New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-07-04
OUR ISLAND WORLD.
STATEN ISLAND. May. 1855

,,dooxour earliest impressions indelibly darkened
;,h c;,y.cares and caamities in with bricks
and busiuess from y,ur youth up-you will, | am
go "a, the subject Of Life QUITO Town, csndldy con-
s.ss vourself a native-bon Know Nothing. R4rd
,,;,. TO he sure, but mind that-the rarer the
dearer in market-estimatoni and personal price by
no means despicable in these days of metatmer and
donsr-dignity
MIX. n. then, despite your native wit and Wis
dom; yosr keenness of perception, analytical aoiy,
and power Of discrimination your pbiiosopnica,
depth and profundity in natters mechanical, Poeuca'
and political.
Your ideas Of country-life, Of necessity CLEANED
f,o,o thot unreliable source-otherpeope's experi-
eoces,re but the dim and owy pictures Of Hear
ssv You have no doubt patiently endured while
n.s rnyed aud fashionables sped their prettest on
the subiect nav even yourse Mr. T., have romantic
aIlv dreamed of rural bloom aud bliss-but Of the
realities you literally know nothing.
Suburban Staten Island ever is 70 you mere
myth Never have its pleasant shades and nesting
villas been halowed by your presence or hat'eFed
with glance Of promise from your prophetic eyes
and among your cultivated citizens are many a.
lsmentably ignorant whe cannot plead our plausible
excuse.
It existence somewhere in the region round about
Gotham they good-naturedly grant; but for all they
know Of its dimensions and topography state OF cul-
tivation and degree Of civilization, it might as well
have been cc-bouDd in the polar seas Better even
for, 30 situated, by means of imposing expeditions
and jealous exploring parties, its Je'laby-an neigh
bors would long ere this, have become accurately
posted-up in every detail concerning tits condition
and capoci lee thoroughly discussed-its natives by
description and illustration familiar az tre-side faces
But ebeu oheu cursed with proximity, It must en-
content itself with suburban ambiguity! With your
general intelligence however, were pity you should
longer remain in ignorance Of so near neighbors
whereabouts and whatabouts-utterly insensibe OF
the existence Of some of your warmest friends ana
wel-wishers.
Prithee. then-appreciating the benevolcnce Of my
notiyes-for once, like "Davys" awe-ful auut, stop
up your business-ear With cotton, aud relaxing the
severity Of your dignity and dickey, degn to take
peep at our little island-world.
To begin nt the beginning-know that Sou Sou
Weet from Battery Point floating in the dim distance,
may DO seen the vague outline OF vapory bank,
which on clear day resolves itself into genuine
terra frma-the northern and hospitabe s1ore OF
Incompatible Staten.
On such day even objects thereon are discerniblei
trees and buildings contrasted green and white, soft
ching and benOng against their gray and misty back
ground Suggestive and tantalizipg glimpses are
they Of shade aud quietude; and in sutry Summer
westher the gazing Gothamite olling over the Bat
tery-raing, balfreluctnntly dreams of GOODNESS and
comfort, bud, annhating space in fancy, listens to
the rustliDg of sea-bon oreezes through eay grove
and gen-the idle plasb and ripple of the waves along
the shingly shore. Nor does fancy mislead or
distance lend enchantuient to the view"
As you approach undreamed of beauties are re-
vealed; and rambling among its hills and valleys,
through dell aud dngle sailing past it down the
"Nanows," or winding through the "K ilns," the
eye continually feasts delights. Here Taste
exus in the ready realization of her purest dreams;
Nature and Art seem here in graceful fellowship TO
have wrought together for completeness
In Winter, however, a stranger eyes may sse,
through the hnzy miles of distance, nothing par
tcularly charming in her dark outlines rising abruptly
from the waters edge and strpt of velvet verdure and
comfortable foliage; nor, even ON nearer view any
thing peculiarly fascinating in her ROUNDED SUBMITS
and deepening valleys, undraped by Sumner-bioom,
crowned and studded though they are with archtec-
tural rerclatons in the wayof elaborate villas and
ornate cottages.
But, to the initiated, miles are but mists impart
ing rainbow radiance To those who know and love
her-who have seen her " at home, been admitted
to her hearth stones her social circles and residc
gatherings-her beauties are perennial, her graces
enduring; that her "shadow may never be less is
the spontaneous uttcrance of the soul
An irregular, floating triangle, claimed by New
York under the title OF Richmond County, and pay
ing due allegiance to her legal codes and lawful au-
thorities, We. still insinctivey clinging to Jerseys
scanty skirts from whose motherly embrace it is
separated only by the narrowes Of channels, Staten
Island. commanding it does, he entrance to New
York Harbor, is no unimportant item in geograph-
zeal jottings. The paradise Of Peace-the fortress
and battle-ground cS War-song and legend record
its virtuee and history awards it honorable men
"tion."
Comprising within it's borders four large townships,
Mortified, Southfed, Westfeld and Castleton, aud
subdivided into numerous settlements and thriving
villages its extent is seldom comprehended even by
those who visit il. Nor Its capacities properly
estimated. Literally endowed by Nature-with an
undulating surface well wooded and watered-un-
rvaltd in beauty and variety of scenery-unsur-
passed in richness Of soil and luxuTance of yegeta-
ton-this little
Kingdom by the sea"
possesses within itself the elements Of boundess pros
pcrty.
Its fisheries, with which, by the by, most of the
natives" arc more or less connected are by no
means insignificant During the season" sloops
are continually tripping to Old Virginnys" shore to
be loaded with its eisenhower treasures; then re-
tuning nor ard they she'll ont their bewildered car
goes on Staten misunderstanding the bashul emf
grants will soon imbed themselves, shrinking IRON
daychts dangers. Here, in blissful ignorance OF
their impending fate, they are allowed to remain