Martinsburg weekly independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1873-1875, 1875-03-27
OUR NEW LETTER
New YORK. March IS. 1875.

NEW 1ORh, MdrcIi 10, 1919.
To The Editors ot'ths Independent.
Nearly everybody is aware that
there is such place as New York,
that it is situated somewhere in the
United States, that Americans
might be proud ofit,yet they think
that ii is also the abiding-place Of
every species of wickedness to
which degraded humanity may
surrender itself. 1t is true that one
may here become so much absorb
ed in himself that he cares for no.
thing so much as the accumulation
OF wealth, or at least the attainment
ola competence that he cares so
little for his neighbor that he can
live next to him for ten years with
out exchanging word with him,
yet in spite of all this, there is many
an oasis in the arid waste of his life
of labor, that cheers and imparts
pleasant tone to the daily routine
of!ever recurring scenes. New York
has been justly called 'The Oity of
Charities aud surely, this fact will
serve, If not to throw the character
out in bold relief, at least, to tone
and soften the recollections Tor |
should say the images) of New
York. AS an example of this, /
would simply state that the st.
Johns Guild Is. by the contribu-
tions of downtown merchants, en-
abled to support the goodly num-
Der OF four thousand families.
The number Of free institutions
are many the Cooper Union offers
every facility for young persons
DESTROYS of entering into the study
Of science and art. During the win
ter, the most eminent professors'of
science are engaged TO deliver free
lectures to the people or popular
science, and the best instructors are
engaged to impart their knowledge
to those wishing to take advantage
of it. Painting, drawing, engrav-
ing, sculpture, natural philosophy,
chemistry, telegraphy, the langu-
ages, English literature, elocution,
are all included in the course of stu
dies. In addition to this, a spac-
ious reading-room is also thrown
open, and is we'll supplied with
books, papers, magazines, etc The
Institute is located in fine site, oc-
cupying whole block, viz: from
Seventh to Eighth street and from
Third to Fourth avenue. The
Young Mems Christian Association
is a similar institution, but only
the reading-room and library are
thrown open to the public. How
ever, the company here Tor the hd-
6it,es, ratherl is more select, and
foreign literature in the shape of
magazines, is better represented
than at Cooper Institute.
The Astor Library is a magnifi-
cent structure on Lafayette Place,
not far from the Cooper Institute.
The institution is also open to the
public, and has had the honor of.
naming Washington Irving as one
of its trustees. 1t consists of two
large halls, in which are numerous
alcoves. replete with every depart
ment of literature. It's encyclope-
dias, books of reference, both in
law and history, make it valuable
never properly invaluable) to stu
dents, who testify to their appreci-
alton of their merits, by frequently
having recourse to them. In addi-
ton to this, it has fine editions of
the Latin and Greek classics, and
in it are we'll represented the writ
ings of the monks of the middle
ages. Hence that selfish but often
useful parsonage, the antiquary,
may here find plenty of matter up
on which to base his researches, and
dig out, as it were, the customs of
past ages.
But | am taking up too much
space, land my apology must be that
l am impelled to thus show the
bright side of my native city by
the pride which every one feels in
the place of his birth.