The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-29
THE BoWERY UNDER DEVERY.
One of the Many Industries That now
Thrive in wide-open New York.

Ono of tho Many Industries That now
Thrive in Wide-open New York.
At the Bowery and Broome street the building
the northwest corner has been almost covered
with flaming posters The Three Greatest
Shows on Earth" they announce in letters two
feet high; Moulin Rouge" "Danse du Ventre"
"Au Dhnse de Plnisaire," The meaning Of the
latter phrase Is as obscure the language in
which IL is written. Signs in the windows and
over the doors stipulate with significant reitera-
ton that the show is for men only and the ad-
mission fee Of Ave cents is for the day only
screen shuts off any view from the street OF the
interior Behind Il a street piano rattles unceas-
ingly. A yellow haired woman sitting behind
shelf at the door takes the nick els and waves the
people in
This is what the visitor finds: room papered
with Autographed theatrical posters OF the cheapest
kind. Against the back wall is platform raised
three or four feet from the floor. On II is q chair
over which hangs tawdry canopy. Al the left
of the room is row OF holes fitted with magnify
ing glasses, through which spectators look at
cheap photo engravings, labelled -The Bathers"
"Rcpose," Spring" and the like On the other
side Of the room is cofhnFhaped box covered
with cheap red cloth. In IL are two mummios. or
excellent limitations OF mummies OF woman and
q baby.
visitor who entered the place yesterday after
noon at three o'clock found several rougha appear
ing men there. He went over to the magnifying
glass picture gallery and discovered sudden
interest in art developing upon the other men in
the place. They began to crowd him uncomforta-
bly,, Then he remembered he had a scarf pin
and took Il out and put il in his pocket The
general interest in art subsidized suddenly as
It had risen He looked at tho other pictures
in peace.
A plump. rather pretty octoroon girl came out
on the platform sat In the chair. crossed her legs
and lost herself in reading paper covered novel
Other men came in from the Bowcry until there
were fifteen in the room. gaunt young man In
black frock coat and black trousers came out
from back room. He a black handker
chief about his neck
Gentlemen" he said. this is Mademoiselle
Louise You her, You would like to see
Of her" The young woman rose, raised
her bare arms, nirted her short skirts and put
ting the heels Of her gilt slippers together modesty
regarded her toes
I'VE can't give our show out here in room
opening on the street" said the young man in
black so well 60 in another room; For uie
be with us. however. wish 10 say that these gilt
slippers arr, absolutely the only things The lady
wears in giving her performance. Now II you
will step this way, we will give the young woman
a chance"
years ago" he said, these remains were disputed
by the greatest scientists the world has ever
known Mother and child as you see Theory
Remarkable race but II you were TO see them
on the street now you probably wouldn't turn
All right Bill" shouted some one inside. The
Snowman asked his audience to follow him through
Sn @ HRGh cheap Black The
tain shutting off one side Of room ten feet square;
innocence" said The Snowman He pulled
untidy full tights, with, black cloth tied about
her waist stood listlessly in the opening. The
DIVER" he said and disclosed the young woman
with her hands held together over her head.
There were two other poses :.
black. that is all Of our five cent show; We
can't afford to do the rest for five cents There's
Two men opened the door and started out the
way they had come
Shut that door" snapped the Snowman with
a sharpness tina, made them jump IF you want
10 go out, I'll open the door and let you out |
and every man that goes out, every time II Ia
The two men stayed Now" continued the
you next usually costs from $40 to s26 Every
man here wants to see II The only question
HAPPENS T4 s' S" %thet side Of hat door ' is
you and me, as man and man II you think
the door is quarter OF dollar
He opened a door and took the quarters as the
men filed into still another room. II was
about eight feet square Opposite the entrance
was a door over which was the legend in large
letters This Way Out" On the side Of the room
was picture frame large enough for full
length portrait The frame was Allied in with
hinged doors. The men began 10 mutteE
we gave up our quarters like FIT avenue mil
lionaires, growled one, and we get dshed like
a mess Of fried suckers"
The Snowman stepped to the. picture frame,
You'll see all you paid for gentlemen" he sold,
pleasantly: He let down the top. of the picture
frame and disclosed the head Of the octoroon
young woman. whose neck was fitted close over
the top Of miro. that concealed the rest Of her
body. The Snowman smiled, said that's all"
and pointed IN the door labelled This Way Ou'."
The crowd went out without a word.
This SHOW" Is perhaps the most pretenuous
and hrazen but is only one Of fifty similar places
thriving at present on the Bowery.