Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-11-11
NEW YORK,s BoWERY.
Why the Upper Part Of II Was Named
Fourth Avenue.

+ 2 -
Why the Upper Part Of IL Was Named
5S.s Fourth Avenue. D
In the early forties of the last cen
/ fury there lived Ia Brooklyn a Mr..
and Mrs. Smith. Mr.. Smith was a ris-
ing civil engineer, and most Of his
work was in New York. 1t was nec-
essary that be be nearer his place Of
business than Brooklyn, for in those
days ferries were slow and infrequent,
no bridges spanned the river, and horse
cars were the speediest means Of
transit. Being man of moderate
means, Mr.. Smith went house hunting
through the streets Of New York, SEEK
ing a modest but respectable abode.
Near the upper end Of the Bowery he
found a small house. Elated with his
success, he rushed home with the news
to his wife. But when he mentioned
the name Of the street in which this
house stood his wife's face fell,
How could you think Of it?" she
asked. Smith was in despair 4s
Even as far back as 1910 the Bow
cry had acquired an unenviable repu-
tation. Mr.. Smith tried to explain
that the upper part Of the Bowery
was still untarnished; that many very
respectable people lived in that part
Of town; that it would be many long
years before crime and sin would
|: spread that far north.
It was all wasted energy. The fact
that she would be living on the Bow.
cry was sufficient for Mrs. Smith. Il
AS a civil engineer 1t was Mr..
Smiths custom to overcome obstacles.
The following day he hired convey
ance, and he and Mrs. Smith went
house hunting together. Mrs. Smith
knew her Brooklyn thoroughly, but
had only slight acquaintance with
New York. After driving through
many streets without finding a suita-
bic house the husband quietly turned
into the Bowery at Union square and
slowly walked the horse in the direc-
ton Of the house he had found the
previous day.
Suddenly Mrs. Smith exclaimed,
"Why, there's pretty place to let,
dear!'
Where" listlessly questioned her
husband, purposely looking in the OPP
posite direction. Had Mrs. Smith not
been 80 intent upon the house in ques-
ton she might have noticed the mer-
ry twinkle in her husbands eyes and
suspected something. q
Fright over there" she replied,
pointing to the house with the "To
Lett sign. ~5t5
An examination Of the premises con-
WINGED Mrs. Smith that she must have
the place, and when she learned that
her neighbors were old friends Of hers
she had her husband close the bar
gain at once W,
All this time no mention was made
of the street How Smith managed to
move into the house and keep Mrs.
Smith in the dark as to the name of
the street is mystery. But there
came day. and there was storm.
The tear fall was something heretofore
unknown in the Smith household.
l. Once again Mr.. Smiths habit of
I overcoming obstacles stood him in
good stead. His wife would not live
/ on the Bowery. Her home was ideal,
her neighbors were good people, but
they lived on the Bowery. So Smith
and one of his neighbors went before
| the board Of aldermen. The neighbor
| had influence. The street signs from
| Union square down to Fourth street
We're changed. Instead of 'tBowery''
the words Fourth avenue were sub
| stftuted. ~
And Mrs. Smith was happy ever aft
er.-Eew York World.