Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-10-16
CHAPTER |.



New York! The Metropolis of the Union Nest
led away in its land-locked bay; teeming WIN tne
collected wealth OF nnions--crowded wi'h' 'ts
gathering hosts ofhumunty-a vast battle ground
of life, in the midst of which stands mammoh,
flushed with conquest and victory
Whnt a field for the study oi mnn! VINO Gun
count ts riches, or who shall dare to guess at
lis poverty The eye is dazzled by IFS prlncely
palaces and the heart bloeds in view OF It's squai-
i'll wretchedness
Here it's thousands roll in luxurious plenty; and
there its thousands more fall crushed and dying
beneath want and famine Here the iaVofeo
ones see green trees, and breathe ireSn ai''
while there the poor children OF DIRE necessity
look only upon fostering corruption ana preathe
the fonl minann of pc silence and death !
Pass this way, aud find Intelligence, NOR
aty and virtue; but turn thither, and we staha
in the midst of ignorance, oi vice, and OF moral
death Bat mark All its poverty - not vicious
II and nll lis wealth is not virtue NO. no IN
some ofihe palaces you may find hearts black
with SIN; in some of the novels you sna'i hnu
souls rs true and pure earth can beget.
And now if any of the scenes OF my story
onuse n shuddcr remember that only giWo them
because they nre true. God forbid that ! shooio
draw one single theme of horror from imng'na-
tion, when have seen with my own eyes IA 'hs
prent City. scenes terrible that could not
write them if would-scenes which wouli SO
be staggered. | will not pnnder to morbid curl
osity-I will only picture humanity as hnd It.
If | show YOU vice. il il that you may shunlt
but be sure we shall find much, very much OF no
Bile virtue that is worth copying virtue that
warns the heart beauties life, and lifts the soul
hcavenward
II was towards the close of a wet. cold day in
Spring-in the first week of May. 1t had not
been raining. but sort of seety mist had hung
over the great city since early in the morning,
md the payements were sloppy and wei. mo
dampnoss fell insensby. but it clung To the
stones and bricks with such tenaclty, never dry
ing up nor running of, the deposit OF the early
hours still remaining where u htst iouhd rest
tLot there was more mud and slop in the streets
ond upon the sidewalks than could have resulted
from min Upon the avenues the cars and the
stnpes were full-even to that fabulous fullness
in view of which the drivers refuse to stop for
even Zone more"-and yet the sidewalks were
crowded with men, women and children. hurry.
ing home from the tolls of the day -Jostl'ng ana
and pushing- each one for sef--looking only
ahead caring for nothing about them-all citi-
zens of the snme town, and yet all strangers.-
Down town the larger stores were all closed, and
in some of the more retired localities the gus was
already lighted.
Upon Broadway, in the midst of the great bu-
sincss portion Of the City, stood large orick
building, which, running back over several lots.
from the main throughfore by narrow passage.
Upon this court were several shops and Offices
and unlike most places of the kind the yard was
neat and clean In one of the Easements, which
was well lighted from both sides, was manutac-
tory of gold leaf The apartment was quite spa
cious, with small office and saying room IN
one corner, and with anvs, or beating tables, for
some dozen workmen. AT the present time there
was only one person in the goldsm'h's shops
young man, twenty two years of age. named Orr
on Lindell. lie had been in the employ OF Mr.
! Gaivey, the owner, only about five years. and
yet ho was the foreman of the shop. Al! outside
of the Office was under his charge, and those who
know the peculiar value of the material when
PASSED in large quantities through bis hands, win
at once realize tie responsibility of his statlcn'
He had proved himself competent ana i"'nlu,, ..
and untold wealth was left to his ndiViaiu' .a,
with as much assurance o. its safety AS lis o~ne'
could have felt in all the vaults ana proei-'oeA'
in the City. l.roo in
Orion Lindel was of medium SIZE NOT 'a' ~
frame. but firmly and compactly built; WIN a.orm
Of admirable proportions; his limbs full and hneiy
rounded; his breast broad and nahiy Developed
and his carriage free and light. His face was one
of peculiar manly beauty. His brow was b'gn,
omen and FULL above and aboat which clustered
| the glossy hair in light brown curls; his eyes
| sparkling and bright and of deep blue'sh grey