Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-11-13
MANHATTANISMS.
The DEAFNESS AND rAscINArIoN OF
NEW YORK.
Growing Kxpensiveness Of Life In TOWN.
The Burned-out Manageable
Jersey Hollyheck-Etc
Correspondence RzcoRD-UsIos.l

Correspondence RECORD UsIoNl
NEW YORK, November 2, 1882.
Nearly all the absentees, whose number
and length of stay in the country or abroad
increase every year, have, with the close Of
October. come back to town. The city is
very full, and il rapidly growing fuller, as
the hotels and boarding houses, and the
active demand for any and every place to
live amply attest. Many houses and
apartments are now leased from October
and November, instead of from Nav. az
used to be the universal custom, and per.
sons who have not yet secured domiciles
for the winter have difficulty in getting in
anywhere. Almost all the desirable places
have already been taken, and by the end
of December there will hardly be, from
present appearances, decent habitation
unsecured.
FASCINATION OF THE CAPITAL.
Notwithstanding the extraord mary actiy.
ity in building since last spring, and the
frequently expressed opinion that building
has been overdone, especially as to apart.
ment-houses, the fact that the supply con.
tinues adequate to the demand is only too
obvious. The city's population is, it is
estimated, fully 100000 larger from No.
vember to May than it is from Nav to
October; very considerable part of the
increase being composed of srsons who
pretend to live elsewhere, but spend more
or less of the Six cool months here. New
York is getting to be more and more of
wlntering place every year, both business
and pleasure attracting thousands from
other sections. A great many well.to-do
families from New England, the South and
West, are in the habit of coming to the
metropolis either this month or early in
December, to enjoy the gayeties of the sea-
son. Manhattan certainly presents vari.
ETY. OF ways of spending money, and those
who have deal Of money to spend can
readily have what is called good time. II
is the constant and rapid growth of wealth
by accumulation within and without that
renders this city 60 very dear. Prices are
graduated to the incomes Of the rich, not
to the earnings of the financial middle.
class, the result being that, to people of
moderate means, life in the metropolis ia
an unending struggle
One might think it would be 60 severe,
so unremuuerative, that any number OF our
citizens would be worn out with it, and
would seek homes under more favorable
conditions, where tho strain would be- less,
where the chances would be betterl But
comparatively few, after having passed
years here, can be persuaded to jchange
their abode. They prefer any amount of
friction, crowding and pinching 70 relative
smoothness. space and ease in smaller cities.
There is undeniably a fascination lin the big
capital that cannot be felt away from it.
The last quarter of the nineteenth century
demancSluSltemenr. mental add social,
and such excitement is to be had always IN
Manhattan. am acquainted with scores
OF persons who have for years been living
mere fiom hand to mouth, who have no Pc
cunlary or other prospects whatever. They
could unquestioDably improve their condi-
ton by moving away, and they believe
they could. Bit they, like so many 9TH
ers, are welded to New York and refuse to
be divorced. They would rather rub along
here than flourish IN the interior they are
permanently under the spell of the metrep-
oils. The tens of thousands who have re-
turned are complaining of the
LAfENsiNE NESS Ot The CITY.
This has become chronic complaint
prices having advanced, they say, even
during their absences. For three or four
years necessities as well as Injuries have
been going up, notably within eighteen
months, and are higher to-day, it is said,
taking them altogether, than they have
ever been. As an example, the figures of
boarding. houses have been put up those
that have been charging $40 week, now
asking Sl2, and those that have been
charging So, asking Sl4 and SIS. This,
most important change, must bear heavily
upon very large and industrious class.
As to the hotels, rates of the leading ones
on the American plan have long been SIS
day, beyond which it would be impolitic to
go. Several of the principal theaters con-
template raising the price Of tickets for
the best places, from 81 30 to 81 each, and
livery stables talk of further upward
turn for carriages, despite their large adj.
vance last January. These are styled su-
perfuities but superfluities have grown
to be essentials which, as commonly rated,
are very dear likewise. Provisions, ali
household articles, servants, rents, are
higher than they were at this time a year
ago, and there is no probability of their
being lower.
No wonder there is such an unremittinp
strife for money in this tumultuous, wear.
ing town-not to get rich, but simply to
keep ahoat. The shifts and straits to
which the average New Yorker is put,
year after year, in trying to make both
ends meet, is scarcely suspected by the
outside public. If he were not wonted to
it, it would assuredly break him down;
and then he is greatly helped, from time
to time, by the ease with which he obtains
credit, though it may well be doubted if
credit does not hurt him in the long run,
The question is eternally asked, Chow de
New Yorkers liver" The answer is, "By
credit" The bulk of them, after the man.
ner of Americans generally, are always
drawing or the future. The fact that the
future seldom honors their drafts in no
wise interferes with their expectations.
They are ever confident that Fortune Ne
something in store for them, and although
this is delusion, it ia delusion to which
they cling to the last Thousands of Man
hattanese increase their Indebtedness eyeryi
year, and really depend upon their capac-
ity to procure credit az source of income
~ a.>sy sAoAy DS sni0 sudb, III buS mluSG %
life they are in debt. which they only dis
charge by dying. But for ardent hope
New York would be well nigh depopulated.
Most of us fight the losing battle of life
here, sustained by eager expectations never
to be realized.
BURNING OF THE PARK THEATER.
Much and genuine sympathy has bcen ex.
pressed with Henry e. Abbey in the loss
sustained by the burning of the Park The
alter on the eve of Mrs. Langtry's engage.
ment. He will lose very little, ifAanything,
on her, as the change of place to Wallack's
and the delay of week will have no Der.
ceptible financial effect. A hundred thou.
sand dollars is not much to SO 'enterprising
and liberal manager as Abbey, who is the
most daring of all his tribe.j He likes to
do big things he is fully al ambitious of
reputation as he is of monetary gains. A
few years ago he was wholly unknown.
Coming to New York from, Ohio, where he
followed the calling of a j9xeler and watch.
maker In small interior town, he aspired