The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-09-18

Bowery life. viii be pleased 20
rerience have at tho service OF
my friend ponahue's friends"
Rivington seemed III Mt case.
Il say." no said 49, somewhat en-
trcaiingiy. Il thought - you're not
stringing us. are you. i, Isn't Jus,
tho kind OF talk we expected. You
haven't even said Huily gee once.
DO you really belong on the Bow.
ery7"
Il am AFRAID said tho Bowery
boy. smilinTly. 'that Mt some time
you have been en'iced into ono Of
the dives OF literature and had the
counterfeit coin OF tho Bowcry
PASSED upon you. Tho 'argot' 10
which you doubtless refer was the
invention OF certain Of your literary
discovcrcrs' who Invaded tho un.
known wiids below Third avenue and
put strange sounds into the mouths
of tho Inhabitants. Safe In their
homes far To the north and west. tho
credulous readers who were bcgulicd
by this new dialect perused and be-
iieved. Like Marco Polo and Mungo
Park-pioneers indeed. but ambitious
souls who could not draw the line OF
demarcatlon between discovery and
irvention--thc literary bones Of these
explorers are dotting the trackiess
wastes OF the subway. While II Is
true that after the publication OF the
mythical language attributed 10 the
jewellers along the Bowcry certain of
its pat phrases and metaphors were
adopted and. 20 a limited extent, used
I'm this locality. II was because our
people are prompt in asslmiiatlng
whatever is TO their commercial nd
vantage. To tho tourists who Wis
tied our newly discovered cline. and
who expected n realization OF their
literary guide books. they supplied
the demands of the market.
But perhaps arm wandering from
the question. In what way can
assist you. gentlemen beg you
will believe that the hospitality Of
tho street is extended to all. There
are. regret TO say, many catch
penny places of entertainment. but
cannot conceive that they would
entice you"
felt Rivington lean somewhat
heavily against me.
"Sayr' he remarked. with unccr-
tain utterance: come and have a
drink with u.s."
Thank you. but never drink.
find that alcohol. even In the small
est quantities, alters the pcrspect-
i've. And | must preserve my per-
spectiye. for | am studying the Bow
cry. have lived In II nearly 30
years, and I am just beginning TO
understand its heartbcats. II In like
a great river fed by hundred alien
streams. Each influx brings strange
seeds on It's flood. strange silt and
weeds, and now and then n flower
OF rare promise. To construct this
river requires n man who can build
dykes against the overflow. who In a
naturalist. a geologist. humanitar-
ian, a diver and a strong swimmer
/ love my Bowery. 1t was my cradle
and fl my inspiration. 1 have pub
lished ono book. The critics have
been kind. / put my heart In II. ]
am writing another. into which ]
hope to put both heart and brain.
Consider me your guide. gentlemen.
Is there anything can take you to
sec. any place to which / can con-
duct your"
was afraid 10 look at Rivington
except with one eye.
Thanks" said Rivington. I'VE
were looking up that In my
friend confound It: it's against
all precedent, you know awfully
obliged just the same"
I'm case" said our friend. you
would like to meet some OF our Bow.
cry young men / would be pleased