Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1859-04-28
For the Yorkvillc Enquirer.
LEISURE SKETCHES.
by J. WOOD DAVIDSON.
NUMBER HI.
THE FIVE POINTS,

Let US tnke an omnibus GA Fifth Avenue, aud
seek the locality in question. What q scale!-
Fifth Avenue, Broadway, Five Points. The"place
is far down town, not far from the Park, and in
eight of Broadway. Every one knows that Five
Points is tho most degraded point on the Ameri.
can continent, perhaps in the world. The moral
atmosphere is as pestilential as the natural.at-
.mosphere is filthy and offensive. The very pave
ments stink. Vice there, however, has none of
the allurements it presents elsewhere especially,
elsewhere in New York. There it is repuasive
beastly, dirty. One feels limited sympathy for
those there,as human beings, for be sees that the
beings there are not human. The suffering is all
beastly. There is something reptlian-snakey-
toady-in the presence of the inhabitants. One
shrinks with instructive disgust and shudder
from the squalid loathsome limbs that raiment;
less wretches extend at him, either to grab, point
af, Or to soil him, as be passes along. Begging
or stealing--or combination of the two usually
-isthe leading industrial pursuit to which the
juveniles are brought up. The fathers-but there
are no fathers there. The mothers--but do not
propose to tell of things that arr. there. I wish
to speak Of the ptysiog"omy Of the place; and
then of other places.
Five Points.-One experiences most strongly
perhaps of all feelings the hopeles,aess Of REFORM
To flee-to quit-the painful, humiliadng, and
nauseating scene, is the first impulse. Then, to
explore. With asigh, deep as the infinite sympa-
thies Of the human SOUL one turns to go. A heavi
ness weighs down upon the spirits ike sense Of
guilt; and one hurries away with heart full Of
tears-.tears too few to Mlp-tears that humanity
and womanhood claim not those monsters there.
tgliness-a1 ugliness-hurts and frets the soul
at every STEP. l staid several hours there, held
by the fascinating spellof horror; and sought to
be busy iuquiring and seeing the mission house;
the schools, the dens the homss-the all-ofthat
locality; but returned to Broadway with heavy,
heart, humbled, hopeless for them. The feeling
readily moderates under the stimulus of busy
Broadway.
Memphis, Tsnn.-The population of this city
now numbers about twenty-five thousand. 1t
busy-very busy, but Gayoso street differs widely
in tone from Broadway. The tone of the place is
westsyaAearnest, slangy, reckless, adventurous,
independent, but in its way unselfsh and rpdey
hearty. The western step is loose, careless, but
very earnest Memphis varieghted as to color
and style of building and most grotesquely mis-
IL on5 In
aspirations after'style. Ithas somewhat the Dir
Of an encampment;, andy yet there are buildings,
especially residences, that are equal to New
Yorks best STYLE. So diverse is the aspect One
resolves to strive-to strises with q will-to do
ones best and trust to luck for success. confident
that it syiH come some day. One feels like draw
ing his boots outside his pantaloons, getting
big stick, and pitching into things generally
Such is the face of Memphis.
Columbia, s. c., and Augusta,- Ga.-Thesecities
are very similar in external character. Augusta
fs more Industrious, while Columbia is-more dres
sy Both ore regular, beautifub and eminehtfy
Southern. Neither hasa domestic look. 'Colufn-
bio has peaceful, ,leisurely elegant; satisfied re-
fined, and dressy air. The regularity almost
wearies the eye; but the fresh cheerful lookneu-
tralizes that impression: The tone is refined, but
il, wants stimulating energy-it is a lttletoo
pretty, perhaps. know Of no place so ardently
loved for itself as Columbia. We love it with
psrtiality that is not understood by those who do
not know its loveliness-its amiabHty so to speak.
Willis says of New Haven that that city is what q
poets dream would have made an ideal Home of
Beauty-Columbia is New Haven in its Hebesn
youthfulness and blushy. bloom! Augusta is
Columbia, older, more practical; and more earnest.
Mountains are hopeful and independent. Small
streams soothe. Cataracts awaken, excite, and
then weary. Pine forests are luling with ten
dency to contemplative sadness. Elm trees are
dreamy, and impart q feeling of elevated and
puzzing aspiration, wild pleasing wish. Weep
ing willows have similar tone, but hupbler,
more confding, and more feminine. Vines impart
the idea of security and sympathy. Crooked
streams excite doubt and obstinacy. Desert plains
humiliate, depress, and weaken.
COLUMBIA, S. C.