The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-02-26
pursuit of their delusions, carry their absurd
conventions and noisy gatherings much farther

pursuit Of their decisions, carry their absurd
conventions and noisy gatherings much farther,
they win become fit subjects for the care Of
Miss Dix, in some vacant lunatic asylum. Let
them 20 quietly home, and, abandoning the vi
sionary reforms of Greeley, Garrison, and Griz-
ely Burleigh, submit to the laws of nature and
OF civilized society. Said Madame de Stael to
Napoleon Whom do You think, Sire. the great
est woman of the age?' Said Napoleon to
Madame de Stael, She who has borne the
greatest number of children" What won
deriul genius was Napoleonl
The CRY SINCE THE SToRM.-It is now al
most week since heavy fail OF snow, coming
down in a furious wind, which heaped it into
mountainous drifts in all the narrow streets,
fell upon the city. For twenty-four hours the
metropolis was blockaded, and its entire move
ment and ordinary life paralyzed AS you
painfully made your way about, you saw on
every side sleighs and vehicles overturned and
broken-horses fallen and struggling in the
mud and snow while impatient crowds were
gathered at every corner, waiting for cars that
overcrowded. Even now it is little better.
The snow in the frequented streets has become
mud in the middle, while the sides are still
piled high with it, leaving only narrow
practicable passage. The narrower streets and
thoroughfares in the business part of the city
are, many Of them, literally impossible; while.
as for the remoter quarters of the city-whose
condition We described last Sunday--they are
as inaccessible as the great steppe of five hun
dred miles between Smolensk and Moscow was
to Napoleon and his army.
Well, since the snow fell not shovel nor
q cart, not sign Of civilized government, has
made its appearance in the streets. New York
is actually in the condition of having no gov
eminent, no police, no street inspection and
left to the vicissitudes of the weather as
literally as an uninhabited forest, or, rather,
it is much worse, for if there was no pretence
OF government at all, the citizens would turn
out and manage in some way to keep the
streets in a passable condition.
The worst of it u.s. that for the present state
Of things there is no remedy. According to
the books, the streets are all regularly swept
and cleaned according to contract. It ell ap-
pears on paper, clear and fair; and there is no
tribunal, no head, no authority before whom
not only the contractors but those who falsely
certify to their bills can be brought, tried, and
judged. The very genius Of mud has got New
York in his claws, and there is no Dreisbach to
enter his den and make him let go his prey.
A SICK CHAIRMAN.-We understand that Mr.
George S. Houston, of Alabama, Chairman Of
the Committee Of Ways and Means of the
House Of Representatives, has been absent
from his Congressional duties, on the sick list
ever since the defeat of the Deficiency bill. A
day or two since he was seen in Philadelphia,
and yesterday, if we mistake not, he was in
Broadway. Let him return to Washington,
pick the flint, and try it again. Is not the adj
ministration gaining strength on the Nebraska
question, or how is it? Face the music, Mr..
Houston-face the music. Sometimes good
soldier runs at the first fire, but turns out well
in long battle.