The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-14
THE RIVER FRONT.
A Sabbath Raabis By the Shores Of Nam
haitian.

/
| A Sabbath Ra..bis by the shores Of Man
haitian.
Anybody whoss olfactories arc not over-sensitfve
and who disdAns fanltless polish on his shoe
leather might take rsmble on Sunday afternoon
along our river mont and End good deal to smuse
and not little to Neutrality-suspicious. more to con-
denim than N admire and less to attract than to
repe. True, ne can feast his eyes upon the Hudson
or the East river and feel tinging glow Of native
pride IN the reflection that no such tidal waters lave
the feet OF any other city in the world. But these
tidal rivers look better at little distance Naturally
Of course they have peers in this wide creatlon
II only remains for man to pollute their limpid now
ana dIsngure their noble proportions For instance
look at that returning tide here this East river
AMI say II you think 1t pleasant, sanitary
ton to battle In Its turgid ebb. How do those little
boys, not to speak of those Of larger growth exist
after once imbibng draught Of this foullv adulter
atedseement But the wnl Is tempered to the shorn
toll suffer such harm from the poisonous stream
In which they love TO gambol as those Of more ex-
pensye and fastidious tastes would he too apt to
and surely she Is not to be censnred
for the horrible Disagreement In the grand outlines
OF the Two rivers around the shores OF Manhattan
island On. for tongue to anathe natize theorirn-
at0r OF wooden wharves and piers-of the broken
tooth abortion that brstles from the Battery on
either side Of us Lei M console ourselves that as
good oftentimes proceeds from evil taste and beauty
may yet spring from gross and sordid unsghtliness
THE NORTH RIVER FRONT.
In the cool OF yesterday afternoon the sedentary
society of the west side of town struggled
pier formed q freely improvised natatornm.
Above the exit OF the city sewers, where
tho Hudson begins TO minale in the unclean cur
rents the number OF men and bows enjoying atuit.
Gus abIutiOns was verv large. The water appeared
to agree well with the most OF then. A few alarm
Ing incidents occurred at the foot OF Fiftv-third
street that disturbed the general enjoyment for mo-
ment. Some boys reported man under wa'er
longer than II was thought necessary for hts health
ami forthwith over dozen daring youths jumped in
and dived down In the neghbOrhood OF where ne
was concealed. He was brought to shore insensi
BILE, after being struck below water bv half do en-
heads. The old plan was put In force OF drawing
him along the shore, head downward and nv the
merest accident enough OF animation was engen
humping the head Of the unfortunate victim received
against the big bOulders to bring consciousness back
and restore the poor fellow 10 the bosom OF his
family. Away down to Fourteenth street men and
boys might be seen padding about In the very dirty
water and clambering up In all sorts OF ont-oitne,
side ami the aquatic public at the other.
piers where the waters were unvexed by rude
bathing boys. The day being dull and cloudy was
exceedingly favorable for Piscatory Sports D0wn
Sabbath stiffness prevailed the sailors appeared
fast asleep, and save citizen or two wandering
istessy here and there little else gave token OF IRE.
or the ferry slips all alive usual with
the rush Of thirsty Immigrants TO Jersey, and more
than alive when night approached with the uprori-
GUS hiliarity Of the returning tide OF topers.
THE EAST RIVER.
From Jones' Woods down to Grand street ferry
along the city shore Of the East river one almost
continuous line OF bathers might be observed yester
dav afternoon. They infested every little inlet and
took possession OF almost every bu!khoad There
far genuine sport ut this side OF the island
than at the other The excitement, however, OF the
rapid eddyinq current is much greater here and the
tlmOroua swimmer must summon up good deal OF
pluck before ne ventures far from shore On the
bluffs above Fortieth street great number OF the
east side residents seated themselves to catch the
welcome puns OF wind that came at intervals from
the harbOr down below.
What q pity OF pities no grand boulevard
runs along here that all the roasted resi-
dents OF tenement rookeries might he AZ
forded q chance OF breathing the GOd-given
breezes of Heaven. All below Grand street to the
Battery was, as usual dull to oppressiveness-no
life around the shipping, little or none on shore.
The seafaring population was wrapped in slumber;
and even the ships themselves looked weary and
depressed The Battery wore similar appearance.
In the grass plots some few forlorn emgrants
stretched their exhausted forms and gazed visit
fully out upon the dull gray waters Altogether the
river front was BY no means particular place OF
attraction yesterday.