The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-07-04
THECHARM OF OFNEWYORK
WHY IT GROWS AND DEVELOPS IN
SPITE OF DISADVANTAGES.
A Letter from Junius Henri Browne.
The Glasses of Men Who Grayitate
Thither-A World in Itself-Its Mani
fold Privileges and Opportunities.
Especial Correspondence ]

Ahitner-A world IN ltseIf-1tS Mani
fold Privileges and Opportunities.
Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK, June,-->As the world gets
older the tendency population, especially
IN the republic, is more and more from the
country to the city-the bigger the city the
greater the tendency. We are all aware
how fast the three leading capitals Of the
globe-London, Paris, New York-grow
and develop, New York more rapidly than
either Of the others. New York, indeed,
now has more inhabitants, including what
should be regarded as the metropolitan
district, than Paris has, and is second in
commercial and financial importance to
London alone. It's population, counting
the adjacent towns, andeits overflow with
in radius of twenty miles, taking Madi-
| son square as center, cannot fall short Of
j 100000, composed of nearly every nation
ality under the sun. Cosmopolitan it is
in the fullest sense, and necessarily, there
fore, IN respect of mere humanity, Of mex
! haUstible interest.
1t often seems strange TO me when
think of the poverty, the wretchedness,
| the vice, the suffering, the manifold disad-
vantages to the majority of the people in
so great and crowded city, that it does
| not decline instead Of continually advanc-
/ ing. But when l think how humanity is
constituted, how it acts from feeling, from
impulse, from buoyant hope, not from rea-
! son, l do not wonder that the history of
New York is what it has been
There is always fascination in a great
city which appeals to many sorts of men
men Of totally diverse order. Humanity
draws humanity by an unvarying law.
Where it is massed and concentrated the
drawing appears to be irresistible. The
crowd allures the crowd everywhere.
Where many are gathered more viii sure
ly go.
The influence of New York extends to
the northern lakes, into Canada. TO the
Pacific, TO the Gulf and far beyond those
boundaries. You cannot get away from it
IN this hemisphere.
Ordinary people who want to be en-
ployed, who are looking for situations of
any and every sort, who believe, however
lllogicalIy, that they must hve-these are
anxious to get here. They know that there
are innumerable places to fill here, but
they forget what hosts there are to fill
them. They have much expectation and
little ambition. They will be content to
earn comfortable livelihood. What a
wide Significance this expression hasl-and
they are content with that until they sec
better prospects for themselves.
Men in business either for themselves or
for others, notably young men, hunger for
the city, for greatar facilities, for larger
opportunities. They have heard of coun-
try boys who carne here without money or
friends and who rnada fortunes,
Professional men-lawyers, physicians,
clergynen, teachers, writer's, scientists,
artists-seek for broader fields, for higher
recognition, for genial associates, for the
stimulus of contact, for richer sources of
instruction, ell to be enjoyed in the me-
tropolis.
Men OF pleasure, having the means to
purchase it, understand what q range they
have to select from in Manhattan, and are
lmpelled hither by their love of luxury and
their promise of sensuous qualification.
Men of wealth transfer themselves to the
island city that their wealth may, as they
imagine, be represented and appreciated,
and have commensurate surroundings.
A very large majority of all these arc
sorely disappointed BY their experience.
Those looking~for situations do not secure
what they want; many of them endure en-
forced idleness, are exposed 70 hardship, |
and end sadly. Very few improve their |
condition. The business men seldom pros !
per as they anticipate. A hundred fail |
where one succeeds. So it Is with the pro- |
fessional men. The pleasure seekers en-
large their sphere and increase their pleas
ure.
The wealthy bring their wealth to an
overstooked market. Il does not distin-
guish them as it does in minor towns
Alone it is not a passport to society, as
they learn too late. They can give dinners,
parties but they cannot com
nand the guests they would like TO. They
are forced TO be content with members of
their early set For the many the streets
OF New York are paved with disapDoint-
ment; the breazes from the sea arc not
quite bracing, It is always so. Those
who mount must step on any number of
biighted prospects and shattered expecta-
tlons, But these are not taken into &C
count, are not remembered, in the con
slant struggle ever going On here for the
and prizes of hfe
New York's fascination remains, never
5heless 1t has something for everybody;
Tor the highest es well as the lowest tastes,
for saint not less than sinner, for the phi
anthropist equally with the professional
It's very size is an eaticernent,
md its Indifference is a shelter. One is so
'asily lost here that persons who have for
cited caste or fallen under the ban IN other
'Iaces come here to escape notice and COM
nent. They are relieved by the change;
hey are free, They may walk the streets, |
md 10 one knows or cares for them. |
Their past falls away when they have
rossed the Hudson. How often pass on
5roadway or Fifth avanue men who have
'een tainted IN New Orleans, ST. Louis I
Jincfnnsn, Chicago, and arc here grateful
be forgotten. Women who have vio-
Eted the social canons of Richmond. Bal ,
imore or Boston have no fear Of Mrs, ;
Trundy as they walk in Union square or
'entral park, Elsewhere people say Of a
ransgressor He has gone 70 New York"
5 they would say He has gone to the }
evn" Further inquiry or criticism is
eedless, Every few days some one dies
ere who has caused conmotion out Of
own, and the fact may be referred 70 i1
he obituary. We AanhEStansss nay re-
al the fact IN reading tie article, but :
It'll then we had no idea Of bis where
bouts. 4
We generally know names, but net ths 8
ersons that bear them. Many Of tho mos. I
oted citizens might pass through -Four !
zenith or Tvonty-th!rd street without rec '
snlt1on. II their names were mentioned !
ouc hundred heads would turn to look
,ter them This tncongTutsy, this contra
ctlon has its local charm. II shows sha.
1e may be distinguished and oSsouro q. L
10 same time; that the higyesa Ash may '
swallowed up in sais tumultuous sea: 4
ias the city Is world IN itself Tsa erer p
'ang1nG crowds In tke streets, the ears, '