The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-07-22
Our Long Island Correspondence.
FLUSHING, L. l., July 8, 1850.
The Rise and Fail Of FYSshtmg-Hopes Of paradise

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| FLUSHING, l.. l., July 8, 1850.
The Rise and Fail of FiSsh,mg-Hopes of Paradise
Rsgainsd-En1gy and Enterprise.
No paper in the world, perhaps, embraces so va
ried and extensive correspondence as the Herald;
nor do think there is one more largely patronized
and read by all classes II it be necessary find
reason for this, there can be no difficulty in
once rerceiviDg that spirit of genuine indepen-
dence, combined with vast enterprise, have laid
surely the foundation of your success and popu-
lsnty. To the best of my recollection, you have
not at any time been informed of matters and
things in this quarter, this village of nurseries and
scandal, pretty girls and sprinklng of aristoeracy
| True, we are almost suburb of New York, and
not quite distant enough to call forth much curl
osity interest, yetw among the moving crowd
in he worlds panorama and sufficiently distn-
guished in many particulars, to render brief ex-
pose OF our !" sayings and doings" worth knowing,
II only for the sake OF contrast with other villages,
not more wealthy, but infinitely more enterprising.
With your permission then, will put together
few remarks, 'nothing eAtenuate, nor set down
| aught in malice"
| Some years ago, there came into the village
distinguished clergyman of the Episcopal Church,
gentleman Of brilliant talents and deserved pOpu-
| laIity. He selected this place on account OF its
beauty and healthfulness, and set about establish,
ing school tor boys But few months passed
| away, when he found himself on the full tide OF
successful experiment, and the notoriey OF st.
Thomas's HalP' became widespread throughout
the length and breadth of the land. Like magic,
| there started up elegant buildings, within charm
| ing enclosure of trees and sbrubbery sweet music
fell upon the ear on stated nights and all the beauty
Of the village was gathered there, to listen to the
"band," and hold sweet converse in those happy
hours 1t was joyous time for all, and the Doctor
was regarded as the greatest public benefactor.
But human affairs are mutable; dark clouds will
gather in the brightest sky, and ruin follow where
| hope led the way. In the midst Of u career of
| prosperity unexampled in the history of schools,
there came disaster, sudden and overwhelming.
| Not only was the Dr. ruined, but calamity followed,
| widespread and embarrassing. The school was
broken up, the light and merry laugh of youth
| was hushed, and silence reigned where mirth was
| wont to dwell. Our merchants and mechanics felt
| the change. 1t came upon them with a crushing
force, so far beyond their most cautious calcula-
tons. that business became very nearly suspended
once arrested. Every face looked gloomy, and
every man saw that time alone could heal wound
| so formidable and extensive. Flfl
Flushing has, however, always been lazy ia the
evidences Of her public spirit, and when this blow
was dealt her, she became absolutely iethargic.
| For Six or seven years past she has done nothing
but weep DER the days that were, Flooding on in
| her old-fashioned way, and driving her lazy
horse, while all was fast around her. She has, or
had, horticultural society, several temperance
societies, lectures during the winter, &s.; but all
these, and whatever else might improve the heart
and the mind, by public association, have been
allowed to languish and die, for want of that sup
Port which alone can perpetuate them and make
| them useful.
Now, anything was better than this dull mo-
notonous repose. 1t became wearsome in its turn,
and :" change came DER the spirit of our dream"
| A bridge toh, pumpkins y was built; then store,
ofbrck, (aye, of brIck), and the "Fushing Hotel"
| As ornamental appendages TO the latter, black
smiths shop erected on each side, picturesque
and beautiful to look at. Here was effort
worthy the days of our ancestors, and il nobly
achieved. Our villagers began to think they could
| do something, if they tried, and talked Of still
greater improvements, as indispensably necessary.
The preceding Improvement resulted from the
| hire in May, 1916, and were regarded decided
evidence that the people could arouse themselves
to still greater exertion They had but % trv.
end lo the Ihlng as done. 4 here soon followed
the erection OF a very handsome store, by Messrs
firm Of Isaac Peck & Co. This good beginning
was succeeded by second fine building, put up
| by James Lowerre; and third, more elegant than
al, and good deal larger, by Isaac Peck u Son
/ NO store IN this village, or elsewhere on Long
Island, is equal to it in size and beauty of style;
| and William Post, the architect, deserves great
credit for his skill in d, designing and erecting so
| splendid a structure. The rival storekeepers had
caught the spirit OF their city Deghbors, and Proved
Ia their own satisfaction, al least, that the issue
was entirely worthy the noble effort they had
| made.
If Flushing is TO take her stand among her sister
villages in The vicinity Of the metropolis-I she is
TO keep pace with them in their onward progress to
an increase Of wealth and population, and an all
pervading activity in every branch Of trade and in
| dustry, she must not rest satisfied with having
already done enough. The time has come, Think,
| when the "slew boat" will inevitably have TO
knock under TO the "fast" one; and the public mind
is gradually but surely approaching to that state Of
| things which will not be content with less
| amount Of ambition than is widely prevalent
| among all classes Of the American people. There
signs in all directions and significant ones, too,
that our citizens are awake TO their own sdvanta-
pes and interests, and that the village is bound TO
| go ahead. For many years she has been the VIC
tim II false policy and too submissive to the die
tsnon snd plans oisome fher friends, who measure
| their pecks by Others bushels. The "accommoda-
ton Of the public" has become well understood 10
mean getting rich at the Publics expense-a mere
| ''fprst 10 catch a salmon" The running of one
steamboat formore than thirty years, has induced
| most persons TO inquire Of how much benefit the
monopoly has beenl Though late in the day. they
have discovered, by comparative process of rea-
toning, that they have beea the losers in one
| sided GENE, and that the "benett" was of a very
| sow,d.
And Why should not Flushing be true to herself.
| and encourage by all means, rapid frequent and
cheap communication with the ctyl Why should
| she not have more than one steamboat running to
her docks, and keep the fare in them down TO a
| sbillingl Why should she not have n railroad
passing through Astoria and Wiamsburph, and
thence, by terry, TO the city sde1 Will these things
set her back anyi The village is beautiful within
It's corporate ,miis; the country around il not
excelied IN all the charms that give zest 10 rural
| life, and its hralthfUlness pTOverbal. What is
there TO prevent her from becoming. in a very few
| years more, the paradise OF Long Island Nothing
but the will OF her citizens, defermnedly fixed on
| removing every obstruction To an easy, swift fire.
| queDt, and iow-priced access. Away with those
.xorbitsnt tolls at the BRIDGE" and make il Free
Having got the steamboat fare down TO n shilling
keep IL there by liberal patronage TO the opposi.
ton boat, aud don't be alarmed II watched in go
| ing or coming you please. Think Of the railroad,
talk about il, ponder on it's immense advantages to
the many, nor bother your heads for a moment
| about the few who oppose il. There's good time
coming, II you will but be- true to yourselves Sue.
must attend your efforts, you are but earnest
in making them. And does any body ask-what
| Is TO be the result Of all this / win tell them
Your population will increase greatly, by the com
I ing Of hundreds into and about the village as per.
manent residents. demand will be created for
real estate, and its Increased value certainly fol-
low. Manufactures and mechanics will find their
way here in greater numbers, aud the hum of in.
dusry can be heart in all directions: Storekeepers