The Washington herald., 1919-12-27
NEW YORK CITY
BY o. o. Mcintyre

New York. Dec. 2s.-The flashing
ziszaggy signs that make the Broad
way Fare at night are becoming big
ger and holder. The most recent one
advertises . certain brand Of tire and
has six movable figures and flashes
on some thirty words. However, Il
Is no more attractive to the eye than
another new sign further down Broad
way. which Is just huge ball Of
fire with a single name in 1t.
The first electrical sign marvel was
the Ben Hur chariot race. which I
believe was atop the old Hotel Nor
mandie In the sos. 1t drew crowds
then, but would excite no atten-
ton now. The electrical signs have
resulted in many old trade signs
dropping from view. The symbols
OF trade are now supplanted by the
electrical word.
, The wooden Indian: the significant
boot over the cobbler's door: the bar
ber's pole; the anvil OF the black
smith and the horses heads of the
liveryman are gone. There were art
lists In the lower part of the city
who made a living making and re-
pairing Indian cigar signs.
The Indians were carved out Of
white pine. from paper patterns. The
men who made then made big money
and took a great pride in their work.
They were temperamental and &C.
centric, and spent all of their earn
ings in the queer little wine cellars
that dot the lower East Side.
1t has been said by a Sunday writer
that New York now has only ten bar
Der poles in the entire city. The
barber pole dates back to the days
OF bloodletting. 1t at that time was
thought to be the cure for all ills.
Today it is hooted. In the old days
the barber was a surgeon. During
the process OF bloodletting the pa
tients tightly Grasped a pole to make
| their veins swell and the blood flow
| freely. The pole soon became blood
stained and was painted bright red.
When not in use the pole hung out
side the door. wound spirally with
a white linen hand. representing u
bandage used to tie up the wound.
The substitute pole. so long in use.
resulted The mortar and pestIe, for
pounding drugs. have given place to
the electric Drugs" The only old
sign remaining is the pawnbroker's.
| The three balls remain over the
hook shops The three balls are
| taken from the lower part Of the
coat OF arms OF the Dukes Of Medici
| Their position indicates that there
are two chances to one whatever IL
| brought there will not be redeemed.
| The vaults OF mid Manhattan banks
are now receiving whisky for safe
storage. Barrels are being received
and placed in the silver vaults for
a fixed charge. II II said that own
ers OF fine whisky fear to have 1t
placed in the usual storage ware
houses because moving men have a
penchant for liquor and they might
tap the barrels. draw out portion
Of the whisky and replace the drawn
fluid with water.
! Scheherezade kept her husband her
devoted slave by telling his thrilling
stories. And now modern New York
wives are trying to keep their hus-
bands in nights by having profess
sional readers come after dinner and
entertain. Down on Seventh avenue
there is an office where zone may Sc
cure the services OF a professional
reader who will read any book or
novel for 81 an hour. Five readers
are being kept busy. and more are
| in demand 1t takes about three
hours to read the average novel. it
is said, and at Sc wives figure they
have had a pleasant evening for the
entire family and husband will
bright-eyed and clear-headed.