The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-06-01
IN NEW YORK

New York, June l.-Just q few tales
today about Bagdad-on-the. Subway.
In 34th street, adjoining IN area
way which leads into Pennsylvania
station, there is q little shop dealing
In plants, seeds, shrubs and such
things.
It has a direct appeal to the com.
muter. who bethinks himself Of hts
own front lawn and takes time out to
buy 4 box Of pansies or some bulbs.
The sidewalk in front of the shop IS
cluttered with small square boxes
which are verdant incongruities In q
block conglomerate with ~squawking
radio shops and cheap lunch counters.
Hurrying crowds stub their toes on
the boxes and give dirty, over-the-
shoulder glanccs at the innocent
sprouting greenery. To the city
dweller this glimpse Of garden affords
just . hint Of the lovely outdoors to
be found somewhere or other, but
not in Manhattan.
Each afternoon, when the sun has
swung owe the midtown sky .touchers,
q lanky lad in overalls and bare feet
comes from the store bearing . long
nosed sprtnkling can. For many
minutes the lad fingers tenderly over
each box and when he has finished
watering his sidewalk garden, he lei
surely puts on his shoes and goes back
into the store.
He has had his minute with the
0ut.of doors! Once within the store,
the boss makes him shed his overalls-
and return to snAppy street clothes.
lest some customer catch him In his
barnyard apparel.
The other night. stopping to talk
with the lad, l learned that these
few minutes in his disguise are to
him what going fishing in the creek
is to the country boys. Born and bred
on the East Side. this Is his first con-
tact with nature-a few s~ad.lookinE
boxes stretched out On the sidewalk.
But someday," he told me, I'm
going to ave my money and have Z
farm"
And somewhere. in the farmlands
Of the nation, lads in overalls and
bare feet lie on fragrant grass Of
perch On fences, dreaming Of . day
when they will have money to come
to the cities an I see the gay Sights.
With which, I rest my case!
In Greenwich Village, where I re-
side, there Is q strange fellow who.
when days are damp and cold, brings
kindling and large wood for the FAM
lily fireplace. ! knew he was q strange
fellow the first time he made . de-
livery, because he gave me so much
for my money. Looking at the wood.
however, I noticed that 1t bore q
striking resemblance to the lumber
which had b:en piling up q few
blocks away for the construction Of
a new subway. However, that was
none Of my business.
Unable to reach him by phone the
other day. I went over to his place.
"Oh. he's gone to Jail again." they
told me.
And then I heard the story. Years
ago he attached himself to the arty
and intellectual groups which made
up the Village. Time and again he
tried creative work himself, only to
fail. But he believed In giving strug-
Cling young artists q chance. At one
time or another he has staked ct least
one or more Of the nationally known
vagabond poets. He used to steal
clothes and resell them. At regular
intervals he would 60 to jail. He
doesn't mind this. In fact he calls
his jail periods his vacation" He
takes with him manuscripts Of young
authors and many volumes Of philos-
ophy and poetry. And 80 It goes.
In 57th street there is q newsstand
owned and operated by Z blind wom-
an. She has earned her own living.
despite her handicap. since she was
about u. She married one who was
similarly afflicted and they had q
child whose eyes were unaffected and.
hence, became their eyes. The hus-
band died. but she has given the
youth every advantage OF an affluent
home. He is now preparing for COL
lege.
Scores Of individuals in the mid
town district knew her story and
have for years gone out Of their way
to buy their paper and magazines at
her stand. Some Of these are among
the national celebrities Of the theater
and sporting world. Some come over
from the swanky Central Park West
section.
Tex Richard was one Of the regu-
lars. He paid upon the first c. every
month. When he died suddenly he
owed her nearly $50. And because Of
the involved legal nature Of the Rick.
ard estate she hasn't been able to
collect.
GILBERT SWAN.
Copyright, 1929, NEA Service. lnc.)