Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-08-06

four quarters Of the globe are with |
US cheek by jowl; Africans and
Mongolians, Teutons and Celts,
Gauls and Saxons. Jews and Egypt
ians, Indians and Asiatics, Sclayes
and Italians -people of all nation
alities unite under the @gis of our
flag, vastly heterogeneous under
our freedom for individual develop
ment, but swiftly acquiring a meas
ure of homogeneity by reason of
iberalizing intercourse. These
national diversities are supplement-
ed by local diversities. and these
again are varied by the perfect OPP
portunity for individual action, and
SO everywhere We see diffusion and
unity, the struggle and friction Of
elements that by nature oppose and
contend, and yet by law and nation
al pressure are abraded into cer-
tain unities of purpose.
All these contrasted and contend
ing features in our communities
produce throughout the country
picturesque turbulence that recalls
the commotion of Rome, Canstan-
tinople, or Alexandria. The poll
teal liberty which brings all sorts
of people from foreign shores is at
tended by that social liberty which
gives license to all sorts Of indivi
dual caprice, and as a result We
have life full of contrast, activity.
and collision-a life exuberant,
loud, and expansive, which, rapidly
losing all claim to high refinement,
compensates for this by its lustiness,
its courage, and its achievements
In all our great cities these elements
are notably. conspicuous; but in
New Orleans, San Francisco, Chi
cago, and New York, the kaleido-
scope is more rapidly shifting, and
the supreme hustle Of pleasure and
business more striking. New York
especially seems in perpetual flut-
ter of exhuberant life. There are
ceaselessly outbursts of the elements
that make up its population, con-
stantly the loudest demonstration
of different organizations, nationali.
ties, or modes of thought, while in
pleasure as well as in business we
are fairly stunned with the excess
of confused activity. The Germans
flaunt their banners and utter theil
: p@ans Of triumph to-day; the Irisf
, fill our streets with rude pageantrie'
r tomorrow; st. George and st
!. Nicholas have their festive honors
a and all peoples in some form express
+ their national feelings. Thegreatmel
IS of other countries are more honoret
by statues and busts than those of Ou
own; the drama and opera of every
tongue have representatives; thu
u sports of all climes are reproduced
o in our pleasure-grounds; and, in ON
: own individual way, we break on
. into clamorous conviviality. How
: extravagantly we dine and lavish.
J we drink, the hotels bear witness
y what hustle and excitement of plea
" sure we delight in, Long Brancl
. and the sea-shores give evidence
:. A certain emphasis in our enjoy
Ii ments is one of our developin,
g characteristics. Go to the wharve
. and see departing steamers; 60 OF
" our river-boats and watch excursion
:. parties. A generation ago we trav
7" elled to our watering-places decor
% ously; now the steamers that bea
Il tie crowds to these places resoun,
with music and loud conviviality
20 and glitter with the toilets of As
' pasias. In Wall Street our bust
% ness is enacted amid the clatter @
Il champagne-glasses; ON the road
II our soberest men of trade repea
g the excitement of the race-course
, Our hotels are marvellous caravan
@ saries; our promenades glory il
Q. their professions of gay costumes
It In all things there are emphasis am
q noise; as we began by saying, W
repeat the hot, tumultuous life O
% Rome when Rome had gathered al
Z peoples under her dominion, ant
Is marked her boundaries by the limit
:. of civilization.-Appfton's Journal
CINCINNATI.
j