The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-01-31
From the Brooklyn Bridge.

Before we set off across the river, stop
for little quiet enjoyment of the marvel
Gus picture spread out beneath our view
this pleasant summer afternoon. If you
have ever doubted the correctness of the
bird's-eye views of cities and the like,
ST. common in the print-shops, here at
least is an assurance that such things are
possible Brooklyn lies displayed at our
feet, with its fringe of warehouses, docks
and ships, perpendicularly under us.
How different is the comparative new
ness and regularity of the sister city, and
how marked contrast offered 10y its
bushy greenery marking out the streets
like colored lines on a plan, as compared
with the densely- packed, dark, imposing
mass of architecture over the river! The
bay, sparkling ,silver and golden in the
sunlight and dotted with its many islands,
is visible clear beyond the Narrows and
down to Sandy Hook. Far eastward we
can almost pick out the sand-hills of
Rockaway and Coney Island, with the
blue sea-line beyond, and to the west,
under the sinking sun, the picture is
framed in with the purple haze of the
Highlands, Nevisink, and the Jersey
hills. Look at that ferry boat just start
ing from the Fulton street slip, packed
with heads (all we can see), and notice
the odd effect of the dots of white faces
turned up to watch US, interesting as we
are, not 10y our individuality, but by our
position. We can fancy them repeatin G
Pope's lines on the fly in amber:
"Not that the thing itself is rich or rare
The wonder is how the ID it got there.
As for ourselves, proud of our momentary
/ elevation, and drunk with the keen, sweet,
salt air, and the gorgeous prospect, one
is reminded of the man who, on the lad
/ der ready to be hanged, when mad bull
caused dire confusion in the crowd below,
said in thoughtless eXultstion to his com
panion rogue, "How lucky it is we're up
here"
And now down the steep slope Of the
river-span, digging our heels well into
the Stats, and checking our momentum by
the side-ropes till We stand where few
years ago no mortal probably ever expect
ed to stand-two hundred feet over the
channel of the East river, with al
its varied traffic flowing beneath us
Hurry just here l want to get plumt
over the Bristol as she sails maiestically
upstream, and enjoy the small vanity OF
doing what no one but the ship-builders
ever did before-look squarely down her
smoke-stack into her tire-boX. Notice
her exquisite, fsh-like lines seen thus in
plan, and the wav in which the narrow
hull is marked off from the guards by
the timber work of the cabin. Phew
what racket, Bristol. Massachusetts,
Stonington boats, al! rs they pass under
| the bridge salute us with whistle, while
/ ferry boats, tugs, and all the smallf fry
salute them, till the whole air Is vocal
with one great treble of demouiac how
and screech, set off by the deep bass hum
of toll aud traffic, the grand diapason OF
! labor supplied by the two great cities
As the noble steamers pass Oh up Tile
/ river, notice the beautiful divergent line,
of wave from their paddles like the
| dOube-tail of comet. You remember
the same effect, only more distant, feath'
cry and fairy-like, as we looked down in
the early morning from the Rhigi-top on
the dark polished surface of the Lake OF
the four Cartons. -Appietons' JOurnal.