Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-08-07
Proridence, Aug. I'd, 1851.

happy eenizens Of the island have suf-
fered less than ourselves from the rigor
Of the brief winter which for week
past has prevailed. In this latitude,
only half a degree higher Than your own,
we have been reduced almost to the ex-
hemity OF fires and Aanneis. The only
absolute suffering, however, has sprung
from "A nervous nightly apprehension
that vegetation, and not animal life,
might be injured by a frost Instead Of
revelling in sunshine and soA aiss, we
have sat sad and SOLITARY, with hardly
the compaWionship ofn melancholy fly,
gazing upon lcaden skies, and banquet
ing upon east winds. We have dotted
our linen gloves, and be,aken ourselves
TO our thick ba,. Every hour We have
been ready to petalantiy declare such q
state Of tho atmosphere and aspec, Of
the sky under the dog-s,sr both rare
and marvellous. But our anxious fears
and nervous discomfort are daily dissi-
paiing. We have occasional sun. CLEANS
that cheer vs. with hope. At intervals
we even dream Of lew delightful days
that We ourselves may soon spend calm
ly AMI comfortably upon your hc!ycon
isle, while some envious friends are
roasting inland Such a change may
come, and so with the hope oil il we con-
sole ourselves, and for the present are
cooiIy content
Active preliminary preparations are
making for the State Exposition ia Sep.
tember. From what we see and hear
already, this promises TO be not only
the most extensive an brilliant display
Of the kind that We have ever had, bot
the beginning Of new era in the aE
fairs ofthc society under whose auspices
the Exhibition 10 conducted. The occa-
sion 10 TO be made the grand Autumnal
holiday season, and cve-y one in the
State will be glad 10 hail j, ns such. A
better place for such purpose than
that where the Exhibition is TO be held,
could not be desired. Th. rooms in the
upper part ofthc great Station House
ars extensive, central and accessible,
ard, what 10 important, where a crowd
il to gather, lofty and welI-vcn,ilsted.
We really hope that Rhode Island en-
this occasion will make q demonstration
which will be impressive and palpable-
and our faith that she can do this, 10 as
strong as our hope that she will. We
wish to see the genuine old State pride,
fr once, thoroughly reused, 30 that it
may be seen upon what it is founded
Let us show the world that our materi-
al products are not inferior to our edu--
ca,ional, moral and social Improvements.
There can be no doubt that there can
be brought together in this show col
lection Of manufactured articles, which
for variety and excellence cannot be
surpassed by those Of any section Of
country Of the same extent on this con
tineni. Every man and woman ought
to teel sufficient intere't in the enter
prise to be willing to do his or her part
towards sustaining on this occasion the
industrial credit Of the State. We look
10 the Southern portion Of our little
Commonwealth for such contribution
Of articles as will make i,s department
not tie least attractive portion Of the
Exhibition. One of not the least impor-
tan, re.ults Of the great London Exh-
bi,ion will be, we hope, a revival Of in
seres; in, and consequent improvement,
Of, local Exhibitions every where.
Although this city occupies a larger
area according TO its population than
almos, any city in the country, yet rea |
estate is inordinately high, and COM
pared with the business, rents are much
more excessive than in the great Com
mcrcial capitals. The reason obvious.
ly i~ the number Of well-built stores not
being large, the owners Of such enjoy
sort Of monopoly, and are therefore able
to obtain their own prices. Rents ran
giny from seven TO twelve hundred dol
lars are not uncommon FOR large stores
in substantial buildings. For the lat
twenty-five years capitalists have been
investing their money in extensive man.
ufacturing establishments c. in the coun-
try, srd SO the city has received but lit
tie benefit in she way Of outward i'm
provement. A more entirely wooden
city, Of tie same extent, probably il
would be difficult 10 find. Notwith-
standing the imminent risk to which
the town 10 exposed Of being laid waste
by fire. still the people persist in build.
ing their houses Of the same destructive
material. May God avert such a ca
lamity, but we look forward with uem-
bling TO the time when these frail struc.
lures will 80 by the acre. No FIRE de-
partment- and no city has better than
ours,-however wcll-organised and eflic-
ieni, can be omnipoten,. True wisdom
would prompt the adoption OF differ.
ent system, but we fear our people will
continue to be influenced by their old
fashioned prejudiccs, and trust on un.