Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-02-25
Lights Of NewXork
by [. L. STEVENSON

nights does not seem the same with
out the ragamuffins who in the past
entertained the passing throngs in
various ways. Their specially was
dancing, and the dancers for the
most part had exceedingly nimble
feet. They were up on the latest
as well, and Charleston experts in
turn gave place to those who did
truckin'. Sometimes there were har-
monica or vocal soloists. But they
too had to be nimble of foot. Be
tween the ganains and the cops,
there was constant warfare. An es-
sential member of the troupe was
the lookout and when he gave the
signal, the youngsters were gone
with the wind. But they never de-
parted, no matter their hurry, with
out gathering nickels and dimes that
had been tossed their way, since
those nickels and dimes were the
objective of their efforts.
Colorful and picturesque were
those youngsters who kept late
hours and danced among the bright
lights. They were also tough-as
tough as case-hardened steel. That
is the reason why they no longer
congregate about the theaters, be-
fore and after the show and between
the acts, That is why also that mid
town cops get less exercise. The
authorities figured that it would be
better for the urchins if they were
chased once and for all. So instead
of merely making gestures, the po-
lice made arrests. Parents were
brought into court and made to
see why their children should be in
their homes and not on Broadway
late at night. So now the youngsters
who danced and sang have disap-
peared. So have most of those with
fearful faces and soiled newspapers.
Not so amusing, colorful or pa
thetic were those car watchers who
infested the theater district in
such numbers that motorist
couldn't find a space that wasn't
under their control. Various loca-
tons we're taken over by gangs who
had ousted other gangs and the
motorist who failed to tip lived to
regret it. In fact, conditions reached
such stage that some of the guide
books advised paying fee rather
than suffer damaged car bodies and
tires as we'll as the removal of
everything that could be detached.
Matters reached climax when
motorist who tipped only a dime
was assaulted. Then the police took
hand and now there are no more
car watchers. In their place is an
ordinance which forbids them to
engage in such business.
Taxicab jockeys have also been
eliminated by police activity. The
jockeys were boys and men who
swung onto the running boards of
taxicabs and when they stopped,
opened doors and stood by waiting
for tips for the alleged service.
The practice was not only annoying
but dangerous. Doormen are not
forbidden by the new ordinance to
perform such services, and thus
they get break on rainy nights.
They hustle out and bring up cabs
and acquire tips. That cabs would
arrive anyway never seems to oc-
cur to the time-harried New Yorker.
Public porters are still licensed
by The City. They station them
selves in various places and pounce
on the baggage of travellers. When
that happens, the traveller has to
pay two tips since the public porter
is not allowed in the railroad sta
ton, toting in terminals being
red cap monopoly. Public porters,
in the past, have acted as steerers
for various minor hotels, often talk
ing strangers out of going to places
where they had intended with con-
sequent loss to those who yielded.
The return of prosperity has caused
the return of the hat grabber. When
times were dull a number of estab-
lishments dismissed the hat grab
Der and thus patrons were not re-
CURED to ransom hats and coats.
But they are back now and seeming
ly are more rapacious than ever.
1t has been said that the New York
er pays S. for hat and then ex-
ponds $40 buying it back from check
rooms. The only solution seems to
be going bareheaded and that GUS
tom is not what it used to be. Bare
heads are not nearly SO numerous
as in the past.