The New York herald., 1879-03-10

prefer these resorts to their own homes and domestic
life is almost unknown This city also lies in basin
through which the Seine-a river but half wide
our Harlem-winds its tortuous way. Old Paris.
like old London is a network of streets and
alleys. but the great and crowning features Of its
civic topography the superb avenues or boule-
wards that occupy the site of ancient breastworks.
of which there were two cordons-an inner and
outer-now become the inner and outer boulevards.
One of these circumvallates the heart OF tho
city. the other environs the Suburbs
ALL however. grand beautiful and
attractive in the highest degree. lined on
either side with double of handsome shade trees
affording charming drives and walks. They have
made of this city not only the gorgeous capital Of
great nation. but the social capital of Europe. So
effective these almost accidentally constructed
avenues that similar have in recent years
been cut through the old and densey pop
uated portions of the city. lighting up the dark
places, improving the sanitary condition in
marked degree and replacing with imposing facades
the dingy and dilapidated buildings Of oden
times Like Lonadon. the finest exhibition of public
and private architecture. Of parks pleasure
grounds is toward the west ena. and here found
the Champs Elysees. and In the vicinity of the
Tuileres the elegant residences Of the wealthy Par
isians as well those of the foreigners who make
grand its avenues the largest Of these the Bois
de Boulogn. containing 1900 acres. which, although
sadly despoiled at the time OF the siege, il still
beautiful and most attractive spot.
VIENNA, BERLIN AND NAPLES.
Vienna. the Austrian capital. like Paris stands in
the of tertiary basin. and is traversed by
arm or the Danube about two miles from the main
stream. The site is nearly i've hundred feet above
the and from its altitude and inland position it
plan it is ike y vast citadel surrounded
by enormous line OF exterior fortifca-
tions. Like Paris, these elements of defensive
warfare have been converted into the means OF
delightful recreation. and the ''glacis. espanade,
nearly 1000 feet wide and several miles in extent.
which surrounds the inner line Of fortfcations.
furnishes ample for relaxation in what is really
the heart of the city, the locality where it Is
most needed. Few cities are better provided with
the means OF entertainment the open air than vi
In addition to the broad glacis referred to- that
encircles the inner town, the Augarten in the east
and the Belvidere Gardens in the NORTH equally
commodious; but they are all cclipsed by the fine
..Prater" about four miles long two miles wide
situated between two or the Danube. and
tasteiully laid out planted and otherwise decorated
that it is esteemed the finest public park in Europe
There many elegant streets in the suburbs par
ticularly those or Scho4tenfcid and Breitenfeld,
which. like the finest streets in London and Paris,
ut the west end. while there many old fam
lilies who still reside III the splendid palaces within
the bastions.
scribed. is traversed by river. the Spree sluggish
stream, about one-fourth wide as the Harlem The
city is somewhat more than ten miles in crcumfer-
and occupies surface Of 1000 acres one quar-
ter the OF New York. 1t numbers about
million inhabitants. the original portion of the
city lies the right bank OF the river and is
built with grca. irregularity. consisting for the
of crooked streets and unattractive
houses. The more recent quarters OF the city
up. US if by magic. at the orders Of Frederick the
Great. adopted plan of broad avenues and
streets. and caused them to be lined by handsome
houses OF uniform appearance. This constitutes the
splendid west end OF the city, through the heart of
which from east to west runs the grand avenue Un-
tor Linden" This beautiful avenue unsurpassed
by anything else OF the kind in the whole Europe.
is three-quarters of mile in length and 100 feet
thas. ha Mad .xf
lime trees. which form u hne, shady promenade.
while either side is carriage way, and In front
of the houses = spacious foot pavement. At the
west end the avenue has magnificent termination
in the Br~ndenburg Gate. noble structure.
modelled on the scale OF the Propyleum OF Athens,
regarded of the finest portals in existence
II Is surmounted by colossal Victory mounted
in car drawn by four horses. and bearing in
her hand eagle and iron cross. Immediately be-
yond this portal Is the famous and beautiful park.
the Thier Garten
Naples. of the principal cities OF southern
Europe contains more than half million
souls. Its site Is one of the most magnificent
that well be imagined. rising in the form OF
amphitheatre forming u crescent that embraces
the waters OF the beautiful bay, celebrated the
wide world over" 1t in surrounded by picturesauo
hills rich iil natural beauty that have received ad
ditional attraction from the numerous and elegant
villas and other objects of art by which they
bellished. All this is supplemented by fine avenues.
the principal and most attractive of which is
the Chiaja, which follows tho shore line This
in full view, aud. adorned with fine statues aud
fronted by handsome houses. On hne evenings 1t is
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT NEW
With view of comparing these great cities with
our own, let follow the progressive steps by
winch New York has arrived ut the position IT oceu
pics OF tbs centres Of civilization. II Ii only
by gradual process that have come
to realize thai this city has assumed place
among the great capitals OF tho world. Until within
very few years its most sanguinc citizens looked
upon 1t merely great commercial port that must
necessarily share in tho general pros pcrity of the
country. and. with increasing business. naturally
acquire q large increase in population. But what
a
What peculiar traits would he developed by such an
accumulated mass of human soulsy How would
they occupy their time outside OF tho demands upon
by their daily avocation? What would bo done
with the enormous aggregate of individual wealth
that would necessarily accumulate at such great
by the coming metropolis upon the general civiliza
tion of the country ALI these questions have
scarcely been discussed in thoughts. But
by natural course OF events have arrived ut
that stage when citizen or New York instinctivcly
asks the question. What sort of metropolis
we. aud how do we compare with the capitals OF the
worldy
The growth and velopmont OF this city arc with
out parallel aud without precedent Its future has
been often prophcsicd. but not always understood.
When we undertake to trace the that have led
to It's commercial supremacy and those that
operating to increase Its prosperity wo are met by
singular aud fortuitous circumstances which IL WAS
impossible TO foroscc and not easy to comprehend.
One thing is however. ccrAin that the
OF the most sanguinc have always been more than
realized while tho representations OF the doubtful
have only remembered for their fallacy.
The progressive growth of the city has been often
capricious. far locality is concerned but tho
important factor of topography has always asserted
ITSELF spite OF all efforts To ignore II In the in
tcrests of individual projects. Going back to the
early setticment and Dutch supremacy hnd both
commerce and social lio progressing along the
side city, tho line Of what is Pearl street.
where the Dutch buighcr sat on his ''stoop." with
his long pipe and held social commune with his neigh
Lpr he way. The occupation that