The Washington herald., 1921-09-07
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NE" nOhh. Sept. 6.-The
street moocher" is sinking out Of
the side streets again with his
whine Cap. can 1 speak to you q
minute?" He displays the nickel in
his grimy, hand to lure another
nickel for "a cuppa cawfee." For
several years New York has been
singularly free from beggars.
Even "old Horse and Wagon"
the only Chinese vagrant ever
listed on police blotters. has re-
turned to his pitch at Mott street:
Crying Mary" whose tear ducts
food at will, now shuffles along
Times Square weeping because she
has no money ito get back to Jer-
sey."
The old timers seem to be all
back at old stands. The other eve
ming The Dummy Chucker," who
has been immortalized in short
story. fell in a pohny epileptic
seizure in front of the Globe Thea
ter. Chucking a dummy fit Is en-
HANGED in realism by chewing soap
which brings CHASTITY foam to the
lips.
A tatterdemalion, whose gaunt
face and sunken eyes were pitifuI
to see. stood in the shadows Of
subway kiosk the other night wait
ing for a policeman to stroll north
ward. I watched from "A nearby
corner.
IL
traffic jam to a limousine in which
was seated a movie star whose
name in shimmering electric lights
helps swell the nocturnal borealis
of the Tenderloin.
For Gawd's sake Teddy" he
gasped. Il amt ct for days" She
drew a bill from a gold mesh bag
and passed II to him. He didn't
offer thanks. He knew that any
moment a hand might close around
his arm and a gentleman from
Central Office with square toed
shoes and black derby would lead
him away.
So he crept back into tho
shadows. vulture-like to await new
prey. His business acumen was un-
canny. In four sudden swoops to
waiting limousines he increased
his ill-gotten fortunes with bank
notes.
After the days work the pro-
fessional begger makes his way to
The Roost," a drab 25 cent vermin
infested flop house on Bleecker
street nearrhe Bowery. In a raid
there once sixty-two unkempt
guests. tossed up by the city's biIGe.
waters. were arrested. All but
l..
healthy savings accounts.
The sluice gates of Fifth avenue
traffic went down as the big traf-
fic tower lights winked red. A great
juggernaut fire wagon tore down
the thoroughfare with changing
bell and shrieking siren. uni
formed, hatless chauffeur hunched
on his perch with his face set.
Death rode on the winds. At Forty
second street little old lady car
rying a small black parasol-a bit
of lavender and old lace of another
day-somehow slipped through the
police Gordon about the curbs and
reached the middle of the street.
The acre of faces on the pavement
went white. The fire wagon driver
swerved just SO slightly and the
"neeI nuns EraZed tne ol0 laoy Il
dress. What was that" she in
quired auerulously to the police
man who rushed up to her. Moth
ing at ALL" he said-and she won
dered why tears rolled down his
checks. He escorted her to the
curb. and life on Fifth avenue re-
sumed its usual tempo.
Broadway anxiously awaits the
return of Rennold Wolf. For year
now his sprightly writings OF the
Rialto have been missed in the
Morning Telegraph. Wolf is re-
garded as the best toastmaster in
New York, and his Tbes at the
atrical banquets have become
classics. His health broke down
and he is still confined to his apart
ment. He has written several sue
cessful plays with Claiming Pollock
as his collaboration. 1t was Wolf
who saw Marcus Loew and Lee
Shubert talking together in front
OF the Claridge and went by sing
ing "Hi-lee. Hi-low, Hi-lee Hi
lOwt