The sun., 1895-05-19
An Alleged English Poet in Thirty
second Street.

second Street.
A friend has sent us several pages of an
English magazine containing an article en-
able to identify the magazine, but that
doesn't matter. The thing Of interest is
the article itself; in which an observer and
O poet, Of type quite different from the
ordinary British traveller, communicates
his virgin impressions Of New York city at
this particular time of year.
The introduction reminds us of something
we have often read before; perhaps it is the
opening Of THAcKERAY's George de Barn.
well -: "'Twas MONDAY in Chepe," &C.,
"sprine In New York; Tho buds are breaking over
the asphalt Of Madison square, they planting pam
sizes in front OF the hotels and elubs Tho turf In Gen.
trail Park begins to look rich and green. Tho thin
grayhaired lady who sits at the window opposite
my rooms in East Thirty.second street, reading the
payer pulls down the blind keep the broad hos
The sky is Of deep and cloudless blue. Below,
on the sidewalk, reedy old organ, cased In dlsco.
ored baiEe, pipes the operatic selections Of
querulous tenor. with barrowful OF flowers
(nno flowers arum nlies and axaleas) overbawls
other hoarse wandering merchant with his sweet
Florida oranges How golden the fruit looks in tho
sunlight against the dsrk.gray asphalt how fresh
and brilliant tho howers feel sudden longing for
oranges; send down 2o cents"
This, we say, is distinctly un-English,
although the unidentified writer proceeds to
certify to his nationality,
"The dressmaker's little apprentice from tho base
ment am lodging fashionable dressmaker's)
returns with basket half full. She looks like the
grsete turned Puritan maiden She 10 nineteen years
old and her name 10 NANNY. Her hand In SO small 10
scarcely grasp the orange she sraoousy accepts
for her trouble. regard her with the most Immense
heartbreaking tenderness What q shame say to
myself. to send sweet child like that out into the
cruel hard streets to buy oranges for Ensshman.
She has gone, and only the oranges remain In
bed heap my table. Ifeel depressed and homesck.
Oh spring. prfn'avera, prInteups FEilhIingF
Having gained some insight into the SEN
sitive, sympathetic nature Of this extraor-
dinary Britisher, we are prepared to hear
his opinions. Fifth avenue is "a mixture
Of the Edgware road, New street, Birming-
ham, and the Champs Elysees." "The
pavement is primitive and abominable; (;
when 1t rains the water collects on the side
walks in pools that rise over your ankle"
AS to the conveniences for public transpor-
tation in that thoroughfare,
"The only public conveyance that runs in tho ave-
nue.. from Washington square Central Park. about
two miles. 10 o broken-down stage, drawn Dy four
y,
along full OF welldrossod people, among the cabs and
coupes and smart carriages. and II looks like nothing
so much ~ BrFyAIo BrLs Deadwood coach from the
Esrps Court Exhibition In It. only last weak. and
about mile from where wrtte lady was held up
by with pistol at half past IL in the morning.
He took her purse, and, far ~ know, has never
been heard Of since"
Our poet Is never tired OF describing the
contrasts thar strike him everywhere around
Madison square by day and night. The
square itself IS "punctured with the innu-
merable piercing lightblue sparks of cleo
tricity; the quivering light falls on the gilt
tering asphalt, twitters among the Leaf
fringed twigs aud branches, and glares ON
the gray worn grass patches" while "high
on the gaunt wall of q stupendous Broad
way building 1t spells In golden dots Buy
your homes on Long Island. PAUL JONES
Rye Whiskey." let us follow him up the
street:
"As II turn up Fifth avenue round tho Brunswick. I
hear the heavy warning olans OF the bells ON the
rspid-giidinR cable cars the Jingle from the tram
ways. tho tout from the river steAmers man comes
suddenly alongside and says. In rapid. weak tones
Say. my friend spare me few cents TO get meal
WITH Tho light from the restaurant falls his hoi
low. tragic facet lie plainly starving Inside. under
gay dancing frsse round white tables. supper par
ties ara already forming. stout woman with ooa-
gestsd face u laughing and drinking champagne.
Only. sheet OF plate glsss. with the valance OF
white iacs curtain slung on brass rods divides the
vacuum from the oosnucopiA"
II the poet lived in New York he would not
select the Fifth avenue, or Madison avenue.
or even East Thirty-second street as his
ulaca of residance. but WashinRton SQUARE.