Fifth Avenue (New York, N.Y.); Streets -- New York (State) -- New York
Elsewhere is told of the glories of the Fifth Avenue Hotel, of the part
it played as one of the Hosts of the Avenue, of its share in the great
days, of its Amen Corner, and of the distinguished men like General W.T.
Sherman, former Senator Platt, and the actor, William J. Florence, who
for years made it their home. A quarter of a century ago the entrance to
the hotel was the starting point, every Thanksgiving Day noon, for many
gaily decorated coaches bound for the old Manhattan Field. In earlier
days the destination had been Berkeley Oval at Williamsbridge, or the
old Polo Grounds at One Hundred and Tenth Street and Fifth and Sixth
Avenues. Draped down to the wheels with bunting of dark blue or of
orange and black the tally-hos drew up before the portico and were soon
topped with eager, ardent youth. As they were whirled away up the Avenue
there broke out upon the autumn air the sharp "Brek-a Coex-Coex-Coex" of
Yale, or the sky-rocket of Princeton. The return was marked by high
elation or deep depression according as the Fates had decided on the
chalk-lined turf. For the collection of sundry wagers the victors
hurried into the near-by Hoffman House, where the presiding genius and
stakeholder, Billy Edwards, divided attention with the paintings of
fauns and nymphs that adorned the walls. That youth of yesteryear has
come to grizzled hair. There are crow's feet about the eyes, and the
world is one of vastly changed values, and the game at which the heart
is throbbing is a more poignant one than that which involved touchdowns
and goals from the field and desperate stands on the two-yard line. But
it is the same old-time spirit, that then expressed itself in the call,
"Hold them, Yale," or "Hold them for Old Nassau!" that, passed on to
succeeding generations, is grimly awaiting the shock on the plains of
Picardy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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