A LOITERER IN NEW YORK DISCOVERIES MADE BY A RAMBLER THROUGH OBVIOUS YET UNSOUGHT HIGHWAYS AND BYWAYS BY HELEN W. HENDERSON AUTHOR OF TUB ART TREASURES OF WASHINGTON ETC., ETC. WITH A PREFACE BT PAUL W. BARTLETT NEW YORK GEORGE H. DORAN COMPANY OOPYWOHT, 1917, UY OEOKOK M. ttOHAK nil-, IM A, i. oiiMV. MM ru. iin r., mi im MM, i AIIAINST THK niKNHII . AMHHIJIII llnl CAKKKKM NH UAJ. MM. S, KilMIHI-, UU. I- nXl AlUMtANt I , Ml IU-MI, M M in K MO IM J I Mi lt I-llniui KM 1 1 TO BILLIE AND GILBERT WHITE PREFACE To a traveller the thought of loitering in a great city is more suggestive of the celebrated haunts abroad than of New York. It conjures visions of Home, of Venice, of Florence, where historical relics and works of art are found at every turn. It would recall, perhaps, rambles in the streets and boulevards of Paris and the innocent joys of the Bouquineur on the Quais the misty mornings, the quiet afternoons, and evening strolls on the banks of the Seine. It would perhaps revive the souvenir of the delightful feeling of peaceful comfort and nearness to the Past, so readily enjoyed in the sombre byways and th gay and bustling highways of London. Things are life size abroad and supremely human too. There one is encouraged to dream and to think, and loitering is an art With these thoughts in mind it seems difficult, at first glance, to see how one could really loiter here-The consciousness of ones self is easily lost in the presence of our superhuman buildings. The sky-line, however grand, is far away, and a profound feeling of awe replaces that of intimacy and charm The works of art are difficult to vii viii PREFACE find, and the ambience of ceaseless and strenuous activity precludes all hope of peaceful meditation to those who do not know the nooks and corners where the Past still lingers with the Present. This book, in reality the History of the Romance and Art of Manhattan, fortunately comes to our rescue. The traveller will find it a friendly and willing guide he will be lured on, over the old Boston Post Road, along Broadway and Fifth Avenue, his curiosity and interest always kept alive and half - forgotten mysteries will be disclosed to him while on the way. The lover of New York may rejoice in the folk-lore tales of hamlet and bouwerie, retold in sympathetic and feeling words, and in the remembrance of revered landmarks, beauti fully described. The artist and connoisseur, on the other hand, may find much to admire in the authors appre ciation of art and in her joy to praise They will be touched by her quiet persistence in calling attention to things worth while, and amused by her skill in dealing with unfortunate works, so common with us, which, with a few casual words, are deftly set aside, so deftly indeed that, at times, one scarcely realizes the strength and justice of her criticism. PREFACE ix Miss Helen Henderson, a true art critic with out the pretensions of a critic, is particularly well equipped for a work of this kind. She had the good fortune, after completing her studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, to spend some years abroad, to come in contact with most of the modern masters, and to live in the midst of the artistic and literary activities of Paris and London. To-day her opinions are based on real under standing, her emotions and intuitions have been tempered by years of literary experience, and her sense of the psychology of human events is mellowed by a kind philosophy, which is not devoid, however, of a gentle touch of humour. In bringing the art treasures of the city nearer to us, in reminding us that there are still traces of Poetry and Romance left in Manhattan, Miss Henderson has done a good and worthy work. The gentle irony of her title leads me to believe that she has little hope of persuading many New Yorkers to loiter but if any book could teach them to idle, and Jo idle with pleasure and profit, it is certainly A Loiterer in New York. Paul W... --This text refers to the Paperback edition.