Evening star., 1921-10-16
WHO is URBAN J. LEDOUX, SOMETIMES
KNOWN AS ''TFIE MYSTERIOUS MIR. ZERO?'

I resulted in his decision to devote the
remainder of his life to service" Ii
| his address he had told the commits
sion of his ecstatic plans for worit
| city, but his carefully prepared theme
| and an enthusiastic oratorical de
livery failed to greatly impress the
| assemblage as tNing either practi-
cable or desirable. Disappointed. Lee
doux returned to his hotel and pom.
| dered. He described his experience
| that night as follows:
Il went to the window of my room
| threw up my arms toward the stars
and cried out in anguish of spirit
Why had my ideals been trampled
| upon? l asked myself. What was
lacking in myself or in my listen
| ers that l failed to awaken them to
the sincerity of my plans? / had
been delving for the secret for hours
and 1t was almost dawn when / saw
the light and 1 felt drastic change
come over me. 1t was then / under
stood"
what was this change Of which
you speak," Mr.. Ledoux was asked
1T was the dawn of new--a
uperconscientiousnes I was bath
ed in the light of loving service.
saw the sham and the insincerity OF
mems lives. Imbued with enthusiasm
at my baptism into the state of ultra
service, l left my hotel the same
morning without giving notice of my
| destination and wandered from city
to city incognito for period of about
two weeks. during which time my
! friends searched fo- me in vain.
was seeking my bearings. SO to
speak,"
1t was not long after this Eek
perience" that Ledoux came hack tc
| America and started on his career OF
| service" Reaching New York city
he became interested in the efforts OF
| the Salvation Army and other well
| fare organizations in harboring the
| poor. feeding the hungry and provid-
| ing employment for men out of work
| His ardent assistance in this respect
| attracted the attention of a number
| of wealthy men and women whose
| ideas regarding treatment of the un.
| employed situation paral1eled his own
Among these were several well known
men and women who. Ledoux claims
are living in the same state of con
| sciousness" as himself. He named
some of these as follows: Claude
| Bragdon. author of ''Tertium Or
ganum" and Fourth Dimensional
of community singing at Camp Upton
\. ". and leader of the weekly
sings" in Central Park; George Gre.
Barnard, sculptor. frequently referred
to as the "Michaelanfelo of Amer
ica": Walter Hampden. the Shakes
Brice. son of the late Senator Brice
| of Ohio.
Mr.. Brice. Ledoux asserts. is the
man who has been furnishing him
with money with which to carry or
his his campaign in behalf of j9blsss
| bread-!ine expenses in New York
city. The same person also is pro-
| viding Ledoux with a drawing ac.
| count during his stay in Washington
| Ledoux declares he has not a cent OF
his own in the world.
= X =
AT this point Ledoux explained the
origin of HIS other name. "Mr
Zero. He was lining up a group OF
| men in one of the famous bread lines
| in New York city when several OF
those favored requested that they be
! Il, in" on the identity Of their bene.
i factor. "Oh. 1 am nothing" Ledous
replied. \ tall son of Erin piped Ut
that he must be Mr.. Zero. Shortly
afterward some newspaper men ap-
men what Ledoux's name was The
same Irishman announced that it was
MIR. Zero. The press reports the fol.
lowing day told of the incident. Le-
doux has been known ever since as
In appearance Ledoux.is is a physical
giant; He is heavily built. broad
shouldered, and his face is usually
speech is that Of n educa.ed French:
triiiing Of his RS" He is versed in
French. German and. Bohemian and
has a knowledge OF several other
artist in black and white and in color
and delights in sketching landscapes
about his home. in Maine. He is
proficient in most branches of sport
and has won number of prizes
while serving at the consulate in
Europe. He Is a long-distance run
ner and swimmer. has played anna
teur base ball. and is interested in
wrestling and similar sports.
Ledoux is strict vegetarian and
If practicable in this climate, would
be what he calls a "fruitarian." He
claims that fruits can furnish man
ments and are more desirable for
food purposes than vegetables. Meat
never reaches his mouth. Ledoux
thinks at foals VI To sSs
tea or coffee. but will drink milk. He
believes in having no designated hour
for meals and eats whenever he feels
hungry. A typical lunch for him con
matoes. double order of fried egg
plant. several slices of bread and q
glass Of milk.
His stamina has surprised news
paper men who follow his move
ments. On certain days he has re-
mained up all night and yet appeared
fresh for the next days activities
Regardless Of what hour he retires
Ledoux rises with the sun. He at
tributes his remarkable staying pow
er to reserve strength"
Bahaism, with it's mystic creed
naturally has attracted the attention
of Mr.. Zero. He has devoted his
labors and thoughts to the Bahai
principles, assisted in the establish
ment Of Bahai rest clubs for poor
| men Of the Bowery and in other ways
lent his. personality to the work
These places were known as step:
ping Stones" One was set up at 90:
East 9Th street. New York City; an
other at A Bowery. close to "Tir
! Pan" Market, between Eayard ant
{ Canal streets.
| IN connection with the breadlins
organized at the two stepping
Stones" nSre TIN $4,000 person:
have been S~relv ..fovided with toot
and akeS.. 23,0W with lodging ant
hundreds Shlp1 along to positions.