New-York tribune., 1922-01-01

y, stretched out before him. But it is far
,rv from the Alps to New York, which re-
soubles Mont Blanc as little AS it resembles
.ho other capitals of the world, and he who
makes his way upward through the various
so,al strata of the town comes upon line Of
don,arcation where all sophistication ceases
ond yerdancy begins. Behind him lie the fields
- practical knowledge; before him an cx-
ranse Of naivctc and credulity whose visible
symbols arc the wide eye and the open mouth
ucar,ened by the knowledge that he has at
los, reached the auriferous vein where dwell
+bc better clement of the town, he pushes
hrayelv on, cheered by the thought that he is
breathing the rarcfed air of worldly wisdom
Very soon, however, he realizes that many Of
the conditions with which he has long been
familiar in the lower reaches of the city's
social structure exist here for the most par.
in a higher state of development.
Greatly to his amazement he discovers that
the dime museum. which long ago ceased to
exist in its native environments lives again so
far as its soul and spirit are concerned, in
these richer strata TO bc sure it has as
sumcd many new forms in the course of its
Journey but it hourshes here in potter guise
as conspicuously as in the days when it awak
ened the wonder of the Bowery All the old
elements that quicken interest in illterate
minds and cause the Spnes Of wonder-seeNers
to culver surround him now in greater profu-
sion and variety than over. Even the erudtc
lecturer lives again dominating the entire cx-
hibt in the person of the publicity agent.
No matter how mary cous the curiostics as
semblcd on the platform of one of these old
tine places of entertainment they would have
proved but feeble attractions had not the Ice
turer employed his gifts of oratory to enhance
their value. This lecturer WAS himself
human curiosity of no small interest to the
philosophic mind. Not infrcquently a broken
down man Of education, even of cultivation,
and possessed Of large vocabulary and per
suasive tongue, his hourly discourses to the
rabblc that followed at his heels impaired to
even the humblest of the exhibits a halo of
temporary fame
We find in the moderu publicity agent his
exact counterpart and one whose influence OK
tends far beyond the confines of exalted So
elety There is not a single human curiosity
seated on the social platform who does not owe
much to he publicity agent His clients range
from the presidents of corporations down to
the meanest Of the social nushers who infest
the auriferous strata of metropolitan life. As
the lecturer of other days was adept in con
vlncing the doubtful that tho hair of the Cir
casslan lady was rooted to her head and that
the monarchs of the Near East. who had
fought for her considered her a peerless
beauty so does the publicity agent convince a
ereduious public that Mrs Clymbup, newly
arrived from London, enjoys an unassaiahle
socia position in her native land and that the
oaShlng Captain Irongal Of like nativity. is
regarded by London manmas as the most eli
gble part In the matrimonial market With
e4uai skill does he treat more serious matters
"e eXplalns tha1 the great loss of life in the
'heNcusabe railroad disaster was due to the
passengers themselves. who insisted upon re
Hanlng In the Pullman car after it took fire
'DSVeaa Of getting out a. advised by the con
ouetor Inefficient telephone service and the
'~'soitant charges IF a gas company arc oc-
."'onea by he necessity for paying dividends
III winch wa. alone can the value of the securi-
ueS OF each company be maintained and busj
ness facilitated.
Inc lecturer Of old could create a human
~afvel from the most meager material, One
u the most compelling orations that | ever
1 4eard from the lips of the late Professor
natchinson was delivered as he stood beside
'Vu'g woman Of bovine aspect, whose only
Na'nS TO attention. as realized few hours
sief l had left the museum, were the facts
Ds' She had been born in Germany-"that
rS"uef1ul country Of Goethe Schiller and Won
TO SELL ''''''' Q
. III one respect, at least, The publicity agent
'0s cn lar higher plane than did his pro
s''spe OF third of a century ago, for he
~. only convinces his wondering auditors. but
'N us curlosltlos or clients believe in them
~'es am quite sure that the Cherry Col
W. Nat kne" in her secret heart that she
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