The Third Level Class 12 English Vistas

Key Points of the Story

• Charley, an ordinary man, discovers a mysterious third level at Grand Central Station.
• He finds himself transported back in time to the year 1894.
• Charley encounters a vintage scene with people dressed in 1890s attire and using old-style currency.
• He receives a letter from his psychiatrist friend, Sam, who has also traveled back to 1894 and invites Charley to join him in Galesburg, Illinois.
• Sam, who was Charley's psychiatrist in present time, has chosen to stay in the past.

Detailed Summary

Once upon a time, there was a man named Charley who worked late at the office one summer night. He wanted to go home to his wife, Louisa, and decided to take the subway from Grand Central Station. Charley, a regular guy in a tan suit and straw hat, found himself on a strange adventure he never expected.

As Charley navigated through Grand Central Station, he descended to the first and second levels, familiar with the hustle and bustle of the place. However, when he attempted to head for the subway, he got lost in the maze-like corridors of the station. This wasn't his first time getting lost in Grand Central; he had previously stumbled upon new passageways and exits within the station.

Following a corridor that sloped down and veered left, Charley found himself in a peculiar situation. He entered the third level of Grand Central Station, but it wasn't the modern station he knew. This level was a glimpse into the past, a scene from the late 1800s. The atmosphere was different, with gaslights flickering, people dressed in old-fashioned attire, and a general sense of antiquity.

Charley was astonished by what he saw: men in derby hats, women in vintage dresses, and even an old locomotive on the tracks. Everything around him indicated that he had traveled back in time to the year 1894. Despite his initial disbelief, the sights and sounds confirmed that he was indeed in a different era.

In this surreal setting, Charley attempted to purchase train tickets to Galesburg, Illinois, a town he knew well. However, his attempt was met with suspicion and confusion by the ticket clerk, who noticed the unusual currency Charley presented. The old-style bills and the clerk's reaction made Charley realize the gravity of his situation, and he swiftly left the third level, back to his own time.

The experience didn't end there for Charley. He discovered a mysterious envelope among his stamp collection, a first-day cover postmarked from 1894 and addressed to his grandfather in Galesburg. The contents of the letter inside revealed that someone close to him, Sam Weiner, had also found the third level at Grand Central Station and was living in the past.

Sam, who had taken on a new life in 1894, had left behind his career as a psychiatrist and embraced a simpler existence in Galesburg. Charley's realization of Sam's departure and the evidence found in the letter sparked a sense of wonder and curiosity in him and Louisa. They began searching for the elusive third level, driven by the belief that it still existed and held the promise of a different reality.

The story of Charley's unexpected journey through time, the discovery of the third level, and the mystery surrounding Sam's disappearance painted a picture of escapism and longing for a simpler, peaceful existence. As Charley and Louisa embarked on their quest to find the third level, the boundaries between past and present blurred, leaving them with a sense of anticipation and wonder about what they might discover.

Theme/ Message

In this story, the theme revolves around the concept of escapism and nostalgia. Charley's discovery of the third level at Grand Central Station symbolizes his desire to escape the complexities and challenges of the modern world. The allure of a simpler, peaceful past represented by the year 1894 in Galesburg, Illinois, highlights the theme of nostalgia for a bygone era.

Message

The message conveyed is the importance of facing and embracing reality rather than seeking to escape from it. While the idea of escaping to a simpler time may be tempting, the story ultimately suggests that true fulfillment and growth come from confronting and engaging with the present rather than retreating into the past.

Difficult Words

1. Escapism - the tendency to seek distraction and relief from unpleasant realities, often through entertainment or fantasy
2. Nostalgia - a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past
3. Allure - the quality of being powerfully and mysteriously attractive or fascinating
4. Complexities - the state or quality of being intricate or complicated
5. Confront - to face up to and deal with a problem or difficult situation
6. Fulfillment - the achievement of something desired, promised, or predicted
7. Retreating - withdrawing or moving back
8. Simpler - easier or more straightforward
9. Past - time that has gone by; things that have happened before
10. Symbolizes - represents or stands for something else