The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1856-05-10
Our New York Correspondence.
New York, Nav 9th. 1856.


The unfortunate denizens of this metropo-
| lis are Just now in state of the most disa-
eyeeable doubt, dust and confusion, growing
ont of the abomnation of desolation set up
in every house by the annual May movings.
This period overturn begins in earnest about
the 2Sth of April and lasts week, May day
being the high tide of the work. Anc such
a work. Only imagine two or three thou-
sand carts and wagons, with dozen persons
interested in each, totng household lurni-
ture of all descriptions, frcm the brocateiie
and rosewood of Fifthavenuedledum TO the
dirty pine of the Five Points; with all the
confusion of moving out where others are
moving in, collisions Of tables and temper,
breaking of pier glasses and patience, scratch
ing of fine furniture and faces, smashing OF
crockery and of cranums, backing of bed
ding and of eyes, tearing of carpets and
coats, choking with the dust disturbed Tor
the first time since last moving day, or, what
is worse, drenched By nOrtheasterly rain,
which seems to take malignant pleasure IN
, pelting your person and property to make
work for doctors and cabinet makers. This
is faint picture of sad reality which Is
over for this season. Nine out Of every ten
movers have solemny sworn that they Will
not move again; promise that eight oil the
.
so many people move every May IN New
York, / can give no better reason tnan that
ait is the custom" A few are obliged TO
move because the houses are to be torn down
or altered to stores; a larger number be-
cause they cannot pay the rent demanded
now and then one who will not staid an adj
vance-but paying twice the advance tor
cart hire and damaged furniture; yet the
great mass of locomoting families move from
love of change, an hallucinatlon much more
lamentable than many which send their VIC
tins to an lunatic asylum.
The month of May, fashions, flowers,
fresh vegetables and good veal opened
frowningIy with us this time. The first day
was dark and cloudy, the night cold and
stormy, and the Same is true Of the second
and third; but Sunday, the 4th, was beau
,ifully clear and warm.
The anniversary week, as it is called, COM
menced on Sunday, when hall a doz;n an
nuaI sermons were preached mostly by cer-
gymen from abroad. The regular Society
meetings will continue for about tw' weeks,
during which time some twenty anniycrsa-
rics will be held The most important are
the meetings of the Tract Society, Bible So
ciety, Home Missionary Society, Colonial
ton Society, anti-Slavery Soc ETY., and Con-
gregational Union.
These annual ga herings bring to our city
a great number of clergymen and professors
Of the most diverse views and faith, and
provoke among our newspapers equally d.
verse comments. With the people it is a
period of peculiar interest Speakers Of
fame from all parts Of the country hold forth
aud the rush to hear them Is overwhelming.
II matters not what doctrine a man holds or
teaches, il h. has oratorical fame he will
have no lack of hearers in New York. Yet
there are great disappolntInents in many III
stances. We have some OF the best pulpit
orators in the world whom We have with Us
always. and persons who go to hear strangers
too often expect them to surpass thesc I'M
sirpassable home models.
We shall look for a lively time at the
meetings Of the Tract Society, and the Anti
Slavery Society, of which you will be duly
informed by the reports in the daily papers
| am told that there Is a committee from
Charleston, :. 5, in town, examining mo
the working OF our public schools, and modes
of teaching, style of school architecture,
quality Of text books, &c, with a view of
improving the schools of the South. We
are Justly proud of our common schools,
and invite the closest scrutiny into their
principle and operation As for our mode
Of teaching, lis great measure Of success is
a sufficient comment. Our noble school edit
fees also speak for themselves, and our text
books are selected with the greatest care
from works which are generally the result
of the experience Of the abiest teachers III
the country. The furnishing of t xt books
fOr schools mas come TO be very extensive
and perhaps the most profitable branch of
the publishing business in this great city.
\ number of the most substantial publish /.
ing houses in town largely engaged IN
this branch Of the trade, prominent among
whom are the Appletons, who turn out
school books by the cargo.
In the death of Ogden Hoffman last week,
the New York bar lost its most beloved mem
Der, and New York society one Of It's nOh.cst
ornaments. His praise is in the mouths
of all Yours, kSICK.