The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1885-03-21
BrOaQDrim'S New York Letter.
Special to the CARBON ADVOCATE:

We are crazy on the subject of Flats
in New York, not the 1,ts from the
country who are picked up by buuco
steerers and confdenc3 men. but city
flats, renting from fifteen dollars n mouth
to five thousand dollars year. Flat
are everywhere and they ehallengs tue
sky Jurn whichever way you will They
advertise perfect seelusion with hom-
comforts and every modern convenience :;
but for the most part they are deluSun
and a snare. The two apparent source,
OF comfort aud conveuience, the air
shaft and elevator, may be looked upon
as two of the greatest OF molern terrors
The air shaft connects with all of the in
terror rooms, and its sides are like
sounding board. The experience of At
unfortunate friend OF mine who occupied
the third story Of one Of these palaces is
duplicated by thousands in the city. He
had been hiring modest honse, but lie
thought that fiat would ensure bi2her
degree of domestic felicity; so he en-.
gagged floor in fashionable house mp
town. When he was FIRST installed in
his new quarters, he remarked to his
wife that Paradise was not far of Ey.
,rything was neat and nice asa new
pin. 1t was not long TIL he discovered
that some one was using his coal. aud
then his servant gin got acquainted with
every other servant girl in the house.
The elevator afforded delightful means
OF communication, AMI very soon each
servant became thoroughly posted in the
affairs Of every other servants family.
The several families wore always in want
Of somGthinei they borrowed the tea pot,
the coal semitic, wood, soap, sugar, salt
pepper and kerosene, sending them up
aud down through the elevator. Occas
ionally some neighbor wanted loaf oi
bread, quart of milk or beef steak,
which they were not at all bashful about
borrowing; cups, saucers, tin pals and
dishes disappeared in rapid succession,
and it was not long till there vas not o
tumbler or n glass left in the house.
These, however, were minor misfortnnes
which philosopher could live through
if his bank account was able to stand il
but there was young lady on the tirsi
floor who practised for six weeks steadily
on the Sweet bye.and.bye, and on the
seventh sue started in on the variations
Next above her was youthful Levy, who
had made up his mind to learn the cor.
net or die. He generally began about
tiye in the morning and the dying strains
Of his instrument reverberated through
the air shaft about twelve O'Clock al
night The stout gentleman who occu
pied the floor up stairs was troubled
with neuralgia. and he generally walked
the floor all night. The floor was moi
carpeted and he wore cowbide boots, Sc
that the result might have been compared
to respectable earthquake, which af
forded food for reflection but rendered
sleep impossible; but even thia might b
endured if It were not for the elevator
and the air shaft. One night my frienr
came home somewhat tired but in thi
very best humor, On The way be hat
s'en fight and at dinner was relating I,
his wife about seeing a seuffle. and jus
as be ran up one man called the other
liar and then he slapped him in the face
and then tho other man knocked hin
down. Just then his wife. who wal
pouring the tea out, accidentally seald
herself little ard uttered piercing
slTisk; heI stisstiOnsis husband, nt