The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-08-17
New Guide Book for
New York Compiled
Most Complete Book Written
BY Federdl Writer'S
Project


between the covers Of a book as het-
erogeneous New York, yet, perhaps
for that reason, this city challenges
writer's to attempt it.
The "New York City Guide" writ
ten by the Federal Writer'S Project
published by Random House, and the
final word in guide books about New
York, is a departure from the old
guide book that preceded it.
In 1897 a gentleman named John
Clapp "had made and kept in this city
the first Hackny Coach for the Ac-
commodation Of all Persons desirous
to hire the same" Among Mr.. Clapps
other business interests were tav-
ern located in the Bowery-
"Where gentlemen take leave of their
Friends going on Journey and where
a parting glass or two Of generous
wine
If we'll apply'd makes their dull horses
One spur i tn Head is worth two in
the heel,'
and the publication of an almanac.
In the back of this almanac was
probably one of the first attempts to
compile guide to the settlement
then known as "New- York" The two
pages devoted to this purpose even
closed with directions for a tour to
the distant town Of Stamford, en- route
for the long and wearisome journey to
Boston. If Mr.. Clapp's specific in
structions for traversing the wilder
ness and offer of liquid refreshment to
sustain them on their way and a
"Hackny Coach" for their hire if they
desired it, did not make the populace
of New York travel-conscious it OBJ
viously was not his fault.
Whether they became travel con-
scious or not, they did not seem to
become guidebook conscious. More
than a century passed before another
author, modestly cloaking his identity
by calling himself "a Gentleman Re-
siding in this City" issued "Picture
of New York or Travellers Guide
18O7).
To take his own word as set forth
in the introduction, he was moved by
righteous indignation over "the scant-
mess and incorrectness of the infor-
nation to be found in any collected
and methodical form relative to New
York City"
An impressive volume for it's time
the "Picture" contained a map, a
history of the settlement from its
founding, copy of the city charter
excerpts from local laws governing
such important matters as the. storing
of gunpowder, the inspection of pub
lie wells and foodstuffs, and the
throwing of garbage into the streets
(The last-named practice was limited
to the hours before 10 a. m. on sweep
ing days.) An index followed the text
Apparently New York residents were
becoming interested in data pertain
ing to their city, for from 1907 on, the
production of guidebooks seems to
have been fairly frequent.
For the most part these followed
the pattern Of the Picture" although
one did sufficiently deviate from it tc
contain rules of politeness for the
guidance of those travelling on the
city railroads. "a Guide to New York
of 1867 earnestly warns, "Nevel
smoke in car where there are ladies
no gentleman would be guilty OF
such an act" and, Ladies who wear
oh lyn hnf
leaving home" 1t adds the final anC
somewhat superfuous advice, "Neve,
sit in a seat, in warm weather, with
man weighing 244 pounds"
Originality there was none in these
old guidebooks that followed Mr.
Clapp's. They all presented in the
same manner the same material, modi
fed, naturally, by the growth anc
change of the city.
A new style of writing gave i'm
petus, finally, to a new type of guide
book. Serious students with metro
politan backgrounds wrote Of sections
they had known and loved from child
hood; and people proud of their cos
mopolitan tastes in food or art or en-
tertainment, informed those of like
mind where such things could be
found But New York City is a big
order to be encompassed, in all its as
poets, by one mind, however brilliant
One-author guidebooks of New York
obviously, had their limitations.
The Federal Writer'S Project had {
sufficient staff to see the city through
many eyes and consider it's multiple
aspects with many minds. New Yorl
was not too big for it.
The result is 70S-page book, ever,
statement in which has been checke,
and rechecked for absolute accuracy
as trustworthy reference as careful
writing and punctiious editing coul,
make it. And at the same time it il
a delightfully."- entertaining book.
The readers can learn where the,
can order shashlik; what and wher
was the once notorious "Den O
Thieves; ad two versions of the leg
end of Steve Brodies's leap from
Brooklyn Bridge. If their interests ar
artistic and academic, which of tn
city's churches most nearly approache
perfection as masterpiece of Gothi
architecture. what art works nuhlicl