The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-08-05
STRANGER IN HIS OWN CITY.
A New Yorker Spends Vacation at Homo
and Makes Discoveries.

A New Yorker who Is spending his va.
cation in the city for the first time In twelve
years has found q lot Of interesting sights
in his rambles.
sIn O crowded district downtown, . he says,
"a six story building which extended from
Cortlandt street to Dey street u being torn
down. The north end Of the structure Re
nearly razed. The roof Of the entire
structure has been removed.
an the south end Of the building, with o
ceiling above to Keep out sunshine or rain,
a man has rented a small space for q few
weeks In which he Ia making o livelihood
from the sale Of grindstonee. Curioualy
enough he has quite a run of custom, 50
much so that he had to hire an assistant.
Would you believe that there was q rage In
New York for such an artiolef
'In Park place, where twelve years ago
every concern in the block from Church
street to Broadway, only one concern which
l then knew now remains, n the store
In which / made my first big money has been
torn down. A skyscraper Is towering on
the site. I was a stranger where recently
! knew every face. .
ain Duane street, to which I removed
from Park place, ! hunted for an eating
house where / used to take my luncheon.
The building has been torn down and no
one In the Vicinity could tel! me what had
become Of the caterer, although at the
time Of which I speak he ives : sort OF Del
monico on a small scale.
an East Eleventh street ten years ago
was q famous French cafe. i used to 90
there once a week for dinner.
"The house is still standing. The former
occupant, who was a musician, has left the
city, and ia, so ! was informed. q teacher
in one Of the conservatories Of France.
A laundry sign hangs above the door OF the
old house through which ONE noted people
used to enter to get the best French meals
aIn the old village Of Greenwich, tust
below Ninth street, and not far from Tenth
avenue. there was a summer garden whore
eleven years ago I used to 60 for q brand Of
wine I never had elsewhere, and where some
old families used to gather on Saturday
and music. I could not quite locate the
site. Not a man In that vicinity to-day
knows such a place ever existed.
"A new set Of people occupy thu tsrTftory.
II I had suddenly dropped from another
planet I would not have been more Of .
search Of the place where ] passed 90 many
sihave been quite q traveller at intervals
during the last ten years and ! have no
| quentIy had occasion to ~oriticise tourists
who had the Nanis 81 sathertHE souyenirs.
~ OliiO ooy = was AZ appNt 80 vSeAS'
A crowd attracted my attention. ] always
| follow the crowd.
"A thunderstorm had Just passed over
| that part Of the city. A bolt of lightning
| had ehivered an old tree which was Q land
| mark. The crowd was breaking Oh limbo
| and twigs as mementos. got one. for
under that very tree ! used to spin tope
when ! was q boy.
sThere Ii an enclosure between Amster-
dam and West End up In tbs
| Nineties, 1t used to be q picnic ground.
A high fence Is about the block. In one
place ia q cobbler. The front Of the fence
Is a part Of his shop. ~
aIn another place, only a few feet distant,
| is q clothes cleaning shop, The fence forms
one side OF the place. The entrance Is
| through the fence. -.
Here I leave of. What changes I would
find over on the East Side, every nook Of
| which was known to me a dozen years ago,
I cannot conceive. I would dread TO In
vestigate.
aThe stranger In New York marvels and
wonders at its vastness. 1t 10 just as won
derful to the citizen whose business con.
fines him TO o given quarter for q number
OF years. As my vacation at home draws
to 4 ciose l feel that Lam O Stranger IN my
wi city 20 faH-Hf ~ ~ ! "