The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-05-02
MOVING DAY.
Yesterdays Migration and EmigratiOn-PhO
tOgraphs From Lifc-Ferry Statistics Of tn,
Duy-The Ethics of Cartmeu.

Yesterdays Migration and EmigratiOn-Pho-
tOgraphs From Lifc-Ferry Statistics Of the
Dny-The Ethics of Cartmen.
Yesterday, in accordance with q sort Of settled
custom among landlords and tenants, was the great
moving day OF the year, rather the climax OF the
one week of general migration, for moving day
tually began on Monday, and throughout the whole
week were scattered sporadic cases of the migra-
tory fever. On Thursday In fact, the day being
favorable, there was only less moving than Fri
day, which the traditional day OF the turning OF
the fever If one were to say that the East side was
turned tOpsy turvy last week In the five days OF
this, and that everybody woke up this morning not
knowing exactly where anybody else lived or was
going to live for the next twelve MONTHS 1t would be
only literal description OF the bewilderment and
befuddement OF everybody who lived east of the
Bowery yesterday morning. People who had made
it point to be stationary missed their old time
neighbors one by one in the course Of the week and
could give no account OF them; while strange neigh
bors had suddenly taken the places Of the old and
were making themselves at home there, Just ~ IL
they had been neghbors for years and expected to
be so for years to come. Huge boniires OF ancient
siraw-the debris OF what had once been beds
blazed and smouldered In the middle OF streets on
the East side for almost every square; and about
two doors in five stood the suspicious cart half
loaded with well-worn household effects, though in
load, Notwithstanding the fact that they constituted
ali that some people had to keep house with.
At ten O'Clock in the morning there was more than
the usual suspicious assemblage OF carts ana cart
men rendevouzed at the corner OF Fourth avenue
and Eighth stree-a Of rendezvous for this pecu-
lar class OF individuals with carts--and even mt
eleven O'Clock not less than dozen still walt
Ing 10 be engaged. occasionally one having driven
a shnfp blrgain crept OF into some by-stIeet and
was seen no for the day; but the place OF the
missing man was soon supplied with another just
like hun, with cart just like his, and so nobody
ar.. thQ pn In nil
specs, To the particular curl oil tie rim OF his
hat just like the individual who mad taken his place.
Follow the Astounding cartman, however, and
some idea shall be gathered OF the practical phases OF
moving day, photograph OF which has many nun or
features aboat IL aswell as many more Disagree
able than amusing. The probabilities are ninety
n,ne out OF hundred that the gentleman with the
bruised hat RIM WIZ pass second avenue and stop
river tins district being the very paradise OF the
nonads who move once year always, ana some
tunes IA often month: the paradise, in
short, OF the very Dohemians or tenants who are
never stationary sufficient length OF time to make
the directory OF any avail in hnding them. From
avenue TO avenue cast of the ;oeIably stationary
Second yenue, there Is general commotion. lroln
tenant houses where they have been closely
packed IA bees IN hive ants In an ant-h swarm
dozens and hundreds, with luggage tied up In lep-
rous looking bundlcs--Deds, bedding, baggage, Old
clothes and cothcsnot very old, though 100 Oh for
the fashion; lronware, bfa2en vessels, spawned
tables tables with handy legs bundles OF edbles,
though the migratory population of the East side
eat close before moving day; trunks aud valiscs
which which have grown prematurely old with hard
places; In brief, general potpou,rf Of New York
turned inside out and exhibiting very question
ably clean Inside.
In one single street.-the odorous Frst--migh have
been counted yesterday an average Of three carts
either side 10 every square, and in one single
there were thirteen mOvings to single square.
Trucks there were, with four respectable wheels,
for the heavier loads and Of carts the number
simply uncouutabe. They could swear, too, those
trucknen--swear, indeed, rather ofiginalyand, ~
TO the driving OF sharp bargains, 1t takes truck
driver for that; for, by sort Of graduation, driver
swears according to the capacity OF his vehicle, and II
the vehicle be large, most largely and audaciousy
swears tho owner. For originality OF oaths and
develop absolute originality In this respect nothing
equals moving day. Even dumpy Teutonic women,
with blear eyes, bubble up into oaths the FIRST Of
| MAY, and only fail to outswear the cartruan who
swindes them IRON want Of practice Of invention
general ensemble Of things, the topsyturviness Of
affairs the odor Of mildew and rookery rottenness
| which clings to evcrything-all these are predis.
posing causes sufficient, indeed, TO Undue
| the most Indifferent lOoker-on with pre-
dispostition to spice his English, and IL
this be the case with che mere spectator
Il IL certainly paronabe in any one of the dramatic
troupe upon whom 1t devovee TO sustain tho prnci-
| pal parts. IL was pleasant day--that was one con-
| ISOLATION. Had It ralned, half OF New York must
have committed suicide out OF sheer disgust. though
as It was the disgust whicn under oiher CIR
| cumstances might have terminated unfavorably.
only served to give coloring to the cpithes of tie
Occnson--cpithetS very FOriFual In their way, but
| adapted 20 frequent repetition.
| Working ones way down amid that network &c
narrow aud nasty streets below HrOOme strt et and
east OF the iowefy the most favorable opportunities
| wore gwen for making notes. IN lose uarIow