Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-09-22
Notes by the way, by our Reporter.


ROCHESTER, N. Y, 14th Sept, 1858
After FIVE hours ride through country rich in
landscape beauty, and rich in agricultural resources,
reached East Albany. The city was in the furOr
of a firemen's procession when | got to the ferry
boat, and the evidences Of it came cleaning from
FIVE hundred torches, and psalng from several brass
bands, the dark, placid waters Of the Hudson.
tell YOU it was a beautiful sight to look across the
river and see band after band Of torch bearers,ap
pearing and disappearing, as they depoyed round
the quayF and then were lost in the darkness OF the
streets. The liquid light danced upon the tremb-
ling Of the river, like golden vapoi and then
it vanished, leaving the black waves once more TO
the darkness Of their course. The music Of hun
dred instruments mingled with the noise of fire.
arms and the cheers Of the ''bhoys' were borne to
by the whispering winds, then died away
the tail blocks of buildings inerposed between us
and the procession. do not believe that Aladdin
WITH his wonderful lamp ever made such romantic
and grand appearance, as the Albany fremen did on
this occasion with their torches.
When got TO the city, found that had to re.
main three mortal hours before could get the
for the West. This vas a source Of some annoy.
ance and chagrin to me, as the Uerattous managers
of the Harlem railroad had advertised ia such way
TO lead me to suppose that We would Immediately
connect with the train for Buffalo, and pass wilh
out delay or hindrance, to the "West." But it
seems to me that the practice Of deception is uo1
an uncommon thing amongst the railroad officials o
the Empire Stale / have been deliberately led
astray on more than occasion by those harpies
who care more for the 'smain chance than for the
ten commandments.
In order to pass away the time, and get posted up
on the news. slept into bar room and picked up
paper that lay table; but | soon found that
the book Of life that was opened before me was
much more interesting than the pages Of the Albany
Atlas Groups OF men were gathered round the
spacious bar, smoking cigars, drinking brandy cock"
tails, and cracking lewd jokes. One young gentle
man, with a faint outline Of down on his upper lip,
and strong indications Of weakness in his knees and
head, was treating several individuals who laughed
and chatted hattery to the poor pigeon. One, with
his hat standing out angle Of IS degrees, with
his tight seedy coat buoned his square Frame
and with glass OF liquor in his left hand, went
through the small sword exercise with the fore fn
ger of his right, and puntoed and stoccatoed Mr.
Pigeons bosoin,o the admiration of that young gem
tleman, and the edlfcailon Of his friends.
One little incident which occurred in this saloon,
gave me most untavorable impression Of ''life in
Albany An old man in this bar room, who was
busy ,canyassug the merits of revolver which caps
itself 81 times and who was anxious to sell the ma.
chine to any young gentleman of spirit who would
buy it, went up TO a man who leaned against pill.
lar, smoking, and asked him to look at the weapon.
He did so, with considerable interest, but finally re
turned it TO the old man, aud took a six barrelIed
revolver from his own pocket, remarkng that "ihs
little pepper does well enough for me.'' felt re-
lieved when got out Of the horrid atmosphere into
which l had inadvertently ventured, and found my.
relf once more upon the road.
Western New York, on the track from Albany to
Rochester, is a beautiful agricultural country. The
face of the ground is uniuIatory, but billy, and
is highly favorable for The cultivation of wheat
The farmers plough with two horses abreast,
as they do in Scotland; and the fields are laid out
in ridges,in the style Of the Lplhians. The western
section Of this State LOOKS newer than any part or
Massachusetts, but you Col see il growing in popu
ation and wealth. even with snch cursory glance
as have been able to give ii. J B.. S.