The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-24

usages Of slavery in our Southern States.
We do not, therefore, entertain any apprehen
sions of blood and carnage, or social mischief
from either the white or the black race Of Cuba
as the probable consequences of the acquisition
of the island. Nor is it necessary to acquire it
that we should wait another quarter of a cen
fury, or plunge into a flibustering invasion
The exercise Of a broad foresight and sound dis
erection. or the absence Of these qualities in the
management of the question by our govern
ment. will probably much sooner determine
the issue Of peace or war. If we are to have
trouble concerning the island ofCuba, it will be
anterior and not subsequent to it's annexation
Still the question arises--will there be war?
CITY FOUNTAINs-SHALL WE BE ROASTED
ALIVE PITY the sorrows Of a poor New York.
er, in these days of scorching heat, and dull
heavy atmosphere, and parched cracked threats
Pity US, ye who can lie under beech or elm,
with the wavy grass futtering in the breeze
round your head, and the gentle rattle of a bub-
bling spring at your ear! Pity us, ye who can
nestle in some shady cave on the sea shore,
while the bracing east wind brushes the hair
from your brow, and creeps through each crew
ice Of your loosened vest! Pity US, ye whose
feet tread on soft cool lawns, and sweep the
dew from dairy and %trefoil Pity us. when you
would curl and smoke, Of q sky that mortal eye
dare not gaze on, Of a Broadway whose airy
canopy can only be likened to the exhalations
of an overcharged steam pipe! Talk Of clothes,
indeed ; one suffocates in alpaca, and is smoth-
cred in gossamer. Silks and aannels are a hor-
rid fallacy. Thinest, whitest garments a
wretched snare. Neither Heaven nor the tail
ors have any comfort to offer. Courage and
resignation are the only resources Of those who
have recovered from the melancholy delusion
Of summer clothing. ice creams and sherry cob
blers.
Must we then come to the disheartening con-
clusion that the heat under which our forefa-
theirs groaned and prayed for mercy. is an evil
inseparable from the sofia doom from which
mortal man cannot escape? Shall our child
ren's energy and strength be carried off in tor
rents OF perspiration? Shall the myriads who.
a century hence, shall tread the Broadway in
which we now gasp. abandon their daily tolls for
the relief OF a thermometer at seventy degreesin
the country, and tremble at the approach Of the
fiery noon? Be careful, conservative friend,
how you utter a hasty reply in the affirmative.
A hundred years ago., the illustrious Smiths
and Joneses, from whose loins you sprung, en-
dured many an i'll which never troubles you.
In their blind ignorance they painted poor hui
manity as an embodiment of all sorts of g~rievous
and incurable ~distembers /" ills" as they used
to say, Ito which flesh is herr A due regard
for the dictates of Providence forbade their at
tempting to disturb the succession. You and
ourselves, however, who live in a less scrupu-
lous age, have seen this dolefnl inheritance
terribly diminished since their time. Sorrows
here, disasters there, evils of every shape and
the ingenuity and research Of man. Pain has
been robbed of its victims, and even Death has
been hidden to hold his hand. To lengthen the
span prescribed to life by it's Creator is beyond
our power; but we can, and we do daily dimin-
ish it's dangers. remove its inconveniencies and
VI w "a sOulCCo vi pItdSuIc. WuO Sudil say
that the future is not pregnant with schemes
which shall counterfeit, or at least so far miti-
gate our oppressive summer heat, that a walk
in Broadway, at 3 7. NJ, in July, will be a de-
lightful recreation.
Extravagant as the notion may seem to some,
W e offer no apology for hazarding it. Twenty
years ago. the man who would have proposed to
build a railroad through the city would have
been deemed a ~lunatic; and If he had lived in a
country where the sorbonne or the %inquisition
1ourished, would most probably have expiated
his boldness in a dungeon. Now we have three
railroads in actual operation, two more almost
ready to receive the cars, and a sixth-an air
line. to be constructed somewhere between the
level Of Chimborazo and the soil-gravely dis
cussed in the papers. Besides, even with our
present means, if they were properly turned to
account, much could be done to alleviate our
toTrid condition. OF all cities in the world, New
York is the last where water ought to be- a
luxury or a rarity. And yet, see how niggard
we are Of it. Why have we not ioun-
tains throwing up jets of pure cool wa
VI NV SspJ SiuaNi '.'y PioO "
ground where six feet square, can BE- spared I?
Paris, where the heat is by no means 50 opprcs-
sive as it is here, boasts fifty Or . hlndfca
splendid jets d'eau. and, in addition, MIGRANTS
at every corner pour a stream Of clean
water, for an hour at q time, morning and eve
ming through the cutters, to cleanse every yes
tige of impurity and cool the air. Ask The doc
tors what the effect Of the plan is on the bills of
mortality. We have the hydrants, but beware
partment should come to hear Of the sacrilcge.
We are informed, too, b. persons Of undoubtod
respectabiiity that there are fountains in the