The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1867-12-05
MaCshane ON his Travels.

But if you want dear Freeman, to see the
people of New York and do not Ioish to go
anyroHere, take West street passenger car.
I took one of these vehicles and got half a
mile ahead in two hours. The street was all
the time literally paved with carriages, cars,
drays, wagons, men, women and donkeys.
As far as the eye could reach, up and down
a drop OF, rain 9tlld. not have reached the
earth without first coming in contact with
some human being, or beast, or vehicle.
What commanded my admiration was the
perfect good humur which prevailed. Not a
fight, not an oath, not even an angry word,
was heard, while the whole conglomeration
appeared to be ineXtricably mixed up in a
common maze. There the molly assemblage
patiently plodded, or attempted to plod,
along and when any movement gave few
inches of room it was Immediately occupied,
and then wait ensued for another chance
to move.
My fellow passengers did not seem in the
least Disconnected, but were quietly engaged
IN porlng over the morning papers. Ii they
lost time by not walking they saved their
boots and clothes from the filth of the street,
and got the Levs of the day.
! amused myself by scanning the immense
crowd. Every natouality-every section
every age, sex, rank, color and condition
was represented in the multitude And
while every one seemed to endure this "pur-
suit Of business uqtier difficulties" with the
most perfect good nature, each, at the same
time, seemed entirely regardless Of the busi-
ness of every one but himself.
But had an appointment to meet-with
a railroad line, and they make no allowance
for detentions so, at last, after looking at
otcb I "a IL s 7 I
make the point at given hour. He, after
casting his eyes over the distractions ahead
Of him, naiveIy replied that / could, easily,
if ,coutld get out and aoaik-which l did.
With my baggage in one hand and a lady
on the other arm, jostled along towards my
destination. Our route lay through that de-
lectabe portion of the metropolis known as
the Washington market, and the pavement
being utterly impossible heIe, we were com
PEELED to pass through the stalls. Here we
had to edge our way between rounds OF beef
aud sides Of bacon-rubbirg the scales of
monstrous fish, stumbling over ducks and
chickens, and encountering every smell that
could possibly offend human uoStril. Here
sat huge German woman astride of her
cabbage, and anon We encountered thin
Yankee-ess weeping over a hamper of Wealth
erS6eld onions. One woman, nearly sold out.
had her head and shoulders buried in barrel
showing a pair of pedal extremities that
would have done honor to an elephant
When my companion remarked that she was
making necksposy, Gan eEpOsi.) l had to
reply that it was legs, and not neck, that l
saw
But our tribulations were soon over, and
in less than fifteen minutes we were in the
ferry boat, and in as many minutes more we
were flying over the sandy plains of New
Jersey at the speed of forty knots an hour
So farewell to New York, and thrice well
come my own Alleghanes. If the city is
great place to riSit. the country is happier
place TO stay.
Such is the patriots boast, where'er he roam,
His first, best country ever is at home.
MACSHANE