The times., 1899-01-15
Kings Palace Department Stores @2S Seventh Street, Branch Us Market Space

dexterous thumb and forefnger-a deX-
terity acquired by long practice-that we
could eat several without being caught.
Once in awhile We were nearly caught,
though, for mother would say, Dear me,
| hadn't noticed that so many people took
picked oysters; the bowl must be filed
up again." and then she would say to
grandmother-our quiet little grandmother
in her easy chair. who never told what she
saw, and never even appeared TO see-'lts
because OF that old recipe that We brought
with us from Virginia. Then we fled lest
we might laugh out loud.
The first thing that We did in the morn
ing was to look out and see if it was
pleasant day, and it seems to me now that
it usually was pleasant. II not-what
grumbling there was all around, Our
father was always on the list OF martyrs,
no matter what the day was-until. some
years before the custom died out he de-
clared himself out of the game" and
stayed peacefully at home all day. On
those stormy days he used to say: Must
make some calls, you say. mOther-well,
I'll die of lung fever; see if | don't" I'VE
did not have pneumonia then.l And
mother would groan, oh what state
my carpets will be in" But the crisp,
cold days-thOse were a delight. We lived
in Tenth Street. and it was then way up
town. People did live above Union Square
but it seemed to us to be the end OF all
things, and we oftened wondered where
Broadway went to, for it was all an un
known beyond, to us then-that is. it was
all unknown except when we took Il sleigh
ride out on the Bloomingdale road, in one
of the Kipp & Brown sleighs. But that
was such a time of wild hilarity that We
did not pay very much attention TO land
marks of any sort
At that time most of the men who called
upon my mother came early or late. for. as
she explained to me, the people in our
vicinity began up town and worked down,
and the downtown men began there and
worked up. | remember that we had
many friends then who lived in downtown
streets. l remember, especially, Duane
Street and Bowling Green. OF course.
mauy-very many-lived in the region a
few blocks below and above Washington
Square. Bond, Amity, Bleecker, Waverly
Place. and Clinton Place. all were resi-
dence streets Now, how all is changed
even the names in one of two instances.
So mother was always ready to greet
her guests by 10 O'Clock. Father and our
eldest brother the one gay and full of au-
ticipation of the day, and the other
good and obedient husband. were sent
off with their cravats properly tied-and
their card-cases full. Then. in my st
gown and wide sash and stifiiy starched
and rustling pantalettes, that scraped to-
gether as | walked. | was often only tco
! happy to be sent flying up stairs and
down. on errands, while Mary Anne was
dressing to go to the door Sometimes.
| even. was allowed to open the door for
| the very first early and unexpected caller,
and | was happy if allowed to sit on a
stool behind the door. where | could pep
| through the sidelight and let i'll the caller
| before he could touch the bell. 1t is tru q
| that was ignomiously hustled out OF the
| way again when Mary Anne, in St,itiy
| starched calico immaculate white ap on,
| and smooth. shining bands of hair. came
| rustling down to take her place.
Our staid and altogether respectable