New-York tribune., 1921-09-11


\ the Most Romantic Young Lady
"It's nothing Of the Sort"
argued the Native Son. "New York is full
Of quaint hooks for those who know how and
where to find them. Romancel Why, my
dear young woman"-
Tm not discussing the romance of bust
ness or the beauties of municipal architec-
ture," interrupted the Most Romantic Young
Lady. "By romantic I mean 'romantic' /
dsfy you to tell me where Lovers Lane is in
New York
The Native Son coughed and made several
false starts
"You can't tell me-" continued the Most
Romantic Young Lady triumphantly because
New York has no Lovers Lane"
"Lets not be too sure of that insisted the
Native Son. Have you ever looked in the
Did chronicles of the city?"
'Im not talking about what used to be-"
said the Most Romantic Young Lady some
what sharply. II know there used to be a
street known as Love Lane'-
Good" cut in the Native Son. "Put on
But" added the Most Romantic Young
Lady, simultaneously agreeing and dissent
ing, "you won't find any traces of romance"
Love Lane. according to the Most Roman
tic Young Lady, was the unofficial but rec
ognized title of Abingdon Road, which was
close the line Of contemporary Twenty
first Street to Fitzroy Road. The lane proper
If the lane was proper-rsn parallel to
Eighth Avenue, from Fifteenth Street to
Forty-second. The Most Romantic Young
Lady not entirely clear as to the geo.
graphical definition Of Love Lane. But, she
explained, neither were the old books.
However" she remarked, as she pointed
to the amorphous collection Of shops and
houses along the path Of the onetime retreat,
"n you can find anything that indicates the
existence Of a romantic spot in this district
I'll give you"-
But it wasn't necessary for her to complete
her offer. The Native Son could discover
nothing sweetly amorous in the vicinity. The
district was not haunted by the wraiths of
dead lovers. Not even his loyalty to Man
haitian could conjure up visions Of Colonial
lass presenting her bright red lips to the eager
welcome of dashing Colonial loyer. Not on
Eighth Avenue and Twenty first Street!
Nevertheless, the Native Son was not so
easily to be discouraged.
"You may be right about Love Lane" he
admitted, ''but I'm going to do little research
work, and then-will your offer still hold
good?"
The Most Romantic Young Lady laughed.
''Its safe Offer" she answered
,IoI Ill -, r.
consulted by the casual reader, the Native Son
began to exhume the legendary sites of
nance. Maiden Lane, he learned, once was
the avenue along which the early Dutch lovers
stroled arm in arm of pleasant evenings. The
very name was, as the Most Romantic Young
Lady might have said, intriguing. Yet even in
lhis tanciful title there was hint of something
earthly. 1t was not the maiden that the lane
lmmortalzed, according to the best authorities.
II was-well, it was her ability as laundress.
Maiden Lane once was the street in which the
Dutch bellies dried out their freshly washed
clothing
promenade along Maiden Lane revealed
nothing of the lovers walk Of Annette Janss
Jay. Courtships do not begin on Maiden Lane
Ii this day; they end there. 1t is to Maiden
Lane that the young man HES to purchase an
engagement or & wedding ring. Score another
marker for the Most Romantic Young Lady
maiden Lane, as a walk devoted to soft sighs,
Is gone
inere was another courting place in the
so~n1own district. little grove of locust
s'ees on bluff over the Hudson The Native
a0n decided, from the few available accounts,
o,as 1t was somewhere south of Trinity
Church.
ms would be delicious" he mused. "a
assting ground just south of the old church
saiu A little secluded spot amid the city's
al, .le sought the little secluded spot amid the
roar He worked out the probable site