Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-07-12
MISCELL AN Y.
From Our 0son Correspondent.
Chicago.

say in England, Tor Onlcago Our coutso iaf
quietly across the peninsula of Michigan through
a green aud fertile country, with multitude OF
Young and lively towns, among which the most
fsmilisr names were those of Ypsilauti, Ann Ar
hor Kaamayss and Miles, While we were
stopping at the first of these, saw a crowd a.
round q dog-ight in the street and conspicuous
sign of Chinese juggers, which facts ventured
TO state in answer to question from Boston
gentleman, whether Ypsilanti was "much OF a
place."
We struck Lake Michigan towards evening at
New Buffalo, so called, | presume, from sup
posed analogy between its situation on this lake
and that of Old Buffalo C) on Lake Erie. We
struck the shore again at Michigan City, con-
fusing name, referring to the lake aud not the
State, as the "cty" really belongs to Indiana,
through the northern extremity of which we
now passed into Illinois, thus visiting three
States within an hour or two. We turned the
South west corner Of Lake Michigan as night
approached, and moved along the shore towards
Chicago amidst the gathering of wintry storm.
/ approached the "Garden City" as il chooses
to describe Itself, according to modern and a
mercau usage which | think more honored in
the breach than the observance, with feeling
not remote from awe, st least such awe IS we
might feel at the sight OF gigantic baby. Here
was great commercial town OF 125, 900 inhabi
tsnts entirely created since reached the period
of manhood Within my recollection lies the
time when Government-commissioner pro-
uounced the site entirely unit for such pur-
pose, aud predicted that place OF trade could
never be established there This is hut one OF
many instances in which foresight has been
utterly at fault in reference to the site OF cities
| shall only specify tho case of Washington,
where every natural advantage authorized its
founders to anticipate great commercial mart
as well as political centre; and that OF Madras
where populous and wealthy seaport has aris
en- on q spot without hsrbor, and at which e.
ven boats can only land with great exertion
through a savage surf. Such facts should teach
men to leave more to Providep ce, and trust less
to mere calculation, even from experience and
analogy, in choosing sites for future cities. AS
corollary may be added. that such cases show
the greater wisdom and expedienoy of choosing
places tor important centres which are ALREADY
in existence and estab| lshed, compared with the
tavorite practice, in new countries, of making
them to order, more specially when this attempt
proceeds upon the fs llaoy of geographical CEN
trality, instead of following the teaching of e1
perieuce, that the great seats of influence, what
ever be the local situation, are the nearest IN the
sense of being most accessible to the greatest
number.
Iput up in Chicago, at the Richmond House, an
excellent hotel, kept by the Messrs. Taber, faith
er and so q, q family well known to travellers, as
formerly connected with the American In New
York, the La Pierre in Philsdelphis, and large
hotel at Cape May in New Jersey. 1t may have
been imaginary but thought saw among the
company at this house, most of whom were
rather permanent than local guests, marked
popularity of manner, an extreme exaggeratlon
of that strong inausitveness as to strangers,
whether expressed in look or language, which l
have mentioned as far more characteristic OF
the West than of New England. To one who
likes as do, to be let alone, the inconvenlences
Of such attention outweigh its advantages and
honors.
There is no place in my itinerary which has
left more distinct impression OF its counte-
nance or physiognomy upon my memory than
this same city of Chicago. Its site directly on
the lake shore its division into quarters by the
Canal and the Chicago River, with their boats
and bridges its air of raw, unmiti gated new
ness, with an almost painful absence OF that ola
worn out element which enters into sll our con
ceptions of city; tbs tasteless and temporary
style of building in the meaner streets, peculiar,
ly American; the equally American acti ylty and
wid-eawaSeness, which pervades the business
quarters the truly western combination OF sol
ldlty and elegah ce, wherever wealth ana am
ton have begun to operate; the noble blocks ol
commercial brildngs which have sprung up in
the leading thoroughfares; the lordly look Of
several churt ,hes, among which the New School
Presbyterian, are conspicuous; and lastly, the
real splend0r of the mansions on the two
great avenu es which face the lake (Michigan
and Wabash0; these are engraved upon my mem
ory as the cl Characteristic features of the Garden
City.
A materi al though temporary draw back 10
the comfort of the visitor is that presented by
the strange condition of the streets and side
walks, sore of which are now impossible and
others only by ascents and descents which g.
bundantly compensate for the absence of natu
rsl inequalities in the surface. This state of
things, which makes the streets as pictu-
rescue and inconveuientas they can be to the
passing stranger, was explained to me- though
not very clearly, by citizen, as incidental to
scheme in progress for raising the grade or level
of the citv-a process which, unless absolutely
indispensable for safety or some other cause, has
been begun rather late, but only seems the more
tn plorify the enterprise and energy OF Western
character | saw some houses undergoing eleva-
ton and in one of the avenues already mention
ed, counted three if not four wooden buildings
standing in the middle of the highway like st.
Clement Danes in the strand, but less imposing
and as itrshould seem, only resting on the Sab
bath in their journey to some other situation.
The Old School Presbyterian Churches OF
Chicago have very humble aspect in compar
ison with those of the New School, being built
If wood and not very large, though neat and we'll
arranged. This material Inequality, is made
good, presume, by the popularity and standing
of their pastors. DR.. Rice was absent at the
General Assembly; but heard very instruc-
live, editying, evangelical, and eloquent dis
course delivered to a rainy-day congregation by
the Rev. Mr.. Henry, whose preaching has com
manded great attention lately in New York, and
who was named as a candidate for one of the
most distinguished pulpts of that city, if not ao-
tually called to it.
Hooked in at the close of the evening service
in the Catholic Cathedral, called "St. Mary's OF
he Lake" where an unusual crowd bad been as
sembed by an intimation in the papers of Satur-
day, that Archbishop Hughes was to oficiate; /;
bnt the sexton told me he was not in town.
The Episcopal churches of Chicago are less
prominent, apparently, than those of most A
mericsn large towns. Among the ministers of
this nersuasion, | heard high place given to