The Washington herald., 1917-12-22

Special Correspondent to Tue Washington Head
New York. Dec. A-Gobs Of gloom
speckle the theatrical district of New
York. Groans and maledictions are
heard about the Hobbies Of the two-dol-
lar theaters. The would-be audiences
complain that they cannot buy seats
except from sidewalk shylocks.
The actors moan that their pay Is
reduced The managers trumpet their
! belief that unless the theaters are
more literally supported the pillars Of
the nation will tumble.
The moving picture business 10 not
without its sadnesses. Students OF the
whizzing film grieve because producers
are not getting the Soul Of Something
upon the screen Producers mutter
stars are obstinate about salaries be-
cause 1t costs so much to build pyra-
mids as backgrounds for sirens.
Movie spectators mourn because 1t
Is so hard to get q thrill 1t seems as
IL every shock and shudder has been
played out and the camera has search
ed everywhere from the abysmal home
of the octopus to the garnet Of the
sky.
Even the neighborhood variety the
aters are suffering. Young Mr.. Jones
used to have F6 and rs every Thurs
day. but Jones has gone TO the war
and the young lady who sat in rs 10
at home knitting every Thursday
evening.
There is paucity. too, Of tramps. ma
gicians, and soft-shoe dancers for the
variety. These artists have gone to
the war also. Even little Butch, the
Hippodrome clown, Is affected by the
sadness along the Rialto. on stage he
is not his CHEEKY self, for he has two
sons at the front It is hard to mas
Querade ones sorrow under the powder
and paint OF the mime.
There seems to be no balm In show
land. Many actors are running along
on half pay. At the theatrical board
ing houses the evening meal IL not
enlivened by bright chatter. The land
lady is anxious about each one of her
guests She needs money, too, for the
holiday season.
Seen around the town: Caruso pay
ing $1,000 for a box OF oranges for a.
war relief fund. Charles Evans
Huges riding in the subway: A girl
in boomers skating In Central Park.
An exercising machine for dosS In q
hotel basement Sign in q cabaret:
Army officers must check their spurs
before dancing" A frightened chauf-
feur leaping from his skidding taxi.
A former musical comedy star in q
Bowery bread line. A hurdy gurdy
playing In front of Vincent Astoris
home. A mother and daughter smok-
ing cigarettes at the saem table In q
cafe. A street hawker selling dollar
wrist watches. A girl in Russian
sables applying for a Job as a stenog-
rapher. Grantland Rice. the sporting
writer, in a private's uniform. A one
armed man playing Kelly pool.
Secret service men, carefully camou-
fIaged, are mingling freely in the lob
bies of the big New York hotels. 1t
is here that they pick UP much valu-
able gossip. Sometimes the before
dinner cocktail produces a CONVERSE
tional glow that sheds some valuable
information.
Many enemy aliens have been trailed
to their lair by gossip picked up in
hotel Hobbies. The hotel managers
have shown an eager willingness to
cooperate in every way. During the
past two weeks three enemy aliens
have been taken from New York hotels
to Ellis Island.
Aside from the secret service men
the Waldorf, Claridge, Astor. McAlpin,
and many other hotels have special
sleuths to keep a listening ear attuned
for any seditious mutterings.
Some disguised patron OF the tube
has written to T. P. Shonts and asked
him to put up signs In all the cars
requesting persons not publicly to
make love to each other while riding
In the trains. Mr.. Shonts has replied
that he does not see any reason for
objecting. We need more love making
in this war-ridden world.
with herring plentiful about Passa-
riaquosdy Bay and sardine factories
at PASSPORT, Ne. running day and
night, many women and girl packers