The Washington herald., 1919-03-13

New York. March 12.-In the days
before the swarthy unctuous Rierres.
Jacqueses and Henris dominated that
extremely bland fraternity, Tom Gay.
thorough American, was the peer OF
head walters. His palms were not at
flicted with a perpetual Itch.
Tom Gay died the other day at the
age of "A, beloved and respected W
thousands. He was the famous head
waiter OF the old Fifth Avenue Hotel.
He was a friend of Presidents, gen.
erals. gold mining nabobs and editors.
and was quite figure of a man in
the bluff, extravagant. richly colored
period following the civil war.
Tad Lincoln used to play about his
spiked coat tails when the Lincolns
came to New York and put up at the
Fifth Avenue. 1t was Tom Gay who
invented the whisky cocktail, and
back in the '70's before the suave and
polished Arthur ever dreamed of go
ing to the White House he was a
daily caller on Tom Gay. Tom always
supervised the construction of the
sundown toddy-a festive occasion
when the lights were beginning to
glow around the old Fifth Avenue.
Tom Gay was a boon companion of
Ed Stokes, Gen. Phil Sheridan, Gen.
Winfield Scott and President Grant.
Perhaps his best friend was Dave
Mofatt-David II. Moffatt. of New
York and Colorado Springs. Moffatt
was then worth 5000, ,0o0-a huge for
tune in those days.
He gave Tom many market tips and
along in 1898 the Sun carried this
item: Head Waiter Gay Sails Away.
Fifth Avenue Hotel Guests Bereft
While He Visits Europe with d. ii.
Moffatt"
They had a high old time and re-
peated it seven years later. In 1876
Moffatt instructed his chief engineer
of the Denver, Southwestern and Pa
ciflc Railway ito keep an eye out for
a little place for Tom Gay somewhere
along the line" The chief engineer
spotted a lJS-acre ranch near Steam
boat Springs. Colo. Col. Moifuit
handed Tom the title deeds for the
ranch,
Gay quit his job and went West to
live on his ranch. but the climate anu
his rheumatism would not mix, so he
came back and bought a little hotel
in Seymour. Conn, near New York,
"ASiS liI lSiudlilSu ullll MS utdlH Two
weeks ago.
Going down Fifth avenue a rainy
afternoon last week | sSr Archie
Roosevelt and his wife coming in the
opposite direction. 1t was in a block
near St. Patrick's Cathedral He was
in a uniform with his cap at iaun-"
angle. but he moved rather slowly.
/ had inst SSa1 window xuhnra "a
splendid painting of Col. Roosevelt
was on display, draped in colors.
When Young Roosevelt got to the W =
dow he stood on the fringe OF the
small rainy afternoon crowd and look
ed over their shoulders. Then he re-
moved his cap for a few seconds,
caught his wife by the arm and moved
away. Very few recognized him.
Professional finders-men and wo-
men who make a business of retriev-
ing articles of value host in the
streets, theaters, hotels and other
public places and returning them tor
reward-form a surprisingly large
number of the New Workers. who are
employed in a queer occupation.
James Doughty. known among his
Co-workers as king of the Finders
whose address is wherever it happens
TO be, is considered the most pros
porous of his class. Sometimes his
earnings reach as high as $500 day
and he calls it hard-luck week
when he hasn't earned at least $50.
How do l do it," asked Doughty,
who is middle aNed and well dressed.
well, I've got a pair of sharp eyes
hang around in crowds and ! just
find things. Then | read the lost col
umn ads the next day and collect re-
wards. Simple and easy"