New-York tribune., 1915-10-28
CROWDS HONOR
CALPH SMITH
Haroun Al, Candidate for
Sheriff, AT Home" to
His Friends.
OLIVER STREET A
POEYGLOT BOHEMIA
Visitors Honor Host with Large
Portrait as He Appears En-
throned Before Them.

Alfred L. Smith, for many years As
senblyr1-A from the I'd District and
now ,he Ammany candidate for Sheriff
was a nome" last night TO all the
population of New York in general ard
ancient dwellers in the onetime Seventh
Ward IN particular. More strictly
speaking, yestereven was none other
than "Al Smith Old Home Night" in the
Cd Assembly District, and from the
vantage point of his porch at 25 Oliver
Street Mr.. Smith extended greetings TO
those OF his and Tom Foley's old sub
jects who returned to do him honor.
1t was an open invitation to all Of
Manhattan that had been sent forth by
the joint n; march of the I'd District.
From the appearance of the street in
front OF the Smith home it is believed
that most Of the city responded. The
block bounded by Oliver, Catharine,
Henry and Madison streets was shut off
to ali traffic and crammed with people,
ell restlessly milling in the endeavor to
get in front Of their hero's residence at
once. There were several thousand
men and women and at least five or SIX
hundred thousand children, climbing
over and under more staid citizens.
burning red fire and dropping sparks
down the necks of innocent bystanders
and enjoying themselves generally.
The sight of them would have made
Mr.. Roosevelt delighted.
But the presence of the great man,
smiling proudly in the glow of a hun
dred red torches, was not the only
feature of the occasion. The I'd Dis
trict in gala dress blossomed like the
rose, or the Christmas tree. Abandon
ing hyperbole, Oliver Street was q
beautiful and gorgeous sight. From
every window OF every house hung two
glowing Japanese lanterns, while others
stretched in a brilliant curve across
the street. Flags Of the city, of Ire
land, Of Greece, md hundreds of ma
tional ensigns futtered in the breeze,
which set the lanterns bobbing like in
candescent soap bubbles.
For the moment the shabby East
Side had shaken off its outer shell
and appeared resplendent and Ori-
entail in its masquerade. In the street
Greeks, Italians and Hebrews jostled
each other and spoke with strange
tongues. In the windows above the
sight of olive faces caught by the lam
tern glow made one dream OF serag-
lios beside the Golden Horn. And, en-
throned on his front steps, the great
caliph himself, Hsroun Al Smith, re-
ceived the homage Of his subjects.
II was all perfect Even the fierce
white light was there TO beat upon his
throne. This was supplied by porta-
bic acetyline lamps set up about the
street
Never has the East Side known a
grander party. There were bands, and
free movies, and folk dances. and ice
cream and cake for the women and
children. For those of the men whose
thirsts returned TO their old home with
them, the doors of the Pan-Hellenic
cafe swung easily. Displayed in one
Of its windows was portrait Of Pre-
mier Venizelos and no less sustere
picture Of Mr., Smith.
And speaking OF pictures, the old
homers had debated at length as to
what the most acceptable gift would be
that they might bring to their former
liege lord. At last they decided, and
last night at the height of the festivt-
ties. amid the appreciative roars of the
populace, they bestowed upon him in an
opulent gilt frame portrait Of him
self. twice as large as life and almost
as natural.
Until o'clocl: the crowd eddied
about the throne. Everybody wanted
to see the nominee for Sheriff; some Of
the more favored ones shook him by the
hand and turned away blushing proud
ly, while others contented themselves
with yelling their greetings.
"You know ne, All" shouted one
witty visitor This was considered no
mean jest by mis- fellows, who repeated
it faithfully all through the remainder
Of the evening.
The festivities broke up early. They
l had begun shortly after dark, for can
didate whose constituency goes 10 work
at in the morning is wise to start his
midweek entertainments right after
supper time if he desires to remain
} popular. When the lights in the Ian
terms and the old homers began 10 dis
appear simultaneously the great man
left his throne and wandered as SIM
pie citizen among the crowd that re-
mained, after the fashion of caliphs.
When the presentation portrait was
carried tenderly inside the house and
the shades drawn the end came. One
( time members of the I'd District who
I had risen in the world returned 20 their
homes in Harlem and The Bronx. In q
little while the street was deserted, ex-