The record-union., 1898-01-08


closely resembling them. were worn in
most cases, and, on the whole, this feat
ure seemed peculiarly symbolic of the
cosmopoitanism of the community
whose birth was practically being cele-
brated.
New Years eve, while yetsit was early
and just as the City Hall celebration
was about to commence, the writer
stroued up through Chatham street and
the Bowery. 1t being New Years eve.
this particular section of the old town
should, taking history into considera-
ton, have a particularly hot time
Wen, there was plenty of noise and
life, but as far as the old-time excite
ment was concerned, it was most con-
spicuous by it's absence. No, despite
goodly proportion of gentlemen whose
attention seemed divided between the
spirit of New Years and the spirit of
the Bowery barroom, despite the fact
that in a few minutes was seen few
rough -and-tumble sidewalk affairs, the
conclusion is unavoidably drawn that
the BoWery of long ago, the street
famed in song and story, is to a large
extent only thing of memory.
The copper" on his beat can walk for
hours now without danger of having
something heavy drop from some
where's overhead. He can even inveSti-
gate difficulty in barroom (when ne
thinks the feat a healthy one) with a
reasonable show for his life. Yet the
day was when these things were not
As usual, on the evening in question
there was to be seen plentiful sprink-
ling of blue uniforms in the multitude
Uncle Sans soldiers and sailors cannot
be buncoed so often that they will not
forgive. They cannot leave so much of
their hard-earned pittance behind
that they do not still look kindly upon
the scene of their misfortunes, as they
are sometimes considered by them. 1T
seems as though the Bowery We're an
irresistible attraction which must in
evitably overcome a blue uniform on a
days leave" There are a number of
very tenable theories to advance in
support Of this popularity: First, it's
Immediately accessible location; sec
ond, the unfailing and great hospitality
which the place offers to all aforesaid
blue uniforms; and, thirdly and princi-
pally, because of the dishonor which
attaches to the fact of having been on
leave duty in New York and not having
done" the BowerY.
Enthusiasts like Steve Brody, Chuck
Connors and their clique were, however,
clinking their glasses and waxing merry
over Tammany's resumption Of power
and the total demolition of reform.
These things promise great prospects for
the Bowery, and hopes are entertained
for business of a quantity and quality
of a wider scope.
One of the last Dictures thrown by
the reform lantern upon the screen Of
publicity was the suspension of Police
Captain Martens last week for allowing
policy shops to operate in his precinct.
On this event hinges an interesting tale.
The charges We're preferred and the
evidence produced against the Captain
by a millionaire dry goods merchant of
the city, Il. N. Goddard by name. This
gentleman finds time outside of his
business interests to devote some at
tention to the welfare of those lower
down on the social scale than himself,
and it was this which led him during the
summer to take up his residence among
the tenements, far from his mansion
home and in the precinct of the Police
quaintance of the tenement dwellers,
and in investigating and studying their
conditions of life as he found them, he
became impressed with the many-sided
evils of the policy octopus and the
leech-like influence it possessed among
his ignorant and all o-gullible neigh
bors. He perceived. that with it's de-
struction a dead weight would be re-
dd6y
families, and he set about to achieve
this end.
First. he secured evidence and wit
nesses, and then proceeded to Captain
Martens and laid the case before him.
He had tied the monsters working ap-
paratus, and now he desired to have it
wrecked He grew indignant when he
found that the Captain observed
strict do-nothing policy, and that his
labors were apparently in vain, Whlcn
discovery should have been enough TO
dampen the enthusiasm of reformer
even of Mr. Goddard's stamp. instead
the latter set about to gather more val
uable information, and before the as
tonished Captain realized what was
nm" he was summoned before the Po-
lice Board. charged with neglecrof duty
Finally the Captain was adjudged
guilty. and the millionaire Harvard
graduate dry goods merchant had some
thing to show for his prolonged labors
IN tho slunos beside the evidences of a
naoassarv neglect of business affairs.
re oil this had not occurred previous to
1.nuarv 1898. it is very doubtful that
q would have been at all, for Tam
many administration means a Tam
,,,anv Police Board, and what this
means is not an Orlentai orpio,o pro ~
mystery. HhL'o l OA>