New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-09
NATURE LIKES CITY LIFE.
n1scovERY OF sCEPTICAL MAN ON
THE UPPER WEST SIDE.

nan THOUGHT THE METROPOLIS WAS ALL BRICK
AND STONE STRAIGHT LINES AND ANGLES.
rrNrrI. HE POUND THIS SECTION.
rn,s e. the story Of the man who was con-
,,nced. It might as well be said right at the
,egnning that 1t is true story. 1t tells OF
40 who was sceptical about the beauty OF this
..o,ronol,s. and how his scepticsm was dis
s,nated, not by argument, but by the evidence
90 his own eyesight. That. after all. is about
an. hest way to put an end TO doubt. The man
a., question had been a traveller. and, unlike
MANY others his Journeyings have been entirely
!, his own country He is fond Of telling his
,-,ends OF the glories OF the Colorado canyons.
., the fower-crowned slopes OF Southern Califor-
MA and Of the wild picturesqueness Of the West
,rn coast. He knows the legends Of the Rockies
and the fables that cluster about the red sand
stone cliffs in the Garden OF the Gods. The
r,en is not a native of New-York He was
raared in a little inland town. where land Is
plentiful and cheap. where the streets are lined
with shade trees and where every house has It's
accompanying grove. Like many other persons
he had come to associate with great city ike
New-York the idea of solid masses OF brick
and stone reared along narrow streets. IN whicn
every ray OF light struggles for existence with
srooke and dust and where green things are
known only by name
pe,ng more or less interested in sociology and
kindred lines of thought. on coming to the city
No snent much time in the lower East Side and
IN the narrow confines Of the tenements This
d,d not tend TO increase his appreciation Of New
works. beauty nor TO broaden his ideas on the
sub,ect He saw Fifth-ave. splendid in palatial
homes Union Square with It's oval lawns ana
circle Of flaming tulips only served to suggest
the NAUGHTY Of the cty's resources for natural
hesutv He admitted that Central Park was
beautiful and he admired the harbor But this
vas not what he seeking. He contended
that the fullest enjoyment Of life came from
daily communng with beauty and pointed out
that the happest people were those VINO hveo
in an environment where each day they might
see something Of the unions Of earth ana SKY
and water. An occasional stroll In the PARK on
Sunday or trip on a ferryboat, he argued, did
not supply the stimulus which those who live
nearer to the heart Of nature feel TINS, ne
commended was impossible in New-York
But one day II was suggested TO him that he
take view of that newer part Of the city which
lies 10 the west OF and beyond the Park. So he
started out. still doubling. He had heard
good deal Of Claremont. and decided to make
that an objective point. He boarded Broad
way car, and until the turn was made into
Colurnbus-ave he wondered why he had taken
the trouble to see the same old thing-high bust
ness buildings fat and tenement houses, long
rows Of dwelling houses one just like the other,
Of hrownstone or brick straight lines and an
giles with nothing to vary the monotony. Then
the view began TO change. Here and there a
tree or shrub was seen, and when Sixty-third-
st. was reached he saw an open space OF green
TREES AND VARIETY IN HOUSES.
He got off the car and walked toward the
west. On all sides he saw variety. The houses
were new and differed in material and construc-
ton one from another. A glimmer in the dis
lance attracted him. and he soon found him
self upon a high bank. looking down on the
Hudson. The river lay fer below him. and along
It's banks large trees were rich with blossoms.
now red. now white. AS far as he could see
the rolling green stretched like a carpet, dotted
here and there with white and yellow flowers.
The sky was Of deepest blue and the sun was
high. but the fresh breeze made the air seem
cool. His path lay along a wellmade road. on
one side OF which the hill sloped downward to
the waters edge. What pleased him most was
10 see that not all New-York is shut in by
towering tenements Of brick and stone To the
right he saw homes and many of them. The
roadway lined with houses. with nothing TO
shut out the beautiful view. To the tenants OF
ties for enjoyment He felt that persons who
lived in this section Of the city must many
things that others never think Of To them the
observation Of the renascence Of life is possible.
The earliest buds the first flowers, the perfume
from the young leaves. the call Of the robin 10
his mate-these things may be part or every
days experience with the jewellers on the west
Side along the Hudson. They are able TO feel
that kinship with nature which is given only
10 those who live with it day in and day out
An occasional visit 10 the Park cannot create
this feeling. But life amid such surroundings
as those which exist on the upper West Side
cannot fail TO engender in the most prosalc
person certain amount of healthy natural
sentiment.
Dull would he be Of soul who could pass by
A sight so touching in its majesty
The The S beauty l0 OF the morning; silent, bare
snps towers domes, theatres and temples he
All bright and glittering in the smokeless air
Never did sun e more v seaT Toc or h
Meier saw l, never felt calm so deep!
The sceptical one dropped into poetry quite
readily. 1t would have seemed unnatural not 70
have done so. But he out for purpose
and he kept on his way. his eyes turning now
here now there and always seeing something
new. Others were enjoying the beauty, 100
There was a constant whir OF cycles ana the
ringing Of little bells. Along the low stone wall
that crowned the embankment stroers lounged.
laughing and chatting, pointing out the sails IN
the distance silently taking In the view.
Children played about the grassplots' ana their
rosy cheeks told the story Of the neighDornooo'
Everywhere there were signs of healthy. vigor-
Gus living. Mothers seemed less petuant IMAM
elsewhere and babies forgot 10 cry. Inc wan
derer wondered II this could be NewYork-the
city he had so often decried. 1t was reveal
ton, a discovery.
ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER.
He made his way TO Caremont by easy stages
stopping now and then 10 see new houses gong
I'm ionir ~ others clustering In the heights.