas
in a long saloon , comedor they call it ,
with doors and windows all thrown open
to let in si breath of fresh air : the palms
In Hie veranda helping to cool the atmos
phere ; the black .servants all in white
costumes for their own comfort as well as
yoursatisfaclion ; the powdered Spanish
beauties helping one if lioMuinlilcd in his
Castilian ; the men all in frock
coats tiiouirh the dinner was
ceremonious I could hardly realize
that 1 was9 keeping the holiday
of my childhood , or of more temperate ,
that is , more frigid /.ones.
After dinner one or two Americans
.strolled out to see how the people cele
brated Christmas , The sU'ee.ts were
brilliantly lighted and full of men , mostly
of the middle sort , but many well dressed
and used evidently to certain restrains of
manner ; students ami shop-keopers , ovou
young merchants and lawyers , though
not perhaps the more distinguished of
their class. Hlacks and Chinese mingled
with tins throng , and negrcsscs and mul
atto girls not a few ; but hardly a white
woman could be seen. If here and there
you encountered one , she was evidently
of this poorest sort , but not ollcnsiyc in
manner. Toward midnight , the.
DANIMNO IN Till : STHKICTS
began. There was at least , a hundred
di lie rent groups , with a hundred men in
each , forming a crowd around two or
thrco young fellows. fSome wild instru
ment , tamborine or castanets or other
with which I was entirely unfamiliar ,
was jilayed , anil a drum was always beat ;
the dancers threw on" their jackets and in
their frilled shirts and sometimes fanci
ful and even spangled trousers per
formed with wonderful grace and untir
ing xcal. Often negroes danced with the.
white men huge barbarians who looked
like African chiefs with petticoats of
feathers and variegated clothes , and head
dresses like those in the picture books.
It seemed to be a match wuich should
outlast the oilier. The performers were
the object of intense interest , and were
loudly applauded at their lines ! feats , a
higher jump , a longer leap , a more adroit
or athletic twist or turn.
From these at midnight wo turned to
the cathedral , for the crowing of the
cock , or the early mass. The great build
ing was crowded , mostly with inferior
worshippers , though there were many
women of the better sort under the pro
tection of fathers and husbands ; all with
out bonnets , only the mantilla , and often
not oven that , for head gear. There arc
no chairs , except those the worshippers
take with them , in the cathedral , and all
the women were kneeling on the pave ;
mcnl. They made up the mass of
the congregation at the centre and
were devoutly attentive ; but a
btill greater throng in the outer aisles
was inccssently moving , talking , laugh
ing , with no show of regard for the serv
ice ; only ga/ing at the birhts or the people
ple , or once in a while at the ceremonies
or the vestments when the procession or
the movement around the altar was moro
attractive than usual. The priests and
acolytes were very numerous , and the
celebration very long , and the boys bear
ing the lingo candles got very tired. They
played with each other and made faces
at the nearest worshipers when the
priests' backs wore turned , and some of
them almost fell asleep on their knees ;
once or twice they camu near setting the
ornaments on tire. The negrosses wore
the most devout of all. Sonio of them
crawled very close to the railing of the
altar , ami as they knelt or lay on the
steps seemed to ga/.u in a sort of religious
trance ; but for the rest the celebration
was moro of a feast than a solemnity.
Not a tow wore eating nuts or bon-bons ,
and I saw moro than one man on the
outskiitsof the crowd with a lighted
citiar , The muslo did not seem to mo
any better than usual : and at last some
one in thu organ loft imitated the crow
ing of a cook. Then the bells rang in the
choir , triangles jingled , all sorts of noisy
demonstrations called music followed ,
cannon were tired in the streets , thu
host was elevated , and it was Christmas.
People walked homo through thostrcets
to supper , and the boys wl.o heldcd thu
candles were doubtless glad it was over ;
not xo say some of the priests , for a few
scorned to mo very nervous and tired.
On Christmas day , I dined with the
tiovurnor-icneral. ( His wife ,
A sujirruousi IJKAI.TV ,
anil thorough woman of the world , presided -
sided ; there were one or two other Span *
isli ladies present , but none of the Cuban
party in politics , for feeling ran high and
the Creoles rolnsed to enter official so
ciety. The palace is a stately building
with largo marble walls , all opening on
the street or the inner courts , uml naluis
and huge shrubs placed around ; the
rooms wore rather bare in furniture , but
not unhandsome in effect ; the windows
wide open for coolness ; the lights blaz
ing ; the people still' and and ill utcaso ,
except the host and hostess and ono or
two of their inmates , Hut the company
was interesting , and 1 spout many a
pleasant hour witli Hioovcnior-icucral ( (
of Cuba and the Marquosa do Vittoria do
las a Tuns.
.MY LAST IMl'OltTAXT OIlUIsTMAS
was a sad ono indeed. In 1881 I was
staying at ( Jcnoral ( Iraut's house to help
him in the preparation of his memoirs.
I went to him in October , but before
Christmas it was certain .that ho could
not recover from the -cancer which | iad
duvelopeJ iUclf. rfiili the family hardly
snoko to each other of the certainly of
the calamity , ami the truth was never ad
mitted in conversation with the sufferer.
Hut all felt that the shadow hung over
the house. I think the attempt to keep
up a cheerful tone was more distressing
than the rcalily of despair when it came.
Hut there was a Chrlslmns dinner ; the
little grand children had Ihelr Christmas
presents , and came to the table at lunch
time. Every ono tried to bo gay ami to
forget what was impending as well as
what hnd already occurred. The general
laughed with the babic.s though 1 doubt
not his heart felt thchollownes.snnd Mrs.
Grant , who was very brave , pretended to
be happy.
Al that same terrible Christmas time
came the news Dial creditors were about
to SOI7.C the trophies of which ( icneral
Grant and Ids family wore so proud , and
the correspondence with Mr. Vanderbilt
followed , so creditable to the great mil
lionaire , wlio saved at least to the nation
what had been earned in the nation's
service. Hut all that season was one of
bllter mortification and siill'criiijr to the
man who had won the trophies. The approaching
preaching close of his earthly glories , the
deprivations of fortune , the anxiety as to
the future of his family , for his book was
still incomplete ami its success a mailer
of uncertainly , the hnmtlation of having
his circumstances chronicled to the
worldeven the physical agony caused by
his disease , all made Grant's last
Christmas one never to bo forgotten by
mo who shared this as 1 had witnessed so
many of his triumphant ones.
Hofore another Christmas his sorrows
and triumphs were all past , and the
friend and hero and statesman had ex
changed tiio vicissitudes of mortality for
thi ! spot on thu banks of the Hudson
where , under the snow and blasts of
winter , the revered ashes will repose o'n
every future Christmas that this world
will ever MO. ;
Nothing can touch him further.
ADAM HADKAC.
RAILROADS THAT WRECK TOWNS
The Kxpcrlcnoe of Nchrimkn ScltleiH
AVIio Were l''orco < l to Move.
"I had my pile invested in the town of
Arbordalo down hero , and it. was about
the lincst layout for a city that I ever
saw : but when the railroad came through
the managers tint their tracks right
through the town and announced that they
would have a station four miles wc-t of
it , " said a Ncbrrska town-lot speculator
to a correspondent of the Now \ ork Sun.
"You sec , they had bought a farm down
there and they were goinir to have a
town of their own. When I heard of
that I called on the gentlemen and re
monstrated. I told them that Arhordale
was the metropolis of that section ,
and that any attempt toignore it
would bring ruin to its citi/cns , partic
ularly mo ; nut they only laughed , and
wanted to know about how much wo
would pay to have the station located
there. I was rather brash then in fact.
1 hadn't had so much experience as 1
have had since and I told them wo
wouldn't ' give them a blamed cent ; we'd
sec their old road thrown into bankruptcy
lirst. I threatened them witlt the loss of
all the business of Arbordalc , and asked
them it tho.y know what a risk they wore
running in'ignoring the best town in that
section. Hut they only laughed , and
said that they were sorry that they could
not make some arrangement , with mo. It
was a rule of modern railroading to put
tin ; stations about so far apart , and as
Arbordalo was not in the right place for
a railroad town it would have to move up
out of the wet.
"Well , sir , do you believe it , that road
hadiv't been running two weeks before
Arbordalo began to move. Everything
was on wheels. The hotel went lirst , and
then the saloons and concert halls
skipped. Pretty soon the .school-house
went , and Ihen'lho private houses , to be
followed last of all by the church. The
last time 1 was down there not a building
remained that could bo moved , and the
only thing that was left to indicate the
existence of the place was a lot of holes
in the ground My corner lots were all
there , you bet , but as they are not worth
moro than ? , " > an acre 1 thought I would
not bother with thorn. Now , that trick
has been played on mo several times.
That isn't the only town that has moved
right away from mo under the influence
ot the railroaders. They arc probablv
the dandy town-site men. L used to think
'
that I wa's some in that line but not now.
And the worst of it is that ordinarily you
can't reason witli them at all. They know
that they have got the call on you , anil
they work the-thing lor all it is worth.
They want the whole bog , as I found
out later on.
"Hemg called to Oakopolis some tinu
after Arbordalo went by the board , J
found Iho people there in a desperate
condition because the road was deter
mined to build a town seven miles away ,
and was not going to put the rail * within
throe miles ot Oakopolis. Remembering
tiiat the managers had suggested to mi
that they were willing to negotiate , 1
thought 1 might perhaps buy them oil' ,
and so I told the leading citi/.ons that. H
they would give me ton lots in case 1 was
successful I would undertake to get the
railroaders to change their minds , This
was agreed to ami I s-t ! about the job.
At first tin ; railroad i'cllous said that
they would listen to any reasonable
proposition that 1 had to make.
Feeling encouraged , I told thorn
that as a representative of Iho business
interests of the town 1 had been dep
uted to oiler the road free depot ground- !
and , with a wink , two lots to each of the
gentlemen representing thu road. The
blamed scoundrel laughed a little when
ho heard this , and after blowing the
smoke out of his mouth ho said : VI can
do better by the company than that.
Down hero seven miles 1 own 250 acres
and besides iriving "the company fifty o :
thorn , 1 will have Mivcral lots loft for my
self. 1 don't think that wo can make : i
trade to-day. ' That ended the matter. 1
reported progress and the Oakopolis folks
made ready to pull up stakes. The next
week they were buying corner lots fron
the railroad sharks at liirures about twici
as high as they themselves had asked fet
the lots which they had tried lo bribe
lho.se infernal robbers with. "
Hctraycct by a Mutton.
St. Louis Republican : "Ono of the bos'
laid schemes to do murder , " says Mr. A
U. Canby , of the Carluton Opera com
pany , "was a plan thai was detected by
the merest chance in the Kollog-Hcss
Opera company , years ago , when Mr
Carleton was the baritone of that orgaui
? .atlon. A certain artist playing promi
ncnt roles was suspected by a member o
the chorus with paving altogether too
much attention to the chorister's wifeam'
thu artist was duly warned by his frlondi
to keep a close watch on the movement
of the husband. One evening , as he was
passing across the btago to Ins dressing
room , ho chanced to hear one of the
wardrobe women say to another thn
there wore billions oil'all the soldlor tini
forms ,
"Now , as the husband was to bu ono c
a tile of soldiers whoso duty it was to fire
a volley of shots at the artist as ho made
his escape up a rocky pass , the absence
of ilio buttons little balls ot stool soon
awakened suspicion in his mind. Heforo
the curtain wont up on the act iu which
lids 'incident occurred , ho went to the
properly man and insisted on having the
charges In the chorislcr's gun examined ,
The lircarnr was taken from Iho hus
band's hands , a > id when thu load was
drawn ono of the buttons was found
rammed down under u wad. One button
had been cut from every uniform so as to
conceal the positive proof that the missile
came from Urn husband's gun. Had ( hat
boon tired and proved filial , no evidence
but the thinnest of circumstantial testi
mony could have connected the true mu'r-
dcrei' with Ihc tragedy. "
REFORM IN CIJY GOVERNMENT
Improvements in Municipal Mncliinflry in
the East.
DEAUTIES OF ONE-MAN POWER
tesponsllillltlcs Centered In ttic
Jlnyoi The Appointing Power-
City Ulcccloii" Kurt * for
Charter Ilnlldcrs.
CiMiiuuinti. Mass. , Dec. 21.To the
Idilor of Uio Hrx : While Omaha is pro-
aring a scheme for reform in municipal
loveriimonl would it not bo an aid to the
iroject to take into considcralioii what
other cities are doing in Hie matter ? I
efe1 more especially to Now Votk citv
nnd Hoston , whore reforms in clly gov-
eminent have been carried out
u certain direction * with good
results and Where future improve-
nenl is anlidipaled. Therefore , at
his opportune time of public discussion
t would not bo out of place to embody
he fundamental principles of municipal
government a < conceived by such men as
x-Mayor Grace. Mayor Lowe , Hon.
David Dudley Field , Hon. Theodore
Roosevelt , Hon. Ma.\or A brain Hewitt ,
| { ov. Dr. Kdward Kveretl Halo , ex-Mayor
Prince , Mayor O'Hricn and others. The
recommendation1 ? of these eminent gen
tlemen on reforms in city government
can be summed up in the following prop
ositions :
1. The government of a city is cs < en-
lially a business corporation. A city s
government concerns itself almost wholly
with the business of regulating hygienic ,
police and lire protection. A city's gov
ernment is entrusted with tlio hiving out
of streets , their paving , their light
ing , their sewerage and their cleanliness.
A city's government must provide suffi
cient lire and police protection to prop
erty and to persons. In these respect
tiie administration of a eily is analagoiis
to the administration of a business cor
poration.
i ) . Since the administration of a cily
concerns itself principally with the pro
tection to the property interests , real and
personal , of citixcns , tlio taxpayer stands
in relation to the eity as the stoekholde
stands in relation to a business corpora
tion ; therefore , the taxpayer ought to
control (1) ( ) the election of officials who
shall disburse the city's monies ; and (
the election of officials who shall carry
out the government of n city's interests.
i ! . Officials to whom .such duties arc en
trusted should be chosen for their busi
ness qualification ? : and for their honesty ,
ami should he held responsible for their
acts in office. Responsibility to bo dc
lined by apnropriale laws.
1. Hut a systcm'of responsibility can be
elVeetcd only by Iho creation of distinct
responsible trusts ii each branch of the
city's service. Suoli responsible trusts
arc board of public \vorK.s ; board of public
finances ; board of public cliarilies ; board
of civil service ; board of education ; board
ot health ; the chief executive and the
like. In short , the gnvernuiciil of a city
should consist of one central figure ,
namely , the executive or mayor , stir
rounded by the various boards or depart ,
nieuts ; each department should have its
distinct responsible head ; the executive
and departments % hpuld absorb all the
functions of municipal government. The
prototype for sucli u fystcni of boards or
departments exists only in the cabinet
system of the president.
Ti. With respect to a city's official , a
broail distinction must be made between
those who are (1) ( ) heads of department
and ( i ! ) those wuoaro more properly pub.
lie servants as clerks , policemen , fire
men , teachers , etc , , etc. (1) ( ) Heads of de
partments should bo elected , responsible
either to Iho mayor or to the citi/ens re
movable , punished and lined for mal
feasance in office ; 1'J ) Public servant. '
should be appointed by the heads of re
bpeclive departments from lists of com
petitive examinations governed by civil
service rules , and should bo responsible
to the heads of respective departments.
These are in general the broad canons
laid down by retormer.s in municipal
atlairs. A glance at the history of every
large city , even our own , clearly shows
that the creation oi responsible depart
incuts has resulted satisfactorily. A >
witness , our own board of public work :
and board of education , board of
libraries. A bolter administration has
followed with the creation of such re
sponsiblu bodies. And the reasons arc
plain. The voter in selecting a head tea
a board oi public works , for instance ,
has the purpose of this body so vividly
brought before his mind that if ho is a
tax-payer ho will use more than ordin
ary caution in the choice of the man who
shall spend his money. The tax-payer
clearly is alive to the necessity of electing
responsible and capable men to positions
of responsibility when the man and the
distinct office for which ho stands sire
brought tucc to face.
A system of departments therefore , i'
meritorious since the whole adminibtra
tion of tlio cily ; becomes open as day ,
Onu can put his linger on a measure aiid
trace it from tiio moment of its introduc
tion in its proper department to the mo.
ment of its final disposal. No'measiin
in this system can bo delegated to a sub
committee of a city council which has so
many temptations to tampcrwith a city's
money ; ami wlion there are so many
loop holes to escape detection in wrong-
doinir and to shirk responsibilities ,
Hettor men will bo drawn into the ser
vice of the city as tliodlgnity of the trusts
become apparonl. Inferior men will not
attempt to stand an election where thoii
deficiency to control a responsible de
partment is so easily brought before tin
voter's attention , Above all , the system
of department ! ) destroys the power am
prominence of a city council ; thai mod
ern incubiiK , as now constituted , whicl
consists of an indiscriminate number o
ward representatives who have no doll
nito qualillcatious as linaneiers and us
legislators , and yet who have supreme
control of a city's ' linuncn and who absorb
serb such great powers of legislation
It is thu whole system of ward politic. ,
and of machine politics that the depart
mcnt system overthrows.
The caucus , thu political clubs , would
no longer lix slates for the election of ai
alderman or councilman when a cit'
council no longer holds Iho keys of patronage
ronago and of dispensing spoils. The
councilman would no longer bo u bom
of contention among politicians wlici
his hands are taken out of thu tax pay
ors1 pocket. Hribe-givcrs would noi seek
out the aldermen for valuable franchise ;
when ho no longer has the power of vet
iiifr them away in secret. In this way
stripped of its patronage and spoil dis
pcnsing powers , a cily council wouh
purge itself mid take ils place as a re
spcctable exponent of ward interests in
the family of departments.
A blow would be struck at the present
system of district or ward elections since
heads of depart munis would be olcclci
by the city at larjro , and only ward rop-
resenlalivcs would bo elected by their re
spcclivo wards.
Hy the method of departments and
election tit largo , no longer would u fov >
hundred , or at most a lew thousam
voters of a ward Do. cut on" from the res
of Ihe cily lo elect its special repro-eiiti : :
live to u city council i which incompo
tuut uml dislioUcst uicii too ol'ton are
elected by a political ring in order to rob
ho city.
What has boon said above can be moro
Nearly illustrated by the following dia
gram. Hspecial allcntion is directed to
luMimluior in which the general powers ,
"gi-bitivo and financial of a city council
arc divided and delegated to independent
csponslblc departments ; and how the in-
crests of particular wrads arc protected
.iv a distinct ward body , Iho board of
ildenupii. Again , an innovation in
nunlcipal government will be noticed in
he board of civil service , whose purlieu-
ar business , lo destroy the present sys-
cni of favoritism and patronage among
mblic servants and lo scouro efficiency ,
s .siiuiccntly set forth in the diagram :
1. Heads of Departments to be elected
by the people to bo independent of each
other and yet connected to bo respousl-
jje to the people ( or to the mayor ) for
.heir nets or the acts of their respective
subordinates and servants.
A. Executive Mayor with powers of
ippointing chief of police , chief of lire
lepartment , inspector of public * works
and tlio like to have general advisory ,
examining and veto powers in all depart
ments
/ / . J'inaticial Hoard of finance to con
sist of comptroller- auditor and trea-nrer
each independent of the other in Ids re
spective sub-department to be account-
iinle for all liiiancial receipts and dN-
bursment audit thu accounts of the
other deportments on proper prescnta
tion of vouchers , signed by proper
authority to prepare and publish semi
annual budget of levys , loans , resources ,
taxes , bonds and nnblic expenditure-lot
all kinds to make estimates for coming
half year resources and oxpondilures--lo
collect taxes , rents , interests , etc. , etc.
( ' . hoard of Public \Vork * hairman ,
.secretary , snrvevor ( eity engineer ) to ac
count for and take charge of all manner
of public improvotncntsanetioiied by the
vote of the city or bv vote of the depart
ment with approval ol the mayor ; to
take care of streets' , their grading , ex
tension , cleaning , lighting , etc. , etc , ; to
have powers of contracting for publie
works , to control , in conjunction with
the mayor , the. granting or sale of fran-
olii es to the highest bidder ; to control
right of way , etc.
J ) . Hoard of Aldermen two repro-
sonlu'.ivos ' from each ward to priloct
ward interests ; to control petty legisla
tion not included in other departments ;
to bo a petltionimr and consulting body
receiving petitions from eili/.cus end re
ferring tlie petitions to the proper de
partments.
K , Hoard of ICducation President and
members sit large lo control educatiuiitil
interests of the citv.
/ ' . Hoard of Libraries President and
members at large to control libraries.
( i. Hoard of Public Charities Pres
ident and members at large to control
city hospitals , city charitable institutions ,
'
' '
j'f. 'Hoard of Publie Health-City phy
sicians to examine and recommend to
mayor sanitary ami hvgiciiic regulations ,
etc.
etc.J. . Judicial City attorney , police
judges , judges of city courts , eic.
. / . Hoard of Civil Service Chairman ,
secretaries , to examine public servant- ,
to take charge of municipal elections
and registrations.
Note'The. election of heads of depart
ments to be by the city at large , except
( D ) the board of aldermen , who arc to be
elected by wards. If elections are bi-
pnnial , then heads ot" departments should
be divided Into two groups. Thus A ,
I ) , K , K should constitute group 1 ; H , C ,
H. 1 , J should constitute group ' - . ' . The
election of group 1 and group i.1 to take
place alternate years.
SJ. Public Servants ( t police , ( l > ) lire-
men , ( < ) teachers , ( it } clerks , ( c ) civil
engineers , ( tt ) secretaries , ( .7) ) nurses , etc. ,
etc. , to be chosen for their litness by the
heads of respective departments or sub-
deparlmonts from lists of competitive
examinations governed by civil service
rules as drawn by the board of civil ser
vice ; tenure of office to depend on good
behavior ; salaries and wages lo bo pro-
porlionul lo like reward for like service
in the open market. Note Tills does
not prevent ; i metropolitan police
system or Ihu organization of metropoli
tan lire system under 'direct control of
the chief of police or chief of lire de
partment.
It is not the place in this connection to
formulate a complete system of munici
pal government. All that is intended by
the above ulan is to point out Iho line of
development winch promises to solve the
difficult problem of purity in municipal
all'airs. And the method which experience
lias taught to be the most feasible is to
create independent tlistmct 'ti lists , anil to
fill these trusts by competent men. To
have a place for every man , and to have
every man in his place. To entrust an
official with distinct , adequate powers ,
and to make the officeholder feel that lie
is under a constant sen.su of responsi
bility.
It is immaterial whether the depart
ments are known bv the names given in
the schedule , or whether their number
corresponds to the niimbor ofdipart-
monls shown above. Largo cities with
great needs and great complications
would of course have a large number of
departments. The system is sufficiently
flexible to allow the creation of now de
partments as the needs of a eity Increase ,
and to permit the multiplication of new
trusts without burdening the older de
partments with increased responsibility.
Then , too , if corruption should vitiate
any ono department it would not poison
the whole administration as is the rase
to-day wilh a corrupt city council , the
fountain head of a city.
Hut whatever system of municipal
government is adopted it will go to the
dogs , no matter how carefully framed ,
if honest men and lax payers shirk the
responsibilities of citix.cnship. Tlio citi-
xen deceives himself when he contents
himself , that it is cheaper to pay for an
oiuico of misrule tbnn to lose ii pound of
gain. For the day will como when his
pound of gain will bo swept away by the
drain of misrule. C , S. Ki.iaTrnt.
COIHMIS AND COLDS COMK UNIX-
VITKD , but you can quickly got rid of
those , with a'fow doses of Dr. J. II. Mo-
Lean's Tar Wine Lung Halm. M cents a
bottle.
A PRINCE IN GREENLAND.
'N Summer Cruise Ainonu
tin ; loohcrui * of ItnlUn'H Jtny.
When the Hulgarian'oll'erod the throne
of their principality to Prince Wildomar ,
of Denmark , the newspapers reported
that ho and his wife were enjoying them
selves at Cannes , but the fact was not
mentioned that the prince had just re
turned from ii visit to Greenland. Ho
sailed north of Iho Arctic circle in Juno
last as the third officer on this Etaamur ,
.sent out by the Danish Government on
a scientific mission. Zoologists and botanists
anists were on board , and they sailed
along Ihe wcsl coast of Greenlandtouch
ing at all the little f-ottiomonts , collecting
many spccilncns of the various forms Ai
life in the coast waters , and also of the
Horn nnd fauna of the grcui islandwhich
is nol soileKolalc iissomo people imagine.
They reached Upernavik , the most
northern point of their voyage , in the
middle of July , just as the Arclio sum
mer was opening. They found many
llowers on Ihe rocky liills about the litllo
settlement , thriving in tlio perpetual day
light of the .summer season. From the
depths of the sea fronting Upernavik their
drag nels brought up a rich variety of
animal life and a luxuriant growth ot
algae , u species of aea plant. Karly in
September the party wer homo again in
Copenhagen.
As a rule the scions ot royalty prefer
easier experience * than a ermso in Arctic
waters , and Waldeniar is bcl'uved ' to bo
the lir t representative of any of the royal
families of Kuropu who has ventured
north of the Arctic circle.
BRILLIANT NATIVES ABROAD ,
Dhtinguiiihed Americans Colonised nt tlic
French Capital.
EMPRESS EUGENIE'S PROTECTOR
.Molmiio inul flip SnelnlNtx
Tlio Carroll I'ainHy , Conmil Gen-
em ! Walkci- and Ttico-
tlnro Tillon.
Doo. 10. lCorro | ) niulrncp of
the UUK.I The passage through PnrN of
the evKmpress Kugonie , seeking a
warmer climate in tin- hope of obtaining
relief from the twinge * of ihcnniatiMn ,
-ot inn iiohiicring Hie other night , as to
whether Hits unfortunate woman , when
within our wulN , ever ea < ts ; \ thought on
1)1 ! . THOMAS . KANS ,
the celebrated American dentist , who
resides here , and who conveyed her in
-afety to Kngland , when llcoing for her
lifo in the stormy days of September
ISM 1 am told that tliis selfish , coldhearted -
hearted exile never showed her generous
protector one-half the gratitude that lie
had tli right to expect for the risks that
lie ran and the fatigues that , lie under
went on thi.s occasion. On Dr. Kvans'
library table is a large volume , that has
not yet been given to 'the publie , containing -
ing liis recollections of the second em
pire , in whieh Napoleon's eoiiMirl is
severely eritieit-ed for the mis
chievous part Hint she played in that
long and disastrous tragi-eomi'dy. Per
haps Kngeuie lias heard of this book , this
sword of Damocles , and became of it ,
frowns to day on him who was unco her
Hdns Achates.
1 understand that Dr. Kvans K now the
owner of the Morning New- * , the little
American daily published here , whieh is
still edited Ity Albert ( ' . ives , formerly
on tin stall'of the Now York Times , and
-on-in-law of KiMiicis 15. Carpenter ,
the : irti.- t. Tlio American liegister al
ready belonged to Dr. Kvans , o that he
has now a diiil.y and weekly organ. lint
Hialignatii's Messenger , which seems
lately to have taken a new lease of life
has crowded the Morning X--ws out of ils
ojd home with the Matin , the bright
French daily , both of which napur * were
founded by H. S. Chamberlain , the New
York . journalist , who > o Paris career was
as short as brilliant. The Matin , whieh is
( irmly eMablishcd , is niod ( > led in so far as
possible , after the American newspaper.
ami oilers the only instance , perhaps of
one of our countrymen leaving a lasting
mark on French journalism.
Speaking of the newspapers reminds
mi ! that not only the Parisian but tin ;
Continental press generally has com
mented , and commented favorably , on
Jii.visTiiit M'I.ANKS KII-I.V :
to the request of ( lie Paris municipal
councilors lor the pardon of the Chicago
anarchist- * . These sentimental busybodies -
bodies all'orded our -hrewd representa
tive a line chance to make a good hit ,
and lie naturally didn't let it go by unim
proved. His nci't litth ; speech , which re
veals this clever politician find the prac
ticed diplomat in about equal proportions
tions ! will read well on both sides of the
Atlantic. It especially pleases the bulk
of the French republican party , the mod
erates , continually pestered by those rev
olutionists , these radicals of the city hall ,
who have received this rather abrupt , set
back of the.ir own inviting. J can just
sec the. cunning look of those sharp eyes
and half-ceiilcmptuous expression of that
linn mouth , as Minister Mcl-anc read
these blatant lUopists their lesson.
Mi ; . Mchane is an cy-govornorof Mary
land. In fact , he left the Annapolis
eapitol for the Paris legation. It was
very lilting , then-tore , that ho should
take a prominent iisrt in the wedding
ceremony of the ( laughter of another
former chief magistrate of Maryland , e.\-
( lovcrnor Carrel ) . This
was celebrated , Iho other day , in the
plain old Catholic church in the Kuo dc
Chaiilot. The groom was Count do Kor-
gorlay , an officer in the French army , so
that the present bride.likc her two sisters
before her has allied herself with the
French aristocracy. Perhaps the. most
noticeable feature of the. occasion was
the presence of this papal .nuncio , who
officiated. Monscignciir di Kendo is a
great favorite with the ladies , his Ni
poleonic face , sleek person and rich garb
rendering him a very attractive object.
It is no disparagement to Miss Carroll's '
pretty face , nor to Worth's artistic cos
tume , to say that the priest divided the
honors with the bride.
.MISS IM.MA : Tiirnsnv
has also been participating in a wedding ,
not as one of the contracting parlies ,
however , but simply as hostess at her
cousin's nuptials. The fair songstress is
still , I believe ,
Jn maiden meditation , fancy free.
At least lliuro is no change in her sweet
voice. At a musical entertainment given
the other night by Mr. Campbell Clarke ,
the Pans correspondent of the Daily
Telegraph , Miss Thnrsbj rendered sev
eral difficult nieces with her usual deli-
caey anil charm.
co.sst'i , fii\ii\i. : : : WAI.KIK ;
has also been entertaining some friends
with music. Among the guests were Mr.
and Mrs. Frederick Douglass. Our re
publican consul general lias been very
attentive to Mr. Douglass , but our demo
cratic minister has been somewhat shy of
him , although Mr. Douglass is a native ol
the state of whieh Mr. Mcl/ino has been
governor. Hut the distinguished ex-
marshal of the District of Columbia has
not been neglected here socially. .Sena
tor Kelio'lelior. the great French aboli
tionist , has had him at breakfast ;
TiiKonoiti : TII.TON
has given a little party in his honor ;
M. 1'rcderic Passy , the political econo
mist and deputy has entcrtajncd him at
dinner ; Perc Hyacindio has invited him
to tea ; and the other night a certain
well-to-do lady of the American colony
gave a largo reception to Mr , and Mrs ,
Douglass. Thi.s rather original hostess ,
lifter several well known artists had sung
and played , called Jiur cook , a Degress
into the parlor , and the guests of the
evening were regaled with plantation
melodies , Thi.s was a pnru case of mean
ing well. Hut what a lack of table. It
was much as if one asked ( laribaldi , in
company , his opinion on the manufacture
of "tallow dins. " or Louis I'liiJippo.wlion
king , whether he found giving l < rciicli
lessons harder than ruling Uio French
men. Jo.siriUNi : .
A Now Way to Pay Ohl Delils.
" 1 see that the mail oar along with
several passenger coaches was burned up
the other night on lite .Milwaukee road at
a little station called Itio and all the mail
destroyed. " "Yon don't tell mel Where
was it bound ? " " ( ioing north to Minne
apolis and .St. Paul. " "To MiuncapoltaY
( iood ! good ! " " ( Jood ! what on earth is
there good about itv" "Why.you see I ewe
a mini in Minneapolis a little amount.and
I've promised to send it to him till ho
won l take promises any longer. "
"What's that got to do with it1 "Every
'
thing , everything , I'll go right on" jio'w
and write , asking him why in Junket he
docMi't send a receipt for that money
that I sent him last last what day did
you say that mail car was burncdV"
CHOl'PY Sl'ITOCUTIONS , NUiHT
COIJI1S ( t.ntl all the common allcetioiiu
of the tluviat and lungs rmicklv relieved
by Dr. J. H , McLean's J'ar \ \ inc. Lung
Uauu. X'O centfa u bottle.
This
.A.
LLS
Coiner & Areliur's nuMHion
to South Omaha , consisting
oClOlof tin ; Uncsl lots ever
laid out. lUvory lot is n
bounty.
Can 1)0 ) scon jnil : the culiro
surromuling country is visi
ble. It is located
1 BLOCKS
From the
PACKING HOUSES.
5 Minutes Walk from
the New Brewery.
And on aperfectlylevel
Piece of Land.
arc now on Ite Market
As there arc no poor loin ,
you can either buy them
By Mail
Telegraph ,
Or Telephone
Do not wait for every
lot will be sold by Jan ,
1st ,
COME EABLY
AND AVOID THE RUSH
Or you will be left.
From 100 to 300
PER CENT
Made on money invest
ed in these lots in 3
months.
Price $250 to $500.
Terms Easy ,
Title Perfect.
For sale by ' .
D. R , kte ,
C H.
, . I
1509 FARNAM STREET
Bioom 9 , R/etlick's Block
2nd Floor.
