The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-01-24
Our New Orleans correspondence.


New Year in The Crescent City-The "Feast of
the .Seuen Cardinals" and Tie Sons of Malta-
Burning Of q Well Kno,gn Bazaar-Mail H.
reguldrihes-The Whirl of Winter Gaieties
In consequence of the new year commencing on
Sunday, there has been quite lively dispute
among the beau monde here concerning the pro-
per day for the New Year calls. The matter has
finally been compromised-the creole residents
quafing their eggnog and apple toddy to-day, the
Americans, In general, deferring the compliments
of the season until tomorrow.
Christmas week has passed away right merrfy in
the Crescent City. It was ushered in on Christmas
eve by grand midnight parade of the Sons of Nal
ta That day ia called in their calendar the "Feast
of the Seven Cardinals" Nearly seven hundred
knights participated, some two hundred of whom
were mounted and armed capa-pie, while all were
closely masked. Cof1ins surmounted with all the
paraphernalia of death, were borne in the process
sion at appropriate intervals, and the solemn music
of the bands, with the glare of countless torches,
combined to give strange werdness to the scene.
Along The whole line Of march people tumbled pre-
ciptately out of their beds to get a glimpse Of the
hooded Maltese, and not little speculation ensued
as 10 the names and standing of the unknown
knights.
About dawn on Christmas morning the whole
city was startled by the news that fire had broken
out in the extensive jewelry establishment of Hyde
Goodrich. This magnificent BAZAAR situated at
the intersection Of two principal thoroughfares,
st. Charles and Canal streets, has for years been
the fashionable corner which fair promenadcrs in
variably passed, and where our young boods as in
varlaby congregated. 4 large portion of the valu-
able stock in the lower store was saved: but the
upper stories which were devoted to the wholesale
trade and to manufacturing purposes were COM
pletey destroyed, with their contents. At the time
Of the fire the store was deched most gorgeously
for the holidays; tile showcases and windows were
blaze o. gold, silver, and jewels; and few could
have imagined that the Tiiianys Of the South was
so soon to be converted into heap Of blackened
and smoking ruins. The fremen, by untring efforts,
succeeded in preventing the flames from spreading
TO the dry goods establishment of Benthuyscn
Lewis Co., next door bat the damage done TO their
goods by the water viii not fall short of $4,000
Hyde & GOodrich's loss amounted 10 sl30Go0, near
~ all Of which, however, is covered by insurance.
The veXng irregularity Of our mails causes great
Dissatisfaction and complaint among our people
the Post Office; and will hardly be believed in
Northern cities, where the mails arrive with
such unerrjng precision, when | say that let
tiers. due do. not arrive one day in ten. 1t is
to be hoped that as soon as the Post Office
Department receives it, appropriations, some
speedy and decisive measures will be taken to
remedy the evil. Il is a crying sin that port Which
ships so large fraction OF The total exports Of the
country should be left destitute of reliable postal
facilities Already many OF our business houses
send their more important letters BY express, and
this practice will soon become general unless some
thing is done towards postal reform.
The opera houses and our other places OF arnuse
Gent are now in full b asst Spalding and Rogers
double circus company are settled for the winter at
the Amphitheatre. Edwin Booth commences an en-.
gagement at the Sc. Charles theatre tomorrow
night, and will undoubtedly draw full houses. At
the Varieties, manager Owens has produced Dot
in very creditable style, and the piece is having
quite a run, the theatre being janlmed every
night. When I" Dot is played OUT "Our Amerf-
can Cousin is to be the next attraction. Within
the last two weeks both of our operas have been well
supported. The creoles determined that the old
Theatre dOrleans shall not close for lack Of pa
tronage; hence its audiences nightly augment in
numbersi but the Americans and strangers attend
the new Opera exclusively. "The Huguenotsi will
be brought ont tomorrow night at the old Opera
and "Lucia di Lammermoor'' az the new. Manager
Boudousguie has also in rehearsal the "Sicilian
Vespers," in which our amateurs expect a rich
treat In musical circles here, it is matter of fire.
quent boast that New Orleans can support two first
class opera companies, while New York, with far
greater population, maintains one with difficulty.
| In other respects, gaiety Teigns supreme here.
Masked and fancy balls, both public and private
take place every night by the dozen; among the
| keep the bells and beauY astir, raree shows and
| gambling hes are provided in abundance for the
special cdifcation of the greenhorns, who swarm
here from the valley of the Mississippi, while tho
general din is in no wise lcssened by the rush and
hustle OF the business season. .--
NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 8, 1850.
The CS,trdtion Of Tie EighihDedN Of Vt7un--hn ~
fair q Hcnor-Shed Pairing TGlge Of Real Estdie,
&C., dc.
The anniversary of the battle Of New Orleans has this
year been celebrated with thau customary iole
This strange as IL may appear at the North Is maa' at
tribuabe to the fact that has fallen upon Sunday
Hitherto has been found difficult bring out Cit
zen socry at SO busy season. but to-day, business be
nc generally suspended, the volunteers sceuiei animated