The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1939-09-22
Liqhts Of NewXork
byL. L. STEVENSON

FOR many years she mas Deen SELL
ing newspapers at q stand at Wall
and William streets. Every day ex-
cept Sunday, through the heat OF
summer, the cold of winter, snow,
( Get and rain, she is at her stand
ION seven In the morning until ten
at night Her patrons are her
friends. Many men and women Of
the financial district stop for little
CHAT with her when they are not too
hurried. Forty years ago she came
to this country from Lithuania.
She married and eventually her hus-
band became an assistant superin-
tendent in the state employment Of
flee. But there ware children, two
boys and girl, to whom she wished
to give educational advantages she
had not enjoyed herself. That
caused her to take up paper selling.
Six years ago, her husband died.
Since then the newsstand has been
her sole source of income.
When her children were small,
Mrs. Harris, of course, did not
have much time to herself even on
her own day off. But because she
liked to make things with her hands,
with stiff paper and crayons, she
produced paper flowers which gave
her much pleasure. Her children
are now grown. One son is q
mechanic. Another is a pharma-
cist Her daughter, who has two de-
grees from Fordham university, is
school teacher. The daughters
husband is dental mechanic.
Work is scarce these days. Another
baby is expected so the daughter
isn't teaching. That means that
Mrs. Harris is practically the sole
support of another family. But that
doesn't keep her from using her
hands on Sundays. Only now, in
stead of making paper flowers, she
does sculpturing.
When Mrs. Harris decided to take
up clay modelling, she didn't have
any money to spare for tools. I'm
daunted, she made some out Of
wood The kitchen table was good
enough for a bench. Clay isn't ex-
pensive Each Sunday morning,
right after breakfast, she goes to
work and doesn't quit until late in
the afternoon. She especially likes
to model hands. Hands have much
character and tell more than words,
she holds. When she does some
thing that affords her pleasure, she
takes it to her newsstand that she
may study it for defects while sell
ing papers. Recently, member Of
the Sculptors guild happened to see
some of her specimens. And thus,
the biggest day of her entire life.
When the Sculptors guild held its
annual outdoor show at Park ave-
nue. and Thirty-ninth street, Mrs.
Harris was present. Not merely as
one of the many spectators, but as
a guest of honor. From the guild,
she received a set of the finest
sculptor tools that could be bought
and hundred pounds of the best
modelling clay was sent down to
the Peck Slip apartment which she
occupies with her daughters fam
lily. All that was extremely thrill
ing. But there was still a bigger
thrill for the woman who sells pa
pers in Wall street-Adolph Wolff,
well-known sculptor, chatted with
her about art more than an hour.
Then he modelled her head. The
head, with the title The Venus OF
Sixty" will be a part of his forth
coming exhibition.
After her day of days, Mrs. Harris
went back to selling papers and
she's still at Wall and William day
after day Her Sundays, however,
are spent with her beloved clay
Clay is her pleasure. The news.
stand is her independence. And
there are seven grandchildren who
must have an education. She is de-
ternined that they have it, for tc
Mrs. Harris education is the very
best thing one can get out of life.
The city of New York should ge1
a commission from hat makers
The city owns and operates the In
dependent subway and many q
male passenger has been made hat
less when two speeding trains pas:
Raymond Paige ran across {
colored lad who used to run ar
elevator in the apartment in which
he lives but who had been fired fol
gambling Are you working
YETI" asked the orchestra leader
mot yet, MIR. Paige" was the
reply. ST can't find NAH dice"