The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-01-24

III HE charm of great cities has
w been often defined but to the
average person each has an
elusive character that effects nearly
every one alike and is yet hard to
describe. London, New York, Chicago,
Paris Rome and Washington and New
Orleans may be taken as the world s
representative cities. There are other
towns renowned in song and story, where
the poet, artist. and idle dreamer may
revel in the various delights which appeal
to his fancy, and there are other cities
which are noted for certain character
istics, but these seven stand out In re-
lief from all others. They are more writ
ten about and more talked about in
every day life than all others and are
more representative of modern progress
in its various stages.
New York Is distinctly a metropolis.
Even London with all its vastness, seems
sluggish in comparison. The great Am
, erican city is a whirlpool of activity
where the essences of American life CEN
ter and where new arrivals are under
going the process of being American
lied. New ideas and the latest improve
ments on the old ones seek New York
while its people are popularity supposed
to represent all that is blase, cultivated
and worldly wise. Even in crime New
York must be original. This spirit of
doing things first and keeping one step
in front of Father Time is one of the
ri oh IN fa cfa ricfin If
can hardly be said that there is any
| real sentiment or poetry about the city.
What old buildings and memories re-
| main are pushed aside and lost sight of
| In the modern rush for fame and for
| tune. The shades of old Peter Survives
ant and his confereres cut but a sorry
| figure stalking along in the wealth and
fashion of Broadway, while the figures
of distinguished men in early davs an
| pear humble in the presence of an assem-
blage of trust barons. People go to New
York to see life, for there it is believed
| that life in all it's varied phases can he
lived.
Paris has the zest and sparkle of life
also, but 1t is different kind IF life-a life
! revealing more frivolities and less of the
strenuousness which characterizes New
York. Paris is typical of all that is CAV
and airy, although she boasts of her
academies and her men of science. Iitera-
ture and art The French capital is also
more artistic both in architecture and In
thought. OF the two cities it is perhaps
possible to live faster life in Paris than
in New York. but this is doubtful. When
one thinks of Paris the picture called up
by its pleasure-loving people is one con-
tinuous round of gaiety. Perhaps the pic
ture is fairly correct, for in Paris more
than in any other city of the world a
person of means can buy varied assort-
ment of pleasure. And wealth is not al
ways a requisite for enjoying life. since
some of the humblest citizens of Paris are
the happiest Paris is also mother of many
ideas, but 1t is noticeable that there is
more theorizing than practice. Paris
likes to call herself the haunt of the arts
and sciences. In many respects her
claims are valid. The Paris influence is
one Of gilded responsibility with touch
of wickedness but it Is a pleasant city
and a beautiful one. Like the French peo-
Die it is emotional and debonair, but