The Third Level Vocabulary Flashcards

The Psychological Concept and Conflict of the Third Level

The presidents of the New York Central and the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroads maintain that there are strictly only two levels at Grand Central Station. However, there exists a claim of a third level. This phenomenon is categorized by psychiatric professionals as a waking-dream wish fulfillment. In this context, the modern world is characterized by a pervasive sense of insecurity, fear, war, and worry, leading individuals to seek a temporary refuge from reality. While some might view hobbies like stamp collecting as an escape, others argue that such pursuits were initiated in more peaceful times, such as the era of the protagonist's grandfather, and were even shared by figures such as President Roosevelt.

The Architecture and Expansion of Grand Central Station

Grand Central Station is described as a constantly evolving structure, likened to a tree that pushes out new corridors and staircases like roots. It is common for commuters to find themselves in unfamiliar territory despite having used the station hundreds of times. These unexpected paths have led to locations such as the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel, located in a tunnel about a mile long, or an office building on Forty-sixth Street, three blocks away from the main station. There is a persistent belief that long, undiscovered tunnels are currently winding their way under the city, potentially reaching as far as Times Square or Central Park.

Detailed Observations of the Third Level Environment

Transitioning to the third level involves moving through a corridor that angles left and slants downward, eventually leading to a space that differs significantly from the modern second level. The room on this level is smaller, with fewer ticket windows and train gates. The central information booth is constructed of wood and possesses an antiquated appearance. The station is illuminated by dim, flickering open-flame gaslights rather than electric bulbs. On the floor, brass spittoons are present, reflecting the social habits of the time. The personnel, such as the man in the information booth, wear green eyeshades and long black sleeve protectors.

Aesthetic and Cultural Markers of the Year $1894$

The atmosphere of the third level corresponds to the year $1894$. Men in the station are seen wearing derby hats and black four-button suits with tiny lapels, often accompanied by large, black handlebar mustaches. Facial hair is prominent, featuring a variety of beards and sideburns. Female commuters are dressed in styles typical of the late nineteenth century, including dresses with leg-of-mutton sleeves and skirts that reach the tops of their high-buttoned shoes. Transportation technology is represented by small Currier & Ives locomotives equipped with funnel-shaped stacks.

Historical Verification and the City of Galesburg

Physical evidence of the time period is found in a stack of newspapers titled The World, a publication that had been defunct for years by the mid-twentieth century. The lead story in a specific issue, later confirmed in Public Library files as being dated June $11$, $1894$, discussed President Cleveland. In this era, Galesburg, Illinois, is described as a pastoral town with large frame houses, massive lawns, and streets roofed by the branches of tremendous trees. The social climate is one of peace, occurring $20$ years before the First World War and over $40$ years before World War II, where evenings were long and neighbors socialized on their lawns.

Economic Discrepancies and Currency Exchange

Financial transactions on the third level are complicated by the use of modern currency, which is not recognized by the clerks of $1894$. The clerk at the ticket window viewed modern bills as fraudulent, noting they were "not money" and warning against attempts to deceive him. Currency in $1894$ consisted of old-style bills that were half again as large as modern money and appeared visually distinct. To facilitate travel to the past, an individual would need to purchase old-style currency from a coin dealer at a premium. For instance, drawing out $300$ might only yield less than $200$ in old-style bills. Despite this loss, the low cost of living in $1894$, such as eggs being available for $13$ cents a dozen, presented a significant incentive.

The Disappearance of Sam Weiner and the First-Day Cover

Following the discovery of the third level, a psychiatrist named Sam Weiner disappeared. Sam, a city boy who had expressed an interest in the peaceful description of Galesburg, was later confirmed to have successfully transitioned to the year $1894$. Evidence of this was found within a stamp collection in the form of a first-day cover. A first-day cover is an envelope mailed by a collector to themselves on the first day a stamp is issued, typically containing a blank piece of paper and bearing a postmark that proves the date. In this instance, a cover addressed to the protagonist's grandfather in Galesburg was dated July $18$, $1894$. The envelope featured a six-cent, dull brown stamp with a portrait of President Garfield.

Correspondence from the Past

Inside the first-day cover dated July $18$, $1894$, the paper was not blank but contained a letter from Sam Weiner. The letter, sent from $941$ Willard Street, Galesburg, Illinois, addressed the protagonist and confirmed that Sam had found the third level. He described a scene where neighbors were playing a piano at Daly’s and singing "Seeing Nelly Home" on their front porch. Sam encouraged continued searching for the third level, asserting that the destination was worth the effort. Investigation at a stamp and coin store revealed that Sam had purchased $800$ worth of old-style currency, a sum intended to establish him in a hay, feed, and grain business, as he could no longer practice psychiatry in the Galesburg of $1894$.