Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-11-26
A QUIET STREET IN NEW YORK.
There Is One Short Alley which Is
Remark ably Free from Noise.

Remarkably Free from Noise.
A queer place is Extra place, the little
out CT the way street from which Louis
Weinhagen was taken as cholera suspect.
1t is only one block long. 1t opens on First
street, the rear end stopping abruptly at
the back yards of the Second street houses.
1t is the oldest and cuietest block in the
lower east side. Green trees are rare in
that section OF the city, but a glance over
the board fence at the end Of Extra place
reveals the tops Of half a dozen oaks in the
rear yards of the Second street houses, and
their green foliage forms a pleasant con-
trast to the dull colored double tenements
on either side.
The side walls OF the buildings at 10 and
IL First street run back some distance
from the corners, aud then comes, on the
left hand side, the rear walls Of the rear
tenements behind buildings facing the
Bowery. On the right hand side, how
ever, Immediately adjoining the side wall
of IL First street, are two five story tene-
ments numbered and 5. Behind them is
a courtyard in front OF a rear tenement OF
the kind known rs double decker. An
alley between II and 10 First s rect leads
70 the open court and the rear tenement.
These three tenements are probably the
and their owner, Mrs. GUuther, who runs
them as gigantic boarding house, is well
known by the workingmen o. the city
Mrs. Gunther has large heart, as many
laborers who have been down with hard
luck can testify. Her dodgers number
generally between 200 and 800. They range
from the hod carrier to the poor mechanic,
and are treated alike. The hou >es are full
almost always. Mrs Gunther provides ac-
commOdatious for all honest workingmen,
whether they have money or no.. Her big
dining rooms in the basement o. the Extra
place houses are n sight to be seen at meal
hours, although all Of her dodgers 90 not
eat at her table; some eat outside.
Without Mrs. GunJher's esta blishment,
Extra place would be in danger of sinking
to the ordinary level Ped3lers rarely
venture into the street. Mr.. Gunther
doesn't like them and her lodge IS will rot
tolerate them near by. The dodgers evil
IDENTIFY appreciate this fact that theirs j
the quietest spot for miles around, and
woe betide the load voiced peddler who
dares to venture around the corner. Dur
ing the summer Extra place IS d pictur-
esque locality. Mrs. Gunther'S dodgers,
in their shirt sleeves, sit on the sidewalk
during the evenings, smoke heir pipes
and swap stories All IS quiet and peace
full there, yet walk OF OILY half q
minute brings one into the din and confu-
sion of the Bowery. Everything is clean
in the street and the tenements.
For years back Extra place mas been a.
it is today. Before Mrs. Gu1ther's big
venture drove the former occur ants out O
the double decbers IL was the Cuietest lii
tie block in the neighborhooj Crooked
lampposts and ugly fire escapes are il
sight, but the east side eye has been cdr
Gated up to that sort of thing and The
straight and dignified Iamppost is regarded
with as much suspicion as the bare walls
Of a tenement. The truck stands beyond
the curb Of the sidewalk at night. Tie
rest of the street is clrN-. TIE truck is
driven by one OF Mrs. @..atag.'s dodgers,
and it is by her special PERMITS ion that !,
stands there. One word from, her and a
hundred men would hustle it iato First
street New York SIM