Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-12-30
FROM NEW YORK.
FEW BITS OF cnIT-ouAT ON VARIOUS sEAsoNA.
BILE TOPICS.

]
BILE TOPICS.
New YoRK, Dec. 81, 1881.
Editors Of Phanir: Within the memory
Of middle-aged people, a trip from Brattle-
boro to New York was considered formida-
BILE undertaking; in fact, 1 well remember
when a boy in New Haven, which is only
seventy five miles from New York, that the
preparation and anxiety Of the household
when my father was about to embark for this
city was fully as great as is now shown ia
preparing for a trip to Europe. In those
days an item of news from New York would
have been thought quite fresh by the good
people or your village, il not more than a
week old. But railroads and telegraphs have
changed all this. You are only about siX-and.
a-half hours from this great city, and your
people are as familiar in general way with
what is going on here as we who reside here.
So don't expect to be able to give you any
particular news, but simply propose q little
chit-chat. The weather continues very mild,
so that heavy overcoats are a burden-a
pleasant fact to dealers in holiday goods, as il
brings the people out and enhances sales.
During residence in the city of more than
twenty five years, l never before witnessed
such throngs Of people on the streets, or such
beautiful displays of goods in the shop win
dows. OF course everybody is eager to sell
goods, aud the familiar sign Holiday Pres
ents" is almost universal in store windows.
In many cases it would greatly puzzle one to
discover the appropriateness of the goods Of
fered TO this particular holiday sea son, but it
is a fact, nevertheless, that the exhibition of
all kinds of fancy articles, toys aud nick
nacks generally, is unusually fine and tract
i've. Such variety stores as Macy's, Siearnss,
Ebrich's, Altmans, ONeiIs, Simpsons and
several others, arc open until 10 o'clock every
evening, and yet the crowds are so large that
many are obliged to go away without being
able to get near the counters. All wise shop
pers have learned that in order TO make their
purchases with comfort, they must make their
visits before noon. The streets Of the city
are in a very fair condition, which is favor
able for pedestrians, but the comparative
cleanliness is attributable more to the absence
of rain and snow than to any special efTor t
in cleaning
The East River bridge is still progressing
slowly. 1t is q remarkable piece of work,
and although costing some millions more than
was contemplated, it will undoubtedly prove
a great benefit to both cities when completed,
more especially to Brooklyn. We have had
no ice as yet in either of our rivers, which is
very remarkable, More than once, during my
residence here, l have seen crowds of people
crossing from New York TO Brooklyn on the
ice, and not much, if any, later in the season
than this. Our places of amusement, includ-
ing concerts and lectures, are well attended
this winter and the usual number of balls
and parties serve TO add to the gaiety, so tn at
upon the whole, New York is not altogether a
disagreeabe place to spend the winter months
in. l must not forget to say that The PHGSIx
comes TO hand regularly, and the pleasant
recollections l have of your charming village,
and the acquaintance 1 had the pleasure of
making with many of its people, invest the
local items with good deal of interest, and
as for the lady who boards with me- she goes
right through the paper without skipping q
| line. BRADKIYs