The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-11-07
" ritten for TIE ARKANsAw TRAVELLER.
 NEW YORK LETTER.
BY ALEX. E. SWEET.
To 5e Continued.]

So Josh Billings" is no more When " Artemus Ward" died a poet wrote some verses on his death which began with the line:
 "He's gone to the land where there's no
 iaugh,er.''
 Why is it that those who devote much time and thought to their future status persist in picturing heaven as a gloomy placer What is there about laughter that is SO sinful2 I've no doubt that the great Nazarene was cheerful, otherwise how did He come to love little children By the way, it is not improbable or strained to suppose that the celebrated text, "Thou are Peter, and upon this rock l will build my church," was nothing more or less than pun. Peters name means a rock" It is the root of the English word "petrifaction," but will not deviate in matters ecclesiastical.
 If there is really no laughter in the great unknown and unkno wable future, it will not set poor Josh Billings" back much, judging by his looks. was intro- duced to him in San Antonio, Texas, when he lectured there six or eight years ago, and have passed him frequently on the streets of New York during the past year. He was striking figure He was tall. raw-boned and stopped. He usually, in walking, kept his hands clasped be- hind his back. He wore his iron gray hair very long on his shoulders, and his head was covered by large slouch hat. Two men out of three who passed him turned around to look back at him. He was certainly the most melancholy look ing man ever saw.
 Yesterday, went to Riverside park to see General Grants tomb. It is in the upper portion aof Manhattan Island, near Harlem riverS l took the Sixth avenue elevated to One Hundred and Twenty Fourth street, which is almost ten miles from the Battery. Leaving the Elevated walked about half an hour, and then proceeded to ascend a hill. The road, which leads to the tomb, is a circuitcus one, which fact property owner has utilized to turn an honest penny. He has opened gateway through his property, by which the walk to the tomb is abbre- viated by perhaps 50 yards. On large board fence is an immense freshly painted sigo, which reads: Take a Short Cut to the Tomb for Five Cents" Most of the pilgrims, as soon as they see the last two words of the inscription, prefer to stroll past. Walking is healthy. The gentle man who has smoothed the pathway to the tomb, at some expense to himself, halts every pedestrian and implores him to take the short cut to the tomb, but he meets with little encouragement. Whe,h. CT it is the five cents fare or the ambi- guilty of the invitation, cannot say, but did not see anybody patronize the air line. It must be trying on invalids and people who have not got the five cents to have that man urge them to get to the tomb sooner than they otherwise would
 Opportunities for securing General Grants photograph occur every forty or fifty yari Is. There are stands covered with pictures of General Grant on horse back, General Grant and his family, also | medallions and badges.
 During the months of August and Sep- tember tens of thousands of people vis- ited the tomb every day, and the vendors | of refreshments did . rushing business l Just nov ooly few hundreds visit the tomb, but many of the booths remain. l