The Secrets of the Great City Part 37

Some years ago, a handsome young woman, of respectable parentage, sought the shelter of the convenient establishment of Dr.----. The lady subsequently married a well-to-do farmer, from the West, and in the full confidence of the marriage state, trusting to the pa.s.sionate devotion of her husband, she revealed the secret of her early misdemeanor to her liege lord, who proved himself well worthy of her confidence. The wife, who resided in Illinois, came to New York; visited Mrs.----, (the lady who acted as Dr.----'s agent, and a call upon whom has already been described,) and begged Mrs.----to restore the child, who had been separated from her and 'adopted' by other parties, years before. With this request Mrs.----refused to comply. She knew the whereabouts of the child well enough, but she also knew that it was now the _protege_, the pet, the heir of a wealthy old couple, who were devotedly attached to it, and whose hearts would be almost broken by parting with it, while the worldly interests of the child would also be materially injured by the removal. Above all, the revealing of the child's _locale_ would be a violation of a 'professional obligation,' and would be initiating a very dangerous precedent in matters of this kind; and so Mrs.----'s lips were sealed, and to this day the real mother knows naught of her own child; would not even be able to recognize her offspring, if they were to meet face to face in the streets of New York.

"A rising young politician of this city has recently married a lady, whose early history resembles that of the mother just mentioned. But the politician is of a different mould from the Western husband, and having ascertained the 'little episode' in his wife's history, is now negotiating with her for a separation. Unlike the mother just alluded to, however, the politician's wife has recovered her child, and finds consolation in the fact, even in view of the contemplated separation.

"A terrible scandal, which was on the verge of becoming the property of the greedy public of New York, compromising a young Jewess of great wealth and high social position, has been recently, and let us trust, finally 'hushed' through the invaluable aid of Dr.----'s establishment.

A horrible revelation of domestic depravity has thus escaped publication, and a woman who would otherwise have been an outcast from her circle, and a blot upon the religion of her people, is now, thanks to skill, secresy, and money, the admired wife of a leading Hebrew merchant."

CHAPTER LIII.

THE FIRST DIVISION, NEW YORK NATIONAL GUARD.

The City is very proud of its military organization, and both the munic.i.p.al and State governments contribute liberally to its support.

The law organizing the First Division was pa.s.sed in 1862, when the old volunteer system was entirely reorganized. Previous to this, the volunteers had borne their entire expenses, and had controlled their affairs themselves. By the new law, important changes were introduced.

The division consists of four brigades, and numbers thirteen thousand men. This includes a proper force of field artillery and cavalry. The United States provides the arms and uniforms, which are, when furnished by the General Government, those prescribed by the army regulations.

The best regiments, however, prefer a handsomer dress, and provide their own uniforms. The city makes an appropriation of five hundred dollars per annum for each regiment, for an armory. The cost of parades, music, etc., is paid by the regiments themselves. Each regiment has its armory, in which are deposited the arms and valuable property. An armorer is in charge of the building, and it is his duty to keep the guns in good order. A reading room and library are attached to some of these armories, and are used as places of social reunion for the members of the command. Drills are held at stated times, and a rigid discipline is maintained. The men are, as a general rule, proud of their organizations, and enthusiastic in military matters. They are well drilled, and will compare favorably with any troops in the world, in both appearance and efficiency. Nearly all saw service during the late war, and there is not a regiment, we believe, that does not treasure some smoke-begrimed, bullet-rent flag, as its most precious possession. Out of the thirteen thousand men comprising the force, nine thousand were in the field, in active service, at one time during the war, and the division gave the country three thousand seven hundred and eighty officers for the struggle.

These troops are always ready for duty. They are scattered all over the city, pursuing various useful callings, but at a certain signal, sounded by the City Hall bell, they will rally at their armories, and in an hour, there will be thirteen thousand disciplined troops ready to enforce the laws in any emergency. The past services of the division prove that it can always be relied upon.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Old Bowery Theatre.]

CHAPTER LIV.

PLACES OF AMUs.e.m.e.nT.

The peculiar character of the population of New York, together with the immense throng of strangers always in town, makes it possible to sustain a great many places of amus.e.m.e.nt in the city.

THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC, on fourteenth street and Irving Place, comes first on the list. It is generally occupied by the Italian Opera, but lately has been used for various purposes. It is one of the largest public halls in the world, and is handsomely fitted up.

PIKE'S OPERA HOUSE, on Twenty-third street and Eighth Avenue, rivals the Academy in the beauty and taste of its internal arrangements. The entrance is through a magnificent marble building, also the property of Mr. Pike, which is one of the ornaments of the city.

BOOTH'S THEATRE, on Twenty-third street and Sixth Avenue, is a handsome freestone edifice. It is the property of Mr. Edwin Booth, the famous tragedian. It is devoted exclusively to the legitimate drama, and will be conducted in a style worthy of the fame of its distinguished proprietor.

BROUGHAM'S THEATRE, in the rear of the Fifth Avenue Hotel, was used during the war for the night sessions of the Gold Board. It is a handsome little building, elegantly arranged internally, and is conducted by Mr. John Brougham, the famous comedian and author.

WALLACE'S, on the corner of Broadway and Twelfth street, is one of the coziest and best conducted places of amus.e.m.e.nt in the city. It is the property of Mr. Lester Wallack, and is devoted to the legitimate drama.

It has the best company in the city, and the two Wallacks are to be seen here alone.

THE OLYMPIC was built for Laura Keene, but has now pa.s.sed into other hands. It is a well arranged, pleasant hall, and for the last year has been famous as the headquarters of that eccentric individual called "Humpty Dumpty." It is in Broadway below Bleecker street.

NIBLO'S, is in the rear of the Metropolitan Hotel. It is a large comfortable hall, handsomely fitted up. It is devoted entirely to the sensational drama. It was here that those splendid spectacles, the "Black Crook" and the "White Fawn," were produced in such magnificent style.

THE BROADWAY, in Broadway below Broome street, is the property of Barney Williams. The Irish drama is its specialty. It is well patronized.

THE OLD BOWERY, in the Bowery below Ca.n.a.l street, is the only old style theatre in the city. Its audiences come from the east side. The place occupied in modern theatres by the parquette, is here devoted to an old fas.h.i.+oned pit, into which the juveniles of the Bowery region are packed like sheep. One has a fine chance to study humanity in this place. It is managed well, and is devoted to the sensational drama.

THE STADT THEATRE, nearly opposite the OLD BOWERY THEATRE, is the largest in the city. It is the property of Germans, and its performances are in that language. It is well supported.

WOOD'S THEATRE, corner of Broadway and Thirtieth street, is a popular establishment. It is very high up town, but the manager has made it so attractive that it has drawn excellent houses. It has a museum, the successor of Barnum's American Museum, attached to it, and is very popular with the young folks.

Besides these there are several second and third cla.s.s theatres, many negro minstrel halls, concert rooms, and other places of amus.e.m.e.nt for all grades and cla.s.ses. The majority advertise in the daily journals, and by consulting these monitors, one can always find the means of pa.s.sing a pleasant evening in the Great City.

CHAPTER LV.

FORTUNE TELLERS AND CLAIRVOYANTS.

The city journals frequently contain such advertis.e.m.e.nts as the following:

"A TEST MEDIUM.--THE ORIGINAL MADAME F----tells everything, traces absent friends, losses, causes speedy marriages, gives lucky numbers.

Ladies fifty cents; gentlemen, one dollar. 464----th Avenue."

"A FACT--NO IMPOSITION. The Great European Clairvoyant. She consults you on all affairs of life. Born with a natural gift, she tells past, present, and future; she brings together those long separated; causes speedy marriages; shows you a correct likeness of your future husband or friends in love affairs. She was never known to fail. She tells his name; also lucky numbers free of charge. She succeeds when all others fail. Two thousand dollars reward for any one that can equal her in professional skill. Ladies fifty cents to one dollar. Positively no gents admitted. No. 40----Avenue."

It seems strange that, in this boasted age of enlightenment, the persons who make such announcements as the above, can find any one simple enough to believe them. Yet, it is a fact, that these persons, who are generally women, frequently make large sums of money out of the credulity of their fellow creatures. Every mail brings them letters from persons in various parts of the country. These letters are generally answered, and the contents have disgusted more than one simpleton. The information furnished is such as any casual acquaintance could give, and just as trustworthy as the reports of the "reliable gentleman just from the front," used to prove during the late war. The city custom of these impostors is about equal to that brought to them from the country by means of their advertis.e.m.e.nts. Some of them make as much as one hundred dollars per day, all of which is a clear profit.

The majority earn from three to six dollars per day. Servant girls are profitable customers. Indeed, but for female credulity the business would go down.

Still, there are many male visitors. Speculators, victims of the gaming table and the lottery, come to ask for advice, which is given at random. The woman knows but little of her visitors, and has no means of learning anything about them. Sometimes her statements are found to be true; but it is by the merest accident. The clairvoyants do not hesitate to confess to their friends, in a confidential way, of course, that their pretensions are mere humb.u.g.g.e.ry, and they laugh at the credulity of their victims, whilst they encourage it. It seems absurd to discuss this subject seriously. We can only say to those who shall read this chapter, that there is not in the city of New York an honest fortune-teller or clairvoyant. They knowingly deceive persons as to their powers. It is not given to human beings to read the future-- certainly not to such wretched specimens as the persons who compose the cla.s.s of which we are writing. The only sensible plan is to keep your money, dear reader. You know more than these impostors can possibly tell you.

Many of these fortune-tellers and clairvoyants are simply procuresses.

They draw women into their houses and ply them so with temptations, that they frequently ruin them. This is the real business of most of them. They are leagued with the keepers of houses of ill-fame. No woman is safe who enters their doors.

LOVE-CHARMS.

These parties will also offer for sale "amulets," "charms," or "recipes," which they say will enable a person to win the love of any one of the opposite s.e.x, and excite the admiration of friends; or "to give you an influence over your enemies or rivals, moulding them to your own will or purpose;" or to "enable you to discover lost, stolen, or hidden treasure," etc., etc. For each or any of these charms the modest sum of from three dollars to five dollars is demanded, with "return postage." All these, as well as "love powders," "love elixirs,"

etc., are either worthless articles, or compounds consisting of dangerous and poisonous chemical substances. Many of the men who deal in them have grown rich, and the trade still goes on. The world is full of fools, and these impostors are constantly on the watch for them.

CHAPTER LVI.

THE HARBOR.

The harbor of New York comprises the Hudson or North River on the west side of the island, the East River on the east side, and the inner bay lying between the mouth of the Hudson and the Narrows. Beyond the Narrows is the lower bay, which is little more than an arm of the sea, though the anchorage is good and secure.

The harbor contains the s.h.i.+pping of all civilized nations, and the flags of some of the barbaric powers are often to be seen at our piers.