Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-09-14
TIE GREAT METROPOLIS.
A Sunday Evening stroll-From the
Herald" Office to the Battery.
Special Correspondence Of EvEAr EVENING.

NEW YorK, Sunday Evening, Sept. Sth,
| / 1S73.-Htanding on the steps of the Office
of the New York Herald, and looking up
Broadway, one Ia stru,k with the marked
contrast between y prison-like walls of
/ the Astor House and the beautiful prOpor-
tions of the new post office that Is rearing
its co Ossal form above the wall of adver'
tisemenis that surround IL. Forty years
ago, when the Astor House was built, New
York felt proud Of the achievement, but
now the plain blocks of granite look
lidoOus alongside the beautiful specimens
Of architecture that have sprung up
around Il within the last few years.
As tho day is warm we stroll down
Broadway to the Betiery; on our way the
first thing that attracts our attention Is the
Equitable Insurance Building, corner of
Cedar and Broadway. II is built OF huge
blocks of granite, Is five stories high, and
has the strongest safe Ia the city. The
safe is built of large granite blocks, lined
with hard steel plates, and is divided OIL
into numerous compartments, which are
rented by the year to persons who wish to
deposit their valuabes in safe place.
Opposite Wall street stands Trinity
church with its tall tapering spirc keeping
guard over the oldest part of New York
city, whilst il casts its shadow over graves
that were made a hundred years ago or
mere.
From this point Broadway presents a
somewhat deserted appearance until you
reach the neighborhood of Bowling Green,
the little spot Of grass that served as a
park to the ancient New Yorker, opposite
which on the corner of Broadway and
Battery Place Is the Washington Hotel,
the headquarters Of Gen. Washington
during the war OF Independence, while
nexbdOor, on Battery Place, is the New
York office Of the z. w. & B. Z. r. Some
sixty years ago this was the most fashion,
able QUAR- or of the city, but now fashions
shrine is some three miles or more up the
island. Then the waters of the bay washed
the native shore, now they dash against
granite wall.
Bounded on the north by Battery Place,
on the east by Broadway and Whitehall
streets, and on the west and south by the
bay, lies a beautiful park of fifteen or
/ twenty acres, tastefully laid out with
walks and flower beds, with abundance Of
shade trees and shrubs comfortable seats
are placed at every crook and turn for the
comfort of the visitors.
On the North river side, toward the
upper end, stands old Castle Garden. In
days gone by il was the resort of the bon
ton Then il stood out in the water some
hundred yards or more from shore, there
being long bridge reaching out to it. II
was in that old fort that Jenny Lind cleo
triicd the people OF New York with her
nigltcL sale-like voice. and also where
| Grisi and Mario charmed their thousands
of admirers. 1t is through that same old
fort that thousands of foreigners come
from the king-rldden countries OF Europe,
to swell the population and increase the
wealth of our own young giant republic.
How pleasant it must be to the emigrant
to step from the small confines of the ship
in which he has crossed the Vastly deep
into beautiful green park, with every.
thing around him that pleases the eye and
brings a feeling of relief now that He has
touched the shore once more.
Tonight there are at least three thousand
men, women and children here enjoying
the fresh breeze from the ocean and dur.
ing the dreadful hot spell there were Peo-
pie here all night,taking an outside birth
in preference to the close room at home.
All along the water frent Is a firm wide
walk, nearly half mile long, chain
guard running nearly all the way, undel
the shadow of Castle Garden is the Bat
terry swimming bath, where for twenty.
tive cents you can have a comfortable
swim, walking TO tho furthcrmost point
and looking seawnrd, Governors Island
with Fort Columbus on its western end
presents itself to view. In the distance
past Fort Columbus lie the blue smoky
hills of staten Island, while between il
and the Jersey shore is the entrance L
the "kills," to the westward, across thu
bay, Jersey City lies In sluggish silence
At your left hand is the Governors Island
dock, while west too lies the dock of thl
Staten Island Ferry Co., and it was thcr,
that the "Westfeld' sent so .many per
sons to an early grave. During the hO
weather the boats q that Company car
ricd from seven TO IN thousand person,
every Sunday to Staten Island, to spent
the day in the wools away from the city,
heat and dust.
ON the upper side of the Ferry House il
the "Ship News Oillee' established b.
the enterprlsing Herald. 1t has two stcai
Yachts that do nothing but collect new
for that paper. Going out to sea to NEE
in incoming steamer, getting files O
European papers, everything in the shap
of news, and often have it printed befor
the steamer arrives in port.
| will have to bid this pleasant spC
, good night, or this will be late for you
tomorrow evenings edition. NJ. G.