The Washington herald., 1918-11-29

Special Correspondent of The Washington Herald.
New York, Nov. 2S.-The charas-
ters that exc out a precarious ex-
lstence by living of the bounty OF
broadway form a curious galaxy OF
human misfits. A Broadwayite, who
likes the street for it's odd people,
gave dinner in a Chinese restau-
rant to a group of Flash alley
characters the other night. r
Diamond Phil' was the toast
master. He is a tall, gawkish fellow
who came from the wilds of Maine.
He sells the Matrimonial News to
the night crowds in front OF the
Automat. 1t is a paper telling how
one may secure a wife or husband
quickly and II has wide circula-
tion. The name. Diamond Phil"
came from his passion for dia-
monds, although he has never
owned one. He spends all his spare
time looking in jewelry shop win
dows
Another guest was shorty"
Broadway's pet messenger. He Is
near midget with fog-horn
voice and he is in consant demand
among the theatrical folk. He
knows them all by their first names
and so calls them. He thinks noth-
ing of calling William Fayersham
Bill" or James X. Hackett Jim.
and they do not resent 1t. 1t Is
told that when Sir Forbes Robert
son was last here, Shorty" took
Forbes"
"Leggo" was an honored guest
He lost both legs under a surface
car in Times Square ten years ago
and holds forth at subway KIOSK
at Forty-second street and Broad
way, where he sells newspapers
from noon until midnight. He
knows all the great and near-great
of Broadway.
"Awkins," who in real life is
Henry Hawkins. a servitor OF the
London clubs before the war, was
another guest. He looks exactly
like the stage butler and to out
ward appearances is as naughty,
but "Awkins" has dallied too long
with the bitters and ale and he
lives off of Broadway's offerings.
Among others who were present
were: "Old Lavender Joe" a seller
of lavender powder on Fifth avenue
"Goldie' Maroney, a carriage starter
who has a gold crown on every tootn !:
sam and Dan" street hawKer anu
his blind dog who are always To-
gether and were at the dinneer.
In the grill Of a Thirty-fourth street
hotel they are serving men in uni
form a "nonalcoholic cocktail
whats it's made of" asked one or
| the uninitiated.
Chiefly calisaya." responded tho
! waiter. ''nonalcoholic. sir, and meets
the requirements Of the law"
His words brought a twinge OF
homesickness to a man from Maine.
who recollected how the lumberjacks
used TO improve their spirits with
that same beverage.
Huh" he nurmured, about six
shots of that. and the meekest worm
would bite a hole in baby tank"
The war time blight on cabarets of
jazz and joy continues. Sixteen cab
arets in different parts of town were
turned into cheap eating places last
week. DanCins is gradually being dis
continued in the large hotels. As
| tute hotel men like Fred Story, l..
NJ. Boomer. Copeland Townsend and
Walton Marshall are taking the lead
| in getting away from the cabaret
| idea and instead furnishing good
music, soft Hgh 'uiet and alto
| gether creating a. nOsphere of dig
nifty. The cabaret IL is not believed
will ever be revived. 1t is estimated
| that there are 1000 cabaret performers
in New York now out of work. Many
! of them are depending upon the char
| ity of theatrical societies for their
| sustenance. They cannot get into
vaudeville because that field is over
| crowded.