The Washington herald., 1922-03-18
1eu'26,'tGn
.Oaybr. Day
impressions:
b4GQeMsmtpe
hB1aIfa;,Il,t'.!a

NEW YORK. March 17.-He is
one Of those shirty "old beans''
with buck teeth and a misplaced
eyebrow on his upper lip. Lemon.
colored gloves. fiamboyant spats
and a tan beaver derby complete the
picture. o yes-nearly forgot--a
horse blanket vest.
Wherever he goes he enters with
a sort OF buzz and blow-fearfully
jolly and all that. And a Mephis-
topheles alongside a tea cart. Miss
one and purl three. Rides TO the
blinking. bally hounds and refers
to his dearest friend as "a priceless
old ass
A remittance man to the casual
observer. In reality one of the
shrewdest of the gambling house
cappers. His record was given to
me by a central ONCE man. And the
lad is a nstty actor.
His English swank Is as artificial
as his pip-pip and cheerio. He was
born in a small Indiana town
and used to clerk In an all-nIght
drug store on Tenth avenue, His
onnights he spent frolicking about
the cabarets-a finale hoofer, who
gets In on the last dance free.
He was keen enough to see the
power OF bluff in New York and SO
he hoped a cattle boat for England
and worked as a clerk in a small
inn-studying the ripping young
bloods Of the music halls. He saved
and came back year later with q
definite idea.
He gave q few conspicuous par
ties In smart places and aped the
London sprigs. And hinted OF high
British connections No trouble at
All to crash into a rather gay set.
squirting matronly women who have
their occasional loose moments
away from the freside.
Gambling house proprietors are
always on the hunt for such
youths to roam the hotel Hobbies
and restaurants. 1t Is the custom
OF New York crowds as dawn ap-
proaches to yawn and inquire for
some place new. The steerer casu-
ally suggests a certain club. throw
ing an atmosphere of exclusiveness
about Il.
There's nothing left to do but
call the taxis and away. The young
man gets a percentage OF all the
chips bought. He lives in style,
moves among respectable people
and life seems a ceaseless round OF
gaiety. But sooner or later he
meets the usual fate. His friends
are tipped of and he is ostracized.
There are a few old-timers left
after all. Al a variety theater the
other day I saw an actor throw
sand to the stage from a cone and
do a Jig step. 1t got more ap-
plause than a shimmy shaker who
came shortly afterward. Yet the
big thrill is denied the presens crop
OF vaudeville devotees. There is no
curtain rising on a tropical forest,
chirp OF birds during a short
stage wait and then kerpluk from
a tree drops the Human Frog in
green-spangled tights.
Still and alr' heard a young
chorus girl with vivid smudges OF
red on her cheeks say in front of
the ClaridEe the Johns don't take
money from US girls like they used
too. Believe me. dearie, the world
Is getting refner and refner every
day"
The telephone stock salesman is
having his troubles these days. The
war on the fake brokerage houses
has made investors skittish. When
the phone salesman calls the
prospect" merely hangs up with
out answering. Most Of these
statesmen are young men in their
twenties who have the staying
tenacity of a blooded bull dog. They
call up one person sometimes for
a year-and as a rule they general
ly make a sale in the end