The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-01-14
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
New YORK. .Jannoru IL:

New YORK, January, 1858.
To the Editor of the National Era:
New York is slowly recovering from the
paralysis that has affected her, yet it will be
some months. before she acquires her usual
tone. Till one has become accustomed to the
sight, it is really melancholy to see in 80 many
windows notices of the reduced prices at which
most goods are sold, for it tells a story of EN-.
bar assment and suffering that it is sad to hear
Individual stories, too, of loss and destitution
come TO cur ears with terrible power, and touch
our hearts as nothing else can. Put not your
trust In uncertain riches" is whispered from
many deserted home where wealth once
gathered everything that could minister to the
taste, the ambition, or the pride of its occu
pants. Now, pennyless and hopeless, and un-
taught IN seif-care, these poor, stripped ones
are exposed to cold, hunger, and want, and
know not where to turn tor comfort and sun.
port. Wealth has its blessings, and we are all
apt to crave its gifts-but it has its curse too.
1t enervates, and does not often develop that
richness of character which poverty so delights
to grow on her hard SOIL and amid her granite
rocks. The mignonette loses its fragrance
when it finds too rich home. Wealth pro
duces a tropical being, luxuriant, selfindulsent
| helpless, and insolent. Poverty nurtures 4
| strong mind in strong body, selfrelant, as
piring, enduring, and with mighty power OF
| accomplishment. 1t strengthens as the north
wind strengthens the forest. The pursuit Of
wealth as an end is low and ignoble-the pur
| suit of it as a means may be one Of the most
glorious objects in life.
Broadway ia an unfailirg fountain of thought
| How often it has reminded me of that line BY
Mrs. Browning, that " men we know not are az
good as trees" We can study strangers as VIC
he lie of W
| to them, and this close observation must cease
We must not appear to notice them. Coming
| down Broadway, "on the proper SIDE" few
days since, my steps were suddenly arrested by
visions of long centuries since, in sharp CONTRAST
with the present hour. Before me was pla
| card, on which, in mummied honor, reposed the
| figure of Sacred Bull, that three thousand
years ago had been worshipped; and dying
| idolatrous veneration had fed his carcase with
spices and bitumen, and he had been carefully
wrapped in fold after fold of cloth, which il
| still in good state of preservation. A few fee,
| only from this memorial of "the dead past
| stood an enclosed bog of articles manufactured
| on modern sewing machine--a Et illustration
| of IS the living present" / could not resist the
impulse to ascend the fight of stairs leading &c
the two rooms, on the same floor, where Old
Egypt and Young America were brought into
40 close and singular union. Side by side lay
the quiet, mouldering past, and the busy, invent
i've present. In the Egyptian Museum looked
upon lsdy's work misunderstanding Like sr
African basket-ovsl in its shape, and about q
foot in length. This contained, when found
various articles which are now spread about it
Among these are tvo bronze needles similar t.
modern needles, and two eieins Of thread, and
o piece Of linen in The process OF being darned