1.THIRD LEVEL. (Jack Finney)

SIMPLIFIED VERSION OF THE STORY

GRAND CENTRAL STATION, NEW YORK.

Grand Central Station, New York and Charley:

 Every one know that there were only two levels  in the subway of the grand central Station, New York. But Charley who was thirty-one years old, said that he had been on the third level. When he talked of this  to a psychiatrist friend of his, he said that it was a walking-dream wish fulfilment. The friend said that the modern world was full of insecurity,fear,war and worry and Charley wanted to escape from it because he was unhappy. All friends of Charley also agreed to this. They would say that his stamp- collecting activities were also a 'temporary refuse' from reality. But Charley would not accept such an explanation. It was his grandfather who had started this stamp collection and he did not need any refuge from reality. things were peaceful in his day and he needed no escape.

FRONT LOOK OF GRAND CENTRAL STATION

Charley was late from office:

One night, Charley worked late in his office. He was in a hurry to go home, so he decided to take the subway from grand central because it was faster than the bus. He was wearing a gaberdine suit and a straw hate with a fancy band. When he entered the station, he passed a dozen men who looked just like him. And he was not trying to escape anything. He just wanted to get home to Louisa, his wife.

gaberdine suit 

straw hate with a fancy band.

Charley Lost the Way:

Charley walked down the step to the first level. Then he walked down to the another flight of steps to the second level from where the suburban train leave. But when he was heading for the subway, he got lost in a corridor. It had happened with him before also. Once he got into a tunnel about a mile long and came out in the lobby of Roosevelt Hotel. Another time, he came up in an office building that was three block away. He began to think that Grand Central was growing like a tree, pushing out new corridors and staircases like roots.

Now Charley is in Third Level:

This time also, Charley knew that he had entered a wrong corridor but he kept on walking. The corridor went angling left and slanting downwards. He could hear the empty sound of his own steps. He did't pass anyone there.  Then he heard the sound of  some people talking. The tunnel turned sharp left. He went down a few steps and came out on the third level at Grand Central Station.

Everything was so different on the third level:

Charley saw that everything was so different on the third level. here the rooms were smaller and there were fewer ticket windows. On the floor, there were brass spittoons. The lights were dim. They flickered because they were open - flame gaslights. Everybody in the station was dressed the way people did in 1890's. Men had beards, side whiskers and fancy moustaches. A very small locomotive was seen coming in.     There was a newsboy who had copied of a newspaper (The World ) that had not been published for years. It was a June 11, 1894 edition. Charley turned towards the ticket windows. He saw that from here he could buy tickets for anywhere in the United state. He decided to book two ticket for Galesburg where he wanted to go with his wife. But when the clerk looked at the bills in Charley's hand, he said," That is not money, Mister." The clerk glanced at the case drawer beside him. There were old- style bill in it. They were different- looking. They were half again as big as the money Charley had with him. The clerk Threatened to call the police. Charley at once turned away and got out fast.

Charley bought old - style currency:

Next day, Charley drew three hundred dollars out of the bank and bought old - style currency. He had to pay a premium. His Three hundred Dollars Bought less than two hundred in old - style bills.  But though he tried many a time , he could never find the corridor that let to the third level at Grand Central Station. His wife became much worried when he told her all this. She did not want him to look for the third level any more, and after  a while he stoped. But he Often talked to his friend Sam Weiner about the beauties of Galesburg.

 His grand father's had many first -day covers:

Now Charly gave his attention to stamps. His grand father's had many first -day covers. Let us know what a first - day cover is? When a new stamp is issued, stamp collections buy some and use them to mail envelopes to themselves on the very first day of sale; and the postmark proves the date.  the envelope is called a first-day cover. They are never opened; you just put blank paper in the envelop.

His oldest first-day covers:

One night, Charley was looking among his oldest first-day covers. There he found one that had been mailed to his grandfather at his home in Galesburg.  Charley did not remember having ever seen it before. The postmark showed July 18. 1894. But the paper inside it was not blank. It had n note from his psychiatrist friend Sam Weiner. It read:

941 Willard street

Galesburg, Illinois

July 18, 1994

Charley
You are right........And, its true; I found the third level! I've been here two weeks, and right now, down the street someone is playing a piano, and they're all singing. ........ Come on back, Charly and Luisa. Keep looking till you find the third level ! It's worth it, believe me !
Sam  

later, Charley Found from the stamp and coin store that Sam had bought eight hundred dollars worth of old-style currency. With that, Charley thought, Sam could set up a little hay, feed and grain business because he was a psychiatrist.



हिंदी :

  ग्रैण्ड  सैंट्रल  स्टेशन न्यू - यॉर्क :

प्रत्येक व्यक्ति जनता है कि  न्यू यॉर्क  के ग्रैण्ड  सैंट्रल  स्टेशन  की सुरंग - रेल में केवल दो ही स्तर है । किन्तु चार्ली , जो इकत्तीस वर्ष की आयु का था, ने कहा कि वह तीसरे स्तर पर हो आया है। जब उसने इस बारे में अपने एक मनोचिकित्सक मित्र से इस बात की तो उसने कहा क़ि  यह मात्र एक खुली आँखों द्वारा देखे गए सपना पूरा होने जैसा है। चार्ली सोचता था की वर्तमान संसार असुरक्षा , भय, युद्ध, और चिंताओं से भरा हुआ है और वह ऐसे संसार से बचना चाहता है क्यूंकि वह असंतुष्ट है। चार्ली के सभी मित्रों का भी यही कहना था। चार्ली के दोस्त कहते थे की वह अपनी स्टाम्प कलेक्शन की आदत से कुछ देर तक ही अपना दिमाग ब्यस्त रख कर  वास्तविकता से भागकर ख़ुशी पा सकता था। उसके दादा की स्टाम्प कलेक्शन  की आदत थी। उसके दादा के समय वास्तविकता से किसी सुरक्षा की जरूरत नहीं थी।  उसके समय में सब जगह शांति थी और उसे किसी पलायन की आवश्यकता नहीं थी।

 देर रात तक कार्य और घर जाने की जल्दी :

एक रात चार्ली अपने कार्यालय में देर रात तक कार्य कर रहा था। वह घर जाने की जल्दी में था इसलिए उसने ग्रैंड सेंट्रल स्टेशन से सुरंग - रेल द्वारा जाने का निश्चय किया।  क्यूंकि सुरंग - रेल बस से तेज गति पर चलती थी।उसने गैबरडीन  सूट तथा एक स्ट्रा हैट पहना हुआ था और हैट पर एक सुन्दर पट्टी बनी हुई थी। जब उसने स्टेशन में  प्रवेश किया तो  लगभग एक दर्जन ब्यक्तियों के पास से गुजरा जो जो बिलकुल चार्ली की तरह ही लग रहे थे। तथा वह किसी चीज़ से बचने की कोशिश नहीं कर रहा था।  वह केवल घर पर अपनी पत्नी लुईसा  के पास जाना चाहता था।

चार्ली रास्ता भटक गया -

चार्ली सीढ़ियां उतरते हुए पहले तल पर पहुँच गया। फिर वह कुछ और सीढ़ियां उतर कर दूसरे तल पर पहुंच गया जहाँ से उपनगरीय रेल गाड़ियां छूटती  है। किन्तु जब वह सुरंग-रेलमार्ग की तरफ बढ़ रहा था तो वह एक गलियारे में अपना रास्ता खो बैठा।  उसके साथ ऐसा पहले भी हो चुका था।  एक बार वह एक सुरंग में घुस गया था जो लगभग एक मील लम्बी थी और वह रूज़वेल्ट होटल पहुँच था। एक अन्य अवसर  कार्यालयों वाली एक ईमारत में पहुँच गया था जो स्टेशन से तीन ब्लाक दूर थी।  वह यह सोचने लग गया कि ग्रैण्ड  सैंट्रल  स्टेशन एक वृक्ष की तरह बढ़ रहा था जिसमे से जड़ों की तरह नए- नए गलियारे और सीढ़ियां निकलते आ रहे थे।
इस बार भी चार्ली  जान गया था कि वह एक गलत गलियारे में प्रवेश कर गया था किन्तु वह चला गया।

चार्ली तीसरे तल  पर पहुँच गया 

गलियारा बाएं तरफ घूमता और बाएं तरफ सरकता गया। वह अपने स्वयं क़दमों की खोखली आवाज सुन पा रहा था।  उसके रास्ते में कोई भी व्यक्ति  नहीं आया। फिर उसने कुछ लोगों की बातें करने की आवाजें सुनी। अब सुरंग तेजी से बाएं तरफ घूम गयी। वह कुछ सीढ़ियां उतरा और ग्रैण्ड  सैंट्रल  स्टेशन  के तीसरे तल  पर पहुँच गया।

तीसरे तल  में सब कुछ भिन्न 

चार्ली ने देखा कि तीसरे तल पर हर चीज़ बहुत अलग तरह की थी। यहाँ कमरे अपेक्षाकृत छोटे थे और टिकट खिड़कियां  भी संख्या में कम  थी।  फर्श पर पीतल के थूकदान रखे हुए थे।  रोशनियां मध्यम थी। वे टिमटिमा रही  थी क्यूंकि वे गैस से जलने वाली नंगी ज्वालायें थी।  स्टेशन पर प्रत्येक व्यक्ति ने ऐसे वस्त्र पहने हुए थे जो 1890 वाले वर्षों में पहने जाते थे।  लोगों ने डांडिया, गुलमुच्छें और अजीब सी मूछें रखी हुई थी।  एक बहुत छोटा सा भाप से चलने वाला  रेल - इंजन पास आता दिखाई दे रहा था। वहां समाचार-पत्र बेचने वाला एक लड़का था जिसके पास एक ऐसे समाचार - पत्र  (दि  वर्ल्ड ) की प्रतियां थी जो कई वर्षों से प्रकाशित नहीं हुआ था।  वह समाचार पत्र 11 जून , 1894  का प्रकाशन था।

चार्ली तीसरे तल  से उलटे पांव भागा 

चार्ली टिकट- खिड़कियों की तरफ घूमा।  उसे पता लगा कि वह वहां से संयुक्त राज्य के किसी भी स्थान के लिए टिकटें खरीद सकता था। उसने Galesburg जाने के लिए दो टिकटें खरीदने का निश्चय किया जहँ वह अपनी पत्नी के साथ जाना चाहता था। परन्तु जब क्लर्क ने चार्ली के हाथ में पकडे हुए नोटों को देखा तो वह बोला " श्रीमान जी ये पैसे नहीं हैं।" क्लर्क ने पास में पड़े हुए  गल्ले को देखा। इसमें पुराने समय  प्रचलित नोट पड़े हुए थे। वे देखने में भिन्न थे। वे चार्ली के हाथ में पकड़े हुए नोटों से नोटों से डेढ़-गुना बड़े थे। क्लर्क ने पुलिस को बुलाने की धमकी दी। चार्ली एकदम से घूम गया और तेज़ी से बाहर निकल गया।

चार्ली ने पुराने नोट खरीदे 

अगले दिन चार्ली ने बैंक से तीन सौ डॉलर निकलवाए और पुराने समय वाले नोट खरीदे। उसे इसके लिए अतिरिक्त पैसे देने पड़े। उसे तीन सौ डॉलर के बदले में पुराने समय वाले 200 डॉलर से भी कम मिले। परंतु यद्दपि उसने कई बार कोशिश की परंतु उसे वह गलियारा कभी नहीं मिल पाया जो उसे ग्रैंड सेंट्रल स्टेशन के तीसरे तल पर ले जाता। उसकी पत्नी बहुत चिंतित हो गईं जब चार्ली ने उसे पूरी बात बताई। वह नहीं चाहती थी कि वह आगे से तीसरे तल की खोज करने की कोशिश करे और कुछ समय बाद चार्ली ने बंद भी कर लिया। किन्तु अक्सर वह अपने मित्र सैम वीनर से गेल्जबर्ग की सुन्दर्ताओं के विषय में बातें किया करता था।

चार्ली स्टाम्प कलेक्शन 

अब चार्ली ने स्टाम्पों पर ध्यान देना शुरू कर लिया। उसके दादा के संकलन में बहुत से फर्स्ट - डे कवर थे। अब हम यह जाने कि फर्स्ट डे कवर क्या होता है। जब भी कोई नयी स्टाम्प जारी की जाती है तो स्टाम्प- संकलन करने वाले व्यक्ति कुछ स्टाम्प खरीद लेते है। वे उन्हें स्टाम्प- बिक्री के पहले दिन ही स्वयं को लिफाफे भेजने के लिए प्रयोग में ले आते है। और डाकखाने की मुहर उनकी सही तारीख को सिद्ध कर देती है। ऐसे लिफाफे को फस्ट डे कवर कहा जाता है। उन्हें कभी खोल नहीं जाता क्योंकि उसमें तो कोरा कागज ही पड़ा होता है।

सैम का फस्ट - डे कवर 

एक रात चार्ली अपने पुराने फ़स्ट - डे कवर मिला जो उसके दादा को डाक द्वारा गल्जबर्ग के उसके घर के पते पर भेजा गया था।  चार्ली को याद नहीं आया कि उसने इसे पहले भी कभी देखा था।   पर लगी डाक पर लगी डाक - मुहर 18   जुलाई , 1894 की तारीख रही थी। परन्तु उसके अंदर रखा कागज कोरा नहीं था।  उसमे उसके मनोचिकित्सक  मित्र सैम वीनर  द्वारा लिखी हुई एक पर्ची थी।  उसमे लिखा था -

941 विलाई  स्ट्रीट 
गेल्जबर्ग, इलेनॉइस 

18 जुलाई, 2020 

चार्ली 
तुम सही थे। ............... तथा  यह सच है ; मैंने तीसरा तल ढूंढ लिया है।  मुझे यहाँ आये दो हफ्ते हो गए है।  और बिलकुल इसी समय गली में कोई पियानो बजा रहा है और वे सब मिलकर गा रहे है। ............ चार्ली और लुईसा वापस आ जाओ।  ध्यान से देखते रहो, जब तक तुम्हे तीसरा तल मिल नहीं जाता। विस्वास करो। 
सैम 

सैम तीसरे तल  पर 

बाद में चार्ली पता चला कि सैम ने खजाने से पुरानी मुद्रा के आठ सौ डॉलर खरीदे थे।  चार्ली ने सोचा कि उससे सैम भूसे और अनाज का छोटा सा व्यापार शुरू कर सकता था जो कि उसे बहुत पसंद था।  1894 के गेल्जबर्ग में उसका पुराना धन्धा किसी काम का नहीं था क्यूंकि वह एक मनोचिकित्सक था।

Short Answer type 

1.What does the third level refer to?

Answer

The third level refers to the subway of the Grand Central Station that takes passengers to Galesburg, Illinois. The third level on the station was a medium of escape for Charley, the narrator from the harsh realities of modern life. It provided him a base where he could interweave fantasy and reality.

2. Would Charley ever go back to the ticket-counter on the third level to buy tickets to Galesburg for himself and his wife?

Answer

No, Charley would never go back to the ticket-counter on the third level to buy tickets to Galesburg for himself and his wife because third level was his imagination.

Long Answer type;-

Q.1. Do you think the third level was a medium of escape for Charley? Why?

Ans. It is impossible for two different periods of history to exist simultaneously. In this story we find the nineteenth century and the modern century existing side by side. The Grand Central Station has two levels where modern new style currency is used. There is also a third level where the old style of currency of eighty - ninety something is used. We can saybthat the writer has tried to weave fantasy with reality. The third level is merely a fantasy that exists in Charley's mind only. It is his escapist fantasy. His psychiatrist friend, Sam, is right when he calls it ' a waking dream wish fulfilment'. Charley's visit to third level  is all a fantasy. He takes it for a reality and plans a journey to Galesburg. He even exchanges his new bills of three hundred dollars for old-style bills. But he is never again able to find the third level.It is because the third level has existed in his fantasy only. So we can say that the third level was a medium of escape for Charley. It was only his escapist fantasy.

2. What do you infer from Sam’s letter to Charley?

Answer

The way Charley came across Sam’s letter was surrounded in mystery. Among his oldest first-day covers, he found an envelope. The envelope containing the letter bore the address of his grandfather. It was written on July 18, 1894. The postmark showed the Picture of President Garfield. Generally the first day covers have blank papers in them, but this one contained a letter. The letter was addressed to Charley. In the letter Sam had informed Charley that he was living on the third level. He had also told Charley and his wife to keep looking for the third level. Clearly, the letter was a product of Charley’s imagination. 

3. ‘The modern world is full of insecurity, fear, war, worry and stress.’ What are the ways in which we attempt to overcome them?

Answer

We can overcome the anxieties and insecurities bred by our inevitable existence in the modern world by getting involved in some practical and beneficial activities. Cultivating hobbies, spending time with family and friends, going on trips and excursions, pursuing meditation and exercises help us live a balanced and healthy life. Reading good books is equivalent to having good friends with great insight. They not only enrich us with the vast store of knowledge but also help us to learn from other’s experience and stay rooted to some basic qualities of humanity. Joining hobby classes or gym, attending social events like birthdays and weddings, going for outdoor games, interacting meaningfully through social-networking sites and writing diaries etc can also help us relieve our worries and stay focussed and disciplined in life. Simple activities like listening to music, playing with pets, an occasional dinner out, watching cinema or plays or going to places like parks etc can go a long way in helping us get rid of stress, boredom and insecurities.

4. Do you see an intersection of time and space in the story?

Answer

Yes, there are certain instances in the story that show an intersection of time and space. Firstly, the first two levels of Grand Central Station were located in the present time while the third level existed in the 1890s. Secondly, Charley and his wife, Louisa, live in the present time yet he rushes to get old currency to buy two tickets to go to the Galesburg of 1894. Further, the old architecture of the platform at the third level is different from the modern platforms of the first two levels. Besides, the archaic manner of dressing by the people, and the newspaper, The World, dated June 11, 1984 also overlaps with Charley’s real time world and existence. Lastly, the letter that was mailed to Charley’s grandfather on 18th July, 1894 highlights the intersection of time and space as the sender (Charley’s friend Sam) and receiver (Charley himself) belong to the present time.

5. Apparent illogicality sometimes turns out to be a futuristic projection? Discuss.

Answer

It is true that apparent illogicality sometimes turns out to be a futuristic projection. Before the Wright Brothers invented the first aeroplane, nobody could have dared to believe that man could fly. Before Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, it would have been impossible to believe in long-distance talks happening in the real-time interface. Moreover, there are examples of inventions, like that of inventing a modern-day sewing machine with a needle that has hole on its wrong end, which were conceived in dreams but now are part of our everyday reality.
All this emphasises that fantasies of one point of time that seem illogical may turn out to be revolutionary things that change the future of the mankind. Similarly, it would not be far-fetched to think about railway stations fitted with time-machine devices that would make travel from one era to another just a matter of time.

6. Philately helps keep the past alive. Discuss other ways in which this is done. What do you think of the human tendency to constantly move between the past, the present and the future?

Answer


Besides philately, there are numerous other ways to help keep the past alive. Collecting historical artefacts, paintings and inscriptions in a museum, collecting and reading books (including autobiographies, bio-sketches, letters and diary entries) written in different eras, collecting and viewing documentaries and other videos are all a few ways of revisiting history. Besides, we can keep our culture and traditions alive when we follow the rituals in ceremonies, treasure memories in the form of videos, photographs and audio collections. Also, reviving old monuments, buildings and other artefacts may prove a huge learning opportunity to those visiting such places, and promote tourism at the same time.
The capacity to oscillate between the past, present and future is a great intellectual gift. This human tendency enables him to plan for the future in the present by reaping benefits from the past. Consider a very simple example of adopting a study technique for board exams. Considering the past result (of class test or half yearly exams) a student makes a strategy plan to address the weak areas more and score better in the future. Thus, such a tendency helps in ensuring acceptance of the impact of important decisions taken at any point of time and learning from them.

7. You have read ‘Adventure’ by Jayant Narlikar in Hornbill Class XI. Compare the interweaving of fantasy and reality in the two stories.

Answer

In 'Adventure' Jayant Narlikar expressed that many world exist simultaneously though they appear to be separated by time. He expressed that the other world also existed and prospered with the world we are aware of. On the other hand, In the third level, Charley a young new york commuter wandering Grand Central Station by accident finds a gateway that leads to a real past of 1894Seizing the oppurtunity Charley attempts to escape the rat race by buying a one way ticket to his childhood town of Galesburg. Not having proper currency for that period, he forced to postpone his plan to escape to the past.