Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-09-23

SUNSHINE AND SHADOW IN NEW
YORK. By Matthew Hale Smith.
Illustrated : 724pp. Hartford, Conn.
]. B. Burr & Co. 1868.
Great cities, which are the hearts of
great nations are always fruitful topics
for the pen of a skillful writer; but
probably no city in the world centers
in herself more material of varied in
terest than does New York. So, no
work which could come to the hands.
of our readers, who love to know
"what's going on in the world" and
chow people live" would be apt to be
found so intensely interesting as the
one whose title we quote above. J. B.
Burr & Co., the sagacious publishers
of the work, certainly knew what they
were about in giving it to the public.
1t must have a vast sale, and
they must reap a large and deserved
harvest therefrom; for Everybody
and his neighbour cannot but find in
the book a great deal to excite and in
terest him, to say nothing of the thOus-
and valuable matterso of solid informa-
ton which it affords. Nobody from
the country should ever visit New
York, without having first read this
book; and the old frequenter of that
city will find scattered here and there
throughout its pages, hosts of things
which may have escaped his attention,
and will rise from the perusal of the
book (which he will be sure not to lay
aside till he has finished it, with that
sort of pleasure which one feels in
manhood in revisiting the scenes of
his childhood, or in wandering back
to the "father-land." The high and
low; moral worth and craft and Gun.
ming; Joys and sorrows; smiling for
tune and frOwning penury; the home
and affairs of devotion and purity, and
the interior views of the homes of de-
bauehery and crime, etc., etc., are
here painted in their true cOlors. The
publishers deserve the public's most
practical thanks for this work, from
which we below make an excerpt or
two:
ARR HILLS DANCE HoUsE-ISsIDE VIEW.
The hall is a curiosity. It is very low stud
ded. 1t was originally composed of many
quite small rooms. But partition after par
tition has been knocked away, and room
added to room, until the hall is very large.
ceilings are of different heights, and re-
main as originally built. A more hOmely
lOOAL NdhA4ON bC VI III Z lpLA. 4hG
walls are covered with pictures, and not one
or Objectionable one can be seen.
The rules of the house are hung up in con-
spicuous places, and are put in the form of
poetry. The pith of these rules is, "No loud
talking; no profanity; no obscene or indie
cent expression will be allowed; no one
drunken, and no n violating decency, will
be permitted TO remain in the room no man
can sit N ALLOW a woman to stand all must
call for refreshments as soon as they arrive;
the call must be repeated after each dance;
a nd ~ n man AnaG ~ N "a In rnV,aH 1l,--aF y
The profits OF the concern are connected with
the bar, and that must be literally and con-
stantly ~patronized. There is no bar in the
hail., but a long counter occupies one side.
After the dance, the man takes his partner
to the counter. Here he orders what he will,
and the refreshments are sent up from be-
low. The rules are quite rigidly enforced,
and the penalty for neglect is summarily in
hicted.
ADARK PAGE To READ
A sadder story of New York life cannot be
written than that connected with this place.
Girls of great promise and education girls
accomplished, and fitted TO adorn any sta
ton /: girls from country homes, n from
the city; missing maidens: wives who have
run away from their husbands; girls who
eloped with lovers; girls from shops
and factories, from trade and the saloon, can
here be seen at the dance. The only child OF
a judge, the wife of an eminent lawyer,
snowy, fashy, n elegantly dressed, and
women OF a lower degree all mingle. They
NoAAAC lAAA ~ ~ liz VIII VI OAAlEh III AAAN Z
good homes and cOnfiding husbands, girls
whose mothers know not where they are,
N would rather bury them than know that
they went in such company, are at this ball.
The quantity of liquor these women drink is
astonishing. After each dance the compan
go to the bar and drink. 1t is no uncommon
thing to see a young miss take n half tum-
bier of undiluJed liquor and toss it OFF with
out winking They drink champagne when
their partners can afford il. Strong liquors
are in demand at all times. At midnight the
doors close, n the company depart. 1t is
the rule of Mr.. Hill not TO keep open on the
SaDbath, and he plumesh himself greatly on
his piety. But the dance is merry until mid
night on Saturday.
The men who meet here are a sight to be-
hold h crowd the center of the floor,
and joStle each other for want of room. Men
of all grades and all degrees-officers in uni
form judges of courts, and leading men of
the bar; merchants, Jewellers, book-men and
bankers; politicians n candidates for the
high honorS in the State and nation: clerks,
men, boys, with all classes and kinds. These
men join in the dance, drink at the bar and
hirt with the women, and pay the bills.
AsTARTLING CASE.
young man in this city represented a
New England house ofgreat wealth and high
standing. He was considered one of the
smartest and most promising young men in
New York. The balance in the bank kept by
the house was very large, and the young
check any day for two hundred thousand
dollars and have il honored. The New Eng
land house used a great deal of paper, and il
could command the names of the best capi-
tallstS to any extent. One gentleman, a
member Of Congress, was reputed to be worth
10 sign notes In blank and leave them