The Portland daily press., 1863-02-16
COMMUNICATIONS.
Letter from New York.

Lettcr nom NeW 0rks
Streets Of Nesc York Tom Thumbs Mar
ridge = Brodd,edy Photographers -
Plsmbe's Gallery - Paiaiiags = Iaman,
the Painter.
NEW YORK, Feb. 13, 1863
To the Editors Of the Press:
must beg TO call your attention to the
streets Of the National Capital. do this now
from New York stand point You have read
the newspapers Of New York year after year,
telling the wretched, filthy plight of N. York
streets. l am here 10 bear witness, that the
dirtiest Of them is cleaner than the cieanest
street In Washington. When, however left
Washington, few days since, party of men
were at work cleaning Pennsylvania Avenue
1t was Understood that they were under pay
from private individual, who is offering his
street-cleaning machines TO the authorities,
and at his own expense Is showing them what
the aforesaid machines can accomplish.
The great excitement in New York Of late
has 5een the wedding of Tom Thumb TO
bride as tiny ~ himself The affair was con-
Quoted under the Superintendent Of Mr.. p.
T. Barnum, Snowman OF the aforesaid little
ones. The public we're introduced to the va
rious stages Of the affair, just ~ far as was in
any respect profitable 10 Mr.. Barnum.
Broadway, the most brilliant street on this
continent, seems as gay rs ever, IL not gayer.
Its indications In dress and equipage, In Jew
elry and rich stufIs, equal or surpass the most
profnse times Of peace. To the sense Of sight,
no street offers 20 many attractions as this
same Broadway. The rooms of the photo
graphers are . part Of It's great attractions, and
around each are always gathered groups ex-
amining the various pictures. The photo
graphers who make the chief display are An
son, Frederick, and Brady. The last named has
also gallery at Washington, and has won con-
siderable note from his scenes OF the war"
photographs Of battle fields, encampments, &c.
1t Is noticeable, however, that the photograph
and daguerreotype establishment, which years
ago made a reputation as a national gallery,
and was the first TO do 80, yet keeps up that
reputation. Its location Is still at Washing
ton, under the old name : Plumbe's Gallery.r
II is now under the superintendent of Mr..
Paige. People vino find 1t difficult to ge
good pictures of themselves elsewhere go to
Plumbe's and there obtain likenesses which
satisfy them. Whether this Is from some spe-
cial arrangement Of the light or from some
device IN the preparation OF the plates, know
not; but the traditions Of the art seem to be
preserved there, and without noise OF publici-
ty In reference TO their business, and seeming
ly without care to increase it, the managers
Of the gallery still continue to do their work
more successfully than perhaps any others of
their craft in the country.
New York keeps up its reputation as the
city, which Of all on this continent most liber-
ally patronizes the fine arts. Several consid-
cradle sales OF paintings by American artists
have been held recently, at which larger prices
were obtained than ever before. / am glad to
notice that the repute of Inman, the portrait
painter. is still increasing. He seems to in
herit all the great talents OF his father. An
other son, Henry, Is in the army, and was
wounded in one OF McClllan's seven days bat
ties. Yours, d.