The Mankato free press., 1916-12-29
OF DOLLARS
HANDED THE WORKERS
MOST GENEROUS SANTA THIS
YEAR EVER WAS KNOWN
In the Wall Street Belt Gold Galore
Made Its Appearance Among the
Employees; Cops Acted As Present
Bearers To the Riddles; Old "Amen
Corner; New York News Gossip
Especial to Free Press.1

New York, December 27.-That
thirty millions OF dollars have been
added to the pay of half a million
workers in this city, was estimated
today by the men behind the big bo-
nus movement that marked the pas
sing of the present prosperous year
in every industrial, commercial and
financial field. In the Wall street
belt almost every employee has
snatched some share of the rich pick
ings that have been before the brokers
and bankers since the public stormed
the market, while many manufactur-
ers and merchants all over town pas
sed on to hands and clerks titkc
OF their record profits. Since no one
believes that the New Year can con-
tinue these conditions in the working
world, it is hoped that the benefic-
aries of this bonanza will become saw
Iings bankers instead of spenders.
This is Cop Christmas.
Revelling in the role of Santa
Claus, officers and men of the whole
police force are for the first time in
history here trimming trees in their
formerly fOrbidding station houses
and carrying presents instead uf
prodS with their clubs to every
yOungster on their beats. Emphasi-
zing the pet idea of their young COM
missioner, that the force should pre-
vent crime by social service as well
as catch criminals for punishment,
the CHEEKY cops are now making
friends instead of foes in every tene-
ment as they complete their Christ
mas canvass. Every child who would
otherwise miss the holiday celebra-
ton is beneftting by this unique po-
lice patrol which bids fair to popu-
larize the bluecoat band for many
months.
The CoIIapsing Corner.
Foreshadowing the finish of the
famous amen Corner" organization
that dates from the time of Tom
Platt, veteran politicians and news
papermen are now whispering that
the annual feasts of this clever crowd.
the nucleus of which was formed
about the pew-like benches of the
old Fifth Avenue hotel, will soon
cease. Since the set of political wise
acres who originally built up this
band is aging and dying off day by
day, few deacons who use ~ surround
the Easy Boss remain to keep it alive,
it is pointed out, while there would
be no point in taking in younger men
who knew not Platt and his day. If
the Amen Corner fades away, many
a man who used to sit on the benches
that rbed it will sorely miss its ia
nous gatherings.
Garden Is Going.
That the celebrated, old Madison
Square Garden may soon be torn
down to make way for a solid set Of
skyscrapers, is predicted by the real
estate men who watched its recent
sale on foreclosure suit to local
life insurance company. For over a
quarter of a century this three-mll-
lion dollar temple Of pleasure has
steadily lost money as the most
gigantic investment in amusement
enterprise in the land, with it's hack
ers gradually Withdrawing from It's
costly support AS its career has
constantly proved it financia! fall
ure, it seems sure that its new own
ers will raise this vast show place
to build on it's site something that
will pay better.
Inspect the Insects.
Claiming to have solved the secret
of exterminating flies and mosqui-
toes by the ton, two foreigners are
| this week demonstrating the efficacy
of their fatal doses here on as many
of these insect pests as can be pro-
cured. Although it is a hard matter
! to revive and catch enough flies to
test their new device, the specimens
collected for this purpose have thus
| far been sent back to sleep by the
magic fluid with unerring accuracy
| If the dream of this pair OF enthusl-
asts is ever realized, it is expected
) that mosquitoes may be found in the
future only in museums.