The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-23
ODD SIGHTS IN NEW BALTIMORE.
Some Big Enterprises Crowded in Queer
Quarters.

BALTIMORE, Oct. % -Baltimore has seen
many odd sights sincs the great fire. Most
of these happenings have been due to the
straits in which her merchants and finan-
ciers found themselves for business quarters.
Rich merchants and bankers who less than
a year ago were housed in business build
ings equipped with every convenience are
still occupying contentedly mere holes in
the wall and corners of rooms without any
conveniences to speak of. And they are
taking their medicine contentedly.
Bankers, lawyers, brokers and agents
are mixed up in vexatious confusion in
temporary Office buildings. Some OF the
most important financial and mercantile
institutions in the city are housed under
the meanest conditions. One big trust
company has quarters in a negro seminary
for theological students. The company
does business on the first floor and the college
is at work upstairs.
A railroad company is in the Y, NJ. c. A.
building and bank occupies the first floor
of the parish house of Protestant Episco-
pal church. Several business concerns are
in Catholic church hall, and the building
of coored high school is a nest Of law and
real estate Offices.
One of the largest dry goods firms has
quarters in the Fl tn Regiment Armory, ana
a room 10 the court house has been rented
to one Of the largest local savings banks.
Two OF the newspapers publish their papers
over livery stable, and another has
occupied an abandoned power house. A
clothing manufacturer has quarters over
a fashionable restaurant, and insurance
agents occupy part of one of the theatres.
Another trust company has rooms In
hotel. The Chamber of Commerce is accom-
modated in the Masonic Temple, where
also many grain brokers find temporary
quarters The STANDARD Oil Company
has its Office in an old fashioned dwelling
under the shadow of Washington's monu-
melt. The gas company and several
banks also inhabit dwellings.
. In iaet,the fire has shown what resource
ful animal man is and how patiently he will
submit to troublesome. conditions when
he finds every one else amlariy sit h ca;
ness sentAons, BARRIERS, saloonkeepers and
restaurant men, lunch room owners and
cigar mea have been compelled to resort
to all kinds Of devices. Old cellars have been
tilizei Several years ago 1t was usual
fer BARRIERS and saloonkeepers to do busi-
ness in Easements. but in late years taste
has changed. and the "ale vault was al
me st unknown till the fire. 1t came to
be recognized that persons would net
walk down into n basement no matter
what the attraction
But now it is quite usual to see saloons,
lunch rooms and other establishments in
cellars adaI ted to these new uses:
The fire has been responsible for the
starting Of several lunch rooms by women
of social position. Several women have
rented rooms in the centre OF the new
bi,ncss section, which lies on the borders
of the burno d district, and ere managing
flourshing businesses.
Mrs. Edward T. Norris and Miss Fannie
GRAY have opened rooms in the basement
Of The old MARYLAND Club building, and
supply old time Maryland and Virginia
deiicaces. Mre. Laura Turnbun. formerly
of Lynchburg, Va, great-grand daughter
of Gov. Stone of North Carolina, and a
daughter OF Judge David B. Hicks Of Bruins.
wick. Va, hrs lunch room at st. Paul
and Pleasant streets and dispenses edibles
suggestive Of Dixie land. Mile. de Courtney,
n daughter of Col. Paul F.. de Courtney
for many years French Consul at Bari more,
and Miss Mary Chisholm Trenholm manage
gucc- ssfuily q French coffee house, which
is patroni2ed by come of Baltimore e leading
profe ssional and business men. Miss Tren-
holm ia come cted with some of the best
families in Baltimore. Mile. de Journeys
father formerly owned extensive coffee
planta atoms in Cuba
These lunch rooms are among the notable
places in the new business quarter, and
Il la probable that the women who manage
them may find new quarters in the old
business We otion when II is rebuilt. Whether
thu v need the profits OF not. there Is no
doubt that they have made profits in es-
Publishing these places, and they may be
permanent and peculiar institutions In the
new Baltimore now building.