The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1877-12-22
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

light breaks, thousands upon thousands
come pouring down on the various lines of
cars to lay in their supplies for the day.
All the boarding houses and hotels make
this their central depot, and late into the
afternoon it is the center of active and I'M
renting traffic. Tramps and beggars
abound, old and decrepit men and women
wander around eagerly watching for the
scraps as they fall from the different stalls,
boys and girls barefooted and with scarcely
enough of rags on to cover their naked
ness dash hither and thither under the
horses and wagons, seeming to bear charm
ed lives. for they seldom get hurt. On the
East River side and almost on line with
Washington Market is Fulton Market, now
rapidly tumbling to decay. There are bus
mess franchises held in this market worth
thousands and thousands of dollars. Here
the old New York gou-mand goes for his
oysters, stewed or fried. The Dorlans have
long been the Napoleons and Alexanders
of this business; old Sid Dorian, couple
of years ago, passed on to the happy hunt
ing grounds where the special glory of his
clam chowder and the superexcellence of
his stews and fries are supposed to be I'M
known. Sid was not only good oyster
man. Yes, gentleman every inch of him,
if he did sell oysters and clans; he was as
rough as bear sometimes, and had de-
cided views of his own, but kinder or
~
breast of man than that which palpitated
beneath the vest of old Sid Dorian. While
he lived he never would allow the old place
to be touched, but that made no difference
to old Sid's patrons: rich bankers and
stately old merchants and lawyers sat down
to his little narrow tables and took their
feast of oysters with satisfaction which
they never experienced at Deimouco s.;
Grand Duke Alexis, the Prince of Wales,
Dickens, Thackeray, Longfelow, Bryant,
Poe, Bret Harte and Mark Twain have all
tucked their legs under old Sid S mahogany.
At night when the theaters have closed and
hosts of amusement seekers are on their
home way to Brooklyn, old Sid's is the
Mecca toward which they turn their steps,
and Cupid only knows the thousands of
happy matches that have been made over
oyster stews and roasts in Sid Dorian S
little crib Since his death, the inconoclast
has been at work, and if the old man could
come back now he would scarcely recognize
his ancient headquarters.
The week has been disastrous in mer-
camille point of view, half dozen large
firms going down with a crash, whose az
gregated liabilities must be up among the
millions; general hard times and shrinkage
Of values have led them on to ruin, and
before the holidays we expect further de
velopments. The weather has been I'M
commonly fine, so that the demand for
inter goods has Been oniiiy,1nnss2%inal; here
it is the middle of December, and while
write the doors and windows are ali open
as they are in July. A terrible temperance
crusade is now in progress: the law and
order league are going for the whisky sell
ers like an avenging Nemesis. Never was
seen such times in New York, and it is i'm
possible TO tell where we ale going to come
out.
Our favorite amusement now is wrest-
ling with bears. l heard of fellow once
who used to kill rats like terrier, and of
another who would fight bull dogs or any
thing else, using only his mouth for de
Tense or attack; but the man who wrestles
the bear is my especial delight; the only
drawback is that the bear wears muzzle.
otherwise l should 60 every night expect
ing to see the bear eat him up.
If amusements are scarce out your way
come on, and / think may be able to find
Dutch bear who will give you all the New
Years and Christmas you require to make
you happy for 1878.
! am, truly yours, BRoADRRIM.