The Commissioners replanning New York desired to pay Paine's memory a
compliment and on opening up the street parallel with Grove, they
called it Reason Street, for the "Age of Reason." This was objected to
by many bigots (who had never read the book) and some tactful diplomat
suggested giving it the French twist--_Raison_ Street. Already they
had the notion that French could cover a multitude of sins. Even this
was too closely suggestive of Tom Paine, "the infidel," so it was
shamelessly corrupted to Raisin! Consider the street named originally
in honour of the author of the "Age of Reason," eventually called for
a dried grape!
This too passed, and if you go down there now you will find it called
Barrow Street.
On the 8th of June, 1809, Thomas Paine died.
The New York _Advertiser_ said:
"With heart-felt sorrow and poignant regret, we are compelled
to announce to the world that Thomas Paine is no more. This
distinguished philanthropist, whose life was devoted to the
cause of humanity, departed this life yesterday morning; and,
if any man's memory deserves a place in the breast of a
freeman, it is that of the deceased, for,
_"'Take him for all in all,
We ne'er shall look upon his like again.
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