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

NEW r *. note to King
vidor, film director: Thanks TO
your swell job on Street Scene,
/ came away from q theater the
other night with my emotions on
nv sleeve. And wonde : about
the side streets Of the city In which
/ live.
To be sure, it was Elmer Rice
who captur. ' 1t first and put II
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, a vegetable peddler
was sorting out his days leftovers.
He had tossed into the gutter q
dozen over-ripe tomatoes. Ten or
IL 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 q large
bandana.
Watching him. I finished my
cigar and tossed 1t | to the street.
Like q fish after a fly. a gutter
bum dived after 1t. And for the
first time. I learned what becomes
Of "snipes." Following the fellow
for half a block, ! saw him snip
off the tip and part OF the ash.
The rest he tucked in a pipe and
lighted IL. 1t was then I learned
that they don't actually smoke
the butts. They use EN- II pipe
filler.
I made my vay back to Broad
way.
At the 18th street corner I met
a worn-lookilg gent leaning
against a square sign. The s.5n 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 1--WE 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 back
What'ye think Of that for a street.
scene. King?
7. A few feet away a Frenchman
paraded the streets. wearing a
jaunty beret but with q 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 a fantastic
nightmare stood at the curbstone.
He held In his hand a square
sign reading: See Napoleon 1t
seems, there was a 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.
4A4C ACCL Va HIS &o1ldAAAC Wa5 al
keeping. But he was a weakened
doddering old fellow who played
Santa Claus last Christmas.
If Napoleon could only come
back to life and see himl
So i hoped a subway and got
off at 18th street. As ! came out
OF the sweltering underworld into
the air. three cODS held me back.
saying: Keep to the right"
There was great confusici. 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 Il
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 q 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 q drinking party
All in a half hour-just street
scenesl
The first automobile was equip