Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1873-08-05
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
Nsw yaRk Jnlv IL 1s7a

NEW YORK July IA, 1873.
Dear Spirit DO not think, becauseI say
sded,a SPIRIT" that I'm a member of that
honorable body, commonly denominated
inebriates OF, that Tn of the Spiritualistic
persuasion. To use intelligible English I'm
"a Ha4per's Ferrtan. so;oarning IN Iys,s York
II is only probable, that letter from New
: York will be acceptable to the columns of
the Spirit of Je6erson but console myself.
with the reflection that metropolitan news is
refreshing, at all times and in all places. -
There used to be something Understanding
in aswerdANew York, which sounded on
my unsophlstIcated ear with meccaSlike
charm. That was, it must be confessed.
previous to my knowledge of city men.
fashions and manners.
Oh! tile soul-stirripg avidity with which I
used to glance over the columns of country
papers announcing in bold characters. and in
holder language, the destruction of cog.
stable; the slaughter of a favorite calf
Now. can read an account of three murders
with an air ofhonchalehce equal to that which
characterizes guest perusing the bill of fare
at Delmonico's. There is man here from
Halitown, w. Va, who reads with tear-fow,
ing eye and palpitating heart, an editorial ON
the demolition of Haltown ashhopper.-
He's not civilized, but very patriotic
Smiles dimple my cheeks, like the wrinkles
in blacksmith's bellows, when urge old
memory torefect upon the gay times we vir-
ginia boys used to have, following stray
Italian organsgrinder up and down High
street, listening to the melodious strains of his
Internal machine; and gaping at the blacks
WHISPERED, dark-vsaged musician, as if he.
had been an inhabitant of Fezz,n. Now.
even a Japanese ambassador, dressed in ali
the oriental colors, possesses no attraction
Such is the result of contact with society,"
This is afi- egotism /: not New Yorkism
Gotham is built on Manhattan Island.
which the politicians call 'sNew York Issnd.''
New York is "bully" place, SO the '.Bowery
boys" say. What they say must be true, for
IN the4tanguage Of a Charestown negro, they
''was bFung up" here. There are six classes
of society here, viz: The aristocrats, who live
on Fifth and Madison Avenues, willing away
their nonotonous lives doing nothing the
"shoddy aristocrats," who drive $4,000
horses, speak broken English, and figure in
divorce sralsi storeSkeePers, who remain ut
home during the heated term, accommodating
money-these live in the hope of one day
being ushered into tho ranks of the s.shoddy
aristocracy;" mechanics, who work in wood
and iron, during the day, drink lager-beer
and throw their wives out of the back win
sdows at night; laborers, who live in shanties
these "squatters wives 1--WE call them
squatters) drink goats milk, and sell large
quantities of the tactical fluid; there are other
individuals, who live in tile less freauented
streets, and indulge in nightly carousals,
they arc termed s'slumftes"
Theatres, lectures and fancy masquerade
balls afford ample pleasure for the high toned
of our citizens while midnight picnics.
gambling hells and low dance houses serve as
places of innocent (2) amusement Tor those
of less refined taste
Every corner of our streets, is graced with
the prcsehce of lager bear-saloon, Dutch
grocery, or lGuor~store, where the Young
"butfers" assemble to insult ladies', who have
occasion to pass. This abominable nractice
has been carried on, with the full connivancc
OF policemen, who accept segar or glass of
bad whiskcy from'tke "rouglis,' for voluntary
abstraction.
The told Dutch mayor makes tho police
"toe the mark" they curse him, thot's a good
sign Speaking of police: fever wanted
to have my place veil protected by those cns
todinns OF the public peace, I d hire two pretty
servant>girls. One should be Irish. tic other
German-for onr police generally represent
the "Om'd .Sod' and the :. Ia7cr ltna"-
Let me see: = I'd permit the pretty servant
girls to sit on the front-stoop, and sing the 4
wv caring of the Greer" and tho Watch on
the Rhine" I'm sure all the "bluo coats
in tie ward could be found opposite my dwell.
ling, throwing shccp's-cyc clnnces ut my pretty
maid servants Il PAYS some of my friends
have tried it with satisfactory results. They
can leave hands of extraordinary value, scat>
tered around without risk of the most cxpert
burglars interference. Can YOU leave hams
scattered around in snake house, down in
Virginia! No; if the negroes are returning
from the polls.
But I'm occupying too much space in the
"SpirN." I'll desist, ere that '::iSpi1ii" as
sumes acorporeal shape. and inlicts a cor
pornl punishment. With the reiterated
promise that you will soon hear from me again,
I hasten to subscribe myself.
NJ. j.. T., EX>HARPER's FERR1AN.