The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-25
IN BUSY CCSNERS
SEEN DAILY ON THE
STREETS
WHERE PEOPLE COME AND 60

Women of All Classes and Occu-
pations - Big stores Attract
CTowds-A Multum In Paryo
Notwithstanding of st. Paurs
Diversified Interests.
Probably no other city in the North
west furnishes more varied or interesting
street scenes in the business district than
does ST. Paul. Considering It's popula-
ton and area ii has an extraordinarily
large business center. The retail bust
ness district covers a territory more than
half a mile square, and the city has
many kinds of retail trade that may not
be seen elsewhere. Being the greatest
railroad center in the Northwest there
are many kinds and conditions of people
constantly on the streets.
( One of the most interesting street inter-
sections in the city Is that of Seventh and
Wabasha. This location, especially in
ali parts of the year save winter, is the
Mecca for the thrifty housekeeper who
does her own buying for the table and
wants to make the selections in person
in order to get the benefit of advertised
sale prices. At this season of the year
retail business in the grocery and pro-
vision trade is In reality not active until
afternoon. Any time after 2:30 o'clock
during the winter days a close observer
may see the sinew of the housekeeping
Industry of the city going one way or
the other near this intersection. They
are not distinguished by market baskets
nor yet by the bargain-hunting face SO
often encountered in the big stores. Oc-
casionally the housekeeper may be seen
carrying one or possibly two packages.
Generally she is shade better than well
dressed and might be considered natty.
She walks rapidly enough to show that
she has business on hand, and that she
has only a certain time for it's transac-
tlon.
SHIFTING THE SCENE.
Two blocks south, or toward the river,
the student of street scenes will find an
other sort of center. 1t is that of which
the postoffice is the center. Here the
men are more numerous, and the class
of women encountered is more mixed
To be sure many of the elite from hill
districts" may be seen, but they are on
their way to either one or the other of the
two great retail dry goods emporiums
that are located in that neighborhood.
About this neighborhood the aristocracy
may be seen in their fashionable equip
ages: The casual visitor in ST. Paul is
generally surprised at the number and
fine equipment of the private family con-
Veyances to be seen during fine weather,
and the conclusion is at once formed that
the city has more than was expected In
the way of conservative fashion and
homegrown wealth.
Around Fifth and Wabasha streets
there are elements of the male popula-
ton In various castles. The busy profess
sional man-lawyer, broker, merchant
: brushes elbows with the city, county or
government official, whose official homes
are all In the neighborhood In this
neighborhood may also be seen the pofiti-
cian-generally the local product. His
home or stamping ground is naturally
close to the official headquarters of those
who are OH the inside as a result of smil-
Ing political fortunes The politician and
his friends are the best customers of the
thirst-quenchiDg establishments in the
ne1ghborhood. This portion of the down
town district has more life in 1t during
the hours just preceding midnight than
any other section.
LOOK HERE FOR STRANGERS
Fifth and Robert streets is an intersec-
ton at which more strangers or visitors
may be seen than at any other This ap-
plies to the floating and business element
of the visiting class. There are several
ticket offices of the big trunk line rail-
ways located at or near this intersection.
and the commercial traveller as a rule
makes one, perhaps two, calls at these
corners during his stay of twenty-four or
thirty-six hours. The patrons of the big
hotels nearby are usually men of import
ance in the commercial world and
street walk before or after dinner will
generally take them past this intersec-
ton. At this corner the Minneapolis sur
face cars approach nearest to the whole
sale district and to many of the largest
office buildings, and as a result the point
is a prominent one for persons leaving or
getting on street cars. The Saltwater
electric car also passes this intersection,
and as rule takes on from ten to a
dozen passengers, leaving half that num-
Der. 1t is also a point for transfer of
passengers on surface cars to and from
South st. Paul. AT certain hours of the
day the South st. Paul passenger is easily
distinguishable by the number and va
riety of packages he or she carries, and
not infrequently the market basket is in
evidence During the early hours Of morn
ing the West st. Paul cars discharge hun
dreds of passengers at Third, Fourth
Fifth and Sixth streets, who are employ
ed as clerks or statesmen or salesladies in
the stores of the business center, and
these regular riders may be seen at the
close of the business day at the inter-
sections mentioned awaiting for the ar
rival Of their particular car.
SEVENTH AND ROBERT STREETS
Considered at all times, from o'clock
In the morning until at night, this inter-
section is the most interesting. Three Of
the corners are occupied by the most eX-
fensive clothing and furnishing retail es-
Establishments in the city, and the trade
of one of the biggest department stores
passes the corners. The car lines, from
East and West Seventh streets, which
penetrate populous residence districts,
pass the intersection, and all of Como and
interurban surface cars turn west at this
location The trade Of these big stores is
drawn from all elements Of the popula-
tion. Here the bargain hunter may be
found in abundance. She carries many
packages and is seeking more. She comes
from all sections Of the city, and when
she has worn herself out she starts for
home from this location. She and her
companions are always in hurry, and II
you get on the same car with her she
will be aheeSN OF you in getting the only
vacant seat, unless you are more expert
than the average man. Occasionally, just
once in while. remember the pretty
Young saleslady meets her best young
man at the corner as she leaves the store
for home, and after the shortest possible
talk. of not more than fifteen minutes,
he sees her to the car, and the perform
ance is not repeated until the next even
Ing. This Is an intersection over which