The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-26
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
[TRoN DUB OWN CORRESPONDENCE

OF telegraphic accounts Of the great confagra-
ton, in which the world-renowned opera house
the Ne VI York Academy of Music-has been total
ly destroyed. Neither, however. from said &C
counts, from any description that can be furnish
ed by my feeble pen. nor from any other, however
potently graphic, can there be conveyed an ade-
quate idea OF the grand and awe.inspiring sub
Unity Of the scene of this terrible confagration.
At twelve o'clock last. night, in the witching
hour Of night, when ohurch-yards yawn and
graves Care supposed to) give up their dead (but
do not), the stiffness was broken by the cry Of
fire, and swift as lightning, or the thoughts of
love, went forth the ever-increasing cry that the
Academy of Music had been attacked by the 6ery
element, The rumor spread almost instanta.
neously thro ughout the entire city, and anon
thousands Of eager and excited pedestrians were
speedily vending their way toward the scene OF
the oonhsgration.
On arriving at the spot, or rather at respect
ably safe distance therefrom, the spectacle
that burst upon the view was transcendently
sublime and terribly grand. There stands
the magnificent building, in which night after
night, for many years past, the beauty andfashion
OF this great city were wont 10 congregate, now
wrapped in volumes Of dense smoke, now Lit up
with lurid glare by the binding sheets Of fame
thst burst forth from every quarter, and shed
upon an immense space around resplendent
light, that Knocked the brilliancy Of old Sol himself
and changed the night into day, spite Of his alb
sence. See where the gallant Aremsn stand at
their posts OF duty and danger, manfully but
anly battling against the terrible foe; note how
the steamers" shake and trer1b)o and quiver
like things Of life, and hear the kissing sounds
that ma rk the deadly strife between the streams
Of water and the cracking DANES.
But II the scene was grand before, what is it
now, when, with laundering crash, the immense
roof falls IN, and anon a broad and unbroken
and majestic magnifcence brilliant mountain OF
blazing fire. The battle is over-the grand illu-
mination proclaims that the fiery God has come
forth triumphant, and that the New York Academy
Of Muaic is henceforth @ thing Of the past.
The unsatisAed flames, however, have not yet
Anished their work; urged on by the increasing
wind, they next attack and consume the Medical
Institute, then the piano factory Of THuE SoN,
and several buildings ON Third Avenue, near Four
teenth-stfeet.
The wardrobe destroyed in the Academy (the
property Of the stockholders) is valned at about
$1OO, 900, besides that belonging to GnAus compa-
nv. worth s25 900, and also no uncomfortable por-
ton Of the wardrobe belonging 70 MARzrzEK. It
is stated that several remen have perished in the
flames.
The destruction Of the Academy Of Music will
be but temporary loss to New York city. This
opera house, magnificent as it was, will no doubt
soon be replaced by another, which, in point Of
grandeur, will be even "more potent than the
first" For short time, however, the people Of
New York will not be able to crafty their taste
for operatic performances, except by going occa-
sionally over to Brooklyn.
The Committee on Applications in the Board of
Excise are growing enthusiastically buoyant in
spirits and e1cruciatingly facetious in their e1-
aminatione, dealing largely in bad puns and funny
remarks, that are not funny at all. The public
cannot perceive the precise point where the
laugh comes in, either in the law tself or in the
administration thereof. The Germans in particu-
lar who are thirsting for their glasses Of Sabbath
lager, refuse to laugh at all until they are first
allowed to take their Sunday smile. SHAKESPEARE
says man may smile, and smile, and smile again,
and be villain. Our German friends contend
that one may smile as often as he pleases-on
lager-and not be either villain or drunkard.
The reat financial panic in England will no
doubt soon produce telling and visible effects here.
Moneyed men are Like human ten-pins- knock one
down and he, in falling, knocks down another, and
so on; when the middle pins are upset. there is gen.
erslly greater destruction. The failure Of OVER.
END, GURNEY & Co., in London, for about twelve
millions Of pounds sterling, regard the fall OF
an important middle pin.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals held meeting last evening The presi-
dent took pleasure in informing the members that
the society had already succeeded in putting q
stop to the cruel practice of crowding sheep and
calves together in wagons in such manner as must
be exceedingly uncomfortable, not to say unpleas-
ant, to said calves and sheep. Henceforth they
are to be transported in a better style. A. T.
STEW ART and AUGUST BELMONT are members Of
the society. Ladies belong to it, and are allowed
to vote. A very humane resolution was passed,
urging the propriety Of employing three horses
instead of two on some of the city railroad cars.
The animals Of the city should call grand meet
ing, and return beastly vote of thanks.
The theatres are all doing well, considering the
season. The bona Jide uppor-tendom are prepar-
ing to start for tho wateriDg-plsces, aud so are
the shoddyites. Whilst New Workers arc preparing
to go away. Southerners are beginning to pour in,
and 80 the great city is ever crowded and gay.
MuULTRIE.
COMMUNICATED.
EDITOR DAILY NEWS 1t was my fortune to attend
yesterday the promenade entertainment given at
the school-room OF the Church Of the Holy Com