The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-05-09
In New York
By PAUL HARRISON
BY PAUL HARRISON

BY PAUL HARRISON
 New York-One of my favorite contributors is the cafe au lait fe- male named Maybelle who treks in daily from Harlem to dust our apartment and break a few dishes.
 Maybelle has no idea that she ,g a contributor to this department. but she has added much to my ideas of behind-the-scenes life in the black belt; also to my glossary of slang. Maybelle it was. who, chided about lint under the furni. ture. assured me that is wasn't dirt No indeedy; 1t was only mouse moss"
 She interprets my dreams, and apparently possesses such an ex- tensive library of dream books that with sufficient research . happy omen can be found even for q welsh -rarebit nightmare. Some times my dreams also govern hei. selection of numbers in betting on policy game. None of them ever have won, though and I believe her faith is wavering.
 Futile Luck
 The recent police campaign against the lottery racket interfer- ed not at all with Maybelle's daily wagering of a nickel or dime. It was, in fact, "a sign" Maybelle is an opportunist, even in diversity Leaving her house, she noted the number on the shield of the first policeman, she passed, and few minutes later was betting dime on that same number. It won, but her triumph has been somewhat dulled by the conspicuous absence of the lottery agent who still has the $54d due her.
 Maybclle belongs to "social and cultural society called the Gay Parees. In fact, she's one of the guiding spirits, and for sever al weeks looked forward to tho May election of officers with utter confidence that she would be an unopposed candidate of the clubs presidency. But the other day she confessed a little sadly that she hadn't been elected. asked why.
 Well" she said, Has year we got some station-nary printed to use fo' the clubs 'ficial lettahs an Invitations. It was right gay. wid de seal printed in red, an names of all de officehs. Last Sat-dy we had de lection meetin' am de seccatary repo'ts we still got most of that station-nary left. So dey wasn't anything to do but reelect de oI officehs until such time us the station-nary wid dey names on it is all used up."
 Smoked Ham
 Maybelle has a distant cousin up in Harlem who is just tho meekest man you ever did see. Does somebody cheat him in card game, he don't complain at all. People charge things at his store and don't ever pay for them, but he keeps right on trusting them.
 This cousin--Ham his name is -got himself married once. but 1t wasn't any time at all until a hinkty big black man came around in his fancy clothes and began making sweet talk at Hams wife. Ham pretended he didn't notice anything, but one day his wife and the black man were gone. Hams overcoat and some money he had in the home went along with them.
 Three, four months later, they walked right into the store, boldcr than brass. Ham said hello, and she sai dhellc, and the big black ma nsaid he'd decided he would kind of work around the grocery for awhile. Ham didn't say much, but the black man stayed around the store. Didn't really work, but 1t seemed like he stole everything he could lay his hands on. We'll, after a few weeks of that, Ham could see that If something wasn't done he was going to lose his store, So he got up his gumption and had the black man arrested. Had his wife arrested too. The ofIicer in the police station listened while Ham told all about his wife and the black man. The policeman asked why ho hadn't done 1t months before.
 why" said Ham. T didn't think I ought to- go eettin' mad like that, right on the spur of the moment"
 Einc Points
 It might well have been, but wasn't that same Ham who run afoul Of q big sspia bully in q Harlem crap game. The bully roll- cd the dice in hie hat, where only | he could sec thom. After each cast he'd announce Q seven or eleven and would take the stakes from the teFrlhea victims. Finally he tlEed Of that and announced that
 70 was 2 point. on the fskt re'l .i.' ns