The Omaha morning bee., 1924-05-13
NeU York
DAY by Day.
BY o. o. M'INTYRE.

New York, May 13.-New York
going to work in the morning raises
a monotone of 100000 tramping
feet. 1t can be heard blocks away
from the beaten paths. 1t is com
parable somewhat to the incessant
swish of the sea.
Workers fairly gush out of sub
ways. railroad terminals, elevated
railways and surface cars. To most
of them breakfast has been glacial
repast. They must fly away to be
on time at the office. 1t is a rush
inc army that rarely smiles.
All the varying shades of hu-
manity are splotched in the patch
olilt Of metropolitan life There are
slick and accurate men born to
figures. Prim ladies who drip sec
retarial efficiency. Pretty steno-
graphic fluffs who are interested IN
the luncheon date more than work.
Old men who feel themselves slip
ming but must carry on. Natty
counter clerks and seedy types Of the
shipping room and back stairs. The
most impressive thing is their aloof-
ness. They plod along looking neither
TO the right nor left. There Is no
talk. Lips appear sewn together in
a firm line.
Withal it is an arrogant and COCK
sure procession. New workers. 10
not fear the job as do workers IN
other cities To be fired is no dis
grace. Nobody knows and there Is
another job around the corner. The
future rarely stretches farther than
two weeks ahead.
The high tide of the procession is
on Forty-second street around s:3O
o'clock. They walk westward TO
Fifth avenue and scatter everywhere
to the garment district, big and lit
tie stores, office buildings and hun
dred and one other places of employ
ment.
1t is all quite different at in the
evening when the workers sweep TO
their homes. II is the end Of another
day and the safety valve of restraint
has popped. There is laughing, good
natured elbowing and quick-stepping
to the evening pleasures to come.
Manhattan workers, too, have a
dozen dialects. There is the patois
Of the east side which bites off the
"r" such as "thoid," bold" and
"skoit" Then there is that strictly
New Yorkese which adds the "r" such
as Il sawr him before he left for
Cuber" Also the broad "a" of the
ntellectuals that pronounce cant
"cawnt." Broadway has its infusion
Of slang which makes speech ellipti.
cal and swift. A phrase is used to
answer almost any question. Up in the
Bronx there Is a dragging cadence
to speech--a half nasal twang.
Brooklyn worries less about work
than any other section Of the town.
The actor who works a week and lays
of seven is never worried. Many New
Yorkers will work for six months and
loaf the other six along the White
Way. Incidence is a mark OF distinc-
ton. 1t indicates one is putting
something over"--a wise guy Almost
any cafe has its l o'clock in the after.
noon breakfast crowd. They have no
fear Of the morrow.
come to New York from the west and
middle west. A pawn ticket to them
is a sign of failure. They have come
to New York with Main Streets ac
colade ringing in the ears: "Podunk's
loss is New York's gain" II they fail
they are dlsgraced and so they work
hard and as rule climb. There are
many employers who will not hire the
born New Yorker.
Perhaps the above ls unfair to the
rara avis--the born New Yorker, but
can at the moment think of six ma.
tive New Workers. among my acquaint
ances. Their occupations are as fol
lows: A taxi starter, n capable dra-
matte critic. the head Of a silk house,
a theatrical producer, a quick lunch
proprietor and a hotel clerk
Copyright, 1920