The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-30
NEW YORK ON FOOT.

NEW 4V&AR 49, eSSSs
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The Central Park ~ . Promenade-The
urondvvav Psnorama-Instde and Out
aide vtews-The HTfIlionafres, Mer-
eh.nts. Bankers, Lawyers, Editors,
Laasss and Dandies IN Boots on. the
sunny Side OF Our Great Thorough
fare-The Judges, Divtnes, Doctors.
Artisans, Publishers and Clerks Airing
themselves I'm the Central Park, Sc.
A few days ago we published an article descriptive Of
hose who were conspicuous in principal thorough
fares and the Central Park carriage riders and eques
TRANS and alluded the this field Of public
show which the Central Park and other improvements
have developed We endeavored to show the character
ietics and marks Of individuality this newly opened
field of display and although the practice Of equestrian
Ism IL Somewhat new not having been sufficiently long In
cpeYatios 10 develope conservative condition from
which settled principles Of taste and character could be
looked for yet, doubtless there were many facts pre-
scented which novel and interesting 70 those wno
have not studied this feature Of metropolitan Ire.
The time Is not very remote since horseback riding II
The metropolis was confined to the vatudinarians In
nufned robes, proceeding at Jog trot over our
muddy and break neck roads, under the ad-
vice and daily prescription from old fogy physicians
Most Of these exhibitions ludcrous in the extreme
and anorded failing fund Of amusement TO the
walk Many Of these performances Of the old foges al
ludcd TO- shaking like jelly upon the back Of hard trot
Ting horse quite equaed II they did not exceed, the
eccentricty Of Don Quixote his favorite Ros
mantle; and occasionally there would be found some
terprisng citizen who, conceving that riding horse
back was one Of the performances which required
training was willing to make first appearance for
the public benefit but now, however, horseback riding
has become Of the arts and sciences Schools have
been established for the education Of the horse in
which his PAGES are regulated his temper cultivated and
refined and his whole condition brought to the highest
degree Of equine perfection; and ambitious people
Of every and degree from the substantial merchant
10 the foppish dandy, have had developed newly fired
ambition for the display Of grace and form upon the back
Uf o thousand dollar horse.
While every condition IN life, from competency up
wards, has furnished a liberal share Of votaries
10 this new field Of vanity and pleasure
aside from it's healthful aspect, Is somewhat curl
Gus 70 see the degree Of resistance and dsapprobaton
with which most of our old fashioned people view this
practice deeming exravagant innovation and there
may be seen in the Central Park in the days of great
display OF gay equpages and costly horses, large num-
Der Of our solid men, sturdy trudgng foot the
hills along the parade grounds and prominent show
points gazing with supercilious detracon upon the
hibtion which our fast people make with blood, bone
and muscle patent leather and silver mountngs These
old fellows are to be found directors Of
moneyed institutions and other places where credit s
king and many aspiring man. flushed with his after
noon display with pair Of fast horses, has been
snubbed next morning by these hard headed, poding
moneyed men for what In their judgment has tended TO
exhibit too fast, extravagant and unreliable msds Of
life.
Our description Of s'life on the road gave TO the
general reader an idea as how large class in
city spend their leisure hours but lest readers outside
Of the city should infer that oil New York in
dulge in the luxury Of exercising horse fesh, we
viii devote o chapter 10 the marks and special
characteristics Of another numerous class, the
modest and ambitious pedestrians. Those who are
found walking in the Central Park are representatives OF
Oil grades Of social rank, personal pccuartes and
tionslity-beggars mionaires, Jews Gentes, heather
and Christians all intermingled is however, truth
which we think none will dispute, that there vastly
more who ride in costly equipages who ought 70 go on
foot than there those who walk who have abundant
ability 70 ride II they choose Then, again, there
very many Of citizens who believe that pedestransm
lie more healthfu comfortable and agreeable than riding
but habit has TO do with this devcopeent than per-
haps any other consideration The Central Park exhibits
these features remarkable degree, and nothing mani
fests more strongly the facilities and advantages derived
from the Park than the statistics showing the numbers
ho who resort 70 this healthfu region Of exercise
and IMMIGRATION. During the past fall The number that
have found their way there have exceeded all previous
calculations the records Of the gatekeepers show that
enc or Sundays 5000 pedestrians found their way
through the several entrances and Saturdays besides
the thousand riders thirteen thousand known 70
be exercising their legs On the broad walks or in the Ram
BILE in one day, and taking the whole time during the
st four months amidst rain slcet, and sunshine,
has been over four thousand five hundred but as mat
ter Of course this number embraces the very important
element New York life-those who unable to ride
and must 90 foot But in these times Of panic and
peril showy urnous must, like the Opera and other fea
lures Of luxury collapse horses and riders down
like dry goods and Stocks pedestrAnism Is likely 70 be-
At least long the South Carolina volcano continues TO
pour fourth les lava birthstone and re-one Of the most
popular II fashionable features Of the Park and pro
menading thoroughfaree We win endeavor TO furnish
brief description OF the Municipalities 70 be found pied
rvspal places and streets before they become
thicky crowded By the Of deposed riders ~ To
make the task an impractcable one. -.
In giving this pep and ink sketch OF The walking cha
racerstics which make up portion Of our cosmopolitan
Hfe and individuality "a . city, Il becomes neces-
sary 70 take glance at the ever throbbing Broad
way, and record q few OF the noted points and
characters by way Of illustrating the' busting life 70 be
found there II Is curious fact that mankind rarely
Study with coseness analyze the subjects which are
most closely within roach, and especially in great city
like ours with each man deeply engaged in the enoss
ing objects Of his daily pursuits Is that want Of home OBJ
servation manifested, 20 that most Of those o.
our citizens who, when visiting some foreign city,
weary their legs and grow see sck with sight seeing
m investigating the details Of old cathedrals mcnastercs
relics and ruins climbing up into bell towers, diving
down into catacombs and trudgins through miles Of
Streets gazing upon shops and people, yet scarcely ever
visit objects % interest so numerous varied and
Instructive and especially fail 10 observe the peculiar
features and pictures presented in great thorough
fare, Broadway.
Broadway has been very instruct We and curious field
20 foreign tourists and travellers and Dickens, Mscka
and others have furnished graphic sketches Of the sight
and scenes they have witnessed In this street In the
transient visits here But 10 thoee acquainted with
civic history and the antecedents Of our people and he
int