The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-10-21


New YORK, October 3 1880.
To satisfy himself that the immense prosperity
of the country is not only real but almost impOs-
sibIe to be reckoned up, one has only to take
stroll in the business parts of the city. The road
ways in the middle of the streets are jammed from
early morning to sundown with every description
of heavily loaded vehicles, and at times a block
ade will take place lasting for hours, in which
hundred wagons and trucks will participate while
the air is fairly blue with Hibernian and TeutOnic
profanity There is no mistake, either, that we
are Just entering upon another period of lavish
extravaganza and display. The great Sikh sss
are importing gorgeous webs of silks, satins nd
vevets embroidered with gold and silver, iich
seems to be the style of trimming intended be
most in vogue this Winter. 1t looks as il the
ladies' costumes are going to be of the fas est
description, and that gaudiness will supersed ad
the quiet expressions of good taste The I'VE
goods houses boast of doing business the like Of
which was never before known, and certainly ae
disagreeable way in which the sidewalks in 'front.'
of their establishment are encumbered and y ed
up with bales, boxes and the like is corrol ara-
tion of their gleeful statements.
Fifth avenue lately so desOate, resumes It's
luxurious appearance. Magnificent equipages,
drawn by as fine horsefesh as any city in the
world can show, roll along i'll the cool hours of
the afternoon. Wealth, beauty and fashion are
on exhibition, though New York does not as yet
know the professional beauties" for the reason,
doubtless, that the name of her fair daughters is
legion. London can show dozen or so of 'pro-
fessional beauties" New York can count her
beauties by thousands. A few blocks away from
the main arteries Of wealth and luxury, to right
and to left, to north and to south, are rows upon
rows Of tenement houses. In those regions little
New Workers scramble in the dirt, sit bare-legged
In any favorite puddle they can find, or breathe
in dirt and disease in the crowded and suffocatinq
rooms. Not little Of the wealth that rolls up
and down Fifth avenue of an afternoon comes from
the dirt and misery of these crowded quarters that
are practically as far removed from the avenue as
though they were separated by an ocean.
There has been a burst of spasmodic virtue
among the Police Commissioners over the lottery
business, and those engaged in the various ramif-
cations Of this really considerable branch of in
dustry in the city have found themselves in hot
water. SO great has been the official zeal that it
has been proposed to prosecute the proprietors Of
journals in the columns of which advertisements
Of lotteries have been inserted. This would be
rather rubbing it in" however, the notices in
question have been peacefully inserted and allowed
to pass unquestioned for many years and the
much more vital questions which the police meek
ly tolerate under their official noses though they
are much more crying evils than the lotteries
even.
One of the most cheering signs of the return of
suspended animation to the amusements of New
York, is the yigor with which the theatrical sea-
son has set in. Managers vie with each other in
producing novelties, all of which seem to be at
tractive, if the crowds which rush to each temple
of Thespis can be taken in evidence At the Fifth
Avenue Theater, Miss Fanny Davenport has made
her reentree in piece called IAN American Girl.u
The play is good and suited to Miss Davenport's
style 1t also affords her the opportunity so dear
to the heart Of the actress-of dazzling her audi
ence with five or six gorgeous costumes which
might well awaken in an American parents
breast feelings of deep joy that he is the father
of such IAN American girl : AUGUST