A century
hence it will begin to resemble a large European town."
"What odious objects these posts are!" cried Eve.
"They give the streets the air of a village, and I do not see their
uses."
"These posts are for awnings, and of themselves they prove the peculiar
country character of the place. If you will reflect, however, you will see
it could net well be otherwise. This town to-day contains near
three-hundred thousand souls, two-thirds of whom are in truth emigrants
from the interior of our own, or of some foreign country; and such a
collection of people cannot in a day give a town any other character than
that which belongs to themselves. It is not a crime to be provincial and
rustic; it is only ridiculous to fancy yourselves otherwise, when the fact
is apparent."
"The streets seem deserted. I had thought New York a crowded town."
"And yet this is Broadway, a street that every American will tell you is
so crowded as to render respiration impossible."
"John Effingham excepted," said Mr. Effingham smiling.
"Is _this_ Broadway?" cried Eve, fairly appalled.
"Beyond a question. Are you not smothered?"
Eve continued silent until the carriage reached the door of her father's
house. On the other hand, Mademoiselle Viefville expressed herself
delighted with all she saw, a circumstance that might have deceived a
native of the country, who did not know how to explain her raptures.
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