The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-10-18
y,umorolity of Cities.

There exists n strong propensity III this
country. and we suppose in all other countries
to represent the great cities as great ulcers OF
immortality and wickedness. Paris, for ex-
ample is proyerbal for unbridled and shame
less Iiceu onsness, and London, though more
decorous in externals, is supposed to be lit
tie better In the United States, New York Is
believed 10 he perfect sink of iniqGity, New
Otieans n menagerie of tigers aud obscene
birds. and Washington a living daguerreotype
of both. There are curious stories related OF
shocking RIGHTEOUSNESS among respectable
people" which, with change OF names
and dates have been told tor the last forty
five wears; which descend from generation
TO generation. ana seem TO be as eternal In
their duration as they are corrupt in their
character One would think, from the ac-
counts rife in the yerdant spots of the earth,
that the men of the large cities were all rogues
and murderers, the women faiihless and foul,
and sincerity and manliness qualities utterly
unknown.
Now we think, human nature is pretty
much the same in all places and all ages. A
rural life is most favorable to virtue. but city
life has as great advantages for moral i'm
proyement as it has temptations to vice. There
is great amount of vice in cities, because
there is great amount of humanity. The
country is not without vice; the tarest Eden
on the face of the earth has "the trail of the
serpent, over it in one shape other, and there
is probably no village in the laud which, in
proportion to its numbers, and bearing in mind
the mixed population which is thrown into
large cities from all quarters of the world, has
any reason to say to the latter, "Stand aside
for l am holier than thou" There is proba-
bly, more scandal and gossipping in small
town in twenty four hours than there has been
in London or New York for the last hundred
years.
Paris, which has the worst name of any
capital of the civilized world, derives its bad
reputation, like New Orleans and Washing
ton, from the strangers who visit it in pursuit
OF pleasure, and most of whom never come
within guu.shot of its respectable society,"
The domestic life of Paris is more guarded
than that Of almost any other country, and
the domestic relations of the gentry and men
of science and business as pure and noble as
those of any other locality under Heaven
Indeed, it would be well il, in this fast age
and generation, we could. boast as much love
and loyalty Of children to parents as are ey.
erywhere found in the French nation. As fol
London. a city Of two millions of inhabitants
the great mass, comprising both the nobility
aud the lniddling classes, are as honest, soeel
aua moral q people as can be found In an.
part OF the world, whether country or town
The means and energies that have beef
awakened in London for the moral and intel
leetuai iroprovement of man, surpass all tina
the rural districts of England ever did, or, il
the nature Of things, could, pat forth. Th
same il true OF most OF our large American
cities. New York has bad name; it is tn
sink and sewer of all the raseality Of the Uni
ted States, and Of the whole world. and tn
elecsion Of every officer by the people puts tn
government virtually in the hands of the moi
but il ali the rascals and dissolute charac
tiers could be marched out Of New York
1t would still be q very large city, full O
q industrious, enterprising, moral and &c
nerpus people can be found on this con
An4nt. So, too, with the city Of Washington
The resident citizens are most upright an
yirtuous. as well ms intelligent and refined
population. Perhaps there 10 no city in on
land where there 10 less ~ sectionaiism, an
more respect h pad 70 intellect and merit
M The people Of that city ought not TO be hel
responsfa4e ~ the EamblinE, drunkenness
md r0y&y9em generally. Of the represents
bNe9 ~ 1thef sections-some from the pur
46t Q{ent country--who make Washingto
fssar diqnarters during the winter
ROANOKE VALLEY RAiLRoAp.-Tbe ANN,
msesipg of tbs stockholders of this ro,,
80 hsidai Townsville. N. G., on the ta,h ins
1assry Waod, Of Clarkesyile, was ~ .e,ec,a.
sesanert and Joseph r. Anderson. az p,ch
sssa, and Wm c. Marrow. Jr. az Norf.,,r
s e1a.rA ~ Directors on behalf az -. 1891.
Isl n9saess the State Direction. ara Iames Z
aaykins, Esq, DR.. s. II. Harri. and nr NJ Tsee
Of aa.,,,.s'' olarAes vile, and s. s. DAILY, ESQ
sesf snalax Ne La int srs ~ s !, ~ ~