Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, W.T. [i.e. Wis.]) 1843-1844, 1843-06-17

BaoApwAY.-A late number of the National
Intelligencer contains a letter from the pen of
N. P. Willis, descriptive of the features and
Caste of that animated mass which throngs this
well known thoroughfare:
II s,rolled up Broadway between nine. and
ten, and encountered the morning tide down;
and ifyou have never studied the physiogno-
my of This great ,horoughfare in its various
fuxes and refuxes. the differences would a.
muse you. The clerks and workies have pass
ed down an hour before the nine o'clock tide,
and the side walk is filled al this time with
bankers and spectators bound 10 wall street.
old merchants and junior partners bound TO
Pearl and Water; and lawyers, young and old,
bound for Nassau and Pine. All, the face Of
care! The days operations are working out Of
their ewes Their hats are pitched forward al The
angle of stage coach with all the load on the
drivers seat, their shoulders are raised with
shrug of anxiety, their steps are hurried and
short, and mortal face and gait could scarcely
express a heavier burden of solicitude than
every man seems to bear. They nod TO each
without smile. and with sort Of unconscious
recognition, and if you are unaecustomed to
walk out at that hour. you might fancy that If
there were not some great public calamity,
your friends, at least had done smiling on you.
Walk as far as Niblo's. stop at the green house
there, breathe an hour in the delicious aimos-
phere of Towering plants, and then return.-
There is no longer any particular current in
Broadway. Foreigners coming out of the cafes.
after their late breakfast, and idling up and
down for fresh air, country people shopping.
L. 10 tboir oil in
demi toilets, errand boys, news boys. duns and
doctors make up the throng. Towards IL o.
clock there is sprnkliug of mechanics going
to dinner-a merry short-jacke,ed, independent
looking troop, glancing gaily at the women
as they pass, and disappearing around corners
and up alleys. An hour later and Broadway
begins 10 brighten. The on,nibnsses 90 empty
and a, slow pace for people would rather
walk than ride. The side streets are tribu,a-
ries Of silks and velvels, flowers and feathers,
TO the grea, thoroughfare; ard ladies whose
mates Judging from their dress alone) should
be- lords and princes; and dandies, shoppers
and loungers of every description take posses
sion of the pare. AT one o'clock you look in
to the troubled faces of men going to their bust
ness. and ask YOURSELF "to what end is all
this burden Of carei" and at two you gaze up.
on the universal prodigality of exterior. and
wonder what fills the multitude Of pockets that
pay for il. The faces are beautiful, the shops
are thronged. the side walks crowded for an
hour, and then the fall tide turns and sets up
ward. The most of those who are out at three
are bound TO the upper part of the city 10 dine,
and the merchants and lawyers, excited bycol-
lison and contest above the depression ofcare,
Join, smiling in the throng. The physiogomy
of the crowd is at its brightest Dinner Is the
smile of the day TO most people. and the hour
approaches. Whatever has happened in
stocks and politics, whoever is dead, whoever
is ruined since morning, Broadway is hronged
with cheerful faces and good appeties at three.
The world will probably dine with pleasure
up to the last day perhaps breakfast with
worldly care for the fuiore on doomsday NOR
ming! And here must break off my daguero-
type of yesterdays idings. for the wind came
round easerly and raw at three o'clock, and
was driven in doors to try industry as an OPT
ate.