The New York herald., 1870-07-24
NEW YORK IN 1870.
IFrom the London Belgravla for July.l


life and opinion drawn from the observation or vsi-
tors or residents at intervals Of few years present
features OF remarkable ana almost inconcelvable
difference. The New York OF to-day Is hardly TO be
recognized by the visitor who has been few years
absent. Its moral and social aspects change as rap
idly as the actual physical characters OF the city, and
the views and statements OF various sections or men
easily lead observers from divers points Of view TO
precisely opposite conclusions. New America, as
seen by Mr.. Hepworth Dixon, is agitatel and con.
vulsed by theological and philosophical dissent; by
Mr. Dixie 1t is seen to be in the perpetual throes of
social, political and commercial development, and
heaving with incessant changes Of disintegraon
ana reformation; TO Mr.. Sala 1t Is the scene OF oddly
contrasting refine ment and coarseness, the lacquer
OF Partisan dissipation everything the coarseness OF
native rowdyism and the eccentricltes OF an unnn-
ished and Dartlcoored nationality. To the foreign
resident, mixing with all cliques and belonging ex-
clusively to- none, there is versimilitule IN all
these portraltures which the native American would
perhaps be 10th to- admit; they only by their in
completeness and by the inevitable errors attaching
to partial survey OF so mutilorm and arspreldtng
supernces beneath which are at work forces OF sin
gular energy, rapidly varying frequently cashng,
aud betraying itful and everish activity. Whoever
speaks of New York, speaks now of society which
intimately sympathzes with and reflects the feel
tngs and habits OF all the cities OF the world for II Is
city which is made up Of the natives or all Others
Its population receives daily accessions from all
the capitals OF Europe. London, Liverpool, Paris,
Amsterdam, Frankfort, are rs familiar to large
proportion OF New Workers as to their own inhabt-
ants On the one hand there are the ebb ami
now Of travel, which never ceases; the constant tide
OF an immense emigration, still on the lncrease the
accession of foreign Qapita and the repeated visits
Of European capitalists and men OF business; on the
ha hal al nd to
of fashion and OF commercial activity by large pro-
portion Of the resldcnts their foreign correspond
ence and connections. Such causes continue to
give 10 American society vivid sympathies
with oil the forms OF European thought
and to introduce limitations and reflections of
all the habits OF the Ola World. These
are curlously modified by the evcr-Nesent conditions
OF rapid growth and change, which are Inherent in
the natural progress OF this great continent towards
more complete settlement and the fuller development
OF its resources. What may be the ultimate form
which will grow up out of the abundant and strug.
would n9eea be dcu to saw Meane ne m
scene Is one OF vivid and ever-fresh interest The
observer OF religious phenomena nds here IN Brook
lyn city or churches. Along the Fifth avenue he
passes In review anoble Catholic cathedral In course
Of ferecion In white MARBLE OF which the unfinished
1t, which testi6es to the wealth, piesy ety. and ID
eoen s sGde~ sne T0 ys
square Of the Manhattan Island-for their syna.
gogue. Nearly facing It is now the church which.
next 10 MI Beechers, Is perhaps the most popular
and numer0usly attended in New York-that OF Dir.
chaplin, Universalist. Tho wealth ana endow-
are already emuated by Trinity church, which
owns vast blocks Of houses and some acres of real
inch, the original endowment having been IA a
On email Hoora farm a,.N or & two In what few score
and Is now n0o the busiest Of Now Yos
Church and State, the absolute freedom '"ad ana
duceA, has given to New York In its most fashion,
able localities an abundance Of fine religious edl-
real vitality OF religious belief among the masses
The large influx Of Irish pOpulation however, into
Whch ownR e. aa the s pren eys
municipal constsutlon the poorer class Of irish
OF the Catholic institutions. frequent fear IS
0 now and is growing IN the nnds
win arise from the efforts to secure a predonl
nant .inauence to Roman Catholic Views in the mat
Sunday observances. 1t follows from the peculiar
relations OF the religious sections Of American So
Development In the Old World Is the subject OF
Watchiu attention and interest. The proceedings OF
the Ecumenlcal Council at Rome are reported and
debate with the most minute interest In tho daily
papers, but not more faithfully though at greater
Length, than the debates Of the Jewish conslstories
for Wesleyan or Baptist anniversaries Every
Monday morning the New YORK HERALD
ports OF the sermons and discOuses all the prin
cipal churches, chapes, and synagjgues. Ut is con.
trary to etiquette to speak OF a man as Jews ne Il
always Hebrew or an Israelite) The tone and lite
rary character Of these reports ore highly character
istlc OF American journalism Not only are the lead
Ing topics Oh the discourse reported, ana tile best
passages quoted, but the manner OF the preacher,
MS dress action and personal pecuiarities are freely
nahdled Tne leading members OF his congregation
are referred TO by name; the music the general as
pect OF the congregation and their style OF costume
are not omitted: and these renorls supply
frivolous smatalS is In ali pGs0ps this may "i1, be-
found found the n ~, Key t. one Of the pec9aries Of
equality ofreligIous professions. TO which must be
added the cosmopolitan tolerance that arises from
ti0ns OF opinion arising out OF violent national
changes and repeated financial crises. The class OF
matt cOnsume,'e JS7t0es-ls almost unknown. There
is only one wor In use to express the class Of unoc-
cIped men ndss Men not employed IN business are
such as that Of the upper ten thousandn IN
E9ropean cities must perrorce expairiate them
ship They are are ana nave c0pae na nsee
In American civilization. The clubs are empty
Of the day. Early ln the morning, and alter bust
ness hours In the afternoon, the wealth and fashion
or driving with their wives or spsedinp rasttrot
ting horses along Harlem lane and returning more
leislrely 70 Their homes through Central Park This
karK is nnely situated having great nau ural advan
tages OF rock hill, valley, garden ana greensward.
It s not yet fully tmbered and lacks agethat great
deslderatum OF New York-to excel Hyde Park and
display the finest features 0f the Phoenx Park and
the Bots de BOui0gne, OF which il unites many OF the
contrasting beauties Swept by tcsea breeze situated
between two broad rivers, OF winch ~ commands
line views, picturesquely varied by rocky elevations
and grassy slopes including fine lake covered by
lttie neet OF boats, decorated by some striking
architectural works, and already embelshed by
sculptural works OF art, furnished win gymnasia
restaurants and conveniently laid out Tor public
musical promenades-this Park, the OFFSPRING OF q
few years effort and expenditure or the city funds
and In the season It IL great resort Of the most and
the least fashionable casses. Here on a fine after
noon may be seen and studied some OF the most
marked OF the external characteristics OF society IN
New York.
Observe. first Of all, that the value of labor-and
to that exteny the dignity Of manhood-ls palpable
even here, amid the display OF the insignia OF wealth
and luxury and note how the democratic absence OF
eXclusiveness ana the remains OF republican SIM
pllcty are placed In evidence eide hy side with the