The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-07-25

THIJRSDA .sss'''''''''''~. -. =
correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.
gov . Richmond Man Feels I'm News
Yorx-EEe Tells What he Knows Of
metropolitan Life.
New YORK, July %, 1867.
] used to feel myself person of some
little importance when was living down
in the little town Of Richmond. Every
body is "noticed there, and conse.
auently feels himself TO be Of some weignt
and influence even in matters OF puohc
concern but here man, unless ne pos
sesses the rarest gifts, counts no more IN
the estimation Of his fellow creatures thah
az one worm Of the dust among mllllon'
never before felt Of so little significance
as when I stood for the first time upon
Broadway and looked up and down al inc
tremendous masses swarning about Tue
streets. If any man imagnes himself a
mark among men, let him come here ana
note whether a single soul will observe MIN
unless by an accidental turn OF the eye.
It is not altogether pleasant to live IN these
crowded cities. ] believe it has morally
a deteriorating effect. Among such null
titudes one is bound to lose what respect
he has for q man as a man, and feeling him.
self to be Of as little account as he con-
siders others, he loses pride, proper self
esteem. and oftentimes honor itself.
Hence comes the cold-heartedness, pro-
verbal selfshness, and in many instances
the craven character Of the northern peo-
pie. Society is corrupt. Viciousness IS
the established condition of the lower
classes, and the weather. would make the
city perfect Babylon Of vices If its expen'
siveness did not restrain them.
pity exceedingly the southern woman
who is compelled to live here, and can
not but feel little pity for those native.
born. hardened to their own customs, and
tough as they are.
The social status Of people must be
degenerate. indeed, when females are
treated with so little regard by the sterner
aer az thew are here. However, we cant
blame the men for this any more than the
women themselves. They are so horribly
stronr. minded, and as consequence so
ortlandish in their dress and confident IN
their manners that even the native Yankee
10 disgusted. As an instance of how little
the northern gentlemen concern them
aelves on their fair sisters account, we see
every day the novel spectacle ito us) of
street car full of men sitting. down and
ladies standing up and holding by the
band-straps. "There are some good men
among the Yankees" is a remark you fire.
ouently hear down South, and l can add
my sincre testimony that there are some
and very many good Yankees. The rara
avis in New York city is woman OF
beauty and perfect modesty. Not that
they are so degenerate in the latter re-
spect, but their manners for the most part
are entirely too forward and confident.
Want of beauty among the females is most
remarkable. have been here nearly four
months, and have seen in the mean time
one pretty lady. The men, on the other
hand-that is, the better class Of them
are universally of fine appearance, and
many of them the comeliest specimens of
manhood that it is possible to find.
There is perhaps no place in the world
which offers such facilities for pleasure as
New York. There are thousands who
make their living, many who make their
fortunes, and several incorporated COM
panes who furnish their splendid divi-
dcnds by catering to the public appetite
for pleasure.
Parties, public and private gardens, and
evening resorts of all kinds and grades Of
responsibility are scattered here and there
throughout the whole city. Central Park,
the pride and boast Of the State, is really
adelightful place, and far surpasscs any
thing of the sort that we have in the South.
Nature has not contributed so much to the
beauty of the place rs art. There Is no
computing the thousands that have been
lavished for its adornment. The lake, q
beautiful sheet Of water, two miles i'll cir
cumfercnce, is entirely artificial, the
water being conducted thther, believe,
by means Of the Croton aqueduct. The
Mall, which is the favorite promenade, has
n floor Of marble, and there is an archway
under ground in the vicinity constructed
of the purest marble. Then there are
fountains with spinning pipes casting off
Jets Of water in circular, spiral, and all
sorts Of eccentric streams, and there are
other fountains in which gold fish and silver
fish are kept. Rare birds are hung around
in cages, tropical flowers are preserved in
bloom, and, in short, there is nothing need
ed to heighten the beauty Of the place but
what is already supplied. This is the IA
vorite resort of New Workers, bnt there
are many who prefer to spend their leisure
evenings in more distant retreats, or per-
haps on the bosom Of the ocean-for these
excursion steamers are leaving every hour.
The Jersey shore and Long Island afford
the pleasantest retreats, the only oo]ec-
ton being that they are usually over
crowded. Sea-bathing is the main object
Of the visitors here, and there is every Ia
cility afforded for its enjoyment, Men
and women are not put to the troublesome
necessity Of hiding from one another when
thew are DESTROYS of this sport. They go
down to the beach together mod 1.ty being nas
bathing suits which are kept in abundant
supplies at oil the seaside resorts. 1
would look very odd to the uninitiated
eve of southerner to see shoal of these
bearded men and long haired women di
sporting themselves in the waves together
But it has long been established as GUS
tom here, and there is no more common
sight along the sea shore.
am, yours truly, JAMES.