New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-12
|BOWERY POET A YEAR
ON THE WATER WAGON
Author of clay Mans Para.
disc" Celebrates at Mis-.
sion with His Friends.
EACH NAN GETS A MEAL
Pray for Me; Pray for Us ALI, "
Hearers Cry When Story
of Reformation Is
Publicly Told.

The Irish poet of the Bowery J
Moran, celebrated his first anniyerss,v
at the Bowery Mission last night. He ha.
been the barroom orator of the Down
and out Club" for over twenty years BIZ,
last night was his first anniversary. nsv.
ertheless for year ago yesterday morn.
ing he walked up struggled up or rolled
up TO the Bowery Mission" as he said
and, after an all-night orgy in the back
room of an East Side dive, decided 10
go straight"
And he has gone straight. Therefore
the Bowery thronged the mission las,
night, and a squad of the old club" who
could not get i'm even waited outside tho
doors TO honor him. The poet is de-
scendant Of an Irish king, Moran. the
Just Judge of Erin, who reigned in Tars's
Hall twenty-seven hundred years ago
But that royal ancestor was never en-.
throned higher among the ancient Celts
than was Moran of the Bowery in the
hearts of the homeless, hungry crowd
last night when the, leader of the meet
ing, James T. Hunt read a little card
from the platform.
One of these cards was given 70 every
man present, and upon it was printed:
Good for one 10-cent meal at the Boz
cry Mission, in honor of my celebration
Of this day. j. p. Moran
Saved for Boys from Booze
Just a little money saved for the boys
from booze" he said. pals Of mine
have panhandled, men before now for
ten cents with which 10 buy me drink
When man will do that for his friend
there must be a lot of good in him
somewhere. All you need to do is 10
help him use it in the right direction.
And after all, fifty per cent Of the
drunkards have not fallen into that he
from the love of drink. The saloon Is
the only club the poor man has. On a
wet. cold. stormy day what place has,
a homeless fellow 10 go but saloon,
What the Bowery needs is an institu-
ton where men can make themselves
at home without being compelled 10 60
into the back room OF a saloon to find
comfort and companionship.
And Moran knows. He has lived a
long time in his twenty years on the
Bowery. He's genius and he's an
upholsterer" as one Of his enthusiastic
friends declared last night
Mr.. Hunt during the meeting called
upon those who desired the prayers OF
their brothers 10 stand up and say the
words. Pray for me All over the house
men rose to their feet Pray for me ahd
mine" they said. Pray for all Of US
Thirty of the men VINO helped Moran
celebrate his first anniversary gave him
their hands and promised 20 try 10 meet
him at the Bowery Mission on May u.
1911. for al anniversary OF their own.
Then the whole congreg CATION filed into
the basement, each bearing the Bowery
poets ticket for zone ten-cent meal
Wrote Lazy Mans Paradise"
Moran is a protege Of Henry NJ. Flag
Ter. Following is an extract from Ions
poem dedicated 20 Mr.. Flagier and en-
titled THE Lazy Mans Paradise which
was written far from the Bowery during
one OF the poets many attacks OF the
wanderlust:
Here. in a quiet. sheltered cove
On the verge Of the tropical belt love
Reclining at ease on Americas brink
I smoke, and | sleep. and ] dream ana
I think.
With never care. cor a sign. nor
sorrow.
And nothing to do al, vague TO-
morrow.
Where the chilliest northers that ever
blow.
Give never a hint OF frost or snow
Where the seasons are two just summer
and spring,
And the bright-hued birds are TOO isEY'
To sing;
Man but it's worth Kingdoms PRICE,
This life In the Lazy Mans Paradise