The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03
which IL appealod that at flrst it preser we'd

/ the site OF mansions so sumptuous and
costly that some real estate prophets
have regarded IL as distnctively tho
coming seat OF social elegance. But the
space to be occupied there is compar-
atively OF little length and very mar
row. Harlem, meantime built up as n
populous community, is moving south
ward, 80 that tho fashionable dwelling re-
gion in Fifth avenue TO the east OF Central
Park Is restricted to tho strip between
Sixticth street and about tooth street,
with only n single blocks depth.
Manifestly this is not an area large enough
TO furnish accommodation for the whole OF
the wealth and social display Of New York
a. t s IN as 1t is to be. 1t cannot become
the exclusive West End" because IL Is not
large enough for the purpose. The families
OF that social circle who arc necessarily
crowded out from 1t must find dwelling
places elsewhere.
To the west OF Central Park there has
grown up, meanwhile. new and attract
lively improved town, made conspicuous
also by the Columbia University buildings
oh Washington Heights and by the pro-
posed Ga, hcdral Of st. John the Divine
Here. unquestionably, Is tho geographic
West End and with tho Hudson
sweeping by It's situation, 1t has many
advantages. Moreover, being new, II has
been able to take advantage in It's resi-
dences OF oil the recent improvements
in architecture md convenience and
OF artistic variety in planning and arrange
mcnt. But Central Park now constitutes,
and always must constitute, a bar OF
separation in the social life OF New York.
Apparently, the region OF which We have
spoken must continue distinct and socially
independent. circle OF fashion, for
the sakc OF mere convenience must be 80
housed that II can get together without the
hardship OF too long and exhaustng travel.
At best tho distances in New York, extend
ing longitudnally along very thin line,
are long for such social purposes. aud
their increase by scattering q part OF fash
ion to the west OF Central Park and far
northward in that region would DO too
great to be endurabe Accordingly, rs we
have said, it looks as II that district
would grow up as a substantially distinct
community. finding it's social life within
itself chiefly; a prosperous, refined and
intelligent community sufficient to itself.
Where then, is to be the future seat OF
the social life Of tho fashionable wealth
excluded from tho short and narrow
region to tho east OF Central Park by
the circumscription OF the space It can
not go beyond, for Harlem shuts IL out
and at best the end OF Manhattan Island is
soon reached. Wcstchester county is too
far away. Must IL not, then. cling to tho
great residence region where now It is
mostly congregated, to the south OF Gen.
trail Park as far down as Twenty-third
street and lying between Fourth and
Sixth avenues This district is crowded
with residences once examples OF tho
most costly development OF domestic
architecture in the town. It is the
old "brownstone district. term which
means that INTELLECTUALLY IL Is dull Of color
and OF commonplace uniformity. The
prevailing house Is the "high-stoop brown
stone dwelling, respectable. indicative OF
wealth it may be- but representative OF
past social conditions and tastes rather
than adequate to the practical and gsthetlc
requirements and social standards OF the
luxurious life OF the present. The conng-
uration OF the ground. rising to the sum-
nit OF Murray HILL Ia unfavorable to any
sweeping and dominant invasion OF trade.
Business. It is true has entered into Fifth
avenue and to some extent into Madison
avenue. and milliners and dressmakers
have taken possession OF some OF tho
old brownstone residences In the side
streets but the opportunities for trade
are not tempting enough to bring in a
flood OF it, and such OF 1t as will come Is
likely to be 40 useful to the inhabitants
that 1t will not impair the desirability Of
the region for residences. Az New York
grows It will outgrow prejudices against
such convenient neighbors. Solong as Fifth
avenue is without means OF rapid transit 1t
must remain a relatively undesirable place
for most kinds OF shops, and even Of those
which are now there wo question II many
find the situation especially advantageous
for them. Certainly il Is not attractive
enough in that way to invite such rush Of
trade as tends up Broadway and along
Sixth avenue. for instance.
Already In this region many improve
ments have been made in order to meet the
requirements of the greater wealth and
moro cultivated tastes which have como In
3,
also q Ike Improvement has been notice
able. Well-to-do families. OF moro or less
association with fashionable circles, arc
occupying dwellings lately used a. board
ing-houscs and tho like. Districts In
which formerly were many houses oven OF
n disrcputable character have been trans
formed by highly respectable population OF
conservative and wcll-to-do families. They
must live somewhere. and In this region
they arc near to social opportunities they
prize. Meantime In Broadway In this
part OF the town the notable public amuse-
monts have gathered, and both there and
IN Fifth avcnu" are the most elegant OF
tho hotels and restaurants. It Ia, there
fore, very convenient place in which to
live. II is in the centre Of New York and
its extent is not 30 great ms to prevent
social intercourse between it's inhabitants
throughout its area.
Here, then, Is likely to be the continuing
seat OF tho vnst prcponderance OF tho