The National tribune., 1897-10-28
CHAPTER VII.

Who shall tell what marvels one sees
who has been dead only q paltry dozen
years? The next day / thought | would
ride on the cable-cars all day. 1t seemed TO
me / should never tire of such delight.
went and stood by the track watching them
whiz by for quite time before / ventured
TO board one. The sensation.wes all / had
expected-and more. What a wonderful
thing is this Broadway, which 1 seemed
never to have known before, though the
dead man whose memory / have fallen heir
to was very familiar with it from the stage
windows.
Somewhere above Tooth street grew timid.
1t seemed as if l had gotten beyond recol-
lection. So / left the car and took one going
back. Still wonders multiplied. At Wall
street got off and wandered about little.
lit was the same, yet not the same. grew
faint rs the old familiar talk ebbed and
flowed about me, and the chatter of the
"tickersn in an Office / entered made me
sick. / hurried back TO Broadway; took a
car and returned TO my hotel blinded, stun
ned, and trsmbling The old prick ling agsny
was in my limbs, and that fear of lapse into
vacancy which was not so very far away got
hold upon me, so that crept shivering 10
bed, and, after an hour Of apprehension. pain,
and confusion, fell asleep.
1t was almost noon of the next day when
awoke. The shock of the city's throbbing
life was too much for one who had been
dead SO long TO bear without gradual indura-
tion to its potency. 1t was night after the
days rush was over, that went out again.
TO come back weary and excited, but filled
with the divine pleasure the knowledge OF
new and unexpected things always brings.
Thus, day after day, explored the redis-
covered city with closer approach to hsp-
piness than j had expected ever again to
taste. / seemed 10 see what accustomed
eyes neglected. The people had changed,
as well as the city, as / learned after few
days observation. There were not the old
crowds, nor The old fighting rushes nj the
points OF incress and egress. The proper
ton of women Oh the cars and in the streets
was much greater. They were different
too-more self-reliant and mattsr-ol-courss
than they had been; or perhaps / should
Bay less inclined TO be timid and self-con-
ecious.
1t fascinated me. and yet disturbed me-
too.-ihe easy uncopsciousness with which
they mingled with the crowds apparently
asking no favor because of their woman
hood. Among the elder ladies / saw the
spirit that / recognized-the constant fear
not so much of slight or neglect, but OF
doing that whir might be deemed an
seemly, that !" younger generation 50
wholly lacked, on at least seemed to lack.
The change in costume did not greatly
impress me. AS a rule, it seemed hardly
80 elaborate, aud appeared to require leas
attention from the wearer and to demand
less attention from the beho!der In the
walk of the younger and fairer portion OF
a Il IL. g. II 4
after day. noted curious change of gait
or rather should say, perhaps in the style
Of walking, since gait inay be TOO techni-
cal a term, Distinguishing between walking
and running, rather than between the quail.
ties of either mode of locomotion.
What | mean is that the general walk had
not ihecareful grace Of the old time There
was none Of that rhythmic lateral swing
which once enchanted the eye. The ster
seemed TO be higher, more straightforward
and abrupt than i had ever Observed before
an consequence of which the skirt swuDl
not alternately from side to side as ] re
member that it used 10 do, but appeared i,
flop uDgracefully aginst the limbs, to pre-
vent which it was sometimes clutchet
desperately at the side, and not seldom
dedantly lifted up by protruding heels
] confess l did not like it, but one who ba
been dead so long should not set himself NJ
10 criticise the fashions, especially of thos
whose loneliness deiies criticism. And | dit
not, only 1t seemed hard 10 find anything il
my new world that was not more deIightfl
than aught that was in the one / remem
lered.
Perhaps The fault is in me. am con
WINGED that young eyes are better Judges @
grace and beauty than old ones And
gives me infinite pleasure to see the game Q
love going On everywhere, in new ways, an
between new types, but sweet and joyous a
ever.
The young lady OF to-day is evidentl
stronger and healthier than her mothe
She is also taller. Iwonder why it is. The
seem taller than the young men, upon q
average To look at them upon the stree
or IN the cars, it seems rs if the old relstio
was changing, aud the woman coming TO
the larger and the stronger type.
The men OF the Younger generation al
shorter and more generally anxious and car,
worn than had ever noted before. / wor
der if 1T is only a fancy or a fact of to-day
life
Bat in some respects the people have in
proved even more than the beautiful city
beautiful with new and unlocked for Low,
illness. One might have heard-nay, coul
not hare helped hearing-more profanity i
walking half dozen blocks on Broadway
dozen years ago than he will hear in an al
days experience with its crowds io-da,
Men have soitened in tone and mannt