IntiontheserelytoshowthatNewYorkispeculiarlynstructedtoabsorbalostanythgthatesalong(whetherathoand-footleroutoftheEastoraenty-thoand-aionoutoftheWest)withoutf?litheeventonitshabitants,sothateveryeventis,asense,optional,andthehabitantisthehappypositionofbegabletochoosehisspectacleandsonservehissoul.Inosttropolises,sallandrge,thechoiceisoftennotwiththedividualatall.HeisthrowntotheLions.TheLionsareoverwhelg;theeventisunavoidable.Arnicefalls,andithitseverycitizenonthehead,everystantown.IsotisthkthattheothathitseveryNewYorkerontheheadistheannualSt.Patrick’sDayparade,whichisfairlyperatg—theIrishareahardracetotu,andthereare500,000oftheresidence.
ThequalityNewYorkthatsutesitshabitantsfrolifeaysiplyweakentheasdividuals.Perhapsitishealthiertoliveaunitywhere,whenarnicefalls,youfeeltheblow;where,whenthegovernorpasses,youseeatanyratehishat.
IanotdefendgNewYorkthisregard.Manyofitssettlersareprobablyhererelytoescape,notface,reality.Butwhateveritans,itisaratherraregift,andIbelieveithasapositiveeffethecreativecapacitiesofNewYorker—forcreationispartrelythebessoffogthegreatandsalldistras.
AlthoughNewYorkoftenipartsafeelgofgreatforlornnessorforsakenness,itseldoseesdeadorunresourceful;andyoualwaysfeelthateitherbyshiftgyourlocationtenblocksorbyreducgyourfortunebyf?ivedolrsyouexperiencerejuvenation.Manypeoplewhohavenorealdependenceofspiritdependoy’strendovarietyandsourcesofextforspiritualstenandatenanceoforale.Irythereareafewcesofsuddenrejuvenation—ashiftweather,perhaps,orsothgarrivgtheail.ButNewYorkthecesareendless.Ithkthatalthoughanypersonsareherefrosoexcessofspirit(whichcaedthetobreakawayfrotheirsalltown),so,too,areherefroadef?icyofspirit,whof?dNewYorkaprote,oraneasysubstitution.
ThereareroughlythreeNewYorks.Thereis,f?irst,theNewYorkoftheanorwoanwhowasbornhere,whotakesthecityfrantedasitssizeanditsturbulenceasnaturalaable.Send,thereistheNewYorkoftheuter—thecitythatisdevouredbyloctseachdayandspatouteaight.Third,thereistheNewYorkofthepersonwhowasbornsowhereelseandcatoNewYorkquestofsothg.Ofthesethreetreblgcitiestilegreatestisthest—thecityoff?aldestation,thecitythatisagoal.ItisthisthirdcitythataountsforNewYork’slight-strungdisposition,itspoeticaldeportnt,itsdedicationtothearts,anditsparableachievents.Civethecityitstidalrestlessness,nativegiveitsolidityandntuity,butthesettlersgiveitpassion.AndwhetheritisafarrarrivgfroItalytosetupasalltownMississippitoescapethedignityofbegobservedbyherneighbors,orabfrotheBeltwithaancripthissuitcaseandapahisheart,itakesnodifference:eachabsorbsNewYorkwiththefresheyesofanadventurer,eachgeesheatandlighttodwarfthesolidatedEdisony.
Theuteristhequeerestbirdofall.Thesuburbhehabitshasnoessentialvitalityofitsownandisareroostwhereheesatday’sendtogottosleep.Exeptthetiofarrivalaureoftrasandbes,andthepathtoaquich.Heisdesk-bound,andhasnever,idlyroagthegloag,stubledsuddenlyonBelvedereTowerthePark,seentherapartsrisesheerfrothewaterofthepond,andtheboysalongtheshoref?ishgfornows,girlsstretchedoutnegligentlyontheshelvesoftherocks;hehasneveresuddenlyonanythgatallNewYorkasaloiterer,becaehehashadnotibeeentras.Hehasf?ishedManhattan’swalletanddugoutsbuthasneverlisteoManhattan’sbreathg,neverawakeoits,neverdroppedofftosleepitsnight.About400,000nandwonecharggontotheisndeachweekday,outoftheouthsoftubesandtunnels.NotanyaongthehaveeverspentadrowsyafternoonthegreatrtlgoakensilenceofthereadgrooofthePublicLibrary,withthebookelevator(likeanoldwaterwheel)spegoutbooksontothetrays.Theytendtheirfurnakefellerter—thedaffodilsandgrapehyacthsandbirchesandthef?gstridtothedonaf?esprg.Ortheyayworkaidtownoff?idayletawholeyearsgroundwithoutsightgGovernorsIsndfrotheseawall.Theuterdieswithtrendoileagetohiscreditbutheisnorover.Hisentrancesasareoredeviothanthoseaprairie-dogvilge,andhecallypysbridgewhileburiedtheudatthebottooftheEastRiver.TheLongIsndRailRoadalonecarriedfortyillionutersstyear,butanyofthewerethesafellowretracghissteps.
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