Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-05-13
Now and Then.

A late number of the n. Y. Times revives
a relic Of the days when the old "sow coach
system of travelling FIRST had its heels trop up
on by the iron-hoofed giant of steam. Nothing
could more striknsly illustrate the mighty
progress of the last half century. than the ad
verisernent copied by the Times, from New
York paper Of 9Th October 1907 making
known that:
The Steamboat being thoroughly repaired
and arranged for passengers. with a private
dressing room for ladies, i, is Intended to run
her as a packet. between New York and Al.
bany. for the remainder OF the season. She
will leave New York, exactly at O'Clock in
the morning, and always perform her voyage
in from 80 to SO hours"
Shade of Fulton, what feat! l60 miles in
SO Lours; ina packet; with "a private dressing,
room for ladies'" all for 81! With what "a
mazement and rejoicing must not the kncker-
bockers have regarded it! With low sef.gratu
latory feeling must they have looked upon
the ignorance, the tar 1iness and Inconvenience
of travel, the fogy'sm of former days. Doubt
less they ina gned the goal of enterprise had
been reached; the ultima thule of improve,
ment had been attained; and, most likely. if
some prophet of the time had foretold that i'll
two score years. the trip would be performed
in less than seren hours. in floating palace, a,
one fourth the price. he would have been hoop
ed in straight JACKIE and yet, such has been
the literal fact.
AS hearing upon that "priratc dressing roam
for ladies'" we take the liberty of making an
extract from private letter Of friend. who
lately made the trip from Louis, lille TO New
Orleans:
81 have as yet said nothing of this wonder
and admiration Of the Western and Southern
world, the steamer Eclipse. Had | before me
a copy of the Arabian nj ghts entertainments,
would quote one of those splt ndid descriP
lions of the works Of the GEM. rs being the
nearest approximation to description of TIN,
magnificent work of art 1t really seems rather
the creation of a fairy's hand, than of man. 1t.
splendid ladies', and gentlemen cabins. com
bining the most exquisite architectural and ar
tistic taste and skill, are entirely beyond des
cr1Dfipn. ne door OF eacn Otate room, ID IN
number, is ornamentcd with painting repre-.
senting various views of American scenery ex.
ecuted not by daub, but by genuine Artist;
the execution of which cost Si2, 900, and will
afford entertainment to aman oftaste,d during an
entire trip. The ceiling is also beautifully paint.
ed in fresco; the columns are tastetully cary
ed; the windows of the riches, stained glass;
the carpets of the costest patrern the chairs
and the sofas are so delightful that when one
sits down. he feels unwilling ever to rise: the
State rooms are each provided with Ward
robe. marble top wash stand. looking glass,
etc; its herths rather capacious spring beds
are ornamented with curtains of the richest
lace &c, &c.
So much for the onward movements of art,
invention and enterprise. in one particular Oh
iect Who will undertake to say. that the next
forty years may not give birth to Announcements
upon the present as great as those Of the last
forty}