The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-05-21
Smiling and
Polite Man
Heads Opera
Edward Johnson, Recent
ly Chosen, Known for
Cheerfulness.
BY HELEN WORDEN
Timss special Writer

NEW YORK. May Edward
~ Johnson. who was appointed
last week 70 succeed the late Her
bert Witherspoon as director Of the
Metropolitan opera Co. IS one Of
the characters Of my neighbOrhoOd.
Those who live in the vicinity Of
Syst and Park-av often meet Mr..
johnson. either dining at Betty Bar
clay's. or strolAng up and down
Madison-av on pleasant evenings.
Always smiling. always polite. and
with a punctiiious click % mis- heels
when he bows. Eddie" Johnson in
appearance is cheerful C0mbina-
ton Of VIII Rogers, Charlie Dawes
and Bill Hart
New York neighbOrhOods assume
the character Of small villages to
those who live in them. Residents
IN my section are loyal 10 neighbOr-
hood shops. restaurants and movies.
Mrs. Duncan Phyfe. who. in her
way. is as well known as Edward
Johnson. lives at DelmOnicos, my
hotel
II she happens 10 skip a day in
her Sauntering up and down 59th-st,
Daniel James Michael Doyle. the
Sheffield Farms proprietor Mrs.
Phyfe buys buttermilk Of him). be-
gins 10 make inquiries about her
health and Miss j Sutphen, the
hostess at Schraft's 59th-st and
MadisOn-av. keeps an anxious eye
on Mrs. Phyfe's vacant chair.
Mrs. Phyie is a granddaughter of
Duncan Phyfe. the famous cabinet
maker and furniture designer. In
years past. George Gordon Battle,
the noted lawyer. has been the at
tOrney for her estate.
Not long ago 1 met Mrs. Phyfe
crossing MadisOn-av at 59th-st. A
strange young woman was plotting
her in and out Of traffic. As I came
up I heard the young woman say.
And what did MI Battle do then?"
Recalls McAIlister
Mary Flynn's stationery shop At
43 f. 59th-st is a neighborhoOd
institution. Ancient dowagers neatly
turned out in Queen Mary bonnets.
black velvet-neckbands and let
trimmed costumes. patrOnize her
little store. Every morning great.
old-faShiOned black-pOlished limOu-
sine5 line up in front of Miss
Flynn's while Mrs. This or That
stop for at-home cards. telephone
pads and kitchen memoranda.
Miss Flynn has been in business
80 years. Ward McAllister was one
OF her first customers.
Very conservative in his tastes,
she said.
Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish was also
patron Of Flynn's. And a sweet,
lovely. charming woman to the last"
Mary Flynn said. Before 59th-st
was changed. my little store used
to be three steps below the street
level. II wasn't easy for Mrs. Fish
to get down as she grew older. but
she came to see me herself. Just the
same"
Other patrons Of Miss Flynn. in
clude Anne Morgan. Mrs. Charles
Alexander. Mrs August Belmont.
George Gershwin. the Countess
SzechenY and the Prince of
Monaco
Royalty Likes Simplicity
His Highness buys all his CAL
endars of me each year" Mary
Flynn said. both the large wall and
the gem calendars; he wants them
plain and buSinesS-like."
The Star Bar and Grill at SO E.
59th-st and the ROscOmmon Irish
Club in Tuxedo Hall at 59th-st and
Madison-av. contribute a lively
touch to our neighbOrhOod night
life.
From 3 a. m on. the melting notes
of Little Annie Rooney" Sweet
Adeline" and odd Black Joe" rem
dered in quartet and solo form.
float up 10 my windows.
That's the boys at the Star Bar"