The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-02
PICTURESQUE MADISON AVENUE.
Sunset Scenes and Effects hat May he OBJ
served q. that T~horoughrare.

Sunset Scene. and Effects that May he oh
served In that T~horoughrare.
Lower Madison avenue has the charm Of dig
nifty and cleanliness at any time, but the first
two and a half miles OF that thoroughfare. as
seen about sunset OF a clear day, has q peculiar
individuality and beauty. Looking southwark
from the crest of the hill at about Thirty-sev-
enth street one sees through the dim mist of the
trees in Madison square and the urban haze ever
present In such q depth of atmosphere the warm
lights from houses on the southern side Of
Twenty-third street, while a confused mass Of
vehicles, tbickened by foreshortening. makes
the pavement a stirring scene. This whole
scene disappears behind the hump of Murray
Hill when one has reached Forty-third street,
and as the darkness gathers the crowd Of
vehicles on the hillside is merely a troubled
macs OF gloom, with high lights here and there.
while atop on the crest of the hill coachmen's
heads and shoulders stand out in silhouette
against a sky OF mixed rose and murk.
A dozen blocks further north the group Of
towers just above Forty-second street lends
character to the heights of the vista Madison
avenue has more fantastic towers than any
other thoroughfare OF the city. and in the even
ing gloom they lose whatever architectural de-
fects they have at ordinary times and retain
only the airy charm that Is their own. Several
VI thcm euo" kEcat sAy spaeeo tiioukh III
masonry and give those perilous effects that
the Moorish architects loved when they placed q
twisted and seemingly crazy pillar beneath q
great weight Of superimposed wall. High up
amid the towers a snaky banner folds and I'M
folds itself with fascinating elaboration, never
for an instant still. never failing OF 1.-THE curves
and ophidiau graces. The hard glitter of cleo
trio lights pierces the after-sunset gloom relent-
their orange fires suggesting an inner flame Of
crimson sheathed in golden yellow.
The next rise hides all save the upper thirty
feet of towers and steeples, but new towers are
added block by block. and as the vista grows
the street cars are seen strung beadlike one after
the other. the distant ones mere masses OF
slowly moving misty gloom. the nearer showing
the vulgar facts OF gilded lettering. Every
outhward-moving car shows a warm red bulls
eye light amid the gloom. Overhead the zenith
Is still roseate: so too Is the bit Of southwark
sky down TO within forty degrees OF the horizon.
But the level of the street Is gray in the fore
ground. and in the background leaden almost to
brown. Hurrylng visible through the gray
foreground, and ,plunging into the chaos
ner OF vehicles. swift ghostly bicyclists.
and the varied company OF the sidewalks. From
every side street comes In a broad belt OF light.
ashen from the east, clear and family pink from
side streets show warm lights and kindred
glooms to those OF the avenue no-thward. The
barred gray head OF a beRgar Is a high light on
n corner, and the knees OF housekeeping horses
shine amid the leaden hues lowering just above
the pavement. The pleasant hurry OF evening
the home thoughts that drive the throng op-
ward. Darkness has robbed the spectacle OF
everything sordid. and the whole thOroughfsre
is brim full of the cheerful urban spirit.