The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-08-14
THROUGH THE BoWERY.
A Glimpse of New YorI<'s Famous Street
The Broadway of Its Poor,

THROUGH TIRE BOWERY.
Glimpse of New York's Famous Street
The broadway of Its Poor.
New YORK, August 10.-[Special. Ito the
New Yorker the Bowery used to suggest row.
dyism and rutfianism--the highway of the
criminal class. Cooper Union, a building "to
science and art, has done something to civil
ize the dangerous, noisome thoroughfare. That
noble monument to one OF the best
and truest men that ever lived
stands, its very walls expressing benevolence,
at the head of the Bowery, shedding stream
of the light of knowledge down the tunnel-like
street.
Fourth and Third avenues running on each
side of Cooper Union and together at Sixth
street, form the Bowery, which, gradually mar
rowing for mile, ends at Chatham Square.
where it is completely roofed-in by the Third
avenue elevated railroad tracks. And trains
overhead, rushing to and from, add a thunder
GUS noise to the din of surface cars and trucks,
and the "voice of the people, the haWlters
and others in city street.
On the Bowery the original plan is followed
of running the elevated railroad over the side
walk, and not over the middle of streets as is
the later improved way. it is tho aesthetic
ruin of any street, this aerial tram-way, and so
of all the strong, if sad and sombro beauty OF
the promenade OF the poorest people of New
York.
SHOPS AND SHOPS.
There are all sorts of shops on the Bowery.
r. Simpson ~ Co., "brokers," omitting
"pawn," that they may exact legally thirty
per cent. per annum on loans in sums of
one hundred dollars and under,
and on sums over one hundred
dollars eighteen per cent. are there; and it is
the oldest and most important pawn shop in
the states, in many ways the most notable in
the world. The building was put up for the
purpose fifty years ago and could not be i'm
proved upon to-day. There is remarkable
cleanliness and order, and the perfect system
throughout shows the master, and master one
recognizes i'll Simpson, tho genius
of the place, and, strange to say, an
Englishman. lie is well known to the "boys"
in Wall street. They refer to him as "uncle,"
and if a diamond or fine oyer-coat is missed,
the "boy' in such bad luck is jokiDgy asked
about his visit to ''uncle" Of the old mans
health and prosperity
Simpson is reputed to have made over
million dollars in his trade.
"What do you think of this? What do you
think OF this? There isn't tho like of
it in the world' he will say when
he receives you down in his fire and burglar
proof vaults, pointing out their great strength
and displaying the strange contents
There, all neatly wrapped up and ticketed
and so arranged anything can be instantly
found, are jewels, watches and silverware on
which has been loaned two or
THREE HuNDREp THOUSAND DOLLARS.
One pair of diamond earrings in pawn for ten
thousand dollars. On the floors above, in tho
same perfect arrangement, are carpenters
tools, musical instruments, albums,
clocks, mems clothes 49, hundreds Of
oyercoats, womens gowns, seal skin cloaks
and camels hair shawls in pawn for hundreds
OF dollars.
twenty-five cents is the smallest loan made.
Everything is kept for a year, then.if not re-
deemed or the interest paid and thS pledge re-
newed after thirty days grace, it is sent out to
his auction rooms.
The plain, bare little Office and half dozen
"wise men" behind the counter are all you
may see of II. Simpson 10 Co., unless you are
especially recommended, and then bolts and
bars are Withdrawn and you follow up the spi-
raj stairway and descend to the vaults
THE CHINESE SHOPS.
Mel Lee Wa 10 Co., ono Of the largest Chi
nese shops II. this country, is ON the Bowery,
convenient 10 Mott street, the notorious Chi
nese quarter of New York And therearc shops
OF every kind ard OF good quality, but cheap
shops predomnato,G giving that characteristic 20
the street. Most numerous are shops OF mems
wearing apparel-cheap clothing, cheap shirts,
cheap neck and underwear, cheap shoes, cheap
hats and cheap iewelry-all placarded so that
he who runs may read. And tho shopkeepers
ape our Hebrew brethren, 80 there must be
money in the trade.
Sometimes they stand in front Of their shops
shouting: "Bargains! bargainsl bargains
right this way for bargains" or at the door
keeping that dull. watchful eye on passers-by
and glance their way draws them outside to
insist they have just what you want.
"Come along inside Buy some clothes this
eveningP Or, "want a necltie, gentlemcn2
just imported fifty dozen last week. Give you
fine tie quarter of dollar"
On the sidewalk arc sSamuels OF Posen, old
and young, with spectacles, colar-buttons,
neckties, handkerchieis, suspenders, shoe
strings in trays or In their hands or around
their neck8. And on the sidewalk arc stands
Of cheapest candy and cigars stands with cigars
ticketed ~ cents. 3 for !" - cents straight"
etc. The usual banana stands and counters,
where Holsters, oysters aud clans are paraded
in heaps and with seasoning and sauces are
Offered by man behind.
HOTELS AND SALOONS.
''Hotels for gentlemen only" are numerous.
and 80 cents lodgings" and "siugle rooms &c
cents" and bar-rOoms where men and women
Sit about and eat and drink aud smoke.
And there are gildcd saloons and others
where the notOriety Of the keeper attracts rs
Steve BrOdies. Ia his window IN q large
frame is q photograph, and underneath writ
ten:
STEVE BRoDiR,
Jumped from New York and Brooklyn Bridge
July -, lscC.
There are restaurants where, II you are not
fastidious, ten cents worth would be filling.
There are theaiors, playing, variety and exhib-
ting wrestling matches and glove fights, and
one, tho Windsor, whore play at