The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-14
AN EAST SIDE IDOLS DROP.
HOW SILVER DOLLAR SMITH I'M
PERILLED HIS PRESTIGE.

NO' S
PERILLED HIS PRESTIGE.
All Essex street Aghast TO Sec the Ex-Assembly-
man Ride Home in n uorseicss Cab-Fot-
lowed to HE Door by an Indignant ThrouE
OF Former Admirers-The End IL Not Vet.
At no time can 1t DO said that life on tho east
side is uneventful. But once in every Ave years,
chroniclers assert, something happens that stirs
tho district to its very depths. Thus did Johnny
Brodsky, the only Gloomy" stir the quarter
when he failed to renew the lease of his Henry
street house and moved into an uptown brown
stone instead. So 1t was, years before, when
John O'Bricn died. and again the quinquennial
shock came when Morris Tekulsky laid low the
mighty Pat Diver in o flstic encounter. and
Alderman Nick Brown took a large slice out OF
tho Tammany leaders political prospects. 1t
isn't quite Eve years since Harry Miner had his
cards engraved "H. Clay Miner" and walked
through Grand street, followed by a valet, con-
sequently a new shock was not expected at this
time. Mr.. Miner panied the east siders by these
doings, and even his political allies could not
quite forgive the valet. 1t is recorded that
Sinner" Simpson, calling to see the Congress
man, was held up at the door by the valet, whit
pompously remarked:
lis 'ighness his riding with Senator Guy.
SIR"
Sinner" abused tho valet voluminously on
this occasion, and then went and told the whole
cast side how Harry Miner had been trans
formed into lis 'ighncss."
But last OF all men did tho east side expect
silver Dollar" Smith to be the next to shake
them up. OF all the notabilitics Of the district
no one man was supposed to combine 80 many Of
its traditions in himself as the great "Silver
Dollar" He represents all the virtues and most
Of the other things OF east side life, and what
has most endeared him to the hearts Of the in
habitants is the fact that he has spent his money
| right where no made 1t. "Silver Dollar" owns
no uptown real estate, and his Essex street
saloon has no more mirrors In 1t now than 1t did
when he opened it years ago. Up in the Tender
loin. Mr.. Smith has another saloon, an unpre-
~tentious club" which he purchased when the
restrictions of the Raines' law drove its former
owner out Of business. but he leaves a manager
to run that establishment and spends his own
time in picturesque Essex street. where he is
the biggest OF all men and justly feels that he is
an important factor in passing events.
In view OF all these facts it seems almost i'm
possible to believe that "Silver Dollar" Smith
should be the one to surprise and grieve his
neiehbors and constituents. He did it though,
and this is how:
At 8 o'clock on Saturday evening, when tho
shadows OF night were stealing up the maze
OF streets east of the Bowery. there appeared on
the latter thoroughfare q strange monster. 1t
was large and black, with three great shining
eyes. and it moved at great speed. Along it
came with an uncanny silence that WAS only
blood-curdling changing OF metal came from
somewhere in its midst. AS tho thing drew
near those who had the courage TO face it
made out the figure of q man silhouettcd
on its front. Then they, saw that 1t
was normal in that it had but two eyes
from the centre Of the shirt. front OF the man.
Finally it dawned upon the, wondering multi,
4 soda Shat NhA xrnn n hnrcntn1a IN rtn Dn
creep UP behind You on Fifth avenue At night:
and when about two feet away fires OFF q blast
OF sound that melts the marrow.
The east siders get used TO strange sights
SSa arGai{{ IN the men mo nsSS s ths NATIVES Snas sN trsm Gss mo
more. They followed instead of running, away;
for the identity OF the apparition established
there yet remained the great mystery-who had
ventured downtown inf
A hundred persons pursued it from Houston
street to Grand. and when 1t turned east q thou
sand more Joined in its wake. The old yarn
about the rolling stone didn't go; The rolling
siders before it reached Essex street, and, as the
story was told last night. there were nearly
front of silver Dollar Smiths. In that crowd
were many great men. There was Tommy Brad
ley, the i BOY CongssssmfRn; Joe Sci p y the ri in,
lawyer: Pete" the, official court barber. and
the dummy bootblack OF Essex Market. whom
rumor credits with owning blocks OF tenements
Besides there were Pat Connolly, ex-Mayor OF
Mayor. who represents the victory q the Jew:
over the Irish at the last election; Tommy Din
stein. into whose ample calf the Silver Dollar
thrust n cheese knife some months ago during @
discussion on the ethics of politics, and a host o.
Others OF more or less prominence. TO say moth
ing OF the rank and tie who years ago made al
Of the foregoing what they are to-day.
The on the identity OF the occupant
OF the hanson were many and interesting. " On'
OF the Silver Dollars tenderloin friends" sug
gcsted a man. Yer a liar; Charley has M
Sure it must be the brewery collector" 'Ah
it's some guy adyertisin' somcthin'." remarked
one OF Tommy Bradlcy's tough constituents
o an officer of the court" remarked Jo'
Schulum.
II pet me-" came in a loud voice that couldn'
belong TO a%nyb9d7 but Gus Gioistein' dot it,
There was a chorus OF sarcastic 'Ahs!" whicl
stopped suddenly when the carriage drew up Z
the curb and the Silver Dollar himseifspranI
"Hello. what's the matter !" he exclaimed.
What it is. is il r demanded Mayor Sprung
and how dot you ride insider
why, l Just came downtown in II" explaine'
and told Willie Eden. the bartender. to Dol
him in. The horseless carriage motOrmal
whipped up his electricity and got swaE as 500 o
in little punches and talk Il over. o,,
Aha. dot Schmitt is u dood yet" said Gloii
It's queer. very queer" said Tommy Brad
N"But can be explained, of course, and wi
talking OF nothing but silver Dollar" Smith
!, h iion fSom eS cba4iey, ah ft sef herd w TO imagine dHe'3 jus
how the east side takes silver Dollars frs
, eccentricity. In time it may forget. but II tn
home in a horseless hanson on Saturday nigh
he had better fish 1t out quickly and recove
!, some of his fast-going~p prestige.
0n ITnnr nm IN TTr 10 -