The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1943-01-28
Liqhts Of NewXork
by L. L. STEVENSON

cents. But this transportation bar
gain has a drawback-there isn't
any scenery. Stations are pretty
much alike and while the train bangs
along all there is to be seen is a
dingy wall unwinding like a roll of
dirty ribbon, signal lights of various
kinds, emergency exits and now and
then a lantern-equipped trackwalk-
er with his body pressed tightly into
some niche only a foot or so from
destruction. Nevertheless, war
which does so many strange things,
has driven New York sightseers into
the subways. Instead of riding from
one point of interest to another in
big buses as they did in the past,
they now travel in the subway with
the barker acting as the bell wether.
He doesn't wear a bell, however.
Instead he informs his flock Of his
whereabouts by constantly jingling
pocket full of nickelS.
Diplomacy: Crowds that congre-
gate in front of the New York Times
bulletins in Times square read the
war news with tense interest. Ere
quently arguments occur over the
8 meaning of happenings in various
parts of the world and so hot do
they become and such throngs col
lect to listen to the disputants, as
well as to take sides, that the police
have to 60 into action. One cop
assigned to such duty is big, fat and
jolly. Also he is a practical psychol-
ogist. Realizing that curt commands
might cause trouble or possibly a
riot, he usually gives his orders in
humorous terms. For instance, the
other afternoon when an argument
spread from the two principals to
a group of considerable size and
much loud talk was being ex-
changed, up came the officer with
the command, Come on, you bunch
of generals, before a dive bomber
breaks you up" The disputants
melted away with grins.
Gratitude: Four RCAF men were
enjoying dinner at the Schrafft's
'eVittles for Victory table when a
guest called hostess to his table
and informed her he'd like to or
der few rounds of liquid refresh
ments for the boys, but he didn't
want them to know who sent them
over. The hostess replied that it.
was very kind of him to do some
thing for the hiers, but she was sure
they would want to thank him.
THANK mel" exclaimed the stran-
ger. 'Oh, no. It's my turn to thank
them. Just last week two RCAF
men snatched me from watery
grave in the Atlantic ocean. I'd
been adrift in a life boat for Il
days and might still be out there if
it hadn't been for those heroic
aviators. The four boys at that Ia
BILE are not the ones who saved my
life = but they might well have
been" - .
= -,=%
Rain: A sudden downpour, though
it may be heavy, doesn't sweep
Broadway clear of its pedestrian
stream. There are always those
who have urgent reasons for keep
ing on their way. Also there are
those to whom a little thing like
getting wet has no special signifi-
canoe. But the majority of foot pas
sengers scramble for shelter of
some kind On Broadway, shelter
usually means amarquee or door,
way. Those who stand under mar
quees regard passers-by as inter-
ferers with their rights. They, un-
less cop happens to be handy. re-
fuse to allow even a narrow pas
sage The result is that the walk
er, if he would keep on going, has
to step into the street. Those in
doorways not only refuse to bulge,
but scowl as customers who would
force their way inside. Proprietors,
who like to do business even dur
ing rain, may get sore and give
orders but that makes no difference.
About Manhattan: Broadway look
ing down-at-the-heel in the afternoon
sun with the bright lights
dinmed, not even attractive at night
anymore Just another street
with hot dog stands, movie theaters,
cheap stores, saloons and restau-
rants Wonder if its glamour
will ever return Every Broad.
way clock, and they are numerous,
showing different time :. Best
to depend on the wrist watch :.
A group of sailors going into the
stairway leading to dance hall
which advertises on a marquee sign,
"Sixty beautiful hostesses."
Soldiers grouped about a eirlie-girl-
lie show entrance and after
little discussion, going on their way
.. Pleasant visit with Lee Corb-
man, Detroit, who writes books for
piano students and who was in town
to deliver to her publisher the man.
uscript of a new one She
found the spare typewriter in my
Office closely related to an ice
wa 0op