Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-07-12
[From our Special Correspondent
Our New York Letter.

better sllll 10 cutti IEO eo'Ns %
ed with their human freight, they speed
along the busy streets, and beautiful
avenues Of Brooklyn, en- route to Pros
pect Park, Coney Island, Rockaway
Beach. etc. one might readily imagine
that great part OF The city were oil one
mind to take q cooling holiday. Yet
every car is just as full as the one pre-
ceeding, and the multitudes upon the
sidewalks are undiminished.
Brooklyn is justly proud OF her beau
tiful Park, which is fast becoming the
equal of Central Park in New YORK.
The landscape beauties certalsly ap-
pear quite as fine, though art has not
vet done as much for the younger as
for the elder park.
The vide grassy commons are the
delight of children, and young people,
the first are free TO engage in all man
ner of romping games on the soft, vel
vet sward, and for the second class
there are croqueI, ball, lawn-tennis' and
other out door amusements. The rms
tic seats scattered at close intervals,
the vine -embowered arbors invite the
weorv. or those who wish a quite tete-
a.tete. Glimpses Of the lovely lake.
widening out in many places 10 river
like proportions, are caught from Tue
bill.tops, or from the fower-terraces.
This lake is gay with pretty pleasure
hoats. and DOW and then tiny white
sailed skiir skirms like bird across the
water.
AT this season, twice week., free
concerts are given by good orchestra
so that after enjoying the beauties oi
the park. one can be entertained by tue
strains O! Mortha, Trovalore, aud other
operas, toge ther with selections from
good composers.
Less than fifteen years ago, Coney
Island was bare marsby strip OF land
the beautiful sandy beach sloping to the
ocean undisturbed by other sounds than
the thunder of the surf.
A friend Of mine assures me tha'
with her children she would now ano
then 90 to the beach Tor breath oil the
sea-air and at very primitive hetel
was served with clam-chowder by
! one-legged old man.
Now the whole beach is covered WIFI
elegant hotels, with every modern con-
yenience from speaking tubes to cleo
tric lights. The porcbes thronged with
yisitors. the crowds rromenading Oh
the sands, the merry children padding
in the water, or rushing screaming back
"a GREAT breaker rolls IN noddng it'
white crest. the no less merry little
disgers in the sand, the ponies anc
donkeys which ipaliently trot thell
childish riders up and down the beach,
the bathers IN every variety OF bathing
dress dashing 10 aud out OF the surf
together with the enlivening strains o
the band, all make up gay panorama
The highlands Of Neyersink on the Jer'
sew shore loom up in the distance, th'
praylsh green hills seen across The
stretch of ocean, are grateful 10 th'
ewes of one missing The mountains.
But all the attractions and convenlen'
ces brought by man 10 Coney lslant
male and tade away before the grea
and vide sea, ever beating restlessil
upon the beach. The day your cores
pondent spent on the Island, the oceal
was exceedingly calm, a light oreez
, only rufled the blue waters, and to-
] ships seen against the horizon wer'
] indeed things oi beauty, now it wa'
only a sloop. or schooner, then grea
t ocean steamer lifted lis black pipe Tor
, moment in view, and then was lost Il
the eve, unfortunately, Coney Islam
9 with its beautiful beaches, GOD
benedlc.ion 10 New York and Brook
lynu SAYS DR.. Talmage truly, has be
come a great race-course, and place o
Sabbath breaking. On last Sabbat
the Tribune reporter thinks there were
D 50 900 persons on the Island, gamO
. ling, liquor drinking and sabbath break
!. ling defllug this grand beach.
Rockaway, cannot speak fror
personal observation, but it seems
much resorted TO as Coney Island, an
. lis general features are probably tn
= same.
r From ''the sad sea waves to IN
q brown stone magnifcence OF 5th Avenu
}. Is a leap indeed, but RAPID transit seem
4 the normal condition of everything an
a everybody hereabout. Fifth Avenu
bos been 80 often described and admn
o ed. that no further notice from me
r. necessary, but grand it certainly is.
"A The elegant mansions of the Vande
e bilts OF course attract attention, b'
10 after noting the exquisite carving abou
,e various parts. I must confess to br
III ,;,,,e admiration. A few steps further
ID and St. Patrlck's Cathedral rises like
70 dream of marble beauty before tn
ID eve. 1t has been IN process OF build
IN mo for several years and is not y
n. completed. The graceful pinnacle
es remind one of cuts ofMilan Cathedr'
e. Within the stately pillars crown'
III with carved wreathed work, the gre
Ill expause of groined roof, the soft, Jig
er tempered by the stained windows Il
to fue altar piece with statuary IN niche
ye above, the canopied seats for Cardln
n and Bishop, the confessonals SON
ie with closed doors where penltents VII
he 10 we're clcseted with the priest, ma
ia one feel as if in an Old World tenn