New York City 1905

    The smell of burning coal permeated the thick air. Red brick houses lined the crowded New York City streets. Grand marble stairs climbed up and met the houses with large porches. The hustle and bustle of the city surrounded me. Kids of all ages were running and playing in the streets. Couples strolled the streets holding hands. In their hands most women carried lacy parasols, blocking them from the sun. Most of their dresses were detailed with peals and lace.  The bodice of their dress was tight tucked into floor length skirts. They wore jackets due to the cold. Most were only dusters but some wore thick woolier velvet coat lined with fur. Hair piled a top their heads in buns toped with fancy hats. The men wore crisp suits and jackets. Most had their hair slicked back toped with either a top-hat or a bowler hat. As I looked around me, I felt the winter breeze brush my checks.  I stuffed my hands in my pockets to keep warm. I started shivering. I darted between carriages. Time seemed to slow down as I walked. The short heal on my black boots made a clicking sound as I continued down the brick road. Black carriages road past me. Some had a roof covering their passegers and some were open. Small trees and plant beds broke the sequence of grand houses.  

    I picked up my pace as I turned the corner. I strolled based a big brick house with tan trim.  I knew I was now walking into the bad part of town. As I went the grand houses were replaced by smaller apartment buildings and large dark factories. Some building had clothes lines hanging out their windows with women hanging up their clothes through the window. The women in this part of town weren't wearing the lacey dresses or carrying any lacy parosols anymore. They were wearing dresses with stains and holes. They had little to no design. In addition they wore white aprons across their waists. Unlike the pervious street, the women's hair was never in a neat bun. Most were loose with strands hanging down. Large Factories surrounded the apartment buildings. Smoke was pouring out of their chimneys. Adults and kids, alike, were leaving and entering those doors. I noticed some were hurt. That must have been why they were leaving so early. The smell was even more overwhelming than before. I had to fight the urge to cover my nose and turn around. The noise picked up. More children lined the streets. Some were playing and some where yelling. Other were selling various things on the curb. I must have passed more than 10 boys shouting about the new headline in the paper they were selling . As I went the people looked more and more desperate. They were dirty, hungry, and cold. I could see some eyeing me. I kept my head low and kept walking.