Inherstreetsonefoundtheextremesofmagnificenceandmisery，ofcivilisationanddisorder。Inonequarter，palacesofmarble，lacedand，crownedwithlightandflameandflowers，toweredupintohermarvelloustwilightsbeautiful，beyonddescription;inanother，ablackandsinisterpolyglotpopulationswelteredinindescribablecongestioninwarrens，andexcavationsbeyondthepowerandknowledgeofgovernment。Hervice，hercrime，herlawalikewereinspiredbyafierceandterribleenergy，andlikethegreatcitiesofmediaevalItaly，herwaysweredarkandadventurouswithprivatewar。
　　ItwasthepeculiarshapeofManhattanIsland，pressedinbyarmsoftheseaoneitherside，andincapableofcomfortableexpansion，exceptalonganarrownorthwardbelt，thatfirstgavetheNewYorkarchitectstheirbiasforextremeverticaldimensions。Everyneedwaslavishlysuppliedthem——money，material，labour;onlyspacewasrestricted。Tobegin，therefore，theybuilthighperforce。Buttodosowastodiscoverawholenewworldofarchitecturalbeauty，ofexquisiteascendantlines，andlongafterthecentralcongestionhadbeenrelievedbytunnelsunderthesea，fourcolossalbridgesovertheeastriver，andadozenmono—railcableseastandwest，theupwardgrowthwenton。InmanywaysNewYorkandhergorgeousplutocracyrepeatedVeniceinthemagnificenceofherarchitecture，painting，metal—workandsculpture，forexample，inthegrimintensity，ofherpoliticalmethod，inhermaritimeandcommercialascendancy。Butsherepeatednopreviousstateatallinthelaxdisorderofherinternaladministration，alaxitythatmadevastsectionsofherarealawlessbeyondprecedent，sothatitwaspossibleforwholedistrictstobeimpassable，whilecivilwarragedbetweenstreetandstreet，andforAlsatiastoexistinhermidstinwhichtheofficialpoliceneversetfoot。Shewasanethnicwhirlpool。Theflagsofallnationsflewinherharbour，andattheclimax，theyearlycomingandgoingoverseasnumberedtogetherupwardsoftwomillionhumanbeings。ToEuropeshewasAmerica，toAmericashewasthegatewayoftheworld。
　　ButtotellthestoryofNewYorkwouldbetowriteasocialhistoryoftheworld;saintsandmartyrs，dreamersandscoundrels，thetraditionsofathousandracesandathousandreligions，wenttohermakingandthrobbedandjostledinherstreets。Andoverallthattorrentialconfusionofmenandpurposesflutteredthatstrangeflag，thestarsandstripes，thatmeantatoncethenoblestthinginlife，andtheleastnoble，thatistosay，Libertyontheonehand，andontheotherthebasejealousytheindividualself—seekerfeelstowardsthecommonpurposeoftheState。
　　FormanygenerationsNewYorkhadtakennoheedofwar，saveasathingthathappenedfaraway，thataffectedpricesandsuppliedthenewspaperswithexcitingheadlinesandpictures。TheNewYorkersfeltperhapsevenmorecertainlythantheEnglishhaddonethatwarintheirownlandwasanimpossiblething。InthattheysharedthedelusionofallNorthAmerica。Theyfeltassecureasspectatorsatabullfight;theyriskedtheirmoneyperhapsontheresult，butthatwasall。AndsuchideasofwarasthecommonAmericanspossessedwerederivedfromthelimited，picturesque，adventurouswarofthepast。Theysawwarastheysawhistory，throughaniridescentmist，deodorised，scentedindeed，withallitsessentialcrueltiestactfullyhiddenaway。
　　Theywereinclinedtoregretitassomethingennobling，tosighthatitcouldnolongercomeintotheirownprivateexperience。
　　Theyreadwithinterest，ifnotwithavidity，oftheirnewguns，oftheirimmenseandstillmoreimmenseironclads，oftheirincredibleandstillmoreincredibleexplosives，butjustwhatthesetremendousenginesofdestructionmightmeanfortheirpersonallivesneverenteredtheirheads。Theydidnot，sofarasonecanjudgefromtheircontemporaryliterature，thinkthattheymeantanythingtotheirpersonallivesatall。TheythoughtAmericawassafeamidstallthispilingupofexplosives。Theycheeredtheflagbyhabitandtradition，theydespisedothernations，andwhenevertherewasaninternationaldifficultytheywereintenselypatriotic，thatistosay，theywereardentlyagainstanynativepoliticianwhodidnotsay，threaten，anddoharshanduncompromisingthingstotheantagonistpeople。TheywerespiritedtoAsia，spiritedtoGermany，sospiritedtoGreatBritainthattheinternationalattitudeofthemothercountrytohergreatdaughterwasconstantlycomparedincontemporarycaricaturetothatbetweenahen—peckedhusbandandaviciousyoungwife。Andfortherest，theyallwentabouttheirbusinessandpleasureasifwarhaddiedoutwiththemegatherium……
　　Andthensuddenly，intoaworldpeacefullybusiedforthemostpartuponarmamentsandtheperfectionofexplosives，warcame;
　　cametheshockofrealisingthatthegunsweregoingoff，thatthemassesofinflammablematerialallovertheworldwereatlastablaze。
　　2
　　TheimmediateeffectuponNewYorkofthesuddenonsetofwarwasmerelytointensifyhernormalvehemence。
　　ThenewspapersandmagazinesthatfedtheAmericanmind——forbooksuponthisimpatientcontinenthadbecomesimplymaterialfortheenergyofcollectors——wereinstantlyacoruscationofwarpicturesandofheadlinesthatroselikerocketsandburstlikeshells。Tothenormalhigh—strungenergyofNewYorkstreetswasaddedatouchofwar—fever。Greatcrowdsassembled，moreespeciallyinthedinnerhour，inMadisonSquareabouttheFarragutmonument，tolistentoandcheerpatrioticspeeches，andaveritableepidemicoflittleflagsandbuttonssweptthroughthesegreattorrentsofswiftlymovingyoungpeople，whopouredintoNewYorkofamorningbycarandmono—railandsubwayandtrain，totoil，andebbhomeagainbetweenthehoursoffiveandseven。Itwasdangerousnottowearawarbutton。Thesplendidmusic—hallsofthetimesankeverytopicinpatriotismandevolvedscenesofwildenthusiasm，strongmenweptatthesightofthenationalbannersustainedbythewholestrengthoftheballet，andspecialsearchlightsandilluminationsamazedthewatchingangels。Thechurchesre—echoedthenationalenthusiasmingraverkeyandslowermeasure，andtheaerialandnavalpreparationsontheEastRiverweregreatlyincommodedbythemultitudeofexcursionsteamerswhichthronged，helpfullycheering，aboutthem。Thetradeinsmall—armswasenormouslystimulated，andmanyoverwroughtcitizensfoundanimmediaterelieffortheiremotionsinlettingofffireworksofamoreorlessheroic，dangerous，andnationalcharacterinthepublicstreets。Smallchildren’sair—balloonsofthelatestmodelattachedtostringbecameaseriouschecktothepedestrianinCentralPark。AndamidstscenesofindescribableemotiontheAlbanylegislatureinpermanentsession，andwithageneroussuspensionofrulesandprecedents，passedthroughbothHousesthelong—disputedBillforuniversalmilitaryserviceinNewYorkState。
　　CriticsoftheAmericancharacteraredisposedtoconsider——thatuptotheactualimpactoftheGermanattackthepeopleofNewYorkdealtaltogethertoomuchwiththewarasifitwasapoliticaldemonstration。Littleornodamage，theyurge，wasdonetoeithertheGermanorJapaneseforcesbythewearingofbuttons，thewavingofsmallflags，thefireworks，orthesongs。
　　Theyforgotthat，undertheconditionsofwarfareacenturyofsciencehadbroughtabout，thenon—militarysectionofthepopulationcoulddonoseriousdamageinanyformtotheirenemies，andthattherewasnoreason，therefore，whytheyshould，notdoastheydid。Thebalanceofmilitaryefficiencywasshiftingbackfromthemanytothefew，fromthecommontothespecialised。
　　Thedayswhentheemotionalinfantrymandecidedbattleshadpassedbyforever。Warhadbecomeamatterofapparatusofspecialtrainingandskillofthemostintricatekind。Ithadbecomeundemocratic。Andwhateverthevalueofthepopularexcitement，therecanbenodenyingthatthesmallregularestablishmentoftheUnitedStatesGovernment，confrontedbythistotallyunexpectedemergencyofanarmedinvasionfromEurope，actedwithvigour，science，andimagination。Theyweretakenbysurprisesofarasthediplomaticsituationwasconcerned，andtheirequipmentforbuildingeithernavigablesoraeroplaneswascontemptibleincomparisonwiththehugeGermanparks。StilltheysettoworkatoncetoprovetotheworldthatthespiritthathadcreatedtheMonitorandtheSouthernsubmarinesof1864
　　wasnotdead。ThechiefoftheaeronauticestablishmentnearWestPointwasCabotSinclair，andheallowedhimselfbutonesinglemomentoftheposturingthatwassouniversalinthatdemocratictime。"Wehavechosenourepitaphs，"hesaidtoareporter，"andwearegoingtohave，’Theydidalltheycould。’
　　Nowrunaway！"
　　Thecuriousthingisthattheydidalldoalltheycould;thereisnoexceptionknown。Theironlydefectindeedwasadefectofstyle。Oneofthemoststrikingfactshistoricallyaboutthiswar，andtheonethatmakesthecompleteseparationthathadarisenbetweenthemethodsofwarfareandthenecessityofdemocraticsupport，istheeffectualsecrecyoftheWashingtonauthoritiesabouttheirairships。Theydidnotbothertoconfideasinglefactoftheirpreparationstothepublic。TheydidnotevencondescendtotalktoCongress。Theyburkedandsuppressedeveryinquiry。ThewarwasfoughtbythePresidentandtheSecretariesofStateinanentirelyautocraticmanner。Suchpublicityastheysoughtwasmerelytoanticipateandpreventinconvenientagitationtodefendparticularpoints。Theyrealisedthatthechiefdangerinaerialwarfarefromanexcitableandintelligentpublicwouldbeaclamourforlocalairshipsandaeroplanestodefendlocalinterests。This，withsuchresourcesastheypossessed，mightleadtoafataldivisionanddistributionofthenationalforces。ParticularlytheyfearedthattheymightbeforcedintoaprematureactiontodefendNewYork。TheyrealisedwithpropheticinsightthatthiswouldbetheparticularadvantagetheGermanswouldseek。Sotheytookgreatpainstodirectthepopularmindtowardsdefensiveartillery，andtodivertitfromanythoughtofaerialbattle。Theirrealpreparationstheymaskedbeneathostensibleones。TherewasatWashingtonalargerelserveofnavalguns，andtheseweredistributedrapidly，conspicuously，andwithmuchpressattention，amongtheEasterncities。Theyweremountedforthemostpartuponhillsandprominentcrestsaroundthethreatenedcentresofpopulation。TheyweremounteduponroughadaptationsoftheDoanswivel，whichatthattimegavethemaximumverticalrangetoaheavygun。Muchofthisartillerywasstillunmounted，andnearlyallofitwasunprotectedwhentheGermanair—fleetreachedNewYork。Anddowninthecrowdedstreets，whenthatoccurred，thereadersoftheNewYorkpaperswereregalingthemselveswithwonderfulandwonderfullyillustratedaccountsofsuchmattersas:——
　　THESECRETOFTHETHUNDERBOLT
　　AGEDSCIENTISTPERFECTSELECTRICGUN
　　TOELECTROCUTEAIRSHIPCREWSBYUPWARDLIGHTNING
　　WASHINGTONORDERSFIVEHUNDRED
　　WARSECRETARYLODGEDELIGHTED
　　SAYSTHEYWILLSUITTHEGERMANSDOWNTOTHEGROUND
　　PRESIDENTPUBLICLYAPPLAUDSTHISMERRYQUIP
　　3
　　TheGermanfleetreachedNewYorkinadvanceofthenewsoftheAmericannavaldisaster。ItreachedNewYorkinthelateafternoonandwasfirstseenbywatchersatOceanGroveandLongBranchcomingswiftlyoutofthesouthwardseaandgoingawaytothenorthwest。TheflagshippassedalmostverticallyovertheSandyHookobservationstation，risingrapidlyasitdidso，andinafewminutesallNewYorkwasvibratingtotheStatenIslandguns。
　　Severaloftheseguns，andespeciallythatatGiffordsandtheoneonBeaconHillaboveMatawan，wereremarkablywellhandled。
　　Theformer，atadistanceoffivemiles，andwithanelevationofsixthousandfeet，sentashelltoburstsoclosetotheVaterlandthatapaneofthePrince’sforwardwindowwassmashedbyafragment。ThissuddenexplosionmadeBerttuckinhisheadwiththecelerityofastartledtortoise。Thewholeair—fleetimmediatelywentupsteeplytoaheightofabouttwelvethousandfeetandatthatlevelpassedunscathedovertheineffectualguns。TheairshipslinedoutastheymovedforwardintotheformofaflattenedV，withitsapextowardsthecity，andwiththeflagshipgoinghighestattheapex。ThetwoendsoftheVpassedoverPlumfieldandJamaicaBay，respectively，andthePrincedirectedhiscoursealittletotheeastoftheNarrows，soaredoverUpperBay，andcametorestoverJerseyCityinapositionthatdominatedlowerNewYork。Therethemonstershung，largeandwonderfulintheeveninglight，serenelyregardlessoftheoccasionalrocketexplosionsandflashingshell—burstsinthelowerair。
　　Itwasapauseofmutualinspection。Foratimenaivehumanityswampedtheconventionsofwarfarealtogether;theinterestofthemillionsbelowandofthethousandsabovealikewasspectacular。Theeveningwasunexpectedlyfine——onlyafewthinlevelbandsofcloudsatsevenoreightthousandfeetbrokeitsluminousclarity。Thewindhaddropped;itwasaneveninginfinitelypeacefulandstill。Theheavyconcussionsofthedistantgunsandthoseincidentalharmlesspyrotechnicsatthelevelofthecloudsseemedtohaveaslittletodowithkillingandforce，terrorandsubmission，asasaluteatanavalreview。
　　Below，everypointofvantagebristledwithspectators，theroofsofthetoweringbuildings，thepublicsquares，theactiveferryboats，andeveryfavourablestreetintersectionhaditscrowds:
　　alltheriverpiersweredensewithpeople，theBatteryParkwassolidblackwitheast—sidepopulation，andeverypositionofadvantageinCentralParkandalongRiversideDrivehaditspeculiarandcharacteristicassemblyfromtheadjacentstreets。
　　ThefootwaysofthegreatbridgesovertheEastRiverwerealsocloselypackedandblocked。Everywhereshopkeepershadlefttheirshops，mentheirwork，andwomenandchildrentheirhomes，tocomeoutandseethemarvel。
　　"Itbeat，"theydeclared，"thenewspapers。"
　　Andfromabove，manyoftheoccupantsoftheairshipsstaredwithanequalcuriosity。NocityintheworldwaseversofinelyplacedasNewYork，somagnificentlycutupbyseaandbluffandriver，soadmirablydisposedtodisplaythetalleffectsofbuildings，thecompleximmensitiesofbridgesandmono—railwaysandfeatsofengineering。London，Paris，Berlin，wereshapeless，lowagglomerationsbesideit。ItsportreachedtoitsheartlikeVenice，and，likeVenice，itwasobvious，dramatic，andproud。
　　Seenfromaboveitwasalivewithcrawlingtrainsandcars，andatathousandpointsitwasalreadybreakingintoquiveringlight。NewYorkwasaltogetheratitsbestthatevening，itssplendidbest。
　　"Gaw！Whataplace！"saidBert。
　　Itwassogreat，andinitscollectiveeffectsopacificallymagnificent，thattomakewaruponitseemedincongruousbeyondmeasure，likelayingsiegetotheNationalGalleryorattackingrespectablepeopleinanhoteldining—roomwithbattle—axeandmail。Itwasinitsentiretysolarge，socomplex，sodelicatelyimmense，thattobringittotheissueofwarfarewaslikedrivingacrowbarintothemechanismofaclock。Andthefish—likeshoalofgreatairshipshoveringlightandsunlitabove，fillingthesky，seemedequallyremotefromtheuglyforcefulnessofwar。ToKurt，toSmallways，toIknownothowmanymoreofthepeopleintheair—fleetcamethedistinctestapprehensionoftheseincompatibilities。ButintheheadofthePrinceKarlAlbertwerethevapoursofromance:hewasaconqueror，andthiswastheenemy’scity。Thegreaterthecity，thegreaterthetriumph。Nodoubthehadatimeoftremendousexultationandsensedbeyondallprecedentthesenseofpowerthatnight。
　　Therecameanendatlasttothatpause。Somewirelesscommunicationshadfailedofasatisfactoryending，andfleetandcityrememberedtheywerehostilepowers。"Look！"criedthemultitude;"look！"
　　"Whataretheydoing？"
　　"What？"……Downthroughthetwilightsankfiveattackingairships，onetotheNavyYardonEastRiver，onetoCityHall，twooverthegreatbusinessbuildingsofWallStreetandLowerBroadway，onetotheBrooklynBridge，droppingfromamongtheirfellowsthroughthedangerzonefromthedistantgunssmoothlyandrapidlytoasafeproximitytothecitymasses。Atthatdescentallthecarsinthestreetsstoppedwithdramaticsuddenness，andallthelightsthathadbeencomingoninthestreetsandhouseswentoutagain。FortheCityHallhadawakenedandwasconferringbytelephonewiththeFederalcommandandtakingmeasuresfordefence。TheCityHallwasaskingforairships，refusingtosurrenderasWashingtonadvised，anddevelopingintoacentreofintenseemotion，ofhecticactivity。
　　Everywhereandhastilythepolicebegantocleartheassembledcrowds。"Gotoyourhomes，"theysaid;andthewordwaspassedfrommouthtomouth，"There’sgoingtobetrouble。"Achillofapprehensionranthroughthecity，andmenhurryingintheunwonteddarknessacrossCityHallParkandUnionSquarecameuponthedimformsofsoldiersandguns，andwerechallengedandsentback。InhalfanhourNewYorkhadpassedfromserenesunsetandgapingadmirationtoatroubledandthreateningtwilight。
　　ThefirstlossoflifeoccurredinthepanicrushfromBrooklynBridgeastheairshipapproachedit。WiththecessationofthetrafficanunusualstillnesscameuponNewYork，andthedisturbingconcussionsofthefutiledefendinggunsonthehillsaboutgrewmoreandmoreaudible。Atlasttheseceasedalso。A
　　pauseoffurthernegotiationfollowed。Peoplesatindarkness，soughtcounselfromtelephonesthatweredumb。Thenintotheexpectanthushcameagreatcrashanduproar，thebreakingdownoftheBrooklynBridge，theriflefirefromtheNavyYard，andtheburstingofbombsinWallStreetandtheCityHall。NewYorkasawholecoulddonothing，couldunderstandnothing。NewYorkinthedarknesspeeredandlistenedtothesedistantsoundsuntilpresentlytheydiedawayassuddenlyastheyhadbegun。"Whatcouldbehappening？"Theyaskeditinvain。
　　Along，vagueperiodintervened，andpeoplelookingoutofthewindowsofupperroomsdiscoveredthedarkhullsofGermanairships，glidingslowlyandnoiselessly，quitecloseathand。
　　Thenquietlytheelectriclightscameonagain，andanuproarofnocturnalnewsvendorsbeganinthestreets。
　　Theunitsofthatvastandvariedpopulationboughtandlearntwhathadhappened;therehadbeenafightandNewYorkhadhoistedthewhiteflag。
　　4
　　ThelamentableincidentsthatfollowedthesurrenderofNewYorkseemnowintheretrospecttobebutthenecessaryandinevitableconsequenceoftheclashofmodernappliancesandsocialconditionsproducedbythescientificcenturyontheonehand，andthetraditionofacrude，romanticpatriotismontheother。
　　Atfirstpeoplereceivedthefactwithanirresponsibledetachment，muchastheywouldhavereceivedtheslowingdownofthetraininwhichtheyweretravellingortheerectionofapublicmonumentbythecitytowhichtheybelonged。
　　"Wehavesurrendered。Dearme！HAVEwe？"wasratherthemannerinwhichthefirstnewswasmet。Theytookitinthesamespectacularspirittheyhaddisplayedatthefirstapparitionoftheair—fleet。Onlyslowlywasthisrealisationofacapitulationsuffusedwiththeflushofpassion，onlywithreflectiondidtheymakeanypersonalapplication。"WEhavesurrendered！"camelater;"inusAmericaisdefeated。"Thentheybegantoburnandtingle。
　　Thenewspapers，whichwereissuedaboutoneinthemorningcontainednoparticularsofthetermsuponwhichNewYorkhadyielded——nordidtheygiveanyintimationofthequalityofthebriefconflictthathadprecededthecapitulation。Thelaterissuesremediedthesedeficiencies。TherecametheexplicitstatementoftheagreementtovictualtheGermanairships，tosupplythecomplementofexplosivestoreplacethoseemployedinthefightandinthedestructionoftheNorthAtlanticfleet，topaytheenormousransomoffortymilliondollars，andtosurrendertheintheEastRiver。Therecame，too，longerandlongerdescriptionsofthesmashingupoftheCityHallandtheNavyYard，andpeoplebegantorealisefaintlywhatthosebriefminutesofuproarhadmeant。Theyreadthetaleofmenblowntobits，offutilesoldiersinthatlocalisedbattlefightingagainsthopeamidstanindescribablewreckage，offlagshauleddownbyweepingmen。AndthesestrangenocturnaleditionscontainedalsothefirstbriefcablesfromEuropeofthefleetdisaster，theNorthAtlanticfleetforwhichNewYorkhadalwaysfeltanespecialprideandsolicitude。Slowly，hourbyhour，thecollectiveconsciousnesswokeup，thetideofpatrioticastonishmentandhumiliationcamefloatingin。Americahadcomeupondisaster;suddenlyNewYorkdiscoveredherselfwithamazementgivingplacetowrathunspeakable，aconqueredcityunderthehandofherconqueror。
　　Asthatfactshapeditselfinthepublicmind，theresprangup，asflamesspringup，anangryrepudiation。"No！"criedNewYork，wakinginthedawn。"No！Iamnotdefeated。Thisisadream。"
　　BeforedaybroketheswiftAmericanangerwasrunningthroughallthecity，througheverysoulinthosecontagiousmillions。
　　Beforeittookaction，beforeittookshape，themenintheairshipscouldfeelthegiganticinsurgenceofemotion，ascattleandnaturalcreaturesfeel，itissaid，thecomingofanearthquake。ThenewspapersoftheKnypegroupfirstgavethethingwordsandaformula。"Wedonotagree，"theysaidsimply。
　　"Wehavebeenbetrayed！"Mentookthatupeverywhere，itpassedfrommouthtomouth，ateverystreetcornerunderthepalinglightsofdawnoratorsstoodunchecked，callinguponthespiritofAmericatoarise，makingtheshameapersonalrealitytoeveryonewhoheard。ToBert，listeningfivehundredfeetabove，itseemedthatthecity，whichhadatfirstproducedonlyconfusednoises，wasnowhumminglikeahiveofbees——ofveryangrybees。
　　AfterthesmashingoftheCityHallandPost—Office，thewhiteflaghadbeenhoistedfromatoweroftheoldParkRowbuilding，andthitherhadgoneMayorO’Hagen，urgedthitherindeedbytheterror—strickenpropertyownersoflowerNewYork，tonegotiatethecapitulationwithVonWinterfeld。TheVaterland，havingdroppedthesecretarybyaropeladder，remainedhovering，circlingveryslowlyabovethegreatbuildings，oldandnew，thatclusteredroundCityHallPark，whiletheHelmholz，whichhaddonethefightingthere，roseoverheadtoaheightofperhapstwothousandfeet。SoBerthadanearviewofallthatoccurredinthatcentralplace。TheCityHallandCourtHouse，thePost—OfficeandamassofbuildingsonthewestsideofBroadway，hadbeenbadlydamaged，andthethreeformerwereaheapofblackenedruins。Inthecaseofthefirsttwothelossoflifehadnotbeenconsiderable，butagreatmultitudeofworkers，includingmanygirlsandwomen，hadbeencaughtinthedestructionofthePost—Office，andalittlearmyofvolunteerswithwhitebadgesenteredbehindthefiremen，bringingouttheoftenstilllivingbodies，forthemostpartfrightfullycharred，andcarryingthemintothebigMonsonbuildingcloseathand。
　　Everywherethebusyfiremenweredirectingtheirbrightstreamsofwateruponthesmoulderingmasses:theirhoselayaboutthesquare，andlongcordonsofpoliceheldbackthegatheringlackmassesofpeople，chieflyfromtheeastside，fromthesecentralactivities。
　　Inviolentandextraordinarycontrastwiththissceneofdestruction，closeathandwerethehugenewspaperestablishmentsofParkRow。Theywereallalightandworking;theyhadnotbeenabandonedevenwhiletheactualbombthrowingwasgoingon，andnowstaffandpresseswerevehementlyactive，gettingoutthestory，theimmenseanddreadfulstoryofthenight，developingcommentand，inmostcases，spreadingtheideaofresistanceundertheverynosesoftheairships。ForalongtimeBertcouldnotimaginewhatthesecallouslyactiveofficescouldbe，thenhedetectedthenoiseofthepressesandemittedhis"Gaw！"
　　Beyondthesenewspaperbuildingsagain，andpartiallyhiddenbythearchesoftheoldElevatedRailwayofNewYork（longsinceconvertedintoamono—rail），therewasanothercordonofpoliceandasortofencampmentofambulancesanddoctors，busywiththedeadandwoundedwhohadbeenkilledearlyinthenightbythepanicuponBrooklynBridge。Allthishesawintheperspectivesofabird’s—eyeview，asthingshappeninginabig，irregular—shapedpitbelowhim，betweencliffsofhighbuilding。
　　NorthwardhelookedalongthesteepcanonofBroadway，downwhoselengthatintervalscrowdswereassemblingaboutexcitedspeakers;andwhenheliftedhiseyeshesawthechimneysandcable—stacksandroofspacesofNewYork，andeverywherenowoverthesethewatching，debatingpeopleclustered，exceptwherethefiresragedandthejetsofwaterflew。Everywhere，too，wereflagstaffsdevoidofflags;onewhitesheetdroopedandflappedanddroopedagainovertheParkRowbuildings。Andupontheluridlights，thefesteringmovementandintenseshadowsofthisstrangescene，therewasbreakingnowthecold，impartialdawn。
　　ForBertSmallwaysallthiswasframedintheframeoftheopenporthole。Itwasapale，dimworldoutsidethatdarkandtangiblerim。Allnighthehadclutchedatthatrim，jumpedandquiveredatexplosions，andwatchedphantomevents。Nowhehadbeenhighandnowlow;nowalmostbeyondhearing，nowflyingclosetocrashingsandshoutsandoutcries。Hehadseenairshipsflyinglowandswiftoverdarkenedandgroaningstreets;watchedgreatbuildings，suddenlyred—litamidsttheshadows，crumpleatthesmashingimpactofbombs;witnessedforthefirsttimeinhislifethegrotesque，swiftonset，ofinsatiableconflagrations。
　　Fromitallhefeltdetached，disembodied。TheVaterlanddidnotevenflingabomb;shewatchedandruled。ThendowntheyhadcomeatlasttohoveroverCityHallPark，andithadcreptinuponhismind，，chillingly，terrifyingly，thattheseilluminatedblackmassesweregreatofficesafire，andthatthegoingtoandfroofminute，dimspectresoflantern—litgreyandwhitewasaharvestingofthewoundedandthedead。Asthelightgrewclearerhebegantounderstandmoreandmorewhatthesecrumpledblackthingssignified……
　　HehadwatchedhourafterhoursincefirstNewYorkhadrisenoutoftheblueindistinctnessofthelandfall。Withthedaylightheexperiencedanintolerablefatigue。
　　Heliftedwearyeyestothepinkflushinthesky，yawnedimmensely，andcrawledbackwhisperingtohimselfacrossthecabintothelocker。Hedidnotso。muchliedownuponthatasfalluponitandinstantlybecomeasleep。
　　There，hoursafter，sprawlingundignifiedandsleepingprofoundly，Kurtfoundhim，averyimageofthedemocraticmindconfrontedwiththeproblemsofatimetoocomplexforitsapprehension。Hisfacewaspaleandindifferent，hismouthwideopen，andhesnored。Hesnoreddisagreeably。
　　Kurtregardedhimforamomentwithamilddistaste。Thenhekickedhisankle。
　　"Wakeup，"hesaidtoSmallways’stare，"andliedowndecent。"
　　Bertsatupandrubbedhiseyes。
　　"Anymorefightin’yet？"heasked。
　　"No，"saidKurt，andsatdown，atiredman。
　　"Gott！"hecriedpresently，rubbinghishandsoverhisface，"butI’dlikeacoldbath！I’vebeenlookingforstraybulletholesintheair—chambersallnightuntilnow。"Heyawned。"Imustsleep。You’dbetterclearout，Smallways。Ican’tstandyouherethismorning。You’resoinfernallyuglyanduseless。Haveyouhadyourrations？No！Well，goinandget’em，anddon’tcomeback。Stickinthegallery……"
　　5
　　SoBert，slightlyrefreshedbycoffeeandsleep，resumedhishelplessco—operationintheWarintheAir。Hewentdownintothelittlegalleryasthelieutenanthaddirected，andclungtotherailattheextremeendbeyondthelook—outman，tryingtoseemasinconspicuousandharmlessafragmentoflifeaspossible。
　　Awindwasrisingratherstronglyfromthesouth—east。ItobligedtheVaterlandtocomeaboutinthatdirection，andmadeherrollagreatdealasshewenttoandfrooverManhattanIsland。Awayinthenorth—westcloudsgathered。Thethrob—throbofherslowscrewworkingagainstthebreezewasmuchmoreperceptiblethanwhenshewasgoingfullspeedahead;andthefrictionofthewindagainsttheundersideofthegas—chamberdroveaseriesofshallowripplesalongitandmadeafaintflappingsoundlike，butfainterthan，thebeatingofripplesunderthestemofaboat。ShewasstationedoverthetemporaryCityHallintheParkRowbuilding，andeverynowandthenshewoulddescendtoresumecommunicationwiththemayorandwithWashington。ButtherestlessnessofthePrincewouldnotsufferhimtoremainforlonginanyoneplace。NowhewouldcircleovertheHudsonandEastRiver;nowhewouldgouphigh，asiftopeerawayintothebluedistances;onceheascendedsoswiftlyandsofarthatmountainsicknessovertookhimandthecrewandforcedhimdownagain;andBertsharedthedizzinessandnausea。
　　Theswayingviewvariedwiththesechangesofaltitude。Nowtheywouldbelowandclose，andhewoulddistinguishinthatsteep，unusualperspective，windows，doors，streetandskysigns，peopleandtheminutestdetails，andwatchtheenigmaticalbehaviourofcrowdsandclustersupontheroofsandinthestreets;thenastheysoaredthedetailswouldshrink，thesidesofstreetsdrawtogether，theviewwiden，thepeopleceasetobesignificant。Atthehighesttheeffectwasthatofaconcavereliefmap;Bertsawthedarkandcrowdedlandeverywhereintersectedbyshiningwaters，sawtheHudsonRiverlikeaspearofsilver，andLowerIslandSoundlikeashield。EventoBert’sunphilosophicalmindthecontrastofcitybelowandfleetabovepointedanopposition，theoppositionoftheadventurousAmerican’straditionandcharacterwithGermanorderanddiscipline。Below，theimmensebuildings，tremendousandfineastheywere，seemedlikethegianttreesofajunglefightingforlife;theirpicturesquemagnificencewasasplanlessasthechancesofcragandgorge，theircasualtyenhancedbythesmokeandconfusionofstillunsubduedandspreadingconflagrations。IntheskysoaredtheGermanairshipslikebeingsinadifferent，entirelymoreorderlyworld，allorientedtothesameangleofthehorizon，uniforminbuildandappearance，movingaccuratelywithonepurposeasapackofwolveswillmove，distributedwiththemostpreciseandeffectualco—operation。
　　ItdawneduponBertthathardlyathirdofthefleetwasvisible。