The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-09-27
UP AND DOWN BROADWAY
BY ALLEN GRIFFIN JOHNSON

 New York, September 26.-(Special.) When, day after day, one sees those things which furnish reading matter. con- versation and moving pictures for the whole world, it became difficult if not en- tirely impossible to retain that delightful interest and exhilaration enjoyed by those to whom such sights are rarities. Of such Is New York.
 I doubt if 1t is possible for the typical cosmopolite to know that thrill which the circus pageant produces in the heart of the man from the country. All ne finds in it is the opportunity to laugh de- risively at the rural party who frankly enjoys it. And the circus parade Is here used merely as a mild example; the really big events produce an equally light inn pression, if they impress at all Emotion less himself, he finds what he chooses to consider certain pleasure, in deriding the display of emotion in others not so hardened as he has become. Even the European war Is used freely py him as subject for alleged jests, though to do him justice. he reads about It more than he discusses it nowadays, since Pres ident Wilson's request relative to the maintenance of a strict neutrality mas found favor here as elsewhere It would be easy to name l0o0 facts, the existence of any one of which in some smaller city, of some other section. would create an event. Here. however. they are matters of no moment. 1t is a sort Of H. lustration, in the neuter gender, of the truth of the old saw: Familiarity breeds contempt" Actual contempt for its feat ures of greatness does not exist in New York, however, as any one from the out side may easily discover by an adverse criticism of any one of them. In sucn cases New Yorker will dash boldly 70 the defense of much that he really knows less about than does he who makes the &C., cusation.
 But indifference exists to many big facts and occurrences which are telegraphed to the newspapers In many other parts Of the country, to be eagerly read by their puf- chasers and subscribers
 The result of this condition ?-smali talk, ay, in it's most insipid character. Here in the very heart of big things. we dis cuss-when money, or business, is not the topic-the most insignificant of hap penings, the most trivial of trivialities, and, to the outsider, the most arrant nOn- sense imaginable. The exact curve of Colies brush, the merits and demer1ts of the cuisine of certain restaurant, the introduction of new dance step, and, aDOVe Ill, WnaL I ny Seil HdNO DCShs am and shall be in the days to come these are topics that supersede. in inn portance, all else within the Manhattan mind
 Freshness, frankness and spontaniety are gone and in their place Is the mask, the counterpart of joy. which is merely to be looked at, while a nervous haste does duty as a substitute for healthy en- ergy and the old capacity for real enjoy- 70 nd xurjfh things haVA come the desire for aloofness, and the death of the old Bohemianism, in whose stead cold cosmopolitanism now reigns. Do you know my neighboriy southerner, that the New Yorker is proud of the fact that he knows mo one in the apart ment building in which he lives? You see, one must guard one's self against reaching that degree of cordiaiity wnicn would permit the new acquaintance to request & small loan. Which. carefully considered. will explain much to you and furnishes me good place for my first sela-
 The smokeless tunnels of the Vater- land, the worlds greatest steamship rise almost like yellow monuments from the deck of the sea monster as she floats idly at her moorings off Hoboken these days. The poor old vaterland is forced to undergo the humiliation of seeing the British and French vessels steam away day after day, while she dare not leave port for the reason that there Is an im- mense navy said to be bottled up in the North sea- She is daily reminder of one of the weoful sides of war-only New York declines to be reminded and. doubt less, there are many thousands here who do not even know she is still upon the Hudson river.
 IN THE GLOAMIN'
 When the gray hairs come a-peepin',
 And the years go glidin' by:
 When you realize you're creepin'
 Toward the Land of Never Die; When your thoughts just keep a-strayin',
 Through the dawnin' and the goam, ~ To the time when you were playin'
 And a-laughin' back at home
 Kind of makes you stop and ponder.
 Makes you wonder if it's true.
 That the feller way back wonder
 In those happy days, was you; Then you close your eyes. and dreamin,
 Go a-fioatin back once more.
 On the mem'ry waves of seemin'.
 To the happy, childhood shore.
 And you follow up the fancy,
 I'll you're in the thick of strife. And, by some strange necromancy.
 Lvin' over all your life;
 And 1t seems as if the iightin',
 And the struggles that have gone, Were but bigger games, delightin
 Bigger children, later on.
 Yet you wonder. vaguely vondsr,
 If you wouldn't, once again.