Our American Letter.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLII, Issue 3, 20 January 1909, Page 12

Our American Letter.

CHRISTMAS. NEW YORK, December 12, 1908. Less than two weeks from Uhristmaa at this writing, and the usual premonitory symptoms of the event are everywhere in evidence. In the shops and on the streets are throngs of buyers, looking for article's to please the fancy, but the general opinion seems to be that the amount of spending money is not indicative of general prosperity. The usual pots hung from tripods at the down-town street corners, guarded by emissaries of the Salvation Army and similar organisations, invite contribuiftons; the big exchanges solicit donations for the support of the hospitals, the magazines teem with Christmas stories, and the heads of households worry themselves as usual in regard to the division of limited financial resources for gifts. But clerks in the big Shops say that the demand for bargains is greater than ever before; that in fact, it is the poorest Christinas in a long time, excepting possibly last year’s, tlfie same story conies from all the Atlantic coast. The demand for even cheap jewc-llery is small, and manufacturers in that line report very little doing east •of Chicago, although trade in the middle west and the south is said to be about normal, with a fair number of orders. The fact of Christmas and New Year’s Day coming on a Friday this season, makes a long week end. for most of the exchanges and many business houses will close over the Saturday also. In the case of Thanksgiving Day, which always falls upon the last Thursday in November, the cessation of business until the Following Monday would be too long for most conceriits, and so the commercial ■wheels are always in operation again ■on the Friday following. On Thanksgiving Day the practice of juvenile masquerading showed no abatement from the custom in New York. This is, perhaps, a distinctively New York feature ■of Thanksgiving Day, hut from early morning children, even of half grown Bize, may be seen upon the streets in tall manner of ‘fantastic lattlire, fcr-ery ■often with boys in girls’ clothes and Vice versa, soliciting gifts. They are generally masked, and in some cases present quite attractive appearances, so .That many persons give them small change. After New Year’s Day. which as generally observed in New York and jthrouhgout Canada, but not in the New {England Stales, the next regular American holiday will be Lincoln’s Birthday, on February 12, followed by Washington's Birthday on February 22. THE PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. With the opening of the last session of the GlHh Congresis at Washington this week, came the last annual address of (President Roosevelt, who goes out of oflice on March 4. to be immediately succeeded by President Taft and the Gist Congress. 'The nation faces a heavy deficit and an unparaHelled estimate for expenditures, caused principally by the Panama Canal construction work and the increased cost of the navy. The postal deficit alone is the largest in the history of the United Mates, amounting to 15,{>10,279 dollars for the last fiscal year, although the receipts were 7,893,657 dollars greater than in the previous firical year, and reached a total of 191,’478,633 dollars. Nearly ten million dollars of the deficit is accounted for by increased compensation to employees. The change of administration at Washington has already struck terror do the breasts of many government employees who know that favouritism exdendri to the remotest post of every Department; and that, ev<*n thbugh the same political parly is retained in power, flic fact of there being a new President, with a new Cabinet and many new Congressmen exerting fresh influence, means numerous changes in positions as places for friends are demanded. It in consequently not at all surprising to find that commercial houses now advertising for help wanted receive many replies from snon at present holding Government positions, but planning to make a change.

DECREASE IN MARRIAGES. It is interesting to note a decrease in the number of marriages in society here of late. The annual publication known as the “Social Register for New York,” has just made its appearance for 1909, and records a diminution of twenty per cent, in the number of marriages among persons whose names appear in its pages, compared with last year’s record. That percentage refers to New York city, but in the society world of the United .States at large for the year, a decrease of seven per cent, is noted. In the “Social Register” for New Ybrk for 1909, the number of manages is announced as 602; while the number of marriages noted last year was 763. In Philadelphia among the persons whose names appear in the “Register” for that city, there were 224 marriages this year, as against 242 last year. In Washington there were 151 this year, and 132 last year. In Boston there were 147 this year, and 107 last year. The new issue of the “Social Register” for New York contains 29,000 names. The most radical increase is in the number of children between thirteen and seventeen years old, whose names appear in the hook for the’first time. Two hundred and ninety-eight women, whose names were in the “Social Register” of 1908. have died since that volume was published, as have 249 men. The deathrate both in this and in other cities remains practically unchanged. Tn the cities covered by the Social Register Association. 616 women and 758 men died last year, as against 572 women and 762 men who died the year before. The reduction in the number of marriages chronicled in the “Social Register” for 1909 is thought by the compilers of the volume to have been due to the financial conditions which prevailed throughout the country, and which were especially acute in this city. FOOTBALL FAT Al .IT IES. Another American football season is over with a record of ten players killed and 272 injured. .Still the colleges, high schools, and athletic clubs, seem to show no diminution of interest in the game. In the record making year preceding the revision of the game, 24 players were killed, and 200 injured. Although the number of dead this season is not so large as in 1905, 72 more mishaps than were reported in that year have been recorded. Here is the summary, with fatalities classified: ■ — College players killed, 3: injured, 153. High school players killed, 2; injured, 73. Athletic members killed, 5; injured 46. Principal injuries—Broken collar-bones, 40; broken logs, 30; broken arms, 16; broken jaws, 6; broken noses, 20; broken ribs (individuals), 15; concussions of the brain, 12; torn, ligaments, sprains, etc., 71; dislocated shoulders. 22; lockjaw, 1; insanity, 1; miscellaneous — teeth knocked out, scalp wounds, cuts, 23.

Deaths have been caused in open playing in almost every instance with the exception of one. The exception was the fatality to Charles Meeker, of Great Bend, Kan., a spectator at a game, who was run over bv the players, and so seriously injured that lie died on November 8, two weeks later. Two players died from spinal injuries, one from paralysis, caused in an open tackle, ono from a broken neck, two from concussion of the brain, two from internal injuries, caused by strains and kicks in vital parts, and one player fell dead of heart failure. Fatalities and injuries have been greatest among college players —three dead, and 153 injured. This lias been the rule every year since tho practice of keeping record began in 1901. This is chiefly accounted for because the players are heavier, and the playing more intense than in games between high school teams and athletic clubs, in spite of the fad that tho players usually are more carefully trained.

DOGGY INTELLIGENCE. A curious result of the use of gasolene for the propulsion of automobiles and launches has developed in American cities, which is that dogs cannot now distinguish. their own vehicles by the smelL All autos smell the same, and dogs who travel in them are, it is now found, very apt to get mixed up. A dog may be always trusted to know hl* own horse as well as his master, but with autos so much trouble has been experienced that in several places the authorities have been appealed to, and it is expected an ordinance will be passed insisting that soma method shall be adopted by which a fairly intelligent dog will be able to recognise the odour of his own ear and not cause trouble with others. In an endeavour to put a stop to “joy riding,” that is, use of an automobile by a chauffeur without permission of its owner, a magistrate imposed a fine of 250 dollars, and a month’s imprisonment the other day, upon a convicted chauffeur. Garages at which autos are kept, are now also adopting a record system of the time each machine is in use, so that the owners may know the facts. A HUGE PRISON. New York’s new penitentiary, which will be erected on Riker’s Island, will be constructed next year. Building operations will begin on March 1 next, and 4.000,000 dollars will be expended in the construction of the buildings. Great interest attaches to the new city prison, for the reason that the site upon which the penal institution will be located is made ground. After building a stone crib around the sixty-three acres of the original island, the city authorities filled it in in low places with refuse, until the area of the island has been more than doubled. When finally completed, the buildings will house' two thousand men and five hundred women. It will be the largest prison in the world, the United States Penitentiary at Leavenworth, Kan., ranking next in size. The general lay-out of the building is that of a cross. The administration building will face the pier, and will connect directly with the central guard house, from which will extend the four cell wings. That Canada has been making steady strides in agriculture has been evident by the reports from all the provinces, and it is notable-that the old province of Nova Scotia, though her principal sources of wealth are coal, iron, lumber and gold, has not gone behind in farm produce. It has been again demonstrated that the advantages, of this province, both in proximity to the best markets and in fertility of soil, once it is brought under cultivation, are equal to anything in the north-west. Besides upwards of 600,000 barrels of apples, bringing an average price of 2 dollars a barrel at port of shipment. Nova Scotia this year produced 1,024,000 tons hay, 8,800,000 bushels potatoes, 8.550.000 bushels turnips and other root vegetables, 4,050,000 bushels oats, 412,000 bushels wheat, 558,000 bushels buckwheat, 223,000 bushels barley, 55,800 bushels beans, 28,500 bushels peas, 30,000 tons fodder, a large quantity of small fruits and considerable live stock and dairy produce. Farmers in No via Scotia pay labour 12 dollars to 25 dollars a month with board for yearly engagements, ami 25 dollars to 35 dollars in summer without board for extra help. One of the methods adopted by the Canadian Government for the encouragement of agriculture is the free distribution of samples of superior seed. The quantity of oats sent is 41bs., and of wheat or barley 51bs., sufficient in each case to sow one-twentieth of an acre. The samples of Indian corn, peas an! potatoes weigh 31bs. each. Applications addressed to the Director of Experimental Farms, Ottawa, may be sent in any time from December 1 to February la, after which the lists will be closed, so that the samples asked for may be sent out in good time for sowing. No postage is required on mail matters addressed to the Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa. A notable increase in agriculture as well as manufacture in Canada is found in. the tobacco industry. It transpires that in two counties of Ontario the growth of tobacco increased from 600,000 lbs, in 1897 to 7,500,0001b5. in 1906, and the crops the past two years have shown still further increases. This tobacco has

been recognised as especially suitable for conversion into plug for chewlug and smoking. The production is all being consumed in Canada, and has materially lessened the demand for foreign tobacco. Parliament, as claimed, has made soma important changes in the tariff that will operate in extending and enlarging the production of tobacco, not only for home consumption but for export.

EIGHT YEAR 4 ECORD. Year. Deaths. Injured 1901 .. .. Y 74 1002 .. .. . . 15 106 190.1 .. .. .. 14 63 1904 .. .. .. 14 206 1905 .. ., 24 200 1900 .... .. 14 .. .. ?. 100 1907 .. .. .. 15 106 1908 .. .. . . 10 •27*2