The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-09-23
? IN VII
 NEW YORK.
BY PAUL HARRISON

Bx FAUA k1RkSkeA6ON
 New York.--Psychologists might find some fascinesing studies among . few New York business For instance, there che attorney who bribos elevator boys in his of- fico building to let him run car up and down the 30 stories
 And the theatrical fellow who ofton leaves his comfortable hote! suite of m evening to go out and sell newspapers. He goes to q stand near the Hotel Knickerbock- CT, gives the newBman q dollar to buy few beers, and takes over the stand for . couple of hours. Thanks tho customers choerily and keeps meticulous account of re- celpts, which ho turns over to the owner when the latter returns =
 The story behind this IS
 prosperous theatrical agent.
 began lifo as Q newsboy and
 struggled against abject pow
 orty for years. To return to
 the trade, even for an even-
 ing, makes him better np-
 prociate the measure of suc-
 cess that he has attained. A Thwarted Cop
 Up near Seventy -second street and Broadway lives . cheerful, chubby merchant whose years have been filled with more pros perity than excitement. All dur Ing his youth no planned to be- come . policeman. but after m. horiting his fathers establishment ho settled into . sedcntary routine without even . holdup to break the monotony. Now, though, he finds some relief by helping the cop at . busy corner direct
 Tho pair arc friends, and
 tho cop, who understands, al-
 lows him to do the whistle.
 blowing when tho lights Then there's the sprishtly old gentleman who visits q basement peakeasy in Greenwich Village occasionally to help tend bar. This started some years ago when the gentleman, . frequent patron, of- ferod to show tho owner how to old days. It turns out, however. that he enjoys mixing or pouring any kind of drink, likes to polish glasses and to talk to any custom CT who's conversationally inclined. Never has volunteered any in- formation about himself. buS the guess Is that he's lonely ex.bar- tender who came into an inherit- ancc.
 This Beats the Hand
 Of course, too, there are doz- ems of amateur orchestra leaders. Many night clubs havo flow wealthy and regular patrons who along about 2 q. m. begin bidding for tho leaders baton and chance to wiold It during dance num- ber. The bandsmen, who pay no attention to the exhibitionists' gy- rations anyway, split handsome tips after they have packed their instruments.
 Fiery Ambitions Another type of thriil-seekers are fire "buffs'-men who follow the engines for excitement, and who often perform valuable ser vices along the firelines. such as serving coffee to the men or de- livering messages from the batta- lion chiefs -. Some of the wealthy ones have donated equip ment that the city was unwilling to buy. Edward J. Kenny, for example, the brother of Al Smiths friend, William F., gave the de- partment costly searchlight truck and used to operate it him. self. And Robert H. Mainzer. q banker, established a loan and aid fund for firemen Dr Harry M. Archer is dean of the city's bluffs now, honorary sur .. geon of the department, and also an honorary chief. The latter title was won several years ago when he remained on "duty" for 28 con- secutive hours at a sulphur fire. He and most of the other enthusiastic blaze chasers have special alarm signals at their bedsides, and always turn out for a three-alarm Dr Archer used to so to fires in an ambulance, picking up other bluffs on the way. These men don't like the term buff, since most of them are hon6rary officials of some sort. The word, however, dates back to 1865. when paid firemen succeed ed volunteer companies. The vol. unteers refused to be busted ana took to sleeping in the fire houses. When the city then refused 70 fur- nish them bedding, some brought heaps of buffalo robes to sleep on. So they were nicknamed "buffa- loes," and later "buffs".