The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-14
SPRING IN THE WEST SIDE.
II Brings with II Sights and Sounds That
Recall Years Long Past.

Spring comes to the old west aide. that
region OF crooked streets. little brick houses
and tenacious respectability. with a touch
that seems to cali back to life the villages
which dotted those parts in the youth Of the
century. The labyrinth OF little chopped streets
centred about Abingdon Square has never.
indeed. quite lost the village aspect. A few
families over there still occupy the houses
Of their grandsires. To this day there
are doorplates on n few OF the little brick
houses. and brass doorknobs. polished every
Saturday afternoon as they were in the days OF
the embargo. There are even a few old brass
Knockers saved from midnight marauders by
screws that go clear through the door and are
held by nuts on the inner side. II is even
whispered that there are old folks in those
parts who speak Of going to New York when
they creep out to Broadway.
1t is the spring that brings out the old in
habitants OF the west side after their winter
long housing. You can see them walking
slowly along the sunny side OF Fourth street
and stopping to look up at the marvellous new
green Of the horse-chestnut trees that still
grow in n few west side t~horoughfares. or
coming. basket on arm. from a neighboring
market laden with salad herbs and spring
flowers. or stepping with precise care from one
Of those trolley cars whose brisk hum seems an
impertinence in the old fashioned. Philadel-
phia like streets. The old west siders like
to sun themselves in the bowery little
triangle OF Grove street within sight OF the
spot where Tom Paine died ninety years ago.
The spring sunshine rests tenderly upon the
huddled pentroofs and odd gables OF the old
west side. Now and then an open gate reveals
to the passerby q, sunny green interior OF grass
plots and shrubbery. with perhaps a tennis
court occupying ground that is worth nobody
ofices 6 n'T sh m% west = side iidSaaF oct tofn' some Ims S eGT Wb bear
have succeeded to the practice OF their fathers.
look out upon vine-clad fences and a maze
Of garden walks and quaint shrubbery. Even
the poorer houses welcome the spring. You
may see boxes OF moss-pink set to sun upon
upper window lodges. and potted geraniums
struggling for the sunshine that penetrates
istic Of the spring, than the aspect Of those
| west side areas. The basement rooms lighted
bv the area windows are not the squalid apart
ments that greet the casual. downward glance
| chiidren's toys in sight. The faded green
shutters. pierced by quaint little crescents.
at her sewing. or the granddame. Knitting in
hand. No repellant harness Of iron bars gives
the windows Il prison aspect. Whom the sash
IS up and the newly-watered plants are smok-
window ledge. the whole interior has an en-
gaging air OF domestic comfort. Sometimes
you may see u great rocking chair with capa-
cious followed leathern seat. speaking Of long
The keeping % Gagged birds is an old west
side custom. When Abingdon Square and the
tiny tatiron Of Grove street and the timer tri-
Horatio street are thickening their leaves be-
meath the May sunshine. you NAV hear the
prisoners singing together. the Gapary's little
fountain Of song. the bob white" of the home
birds striking through the urban hum that In
vades the villaRe-like thoroughfares