Omaha daily bee., 1906-11-23

RipPles on the Current OF Life In th'
MetronoIfn.

Builders of suburban homes in Greater
New York are turning their attention to-
the erection Of a class Of separate dwellings
designed TO accommodate two families.
These homes" said an experienced builder.
ARE Of brick or brown stone. have high
porches and are two stories with base
ment.
They range In price from 5000 to 5000
and large numbers Of them have been sold
In the last two or three years. There are
usually FIVE rooms and a bath on the top
floor, which rent for SIS TO 500 per month.
The main floor and basement usually have
six rooms with a bath and storeroom and
rent for IS to SS5"
These houses are fitted and furnished as
are the average apartments in the larger
buildings The interiors are Of good trim
and finish, with oak or other ornamental
wood material, open nickel plumbing, tiled
bath tubs, ranges, ice boxes dumb walters,
etc
There are 1000 professional criminals at
large in New York City, according to police
estimates, quoted by the New York
World. They include bank robbers, burg
lars, fiat thieves, commercial swndlers,
confidence men, pickpockets and shoplifters.
A large percentage are ex-convicts, whose
pictures are in the Rogues' gallery and
who are known personally to the detec-
tives of the central office. AS many as
100 Of these professionals have been picked
up on the streets as suspicious persons
in a single night by Inspector McLaugh-
Inns detectives. only to be set at liberty in
the morning to pursue their criminal vo-
cations. In other states notably in Mass
achusetts and New Jersey. they have a
law under which known criminals unable
to givs an account Of themselves may be
sentenced TO short terms of imprisonment
as Migrants. The law works so well that
many Massachusetts and New Jersey crooks
have deserted their homes and come to-
New York to live.
Alfred Henry Lewis sketches i'm Parsons
Monthly the personality and career Of
Florence Sullivan, commonly known as
big Fiorrie," a type of Manhattan politi-
clan:
Big Florrle began TO make living at
the printers trade. His health suffered
from the confinement and he took up the
open air life of a boatman. In this life he
developed until he became a muscular
marvel. Next he became a policeman Of
the river squad and fought with the river
thieves of all sorts. firing Of the police
mans life. he opened a saloon and sold
drinks for four years. He kept "a lily.
white place" but he sickened of the bust
pess. He never has tasted liquor or to-
bacco himself and he could not see why
he should sell such things to others He
had made money, but he could not keep
Il; he was too generous Mayor Van Wyck
gave him city office at a good salary at
a time when he was penniless. and after
that, apparently, he was no longer penni-
/ less. Boss Croker put him in charge Of the
Tammany organization of the Eighth dis
trict. the infamous red-light district
The first thing Big Florrie did was to buy
pair of kid gloves. so as not to soil his
han6s. The next thing was to go out into
the street and knock down the first speci-
men he met Of the species Of men who live
on the earnings of fallen women Then he
went through the district, smashing right
and left. careful not to touch the vile crea-
lures with ungloved hand, but Telling and
| bruising all whom he found of this class
Within a week the district was cleaned up
No one cared TO come again within reach
Of the iron hand within the glove, and the
police had orders not to interfere
/ Having driven out those whom he did
not want there. he became the feudal lord
of those who. were left. Pionics, balls,
chowder parties, and excursions were given
at his expense. Free turkeys, free bread
! free lunches were provided by him. Fun
/ eral expenses were paid where there was
poverty and flowers sent where the
! bereaved were left in comfort He broke
| an engagement with two United States
! senators because on the way he read in
| the paper that two old women were TO be
! evicted for nonpayment of rent and he
| did not arrive at the rendezvous until the
| women had been placed in comfort He
wet his feet one winter day and realized
the discomfort Of imperfect footRear
Before he returned home he had bought
| $4,000 worth OF shoes and stockings and
left them at the clubhouse for distribution
! Democrats" he was asked. His answer
was Don't talk politics nine months he
fore election day. Look for barefoot
people"
I'm such a district who can contend with
/ such MANI" comments the Chicago Tri-
hume. "The people know nothing of poIit-
ical principles they care nothing for re-
form or for civil service. They are for the
man who sympa thizes with them, who NAV
plumber the rich for all they know but
spends the money in his district They will
follow the man who has the strength and
the courage to face his enemies and those
whom he considers enemies 60 the people
ana hnOCh lueIn DOWN ana out When STU
dents OF civic problems lament the existence
OF the boss they are wasting their tears
over something which suits the hossed.'
Tea drinkers are finding scant encourage
ment in a report recently made by a large
tea exporting house in Yokohama to its
American customers. Incidentally Il indi-
Gates that the United States is not alone in
facing increased cost OF living The report
says: Owing to the rapidly increasing
cost Of living in Japan, labor costs more
and in consequence cultivation OF the tea
gardens is less generous and extensive than
formerly, and less care and skin are OK.
pended IN picking and curing the leaf
Hence the average quality OF the teas nov
offered for sale is below that OF seasons
prior to the war, and for the same reasons
we are not likely in the future to see anv
reversion to the excellence Of former wears
These changes are the inevitable results ot
new conditions that are affecting many nj
the old industries Of Japan"
The only open unimproved lot in the
business district on Fifth avenue. New
York, is owned by an elderly spinster Z
descendant of the Aston family, and ~
mix terms, apparently a genuine old-fash
Toned Knickerbocker. She will not sal
lot for which raal estate .a..t---