The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-05-05

Spring and IFS Fashions.
Spring opens with more than usual promise
for every branch Of industry. The working
classes have not only full occupation, but are
imposing their conditions upon the employer.
Those who are disposed to take Respondent
view Of our commercial prospects are merely
the croakers, who, like Mark Tapley, are happy
only when they are miserable.
There has not been q season within our
recollection when people Of every class have
had more reason to be satisfied with their con-
dition. Some few of our largest houses may
not find their returns as heavy as during the
war, but the smaller firms are in general doing
better. Our taxes are large, to be sure, but
somehow people do not appear to feel the bur
den. The fact is, the wealth Of the country Is
more generally diffused, and there is com
paratively but little destitution. except in those
portions OF the South where the ravages u
war have been most severely felt.
One has but to take walk through Broad
way to get correct idea Of the actual con-
ditiop Of things. Establish@sa. tRst Z fsx
years ago had but limited trade and
small premises are enlarging or moving
to Union square and the Fifth avenue.
where the mansions formerly occupied by
our millionnaires are being converted into
palatiai marts. On the great thoroughhD
itself the wealth displayed in the store win
dows is scarcely to be equalled and certainly
not to be surpassed by that of the Paris Boule-
wards. Then take the stream Of fashionable
promenaders by which the street itself is daily
filed between the hours of twelve and five, and
say whether, in the style and richness of their
costumes, you find any material difference
with those that throng the thoroughfares Of tho
European capitals. If anything, the advantage
in point Of elegance and extravaganza is with
our own people.
This ascendancy of fashion has from one
cause or another altered very materially Of
late. A dozen years ago it took us at least
twelve months to get at and bring out here the
latest Paris and London styles. Now, thanks
to the cable and the increased speed Of steam
ships it need take but eight or ten days. For
example, q modiste or dressmaker, reading our
Paris fashions letter in to-days HERALD, can
send out her orders by the cable for the par
ticular models which she desires, and receive
them within couple Of weeks. By and by
it is not improbable chat in the curious revo-
lutions which are continually taking place, we
may ourselves supply the European capitals
with the fashions. American originality
in dress is becoming very much admired
there, and our pre-eminence in it is to b
- ec~ nh cho
content with supplying the Europeans with
medals of iron-clads, steamers, pleasure yachts
and agricultural implements, without entering
into eeppetition with them in this particalaz
line. Such, however, will probably be the
result, whether we care for It or NOT, Of the
revolution effected by the ocean telegraph.
banking houses transmit money by it, why
should not manufacturing houses transmit
descriptions, and, by the improvements that ara
now being effected in the system, perhaps even
| sketches OF their modest One effect 1t will
certainly have, and that is to do away entirely
with the commission and brokerage businesses
The buyers and sellers on both sides will BE-
brought into direct communication with each
other, just as they are brought face to face
here by the comprehensive and admirably
classified advertising system Of the HzRALD.
The Nicholson Pavement Job.
We received two communications yesterday
in relation to the Nicholson pavement which
the Common Council are endeavoring to have
laid down In several of the streets Of the city
One is from parties interested in the patent
and the other from the secretary of the Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The
first informs us that the pavement is well
adapted to all our streets, except Broadway.
and is offered at the moderate cost Of four dol
lars and sevepty-fve cents per square yard,
which amount will include grading and all
necessary materials and labor" Precisely 30;
but as the streets where the pavement Is pro-
posed to be laid are already graded; and ~
"all necessary materials and labor " are gen-
orally supplied by those who contract to lay .
pavement; and as four dollars and seventy
FIVE cents square yard is nearly twice
as much as the cost Of better
pavement, and affords wide margin for pro-
fits; and as the pavement is said not to last
more than three years; and as the whole affair
is notorious job, we fail to be convinced Of
the proprieiy Of favoring the attempted raid
upon the taxpayers.
The other communication encloses puff for
the Nicholson pavement from the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals We beg
to advise the officers Of that society TO devote
their time and energies to the comfort Of tho
turtle and to the study Of an easy mode Of
death for chickens, and not to dirty their
fingers with the corrupt jobs Of the Common
Council. II they neglect this advice we shall
insist upon the formation Of new society for
the prevention Of cruelty to taxpayers, and
shall call upon them to commence their work
by suppressing the Society tor the Prevention
Of Cruelty to Animals.
The Growth and Progress or BreskIyu.