Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-07-18
By L. L. STEVENSON

sugar story: several mOnLnS ago,
a middle-aged woman of ample
means who makes her home in a
midtown hotel, began having her
breakfasts served in her room. AS
she is on a diet, the menu is I'M
varied and the cost low. The other
morning instead of paying the
waiter as usual, she handed him
a big bag of sugar. This is for my
breakfast" she declared. Five full
pounds. l had the drugstore down.
stairs weigh it," After some pro-
test, the waiter took the bag and
the check to the cashier. Opening
1t, the cashier found each lump in
an intact wrapper which was
stamped with the name Of the hotel.
1t was finally decided to let the
matter pass. The next morning,
however, there was no sugar on the
woman's tray Rising in wrath, she
demanded her just due. Don't
Think" she stormed. lust because
my fool doctor won't let me have
sugar you can cheat me-" AS the
guest is always right each morning
now she has sugar.
Street Scene: Bronx housewives
on camp chairs outside apartment
buildings Mothers giving a
rocking effect to perambulators by
means Of a foot Youngsters
now and then coming up for mater
nal attention Such as having a
nose blown Knitting needles
clicking steadily Gossip being
exchanged about happenings in the
block A scissors grinder going
along with his little bell tinkling
merrily A millzman making
collections, the change in his pock-
cts jingling A vacant lot turned
into diamond With hot ball
game at tense moment Root
ers cheering wildly for their favor
ties Surrounding buildings
throwing back the din The
smack Of bat followed by a glass
crash and players and root
ers vanishing seemingly in the twin
king of an eye.
Language: Magda Tagliafero, red
headed, whirlwind French concert
pianist, who shortly after her arriv-
al in America last December an
nounced that she thought Gotham's
taxi drivers the most charming in
the world, has been spending the
months learning their lingo. After a
sightseeing trip with a party of
friends through Harlem the other
evening, she stepped into a cab
and in her saucy accent said to the
driver, ''Hotel St. Moritz-and cut
through the orchard, please" Her
companions, knowing full well that
Manhattan has no orchards, looked
at her as if she had actually gone
wacky. But Magda sat impassive
until the cab rolled into Central
park. Then she proclaimed: my
friends, this is the orchard"
Sympathy: New York has become
tree conscious within the last year.
1t all started with the planting of
elms in front of Rockefeller Center
followed by tree gift to St. Pat
rick's cathedral, just across Fifth
avenue, by Major Bowes. Recently
I noted that trees have been planted
on two sides Of block long London
Terrace while trees line both sides
Of 106th street from river to river.
There are also trees on Sixth ave-
nue.. Trees, of course, add to the
beauty Of the city. But to me, a
tree springing up from a sidewalk
in the midst Of steel and concrete
Is like an animal in a zoo or a wild
bird in a cage.
Honesty: The taxi driver who took
me home last night announced his
belief in Santa Claus during a traffic
light stop. It seems that earlier
in the evening, fare whom he had
left at an uptown apartment house,
had given him ten in mistake for
a one dollar bill. He needed the
money because of family illness, but
when he discovered the error, his
conscience got busy. So he went
back and tried to straighten it out.
And the fare, evidently thinking he
was attempting some kind of
game had bawled him out for dis
turbing him and ordered him to be
on his way.
Inns: Hotels entertain about TO-
100000 guests at conventions each
year Most hotel rooms have
about so articles for the use and
comfort Of the guest A medium
sized hotel has switchboard cap
able OF serving town of 5000 :.
Hotels buy 1900, 900 towels and
napkins, 5,76O.0O0 sheets and 800. 600
blankets annually.
End Piece: Bill Hargreave told
me of the struggling comedian who
hit his sponsor for a raise.