The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-19
NV Yoas, Augasl 10, lsl6.
To The Editor Of The Union.


Tie poor and he h.--It is in large cities human
affairs present themselves under the greatest variety
of forms Ii is in cities where the contrast between
the extremely poor and extremely rich stands out u
the boldest relief. Ii is ia them the palaces OF Thu
rich and the miserable abodes of the poor are f0unt
often within few PAGES Of each other. The propbe
uttered wise prayer when he prayed 70 be "nelthe
poor nor rich" Il is 10 the middle station OF III,
where the greatest amount OF happiness Is found u
ali communities, and under all forms of government
Il is a wrong conclusion, however, 10 suppose tina
poverty is necessarily associated with unchangine
misery The poor often enjoy pleasures even 10 :
large city which wealth may seek In yain Ind car
never purchase Il 10 great mistake TO suppos,
that the wealthy are the most happy, and the pool
the most miserable. II wealth alone conferred hap
pness, its pursuit would justify almost any saeri
nee short OF dishonesty 10 obtain IT, But when W,
considerii very oen entails on the family who pos
sess it, the universal eagerness to acquires Il appears
unreasonable. II is not within the scope or power
Of human government 10 make all It's citizens equa
in wealth. Were such result practicable it is not
certain that the average amount Of happiness would
be much Increased. IL 10 its duty, however, TO see
that wealth takes no unjust advantage OF the labor
ing poor TO that the children Of all shah be edu-
cated that the road TO Intellectual advancement and
moral Improvement shall be open TO all; that the
poor and ignorant OF to-day shall have il IN their
power to DO the wise and the wealthy Of to-mor-
row; that, batting disease and misfortune, all
may by industry, application, and prudence reap
the full reward OF their labor, unchecked by
hereditary titles and uncrushed by wealth or
corporate enactments; 10 sec that while rank re-
ceiyes the protecting influence Of the laws, no
spoiled Of Us due. government seeking to secure
such equal rights for all, is distinguished as free
government, compared with one which looks TO an
opposite policy, where tho poor and ignorant Of
to-day scarcely hope for anything short Of pow
erty and Ignorance during all succeeding genera.
tons, unless mere chance should direct otherwise.
To the heart Of true philanthropy, the lnohensive
happiness and amusements Of tho poor are not
without pleasing interest. The merriment which
spontaneously bursts forth from the simple and art
less children Of poverty is az cheering as though II
spnng from those nursed 10 the lap Of luxury The
offspring Of the rich too often enfeebled In con-
suIutional vigor by indulgencies Of various kinds.
Sweameats are often substituted for wholesome
food. Efeminacy results from over care, and IT,
rIAbity Of temper from passive indulgence; while
the children Of the poor frequently wear redder
cheeks possess more sonorous voices and greater
muscular activity.
But after ali, large city such as this, is the
place TO witness the contrast. Every stranger has
heard fthe Five Points, and Of the Tombs near by,
in the vicinity OF which, are many poor, halfde-
eayed wooden shanties and dilapidated brick hoy
els close by which passes Centre street, and through
it Harlem railroad, rouis to Union Park, sur
rounded with the palaces of many wealthy citizens.
Passing through Centre street, its right side is
nanked by residences opposite the Tombs, of the
FVe-Points order Of architecture. The damp base
ments or cellars, with the broken-paned attics as
we'll the narrow and lll-ventilated rooms of the
lower and upper lofts, swarm with families Of poor
people, busted as petty shop folks, or IN other
|emploYments, as they may find anything to do.
The first remark made by stranger would be an
expression of surprise at seeing so many healthy
looking children, with which each tenement was
|swarmiOgi and the more miserable the appearance
of the house. the greater the number of children be-
longing to il. As the horse cars rot very lively
through this "St Giles" or "St. German" ofNew
York. the spectator will hardly have time to take
la good look. To observe well, he should move on
foot. Passing in the the other day, however,
through this populous district halt was necessary,
lon account of some repairs. During the interval
had an opportunity Of watching the movements of
some bare-headed, barefooed, and ragged children
on the sidewalk, three or four of whom had clam
bered to the top of old eoal-box. One little fel
low, about four years old, bad face round as a
dollar, and red cherry, while his long, yet ne
elected, hair, wasa complete mass Of curls-so fash
Toned by nature. His limbs were round, plump,
and white, and his eyes blue and bright. Another
boy, somewhat larger, had fantastic sugar-loaf
paper cap, made to suit his own fancy. third
was little girl, sitting with her bare limbs hanging
lover the side of the coalbox which she beating
with her heels, like drumsticks. They seemed
very merry and very happy; and while thus enjoy
|hng themselves above, little fellow, not over nine
walk below. He could not walk, but had crawled
bare.headed and bare-footed, to the curb-atone,
where he raised his little hands and spanked them
in joy he tried to give utierance to his feelings in
la sort Of hip hurra-coo, cocoon, ooh-rising up
and down as though he was trying to fly, when a
carriage or a wagon went rafting past 1t was not
long before saw its mother emerge from low,
dark cellar, or basement, in pursuit oft She was
thin and pale, and, by having her sleeves rolled up
looked as though she had just left some hard work
TO seek her infant on the thronged footway. She
raised it to her BOSOM and kissed it most affection
ately. A queen could imprint no fonder kiss.
The little fellow still jumped with joy in her
arms, and crowed with all his might as he
spanked her cheeks with both of his little plump
hands. She soon disappeared with the noisy pratt
tier, while, as we drove off, the urchins on the coal
box gave us good hearty round of applause
Who knows but some day these poor yet merry
children may, either in their own persons or in
their descendants, reach the highest stations in the
andi - [t e-8 H..ss Y.
In the absence of the steamer, and other impor
ant news, find have been moralizing. 5.-a-
| have Just learned that the Caledonia has beer
spoken by telegraph, some forty miles off Boston
She probably will reach the wharf by four or five
m, this afternoon. @aeEr. II
The stock market was dull to-day.
1900 barrels Oswego, Genesee, and other flour
| sold at "a. a .aa tttt
About 1000 bales cotton sold. No change il
4 price. -lef.f s /. s.. rnr.. "a slg.
1900 bushels wheat, Gencsee white, sold at &C
cents A lot of western mixed corn sold at So cents
A lot Of damaged also sold at SO cents. Some Iii
nois red wheat sold at 80 cents. la-fL aid
No change in provisions. y, ~ q.
The government has chartered the Thomas Fl
Perkins, Of Boston, Of $40 tons, at $24 000 and tn,
with the Susnn Drew,) to the Pacific.
.aa Yours, &c. H@...... C.
Our correspondent at Liberty, Missouri, informs
us, on the 7th inst that "Col. Prices regiment viii