The New York herald., 1921-01-23

IT the year 1000, when Macaulays New
Zealander, fresh from viewing the
= ruins Of London Bridge, arrived in
New York. the writer met him at the air
drome Of NC-339 and Offering the hos
pitality of a small ship took him about to
view the CITY,
nificent shops occupying the whole of the
Fifth avenue and extending continuously
from Eighth street to the Harlem River, he
explained because he could see this sort of
thing in his own home town." but he viewed
enthusiastically the dwellings. all charming
and some OF them magnificent, which lined
the Manhattan shore of the East River.
Plainly, wisdom comes with age" said
ne. I'm our new countries we would have
ruined this shore for a residence section by
taking 1t for hideous factories and other
buildings devoted to commerce. You New
Workers. show that you place art higher than
business"
1t was surprise for him to hear that
only eighty years before manufactures,
breweries &C., belching smoke and SMELLS
had been cleared from the shore and in
their stead had been erected the homes that
agreeably met his eye. The reporter said:
only two years after the world war, Of
which you must know something, since
every general historian devotes at least
chapter to that conflict, the first steps were
taken to reclaim this section and restore to
the citizens Of New York their natural
homes.
Before 1920 efforts had been made to do
this in certain parts Of the shore, but these
were spasmodically taken and had no gen.
eral influence. In that year, however, citi-
xens Of wealth and social ctandlng espoused
the plan, and. going themselves to live on
the banks of the East River, others soon
followed and flocked there. too, with the
happy result you see."
Transformation Almost Magic
Once 1t Has Really Begun
The New zealander showed polite incre-
dulity.
Pardon me-" said he ''but is It possible
that In so brief period of time every mark
OF trade could have been eradicated? Have
you proof OF what you sayr'
II was myself living at the time" an
ewered the writer, with n smile, very
youthful. 1t is true. but still Of an age to OBJ
serve and comprehend all that was done.
I'm my lifetime Turtle Bay Gardens
Gerry Gardens. Riverview Terrace, Sutton
place. Court Gardens--in fact each section
threaded like a jewel on the magnificent
necklace of a river--has undergone a trans
formation exceeding magic. From being
either grand or fairylike. Should you care
to listen, l will tell you with the authority
of an eye witness how II was DONE"
It Is a mistake to believe that for years
before the great metamorphosis no one OF
New York's citizens felt the attraction OF
the river and made his home there. This
attraction was felt in Colonial times, and
notable families with names that still have
meaning chose tracts upon its banks or near
q nj nd eat
meaning as family to stay forever.
One such family was the famous one of
Kip, and It was near the beginning of the
nineteenth century before It's descendants
had parted with all the land and sold the
ancient residence. Another was the Beck
man family. which gave its name to the
place occupying the bluff over the river at
Flftieth street and maintaining n kind OF
dignity for years after fashion and wealth