The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-25

York. ont of which a short time ago it vas impos-
sibe TO live. seems quite vulgar and our "best eocie
never haA any, is willingly surrendered to the 0eers
of MIR. H0wadji Curtis.
This Impression, which Baltimore society makes,
of being continuous to say the least with the times
HANGED by the names that one hears and the persons
that one meets in it. When one in an evening re-
union, makes ones bow to venerable laay, who,
we are told, is the daughter Of Charles Carroll OF
CaTollton-when one listens and laughs at the caus-
tic conversation of another, over whose marriage.
half century ago, Pope and an Emperor cores
ponded and negotated-one Is really transported
into the past and comprehends what in New York
REQUIRES q powerful, imaglna.on 70 eo.mpreneana;
the wars of the great Napoleon, is not merely well
written romance.
The distinguished lady to whom have last allud-
ed has been to me one of the most interesting per-
sonages that have met in Baltimore. The sister
inlaw of the greatest genius Of modern times, the
aunt of the extraordinary who has revived in 80
wonderful manner the empire Of Napoleon, the wife
of an eroi the only surviving female representative,
whether by blood or marriage, of that remarkable
first generation Of the Bonapartes-her husband
(from whom she has been separated for half a cen
tury) being the only male survivor, aud the only
Bonsparte Of the original imperial family Of the
brothers and sisters of Napoleon herself the connect
ing link Of that mysterious and would seem fated
nuptial chain which connects the Bonaparte dynas-
ty with the New World-she is certainly very in
teresting character, especially at the present mo-
ment.
Madame Bonaparte, as she is termed in her soce-
tv, is still beautiful woman, although she must be
nearly seventy; but there are some women who
never grow oId-time touches their charms with
such regret. She dresses with care, and even on
certain occasions, with magnifcence, in what s
called the Eng lish Duchess style, aud with her still
superb arms so celebrated once, white as in youth,
and set off with Jewels with the delicacy of her COM
plexion and sweetness of her smile justiies the cpl
tibet have used
Those who are honored with her more intimate
acquaintance speak Of her possessing social
powers. Having known host of celebrated char
acters, both male aud female, sovereigns wits and
beauties her conve rsation is rich am told in SOU
vears which are deeply interesting to any one who
is well read in the history Of Europe since the rise
of Napoleon And If the portraits which MADAME
thus sketches off are somewhat keenly touched
with satire, one remembers that the world has not
been just to this woman, who having made in early
youth, as did many of her immediate female con-
modification to see herself divorced in the first year
of wedlock by an act Of arbitrary, despotc power
was forbidden by an irresistible mandate even to
set foot in the country Of her husband, saw him
abandon her for crown, her conjugal rights usurp
ed by princess, her son supplanted BY the lille
climate fruit Of her husbands inidelity, besides
all the misfortunes Of the family to which she was
allied, with which the world has rung, and their
almost miraculous restoration to power, in which
she alone has not participated.
You will ask whether the Baltimore society rivals
ours in TASTE information, talent and accomplish
ments. To tell you the simple truth the good Bal.
timoreans are not very literary; there is not, per-
haps, q city on the Atlantic coast where the book
market makes poorer figure. believe there is
not power press in the city except those employed
in the newspaper Offices; in no circle does the con-
versaton ever turn upon the literature of the day,
and you would do we'll TO avoid any such topic, lest
you should have the air of being bookworm; the
best symptom that can quote Of rising taste for
intellectual pursuits is the very general practice Of
reading the NEW YORK HERALD, which arrives at
about seven P. NJ. every day, and occupies some
gent and wideawake portion of the commu-
nifty, who are looked upon, in consequence, as
oraces BY the rest 80 that virtue here is its own re-
ward. There are some beautiful pictures in the
houses of the principal citizens, but no little gale
ries, like 30 many that. sigh to remember in New
York; E0r again is there very lively appreciation
of works of art which is not to be wondered at you
observe because it is the presence of fine galleries.
and paintings, that form this kind Of taste. But
music is cultivated with great zeal and rare
me ,u. =. drawino room nerfQrmances hv nure anna
tsurs, have ever heard, have heard IN Bsl1mJIe
the Baltimoreans apply themselves to that charm
ing pursuit seriously ardently, and they succeed in
it, A certain aristocratic air is thrown over it by
the gravity with which it is managed: moreover,
the high bred harp is not neglected for the deafcn
ing thrum of the piano, and when one listens to adj
miIable playing on this noble and ancient instru-
ment with its rich and difficult simplicity, by lady
bearing possibly name that is famous all over the
Union, one is doubly enchanted with the pleasure
Of the sense and with the picture of manners.
By the way, as a stranger, have noticed one De-
uliarity Of Baltimore society-and know only one
ircle that is entirely free from it. You hear SO
much about "good families "Mr. w. belongs to
one of the first families Of South Carolina, but Mrs.
ing woman Is Mrs. AZ aoh, Certainly, she IS from
the Eastern shore-one Of the old families on the
Eastern Shore" "How could Mrs. c. marry c., she
being Of such a good family, and he of
but good families, and families that are
not so good. Now l am an unprejudiced
person, and think worse of this kind of talk; it
seems to me no more vulgar or snobbish than that
with which we are familiar at the North. "Miss
soandso has made very good match. Mr.. "
whom she has married, is worth two hundred thou.
sand dollars " Every respectable family are the
=; they own a great deal of property" / am
philosopher, and only take notice of the thing as
trait. am very proud of my own family, moreover,
being neay descended from the great first colonst;
also, from the Plantagene.s, Mortimers, Nevilles,
Beauchamps, Bohuns, Percies, Cliifords, Montagues
Bouillons, DEstes, Hohnzollern &c., &c. It is true
that am unable to make out this pedigree, step by
step but can demonstrate it in the gross as is done
by DR.. Southey in the first volume of the Doctor"
where he shows by simple arithmetical calculation
that every Englishman, and consequently every
American, OF English descent. now living, is de-
scended from the whole population Of the period of
the conquest, even Il suppose) including those who
never had any children If they're not lineal ances
tors, they're collateral, any way, and collateral
ancestor Of distinction is always credit to ones
escutcheon.
This letter is running too long, so will bring
it to close by one piece of information about Balti
more, which, unless mistake, will make the New
Workers sigh with envy and despair. Owing to the
elevation Of the parts in the neighborhood of the
Monument, which is the fashionable district, and to
the rapidity Of the slope thence toward the rivers
81 Citv raj akaaa hort yUnr
with cleaning the streets, at least in this superior
quarter: and there is q consequent freedom from
offensive sights and smells, of which, venture to
say no Gothamite under your present government
can form any idea. Yours, truly and alliterativey
RUFCs RAMBLER.
Our Sea Side Correspondence.
BEEsLEy's POINT, Cape May Co., n. J.,l