The sun., 1903-03-18
1--we roPICs ABOUT TOWN.

many queer and interesting things among
the city's housetops, II just now pointing
out TO his friends his latest discovery. II
Is only an ilhsion. but when first seen ap-
pears to be q fne new church with tall
steeple rising from the centre OF It's low
oval-shaped roof. 1t may be seen from
the promenade at q point just east Of the
New York tower.
The spire OF st. Augustines chapel In
East Houston street looms up directly
behind the, Mills Hotel in Rivington street.
The hotel ID taller than the surrounding
buildinge and its white walls show con-
sPtcuously under the dark roof and wide
shelf-ike, ornamental cornice. The lines
Of the low roof, rising above, meet those
OF the church eteeple. and as the color Of
the cornice and roof exactly matches that
| OF the dark gray stones OF the church the
| two structures seem to be one.
Tho illusion b dispelled when the OBJ
server moves on q few PAGES, but no perfect
u II that no usually goes back for another
| look.
Several Of the city departments under
the present administration are more favor
able to the employment Of women than
they used 10 be. There are three women
In the Once Of Park Commissioner Wilcox.
Miss Ayres has been the ofIfcisl stenog-
IdPtCt lot poNCIal ySdTo. Inc present
Commissioner appointed a young woman
| stenosrapher to The clerk, and also put
| girl at the telephone switchboard in place
Of the man who was formerly In charge
Robins have appeared in fiocks out in
the country during the last few days. They
made their appearance in Central Park
several days ago and about the same time
| the grass oil over the Park showed green
Old weather prognosticators observed that
| the birds found plenty OF earthworms and
| they said this was q sure sign that spri IL
had como to stay.
Lady Constance Mackenzie. who has Just
worn q remarkable costume 10 fancy dress
ball In Cairo, Ia we'll remembered here for
her ecoentricities In dress. She was guest
| OF Mrs. Charles Dodge. who In now In South
Dakota, for several months last winter
Lady Constance revealed her original ideas
on the subject Of dress the first time she
went to play golf at Txuedo. She found her
| short skirt inconvenient after a while. and
although the links were covered with players,
asked her escort II he would OBJ ject to carry
Ing her skirt. To let her know that he was
not expected to carry her along with II.
and kicked herself loose Of It. Then, afraid
| TO impose on the man with whom she was
| playine z, she intrusted It to the caddy, who
carried the skirt over his arm while the
young Enelishwoman played In her knicker-
bockers. Her daily bath at Palm Beach
used to be the event OF the day, for Lady
| Constance took to the water clad only In a
youths bathing suit.
| FATTY Grote was leaning against the
Broadway ratings Of st. Paul's Chapel a
few days ago. engaged In seli-communion.
and q friend approached,
| Hello. Bill" aaid the man, why are you
t.Id!1f, .iS1 fy,sS, S1 this side OF those railns''
:why amt it, What's the matter with
Fatty Grcte.
Yours on the wrong side, that's all
Espsdh the in. cheerful friend sDsd Y9ur place
Il guess that's about right, too" mur-
INJURED FATTY a. he ambled away.
In looking over the &c ard OF Health Build
ing TO And good place to build fireproof
vault in which to keep the vital statistics
Health Commissioner Lederle found one,
almost all ready built for him In the base-
ment. The building was formerly the home
Of the New York Athletic Club. The q,
swimming tank was In the basement. The
tank was % feet long. 20 feet wide and 10
/
finished on the inside. To make an ideal
vault II was only necessary to put on a fire.
proof roof This has just been finished
The records. which could never be re-
placed. will be taken to the new vault this
week.
since the Rapid Transit Commission be-
gan the construction Of the subway Il has
been subjected to a lot OF litigation and
has had to fight In the courts many peculiar
claims. One Of these suits. had the liti-
CANT succeeded. would have involved the re-
modelling Of. many Of the stations on the
subway.
A man named Carpenter. who had pat
ented q scheme for what he called -bi-
transit" railroad. contended that the
island platforms In the subway infringed
platform was one Of the distinctive features
OF his invention. Counsel to the com
mission oontended that there was nothing
patentsble In the placing OF a station be-
tween two sets OF tracks.
The United States Circuit Court Of Ap-
pesls has Just handed down q decision In
iavor OF the commission. The case has
becn before tbs courts for about thre
yeap-
An odd looking little old man. whose
| oddnsss n capped by . coon skin toque.
4 y
| near Wall street In addition 10 his own
personal claim 10 recognition through sheer
oddity he has the further distinction Of being
probably the only sidewalk vendor Of the
universe whose customers Are mostly mil
honaire One has only 10 stop beside the
little stand after the close " Wall str..'t .
business day 10 verify this fact. long
pro.~sion of ssll-groomed, partly men.
cons already we'll along Ia year.. fils's past
the lftis stand, deposits is pennies. or
niaksls, lakes the Jackson ball. Eum-drop.
sinpsd psppsrmlni stick az elusive an
dsy sucksr. aud mArches oontsnt.dly
on. Ia ths rsnks Or. msn sho-s lsoo,ne
IN ons hour v sr-aisf than the odd little
nAn's yearly pfosi.
Afs. pollosmsn. ssli 90 ih yssIs sad 9Th
bic fsns ell pscksssd w -i,h worry. Same
ey, ~ 4. amls~leasf pllssr', onbe 81 pollos
Headquarters tho otLsI day H. stopped
tos > sssssssi M ihs halfway, sAsssd as-'i,l,
ssa tl.~s s~kaa II sLs slssstsT asA, pant
laS he ihsssb ssss hls .Loalasi
FAs' asa Tss ~ tss si..i ii,si hs1 'sss
lilils sAsA sss sstiss as.n IA ,hs sl.fisls
eseln fsySstsAlai sfes.f