The Washington herald., 1919-04-19

New York, April 1s.-Possibly no
city reflects SO much the spirit of
youth and ambition as New York.
The great city can see old men. gnarl-
ed and bent. selling flowers in front
Of the theater at midnight and pass
on into tufted limousines without a
shudder. Wrinkled old ladies stand
ing in doorways with tattered pack
ages of chewing gum late or early
do not get even a plying glance.
But let youth or ambition be ithwarted
and New York's tear-ducts flood.
Perhaps this was best illustrated
during a recent parade of heroes.
l stood in front of the public library
on Fifth avenue at the Court of the
Victorious Dead, where sheaves Of
enormous brazen spears held aloft
the symbolic shields of those who
died.
1t was a milling, jostling crowd of
folk until UP the avenue came far
, I'm advance Of the major general a
crepe-swathed. fiower-laden caisson.
1t rumbled along rather awkwardly
in contrast to the Quick-stepping SOL
diers with the sunlight glittering on
steel casques and slanting bayonets.
As the caisson rolled along there
could be seen a few blocks down
through the soft spring haze the
white bulk of the Victory Arch. There
was no noise rs the caisson passed
the library. Only the clatter of horses
hoofs and the soft rumble of wheels
Once the thunderous drone of an
aeroplane sounded overhead, and a
great white machine. wings simmer
ing in the clear light of the upper
air. dipped and then veered away
like a gull. Men and women who
had been laughing and joking and
even fighting the police stood like
marble statues.
Now and then above the rattle of
hoofs came the half-suppressed sound
of sobbing. In the stiffness that fell
upon the hitherto boisterous crowd,
1t almost seemed that the noise of
hoofs was the footsteps of follow
ing. unseen host.
Suddenly n musician raised his bu-
gle. The clear notes could be heard
over to Broadway:
Go to sleep. Go to sleep! Go
to sle-e-p!'
To these New Yorkers with barred
heads it meant that youth and am
bition had been thwarted-and men
faced and unashamed. The parade
had touched the city's weak spot.
The French idea Of a party is not
jazz and dancing. but a great deal
of chatter. So atop a big hotel there
has been opened 1.-The Bavardage"-
tea chatter. 1t is conducted by a
former society woman and is not
for the public generally. Only those
invited may come. All who enter
must leave English behind. Not all
the guests are French nor are all
Americans. All nationalities are
brought together by their love Of
France.
This Is not written 10 invite ambi-
tious young girls muslcally inclined to
| gallon TO New York at once. Unless
they have money, proper introduc-
tions or an ngagement-they Will re-
! gret it. But the truth is that never in
! the history of the Riaito has there
been such n demand for musical COM
/ edy' material. Women fitted for
! prima donna roles in musical comedy
7 cannot be found.
/ Musical shows have become exceed
| ingIy popular this year. due to the
return of the soldiers, the end of
the war and consequent demand for
gay shows. \ young lady singing in
| Harlem moving picture show three
weeks ago left yesterday in a leading
part in second touring company for
n run in Boston.
Almost all those with experience
have been snapped up at more money
than they ever earned before, and
still more are needed. New York
| Is to have big run of musical shows
| this summer and that increases the
demand.