The Washington herald., 1917-11-16

New York. Nov. 1.-THE creator OF
"Old King Brady"-those delightful
paper backs we used to hide under
the bed-has passed on. Francis W.
Doughty, scientific writer. was his
vocation in real life, but when he
wanted TO get away from his cares,
he dashed of thrillers that created
perhaps the greatest boyhood hero.
Doughty was also a lecturer and
numismatist, and he was nearly 20
years old. 1t may interest many of
his followers to know that he spent
his life in no more bloodthirsty en-
vironments than supplied in a Brook
lyn suburb.
In fact, he was a prominent member
of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and
Sciences, where at his desk he wrote
many of his yellow-backs. His series
OF "Old King Brady were popular
for more than thirty years. Then the
movies came into existence, and the
five-cent novel passed into the lingo
Of forgotten things.
Doughty wrote more than 1 800 COM
plete detective stories, countless
works on scientific subjects, and at
least one work on numismatics which
became a text book for students of
coins.
He always defended his work. He
believed that the boys who read them
were red-blooded. and realized that
they were purely fiction. He believed
also that it kept them out of other
mischief.
Many substantial New Yorkers-
men of big affairs-freely admit that
they were devoted to five-cent novels
in their boyhood. Among those who
read them are Charles Schwab. Theo-
dore Vail, Henry L. Doherty, Pier
pont Morgan, Frank Woolworth and
H. p. Davidson.
Mrs. Tom Thumb, widow of the
famous Gen. Thumb, the midget. is
living quietly in a suburb of New
York. She has not been seen on
Broadway, where she was long
frst-night figure, for several years.
But the other day, at the age of 75,
she offered herself for war service,
She has knitted many sweaters for
soldiers, and even when taking her
daily drive in the park. she can be
seen working the needles that are as
tall as herself.
1t has not been determined how she
will be employed. but humorist at
my elbow, looking over my shoulder,
suggests that she might be expected
to build pontoon bridges. AS a re-
suit, he does not get what he came
after. / shall smoke it myself.
Little stories about actors: Frank
Tinney used to be a fireman in Phil
adelphia. Raymond Hitchcock is
thoroughly domesticated actor. He
calls his wife by long-distance phone
every other day. George NJ. Cohan
couldn't tell the number of stripes in
the American flag offhand the other
day, and yet the flag made him rich
and famous. Can you, dear reader,
tell the number of stripes offhand?
Neither can ]. A. H. Woods used to
be an actor until he went to work.
Nat Goodwin was charged eighty
cents for a haircut in a hotel bar
bershop. He said to the barber: You
misunderstood me: it was my hair that
was to be trimmed"
There is a clever professional dancer
in town who has acted as hostess for
some of the smartest dansant places.
She has a following, but is continu-
ally looking on the wine when 1t is
cerirse. AS a result, she flies into a
tantrum and walks out fiat.
Then she fills in her time in vaude-
Vile until another new place opens.
Recently she was acting as hostess
in a new one. OF those s. a cover and
Jazz music on the side affairs. She
was advertised as Miss Blank, dan
seuse.
Two days after her engagement she
came In about midnight, tweaked the
managers nose and tried to chase his
assistant up the onyx pillars. That
night the manager changed a sign in
the lobby to Miss Blank Dance
Souse."