New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-22
The Coming Tower
THE GRAND TOUR.

Never had New York seemed so allurng'
so trimming with things to he done and peo-
nle 70 be seen as on the morning | went to
he measured for nv ticket. 1t was warm
rainv morning in mid-tcbruary, as inc real
istic authors say; yet New ork the hear'
less. New York the cruel and selhsh, seemed
suddenly inviting and hospltable. o sever
myself from it seemed suicidal
Hundreds Of times have watched depart
ing travellers. Always have envied them
setting out for adventure, romance, excite.
ment or rest. And have felt sorry for al!
who were left behind TO pursue their per
hapsess existence in the drab city, where
they did the same thing yesterday they
would do tomorrow. and where the only
variation would be in the length Of time they
would be DELAYED above Ninety-sixth Street
on the downtown subway trip mornings.
But the CITY | was about to leave, and 10
leave deliberately, had become fairyland over
night New York has always seemed like a
prison TO ME; but imagine that prisoner,
suddenly granted the pardon he has worked
for and hoped for for years, might have some
misgivings as to whether his freedom were
going TO come up 10 the bluc-prints and
specifications Of his dream. When the sui
fragsts get the ballot, | wonder
I had had an unusually good breakfast.
There had been, among other joys, grddle
cakes of the lighter-than variety utterly
drenched in unqualifedly pure maple syrup
and perfect coffee. Vistas OF molasses and
chicorv doomed up; was to leave this prov
cndcrial paradise and all because wanted
for 70 admire and for 70 see few Western
towns.
II was as though somebody had asked me
what I thought OF the world and had re-
piled that I didn't consider It, as worlds
went. much OF success; that il was full OF
Injustice and fakery and selhshness and ug-
illness and jealousy. And as though my
questioner, sort OF Aladdin OF the bad
Naladdn, as it were-had said, "Well, you II
have to die in two days. Still, as it 9 such
badly run world, ! suppose you'll mind leav-
ing it." ! think I should find the world full
Of a number Of desirable and lovely things
81 per cent of the things and people being
desirable and lovely and 100 per cent OF them
interesting.
I walked down the Avenue; and for the
first time felt the combination OF pride and
vanity about New York-walling Manhat-
Itanitis "Will Los Angeles ! wondered,
"have anything to compare with this" And
I prayed for strength to keep me from say
ing. to boasting Californian, Eyes, know,
but we have $4,000 people at one OF our
world series games, and the WoolWorth
Building is 2,624 feet high" | might even
thought, have to boast about the circula-
ton Of the Evening Journal. Again | prayed
for strength. We in New York do
not lisp in numbers we megaphone in num-
bers.
met friend. Ordinarily | should have
hurried on, but now let him talk and his
monologue seemed enchanting. 1t really
did | am not evading, as Mrs. Humphry
Ward does when she says that lot OF witty
dialogue folowed-and lets the unwitty
reader imagine it. Meredith is the one al
thor whose press-agenting OF his characters
conversational ability comedies with what
the characters say. Ny friend asked
me to dinner on Washingtons Birthday.
told him I'd be in Emporia on that day
oh he said, as who should condole. And
| began to think OF the plays should miss
seeing, and the Illustrators Smoker on the
10Th and the excitement in the Office and the
arguments with the city editor over some
thing | didn't like in the paper and the
nightly troubles attendant on making-up
And then | entered the ticket Office.