The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-23

Zealand on visit, that did not
even leave my stateroom TO look at
the brilliant scene. So glowing was the
account he gave OF his home In the
antipodes, where, as he declares, any man
can easily make a living for himself and
family, that he almost persuaded me to go
there bag and baggage. But TO transport
| the Meckins establishment matter OF 49,
| 600 miles would be about as easy as to move
| an ordinary freight train with donkey
engine. don't think I'll go to New Tea
land vet awhile.
NEW YORK.
The profile OF the city as seen from the
North or the East river has greatly changed
since my boyhood, at which time ] was the
more familiar with 1t because an old gen.
tleman who had model in wood OF ever,
house, public and private, In the city had
promised me that II things went wen
should exhibit that model in Europe.
Things did not go well, but the out
| line OF the city was indelibly inn
pressed upon my memory. HOW
changed now The comparative level
Of the roofs IL broken at intervals by
buildings truly colossal in their size and
elevation. You see these lofty edifices not
only around the City Hall, but as low down
as the Bowling Green and far up above the
Fifth-Avenue Hotel. Houses eight, ten.
and twelve stories high are becoming quite
common. Their effect upon the mind Is
summed UP in the single word, which in
voluntarily came to my lips when, stand
ing beside the three immense towers OF
Dow's stores in Brooklyn. took in the
sweep Of the city across the river at
glance.
"BABYLoY" AND "RogE" OF AMERICA.
That word was "Babylon." Yes, the
United States. epitomizing the past history
OF the world, will here have its Babylon,
and at Washington its Rome. Herein is
abundant material for the political philoso-
pher to reflect upon. Let him do so freely.
The weather was intensely hot; the per.
sons whom most wished 10 see were out
Of town; l had tried trips all by myself to
Manhattan Beach, and what to do was the
problem. | solved it easily enough by
strollng up and down Broadway and off to
the right and left near the New York Ilo-
tel. \ square below is DR.. Kahn's cham
Der OF horrors. called his Anatomical Mu-
suem. A block above is the museum for
the exhibition Of snakes, fat women, and
such. Across the street. where Hope
Chapel once stood, is 4 little theatre, closed
for the season. Near it is a shop where
the best beer have drunk for many day
is dispensed.
IRELAND, ROME, AND RICHMOND.
There are little shops and stands above
and below, where pictures and photo
graphs Of celebrated characters are sold.
bought likeness OF John Mitchell for
the sake of auld lang syne, and lIkencsses
OF Tug Wilson and Mrs. Langtry for the
children. In rear of the New York Hotel
is University Place, with its square and its
fountain hard by Just square of, in the
opposite direction, is the AStOr library,
quiet place, freqUented by few scholars.
The rare books and MSS. displayed in the
cases interested me far less than the busts
of the Roman Emperors and sages in the
vestibule below. The chill OF awe came
over me as | looked long at the head Of
Caesar. FrOude's d" Sketch" suspect, had
much to do with this sensation. Cesar has
not the large neck which Froude ascribes
TO him. and is as much like Colonel A. S.
Buford rs il he were his brother.
To the left of the library is Astor Place,
famous for it, riot years ago, and given up
now TO the Mercantile Library, lot OF
secOnd-claSs bcer-hOuseS, and a variety
theatre. In thi, unsavory spot / saw the
sign OF the leading intidel newspaper. Fur
ther OF is The Cooper Institute, with its
large rcading-rOom. in which you may see
scores Of mechanics and poor people quiet
~ reading, many OF them in their shirt
sleeves. The Art School is in the upper
stories, and on the ground floor is the re-
cently-opened department for the exhibit
ton OF new inventions. But enough. With
in stones throw OF the hotel | could at
any time find plentyto interest and instruct
me.
wRETCHED OLD WOMEN.
The town was ut its dulest. 4 friend
having given me couple OF tickets to the
Alcazar IAN enlarged edition OF the Kos
ter & Bal cOncert-room), high up town.
| was ut loss what to do with them. No
one could or would 20 with me, so went
alone. 4 mOurnful business. The Doctor
of Alcantara was well rendered to 4
wofully thin house, after which came a
ballet with BOnfanti in the lead. Upon my
soul, there is no sadder thing than a sight
like this. Bonfanti is passably cookbook
ING, but as for the rest of them-Oh, dear
Honey, ill-Shaped, mu,hy old women, with
fixed stage grin on their painted faces, a
grin that fades at tie first chance into
profound melancholy. 1t is enough to
make man Disguised with human life.
Poor old souls 4! iIdecently stripped under
the glare of gaslight-and all to make Il
little money honestly, to keep themselves
out Of the grave, the jail, or worse. And
this is civilization, enlightenment
OTHER SAD SIGHTS
| saw-plenty of them. Ore afternoon /
,uoll-oI tkc frlI lap1tl Of fHbir!anptb Stpoot
out to the East river, viewing the tenement
houses, the sick babies, the poor people
painting on the sidewalks or at the wide
opened windows. Returning by way Of
Fourteenth street. | sat for an hour in
Union Square, two Of the fouleSt female
sotS not ten PAGES from me, and the endless
stream of working men and women pour
ing by to their hot and crowded homes on
the east side. a crowd even OF the So
called best people, carefully studied, gives
one small hope OF humanity, and upsets the
theory Of evolution more completely than
all the arguments Of the school-men, but
this mass of hump-shouldered, weary-faced
mortality, sloucbing from long days toll
TO short nights unhealthy rest, with the
certainty before them OF just such days and
nights till the day or night OF their death,
| filed me with despair. Two goblets Of
iced tea partially restored me.
yIRGINIANS.
Ny interest in Virginia and Nirginians
does not flag with age. | was glad to see
in the reading-room Of the hotel the por-
trait OF that grand old Virginian General
John S. Preston; glad, too, to meet Messrs.
c. b. and 5. Yale, formerly OF Richmond,
who for years have boarded with Cranston.
strolling up Broadway, came all OF e. sud.
den upon Anderson's photograph gallery.
How the likenesses OF our Richmond ladies
and gentlemen, thus suddenly brought 10
me- made my heart beat, and how kindly
The Welcome given me LIZ Mr. AnSo,..o...