Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-10-14
JosoNsEcoNDAvENuE's MAYOR.
His Place Decorated with Cemetery
Greens for Christmas by Two Affabie
Young Men.
(New York SUM-

Simon Steingut, the mayor of Sec
| ond avenue, is looking for two men who
decorated his saloon in Second avenue
Tor Christmas, with results that
startled his constituents. He was wait
ed upon on Monday night by two aft
able young men who said they were
professional decorators,
The mayor of Second avenue?" ask
ed one of them.
Il am der chendleman,'' responded
Steingut, drawing himself up proudly.
We'll, don't you think that a man of
your prominence ought to have sort of
Christmas decorations on your build
ing? Wreathes, spruce trees or other
greenry?" continued the young man.
Ply chiminy," said Steingut, Il didn't
nod tink of id. Is id too lade now:"
"Oh, dear, no" said the affable young
man. I'VE are just after decorating
the saloon of the Hon. Pat Connolly,
the mayor of Poverty Hollow He told
Us that he was going to make that
Dutch mayor on Second avenue turn
green with envy"
He did. did he?" shouted Steingut
Il will led no Irishman maig me turn
green. Connolly is der only green ting
now in, Delaney street regular harb.
How much will id cosdt?"
Well" said the young man, well
give you a great bargain. We have a
lot of evergreens and flowers that We
intended TO use in decorating Mr.. Van
derblt's house. He changed his mind
at the last moment. Connolly would
only let US put up green on his build
ing. but we can give you beautiful
colored flowers 10 set off the green.
Wen do the whole job for S25. We in
tended to charge Vanderbilt $500 for
the same work"
Dot vos bully" replied Steingut. Il
go you. Pud lots of red above der
green undt 1 will invitashuns Connolly
to gone und Ioog ad id
The Young men said they would start
the work at ) o'clck in the morning and
would have it completed in an hour.
Steingut said he would leave the money
with the janitor
At the appointed hour a covered
wagon filed with flowers and shrub
berry drew up in gront of Steingut's 5
place. The men first lined the stoop on
booth sides with bushes that looked as
though they had been gathered from d
banked the doorway with spruce trees
and placed several more trees in front
of the plate glass window. Then they
began TO unload the floral pieces. One
was a large broken column on the base
of which was the inscription: Gone,
but not forgotten" This piece was
placed on one side of the doorway. The
other side was adorned with an anchor
~, nn h,
knob was hung wreath with the
words. Cur Little Pet" \ large pill
low with the word Papa was promi-
nently placed. and several more floral
pieces with equally funeral inscriptions
completed the display. All of the flow
ers were more or less faded. Fritz, the
janitor, grinned with admiration when
the job WAS competed and willingly
paid over the money to the young men.
They drove away towards the Houston
Street ferry.
When Steingut reached his place
about 9 o'clock he found "a crowd of his
friends on the sidewalk, gazing with
awe-struck faces at the decorations.
There was almost q panic when they
saw him. He gave one glance at the
display and wrung his hands.
"A pud-ub chOb! A pud-ub. L vas
swindled." he cried. Then he grabbed
the floral pieces and threw them in the
street 1t was necessary to hire a
wagon to cart the stuff away.
IF / catch dose men vat ropped a
cemetery undt den ropped me. DER
friendts will be sending flowers to
dem" was all he had to say after
wards.