The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-02-13
FIFTH AVENUE.
NEW Works. LINE or MAGNfflcEET
sRoWNSToNE PALACES
The Great Defect Of Its Architecture
The Frofusion OF Display . Tribe
uarbaric People Who Two
Side by Side
flee Howard IN Phjladelnhia prasz T

II is tho habit OF New Yorkers TO style
Fifth avenue the first street in America. 80
far as wealth, and extent. aud uniformity
OF buildings &C, 10 probably is. beginning
at Washington square, IL extends above
Harlem; and as far as Fifty -ninth street, il
s almost an unbroken line OF brownstons
palaces, while from that point up It's mag
nifcence is marvellous. The architecture Is
not only impressive. il Is oppressive It's
great defect is in its nionotony, which soo5
grows tiresoma A variation, o contrast
something much less ornate or slahorats--~
would te IA relief Its lack OF enclosures, OF
ground, OF grass-plats Of gardens, is a visual
vice. Block after block, milo upon mills, Of
the same lofty brownstons. high stoop.
Lroad-staired fronts wearies the eye 1t Is
like the perpetual red brick, with white steps
and white door and window facings for
which Philadelphia has become proverbiaL
One longs in the avenue for more marble,
more brick, more iron, more wood evea--
some change In the style and aspects OF the
somber seeming houses, whose occupants,
one fancies from the exterior, look, think,
dress and act alike
1t is grievous pity that where there b
70 much money there Il % little tasts. Tho
sum OF Fifth avenue wealth Is unqusstlon.
ally far beyond that OF any street 10 N.s
country. The dwellings cost mor,; the FUR
nituro and works Of art are more expsnsive;
the incomes Of the inmates are larger and
more rro.ligally spout tnan they are any
who're ON ths continent The interior OK tho
houses is often gorgeous Nothing within
moneys purchase. but much that perfect
taste wouli have uygested, seems omitteL
There are few OF the mansions that do not
reveal something like tawdrinen in the exs
cess Of display. The outward eye u
too much addressed. The profusion IL a
trifo Larbaric. The subtle susgestiers cf
complete Gle gance arc not therA Still, 20
those who have suffered from tho absence
Of ma t,rial comfort, or to those wroee tein-
peraments are voluptuous and in1olent, NJ
most poetic ones are, feeling akin TO hap
pine must be born of the splendid sur
rcuIdings that bolong 10 tho houses of the
Firth avenue rich. What soft velvet car.
pets are theirs; what handsome pictures;
what rich curtainI what charming frss-
coe,; what marbles Of grscs; what brons~s
Of beauty; what charming prodigality Of
p rettinessi
The soft, warm, yet fresh odor OF luxury
comes ON every angle; ollie the ocrri.ors
and the delightful chambers, whore sleep
seems TO be hidden beneath tho spotless pill
lows Of lace; steals out OF tho ha,s s.opcn H.
brary. wbero hun Ire Is Of morocco yoluns
stand silent with the treasures OF tiuie AMI
mind in their keeping; crops up and dnwa.
tho stairway Like the breath OF fowgfW
blown by the gentle wind. Whatever tie
sensss could ask, or culture require, or
fancy crave might b had In the walled
paradi % of these splendid honneA
Tho people who live sdds by siia IN the
pretsntious avonus, know each other not.
Knickerbocker onl parvsnu, tho inaeritor
OF wealth AMI tho architect Of his own FORT;
une, the genuine gentleman and ths vulgar
snob, reside in tn, same blocx One h3uso:
is visited by the best and most dis dist,nsnishsis
the hous, adjoining by men who salk loud
in suicidal syntax, and woman who
wear holly.ho In tbsir hair,
trimmings. Here dwells an author
who,e works give him large income: over
tho way, fellow who has gcnius for
Honey-getting, but who cannot solve tho
mysteries Of spelling. Some Of the NOSE
spacious and expshsive mansions on tho
avenue always have deserted look Osaiy
the occupants and servant, appear on the
high, carved stoop; only the carriages the
master Of the establish mont owns stop BE- /.
fore the door. That family PURCHASED .
house . in the avenue. but society hns not ac~
copied its member. They havs nnthing
hut new fortune 20 recommend tasm.
They must bide their time.
The first generation of the unrecogniEsd
fares hard. The second Is educated, and
the third claims lineaGs--prstes OF .gcn.
tility." and frowns upon what its grand
parents were To get into the avsnus and
into its society are diRersnt thmgs They
who struggle to enter certain circles ara not
wanted. Those who ara indifferent 70 mars
fashion are in request; fer not 10 seek,
socially, ID usually to Be sought DAstIny
appears willing always - sEast what we 10
not want, and determined 20 WITHHOLD whst
we do