The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1866-01-19
CORRESPONDENCE.
Nyw YoRy. Jan'y 18th. 1866

NEw York, Jan'y 18th, 1866.
Mr.. EDITOR From the contounding coDfu-
sion Of this busy town Of Gotham, q hayward
wanderer from tho rustic ssclusion Of old York
sends greeting TO tho friends Of "Auld Lang
Syne." Through the rumble and clatter Of ten
thousand rolling wheels, the vociferations OF en-
ragged draymen, the emphatic and sonorous com.
mands OF majestic omnibus drivers, the beguil
ing accents Of multitudinous boot-blacks, the
shrill yerbosity Of itinerant tradesmen, and the
thrilling and unearthly tones Of rival news.
boys, tho heart OF a bewildered Maine-iac turns
fondly to tho unforgotten quetude Of the Pine
tree shadows, and longs for one blessed moment
Of silence.
New York, as you may have heard, was set
tied some years ago. by the Dutch, and ut the
present period is q village Of some merit and
considerable pretension. II Is noted, chiefly,
for the excellent condition Of its streets, the
politeness Of its retail statesmen, the purity Of
its politicians, tho truthfulness and reliability
Of the public press, tho healthful tone OF its
fashionable society. and the answering and in.
corruptible integrity Of its municipal officials.
Mr.. Stewart keeps the principal store, and is
said to have been quite successful in the dry
goods line seems disposed, at all events, TO
eight il out on that line" By an ingenious
arrangement. supposed to be telegraphic. an
nouncement is made TO all parts Of the store,
when customer enters, whether he or she
came in carriage. and IL 50. whether the
coachman wears livery and the harnesses are
mounted with gold. In this way the clerks are
enabled to expend their urbanity upon the right
persons, and avoid wasting 1t upon the baser
sort-a measure Of eminent wisdom, as without
this economical nicely, the supply would not
20 round. The clerks dress well, and most Of
them speak English.
New Years day was observed in this town
with appropriate ceremonies. The market
price Of kid gloves and liquors advanced con.
siderably fow days before, and the proprietors
Of cake shops were nearly distracted. Tho
drilling state Of the atmosphere and the dirty
state Of the crossings sent many an anguished
pang TO tho breasts OF those whose tenacious
admiration twined around their spotless patent.
feathers; but the brave beings smothercd their
sorrow, and courageously faced tho elements.
Arrayed in gorgeous attire, fresh from the hand
Of the .modsts" and radiant with oil tho
blended charms of nature and Of art, sat fair,
feminine New York, awaiting the kid gloves
and broadcloth. What happy and original
New Year greetings, what graceful bows and
responses, what slipping Of wine and smacking
OF lips, what gradual thickening Of articula-
ton, what confused perceptions and memories,
it becomes not your correspondent to chronicle
Happy is it for the gallant sons Of THE metrop.
oils that New Years "comes but once year. :"
The commerce Of this place is quite cxtcn.
sive, and the weather very fluctuating. Last
week tho mercury dropped nearly out Of sight,
and everything lroze up, including the skating
ponds. Tho proprietors felt their dropping
spirits revive under the invgorating tempera-
turc, and the possessors Of polished steel grew
jubilant. Could you have stood, as did, at an
upper window Of the spacious hall overlooking
tho lake, the soft luxuriance Of a summer ut
mosphero about you (from the furnace below,
tho delicious melody Of a brass band floating in
the dir, mingled with the rustic Of fractional
currency which choked the little window ut the
entrance, could you have stood here and gazed
upon tho shifting brilliancy OF the swaying
crowd upon tho leo below, whilo the fragrance
OF s,caming oysters stole upon your senses, you
would have realised how utterly futile must DO
any attempt at description. Over the crystal
surface swept the dainty, stccl-shod feet which
erst had twinkled through tho may dance in
sheen Of snowy satin, and the velvet check
whose bushes rose and fell beneath tho pendant
lustre OF illuminating gas, was kissed to rosi.
ness BY the aucy wind OF the north.land. Ad-
mission fifty ceuts-no half.price.
There are several other objects Of interest
about New York, but time and space forbid
their mention. would like to speak Of the
hotels, where can 30 obtained poorer fare for
more money than at any other place on the
continent, but for the prOhibitory condition,
aforesaid
For Dutch settlement. it is . thriving
town. q.