The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-12-19
FORD WON'T OPPOSE COOLTDGF
FIRST STATE WIDE CORN SHOW DATES SET
Joe Justice, Bowery Philosopher, Now
Wealthy, Assists "Down-and. Outers''
\ BY BOB DORMAN.
NEA Service staff Writer


beliefs, with education or knowledge
at odds with government that h,
could not understand, fleeing before
the n'ghtsticks of cops breaking ur
Ia red" meeting-today, wealthy
educated by his own keen wits. g
loyal citizen, a Christian, yet not 9
sectarian, extending a helping hand
without discrimination as to race
color or creed--that is Joe Justice
friend of all the Bowery, where "Joe,
the Jew" Is greeted on every hand
by all who pass.
Il was down and out myself" saws
Joe, land in the days of my prosper
ity haven't forgotten the pals of
the old days
They are still my pals, my
brothers. And help them whenever
| can. For money is only good as
you do good with it.
mot that despise money. When
money comes knocking at my door,
l open it wide, and say: Welcome,
home And then when it goes away
again, say God be with you, till we
meet again.
but l want to do all can to help
my fellow humans. 1t is a part of
my bargain. l agreed that if God
would make man of me, l would
serve Him. He kept his part of the
bargain. will keep mine.
II give the boys on the Bowery
feed now and then. haven't forgot
ten what it is to be hungry.
"And Christmas-then is when
try and give the boys, my old pals,
the best there is. Then-when all
the country is happy, when laughter
and JOY enter every home-is when
the down n.and cutters Of the Bowery
feel it most.
"They may have sinned but they
are fellow human beings.
"The helping hand, not a foot, is
what they need.
"And you can't fool them.
"You may fool Riverside Drive and
Fifth Avenue into believing that you
are God-fearing man - but you
can't fool the Bowery-they know.
"And there is one thing they will
appreciate, no matter. how low they
may be, or how great a criminal they
are, and that is a square guy.
"If you are on the level, they will
recognize it, and treat you likewise.
"And don't forget the motto Of the
Salvation Army, by which l was
made n man, That man may be
down, but he's never OUT"
From the gutter of the Bowery,
Joe Justice has fought his way to
comparative wealth.
After his conversion by the Saliva
tion Army, he married Lassie of
the Army, and with money loaned to
him by the Army, he went into the
laundry business.
Days he hunted soiled linen.
Nights he washed it. No Chinaman
ever worked harder.
The struggle was hard one. Gen.
tiles wouldn't patronize him because
he was a Jew. Jews wouldn't give
him work because he had forsaken
his faith.
But Joe persevered. Today he has
all the work of practically every
theater on Broadway. No stage door
keeper stops him. They all know
"Joe."
With his neatly wrapped packages,
he goes to the chorus girls dressing
rooms, "I've another new song for
you, girls" says Joe as the ladies of
the chorus check over their laundry.
Il don't suppose you can sing it
out front, but I want you to learn it
anyhow. wrote it all, the words
and music"
And Joe hands around copies Of his
song, "In Chinatown" the second
verse of which runs:
"Her days Of bloom and youth are
over
The Broadway Belle has run her
Gone are the merry days Of pleasure,
And want has taken splendor's
place.
Alone she sits, the past bewailing,
$ Her tears drop on the tattered
gown;.
But who cares for faded roses,
For drunken Nell in Chinatown?
"And if just one girl is helped over
= tight spot by my song, then am
more than satisfied" says Joe.
Justice has written more than 30
songs, which are used in religious
services.
He also makes addresses from vari- |
Gus church pulpits, both in New
York and other cities.