The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-26
New York.


map that a great commercial city must
arise here New York developed slowly.
Philadelphia and Boston outstripped her
But she had the indisputable natural
advantages, central position between
North and South, with the whole CONT
nent for her base OF supplies. Perhaps the
beginning of her inevitable. but still sur
prising, growth in the nineteenth century
might be dated from the trial trip of the
Clermont. Canals, steamships, railroads.
the growth of manufactures, the vast and
steady inflow Of immigration, worked to-
gether to make her great. Restless and
adventurous hands were carrying the
terminus of the new Rome ever West
ward. In our own time the dream Of
HAKLUYT's men, of all the early discov-
erers and avigators, has in a sense been
made fact. America stretches to the
Indies. And New York is the gateway
to domain that reaches to Cathay. Let
her be celebrated.
The essential traits Of the modern New
York were present in the Dutch settle
ment OF the seventeenth century. The
community was tolerant, liberal minded
for that age, hosptable to the refugees
and victims Of unpopular opinion: ROGER
WILLIAMS, ANNE HUTCHINSON, Lady
DEBORAH Moody. The attrition Of COM
merce had already had its effects upon
the mind and the manners. The sailor
and the trader were no sticklers for
theory. Besides, the Dutch were natu-
rally averse to bigotry. If they had an
eye to the main chance and thought that
any mans money was good, be he Luth-
eran. Anabaptst or Quaker, why, they
had more sense than most of their neigh
bors and contemporaries. They har
bored the Jesuit priest, recovering from
his wounds and preparing for another
spiritual campaign and martyrdom at
the hands Of the Iroquois. Now, to a
thorough going English Colonist of that
age, a Jesuit was blacker than the Old
Boy himself.
This spirit OF liberation has never been
absent from New York. Knownothing-
ism itself was but a spasm Of politics.
The germ Of the many-raced, many-re-
ligioned New York Of to-day, various,
easy, comfortable, minding its own bust
ness politely cynical, may be found rs
far back as KIEFT's time.
As early, or earlier, and practically con-
tinuous in spite Of temporary restrictions,
was the desire of enjoyment, a lberality
of life as we'll as of opinion. We like to
think OF that fine old hectoring, ruff1ing
musketeer, Capt. JOHN UNDERHILL of
Massachusetts, who put down many
Indians and strong waters, birled and
brawled, grieved the bowels Of the godly
Puritans of the Bay and finally settled,
il 30 effervescent parsonage can be
settled, on this island. A pregnant in
stance. The atmosphere of the New
England theocracy was too rare. UNDER
HILL gasped and choked in it. To this
day the Bostonans follow the Captains
example, so far as they can, and every
city, town and village sends its sons and
daughters to enjoy themselves tempo
rarily or to stay here and seek their
fortunes.
In religion, philanthropy and charity
New York works as hard and as faithfully
a. some places do that have fewer secrets
between their left hand and their right;
but to the strangers eye and in the est-
nation Of her confirmed lovers, she is
the city Of light and delight-the City of
Dreadful Light, the moralst blinking
at the electric light and the unprized
prizefighter may be inclined to say. Here
10 the Babylon and Bagdad Of the West,
the capital Of pleasure, the chief city of
the pride Of life, the magic magnetic
island that draws all the talents and
fascinates all the adventures. The
pioneers Of fortune come here from
everywhere. All the roads to wealth
lead here. The makers and the enjoyers
are here. Here are the mighty armies of
strangers and sojourners. whose motto is
'Money is good to burn, and We are good
to burn it, These miles and miles of
costly homes, hotels, apartments, these
other miles of carriages and coachmen,
these shops rich with the spoils of the
world-where does all the money come
from? So everybody asks and nobody
but the sociologist cares much. 1t Ia
good to be rich in this town, but where
else outside Of Italy is it so good to be
poor?
All countries, all religions, all con-
trasts. all conditions, are visible in this
abled-bodied microcosm and mirror of
the world. The perpetual free show is
in the streets. Light, change, the pro-
cession Of strange faces, the panorama
of crowds, are ever present, continual
invitation to curiosity. The infectious
movement Of the multitude, the influence
and spirit Of crowds are in themselves
stimulation and nervous excitement.
The hubbub, the frequent dangers, the
constant rush, may be deplored by the
countryman or the commuter, but they
are an unconscious satisfaction to the
New Yorker. He grumbles at them, but
he would miss them. He feels that he is
in the race and not tagging behind. The
very fume of the pavement is incense
10 him. There is no smell or smoke or
small annoyance that he would part
with He growls at excavations, sub
ways, street railroads, They are a part