The Washington herald., 1920-09-18
New York City
By o. o. Mcintyre.
Park Avenue Castles.


New York. Sept. 1S-Those nam
moth apartment houses for the
ultra rich now springing rapidly
into prominence along Park ave-
nue. have the austere dignity OF
the Sphinx. They are great piles
OF stone covering entire blocks ana
each Is a city within itself.
Barred gates at which stand
brace of lackeys caparIsoned in
gold give the effect of a moated
feudal castle. There are all sorts
of convenient electrical devices.
When the head of the house ap-
proaches the gates in Limousine
lackey touches a button on a
switchboard.
This notifies the butler or valet
that the master has arrived-and
the bath, slippers and perhaps a
Scotch and soda must be prepared.
Tradesmen are never permitted TO
enter the sacred portals. There is
a receiving room where they may
leave their goods.
Inside the courtyard is park for
the children. all attended by nurses
and Eovernesses in blue and white
uniforms. Each floor has its own
swimming pool and private gymna-
stun. So we'll protected are the res
| idents from the outside world, that
at the moment they enter the gates
they are Isolated from all save those
| of their ilk.
Apartments are all large-from l5
to 80 rooms. Rents range from
100000 year upward. Servants
have their quarters in the sub-cellar
and are permitted to leave only by
one entrance and in this way an ef-
fort is made to prevent thefts.
! Each building has several restau-
rants catering only to the residents
of the building and their friends.
| The hoi-polloi are not admitted. To
insure this the entrance ways are
from the inside. The surrounding
streets reflect this atmosphere of
haughtiness. One may see the shop
girl and factory workers on Fifth
avenue-but rarely on Park.
1t is told of newly rich who
lived in 4 huge apartment on the
East Side for several months-sub-
mittinE to the painful regulations
that his occupancy imposed. One
night his family went to the opera
and when they returned he was at
the front gate in his stocking feet,
smoking pipe, and talking through
the bars to a night street cleaner.
"One McGraw."
Many amusing uuips have been
fashioned as the result of the Nc
Graw incident at the Lambs. But the
best comes from Harlem hash
house waiter who went to the cub
by hole and yelled back to the
kitchen:
One McGraw."
After a short wait, a limb stew
appeared on the window ledge.
Buying Friendship.
One may have great wealth IN
| New York and still lead an exist
ence OF acute loneliness. Not so
! long ago Arthur Brigg. a rich young
theatrical producer, committed sui
eide at his home on Long Island.
He was in good health but he felt
that most of his friends were those
who were attracted to him because
he was good spcndcr. lie had
often complained that he was buy
ing friendship with money. He was
a liberal giver to those in less for
tunate circumstances but he felt
that among them he did not have a
true friend
Silk shirts Cheaper.
Silk shirts are now a drug in the
New York habcrdashery market
Scores Of shops are having s. silk
shirt sales The most exclusive
naberdasher on Fifth avenue is re
I falling silk shirts especially tailored
I for $50. Three months ago the same
shirts sold for S33. The high priced
( tailOrs are to come down in their
prices for mems clothes next week.
! it Is announced.