The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-11-23
BIZ IrAIE.
A House owner in Harlem Tells n Moving
Story of His Dangers and Woes.

Story of His Dangers and Woes.
To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sirs About ten
years ago. when 1 was on ''easy street." / in
vested my surplus capital in buying a house in
Harlem as q provision for ny family and as q
good investment. 1t was q modest house. as
houses 90, but / took pride In II as my one eve
lamb. I was told that property was sure to
advance In value. inasmuch as Il was a grow
ing neighborhood. Having recently taken
stock, 1 fnd that tho only perceptlble growth
that has taken place in tho interim was not in
real estate values. but in the adjacent rock.
Both the values and the rock are fast disap-
pearlng In a proportlonate ratio. The blasters
are holding high carnival. and my humble
abode is in consequence not only shrinking In
value. but shrinking vislbly in bulk. to the
naked eye.
What the llneal descendant OF the Caesars has
failed to accomplish so Tar tbut doubtless he'll
make up for this later, as the finishing touches
are always most efrectivel the Building Depart
ment. stepping In. have kindly undertaken to
do. Thinking that / was entitled to sympathy
at least, I rashly concluded to make my tale OF
woo known to the heads OF our city's bureaus.
hoping thereby to keep these Roman legions
at bay. So far the scheme has worked disas-
~trousiy. and / And that tho more l complain
the more cause l have for complaint.
As the result OF a building inspectors dag
nosls Of the case. he has prescribed that l put
q p~oultice. or q poor mans plaster. on the
party foundation wall that is badly cracked
from tho repeated conclusions. to see IL the
assures broaden and deepen to a really
alarming extent. Nor is this all. I have
been served with q paper directing me
to take down. under penalty OF the law.
my chimney and adjoining coping. lest
some blast might throw them down and in
iure IL not kill the sappers and miners whose
work is responsible for the dilapidated condi-
tion OF my dwelling. 30 I have taken the warn
ing to heart and this day have entered into
contract to have my house d~ismembered from
the roof. while another contractor continues to
demolish the premises from the foundation
free Of charge.
But 1 anticipate a little. Our sculptor is not
concerned about discovering angels In the
rough-hewn block. He has a different reputa-
ton from that. He makes. angels by the force
explosive, Is I am not yea5niinE Tor angels In
mh synd LSdmi nyod ! naturally r 99bIsSt t. this high In
c eaR1 arc RF more IGNORED Sp IN f fSs breaeh e rh is
Thrilling that I could stay this bombardment
{, the station house and there told a moving wing
tale that harFSSwed up the soul Of the Sergeant
was IN the hands Of my, friends, and that "a
g man ne TSp a1I Be z, sent %sS. fo + h,r to protect me
he saw and was conquered. The man from the
etation house made q great noise and grew
hotly and vlrtuously indignant in my presence
and In the presence OF the dynamite gladiator.
It was an outrage, he said, and he, pointed to
tered mantels. Did the gladiatorial dynamiter
and 'f faoe H ! : 0i But g IL; as f prsse SS@P of tSs
S%ssF Fsa SHSii ios 1fSSiE,H1fBs Bon oa EssPsfts SOAR p SGqla
I vas comfCrted. however. when I heard the
oftieer call him a rascal, and q brute to his
beard. But my feelings later in the day were
very much outraged when / found this worthy
seasss snd his stiE Ee ens6o ~%Eqbs 4otb and 5 SrTns"
ing and i~toastinR each other 10 q saloon on the
other side OF the street. And when I showed
myself l received nothing but glances that
proved more ~eloauently than words that l was
persona non prdtd.
I appealed to a higher court, and HE'D myself
TO the Bureau Of Oombustibles. The case was
deemed SO urgent that a man was. sent post
haste, for fear Of a tragedy taking place In his
absence. Another dramatic interview. moro
p p5otpsT sn Snd excited Unt d ! than n|mrt the I former and
Determined not to be checkmated. l went to
the Building DEPARTMENT.. and my story excited
30 much interest that I was told an Inspector
would not only be despatched forthwith TO the
s sSsns 81 Fl battle Sst sn but THAT that l he would e I'D. BE- sh stationed tic led
Jury betell my house or family, You know the
rest. .Syengah again proved himself the mas
ter spirit, and the building inspector was hyp-
Noticed like the others.
obituary notices all ready and my will made.
But. as oil my eggs are in one basket. I'll have
no one. In case OF . catastrophe. who Is likely
TO survive the impending tragedy; II. u.s. Q
S SHnnSs saf hS~ iiEye that anS ! r SER Z I s SSnsst n aS whiSh I
that ! cannot sell or rent. and that 1t would be
folly for me to give away. MOUNT MORRIS.
NEW YORK. Nov. %.