LATEST AMERICAN GOSSIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6296, 21 January 1882, Page 6

LATEST AMERICAN GOSSIP.

—-r- — < i fFJtOU OUR OW» CORRESPONDENT. J j San Francisco, December 20. : THE FIRE FIEND. The Vienna fire, with all its horrifying details, comes to us as a sad warning, and, let it be hoped, a profitable one. The fearful fire in a theatre at Brooklyn, New York, some years ago was of the same character, though not so disastrous in detail; and from time to time in the United States we hear horrific accounts of fires in large buildings from whence there is no possible means of escape. Last week sixteen men were burnt to a crisp, being a small fragment of a crowd who fortunately escaped from a burning building. Destitute of succour in times of fire, our theatres here are plauned miserably, as are the large halls. Iu case cf fire there would bo a terrible holocaust. The Baldwin especially is just adapted to a tragedy of the kind ; the passages are narrow, and there is but one large door by which a crowd could get out. The Press condemn this state of things unceasingly, but to no purpose. No change is made, anil there is no kuowing how soon the fire fiend may do havoc in this city. Across the wires comes an awful story. In a boardiug-housc for labourers a loft was utilised as a sleeping chamber. A rude ladder was the mode by which the lodgers ascended, and for windows there were only two holes iu the roof. The upsetting of a lamp below set the lower part of the house on fire, which, swiftly communicating with the stairway, cut off escape for those asleep above, of whom there were forty. All escaped but nine, who were burned to cinders, and found lying one over the other in a ghastly pile beneath one of the openings in the loof. Those who did escape were worse than dead ; the skin was burnt fearfully, and off their bones iu many places, their clothes, of course, being burnt off their bodies. They lay as they had fallen from the roof, nakedunder the frosty air, and almost mad with agony. The sight, described by one who saw it, was soul-harrowing. The ground was strewn with broken and charred furniture and kitchen utensils, while mixed in were skulls, pieces of burnt flesh, and strips of clothing. The total loss of life is up to this time unknown; and, in the face of these ever-recurring fires, people still live on in buildings which are, in fact, no more than fire traps, and crowd into theatres which are little better. I think for fires this country beats the world, not a day elapsing without one, small or large. Two women have also fallen victims to the terrible element, and another whole family by the upsetting of a kerosene lamp have been butried into eternity. The explosion of lamps is of daily occurrence, causing the most fearful calamities. I cannot think how it is, in New Zealand for so many years, as we used oil until gas became fashionable, one scarcely ever heard of these explosions, that are as frequent in this city as SUICIDES, and they are of everyday occurrence. Quite a number of romances could be made out of the untimely deaths in San Francisco. It was last month, while I sat at work, that a quiet, gentle-looking woman I knew was shown into tho parlour. She asked me if I would let her a room. I said no, it was impossible. However, she sat there, with her quiet, patirnt face, looking the picture of misery, and at last I consented. She was dressed in the usual sealskin robe, with diamond pendants in her ears. All night long she was up sick, the same the next night, and again the next. On the fourth morning of her stay I took her a cup of coffee, and found her dressed, though on the bed. She told me she had inhaled chloroform, and became insensible, when she awoke to find herself dressed. Later iu the day she confessed to having swallowed an ounce ot chloroform instead of inhaling it. Then arose a scene of disorder and confusion. Doctors went to and fro, and we were all oil the qui vice, helping as best we could. But the Jiut had gone forth ; iu forty-eight hours she died—had, in fact, come hers to die—a poor, sorro v-strickeu creature, wliosa life had been devoted to a worthless wretch of a man. I can assure you we had a terrible time ; in fact, after watching the breath leave her pale lips, while her lover, who had found her out, tore his hair and wept, I felt so used up that I almost wished myself dead also. Ic is quite a common thing for these world-weary people to do—get into a private dwelling and end their sorrows. What was peculiar was a remark made by my daughter the moment she saw the lady, "Mamma, that woman has come here to committ suicide. Mind, you'll find her dead some day." And so it proved. THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE. The first message of President Arthur is laid before the American people, and, although some of the Democratic papers speak lightly of it, and those of the Republican party in our city find fault with it, it may ba considered a document in strict keeping with his inaugral, which could not be bettered under the present trying circumstanccs, taking into consideration the state of agitation the public mind now is in, with the blood of the dead President calling out for retribution on the assassin. It expresses deep sorrow for Garfield's death. It give 3 his (the President's) views on public affairs, and reviews our federal relations with foreign nations without committing himself. It also touches on American interests in the South Pacific, adheres to . the Isthmus Canal project and its protection, treats of questions on domestic policy without plunging iuto extremes ; shows the necessity for reduction of taxes, and recommends the rebuilding of the navy. It also showsthat immense sums are needed for pensions, recommending the civilisation of the Indians, and the revision of the tariff by a commission. It discusses civil servicc and reform, and li&udles skillfully the perplexing question of the Mormon difficulty. The prosperous state of the country is touched upon in an able manner, calculated to appeal to the nation's pride. It quotes largely from the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, showing the . immense work accomplished in the reduction of tho debt, and incidently illustrates the rapid growth of our commerce, as shown by the increase of exports and their preponderance over our imports. The message probably covers more subjects than any similar document, it being, in fact, a condensed statement of the opinions of the Government during the interval since the last meeting of Congress. It is, in a word, compact, terse, and brilliant in a degree, and the topics at present apitating the national mind are in it treated in a manner which shows our new President to be both an able politician and an astute statesman. THEATRICAL GOSSIP. Theatricals are reviving somewhat; I wish I could say in super-excellence, but I am bound to tell the truth, and I must acknowledge the "shows" are, to put it mildly, slim to attenuity—l mean as regards the talent, and, indeed, the houses also arc of the mildest kind, as far as audiences go. There are at present eight houses in full swing, but a full house is not among the records as yet. The Tivoli, the Winter Garden, the Vienna Garden, and the California aro devoted to opera boutle, the three former being the beer halls. A t the Vieuna you pass in free, but it is expected that the value of the ticket money is spent, with a good deal more, on "drinks." At this place | you get grand opera done after a fasliion, | and a pretty bad fashion it is. At the other halls the company is made up from the drones, and the singing, as may be expected, is mediocre to a degree. Alice Oates, at the California, fails to draw. Alice was once a very pretty, "cute," little woman, but she lias grovvn fat, though, even through the obesity, she holds her own, beiug as " cunning" as a pet fox, " cunning" on this side meaning " cute," but when that is said the tale is told. Between chorus singers and dramatic amateurs there is nothing well worth going to see, save Emerson's Minstrels, and, for those who prefer darky entertainments, this troupo is really good, Billy Emerson himself being worth all the money to see. At the Baldwin there is not a decent Eerformer on the stage. This is our most eautiful theatre, but one so badly managed that it is fast falling into disrepute on that account. There is no stock company, as of yore, but the few tame actresses who drift about the city are engaged from time to time to murdar a play. Jennie Lee was the last attraction in the shape of a star, but the support—well, name it not. I wish you could see Jennie play "Jo, tho Crossing Sweeper." It is the most beautiful and natural piece of acting I ever saw in my life. As Jo is "moved on" and "chivied" from pillar to post, the audience, with one consent, dips its hands into its right pocket and pulls therefrom a snowy handkerchief, which is immediately, on the part of men and women, applied to the eyes, forming quite a tableau before the footlights. One can never explain anything about Jennie's Jo; it must be a»en. I dare say some Auckland people will be glad to hear that their little townswoman Nellie Corlett, who, by the way, is

stately Helen ""on the boards, has made a long step in her profession. In August she went. East, to an engagement as second soubrette, and to-day is leading lady of the company—bright as a new dollar and pretty as a summer peach, winning polden opinions from the public on every sido. Indeed all the Corlett children are in a measure stage struck—as the mother expresses it (she being a particular ""friend of mine) "What a terrible thing it is to be the mother of five creatures who are reciting Shakespeare, singing opera, and doing banjo business from morning till night." I suppose something in the air of New Zealand (their birth place) may account for it. If I remember rightly, people over there were more or less all possessed of stage, operatic, or philharmonic demons. By the way, I wonder how Mr. Joseph Browne is ? How patiently he used to drill us; what jealous fights he had to contend with; and all with the sweetest of smiles and unbroken good temper. I often woudered if Mr. Browne ev«r could get angry ; I wonder still. I hear, at least 1 think I did hear, that you have actually got street cars like ours in your far-off land. I wonder how they run ? Shall I sketch briefly the life of our CAR CONDUCTORS? They report at the office at five in the morning, take their car, and set out on the day's journey, which is not ve-y long—only sixteen hours and a half, in which time they are tied down by the most stringent rules. The conductor may not rest against his platform rail; neither may he as much as wink at mother, - sister, or brother should they step aboard his car ; neither must he ever keep his head still, but turn about this way and that on the look out for passengers. He is allowed fifteen minutes for breakfast and fifteen minutes for dinner. If he puts his lunch in his pocket he takes one hour to eat it in, only being able to bite a mouthful at the end of each trip. Spies, or "spotters," are on every car, to report the very smallest infringment of rules, and if one is ever so slightly broken he is " pulled"—that means, taken off hi 3 car and put on the "extra" force. Also, if he does not "loaf" of his own accord several days out of each month, he is " pulled" anyhow for only a wraith of a mistake ; the most heinous offence being to rest his tired body against the platform rail. This kind of "pulling" is to give the "extra" force • a chance, without which they, of course, would not wait, and in case of a "regular" wishing to "loaf" there would be none to take his place. Sixteen hours standing and thirty minutes for meals, not knowing when you may be "fired," is pretty hard for a free country. Is that the way you run your cars? Numbers of elegant gentlemen take to the cars when they have come from the East with large suras of money, and obligingly dropped it to the account of Flood -and Co. in the stock market. In fact, "the cars" is a dernier nsort for all impecunious people of the male genus, and, if it does nothing else, it will make a man of the greatest simpleton—that is, if he sticks to it long enough. THE SUNDAY LAW. There is now a fierce struggle going on as to this law, which was passed by the Legislature three years ago, but has never yet been enforced. It is to shut up all saloous and corner grocery stores. I may tell you that at most of the corners—in fact, at nearly all—as you pass from block to block a grocery store stands, to which is attached a bar. You can go in for a pound of sugar and take a drink at the same time. Well, now the temperance people are getting up meetings to aid iu establishing this law, and the matter having been laid before the Supreme Court that august tribunal has de elated such law as it stands constitutional : therefore there is every reason to believe that sooner or later we shall not be able to get a drop of beer for our .Sunday dinner. This will be hard, but I would readily make an even bet that there will be more drinking going on ou the Sabba'h Day when that law comes into force than ever there was before. I wish the Legislature would pass another law to close the Sunday theatres. Those are indeed a crying disgrace in my opinion. The church bells ring at half-past seven and the theatres take in their audiences at eight o'clock; it is a fight between the stage and the pulpit, the former winning every time. Sunday night is also the best night for the theatres, at the beer halls especially there is always an immense crowd. What it will be when they shid down on the beer is another thing—l guess the halls will have to shut up. The shutting up of the halls would doubtless be productive of great good, considering how many workmen drink their week's wages before Monday, but as yet no power has been great enough to maintain tho law. In its very face the saloon-keepers still keep open, and the chief of police, whose business it is to close, passes by aud winks, for, you see, lie would never again get the ghost of a chance for re-election when his term expires should he deprive Pat of his " dhrink." BUSINESS is on-the move. A wonderful reaction has taken place wit V.in the last few mouths ; not that the town is particularly lively, but in commercial circles the men look happier, and one hears less growling than of yore. The stock market is still in statu quo, and people aro beginning to realise the fact that legitimate business is the only one that will succeed. Should stocks " boom" again the old fever would set in like an epidemic, and the thirst for speedily-gotten gold would again paralyse the present favourable state of things. Stocks have ruined this city, and the abolition of gam Ming is the only movement that will-bring it up to a prosperous and happy condition. People are beginning to believe in this, and apply themselves to steady work, although there are thousands who are still pinning their faith on a " market." Silver Pen.