The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-09

sumptuous thoroughfare In the world. The Champs
Elysees In Paris and some OF the broad boulevards
OF Vienna may excel Is IN picturesque gardens and
ample shade, but mono OF these convey 10 the
mind the wondrous degrees OF opuence 30 striK-
ingly exhibited both in the brown stone fronts ana
luxurious interiors or Fifth avenue palaces. This
avenue 10 emphatically the drawing room OF the
Western World. Along It's broad and heightened
promenade strollers seek passport, in their rich
cloths and nicely cut clothes tnat win introduce
them, perchance to bowling acquaintance with
some OF tho nobs OF tho city. There are thousand
ways TO attain prominence as PERIODICAL promen-
ader as gentleman, whose recognition alone viii
elevate one TO social superiority. In the first place
one must have good lailor-he must be an artist
tailor. The nt produced must coincide with every
curve OF the body, and the cut must reflect the latest
Partisan fashions. Then it ia essential that the
beaver comes from the latest block, that the
boots are moulded on the latest last and that
spring overcoats hung gracefully over the arm.
II with these requisites one he's hali-dlssipated
look and general carriage, denotng hauteur, then
he can number hls salaams by the thousand, and be
pointed OF Us an authority on any subject-from q
crimpcd rinslet co the last el0penent Sunday is
the time when these distinguished autocrats move
along unconscious that the vulgar world exists all
around them. They know only tho young ladies
whom they meet on their way from church, and TO
whom they make the fashionable salute that they
have almost broken their uecSs IN practising.
But on Fifth avenue the gentlemen occupy the
same relative position that they do In private
drawing room. The ladies there, well as in their
own parlors, are queens. More there tnan at any
other place In the city, whether at ball. opera,
ehAnk hantt rha,E
toilets and bewitchlng charms. Those who are not
churchgoers, ana then again those who not play
goera, mud il necessary to make their
appearance on pleasant SUNDAY after
noon, so that the avenue then presents
. scene which takcs In every degree Of tho
beautiful ana interesting. Richly-hued dresses,
elegantly turned figures whether natural or arti-
fetal; brunettes and blondes In endless variety OF
style, soft and dark-eycd beauties that bespeak
foreign extraction, gentlemen OF the turf ana table,
morality ana immortality, these are some Of the ee-
monts that make up tho shifting scene OF the avenue
on q fair Sunday. And what draws this motley
throng9 BY the stern hand Of what arbiter has the
avenue for twenty years been the chosen ground OF
the metropoliss Nothing but It's ever elegant man
slons, whose owners have moulded the fashions ana
taates OF the Continent has made this street tho
most freQuented resort In America She continuous
and almost uubroken line OF brown stone fronts that
rear their massive blocks colossal heights has been
the nucleus Take
THIRTY YEARS 400.
Then the vicinity OF Washington square was the
promised land; now 1t Is the house OF bondage.
Then all that was elegance and splendor found its
repository there; now but few private
dwellings, aua multitude Of boarding
houses remain to commemorate Its former
glory. The house OF Mr. Drake Mills,
on the corner Of waverley place. was. when first
built, one OF the nneat in the city was also the
present mansion OF Mr.. James Lonnox. But the
march OF Improvement has located the more valu-
able building sites above, on Murray Hill ana ten
years have sulced to render this section scene
Of It's present monumental Millions The improve
lnents that have been made are vast-gO rapid, In
me, that no one need say to-day, Note the advances
made In the last few years." Rather should 1t be
said, mote the advances OF the past few weeAs."
what are theyS
THE FRESH IMPROVEMENTS.
Tho pavement OF the avenue from Washington
square 70 the Park has been laid with bed OF
asphalt That now gives 10 the heretofore rough and
uneven surface OF the drive sIno0tness and elias
ticity that form delightful contrast with the
eaEier times. This covering has, in some places,
failed to justify tho high praises first sounded In its
favor, aud II would seem that the work has
been gigantic Job; yet 1t is unfair, Al
Its merits as q stratum over when heavy
vehicles must pass as the entire work was
ner Of twentieth street We note hover stores and
Noedlcrs art gallery the side OF the avenue
about the middle or the block; and on the opposite
side Is the new Genhan Hotel, which Is 1tIed mp
and frescoet with unusual richness. From these
additional incentives 70 business growth In this quar-
ter lampposs have been erected emitting an intense
light, which iliunlinacS the surroundings with bril-
liant effect. This innovation has drawn a swarm OF
velocipedts that traverse The glossy surface with
lightning speed, ana per orm tho oiiicult evoutons
unl Ter the sxil OF their masters with wonderful
facility. Crowds QI people are gathered every even
Ing to witness the display aud q new theatre OF
attraction has been added to the metropolis where
one under the sympathetic exhalatioas OF prime
Havana can witness healthy athletic anGsenents
free OF charge. The prospect in the evening from
the Glenhaln 10 one OF great interest aud variety.
40 southwark are the long double rows oil ampposts
nasnng ike stars against the dark skies OF brown
SHINING from tne windows. Nearer the spec ator Is =
weeping willow ana Iurthcr TO norhward Is the tall
hotel with lis burlished glass, gilied walls and res.
coed ceilings, disclosed Dy the open windows and
doors. Still beyond is tnat massive pie, the 50.
German, tie withoring foliage Of Madison square
aud the sharp outlines OF White marble which close
the scene Oh the north, as drop curtain, llumi-
mated with curious sna .es OF crimson light Bright
as the view must be In one sense 1t IL dark In
nnother for the deep shadows cast by the tall build
1n9s take their angular turns down The different
the new sidewalks IN front OF the Stewart mansions
are noted vs. new work; and yet higher up similar
improvements arc remarked e on every hand The
process OF erection from Forty.nfth street toward
the Park sustain the reputation OF the avenue All
this II new to the eyes OF those who have juss
returned after brief sojourn country. Truly
what marvel Is metropolitan cnterprisel
In order that tho reader may form some idea Of The
elegance OF the finest mansions on the avenue we
briefly describe those preemincntly elegant
THE MANSION or MI. W. II. VERB.
A ombodying highly ornate style Of archtec-
turo and Jet sort OF suDdued elegance in the gen.
eral design, no front II moro conspicuous on the
avenue than that OF Mi. w. II. Webbs splendid
residence, next to the corner Of Fortysecond street,
on Filth avenue on The west sidc. THIS structure
bult OF Nova Scotia yellow stone, and every block
was imported by the architect for this particu-
lar edincc. All OF the outlines, the massive steps
leading under porch whose beautifully designed
columns are crowned with deicately wrou ght capi-
tails, and which VIII bear the closest inspection; the
artistic work which surmounts these pedestais hg-
ured into fantastic shapes the other coumnar
snarts which mud place to right Of the doorway aud
embelsh the elevation with variety aud yet mar
mony oil different schools; the Roman windows
whose sashes support single sheets OF plate glass,
and the whole finish replcto In nice gradaons OF the
ornamental and profuse in evidences OF stability
these are some OF the characteristics which mark
this mansion IN its true aesthetic grandeur. Butt
nv Mr. Grlffn Thomas, the eminent architect a. HIS
adaal NJ n hOugc IL certainly DOiutg what can ho