Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-02-20
LETTER FROM NfWYORk
BEN BEAR WRITES INTERESTING De.
SCRIPTIONS.
The Wonderful Growth Of the Metropolis
the Transportation. the Business
Houses. the Theatres. the
Thaw Trial. Etc.

New York, Feb. l6, 1907.
My Dear Editor:
To trot about for ten days, shop
ping all the time, you will admit is
not what it is cracked up to be, and
am glad indeed that my work for
this trip will soon be at an end, as l
hope to finish up so as to reach home
| for Saturdays business. L certainly
have had strenuous trip, as it seems
to be hard to find the right sort of
merchandise at the right prices
This city is wonder, and the
oftener I get here the more come to
the conclusion, there is nc city like
it in the world You can form no
idea at all of the enormous amount of
business some of the great importing
firms do, and how much really can be
doue in single day, even though
business hours are only between eight
and six O'Clock, while in summer
most all firms close at twelve O'Clock
Saturdays.
It was said before the Subway was
built, that just as soon as the Rapid
Transit was in operation travel from
one end of the city to the other would
be comparatively easy. In truth this
is not the case. 1t is just as hard to
get a seat going home in the evening
as ever, and some people claim it is
more so, and believe it. When you
consider that New York's population
increases at the rate of one-half mil
lion people year you can readily see
it is almost an impossibility to take
care of them. took the Subway on
my way home last night, and was
squeezed in just like sardines in a
box. l don't suppose New York ers
notice this, as they are used TO it,
but do, and admit it is not pleasant.
stopped in at the Waldorf Astoria
just to look around, and never saw
so much dress. so much gaiety in my
life. The Waldorf, as you know. is
considered THE hotel of the city. and
the wealth and luxury to be seen there
is beyond belief.
Property about this section of New
York has advanced to such fabulous
price that it hardly seems possible
for business firms to make both ends
meet. 1t is evident they do, however,
as there are no stores for rent any
where about this fashionable vicinity.
/ looked in at Tiffany's, the
grandest jewelry store in the world,
and it's sight to behold. If any of
my Decorah friends come to New York
this is place they surely want to
see, as it is certainly worth while.
1t is among an every day occurrence
for this firm to sell diamond rings
from 81 900 to almost any amount,
while they show pieces of solid gold
aud silverware so valuable that it
takes millionaires only to prize them.
But New York is full of rich people
and they are not slow to spend money.
/ have spent some little time in the
theatrical district as it is quite es.
sential for us to be acquainted with
these people. Manager Weiser has
had quite an extensive correspondence
with David Belasco. the great play
wright and manager, and / called on
him. and through his booking man.
fn ..T ~
New York successes next season,
among them "The Girl From the
Golden West" play of modern life,
which has run for over year here at
the Belasco theatre. Another big sue.
cess. "The Heart of Maryland, as
we'll as "The Rose of the Ranch, -
now playing here to crowded houses.
We hope to procure these and other
big attractions which the Belasco
management will PUT on the road Mr..
Ernest Shipman, another successful
manager, who gave us "When
Knighthood Was in Flower" will
star Miss Roselle Knott in "Alice
Slt w tne Fire, anu We are TetSOu-
ably sure of getting this attraction.
Decorah is pretty we'll and favorably
known with the managers, and by
giving them good business we are
sure of the best that's going. Oscar
Hammerstein. who has had more ups
and downs than any other theatrical
manager, is doing great things here.
He has just completed his new Man.
haitian Opera House, and does an
enormous business each night in
grand opera. This same man man
ages the Victoria, big vaudeville
theatre which it is claimed nets him
81 900 per week This city is big
enough to support anything, and if
IA man has business coming his way
there is no end to what he can ac-
complish.
You are perhaps familiar with the