The great metropolis; a mirror of New York

Front matter

Glass r_i-^ o

^n

V 'I

Preface

The sketches in this volume, begun more than two years ago, have been continued from time to time in the midst of journalistic duties, as personal observation and inquiry furnished new facts and illustrations of the Great City. These chapters have been written to represent the outer and inner life that makes up the beauty and deformity, the good and evil, the happiness and misery, which lie around us here so closely interwoven, that only charity can judge them wisely and well.

In Faith and Hope the world will disagree, But all mankind's concern is Charity. All must be false that thwart this one great end, And all of God, that bless mankind or mend.

J. H. B.

New- York, December, 1868.

ILLUSTEATIOl^S.

Page

1. CHURCHES IN NEW YORK,

2. ILLUSTRATED TITLE PAGE,

3. ARCHITECTURAL CONTRASTS, .

4. BUSINESS CONTRASTS,

5. STOCK EXCHANGE, BROAD STREET,

8. ''UMBRELLAS," .

9. CHINESE CANDY DEALERS,

10. FORT LAFAYETTE,

11. THE MALL. CENTRAL PARK

12. imiON SQUARE,

13. PILOT BOAT.

14. BARNUIM'S MUSEUM, 1860, . • 15. THE BATTERY,

16. PRINTING HOUSE SQUARE,

17. PARK BANK, BROADWAY,

18. WASHINGTON MARKET,

19. STREET ARABS,

20. STREET BEGGARS,

21. MACKERELVILLE TLTIN-OUT,

22. HOWARD MISSION,

23. ROOM IN HOWARD MISSION, m. CITY MISSIONARY, 25. LOW GROGGERY, 86. THE FIRST SNOW.

Frontispiece.

Chapter I. The Rich And Poor

Fashion and Famine. — Charms and Counter-Charms of the Metropolis. — Lights and Shadows Everywhere. — Life at its Best and Worst. — Marble Palaces and Squalid Tenement Houses. — What They Contain. 23

CHAPTER n.

NEW YORK SOCIETY.

Its Divisions and Characteristics. — The Old Knickerbocker Families. — The Cultivatedly Comfortable.— The New Rich.— The Mere Adventurers. — Social Shams and Snobs. — The American Gentleman and Lady. ....... 31

CHAPTER ni.

W.\LL STREET.

The Banking-House of the Continent. — Money-Getting and Mammon-Worship. — The Mania for Stock and Gold Operations. — The Exchange and Gold Room. — Great Wealth of the Quarter. — Its Redeeming Virtues. 40

CHAPTER IV.

THE POLICE.

The Force in the City. — Its Strength and Effectiveness. — The Best and Worst Class. — Their Habits and Operations. — The Station House and Prisoners. — Scenes and Characters. — Detectives and their Varieties. 50

CHAPTER V.

THE SHIPPING.

Sea-Ports and Sea-Thoughts. — Commerce of the Great City. — Its Trade all over the Globe. — Vessels and Sailors. — Scenes at the Dock and on Shipboard. — The People who Arrive and Depart. . . 59

CHAPTER VI.

THE ROUGHS.

Their Physiology and Psychology. — Haunts and Habits of the Class. — Their Education and Associations. — Defeated Justice and Dangerous Elements. — The Wild Beasts in an Unseen Lair. . . 67

CHAPTER VII.

BLACKWELL'S ISLAND.

The Abode of Paupers and Criminals.— The Different Buildings and their Inmates. — Mj'sterious Babies and Notorious Thieves. — Curious Lunatics and Peculiar Characters. — A Fancied Napoleon Bonaparte. — An Imaginary Prophet. ...... 76

CHAPTER VIII.

THE FIRST OF MAY.

Moving in Manhattan. — Oi'igin of the Custom. — House-Hunting and House Hunters. — Among the Rich and Poor. — May-Scenes and Experiences. — Change and Chaos from the Battery to the Park. 86

CHAPTER IX.

THE STREET-VENDERS.

The Bohemians of Trade and Bedouins of Traffic— News and Flower Dealers. — Dog-Fanciers and Toy-Peddlers. — Ketail Shams and Small Swindles. — Bowery Breakfasts and Park-Row Dinners.— Old Clothes Hawkers and Chinese Candy-Scller.s. ... 92

CHAPTER X.

THE FERRIES.

Their Number, Location and Business. — Different Classes of Passengers. — Occupation and Toil, Hope and Success on the Waters. — The Refluent Wave of Humanity. — The Ail-Night Boats. — .Journalists and Printers on their Way Home. . . . . . 100

CHAPTER XI.

GREENWOOD.

Picturesqueness of the Cemetery. — Its Extent and Range of View. — Activity of Funerals. — Sentiment and Pathos. — Burial of a Prosperous Merchant. — The Tearless Widow. — The Last of the True Wife and Mother. — The Poor Outcast at the Tomb. — Epitaphs and their HoUowness. — A Romantic Maiden who Would Not Die. . . 110

CHAPTER XII.

THE PARKS.

Decay and Abandonment of the Old Plazas. — The Central Park, its People and Prospects. — The Resort of the Wealthy and Indigent. — The Two Carriages and their Occupants. — A Pair of Nobodies. — Glittering Discontent. . . . . . . 121

CHAPTER XIII.

y THE BOWERY.

The Quarter and its Habitues. — Tricks and Tradesmen There. — The Bowery Merchant's Manner of Dealing with Customers. — A Sailor and Land-Shark. — After Night-fall. — The Bowery Boy Extinct. 129

CHAPTER XIV.

THE FORTUNE-TELLERS.

The Mystic Tribe and its Patrons. — Dowdy Priestesses and Commonplace Oracles. — Scenes of Sorcery. — Interior of a Temple of Fate. — Revelations about Wives. — A Tawdry Witch of Mysterious Pretension. — Superstitions of Business Men. — The Calling not Profitable. 138

CHAPTER XV.

THE BOHEMIANS.

Popular Idea of the Class. — The True and False Guild. — What They are and Believe. — The Original Tribe in New York. — Sketches of the Prominent Members. — Disreputable Specimens. — The Earnest Disciples. 150

CHAPETR XVI.

THE LAGER BEER GARDENS.

Their Numbers and Variety. — Peculiarities of the Manhattan Beverage.-^ German Characteristics and Customs. — Teutonic Simplicity and Enjoyment. — The Atlantic Garden. — Music, Tobacco, Talk and Tippling. ....... 159

CHAPTER XVII.

THE CHURCHES.

Their Number and Wealth — Their Liberality and Beauty. — Religion as a Form — A Fashionable Temple. — Repulsion of Humble Strangers. — An Elegant Congregation. — Characters. — Pulpit Oratory. — Genuine Christianity. . • . . .167

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE THEATERS.

Dramatic Assumptions of the Metropolis. — Character of its Audiences. — Dramatic Temples. — Their Different Patrons. — Wallack's, Niblo's Garden, the Olympic, Pike's Opera House, the Academy of Music, the New York, the Theatre Francais, the Broadway, Wood's, Booth's and the Bowery. . . . . . . 175

CHAPTER XIX.

THE DEAD BEATS.

The Higher and Lower Sort. — Requirements and Peculiarities of the Calling. — ^\''ariety and Contrast of the Life. — Photograph of the Creature. — Sketch of his Career. — Reclaiming a Prodigal. — ^Freedom from Debt the Sole Independence. . . . . 186

CHAPTER XX.

THE ADVENTURESSES.

Man's Vanity and Woman's Cunning. — Origin of the Strange Women. — Their Ample Field in the City. — Their Mental and Moral Code. — Operations at the Hotels. — War Widows. — Examples of Interesting Poverty. — Advertising Tricks. — ^Emigrants. — The Traveling Sisterhood. — A Remnant of th.e Woman Left. . . . 19$

CHAPTER XXI.

THE BOARDING HOUSES.

The Fashionable Establishments and their Noticeable Features. — Mrs. Dobbs and her Patrons. — The Landlady from Life. — ^Weal and Woe of her Happy Family. — Comfortless Comfort of a Home. — The Salesman, Law Student and Reporter. — Dreary Dinners. — Evening Entertainments. ....... 205

CHAPTER XXII.

HORACE GREELEY.

Prevalent Ideas of Him.— His Early Years.— Establishment of the Tribune. — His Indefatigable Industry and Great Popularity.— His Fancy Farm at Chappaqua— His Family and Charities— His Eccentricities. — The Verdict of his Countrymen. . . . 214

CHAPTER XXm.

THE FIFTH AVENUE.

Architecture of Be Street.— Its Exclusivcncss and Wealth.— Inner Life and Outward Show.— Pretension and Refinement.— Oppressive Monotony. —Gorgeous Interiors.— The Queen of the Drawing Room.— The Devotee of Fashion.— Blazing Hearths and Ashen Hearts.— Fate of the Unrecognized. — Untold Histories. . • • 219

CHAPTER XXIV.

HENRY J. RAYMOND.

The Beginning of his Career.— Entry into Journalism and Politics. — The Times Office.— The Elbows-of-the Mincio Article.— Personal Appearance and Private Affixirs. — Temperamental Peculiarity. . 230

CHAPTER XXV.

THE BATTERY.

What it was and is. — Its Historic Associations. — Its Lingering Attractions. — The Emigrant Depot at Castle Garden. — Idiosyncrasies of Foreigners. — How They are Fleeced. — Germans, Scotch, Irish, French and Italians. ....... 236

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE GAMBLING HOUSES.

Twenty-Five Hundred in the City. — The Fashionable Faro Banks. — Description of their Habitues. — Vulgar Haunts and Common Blacklegs. — Princely Proprietors and Plebeian Plunderers. — Phenomena of Faro, — Varieties of Gaming. .... 243

CHAPTER XXVII.

HENRY WARD BEECHER.

School Days and Theological Training. — Eccentricities of Character. — His Power and Influence in his Pulpit. — Journalistic, Political and Literarj Career. — "Norwood" and the Forthcoming "Life of Jesus." — Popularity as a Lecturer. — His Domestic Affairs. . . 252

CHAPTER XXVm.

THE RESTAURANTS.

Up-Town and Down-Town. — Eating-Houses. — Their Great Variety. — Over Five Thousand in Town. — The Guerilla System of Dining. — People You Have Met. — Lunching Makes Strange Companions. — Late Suppers. — Elegant Dissipation. ..... 260

CHAPTER XXIX.

MANTON MARBLE.

The "Man of the World." — His Early Love of Journalism. — His Experience in Boston. — The Great Democratic Organ. — Its Antecedents and Progress. — Shrewd Management of the Editor-in-Chief. — The Manhattan Club. ...... 267

CHAPTER XXX.

THE FIVE POINTS.

The Notorious Locality. — Poverty, Misery and Vice. — Baxter Street Life and Morals. — The Swarm of Children. — Etchings from Nature. — Representative Races. — The Callings of the Place. — The Dance-Houses. — What One Sees There. ..... 271

12 Contents.' i

CHAPTER XXXI.

THE MORGUE.

Its Growing Need in Gotham. — Its Appearance and Regulations. — Fascination of the Horrible. — Scenes Within and Without. — Apoplexy, Murder, Homicide and Suicide. — The Humorous Side of Ghastllness. 280

CHAPTER XXXII

ALEXANDER T. STEWART.

The Man of Money and Embodiment of Business. — His Past History. — A Merchant by Accident. — His Erection of the First Marble Building in Broadway. — His Up-Town Store. — His Fifth-Avenue Palace. — His Reputation for Generosity. — His Immense Wealth. — His Private Life. 289

CHAPTER XXXni.

THE DAILY PRESS.

The Herald, Tribune, Times, World, Journal of Commerce and Sun. — Defects of the Metropolitan Newspapers. — Their Circulation and Characteristics. — Their Antecedents and Profits. — The Evening Journals.— What They Are and Do. . . . . 295

CHAPTER XXXIV.

THE WEEKLY PRESS.

Their Great Number. — The Illustrated Papers. — Remarkable Success of the Ledger. — The Sunday Journals and their Character. — Journalism as a Profecsion in New York. — Slenderness of the Compensation. — Needs of the Calling. — Its Overcrowding. . . . 311

CHAPTER XXXV.

WILLIAM B. ASTOR.

An Exception to Most Rich Men's Sons. — His Great Care of his Father's Estate. — His Industry, Energy and Sagacity. — His Freedom from Pretension or Extravagance. — His Daily Duties and Domestic Life. — The Wealthiest Man in America. .... 319

CHAPTER XXXVI.

THE CONCERT SALOONS.

Their Rise and Sudden Popularity. — Various Grades of Music-Hails. — Danger of Frequenting Them. — The "Pretty Waiter Girls." — The Night Haunts. — The Vision of Dissipation. — Demoralizing Influence of Such Places. ...... 326

CHAPTER XXXVII.

CORNELIUS VANDERBILT.

The Beginning of his Fortunes. — The Staten Island Perriauger. — A Purely Self-Made Man. — His Control of Steam Lines. — The Great Railway King. — Passion for Whist and Horses — His Extraordinary Wall Street Operations. — His Vast Income. — His Remarkable Vigor in Old Age. 333

CHAPTER XXXVin.

BROADWAY.

The Street Cosmopolitan and Cosmoramic. — Its Architecture and Constant Throng. — Poetry and Philosophy of the Thoroughfare. — Its Resources and Suggestiveness. — Romance and Reality. — ^Love and Friendship. — Changes of Fortune. — All the World Flowing through that Channel. 839

CHAPTER XXXIX.

THE THIEVES.

Crime and Criminals. — Scoundrels Actual and Ideal. — Burglars, Hotel- Robbers, Shop-Lifters, Pickpockets and Sneaks. — Their Number and Mode of Operating. — The Art of Stealing and Science of Being Undiscovered. . . . . . . 346

CHAPTER XL.

SUNDAY IN NEW YORK.

The Change of the Week. — Silence of the Sabbath. — The Sacredness of Rest. — Different Modes of Enjoying the Day. — Excursions out of Town. — God in the Town and Country. . . . 355

CHAPTER XLI.

THURLOW WEED.

The Cabin Boy Becomes a Political Warwick — His Extraordinary Tact and Insight. — His Long Control of New York Politics. — The Whig Triumviate. — The Commercial Advertiser. — His Adroit Management of an Obstinate Assemblyman. — His Income and Good-Heartedness. 365

CHAPTER XLII.

BLEECKER STREET.

Its Past and Present. — ^Tts Variety and Oddity. — Its Strange Occupants. — Deception and Intrigue. — Dissipation and Death. — The Quarter of Artists and Bohemians. — Disturbance of Lodgers. — Great Freedom of the Neighborhood. . . . 372

CHAPTER XLIIL

NASSAU STREET.

Its Uniqueness and Symbolism. — Curious People and Phenomena. — Love and Loans. — Lager and Literature. — Confusion of Humanity. — The Old Book Stores. — Rambles Up and Down Dusty Stairways. — Back- Office Secrets. — Prolific Material for Novels. . . 381

CHAPTER XLIV.

THE HOTELS.

Americans not Domestic. — The Astor, St. Nicholas, Metropolitan, Fifth Avenue, New York, Brevoort and Barcelona. — Second Class Houses. — Gossip, Flirtation and Intrigue. — Hotel Life in Various Phases. 390

CHAPTER XLV.

WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT.

Fame in the Metropolis. — His Poetry and Travels. — The Evening Post. — His Labors and Influence as a Journalist. — His Domestic Tastes. — A Hale and Hearty Patriarch. — A Congenial Companion and Clever Talker. ....... 399

CHAPTER XLVL

THE MARKETS.

American Extravagance in Living — Disagreeableness of Market Going. — Liberal Supplies of Everything. — The Diflferent Customers. — The Penurious-Wealthy. — Blushing Brides and Cheap Boarding House Keepers. — The Scale of Prices. — The Evening Market. . 405

CHAPTER XLVII.

THE POST OFFICE.

The Old Dutch Church the Most Popular in Town. — Immense Business of the Metropolitan Office. — Anxious Inquirers and Insolent Clerks. — Letter- Writers and Letter-Getters. — The General Delivery. — The Different Stations. — Their Illegitimate Use. . . . 415

CHAPTER XLVni.

THE GAMINS.

Their Antecedents and Training. — Their Favorite Callings and Pleasures. — Persevering Boot-Blacks and Energetic Newsboys. — The Bowery Theatre Resort. — Decline and Development of the Urchins. — Natural Results of Bad Education. ..... 424

CHAPTER XLIX.

THE DEMI-MONDE.

The Relation of the Sexes. — Man's Injustice and Woman's Wrongs. — Courtesans in the Metropolis. — Their Character and Calling. — Their Life, Love and Redeeming Traits. — Sad Pictures of Fallen Women. 434

CHAPTER L.

THE CLUBS.

Their Number in Manhattan. — The Most Famous Club-Houses. — Their Management and Membership. — How Women Regard Them. — The Century, Manhattan, Union-League, Travelers', City, New York, and Eclectic. — The Deceased Athenasum. — Journalistic Clubs. — Club Life in the Great City. ..... 442

CHAPTER LI.

THE BEGGARS.

Their Nationality. — The Throng Increasing. — The Four Great Classes. — The Notorious Mendicants. — A New Order. — The Broadway Blindman. — The Old Hag near Fulton Ferry. — The Armless Frenchman. — The Canal Street Humpback. — The Noseless Pole. — The Mackerelville Dwarf — Fortunes of the Vagabond Tribe. . . . 456

CHAPTER LH.

STREET RAILWAYS.

Their Supposed Origin. — Their Supreme Independence. — New York Made for them. — Magnanimity of the Managers. — The Charmed Life of Passengers. — Wonders of the Roads. — Haps and Mishaps of Travel. — The Hero of a Thousand Cars. — Every -Day Miracles- . 466

CHAPTER LUL

THE PAWNBROKERS.

What They Represent and What They Are.— Under the Shadow of the Three Balls. — Messrs. Abrahams and Moses in their Glory. — The Watch, the Diamond Bracelets, the Keepsake. — Strange History of Pledges. ....... 473

CHAPTER LIV.

CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY.

The Boys and Girls' Lodging House. — How they are Managed and Supported. — Receipts and Expenditures. — The Emigration and Restoring System. — Industrial Schools. Refuge for Homeless Children. — Advatange of the Charity. • • . . 483

CHAPTER LV.

JAMES GORDON BENNETT.

The Child, Boy and Man. — His Education for the Church. — Struggles in America. — Choice of Journalism for a Profession. — Frequent Failures. — Establishment of the Herald. — Its first Success. — Peculiarities of the Man. — His sole Ambition and its Realization. — His private Life. 491

CHAPTER LVL

THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN NEW TORK.

What One of the Number Thinks of the Metropolis. — His Experiences of American Life. — Puppies for Supper. — Peculiar Rats. — The City- Directory as a Guide. — The Cause of Fires. — " Ghin Sling " in Various Trying Situations. . . . . . . 499

CHAPTER LVIL

JENKINSISM IN THE METROPOLIS.

The Peculiar Tribe. — Elaborate Description of a Wedding by one of the Fraternity. — The Bride and Bridegroom. — The Invited Guests. — Who they were, and how they Appeared. — Extraordinary Scenes at the Altar. — New Sensations at the Reception. . . 509

CHAPTER LVIIL

FASHIONABLE WEDDINGS.

What they Mean, and How they are Managed. — Ambitious Mammas and Submissive Daughters. — Mr. and Mrs. Fleetfast and their Connubial Career. — The Three Essentials. — Grace Church Brown. — Mockeries of Love. ....... 516

CHAPTER LIX.

THE CITY MISSIONS.

The Five-Points Mission. — The Howard Mission. — The House of Industry. — Their Regulations and Advantages. — Attendance, Donations and Expenses. — Intemperance the Cause of the Evils. . . 523

CHAPTER LX.

THE TOMBS.

Origin of the Name. — The Inner Quadrangle. — The Tiers of Gloomy Cells. — Character of the Prisoners. — A House of Detention. — The Three Departments. — The Police Court and Court of Sessions. — Sunday Morning's Tribunal. — Notorious Criminals who Have been There. — The Gallows and its Victims. — Religious Exercises. 528

CHAPTER LXL

THE MIDNIGHT MISSION.

The First Movement for the Reclamation of Fallen Women. — The Destitution of the Charity in New York. — The Asylum in Amity St. — Plan of Procedure. — Success of the Enterprise. — The Receptions. — Touching Scenes. — Repentant and Reformed Courtesans. — What the Charity Teaches. ....... 535

CHAPTER LXn.

ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE POOR.

Effectiveness of the Charity. — Its Origin and Progress. — How it is Conducted. — Visits to the Tenement-Houses. — What is Undertaken and Accomplished. — The Spirit of Humanity at Work. — Beautiful Examples. ....... 542

CHAPTER LXin.

WORKING WOMEN'S HOME.

An Excellent Organization. — Mode of its Management. — Weeping Eyes Dried, and Wounded Hearts Healed. — Direction of the Institution. — . Benefits Conferred upon the Poor. — Reaching the Source of Suffering. ....... 548

CHAPTER LXIV.

THE MILITARY.

Fondness for Parade. — The National State Guard. — The First Division. — ■ The Armories. — The Crack Regiments. — The Seventh.— Its Departure for the War. — The Great Sensation in Broadway. — Holiday Soldiers. ....... 554

CHAPTER LXV.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The Old System and its Evils. — The Engine Houses in Times Past. — The Present Department. — The Steam Engines and Horses. — Their Advantage and Efficacy. — The Dead Rabbit and Decent Fire-Boy. 561

CHAPTER LXVI.

RACING AND FAST HORSES.

The Union, Long Island and Fashion Courses. — The Jerome Park — Fondness for Horse Flesh.— The Passion Growing.— Gentlemen's Stables. — Millionaires on the Road. — Vanderbill, Bonner, Jerome and Fellows. — Money Invested in Blooded Stock. — Pleasures of the Turf. 568

CHAPTER LXVII.

GIFT ENTERPRISES AND SWINDLES.

The Many Swindles upon Countrymen. — Policy Shops. — Lottery OfiBces. — Infiimous Devices. — The Rural Regions Flooded with Circulars. — Inability of the Law to B,each the Rogues. — How Mr. Greenhorn ig Victimized. ....... 575

CHAPTER LXVni.

THE WICKEDEST WOMAN IN THE CITY.

Madame Rcstell the Abortionist. — Her Long and Shuddering Career. — Her Notorious Trial and Acquittal. — Her Dreadful Secrets and Practices. — Her Palace in Fifth Avenue. — Her Antecedents and Appearance. 582

CHAPTER LXIX.

MATRIMONUL BROKERAGE.

The Brokers in the City, and their Manner of Operating. — Strange Revelations of Human Weakness. — Foolish Women and Hoary Simpletons. — Snares Laid for Feminine Innocence. . . 588

CHAPTER LXX.

HERALDRY ON THE HUDSON.

The Metropolitan Passion for Titles. — The Heraldry Office. — Manner of Conducting it. — Smithers in search of his Family. — Peculiar Mode of Making Genealogical Trees. — The Plebeian Magennises and the Norman Descent. Absurdity of Patrician Assumption. . 596

CHAPTER LXXI.

THE CHILD-ADOPTING SYSTEM.

How it is Carried On. — The Women Professionally Engaged in It. — Singular Disclosures. — Infants of all Kinds Furnished, — The Baby Market and its Fluctuations. .... 603

CHAPTER LXXn.

BANKERS AND WALL-STREET OPERATORS."

Daniel Drew, Brown Brothers, Leonard W. Jerome, James G. King's Sons, Jay Cooke, David Groesbeck, August Belmont, and Fisk & Hatch, 611

CHAPTER LXXIII.

CHARLES O'CONOR.

His Early Poverty and Industry. — His Inclination to the Law. — His Eminence at the Bar. — His Singular Political Opinions. — His Large Income and Forensic Capacity. — His Present Status. . 618

CHAPTER LXXIV.

JAMES T. BRADY.

His Legal Studies and Success. — His Enthusiasm for Ireland, and Popularity with the Irish. — His Deep Interest in his Clients. — His Perpetual Speech-Making. — His After-Dinner Ardor. . . 622

CHAPTER LXXV.

FERNANDO WOOD.

His Past Life. — His First Election to the Mayoralty. — Double Disappointment of the Committee. — His Conduct and Character. — Personal Appearance and Influence. ..... 625

CHAPTER LXXVI.

GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN.

An Exaggerated American. — His Excentricities at Home and Abroad. — Book-making, Speech-making, and Money-making. — His Declaration that he is in no Danger. — Called a Fool. — His Supreme Egotism and

I Loquacity. — His Real Character. .... 629

CHAPTER LXXVIL

FANNY FERN.

Parentage.-Girlhood. -Marriage. -Husband's Death.-Struggle with Poverty. — First Literary Earnings. — Connection with the Ledger. — "Fern Leaves" and "Ruth Hall." — Second Marriage. — Present Position. 633

CHAPTER LXXVni.

TWO STRONG-MINDED WOMEN.

Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton. — The Revolution. — What the Woman's Rights Women Are and Demand. — Their Pen-Photographs. ....... 636

CHAPTER LXXIX.

PETER COOPER.

History of a Self-Made Man. — His various Pursuits. — His Benevolence and Sympathy with the People.— The Cooper Institute.— His Honesty and Sterling Worth. ...... 640

CHAPTER LXXX

GEORGE LAW.

His Early Struggles. — Contracts the Beginning of his Fortune. — The George Law Markets. — His Personal Unpopularity and Common-Place Appearance. — His Day Gone By. . . , 642

CHAPTER LXXXL

PETER B. SWEENEY.

His Political Power and Excessive Tact. — The Championship of the Ring. — His Large Wealth and Devotion to the Democracy. — The Manner of Man he is. . . . . . . . 645

CHAPTER LXXXn.

DISTINGUISED CLERGYMEN.

Revs. Edwin H. Chapin, Henry C. Potter, Wm. Adam.s, Henry W. Bellows, Stephen H. Tyng, junior, Morgan Dix, F. C. Ewer, C. W. Morrill, Thomas Armitage, 0. B. Frothingham, Archbishop McCloskey. — Samuel Osgood. — H. B. Ridgaway. — Rabbi Adler. . 647

CHAPTER LXXXni.

JOHN ALLEN, " THE WICKEDEST MAN.-'

The Religious Excitement. — John Allen's Dance-House. — The Prayer Meetings in Water-Street. — Their Good Effect. — The Insincerity of Ruffians no Reason for Censure. .... 659

CHAPTER LXXXIV.

MARK M. POMEROY.

His Nativity and Wanderings. — His Career in the West. — La Cross Democr.at. — His Establishment of a Daily in New York. — His Violent Political Course. — What he is and How he Looks. . . 663

CHAPTER LXXXV.

EMINENT BUSINESS MEN.

Grinnell, Minturn & Co., Horace B. Claflin, Howland, Aspinwall & Co., A. A. Law & Bros., E. S. JaflFray & Co., Harper & Bros., D. Appleton & Co., Jackson S. Schultz, Charles A. Stetson, the Lelands, R. L. & A. Stuart. ....... 666

CHAPTER LXXXVI.

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

Its Origin and Conductors. — Excellence and Influence of the Society. — What its Members have Accomplished. — Their Work During the War. — Their Hospitality to Strangers. — Result of their Labors. 677

CHAPTER LXXXVII.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

The Day and Evening Schools. — Girls' Normal Schools. — Evening High School. — Free Academy — Attendance and Aptitude of Pupils. — The System of Instruction and its Success. — Women Superseding Men as Teachers. ....... 680

CHAPTER LXJLXVIIL

DISTINGUISHED WOMEN.

Alice and Phoebe Gary. — Mary Clemmer Ames. — Kate Field. — Lucia Gilbert Calhoun. — Octavia Walton Levert. — Jennie June. — Mary E, Dodge. — Sarah F. Ames. ... . . . 684

CHAPTER LXXXIX.

CITY CHARITIES.

Divers Institutions. — Ward's Island. — Hospitals. — Orphan, Deaf and Dumb and Insane Asylums. — The Buildings and Inmates. — Mode of Treating Patients. — Liberality and Benevolence of New Yorkers. 690

CHAPTER XC.

THE GREAT METROPOLIS.

Its Advantages and Disadvantages. — Improvements Everywhere. — Up- Town Splendors. — The Future of Manhattan. — The City Destined to be the Largest in the World. .... 697

ARCIIITECTUnAL CONTRAST.

liUSlXK.sS CONTRAST.

CHAPTER I .

RICH AND POOR.

In the M-^tropolis, more than in any other American city, there are two great and distinct classes of people — those who pass their days in trying to make money enough to live; and those who, having more than enough, are troubled about the manner of spending it. The former suffer from actual ills ; the latter from imaginary ones. Those lead a hard life ; these an empty one. Those suffer from penury ; these from ennui. Each envies the other; and both find existence wearisome, and difficult to endure. But the poor have the advantage in necessary honesty and earnestness; while the prosperous dwell in an atmosphere of insincerity and sham.

It is the custom to prate of the discontents of the rich. Yet we are all ambitious to share them, and to learn by experience the weight of purple robes and the sharpness of gilded thorns.

Our citizens who figure in the income list have no season of repose. When not engrossed in their business pursuits, (it is the misfortune of this Republic that few of its inhabitants ever learn to enjoy their wealth calmly until it is too late,) they are either planning campaigns at the watering-places and tours in Europe, or perplexing themselves with the most approved and

24 Rich and Poor.

distinguished manner of entertaining their fashionable friends in town.

They endeavor to leave such complicated affairs to women. But the women seek counsel of, and ever lean on, their masculine companions, and compel them, whether they will or not, to bear the burthen of leading a glittering, though hollow life, which rarely palls upon the feminine mind, occupied with externals, and reveling in appearances. So the Adams, even to the present day, pay the penalty of the temptation of Eve, and eat more sour apples than they do sweet ones, in the society of their irresistible charmers.

New-York is unquestionably the paradise of women. It is to the United- States what Paris is to Europe ; and the fairer portion of creation, who dwell out of this vast and crowded City, remember their promenade in Broadway, their suppers at Delmonico's, their evenings at the Academy, and their drives in the Park, with a longing for their repetition that is almost akin to pain.

No where else, they fondly imagine, are such dresses, and bonnets, and shawls, and jewelry to be purchased; no where else can they be so generally admired; no where else can pleasure be found in such varied form.

Even Greenwood has its mortuary fascinations. The monuments look whiter there, the grass greener, the graves more genteel, the trees more droopingly sympathetic than in other cemeteries. And then the subterranean sleepers must have pleasant dreams of the excitements and sensations they enjoyed in the flesh on the island of Manhattan. When they die, they hope, in a sentimentally pious way, to take their last

Rich and Poor. 25

rest in such goodly company, and have winter roses strewn above them, that grew in hot-houses, and were cHpped with silver shears.

Fifth, Madison and Lexington avenues, Fourteenth, Twenty-third and Thirty- fourth streets, Madison, Stuyvesant and Grammercy squares are among the chosen abodes of the fashionable and wealthy, who ever tend up town, and will soon make the Central Park the nucleus of their exclusive homes.

During the season, Saratoga, Newport, Paris and Florence are, for the time, dismissed, and home pleasures are alone considered.

Receptions, sociables and "Germans" are the social events of those modish quarters; and milliners, mantua-makers, hair-dressers, flower-venders, confectioners, and musicians, are busy from morning to night in lending their expensive assistance to the devotees of fashion in the arduous art of killing time elegantly.

Weddings, and their subsequent assemblies are at their height then. Hymen consorts with Cytherea, Juno and Bacchus, and supplies his torch with love-letters of the past, and capers nimbly upon hearts whence Mammon has expelled romance and the ideals of other days.

All New- York is in the midst of gayety and dissipation, and judging by surfaces, Eden is not far from the banks of the Hudson. Brilliant carriages, with liveried coachmen and footmen and sleek horses, dash up and down the avenues, depositing their perfumed inmates before brilliantly-lighted, high-stooped, brown-stone fronts, whence the sound of merry voices and voluptuous music comes wooingly out, through frequentlyopened doors, into the chilly night.

One catches a glimpse of fair faces, and the odor of elaborate toilettes as pretty women hurry up the broad steps with kindling eyes and rosy lips, and disappear like beautiful visions amid the bewildering delights that are more seductive to, because they can only be conjectured by, the less fortunate wayfarers who are trudging to their humble homes, anxious and fatigued, and uncertain of the morrow.

Oh, the inequality of Fortune ! It must be hard for the poor and distressed to believe that God is good, and Life a blessing, when they see every hour that thousands, in no way worthier, lie softly and fare daintily, while they go hungry and cold, and have no expectations of the better times that are always coming and never come.