Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1861-12-07
Correspondence of the Free Press.
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
New YORK, Nov. IS, 1861.

Correspondence of the Free Press,
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
New YORK, Nov. IS, 1861.
To the Editors Of The Free Press;
THANKSGIVING DAY. went to hear Rev. III.
W. Beecher preach this morning. and great dis
course he gave, too His text was SIMPSONS
finding honey in the carcass of the lion: his sub
iect, the occasion of thankfuiuAss we have on ac-
count of this war-that it is waged, on the part
of the North, from motives high, not for power,
not for gain not for revenge, bu. for cur Govern
ment and our Constitution: that are in so fav-
orable condition to carry the war, from
abundant crops of grain, abundant resources at
home in consequence of the change of business |
brought about by the disasters of 1857: that two
grea. foreign powers want our corn Tor ineir
starving poor even more than they want cur cot
ton: that as a result of the war; slavery Will be
forezor dethroned as power and the cancer so
long eating out our life, extirpated-not By po-
Htical emanci patton indeed for desirable as that
NAV seem, it must be remembered that we are not
raising revolution, but Citing to uphold the
Constitution which makes the peculiar ins:itu-
ton thing for local legislation-that the South
and the North thus rudely dashed together, VIII
find out their true characters, and the 100000
APOSTLES whom we send South, will teach our
courage, our fidelity to law, and our true spirit
to those who cannot understand the forbearing
hand, but instantly and thoroughly comprehend
the meaning Of the clenched and wei ghty fist that
the peace ensuing will therefore be more deep and
lasting than could ever have been possible. 1t
was a great discourse. Time and again was the
speaker int rrupted by the applause Of the audi
| euce-be not horror-struck, it was not Sunday,
and Mr. Beechers congregation are not won't to
! smother their satisfaction at telling blow,
! though it is not often that more than rustling
murmur betokens their appreciation. The dis
course will of course be reported so you can read
| for yourselves. But Mr.. Beecher's discourses
should be heard and not read to be fully enjoyed.
At the close, the we'll known hymn "My coun-
try It's of thee" given out, and you can i'm
agine with what power that vast congregation,
worked up by the glowing perOratiOn Of the
preacher, sang it.
A ride in the Central Park soon to be the
crowning glory of New York city, may seem to
you poor amusement Tor Thanksgiving Day. Not
at all; the day was bright, and for so late as the
| 2sth of November quite warm, not speck Of snow
to be the green grass, or tipping the ever
greens that stud the grounds. Hundreds of car
riages Of every kind and siz,, scores of equest-
rians and pedestrians beyond count, proved
by their presence and the pleasure that beamed on
every fa1e, that the amusement was anything but
poor 1t Is beautiful place-the Central Park,
with its endless succession of graceful curves its
picturesque bridges. its unexpected and delicious
bits of scenery, its ponds, with their foeks of
slender necked swans,-now close in shore
and thrusting down their long bills to the bottom,
looking like heap Of foam lying still upon the
surface, and again with curving neck and out
stretched wings chasing each other out and IN
it is q beautiful place, even at this season. much
more when the sun is warm and the trees all
green. Y ear after year, art shows its renewed
triumph over nature, in these grounds,
walks and drives are opeaed and new beauties
brought to view, nay, created, for in this fairy
ground nearly everything is artificial, yet with
consummate skill made most like to nature. Here
an ivy vine creeps over gray 1T was
planted there, and though there is rock IN stu
plenty tits even chance If that not put
there on purpose to support the vine. little
juniper bush peeps up in a corner, willow throws
its graceful branches across your path, fir tree
with stately courtesy rustles its slender leaves to
welcome you to the soil-Of their adoption. not
OF their birth. Advantage is taken of
every knoll to show some bit of land
scape exceedingly pretty, but well nigh
all artificial. Ars est eslare arteH; the full at
tainment Of which In such an undertaking as this
is impossible. The beautifully smooth and regular
roads the clear and kept walks. the carefully
protected shrubbery, the smooth shaven grass, the
iron bridges, the seats, to say nothing of " Rules
and Regulations posted conspicuousIy, keep con-
stantly in mind the sense that all is made. This
fora City Park is of inevitable, and better
so than otherwise, for you get most of the advan-
taces of naturs with as a little as possible of its
Disadvantages
great deal of money has been laid out in
making the Central Park what it is, and a large
sum IS eNpendeu dihualiy u Keep UP anu I'M
prove it,-a most judicious investment, too. 1t
is great thing for New Workers, hived up in
brick and brownstOne,t to have such place Of easy
access, where to spend an hour or two out doors,
not in the whirl and rush of thronged Broadway,
heretofore almost the only promenade. And they
are not slow to take advantage of it. Every fine
day multitudes so there; on Saturdays especial
ly the main parts of the Park black with the
thousands on foot, while two endless streams of
carriages and horses fill the roads, carrying old
men and matrons, young men and maidens, chill
dren and infants, rich and poor, sick and wells
listening to the music of the band and enjoying
to the full Gods outpoured treasures of air and
sunlight.
Yours truly, BEN