Litchfield enquirer., 1855-07-12
NEW YORK CORRESPONDENCE.
New YoRK, July 7th. 1855.

Fnlz Wniz boom. bang! We have sur
vived another gunpowder celebration of the
glorious Fourth. Young America began it
the evening previous, and gave vent to its
superfuous patriotism in millions of Chi
nese crackers discharged on the street, in
areas, on the house-toPs, in the parlors SINCE
ing the lap-dog, and even penetrating the
sanctum of the g Governors bedroom to
the terror of nervous mama, SO that the ball
was fairly in motion before the more old
fogy ordinance in the Park rolled out its
noisy stencil of welcome at sunrise. As on
all similar occasions divers heroes mindful
of '76 were willing to dedicate portions of
themselves on the altar of Liberty, and could
the contributions of toes, fingers, noses, sin
ged hair and teeth be duly set forth in a
Museum We should have no occasion to be
ashamed of what ''the children of our sires''
are ready to undergo for freedom. All who
could do so left town and hid away from
the internal din in some green nesting place,
but thousands from the surrounding country
! took their places filing the streets and in
tent on the civic and military ''turn outs
and waiting for the might display of fire.
works which, on account of the rain did
not corne'of, but is postponed until next
Monday evening. The day passed off on
the whole much more quietly than was an
ticipa:ed. For months before we had bloody
bones, rumors of riots, of full blown inten-
tons to stop rum selling at least on the
Brooklyn side, and equally full blown res
olutions to resist ii ct arns,s. Then it was
expected everybody would get jolly drunk
, by way Of signalling the winding up Of
the regime and showing the world general
ly that there is no real freedom in a nation
without each citizen thereof may poison and
imbrute himself as much as he likes. But
Everybody did no such thing ; and although
the dram shops were all open there was less
drunkenness than on any 4th July for many
years Why it was SO is difficult TO see !;
as there was no obstruction placed by the
authorities in the way of full indulgence.
Perhaps the tipplers suspected some trick
{ of the cunning Fernando and feared that
whenitdking ''smile" in the gorgeous sd
loon or the corner grocery, they should be
, seized by some Dogberry and made TO bear
witness in open court to the nature of the
1smile" aforesaid, whether it was foreign
! or domestic, OF perhaps the whole body of
drinkers by marvellous coincidence agreed
, each one with himself that he would set SO
good an example on the one day of Mayors
grace, that he should be content after
wards to rest the matter in their discretion.
However, these supposi,ions may be, the in
dications are. that all the bravado and threats
,of the rumsellers and their abettors are Josh,
that large majority of our citizens are in
favor of prohibitory law, and that if the
Mayor really means in good faith to enforce
it, and the police are honest and vigilant it
, can be done, and easily done, despite the
plans and Inconsistencies which gentlemen
learned in the law have seen through the
enchanting lens OF golden fees.
3 That delicate generosity which finds its
home emily in good heart and constitutes
J the element of true poli.eness, is not met
t with very frequently in the society which
5 calls itself most refined. 1t makes no choice
2 in its objects and holds It's l.,e sacrifices to
be due as much to its lowly companions as
I to the high. Instead of it we see in great
| abundance sort of false courtesy which
) can exist on friendly terms with $, lishness
and makes display of itself only on parl-
cular occasions when ething can be made
5 by the operation. An incident came under
a my observation the other day in a city rail
. car which l cannot forbear relating, as it
r was highly instructive to that class of we'll
} dressed men who seem to think that moth
f ing can be claimed from them on the score
2 ofpoliteness, by people of an inferior posi-
ton, TO themselves. was standing ON the
| platform of a somewhat crowded car when
D plain elderly lady in black came in. The
{ seats were all occupied by men who were by
no means inclined to resign the luxury, I'M
I'll gentleman in the further end of the car
arose and offered her his seat, which she
after politely declining, upon his solicitation
accepted. Presently, a beautiful and richly
!, !. dressed young lady catered, and straight
way four or five seats We're offered her sim
3nltane0usly. She evidently did not wish to
disturb anybody, but with the sweetest of
fsmies took the seat nearest. In few min
utes the car stopped for weary looking poor
woman with a bundle, who, though she
would miss her half dime at supper had
veatnred It's expense in hope Of resting her
tired frame as she rode home to her little
ones. She cast one glance around and saw
that she was disappointed. No gentleman
moved. The young lady with the lovely
J face Gust such one as Raphael was fond
A.. .saK,frs t.K.t- L II 4