The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1911-02-28

ture in West Forty-thlru street, De
tween Seventh and Eighth avenues
was the scene of rather unusual
celebration the other day, the 41s'
anniversary of the Rev. John Floyd
Stems appointment as rector of that
church. When Rev. Steen took
charge OF the church Al years ago
the surroundings were of a suburban
character. There were large unoc'
cupied spaces, small wooden cottages
and series of dumping grounds in
the direction toward the Hudson
At that time the congregation con,
sisted mostly Of farmers and subur-
banites. Things have changed great
~ since then. Now the church is
almost hidden by the large buildings
on all sides of it and its parish
house, which stands about so feet
from the building line in the rear Of
the lot, is quite lost to the hurried
view. Theaters and restaurants are
all around the church and on the op.
posite side of the street a large hall
is building. The congregation has
also undergone a wonderful change
II consists mostly of chorus girls and
other theatrical folk, and the Sun
day school, although II is still con-
tinued, has decreased in membership
10 mere handful of children, some
OF whom are the sons and daughters
of members OF the CONGREGATION. who
now live at considerable distance
from the old church.
During the recent Chapman-Alex-
ander evangelistic campaign in
Brooklyn noon revivals we're held a.
the opera house. One day the early
arrivals at the theater were sur
prised TO find the stage occupied by
a ballet dancer rehearsing an
oriental dance. During the morning
hours the stage was always used for
rehearsals. but as rule care was
taken to stop the rehearsals some
time before the time set for the re-
vival. On this occasion, however,
the rehearsal was continued little
too long. II is an interesting fact
that on the following day, by o
strange coincidence large number
OF the reyiyalists arrived at the
opera house more than half an hour
ahead of the time set for the meet
ing.
When the first subway line in New
York was opened 10 traffic in 1904,
there we're many persons who. realiz-
ing the enormous cost of the tunnels.
seriously doubted that the traffic
would ever pay fair return upon
the invested capital. The figures
published after the subway had been
in operation for one year dispelled
all misgiyings as 10 the profitable
ness Of the system; but even that
favorable showing was not believed
10 indicate that there would be any
appreeiable increase for many years.
Yet. after three years Of operation
the ticket sales on one single sec
ton. between Ninety-sixth street and
South Ferry. we're greater than on
the entire system during the first
year OF operation. During the year
1910 the ticket sales for the entire
system aggregated z70.321.4e0,
against ll6,20s.3I3 in 1905. This
shows that the traffic has more than
doubled during the last five years.
The greatest increase was recorded
on the Broadway branch abos e
Sinety-Sixth street, which increased
from s,ll2,575 in 1906 to 32.752,-
Cos in 1910.
Some OF the large clothing manu-
faeturers in this city, who depend for
their working force in the tailoring
shops largely upon girls from the
Polish and Russian-Jewish districts
Of the lower East Side, we're con.
fronted with an unexpected predica-
ment recently, after they had mod
ernized their establishments By In
stalling electric light. heat and mo
tive power. Formerly the irons for
pressing the finished garments we're
heated on stoves, but a great deal Of
time was lost BY that antiquated
method and the manufacturers in.
trodnced irons heated by electrieity.
For some unaccountable reason the
girls we're afraid Of the electric irons
and rather sacrifice their positions
than 70 handle the mysterious instru-
ments that would become hot with
out having been placed on a stove.
i required considerable coaxing and
persuasion 10 convince the girls
that the electric irons are quite
harmless. u handled properly, and
do their work much better and
quicker than the old-fsshIoneo
stoge-beated fatirons.
Once more a case mas come 10
public notice, In which two half
grown boys became amateur high-
way robbers after they had Witnessed
. moving picture show, depicting the
methods OF modern highwaymen.
The two youthful would.be robbers
attacked two smaller boys, but we're
scared away before they had time 10
TOD them Of their pennies One of
the little victims. Who had been
roughly handled by the highway.
men,, became 40 frightened. that he
doctors feared he would not recover
from the shock. And still the NOV.
ING picture houses are permitted 70
display erime-depicting films, which
are bound 70 cause trouble b. sug.
sestlng Imitation Of the depicted
scenes 70 impressIonabIe boys 10 the
audience.