New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-11

lower East Side To the hungry
lterati Of the Yiddsh press housed in the
row of buildings across the way from Seward
Park. the little, sawdusted restaurant is known
as the "kibitzianer," or meeting place for Cos
sips. One can get chopped chicken liver at
five cents plate and meat balls with ferfel
for only fifteen cents; a pickle thrown IN for
rood measure To Mrs. Levitt's place core
also the radicals, the word-throwers, the
clothing men of Canal Street, and one |. Colo.
the iceman-critic of the East Side.
In summer !. Gold sells ice. In winter he
oeddles coat to the housewives of the tene-
ments. But, in summer or winter, |. Gold
may be found nightly in Mrs. Levitt's restau-
rant, listening closely to the merits OF the
poet Morris Rosenfeds works or passing
Judgment on the shortcomings of Yehoash
/. Gold is the great East Side public embodied
His taste is the taste of the common people,
and what he doesn't like it would be risky
thing 10 print
met |. Gold when he was in a particularly
poignant mood. One of the editors of The
Forward" had chased him from his table.
|. Gold took a seat opposite me, sighed and
looked longingly at my plate of cheese strudel.
..Will YOU have some?" he was asked.
"Danke." he replied. ut tastes good, yeh?"
After short silence l. Gold remarked;
"Strudel tastes better with tea The tea was
ordered l. Gold flooded his saucer and placed
cube of sugar on his tongue.
MY name is I. Gold" he began, slipping the
beverage through his teeth. Have you never
hear of me? l am l. Gold, the iceman. am
also what you call literary cricket
In response to a slight elevation of his
hosts brcrvs l. Gold FASTENED to explain "A
literary cricket. Every night the Yiddisher
newspaper leute come to me | should tell EN-
if an article or poem is rotten or not. | have
pitv on EN-. Nebich! If they should make
people laugh when they meant they should cry
they would got fired. If they should make
people cry when they meant they should only
p laugh. they ought to fire themselves Melt
uror? | got,rachmones in my heart for them"
/ Gold sighed The ends of his scanty
necktie-nothing more than thin shoestring
that once had seen other service-had fallen
into his tea, but the iceman paid no attention
tents of the saucer with last gurgling gulp
and wiped his rather heavy lips with paper
napkin. He glanced about the smoke-laden
restaurant, with its hamboyant dance posters
and scarehead announcements Of union meet
ings in YidCGsh characters. Then he gazec
steadily at the empty cup, sighed again and
looked at his host forshis qoid pro quo
waiter" / called to the fellow in shirt
sleeves and butchers apron, another cup of
tea for Mr.. Gold"
And cheese strudel another piece, Chain,
supplemented l. Gold Then, pulling his hosts
sleeves |. Gold pointed battered forefinger
at a long-maned gentleman standing in the
doorway.
THAT is Silber the poet" he said. Zach
What poetry that man writes. 1t would make
YOUR heart melt in your mouth, so wonderful,
so sch0n it is Like water in brook, like the
clouds and birds it is. And look't"
AS each newcomer joined some group of as
sociates or friends l. Gold pointed him out,
giving his history, literary record and genera!
merit as an author. Here was a poet who
should be paving sidewalks. There was ar
author who owed his success in the literary
field to him. Gold. Look! That's Rogoff,
VINO is very gOOu. <tIu lHdI - hVNHSA' WI"
might be better. If the literary business paid
better than selling ice, |. Gold observed, nc
would have taken to the quill himself.
But | got family-a wife and six chill
dren," added the ceman-critic. "And what
children! Azo 1nazzel on all parents to have
such children like what / got. They should
only live hundred and twenty years old to be.
how much JOY and naches they give their dear
father My Bonnie, to take an example. Such
boy you never saw, like a giant and he
makes eight dollars week. | got daughter,
too. who is like the sun in the heaven"
"How old is your daughter" |. Gold was
asked.
Two hundred years should she only live"
he made reply, devoutly. Eight years old is
she only not yet in few months. Look't.
That's Gottesman, of The Forward"
What does he write?"
Articles"
Are they any good?"
THE last one was rotten. Here he comes
now. Hello Gottesman! | was just telling
my friend here about your work. Y'can be-
lieve me, if you write more articles like your
last one, you could expect Calm would give
you a raise"
Gottesman, young man Of slight build,
passed on.
Hey Gold" called one of a group seated