The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1899-05-11
Wfatte1, for The Prison Mn7'Or.
THE BOWERY.


A great and famous traveller has said
that no city in Christendom possesses
street comparable to the Bowery of
New York City. However true that
may be, all Americans will agree with
me in saying, that it is undoubtedly the
most famous and interesting thorough
fare in America. The Bowery is not a
great street in length, but it is its past
and present associations, which endOw
it with interest. 1t is the only street of
Importance that is entirely foreign to
the city and country possessing it. 1t
jewish but upon its pavements may
be seen representatives of almost every
nation on earth. The Bowery begins
at Chatham square, and fourteen
blocks further on ends at the wedge
formed by Cooper Union Institute at
Eight street, where it is split in twain
forming on the right the great 3rd
Avenue and 4th Avenue OF the left.
It has the width of both these Avenues,
being about one hundred feet from
store front to store front opposite, but
street by day, which is caused by the
elevated road being completely built
over it the full width of the street, but
by night it is the most brilliantly light
ed street in the world, averaging no less
than nineteen electric arc lights to the
block, or by actual count two hundred
and ixty-three for the fourteen blocks.
What attracts the attention of the
stranger especially are the number of
restaurants, museums, pawnshOps, lod
ging houses and "Growler Dumps"
There are on an average six saloons in
each block, and as the law compeIls all
saloons to be merely hotel bars, they
each have lodging house above the
saloons, and class themselves as "Ho-
tels?" Let us begin at Cooper Union
and stroll down the Bowery. From
Eight street to Fourth street we en-
counter nothing of special interest,
unless it be the gaily painted signs
with inscriptions like this: GA large
glass of beer three cents, all other
drinks five cents;" "Hot free lunch all
day." Rooms for gentleman only, with
free bath, five, ten and fifteen cents"
There are number who also offer a
bowl of hot soup or coffee, free of
charge, but just off Fourth street is a
branch of the Bowery Mission restau-
rant, where meals are five and ten cents
each. 1t is large, cleanly kept room,
perhaps hundred by seventy-five feet,
and has marble counter completely
encircling the room. Here may be seen
"birds" of every feather, from the silk
hat and Prince Albert to the grimy
raggedy Johnny Yegg. Although
established to help the poor, the restau-
rant serves all corners alike, for it is
not supposed person would not come
there, whose finances would permit
otherwise. But as the food is clean and
wholesome, that is question?
One block below are four music halls,
where the Couchee Couchee and all
other forms of Hurdy Gurdy per-
formance may be seen, and it may be
unnecessary to say, they are packed
every evening, as the admission is free
on buying beer.
Now we pass on few blocks to
Delaney street, where is located the
main pawnshop of Simpson Bros, who
do the largest pawn BUSH ess in the
United States. There may be pawned
anything from Waterbury watch to
diamond necklace. It is a wonderous
sight to gaze into the window of large
hook shop and see the articles people
have been forced to part with. Medals
of Honor, Medals for Bravery, watches
and bracelets, which from the inscript-
ions engraved on them must have been
the possessor's dearest treasures. In
tho Samo hlOok aro Mipor,c pornorv