Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-29
NO. 2o4.
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.

IL was sunday as we salled up the Day anu
anchored off Castle Garden. The air was
clear and delightful. A gentle breeze brought
distinctly to our ears the sweet notes of Old
Hundred from the Chime Bells of Trinity.
On one side was Jersey City and Brooklyn
and in another direction Staten Island, and
ON all sides, lofty buildings reaching to the
waters edge and extending as far back as the
eye could reach, with here and there one lift
ing itself above those surrounding it, as the
Herald building or some lofty steeple point
ing heavenward to break the monotony of the
massive blocks of brick and granite. At the
docks and off the Battery was forest of
masts extending miles around the city. Our
first impressions were that we were in a world
by itself. AS it was late in the afternoon
when we entered the harbor our party did
not go ashore, but Monday morning we start
ed out as green "down Casters" to see the
wonders of the great city. We took the
horse cars, (but if we had been in hurry we
should have made better time by walking,)
and after an hour and halfs ride reached
the Garden of Eden, Central Park, where for
the greater part of the day we looked, gazed,
wondered at, and passionately admired some
OF the interesting places of that labyrinth of
taste and beauty. A carriage is always wait
ing of sufficient capacity to carry twelve per-
sons. We took one and made complete tour
of the Park and then visited some of the
most important places Of interest on foot.
The length of the carriage roads are about nine
and one half miles; equestrian five and one
nalf miles, and walks twenty-eever miles.
The Park contains s62 acres, divided into
iakes, ponds, pools and lochs of perplexing
shapes, and leaping cascades, both natural
and artificial, and flower beds of surprising
beauty. One should never visit New York
without seeing Central Park. 1t is away from
The dust and heat of the city where there is
resh air, grass, trees and flowers. In con-
neetion with this delightful garden is the gal
cry of Statuary and Art, situated at the old
Chapel of Mount saint Vincent, near the
north end of the Park, and the Geological
and NaturalHistory collections at the Museum,
near the southeast part of the Park. Music
is furnished on the Park Saturday afternoons,
and everything free.
Tuesday we devoted to sights in the city
Broadway is a long way-commencing at the
Castle Garden and extending about eight
miles. We noticed here one sight that was
decidedly unpleasant. 1t was large work
horse dead on the pavement, which fell from
the heat. Being somewhat tired we waited
N az +fpa h,,t
be taken of and what done with the poor ami
NAL, supposing that he would be taken away
in few moments. A half hour passed and
no one disturbed the beast. Asking a person
near by the reason why he was left there so
long, and he told us that Frequently they were
left an hour on the pavement. The new POST
office on Broadway will be great improve
ment on the old one and will supply need
which the city has felt for long time. The
granite comes from Maine. Some of the old
er buildings on Broadway are being torn down
and more elegant ones erected to fill their
place. The street in places is being newly
paved. new hotel, few hundred numbers
above the Astor, large and spacious build
ing, much larger than the Astor, has been
opened under the name of the Grand Central.
A. t. STEWARDS
| is the place of chief interest on Broadway.
| BY the kindness of the manager, Mr.. Hussey,
we were shown about his retail store. In il
are employed some thenty-seven hundred
hands and about three hundred and fifty in
his Wholesale department. His retail store
occupies a whole block, and covers three
acres. There are five floors and in the centre
winding stairs so that one can stand at the
top and look down upon the lower floor and
see the busy statesmen attending to their Gus
toners. We should have been pleased to see
the man A. T. himself but he had not been
well for few days and was out. Under the
first floor there is an establishment for feeding
his clerks at dinner time, which is a great
saving to them. Business for the present is
not very lively, the ''tons" are at Newport
and Saratoga.
This week there has been perfect swarm
of vessels, both foreign and coastwise and
freights have run down to an exceedingly low
figure, so low that it would hardly nav a
coasting vessel to take cargo. During the
week there were two arrivals of emigraut
ships. On the arrival of enigrants they are
landed at the Castle Gardens, where every
thing is provided for their comfort until they
obtain places. There were nearly thousand
in all, the most of whom will go west. 1t
was quite amusing to see them as they came
from the pier. Each one carried his own
baggage done up in basket like trunk OF
ordinary size, and covered in some cases with
shawl or cloth. Their costume was pecu-
liar but neat and tidy. The women all wore
on their heads black silk handkerchief reach.
ing down behind and resting upon the should
ers. Their dress was dark brown or black
all wool, coarse, and in no case mingled with
fashy eolors. Our attention was particular
ly called to a young couple. Each had .
basket of cloths, and were just starting ont In