Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-06-22
correspondence of the Spectator.

49, New YORK, June, 1853
.hlessrs.1 Editors President Pierce is evident
y beginning to feel the force OF certain New York
influences IN greater degree than has heretofore
been the case. 1t can scarcely be expected thata
New England man brought up in the very midst
OF abolition fanaticism should so belle all his 'an
tecedents' 60 use word very much the news
paper fashion just now as to be very reliable
Union man. The very worst kind of Barnburn-
ing Locofocos are put into office here now without
wink or a cover as was the case when the Pres
ident first took the reins in hand We predict
with others that before the end Of the next session
OF Congress you will see the Southern Secession
ist, the Northern Abolitonist and Franklin Pierce,
all three in abed, 'pigging heads and tails" and
Pierce in the middle. So much for principle
and so much for the Loaves and Fishes. The
| Collector of the Port Mr. Bronson, though very
good lawyer is avery slow Collector He istrom
the 'rural districts" not understand the ropes,
mean the spoils ropes. He may be very good
man to attend to the collection of the revenues,
but What is that he is not put there for any such
purpose and.there are six hundred offices to be
portioned out to twenty four thousand applicants
all of them poor and hungry and some of them
nearly naked-such being, am credibly informed,
the number.
You will have noticed that the Arabia one. Of
the Cunard line of Liverpool steamers and the
Arctic one of the Collins line, have been.regilarly
ptted against one another by the public for the
Championship of the ocean as it is termed
the last voyage ofthe Arabia beat the best which
has been done by the steamer Arctic The next
trip the Arctic win probably be little ahead
Now MARK-If this thing goes on, before year
you will ehear of some terrific desoatlng accident
Al.
will be cunvllsed for three days with grief, and
there will be nobody to blame. Should such ca
lamity occur hold the owners to a strict account
civil and criminal. One paper calls it "The great
Oceanic Homicidal contest"
The great subject which at present interests
this community is the proposed Park in the heart
of the city--THE Park opposite the City Hall is
a source of amusement to every stranger who WIS.,
its us. It. contains about two acres of land, and
4, is of triangular shape. The other Parks would
make respectable front gardens for gentleman's
house in the outskirts of great town. 1t is pro-
posed to enclose zoo. acres in the new one with
trees and shrubs and flowers and fountains. 1t
should be done and would be of lasting importance
to the comfort both of rich and poor.
spent few days in Philadelphia as a specta-
tor of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church during its late sittings. Itwoud be diff
cult to find more dignifed set of men, or better
debaters Yet at times there were little passages
which would have compared unfavourable with
the Walsh and Rynders style of parliamentary
expression. heard distinguished and learned
gentleman get up and say, "It is false, Sir, it is
false, what you say is false"-the assembly being
an ecclesiastical one, need say nothing either as
to the taste or courage thus displayed. | was
more struck with the elegance, as debater, of
Mr.. Vanzant Of your State than any other member
heard.
Great fears were entertained lest the force of
plumber would outweigh the force of honesty and
defeat the amendments to our new Charter, but
the present incumbents came to the conclusion
that it would be better to run with the current
than to attempt to stem it. The majority in ia
your of the new Charter is therefore over $4,000.
Mrs. Stowe you will have perceived by the late
arrivals has formidable rival in the BLACK
Swan Miss Greenfld, the Negro songstfess, who
has made her appearance also at Stafford House:
The list of guests who honored our colored friend
is pretty much the same with that which led Mrs.
| Stowe into notice. No doubt the author of Uncle
Tom trembles in her shoes; for it is not difficult
TO perceive that as the excitement in reference to
Mrs. Stowe has no foundation in sound sense the
next novelty will throw the great enancipatrix
into the shade, and real olive wench" with E.
dual cultivation and more an object of sympathy
and pity must of necessity stand much In Mrs.
Stoves light.
As Baltimore has been called the city Of Alonu-
ments and Brooklyn the city of Churches and
Philadelphia..the city of brothery love "a misGo-
mer in the last ifstance) so New York will soon
have to be called the city of Hotels. 1t used to
be thought that the Astor House wasa very grand
affair and so it is for comfort and convenience, but
/ "A
take the shine off the old Aston. The ST. Ncho.
las, the Metropolitan, the Rescott House, the La
Fargo House surpass in splendor any hotels in
the world-they are always full too Chose of them
which are completely and there is room for more
of the same sort.
An amusing trick, not very agreeable to the
victim was played upon a gentleman from the
West short time ago, by one of the fraternity
who live by their wits. The stranger had been
at hotel in one of the cross streets for 4 week,
where he had got quite well acquainted with
gentlemanly looking person who called himself
Col. The Col. seemed a very inofensive per-
son and professed to be merchant purchasing
goods in New York. One fine afternoon our west
ern friend proposed to the COL to walk, and after
loungiRg about the streets the Col. proposed that
they should sthe river in one ofthe ferry boats
This they did and after walking for some time
entered a small house where refreshments were
advertised. On entering, the first thing which
struck them was an ion safe with notice paint
ed on the door in white letters as follows $500
are deposited within, which will be given to any
one who will open this without the key. $500
will be bet that with the key no one can open the
door," After examining the safe intenty the
Col. whispered TO his companion that the lock was
one precisely similar to the one on his safe at
home, and that if he had brought the money he
would bet Our friend having the money asked
the Col if he was confident he could do it, and
on being assured that he could, deposited $500 on
the Counter which was instantly covered by the
man behind the bar with an equal amount, and
the KEY handed to the Col. who walked up to the
safe put the key in turned it and the door opened.
But to the surprise of our western friend as soon
as the man behind the bar saw it he seized all the
money, ran through back door and was off,
sHold! hold I" shouted the Col, 'you stand here
at this door, he cant escape and will catch him.
} Our friend took his stand at the door and waited
for an hour when he thought the COL at least might
= return. but no Col. came-nor has the COL since
been seen. On examining the premises it was found
to be a mere shed temporarily occupied for such
"games of chance, }" and the whole furniture not
worth ten dollars. The stranger returned to the
city wiser if net a better man.
Yoafs truly, SMITH
-..iN For the Spectator.
The License Law.---2.
.ucssrs Editors: 1T has been urged, that even
surprising our County Court TO possess entire dis
cretion so that it might lawfully refuse every ap
Co. ho in