New-York tribune., 1909-12-12
crzRDING FIFTH Avenue
,ssociafion's Plans TO PreserUe Tone
of the Thoroughfare.

4
.ne-e have always been certain men-that
- cut from ''the ruck OF things" because
= = ,ossess individuality. and Fifth avenue Is
= =, these streets. To the New Yorker who
- - a. well 70 the visitor who knows II only
A-a-scially. the name carries a definite sugges-
-. II implies a tone. an atmosphere. an ap-
-.,ce scarcely 10 be communicated by d.
=. s.a-eraent but nevertheless. easily recog-
80 and easily Differentiated from that OF
- others Like Inter den Linden and the
~--,sian bouleyarGs. Fifth avenue may almost
:. sajd 70 possess personality.
rersonality-and a personality worth pre-
,nr from the encrOachments Of elements less
,.,-,ised than those which have given IL its
- status. AT least. that is the creed OF
=, raerbers OF the Fifth Avenue Association.
- have burdened themselves with the task
+. r.aiuta.ning the charm OF The thOroughfare
a rf directing its future development along
49, dos red lines. AND this organization, now
.I...t tuo and EaH years old, did not come
r.. fhe d,ll q year nor = day too soon. II its
--.-,.s, Is 70 be accomplished. For. while
-,,chout rhe major portion OF its length tise
.,-.et stu presents the aspect which has given
,.,t is distinction, IN other portions most re-
--sr-atl, change is taking place
--his change is particularly noticeable between
-.-r anE 80 streets. and AZ no other time so
-..f as 5lrlnE tie noon hours. This section,
!, one -lue residence district itself. later be-
.-,,s a Shopping rendezvous. From early in
u. aav -rt- closing time II was thronged with
.-.rre-s uC-t men and women The character
. .bf shops appealing 20 the more substantial
-.-r et BUYERS EC- .@tterly-and il is tins con-
anon -aa- gre Fifth Avenue Association Is al
.-sser- srl,ave-inE tc roleve-another class
t his fa-, az cne thoroughtare during the
mode ct ths day These are the employees os
GA, multitude 0f tailoring establishments. gar
-sr- workers ot aI sorts located in the side
streets which give 0n 70 the avenue. They pour
... .h, street literally by the thousands and
,a, tens q Thousands during the noon hour
They 81 not come 70 buy anything They are
merely Id.Eg away their rest time. But the re
--ti q close .ked. jabbering, splitting. crowd
Is mass Ct humanity. which fills the walk from
sore window -C curtstOne. obstracting traffic.
interfering U.t- -he business Of those who come
...t definite purpose. causing no end Of an
-.ance tc the merchants whose displays are
M designed -l appeal Il them. and in general
SWING rome and an appearance 10 that part OF
.t street o-- ~ 81 accord with its traditional
.-rlsIlere.
Tie --st and movement Of New York street
rVGs have become an almost universal proverb
- gC- WILL md none OF i il rhis section Of
T.,1 avenue ~ noon. The mass moves slowly
.a1t. lt seems almost 10 be there for the ex-
.-ss purpose - impeding the movements OF
..se who a~e bent OF business. and the favorite
creation appears tC be staring al nothing and
.-ee,l--t-lg or the sidewalk Like the stand
as army mentioned ty E.pLng, il simply stands
-41G does nothing else.
a11 q pretty g0oC idea II The cosmopolitan
.1-1--e- -f New York may be gathered from
LIS moi cf l0ite-ers ZargViL could have got
.e .5ea f.- his Melting Pot right there for
persons ears VIII be assalled by a. dialects
Z-Et t1e American II tie course u a noorday
--vage u @ rew blocks
. Is easy enough 70 see how thar condition II
-e--s t---z ~ make an appeal 70 The business
al..arrs o. BON sides q the street and how
15c--t and annoying q matter il is 10 the shop
-trs-parr. e-.4r-y 10 women, Who are compelled
s.. -laoW -le-r way through and struggle against
a-se slow moving currents Of humanity
AI unpleasant condition. But what was 10 bs
s.ne about .-r That was the question 70 be con-
aoefec ly TIE FlfIh Avenue Association which
Eas zes.C-s tC save the street from permanent
la,sr.0raton These lettering people could not
.- Classified under the head OF ''Gisorderly and
-lHeiess cLa-acters"-at least the bulk OF them
..-c not-fCr while they came 70 Fifth avenus
otter and to Idle yet the majority Of then
--- ~ nc means "iGlers" il the legal sense
Thy are llt ragrants. How was the thing q
l0nee
Tire frst device was IN realty a failure. I
.Lslsf-C IL a-~eertrr small matches ~ n,