Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-06-07
Letter From L. A, LukenS,
RosroN. MnY. 1851.

JJEAN DUuLL ldsb NtNk lAtAh NiAN bANNs
pleasure of going with a party of friends to
Rockaway to try the effect of Ocean scenery
upon a Buckeyes imagination; as no greater con-
trast can be imagined than the quiet forests of
Ohio, with beach like this; where nothing is
to be seen or heard but the restless ocean, that
sky which seemed to me to meet and sink into
1t, and the great waste of white sand,-three
giants standing with clasped hands, looking at
me with their wild eyes, fancicd, and shud-
dcrcd but this impression of something vast
incomprohcnsible and fearful, soon gives place
to an agreeable one Of the mightinoss of the
sea alone, and the extent of its dominion. This
beach, and the interminablo marsh meadows
belong to it by natural and inalicnablo right,
and you comprehend that it was not gained by
any sudden invasion or displacement Of hu-
man owner. The sky too disappears and you
think only of the sea, and listen quietly to tho
hymn of a thousand years. Then by degrees
you grow familiar and feel irresistably tempt
cd to play with it, to chase tho waves, to bathc
in il, and feel the soft water flowing over you.
Last we came to New York, took an omni-
Jus hllA MthN HhAhlbAk VI bAbNNhhst tAASh VII
foot to that Grim mausoloum Of hope" Tho
Tombs, which instead of being dark and dismal
in appearance as supposed, small mean and
dirty, it is gigantic and beautiful marble stuc-
ture with nothing to give it a lugubrious as
poet but the small closed windows. Dear sem
sitivo ladies / actually went into that horrible
place but am very sorry cant boast Of hay
ing gone with bold manly heart, instead Of
shrinking at every step and looking 50 terrified
that a police officer very ostentatiously display
cd his badge of Office to my friend, supposing
of course he had brought culprit. had pc
culiar pleasure in letting him have full view of
face never beautiful, but redeemed, as some
arc pleased to say by good countcnancc,' and
then marching on with look Of injured inno-
ccncc, as one who had a painful duty to per-
form.
We procured permit from the keeper, to
explore the interior, passed through the kitch-
On, and up flight of steps, worn so thin, as to
bend beneath us, TO the first tier Of cells, which
was quito enough for me, if they had not been
all precisely alike. For the first time in my life,
l found myself face to face with an inmate of a
prison. My heart sank as looked in the dis
NAL cells whore many a dandy's hat was hung,
and thought of the hopes that died there, and
the sclf-rcspect so ncsccssary to the life of the
moral nature, forever destroyed
From the Tombs we went to that ulccrous
hoan-that foul fostering core Of New York,
the Five Points, its twin sister, and the rcscr-
voir from which victims arc daily supplied
Filthy and horrible beyond all conception it is
but even here, cAiidhooa cannot be robbed of al
its beauty; hanging upon the breast of that
! sluttish, blcar-cycd woman is a baby as bcauti-
full and pure as dew drop, ana sad sweet
young eyes look out at US from many rcek-
ing cellar, and horrible gin shop.
AS we emerged from this centre of corrup-
ton nvoluntarily sought the line of demar-
cation between this and eirtuo,s Now York to
know precisely when We had exchanged the
fallen woman for the honest and upright citi-
zen, but l could not The charmed or rather,
cursed circle of 'tho tombs' and fyo points,
does not include the lost and wicked nor ex-
cludc entirely the good and pure. As VIC
passed tho windows of the female department
of the prison, face that would have been dis
tinguishod anywhere, for its look of artless in
noconcc, attracted me rrcsistably, by its appeal
ing sadness ard gentleness. She seemed to me
to have lost her way and wandered in there
by some fearful mischance.
Icould not avoid comparing this little pale
face, SO young so helpless, as it looked, with
the bloated ones that belonged to the keeper
and police officers who were so ready to 'cast
the first stone at child of certainly not more
than fifteen or sixteen years but we must leave
the poor lamb to the tender mercies of tho
wolves who guard her from preying upon tho
rest of the ilock and go on to see other refresh
ing pictures of New York life.
Tho exchange is place that of course NJ
lady ever visits, but as long ago, weighed
that title in the balance, and found it wanting
had no fears about losing any claim nigh
have aspircd to possess, and went in Gt all haa
ards, 1t is very improper certainly for womal
even to see the anxious faces men wear, Will
they struggle to procure the means for he
thoughtless extravaganza. There the delicat
silks and laccs that arc thrown aside in a sea
son like rejected toys, are bargainod for, an
their prccarious passage to this country, pro
vided for, as though they were drops of dea
hearts blood. The Hall is wide and high, tn
inside of tho dome reaching to the roof, an
making the tread of feet and hum of voices
sound almost like the roar of artillery.
We left for Boston at five o'clock of mos
bright and lovely afternoon. All things seem
cd to favor our sail up the sound, pleasan
breezes, calm weather, beautiful sunshine, an
agreeable company, (of course We were all i
agreeable company The sky was cloudlos
: and our spirits buoyant as larks.
Handsome residences were scattered along tn
banks, and many places Of historical intcros
and Importance. Night closed mildly and beau
tiful around us, and when We could no longe