The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-06-08
A C. C. IN NEW YORK.
Contrasting Fifth Avenue with the Bowery,
and the Same God Over All.

Contrasting Fifth Avenue with the Bowery,
and the Same God Over All.
In marked contrast TO my walk on the Bowery
stroll on Fifth avenue yesterday afternoon.
These streets, representing the two extremes of
life, living opponents of unequal distribution
of this worlds goods
On Fifth avenue we find the mighty dollar occu-
plying the highest seat in the temple of prosperity,
while on the Bowery the struggle for mere exist
ence has totally obiiteraied all other objects and
aims. And yet these people all created alike;
they have the same bodies, the same souls, and
their hearts beat TO the same tune.
After stroll on the Bowery with lis unique types
and yriads of interesting objects and notable hap
penings, q walk along Fifth is, in the lam
guage of Hamlet, stale. fiat. aud Improbable"
True. both streets we find the homes of robbers
and gamblers. On the Bowery lives the thief who
breaks into your house at night and carries away
your jewelry and siverware. and the gambler W lao
plays poker and throws dice in saloons On Fifth
avenue lives the robber monopolist and swindler,
and the gambler in stocks and bonds.
The one is hunted and pursued. aud his wife and
children dragged 10 the lowest depths; while the
other lives IN luxury and hfiuence, and lavishes
wealth and advantages upon wife and children.
Right here one might remark with perfect impu-
nifty, Such is life"
WASHINGTON MEMORIAL ARCH.
At Washington Square the once ultra fashion
able residence quarter. Fifth avenue starts, and
there spanning the street is the Washington
Memorial Arch Of imposing appearances and de-
sign. Among The decorations Of the Centennial
celebration Of the Inauguration of Washington
temporary memorial arch. which greatly adj
mired. This has been reproduced in permanent
form aud stands 20 or 50 feet high.
The cornerstone was laid on Memorial Day, 1890,
and the last stone one ago. 1t bears the in
scriptiOn taken from Washingtons memorable adj
dress:
" Let us raise standard to which the wise aud
honest can repair The event is ia the hands Of
God"
A FASHIONABLE DRIVE.
Fifth avenue three miles long is a fashionable
drive and promenade, and on bright day the
street is thronged with richly-dressed women and
swagger men, both foot and 10 traps drags,
coupes and carriages. But during my entire walk
from Washington Square TO Central Park there was
not an incident happened worthy of note. Every
body looked commonplace aud more or less bored,
and have no doubt they felt so. i am sure did.
! Groups Of young men came in aud out from
their afternoon calls aud a number OF carriages in
front OF houses announced to you that Friday was
Ars. Browns day at home, etc.
In many OF the houses the blinds all down,
telling you that the family had gone to the coun-
| try" Going TO the country means going to some
fashionable resort. and nobody is in town In the
Summer. you know"
Nobody ia town would indicate that the city
| is deserted in Summer and yet meets hundreds
| of thousands of people daily. Somebody please
! reconcile this statement.
DISTINCTION WITHOUT DIFFERENCE.
Comparing Fifth avenue and the Bcwery what
distinctions do we find? There is not church on
/ tile Bowery; there many Fifth avenue.
There are many saloons on tie Bowery; there sre
only the gded bars of hotels and clubs On Fifth
| avenue. There are nlyriads of children On the
| Bowery; none to be seen on Fifth avenue. There
are bareheaded, wan-faced women The Bow
| cry; fasbionably- dressed women on Fifth avenue.
There are fakirs and vendors on the Bowery, none
on Fifth avenue There are cheap shops, with people
in the at;ics In the BoYery; magnificent homes on
Fifth avenue. There are heavy draft horses on the
| Bowery; spirited bigh-steppeTs on Fifth avenue.
There are four lines OF horse-cars and The elevated
| railway on The Bowery; line of coaches on Fifth
: avenue. There are yellow dogs and doggy dogs
| on the Bowery; poodles and pugs on Fifth avenue.
There is death on the Bowery and death on Fifth
| avenue. And the same God ruling the universe
| Bowery and Fifth avenue
| Lenore Sherwood Marble