The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-03-20
RICHMOND, VA: =
MONDAY MORNING. MARCH 20 1854.

MONDAY MORNING. MARCH 90, 1854.
THE GREAT HoTEL-New York is the
great place in this land where the widest ex-
tremes are found. The most abject poverty
and squalid wretchedness. on the one hand.
and the most superb, magnificent and luxu-
nous living on the other, are brought to view.
The stranger is at one moment amazed at
the splendour and extravaganza which are
there exhibited, and the''next he is panied at
the instances of penury, want and suffering
which meet his eye-the feeble and wretched
mother with her ragged babes; the weak and
disabled man the barefooted and shivering
urchin, claim penny at every corner and
" I'm a poor blind man." placarded on the
breast of meek and silent unfortunate, as
he stands like statue by the way, appeals to
the sensibilities and philanthropy with great
force and frequency.
The march of stupendousness and splen-
dor of buildings and decorations has been
most rapid in New York Yoursplendid and
capacious dwelling or hotel of last year is
| completely thrown in the shade the present,
| others when it was first completed. The AS
| tor was the king of hotels there for many
| years; but now, the Astor is an old fogy-
and though very capacious, solid and gra-
nItive old fogy, it is yet nevertheless behind
| the age of New York hotels Several have
been built to exceed it in magnifcence, and
| now 1t is left behind even in its immense ca
| paclty. The st. Nicholas has just been com
pieted; and besides being the most gorgeous
| MOTEL IN New York, is the most capacious. 1t
| can accommodate one thousand guests -
There are three hundred servants employed
IN the house The halls and corridors
whose combined length is over two miles
are carpeted with velvet tapestry, and the
pedestrians along their way move as noise
lessly as though they tread on air The inte
rior is splendid beyond eonception-vast mir.
rofs' costly carpets, gorgeous chandeliers
heavy SIX, lace and embroidered satin da-
mask-sofas, pianos, centre tables, ETC., of
richly carved rosewood, marble and other
palace-like misunderstanding to give an
incompatible elegance and brilliapcy to the
establishment. The exterior is beautiful
| white marble, of style very ornate.
The house is heated with steam, generated
outside the building. There is no fire in any
public room, save the kitchen, where the ar
rangements are absolutely fire proof. Every
room IN the house is supplied constantly
with hot and cold water and gas, and there
are one hundred and fifty suites of rooms for
families, each with a commodious bath. The
cost Of the building and ground is 81. 100 900
cost of furniture, $350,000.
This is but glance at the st. Nicholas,
which, to be appreciated, must be seen and
enjoyed-if there is any such thing as enjoy
ment IN those big New York hotels, which
we do not believe, after having given them
fair trial We have no doubt that the bril-
liant halls of the st. Nicholas will, during the
fashionable season, be filled with patriotic
Southrons who have shed great deal of ink
TO prove the Importance of maintaining
Southern trade and enterprise and to arouse
the South from its lethargy by describing the
outrages uponits constitutional rights by the
North. They will sink down in the volup
tious sofas, divans and sociables, and dream
away the time for which they are paying; and
those yankee eyes which they have damned
will be completely healed by the sight of the
golden tribute they pay to swell the riches of
the North. DIR. Brainerd's cups are nothing
| compared to the healing efficacy of the vel
low mint drops so humanely exhibited to
those yankee eyes-and with the continua-
ton of such a blessing the Southern bloods
may go on damning the eyes of the yankees
till doomsday, for aught they care.