These men had no hesitation in receiving in their homes after business hours the people whom they employed.

I remember distinctly before gas was generally introduced how very economical in its use those who had it were.

In the absence of the butler the gentleman of the house would often walk to the door with his visitor and then lower the gas.
The estates of many of these wealthy merchants were rented to market gardeners.

And it was not an unusual sight to see a merchant drive in his carriage to the vegetable garden, select his vegetables, and carry them to his table, showing the economy and simple manners of the people of that older day as compared with our present extravagance.
"After the Board of Aldermen had acceded to the petition of the residents of Fifth Avenue for permission to enclose a part of the roadway in a closed yard or area, it was not an uncommon sight to see many of the older men standing at their gates, in high stocks, white cravats, cutaway coats with brass buttons, greeting their neighbours as they passed along the Avenue--a custom which survived to about 1870, when the white cravat, too, passed into history.

The improvements on Fifth Avenue, north of Thirty-fourth Street, began with the erection of the Townsend house, which was a feature of the city and shown to visitors.