New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-05

their way 10 school and pensive matrons
bound TO the city for a day Of shopping in the
great drysoods stores. The fresh. bright look On
all the faces is also the clothes. Everything
shines. shoes and hats are polished, and the
dinner pail on the workman's arm shows the
tidy housewives care. His garb is spick and
span. The heavy horses with big drays. take
up their task as brskly the men. The
crowds grow from the solitary milkman cropping
from house to house before the dawn until the
streets are choked with almost solid mass Of
people surging, hurrying and pushing each other
aside in the eager pursuit Of a livelihood
AS the day draws toward its close the same
people leave the city homeward bound. They
are more leisurcly now. The men stop az fruit
stands to buy for their table. or at some market
10 carry home dainty morsel for the morning
meal Some are exhausted. some look care
worn. some faugued and some triumphant The
days toll has told on an their nerves and spirits
that IS plain The buoyant footsteps OF the
morning now too often are Of the plodding kind
AND yet there IS anticipation written in the
eyes. Dinner home and all that pays them for
this life Of drudgery and toll just beyond the
icity's bounds The morning IS the charge 10
battle: the evening the retreat And retreat It
is- What ever was there so much like a retreat
ing army as these crow DIS Of men and women.
hacks with passengers and heavy drays with
drivers prodding. lashing, whipping horses all
In haste 70 catch ferry boat train? Civilities
are thrust aside too often. and sometimes the
chivalry which men usually show the fair sex Is
utterly flung aside. The man who gave up his
seat In the car or ferryboat to the pretty girl in
the morning does not do so now. lie is too tired
10 think OF that
Among the great arteries by which these toll
ers go and come every day the thorough
fares leading TO the ferry Of the Erie Railroad
on the North River. Warren and Chambers SITS
are among the most important and an almost
endless throny Of people passes through them.
Between 4.3O and ESQ p. m. the crowd is the
densest and the size Of It has often made
strangers wonder where al the people compos-
ing II came from.
When the crowd reaches West-st. the retreat
becomes rout Westst, which runs along the
river is one Of the busiest IN the metropolis. 1t
IS crowded all hours OF the day and far into the
night with trucks. wagons and other vehicles
loaded with merchandise bound for the piers Of
the railroad and steamship companies.
On their way u The Erie Railroad ferry as
with all those along the river front. the people
have 20 cross West-st, and such a lodging ana
scamperlng as there is amid tho charge ~
countless horses. draws and noisy drivers carries
out the parallel 20 the letter
The average New-York truckman apparently
never y.
must DE remembered that be has his own
troubles and lots Of them. lie knows that the
first law ~ his calling is TO keep moving. or
he Will miss the connection between MS load ana
the boat and Consequently lose his fob.
Policemen are stationed at al the principal
crossings leading 10 the ferries. and once IN a
while a truel, driver viii deign 10 observe their
presence and slack his team so that bunch
OF humanity can scurry across ahead OF him.
And such a task the lluecoats stationed al War
ren. Chambers and West SITS. have. Ihey stand
N he m o. lf
tracks ard between their efforts 70 keep out ~
harms way themselves they try their best 70
help people cross IN safety.
The Network policeman IS monarch in q
crowd like this. Ills command is law These
great, stalwart officers stand out Ike rocks in
the surging waves Of men and wagons and
frantic women and children TO protect the weak
from harm There IS an improvement r. the ser
vice. too at this point. which owing 20 the large
square In front % the ferryhouse. is one Of the
the city. The streetcars. the drays extending in
long line for block, all stop at the police
mans beck 10 let the stream of people pass.
Then the policeman lets the vehicles move on
again, while the people IN turn wait IL goes
on in this way alternating those who do not
fear admring the calnness Of the big bluecoat
who is selected for his pOndeTous size and steady
judgment for this difficult task.
But even with the guardian Of the law on
hand alert and ready 10 assist. there is stiIl
some lodging. The maiden who crosses on tip
toe has all the room she wants. The vehicles
fall back and the policeman smiles
Next comes fat man Of determined cast
or cOuntenanCe The opening between the We
hicles has closed by this time. but he cares not
No obstacle in life has ever daunted him. and
he is not going 20 bother about such q little
thing crossing a street He steps on the
sidewalk and is Immediately lost sight Of in a
tangle Of horses wagons and shouting drivers
He finally energies. putting and snorting in dis
,ress; but, satisfied IN having emerged. ne goes
on his way.
And so 1t goes all the afternoon. until one
would suppose that enough people would be
MANNED and injured 10 fill a good sized hospital.
But an accident Is rarely recorded after all. and
everybody finally reaches his home In safety,
usual