The Omaha morning bee., 1924-10-29
New York
DAY by Day.
BY O. o. MCINTYRE.

cd "AIgonauin group" of young in
tellectuals seems to have peen
temnorarily squelched. The round
table luncheon is no more. Whiie
the hotel is still a haven for writ
ers and artists the close COM
munion of yore is lacking.
The gathering were notable Ior
filters of mockery. They were smit-
ton with the bright notion that be-
cause they puffed each other IN
their newspaper columns the worio
hooted those who did not peions
to the clan.
u was quaint assortment
pale young poets, bookish youths
in horn-r trimmed glasses, painters
IN flowing ties and a soupcon ol
Jsunday odd job men. They enjoyed
heing pointed out by visitors from
Main street. And how they poseo.
one imported from Chicago as
hook reviewer was recently ois-
missed after year of gloritylne
himself and members OF his 1ami-
~.
Not one had given an impress
sive tone to literature nor had one
fashioned over conventional minds.
Yet theirs was an attitude or SUI
neriority over conventional minds.
II is said of one hard-boiled ca
nable reporter dropping in one day
fo,. lunch. One of the intellectuais
dropped in a seat alongside. The
reporter had been up all night on
tough assignment. He looked at MS
unbldden visitor and IN voice
that doomed said: Keep away
from me, you draw flies
The Algonquin run by FRANK
Case is chiefly theatrical hotei
of the better sort. Case has wide
friendship among stars. There 10
scarcely a stallar light OF briiiiancy
who has not at one time or other
lived at his inn.
Twice ructions arose over the IN
tellectuals. One reached the news
papers. Case is declared to have told
two of the brisk wise-crackers In
no uncertain terms that there were
other hotels where they might be
inst n little more welcome. And not
to twirl the revolving door in
their exit.
Satire and wit are no doubt the
sniee of life. But when they
become savage they lose their
tang. The subtle sniggerer may
have his vogue, but not for long.
The greatest comic genius New
York has never puns at the expense
of others. His shafts are directed
at himself. His popularity VIII
never die so long as he sticks to
kidding himself.
Up near Columbus circle stands
a man who sells lead pencils from
tray. He illustrates how rapidly
one may descend from the heights
I'm New York Three years ago he
had a fine apartment. two cars ana
an income of more than $4,000
n year. The market caught him. In
one month he was picked to the
bone. lie took to drink and lost
nll chance of a comeback. lie was
pofnted out to me by a man VINO
was formerly in his employ and TO
whom he paid a salary of $11 1000
year.
Don't you think It Is up to you
TO try to help him?" I ventured.
Il wouldn't give him nickel
he replied.
No more impressive lesson on
the power of thrift is possible.
Had this man saved just one
Nepth of his earnings. he would
not be selling lead pencils on Broad
way today.
Ny occasional ventures into saw
Ing have one drawback. Just when
seem to be making headway
along pops a delusion of grand
eur. l see something | want that
7 cannot afford II Is struggle, be-
tween thrift and extravagance.
And extravaganza wins hands
down.
one of the shrewd money-mak
ers OF Wall street once told me:
"If a man can save Systematically
for five years he will never quit
n will become a habit he cannot
break" / believe he is right, but
tho first four and a half years
are the hardest.