New-York tribune., 1896-07-30
PICTURES OF EAST SIDE LIFE.
A DOUBLE WEDDING AND SOME OF THE CON-
rRAsTs WHICH IT'S SCENES PRESENTED.

A DOUBLE WEDDING AND SOME OF THE con-
rRAsrs WHICH IT'S SCENES PRESENTED.
Yesterday was a gala day in at least house
in Divsion-st.. and will probably be long remem-
bered by the members Of the household. The cause
Of the celebration a double wedding. and the
children OF the neIghborhood were so much inter
ested that the street for at least block from the
house lost Its usually crowded appearance. The
children who usually swarm on the pavement and
hI the doorsters had nearly all OF them adjourned
10 the doorway OF the house that was the centre Of
attraction and there they waited impatently, all
OF them impelled Oy curiosity to see the young
people who about 10 be married.
The house itself tumble-down anair. It's
outward appearance bespoke anything but bliss
The walls were gray with age. The doorway.
packed though 1t with curious youngsters
looked dark and forbiddng The windows were
beared with what might be decades coating OF
CRIME and dirt. and the caves were broken ana
worn as though they had had more than their
share OF and trouble and had at last sank into
the generally dlapldated condition Of the neighbor
hood The children too. who hung about the door
way were quite in keeping with the surroundings
their dirty. tattered clothing and unkemp. hair
and grimy faces arording contrast TO the pict-
But vha, did seem strange. the one thing that
had probably told the youngsters that something
unusual was going on, was the appearance before
tho house OF bright, smart-looking closed car
riage good looking driver on the box and
smart-looking pair OF horses IN the harness. Ihis
was a sign that some one was trying TO DO
1.-The proper thing" and when any tries to do
The proper thing on the East Side 1t L. always a
signal for the neighborhood TO turn out and watch
the fun Riding in a closed carriage is not an
everyday occurrence with these people and when
any one OF their number takes occasion to do any
such thing that there are always good many
comments and few sighs. and generally iit'Ie
lifting OF the brows and few shrugs Of the shoul-
ders Some OF the East Slders do not believe in
riding In closed carriages at all, probably because
they never have chance TO go and do likewise
Tribune reporter happened along Division-st.
tist as one OF the most interesting parts OF the
ceremony was about TO take place. The two happy
couples were about to 20 away. This fact was evil
dent from the way In which the children were
lined up in two rows the doorway making
living lane through which the brides and bride
eagrase II was not long before they came. First
there radiant vision or white In the door
way The dark. grmy woodwork made sorry
the vivid. one OF the brides was standing
there her dark wavy hair blown slightly by the
wind her white dress showing with startling dis
tinctness against the shadowy background OF the
dim recess behind. and bright bouquet OF brill
iant flowers in her hand She stood there for
did so the children at the door devoured her beauty
with hungry eyes though they were looking.
not at a pretty woman in her bridal dress but at
some strange creature from far country.
OF sudden there stir In the crowd at the
door A tall man with white gloves silk hat
and a black frock coat appeared He was not as
handsome as the girl He looked out Of place in tho
clothes he wore. He sef-conscious and
blushed TO his eyes he stepped through the lines
OF children His demeanor was more that OF
bride than OF a bridegroom. But II was only for a
moment anyway. The other bride. with her blush
ing bridegroom both Of them dressed like the two
who had first. were right behind They all
got into the carriage soon az possible and with
a crack OF the whip. they were driven away
through Dvison-st. In the direction OF tn. Grand
st ferry. one OF the irrepressibe small boys who
Ind ched "a Or n
terest had managed TO catch on behind. As the
carriage drove away he threw his paymates into
convulsions OF laughter as he sat there his hoop
in his hand and HIS face distorted by SORE OF the
most hideous grimaces that II is Impossible TO see
anywhere except on the East Side or In ZOO
logical garden.
In the doorway for a moment there stood little
d-faced careworn. poorly dressed woman. look
ing after those who had left the house a minute
before She a prepossessing looking per
son Her life had evidently not been cast in quiet
places But she thinking as she stood there.
What she thinking. who can tell?