Osgood read the daily newspapers with a wandering eye on the window looking out on the Boston Common. One afternoon, he walked to Court street to the towering new six story Sears office building, where one of the firm's banking institutions was located. He was to transfer some funds to a bank in England to begin arrangements various payments related to Mr. Fields's visit.

The Sears was the first office structure in Boston with an elevator for passengers, rather than for freight and cargo. As Osgood waited for the city's celebrated elevator, a circle of spectators, as usual, stood waiting to watch the operation of the machine rising up and whirling down, as though it were an exhibition fair. Many of the watchers were too fearful to ever ride in it themselves.

All things were changing rapidly.

“Ladies!” the elevator operator called out. Though women with their husbands rode in the elevator car with men, it was thought improper for single girls to be in the small “movable room” alone with strange men. Osgood stepped aside and allowed several ladies to board the car. When it returned, Osgood entered and sat on the sofa. The elegant chandelier and domed skylight above let in plenty of light as Osgood filled out an order for the bank on his lap. As the operator moved the levers, though, Osgood's attention was distracted again. The mirrors on the ornately paneled birdseye maple of the elevator's walls reflected the boy's every swift movement and motion as they rose smoothly through the floors, the steam powering the ride from the engine room chugging sportingly. The boy, so adept and serious at discharging his duty, was probably only two years younger than Daniel.

“Ain't you getting out, sir?” the boy asked. He did not conceal his impatience at how the riders were still rather shady about the procedure. You still had to make use of your feet. They ought all to start wearing slippers! “Second National Bank, this floor.”

 

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All original materials © Matthew Pearl.