ROUND THE WORLD.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8612, 17 March 1897, Page 2

ROUND THE WORLD.

(By Mrs H. J. Greensiade.)

SKETCHES FROM MY NOTE-BOOK

New York—residential Election—LimeHgUt Show—An Immense Assemblage —HcSinley's Election—lmmense Enthusiasm—A. Lovely City — Eleotrio Trams—Brooklyn Bridge-Parks and Buildings—Statue of Liberty Hudson Biver—3 he Teutonic—ftueenstown — Liverpool.

The 3rd of November found us s iomfortably installed at the Fifth b Avenue Hotel, New York, and a s nemorable day it proved to be. It \ sras the Presidential election day, and \ jreat were the preparations for a right \ jood time. All the newspapers vied t with each other in the extravagance of ] their arrangements to disclose first i news of the results. The Tribune, I < think, carried the palm. The pro- 1 prietors own a fine new building of i brick and stone and iron, in composite style, and surmounted by a lofty tower i 90ft high. The whole of this immense ( structure was draped in white and \ prepared for a great limelight show, i which from dusk until long after i midnight was kept continuously playing. When no results were at hand to < throw on, the vast audience, composed of thousands of people, were kept in good humor by the funny and grotesque pictures, and a splendid band still further added to their amusement, and helped to keep their patriotic souls in tranquility. As the results were thrown on the canvas, cheer after cheer ascended from the dense crpwd—New York being strong in McTCinleyites. Then, to further stir up their emotions, the portrait of the hero was thrown on, and then the stars and stripes. The babel waa indescribable. Hats, sticks, and umbrellas wero indiscriminately thrown into the air. The crowds danced, yelled, and shouted like bo many lunatics out for a holiday. Nearly every man, woman, and child was provided with a bugle, and thousands of these when all blown at once, helped considerably to augment the confusion and noise. The Tribune Office stands on Printing H«'jse Square, and, as may be suggested by the name, is the rendezvous of most of the newspaper offices. This was the reason of this part of the city attracting the largest crowd, as every office contributed to the evening's entertainment. The people began to take their stand on the Square in front very early in the day, so as to obtain a good view, and the managers were to be highly commended for the perfect way in which everything was carried out for keeping such a vast concourse of people in the utmost good humor for so many hours. Every Square in the city was the recognised spot for a dense gathering of people, and advantage had been taken of this to erect lantern shows at every point. There it was impossible to move when once you got amongst the people. About 11 o'clock, when McKinley's election waa assured, though the returns were still coming in fast and furious, a large brass band paraded the streets, followed by thousands of people blowing their bugles and waving flags. The whole train was lighted with coloured lights, and seen from an exalted position it looked very grand indeed. Parade after parade took place after this, also the exploding of fireworks and cheering, while from the observatory of some high building a very strong electric searchlight was thrown on the whole scene, showing up very clearly the pandemonium below. All the principal buildings and hotels were strictly guarded by the police in case of riots, everything passed off without trouble of any kind. The Fellers of badges and photos of the candidates did a great business. Woe betide the pedestrian who tried to walk the streets undecoratcd. The easiest way out of the difficulty was to pin oa as many badges as possible to your body, and then you were allowed to roam at will unmolested by the persistent hawkers. New York, when seen at a calmer season, is a lovely city. It is well laid out—at least, the new part is. Some of the older portions are somewhat irregular, and laid off in no particular order. But not so the new. Here the simple and admirable American plan of long avenues and streets running at right angles has been carried out. Hence it is easy to understand the street system, and the stranger has no difficulty in piloting his way about. The streets are wide, well paved, and clean, presenting a great contrast in this respect to those of its rival, i Chicago. i A perfect electric tram system prevails throughout the city. The Post Office is a magnificent building. It occupies the triangular end of the Old City Hall Park, and is not only an elegant and substantial structure, but the largest public building in the city. Perhaps the best sight of New York is the Brooklyn Bridge. This we reached by the elevated railway, and entered the imposing entrance on the electric cars continuously plying across the bridge. It is a model piece of

architecture, and is thrown over the East river between New York and Brooklyn. The necessity of the bridge is apparent when it is realised that about 100,000,000 persons pass annually from one city to the other. It was thirteen years in course of erection. The traffic is splendidly regulated. The bridge is divided into five partsone each side for vehicles, the adjoining two for the trams, and the centre is a broad promenade for pedestrians. j The cost of building was 15,000,000 dollars, New York assuming one third and Brooklyn contributing the-sest. Central Park is considered one of the finest parks in the States. It contains a Zoological Garden and Arsenal, and a very fine monument to the memory of General Grant.

New York owns a splendid and picturesque harbour, Avith many entrances and outlets to and from different ports, and the inhabitants claim it to be the finest in the world, where ferry boats carry daily hundreds of pleasure seekers. On Bedloe's Island standsßartholdi's Colossal Statue of Liberty enlightening the world. This statue was presented to the American people by the French nation, the cast being defrayed by public subscription and the artist Bartholdi asking no payment. The pedestal, however, was supplied by the United States. The statue is of copper and iron, and from bottom to \ top measures nearly 306 feet. It cost 1,000,000 dollars, and can be seen from a great distance so imposing is the appearance it presents. From the battery on the south end of Manhattan Island the view of the bay, islands, Brooklyn heights, and Jersey City, and the entrance to the Hudson river, presents one of the most animated and beautiful pictures to be found.

The scenery of the Hudson river is very fine and charnring, and you can for a few shillings travel up it for a long way oa 6mart little steamers which ply backwards and for the pleasure of sight-seers.

J Very sorry were we toleareNew York and again face the nightj deep. But, the time arrived for us to embark on tho Teutonic, a White Star liner, and cross the North Atlantic. Expecting a rough time, we were agreeably surprised to have a perfectly fine passage, on which nothing of importance occurred until we reached Queenstown, in the south of Ireland, where the mails were landed and sent on overland by express, and landed in London several hours before us.

Upon arriving at Queensfown we were at once boarded by dozens of shouting, laughing, and witty Irish boys, who came out in boats of all shapes and sizes; whilo the tug-boat which came to take the mails was alive with merry faced, bni-ofoot shamrock worshippers. Also in small boats carao the lace sellers. These are talkative Irishwomen, who while pressing their wares, give in witty repartee good change, and seemed quito gleeful at the merriment caused by thcWMlroll sallies. v

Again we were again under weigh and encountered a nasty fog ere we entered the Irish Sea and headed in Liverpool, nnd passed her light boats and. beacons and gaiued the rest afforded by her ample harbor. My impressions of Liverpool are a trifle vague, as I saw it amid the hurry of disembarking. Custom's cxamina* tion, and affectionate porters, but I hope to visit it again, when I shal! bo better ableto give a descry tion worthy • of it.