The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-08-21
LETTER PROM NEW YORK.
-rno,r QUE nEeuLAa conagsroxnENr !
NEW YORK, August ., 1879.

serted as formerly, even in the midst OF
the warmest Summer days. II is more
common than it used to he for very
well-tO-do people to stay in town, and
only go out for short trips, the system
Of living in flats, and the opening way
of Coney Island as a fashionable resort
being principally responsible for the
change. There was always more or less
of trouble in leaving town for the SUM-
mer season, as the household must be
broken up, servants discharged and the
members separated, to come together
again with habits and ideas modified
and perhaps injuriOusIy disturbed by
the Summers experience. The regu-
larity - the fixity upon which the
actual performance of family life de-
pends was thus subject to annual
shocks, which some are only too happy
to avoid by availing themselves Of such
mitigatiOns Of midsummer heats as are
within their reach, aud retaining the
safety and comfort Of their homes. Be
sides this class of residents, many
Southerners find in New York all the
requirements of a watering place, in its
nearness to the seashore, and the free
dom and convenience Of space and prox-
unity to large stores, which cannot be
found at the regular Summer resorts.
To such an extent is New York inhab-
tied, that an effort is made to maintain
little sort Of social life. Parties are
made that do not assemble under
the blazing light Of a chandelier,
but meet and dine together at Manhat-
tan or Brighton Beach, take moonlight
sails up the Hudson, or enjoy prom
enade and a cooling glass Of lemonade
at a Summer garden concert. The
young ladies, daughters Of professional
men principally, who stay in town, fiud
it not so much Of sacrifice after all, for
the young men are not at Saratoga, and
but in a limited way at Newport. They
are in city stores and offices, earning
their salaries, which they cannot afford
to relinquish, and are only absent for
the week or ten days vacation, which
is the limit Of the holiday time afforded
them. There are but few resources, Of
course, at this season. The theaters are
intolerable, and friends Gin town"
scarce. II is, therefore, an agreeable
surprise TO find young ladies at home,
charming in Summer muslius and flut-
terinC ribbons, ready to entertain and
be entertained, glad to show Off their
accomplishment in connecting cooling
drinks, and suggesting an altogether
new ideal Of home life, with the happy
circumstances Of which the thermom-
eter is not allowed 10 interfere.
One Of the uppermost questions in ex-
change circles ia the prospective uu-
precedented demand OH this country for
food for Europe in the shape of grain,
flru- and provisions. The damage to
and failure Of the crops on the European
continent, the exodus Of farmers from
Great Britain, the demand for supplies
caused by the war in Africa, and several
other causes, have led to AN extra call
this season on the farm products of this
country. How much Of this large trade
is likely to come to New York is also
agitating the minds of many. Hereto
fore, calculations could have been made
with some degree Of certainty as to the
proportion Of the export of produce
which would pass through the hands Of
merchants in this city; but with the
unusual facilities furnished by other
ports for the expectation Of the products
Of the United States, and the now al
most perfect system of trade between
Chicago and Cincinnati on the one
hand, and Great Britain and the conti-
nent of Europe on the other, and at
cheaper rates than can be made by New
York dealers, no calculation can be
made here until the business is being
actually transacted. This condition of
affairs not only affects the -four aud
grain trade, but also the majority
Of the provision merchants, many
Of whom regard the outlook with any
thing but cheerfuIuess, Notwithstanding
AAE lAlElE1-Eu uEAIhAh MhAEAif II - aN-
parent, will be made for American farm
products.
The inquiry into the sheriG's office is
developing a system Of blackmailing
that surely must lead to a thorough re-
form. 1t is very evident that, when
ever civil arrest has been made, the
practice in the Office has been to squeeze
ont of the unfortunate prisoner every
dollar his pecuniary condition will bear
for any privileges extended to him, and
not to release him from the clutches OF
an officer until he has been bled as pro-
fuseIy as possible. The Law provides
that the fee shall be thirty-six cents for
bail bond; but any amount from
twelve dollars upward has been extorted
from the unfortunate prisoners. y
hundred dollars for days liberty has
been exacted from men under arrest by
these remOrseless sharps, aud where
hundred dollars was not forthcoming,
the privilege could be secured for ten.
\ panic has been created among the
downtown day gamblers by the new
crusade Of the Society for the Preveu-
tion OF Crime. At first they were in
eined to view it as a fepetitiOn of
former virtuous spasms, but now they
admit culy the most approved habitues.
Four houses on Aun and Fulton streets
have taken a vacation, aud their pro-
prietors are playing against the races at