The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-28
MIT.fRfN'S.
"Reminiscences Of the second Ward-A Quiet
Rcsosa for A merIcans aud fOreIgners

For this quarter of a century past Mata-
rams" has been household word in the Sec
ond Ward. Frw ofthis passing gen ration born
in that once aristorraic domain. or doing bust
ness in it. hut were personally acquainted with
the genial Antoine Mataran whose funeral on
last Monday was attended 10y throng Of we'll
known New Workers.
When Maisran. thirtv-fve years since de-
serted his previous venture in Dcy street to re-
pitch his tent In Beckman street. the Second
Ward was justly regarded as one Of the wealth.
lest and most reputable sections of the city
The fashionable quarter did not then extend
above Pearl street. that circuitous artery mark
ing at once the centre and the limit of respect
ability. Long after the dccadcnce of Franklin
square. long after Maiden lane. John and Full
ton streets had been invaded by thrifty trades
men and bu-tllng storekcepcr-. Beekman street
maintained lie unbrOken lines Of private dwell
lIngs. the ahOdos Of men Of note, retired mcr-
chants, distinguished politicians, and cultured
lawyers Ii boosted moreover. one Of the most
fashionable churches, one OF the most favored
hotels, and one of the most popular Libraries Ia
he found on Manhattan island. ~. Georges
Church. whose massive tower and r'splendent
Go ~ lace Wrro Opl" t. OF the sin pmust"rs daily
sDlictude, was. during the pusturship of the
Rev. Dr. Minor crowded to rcpiction Clinton
Hotel. "a portion Oi Clinton Han. remnants OF
which cdiiW II u exist in the building wherein
ag"nicnt ot the iastldious caterer. Hodges
famous lor its table; while the Mcr antc Asso-
citation : Library was looked upon us a pcrma-
nent monument of commercial muniiircfice and
OF fnihp Hon literary attainments. True
Tn" np1dy liuury, then ia Chambers street
w.s more ext 'n-iV"ly putronznd hy antiluarirs
and bookwornis. stu. thnt ancient institution.
governed 10y odd fogies found lItte favor IA the
signt ui merchants csrAs. ciaiuorou- for the
enjoyment 81 an annual and thoroughly con
tested plcifion.
such were the prominent features Of Beck
Mutt.
second War,rrs, a modest. Woodworking gem
tlcman. who, h. lore his immediate, neighhorS
h. .cinic aware of his intention. TRANQUILITY con-
vrrtcd the MANSION OF M,ftrr BOVINE. lat.
Mayor of this city, INTO whit might be correctly
termed an h"'fi grim. wan BOVINE had u. en-
a. could he seen RON the dHubl" lamp posts be-
tore lis street door~w,th cNcrutiye charge of
the municipality. Still. he could not boast of
tns distInction IA peculiar 10 himsrlf for there
were other houses complimcnted ia a similar
manner ana for a similar caus.. Beekmnn
stephen Allen, los, in the Horny Clay disaster
and Caleb 5. WOOihul who. as lat, as 1850 sal
lied from his mansion n"arly opposite Muta-
rms ia sunrrrss fhr Astnr nl,r,. riot
NM year bccknan Street WIS wiiencd. and
and "thnr ~ lnna of rnfh,sh e. MAX
room, Tor nr,n,,nr, nr,.s,s mi n,nnufa,a,ir~rs
and paper dealers. Water BOVINE, Immaculate
tho misfnrfitn. h. Inc visitei hv th,, breath of
scandal. His name was connected with that of
Mrs Bowen (lIndnme Juinel's slstrrj a mere
confusion in sn"liin,, nnrnhan,,r b,t 4 decided
lin, ~ NAV, Inn, Il, ,,,liin,nn sirn,'t ~
II IN mri,,,ta hn,.,.s a. tha ri,ht ~ him Nav
ors' hc uses Ia the front of him and LAWYERS
on 'S 10 ,ii ley %, li', sH'Lam trouS i.aI
rnntn"nd1hla Lis"r,,ti1n nnd merely ius,.rib.I
liz n,,,p,. an his ir.,i i,n,; no i,oinmfr,,n
ing n,ty To- diyinc The nsiilr. of IIs o,c,pation'
Sill a.. T. i. r.'.,tt,ti',, i,nd ,.raeni.d I'm, III.
roni Vine bn1 mo- nnad nf wen thts ins,,nin
',ant L,.b Th,s ,ri, haJ ono. trs,,.i III ',,.,,
er0us fnrr in h., street. quickly sought out his
N.Y. nbidina, nlaae Will, n.i,,bbors disra,~r-
Inc a vsriiai,l" r,r.e hons" on tha p,risian
plan Quiet. orderly. and wsIl-con,iuct,d hast.
,n1ti tntci III" ln.., ~ bie tniis NM ",,i
lar A. thnttir,,. th,i,n ,,xis,.'h In, TO-" hat,is
nh6ve The PARK: Wnsiinetnn Hail and The Carl
~, W IL, = a. n ~ ~ '-'D" lii' i "
th~ Clinton fnil.n int fisrs,'ut , an nnDn1nt az
~ nv"rinot;nc q'h"atra niin, Tbn minority ~
Tie hotels We're nelow W1i street Gudilsd
nnnijv disloi,"d hy the ,rrnt rrr ~ isi, Tho
S'rnnd Ward hnnAtnJ rri,r "a th, nr..tion ts
In. Asor thn l1..,' NJ i,t,,l I'm ~, ~ M Iv "a
private Individual. Horny Hot. II il now
known NJ thr I'niind St.t.s hut this lik. fhr
diners near the ls,st river was d Voted almost
wholly 10 he wants 81 shininns,,rs forri,,n
merchants. and persons connected with tie
roastin,, trndn WIN ''S
Tbc S..nnd Wnrdore a. thov n, II 80, rooarIoJ
Natnran's '.nt, rnriss win vond.rnent vnry
shortly hailed his Success mi viii d.li,,hi
They mad previously been depc ndent upon 1nt.
ing houses dining saloons md oyster shons
for th,. nn.,ssnrics OF n semi hnrL ist,n,,e
Now. when n genuine table d'hota was snread Tor
tnein with the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Of nm unrxcen-
tionable cuisine and wine cellar they turned
their hacks uuon SANDY Welsh aud his I, rrnr,in
lunch upon Winilist and his Nnngnan, Non
Pdrdi,ish upon Stonrall and his tripn summers
in fact upon shades and entinr houses 81 all
prior fashions
Few parsOns OF the present time can imagine
the peculiar method OF living pursued by our
inm.d iata prndpnpesors pnrng.1 in husinpss
pursuits. some forty years ago. when the cilst-
ins of th, votes in the lower WnrIS particularly
in the First determined n muniril,al elcct ION
Then, none but lending merchants maintained
u dist MT family residence minor ones invara-
hy residing over tloir stores when married or
ut hotels or in boarding houses If unhlcssod