Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-12-31
New York CRY. Dec. II, 1917.

IL may appear 10 me from Inherent points III c
sight, together with the reflections naturally q
6
As the result Of an oversight in your Press I
during your absence from Bur- |
lington, | was msled to your purposes, and {
"said nothing as "my humor."
But the enterprise being small one, we can lift
it over the few weeks intervening No. ! and
this, and commence anew, with an assurance of
regularity the questions
| might remark, hero as well as elsewhere,
and once for all, that have resided in n. York
only one summer. and that the correctness of my
descriptions must be admitted, in view of this
fact; although, to no small extent. you will
have the more reliable experience of older
residents, incorporated in my intercourse with
them.
In this will aim at giving an adequate idea
of New York City during the business season"
which, commencing at the opening of trade
early in the spring aud lasting, usually, until
the first of December, or thcrcabouts, with the
exception of few of the warmc.t weeks in
midsummer, is devoted to physical and mental
activity more constant and excessive than, ]
venture to say is known clsewhere--cven among
cities. A reason may be offered for this, in the !
fact, that no other city on the globe has been
planted in position so favorable to successful
effort in the great enterprises, with climate
removed at healthy distance from the extremes
OF heat and cold; with great river on either
side - the one connecting it with the eastern
Atlantic cities, and the other the great artery of
the Empire State with great harbor opening
through two safe channels into the ocean, and
more than all, with the industrious New Eng
land mind to appreciate these and other singular
advantages. New York was maniie-lv set apart
! by Providence to be the greatest city on this
continent and more than any. the peculiar field
of labor. These commercial resources are,
say. appreciated, and to make them available
the combined energy of half "A million of beings
j. sacrificed. During the open season. labor
intense, unremitted labor ihcreiure-iS the fate
of those who take up their abode here With
thu great mass. it is the answer TO the conti =
ued. pressing call for bread With many, it j.
to sustain the outward forms and costly para
phernalia which Fashion, from time to time,
fixes as proofs Of quality. But it is alike rorh
fr all. If you would see men work. and that
with "A vengeance, 90 not to the hay field of the
sun.burnt farmer, for he hath regular times for
repose. free from disturbance and excitement
he hath time to cat, and corn in store 90 nei-
ther to the ore mongers in the iron mines of
northern New York. for they have twelve hours
each day, wherein to eat sleep, drink, and be
merry; but come right here, if you would know
the practical working of the original curse-"by
the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat thy bread =
am well aware that am telling to you and
. to many of your readers no new thing" | am
= writing, rather, for the benefit of my younger
friends, who seldom visit the city, and who in
: dnlge radical misconceptions on this very sub
,, Jet ;-misconceptons which either establish il
u them distaste for the secu,ion Of country life
or lead them to exchange that seclusion for IT,,
: more exciting life of the city, which, in time
always becomes to them oppressive. They speu'
= few days here, and see magnificent houses
and - iotS - of gold in the show windows of TIN
s brokers, and splendid coaches and horses, an,
n men and women clothed in purple and tim
Il
ID too often are led to believe that all this come
u of living in the city, and as matter of course
Is But we will return from this DEPRESSION, an
70 show from what all this does result.
h The professional man. the merchant, the me
10 chanic, and the day laborer each earns hi
e livelihood at dearer rate here than he does il
e the country His earnings may be greater bu
|. his expenses are so much greater in proportion
as to compel him to devote that time here /
" active duties which there might be spent in nc
$ cessary relaxation. This is the case with tn
III man working with his hands and the man work
'g ing through his head. Scli,hness is the Ilie
tie Priest - Commerce the Altar. and every powc
of mans intelligen, being. well as every plIy'
u al energy OF man and beast. the victims
'e The farmer, locking from Broadway PRONE
" AIDE upon the thousand and one minute stage
-" hnrrying by, wonders by what process a span {
horses can be made to trot away bri>kly beiur
a cumbruu- heavily ironcd coach, loaded wit
from twelve to twenty-five well fed men an
IT women. Should the same thing be told hin
1t while ON his farm and looking upon his stron
20 team Juggling slowly before the half of sue
ne a load he would declare it impossible And
ne i, impossible, except Interpreted by the nece
NE sites of Commerce, which here, recognzin
T. thing higher in the principle OF life than
III the force of gravity, considers the former 4
II, common and exhaustess As the latter, aud tax,
st. the one with the same freedom that it apple
We the other.
In a conversation with proprietor Of one
ne the omnibus lines, gained some very paint
facts, touching the cruelty that Characters,
m the tender mercics" of the commercial spir
'Se lie endeavored to show me that to make mon,
~ they must be cruel that it would in no ";
II answer their ends to allow their horses eth
av- food or rest "a their nature is supposed els
nc where 10 require that, as matter of econom
ne they purchase high spirited animals, able To {
re- dure great priration, and drive them eightc
hours OF the twenty-uur; that the sooner th
are killed by work, the beltrr-a doctrine sad
49, at war with the merciIul policy of the farmer.
~, introduce these is furnishing familiar c
-, ample of the ,ictimizing spirit of trade ;hroug
ont the business season. Thus driven to I
INIT of endurance thus living asst to die 800
these painting, sweating rack horses, while III
wa form a contrast To the moderately worked tea