New-York tribune., 1905-04-23
"NEW- -YORKITIS."

Several years ago DE. John II. Girdner OF
this city wrote Il book which was puDllshed
under the title New YOrkitis." 1t dealt with
the phenomena of New-York's rapid way or
living and called attention TO the fact that
New Workers as a class are subject to New
Yorktis' in other words, are living THE pace
that kills" In a recent interview the author OF
the book is quoted saying:
New-York at the present time is not reproduc-
ing itself. We are ali living swiftly dying
swiftly Were it not for the influx from out or
town the decrease in population would soon De
noted. But as ii is for one New orker tnat dles
two strangers take up their abode IN the city
and thus the loss is not noticed. New workers.
are driving themselves and are being driven
like beasts of burden. They are working IKE
dynamos all day. playing like idiots at night
This is severe arralgnment but, unfortu-
nately facts gathered by physicians do not per-
nit il to he abruptly dismissed. Ii is shown
for instance. that in the Borough of Manhattan
the number of sudden deaths has dlspropOrtloh-
ately increased recently. and is much larger than
during any similar period in the citys history,
while notable percentage OF this increase Is
said to be due to heart affections brought on by
the tense hurrylng life of the people. In 1904
there We're 1000 cases of men falling dead or
dying suddenly. an increase of 500 over any
previous year During the first three months OF
the present year 100 such cases were recorded.
The lesson of these figures is obvious. The
pace of the average New-IOrker is not only TOO
fast. it is deadly. Even nOn-Observant persons
from other cities note this. and NEWCOMERS
themselves not only admit it, but too generally
take pride in the swiftness of the currents or
life here. Visitors perceive that residents OF
this city travel on the local trains in the sub
way only when absolutely necessary. They use
the express service whenever possible, and then
write letters to the newspapers complaining
even of its ntOlerable sIoWneSs. As the train
nearS a station the NewYOrkers in it almost in
variably rise and crowd toward the door in
order to get off al the earliest possible moment.
and the same habit prevails and has prevailed
these many years on the elevated cars. whether
local or express On the streets the man who
goes at a leisurely gait is the exception. and his
IeisureneSs is looked upon almost as an imper-
/ tinence. The eager, hurrying throng have no
time to waste upon him. and he is iostled rudeIy
for his presumption in being In the way Of the
Swifter paced
What may be seen on the streets and in the
ears, surface. elevated or subway, or on
the pavements. is merely an Indication Lofty
office buildings also have their express ele-
vatOrs that shoot the New-YOrker skyward
all too slow fer his impatient spirit These are
facts, mere commOnplaces i'll the life of the
city. oftener cited in terms of admiration than of
warning. Yet the physicians. who keep their
fingers on the cty's pulse and the coroners who
make count of the sudden deaths, know only too
well TO what all this hurry tends Perhaps
many Of the victims of New Yorlitis'' also
know the doom to which they are Fastening. but
still the rush goes on. And why? ''One crowded
hour Of glorious life' may be worth years of
rural sOmnOlence, and the city dweller does not
look back to the quiet village or town from
which he came to NewYork with feelings of re-
gret or of envy of those who keep the noiseIess
tenor of their way" A fast life and merry
one, and the HOratian maxim about enjoying the
day-these are the usual and perhaps the best
answers given to those who dare to ask. Whv
all this hurry:
But is the answer sufficient or reasOnabIeP
Even the New Yorker if he took time seriously
to think about II. would admit that II is not
But he probably will not take time TO think serI
ously. He is in n crowd OF hurrying men. and
must keep step or lose his place, and SO tho
tragi-comedy goes on until at last. perhaps. II
is ended IN the logical way, and the physician
and coroner add another name to the long LIST
of victims.