The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-05-16

We have probably had no season that came so
reluctantly, for century at least. All the
indications point to a fruitful and sunny
| period, and we rejoice in the opportunity Of
seeing the green fields aud blossoming trees
] 1t seemed at one time as if Nature had quite
forgotten her mission, as if we were to have
I an Arctic period of barrenness and wintry
weather, and curious people who look at
/ events with exalted imaginations feared that
Providence had selected the centennial year
for some extraordinary manifestation OF His
power. There was rumor that the Gulf Stream
had failed in its work, that it had moved
of from our temperate shores, and that we
were to pass into the condition OF Greenland
and Nova Zembla while the far North lands
Of the midnight sun were to blossom with
warmth and vegetation. There came strange
stories Of ice formations on the ocean, and
every logbook of those winter voyages has
been story of hardship and disaster. At
one time it was feared that the frost had fallen
upon the wheat and corn and cotton, and
that the season OF cold and depression and
panic was about to become season of bar
lenness and want.
But we are now in easier and gentler times
I At last the soft winds come from the South,
and bring with them sunshine and desire.
We are all preparing for the hegira. People
! who have had anxious, weary hours, begin to
\ study summer resorts, and 10 wonder whether
they need mountain or air. Brown
doubts whether he will so to the Adirondacks
or Long Branch, while Jones thinks of Colorado
and the majestic ranges. and Of opportunities
to shoot the antelope and the buffalo. Robinson
yearns for the boulevards, and rends with
tremor OF ships going down at sea or breake
ing TO pieces on the Sicily Islands. Miss
Flora McFlimsey is dissatisfied with her fifty
dresses, anu is impatient tor the magazines
and bazaars Of Paris. The theatres begin to
drag and to exhaust the spent energies Of the
season on benefits. The tragedians and high
comedians are preparing for the long SUMMER
rest, and our stage will be largely given to
dances and Irish comedy. Congress has adj
4 iourned, and the politicians are in
state Of Information, to come out into
the sunshine and play what pranks they
choose next December. New York is on the
verge Of the season Of rhetorical newspapers
best people think Of going away, although if
people really spoke their mind. without caring
for tie opinions Of next door over the way,
they would confess that New York. after all,
Is as pleasant in the summer days as the sea-
shore OF mountain. Take the Battery, for
instance and Astoria, and Spuyten Duyvil,
and Harlem and Brooklyn Heights and Bay
Ridge What city in the world has such OPP
portunities for fresh air and fine scenery
| water, sunshine and sky? Where is the city
| which fronts so directly on the open Atlantic
4 sea, and where the weary saunterer may in
! hale the breezes fresh from Spain? But we
throw these all behind us together with the
comforts Of well-ordered houses, 70 be lost in
the wilderness Of Saratoga or the wastes Of
I Long Branch and Atlantic City.
After oil, for q city 80 much under cloud
and so often abused as New York, she has
many charms New York has been called
the unloved city. Take any strange group of
talking citizens and test their affections. One
will speak Of the intellectual comfort he
found in Boston and mourn that he has no
Bunker Hill. Another will dwell with rap
ture upon placid and pastoral Philadelphia
with its terrapin, its straight avenues and its
small houses for the poor. Another viii in
sist that the sun never shone SO brightly as
on sweet Dublin city, while the fourth viii
mourn the oak-ined walks OF Frankfort and
the beer gardens Of Vienna. But who has a
word for poor New York? Who speaks with
affection OF Mannahatta? New York is good
place in which TO save money and spend it.
We have some fine stores, large number of
indifferent and expensive hotels. Central Park
4 Comptroller Green and the Beecher trial; and
we shall probably have rapid transit if We can
brighten the Albany thieves. But how few
Of us, comparatively. consider New York as
hous-. N the warm, personal. domestic sense
There are probably half million Of people in
this metropolis who look forward 70 old age
and the serene peace Of declining DAYS and
the absolute peace at last in other places,
and no would view the prospect Of living
and dying here as an exile. This may result
from many causes. We are a city OF carpet
baggers in one respect, aud the carpet-bagger
no matter how rich he becomes, nor how
firmly grounded in his new abode, never
thinks without affection Of his old home and
the trusty satchel which accompanied him in
his first Grand into the world. There is a
sentiment about the old bag, is shining tacks
and homely leather irappings, and the little
Testament which fond, weeping eyes sadly
slowed away among the woollen stockings
and CASTLE soap which no Saratoga trunk
ever possessed, we're thousand Of them
stored in the loftiest mansion on Broadway
50 the most siLcere and hearty gatherings we
have are our New England and 81 Patrick
and ST Andrew societies. New York is never
50 interesting a. on the occasion of the carpet