New-York Tribune from New York, New York • Page 8

CHARLOTTK BBOXTB. some reminiscences bt HKR pl'b- I.ISMKH the Konxnrm lack or bociai- airra-A fkh- Charlotte publisher, Mr. Smith. contributed to the current "Cornbiir of the author of "Jane Byre" MS. of that novel was nent to Mm by "Currer Bell" and wan first read by Mr.

Willlams, another n.eri.l.. rof the firm. He wrought It to me- on a Saturday." mm Mr. Smith, "and said that he would like me to read it. There were no Saturday in those and.

usual. I did not reach until late. I had made an appointment with a friend for Sunday morning; I to meet him about o'clock, at a place wmm two or three from our house, and ride with him into the country. "After breakfast on Sunday morning I took the MS. of 'Jane Eyre' to my little study, and began to read It story quickly took me captive.

Before l'J o'clock my horse came to the door, but I could not put the book down. I pcribblcd two or three lines to my friend, saying I was very sorry that had arisen i to prevent my meeting him. cent the note off by my groom and went on reading the MR. Presently the servant came to tell me that luncheon was ready; I asked him to bring me a sandwich and a class of wine, and Mill went on with 'Jane Eyre." Dinner came; for me the meal was a very hasty mm, and before 1 went to bed that night I had finished reading the manuscript. Th.

next day we wrote to 'Currer Bell' accepting the book for publication. I need say nothing about the success which the book achieved, the Fpeculations as to whether it wm written by a man or a woman. For my own part I never had much doubt on the subject of the fox; but then I had the advantage over the gem ral public at having the handwriting of the author before me. There were qualities of Ftyle. too, and turns of expression, which asui-tied me that CM Bell' was a woman, an opinion in which Mr.

Williams concurred. We were bound, however, to respect the writer's anonymity, and our letters continued to be addressed to "Ourrer Bell, Before the anonymity was broken there arose a report that Currer. Acton and Ellis Bell were one and the same person and Charlotte and her pister Anne resolved that they would immediately start for London to prove their identity to Smith. Elder Co. Mr.

Smith continues: That particular Saturday morning 1 was at work in my room, when a clerk reported that two ladies wished to see me. I niis very busy end new out to ask their names. The clerk returned to say that the ladies declined to give but wished to see me on a private matter. After a moment's hesitation I him to show them in. I was in the midst of my my were far away from "Currer and "Jane Eyre." Two rather quaintly dressed little ladles, pale faced and anxious looking, walked Into my room; one of them came forward and presented me with a letter addressed, in my own handwriting, to "Currer Bell.

Ksq noticed that the letter had been opened, and paid, with Pom- sharpness, "Where did you pet this trow "From the post office." was the reply: "it was addressed to me. We have both come that might have ocular proof that there are at least two of us." This then was "Currer Heir In person. I need hardly that I was at once keenly interested, not to say excited. Mr. Williams was called down and introduced, and 1 began to plan all sorts al attentions to our visitors.

1 tried to persuade them cume and stay at our house. they positively dec lined to do. but they agreed that 1 should call with my sister and take them to the opera in 1.. evening. This is the only occasion on which I i.Hit Ann.

Bronte. She was a gentle, quiet, rather subdued person, by iKMneans pretty, yet of a pleasing appearance. Her manner was curiously expressive of a wish for protection and encouragement, a kind of constant appeal which Invited sympathy. 1 must confess that 4 ny first impression of Charlotte persona.l appearance was that it was Interesttsx rather- than attractive. She was very small, and had a quaint, old fashioned look.

Her head seemed too large for her body. She had eyes, but her face was marred by th. shape of the mouth and by the complexion There was but little feminine i harm about her; and of this (act she herself was uneasily and perpetually conscious. It may seem strange that the paaaeaslas) of gtnius did not lift her above the weakness of an excessive anxiety about her appearance, Cut I believe that she would given all her genius and her fume to have been beautiful. Perhaps few woni'-n ever existed more anxious to be pretty than she or more angrily conscious of the cuinstance that sin- was not pretty.

1 1 Charlotte I'ronte stayed with us several times. P' The utmost was, iif course, done to entertain and please her. We arranged for dinner parties, at which artistic and literary notabilities, whom wisht'd to meet, were present. We took her to places which we thought would interest Times" office, th. PostoAce, the Bank of Kngland.

Newgate, Bedlam Her letters show that At enjoyed the reeollecii.in of th. visits, and the society at our house; but my mother and sisters found her a somewhat guest, and I am afraid the was rever perfect I at her ease with them. used to that they were afraid of her. She was very and self absorbed, and the impression that she was always en- i raped in observing and analyzing the people she i met. she was sometimes tempted to confide her analysis the victim.

Here is an extract I a letter which iOie wrote to myself: "I will tell you a thing to be not often in your and almost always in your conversation, I s- hnlogical thing, and not a matter pertaining to style or mean an undercurrent of raillery, an inaudible laugh to yourself, a not unkindly, but somewhat subtle on your correspondent companion for the time in short a sly touch of a Mephistopheles with fiend extracted. In the present Instance this specialty is perceptible only In degree, but It is there, and more or less it always. no means mention this a fault. I merely tell you you have it. and I can njake accusation with comfortable inrunitv.

guessing pretty surely that you are 100 just now to deny this or any other charge." For my own part 1 found her conversation most interesting: her quick and clear intelligence delightful When she became excited on any subject she was really "loquent. and it was a pleasure to listen to her. Thackeray's daughter has told us how doleful an occasion was the evening party given by her father in Miss Brontes honor. The little novelist wouldn't or couldn't talk, everybody else wit about in gloom and constraint, and Thackeray, in despair, finally ran away to his airs. Proctvr was accustomed to tell the story ci that evening with much humor.

It was she always declared, "one of the dullest evenings She ever spent in her life." though she extracted much entertainment from it years afterward The failure of this atvnipt by Thackeray to entertain Charlotte Bronte illustrates one aspect jU AMERICAS BEST 4 JLCHAMPAGNEJ DJNVKFt COmWI the character of both of them: In Charlotte her want of social In Thackeray his impatience of social discomfort. Mrs. Brookfield. who wan perfectly at home in any society, said that Charlotte Bronte was the most difficult woman to talk to she had ever met. That evening at Thackeray's house she triea hard to enter Into with her.

Sirs. Brookfleld used to relate with borne humor what i she ailed "my conversation with Charlotte I Bronte." She said. "I opened It by saying I she liked London; to which Charlotte Bronte replied curtly. Ido and I Naturally. Mrs.

Brookfleld's audience used to wait for mo, but. said Mrs. Brookfleld. "that is all. If Miss Bronte did not talk much, as was usual with her.

she kept her eyes open. One of Mr. Thackeray's guests was Miss Adelaide Procter, and those who remember that ladys cnarminK personality will not be surprised to learn that I was greatly attracted by her. During our drive home I was seated opposite to Miss Bronte, ana I was startled by her ieanlng forward, putting her hands on my knees, and saying. "She would make you a very nice wife." "Whom do you mean?" I replied.

"Oh: you know whom I mean 1 she said; and we relapsed into silence. Though I admired Miss Procter very much. It was not a I case of love at first as Miss Bronte sup: I first asked Thackeray to dine to meet i Charlotte Bronte, he offended her by falling to respect the anonymity behind which, at that time she was very anxious to screen herseir On another occasion Thackeray roused the nia! den lire in Charlotte Bronte's soul, and was badly scorched himself as the result. My mother 1 and I had taken her to one of Thackeray's lectures on "The English Humorists." After the lecture Thackeray came down from the platform and shook hands with many of the audience, receiving their congratulations and compliments. He was in high spirits and rather thoughtlessly said to his Mrs.

Carmichael "Mother, you must allow me to introduce you to Jane Eyre." This was uttered In a loud voice, audible over half of the room. Everybody near turned round and stared at the disconcerted little lady who grew confused and angry when she realized that every eye was fixed upon her. My mother got her away as quickly as possible. On the next afternoon Thackeray called. I arrived home shortly afterward, and when I entered the drawing room found a scene In full progress.

Only these two were in the room. Thackeray was standing on the hearth rug. looking anything but happy. Charlotte Bronte stood close to him. with head thrown back and face white with anger.

The first words 1 heard were. sir: If you had come to our part of the country in Yorkshire, what would you have thought of me if I had introduced you to my father before a mixed company of strangers as Mr. Warrlngton?" Thackeray replied, "No. you mean Arthur Pendennis." "No. I don mean Arthur I'endcnnis:" retorted Miss Bronte; "I mean Mr.

Warrington. and Mr. WarrlnCtoa would not have behaved as you behaved to me yesterday." The spectacle of this little woman, hardly reaching to Thackeray's elbow, but. somehow, looking stronger and fiercer than himself and casting her incisive words at his head, resembled the dropping of sheila into a fortress. By this time I had recovered my presence of mind, and hastened to interpose.

Thackeray made the necessary and half humorous apologies, and the parting was a friendly one. Thackeray shocked Charlotte Bronte sadly by the fashion of his talk on literary subjects. The truth is. Charlotte Bronte's heroics roused Thackeray's antagonism. He declined to on a pedestal for her admiration, and with characteristic contrariety of nature he seemed to say the very things that set Charlotte teeth, so to speak, an edge, and affronted all he- Ideals.

He insisted on discussing his books very much as a clerk In a bank would discuss the ledgers he had to keep for a salary. But all this was. on Thackeray's part, an affectation into which he was provoked by what he considered Charlotte Bronte's high fafutin'. Miss Bronte" wanted to persuade i him that lie was a great man with a and Thackeray, with many wicked Jests, declined to recognize the "mission." But. despite all this.

Charlotte much as she scolded Thackeray, never doubted his great- i ness. He was. she once said. "A Titan in mind." Before Thackeray went to America In the autumn of 1852 I had a portrait of him made by Mr. Samuel Laurence as a present to his daughters.

My mother took Charlotte Bronte to see it at the artist's studio. It was a very line and expressive rendering of Thackeray's powerful head. Charlotte Bronte stood looking long upon it in silence; and then, as if quoting the words unconsciously, she said: "There came up a lion out of Judah." After Charlotte Bronte's first visit to our house her anonymity was dropped, and people naturally tried to dra.v her out. She shrank from this or resented it, and seemed to place herself under my mother's car- for protection. My mother accepted the position, and v.

as generally equal to it. but sometimes, when accident left Charlotte Bronte exposed to a direct attack, the fire concealed beneath her mildness broke out. The first time this happened I was not a little purprised. G. H.

Lewes, who was lunching with us. had the indiscretion to say across the table. "There ought to be a bond of sympathy between us. Miss Bronte, for we have both written naughty books'' This fired the train with a vengeance, and an explosion followed. I listened with mingled admiration and alarm to the indignant eloquence with which that Impertinent remark was answered.

By way of parenthesis. I may say that "Jane Eyre" was really considered in those days by many people to bean immoral book. My mother told me one evening that Lady Herschel. having found the book in her drawing room, said: "Do you leave such a book as 'his about, at the risk of your daughters reading It?" charlotte BroatC herself was quite unconscious that the book possessed, in any degree, a reputation of this sort; and sn. was as much surprised as affronted when Lady Eastlake then Miss Rigby in her review of "Jane Eyre" In "The Quarterly Review" (Dfvember.

brutally said that "if it were written by a woman. it must he by one who had forfeited the right to the society of her sex." Charlnte Bronte had much nobility of charac! ter; she had an almost exaggerated sense of duty; she was scrupulously' hoar at and perfectly just. When Sir James Stephen, the father of the late Justice Stephen, said to me during a long conversation had with him at Cambridge on a very dell, subject, "I have lived a lone; and not unobservant life, and I have never yet met with a perfectly lust woman." I could not help thinking that he had never met Charlotte Bronte. Miss Bronte was critical of character, but not of action; this she Judged favorably and kitidly. Generally.

I thought, she put too kind an Interpretation on the actions of a friend. "Villette" Is full of scenes which one can trace to Incidents which occurred during Miss Bronte visits to us. The scene at the theatre at Brussels in that book, and the description of the actress, were suggested by Rachel, whom we took her to see more than once. The scene of the fire comes I from a slight accident to the scenery at Devoni shire House, where Charles Dickens. Mr.

Forster other men of letters gave a nerformanee. I took Charlotte Bronte and one of my sisters to Devonshire House, and when the performance, which was for charity, was repeated I took another of my sisters, who had been too unwell to go on the first occasion, and a Miss D. At one stage of the second performance the scenery fire. There was some risk of a general panic, and I took my sister and Miss D. each by the wrist, and held them down till the panic had ceased.

1 seem to have written a description of the occurrence to Miss for I find that she refers to it in one of her letters, saying. "It Is tar to realize the scene." In "Villette" my mother was the original of Mrs. Bretton; several of her expressions are given verbatim. 1 myself, as I discovered, stood for Dr. John.

Charlotte Bronte admitted this to Mrs. Cask. 11. to whom she wrote: "I was kept waiting longer than usual for Mr. Smith's opinion of the book, and I was rather uneasy, for I was afraid he had found me out, and was i offended." nnr-rostnu ox rut: Columbia.

CHARLES CAIIttOU. JACKSON EXPIRES FROM PERITONITIS NEAR GIBRALTAR. Word was received here late last night of the death of Charles Carroll Jackson from peritoitis on the steamer Columbia, near Gibraltar. The body was put off there and will be sent here. Mr.

Jackson left New-York for Europe on December in the best of health, and hie death was entirely unexpected by his relatives in this city. Mr. Jackson was born in Philadelphia in December. 183 G. and was the son of Isaac Rand Jackson and Louisa Carroll Jackson, and a rreatgrandson of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

Hi was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in the class of '63 and then entered the volunteer naval service for the remainder of the Civil War. In 1870 he came to New-York and became a member of the firm of Oswald Jackson Bro but he soon retired from business, and bad not been actively engaged in commercial affair, sinre. In he was married to Miss Mary Nest He a member of the Union and Metropolitan clubs. Mr. Jackson leaves a widow and one daughter, the wife of the Rev.

William Osborne Baker, of Bar Harbor. The notice of the funeral will be civen later. NEW- YORK DAILY TRIBrXR MONDAY. DECEMBER 17. 1000.

FRESH AIR WORK IN 1000. what knabled the tribcne to do for the poor. MORE SPENT-SOME MISAPPREHENSIONS A FEW OF THE ORGANIZATIONS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HELPED. The Tribune Fresh Air Fund offers Its annual report this year with the pleasure which follows I the successful accomplishment of a large and diftV cult piece of work. The summer of the twenty-fourth year of The Tribune Fresh Air existence, was a success in every way.

The work of carrying out the objects of fresh air charity went through without a hitch, and the result; were most gratifying. During the last summer 7,431 of the poorest children who live In the tenement houses of this city were sent away i to. the country for two weeks of fresh air, and the cost of this work amounted to J20.556 48. There were also twenty-six lay excursions up the Hud! son River. These gave a day of rest and pleasure on the wat to 26.770 mothers and children of the i ten.

nent districts; and thus there were In all 34,201 I people who were benefited by The Tribune Fresh Air Fund In the summer of 1900. 1 The reading of these figures will give a good deal of pleasure to those who understand the 1 nature of fresh air work. They know the good that hi in each Individual case, and they i can form some idea of what a grand total the whole thing up to. But there are a great many to whom th? expression "fresh air work" conveys little meaning, and to them a few words jof explanation may be acceptable. The business of The Tribune Air Fund Is the giving of fresh air to the poor children of New-York City's tenement houses.

As a matter of fact, there are no children who live in these tenement houses who I are not poor. Tae average tenement house In this city Is close and Stirling, crowded and unhealthi ful. and in summer so unbearably hot that disease and death direct results. That Is what the people say who know, and that is what Inmates have experienced And so the people who' live In New-York's tenement houses are the poorest pie In the city, the people who have not the money I to live elsewhere or to leave the city in the heat of summer for even a iv. It Is the little children 1 of these people who suffer most from such conditions, and they p.re the beneficiaries of The Tribune Fresh Air Fund.

They are gathered up from the tenement houses and sent off to cool places In the country for a fortnight of fresh air. While they are In the country they receive tender care and attention and pure, food; at night they sleep In cool, clean beds, and the 'days are all spent out of doors; and when they return to the city they have had two healthful weeks of such rare fun aril pleasure as never fell to their lot fore. This kind of charity began twenty-four years ago with The Tribune Fresh Air Fund. It is still the business of this fund, and the tremendous ume to which It has grown bears loyal testimony to Its worth. The receipts and expenditures of The Tribune Fresh Air Fund for the summer of 1900 were as I follows: RKCEIPTS.

Reretpt nt h.i!»n<# from Tribune Air Fund, iwawri of IStW I duly arknowlMlavd In Tribute 17.671 49 I Special toward of Ashford I Hill 3.00000 Total 121,337 SO EXPENDITURES. I mankhnoks ami cards IS. 133 OS V. at advance tn finding for 659 42 Wort's of i at five placen Vlnton'M MB examining physician I Kn. hill for lnvmiluatlnsr and preparing for country 75 00 i Can of maintaining Arhford Hill, where.

1.104 children were two weeks (special contributions not In in acknowledgments. 4.205 i for 7.431 chlldmn and attendants 14.034 20.M6 Balance 570141 We. the undersigned, find, upon examination of the books and accounts of The Tribune Fresh Air Fund, that the sum of haa been received I during the season of 1900. which Includes a balance 40 brought over from the season of 1899. and aUo the sum of $3,000.

a special contribution to Hill, and that the expenses have been $20,534 4S. acx-ordlnir to statements and vouchers exhibited to us by the Rev. WJllard Parsons, the manager of the fund, showing the balance on hand of $791 41. We also find that the entire expenditure has been made for the actual work of sending the beneficiaries of the fund to the country, and for the maintenance and care of Ashford Hill, except cer- I tain necessary expenses for postage, blank books and cards, as shown In the statement herewith. I MORRIS K.

JESUP. W. E. DODGE. Auditing Committee New-York.

Nov. 1900. I The Tribune Fresh Air Fund wishes to say emj phatically this year that It does not send "waifs" jto the country. In former summers and during the last summer there have been Indications that many people do not understand the character of the children who are the beneficiaries of this char- lty. Headlines of this sort have appeared In news'; papers: "A Hundred Waifs from the City Here." Tots from the Slums Have An Outing," "Slum Children Off For the and people have asked, "Where in the world do you pick up nil those gamins?" Now, the dictionary definition of a "waif" Is as follows: 'A wanderer: a castj away, a stray, a homeless, child." The Tribune Fresh Air Vund respectfully urges that It does not 1 send "wanderers," or "castaways," or "strays." or "homeless children" to the country; nor do Its children come from the "slums." And yet they are the poorest and neediest children In New- York City, and no children need fresh air more than they.

They are the city's tenement children, and i that means that they have homes. Each and i 1 every one of them has a home, and in many eases loving parents. But their homes are the poorest in the city, in the the small, dark rooms of squalid that Is what makes the children greedy of fresh air. Before the children can go to the country they must be clean and free from contagious disease, and they must be certified as being SO by a doctor i especially engaged for the purpose of such nation. They are prepared for the examination by the city missionaries, workers, nurses and teachers who pick out the children.

These workers know i personally every child sent to the country by them. i They know the condition of the children's families through personal Investigation and acquaintance. I and by this means they are enabled to send the right children to the country, that Is. the children from the homes of the very poor. The Tribune Fresh Air Fund trusts these workers to do this and the.

trust has seldom been misplaced. During I the last summer the work of selecting and preparing the children for the country was performed by workers connected with 110 different Sunday schools, dispensaries, day nurseries, scattered all over the tenement districts of the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn. This number Includes a few missionaries who worked as Inj dividuals. The work Involved was arduous and ex- I acting, and those who did It worked for no other reward than the good of the children and the consciousness of having performed a noble work of charity. To them Is due all credit.

The Institutions, organizations and Individuals through whom the children were collected last summer were as I follows: BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN-St. James's Methodist Episcopal Church. St. Ambrose's Church Hope Chapel, Cornell Methodist Episcopal Church' Grace Reformed Church. St.

Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, King's Daughters Settlement, Forsyih Methodist Episcopal Church. Children's Fold Women's Hospital and Dispensary. Mlzpah Chapel' Second Street Methodist Episcopal Church. Lisa Day Nursery. Blinn Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church.

West Side Settlement, Grace Chapel People's Home Church. Ringer's Riverside Church Mis sion, Hope Mission School, Bethany Chapel. Onehundred-and-nlnth Street Methodist Episcopal Church. Metropolitan Temple, Wilson Industrial School. Church of the Divine Providence Seventh Street Methodist Episcopal Church.

Chapel of the Covenant. Heddlng Methodist Episcopal Church Phillip's Presbyterian Church, Wilson Mission Charity Organization Society (eleven districts)' Bethlehem Chapel. Colored Mission. Middle Reformed Church. Chapel of the Puritans Friends' 1 Mission Sunday fechool Allen Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church.

Zion German Presbyterian Church. People's Tabernacle. St. Augustine's' Chapel. FirMt Presbyterian Church.

Phelps Settlement. Emanuel Chapel. Madison Avenue Methodist Eplscopal Church. Fifty-sixth Street Methodist Epi's' copal hurch. Church of the Good Shepherd Rose I Hill Methodist Episcopal Church.

Willett Street Methodist Episcopal Church. Protestant Half Or, phan Asylum. Friendly Aid Settlement. Thirtyfourth Street Reformed Church. Sixty-eighth Street Reformed Church.

Olivet Chapel. Chapel of the Comforter. Church of St. Cornelius, Church of the I Holy Communion. Chrtsfe Lutheran church Party.

i first Street Mission. De Witt Memorial Chapel Browne Street Tabernacle. Church of Sea and Land. Second Reformed Presbyterian Church! Beekman Hill Methodist Episcopal Church Hell'-i Kitchen Brick Church Chapel. Manor or Orthopedic Hospital.

Bible and Fruit Mission St. Bartholomew's Mission. Madison Square Church House. St Barnabas'. House.

College Christodera Home. Helping Hand A 0 for Normal College Alumna- House, the League for BOROUGH OF BROOKLYN-Deaconess 5 Home Oreenpoint Settlement. Faith on Bureau of CharttleV District). Brethren Cumberland Street Presbyterian itlonal Place Chapel. Wllloujfhby Aventie Congregational Chapel.

Street Mission. Methodist Church. Wyckhoft Heights Chapel; hurch Our Father. Italian Mission. £viyler -1.

Throop Avenue Mission Industrial School. Mount Oliver Mission. Atlantic Avenue Chapel. Park Avenue Chapel. Washington Avenue Baptist hurch, odlst Episcopal Tabernacle.

Spanish Mission. Indus trial School. Bethel Chapel. Mrs. Rev William Weyandt.

SUM Je nl Mrs. D. Heffron. Miss Bri s. Miss R.

Miss PA. Sand Miss Spiers Mr? Com in. Miss Corwm and the Asoc Club. There Is one other misapprehension concerning the work of the Tribune Fresh Air Fund wnlcn 11 is desired to correct here, and exists among even the best friends of fresh air children. evidenced by the numerous letters received summer concerning places In the country where fresh air children may be sent to board at a cheap rate.

Sometimes the letter Is from a person in the country making an offer of such a place; sometimes It Is fron. a person In the city asking that children be sent to such a place, and as often as not It is from a person inquiring the addresses of the "country boarding houses to which the TrlDune Fresh Air Fund sends its children. In every case the same reply Is made, that never, under. any circumstances, does the Tribune Fresh Air Fund pay board for the children sends to the country. They go as guests, and In response to genuine Invitations that come to them from people in the country.

Sometimes these Invitations come in the form of an order from one place for a hundred or more children, sometimes In a request for a smaller number and sometimes In the shape of personal Invitations to the children themselves. But they are always Invitations, because the people In the country who entertain children sent out by the Tribune Fresh Air Fund receive no consideration for this entertainment. It Is a gift, pure and simple, from country hosts and hostesses, and they do It entirely as a labor of love. Last summer there were hundreds and even thousands of people scattered through 311 towns and villages In the country districts of half a dozen different States who offered this hospitality. To some it proved a light task, to others a heavy one.

according to the disposition and bringing up of the little guest. It was not an Insignificant labor in any case, for two weeks of entertainment and tender care of a city child unused to country ways requires unusual solicitude and attention. This care has always been cheerfully given, arid fresh air children have been made to feel as much at home with their country entertainers as they do with their own parents. It Is hardly necessary to comment on the generosity which, has prompted all this well doing to city children by their more fortunate fellow beings In the country; It has been so great and bountiful that words offer a poor means of description. The children who received the benefit can best tell what a far reaching work of charity it was.

and on their behalf the Tribune Fresh Air Fund conveys deep and heartfelt thanks to these benefactors of the country. In addition to these places where children are entertained by twos and threes In the homes of private families, there are a few places where many children are received at one time. The home at Ashford Hill. N. which Is largely supported by a special contribution to the.

Tribune Fresh Air Fund, gives pleasure to fortnightly parties of two hundred children each throughout the summer, and the other places of this sort are St. Helen's Home, at Curtlsvllle. which Is supported by John K. Parsons, of this city, and entertains one hundred children at a time, and Mrs. J.

S. Lyle's "Hippy Land." at Tenafly, N. which entertains fifty children at a time. Among the places whose people have entertained regular fortnightly parties throughout the summer are Hudson and Claverack. twenty-four children In each party: Falrfleld.

twenty-four In each party: Mlddletown and Ooshen, N. which have entertained several parties of fifteen each, and I'ittsHeld. and nearby towns. whose people have, through the Berkshire Fresh Air Fund, provided for the entertainment at outlying farmhouses of five parties aggregating 395 children. At Stmsbury.

Mrs. Norman W. Dodge, has given a weeks' outing to several parties of twelve children each. In Borne of these places money Is paid for the entertainment of the children, but It lr not paid by The Tribune Fresh Air Fund. The people of then- places pay It themselves to the farmer or other person who takes children into his farmhouse and looks after them for this consideration.

It Is one way of giving air. and It Is a helpful way where It is not feasible to take the children Into private families. Bat It Is all the affair of the people In the country, and It still remains true that no money Is paid by The Tribune Fresh Air Fund for the board of Its children, and that they are guests In trjth. The heaviest of expense in fresh air work. cost of carrying the children to and from the country, was made lighter last summer by the action of some corporations with souls.

With only two exceptions all of the lines over which fresh air children travelled allowed quarter rates for the beneficiaries of this charity, and In addition were uniformly thoughtful and accommodating in their handling of fresh air parties. As an allowance of quarter rates means that Just four times as ninny children can be sent to the country. It Is easy to see what a great help this generous policy has resulted In. Another kindly service In the work of transport- Ing the children has been the assistance of the two dozen or more volunteers who have escorted the children to and from the country. They have done this entirely a work of charity, for only their necessary expenses have been paid.

The task of caring for a party of children on a long Journey is arduous and exciting, and the work of these travelling attendants Is here gratefully acknowledged as a material and appreciated help. The last word concerning the work of The Tribune Fresh Air Fund for the summer of 1900 should he one of thanks to the contributing public, the great body of people who have made this wcrk possible. Just as the swiftest of transatlantic liners would be- hut a floating hulk without coal In her bunkers, so would The Tribune Fresh Air Fund, Its very name Implies, cease to exist If there were no fund And the many friends of fresh air children have taken good care that such a state of shall not come to pass. They have been uniformly anil continuously generous in their ministrations to fresh air children, and it was due to them as much as any one else that the work of The Tribune Fresh Air Fund ran so smoothly last summer There was only one time when It looked as though Invitations from the country for fresh air children might have to be declined on account of lack of funds. That was.

early In August, and a short statement of facts explaining the nature of the trouble was at once published In The Tribune. It could hardly be called an appeal, for the need was not fat desperate; but Inside of two days there was such a vigorous and wholesale response that whatever fears had been felt were at once put to rest. It is this sort of thing which makes It possible to do fresh air work with confidence and In the right and most economical way. With a continuously steady and solid support as a background for such manifestations The Tribune Fresh Air Fund has much to be thankful for. The people who sent In contributions last summer, large or small, are once again thanked most gratefully.

The twenty-six day excursions for the benefit of mothers and children of the tenement districts, which took place under the auspices of The Tribune Fresh Air Fund last summer, must be mentioned to make this report complete. As in former Hummers, they were the gift of one man. No money was taken for them from The Tribune Fresh Air Fund. They were merely manatee- by this charity. The bills were all paid by this one man.

and the only condition which he attached to the gift was that his name should not be dls- Jshe SOHMEU An Ideal Holiday Gift THK "SOHMER" LIST OF THK HIGHEST PIANOS. PIANOS Sohmor Building, Jib A Su York. closed. Last summer there were, as has been said above. 34.201 persons who enjoyed a day of rest and pleasure on the water through these excursions.

Twenty-six times a barge was towed up the Hudson to Excelsior Grove. is at the foot of the Palisades, opposite Yonkers. an hour or two was spent ashore there for luncheon, and then the barge was tow down the river again in the cool of the late afternoon. On each of nps trips there were a thousand, more or less, or tne poorest people of the city, mothers from the tenements with their babies and older children. A band was provided for each trip, and also a police- man.

a ma saver, a doctor and fresh milk In abundance. The good that is none by these excursions has been testified to by doctors and health Inspectors whose work Mas in the tenement districts. The beneficiaries do not need to be told. for the cool day spent on the water is In every instance an exhilarating relief from the midsummer heat of the city's tenements. The unknown donor of this charity has been doing good in this quiet way for eleven summers He has benefited literally hundreds of thousands, and all over the city there are mothers and children of the poor who are deeply and lastingly grateful to him.

Following Is a summary of The Tribune Fresh Air Fund's work from the time of its Inception In ISV7: 2 as i i 'jT 1 If I a Tears. 1 1 i 1877 i CO 1 $IS7 12 IS7H 1.077 1.0771 277 1879 2.400 i 2.400' 0.511 .14 211 6001 71 1 353 irsi 3 203 Mam 4.2113! 5.217H41 254 1 21.32R0«! 18S3 1 4.2.V)' Ti 8.9.V11 I4.VH.mi7 ISB4 1 fi.253! I.o<»i 7.253: 15.7.">« 14 6.tCU» 12.7-':: I 19 SS ISSB 1 S.TSRI l.eoni 24.0H2 00 1887 1 1 7.74*1 22.753 10 920J 230 jO.M2| 10.352! 24.97S 29 242 1390 11.193 15.029 2R222! 23.504 11 212 i3.3«S 22.1J551 25.06.52S 203 4O.7SK*! 27.825 IST 03 J3.548 26.320 2H.H-JO IVi MM I 171 3H.8413: 22.80 ft 224 18SW I 8.021 i 28.924 247 ISfW I 10ii4 30,610 40.650: 23.948 23D 151.7 1 31.073 4l.r!r.n 7 ISO 20.91.%! 34.09T.1 15.047 251 8.002 28.0071 34.009! 21.38H 84 2h. IPOO 1 7.4311 28.17*! 34,201 6 "Totals I 306,7101 490.9331 $453.434 $2 48 MARCHES WIFE TO ROW'S ARMED ITALIAN HALTED WHEN NEAR THE EAST RIVER With a revolver In one hand and a stiletto in the other. Marsie Rofie. thirty-four years old.

an Italian, of No. 323 East who had become tired of wife, marched her through the street ahead of htm last eveninar and ordered her to jump into the East River. A few feet from the edge of the water Patrolman Pretorius. of the East Onehundred-and-fourth-st. station, with his drawn revolver halted the man and woman aad arrested Rofie.

It Is said Rnflc met another woman from his native country whose attractions were frreater than thopo of his wife-. Mrs. Rofle begged her hupband to relent. She fell or her knees and Implored the man to let her live, but he told her to get up and walk out Into the street. The woman did so.

It was bitterly cold and there were no persons about at the time and Rofie told the woman to start for the river. They -walked through the street for pome distance before several women and children on their way home saw the strange sight. They a little when they saw the man with a revolver and a dagger in his hands, but they did not dare interfere, and they ran away in fright without telling any one. The woman walked across Pleasant-aye. to Jefferson Park, three blocks away.

She was going slower all the time, her fright half paralyzing her. People now began to follow, nerved by the number of persons who gathered to see the peculiar sight, but no one dared to interfere with the Italian. They did not know what he Intended the woman tc do, and were afraid to ask. The Italian's wife was not far from the river when a citizen told Policeman Pretorius. of the East One-hundred-and-fourth-st.

station. Pretorius drew his revolver and ran up. He saw the Italian with his weapons and caught him hy the back of the coat and disarmed him. He took him to the station and charged him with felonious assault. The woman ran back to her home.

Ay'OTHFR BIG POKER GAME. JOHN W. GATES SAID TO HAVE WON ABOUT fao.ooo. A few months ago The Tribune told exclusively of a big game of poker played at the Waldorf-Astoria by certain men Interested In big Industrial concerns, mainly the steel and wire corporations. The last week has seen a revival of this play, and although this game has not run as high as the first one, and the amount of money which has changed hands Is not as large.

In the aggregate, the game Is nevertheless Interesting. In the first game the play started on a private car coming East, and John W. Gates. Joseph Letter. Isaac Elwood.

L. L. Smith. John Drake, a prominent Wall Street broker, and others took part. The game continued for a week after the arrival in New-York, and nearly a million dollars was wagered and won or lost.

The renewal of the game occurred last week. Some of the men in question have recently returned from Europe, where, if the stories told are true, they have had a most successful season on the turf and In the stock market. The players this time are said to be John fiates, John Drake. Jacob Field and Henry whose wife recently secured a divorce from is said that John W. Gates won CITI CI.VB COUNCIL'S ABOUT NEEDED TO CONTINUE ITS TVWUC WORK.

The council of the City Club Is about to send out a letter asking for contributions to continue the work of the club. It has Immediate need of $4,000. The council Is supported entirely by voluntary contributions, and does not receive any part of the income of the social side of the club. Here are some of the many things which the club has done for the benefit of the public, as shown by the council's circular- In 1892 the City Club began the formation of Good Government clubs. In UN presented to Mayor Gllrqy charges of Incompetency an.l unfltness against Thomas S.

Street Cleaning Commissioner. He was not dismissed, but the evidence presented by the club was so strong that he resigned soon afterward. In ISM compelled the Park Commissioners, through the courts, to comply with the law requiring that the Harlem River Speedway should be built with a sidewalk at least ten feet wide upon each side of the Speedway, the Commissioners having made contracts in violation of law. providing for only one sidewalk along parts of the Speedway. In laid before Mayor Strong charges against two of the Police Commissioners for their refusal to permit inquiry Into serious charges against the Chief of Police.

One of these was removed by the Mayor upon charges which werepending at the time the charges of the City Club were presented. In published a pamphlet of over a hundred pages upon the Department of Public Works, which Included the result of a careful Inquiry Into the subject of preventable waste and loss of water In UN the club presented to the Governor charges against Asa Bird Gardiner. District Attorney of New-York: County. After protracted hearings before a commissioner the Governor dismissed the charges In September. IMA The effect of the was seen, however, in a general clearing 1 up of the work Of the District Attorney's office In ISO 9.

In co-operation with the Citizens Union (TitnQotcts. Hotels. BROADWAY CENTRAL HOTEL, Nos. 667 to 677 ivir-iif Midway between Battery Opposite Bond Street. 1 and Central Park.

Has daring the past fire years been thoroughly rebuilt and completely reorganized at an expense of a quarter of a million dollars, and is perfect in detail and unsurpassed in comfort and convenience. Recommends Itself for thoroughly careful management. Its clean. wellkept rooms, admirable table and service, and reasonable charges. In the commercial centre of the city, is ahsotutclv for business.

or pleasure. it. cate qnlet and orderly management, and the uniform excellence of make it pecunaii) aiuipted for merchant-, families while liberal scaie ox prices adopted tor the Winter months, make it in every respect a most attractive home. INSPECTION SOLICITED. MAPS AND CIRCULARS WILL BE SENT ON APPLICATION.

UNITED STATES TtllV MftVMfc- BROADWAY CENTRAL HOTEL I ILLY MAYNES, HOTEL BOSTON. PROPRIETOR new voRH DOQDTTfIIL BROADWAY 3TH AY 57TH ST. NEW TORK CITT Entirely now. Room. and en imii WEST ED NEW YORK, without to pu or jT conjm; eSaSBJWftMak lIUBUtI Manager.

Apartment- er formerly at Hotel restaurant maintained. Bates reasonable. opposed the Ramapo water contract. and against It before the Board of Public menta. COMMERCIAL RECORD FOR 1909.

SHOWS AN" ENOP.MOUS GROWTH OF EXPORTS AND INCREASE IN THE FAVOR. ABLE BALANCE OF TRADE. Washington. Dec. IK The commercial record of the United States in the calendar year will surpass that of any preceding year, both In exports and in the excess of exports over Imports, or "favorable balance of trade," as this excess Is usually termed.

The imports will be slightly below those of one or two preceding years, and when considered in their relation to population show smaller Importation for each individual than at almost any other period in many years. Basing estimate for the year upon the eleven months' ures already received by the Treasury Bureau ef Statistics, it seems probable that the exports of the calendar year 1000 will reach about 470,000,000 and the imports mMfmJm, malting the excess of exports over imports JGCOOO.COO. a sum greater by than that of any preceding year. It a only since 1873 that the exports have with any regularity exceeded the imports or produced the favorable balance of tr which has almost continuously characterized our during the las; quarter of a century. Yet it remained for closing year of the century to present not only highest figures of exports, but the highest record of excess of exports over imports, or favorahU balance of trade, in the history of our commerce Considering the exports alone.

it may be said tha for the calendar year 1900 they will be double thosa of the year 1888. three times those 15.2 four times thone of 1869. and five tlm's much as in IS3O. On the import side the figures iar less imposing. They will aggregate for the' year about against in the calendar year when they reached the highwater mark of tne century.

Considering commerce from the per caslta point of view, the contrast between the import and export figures is even mere phenomenal. Following the records of our commerce back to 1870 it i 9i 9 found that the imports, when considered in the light of the population, have decreased while tha per capita of exports has enormously increased ulati 35.558.371 and the imports J481.132.0c5, an average per capita of $1196 In and 1890 the per capita was a little above H3- in 18H ad fallen to 17. and in 190 it will be about $10 90. This shows a slight decrease per eaDlri comparing with 1870. and a material decrease comparing 19C0 with 1880 or 1890.

On the exDort side the increase is striking. In 1870 the exports per capita amounted to JlO 46: In 1885 to fizx in IS9O to Sl3fi9. and In 1900 It will be about JW Thus the imports show since 1870 a slight reduction per capita, while the exports have almost doubled per capita durln? the same period. Considering the question of excess of exports over Imports, or favorable balance of the devel opment is startling. In 1870 Imports exceeded exports by $57.346.

048. and the excess of imports over exports amounted to $130 per capita. By 1873 tho balance had turned in our favor, but amounted to only 17 cents per capita. By 1885 it amounted to $1 79 per capita, and in 1900 will amou it to about $SSO per capita. Thus In the thirty years the balance of trade has gone from a quantity of $1 no per capita to a plus quantity of $8 50 per capita.

The following table shows the imports, exports and population of the United States at nquennlal periods from 1870 to 1900. basing the, figures upon the eleven months already received and the per capita, or amount for each Individual. Imported and exported and the excess of Imports or exports In the years named: Calendar Population. Imports, capita. two 3a.3ft5.371 111 43.KS1.niV> 30.1.V,.- 17H M.14.- 1047 13 13 11 47 tIOCO 75.70.-.

.000.000 1090 tDeeember esttraated. Calendar Per Excess of year. Exports, capita. exports. capita.

1-7- 310,947.423 11 7.784.456 17 MM 17 74 1f12.57f1.24« 3 100.381.125 1 79 13 34,104 822 ISOS 11 SO 33 tI9OO 1.470.000.000 19 42 645.CX10.000 853 of Imports. tDeeember estimated. CLAIMS AGAIXST THE CTTT. LONG- ISLAND FARMER 3 SAY THEIR LAXD3 HAVE BEEN SUCKED DRY BT THE PUMPS. Mm claims against the city, aggregating 135.000, were filed with Controller Coler on Saturday ftr George A.

Logan, a Brooklyn lawyer. They are on behalf of farmers, living near the Springfield. Valley Stream and Watt's Pond pumping stations, who allege that their farms have been damaged by having the water sucked out of the ground for the Brooklyn water supply. They say that since these pumptns stations have been established their land has become barren and their wells, duck ponds and Ice ponds have- dried up. The claims have been filed for Edward A.

Hlgble and Alfred A. Hicbie, his son. whose farm Is on the Merrlek Road in Springfield: Samuel Mills, Springfield: Emma H. Mills. Springfield; George Bailey, Springfield; John Hendrtcksoa.

Joseph Hendrickson and John C. Hendrickson, Valley Stream, and "Tom" West, who keeps the roadhouse in Valley Stream The litter says that his ice. pond has dried tip. Formerly he harvested his own In at 50 cents a ton. Now he has to pay to the Ice Trust.

Formerly he raised all his own vegetables, and now he has to buy them. These claims have been presented because of trw decision of the Court of Appeals in the suit of Benjamin F. Forbell. a farmer, who asked the city to pay him damages for draining the water from his land. It was decided that he was entitled to them.

THE REV. PR. MOSES rnMIXG HERE. Chicago. Dec.

The Rev Dr. I. 3. Moses, pastor of Temple Israel, of this city, has accepted a call to the Congregation Ahavath CwSSSi at Lexington-aye, and Baal to succeed Dr. Davidson.

53,500 I Telephones in Manhattan and the Bronx. Telephone Service is the modern Genius of the Lamp. Rates In Manhattan from $5.00 a is-oflihi One year contracts. iionthly payments. NEW YORK TELEPHONE CO.

I it 1 Wort St 13 Pey Street. dcnrsions. COOK'S HOLIDAY TRIPS, Including and All Expenses. 3 IJt-. Waahincton- a days Dec.

27 and Old Pec. 27. Jin IS. 20. Tours from 18.

2x. etc. Tours front I'roframmes free from THUS. COOK A- SO.V. 11SB BROAD WAV.

S. V..