New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-14
NEW YORK A CENTURY AGO.
THE CITY AND ITS SOCIAL LIFE.
NOTABLE PEOPLE DRAWN TO THE rrmponAnY

NofABLE PEOPLE DRAWN TO THE TEMPORARY
cAPlTAL-AN ENGLIsHMAN'S sKETCHES
shoruy after Oliver Wooott's arrival In New-York,
nearly 100 years ago, after as good passage as
puiu DO expected and when he procured lodgings
at mrs Grinners, No. 81 Queenst, In good family
MS father wrote him from Connecticut as follows:
The executive officers with whom you VIII have
most intercourse, will believe DO inclined TO treat you
with generosity and frankneSs, from the first mags
tr@oe uoWnward. An open, unassuming behavior VIII
DO most agreeable to them; this naturally induces con-
huehce and may be done consistently with such
reservation as may be necessary Your service VIII
be complicated and arduous but you will reflect that
those who arc to Judge Of your service will DO most
capable of making Just estimate OF It.
fou may therefore safely indulge yourself
with as much exercise and relaxation
as VIII DO necessary for your health. Endeavor to
preserve the mems in sano corpore, by nduging
at times certain vacancy OF thought As TO your
mode Of living, need but lItte your habits
OF temperance will render It unnecessary Only this
you VIII recoect, that there are many old men In
Connecticut, who have drank cider freely for three
quarters Of a century, who active and almost
blooming, and exempt from all govt, rheumatism and
stone; while the drinkers of beer and spirits die
aud In misery. Simple diet and fermented liquors,
except rich beer will, with the moderate Of water
be always found be best, especially for sedentary
persons"
ave have repeatedly heard that you have had q
great deal of company, and that the first people In
the city proud OF your acquaintance, but per-
ceve that you are the good sister which
have ever found YOU and at all the for lY
ng in New.York,7 writes Mrs. Chauncey Goodrich
to Mrs. wolcott about nue months after the latters
arrival at the capital
New-York was then, as now, many thought, the
first city IN the United states, IT was also the
nnst and most agreeable for fits situation and
becoming
the United States" In the language Of writer OF
the day whose words are worth recalling. Broadway
and the BOwery Road were the finest avenues In the
city, and about the width Of Oxforbst., London
The houses IN Broadway were lofty and weH built
"They areS says a writer, constructed In the English
style and differ little from those Of London at the
west end of the town except that they Are uni
ysIsally built of red brick In the vicinity Of the
Bat,o-y and for some distance up Broadway they arc
nearly all private houses and occupied by the prin
cipal merchants and sentry of AewYork" There
were shops OF every description, well stocked with
European and India goods, and exhibiting splendid
and varied show in their windows. There were
bookstores, printshops, musc-shops, silversmiths,
Jewellers, hatteTs, hnen-drapers', millnes
pastry cooks, coach-mAkers hotos and
cohechouSes Most OF tho best streets were well
paved, and the footpaths were chiefly brcked.
The City Hotel was said TO resemble the London
Tavern In Bshopgate-st., London The favorte Walks
were the Park, the Battery, and broadway tho latter
being rather the most exclusive Tho ioOpehs
were planed with poplars, which afforded pleasant
shade Theatrical performances wore very popular,
and not so long as those of to-day, being always out
By half after 10 Public gardens were much fire.
luented by rich and poor. The popular drive was
what Washington called the fourteen mile round,'
the route being over tho Old Boston Road on the
line Of Thlrd-ave crossing Murray Ill., neGriy on the
line OF Lexington ave-. bearing weSw ard to McCO"as
Pass, and 50 on TO Bloomiugdsle, and down on The
Hudson River side Of the Island Every day, cXcop'
sunday, was market day. The sale OF unWho'eSoH"
and stale articles were expressly forbidden Butter
was sold by the pound The regulation loaf OF bread
weighed two and one.hall pounds. Turkeys cos;
So 10 cents each; chcEcnis wcro 30 cents pair
Oysters were large aud plentiful Peaches sold Al
three for penny.