The daily republic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1853-1853, 1853-08-12
THE WEEKLY REPUBLIC.
The Contrast.

| On the LIST of February, 1853, no city in the
world presented remarkable an appearance as
ours, or seemed more calculated to crafty our
pride or satisfy our ambition Starting from the
Levee the eye could take in, ut one unbroken
view, from the deck of one Of our magnificent
western steamers, corn, coffee, sugar, cotton,
tobacco, rice, and flour, than could be seen at any
one place in any city in the world. From tho
graceful bend in the rver-which gives the name
of Crescent" to the city-nearly every ship and
steamer can be seen from one point. Leaving this
unparalleled of wealth, animation, and enter
prise, transport yourself to Charities street, on some
bright sunny day, where the sidewalks sparkle
and glitter with the beauty of our fair and une-
quallcd bellies. Listen to the various languages
which fall from the ruby lips of the promenaders-
for scarcely nation is unrepresented-regal
your eyes with the varied forms in which beauty
seeks TO display itself, from the almost naked,
statue-lke form of the dusky Indian to the chaus-
seed, coiffer'd Parisiene. Listen to the animated
voices Of the gay belles-no sound but that OF Joy
will greet your ear-the opera, ball, souhee, mas
querade, or some such objects Of youthful gaiety
and pleasure discussed with delicious animn-
ton, and tell us if Charities, in the height of the
season, be not very paradise.
The face even of the sober and rejecting mer-
chant beams with satisfied JOYS as he reflects upon
the increasing products which come from half the
States in the Union. Not less happy and hopeful
the wealthy capitalist, the banker, and the rail-
road protector, who sees, in the future, wealth COM
ing from Immense countries WHICH DuL u lcW yours
ago were inhabited by savage Indians, and under
the nominal dominion of people aliens in blood and
language. Who at this time, among the gay and
happy throng we have assembled in Chartres,
thought for moment of pestence and DEATH
Return we to the Levee, now August LIST, 1853;
what comparative scene of desolatiOn The bus
tie on the wharf is hushed-the animated crowd
has departed, and no man knows whittier.
The ships are all gone, and there solitary
steamer, whose Struggling passengers seem almost
afraid to land finds ample berth at the deserted
wharf. No cabmen there to importune you for a
fare for their calls are now to the grave. The
very horses have a melancholy look as they fol-
low the dreary hearse on its way to some city OF
the dead In the streets, but short time ago SO
bright and gay, no silks and satns sparkle in the
.'garnish sum- mourning has taken their place,
and the sparse promenaders move along as though
afraid of the echoes of their own footsteps. Catch
fyou can the whispering words of the passer by:
sick-dying-dead! These are the words on every
lip Opera, music, dance, seem sacrilegous now
How long will this plague rest upon the lands
Will not every good citizen give his mite to the
Howard Association? Will not our city authors
ties do all they can to check the pestlence' Will
not the reverend clergy offer up their prayers to
the Great Ruler to stay his wrath? And shall we
not all, each in his way, do something to
propitiate our benefcent Creator, ''who numbers
the hairs of our head, - and shods us in the hol-
low of his hand ?''-.Nsio Orleans Delta.