The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1868-11-18
NEW YORK.
Letter from Maggie May.
Corresponding for the Standard

New York, Nov. IL.
Since my last letter to you have taken
trip to Richmond and Washington City.
This last place wears its usual sleepy appear
arcc when Congress is not in session, and l
iornd nothing new there which would in
terest your lady readers; as for the gentlemen
don't write for them. politics is all they
care for, or if they do like gossip, they are
too vain to admit 1t; and as for fashions,
they only like to hear of them that they may
laugh at us, and shan't crafty them by
writing of the mysteries of the toilet so as to
convey the slightest idea of what l really
mean. But l must tell you of one thing that
1 saw in Richmond which pleased me great
ly. Happening to step into the office OF the
Literary Pastime, to subscribe to it for
friend IN this place who has the good taste
to like it, the editor, Mr.. A. F. Crutclfed,
showed me a wood engraving for his next
issue which had just been executed by one
of his sons. Henry Crutchfeld, boy of
fourteen, who, without instruction of any
kind, has, by initiating with his penknife the
cuts sent from Philadelphia for the Pastime,
acquired sufficient skill To design and cut
the blocks for the engravings now used in
the office. HIS father told me that if the
paper prospered, as he had reason to believe
| it would, lie should send him for six months
TO all engraver, and not only save thirty dol
lars on every portrait engraved. but make
the business profitable by working for others.
I am sick and tired Of the cant about South
ern boys being too proud to work. Only give
them chance and they will show what
! stuff they are made of, just as we women are
doing, but both they and we were entirely
too smart to work hard when there was no
necessity for MS to do so.
We have always been accustomed to hear
great deal said about the tendency to all
sorts of evil of men crowded together in such
vast masses. as here in this much abused city.
Now, "Tm but a ledger" here, and in no
way interested to make a good name for the
New Workers. or to defend any which they
may have already won for themselves but
this will say, that since have been "a
locker on here in Vienice," many of the
impressions which brought with me have
been very agroeably removed. I had heard,
for instance, and firmly believed, that the
New York men were, to put it mildly, not
very polite to the women in the stages and
cars and on the streets; but find that the
city authorities employ men, and mighty
good looking men they are, to assist ladies
across the crowded streets, and have been
very much charmed with the delicate and
deterential manner in which they escort
them from ore curb stone to another. No
carpct-knight ever performed the duty more
gracefully Nor is this an occasional dis
play, but through all the hours of every day
81, H.
vice, the very beck and nod of every unpro-
tected female. And though Others doubtless
have had different experience, 1 must say
l never got into stage but some gentlemen
always gave me seat and handed
up my fare to the John on the box, receiving
the change and counting it to see if it was
right before handing it to me. Now, Mr.
Editor, if you were no taller than am, and
no better at counting stamps" you would
appreciate at its full worth so delicate an
act of attention and never lose an opportu-
nifty to deny the charge of impoliteness when
brought against the gentlemen who con-
SANITY perform these acts. To be sure l al
ways act on the principle, and recommend
It to my sisters who are unwilling to stand
up in stage, never to get in. when it is full.
have always thought too that everybody
vas more selfish in large cities than in small
owns. This impression also has been cor
ected since have been here. have told
Tou in former letters something of the no.
Die charities of New York. but that is not
What | mean now. l have never seen
stranger asking information to whom it was
lot cheerfully and politely given, nor Grip
Die, aged or in6Im person in need of an as
listing hand to enter or get out of 4. stage
o whom it was not cordially extended So
general are these traits that do not hesitate
o say they are Characteristic of the New
Yorker at home
Mr.. Forrest is just concluding an engage
uent at Niblo's. This is his last week.
last week he made havoc with the hearts OF
lis admirers in Damon and Pythias" and
Jack Cade," in which he acted with his
Usual animation and vigor.
MAGGIE MAY.