Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-12-18
WONDERFUL new YORK
Great American City In a Class by
Itself. a.
FILLED BY WEALTH and POVERTY.


and Some Danssrous-simplieity Of
Travel on the subways-Firs in
skyserape-Speeial News Service
for the Wealthy-other Notes.
Written for The Yorkville Enquirer.
New York is not only the largest
city in America; but 1t is probably the
most cosmopolitan city in the world.
This word cosmopolitan as used here
means population made up from ev-
erywhere. and feeling as much at
home here as anywhere. II we should
start out to ask the people in the
streets, or those employed in the
stores, or even the doctors, lawyers.
financiers, brokers, hotel managers or
others where they were born and
reared, he would find them coming
from all parts Of the United States.
South America, Europe, Asia, Africa,
and the islands Of the sea, and not one
out Of twenty would say that he was
born in the city. The same Is true to
large extent Of Chicago and San
Francisco; but nothing like that pro-
portion Of aliens Is to be found in any
other city. A very large proportion Of
population Of the city Of Washington
has been made up Of people who have
drifted in from other parts Of the
country; but most of that population
Is American. The majority Of the
population Of Baltimore and Boston is
native, and the majority Of that por-
tion which Is not native. has drifted in
from Massachusetts, and other New
England states in the one case and
from Maryland and surrounding states
in the other case. But all the New
Yorkers that were born in the city or
state Of New York are not nearly
equal In number to those who have
come in from elsewhere.
settles in New York city and gets into
business soon begins to feel that he is
as much Of New Yorker as anybody,
| and when he acquires property or be-
comes a legal voter, he feels as If he
had been a resident Of the city all his
life. And there Is nobody to challenge
the proposition; nobody who would
want to challenge 1t. In New York 1t
makes very little difference who a
man is, who his parents were, or any
thing Of that kind. The all important
thing Is what he Is himself, what he
can do and how well he can do It, It
Is altogether q question Of delivering
the goods. II he can do that, he Is ac-
sinks to such level as he can maintain
himself on, or drops out entirely.
There is no place in the world, prob
ably where the rule of the survival of
the fittest enforces itself SO inexorably
as in the great city Of New York.
|. For man to ever come to know
New York in all its ins and outs Is
impossible. He may have millions Of
money, all the leisure time he wants,
and employ all the expert help he can
direct; but one life time of three score
years and ten Is too short for the task.
For generations this great city has
been the Mecca Of all that Is ablest,
most expert, most accomplished In al
most every line Of human effort. The
great literary lights drift there. the
great scientists, the great financiers,
the great artists. the great lawyers,
the great contractors, the great mer-
chants, the great in everything. Along
with them 60 thousands Of mediocrities
who think they are great. This great
city also attracts many Of the greatest
criminals, including confidence men,
swindlers, gamblers and frauds Of all
kinds. The city is the home Of thous-
ands who go there for the especial
purpose Of losing themselves to the
who stop for no particular purpose.
New York has q larger number Of
people Of fabulous wealth than any
other city in the world, and also
larger amount Of abject poverty and
misery.
While New Yorkers generally are
lacking Of that local pride which
makes more provincial people brag on
the towns in which they live, 1t Is a
common thing to see people who have
lived there a while, or who live there
new, show more or less pride In hail
ing from New York" This probably
comes from a knowledge Of the fact
that all the world realizes what big
place New York Is, and maybe a man
who halls from New York would be
looked upon as being Of some size
himself. But Of course this does not
follow. While 1t Is quite probable that
the great city produces thousands of
thorough going all-round men, 1t has
been said with some show Of truth,
that although 1t cannot be denied that
many Of the great specialists Of the
spective lines, have not got enough
outside Of that to raise an umbrella
when 1t rains.
But I did not commence this sketch
so much with the intention Of writing
a general essay on the city Of New
York as Of telling about some more OF
the striking things that impressed me
during the recent visit with Hon. John
L. McLaurin.
One evening about six o'clock as we
were walking up Broadway, our at
tention was attracted by a most un-
earthly shrieking noise. 1t does not
e~SS
customed to the ordinary noises Of
the city. The street traffic Of itself Is
a matter of constant din and war.
With the surface cars running along
in plain sight, the elevated cars
rumbling overhead, the subway cars
crashing along down under the earth.
and at more or less frequent intervals
heavy blasts coming from the subter-
ranean workings that are continually
going on below, one has plenty to
keep his ears occupied; but he can
not stop to listen to these things or
give them much attention, lest he be-
come jammed in the surging crowds
or knocked down by the. swiftly pass
ing automobiles. But the noise refer
red to comes from away up the street.
Along with the numerous other noises
one would not have given 1t second
thought II there had been but single
note Of II But 1t came again and
again. have never heard the plain
tive screech of a panther; but from
descriptions / would say 1t sounded
like that Presently the same kind Of
noise came from far down the street.
and then from points east and west.