Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1894-09-06
THE CITY ON THE Houserops.
A Phase OF Life in the Tenement Quarter
of New York.


A Phase OF Life in the Tenement Quarter
OF New York.
Then the evening comes; and in sum-
mer this is the fashionable hour for
the denizens Of the housetops. It is
houses, or In the streets below. Often
there IS breeze, generally from the
south, with n Whit Of the ocean in its
breath. Then the scene on the house
top becomes animated Whole fami-
res arc encamped up there, there "a
singing, stories are told, sometimes
there Is dancing. Musical instruments
are not at all rare, and the accordion is
chief among them. Now and then the
merriment of separate parties become
extinct; all pause and listen TO a single
voice that rises high and distinct above
the hubbub. Sometimes Il Is hymn
Of the synagogue, caroled forth upon
the night by a boys quavering voice;
sometimes II Is an air from an operetta,
delivered in stentorian tones by a ''pro-
fcssional" man singer. The applause,
when the performance is over. comes
from every roof in the neighborhood.
When there is a saloon ''on the block
-and what block Is without its drink
ing house?--sounds of carousal make
their way, from time TO time, TO tho
city on the housetops
An impromptu orchestra. in attend
ance at some Wedding or birthday fes-
tivity I'm the brilliantly lighted apart
ments Of a family "on the block"
gladdcns with its strains she hearts Of
tired mortals on the roof. Sometimes
burst Of mad melody. full OF the weird
cadence and passionate abandon that
characterize the dance music of the
peasantry OF eastern Europe. awalSens
sad memories or passionate longing in
some immigrant c'greenhorn, the
older immigrants call him) lately
come from some far-off country.
The poor jew who finds his
way straight from the immigration
station on Ellis island TO one of the in
Vulnerable sweaters dens Of this
neighborhood breathes for an hour,
perhaps, the air of the night, and
gazes about him at the strange city
that his toll leaves him no opportunity
20 investigate. Perhaps he does not
even care to do this, the dull, hard
grind deadening all sentiment of
curiosity in his soul. Wild, unthinlx-
ing gayety alone can arouse him from
the lethargy in which his life Is
wrapped. Late into the night the mer-
riment lasts, and then, when good
nights have been said, Il is only about
one-half of the company that descend
TO take their rest indoors. The others
roll themselves in sheets and blankets,
and prepare for a night under ths
stars.
A thunder shower coming M in the
middle of the night disperses them,
and there Is a great noise OF scufiiing
and running, as each one awalSes 70
take up his bed and walk with II. Be-
tween two and three o'clock Of a fine
morning the moon looks down upon q
bivouac of shrouded motionless figures,
and the city on the housetops Is turned
into a shining metropolis. Little chill
dren and women sleep thus in the open
air, sometimes on the roof, sometimes
on their own fire escape; but the ma
jority Of the out-of-door sleepers are
young men, accustomed all their lives,
many Of them, 20 hard buuks and un.
easy surroundings The glow ot =
cigar or a cigarette from one Of these
shapeless heaps of bedding might dis
turb the nights slumber Of an appre-
hensive person. Dawn com0s to
awaken them early, for the most part,
but II is no uncommon sight TO see
their outstretehed forms when the sun
already rides high ia the sky. Other
men and women pass in aud out among
them without disturbing them, and
when they awake and open their arms
o. tha dav, no complicated toilette
they are half clothed al
distinctive touches do