Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1908-08-16
STRAY TOPICS FROM LITTLE
OLD NEW YORK.

are sweltering along the Great Whit
Way the theatrical world Is beginninl
to whirl again in preparation for tn,
autumn business. In fact, the frs
of the productions intended for fall
attractions at the Broadway theateri
have made their appearance and tn,
melodrama houses along Third ant
Eight avenues have hegun to open. Tt
be sure, these hot nights the roof
gardens are extremely popular. bu
there Is always theater hungr,
crowd In New York that will endure
the heat in a stuffy theater II the show
Itself Is attractive. Several of the
vaudeville houses are Offering new
"Salome" dances, and each one Is at
tempting TO create just a bit more OF
a sensation that the other. Just how
long the Salome craze will last is a
matter of great speculation, but il is
probable that as the days get cooler
the vice squad under the strenuous
leadership OF Anthony Comstack will
become more vigilant, and many of
the sensational dancers will either
have to modify their performances or
abandon the dance altogether.
The desire to keep cool, forces peo-
pie to adopt all kinds of expedients
in New York, but the latest has been
invented by some young ladies' who
are little more unconventional and
daring than the majority of their sis
ters. They have a name, too. for this
latest cooling device. which is moth,
ing more than going bare.footed. but
they call it going bare toes" II is
quite a fad among certain class of
young ladies to soothe their nerves
these sweltering days by bringing
their bare feet in contact with mother
earth or at least the cool grass. They
generally so to Central Park. where
they seek n bench that is easy to turn
around so that their backs will be to-
ward the walk The wsest trick Is
TO kick off the pumps and shuttle off
the short stockings They then wrap
their shirts carefully about their fee,
and no one is the wiser. They claim
that DC is a most refreshing pastime
fer the girl who is obliged to stay 10 !
town during the summer months.
one OF the first sights that thg
stranger to Gotham asks 20 see is the
Bowery lie has read So many st0He |
%, the wcikedness OF the place that l.
seldom cares TO make the trip alone |
.'is disappointment is great however |
Ion the Bowery Of today and the Bow.
.ry OF ten years ago, about which the
stories are told, are far different ular
rs. TO be sure, there are sights 90
l, seen. but the average stranger sell
lom gets behind the scenes, ana COS
.equeuuy carries away with him only
he impression Of a business street
med with small shops and a crowd Of
Ioorly dressed Eastsiders.
When the taNlcabs became common
n New York last winter the average
}othamite rejoiced that he could no
ouger be cheated out Of a small for
une by an INSCRIPTIONS "cabby" who
always claimed fare for two miles
when he had driven but one. 1t was
believed that the meter on the taxi
abs, which registers both the distance
zone and the price to be charged I
would be as truthful as George Wash {
ngton, but the chaffeurs have devised
means OF increasing the cost and stick 8
ng the passengers, One of the tricks
hat is worked is for the chauffeur to 1
AXE the baggage up on the seat with I
i'm, for which there is a charge of I
0 cents for each separate piece. An. y
Their taXicab trick is the placing of G
he registering instrument on one of I
he back wheels of the machine in. g
tead of one one OF the front wheels /
Ihen starting up the machine on Il
ct pavement sometimes one Of the n
EAR wheels will spin around fast a
nough to register almost a mile be- a
IRE the machine has moved a foot. h
he "cabby," with his dilapidated cab {
nd over-worked horse. had many e
ticks, but from present indications o
e will have 10 devise some more If c
e is to keep pace with his taxicab i
val. d
These are troublesome days for au h
in Manhattan. who like to o
i've their machines through the "
laded roads in Central Park. A new a
W recently passed forbids the own o
s of smokey, leaky and illsmelling f
achines from using the parks high a
avs. and this, together with the old le
W against over-speeding. has appar. W
lily removed for many the last in.
ntiye to automobile. m
The fashionable Hotel Wolcott has Sc
deared itself to childless mothers by Sc
nouncing that it has a sumptuously 81
ted up dog room so that they can III
to sleep with the comforting m
ought that their pet Fidos are sleep. V;