The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-04-26
In New York

not wait until the arrival Of Encke's comet to tell something about the Delectable Society of Dotards. Because there is a re- grettable possibility that there may not be any Dotards left when next their sign from heaven flashes a. cross the sky.
 It was about 20 years ago that group of oldsters, gathered In club lounge and inspired by the stars on a brandy bottle, fell to chatting about astronomy. One of the men remarked that he had been born under Encke's comet, in 1848. At this, five other men exclaimed that they had arrived on earth in that same year. The coincidence was so remarkable that a club of cometeers was organized on the spot.
 Men who had been born during other visits of the comet tried, to join, but were excluded. One dis gruntled applicant wrote a letter calling them a bunch of dotards. They rather liked the term, and adopted it. The New York Public Library has a copy of the consti- tuition of the Delectable Society of Dotards, but few people ever have heard of it.
 The official seal shows a
 baby gazing at the sky through
 a brandy bottle. Each mem-
 bcr carried an 1S4S silver dol
 lar in his pocket, and dinner
 meetings were celebrated with
 wines of 1848, which happen
 ed to be very fine vintage
 year. There were no dues or
 bylaws and every member
 was a governor of the club.
 Every member was wealthy, too. There were Edward J. Ber- wind, the coal king and financier, who was named as custodian of the society's coal (of course, it hadn't any): Henry Walters, the Baltimore and New York capital ist, and a member of yacht clubs, who was the official navigator; Edward Bement, who lived Tn Paris, appointed Dotard Ambassa- dor to all the courts of Europe; Albert V. de G6icouria, general with authority to purchase mill tary supplies; George B. de Forest a bibliophile, named as librarian (with no library); Allen W. Ev- arts, treasurer (with no funds) :, Thomas B. Clarke, collector (with nothing to collecD. Lucius K. Wilmerding was one of the orig nal members. And William E Iselin, an importer, was and is president.
 Only three of the members are alive today. and there can be no reinforcement of the broken ranks. Fortunately, however. the constitution provides that two DOtards, meeting anywhere and at any time, arc q quor- um. So they still have official
 Nmcctings.
 RialtO Robin Hood.
 One of the minor mysteries a. long Broadway concerns a middle- aged man, somewhat poorly dress ed, who stems the theater crowds and does a quite successful job of panhandling. It is reported that he knows just which people to bully, which to tweedle, and which to win with elaborate lies. When he collects a couple of dollars he goes into cafeteria, changes the whole sum into nick els, then goes back on the street 1 and passes out a coin or two to every bum he meets. There are all sorts of opinions regarding his identity F. that he's an ex-music publisher, now penniless, whose pride finds solace in such ges- ture; and that he's a wealthy fel- | low masquerading as bum to in- dulge sort of Robin Hood com plex. A restaurant man know says he's a priest.
 A Bad Slip.
 Another tale going the Broad way rounds is about Q prosperous real estate man who wants, more than anything else, to land Q short in a national magazine. He really works at writing, too. but for years his life has been just one rejection slip after another. Not long ago he called on an editor to seel a story and ended the interview by selling him a house on Long ls- land. But the story remained unsold.
 He invited the editor to play golf. fiattered him for eighteen holes and managed to lose to him 1 by rather staggering score. That evening he mailed a check cover ing his loss. and with 1t was q little note mentioning the story he wanted the magazine to publish. a few days later the check came back unashed, and attached to it was a rejection slip. . here, but, unless the Soviet gov- ernment finds more space for American officials. Bullitt believes