Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-02-05
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New York City Finy Years Ago.

New York City Fifty Years Ago.
Mr.. Thurlow Weed gives his recollec-
tions of New York city, from which we
extract: u+ ..rH "H tH ip r
Fifty years ago the customs and habits of
New York were much more natural and
simple than they are now. There was
then infinitely less wealth, less luxury, less
cultivation, and less refinement There is,
however, a cultivation and refinement in
evil as in good, and their progress, in both
senses, has been coincident. We grow bet
ter and worse. Refinement and demor-
aization keep about equal pace. Such are
the inevitable fruits of great prosperity.
In the aggregate, however, it is encourage
ing to know that there is constantly in
creasing preponderance of good over evil.
There were comparatively few tempta-
tions inthose days. There were no Shells"
or 'gin palaces" or saloons" There
were no ''clubs," though of course | do not
confound the latter with the former. But
men lived at home in those days. Perhaps
l cannot so well illustrate my meaning as
to say that the "DelmOnico" of fifty years
ago was a colored man ("Billy"), who lived
in William street, east of Frankfort, where
it was the custom OF prominent merchants,
lawyers, physicians, ETC.. to go winter
evenings, for 6uCkWhedt cakes. This was q
general resort. | remember, among others,
to have seen and listened to DR.. S. L. NJ.
Mitchell, Richard Riker, Sylvanus Miller,
Matthew l.. Davis, NJ. M. Noah, Pierre G.
Van Wyck, Isaac Carow, Jacob Barker, ETC.,
taking their cakes and coffee there socially.
The Park Theater and Seudder's Museum
were the only places of amusement.
SpasmOdic efforts had been made to estab-
lish circus, but they had proved abortive.
But in those days theater t1dS theater,
and acting was what, in its best aspects, it
has long ceased to be. know that this
will be denied; but no denials will change
the fact, that the glory of the drama has
departed. IknOto that the brilliant actors
of other times have no succession. Take
for example, the elder Booth and Kean,
whose sons are now the best representa-
tives of Shakesperean heroes" we have;
and what, compared with their Seniors?
flashlights and meteors. The younger
Booth has cultivation and talent, but lacks
the power and genius of his rather; while
the younger Kean. with all his advantages,
(and associated with Ellen Tree, who is
great,) falls mmcasurably below his father.
Go to Mr.. Verplanck, the best Shakesper-
ian in America, and ask him who succeeds
to the talent and genius of Cooke, Hodgh-
ison, Twaits Placide, Hilbon, Barnes, Ber-,
nard, Kean, Miss johnson, Mr.. Wheatley,
Mrs. Gilbert, Mrs. Barnes. Fanny kemble,
&C.? Even in melodramatic efforts, where
are your bill" and "Hop RObertsons ?"
Mrs. Hoey, as stock actress, is an eXcep-
tion. She would have been distinguished
in the palmy days of drama. But the
dramatic vase is broken, though sOme-
thing of its perfume fingers around Wal
lacks, where, through father and son, what
there is left of legitimate English comedy
has been preserved.
In the old PARK Theater the staple of an
audience was furnished, year after year, by
the same families. In the same boxes the
same faces would be ever present. Youal-
ways met Philip Hone, DR.. Dunlap, M.
Noah. Mr.. Beekman, Samuel Woodworth,
the poet, Gen. Morton, Recorder Riker, DR..
Francis, &c, &C., and among a younger class,
Robert Emmett, Ogden Hoffman. Sc. And
that model Chief of Police, "Old Hayes"
whose presence was sufficient to repress
disorder was seen noiseessly moving about
he house, known and respected by all
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