The Washington herald., 1918-03-05

Special CorrespOudenee The Washington Herald
New York, March 4-The other day
Lew FIELDS invited Joe Weber to
luncheon in a Broadway cafe. They
in a theater box to which they had
been allotted. After the luncheon
everything was settled. Mike and
Meyer" were back in the theatrical
fold.
The news that Weber and Fields
were to appear together again sent
many a Broadway Paul Revere out
to tell his slower acquaintances
about it. 1t is real news to New
York theatergoers.
The first night of a Weber & FIELDS
show brings out the greatest audience
in town. Millionaires. writers. artists
make II a gala event. Between the
acts II is like an old home gathering
up and down the aisles.
In the new musical play Weber and
Fields are to have a plot for the first
have Lillian Russell leave her life OF
'dSt III " IGlulI anu II
is whispered that she will.
Frankie Bailey. the best known cho-
rus girl in America. is again to don
tights and appear under the calcium.
She has been employed by the New
York post-office for some time.
There are many stories as to why
Weber and Fields separated. Some
reports had it that their families
rnfIl1 oil pth Il
that the comedians simply got on each
others nerves. They have prospered
apart. but not at the same speed that
they prospered together.
They got together in a jubilee re-
union in 1912 and then separated again.
Both began to produce independently.
At their get-together luncheon it is
said that Fields told a wheeze that
made Weber laugh heartily for the
first time since their last separation.
The story concerned the compare
tive odors' attached to a goat and to a
Turk in Gallopoli. Officers had made
many wagers on the unsavory situa-
ton. At length the geperal in COM
mand was delegated to decide.
The goat was brought into his pres
ence. When within five feet of the
general the general tainted away. The
Turk was then brought inland the
goat tainted.
1t was in big department store. A
young girl had decided upon a silver
and coral novelty chain and counted
out the money for it. She picked up
the necklace again and looked at
pasteboard card to which it was at
taChed. Made in Germany" she
read out loud
She picked up her change while the
saleswoman regarded her i'm amaze
ment. I'm sorry, cant take it,"
the girl said and turned away. Gee,
nutty" gasped the astonished sales
woman, not too cautiously. Quick as
a flash the girl, who had heard. turn
ed back.
mo. 1 am not" she said quietly.
and her face was very white. But l
was in England the year after the
war started. I saw a little boy whose
arms were only stumps-the Ger
mans had cut his hands Off she
stopped as abruptly as she had be-
gun. turned and left huriedly. as if
ashamed of her emotion.
Superstition plays a big part in the
life Of many New Workers. This is
especially true of the bulls. and bears
and lambs in the financial mart. The
other morning broker left his home
on Riverside Drive. In the hallway
he had walked under ladder. AS he
started his automobile a black cat
darted in front of him. Then he re-
called that it was Friday morning.
At Thirteenth street, on account of
the icy streets, his car skidded into
a man carrying a bag of salt and the
salt spilled all over the street. He
was SO nervous by this time that in
going up a short flight Of steps he
stumbled. He began opening his mail
with certain nervousness. The first
letter he opened contained a check
for 500 from a man who had bor-
rowed it from him when he first came
to New York many years ago. The
next letter reported the completion Of
a big business deal. The rest Of the
mail ssAs Equally enjoyable.