The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-08-22

APPEARANCE Or FlErH Avenue AND csNrRE
srEKHT ON AN Auousr sunday AFTERNOON.
me Fifth avenue, gorgeous and stately, and Centse
street, sqoald and r,cksiy, may be regarded % the
snt'Ood's Of New York. serving sIpouene respective
y Of the extremes OF metropolitan life The former
represents the wealth and Refinement, as the latter
Does the poverty and degradation Of our city Oae is
broad, airy and Symmetrical, adorned with palaual
mansons, be residences OF real reouted mliooares
The gathering point of the gay sshoabe the other
uneven, aunk'n an II by burihen of sip below the
level OF ing streets, aoounoiog vile sbanties
and upsgbtly tenement bouseehe very focus Of vice
and crme. In Fifth palaces upon whose con-
stucrop bondrsds Of thousands OF dollars have been
svsbed; In Centre street shantes WORTH exclusive
Of the ground they cumber from dfy doll rs la
FIFTH avenue spebdid architectural displays and on
every side the svceuea Of ndisijuAl wealth.
Refinement IN Centre street, asde from the gloomy Exyp
tan pile called tho "romhso erected BY the city IS
terror to evil doors, and the clothing m.nuf.coss woch
are beginning 70 compel the poor 70 move on"
DO pretence TO architecture, evidence Of taste,
nothing every hand but the tokens OF the
s ugges Of fTsi and with poverty want,
temptation and crme-svuggles In which those grim and
ORE foes Of bumspy are ever gsning the fapcy
No contrast could be complete.
Yet, Of Sunday ternoou, at tho present OF ths
year, the stroller through these thoreughares must
be impressed with remarkable contrast Of dierens
uature The street OF wealth and fashion 10 deserted
desola gloomy while the Of vice aoa Is
lively, radiant, apparently full Of enjoy nent This is
lie Of oowpensstions. The big paiaces still stand
on Flfth avenue, but the window blinds are
closed and no sound Of life comes from
Sthn. Here and there q Celtic female visage
peers from behind the bali closed blinds and chamber.
maid or cook gaily Creased, gdes from the area for
hnPv Alma No
around tho No carriages passing and only
here and there = pedestrian hurries along The
street could hardly be desolste and abAn.
cored q terrible pcstilepcs were raging In
that part OF the city. Inc residents Of the palaces
are spending their money and their Ss5bs.hs ss Ne wport
saratoga, Cape May, Niagara, wherever else fashion
or caprice msy have led tnem BY and bye fashion viii
permit them return home The new Filth Avenue Rotsl
and the churches will be opened under bright
pces, and the avenue will resume woDted brilnpcy
Bus Centre street, the Five Points avenue, 10 in
the height Of Ito season, and Of . pleasant SUM-
day afternoon presents Q scene OF gay
ETY. and even iolty. 10 front Of every doorway
whole families congregaed, and all along shady
side Of the street there miscellaneous crowds Of men,
women and children. Crinoline aud hoops displayed
In ample proportions, albeit calico predomnstss largely
sks The steps OF the romos resort and
here The ouDgers tier above tier phitheare.
Fellow, thin faced women, with puny babes in arms are
abundant The free and easv though
particularly reoped and select Dog fights, milling
matches" and politics about equally discussed. Some
times there noisy demon STATIONS and slight e.ull
nons OF the ro~dy spirit but the presence Of "M
Pc" the policemen are ss lied that neghborhood
quickly checks the turbulent and ntains The public
tranquility. The small wooden tenement houses, SO foul
that Ia alleged IRE carnot burn Them have all their
windows thrown open TO WOO whstever breezss may
oetcend 40 low and the inmates gathered
the pavemeLts whous Around cIosed doors Of the
dram shops These miserable are At least none the
worse for their weekly airipg and /. is pity the
san cool weather which Will restore animation TO the
Fifth avenue will at the time conne the other ex
Of society within their SCRABBLE weIlegs ADD rob
Centre street of all liz gavetv