Smyrna times., 1933-10-04
SIDE LIGHTS OF
NEW YORK CITY
Told By L. L. Stevenson in
His Own Immical Way
of Doings in City
INTERESTING SKETCHES

Sundays and holidays, New York
ers by the hundreds take Dyckman
street ferry over to Interstate park
atop the Palisades on the New Jer-
sey side. There, If they do desire,
they may do a bit of mountain
climbing within plain sight of the
man-made mountain Of Manhattan.
For the hardy, there are steep paths
which supply plenty Of exercise. For
the less hardy, following the wind
ing road, cut into the great rock
masses, TO the park entrance, is
enough Of a pull. Reaches Of the
Hudson and city scenes are the re-
ward, the picture changing with
every turn. Then, in the park, there
are bold points that jut out shelf
like and give the dizzy impression
of nothing below. But the COM
merce Of the river and the towers
and minarets Of the great city are
worth a bit of giddiness.
Park hikers usually go in parties
Most Of them dress for the occa-
sion. Noticed recently a group Of
young girls. They come up from
the lower East side-a bit Of caves
dropping supplied that information
and were examples Of what the
well-dressed hiker should wear. But
all had high-heeled shoes so without
a doubt the itinerary was short.
Strapping youths with knapsacks
are common sights. Sometimes there
are whole families, well loaded down
with lunch baskets. They may not
get far but they do get few hours
release from the city.
Interstate park, especially Just
across the river from Manhattan,
Is by no means wild. But it is not
one of those manicured parks, and
thus is the nearest approach to the
primitive hereabouts. It's also pos
sible to build fires and do other
things usually forbidden in parks.
Also. it's grand place for picnics,
IL you like picnics. Many campers
live in the park. They come from
an over. Counted motor car IL
censes from % states in the course
of an hour.
Leaving Palisades park, went on
up to Lost lake and did a bit of
mountain climbing on my own ac-
count. The Croton river, though a
part of the New York water supply,
is not protected that far up. So it
Is possible to go swimming in the
drinking water without getting
pinched. There is a grand swim
ming hole where Mary Alice and
Andy Freeman live. But the Gro
ton is away down in a mighty de-
preston. Going down was fine. But
the pull back up all but finished Tip
Bliss And as for your correspond
ent, he made it but had nothing to
say when he reached the top. 1t
was like boyhood days. going swim
ming in river again, and that was
something.
For many years a little wooden
church was one Of the familiar
sights Of Westfeld. n. J. Finally it
was moved several miles out into
the country. There, its denomina-
tional character was changed since
IT became a community church. But
times changed. The motor car
came. For years, the little church
was closed. But it's open again.
Another change has come to it. It's
now a beer garden
This age of specialization yarn
gave me a laugh. A Swedish wom-
m applied for a listing at an en-
ployment agency. do you cook?"
she was asked. She shook her head.
do housework?' Another mega
tive. Look after children?" An
other headshake. "What do you
do them" was the next question.
-Ay milk elk!''
Was told about a once wealthy
horseman over in New Jersey with
whom things got SO tough that he
got down to his last horse. Unable
to sell the animal, he was In guam
dairy until he thought of inserting
an advertisement In newspaper.
That night he would leave the barn
unlocked, the ad stated, and who
ever called to get a kind and gentle
horse could do 50 without any fear
whatsoever. The next morning, he
went out to the barn-and found
five more horses.
G. 1888. Bell syndicate.-WNU Service.