CHAPTER 6
GRAND CENTRAL
“That will take some telling, much more than a morning train trip will permit, although I dare say you can read all about all of these things from historians and other authorities far better qualified than I.”
“But then I would lack the joy of conversation, which, evidently, I can have only with you,” replied Franklin, alluding to the evidence so far that, with one possible exception, no one was going to believe that he was anything more than a pretender.
“In any case, while I was in France,” said Edward, “décentralization was all the rage. And that was in reaction to a history of extreme centralization dating all the way back to, yes, the Revolution and its aftermath of governmental reform. By the way, it may have become the rage in response to events in this country. That is because I arrived in France just after American voters turned out a centrist Administration in favor of one hearkening back to anti-Federalist, laissez-faire values. Though it was protested to me that America was trying to turn back the clock, yet also there was a desire, out of an interest in efficiency and competitiveness, to disassemble much of the immense infrastructure entailed in governing every last detail from Paris.”
“I can assure you based on my years in Paris, that the seeds of today’s centralized bureaucracy had sprouted long before my arrival,” added Franklin.
At this moment, the train entered the long tunnel under Park Avenue.
“Now we will remain underground for the duration of our journey,” said Edward. “That should only be another five or perhaps ten minutes, depending on the degree of congestion the railroad is experiencing today.”
The darkened windows seemed to dampen conversation, or perhaps they simply needed to take a breather from talk. They passed the last few blocks under the city alone with their thoughts, hearing no conversation around them, only the rustling of newspapers and the track noises coming through the car’s walls.
Soon, Edward was helping Franklin along the underground platform, and they emerged into the soaring vault of the terminal. Franklin looked up, and Edward paused to let him absorb the scene.
“So, a great city, and this vault … ”
“Its breadth is made possible thanks to developments in steelmaking during the nineteenth century,” offered Edward, and he continued to stand, awaiting Franklin’s next reaction.
“Here, at least, it is not uncommon to gawk at the spectacle,” he observed, and when Edward looked toward him, he turned his head to indicate a group of tourists, pointing up at the ceiling.
“Yes, you have come to the center of it all, and that is also a draw for tourists from around the globe.”
“What is the period of this building?”
“Nineteen-thirteen, the heyday of train travel. In those days, this station and its sister, the former Pennsylvania station, sent trains everyday to all the corners of the country. Now, they merely receive commuters each morning from Long Island, Westchester and Connecticut.”
“All cross-country travel is by car?”
“No,” said Edward, smiling, “a great deal is done by plane.”
“Come again?”
“’Plane’ is short for airplane, that is to say, a flying machine.”
“Flight? The ability to fly? This has been mastered, why did you not mention this?”
“I confess, I take a rather petty pleasure in surprising you with these things.”
“That will take some telling, much more than a morning train trip will permit, although I dare say you can read all about all of these things from historians and other authorities far better qualified than I.”
“But then I would lack the joy of conversation, which, evidently, I can have only with you,” replied Franklin, alluding to the evidence so far that, with one possible exception, no one was going to believe that he was anything more than a pretender.
“In any case, while I was in France,” said Edward, “décentralization was all the rage. And that was in reaction to a history of extreme centralization dating all the way back to, yes, the Revolution and its aftermath of governmental reform. By the way, it may have become the rage in response to events in this country. That is because I arrived in France just after American voters turned out a centrist Administration in favor of one hearkening back to anti-Federalist, laissez-faire values. Though it was protested to me that America was trying to turn back the clock, yet also there was a desire, out of an interest in efficiency and competitiveness, to disassemble much of the immense infrastructure entailed in governing every last detail from Paris.”
“I can assure you based on my years in Paris, that the seeds of today’s centralized bureaucracy had sprouted long before my arrival,” added Franklin.
At this moment, the train entered the long tunnel under Park Avenue.
“Now we will remain underground for the duration of our journey,” said Edward. “That should only be another five or perhaps ten minutes, depending on the degree of congestion the railroad is experiencing today.”
The darkened windows seemed to dampen conversation, or perhaps they simply needed to take a breather from talk. They passed the last few blocks under the city alone with their thoughts, hearing no conversation around them, only the rustling of newspapers and the track noises coming through the car’s walls.
Soon, Edward was helping Franklin along the underground platform, and they emerged into the soaring vault of the terminal. Franklin looked up, and Edward paused to let him absorb the scene.
“So, a great city, and this vault … ”
“Its breadth is made possible thanks to developments in steelmaking during the nineteenth century,” offered Edward, and he continued to stand, awaiting Franklin’s next reaction.
“Here, at least, it is not uncommon to gawk at the spectacle,” he observed, and when Edward looked toward him, he turned his head to indicate a group of tourists, pointing up at the ceiling.
“Yes, you have come to the center of it all, and that is also a draw for tourists from around the globe.”
“What is the period of this building?”
“Nineteen-thirteen, the heyday of train travel. In those days, this station and its sister, the former Pennsylvania station, sent trains everyday to all the corners of the country. Now, they merely receive commuters each morning from Long Island, Westchester and Connecticut.”
“All cross-country travel is by car?”
“No,” said Edward, smiling, “a great deal is done by plane.”
“Come again?”
“’Plane’ is short for airplane, that is to say, a flying machine.”
“Flight? The ability to fly? This has been mastered, why did you not mention this?”
“I confess, I take a rather petty pleasure in surprising you with these things.”
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