The New York herald., 1920-12-26
Changing Of Familiar
Land m arks Balks
Hunt for Friends
After Long Trip
in South America

though he did fancy that the lions in front Of
the Library looked at him with a family
ironic smile, and reached his destination, t..
find it exactly the same as it had always
been-on the outside He found his way
through Peacock Alley. crowded as ever, and
headed along the corridor that continues 1t,
past the elevators, and turned to the left into
the familiar room.
But there the familiarity ceased The in
terror of that room had altered. Frank
wasn't there and he could sec at glance
that Frank never would be there. Something
told him that
He went out into the street again feeling
slightly empty inside. But he shook off the
momentary depression and grinned again as
he thought of the next place in line.
I'll bag a whole bunch of em there he
announced to himself, with anticipatory
snicker. Getting on toward o'clock
they'll all be drifting In there. Lined up
under the picture of Old King Cole, yammer
ing as usual. Wonder if they ever decided
what that joke was that the old King
cracked? Yes they'll all be there-Birche
and Bill, and Art, and Briss, working their
elbows in the same old way around the roast
beef and dill pickles. I'll just bore in
through the crowd and slap 'em on the
backs. They'll pass away"
But you know what he really found when
he got to the Observation-Disclosures hotel
gone wrong in the great city. Converted
into a modern Office building. Jasper got
somewhat peevish. whats all this rage for
Office buildings?" he asked himself savagey
"Ain't there CROUCH office buildings already?
Silly craze, Office buildings What fellow
really needs is place to sit down."
This observation was indeed true. He had
now walked nearly thirty blocks and he
wanted to rest his dogs-wanted to feverish-
iy. And he was getting discouraged.
Might find some Of 'em across the
street." he muttered, with CLEAN of hope
That's good little place, where they serve
hot Welsh rabbit slices of toast, with
paprika on it. I'll give it a try
And he forced his weary steps onward for
another block. There was a nice clothing
store the old corner
Jass was now frightened. He milled
around for some time and finally got caught
in the after-matinee crowds and was car
ried along like chip on the stream. Block
after block he shuffled along, searching both
sides of Broadway with a despairing look in
his eyes,
"All ask of New York is a place to sit
down and give the old dogs a rest" he said
plaintively But there was none. There
wasn't doorway where there had once been
doorway and the crowd kept him moving
along, and his shoes cramped him, and he
dislked everybody. Man can stand Just
so much" he said belligerently, at the end
of the tenth mile, then can't stand any
more office buildings"
kind hearted policeman picked him after
he had sat down on the pavement in order
to nurse his feet and he was sent back to his
hotel In taxi 1t was Christmas night and
he hung up his stockings on the radiator.
If there is any information about New
York hotels in this article which will enrich
the out of town visitors fund of information.
and make him a wiser and kindlier man, we
will feel that our researches and industry
have not been in vain. We can only add
that there are 43,673 hotels listed in the Red
Book, beginning with Aberdeen and ending
with York. Take your choice.
George has written a song for the ap-
preaching New Year. We don't approve of
II. of course but here it is. 1t is entitled
HAPPY BLUE YEAR!
Ring out wild bells, to the wild sky!
Ring out the wet, ring in the dry!
Ring out the hootch, ring in the brews
Ring out the Reds, ring in the Blues!
Ring out, blue bells, to the blue sky!
The year is dying, let me die!