New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-12-21

YOU VIII KUN ACICSS one
4 n occasionally in the financial
district-stopped on the
sidewalk opposite 80 and AZ Wall
Street and. staring up at the twelve
story building. said, softly:
"Pshaw After all these years.
Who would have thought it"
The noon crowd buffeted the little
man, scowling at him for obstruct-
inr the traffic, but he didn't seem to
mind. He was indulging a whim.
As some persons go in for collecting
butterflies, bright colored neckties
or Satsuma vases, he had hobby
for -- "reminiscences When not
studying the stock ticker or watch
ne the boy post quotations, he liked
to send his mind over the back trails
Of this strange little thoroughfare,
repeople it with its former inhabi-
tsnts and cause them to reenact in
his mind the stirring old episodes
which are the warp and woof of its
character. It was a harmless recre-
alton, and he had an infantile fond
ness for indulging himself in it.
On this particular morning he had
read an item in a morning news
paper which had caused his mind to
90 back to It's favorite amusement.
and he had hurried through lunch
TO find time to saunter past the
building in Wall Street which was
mentioned in the article.
"ShucksI' he said, shaking his
head at the lofty stone front, things
work out curiously. After all that
happened, too. Who would have be-
iieved IT,"
Thereupon a curious thing hap
pcned 70 him. Although to the cas-
ual observer he remained mild
hammered, white haired little man
staring at an Office building, he had
sudden vision. Within the full
glare Of the midday sun the tower
ing structure opposite seemed to
shrink until it had dwindled to one
Of those high gabled houses with
dormer windows which were the last
word IN architecture in the Geor-
F'an period. Nassau Street with its
dense throngs f1ickered out like a
scene In motion pictures when the
hlm snaps. Important buildings
ike those occupied by J. P. Morgan
& Co, the Sub-Treasury and the
First National Bank were trans
formed into absurd red fronts be-
lore which leisurely gentlemen in
knes hreeches and buckled shoes
were engaged In conversation. One
I" the seven carriages of which the
city hoastcd in those days was pass
ing.
i hear they are to fight In the
morning" one of the gentlemen was
saying, although it is known to few
besides the principals and their sec
onds.'
At the words the scene changed
again, showing this time the Hudson
hIver-but with what extraordinary
changes The 1,0O0-foot piers and
The big transatlantic steamet
were nowhere to be seen. A giant
hand must have smeared out the
Woolworth and Singer buildings
and other towering structures. for
the skyline on the Manhattan side
was singularly fattened and blank
Not single tug, pouring black
smoke from It's tunnels. or an AL
bany excursion boat was to be seen
anywhere, and the blue waters, pliut-
ing under the rays of the July sun.
were deserted from the Battery
north as far as the eye could reach.
Suddenly, however, barge con-
tanning two men besides the boatman
moved out from the Manhattan
shore, and about thirty minutes
later was followed by another, in
which were three passengers. Ar
irving on the New Jersey side, at a