gid
integrity. The merchants of the city are keen judges of character, and
they have no patience with sharpers. They will deal with them only on a
strictly cash basis.

The city abounds in instances of the success which has attended honest,
patient, and intelligent efforts. John Jacob Astor was a poor butcher's
son. Cornelius Vanderbilt was a boatman. Daniel Drew was a drover. The
Harpers and Appletons were printers' apprentices. A. T. Stewart was an
humble, struggling shopkeeper. A well-known financier began by blacking
a pair of boots. Opportunities as good as these men ever had are
occurring every day. Those who are competent to seize them may do so,
and rise to fortune and position.

Many of the colossal fortunes of the city have been created by the rise
in the value of real estate. The rapid growth of the city during the
past twelve years has greatly increased the value of property in the
upper sections. Many persons who but a few years ago were owners of
tracts which were simply burdensome by reason of the numerous and heavy
assessments upon them, and for which no purchasers could be found, have
become very wealthy by the rapid increase in the value of their property.
Many persons owning property of this kind sold at a heavy advance during
the real estate speculations that succeeded the war. Others leased their
lands to parties wishing to build on them. Others still hold on for
further improvement. The Astors, A. T. Stewart, Vanderbilt and others
have made a large share of their money by their investments in real
estate.

A farm near the Central Park, which could not find a purchaser in 1862,
when it was offered at a few thousand dollars, sold in 1868 in building
lots for almost as many millions.

In 1860 a gentleman purchased a handsome house in a fashionable
neighborhood. It was a corner house and fronted on Fifth avenue. He
paid $50,000 for it, and spent $25,000 more in fitting up and furnishing
it. His friends shook their heads at his extravagance. Since then he
has resided in the house, and each year his property has increased in
value. In 1869 he was offered nearly $300,000 dollars for the house and
furniture, but refused to sell at this price, believing that he would be
able in a few years to command a still larger sum.

XXXII. THE SABBATH IN NEW YORK.

On Sunday morning New York puts on its holiday dress. The stores are
closed, the streets have a deserted aspect, for th