The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-02

Firth Avenue.
Whoever has surveyed the Fifth avenue OF New York
need entertain no doubt whatever concerning the sources
Of @ present endorsements We venture 10 say that
there rs not such scene Of proigality in Europe The
bouevards Of may surpass in the picturesque
nidcence Of their sweep. The Regents Park London
where each block Of buildings forms harmonious whole
may appear complete and in accordance with ar
ctccural taste than the noted OF upper a.
each of whom makes point to raise his mansion as he
chooses without the slightest consideration fo The form
of his neghbor next door The splendid 4splsnade OF
Brighton-where three miles Of gorgeos eda,es when
the sea- present perhaps tie finest spectacle TO
Witnessed at present the word-may have an aspect
far romantic But IT. point or external
and internal magn6cepce surpasses the whole and it
must besides be remembered that while the two last
named are chiefly of brick the consists either Of
marble or Of equally expensive brown stone.
Let the reader cast his eye along this or take walk
its vast extent of three miles, and-whetner native
Europcsn-hc will be convinced OF the truth OF our
statement. But from the splendor Of the outside
aspect he will be able form idea Of the extravagant
profusion that reigns within. He will nnd il difficult TO
believe that actual retired rumseers shavers,
pavors and dust contractors there exist style of mag
ndcence such as rarely to be the palaces and
tocrauc mansions Of royalty and the Oldest nobility in Eu
u
terror and observe lusrious Goldfish aristocracy in
their unsophscated condition at home he would feel
WINGED that most of them would be infinitely in their
natural element were they in their original log hut pri
milive kitchen.
Let him enter the interior and contemplate the gorgeous
array around him He reads carpets and downy
that is almost sscrege to proane them with foostep
The furniture of the apartments is either imported made
after the most expensive models Of Paris London and Vi
emma. Pier glasses each of which would constitute a
small fortune poor family adorn the walls statuary
has rhaps for il than the British nobeman
who returned from European tour with the noses and
OF Of the choicest statues in Europe his pocket
and paintings Of the mosgaudy hue for which the
has evidently paid infinitely Than that three and
sxpenoe square foot which Theodore Hook declared TO
be the sum given in his day for American Tans and Mi
chae outstanding that the lady of the house.
possibly could no more pronounce their names than the
wife Of the equally vulgar London alderman who repre-
scented the celebrated production OF Psyche by Mrs. Tghe
as " Physfc by Mrs. Tgg.p
The upper part OF the house is commensurate. After
wandering through drawing rooms pnofusely decorated
with gold tnsel dining rooms furnished with all the
the table fit Heogobalus himself and libra
lavishly furnished with books which apparently
read mount 10 the sleeping apartments Of the ed
fee and lind that they consist bedrooms,
grand bedrooms, family bedrooms visiters bedrooms,
and heaven only knows how many other species of bed
roomsunder the names of the white bedroom, the yell
low bedroom, the blue bedroom, the crimson bed
room-accordng to the predomnaing color of the
nents and uappngs with which they furnished. All
these apartments are in general made merely TO be
looked at not used The owner Of the mansion occupies
of themusuay not the most y-but II is evident
that he would he much more home on a straw paas
or IN the box in which he originally slept under his coun
ter
The divinity who presdes this establishment,
howevv, is OF the most exquisite order The husband
may retain traces Of all his original coarseness, but the
lady refined production Of the superlatve degree.
she may III her younger days have been familiar with the
mysteries Of sausage making, and capable Of
lending an able hand washing days But all such ac-
comps hments banished now, and in their stead We
lind her stretched upon ottoman deep in the enchant
ments of some sicsly sentimental journal absorbed
the ravishmens OF some yellow skinned novel; Shaws,
furs ornaments ana ewery OF the expensive order
bedeck surround her. and norddate s her attach
mcnt TO these informed that unless she he past
the meridian Of le IL her husband will not supply them
she will not hesitate 10 seek and find gallant that will
Seriously speaking think there need Of reform in
all these matters II the az these establishments
be of northern origin, and engaged in commercial pur
suits he is driven into runous liabilities in order maR
tan them If he he southern they cause many
additional crack Of the whip 10 be imposed poor sam
hos back The reputation and welfare of the country
were much more efcctually promoted when edfces
more comfortable and less gorgeous and habits
more IN accordance with the ideas Of republican smp
city.