The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-04-15
LIFE IN new YORK
How 1t May Run In a Deep Rut
In the Matter of Locality.
LAMENT OF A MAN WHO MOVED
Ihe Homesickress That Came With
working Uptown After Twenty
Years OF Routine Travel TO and From
and In the Downtown District.

There are thousands and thousands
OF men In New York city whose bust.
moss has been confined to ono district
1or twenty years or more, whose daily
routine seldom fuciuates, who gre
punctual In travelling by certain
train every day IN the week, who reach
their onces, barring tte-ups, at a regu.
lar hour and take up their daily grind
and hold to It until the hour of closing
Many Of these men unconsciously get
10 know and make friends Of people
| whose names they never learn. They
become attached to localities In q
| strange sort OF way and do not realize
now strong Is the attachment. Here
Is the story Of one Of them into whose
lie there has come a change through
! moving that startles and surprises
him aud throws quaint light upon
some OF the city's people.
In the twenty years that I was
| downtown" the man said IN telling his
experience, "I was in the habit. wealth
er permitting. Of taking a walk after
the luncheon hour every day in some
street between City Hall and the Bat
terry. | have footed every bit Of un-
built ground IN that territory. What
marvellous changes have come in those
twenty yearsl How many signs on
buildings have changed in that timet
How many houses have been pulled
down! How many new ones have gone
up, some Of them towering skyward,
to take the places Of the landmarks?
Il got to know the lower end Of
town so well could shut my eyes ana
make a mental picture Of many Of the
blocks and see the names on the build.
ings. II wanted any article, from
shoelaces to anything elaborate, / knew
exactly where to get them. II some
particular dish were desired I knew
where 1t coulC be served and Just what
It would cost.
"A great city never stands still. It
Is as restless as the great deep. But
the man who becomes part Of it
does not think until he gets away from
the part Of 1t where be has done bust
ness what the changes are. When I
began my strOffs there were no run-
nels under the two rivers. In the
years that have driftsd away great
bridges have been constructed be-
tween Manhattan and Long Island.
1t does not seem long since I used to
hear the restless puff OF the coal feJ
locomotives 0f the elevated arsten.
YET 20 gradually dtd Toe 90 order pass
inot co not distinctly recall when
tho prNSeOt sYs7cn oraA tDetsilad.
Ane changes Inat toox place in
business firms were interesting. Many.
many times have seen the name Of
the man who established trade taken
down and that of his son or sons take
its place. SO frequently were the
same people met In the same place
and at the same hour that we nodded
90 we passed, although none Of US
knew the name Of the nodder.
Not long ago the business with
Which am connected made a lump
uptown Never until took my traps
nptown had I any occasion to walk In
the street where our new building
stands. The first day I went out to
luncheon had to search for a res
taurant. 1t seemed odd. saw peo-
pie I never saw before. read signs
one OF my fool habits-I never read
before. Many Of the vehicles that
passed were quite unlike those I used
to see downtown.
Il had to change ny hour and route
TT coming to business. For awhile
had to watch the street signs to know
where to get of. How I missed the
FAMILIAR call Of the guard OF the car
Tor always came down In the same
car IN the makeup Of the elevated
train-the one I always boarded at
the same hour.
And that makes me think. I came
to know by their faces most of the
passengers who boarded that train at
my station. ] knew where most Of
them got of. Now that l am In new
quarters In a new section | miss all
these people with whom I travelled for
years. Do they miss me, wonder?
And the many whom I came to
Know downtown-how they will be
missed! There is the old street preach
er who usel to stand on q soap box
near Wall street or On the stone steps
or the custom house and talk 10 people
IN the summer days and again IN the
days that betokened the coming OF au-
! tumn. Then there were the Lenten
! days when | spent n part Of my hour
! at Trinity or IN old st. Paurs. l came
/ 10 know the regular attendants on
! those services So that the strangers
became conspicuous. There arc no
street preachers in the new district to
which l have gone. l wonder why
! the middle district of the great city
| doesn't need spiritual direction As well
rs tho downtown districts.
! And SO Il seems sometimes that l
! am In q now town. among now raOnle