The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-03-21

OUR SUBuRBs.--The astonishing increase Of
our suburbs in population and Importance,
during the last few years, seems to as worthy
Of more careful attention than has hitherto
been bestowed upon it. Contrasting their pre-
sent position and prospects with their condition
dozen years ago, their growth cannot but
strike the most ordinary observer as something
almost unprecedented. Twelve years ago
Brooklyn was quiet and pious little city, Of
forty thousand inhabitants; since that time it
has added q cool hundred thousand to its popu-
lation, and now stands bristling all over with
churches " like quilts upon the fretful porcu-
pine par ercslence, the City Of Churches.
Twelve years ago, williamsburg was CON-
paratively obscure village, almost entirely un-
known to the great body of people; now it
numbers its fifty thousand citizens, and is al
ready waxing indignant at the lack of ferry
accommodation. Jersey City, Staten Island,
and Hob0ken, all have received their quota,
drawn from among the most valuable classes
of the communicative very bone and sinew of
our city.
1t requires no great amount of thought to &C.
count for the present state Of things. While
rents continue at their present exorbitant rate,
while our streets reek with filth, and the pure
air OF heaven is tainted with the seeds OF disease
and death while acts Of rowdyism continue SO
disgracefully frequent, we need not be surprised
that SO many sensible people seek to escape,
for hall the twenty -four hours at least, from
this great, dusty Babel to catch glimpse of
vegetation and take breath of fresh air. Al
most every New Yorker though he may have
been born in the very heart of the city, and trod
its stony pavements all his life, still cherishes
delightful dream Of one day retiring to q
country residence-visions of green fields and
running brooks pursue him even when immersed
in the driest details of business. Here, then, is
rus in urIe offered him. Within few min
utes sail Of his place of business he may luxu-
1ate in the sight of nature-nature little civil
liked, to be sure, somewhat contaminated by
such near proximity to the great city, but still
full of charms for the eye wearied with gazing
at endless piles of brick and mortar, and mex
pressibly grateful to the unfortunate breather
Of dust. Here, then, is an intermediate step
between flying the pursuits of city life alto
gether, and shutting oneself up as in living
tomb.
This suburban life offers, too, the greatest in
ducements to family men. Careful fathers who
have q due regard for their offspring's health,
can readily perceive its advantages, and are
not slow to avail themselves of it. Rent is
powerful consideration. People in ordinary
circumstances, who cannot afford to take a pa
Lace in the fashionable avenues, and who have
no particular desire to travel up to one
Hundred and Ninetieth street every night and
back again every morning, are left with no al
tentative but to cross the river On the other
side, houses can be procured at a comparative
ly reasonable rate, though even there rents are
rising with the most fearful rapidity, and their
landlords are initiating ours, in that particular
at least, with zeal worthy of better cause.
If such q state Of things continue much longer
on either side, it seems debateable point
whether houses will remain, in their present po-
sition, as indispensables, or rise to the dignity
of luxuries, attainable only by fortunate few.
To the last cause, probably, more than any
other, we owe this sudden growth Of our
suburbs. Settlements spring up, as if by magic,
ON every side of us; in five or six years an act
of incorporation is procured, and, presto they
are cities. Spectators seized the idea long
ago, and for the last two or three years any
quantity Of odd little villages out on Long
Island, cut up into ininitesimal lots, have been
the product. At present, this state of things
seems likely to continue indefinitely. We fear
there is no prospect Of diminution in rents
for some time to come; and until our landlords
come to reason, our environs will absorb, as
heretofore, thousands of the most valuable por-
ton of the communicable middle classes
-------------------------~
ARMED PROFESSIONS IN THE STREETs.-Several
of our contemporaries have given utterance to
very just complaints of professions In the streets
by armed bodies of men belonging to some Sec
tional class of the community. The professions
took place on the 22d of February, when several
thousand United Americans paraded, and on St.
Patricks day, when six or seven thousand Irish
turned out all armed to the teeth What are
the causes Of this dangerous practice? We shall
find them in the disturbance of the harmony
formerly existing between all classes of citizens,
by the violent religious fanatics who have been
in the country during the last year, stirring up
hatred and strife between Professionals and Ca
tholics: and in the mischevous workings of
few wrctched newspapers, like the Express,
which are endeavoring to excite civil commo-
ton in the hope of deriving little political aid
or comfort ont of the excitement
SINGULAR CONTRASTS OF MEN AND THEIR IN