New-York tribune., 1901-10-13
STATEN ISLANDERS.
COMMUTERS WHO LIVE WITH
IN THE CITY LIMITS.
,our OF THEIR HABITS AND CUSTOMS
AND THE PRETTY QUAINT Or Curl
orS SPLACES WHERE THEY DWELL.

orSPLACES WHERE THEY DWELL.
4s about the only city in the world which
last Of having genuine commuters who do
c. N outside the city limits in their Communication
H- Perhaps Chicago Will insist that she has
tIs,ers' homes within her boundaries, but when
corada greater Chicago they tried take in
entire State Of Illinois and parts Of Wisconsin
- Indiana. At any rate. not even Chicago has
Sr,,rers ike the Staten Islanders who come TO
Ae Borough OF Manhattan every Gay from the
n,ough OF Richmond.
maj they are just real commuters as those
IN come TO the city from New-Jersey, from West
Ss+er County or from Long Island one who
- ever travelled with them will doubt. And
mere is not way of realizing to the fullest
sgnee how big greater New-York is than to make
: tourney 10 TottenviIle or Arlington every mile
n which is in the city limits. These island resi-
dents have all the marks Of other commuters. They
ase on monthly tickets. il takes some of them
more than an hour 10 reach their homes and they
have the usual commuter Crouch against sub
urban railroads and ferryboats. especially the
ferryboats. When II comes to bundles they out
carry any other commuters in the country.
The strangest thing about it all IS the pride
they take in being Staten Islanders When one
meets a Harlemite away from New York he never
thinks OF saying THAI he lives in Harlem. Not
,ouchl He is from New-York, and he is proud
ot IL But the Staten Islander! Meet him in Buf-
,slo and ask him where ne lives Nine times out
OT
and it's the garden spot Of America Then he gets
.,chesty" as Deyery would say. and talks about
-be island as a Philadelphian does about the sleepy
Quaker TOWN. He always forgets TO say anything
about mosquitoes, which are sad handicap on
any paradise when they come in punches, they
do OF this particular island.
Horace Porter once said, in addressing the Loyal
leglon or some such body:
1T has always been d mystery what became of
Noah's Ark Al last I have solved IL. They
using it for a Staten Island ferryboat."
That was several years ago. but they are still
ps,ng arks to carry commuters ard Others from
the Battery 10 St. George. Perhaps that is the
reason why the commuters kick at the ferry in
stead Of the train service Yet it took ferryboat
disaster 10 acquaint the rest OF this big city with
the fact that commuters by the thousand live
on Staten Island.
why didn't know that many people lived on
the whole island said an old resident OF Man
haitian, when he heard that eight hundred COM
rnuters had been saved from the Mortified.
Ever since that disaster the ferry ride to St.
George has been the safest IN the harbor. Masters
of other boats were amazed at the ease with which
the Mortified went TO pieces and have given the
old yellow boats wide berth ever since. The COM
pany has promised new ferryboats some day. and
the commuters hope that their sons or their sons
sons will ride 10 and from the city modern
boats.
Yet the half hours ride down the bay is one OF
the best features about life Staten Island. accord
ing TO the real estate who is trying to sell
6 house and lot 1T is bracing healthful Crowded
the boat don't sink) and gives you great chance
to get acquainted with your neghbors.' is the way
he puts it. One might think from this last phrase
that all Staten Island happy family. but
It isn't There is just much petty pealousy be-
tween the little villages there is between Yonk
ers and Mount Vernon.
Sometimes exciting things happen the ferry
boats One Staten Island wife once horsewhipped
her husband In the main cabin few dozen per-
sons have attempted suicide. and some of them sue
ceeded II Was only q short time ago that riot
was narrowly averted Of the boats and the
reason for It makes a story that is worth telling.
Two who had been drinking boarded the
boat at the Battery. One OF them carried a golden
haired baby IN his at least II looked for all
the world like a baby. and the women passengers
were sure of it when It began 10 They did not
notice that the was pressing a hidden spring.
What shame it is that those drunken men are
allowed to carry that poor baby around" said one
woman. There were other expressions of sym
pathy-
The baby continued TO cry. and finally the man
who held It said in loud tone: "If you don't shut
up III punch you"
The horrid brute!' chorused the women.
baby IN the face.
You strike that baby again and I'll kill you"'
exclaimed the other fellow.
The man with the baby dropped II on the floor
Three or four men jumped 10 the rescue, others
started 10 thrash the brute II almost a
stot ~ e4luSu ~hen tne rescuers founo that all
Ntslr sympathy mad been wasted over & doll baby
staten Island commuters creatures OF habit
70 large extent Habit tells them to take q
TAN ieftyooat every morning and evening. II they