The New York herald., 1922-11-30
New Yorker With Civic Pride
Fails to Sell Nice New Half
Dollars at Half Price.
ARRESTED AND FINED TOO
Loses Bet With Scornful West
erner, Who Called This a
Hard Boiled Town

Mr. Wolff of the st. Louis VOLTS
was debating with Mr. Cohen of the
New York Cohens regarding the essen
tial hard-boiledness OF New Workers..
Mr.. Wolff had satisfied himself thai
the citizens of the five boroughs had
been left in the water too long-six
minute eggs all.
They would not buy half dollar IL
offered for twenty-five cents said
Mr.. Wolff. "They are hard hearted.
trese wise guys Of New York"
What do you know about New Ycfss-
ers and the way they feel?" demanded
Mr.. Cohen. Indignantly. bruised in the
pace he Keeps his pride of locality.
New Workers are good people, trusting
people. They are smart for bargains,
you should know II. Willie. but their
hearts iss rine. Willie"
Lures New Yorker to a Fall.
Bunk" said the St Louis shoe sales
man. You hear me. Jack Cohen. talk
of selling half dollars for a quarter
You could not do it,
Il bet you two hundred I can." re-
piled Mr.. Cohen. sporting blood aroused
I'm bet you two hundred, Willie, that
can make sale of hundred half
dollars at a quarter apiece, within fiji
teen minutes.
This was getting down to business.
The St. Louis shoe salesman, William
Wolff. and the New York business man.
Jack Cohen, 81 years old. 5S Manhattan
avenue, put up the money and found a
.imekeepcr, referee and witness COM
bined in one man. William Brown. who
lives In the same house with Cohen at
IS Manhattan avenue. Mr.. Cohen went
to a Broadway bank and purchased 100
shiningly new half dollars. With hs
pockets sagging and his confidence In
the good faith and simple trustfulness
of New Workers. mounting high. he took
stand at Broadway and Forty-ninth
street and began to cry his wares:
Nice new half dollars for quarter
only a quarter. Come. grab real bar
gain, gents; nice. new half dollars going
at quarter. Have a look. Take a
chance"
small crowd mIled around Mr..
Cohen. but nobody offered to buy. Grin
ping faces marked that cynical assem-
blage. Remarks indicative OF no great
confidence in the altruism of mankind
popped from the group. who gaped or
selves fall for such bunco game as
paying quarters for halves. Mr.. Cohen
was asked what his quotations were for
stock In the Brooklyn Bridge and the
Woolworth Building.
shifts Under PcddIing Law.
Then Patrolman Harty of the West
Forty-seventh street station hove along
eide and wanted TO know what Mr..
Cohen meant by peddling goods with
out license. Mr. Cohen apologized to
the law and removed himself and his
spurned goods to n stand further up
Broadway this time to the Fiftylfirst
street corner. But II made no difference
in the attitude of the people. They would
not believe their eyes. Occasionally.
when somebody bit smelled and jingled
one OF the coins, they did not believe
their other senses also. Cohen could not
make single sale. and the minutes
were flying.
Along came Patrolman Harty again,
mad this time. and determined to send
Cohen before the Judge. He did Just
that, and before Magistrate Ryttenberg
IN the West Side Court he pleaded
guilty to selling without license, and
paid fine OF 81. paid II with four OF
the half dollars that nobody would buy.
Mr.. Wolff. 1t must not be overlooked.
was right on hand TO collect the $500 held
by Stakeholder Brown. and he received
the money with a pleased shake OF the
head; intelligence had once moro
triumphed over sentiment.
II told you--they are hard boiled"
said Mr.. Wolff.