The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-12
Il QUAINT WEST SIDE QUARTER.
Abingdon Square still PreScrves Its OId-TIme
Character In spite or Modern ProEresS.

Character In spite or Modern ProEreAs.
Now York's lower west side squares and
streets are as different from those on the east
side. of the same latitude and bearing, as chalk
from cheese. On the east side everything seems
jumbled and at fever heat, as IL in the popular
mind any excitement. oven risk. IS to be pre-
ferred to monotony. Tho pulse of the west side
heats even to the stroke of tho clock; people
are contcntcdly unhurried. There is plenty of
room for everybody, and space for a few more
II need be. The big, lop.sided square where
Hudson street and Eighth avenue join
Blocker street furnishes an instance. The
little triangular park. with its fresh grass and
green bushes, and hospi,able old elm that
reaches n leafy arm out over the hydrant where
the car horses water, is rs tranquil and orderly
as though 1t set off n roadside homestead. The
wooden band stand in the open, with awnings
afap and a general air of alertness, does not in
the least detract from this conservative aspect,
while the big new warehouses that have como
to the further side of the way and the brand
new apartment building that has edgedsin
have q certain sobriety of front, as IL the old
and the new order had met together and agreed
to share the ground between them.
The remote and grange-like appearance of the
place. rs If it were n continent away from
Broadway or Fifth avenue or the fdGety east
side, mas ,i nsught to 90 with inactivity: There
and thrifty, w1de.doored groceries and eating
places, evidently we'll patronized. while a mum.
Der OF clubs and social haternities cluster about
Tho raw implements and fundamental essen
tials which are used in other parts OF the city
are made in the adjacent factories by the
skilled. conservative folk who live in tho modest
little brick houses in the nearby streets. Tho
fresco painter must como here to got his
swing scoffold and his stepladder. tho store
keeper for his showcases and show windows,
slot machines and amusement novelties which
make up the Bowery and Fourteenth, street fun,
who belong to some one Of tho clubs that face
tho park and, sit within its green embrasuro on
SUNDAYS sur Mync and h hold gSt,d reading their papers
These frequenters of the park are different in
manner and bearing from tho east side park
his little clean.frocked toddlers in this kindly,
solicitous fashion. His little ones go out. or
brothers or sisters or on their own hook. lie
himself Is out chattering and smoking in com.
psny with his neighbors, taking his plea sure at
child's pleasure, as is the case with the AbinR.
don Square frequenter. And the street car
humored, fat, and placid. lazily taking in the
days doinRs from his shady seat against the
tree trunk. No street faCtotuin on tho popu-
lous east side could rest as TRANQUILITY in bo-
tween times OF business us he docs, but then
tho trees don,tskoep as shady a green on tho cast
car horses over there have n strained. fretted
look, as II on the watch for adventure. The
ter man as, well AS the car horses know him.
with his trimming buckets offered on the
thirsty way, and to the bicyclists OF the dis.
trict he is also a familiar figure as they wheel
narrow strip OF asphalt which skirts the cobbio
For ali lis trades and factories and sober
sounding clubs tho neighborhood is not sverse
ness quito dispassionately. In the very building
where they make clothespoles, Rroccrs' wagons,
has footing, and a good. broad. toc.tempting foot.
ing, II the space devoted 10 the sign and the
name OF the professor is any criterion. A
bicycle academy Is domiciled under the roof
sheltering felt and straw hat works. A violin
md banjo studio hobnobs with brooms and
brushes and bakers supplies. Not a candy
needle and knick. knack,. millinery, nor any
other sort Of shop Is TO be found within the con
prehensivc lines is harbored there.
There is an odd conformity IN this general
fraternity of business and social interests. No
less than six clubs, their names betokening va
Tiously social, political, or delibcrative intent.
square, and their lettered signs and tho formal
blue or green shades that screen the windows
looking houses or houses sheltered behind elab.
orntc iron balustrades. each with a fenccd.in
dooryard beside the, steps. As M Offset on the
business block of the square and oil about In
the adjoining nelghborhood, ore Union com.
panies Of ono sort or another, consumers COM
panies. and distr!butive and wholesale agencies.
The cafes and houses OF public entertain.
mcnt which hedge this old-tin,e plaza arc like.
and ncat looking, ~ well as roomy and Iinpro.
%tentious. that tho sign Ladies and Gents.
tricked ont across the window panes, seems
out Of keeping, "a do the bills Of fare chnlked
on the slatos put out before the door. Third ave-
nue. fashion. Perhaps the clubs ncighborhood
and dancing classes Ike TO know In advnrco
what extras can be hud and at what price. bnt
the carefully polished door knobs and boil
handles OF the adjoining houses would seem 10
sticklo for better taste.
For all the new buildings and the "ladies'
and gents cafes and wheeling academies which
have come TO the square II yet preserves tho
serenity and half town, half country atmos-
phero that, was the scheme OF it's original lay
Ing out, long before street cars were ever
thought OF. Ono thing, however, is incongru-
Gus. On the front OF a tall building which over
looks the park is the sign Of n tree with three
new time, which came in with tho ladies and
gents" cafes and slated menus. The old, time
consulting settlers had neither need nor inclinA.
ton TO he tided over financial emergency in
such fashion. One thing is certain. The west
with their children don't pAtronizc it, nor the
members of the clubs with the sober sounding
names, nor the householders OF those trim little
brick houses on Bank street. Maybe the tree
with the three balls won't be there long; or has
only lust come to try the location. AT any
rate, It seems out Of key, with The placid old
square and had better go back to the east side,
| whore II doubtless came fr0As