New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-03-31
THE FLAT LIE or To-DAE
IRIS ADyANTAeEs AND DISADVANTAGES.


trying to become an American, is fond Of comfort
No matter how small his income, he likes neat
and attractive home, with "all modern improve
ments,' good carpets and furniture, few pictures
and some sort OF musical instrument which he
or his wife can play In Brooklyn he not only
desires such luxurious surroundings but gener-
ally gets them, thanks TO clever wife, the various
credit systems and the unlimited supply OF fats.
About half the fats and houses in Brooklyn
appear to be occupied by people Of moderate
incomes whose business is in New-York, and IL
is a fact worth noting that for those whose husi-
ness calls them to any point in the Empire
City" south of Grand-st Brooklyn offers not only
great saving in the price OF rents either for
houses or fats, but also important economy OF
time as the remoter suburbs Of the city can be
reached by the elevated roads in about half the
time it requires TO reach the region Of the Harlem
from City Hall Park.
In Brooklyn the fiat, with all its faults, Is
effecting revolution. Il is causing many who
have been confirmed boarderS" to 60 to house
keeping, and Is creating what may be called
" fat Glass; who give up the notion Of living
in separate houses forever more. IL Is also max
ing o kind Of aristocracy composed Of childless
couples. Such couples have the cali on
all the best fats, while the hapIess
owners of small sons and daughters are confronted
with the notice, "No children" or the inquiry,
q Any childrenP"
Talking Of fats the other day, Brooklyn man
said: @The fat has come to stay just as long as
anybody wants to pay rent Tor ii. 1t ranges in
size, cost elegance and desirabibty of situation
through every grade, from the one that meets the
wants of street-car driver to the luxurious sur
roundings demanded by the millionaire. II the
fronts of thousands Of buildings here could be
taken down, or raised like curtains, without their
occupants being disturbed, we should have the
spectacle Of great diversity of human beings laid
upon shelves, one above the other. For each
shelf, even in the commonest fats above the grade
of tenement the rent charged is equal TO that de-
manded for houses in the suburbs and In the
smaller towns and cities OF New-YorlS and New
Jersey. In every other respect the fiat differs
materially from any sort of house II is gener-
ally lacking IN proper ventilation and bgnt and
It's discomforts are kgion. 7+F
I" Each occupant OF Hat building Of the style
that can be afforded by people Of small incomes
is subjected to several annoyances which exist in
all of them and differ only in degree. He must
meet at the door and on the stsirways with com
mon, dsagreeable. ill-bred, and too frequently
noise passing through the halls at all hours Of the
day and night and stand their piano din, their
quarrels, their laughter, dancing, singing, and
often their drunken orgies, on the floor above and
the floor below. He must endure the shrielSiDg
and tramping of their older children, the crying
Of their babies. the odors of their cookery, and
take the constant risk of being burned up some
night through eareleSsness or malice"
nj IL. al. a, Han sl In WnanN
blessed Of beings They think it pleasant at night.
to know that one has neighbors so near by who
can be called in case of fire or burglars. The fire.
quent meeting with fellow jewellers in the halls
and on the stairways keeps up the clearinghouse
Illusion and helps to reconcile them TO the novel
experiment of housekeeping. They find that @
fat can be better kept with one servant than Q
house with two. There are, perhaps, as many
kinds Of praise as of criticism for Cat life, but the
following remarks of a New-York man who has
occupied Brooklyn fat for some time win GER
tainly awaken q responsive chord in many people:
AS a rule said this observer the fat is o
deadly foe to children II is usually too hot or too
cold in winter, and lacking in ventilation in sum-
mer, and is almost invariably exposed to con-
tamination from the foul air Of those above and
below When you fnd fat that admits children
besides your own. These may be all right in
then way, but for reasons Of your own you do not
care for. their too constant association with your
children, and so the circus begins. For my own
part, have the utmost tolerance for the noise the
playfuness and the bosterous Glee Of children.
never forget that not long ago was boy my
self The trick Of yelling like hyenas through the
halls and on the stairways Is really only an in
nocent amusement which boys must be allowed.
They Should also be freely permitted to gallop into
your DAT, inspect the rooms and pry into the
kitchen whenever they find the door unlocked.
II see no special objection. either, to their
taking your clothcs-1ines for swings and skipping
ropes, whistling through your speaidng-tube or
ringing your door-bell All these are kittenish
little capers which are necessary to their proper
health and growth, especially II they arc dirty
faced little scamps, whose mothers time is con-
sumed in keeping up her position and have
notion that nothing but mischief is amusing
Il is only reasonable TO expect also that they
will put their hands into your letter-boN when
they see anything there. II they tear OIL the
stamps from your letters, or even open and read
them, and then place them carefully back in the
box, YOU must be thankful for the int llectual
treat they have enjoyed and happy that you finally
get the letters in any shape of course 10 is
little annoying when they take the letter away
altogether, especially when 1t Is one containing
bank bills for bad debt which you never eX-
pccted 70 receive, IN important letter from dear
relatives thousands OF miles away.
but life in q Brooklyn lat only begins TO bear
its fruitagc of experience when. you have become
accustomed to ali these trifiing annoyances and
can regard with perfect eQuanimity the cutting
OF of your gas at the meter on Saturday night by
some of these playful little darlings, and the
building OF huge bOnfres in the cellar con-
fess that it is at first somewhat difficult TO look
npon these things as amusing but when you con-
template the innocent bliss Of the perpetrators
you zee at once where the laugh comes in
The ordinary Hat,dweller will no doubt agree
that this Observers experience has been e1cep-
tional
AGAINST THE CHURCH CONSOLIDATION.
Judge Bartlett in the Supreme Court yesterday,