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WHY IT IS SO DRY.

We thought it had something to do with a lack of moisture in the air; and now, along comes Monsieur PROU, another philosopher, and merely says what we had thought.  He declares that there was so much ice last winter (come now, gentlemen of the Ice Companies, what have you to say to that?) it couldn’t melt in time to evaporate in time to supply moisture in time for the necessary showers. (Somehow, there’s an eternity of “time” in that sentence; but n’importe:  allons!) We think PROU has proved his case.  And, although we can’t quite sympathise with his suggestion that detachments of sappers and miners be employed in the spring-time, in Arctic (and doubtless also Antarctic) regions, in blowing up icebergs and otherwise facilitating the operations of old Sol, we give the ingenious Frenchman credit for at least as much philosophic acumen as we ourselves possess:  and Heaven only knows how superb a compliment we thus convey!

Couldn’t our friend Capt.  HALL be requested to watch the Pole a little next winter, and look into this idea of ours and PROU’S?

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[Illustration:  CIRCUMSTANCES WILL COMPEL THE STATELIEST OF MEN TO STOOP, SOMETIMES.  GETTING A LIGHT FROM THE STUMP OF A NEWSBOY’S CIGAR IS ONE OF THEM.]

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[Illustration:  A SCENE FROM OLD NICK-OLOS NICK-OLBY.

THE EMPEROR DE MANTALINI GOING TO THE “DEMNITION BOW-WOWS.”]

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OUR POLICE REPORT.

On Tuesday last a suspicious looking man was arrested by the police, and taken to the One Hundred and Fourth Precinct Station House, on several charges of disorderly acts perpetrated by him in various parts of the city.  He gave his name as CHARLES A. DANA, and was locked up for the night.

Yesterday morning, prisoner was brought before Justice DOWNY, at the
Jephson Market Police Court.

Officer LOCUST, being called to testify, stated that his attention was directed to the prisoner, on Tuesday afternoon last, by some boys in Fourteenth Street.  Prisoner was standing on the side-walk, on the side of the street opposite Tammany Hall.  He was armed with a small pewter squirt, with which he was trying to smear the front of that building by drawing up dirty water from the gutter.  The range of the squirt did not appear to reach more than half-way across the street.  The water used was very foul, leaving stains upon a dirt-cart that was passing.  While witness was watching the prisoner, the Hon. WM. M. TWEED came down the steps from Tammany Hall, and, upon seeing him, prisoner ran away, but was seized by witness, before he could make his escape.