Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-22
Mew York
Letter

NEW YORK.-A note to King
vidor, film director: Thanks to
YOU swell Job on Street Scene.
+ came away from . theater the
other night with my emotions on
my sleeve. And wonds : about
the side-streets Of the city In which
I live.
To be sure, 1t was Elmer Rice
who captur. ' 1t first and put 1t
in a play. But you made 1t alive
and close.
And so, starting for home, !
turned into the first side street
I came to. 1t was 49th street. Half
a block down, q vegetable peddler
was sorting out his days leftovers.
He had tossed into the gutter q
dozen over-ripe tomatoes. Ten or
IA yards behind him trailed an old
fellow with a handkerchief for q
collar. One of the streets dis
heveled veterans. He would stoop
and pick UP the discarded vege-
tables, examine them closely, and
cut away the spoiled parts. Then
he would drop the rest In a large
bandana.
Watching him, I finished my
cigar and tossed 1t ! to the street.
Like q fish after q fly. a gutter
bum dived after 1t. And for the
first time, I learned what becomes
Of "snipes." Following the fellow
for half o block. i saw him snip
off the tip and part OF the ash.
The rest he tucked in a pipe and
lighted 1t. II was then I learned
that they don't actually smoke
the butts. They use EN- - pipe
filler.
I made my way back to Broad
way.
At the 47th street corner I met
a worn-lookilg gent leaning
against a square sign. The SIN in
vited all and sundry to a nearby
barber shop. Looking closely at
the derelict, I found that he had
a three or four days growth Of
beard.
IF I've got enough money left
from this job, I'm going to get
myself all fixed up...get a shake
and a haircut and try and get me
a job" he admitted. Holding a
barber shop sign. and with q shave
and haircut holding him backy
What'ye think Of that for a street.
scene. King?
A few feet away a Frenchman
paraded the streets. wearing a
jaunty beret but with a kitten
perched on his shoulders. That's
his racket-selling catsl He goes
back and forth for hours in front
Of the Gaiety theater. When the
crowds are passing, Of course.
One block more and q fantastic
nightmare stood at the curbstone.
He held In his hand a square
sign reading: See NapoleonI" 1t
seems, there was q Napoleonic COL
lection on display around the cor
ner. He wore the high and heavy
hat of a Napoleonic guard. A gol-
den IN" shone from its center.
The rest Of his costume was in
keeping. But he was q weakened
~doddering old fellow who played
Santa Claus last Christmas.
II Napoleon could only come
back TO life and see himl
So / hoped a subway and got
off at 18th street. AS I came out
Of the sweltering underworld into
the air, three cops held me back.
saying: Keep to the rightl-
There was great confusic1. Mobs
lined the sidewalks. Police whistles
sounded sharply. Traffic was half
halted. Taxis and private cars
lined the curb. I took out my
police card and made my way
through. Just down the block a
hollow square was formed by an
other police line. A line of hacks
and limousines fronted the curbs.
Newspaper camera men were DASH
ing about. Everywhere I heard
people chattering, questioning,
wondering.
A hearse drew up before a door.
From somewhere inside came the
shrek of a woman. A black box
came through the door.
1t seemed that a girl named
Cronin had been found strangled
to death after a drinking party
All in q half hour-just street
Scenesi
UuzA fiji --m-lA -