The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-17
LIVE TOPICS ABOUT TOWN.

~No" ioih up JHb
convention just as 1t swallows up every
other gathering that assemblies here. Ex-
cept that they may read about their doings
In the papers, nobody In the city not person
ally interested seems to know that 1000
delegates Of an association representing
upward Of two billion dollars is hav-
Ing reunion here. In all other cities
large cities too-the bankers when they
gathered as they have here filed the public
eye, their numbers and influence were all
sbs and they gurat tSsy spena st
sight. Barring a few hotels whore they
make their headquarters. their presence is
not noticed or thought Of
1T would be just the same" said Wis
itor, "if you had worlds fair here, like
the louisiana Purchase Exposition in st.
Louis 1t would be submerged and swal-
lowed up like drop Of water In the ocean
New York's digestive capacity In the mat
ter OF big crowds and big local events Is
beyond that of any other city in the coun-
try"
There's specimen OF the way We have
got to doing things in New York" said
merchant yesterday whose store is under
the Aston House. About ten days ago a
gang Of men came and ripped out all the
curbstones on the west side OF Broadway
between Barclay and Vesey streets. They
ripped out also several feet Of paving, max
ing great trench close up to the sidewalk.
When they had got that done they dumped
string Of new curbstones all along the
trench, the whole making as fine pit to
break leg in and as nasty a heap to scale
as the mind even Of New York street
excavator could wish.
And when they had got this all done to
their taste they went on and left the job.
Days have come and days have gone, but
the chaos remains untouched. Hundreds OF
people scramble and tumble over it every
day, and there is not an indication in sight
that 1t Is not going to remain as 1t Is all
winter
They were discussing forms OF alcoholic
enthusiasm when the consistent drinker
announced that he could stand anything
in that line except the noisy jag.
butter in, you don't object to the cup
that cheers, but you do to the cup that
three cheers
Wednesday night was a disastrous time
for the small fry fire adjusters. They make
It their custom to hang out near fire stations
in the evening and when an alarm rings In
to hustle to tn Q fire. Wednesdays down.
pour played havoc with the fire alarm
WHcS, anu every lew IllHuUtS bOlHe uillu-
telligible number would be sounded. The
| fire adjusters would rush to pay station
telephone and call up Police Headquarters
or the reporters on duty there, only to learn
| that there was no fire, until they had about
exhausted their available funds. Then
they became overcauttous, with the result
that some real fires late in the evening
burned cheerfully without the benefit Of the
| adjusters' presence.
He was only a small newsboy. but they
called him Lightning Jimmy" because he
always reached Forty second street with
his morning papers before anybody else.
He was there first yesterday morning,
hopping on and of the cross-town cars to
him from the street corner and he tried to
drop of while the car was moving rapidly.
He would have made 1t had not a slippery
step sent his feet under the wheel.
A cry OF pain told to the spectators that
he had been hurt, but he hobbled to the
corner and handed over paper to the
waiting customer. Then he sat on the
curb and looked at his foot. Gee, I've
lost two Of me toes, all right he said.
papers to the hospital. When the crowd
| saw him last he was gritting his teeth and
looking at his feet as he sat In the ambu-
lance.
Few realize what an extensive collection
is being acquired by the New York Botanical
Garden. In the months OF July and August
there were added to the museum and her
barium nearly 1000 specimens from the
Philippine Islands. The Bureau Of Public
Laboratories in Manila also sent ,0S5
specimens from Java. Many thousands of
specimens have come from Florida and the
plants are 24O from the Arctic regions.
The appropriation Of $4,000 recently
voted by the Board Of Estimate for con-
struction work in the garden will be spent
for the most part in layirs out new drives
and walks.
There is a peculiar afectation observable
among some OF the young tendcrfeet who 60
West for time and then return here. For
few months after getting back to the
East they never sit down in room except
| in a chair that is facing the door This
| excites the curiosity Of their fair friends,
| who are enlightened on the subject Of the
always being in position TO get the drop
| on an adversary. It is not that he expects
| an armed Sheriff or cowboy to enter the
| drawing room, but force Of habit makes
him do 1t. the tenderfoot explains.
A hanson cab driver whose stand is near
Madison Square does not idle away his time
after the manner Of his fellows while wait
| ing for a fare. After polishing his cab
with channels until it shines again he takes
whisk broom and dusts his horse from
| stem to stern. The horse seems to enjoy
the process and looks around with kindly
| eye while he is being scrupulously gone over
| by the man with the broom. The cabman
| then devotes his attention to the harness,
which he keeps as speckless as the rest OF
| the turnout AS result his cab is usually
the first one selected by women who wish to
60 shopping or driving