Notwithstanding the heavy demonstrations of the Common Council, by word of mouth and by strength of lung in favor of the Atlantic Cable, it seems that the reception of the crew of the Niagara was entirely overlooked by these distinguished characters, who, in their ovations to Mr. Cyrus W. Field, and such like magnates, ignored the existence of such a poor set of individuals as the absolute toilers, who live by the sweat of their brow. To make up for this deficiency in courtesy, a few gentlemen invited and gave a species of demonstration, wherein they expected to realize something digestible for the poor Jacks of our navy, who, in an humble way at least, contributed to the success of the great event. Well, these gentlemen in hiring a room wherein the speechification could be made, naturally stumbled upon the great Peter Cooper Institute, first from the connection Peter had with the tail end of the cable, and, secondly, from the fact that they labored under the impression that the building had been given to our municipality for the encouragement of arts and sciences, and, assuredly, what could be more encouraging to science than a hearty meal after scientific labor?
The committee waited upon the proprietor of the Institute and discovered the nightly rent for the use of the hall of the building, so magnanimously donated to the city, to be $100. However, the breasts of landlords are not always of stone, and the illustrious Peter, taking into consideration the object and the occasion, kindly consented to receive from the friends of poor Jack but one-half the usual price for the loan of a building, vulgarly conceived to be public property. Now who dares to assert that Peter, the great and liberal minded Peter Cooper, never does things by halves?
Cable Jollification.
Cyrus, the great, has been out on a fishing excursion; he has fished with a long line, a keen hook, fine bait, and in deep water—caught a fine kettle of fish and many shiners, over which the Cooper guild and corporation feel disposed to make themselves jolly. This may all be very well, but to us it looks very much like using an opportunity to make a display and have a good time generally to glorify somebody at the expense of the people.
With respect to the merits of this cable, Franklin bottled lightning, Morse discovered the telegraph principle, Maury the telegraph plateau, and Cyrus, with the assistance of Brooks, put the two together, for commercial purposes, for which Cyrus is to be glorified forever, while Franklin, Morse and Maury are forgotten. The whole cost of the cable celebration, to the city, will not fall much short of $150,000. Cold winter will soon be here, and thousands cold and hungry, without the means to supply themselves with food and fuel; and we venture to say not $500 could be raised from the corporation outside the usual appropriations, to keep them from starvation or freezing. All this is the result of a nice little arrangement by the city fathers, who are mighty fond of guzzling at the public crib whenever an excuse can be manufactured. This cable laying furnishes a good one, but the cable is laid, so let “God be praised,” but not until Cyrus has had his share.
Overdone.—It is now understood that the persecutors of Mr. Branch have separated from co-partnership with Recorder Barnard, whom they charge with having overdone matters. It is a pity, but Mr. Barnard will learn that he cannot serve both God and man at the same time.
A Great Chance for Peter.
Now that we are going to have a new story on the City Hall, would it not be an excellent opportunity to try the highly ingenious scheme of the venerable Peter Cooper, of converting the new portion of that public edifice into a water-tank? What a refreshing idea in the dog-days!