The Wyandotte herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1879-1943, 1940-06-14
Liehts Of Network
byL. L. STEVENSON

There is no lonelier feeling for a
New Yorker, observes Mllt Herth-
and many are inclined to agree with
him-than, on day when business
is closed down, walking through the
section where he works. The tall
buildings, usually teemIng with hui
man beings, are tightly locked win
perhaps a lone light cleaning IN
window high above The ordinarily
crowded street looks like a stage
set before actors make their en-
frances. The restaurant where he
eats, the corner cigar store where
he gets his smokes and chats with
cronieS, the bootblaCk establishment
that keeps his leather cleaning are
idle and the atmosphere generally
is that of deserted island. The et-
feet is heightened by the fact that
sounds of nature, associated with
lonely places outside the metropolis,
have as substitutes merely occasion
al footballs or the whir Of passing
cars
The usually feverish financial sec
ton is New York; real deserted
village on Sundays and holidays as
we'll as after nightfall 1t IS never
really forsaken of course since Sun
days. holidays and nights there are
workers, men who keep the ma
chinery and heating systems going,
ScrubWomen with their mopS and
pals, policemen who walk their
beats, detectives out to see what
may be going on and guards whose
numbers never dwindle because
Wall Streets treasures are constant
ly under watchful eyes At other
seasons there may be tourists, since
the best time to view Wall Street
and surroundings is when 1t is TAX
ing a rest. But now tourists are
few, so the district is given over
to workers and watchers with per-
haps some kids from nearby tene-
ments who use empty streets as
Fairgrounds.
Another night. Sunday and holt
day deserted section is the down
town wholesale district. The whole
SalerS shut up shop even more tight
~ than do the money-changerS. That
is. workers are fewer There are
watchmen but not in the numbers
present in the haunts of Mammon.
The value of stocks, WoolenS, ETC.,
may run into millions. Owners, how
ever, seem to prefer steel doors,
steel bars, steel screens and bur-
glar alarms to man power. In the
darkness, figures may be seen
prowling here and there Some are
mysterious. Others are members of
the police department safe and loft
squad who find the wholesale sec
ton a busy hunting ground after
business hours.
Just the reverse is Fifty-second
street. It's during the day and not
at night that Swing Lane" is, in a
manner of speaking, deserted. Lined
with various establishments some
well known, some new and doomed
to quick fading-which cater to aft
er-dark trade, Fifty-second street
really comes to life shortly after
the final curtains in the various the
aters. Then it keeps on going with
noise and confusion until well into
the morning. It's not a place to
dwell if one wants to sleep at night.
Hope / may be pardoned for an
other Herth mention. Recently Milt
was POSTMASTER at a dinner given
for an old school friend, who may
be designated Joe Doakes, who was
about to be married Milt arose
to introduce the bridegroom-to-be
Before present the next speak
er," he began, Il would like to tell
you about our days at school to-
gether. One boy in our class was
always the first to answer correctly.
He was admired and envied by fell
low students for the brilliance of his
mind, the sagacity of his remarks.
He was the recognized leader of the
school. That student was your toast
master. now call on Joe Doakes. >"
In the guest book of the Restau-
rant Magyar are recorded not only
the names of dining celebrities but
the dishes they order. Walter HUI
ston prefers onion soup and Hun
garian goulash. James Cromwell
likes brook trout. Mayor LaGuar-
dia goes for Stucchi Genovese. An
ME Llndbergh has poularde au cur
ry. Martha Ray wants baby lob
Ster. Elliott Roosevelt selects gui-
nea hen and Frank Buck demands
just plain wheat cakes.
Bus top eavesdropping: IF steal
ing her husband was a crime. if
couldn't be any more than petty
larceny"