New-York tribune., 1908-01-19
THE B0WERY "0N THE BLINK"

how that Is"
THE B0WERY "0N THE BLINK"
There were undeniable signs Of Iessening
traffic up the line" Morgues OF sawdust door,
places that advertised and pfctorially repre-
sented the largest glass of beer IN the city and
al mixed drinks for five cents, showed lack
OF patronage. The hoboes were not lined Ep
numerously at the bars. A pretence Of brtskness
was maintained IN the cosy interior OF the
doctors emporium Chatham Square, near
the Bowery. The bartender in response to
inquiry. said the doctor was out-there sew
era1. any way-and he felt unable to give in
formation However. a weazened young man.
who called himself "Philly the Spark" volun-
teered a few observations:
Say, the perfession is straight on the blink.
Lots OF good fellows amt seen drop Of scat
IN q month It's all you do TO raise the
price Of tub Of suds The panhandlers amt
making any dosh. an what they don't make they
can't spend on the scatter Joints; 1t hurts
things al around We yeggs Is the barometers
that prophesies business conditions. Our in
comes is nowhere and the effects circulates
through all grades OF society. Even chroniker,
who only hits people for bite an is willing 70
be watched while he chsws his lump. has trouble
about keepin' q Job for his stomach"
do you get any sympathy out Of the norgus
keepers7"
Yes some OF them Is acting Ike white men,
especially toward their regular customers They
don't keep bulldogs ike they used 70 for to
watch the punk an hagg1ngs on the lunch
counter, and II you get fve-cent ball late at
night they're liable to let you take kip leanin'
against the wall II amt as restful bed
In the St Regis, an inexperienced bloke
might get footsore sleepin' that way. but it's
better than poundIn' the pave"
Where are the yeggs that you don't see
around here?"
Say, I'm asking that question myself They
amt gone to Europe, that's sure; an this amt
the time to go out to the tungles- Some has had
themselves sent up 70 the works till the times
gets better; others Is camptn' around the punk
lines an Is afraid to get away from the neigh
borhood. and some must have took the trim
uings for q Southern state where they aIn's
had the bug OF temperance"
The Headquarters Of Chuck" Con1ors. at
Peu street and the Bowery. had air OF econ
o1ny and gloom 4 spokesman for the hospit-
able Barney" Flynn said there was no use
denying conditions. Trade had fallen OFF half
workingmen had no Jobs. and therefore could
not spend Old customers often asked to be
trusted for a drink, and were rarely refused
The lunch counter had large patronage, and IN
view Of the times AIr. Flynn did not Inquire
whether man had bought anything before eat
ing. Every hungry man was welcome to a
plate of soup and whatever else was on the
list It was significant that the neighooring
denizens Of Chinatown, who used to buy & deal
Of gin as an after dinner drink. had cut down
their consumption. It was apparent. said the
spokesman, that all saloons having TO pay $1rZoO
license and other heavy expenses were doing
nothing but losing money IN these times
A Herzberg. wholesaler and proprietor OF
F-cent saloon on the lower Bowery. generally
agreed in these views Mr. Herzberg Incl
dentalIy maintained that "morgue" is mis-
noner since scent whiskey has less fusel oil
than that sold for 10 OF 10 cents II also has
less alcohol, and the man who drinks 1t VIII
live longer than the one who consumes stronger
stuff In view Of the increased price Of beer
by the barrel. Mr.. Herzberg contemplates re-
ducing the Gargantuan proportions of his o-cent
schooner" which now contains eighteen ounces
of LIQUID and froth Either the height OF the
.schooner' will be reduced or q tuck will be
taken in the equatorial regions. The bottom
has SO much thickness now that customers
sigh when they reach it.
STRANGERS STAY AWAY.
A spruce and knowing young man at the
waldorf Astoria bar said he had not noticed
.o,,ora cum, p+oros Of letting even with