New York was a great and amazing city.  It almost frightened him.  It covered the entire lower end of Manhattan Island; visionary citizens boasted that one day it would cover it all.  The World’s Fair building, the Crystal Palace, stood a good way out.  It was where Bryant Park is now, on Forty-second Street and Sixth Avenue.  Young Clemens classed it as one of the wonders of the world and wrote lavishly of its marvels.  A portion of a letter to his sister Pamela has been preserved and is given here not only for what it contains, but as the earliest existing specimen of his composition.  The fragment concludes what was doubtless an exhaustive description.

From the gallery (second floor) you have a glorious sight—­the flags of the different countries represented, the lofty dome, glittering jewelry, gaudy tapestry, etc., with the busy crowd passing to and fro ’tis a perfect fairy palace—­beautiful beyond description.

The machinery department is on the main floor, but I cannot enumerate any of it on account of the lateness of the hour (past 1 o’clock).  It would take more than a week to examine everything on exhibition; and I was only in a little over two hours to-night.  I only glanced at about one-third of the articles; and, having a poor memory, I have enumerated scarcely any of even the principal objects.  The visitors to the Palace average 6,000 daily—­double the population of Hannibal.  The price of admission being 50 cents, they take in about $3,000.

The Latting Observatory (height about 280 feet) is near the Palace —­from it you can obtain a grand view of the city and the country around.  The Croton Aqueduct, to supply the city with water, is the greatest wonder yet.  Immense sewers are laid across the bed of the Hudson River, and pass through the country to Westchester County, where a whole river is turned from its course and brought to New York.  From the reservoir in the city to the Westchester County reservoir the distance is thirty-eight miles and, if necessary, they could easily supply every family in New York with one hundred barrels of water per day!

I am very sorry to learn that Henry has been sick.  He ought to go to the country and take exercise, for he is not half so healthy as Ma thinks he is.  If he had my walking to do, he would be another boy entirely.  Four times every day I walk a little over a mile; and working hard all day and walking four miles is exercise.  I am used to it now, though, and it is no trouble.  Where is it Orion’s going to?  Tell Ma my promises are faithfully kept; and if I have my health I will take her to Ky. in the spring—­I shall save money for this.  Tell Jim (Wolfe) and all the rest of them to write, and give me all the news ....

(It has just struck 2 A.M., and I always get up at 6, and am at work at 7.) You ask where I spend my evenings.  Where would you suppose, with a free printer’s library containing more than 4,000 volumes within a quarter of a mile of me, and nobody at home to talk to?  Write soon.

Truly your brother, Sam