Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-05-28
HUI M MORISTS TO
STORM NEW YORK
Newspaper Workers to Gath
er Around Great Chestnut
Tree in Heart of City

New York. May 2s.-Billy Sun
day has made the metropolis gasp,
but 1t is to undergo another attack
upon its traditions later on-the last
week in June, to be explicit.
A hardy mob of newspaper hui
morists is to invade 1t in that week
and treat Broadway as If 1t belonged
to them. They are going to spend
a holiday in New York and spend
money. In fact. some of them don't
care anything at all ABOUT thirty-five
cents.
1t is their fifteenth annual con-
vention, and, having met in past
years almost everywhere else. took
the dare of their local membership
to meet this time in the most awe
inspiring place of all. New York.
Just to show how overpowered they
are with the extreme majesty of
New York they are going to plant q
rollicking chestnut tree right in the
midst of city hall plaza where all
the plug-hatted ceremonies take
place. The chestnut tree Is to re-
mind the ponderous city that there
is a lighter side of life, and that one
need not be rich to be happy If one
is but good humored. All tnat is
settled.
But one difficulty has arisen. The
Mayor, John Purroy Mitchell, let
them have a site like a regular fell
low. They have the site and the
spade, and dedicatory odes. No
trouble about odes. But chestnut
trees are scarce. 1t seems that a
blight has so bothered the arboreal
form of the chestnut that there is
no supply in the east, at least none
that will pass 100 per cent. med
ical test The committee, of which
Don Marquis is chairman, appeals
to a patriotic country. Is there a
chestnut tree that wants to come to
New York? And grow in front of
the city hall? And ne dedicated
with odes? And be watered with the
tears of a listening populace? Let
such q tree hit the trail, via eX-
press, prepaid. Oh, dear, yes, ii
ought to be prepaid.
Says j. A. Waldron, editor of
Judge, secretary OF the American
Press Humorists. ut should be not
not profusely. 1t shouId not be a
horse chestnut. lest it evoke horse
laughs. A Spanish chestnut will do
if 1t has been naturaliZed or at
least has taken out its first papers.
1t need never have borne a crop.
There is a crop of choice chestnuts
to drape upon it at the planting.
Come of them are 100 years old,
and seem never to die. 1t is sus-
pected that they are alive inside. AT
any rate our ceremony will be a dig
nified way to get rid of them. All
of us are going to bring our ac-
cumulated store of chestnuts and
hang them on this tree for the squir-
rels in City Hall Park"
Always democratic, never snob-
bish, the humorists have invited the
street cleaning department band ia
furnish music at the planting. An
old sweet melody will be rendered:
white Wings"
Delegates of hoydenish humorists
from Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland
! Denver, San Francisco and points
! between are coming, especially since
the Rotary Club of New York is GO
ing to dine them. They are to be
| greeted by a coterie of unblushins
Gotham humorists that includes X
C. Beaton, of the American; Roy X
Moulton. of the Mail; Miriam Teich
ner, of the Globe; McLandburgf
Wilson, Walter Juan Davis and Boil
Dean, of the Telegraph f. A. Oliver
of the Yonkers Statesman: Dor
Herold, of the George Mathew
Adams Syndicate. Ellis Parker But
| Ter, A. Walter Utting. John e. San
ford, Maurice Switzer. Elizabeth
Sears, of Film Fun; Homer Croy
Fred Schaefer. r. c. McElravy anC
others, and perhaps seven millior
| human beings.