Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-08
rcoREEsroNpENcE OF THE DISPATCH. 7


| miles to see.
New Yorkers Don't Find the Good.
They are practically unknown to the typi-
cal New Yorker himself There is single
street running through the heart of the
most populous district which the Broadway
lounger and the Fifth avenue promenader
never see, and the mere suggestion of which
as Of possible interest would provoke from
them smile of contempt; yet this street is
the most magnificent thoroughfare in the
city, and in many respects rivals the boule-
wards of Paris. I allude to Eighth avenue.
Turn to your map of Manhattan Island
and you will see broad thoroughtare cut
ting straightway almost through the center
of the city from Fourteenth street to One
Hundred and Tenth, unbroken by angles or
curves, and undetled by straddle-bug rail-
roads-almost five miles. From Fifty-ninth
nortl.ward it skirts the western boundary
of Central Park, and for that distance it is
faced with splendid residences, expensive
apartment houses and foundations for
palaces yet to come. From the park south
ward to Fourteeth it is grand boulevard
of smooth and solid asphaltum lined with
shops. 1t is to these two miles that the
stroller may turn with interest and profit.
Where the Middle Glass Lives.
u
the great middle class that largely makes
up the commercial muscle and sinews of
New York. They are neither the rich nor
the poor. No palaces of stone chill the
warm blood of human sympathy; no haunts
of the lowly or dens of the vicious offend
the eye.
Did you ever note the individuality of
streets? 1t can be seen even in the smart
village. In q city like New York it is
more marked. A paved carriage way with
sidewalks is a street-so is man a man.
But there is quite as much individuality in
q city street as there is in one man compared
to another. I mean a street of ways and
walks and houses and habitues. Even
cosmopolitan Broadway has its own indi-
viduality. It is as If handsome man
coat and hat, silk shirt without collar
and patches on his knees. So far as any
resemblance to any other street here is con-
cerned Eight avenue might run through the
populous heart of any European capital
Try Seventh avenue, or Ninth, its next
door neighbor, and you will find fresh indi-
viduality. They are no more alike than
Fourth and Fifth avenues. And on this
individuality volumes OF description might
be written.
Its Little Partisan Shops.
Smoke your after dinner cigar on Eighth
avenue some pleasant autumn evening,
walking down this two mile stretch. 1 say
down, because the sidewalk tide sets up
town at this hour and you get better idea
of the people. The shops are ablaze with
gas and electricity-the little Partisan
Shops How they glow and shinei And
how small and thick they arel For it is
strictly retail street and being the purchas-
ing ground of the busy class of thriving in
dustrial life the shops must reap their sub
stantial harvest in the evening. And thus
it is that long after aristocratic Fifth ave-
nue. is shrouded in darkness and upper
Broadway is but thing of shreds and
away through the night shivering and scin-
tilating, monster glowworm.
A retail street for an evenings ramble If
YOU love your fellowmen-and women.
These shops-s'o ore is too stiff and formal a
word of designation-are apparently in the
hands of women, male clerks and proprie-
tors the exception. What women buy,
therefore, seems to be actually thrust upon
you everywhere. And So cheap! Dear me!
They Split the Nickels.
To see what woman can buy for
quarter, or At cents, or "a cents, or some
other split nickel The prices are placarded
everywhere on everything in sight, in big
black, astonishing figures. Who in the
world buys all these hats and shoes? The
women of course: else there would not be a
half dozen millinery shops and as many
shoe stores to the block. I never saw so
many millinery shops outside of Paris.
Next to millinery and shoes are crockery
and glassware and other household goods
These are forced out on the sidewalk to the
VIII
whether you wish to do so or not.
The prices range from cent up. "Only
One Cent? That is the way they put it to
you on Eighth avenue. The style of the
millinery goods display might not suit
Fifth avenue; but it suits Eighth and that's
what is material. I am not q judge of
ladies' gear exactly but was quite touched
at the sight of something like my mother
wore when was boy.
No Buns at the Saloons.
The conventional New York saloon, with
its swinging mahogany half-doors and plate
glass, monopolizes the corners along the
street, yielding an occasional corner to a
drug store. -Four saloons on the respective
four corners of crossing are not rare.
Whatever they may be later, at this hour
they are quiet. There are no loafers loung-
ing about the doors and blocking up the |
oums anywhere to hound you for the price |
Of a drink. These stick to the haunts OF |
sports and men about town. This is notice
lble.
The people? They are coming up stead
ly, as you make these mental notes, two
great streams, three, four and five Deep
And here is sight. This is the great
from the downtown shops and
tores and factories and Offices, and these
ire they who are returning home from their
laily routine. No car fare for these-there
IRE plenty of new shoes for sale on Eighth
venue. Men, women and children-artis-
ms, statesmen, clerks or cashiers, shop girls,
apewriters, seamstresses, factory hands,
ash girls-every grade of respectable toll
RS of both sexes and almost every age.
Happy faces, trim figures, rosy complex
ons
Neitter Gaudy Nor Shabby.
Plain clothing is the almost universal
substantial, comfortable cloth
ng-from the little black-aproned cash
iris with the jaunty caps to the plump ma
ron who superintends her own shop, clean,
eat, snug and comfortable. There is
carcely gaudy ribbon and rarely shabby
oat. No skirts sweep the walks of Eighth
venue. There isn't pair of kids, a silk
ct or six dress on q week day to the half