New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-04-11
HOUSES AND HOUsEKREPlSG.

A correspondent Of The Boston Transcript, az ex-
tract from whose letter will be found in another
column, alludes to a feature in the domestic
my of New-York which is certainly as lamentable
as it is striking and Northumberland that is the al
most mpossibity FOR those who desire 70 live at
once comfortably ard economically, of finding
dwellings in this city at all suited to such scheme
oflife.
Within the last ten years or 80 building has gone
on among us at furious rate; but far as relates
TO houses to live in, it to have been mainly
confined to two classes Of tenements-thOse for
which q price or rent is demanded, and which, ac-
coIding to the doctrine of correspondence, require
furnishing and an establishment altogether be-
Vol the reach OF men of moderate MEANS and
these wretched, miserable, crowded tenant houses,
or something nearly approaching to them in char
acter, so bad and dangerous to the public health
end morals az recently to have provoked legisls-
tive inquiry.
A thousand dollars is now thought quite mod
crate rent for respectable house; nor within
reach of omnibuses, city railroads, or even of the
ferriee is decent dwelling in wholesome and
ceanly neighbOIhee< 10 be obtained for less than
hslf that amount. Now, no prudent man. especial
" with an increasing family, will devote more than
quarter part of his income to the payment of
rent; and what proportion of our citizens even in
successful and prosperous business, can count upon
a certain income of four thousand dollars ? What
proportion of our professional men, Of those, in
fact who constitute the most intelligent, refined and
worthy part Of our population canearn or do earn,
ore year with another and making due allowance
for sickness and accidents, two thousand dollars
What proportion of the numerous employees OF our
GREAT commercial establishments, and of that large
class whose position and whose tastes alike re
quire them to live respectfully, enjoy any such
annual ncomel And for those who do, what
false mode Of life, 70 spend every cent as fast as
is earned: and, Ike the buffaloes on the prairies
to deyour the grass as fast as it springs NJ, with
no thought Of the approaching Winter aud unioF
unately with no such natural end instructive means
finding shelter in the detiles of the mountains,
nj food under the snow.
Ii indeed men had no more forethOught than
bufialoes this mode of life might be comfortable
NllLIC lnt lrlu 'ut, NAStS'Nl hcpftuNN a.
terwsrd; but unfortunately for New-York house
keepers, man is an animal to whom the future is
much more than the preeent. Many good father
OF a family, We fear, in his fifteen hundred or two
thousand dollar house, and even in houses Of much
more moderate rents, glances his eyes about his
richly furnished rooms as he enters them, sits
down every day TO eat his dinner. with much
the feelings of that gues of Dyonisius the tyrant
Of Sicily, whose appetite for the delicacies spread
out before him was rather dulled by the conscious
ness that there hung directly his head naked
sword suspended point downward by a single hair,
and which at any moment might fall and pierce
him. Such We fear must be much the predicsment
OF many New-York housekeeper whose enjoy
ment OF the dearbousht Injuries about him is CON-
Pietely neutralired if not indeed turned into gall aad