The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1939-1949, 1945-10-04
Lisht, Of New York
MLl. STEVENSON

ML.l. STEVENSON
Meanderings and Meditations: A
sudden autumn downpour sending
Broadway pedestrians scuttling
for the protection Of marques or
doorways Entrances to office
buildings so. clogged that tenants
and others with business inside have
to buck the line to open q passage
Traffic officers DOMINIC black
raincoats. which they seem to make
appear like q magician draws . rab-
bit from Q hat and which the fall
ing drops soon cause to shine
Taxi drivers becoming even more
independent than usual Boot
blacks. their business completely ut
q standstill. either starting for their
homes or engaging in pitching PEN
MES Girls protecting their hats
with folded newspapers-their cloth
ing does not seem to matter at Ill
A long line Of youngsters watt
ing to get into . movie. engaging In
laughter and skylarking rather than
going In out Of the wet.
The Chrysler building looking ~
II Il had suddenly been dwarfed fully
one-third. upper stories and ito slim
final being lost In the murk
An enterprising merchant posting
''Umheellas'' and ''Raincoats'' signs
On his display window Um-
brella-carrying women acting % II
the eyes Of males wsesl legitimate
targets and giving dirty looks
II . protest T. made The quick
surge Of clotted pedestrian trahac
when The light ct 18th street changes
Sailors, hands IN pockets,
standing against building fronts and
locking % II water were . stranger
Of IN enemy .. Bars and cock
tan lounges doing rushing business
Pigeons, their feathers droop.
ing. budding On window Lodges
Sign painters coming down hastily
from their swing stages Big
trucks proceeding cautiously.
Lines waiting 70 ct into pay tsle-
phone booths Suburban NAM
mas heading hurrisdly for Grand
Central their idea peobahly being
that home II the best place when
he rains come Coal from q
huge truck being chuted into q base
ment md pedestrians no end IN.
noyod because they have 70 %
around The barrier A Sidewalk
ticket broker trying b interest pass
oESby In seats Tor one of the hit
shows and everyone seemingly
IN too much Of . hurry 70 pay him
the GNghtest attention !. Messen.
ger boys pedaling their bicycles for
IN they are worth Pushcart
merchants. their wares protected BY
tarpaulins, trudgfug along toward
streets where they won't have to
keep moving Broadway pedes-
trian traffic thinning to q mere
trickle. then to only IN occasional
individual who just has to get some
where.
The rain ending a. suddenly % Il
began and once more q human
tide sweeping along with feet rap.
idly drying the pavements :.
Sightseeing tour conductors appear.
ing % II from nowhere and swing.
ing Immediately into their business
Of soliciting patrons ut . each
with no discount for sefvicemen
The first woman apple peddler
(sray-haired Of course) I've seen In
months Youngsters with star
dust IN their eyes hopefully climb
ing the stairs leading to the ofaces
Of theatrical agents and others
coming down from the Offices Of
agents with disappointment On their
faces but hope stil1 burning brightly
IN their eyes.
.
On Fifth avenue. Magd McNeIlis.
the airwaveS most glamorous
Broadway and HOLLYWOOD common
tator With her. Dorothy Gul.
man. the beauteous press agent :.
A most correctly attired ancient
Copper. cutaway and striped pants)
III fused up because he has lost q
glove Out-of.towners throngne
into Rockefeller Center to look 1t the
Promethus Unbound fountain and
other sights Neckfies-pardon,
I should say ''scarveS''-at Q mere
as per each and solid eold
lighters at 500 One grand
dame informing another In q most
annoyed tone a voice that sho's
had three cooks within ths last