The Washington herald., 1919-12-14
NEW YORK CITY
By o. o. McNTYRE

A. tUc new DI0aaWay HhCCNtoits
gathering speed all the while. that
makes a perfectly placid looking fat
man and his escort stand before a
spotlight on cabaret dancing floor
and attempt to shake like a mold of
jelly Sexual individualism is no doubt
running rampant.
The Rialto is dotted with sex plays.
The shimmy and the jazz with its
catch-as-catch-can holds. the furious
back wash of sex literature and the
low-necked gowns show whittier New
York is drifting.
1t was bad enough before the wa
but it seems to have gained impetus
since Suggestive ditties used to be
hist ed quickly but not now. Perfum-
cry shops are opening in every block.
The cabCrets are tolerating acts that
were not permitted In the honky- -tonks
OF the Barbary Coast ten years ago.
The patrons applaud now.
Men and women sway In suggestive
manner at the slightest excuse. The
best restaurants permit these things.
Censors a few years ago were on
guard and IL a flushed dancer at
tempted to kiss his companion while
dancing, the censor stepped in, asked
them to pay their check and depart.
Now people only smile at a couple
kissing on the dance floor.
II might have been blamed on liquor
before July l but It happens just the
same In the places where the patrons
are palpably sober. There is no doubt
that sexual barriers are being broken
down. On the continent resorts are
restricted to the demimonde but In
New York the respectable young ma
ron and demimonde are at adjoining
tables.
Shimmy music is popular because Of
its sensuous rhythm. The more shady
the haunts the more popular it seems
to be with all classes OF patrons.
Gotham is witnessing the spectacle
of famous shimmy queen acting as
hostess at one of its most exclusive
restaurants.
Between the times she trembles and
rolls her eyes on the dance floor she
meeting the patrons. Introductions
do not seem to be needed. Wild or
gies are supplanting Chesterfieldian
courtesy and princely bearings. The
old-time waltz. a thing of grace, Is
considered fiat and stale. The Ten
derloin can-can is far more popular.
I received touching letter the 9TH
er day from Homer Hoover. whose
address is Wheelersburg. Ohio. In
1885 Hoover was permanently dis
abled in a forest fire. He Is helpless
in bed and has been since that Tina
Although his body is bound his hopes
and aspirations were never shackled.
He does not ask or want charity.
But 1t Is Christmas time and Mr..
Hoover feels rather out Of touch with
the outside world. He likes to re-
ceive letters-just a CHEEKY little note.
He has asked me IL l would not ask
my readers to drop him a few lines.
l am quite sure all who read this will.
Two befurred women climbed atop
Fifth avenue bus, putting from the
exertion. They tucked themselves
into the aisle with a swirl of silken
skirts and sweeping paradise plumes.
surfeiting the air with all the scents
of ten gardens let loose. CHA ins
tinkled. gold bags clanked and even
their voices were metallic
They had been to an auction-one
of those elaborate affairs where eager
connoisseurs and climbers wear the
combined masks of critics and bar
gain hunters. =
Finally: What did you buy?'
Me? Nothing. I was just Iookin'
What did you buy?"
"A punchbowl."
"Gawd. What are y going to put
in it-geraniums?'
Prices are so high this year that
most New Workers are indulging in
the great pastime of window shop
ping. Noses are pressed to the glass
on Fifth avenue or the Bowery with
the same joyous curiosity. One must
have childlike faith in fairies to be a
happy window shoppe--the same
faith that Alice could go through the
looking glass into Wonderland. In
Aladdin's genii are always at COM
mand and fancy may dictate II the
pocketbook cannot.
It is a great sight to see middle
aged men and the old, too. flock
around the toy windows. They seem
fascinated and who is not? Inside
the stores, too. the grown-ups have
their fun watching the mechanical
toys.
So great is the rush at New York
theaters that box Office men are re-
ceiving cable reservations from Eu-
rope. Seats are selling for Aphrodite
at 50 each. Spectators are being
sent to Jail, but this does not deter
the sidewalk hawkers. One specula-
tor is said to have made 1900 clear
on the opening performance of a sue
cessful show last week. Christmas
week there will be daily ,matinees
aside from the evening performances,
but there are very few seats to be
had at the good shows and they are
in the hands OF the spectators. One
OF the big theatrical news events of
the week was the resignation of Mark
Leuscher as manager of the Hippo
drome. He left for another job with
a vaudeville circuit and it is said that
another manager offered the vaude-
Vile circuit $4,000 for his contract
and hour after 1t was signed. But it
was haughtily rejected. Leuscher was
formerly a Park Row newspaper man.
School Girls Learning