THE THIRD LEVEL

BY JACK FINNEY
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The main terms in the story
Galesburg / Illinois

Grand Central Station

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‘I’ refers to the author
According to him there are three levels at Grand Central Station
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Comparison between modern world and 1800s / fantasy (imagining
impossible or improbable things) and reality
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The writer’s friend Sam refers to the third level as - walking dream
wish fulfillment
- According to Sam - Charley was unhappy
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Explanation given by Sam
- Modern World VS Ancient World
- Full of insecurities carefree world
- Fear fearless life style
- War loving and caring people
- Worry leisure time
- Stress no stress
- The writer wants no escapism
to escape
- Collects stamps spend time together
A temporary relief
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Talks of first day cover - a stamp is released / it is pasted on a blank
envelope / addressed to self to preserve it

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Narrates story - was late at office / wanted to reach his apartment /
reached Grand Central Station / came across many people dressed in
similar style
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Name of the author - Charley / 31 year old / his wife Louisa
His appearance - wearing tan gabardine suit (a smooth, durable
twill-woven worsted or cotton cloth) / a straw hat with a fancy band
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Writer reaches the first level - trains like 20th C are seen
At second level - suburban trains left / writer reaches the arched
doorway and gets lost / many a times had lost his way / once reached
the lobby of Roosevelt Hotel / another time reached forty - sixth street
and reached office building / finds a tunnel - a way to escape
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Description of Grand Central Station
- Looks like a tree /with many passages /new corridor
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The writer crosses the tunnel and reaches the third level
- Difference noticed by the writer there
- Smaller rooms
- Fewer ticket windows and train gates
- The information booth made of wood and old style
- Man in the booth wore green eye shade and long black sleeve
protectors
- The lights were dim, flickering lights / open flame gas lights
- Brass spittoons
- A man pulling a gold watch from his vest, opened the cover,
looked at his watch /was wearing derby hat / a black four button
suit with tiny lapels / had a big, black handlebar moustache / felt
that everyone was dressed like in 1890s
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Description of women’s dress - was wearing a dress with leg of
mutton sleeves /skirts / high buttoned shoes
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Saw a locomotive - a very small Currier and Ives locomotive / funnel
shaped stack (a US company (1835-1907) that produced more than 7 000
different coloured lithographs (= prints made from metal plates) of US life in the
19th century.)
DERBY HAT FOUR - BUTTON SUIT

HANDLEBAR MOUSTACHE GREEN EYE SHADE

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-Found the first - day cover dated -July 18, 1894
-Price of stamp - 6 cent, dull brown, picture of President Garfield
-There was a message inside, it was from Sam, the psychiatrist friend,
inviting Charley to Galesburg with Louisa
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Details about how Sam had reached Galesburg
- He had purchased 800 dollars worth old currency
- Wanted to start hay and grain business
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Details about Galesburg
- Wonderful town
- Peaceful
- Away from the mad rush of the cities
- Old frame houses
- Huge lawns
- Beautiful trees
- People sitting and chatting
- The men smoking cigars / leisure time
- The fire - flies all around
- Wanted to escape / away from wars, miseries, pain, suffering

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The writer’s inability to buy the tickets
- Did not have old style currency
- Next day exchanged 300 dollars for old style currency
- Received less than 200 dollars old style currency
- Was satisfied as things were cheaper in Galesburg (example -
cost of eggs - 13 cents a dozen
- The writer is not able to find the third level again
- Suddenly Sam disappears
- Both Charley and Louisa search for third level