Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-14
OUR WAYS AND WALKS.
WRITTEN FOR THE DrspArcH.


WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH,
YES, he said, things are managed differ
emily here in many ways from the way they
are done in the old country He seemed as
tonished at the lack OF evidence of any ener-
gettc and reliable system of city govern
ment; he mourned the absence of good,
pure water supply; he was surprised to find
nowhere the municipal swimming bath, art
gallery. museum, free library, and the like
all of which he was accustomed to in cities
OF Pittsburgs size in England. With regard
to the free library, he owned that Pittsburg
will be well supplied when the new one is
built; but he said he thought it was rather
degrading for city of Pittsburg's size to be
dependent on individual generosity for any
thing so necessary. He admired our methods
OF street locomotion, but said this, as we'll as
most else in the city, seemed due rather to
us as individuals than as q body corporate.
He was very mucn astonished at
the number of loafers. to be found
about the streets in the evenings, and
remarked that he found it very difficult to
reconcile this habit with the estimate he
nad formed of MS as industrious and ener-
get1c almost to a fault. He vowed that per-
sonally he found losfug far more firing
than working, and he thought that would be
the opinion of EnClishmen at large He
couldn't ''make out' why, the young men
concerts, books. walks and so on to fill up
their spare time more instructively ana
with more recreation than they could possi-
oiy get from hanging around q street corner
or vacant doorway, to the Inconvenience
OF passersby
APRoPos of the walks he had spoken of,
when questioned he said that for exercise
and fine views he couldn't wish for better
country there was around this city. He told
very funny story to illustrate the "free-
dom" of this country, and it will gain by be-
ing repeated in his own words as nearly as
possible. "This wasn't in Pittsburg: 1 was
staying down in Louisville then. 1t was q
wet Sunday afternoon. and as hadn't been
long in this country 1 didn't know that 1
should be in danger OF confinement as q
lunatic If ventured to walk five miles into
the country for the sake of exercise, when
could have reached my destination in
less time and without trouble either by
the steam cars or behind a pair of mules.
Not knowing then what danger was about
to run, donned the costume l should have
worn at home under like circumstances.
The same costume, except that had been
at home 1 should probably have worn
with mel say fortunately, because if had
gone out in those added to my other curiosi-
ties verify believe should never have re-
turned to freedom. 1 wore q pair of high
q
and-a walking stick.
GAS passed through the city the politer
people looked at me with an expression of
mingled pity and scorn, and the less polite
made remarks to one another in a tone of
voice that made me think that they must
imagine me deaf. The little boys followed
me, asked me If were a soldier, whether /
came from Piccakoo county, seemed anxious
to know what was the amount of the wager,
or whether had escaped from a side show.
Dogs parked ard snarled at me, and one
The unkindest cut of all, though, was when
reached the house 1 WAS bound for and
found the friends wanted to call on. had
to undergo regular catechism to prove that
there were no signs of insanity in any branch
of my family. When 1 had managed to es-
tablish my sanity on its usual basis, could
get them to talk of nothing but the walking
capacity Of Englishmen and women. and l
fear only removed the suspicion Of lunacy
by conviction that I was lying when, in
answer to frequent questions, emphatfcal-
ly stated that 30 miles over hill and dale was
nothing extraordinary for days walk"
ASKED what his favorite walk was here, he
said he would tell me about the one he had
taken oftenest, and he launched forth again:
'1 have to live down in the Eighteenth
ward because of my work, and as have |
friends in the East End, I often walk three
miles across Stanton avenue, because 1 need
muscular effort, and besides it's lovely |
walk and it's bother to go around by the
Forks of the Road at Thirty-fourth street,asI 1 |
have to do If want to ride. So 1 start mp
Stanton avenue by the side Of the Allegheny |
Cemetery-that's a beautiful piece Of ground |
and keep on till get somewhere about the |
top of Fifty-third street. There bear Off to |
the left, by the old coal road which rejoins |
to start about sunset time, and then.
lust before the old road breaks away, |
turn round and look out over the
valley toward Allegheny City. The sky
|
off to orange or primrose gold, where it
seems to rest on the hills above the sister
pity. Then the lights on the electric towers
fla sh out like so many clusters of evening
stars; nearer at hand furnaces belch forth
angry flames. while between them lies Pitts
burg outlined in dotted lines Of light, and
into silver; the whole pano-
rama forming picture the more delightful
'or its contrasts. I sometimes think those
light towers must have been placed there as
we're ever expected to cast anything but
shadows on the Streets"
"GoINa on with my walk I look down for
while at the glare and listen to the noise of
he Lucy and Isabella furnaces. which seem
Intensified by the evening quiet up there on
he hill. Passing a quaint old-world-look-
ng little schoolhouse I soon regain the ave-
,ue-and there walk along for about three
quarters OF mile without much OF special
interest,". InlS part OF tno WhlK generally |
makes me feel q little sad, not with thoughts
TIRED up by the cemetery L had passed, nor
ret with that sadness which seems INSOFAR
bile from scenes Of beauty. but with wrath
It the evidences of labor allowed to go
o waste on the earth-covered side
Talks and the rotted wooden blocks of the
oadway. But my three-quarters of a
Hhere I always stay for q few minutes to
urvey the surrounding country. Directly
pposite me, and very little higher than 1
m, is Highland reservoir, to the left white
ottaged Morningside nestles among its
ruck gardens to the right spreads out East
liberty, between me and the reservoir is q 4
reen valley, and beyond and slightly to the
aft of Highland lie the foothills of the Ale
henies. Another ten minutes brings me to |
Tegley avenue and-there am. You should |
AXE that walk some time.''
Overcome by mis- enthusiasm the writer
romised he would do it-when he had time.