New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-25
Old BIT DIT1I.

II Is not only prOverDlal Dut true lnit sui'i
worries make big burdens. 80 also minor dein-
oucncics sometimes deserve severe censurc. one
Of thc defects Of civilization in Ncw-lork is the
imperfect designation of streets and houses ~
the legends on lampposts and the numerals on
front doors Perhaps The trouble arising from
this source Is not greater here than in many
other cities but II certainly IS sufficient to WAR
rant a protest and the prompt application OF a
remedy No argument or catalogue is needed TO
convince New-Yorkcrs that the lamppos's do
not answer one Of the purposes, AZ least, Tor
which they exist. Everybody who has strained
the muscles Of his neck and abused his eyes IN
trying To ascertain from those pretrniiouS guides
where he was is an authority on the subject,
and such persons are So overwhelming ma
iorty Of the population that an appeal from
their Judgment would be ridiculous. The lamp
posts are impoStOrs rs class though not al
WAYS I'm the same line Many Of them have alto
gcthcr lost and probably long ago forgotten the
names and numbers which once they bore with
some claim 10 credit for their services TO hui
mainly. Others have been distorted TO such
degree that their Droclamations are utterly false.
and hence peculiarly obnoxious to the laws OF
hospitalitv In that they bctray the blamelcss
stranger within our gates Others again which
wear their official badges as If they were
decorations 10 be proud Of. instead If shabby.
illcgbc and doubly vcXatious obstacles in the
way Of scarchers after truth. thus succeed in
adding insult to injury. And the municipal au-
thoritcs 10y doing little or nothing 10 bring these
dclinqucnts to account share, nay. more, appro-
pirate. their faults and ought TO bear their
blame. II is a sin to let such an imposition
.f.ilt t-i. from
abroad continue year after year. II does con
tinuc as everybody knows. and cur firm con-
ycton Is that II Increases
So much for the shortcomings Of the munc-
ipalny individual citizens. however. If they
have thoughts Of coming into court on this
issue. should make sure that their own records
are clear. Far too many Of them have cause
10 blush for their personal sins Of omission and
commission The house that is numbered only
on the outer surface If It's outer door pretty
cffccm1lly conccalS its Identity At times when
that door is swung inward against a ycstibulc
wall Nor IS thu case much better when its
designation Is inscribed upon fanlisht in char
acters So dimly Illuminated by night that we'll
filed matchbox may br vany exhausted I'm the
cndcayor To- dccphcr them But even this X
not the worst indictment which can b. brought
against houschollcrs in this proud city. There
are habitatiOns here. and that too In streets well
nigh monopollzcd by citizens having large pos
sessions. which actually carry no numbers any
where about Them So far AT least rs all except
their Inmates are able 10 testify. There are few
minor annoylnccs I'm life more irritating than
The necessity II ringing a strangers doOrbcll in
order 10 ascertain how near YOU are 10 the resi-
dcncc II an acquaintance. We put the ease in
ihs precise form with dclibcratlon. for expert
cncc must have convinced our readers that never
by any possibility does such an approach in
quest Of information result in the discovery that
one has arrived N the place whore he would be.
We Offer these curSory remarks upon a topic
which has been discussed often enough To- prove
lis ilicstrucibr vitality. with only n fraIl hope
that they Will bear fruit They may perhaps
have free course. but We do not believe they
Will be- elorfcd. II one more debate upon the
subject should suit, II would probably wax.
wanc and finally come 10 the same old. impo-
tent end. Iut "A sense ~ duty performed Is 4
rainbow In the soul" and that is our reward.