The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-23
THE FIFTH AVENUE PARADE.
4 COSMOPOLITAN SHOW MOI
ExCELLED ANYWHERE.

fifth avenue 10 the parade ground OF
New York. The infantry and cavalry OF
saan;on AMI the loot soldiers OF poverty
meet there, touch elbows and pass on. each
20 bis own place and each with q little wider
knowledge, when the parade Is over, OF
what tbs othsr Is like. .
On this common ground quality and
quantity got to know one another better,
bcosuse the classes and the masses rub
arainst one another.
II NAV be that some will insist that
Broadway, rather thar Fifth avenue. must
be designated as New York's great promo
made. II Is, for Just one afternoon In the
week.
For an hour and q half after the close
OF the theatres on Saturday afternoon,
Broadway may fairly be said TO he the great
street Of tho town, the thoroughfare where
all New York gravitates; where quality
goes for dress parade and where the others
20 20 look on. IL has been said, and nobody
has over challenge the statement thai
one may see more beautiful women and
moro perfect style in feminine attire OF a
Saturday afternoon in Broadway, from
Fifteenth street to Forty-second street, than
In any other city In the world.
But tho limo has passed In review by
twilight and Broadway becomes just brazen
and bold again for another week, New
York goes back to the avenue.
For a so-called fashionable th~oroushfare
Fifth avenue is probably the most cosmo-
politan street in the world. When no dis
tinctions are drawn. there IL only one really
cosmopolitan ~thoroughfare in the world
and that Is the Bowery. But the Bowery
has never been regarded, even by It's most
offensive partisans, as a strictly fashionable
street.
Fifth avenue is known all the world over
"a the quality street Of New York. This
remembered, it is undoubtedly true that,
Of the worlds fashionable promenades, the
avenue is the most cosmopolitan.
The boulevards Of Paris. Berlin, Vienna
and London are said to be provincial in
comparison. Jew and GENTLE, Russian,
French or Prussian, the sea islanders and
the folks from the interior meet and pass
and stare at one another there. and all, no
matter what their station. creed, color or
previous condition OF servitude, a to
see and be seen,
Il Is an interesting scene which Fifth
avenue presents on any fine afternoon, from
the ist OF October until the LIST Of July.
The most interesting section for him who
likes 10 watch the passing show Is from
T~wenty-third to Fifty-ninth street.
That IL the parade ground proper. The
rest Of the thoroughfare serves only as so
much territory into which the paraders
may disperse.
From Q o'clock in the afternoon until 0
o'clock In the evening the SOM and daugh-
>xe ~ all natiAna find anppathinn 10 do
and something to see on the avenue. Some
20 to shop in the section between Twenty
third and Forty-second street. A woman
must have her purse or her husbands
good credit with her to buy from the shops
along hat part Of Fifth avenue. for, as a
rule. only the luxuries Of the world are sold
there, the products Of the master crafts
men.
Some, too strong 70 work, 60 there TO
beg Of the bounty of the rich. and some,
students OF the economy which teaches
the art OF getting something for nothing,
60 there to steal. In Fifth avenue, as else
where, theft and poverty ever follow In
the train of wealth.
Between Forty-second street and the
Plaza the afternoon throng in the thorough
fare, except on Sunday afternoons. is
made up largely Of the bon-bon and
b~rougham part Of the population. The
SAVIOR Of trade is borne but family north
OF Forty-second street and the multitude
makes a moving picture of fashion on
parade.
In those seventeen blocks up the avenue
TO the Plaza one may see on any fine after
noon the bravest show OF millinery, the
finest display of modish frocks and the
most beautiful women In the world. II the
cosmopolite would take exception to so
sweeping a statement, let him remember
that the world bows to the beauty OF Ameri-
can women and acknowledges them to be
without equal in the matter OF good form
In dress
Above Forty-second street il is for the
avenue promenaders only to look well. to
bow and 20 smile and to be care free. In
those seventeen blocks the matrons and
the maids OF fashionable New York are
out simply for the town TO admire.
Very prompt are the paraders in as
sembling on the parade ground, For two
hours after 2 o'clock the town sends its
representatives by every tributary artery
20 swell the avenues throng. Minute by
minute the numbers OF foot and horse
increase, until at 1 O'Clock tho crush is on
The sidewalks from curb to stoop line are
crowded with women In silks elbowing
their way among women in velvet and
women in calico. Carriages, smart in
equipment. throng the roadway as they
hurry along to this or that social function.
Suddenly from above the noise Of the
thoroughfare rises a woman's shrek. A
rush is made for a crossing. Some spatters
Of blood are seen on the pavement. Then
. policeman, his helmet seen above tho
edge OF the crowd. shouts:
Move back, there! Move hack. and give
US a little air! It's nothing serious. ladies.
Just an old woman pushed over by a han
som. getting a scratch on the back Of the
head
In the meantime some ono, not knowing
what had happened and not caring. maybe,
had kept his head, gone TO the nearest
telephone and sent a message. While
the crowd il still blocking the street and
eating its heart out with curiosity the
answer to the message comes Changing up
the avenue.
Tho crowd breaks away 70 the right and
left. a young ambulance surgeon kneels
In the street. lifts n gray head from the
pavement, puts on a few patches OF plaster