The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-05-11
Gotham Sketches. No. II.
Written for the journal. ]


of the New York public, and for the benefit also
of strangers in the city, there stands at the head
of the Bowery, between Third and Fourth Ave
nues, the great building erected by the now ven
cradle phianthropist of New York, Mr.. Peter
Cooper. 1t is called the
COOPER UNION.
This fine brown stone structure contains a
valuable library, a large reading-room, several
lecture-rooms and a school of art-all free to
the general public. The main apartment is the
readins-room. This is 80 feet high, and l25 by
81, lighted by side windows and from above by
adome. Wehave paid this reading-room many
visits, and have considered it rather remarkable
that it is always full of men from the most I'M
fortunate ranks of life, (udging from their per-
sonal arpearance) who sit or stand quietly read
mg-for conversation is not allowed-and be-
have with perfect decorum. The attractions of
the place are, however. undeniably great. for
here one can find all the principal Journals of
this country, all the magazines, and many for
eign newspapers and periodicals, beside libra
ry of standard works. It is cheering sight to
one OF philanthropic cast Of mind to look on
that little army of readers here redeemed from
the street or from the grog shop for the time
being; but if it is d damp or warm day he will
be disposed to hold his nose, and to secretly
wish that good old Peter c. would also estab-
fish some public baths near by and offer prizes.
The Cooper Union stands near the old Bible
House, the Merchante Library, the rooms of
various literary and scientific societies, and not
far off, ia Lafayette place, is the stately
A5TOR LIBRARY,
another noble and free institution. The build
ing is large and well planned for its purpose.
1t contains the finest collection Of rure and val
liable books in this country; there are over
100, 900 volumes John Jacob Astor endowed
this collection with the sum of 100000, and
the late VIM. b. Aston, ESD. donated to it also
with great lberalitv. Dear, delightful Wash
ington Irving was from 1919 to 1860 President
Of the board Of the Aston Library; next VIM.
r. Astor filled that position until his recent
death, and now Alexander Hamilton has just
been chosen. Within its classic precincts one
can daily meet select and highly intelligent
group of readers and students. Are not the
Cooper Union and Aston Library finer monu-
ments to their generous founders than could
otherwise be created?
Perhaps the merchant prince, the late
ALEXANDER I. STEWART,
answered this question by his more material
charity-We refer to he vast and superb white
marble hotel erected on Fourth Avenue for the
benefit OF poor working women. This will soon
be finished and in operation, then the subject of
its practicabilty will be settled. Here the mil.
lionaire proposed to open home al nominal
price and rescue from squaior respectable but
unfortunate girls. To prevent any scandal it
will be necessary TO establish rules almost mo-
nastc in character. 1t is still an open question
how many will prefer this seclusion to their
present liberty and will with old Dryden re-
solve
''Some solitary cloister will [ choose,
And there with holy yirgins live immured."
The effect of A. I. Stewards death on bu--
ness was not disastrous, for even though his
great merchantile houses continue as before
yet now the smaller merchants feel some cour-
age 10 proceed in their more modest way. 1t
was Stewards policy to crush all such, there
fore he was the terror of the little dealer.
1t is said that a man can't take his money
with him when he dies but as far as Mr.. Stew
arts body went a great amount of gold tray
elled with him. His coffin was dazzling with
deep bullion fringe, gold rims, nails and ham
dies. 1t would seem rs if too great a tempta-
ton had been laid before the resurrectionist.
We doubt if Capt. Kidd buried more treasure.
On the 18th of last April the great merchant
was buried, with much pomp, in the family
vault in ST. Marks church yard, Stuyvesant
Square, in the very centre of the city. No
monument rises in that ancient place of sepul-
chre to tell the fact that there, right in the
midst of the hustle and life of New York lie
many of Manhattan's most honored dead. \
stone slab, mostly turfed over, covers the steep
stairway leading to the Stewart family vault,
deep under ground; and two feet square of
stone, lying even with the turf. is now all that
shows where the enterprising merchant lies.
st. Marks ehurcl-yard is venerable and his
toric spot. Here in the eastern wall of The
inscription
ain this vault lies buried Pctrus Stuyve-
SAINT, late Captain General and Comman-
dern Chief of Amsterdam, in New
Netherlands, now called New York and the
Dutch West India Islands. Died Aug, A. d, 1852,
aged eighty years"
The floral decorations at \. I. Stewards flu
neral cost over $4,000, as all the world knows ;
but all may not be aware that flowers were
vastly more plenty on that occasion than gem
uine tears. However, every mark of respect
was paid the dead millionaire by the great men
of the land, as he lay in princely state in the
magnificent hall of his marble palace, corner of
Thirty-fourth street and Fifth Avenue. Two
thousand employees filed around his bier, and
great crowds followed his funeral cortege and
filled the avenues about the church-yard where
he was laid. As has been well said Mr.. Stew
art was respected, but he was not beloved"
His will when made known to the public was
not calculated to endear his memory, for it was
expected that he would found some other noble
charities besides the Woman's Hotel His tu-
neral was eXtravagantly s. written up" i'll the
newspapers, and in many Instances not truth
fully.
THE NEW YORK DAILY PRESS
eXerts an influence which is actually incalcula-
bic. There are thirty dalies including some in
the German and French languages, and the ag
grcgate circulation of all il fully half million
copies AS we are not writing a guide-book we
will not stop to describe the tine buildings in
which some are printed. We will only mention
that the Herald building, white marble pile,
was considered the finest newspaper office in
the world. before the Tribune erected its pres
ent high brick and stone editice with the tall
tower in which the unfortunate young editor"
Whtlaw Reid. Is still confined, according to the
sun. BY its great enterprise of course the New
York Herald newspaper deseryedly stands at
the head Of the list of dailies. The only weak
point with this journal is its constant indulgence
in Standardization. Once in while the Herald
publishes quintupe sheet; for this go stereo-
type plates have to be cast, each weighing thirty
five pounds. Describing its process the Herald
says: AT the sound of bell, all becomes bus
tie and excitement, for this announces the fact
that "a starter" as it is mountaineering the
first of the plates-has been obtained and is on
its way 10 the press room. on the elevator from
the top story to the press room. These plates
continue to arrive in quick succession, and are