Middletown transcript., 1870-08-06
AN nselrsH PICTURE OF NEW YORK,

AN ESeiIsH PICTURE OF NEW YORK.
An English writer in Belgravia says
that the houses to which foreigner is ad-
mitted who presents his credentials in
New York offer much to attract and to
elicit admiration. As the people them
selves are descended from every national
ity, and continually renew their drafts
upon all the European peoples, and their
intimacy with the indulgences of Europe
nm capitals, so their homes are replcte with
the suggestions of cosmopolitan intelli-
gence, luxury and refinement. The grea-
ter part of modern New York houses are
substantially built of brown stone, on
peculiarly convenient plan They are fur
nished with lightness and elegance which
recall only Partisan salons. The walls
and ceilings are habitually frescoed by
Italian decorators in style unknown in
England, but of entirely italian taste.
Carpetcd and curtained to suit English
ideas of comfort; with furniture and hang
ings Of French beauty and taste, and most
ly executed by French artists; frescoed in
delicate arabesque: wainscoted for the
most part in walnut wood or mahogany,
in lieu of painted or grained deal; with
abundant baths and high pressure water
supply on each floor; with doors which
usually slide into the walls, SO as 10 allow
the suites of rooms to be thrown together;
the passages and staircases heated in
winter by hot air, while the apartments
have, open fre-grates-the ordinary good
class houses of New York combine all the
best attributes of comfort of the houses of
the various capitals of the world This
remarkable people have absorbed the best
parts Of all they have seen and heard.
The ordinary life of New York families
is modelled on that of England the sepa-
rate house, the family habits, the love of
domesticity and of comfort But-this is
modified by the infusion of Continental
gayety and facilities for outdoor amuse-
inents. The love of dancing is universal
A favorite institution is that of ''socia-
bles:" dancing clubs of young people,
who in coteries of twenty or forty belong
ing to vicinity. meet at each others
family houses during the season, every
fortnight for dance. The habit of eve
ming visiting, surprise parties, or meetings
at the house of a friend for the sake of a
dance by sudden concert and without any
previous intimati9n, are among the means
by which this gay social intercourse is
maintained -r.te
These sociables afford usually exempli-
fication of the passionate love of flowers,
and the costly indulgence of that passion,
which New Workers have borrowed from
the French, and in which they surpass
their original. A gigantic bouquet of
flowers. costing from $l5 to $25, is usu-
ally sent to the young lady Of the house
: where the sociable meets. These bouduets
are Of remarkable size and beauty. In
deed flowers enter very largely into all the
solemnities, fetes and events of New York
life. The gentleman who wishes to testify
his devotion to young lady does SO by
offerings of magnificent flowers. States
men, orators, opera-dancers, divines, are
alike accustomed to receive these floral
Z tributes. The bride is married beneath
magnificent floral bell the coffin is deco.
rated with exquisite crosses, crowns, and
wreaths of flowers, of which some are in
tcrred in the grave, and others preserved
beneath glass as mementoes. The Rev.
Mr.. Ward Beecher breaches with floral
basket by his side. Mr.. George Francis
Train has equally floral tributes, which
he waves in the course of his denunciation
Of British influence and the old fogies of
the Bible. On the occasion of a benefit
night to fayorite actress, lately, bas-
ket of choice flowers was brought on to
the stage as an offering from her admirers,
which had to be carried by four men.
There are gentlemen whose social reputa-
tion is built on flowers One especially
exhausts his ingenuity and lavishes his
finances on floral devices of the most lavish
. beauty and varied novelty on all suitable
occasions ofhappy omen to his fair friends
Peculiarities of climate are pressed into
the service of gay society. During the
summer the heat of the weather brings
the inmates even of the most fashionable
houses out on the top stoop," or high
door-steps leading up to each house. Thus
are extemporized universal outdoor meet
!. ings, friendly greetings, and an outdoor
neighborly intercourse peculiar to hot
climates. The - door-stoopY takes the
piace oftbes Aouse-top in the East. A
stranger passing along the fashionable side
streets of New York on warm summers
evening is surprised at the spectacle of
groups of lightly and elegantly dressed
ladies standing and sitting about on the
door-steps, with heads uncovered, atten-
ded by gentlemen smoking, laughing.
talking. and exchanging greetings across
the road and on either side This would
NJ vefy ysbaa nlannsrs il london or any
where but in New York or in the East.
Here it is graceful and agreeable con-
eession to the heat Of the climate during