The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-06-19

NV NAMES FOR STREETS UP TowN.-Great
distress has been occasioned in certain shockingly
qentee circles up town, in consequence of the In
tolerable oppression under which they labor from
the UNANIMOUSLY plebeian names OF the streets,
squares, and places in which they doze and guzzle.
Just think of it-a gentleman of aristocratlc pre-
tensions, obliged to live in "Avenue B." or
avenue D." or "Fifth street." or Fourteenth
street." or "Fifth avenue' ~ The thought is bad
enough at any time; but with the thermometer at
80, and cholera-ah don't mention it.
We alude to no imaginary distress-no fcti-
tious suffering There is painful reality about
this aristocratlc grievance, in comparison with
which the vulgar means of the ragged and starving
denizens of the Old Brewery" are merely theatre
cal. noble Wall street broker, who commenced
life fifteen or twenty years ago, the ragged
ofice-boy of some amlable dealer in lottery tickets
but is now possessor of half million, the fruits of
honorable industry, has jus, fallen into adelicously
dreamy state of repose, after sumptuous dinner
His precious person reposes on couch covered
with the costliest velvet The magnificent window
curtains, worth whole years of the scanty wages
earned by the toilng artzan, are judciousy ar
ranged so to distribute throughout the hushed
apartment a mos, luxurious light. From the con-
servatory, the aroma Of thousand choice cxotics
floats into the room, and creates an atmosphere OF
paradise around the sumbering dolator cinnamon.
With what gentle and peaceful heavings his ami
able bosom swells! His very snore Is musical.
and barmonizes most soothingy with the placid
murmurs of the Grecan fountain which dashes the
refreshing Croton, in the centre of the courtyard,
into thousand graceful and poetical forms, be-
meath the golden rays of the setting He starts
He rushes from the couch He strikes his fore
head with his fist Is he mad All the dread
full thought again bursts upon him He lives in a
treet known by the shocking, repulsive, vulgar,
horid name of "Avenue Five %
We compassionate the sufierings Of the smiable
and respectable citizens who live in those Streets
and squares designated upon the map by names
suggested by the vulgar lmaginatons of mere sur
veyors and aldermen, who had not souls above but
tons--we do. We sympathlze with the efforts
which are now made to get distinguished names for
the streets and squares in which our people of dis
tlnction condescend to ve--we do. We admire
the extraordinary inventive powers, the brilliant
imagination the classic taste, which these oraces
of fashion manifest in suggesting this new nomen-
olature of our sreets-we do. We desire, in all
humility, to aid them in this immense reform-we
do We hope to see that happy day when their
arsiocratc repose will no longer be broken by the
humiliating thought that they live IN Avenue A, b.
c or d, like the common and vulgar herd Of men
and women--we do. But why take the new names
from incidents in the Mexican war, or from the
Indian tribes, or from Roman and Grecian mytho-
logy9 Wbynot initiate the aborigines Of this coun-
try, who always gave to places significant and cha
racteristic names!
Eureka! We have found it Let US follow the
Indian rule. Thus we at once get at "B inkrupt
Terrace" White Kid square" Polka Place"
Scent per Cent Buildngs"" Sugar lTogsheod
Row" WasL.tub street." Macready Place"
and 60 on to the end Of the chapter