ontrolling influence upon all its acts, and when the proper exertion
is made rarely fails to maintain its ascendancy.

The number of buildings in the city is from 60,000 to 70,000. In 1860,
out of 161,000 families only 15,000 occupied entire houses. Nine
thousand one hundred and twenty dwellings contained two families each,
and 6100 contained three families each. After these come the tenement
houses. At present, the number of houses occupied by more than one
family is even larger.

It has been well said that "New York is the best place in the world to
take the conceit out of a man." This is true. No matter how great or
flattering is the local reputation of an individual, he finds upon
reaching New York that he is entirely unknown. He must at once set to
work to build up a reputation here, where he will be taken for just what
he is worth, and no more. The city is a good school for studying human
nature, and its people are proficients in the art of discerning
character.

In point of morality, the people of New York, in spite of all that has
been said of them, compare favorably with those of any other city. If
the darkest side of life is to be seen here, one may also witness the
best. The greatest scoundrels and the purest Christians are to be found
here. It is but natural that New York, being the great centre of wealth,
should also be the great centre of all that is good and beautiful in
life. It is true that the Devil's work is done here on a gigantic scale,
but the will of the Lord is done on an equally great, if not a greater
scale.

[Picture: THE CITY HALL PARK AS IT APPEARED IN 1869]

In its charities, New York stands at the head of American
communities--the great heart of the city throbs warmly for suffering
humanity. The municipal authorities expend annually about one million of
dollars in public charities. The various religious denominations spend
annually about five millions more, and private benevolence disburses a
sum of which no record is to be had--but it is large. Besides this, the
city is constantly sending out princely sums to relieve want and
suffering in all parts of our broad land. New York never turns a deaf
ear to an appeal for aid.

The people of New York are very liberal in matters of opinion. Here, as
a general rule, no man seeks to influence the belief of another, except
so far as all men are privileged to do so. Every religious faith, every
shade of political o