234 SIR VICTOR BROOKE CHAP. 



last night. We were so bothered by fog the last two 

 days that, though the sea was .as calm as glass, we did 

 not think we would get in. However, it cleared in 

 time, and we just managed it. The harbour is very 

 fine, and worthy of the grand ideas that pervade this 

 land. There is a colossal statue of Liberty holding up 

 the torch of Liberty in the middle of the harbour on 

 one side of New York, and on the other the Brooklyn 

 Suspension Bridge, under which the tallest masts can 

 nearly sail a lovely structure. New York itself looks 

 very imposing from the sea immense high buildings of 

 red brick tastily varied with white, and very green trees, 

 and the very clearest air I ever saw. Everything 

 stands out sharply against the sky, and not a particle 

 of smoke. This is the most striking thing I have seen. 

 The city itself is very fine, and looks as new as a coin 

 from the mint. Houses seven, eight, and nine stories ; 

 the sky a network of wires running in all directions. 



Sunday, \$>th. I write whenever I get a chance. 

 We dined here last night. It is a capital club ; but in 

 comparison to London, all the clubs are very small. 

 To-night we dine with a cousin of Morris Post's, and 

 to-morrow I have to be ' down town ' (i.e. in the city) 

 to talk to Cook's people. I shall finish this at Hyde 

 Park (Mr. Roosevelt's place), where we go by the 3.55 

 P.M. to-morrow, arriving at 6.30. This afternoon 

 Douglas and I will take a hansom and drive to see the 

 Bridge and the Central Park. Four elevated railways 

 run through the city from north to south the entire 

 length, and answer to our underground, but are far 

 better. They run on a kind of bridgework, and you 

 see all the tram-cars and carriages under you. * Down 

 town ' is like an ant-heap ; but everywhere is clean, a 

 clear air, and absolute smokelessness ! It is most strik- 

 ing. The weather is lovely, sunny, and bracing." 



