The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-06-26


New YoRK, June o.
Three weeks ago was startled in my morning
slumber by shrill cry under my bedroom win
dow Of "stsraa breeze, which, like the first liquid
notes of the orioe, was warning that summer
bad come and the strawberry carnival had com
menccd. Strawberries and cream have aboundcd
ever since, and We now just passing out OF the
most delicious season of the year; from morn till
noon, from noon till dusty eve, our streets have
been vocal with the cry of strawberries, uttered
with varying shades Of harmony-from the soft.
sweet voice of early girlhood to the ssthroaty''
cracked tones Of the broken winded street bawler
The sound OF strawberries in the city 10 a. pleasant
as the notes Of the bobolink in the fields. Straw
berries make their appearance in the windows of
confectioners about the fret OF May, being then
most superlativcly aristocratic fruit, in which
none but the most luxurious spendthrifts can in
dulge; they are brought in email boxes from far
south Charleston, and. thanks to steam, arc de-
vered here quite fresh, and in all the integrity Of
their unwitered blushcs. They set out in great
pomp upon the finest porcelain, and guarded with
plate glass. as though each berry wcrea ruby Koh-
inoor They do not mark the arrival of the great
strawberry carnival, but only indicate the good
time coming. AS the season advances, il is curious
to mark the approaches Of the fruity epoch, by the
displays in the confectionery windows. At first,
none but the tiptop Broadway establishments, such
as Thompson land eller s,display any of
the delicate fruit; but they begin TO come in from
Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, the little
boxes displaced by wicker baskets and glass
dishes; and when you them in the vegetable shops
you know that they have begun tocome in from New
Jersey, and then the carnival commences A
steamboat from Monmouth county lands thirty or
forty thousand baskets Mt Fulton Market, and the
next morning all the seepers in the city are stimuli
taneously reused from their sumbers by the shrill
cry OF "st. raar- ber-recse." The season reached
its height week since, when Long Island, New
Jersey, and the river counties were pouring in upon
at least two hundred thoueand baskets of the de.
licous fruit daily; and the very finest varieties in
beautiful condition, sold at our doors at from
three to four cents basket As the season ad-
vances they begin to come in from the North; the
gardens Of Connecticut, lying on the Sound, send
US their luscious produces; the quantity begins
to diminish, and the price increases as they come
from further and further North. At last, when the
Blue Noses beginning to gather the fruit il
disappears altogether from our markets. and rasp-
berries and blackberries succeed the more deli
cate and costly strawberry. During the height of
the season the Erie railroad has a regular straw
berry train to accommodate the farmers and gar
deners OF Orange county, who send to market
forty to fifty thousand baskets daily.
The GLORIOUS fourth is close upon US, but no
unusual preparations making here for the cele-
braton theseventy fifth year ourindependence.
Orations are no longer fashionable, and fireworks
and professions are not very agreeable to the dcni
zcns OF our crowded streets on hot day; 80 it has
become an almost univer custom for the city and
country to change places the Fourth of July
All our citizens go into the rural districts by the
sea shore, and among the orchards and green
EaIr ia, - \
the rustics pour into the city to the shows, to
be stewed and parboiled in crowded theatres, and
to be wearicd and jaded by gazing at the military
and the fireworks. Until recently our common
council use to listen to grafton, and afterwards
dine together in great state in the long in the
City Hall. But our city government has grown
too geneel to spend the fourth in town and, tho
only use the long room in the City Hall was
put to was for the civic dinner national hol
iday, it has been partioned off and converted into
two ordinary sized court rooms.
The past three days have been extremely hot,
and, unusual pains have been taken to puri-
fy our streets, they EN- variety of stenoh hes that
are any thing but creditable to our authorities.
Old Peter Heylin. in his account of visit to Paris,
made more than hundred years ago, expresses
his establishment more at the great variety Of smells
which he encountered in the streets of that city
ridge had probably been reading Peter Hcylin
when he wrote that he had amelt seventy distinct
"stinks" in Cologne. New York, at this time,
Think is equal in that respect to Paris and Cologne
in their best, rather worst, days. But Paris 10
now the most delightful city in the world for
a residence, from the cleanliness of its
streets and the beauty of its public walks; perhaps
a hundred years hence New York, too, may boast
of clean streets; but, unless some herculean mayor
should be luckily chosen by the people to preside
over its destinies. its Augean filth Ifear, will
be removed Paris, it is said, derives a consider
able revenue from farming out the privilege to
move the dirt from the streets; while New York
pays yearly more than hundred thousand dol
lars for STRENGTHENING. and yet has the filthiest
streets of any city in the Union But we are
growing, and things will be better one Of these
days. Among city improvements is Cam
panile tower, one hundred feet high, constructed
wholly of iron, by Mcssrs. Bogardus and Hoppin,
the iron house manufacturers. This iron tower is
about the dimensions of the famous Campanie Of
Pisa; but each story is supported on pillars in
stead Of arches and the top is surmounted by an
observatory. The bell to be hung in the tower is
to be used for fire alarm only; its weight is
10000 pounds, about twice the size of the largest
bell in the country. The tower is in 33d street.
elevated ground, and will be, when completed, a
very conspicuous and beautiful object. / saw, at
the Office of MeEsrs. Bogardus and Hoppn, bronze
dog, weighing seven hundred pounds, which has
just been cast from model by t. F. Hoppin, Of
Providence, II. ]. 1t is superb work of art.
These gentlemen are now casting FACADE of very
handsome appearance, four stories high, and forty
seven feet wide, for building on Pennsylvania
avenue, belonging to Mr.. Shank, of your city.
The ironic order Of architecture, particularly for
the asades of stores, Is fast supcrsedng all the old
orders that have been in vogue since the time Of
Percles.
Tomorrow night complimentary benefit is to
be given at Castle Garden to +" Tom Hamblip," the
manager of the Bowery Theatre, md, great
variety Of dramatic and musical talent has been
secured for the OCCASION it is probable that the old
Castle will BIO crowded. But giving compliment
tary benefits to such men as Hamblin whose whole