The New York herald., 1875-12-19
How 1t Strikes u stranger.

The foreigner who, twenty years ago,
landed in New York, found in the condi-
tlons of society, especially as regarded the
diversions and amusements Of men, a
striking contrast to those which found favor
IN his own country. Athletic and manly
sports were comparatively unknown, or their
practice was confined to a few "sport, !"
so-called was rather byeword of reproach /;
the noblest exploits of horsehesh were
represented by the performances of fast
crab; }" cricket had obtained but a sickly
hold, chiefly among the English members
of the St Georges Society; the national
game Of base ball was in its infancy; hardly
a single boat club existed, and the rare
matches were confined to the sculling strug-
giles of Whitehall champions while
That stern JOY that anglers feel
In fishes worthy of their reel
was known to q very few who had the taste
or leisure to seek it. In the streets and
avenues our intelligent stranger found car
riages and vehicles of fashion unknown to
him, drawn by quadrupeds in whom blood
or breeding was conspicuous by its absence,
while the box was adorned by a driver,
dressed usually in his masters old clothes,
and sporting fierce mustache.
The visitors who are to be attracted hither
by the Centennial Exhibition of next year
will discover how great change has been
wrought by experience and the advantages of
foreign travel We can now boast Of cricket
clubs with their select "elevens;' boating
clubs, that possess oarsmen not unworthy to
vie with the Oxford or Cambridge eights of
athletic clubs, of the racket, jockey, four-in-
hand and coaching clubs, while the South
Side Club of Long Island remains the Joy
of the followers of Izaak Walton's gentle
craft. He will see the streets filled with all
that elegance can dictate in equipages, and
horses, liveries and servants, handsome
houses, splendid hotels, in short everything
that taste and money can provide or procure;
but our stranger will be undoubtedly as
tonished on discovering that amid all
the perfections and refinement of metrop-
oils the city religiously preserves its ancient
traditions as regards the filth and dilapida-
ton Of its streets and avenues, and not
III lue SlrcSLS anu tuo ullAOI
thoroughfares, but in the finest and best
part of the city. With what feeling of dis
grace must we admit to the visitors from all
the great European centres of the highest
civilization who are to throng our hotels
next summer that the only approaches to
our beautiful Park are either disfgured by
most inconveniently laid iron rails or paved
in such manner as to endanger their necks
if they venture TO ride upon them!
Within few weeks the Legislature will
meet, and this is an important subject for
their first consideration. Wise suggestions
have already been made as to how their
duty can be best accomplished. Let us
begin by having Fifth avenue macadamized.
1t will bring blessing to the dust-wearied
pedestrian, a comfort to the parading militia
man who now hobbies over the uneven
stones, and, above all, it will effect an ines
timable saving to the owners Of vehicles,
from the unassuming grocer's cart to the
dignifed drag.
Such an improvement would be sad
blow to the carriage and harness makers, but
then it is impossible to crafty everybody.