The Washington herald., 1918-09-27

New York. Sept 2s.-There 10 a
species of the female in Gotham
known 70 the Tenderloin as the
Lunch Grafter-a queer bird of rich
lplumage. She is a product Of the
lack Of conventions which a great
city breeds.
The Lunch CRATER is always a
self-supporting girl OF unusual
beauty. She works as a model in
| the ultra dressing shops.
perhaps in the chorus or posing Tor
artists.
She is willing 70 go out 10 lunch
with anyone. without the formalfty
Of Introduction, so long as the host
is willing to pay the check. Per
haps she gratis a box Of candy,
flowers or seats 10 a thOater.
In exchange for a weII-seIected
meal at the best cafes. she is willing
to be viyacious and look her best
She never expects 10 see her COM
panion again or does she care to.
She is merely furnishing him with
company and good looks while he
feeds her the menus choicest
The Lunch CRATER is an asset for
the entertainment OF oUt-of-town
buyers. For the lonely stranger in
New York she proves a sort OF kind
fairy who appears when he waves
the magic wand.
Perhaps. IL the cocktail has the
! proper kick and the host WAKES
/ sentimental she may permit her
hand to be held under the "a abls.
But that is the limit Of intimacy
and she goes on her way-forgei-
I ting the incident and waiting Tor
( the next lunch buyer.
Nearly all Of them are introduced
as Miss Jones" Many of~thcm
have sweethearts they expect to
marry and have dreams Of a home
In the Bronx and other things do
mestic.
Also all OF them live respectable
! lives, save for the lunch grating
habit. No one knows how the Gus
tom started but many men who
must entertain out-of-town buyers
have a list Of the telephone num-
bers OF the Lunch Grafters.
The girls know how TO take cara
OF themselves and yet they suffer
no twinge OF conscience in accent
/ ing the hospitality Of unknowns.
In any other community they would
lose their claim 10 rcspectsbility-
out blase New York thinks nothing
! OF It. regarding them as a neces-
sary adjunct TO the complex COM
mercial life Of the metropolis
Zip! Just like that and Harry K.
Thsw dropped from the publ @
prints. made an inquiry amon-
| friends on New York newspap pers to
see IL they knew where Thaw Is
holding forth. Not one could til
me. The inquiry followed the info--
| Ration from BrOadwaylte. VINO
knows Thaw well. and reports -
fact that the versatile young man
is at present wearing the uniform %
/ a relief organization on the oth--
| side. Exactly the duties which Thaw
| IS performing. or whclher the de-
! sire 10 leave this country was the
motive for enlistment. II is not pos
| sible TO say. The news OF his meta
morphosis is brought 10 this cgun-
/ try by an aviator in the service who
( arrived in New York a few DAYS aEo
( He saw Thaw in Bordeaux wearing
the uniform Of the organization and
/ stopped 10 talk with him. He iz q
man Of unqUestionabIe verac.ty and
incidentally was present At two ~
| Thaw's trials so that he could not De
mistaken in his identity.
| After the Stacker - ID had gath
cred in its hordes Of young men y 20
were unmindful Of their obligations
OF citizenry, they were corraled IN
an armory on Lexington avenue. AJ
! first they were dumb with astonlsh
( ment, but finally their spirits Ts-
| turned and before they were 20
! away 70 camp il was a crowd =
/ bantering young men. many q
! whom were glad they were guu-s
| 10 war. Even the officials belt.rs
! that quite a few were sorry T-r
their mistake shortly after II VS.
made but feared the law and r.-
! mained in hiding. About fft0-1
! were in one room IN the armu..
There was noise OF singing. An Of
f1cer went TO see. He returned " "
a knowing smile. Those boys" De
said are singing We're All Coins
! Calling on the Kaiser"