New-York tribune., 1902-12-05
NEW-YORK.
MODERN SKETCHES AND ANTIQUARIAN
NOTES

Jams With Illustrations. Octave, pp. xii, 49,
Charles Scribner's Sons
ANNALS OF OLD MANHATTAN, 1Sos-16sl By
JuIia NJ Cotton. With numerous illustrations
Octave. pp. K, 2SS. Brentano's
Mr. Williams takes his reader, apparently as
surned to be a citizen who knows little about
his city except that he loves it, the circuit OF
the river fronts, up Broadway on a walk nome
to Madison Square and thence on UP Fnth-aVe-'
through some of the cross streets and out into
the country stretches anonymously included
within the limits Of New-York. Undoubtedly II
IS true Of New-Yorkers, of the inhabitants
of most cities. that they know comparatively
little about their birthplace. Familiarity In
such a case breeds a neglect Of curiosity But
in q book of this sort the obvious danger Is the
restatennenI of familiar facts, without settlhs
them in q new light, while assembling the ooos
and ends which apt TO escape the atpenIoh
Of the resident; the putting into Newcastle Win
4 shipload of coal and only a small consignment
of curious woods. The New-Yorker knows the
view OF the city to be had from the Broohly"
Bridge or a Jersey ferry. while the chance OF ms
reading the page prevents the author from ao-
dressing himself unrestrictedly to the man VINO
never has been there. Between these two hmlta-
-1ons Mr. Williams steers rather successfully
while only once or twice is page 10 be tnrneo
without coming upon drawing or photograph
which win give pleasure to the native or INFORM
the outsider.
THE observation is cleverly Photographic. Bits
Of historical fact find their places IN the recltal
Of present appearances but there is htue
thought Of causes. One part OF the CITY, we
learn now and then. has an entirely olnerent
feeling in the air. from another: in one case
+4,e-e fs even a "feeI" IN the air There are
other curious informal expressions; certain river
steamers are ''riverish,'' St Pauls Churchyaro
"a schurch-yardish,' a group Of buildings oeio"
.te bridge is "Ansterdamish,' Madison Square
Is .New-Yorkish': the disappearance Is Iarnenteo
of old buildings that are "landmarky- II Is
not particularly felicitous to speak OF grace
Church rectory as '1nteresting-looking Ana
with all the success Of sketchy portrayal the
essential effect is sometimes missed, as Wheh
the fire engine flashes across Broadway ana the
bari4ral snd impressive arrest of traffic is lost
70 the picture. There is an incllnauoh, uoo' u
add svnnnathv and interest by the device OF
personifying old houses and churches ana re-
counting their emotions The error whlcn SO
many make who aim TO picture a whole me
.ropolis that Of assigning disproportionate
importance 10 those who, in Clara MOTIFS 50
r1,rsse wear their rouge with g difference mas
not befaIen Mr.. Williams What he mas 10 say
rr the reasons for the uncompromlsing reg u4aii
+v Of our street plan and its compensaIlons -
well put Referring to the work OF the conllrlis-
sioners of 1907. he writes:
our country was at the extreme OF It's reaC-
4,or from rnonarchial ideals, and democratic
sir77n1icitv was running into the ground IN ouL
straining TO be rid Of all our artinclallS, We
we're ousting art and beauty, too II was SO ~ ~
most parts OF our awkward young naOOn; .pt puc
.enacialIv did The materialistic tendency OF inns
drearv disagreeable period manifest itseit mere
IN commercial New-York. where knicheL ooChSL ;I
4aroilies were looping the Vans" OF their
names.
These Vans were still in the ascendant IN
the times described in the Annals OF OLD man
haitian" The aim here has been 10 present
brief readable account Of the history Of the
Dutch colony from the days when the Han
Moon sailed into the river to the appearance
If the British feet under Nichols The nara
tive concerns itself with discussion OF MS
+orical doubts but offers a continuous story
from the time of Director Cornelius Jacobsen
Nev to Governor Peter Stuyvesant, resting on
the most serviceable sources Among the IL
Illustrations are copies Of old engravings and