The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-12-23
TIMES TRANSFORMATIONS.
Twenty third Street as 1t Is Now and
Was Five Years Ago.
A BEGGARS' PARADISE.
The Flight of Fashion and the En-
croachment of Trade.

where is this more notable than in Fourteenth and
Twentythird streets whore the hustle of trade has
taken the place of domestic privacy and quiet. and
the glarng front of the restaurant has succeeded the
brown stone facade of the mansion. These changes,
radical in their nature have doubtless taken place
gradually that the difference is scarcely percepti-
bic to the constant RESIDENT but the fact is. that
those fashionable retreats. now become busy and
noisy thoroughfares. more like they half
. decade ago than full grown man. bearded and
stout, is like the boy from whom he has grown.
The progress of Twenty-third street is perhaps,
the noticeable. for while Fourteenth street is
now given up largely to trade it does not present
bizarre an appearance Twenty third street. where
from Broadway. Fifth, Sixth and Seventh av-
enues, and to Eighth avenue there hotels,
express Offices, theatres, gin mills. restaurants.
French fats dry goods stores. churches, stables and
undertakers' warehouses. The high rents Of Broad
way have done much to bring about this condition
things; but. than this the gradual progress Of
the avenues of trade and the overcrowding of the
stores along the line of surface roads have effected
the changes. Most of all, however 1t is due to the
establishment Of three elevated railroads. that bring
the two extremities Of the city within half hours
distance and make Twenty-third street the natural
halfway stopping place for shoppers and sightseers
THEATRES.
There nearly score OF refreshment saloons in
Twenty third street between the points named
to the simple bar for beer. Billiard rooms and Ma
sonic lodges abound bootback stands decorate every
and dry goods are exhibited IN tne
houses that cost half a million OF dollars.
Trotting stables and theatres neigh
bors and of the finest residences in the
city have been turned into fats for milners, den
tfsts and BARRIERS For some reason the theatres in
Twenty-third street have always had but shaky
existence Until this week there were three; but
the memorable law Of progress has decided the
- ctv,do in rha min Of vvhO
has rented 1t at various times to minstres amateurs
ambitious suhors, opera troupes and variety shows.
OF which, perhaps attained success or fortune
few days ago the property Of late known the St.
James Theatre-200x50 feet-was leased to company
strse IN the ~ H. OF
like dimensions with the intention of opening there
next spring novel place Of resort. where music
beer and IL urbe will be provided. The other
theatres will live in local history; the
OF monumental dramatic failure, the other
the place where financial giants fought for
supremacy in one Of the great railroads of the world
STREET SCENES THEN AND NOW.
But while the physical changes are great the per-
sonal differences are even more remarkable In other
days Twenty-third street was fashionable prom
enade. In the sunny mornings nurses with infants
in their and children with go-carts. hoops and
toys monopolized the sidewalks; elegantly attired
ladies' sauntered alonk pruncing steeds foamed at
the bit while their mistresses paid calls along the
route. There no haste, no noisc no hustle. Now
two lines OF street one line Of omnibuses and
countless carts and pcalers' wagons make the place
Babel. The sidewalks are as crowded as those of
Broadway ten years ago, and very few mothers dare
trust their children ON the street.
ONE WHO BETTER DAYS"
It has also become the beggars paradise by day,
Is Fourteenth street is at night The same cripples
hand organ men, Italian women and professional
boy beggars who ntcst Union square in the vicinity
OF the theatres in the evening may be found all day
long on Twenty third street. One of the regulars is
winters back was the doorkeepcr and Waterman in
Broadway theatre He was too hard drinker to
keep his position and when discharged by the man
segment was compelled to beg or starve. He
totters feeby and slowly along the street leaning
. with one hand, while he extends the other
for charity. 1t seems strange that this man.
who in other days knew Sothern, Flor
ence, Raymond. Crane, Robson and other members
of the dramatic profession WELL who has attended
to affairs more less important for nearly every
prominent actor in the city should be compelled to
seek bread and shelter in this publicly disgracef
manner. But. strange natural there he is, day in
and day out except rheumatic occasions, when his
legs refuse to play their part.
A BALDHEADED MENDIcANT.
1t noticeable that nearly all professional beggsrs
have watchers and guardians near them. One very
old man. with head AS bald as billiard ball, takes
his stand every day. hat in hand near the residence
OF prominent city official on Twenty-third street.
where he challenges every passer by with most pite-
GUS looks On the opposite side of the street, and
generally in the calm retreat Of church. stands his
pal. II business Is good, now and then the two adj
journ to cheap beer saloon ON sixth avenue to re-
fresh their inner men. The rcpulsive type Of
beggar is represented by hdeous looking
fellow with st. vitus dance and terribly
Scared face and mutilated hand. He pays
more attention to ladies than to men. As one APP
proaches he begins to bow. Fastening his evil eyes
upon her he bows and BOWS until she has passed. Ii
she gives him coin he gives CHASTITY grin OF graft
tude. II she takes no notice OF him the expression
OF petition in his face changes to of positive
malignity. This man Is pal IL female, and the two
be counting their spoils seventh avenue.
Twenty second street. almost any fine day. One
Of the most sy stematic beggars the street is
paralyzed from his waist downward He sits IN q
tour-wheeled wagon and Is drawn to fresh station
on the street eacn day. He works" the thorough
fare between Fourth ana Eighth avenues on both
sides. He is large, fine looking man. Of
the Mcclellan type OF feature and CON-
expression OF melancholy his large eyes that the
la0ies cannot resist the impulse to pity his msfor
tune and reward his persistency. The creature who
wheels the wagon and watches the contributors is
elderly man with u vicious face. He makes his
panion settle up three or four times day. 1t s al
legged and is liberal In his cursing il the divvy" does
not equal his calculations.
JUVENILE DEGaAIs.
The worst feature is the begging Of children. There
are three well known workers OF the Twentythi
street who ten years old. of
them being under They adopt all manner Of
night last week the little six-yearold child
leaned against tree between sixth and
. little while kind hearted ' woman spoke to him.
He continued to cry crowd soon gathered Then
WAS his opportunity. Under his arm was package
Of evening papers. He and they wet through.
With streaming eyes and choking voice he narrated
his He must sell those papers before he dared
60 home--unless he was prepared to be beaten and
turned arit or course the regulation phanthropist
along took all the papers patted the little tel
low on the head. gave him quarter and told him to
rabbit to the other boy who waiting for the fall
of the curtain. joined him and together they sped
away. laughing ut the jolly greatness Of the philan
thropst and preparing after box stew. for another
endeavor in the same line.
KICKED FROM HORSE
Now and then case of genuine distress is discov-
cred among these professionals, but not often, be-
the routes carefully watched and guarded and
intruders on claims rigdly dealt with they
are In acamp of miners few nights SINCE when the
keen wilma whistled around the corner of Fifth ave-
nue. and Twenty third street, a bobtailed car was
joting rapidly along. On the little rear PLATFORM
cudded up like a rat, was mite OF a boy with
visorless cap. He sounl asleep and the driving
slam and bang young snob showed back the sliding
door, and he endcavored to get OF his foot unwit
tingly hit the drenched waif upon the platform. An
gered at the delay no kicked the sleeping atom
into the street. where good fortune rolled him just
beyond the broadway track. which Broomc
street car mo. 25) was bounding along Before the
boy had rubbed his sleepy eyes the offender was
caught by the collar of his f,rned ulster and hauled
to the corner where huge policeman who promen-
adcs the crosswak had laid the boy The little fellow