Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-25
AMONG THE CLOUDS.
Pretty Home Nests On the Roofs of
TIventy-StOry buildings.

lNenty-StOry buildings.
New York Letter in Pttsburg Dispatch.
High life on lower Broadway differs
somewhat from high life on Fifth avenue,
of course. But both are picturesque. High
life down town is confined to the roofs OF
the skyscrapers, and the colony is grow
ing. These curious little homes are well
worth inspection. Some of them are set
| exactly on a line with the pavements of
Broadway, while others have been built a
few feet behind neat little front gardens,
which bloom in season. Many of these quiet
home nests rest on foundations some fifteen
or twenty stories in height, and are con-
sequentiy free from damp cellars and sim
liar causes of complaint. These depart
ments. the highest in the metropolis, rent
for few dollars month, which is very
reasonable considering the val1e of real
estate on Broadway.
They are inhabited by the janitors of the
immense buildings which form the founda-
tons of the modest cottages. Real estate
on the lower end of Manhattan Island has
grown SO enormously in value that even
the roofs of twenty-story buildings can
not be allowed TO go to waste. The archi-
lecture IN many Of the small homesteads
1oliows the style of the eighteen or twenty
story foundations on which they rest In
many cases the cottages have been con-
structed at a cost of many thousands of
dollars.
or terra Gotta, or other valuable materials
and are deliberately decorated. The most
picturesque of them all is located in the
tower OF the produce exchange building
viewed from the street this tower looks
more like dovecote than human habi-
tatlon. But II is two and a half stories
hiSh, and contains a dozen comforts BILE
rooms, which shelter the janitor and his
family, not counting the dog A parapet
keeps the household gods from dropDirg
10 death while viewing the passing show
on sea and shore far below
lhese nigh homes have their advantages
rev MONIES here can boast of so large a
front yard as the one enjoyed by the ten
ants OF the produce exchange roof ton 1T
IS nearly block in length and unite as
pf1sht IN summer as any city or suburban
yard can be, Earring natural effects He
mas fresh air to burn at all seasons, both
or the land and the sea breeze sort. House
keeping goes on up near the sky much the
same as on the solid earth 200 feet below.
Inc front yard is well supplied with
clothes lines, on which the wash is repu-
larry hung out to dry.
Inc roof Is covered with sand, giving it
ground erect. There are no trees or
grass growing there to be sure. but in sea-
son there are several flower beds arranged
IN boxes, which add a pleasant touch of
color TO the whole. The dog kennel stands
pesIue me Kitchen door, and the bow-wow
iodihS at VIII, with no opportunity to ex-
erclse his jaws on tramps or burglars The
Shlldreh who live in these high attitudes
rave carried their bicycles, wheelbarrows
anu other toys up with them and nave a
ground all to themselves, which is not
equdled by any millionaire's child's plav-
ground in the city f-~'
Just at present they are running up their
sieds to enjoy the shedding in their airy
playground on lower Broadway. The in
terlors Of these lofty habtations are cozv
as well as quiet and secure providing Tho
occupants do not dream of fire. cyclone or
earthquake. The occupants of these high
noines are as rule not very neighborlv.
Is SainS AFTER hlghtfall is physical i'm
possibility. After the EXPRESS eIeTatnr.
stop visits necessarily cease. 1t would con-
sumo an hours time to reach a nefehbor
LvIng within speaking distance as stair
cnhlplng is both hard and slow, especiaIIv
IN one-fioor town that is full of lifts
hut the hign life population is increasing
ana the outskirts of the settlement now aY,
lena as Iar north as Central Park and will
soon be hugging Harlem. VIII