The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-02-21
Matters in New York.
tcoEREsPoNpENcK OF THE PREss.l

New YORK, Feb. ls, 1867.
Sunddy-The Ne,os from Irelond-Croton
Water-The Sound Lines of Traret-1he
Great Eastern Coming-A. 4. Stewart,
the ". Y. Philanthropist-The Weather.
Probably no city in America wears more OF
a aParisian aspect on Sunday than the city of
New York. Near one and half millions OF
people have. their homes here in New York,
Brooklyn, Jersey City, Hoboken, Newark and
contiguous centres OF population. Sunday is
the great day of rest and recreation fer the
thousands OF young men in commercial and
mechanical pursuits. During the six days OF
the week they are engaged in the whirl OF
business, exercising all their powers in their
accustomed pursuits. The artisans and clerks
engaged on salaries in the service of others,
have hardly an hour they can call their own,
and all look forward to the dawn of Sunday
Consequently the great avenues OF the city on
that day are full of wel-dressed people ofboth
sexes and all ages seeking air and sunlight
The churches are forgotten, and Central Park
and HOboken and Staten Island and Harlem
flock with people. Now to the staid and or
thoiox people OF the country this may all ap-
pear wong. But hoT can it be prevented p
The Oft-repeated remark that lit is too
expensive going to church in New York." is
too truthful. In the elegant temples of mar
BILE or freestone that point to heaven from
this vast concentration of humanity, whose
preachers are on the immense salaries OF
princely merchants and milionaires, a church
seat is too precious for young man of the
middle class. On the doors of these churches
stand out the words In symbolic language,
"you are not expected here" Hence no spir-
ltual provision is attainable by large proper
tion OF the population, and Sunday beckons
to the country, the woods and the fields. The
sin lies at the door of the church for not pro-
viding attractive places OF worship
for the middlins classes on the
Lords Day. Looking at churcl-
going in less serious light, we are reminded
of a story that is told about Democrat OF
Hornellsville in this State, who was a church.
goer, as many Democrats are not. Before the
last election he pledged himself to one OF the
clergymen of HOrnellesville that IL the Dem
ocrats were defeated in the State of New
York he would attend church every Sunday tor
two years. He now goes to church regularly,
and declares that he will bear the punishment
like man..
The recent news from Ireland has set the
Irish heart to beating wildly. The Fenians,
who had been in a sort of apathetic condi-
tion since the Canada invasion, and whose
bonds had fallen considerably below pan, had
enthusiastic meetings on Saturday night last,
and thousands declared themselves ready to
start Immediately for the. Emerald Isle and
have hand in the fray about Killarney. In
the meantime the great masses in this coun-
try whose sympathies are enlisted in the cause
of Irish liberty and independence, are on the
tip-toe of expectation for fresh news from
Ireland.
An important fact has come to light in con-
nection with arecent disastrous fire on Broad
way. The Fire Commissioners ordered an in
vestlgation in order to ascertain ,chy the fire
was not extinguished sooner. The testimony
Of the Engineer in command was to the
effect that ten steamers and 1856 men were at
the fire on the first alarm, and in ten minutes
he sounded second alarm and brought up
six more steamers and los additional men,
with six hook and ladder companies. The
men worked well, but he never saw fire that
made so much headway in SO short space OF
time. The force of water from the Croton
yas pery acedk indeed. This investigation
thus demonstrates that with one of the most
expensive aqueducts in the world, and daily
consumption of water said to be greater than
that OF any city n-the world, there was not
sufficient water to extinguish severe fire.
And the cause is said to be excessive waste.
The great lines OF travel between New
York and Boston through the Sound, have
been more impeded by storms and ice than in
any previous winter. At one time the
boats were fastened in by ice, and the
passengers made excursions on the ice to the
neighboring shores. The loss of the old
steamer Commodore OF the S.onington line,
has had nearly the effect OF running that line,
which if it finally dies, should have the epi-
taph "Died of old and unsafe boats" It is