The Washington herald., 1921-08-02

49, !" %SAsANs nus 50W-
cry after dark! on every block
there is melodrama. A gaunt, hag-
gard man walked up and down with
his head bowed. Now and then he
would burst out into short, ugly
gusts Of laughter and wound up
'mouthing iood Of oaths. Ten
months ago-the friendly corner
cop told me-he was wiped cut in
Wall Street. That short period saw
his descent from a Riverside Drive
apartment to crib in a 2o-cen,
lodging house. The Bowery Is used
to such visitors. It is an old. old
story. ~.
Down a few blocks a curious,
gaping crowd surrounded the en-
trance of store front. On the
window was tho black lettering
"Mortuary Chapel" Inside was q
dull. greenish globe of light. span
ish Ike was being prepared for the
final ritual. Just a boy, wild and
reckless. whose career was cut
short by a gangster's. knife stab.
Across the street upstairs a dance
hall was ablaze with light and
blatant with jazz.
At IL O'Clock the movies are emp
tied. Eyes are fever bright with
excitement over the chase for the
pearls, the triumph of the heroine
and the undoing Of the villain. The
Bowery likes the primitive in films.
The whistle OF the calliope on the
street carousel making its nightly
round, brings children, half clad
scampering from every door.
The soft drink places and soda
parlors fll rapidly. Each has its
bouncer. just like the old time sa-
loon. for at any moment q neigh
borhood gang may put into action
it's pleasantly Of cleaning out the
place" and robbing the cash regis
ter. The rumble OF the elevated
trains overhead drown converse sion
and the Bowery shouts In strident
voices. Life is always at. a high
pitch.
Shops are open until long after
midnight Megaphone voices call
out from all sides. for the Bowery
does not wait for trade. 1t goes out
and drags It in IL necessary. IBusi-
ness seems to be chimerical, but
| underneath all the froth there are
good bargains on the Bowery for the
bargainer. e..
Even the doctors who treat Men
Only" keep their Offices open until
2 in the morning. And tho dental
parlors are white with light at mid
night. The bells tinkle over pawn
shop doors all night long to guide
uncertain steps to friendly havens.
A fascinating street, this wide,
grim-looking and SCARED Bowery.
Cartoonist webster's battling
English bull terrier Dan" Is back
from a cruise around the world.
He has chased cats in the Azores,
fought valiant street battles in all
Parts of the Orient, stopped a wildly
plunging bull in a village in Spain.
and his great head has been patted
by celebrities in all far-fung cor
ners Of the globe. Dan Is lovable
twist his tail and rough -house him
without the slightest snarl. but
when he sees a dog he becomes a
in New York. and in several sub
urbs. but 1t was no use. He loved
to night too well. So. when Reu-
! therdahl. the celebrated marine art
list, went on a voyage around the
world Dan gave his master a sad,
hurt look. but trotted up the gang
| plank Now he's back, sleek, well
| fed and scanning the horizon for
battle.
They were talking Of presenting
bust to a young theatrical man
who has done brave things in the
| artistic theatrical field despite two
complete failures. One rival pro-
ducer was approached on the sub
ject.
why give him a bust?" he in
quired. Hes had two busts all
ready this season"