The New York herald., 1921-01-30
In Old New York.
A Pen Picture Of tho Town In the
Middle Of the Last Century.

From America 40 Found IT," BY "The
York. 1852, Robert Parker a Brothers,
quoted IN the Cstv College Quarterly.
But It Is Of New York-tho Empire
City" where traffic hastens and where
shipping throngs, where wealth enjoys
and poverty labors, where want is pur-
sued by benevolence. inebriety by tenn
perance and vice Of all sorts by Chris
tianity--it is OF this emporium OF the
country that we wish TO speak.
1t is common to say New York will
be a handsome city when II is finished"
and 20 It will II that day of rcpose ever
reaches II. One sometimes lights on a
street quiet and clean. where you oan
stand still and onjoy it. But 10 rest
less genius has bought house. How
ever comfortable Il is no will hardly be-
lieve IL his own till he has altered It. So
you will see IL climbing story nearer
the clouds. a conservatory bulking out
on the side, portico on the front. If
II be store, smarter window or a
deeper cellar IL wanted. In short, your
orderly street Is quickly numbered with
all the confusion OF building. and tim
with little ceremony. and much encun-
brance to passengers. There Ia wonder
ful forbearance on the part OF the citi-
gems re- riding the encroachments made
on the footpaths by boxes and casks of
all kinds. You must glide through them
very warily lest your clothes be rent
on a corner or your foot wounded by
a nail not to mention tinctures Of tar
or sugary matter. which may be moro
easily contracted than Stunned In tho
lower and moro business parts OF the
city. 1t must be on the give and take
principle that these encunnbrances are
suffered: II won't complain OF you to-
day. for / expect my cargo In to-mor-
row: we must all get along; and 30
they do, more at the occupiers' ease In
some streets than that OF the passengers.
Broadway is a perfect puzzle---how
smaller and lighter craft make unde-
molished way through that throng Of
omnibuses IL amazing. Many street
In London is as much crowded. but / do
not suppose in any one. II you except the
vicinity OF tho Crystal Palace at ove-
ming. you could count twenty omni-
buses at time within sight. Yet there
Is no pressing and driving--but cheer
fuI. smiling opartesy on all hands. We
had occasion 20 cross from Jersey City
on Christmas eve. when the roosny
steamer could scarcely AFFORD standing
room for the we'll dressed throngs Of
artisans and their families who wero
crossing TO DO ready for to-morrow's
holiday. How plcased they iookedl How
obligingl Giving way when they could
or expressing regret 20 one another n
they could not. Not one tipsy shout
not one staggering mortai--no wife or
sister looking fearfully on her escort.
All, Scotland! when VIII temperance do
for thee what Il has done for these
crowded cities?
Tho incessant and heavy traffio digs
up and wears out the pavement Of
Broadway, 70 that yearly II requires to
be gone over and repaired. II is sur
prising to see the unwieldy omnibus dur
ing tho season for paving turn down
narrow side streets repeatedly In Its
heightened course Yet so attractive In
this one street, which is like the spinal
column OF the city, that they will return
10 Broadway at the first block where Il
Is passablc. though they have TO turn or
again In the course Of few hundred
yards.