The Indianapolis journal., 1902-08-31
THE CITY AT DAYBREAK
UNUSUAL SCENES REVEALED ~ THE
EARLY MORNING.
MANY Pigeon. 90 ne seen In the nusi-
ness District-Msrket Houses
Visited.

The city OF indianapolis r. az its best az
dawn nowadays. Many cities show 10 most
advantage when the friendly darkness
hiding all uplincss and equalor anu INC
dazzling electric lights are lending an un-
natural beauty 60 cvcrything. but IL ~
when the nrst SHAFT OF daylight breaks ia
the east. and from that moment on uhth
the active life OF the city begins that the
Hooslor capital II now IN its glory The
rains have worked wonders this year ana
I'm the early morning sunlight the luNur-
ious foliage OF the city Is beautiful Indeed
and the dewey grass, as fresh and green as
n the summer were In It's infancy instead
OF fast drawing 20 a close, adds wonder
ful charm 20 the scene. The streets nave
been swept clean during the night ana
there has been no chance for humanity TO
make them unsightly again. lt Is only
where human beings crowd together that
nature succumbs 60 uncomelincss, ana IL
is because indianapolis Is naturally beau
tiful city that Il g. az It's best az dawn.
Somehow or other civilized man Is COM
PEELED 60 devote so much time 20 covering
up his tracks,
How many indianapolis citizens have ever
become acquainted with their city at the
break OF day9 To most people tho city at
dawn Is "a genuine novelty for IL is only
the man that Is Obliged 10 catch train, or
the bread winner that Is compelled 10 70
Co work at an unsoemly hour that Is up
and stirring about when decent people are
supposed to be asleep. But Il is well worth
while leaving a comfortable bed at dawn
Just for the sal OF familiarizing ones SELF
with the city before the trade and uaihc
OF the day have begun I'm earnest. The air
is pure and sweet. and there Is a smell OK
vegetation everywhere. 50 pronounced that
the early morning pedestrian is surprised
that he had never noticed before what a
forest-lke odor filed the city.
LINED WITH TREES.
In all OF the thoroughfares lined with
trees-and most indianapolis streets have
their borders OF naples and poplars-the
sparrows are busily engaged In gathering
their breakfasts and chattering the while
like the nervous little fellows that they are.
on the asphalt pavements Of the down
town thoroughfares around the monument
especially, there are hundreds OF pigeons
picking up the grain that has fallen from
the farm wagons which have just passed
along the streets on their way 10 the mar
kets. one wonders where all OF the pigeons
have come from, for few people that hurry
along the busy streets while engaged in
their days work are aware OF the fact that
this city contains more Of these pretty
birds than any other town OF its size in the
country The birds seldom venture into
the streets during the busy hours OF the
day except the unusually tame ones that
make their homes in the many hooks and
cOzy corners formed by the architecture or
the Indiana National Bank building, and
which you may see at any time making
themselves very much at home on the
broad asphalt space at the intersection OF
Washington and Pennsylvania streets and
Virginia avenue-one Of the most crowded
corners Of the town
The only other signs of life TO be seen
the streets are the few workingmen with
tin lunch buckets over their arms plOdding
along to the factories or shops where they
are employed, the occasional milk wagon
that rumbles along the asphalt amid the
rattle of milk bottles, the first street car
of its particular line starting out on its
initial trip OF the morning with a sleepy
mortorman at the helm and a sleepier con-
ductor in the stern. and the homeless dogs.
! The poor shaggy, NANCY. homeless dogs!
Who ever dreamed that there were so many
of them? When the life Of the city is astir
again these unfortunate vagabonds may
make some pretense of belonging 10 some
body; they may hold up their heads and
wag their tails while they trot along be-
side some pedestrian (who doesn't even see
| them), and so deceive their dreaded enc
mics, the policemen or pound men, into
! thinking that they are respectable. law
/ abiding dogs after all. But now they are
! all alone, and there is no chance TO work
\ a blum like that, and the only thing for
them TO do is to lay low" like Br'er Rab-
bit. and say nothin' TO nobody; and so
you will see them curled up in the door
ways of some Of the large office buildings,
! with one eye closed and the other wide
open on a pathetic lookout for any un-
friendly passer-by.
SIGNS OF LIFE.
On the three market mornings Of the
week there are more signs OF life at day
break than upon mornings when there is
no market. Heavy vegetable, fruit and
/ grain wagons are to be seen creeping along
the streets toward Tomlinson Hall and the
| courthouse, drawn by big farm horses
whose drivers are the only human beings
\ astir that seem to have shaken the sleep
out Of themselves. As early as these mar
! ket men arrive at the public square" there
are always a number of lOafers there be-
fore them, sitting on the little stone wall
/ that surrounds the courthouse. and deeply
! engrossed in their interesting occupation
/ Of decorating the broad sidewalk with to-
baccO juice. Like the dogs, some OF these
/ men seem TO have no home in particular
| and nothin to do but cling 10 others that
\ do have some business IN the world From
\ 4.O until the market house and its imme-
date vicinity is a scene Of activity. The
1 wagons are unloaded, and the fresh green
! vegetables and fruit piled up in tempting
displays on the counters at the various
stalls. You are struck by the neatness IN
| every department-neat in spite Of the fact
that there are heaps Of everything rolling
/ and tumbling abOut-silken corn and golden
| apples, sun-cOlOred peaches and purple
/ grapes, and melons and garden products OF
| all kinds
SMELL OF EATABLES.
The smell OF coffee and hot corn cakes
floats temptingly into the air from one OF
/ the little restaurants near by, and a peep
into the place shows a number OF stan
keepers having a bite 10 eat before opening
up their business for the day. They have
had their breakfasts an hour OF so ago.
before starting into town. and have become
hungry again. The wagons continue 10 ar
rive. and now and then an early bargain
| seeker with enormous basket over her
! arm (the early buyers are nearly always
| Women) comes tripping into the market
/ house u eK-a for al