New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-17

to IN II a keen observation OF significant
detail, even a sort OF poetry? when the ice
wagon drips the pavement" does not sound
quite 30 pretty, perhaps for the motif of a
spring song when violets gem the meadow
grass" but it Is more significant for many East
Side children and for them may well have
more of the true meat of poetry in it-sug-
gestiveness.
The Italian quarter is especially responsive to
sIring, and Mulberry and Mott SITS. suddenly
bloom with pushcarts and fruits from Italy
strange cousins of the citron. like ill shaped
and understood watermelons. The sound OF
music is heard of an evening from cafes and
halls and tenements, and young mon passing
you on the ridewalk break suddenly into song.
These are from the country of Rossini and
Scarlatti, and the Neapolitan inheritance of
norid song is theirs, born in their marrow and
bound to come out with spring, however sIualiI
their surroundings. The Italians. too more
responsive to that particular phase of springs
appeal which Tennyson popularized. if not inn
r.ortalized. In the lines beginning
IN the spring a uveller changes burn,sh'd
md glance meets with glance from curb and
Eindow, and the quick finish sidewalk pho
lographer does a hourishing business. Love
making in winter is not easy in Muberry-st..
though love finds way even there; but in the
spring outdoors invites to the solitude of crowd
ed streets and amorousness is in the air. The
East Side Italians are anything but neuter' in
the springtimel
Tomplzins Square Is a joyous spot I'm April.
Here there traces Of real green to be seen.
trees to watch bud, and great open space of
bare ground TO and tumble upon. The
curious statue of Charity. that upholds bronze
birds nest, with the limbs Of overhanging
tree at the west side of the square is much
sought out, for the drinking water that flows
from her pedestal. and here again great hum
of play ascends 1t is the mothers breathing
place, too. and the benches laden from
morning till night There is at first wild tn
conference about SO much play. but If you watch
carefully you may discern all manner of child
fish games. some old. some new. The girls play
tackstraws, sometimes suspender buttons serv-
ing for the straws; the small boys often enough
these days are playing war and siding with
Russia or Japan, as the prejudices of their
fathers dictate. Sometimes bevy of children,
kindergarten taught. play Going to the coun-
try in the truck of some good natured driver.
Put, a rule. the pastimes of the city are suf-
fcient unto the Fairgrounds thereof. and little
heads don't trouble much about the country
There is too much to do right In the warm sun
light of Tompkins Square.
And there are the hurdygurdy parties. the
improvised sidewalk dances. when girl dances
with girl quite in the Smith College manner
and sometimes with rather more than the Smith
College grace To the sophisticated onlookers
81 seems as if there should be sadness in their
dancing for the huriygurdy waltz, to one who
has lived and loved and dreamed. is almost the
saddest sound In the world; but there is no
melancholy In the steps of the children-they
are supremacy happy, full of rhythm and spring.
After all the inward ear determines the MESA ge
of the outward sound sight, here as else
where. 1t may very well be that much OF our
sympathy In life is wasted; that we really take
into the East Side. for instance. much sadness.
which We then think find there AT least,
it is so In April, magic April. that can empty