The Washington herald., 1922-03-29

sOaY By Day
impressions:
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NEW YORK, March 2S.-On the
Bowery they are known as "regu-
lars"-human anachronisms with
stained yellow teeth. sunken eyes
and stubbly boards. They are the
city's forsaken whom life has
beaten and hurled into the drab
obscurity of the fusty fiop-rooms.
In early morning hours they
swim up from deep wells of sleep
10 be first at free coffee houses.
elurry from debauchery. they shut
ne out of their hutches. unshaven.
'hinly clad and trembling They
gulp their drink and wolf their
bread and then move-a Struggling
army-toward the Park Row
newspaper Help Wanted" bull
letins.
They no not want work nor
would they accept it, If offered. Yet
they scan the columns with an
eager interest until o'clock, when
the public parks are opened. Then
they drift to their accustomed
benches and await the friendly sun.
How they live Is one Of the city's
unfathomable secrets, for these
derelicts are not part of the
Bowery's legion of cadgers. They
do not beg. They must pay in ad-
vance for stall-like rooms in the
lucent lodging houses. And some
OF them have lived there for years
and years
There is an aura of dignity about
them that bitter poverty has not
eHaced. One does not only imagine
they have seen better days. there is
an indefnable something about
them that makes it a conviction.
Sob sisters hunting material for
the scalding tear find the "regu-
lars as mobile as the Sphinx. They
resent Interrogation and converse
only with each other, THE Tegu-
lars seem to say their failures are
their own-and at best the world
does not hear them whine
A benign and benevolent gentle
man passed through Madison Square
Park the other evening at pigeon
feeding time. He attempted to be
sociable and asked group of
regulars" IL they would go to
nearby restaurant for a bite They
answered with looks Of utter dis
gust and skunk away
Another one of those grande
maison de something or other
shops for women has cached itself
in signless magnificenCe on the up
per avenue. 1t spurns a window
display and customers are only ad-
mitted by naughty dignitary with
sldeburns by the presentation of
an invitation card. The carriage
starter in front strikes a new note
in splendor. He is not caparisoned
in gold and silver trappings. He
Is dressed like a prosperous banker
in a morning suit in the early
hours and in the afternoon he
wears frock coat and silk TONER.
Instead of delivery boys they have
chic French maids-remindful of
those who were busily busting the
room waiting for the telephone to
ring in the old Hoyt plays.
The death of Louis F.. De Foe the
critic of the drama so long on the
New York World, is the first break
in the ranks of the so-called
Death Watch in the Broadway play-
houses since the passing of Rennold
wore. Like Wolfe, De Foe could
be found at every "first-night."
Atterward he would ride the sub
way to the World offices to write
mis- review and not once in all the
years of his reviewing did he miss
an edition. He differed from other
critics in that he wrote an straight
news article about the plays, vet
between the lines the reader knew
nj
while. Once his name went I'm in
electric lights in front of a theater
alone with line from his review
lndorsing the play. De Foe called
up the producer and asked that IL
ne removed. For a number of
years he would not even attach his
name to his articles. THE article
ITSELF he would say. lis the inn
portant thing. 1t doesn't matter
who wrote it. Whoever he is he
will soon be forgotten"