New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-07-05
PLAIN Words. Nor TO BE BEAD At TABLE.

PLAIN Words, NOT TO BE READA1 IADAH'
There are days when-not to use TOO relincu
an explession-the city smells with extraordinary
Coming down Broadway, yesterday, we ehcou".o.ou GU
counted s27 mot TO exaggeratel well dehnedel US say
osalthough the Saxon word is the only one III 10 DO
used I'm the connection TO the obvious and hhumoreu
suggestion that we might have been better empoyeu "
reply that 1t is part OF the duty OF Jourhais' W u
merate and expose and that In doing 1hs no my
as well use his rs his eyes.
In the hope. then, Of promoting content among our
country readers and suggesting compensatons Tor the
misery which those who remain In the city during ho
weather arc obliged to undergo we dip our pen IN inc
cologne bottle aud proceed. f ...
Before setting forth our complaint, we make Tue au
mission that city has natural, inalienaoo rsnt TO
smell some den Of beasts, where lions, and pahthers
nd nonkeys are shut up cages cannot be expected 10
affect the ofactores IN precisely the same manner Ss uo
the airy deserts the bOundless WINS "nee
those same beasts enjoyed freedom ana sWeetues
When the human animal developed from the aoresaiu
uonkeys-f Darwin be correct-s penned up thousanus
within narrow space ought he not 20 submit with all
possible grace to attendant nconveniences We answer
yes certainly; but there Is point beyond Whch-'ne
proverb Is somewhat musty.
This point Is reached when, passing through some OF
our streets, nds stagnant filth fostering upon INC
pavement when, retreating from this, he draws III
breath from eaky gaspipes when the various eAu'i
OF certain restaurants send cloud OF incense through
the Qratings OF the sidewalk when the meat market
broatbes upon you and the back send aebearers
through every opening your ears-no nostris when
sewers sinks CUTTERS factories, nlkept houses ana
shops whisky drinkers and tobacco-cheWers' ana III
manner OF live and dead dogs, make one grand army OF
nuisances and assa your unarmed, unprotected ana
indefensible-nose.
It's useless all We can do Is TO smile ana
smell I'm the sweet hope that tomorrow will not be so
bad as to-day. Where the City Fathersi you ASK
dear country cousbess you for your fragrant green
ness lean they endure such horrible odorsr'
Yes they can They havnt got any noses, they are all
pocket and paunch They turn their fat faces up to
heaven and say. City improvements going on very
rapidly Sir; quite fast as the taxes will allow ana
there is the Central Park. you known
Yes; let us be thankful that there is ono breathing
place. H. in comparison with our wants. II Is no Dig
ger than the bungboe I" oask
But this fact we would like 70 impress upon you iona
than as It may make you willing to stay where Proyi
dence has cast your lot whether on the hills OF New
Hampshire or In the pines OF New'Jersey. Taxes
enough are wasted, stolen "lost-in pockets always
every month to drive out threeourths OF these fetd
pests and keep the city clear Of them for three years
We would be willing submit 90 the insults OF the other
fourth as incidental to urban e but is an aggrava-
on difficult TO bear to know that you are paying three
dollars out OF four TO perpetuae the reign Of aperyad
! ing nastness.
However things are not altogether what they seem 1t
would seem that In such poisonous atmosphere nothing
healthy or beautiful could grow. We who live In the
heart OF this great steamng cdron OF uneeanness know
that badly off as we are there things which
| will be Joy forever.
| Durng this same walk down broadway, we passed
crippled beggarone OF those that make preteHse OF
serving the public by working on hand-organ There
WAS not In this case tho blue uniform appealing 10
patriotic memories; tho performer was ttle.grl VINO
had apparently suffered amputatOn OF leg. We saw'a
man give her sharp look and pass by not altogether
Ieyite fashion. but evidently thinking here's another
humbug. After proceeding, perhaps dozen rods' he
turned back fumbng In his pocket with his sweay mana
no easy work on a hot day-and made his quiet and
hurried t with look OF pity which there no mis-
| taking
Now n he had been Down-East country visitor or a
good.naured neyer-nahurry individual or philan-
throplst" or parsOn, should have thought nothing
OF IT, But happened 60 know him as city born ana
bred man Of business cosehsted and contemptuous as
far from beinR imposed upon as "a the Northwest wind
in Winter His Judgment ia as quick and sharp cutting
"a tho surgeons knife. lie kHsp that there more or
less OF imposition under those rags and that somebody
beside tho unfortunate before him might appropriate her
earnIngs He had time to follow IN his mind the long
train OF humbugs which pass before the of New York
ers every day and which does 10 choke pity than
ali novels and sermons do to revive It. Ho did not
measure his benevoenco by the deserts OF the beggar
| but gave simply because there misery which he
| could partially relieve. We forgot the smells while
RECALLED by the perfume OF his charity. The pennies
dropped by tho crowd may have been given from mere
impulse this man gave after reflection not because he
was generous by temperament, but because he remem
bered that with the OF us, with the worst, the
good will OF others must ourun our claims upon them
Society 10 DO sweeter scented than the oal heaps OF
| the street.
IT, while "rlngs" rob MS OF the privilege OF pure at
mosphere. and rank odenscs smell 70 Heaven from a
thousand iDquity the equality OF mercy Is not
strained by all the money makers, 80 that We may now
and then behold perform worthy action, who knows
but we may yet send forth tho world Eau do Se1
York as famous the fayorite perfume which comes
from the Rhine 1t may not be expected in bottles, but
In copies OF THE TRIBUNE containing record Of whatso
ever things pure and lovely IN the lives and conduct
Of our citizens.