The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-11
y THE BOWERY.
How He Meets His Joliet, What
She Says to Him and
He to Her.

The Bowery johnnie. like most other
East Side institutions, Is an original product.
You see his like now here else. He came
into existence with the advent OF the travel
ling burlesque companies which nave
dominated the cheap variety theatres
for the last ten years and his develop
ment has been rapid
Like his Broadway brother, the Bowery
Johnnie may be Of any age over ID. IL
all depends on the juvenility OF his heart.
He Is Just as likely to be blue eyed youth
with hair parted in the middle, patent
leather shoes and the Bowery's latest cut
suit and pocketbook that needs replenish-
ing as he Ia to be fat and bald headed.
But just as probably he may be In tatters
and have seen better days. Every kind a
male with red blood flowing through hb
veins Ia represented among the Johnnies
OF the Bow cry " hose goddess Is the Amazon
In the front row.
The female members OF bowery Dur
lesoue companies are not always devoid
Of talent or lacking pretty race But
II Ia the well built girl who captivates the
Johnnies heart. To see her ne walts IN
front Of the theatre where the women
their exit, or sits expectant in the cafe, II
the theatre has a cafe annex, as IT usually
has. In the latter case he invariably sits
yis-A-vis with the object of his adorat,on
| waiting TO invite her to have drink.
| formal introduction Is not always neCee-
sary Not that there is lack OF discipline
| IN the company, but the management
does not trouble itself when the members
of the troupe are beyond it's Jurisdiction.
Naturally, an easy method OF merooto.
| sloppy note, but usually very mucn 70
| the point. few years ago minor pugilist
| v hose reputation was b ased on the fact
! that he had defeated man who was once
a shs spsdTrbn by fsrry sent one
these notes to a chorus girl, who was mean i,
enough to show 1t around. This Is what "
| contained:
/ saw de show tonight and wants , 70 meet sd
s sSnapper If i Is ailrIaSt an on de
levi meet me at MeGurks after de s,s shSw'
| But the average Bowery Johnnie eschews
the formality Of note writing If he can
avoid 1t. Sometimes he sends news OF nis
Intentions to his idol by stage hand
"A friend Of mine says Cupdia a.s a ~3t,
Don't throw him down. cause he's me
OF course, the girl may protest that she
| has q previous engagement or tnat siie
never goes out with strangers, or tnat sne
has promised to be home at certain time.
But Il il current testimony that she rarely
does She appreciates an invitation to supper,
| and a tryst is made in the theatre care
The popular Introductory phrase is. mha az
will you have?" This, OF course, applies 70
refreshments. and the lady is expected
to saw Beer, after which the conversation
ranges to the weather, the show. &c;
afm Glad met you, Romeo will prob
ably say after while, and hope III sec
YOU again after tonight
sOf course, I will be pleased TO meet
Won once more" Juliet will reply. en-.
did and that amt no joke. ~,
much earnestness, and / wish was an
actor. Say, it must be lovely to De an
actress. ,..u..
I hate travelling and appearing IN tights
But YOU know Lillian Russell and Pauline
Hall and Lulu CHASER and all those Broad
way soubrettes have appeared IN Tights.
I don't say that can act as good a. they
can, but ! guess I have better shape
Which Is the chance for which Romeo
aYou can bet your life you have, he say
with much. feeling. They don't come
no better than you.
And he feels then fh A. the tounoa'''n
Far suppers the Bowery johnnie prefera
the Chinese restaurants as centres OF town
gayety. He does not regard favorsbiy
expenditure on flowers. Them an up-oo.
date Bowery Johnnie thinks the height Of
girl a bouquet it is usually with initiate
only on the card attached. Some OF the
Amazons have husbands in the company
and careless Johnniee, he knows, have
/ got into a peck OF trouble before now BY
! imprudent revelations OF their identity.