The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-19

NEW YORK, Oct. .ls.--I was prfyi-
legged TO visit one Of those invIdi-
ously ssnobbish jewelry estahiish.
ments 3utting on the Avenue he
other afternoon. Its like being pre-,
scented at court, and one. feels ONT
Of place without plush short pants
and silver buckles. There are
double griiied doors. through which
one must pass-and not then unless
by special appointment.
The prospective customer must
write in advance for an appoint
ment. giving name and address.
Then he Is looked up In who's
Who" Bradstreet and the Social
Register. II perchance he had an
uncle who sold smeits he hasn't
q chance.
Should he be persona grata. he re-
ceives an expensiveiy engraved
mandate bulwarked In double enve-
lopes and smelling Of altar Of roses.
The hour and the time are inscribed
in violet blue Ink. went as .
secretary. VI
At the door stands q camera
eyed gendarme. caparisoned in gold
robes. This super-nunkey wears
knee brooches and. with his warped
limbs COULD never hope to achieve
the Ziegfeld chorus. He takes the
card, whistles up . tube and speaks
in richest Cockney. The barred
gates swing open and one enters
to be met by salaaming gentle
man with a richly polished pate
. and frock coat.
Nothing is on display-that would
be ignobly fnelegant. There are
deeply soft rugs and great Byzan-
tine vases, some Corots and Van
Dykes, three enormously high back,
hand-carved chairs. a buhl clock
and bronze faun. There is the
majestic calmness OF q cathedral.
One somehow expects ito bear
the rafting of chains. the opening
of assteel door. revealing the hang
man who announces. You die at
midnight" In a place like that I
would buy anything to get out.
There are curtained little rooms
where one sits deep in leather chairs
to be shown jewels on black velvet
pads. One does not think of prices.
Swank-no end!s Perhaps three or
four customers arrive during a day.
No wonder ! swallowed my chewing
gum.
Her face Is known to millions on
the silver sheet. Just now she is
here shopping. 1t SO happened I
passed the apartment where she
was stopping. 1t was early morning
and there was an unnatural gaiety
about her as she was waited for her
motor. There was q large corsage
OF flowers at her waist. Her red
haired maid stood on the steps wait
ing with several large boxes. Twice
the actress ran up the steps and
blew kisses to the maid. Il was evl-
dent she was on on a happy hoIi-
day. Shortly after dusk that night
1 passed the same place. The maid
was helping q drug-stupefied girl
out OF a limousine. She was maud
lin In her talk. and there was a
convulsive twitch of eyeballs. The
large corsage of flowers was wilted
and melting. Altogether It was q
picture I want to forget.
Bruce Barton and Fred c. Kelly,
magazine writer's, decided to play
prank on John Siddell. editor of
the American magazine, at lunch the
other day. Each drafted a letter
to Siddell in a confidential vein.
stating. that the other was prepar-
ing to give exclusive services to
another magazine unless the pay for
work was much larger. Siddell re-
piled to each. in a very confidential
way. that he didn't care, that the
work was of a poor grade, and he
was thinking Of dispensing with II
anyway. Then he. apparently by ac-
cidenf. sent Barton's letter to Kelly
and Kelly's to Barton. 1t is DIM
cult to kid editors. They've been
kidded by experts.