Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-07-20
Letter from New York.

Correspondence of the Alexandra Gazette. |
New YORK, July 19.-Desiring to see some
thing of the fashionable world; we, yesterday
paid visit to Long Branch, and l would adj
wise any Alexandrian whose business may cal!
him to New York this Summer, to follow our
example, for it is worth the cost to see the boat
in which passengers are conveyed to Sandy
Hook. She is called the Plymouth Rock, and
is owned, or at least controlled. by the cecbrat
ed James Fisk, jr She is. should say: 800
feet long, and is fitted up in style Of elegance
[ should never have imagined boat could be:
Her saloons have the most costly carpets and
other furniture, bronze statues OF life size. and
elegant mirrors, and around them are hung
cages containing canary birds, to the number. 1t
is said, of nearly five hundred; i line military
band plays during all her trips, and in one OF
the saloons. through what appears at first to
be au enormous mirror, but which IS found to
be fine plate glass. all the workings Of the cnor
NOUS, but splendidly polished engine, can be
observed by the passengers. Her officers are
in rich uniforms and even her deck hands in
handsome sailors dress, with gold trimmings
| ANY further attempt at Il description OF the
rorgeousneSs Of her apartments would be
failure.
Long Branch though narrow, is a very long
place. as its name iudicates We walked two
three miles down its principal street, and yet
did not come within three quarters OF mile OF
the residence Of President Grant. Shoddy,
here, is in all It's glory fine houses fast horses;
yachts, elegant arbors, &c, show the wealth OF
the denizens and the broad Atlantic sweeping
By in its grandeur probably sees no more cx.
tensiyc display of what money can purchase, in
all its mighty course The bathing is very good,
rs took occasion To find out
New York seems never to sleep. Awakened
at three this morning by the news boys waiting
for their papers, | walked out into the street
to see. and found III activity which the busiest
hour ia Alexandria fails to show; cars run a!l
night and people are busy nj various employ
ments drug stores, newspaper Offices and cat
ing houses are Open and the noise. though, OF
course vastly less than in the day. Is continual.
| have visited many schools here and else
where, and found many improvements even on
what had seen Of the system Of education IN
past Years Everybody seems to bc proud Of Ii,
and all classes arc giving 1t their support lie
teachers, are paid salaries which no: only our
poorly paid public, but our best paid private
tcachcrs would scarcely dare even 10 hope for,
and school houses cost hundreds l thousands.
Yet. | have heard some question made as TO tic
entire uScllllIlCSS Va llC Wy ii't''
ligcnt young Irishnan, i'll Boston: said to me
that he knew young men, by hundreds, who;
educated highly: We're unwilling 10 do hard
work. and professions and lighter emf loymcntS
being ovcrcroWlcd, they illcd away their time
for years, or took situations At salaries which
rave them 10 support. and then indulgcd their
tastes, at the expense OF their employers, often
ending their career in disgrace. \ coIorctl
teacher in this city also lamcncd the hard fate
Of her people The people Of the North. she
said, gave them an education but no opportun-
ity for using it. Even the mechanic arts. in
many cases, they could not get al opportunity
Of learning, and they were confined to Il very
few occupations, without al opportunity of RS
iug. She expressed belief: and al ca'llrS:
hope. that in the South, the chances for the
colorcd man would be better: Tor, said She.
''iu New York we get an cducaton hut cannot
use it.
Let Us, in building up our educational sys
tenn. try to avoid the errors Of others, and profit
by their experience, that our schools may be !
real blessing to our people: and that We may
have no cause to regret having made S;crices
to sustain them. FlDEI.lS