Sound.
Early the next morning T beheld, for the first time, the lofty spires of that great Babylon of America, ycleped New York. What a place of business, bustle, and con fusion! What hurrying to and fro! What rushing, scrambling, crowding, each bent on his own selfish end, and caring nothing
' O O
for his neighbor, but all for his neighbor's purse! How cold the faces of the citizens seem to a stranger! There are no wel come smiles no kind greetings all are wrapped up in their own pursuits : and he feels at once, although surrounded by thousands, that he is now indeed alone, without a friend, save such as can be "bought.
On the ocean, on the prairie, or in the forest, man is not alone; he does not feel alone; for he is with Nature in all her wildness in all her beauty; and she ever has a voice, which reaches his inner heart, and, in sweet companionship, whispers him to behold her wonders, and through her look up to the Author of all her God and his ' But in the great city it is differ ent vastly different. Here all is artifi cial, studied, and cold; and as we gaze Upon the thousands that throng the streets, and mark the selfish expressions on the faes of each, we feel an inward loathing, a disgust for mankind, and long to steal away to some quiet spot and commune with our own thoughts in silence.
Such were my reflections, as the rum bling vehicle whirled me over the pave ments to that prince of hotels, (in name and wealth at least) the Astor House. True, I had been born and brought up in a city; but still these rriatters "ted never forced themselves so strongly' updn my mind as now. I was a stranger in a strange city, and, with my otherwise misanthropic feelings, I doubly felt them in all their force.
The window of the apartment assigned me at the Astor House, looked out upon that world-renowned thoroughfare, Broad way. Dinner over, I seated myself at the casement and gazed forth. What a world in miniature was spread before my eyes \ What a whirlpool of confusion and excite ment! Before me, a little to my left, was the Park its trees beautifully decorated with the flowers and leaves of spring, and te many -winding walks thronged with
human beings. From out its center rose the City Hall the hall of justice. Along one side ran Broadway along the other. Park Row.but shooting off at an angle from the main thoroughfare of the former both crowded with carriages of all de scriptions, from the splendid vehicle of fashion, with its servants in livery, and its silver-trimmed harness, down to the common dray crowded with footmen, from the prince to the beggar, all hurrying and jostling together. Here sauntered the lady and gentlemai of fashion, robed in the most costly apparel money could pro cure, bedecked with diamonds and gold, sapphire and ruby; there, side by side, on the same pavement, aknost touching them, stroled the poor, forlorn, pale-faced, hol low-eyed mendicant, partially clothed in filthy rags, and perhaps actually dying for a morsel of food. Great Heaven! what a comment on humanity!
I have mentioned only the extremes; but fancy both sexes of all grades, sizes, and nations between and you have a pic ture which no city on the American con tinent save New York can present.
The evening found my friend and my self at the National Theatre then new, splendidly decorated, and in successful operation. It was crowded almost to suf focation with the elite of the city. Round ed arms and splendid busts, set off" with jewels rosy cheeks, and sparkling eyes, were displayed on every hand, by the bewitching light of magnificent glass-tas- selled chandeliers. But of these I took lit tle note. My attention was fixed upon the play. It was that impassioned crea tion of Shakspeare, Romeo and Juliet. My mind was just in a condition to feel the burning words of the lovers in all their force; and I concentrated my whole soul upon it, listened every word, watched every motion, to the exclusion of every thing else. The . first and second acts were already over, and the last scene of the third, the parting between the lovers, was on the stage. A breathless silence reigned around. Every eye was fixed upon the players every head inclined a little forward, to catch the slightest tones of the speakers. Already had the ardent and unfortunate Romeo sighed the tender words :
