Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-06-17
ROUND ABOUT NEW YORK.
RippIes on the Current of Life in the
Metropolis.

York is ut once tIle IloSl IietiopoAi'e''A
and the most provincial city In the
country. 1t is at once broad ana
narrow. deep and superficial. 1t has
the sweep and power of imperial Rome,
and the self-centered opinionated ignor-
ance of a Scotch hamlet. Cosmopolitan
in population, with a commerce that
circles the globe, and financial power
that puts it in a class with London,
Paris and Berlin, it is nevertheless in
most things small. petty and egotis-
teal. In close touch with the news
and thought of the world, enjoying the
best music and some of the best art,
filled with theaters, halls and libraries.
listening to the best orators and
preachers, yet it may be said that the
average New Yorker reads less and
thinks less than the other people of the
country. He knows more about Paris
than the United States, and he is more
moved by English methods and English
criticism than by national influence
and patriotism. Its very theaters are
supported less by it's own people than
by visitors to the city. Its libraries
and library institutions are thronSed
chiefly by scholars and students from
the outside. Its pulpits are filled by
imported preachers. Its opera house is
filled by imported singers and it's COM
merce and financial power are directed
by men, few of whom are natives of the
city and few of whom have any real
interest in it; their principal homes and
associations being elsewhere"
A professional consumptive, or Inen-
dicant, church and hospital
'.rounder," is up for trial in New York.
1t seems that this fellow of many
aliases has made a good living for at
least twelve years by appeals to the
selfish charity givers. He has
Operated" upon at least twenty church
organizations and societies. To his
virtues and vices he has, Of course,
added larceny. From a woman who
had just given him $40 he had the poor
Judgment to steal S. more, and now his
victims are combining against him.
His scheme was to join a church, at
tend it's meetings and make ac-
quaintances personally and through the
year book" which generally gives the
names and addresses of contributing
members Soon he had stock in trade
of "reminiscences of meetings and per-
sonal words to pass around from one
person to another, telling that he was
sent by such and such personal
friend. The trouble always was that he
had consumption and must go to
warmer climate. When one church be-
gan to wake up to his plan he fitted
to another. Only by the methods of in
vestigation of the charity organization
societies, or better, through these
societies themselves, can society be
ridded of these pests, who are more
numerous than is supposed.
On the very top of the New York
Life building, at Broadway and
Leonard street, these summer days
flock of attractive girls takes daily
promenade, safe from the intrusion 0.
impairment man. There is no way of
getting at them except by balloon Or
flying machine. A pass will admit a
male visitor to the tower above them,
or he may look on from an adjoining
skyscraper, but converse he cannot,
except by megaphone.
Over it's ground glass roof restaurant
for girl employees the New York Life
has built promenade surrounded by
an iron railing. 1t is about half the
length of city block and six feet wide.
Three Typewriter girls can walk abreast
comfortably and lovingly with their
arms around one anOther's waists.
They are there every day but Sunday,
except when it rains, for no matter how
strong the sun shines there is always
a cooling breeze. Sometimes the girls
will answer semaphore signals from
clerks in the windows of tall buildings,
but not often.
Toodlums, before he entered the con-
test, was a spotless white lapdog. His
mistress, who was also attired in spot
less white. had been giving him an air.
ing the other afternoon.
Toodlums and his mistress strolled
cast on Thirtieth street from Seventh
avenue. Recently the water depart
ment has been placing new 12-inch
pipes thereabouts preparatory to doing
some radical tearing up of the street.
The pipes are along the gutter the
whole length of the block between Sixth
and Seventh avenues. Toodlums saw
them and found it no end of good fun
to run in at one end and out at the
other.
While exploring the pipes Toodlums
ran afoul of a large tomcat that had
been enjoying Il siesta in the cool pipe.
Toodlums stopped and barked; Tom
sputtered and sneezed. Once more
Toodlums barked, and his mistress
thought there was hollow note of de-
spair about the bark.
Come Toodlums," she cried.
The only sounds that came from the
interior of the pipe were the fierce cat
erwauling of a tomcat, and the frantic
yelps of Toodlums. The fight inside q
the pipe lasted fully five minutes. much
to the joy of a crowd which had gath
cred. The only one who did not seem
to enjoy the racket was the mistress OF
TOOdlums.
Finally there was silence in the pipe.
Toodlums' mistress wept copious tears.
Hes dead-he's dead!" she walled.
Poor Tooilums. I'll sue the city,"
But presently there was low, whin-
ing sound, and out of the pipe crept
thing which might at one time have
been Toodlums. He now looked like
i. dapaperate ancestor. He was