Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-09-27


Correspondence of Alexandria Gazette.l
NEW YORK, Sept. 26.-Many things
have been said and sung and written
about the glories and evils, the fashion
and wealth, the poverty and crime, &C.,
of life in this great metropolis. but for
one to be familiar with the various
phases of New York life as daily de-
picted, it is necessary to come in con-
tact with the masses. There is perhaps
no member of society who has so good
an opportunity to feel the pulse of the
people as the poor young journalist,
whose ambition to acquire the much
sought after fame takes him in every
locality among every class for news" "
New York is essentially a cold and self
fish city, and they are all out for the
''stuff7' with the motto, ''Do others OF
they'll do you The New Workers.
first idea is making money and he
therefore values his fellow man by
| what he can get out of him. 1t must
be said, however, that he has some 10
cal pride, for he is proud of Broadway
with its massive buildings, he points
with smile to Central Park and its
beauties, he thinks the newspaper Of
his city the best in the world, he feels
deeply the humiliation of his base ball
club not winning the pennant, and he
willingly admits that there are two
places where life is worth the living
New York and heaven.
This is what might be called town
of "fakes," and he who would succeed
must necessarily became flake"
"Fakingn is not confined to any one
class of trade or business. Oh, no for
we have flake" bankers, flake" brok-
ers, "fake" agencies and even 'fake"
newspapers, with few ''fake" editors.
The New York newspaper Getty edi-
tor" is great man. He is an autocrat
of autocrats whose power over those
below him was never equaled by king
or potentate. In many instances he is
man who has grown up with his pa
per and risen from an inferior place on
the 'staff" to his present one of power,
influence and pomposity. His response
bility is q heavy burden upon his
shoulders, for he is the cog wheel of
the whole machinery and once he
makes "break" off goes his head and
he is thrown out upon the cold, cold
world. Realizing this as his inevitable
fate should misfortune overtake him,
he makes the most Of his time and
reigns supreme upon mis- throne an OBJ
| iect of envy and admiration.
No section of this great city has such
| national notoriety as the "Bowery."
AS matter of fact there are thousands
of people out of New York, and not a
few even within the corporation of its
own limits, that have very vague idea
of what the "Bowery" is. Given a
broad street nearly the width of Penn
sylyania in Washington with an ele-
vated road down the centre and lined
on each side with retail stores of every
description, operated by proprietors of
all nationalities, with here and there
q dance house. concert hall, hotel and
barroom and we have the "Bowery."
This street is about ten blocks in
length aud is usually, particularly at
night when there are thousands of gas
and electric lights, crowded by Bo-
hemian population. Such signs as ''the
best cent whisky in the city," "The
Waldorf House II cents and free
BATH" can be seen on every side. The
place has a black eye, and while it
might be as we'll for the visitor to look
to the safety OF his pocketbook and
watch, there are many localities in this
city of vice where he would probably
be in more danger of losing his proper
ty, if not his life. The appeals for help
from the unfortunate in many instances
are most distressing. 1t would take q
Vanderbilt or an Astor to crafty the
demands made for aims, as there
are so many "beats" and "loafers," but
I met with touching case few nights
ago. A young man approached me,
and anticipating what he wanted
moved on, when he cried in a desper-
ate voice:
81 don't want money, but for Gods
sake give me something to eat l am
starving"
1 took him into cheap hash house
and paid for his supper, and the appre-
citation of this poor unfortunate will
ever be fresh in my memory.
The suffering from hunger and other
causes in a great metropolis is only
known by those coming in contact with
the poor. The police force of New
York city, while severe, are not hard
hearted. They discriminate the best
they can, but as there are so many i'm
posters they are naturally skeptical
and cannot comply with allrequests for
help.
The season is not yet far enough ad-
vanced for the 400" and the zesJ of the
"swell set" to return to town; but these
bright days are bringing some hand.
some and stylish women out in the
fashionable districts of 5th avenue and
23rd street. From birdseye point oi
view these Gotham bellies only rival
their Southern sisters in the style Of
their equipages and the genuine get up
of their gowns" They are lacking in
the graciousness and quiet dignity that
characterizes the Virginia and Mary.
land girls.
The New Yorker, unlike the south.
erner has two scales of manners. he has
business manners, which are no man.
ners st all, and cempany manners
! which he puts on with his dress coat,