The Washington herald., 1918-10-24

W. AWIl4u vi
New York, Oct. 2S.-Broadway is
planning some method to suppress
what is known in Msnhattanese as
the Phone Phlusher-coined from the
word Four Flusher. As can be
imagined this species operates over
the telephone.
His big idea is TO impress whoever
is at the other end of the line. Be
fore he says his greeting, he will
shout Get me a lower for Washing
ton-l've got TO be at the White House
at 10"
Then with nonchalance he Will take
UP the conversation. which will be
punctuated with such remarks aside
as:
"I'n sign those checks later"
Tell them to draw on the London
Office for 5000 pounds"
Have Meadows at the ONCE at G
with the town car"
OF course all OF these remarks are
made to imaginary people and a visit
to the Office will reveal a hole in the
wall or desk room in some other
office with the occupant before a
glass cutting his own hair or dis
playing some other sign OF extreme
poverty.
The Phone PhIusher has been able
to put over some big deals by his
ability to four-fiush over the phone
and in many Instances many Unsus-
pectinR and glileless visitors TO New
York have been trimmed for their
bank-roll through falling for the
phone or rather phony conversation.
The Phone Phlusher as a rule VIII
suggest that the victim, after being
impressed. meet him at his club. He
then names the most exclusive club
on Fifth avenue. When the victim
drives up. he will find the pseudo
clubman Just coming out the en-
trance. OF course he was In waiting
in the entrance and when he saw
him coming stepped out
so many OF my friends in there
he will begin. that We cannot talk
privately. Let US step over 10 the
Vanderbilt or Tn" RiIJhaven." And
they will wend their way 10 one Of
ths. ornate hotels wher" aides Of tho
Phone Phlusher Will drop 10y and D."
viii call OUT names of big men 10
maxi. his victim believe that he
knows everybody Of importance.
After all this fol-do-rol it is easy
IN apply tho hooks" and extract the
victims bank-roll.
Thcr. is dusky corporal in a
New Yorh regiment over there who
used L. 5uCglo dishes in a Broad
way cafe He is noted as noisy
and braEgy. When his regiment
reached the front line in France
Henry marched his squad into the
trenches and assumed his right as
ranking officer to be the first 10
climb up on tho firing step for A
look at the Germans, according to
story that drifts back TO the
Black Belt in Harlem.
Henry with all his boastfulness
is no coward. He straightcned up
t" his fun height and EIsred with
rolling eyes at the desolate pano-
rama before him. Then he shook
ms left fist in the direction Of
Berlin As he waved his automatic
IN the air.
Come on. YOU bush soldiers he
cried. Come on your HeInies.
Gimme som. shells Gimme som"
shrapneI, Gimme some bombs. Dass
all Gimme EN-"
At this instant big shclI *
Dloded forty yards behind the front
trench and the shock sent Henry
"a somcrsauIr over the PROSTATE
bodies Of two Drivates. He picked
himself up and looked across at
the Hun trenches with a new re-
SpeCt.
Well" he said brushing OF his
clothes. all all got to say is-this
country sure do give service"
New York is surfci,od with shows
the past two weeks. There are
more plays on the boards than at
any other time in the City's history
The reason was the closing Il the
theatc~s in Philadelphia and Boston
on account Of the epidemic All
came back TO New York TO try
their luck rather than remain idle.