The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-10-20
FIFTH AVENgE ~ 4 SHOWER.
Quick TransfOrmati0n scenes ~ the Gay
ApectAcle EadeA and R~aappeara.

HpeCtncie toOeN AMI Hoappeara.
The town affords no more attractive
spectacle than that presented by Fifth
avenue in its shopping district when. an
on fair days Mt this season, the roadway
Of the ~thoroughfare il crowded with fine
equipsges and is Sidewalks thronged
with handsomely costumcd women and
correctly dressed men. Nowhere in town
10 there TO he seen a more remarkable trans
formation than may here he Witnessed
when n shower comes up suddenly.
In q minute the sidewalks, which pre-
viously yot could not see at all for the
gay company that filed them, appear
stretching away interminably, deserted and
empty and glistening in the rain. while
the shops that line them are nov crowded
with the people TINT q moment before had
been sfrolling along outside.
A minute before you would have found
II difficult to cross Fifth avenue anywhere,
so dense then was the throng OF vehicles
everywhere: hut now you would find
plenty Of room. Mysteriously, il seeu,s
many automobiles and many. carriages
have disappeared entirely. and OF those
that remain many are undertaking a trans
formation 1T their own.
You see raised from somewhere in the
bodies ~ automobiles protecting windows
whose presence you might not have sus-
pected, and on still other automobiles
you see curt aims let down. Windows are
closed in ~brO1ghams and cache You
see protecting hoods suddenly d
stretching forward from the overhanging
tops OF victorias To cover and shield their
interiors, and in all these operations you
may see the carriage men OF the stores
along the avenue assisting the chauffeurs
and coachmen.
The hanson cabs that 90 scurrving
along the street now all have their storm
windows down in front. and the drivers
sitting In their high seats are all In rubler
coats, ~glistening in the rain; and likewise
clad arc tho drivers Of tho electric cabs.
and 80 are all the cbauireurs and coach
men. Uniforms and liveries law disap-
peared and all drivers nre clad alike in
rubber coats that glisten in the rain.
The sidewalks are empty. the roadway
shows long vacant spaces and such vehicles
as are in motion there arc burryinK: tas
rain pours down. shining ON all surfaces
everywhere. and there is. nobody abroad.
Fifth avenue IL deserted.
But the heavy shower that came M
so su"denly. passes as quickly, and O
there are only feeting .feecy white clouds
overhead and the SUN is shining and
the sidewalks drying rapidly. Tn storm
Ia over; down go the windows in the
automobiles and up 20 the aims and
OH - the sheltcring hoods and rubber
coats are dotted.
from tho shelters they sought in the shops;
tho many vehicles that had mysterioualy
disappeared come rs mvsterioiisly back,
and before you know il tho roadway il
crowded again with equipages and the
sidewalks thronged with handsomely cos
tuned women aud correctly capari~one1
mcn: In n minute. as IL secms, 90 sud
denly has this second transformation been
wrought In a Ininute you have once more
In view, just - you aaw Il before Ito eclipss
by the Pain and just a. you may see IL on
any fair day ~ this eeasyn, tte Fifth avenue
spectaoIs again In gun' eosJsI