Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1854-03-03

IN the fulI lOllope anu ua""J ~'A "
the yauuted features Of this useful river
are absolute tamcness, when contrasted
with the picturesque and magnificent see
merry Of the Susquehanna. But the latter
can not become known to the outsiders
generally, until our Railroads are finished
and the travelling public can get at US.
The sooner that time comes, the sooner
will the benighted old fosies and reckless
politicians we wot of, be shamed out OF
their suicidal folly.
The snow storm spent its force along
the Atlantic seaboard, from north to south,
aud has not been equalled here for many
years. On the northern and eastern sides
of the streets, the drifts were III many
instances over the FIRST storey doors and
windows, requiring some tunneiing 10 ge'
out and after the pavements were cleared
it seemed as if some sudden insurrection
had occurred, and the streets beleaguered BY
insurmouptable barricades Of SNOW. Some
streets were impossible for vehicles for
several days, and even now many are IN as
bad condition US any corduroy or swamp
road.
The 22nd, was bright and sunny,
anG every body was out-in silks and
satins, rags and broadcloth-sleighs,
drays, and vehicles Of every conceivable
description-holdiDg high carnival over
the day and the weather-and what with
upsets, jams, and collisions, racing sleighs
and baking horses, and showers Of snow
balls, it was quite laughable, exciting
enterprise to get from the depot to our
lodgings. But it was really pi:iabls 10 see
the overtasked draught horses, struggling
and floundering with their cruel loads.
The bitter ine.emcncy Of the weather
falls with great severity upon tbe poor and
destitute, Of whom there are Away swarms.
The price Of provisions is exorbiiant, and
employment difficult to be had, and many
would perish of cold and hunger, were it
, not for the relief afforded by the various
we'll organized benevolent operations In
which Philadelphia exeeis other cities.
The number of sufferers is increased, by
several thousands just now, by the addition
b Of the rag-pickers, miserable class OF be-
, ings who earn precarious subsistence BY
I. picking up rags, bits Of iron and other tras!
in the streets and along the wharves Then
lodging places are wretched holes at al
average rent Of ten cents day, payable
. every morning on penalty Of instant ex
! pulsion. Their vocation is gone while
this snow lasts, and they must depend up
on charity or perish. There are numerous
societies that make daily distributions Of
Y bread and soup to the needy. l spent an
! hour, this forenoon, at one Of these places,
n noticing the beuefciaries come and 60; and
the squalid misery Of a great city must be
:, seen, to be realized. There were two caul
j drons of hot soup, Of hogshead dimensions
d, aud several barrels of small rye loaves
4 served out by the steward and two direc
tors. At the appointed hour such motley
' mass of humanity presented itself as
never before laid my eyes upon. They
o came by dozens and dozens, of both sexe:
4 and Of all ages, colors and conditions, with
A tin pans, mugs, broken pitchers Or any
n thing that would not leak, received theil
@ loaf each and pint or three pints Of soup
!. according to circumstances; then made way
4 for others-decriped old men and sorrow
y full looking women, and hideous hags with
. blear eyes and brazen countenances, the
. victims Of vice and intemperance-humar
beings by courtesy, and doubtful at that
and ragged children of years and up
G wards, occasionally bright eye and opei
n countenance, giving promise Of happy
destiny, if rescued from its deplorable sur
roundings-b but most of them had hard
e impressionlcss cast Of countcnance, as il
|. hope and sensibility had been extinguished
The purity and peace Of Eden, and these
inmates of Moyamensing dens! What I
hcart-aching contrast The ragged, rick
ety old frame tenements in the courts an(
e alleys of Moyamensing, hardly fit for {
l. stye, are at one extreme, and the palatia
n dwellings, of merchant princes around Lo
gan square, and in Arch, Chestnut, ant
Walnut streets, west of Broad-rivalins
in luxurious comfort the homes of Baalbe'
and Babylon in their prculcs' days, are Al
the other. What gulf between! An'
yet not impossible downwards. Vice an'
rum can bridge the chasm.-These soul
. societies feed about three thousand person
daily. was inclined, on first inspection
" to pronounce the soup composed of beans
" onions and don't know how many othe
= ingredients-as dubious as the recipients
: but a taste proved it to be well cooked
and fully as palatable as any furnished
>. the upper ten hotels. 1t is served VI
:. :. piping hot and highly spiced, aud is jus
the thing for famished, half frozen peo
pie. -....-.........,,-,,,,,,---.,.' II: C. L.
Elmira, Feb. 1s.-In the Superio
Il