Evening star., 1927-06-02
Not the Only Front Door.

Following the first exclamations
of disappointment over the sudden
change OF plans for the return of
Lindbergh to the United States, New
York has subsided into an attitude of
somewhat grudging acceptance OF the
program that will make Washington
his first landing place in his home
country 1t is possible to sympathize
with the big city in its chagrin. 1t
has been long accustomed to its rank
as the Nations gateway. 1t has re-
ceived almost all Of westward-faring
voyagers of note. Eminent foreign.
ers, monarchs, statesmen, authors,
discoverers. hunters, actors, scientists,
soldiers. all have gone trooping
through the Narrows, up the bay,
past the Statue Of Liberty, TO the
Battery or one Of the piers, to be met
with f1otillas Of small boats, gayly dec
grated, laden with eager humanity,
with the mayor in the van, or per.
haps the mayors representative, to
escort the celebrity to the steps of
the City Hall, there to be received by
his honor himself. Sometimes repre-
sentatives of the President Of the
United States have had precedence
by virtue Of the official character of
the reception, but usually the mayor
has been the foremost figure in these
affairs.
These big receptions have become
part of the civic life Of New York.
BY virtue Of them Manhattan has
grown accustomed to the thought OF
regarding itself as the threshold Of
America. It's hotels have thrived upon
the throngs gathering for the gala
programs. It's theaters have pros
pered from the assemblage Of rural.
ties whoo have taken advantage Of
the occasions to make pleasure trips
to the big city. It's restaurants have
fed millions drawn by the lure of the
great, magnetized by the chance to
see the top of a celebrated head over
the crest Of the crowd, perhaps to
catch a glimpse Of a famous hand
waving responses to the plaudits of
the multitude.
OF course, New York does not re-
gard these affairs in the light Of busi-
ness makers. Perish the thought! If
business Is brisk in consequence of
the gathering Of an extra twenty or
fifty thousand people to see somebody
Of consequence driving through the
streets, that Is merely matter Of
private bookkeeping. And 1t must be
said that New York gives literally
from its public and its private funds
to provide the entertainment that is
lavished on a generous scale upon the
guests of the municipality. Nobody
knows how much has been spent on
keys to the city.
So it is hard now to be required to
take second glimpse Of the returning
hero. The habit Of years. Of genera
tions, has been shaken. One can for
give the mutterings about political
influence" that are heard now with
regard to the Washington plan. 1t is
possible to condone the "taking-it-for.
granted" attitude Of the big town that
caused the adoption of reception pro.
grams long before any arrangements
had been made for Lindbergh's re
turn.
But it is a good thing that this has
happened. 1t serves to remind New
York that it is, after all, not the only
port of entry in this country; that
there are other ways Of getting into
the United States; that many other
cities can on occasion admit guests
direct from overseas. Boston, Phila
delphia. Baltimore, Norfolk, Charles
ton, Savannah, number OF cities or
the Mississippi River, not to mentor
several important places on the Pa
cific Coastal these are capable Of
taking in callers straight from theil
ships Of passage. America has more
than one front door.