The San Francisco call., 1906-08-19
AS TFNTERER WITH ny TRUNK oN rT4 SHOULDERS :

Il n the year 1855 John RartweH ar
rived IN New York, straight from
his country home near Utica, n. Y.
Although farmers son and
brought UP 10 labor in the field, he was
ambitious and had worked for a year
or two in his uncIe's store at the cross
roads. He had now come 70 New York
with a letter from his uncle to New
York merchant, who had promised to
give him trial.
In those days q journey to the me-
trepolitan city was considered joyful
event IN a boys life. But when John
reached New York and saw how vast
IL was, with great buildings stretching
in every direction, his heart sank and
he wished he had remained In his
uncle's store. At that time the center
of business was around the City Hall.
The much herslded magnificent new
station of the Hudson River Railroad
was in Chambers street and East
Broadway, all the trains by that line
coming down Hudson street to near
where the Chambers street elevated
. station now is, thus making that thor
oughfare a business artery OF growing
Importance.
A. 7. Stewards store on the corner of
Chambers street and Broadway was
called the greatest establishment Of
the kind in the world. 1t occupied a
comma nding corner, facing the upper
end of City Hall Park, where the big
bell Of the old Volunteer Fire Depart
nent doomed out the alarms in the
deep base tones of the lowest key of
the piano. II was the most important
business center Of the city. Hither
came the pink and fashion of Manhat-
tan for the silks and laces OF Stewards
most advanced importations. Another
attraction was Delmonico's new up
town restaurant just opened on the
Broadway corner OF Chambers street,
opposite Stewards.
Many thought il a rash venture to
90 so far uptown in search Of bust
ness. just as they did when Clahin &
Mellin left their great dry goods eStab-
lishment facing Trinity Church uater
the Real Estate Exchange buildingl
for their new site in West Broadway.
John had expected to reach New
York before the end Of the week. but
an accident in a storm just before
reaching the railroad station caused
him 10 lose his money, some tz5, slowed
away in an inside pocket, leaving him
but a dollar or two in change. when
he found himself in the big Chambers
g..
stranger without friends, he was lonely
indeed
Fortunately John had read in New
York newspaper devoted to pufing
things Of high price and inferior quail
ity that Lovejoy's Hotel. Park row and
Beekman street, opposite City Hall Park,
was a very economical and wholesome
place for visitors from the country A
policeman directed him thither, the
clerk gave him the rate, 81 day, and
then John, making sure of a room,
went back for his trunk. He was
careful, keen, observing country boy
--ho kept diary Extracts from his
life story, which has been preserved,
will be interesting.
AS JOHN saw 1T.
Thanksgiving, 1S55.--Well, here 1
am In New York. What q wonderful
city, Ny trunk being small, I carried
Il easily from the Hudson River Rail
road station in Chambers street here
70 this big red brick hotel opposite the
City Hall Park. AS ] entered with the
trunk on my shoulders half dozen
nunkies rushed TO relieve me- 1 said
no. my father had taught me 10 carry
my own burdens
Dusk was at hand. and the clerk
gave the boy a candle to show me to
my room, where I am now sitting.
writing in my diary. IL is musty
little garret room, the ceiling sloping
down TO the floor under the roof
Through 4 small, square window