Reminiscences of the old fire laddies and volunteer fire departments of New York and Brooklyn. . to the shrine of Mam-mon almost every relic of the oldentime. The feeling of venerationfor the past, so characteristic of thecities of the Old World, is lament-ably deficient among the people ofthe New. Still, as there are some who may take an interest in know-ing even the sites of memorable historic places of the city, I willbriefly refer to some of them as I go along. To those among theliving whose energy has contributed to the prosperity of New York,the rank she holds as an emporium of the world
Reminiscences of the old fire laddies and volunteer fire departments of New York and Brooklyn. . to the shrine of Mam-mon almost every relic of the oldentime. The feeling of venerationfor the past, so characteristic of thecities of the Old World, is lament-ably deficient among the people ofthe New. Still, as there are some who may take an interest in know-ing even the sites of memorable historic places of the city, I willbriefly refer to some of them as I go along. To those among theliving whose energy has contributed to the prosperity of New York,the rank she holds as an emporium of the world must be her future prospects are no less interesting to her sons; andoften the eager inquiry arises, Will this unparalleled rapidity of prog-ress continue ? Such was the train of thought into which I had fallen one after-noon a short time ago as I leisurely wandered up Nassau Street, toits junction with Chatham Street and thence into the Bowery,—aplace where bhoys innumerable and shop-girls of the period seemalways supremely happy by that ignorance which tells them there is. 34 Reminiscences of the Old Fire Laddies. bliss in the Bowery,—before 1 recalled the fact that I had passedone of the most time-honored and popular sites that lower NewYork can boast of. I refer to the site of the old Chatham Theater,erected in 1824. The building referred to is just above RooseveltStreet, and extends nearly half of the block. When the oldChatham Theater was in the height of its popularity, Tom Flynnand Charley Thorn were its owners. Flynn was one of the best ofthe old-school actors, and the most successful Irish comedian thatever stepped upon a stage. He was a heavy drinker, though hemanaged always to promptly attend to business and play his partswithout a blemish. It was along in the early forties that a crusadeagainst rum was organized in this city, and the movement was knownas the Washingtonian Battery against Rum. Though organizedand for a time confined entirely to d
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