Charlevoix county herald., 1919-09-19

Huddled along bank of an artificial
canal are various seaside buildings,
far from pretentious, although they
call themselves hotels. Here and In
the gnyer restaurants that constitute
with carrousels and switchbacks the
Golden City" across the way may be
purchased In q cooked state the sui
len shedder. whitefish, bluefish, the
retiring oyster and the equally retir-
Ing but also pugnacious lobster. Un-
I'll but few weeks ago 1t was pos
eiblc to drain cup that cheers In
the intervals Of picking out the sue
cuisat meat Of the latter's claws. Now
the wash used fully deserves its con-
temptuous name.
On a day of rain II has to be ad-
mitted that Canarsie Is depressing,
but let the clouds rift and presently
line of fishermen will reach the full
length of the breakwaters, skiffs, row.
boats, launches and sailboats will dot
the bay, musical noise of a sort will
start In the amusement pavilions and
Canarsie will perk up. 1t is possible
then to stand In front of the hotel and
pass in review the floating population
and the natives, all interesting, but
all eclipsed by the worm diggers.
They give Canarsie its cachet.
Pleased to See Visitors.
Whatever interests the worm dig
gers absorbs Canarsie. To be sure
1t holds out rival attractions to Coney
island, and it Is distinctly pleased
when visitors come down by trolley or
train or motor to eat the fish Of the
sea, to go tripping" on the bay, even
to bathe If they have the hardihood
and the aptitude. Some people will
bathe anywhere, and while Canarsie
folk don't they are willing that the
foreigners" shall imagine a beach
where none exists. But these people
are outside of Canarsie's life and the
wOrmers were born and raised there.
That makes a difference. And II you
have eyes you can pick out the
wormer for yourself, although he may
not have a worm, In his beak at the
time.
In the society life of Canarsie the
blood worm boys are notable. See
them, say, on Friday night, which is
country store night In Canarsie Ga
function, so far as Is recorded, pc
culiar to this place., and you would
never dream that they had any con-
nection with worms. They are "swell"
dressers on such occasions and they
are able 10 dance titelessly. Dancing
Is one of the features Of country
store night, and 1t is always particu-
larly fascinating at Bakers, notwith-
standing an obnoxious sign indicative
of rule, mo Breaking Allowed"
which Is rigidly enforced. This means
that a wormer or other beau is not
permitted to grab off one Of pair of
girls who may be tantalizingly doing
one step on the floor by themselves.
Don't Court Society.
This rule affects the young blood
(wormer, not worm) only. The elder
men Of the profession, If they fire.
quent a dance hall, do 1t merely to
look on and to be present should any
guest light up sufficiently to invite all
hands. AS rule the seasoned digger
goes home as soon as the days catch
has been tailed up and started to the
city. He may pause to have a game
Of old maid over pack Of grimy
cards with crony, but 1t is not for
long. He likes his home. Often he
built 1t himself or added to 1t by what
he has won from the spoil of the sea-
and the worm digger's house is worth
seeing. 1t reflects the taste and fancy
Of the proprietor. 1t is what he want
ed In the way of house, and Is not
conspicuous example of architec
ture. Not that ''wormer" is her.
nit; he isn't; he generally has wife
and several marmots, but the older
men don't court society.
To close the discussion Of the
strike, which really Is a settled af
fair, a warning should be taken by
the multitudes trooping down to Ca
narsie these days to see the worm
diggers that all persons who treat
the matter with levity are not In
| right with Canarsie and certainly they
are not I'm the dippers' favor