Laurel outlook., 1944-05-10

by L.. L.. SlEtENSON
Many Manhattanites are inclined
to make fun of Brooklyn. If they
mention the big borough across the
East river at all, they do so in a
sighting manner. The stage comic
that can work Brooklyn into his rou-
tine IS almost sure of laughs. The
Manhattanite may be a rabid Giant
or Yankee supporter, nevertheless
the loyalty of Brooklyn fans to their
Dodgers causes that same Manhat-
tanlte to regard them as nothing
more or less than yokels. The alder
man, who referred to his district as
"Greenpernt, the garden spot of the
world was regarded by Manhat-
taniteS as typically Brooklyn both
IN v%ernacular and spirit. AS a mat
ter of fact, the jargon that trans
forms first" into %''foist" and 10Y
ster' into ''~erster," and is common
ly referred to as "Brooklynese" is
really nothing of the sort. It's heard
in Manhattan and I've eve heard
something resembling it on Detroit's
waterfront.
The gang of hoodlums, which
killed for hire and vas known as
Murder Inc.," was held by many
to be typical of Brooklyn. The an
mails of Manhattan, however, con-
tain not a few records of gangs who
were mercenary slayers. The play,
Brooklyn, Inc" which ran a sea-
son or so ago, was, so far as the title
was concerned, mere libel though,
through the controversy it aroused,
it did bring much publicity to a poor
show. The politician, who when I'M
der investigation, swore that he kept
his money in a tin box rather than
in banks, was held to be further
proof of the quaintness of Brooklyn.
Those policemen, who were charged
with accepting brides to protect
gamblers and other law breakers,
were taken as usual products of
Brooklyn. Nevertheless, l know of
no copyrights on crooked politicians
or crooked cops and my newspaper
experience goes back quite a piece.
In short, Manhattan's jibes at
Brooklyn are like the tail laughing
at the dog. Brooklyn is a part of
the city of New York. 1t is even
a bigger part than Manhattan. Only
800, 900 more New Workers live in
Brooklyn than in Manhattan. Man
haitian is compressed on an island
about IA miles long and three miles
in width at its widest. Brooklyn
starts at the East river and keeps
right on going. Manhattan, as a
matter of fact, could be picked up
and placed in any one of several
sections of Brooklyn. Brooklyn cov-
ers 81 square miles; Manhattan a
mere %. There may come a time
when Brooklyn will be a city set
apart, as it was in the beginning.
In New York, "home" generally
means an apartment which may
consist of but one room, though
there are a few single residences
left in the borough. In Brooklyn,
home" may NEAR an apartment
since Brooklyn is a modern city. But
to thousands of Brooklynites,
home" means a house with a front
yard. There are many streets of
residences. Some of the old
stone and brick houses go away
pack to the beginning of Brooklyn,
before the time when Brooklyn was
connected with Manhattan by the
that brought Steve Brodie
anne. Some are still inhabited by
descendants of the builders. There
ire streets of modern homes, most
If which r owned by their occu-
'ants, who take pleasure and pride
n keeping their property looking its
,est.
Trees add much to the attractive
less of Brooklyn. On many streets
re trees so ancient they form a
,reen arch over the roadway. Man
Iattan has more trees than it had in
he past because, up to wartime,
rees were being planted on many
t%reets, Fifth and Sixth avenues,
Or example. But compared to Man
attain, Brooklyn is a forest. Yet
brooklyn is not in the woods. 1t is
My a matter of a dozen minutes
Wall street and 20 minutes to
lines Square.
In the past, I've made remarks
bout getting lost in Brooklyn. To
I'll the truth, I've been lost in the
FALL Street section of Manhattan,
nd the Bronx is largely unknown !
erritory to me-. When | wanted a !
ashlight of a certain kind, after a ;
ain search of Manhattan stores l I
'ent over to Brooklyn and came i
ack with the desired article. Some =
I the ~pleasantest parties I've ever a
have been in Brooklyn I
ONES. :
y