The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-30
EAST SIDE TO SEE FIFTH AVE.
BLACKSMITH ASEN HAS BUILT A
SIGHTSEEING AUTO
And VIII lake the Folks Of His Neighbour
hood on Trips as Far as the Carnegie
House That They Nay Learn How Men
With Money ~Live-Seats in demand.

With Money Live-Seats in Demand.
Aron Asen, the blacksmith of Willett
street, has built a rubberneck automobile
for the plain people of the East Side in order
that they nay rid up and down in Fifth
avenue and view the dwellings OF the rich.
1t is true that the blacksmith expects great
profit from the automobile, but it was not
for that alone he toiled five months in his
forge. only leaving the work to eat the
meals which Rebka, his wife, and Gustav,
his son, carried him in tin pals.
The East Sides first rubbernec6 wagon
will make its maiden trip tomorrow morn
ing, leaving 121 Broome street at exactly
10 o'clock. II Herr Mandelbaum and Frau
M~andelbaum and the seven sons that are
theirs are ever a minute late their places
on the front seats will be taken by the Hon.
Jacob Newfeld and his family. This i'm
portant fact the blacksmith wishes The,
Sun to emphasize, Mere fame will not en-
title one to a place on the wagon.
For weeks, since Aron Asen gave out the
news that the East Side was to have e sight
seeing auto Of its own. the blacksmith has
been besieged with requests for seats for
the trial trip. He got just 6S3 requests.
Since the auto has a seating capacity of
only thirty, although perhaps fifty can be
crowded on, many notables will b" disap-
pointed. 1t looks as il the following per-
sonages will take the trip up Fifth avenue
Herr Mandelbaum and family of Pitt street,
Herr Cohen and family OF Sheriff street.
Herr and Frau Kirschenbaum of Norfolk
street; Herr Jacobvitz of Essex street, Herr
Plugmuller Of Suffolk street, Herr Katzen-
stern and family of Broome street, ex-
.Assemblyman Roeenstein, eS-Alderman
Pierce n. Poole of Grand street, Herr Blum
berg, Herr Weilinsky, Herr and Frau
Leukovitz of Goerck street and Solomon
Rothstein, head of the seed cake trust.
The blacksmith intends the guests on the
trial trip to be representative of the whole
East Side.
Yesterday afternoon the blacksmith was
putting the finishing touches on the big
machine, having removed it from his some-
what obscure shop in W illett street to the
front of his home In Rroome street. AS
he worked a crowd of at least 300 persons
surrounded him. 1t is a plain rubberneck
wagon, solid, substantial and without foolish
frills. 1t is painted maroon and vanished
until it ~glistens. A canopy with fringes
will protect the notaDles from possible
inclement weather and partially screen
them from the gaze Of the vulgar. Rebka.
the wife of the blacksmith, watched him
as he worked and talked. She is to be the
general manager and treasurer of the Asen
Sightseeing Automobile Company. Her
husband is merely driver ant president.
The blacksmith explained il Yiddish, If
which this is a translation:
This has been a dream of mine for years
and years. The prosperous and we'll to do
of this city and from other cities come to
our streets and view our homes, seeing us
as we live. Some come in their W auto
mobiles, some in hired automobiles. some
in automobiles, like this one-it is all the
same. I thought it would be a blessing for
nv people if they could have an observation
vehicle of their own that they might ride
to the quarters where the rich dwell and
see how they live and where. For nine
months have labored on this machine
months" said the blacksmith.
Il have regarded the proposition philo-
~sophically,' the blacksmith continued,
looking at it from all sides. My people
love money, the mention of money, in
formation as to where large urns of money
may be found or as to where holders Of
large fortunes dwell. It is a characteristic
Of the race. Therefore ! have prepared a
list of the dwellings along Fifth avenue
which gives the names of the owners and
the wealth of each, so far as that Is obtain
able.
Such information will add the keenest
zest to the trip. 1t will not be meGaphoned
in a coarse way, but as We journey up the
avenue the list will be passed from hand
to hand that every one may see and under
stand. The automobile will go as far north
in Fifth avenue as the house of Mr.. Carnegie;
then it will turn into Central Park. After
a trip through the park the machine will
come down Seventh avenue and Broad
way and so back to the East Side, my pa
irons having been made happy and mod
erately excited. | shall drive the aut o.
mobile. My wife will stay at home and
run the business
AS general manager, my dear" said
the wife.
AS general manager and treasurer,
precious ~ said the husband