Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-06-09
NEW YORK.
Interesting Phases of Life in the East
ern Metropolis From Our Special
Correspondent.
New York, MAY 1st, 1883.


highways in his search for change
and recreation. finds now at New
York great inducements for visit
The weather, in the first place, is pro
pitious, the air being mild and ex,
hilarating and not yet insufferably
warm. The spring exhibitions by the
art clubs are sources of continual en-
joyment during the season, and all
the ends of the winters entertain
ment are brought together in a knot,
SO to speak, before the threads OF
summer pleasures are caught up. 1t
is almost an inspiration in itself to
walk through the wide avenues and
look at the drama of life as it is
played by these cCsmopolitans.
Every city, it is said, has its peculiar
type of humanity: but as the genuine
Knickerbocker protests, it is hardly
fair for one to Judge of the 'type" of
New York from the crowd on the side
walk. 1t may be that the typical
inhabitant shuns the public ways or
only appears in his dog-cart or coupe.
The sidewalk crowd is varied, being
aristocratic or democratic, with the
location of the sidewalk. Flower
and fruit dealers are abundant, and
offer peculiarly fine wares at extraor-
dinarily low prices, but picturesque
humanity is not common, even here.
At Brooklyn, the aspect of life is far
different from that in New York, but
the typical inhabitant'' is almost as
difficult to distinguish, presumably
because he is not to be seen on the
avenues, being busy, perhaps, in New
York. Along the quiet gardens and
streets, and among the houses which
possess a leisurely air, the principal
inhabitants of spring afternoon are
children with their nurses. The
former are tastefully attired in bright
colors, and the latter are always
picturesque in white caps and aprons.
On one of the Baooklyn avenues is
situated an almost ideal school, being
private school that is also fashion
able" The school is quite
artistic in its arrangements, having
Brussels carpet on the floor, and
long mirrors at the sides of the room,
while the walls are covered with
pictures, and tasteful objects of art
are scattered about. The parlors and
reception rooms are examples OF the
new style Of decoration which is at
once comfortable and elegant.
And the girls who live and study in
this school among these refining and
cultivating surroundings are not
taught merely fashionable accom-
plishments," but are encouraged to
cultivate their best gifts thoroughly
and to strive to attain sensible and
well balanced womanhood. 1t they
have tastes for professional life, these
are encouraged and directed; and
society" is not held before all as the
only aim for ambition. That this
school, which is modelled upon such
a plan, is not only successful but ap-
proved by the "most select circles
certainly shows a tendency of mod
ern life which ought not to be ignored
by discouraged sociologists who pro
claim the decadence of society.
Across the ferry to Brooklyn is not
always regarded by the New Yorker
as a burden, nor do all anxiously
await the opening of the great bridge
which spans the river with graceful
arch. the wonder of observers. The
ferry boats are constantly means of
enjoyment in the summer, mothers
sending their children across again
and again fer the sail in the cool
breeze, and the elders themselves are
not averse to the brief trip among the
lively scenes on the water. Yet, un
doubtedly, the bridge will be great
convenience when the elevated rail
road, which will cross it, has been
constructed, and when it's use has be-
come thoroughly appreciated by the
public. Around the ferry there al
ways gathers rushing. eager crowd,
and again one looks in vain for the
typical New Yorker or Brooklynite
among its features. One sees Ger
mans and Jews in great numbers,
which is not strange, since New York
is the forth German city in the world
according to the latest commute
tions. Probably there are many
Socialists among them, for though
Herr Most does not seem to attract
the notice of the reportorial eye as
much as formerly, he is very actively
employed in spreading his doctrines
"Herr Most has been much misrep-
resented" a compatriot declared.
"a man who is giving the thought
and purpose of his life to the eleva-
ton of mankind deserves to be met
with other than unqualified con-
tempt" This ardent Socialist be-
lieves that great change in society
is imminent. At the end OF few
years there will be accomplished a
revolution which will make the dis
tribution of wealth just and fair
For this change he is now working
ardently, with full hopes, publishing
his German paper Liberty" and
sending his ideas by way of spoken
and written word through the coun'
try. He is more quiet now, to be sure
but it is also as certain that he il
creating believers and assistants. lI
five years. he has taught his followers
| to say, a Vanderbilt ball will be either
an impossibility or an occasion fol
disturbance. The Vanderbilts have
no right to spend fortunes in extrav
| agance while the employees on theil
railroads are 80 underpaid that they
exc out their living by fraud and i'm