The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-06-08
LETTER FROM NEW YORK CITY.

Ihe so-called carnival came off duly,
as announced, on the 18th inst, and
New York is blushing and hiding her
face in shame ever since for her dis
graceful failure. The city was thronged
with people from the rural districts,
who floeked to the city for jollifica-
tion. The day was insufferably hot.
The street was crowded, and the long
advertising procession of brewers
wagons and furniture drays was more
like funeral cortege than a carnival
istic pageant. 1t would have been
simply ridiculous had it not been gi-
gantic fraud-a swindle which the peO-
pie are not likely either to forget or to
forgive-which the lookers-on swear at,
aud the parties engaged in blush for,
and which confirms the opinions of the
sages that all people are not fashioned
alike. 1t is not in the nature, as it is
evidently not within the comprehension
of the Anglo Saxon, or of his cousin,
Uncle Sam, to originate and carry out a
genuine revel. There is too much
method, too much precision, too much
order for spontaneous enjoyment There
was doubtless many a Mark Twain
present at the farce, who, left to him
self, would have enjoyed the spree, but
who couldn't laugh to order, and who
couldn't carry out some one else's plan
of fun. 1t takes the Latin races to give
themselves up, body and soul, to amuse-
ment; but who ever heard of the Carni-
val of Venice, for instance, being ar
ranged, planned, or organized? Who
ever heard of procession of Haunting
advertisements, moving up and down
certain streets? of people hired for the
purpose of acting mimic marshalls and
personating majesty in imperial purple
robes? If every hotel had advertised a
free lunch at a given hour, I warrant
the city would have been just as full of
strangers, the same harvest would have
been reaped by business men, and peo-
pie would have gone home better salts
fled with the days frolic, especially if
the entertainment had been given in
the cool shades of Central Park, where
nature is looking her loveliest, and if
bands of music and Chinese lanterns
and fireworks had invited the populace
to revel on the sward in the evening.
No place in the world ever had and lost
so good a chance for grand spectacle
and magnificent business speculation
as did New York last Wednesday.
Governor Robinson has vetoed the
bill passed by the Albany Legislature
making women eligible as school
directors. He doesn't think the "God
of Nature" intended women for such
positions, and therefore he cannot per-
nit the plans of the "God of Nature" to
be interfered with. 1t is rather curious
how very particular men are to call
upon Providence and make the AL
mighty responsible for their human acts
of injustice, and how extremely tena-
cious they become when any extension
of privilege or right is to be accorded to
the other sex. The fact is that there is
a PUrSein this matter of school trustees,
aud the "ring' do not feel sufficient
confidence in their own integrity to al
low an honest woman to hold one string,
or Perchance to investigate the expendi-
lures; and so women, who have as deep
an interest in schools, and, for the most
part, more experience in the needs and
instruction of children, are ruled out in
the most arbitrary manner from partic-
ipatiOn in the direction of these, whilst
children are deprived Of the benefits of
their protection, and the country of the
bene fits which would unquestiOnably be
derived from the watchfulness, natural
economy and keen perception of women
as regards the education aud practical
training of the rising generation, and it
does seem as if the "God of Nature"
would rise and protest against this con-
ceited and unwarranted Interpretation
of His laws by His Excellency Gov
ernor Robinson, of New York.
Every one seems to be making prepa-
ratiOns for an exit from Gotham. The
stores are daily crowded. Ready made
costumes are in great demand, and,
spite of the constant cry of hard times,
dealers seem to be reaping a harvest.
Seaside bunting continues to be the
fashionable material for suits, and is in
all cOlors of French, English, and do
mestic manufacture. The price of this
ranges from thirty to seventy-five cents
per yard, and preference is usually
given to the French goods, for its supe-
rior softness and durability. Instead of
the somber black which for so many
years was the favorite costume of Amer
ican ladies, the lightest shades are now
seen, and the most brilliant colors in
hat and bonnet trimmings, composed
for the most part of field flowers, daisies,
buttercups, blue and yellow corn flow
ers, lilies of the valley, etc., etc. Pale
lemon color aud black prevail, but
light shades of all colors are adopted to
suit the taste and complexion of the
wearer.
The number of business failures which
have lately occurred has thrown the
household goods and furniture of many
of the wealthy upon the market, and