THE PERSONALITY
OF
AMERICAN CITIES
BY
EDWARD HUNGERFORD
Author of "The Modern Railroad,"
"Gertrude," etc.
WITH FRONTISPIECE BY
E. HORTER
NEW YORK
McBRIDE, NAST & COMPANY
1913
Copyright, 1913, by
McBride, Nast & Co.
Published November, 1913
TO
MY LITTLE DAUGHTER
ADRIENNE.
PREFACE
This book has been in preparation for nearly fouryears. In that time the author has been in each of thecities that he has set forth to describe herein. Withthe exception of Charleston, New Orleans and the threecities of the North Pacific, he has been in each city twoor three or even four or five times.
The task that he has essayed—placing in a singlechapter even something of the flavor and personalityof a typical American town—has not been an easy one,but he hopes that he has given it a measure of fidelityand accuracy if nothing more. Of course, he does notbelieve that he has included within these covers all ofthe American cities of distinctive personality. Such alist would include necessarily such clear-cut NewEngland towns as Portland, Worcester, Springfield,Hartford and New Haven; it would give heed to thesolid Dutch manors of Albany; the wonderful developmentof Detroit, builded into a great city by the developmentof the motor car; the distinctive features of Milwaukee;the southern charm of Indianapolis and Cincinnatiand Louisville; the breezy western atmosphereof Omaha and of Kansas City. And in Canada, Winnipeg,already proclaiming herself as the "Chicago ofthe Dominion," Vancouver and Victoria demand attention.The author regrets that the lack of personalacquaintance with the charms of some of these cities,as well as the pressure of space, serves to prevent theirbeing included within the pages of his book. It is quitepossible, however, that some or all of them may be includedwithin subsequent editions.
[ii]The author bespeaks his thanks to the magazine editorswho were gracious enough to permit him to includeportions of his articles from their pages. He wishesparticularly to thank for their generous assistance inthe preparation of this book, R. C. Ellsworth, and CromwellChilde of New York; C. Armand Miller, D.D., ofPhiladelphia; Nat Olds, formerly of Rochester; EdwinBaxter of Cleveland; and Victor Ross of Toronto. Withouttheir aid it is conceivable that the book would nothave come into its being. And having aided it, theymust be content to be known as its foster fathers.