The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-25
SIDES VARIED LIFE.
All SORTS AND CONDITIONS OF PEO-
PIE IN FOLK STREET.

The intersticinE OF things and people on the
east side and the pell-mell OF dnings there af-
feet the sen ses unaccustomed much as q per-
sons eyes are affected who steps directly from
outdoor sunlight into q shaded chamber. As
the eyes get accustomed TO the light, objects
loom out in their normal distinctness. In like
manner. II the east side sightseer stays long
enough to get used to the place. that blurred
first impression OF muss and pother. of things
being AUTOGRAPHED aud OF u kind. melts away.
and objects assume their right apportionment.
Go into the region below Houston street.
we'll beyond the Bowery. along streets whose
names remind one OF the British peerage and
whose Individuality, In the whole. In the gross.
remind OF no other streets on earth. and stay q
while, and you will understand. As the first
bewilderment OF strange and un-American rs
sociations wears away. and the different grades
and oddities and counter oddities assume their
Eightful perspective. IL will lawn upon you
Just why II ia that people speak Of going down
on the east side lust as they speak OF going
6ovnt o (he SSw ShtpS. eySn e, geographical.
IL considered. they may be going up, and why
It Is that they call the east side great. World
Wilderness. a universal difference OF language,
race, sect. habit Of life and thought is repre-
. pented in any single block Of those miles Of tene-
ment habitation and tenement businesses. and
OF q genially bright afternoon. when doors and
windows stand open and the street. for the
most part. is at leisure as on q Sunday. a fas-
chatting study Of this. New York's most inter-
estinR. II not most inviting. theatre. Ia on view
for the mere cost OF the seeing and noting.
Certainly pictures so many and opposite and Of
such virile. meaninGful interest could not be
gathered in the same space Of street front any
where In the world; pictures that stick In the
mini clear-cut-cameo fashion. against the ba-
bel OF contendinR sights and sounds, Just as
certain turns and aspects OF scenery one has
run across in travel stand out clear and dis
tinct. from all that went before or came after
them no matter how much interest these may
have excited at the time.
Two multlfrom and multi-inhabited corner
houses that see each other from opposite ends
OF the same block In Folk street furnish pic
lures OF this keepsake character. pictures that
are a direct foil and counterpoise to each
other. yet framed in the same mosaic OF for
0ign trademarks and foreign tongues and lit
lie pennywise businesses and appurtensnces.
The one Of these corner houses looks and
Is prosperous, attractive. world-knowing and
70 the world belonging. The other 10 a
brace of buildings. age-eaten and shabby. and
the tenants and their belongings and inter
ests eloquent OF a time when primitiveness
went hand in hand with dirt. when appliances
were meagre and resources limited.
It Is the big siX-stoIied tenement with the
well-modelled woman's bust medaltioned,
patron-Saint fashion. over the arched en-
trance door that attracts attention by its very
un-east-side look of dignity and seemiiness.
and Of the taste aud refinement to be found
within 1t as well. qualities evidenced by the
things and people that show at the windows.
Were this house uptown. II would lie called
IN apartment house, and externally IL is Of
another and different sort to the fne-fronted.
grained-over tenen cuts that flank 1t on either
side. tenements with plaster birds alight on
the top cornice and IA Dlcnitude Of cheap gild-
ing and Rarnishing and Rrinniu2 mortar
faces. The house with the un-east-Sde look
II substantial. the trelwork over the windows
and that rounds of the corners IL genuinely
ornamental. aud from top to bottom in de-
eign. structure and finish it is pleasing. What
most strikes the onlooker in that particular
locality and environment is the freshness and
t0stefulness of the drapery that shows at the
windows and the charming and delicate ar
rangement OF green growing vines and tender
blossoms trailed up on slender supports out
side the easements. Only exceptional fond
ness and care could c%ontrive such uniform
beauty out OF mere window boxes. and only
good incomes and. a knowledge Of the fit and
fashionable in furniture could %contrive rooms
whose interior is so uniformly pleasing rs
EOy eNAeSN ~" WV NS"' 'hAN SAS"
NJ the open easements.
Can this be Folk street and the east side:
3ocusei within view. The room is on the sec
ond floor Of the building. and its windows look
out on two denSely populated streets. draperies
and ftments such as characterize any pleas,
ant sumptuous-yes, that's the right word
Grawing room frame a picture that would be
eiteness In that particular spot; A woman
comely; with shapely head and shoulders and
the gestures and easy .inclinations OF a woman
OF affairs OF the world. sits in q high. curved
backed chair talking animatedly to some one
wishes to interest and does interest. A little
girl OF possibly 4 or 8 years leans on the win
The woman's dark hair is becominely. almos,
deliberately. coif1ed her hands; as, she moves
them IN Easy arlington mat are slender and md dell ELL
ehiId are in Keeping with the fresh. up o-dats
yJSe medley Of folks and doings in the street
below, and the p~lcayune signs and stress o
poverty and waybackness In view ON every
All up and down the dwelling part of THU
deIes' Of the tenants. evidences Of prosperit,
and genial comfort are seen. Here the hear
S 81 2 couch gsR s snfiDs uS DlE%pe em IG Eish gillG ST,
their own excuse for display, There a jar
diniere. neither cheap nor tawdry. peeps out
and pompadouEed and wearing a light sill
The corsaRe. waves a big palmetto fan lanGuid
Ey at an upper window and a nursemaid in cal
and apron. with an infant in her arms. look
from another story. Down In. the street
perfect medley Of people stream by. women II
0rumpled calico gowns and thick, scanned wig
covering their hair trundle their own baby car
Tiages In the middle Of the. street. An ice car
comes by. the carter shouting attention 70 hi
wares and the people trail after, him with I'll
cups and mugs. and bits OF blanket 10 roll odI
pieces OF GOODNESS in.
The dame in her dressy corsuge and tn,
oomely young mother chatting at the windoy
with her little daughter and pet dog besid
her woul; not be so noticeable but for th'
array of llddish-charactered panels ant
hashed-up businesses and small trades tina
take up the street floor Of that very nice M
pearinR apartment house, Shave > %cents'i
sign In lurid yellow on the corner panel.
liquor shop has sundry small trade customer
IN one doorway and n sidewalk booth with tn
fanciest Of soda fountains and most puartere'
mp OF melon and cake stands is pr sided owe
by a frowsy- looking young person, in II plat
waist with pink beads about her throat. VIII
chats In between times with whoever happen
along. On The steiIs directly under the sculn
tured bust a round faced young mother sit
nursing her baby with the frank indifference