Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1922-01-07
HISTORIC SOHO
DOOMED TO FALL
London's Funny Little Bohemian
Quarter to Be Swept
Away.
CITY IN need OF MORE SPACE
Many Years Ago This Section OF
London Was Regarded as Very
Fashionable Dwelling Quarter
There All Races Meet.


known to all tourists and the af1iuent
half Of the American expeditionary
forces, Is about to pull down its faded
pink curtains, fold up its murky lit
tie shops and silently steal into the
nusty pages Of history-by request.
London has need Of space and, cruel
V. London, has no need for funny lit
lie Soho. In which case that small
historic prOwllng spot of tempera
mental bohemians, which is supposed
to have derived It's name from the
luke of Monmouth's famous war cry,
Solo," at SedgemOor, intends 10 take
itself apart, brick by brick, until 1t Is
20 more
Gone will be the window of the
italian grocer, lately so gay with
;wirls of pale green spinach paste,
Ike fine spun spaghetti. the deep pur
pie of choice violet liquor, the shiny
festoons of red peppers and the tiny
almond cakes sprinkled with pink
sugar.
Rich Treasures In Filth.
Not again will one finger and yearn
FOR the silky rugs from Afghanistan
and Persia, the fat ivory elephants
from India and the blue and gold Chi
nese embroideries one finds In the hid
len dirty corners of Soho.
Many years ago this small section
Of London was regarded as a very
fashionable dwelling quarter, but after
time trim maids and highly refer
enced buffers were glimpsed no longer
in Soho's naughty doorways. Bur
nIshed name plates and shining brass
knockers began to disappear and then
indeed, 1t seemed that severe respecta-
bility had deserted little Soho.
It's quaint. cObbled streets took to
Scraping acquaintance and shortcut
ting through the alleys of sordid neigh
bors, mGandering around in circles and
.etting In too late to clean up for din
ner-but nobody cared. It's bright win
dows got dust and SCOT in their eyes
and grew grimy from the fog. but no
one took the trouble to wipe them. Its
front doors grew weary of keeping
up appearances and shed hot tears that
hlistered the paint and uncovered
scratches and gashes on their neglect
ed cheeks.
Its back doors sagged sadly on rusty
and broken hinges They creaked pain-
fully in a final, pitiful protest when
they were steadily pushed open to
admit the Armenians the Portuguese
and the Greeks.
Where All Races Meet.
Today Soho Is rather badly kept
haunt of bohemia. Turkish, Chinese,
French and italian cnfes beckon on rv-
cry side and are well patronized by
those who grow weary OF too fire.
gnent English diet of boiled mutton,
green's of an unfathomable origin and
paSty white sauce.
Not long ago spent an afternoon
in Soho and found begging rs usual
and business at least ON its feet. One
may buy anything from pennyworth
Of stewed cells in vinegar to the last
word In a fall bonnet. from the rick
CITY oiu iihC ttiiA Na'""
the curb on certain streets.
The restaurants In Soho are very
interesting. The food Is always at
tractively served and II the quality
isn't strictly first class the price is.
One might expect to, but doesn't snve
any large number of the elusive shill-
ings. The most popular cafes charge
Piccadilly prices without blush or
a pulmotor
Papa. all done up in dress clothes
and a-gleaming-in places-cellulold
shirt front, takes the order. Mamma
hollers 1t down the back stairs to Il
mysterious uncle; one daughter bears
1t in triumph to your table, and the
other obligingly offers to run out to
buy your hitter because 1t is after
hours-and D. o. r. A. prohibits the
sale Of liquor in restaurants at GER
tain times each day.
But no longer will the dingy little
shops call one, nor the restaurants
amuse. Funny little Soho is going
away.