The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-10-24

we ought rather to pity them in their ex-
tremity than wonder at their demonstrations
Of JOY upon so slight foundation. We are
entirely willing to let them crow, but they
ought to tell some truths and shame the old
fellow who has had mortgage upon the
whole lot of them for the last seven years.
Matters In New York.
americans in Eurepe-Ihe "Indian Sum-
nser" d0lon the Hdrbor, up the Hudson, in
Central Park-The Natural Gorge in
Harlem RiUer.
NEW YORK, Oct. p, 1867.
To the Editor Of the Press.
The charge Is too true that the American
people allow business and the worship of the
almighty dollar. to engross too much Of
their attention, while the physical and men
tai man goes to wreck and ruin for want of
relaxation. We need more of the spirit Of
the ancient prayer: "Give us neither poverty
nor riches" Money-making Is not the chief
end of man, however mubh 1t may appear to
be the case from a critical observation of lie
in this great business emporium.
This charge, we are happy to say, had too
much force q. q former day; at the present
we are in the midst of reformation. A
change has come. During the season now
closing there were more Americans In
Europe than ever known before, and
"on the Rhine" Is now as common
from the lips of the American tray-
eler abroad as "on the Hudson" is at home.
Paris il swarming with Americans, ard the
indefatigable Yankee is vending his inquir.
ing way into Switzerland, Belgium, Germany
and Italy, intent on pleasure, information, ex-
perience, or health. This is all very well ior
those who can pay for it. ....
But very small portion of the 100000
people of New York city are thus enjoying
themselves. Only the wealthy are doing it.
Take out, too, all who 60 to Saratoga, New
port and other points east, west, north and
south in our own country, and there is an
immense population left, that in the damp,
torrid, malarious term must get Gods fresh
air somewhere. Recreation Is as needful for
the artizan, the clerk and the laborer, as 1t is
for the millionaire. 1t Is useless to expect
the advance of morals or religion In COM
munity shut out from the perfume of fields
and flowers and the holy descending of ma
ture's balmy zephyrs.
Thanks to the God of Nature that He has
opened such grand avenues and such exalted
standpoints of enjoyment right here within
the reach Of an hour, where for a mere pit
tance the poor man may have his fill of nat
ural scenery, vieing with the beauties of the
valley Of the Rhine, or the crags and slopes
of Switzerland.
Central Park stands first and foremost
within reach of ALL. Let NIT Its cheapness
detraet from its merit. 1t Is paradise. Ma
ture and art have made It one of the pretti-
est spots to be found anywhere. No wonder
it Is the pride of New Yorker; for no other
city in America can produce its equal. 1t
constitutes the plane Of a perfect democracy
Of enjoyment. A halliday spent there can
not tail to improve man, aprovided there is
any susceptibility to improvement; and Its
shaded walks, It's arb0rs, its green lawns, its
CLASSY lakes, its meandering paths ought to
TEEN with the people OF the city every day.
Down the harbor to Staten and Coney Is
lands, spending day in getting snuff of the
air of seld ocean" and lavlng In its cooling
embraces, make very pleasant excursion
within the reach OF every one. Sandy Hook
Is familiar name in the newspapers, but
there are thousands of people in New York
who have never taken the trouble to look at
it-standing there battling the sursing of the
sea. Why, 1t Is worth going miles to see and
its surroundings are ON q scale of magni6c.
encs such as Nature only can originate. Then
the harbor, the Narrows, the sandy shores of
Long Island and the Jersey coast, the entrance
to the greatest commercial mart on the conti-
nent--what splendid panorama?
Up the Hudson 1--WE don't talk for boats or
railroads, or anything else-but for the peo-
ple) is another direction to get mountain air
and invigoration. This magnificent valley Is
chain OF natural beauty, where the Creator
has left to human gaze some Of the most In
explicable evidences OF his power. Go up
there some fine morning of this "Indian
Summer" into the fastnesses ofthe Highlands
get Inspiration from rocks, and woods, and
crags, and precipices, and coves and mirrored
waters-and the probability is you will 60
again. Point out g man who has not senti-
ment in his breast to respond to the mute les.
sons of Nature as taught up the valley OF the
Hudson, and he carries the unmistakable ere
dentials of a stole and heathen. .
There are many places of resort in the vic
iLity of New York Of unsurpassed natural
beauty, where a day spent properly is the
means OF degree of good, physically and
mentally, that no other mode or means can
accomplish. Let the dyspeptic "give physic
to the dogs" and try the potent medicine of
nature In these curative retreats. The great
est good Of the greatest number Is the wisest
proposition in politics, morals and religion
Then let US encourage cheap summer travel
near home for the nlnety-nine hundredths of
the population of New York who do not 20 to
Europe or Saratoga or Newport. a...r
The picnic excursions which have been
gaining In popular regard for some years past
where whole families get out of the city to
spend day among the trees and upon the
green acres, are of incalculable good. A Sum
day school is not Sunday school without
picnic; and even the old and CONSERVATIVE
Masonic institution has been drawn into tne
custom. 1t is all very well-indeed, IL Is an
advance in American life in the right direc-
tion-better than all the sermons preached
or the few that are preached, from July to
sen,ember. The world Is growing better, or,
rather people are better in the "day and gen.
Grafton" of the present, with beaming faces
and "good times, than they were under the
blue-laws Iwith1 sanctimonious visages long
drawn out.
One Of the finest places OF resort is the great
gorge through which Harlem River passes un-
der that beautiful work of art, High Bridge.
A day may be proftably spent here. The
air ever comes up fresh from Hurl Gate
through the defile, while the great elevation
on either side opens extensive and pleasant
country views. 1t appears that at former
day large volume of water must have pass