Women appeared in their very best hats, shoes, and gloves, and walked arm in arm on their way to the fine shops or theatres strung along from Fourteenth to Thirty-fourth Streets.

Equally the men paraded with the very latest they could afford.

A tailor might have secured hints on suit measurements, a shoemaker on proper lasts and colors, a hatter on hats.

It was literally true that if a lover of fine clothes secured a new suit, it was sure to have its first airing on Broadway.

So true and well understood was this fact, that several years later a popular song, detailing this and other facts concerning the afternoon parade on matinee days, and entitled "What Right Has He on Broadway ?" was published, and had quite a vogue about the music halls of the city.
In all her stay in the city, Carrie had never heard of this showy parade; had never even been on Broadway when it was taking place.