Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1916 — Gales of GOTHAM and other CITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Gales of GOTHAM and other CITIES

Life and Death in New York’s Little Italy MBTVV YORK.—One of the most Interesting spots in this city is the new W “Little Italy" in the east side of Third avenue, embracing from One Hundred and Sixth to One Hundred and Eighteenth streets. In this section the

wealthy partrones, hurdy-gurdy barons, bootblack k.ngs and tonsorial counts have their abode. The only excitement for the residents is an occasional mur der, maybe a funeral of two a day and perhaps a bomb explosion at night. Otherwise it is a quiet, peaceful spot to live in. During the day the streets are lined with hand barrows, the fire escapes crowded with children and bed covering; the stores are .imall and all the cellars are given over »o coal, ice,

phoemaking and spaghetti foundries. The vendor with his barrow at the curb is met by the small storekeeper putting most of his goods on the sidewalk. This leaves a narrow lane for passers-by. When a store Isn’t given up to groceries, bakeries, saloons, drug stores and the growing of spaghetti it's a bank. The-banks are a great feature of “Little Italy." The Italian housewife bargains at barrows or store doors for the family supplies. Usually she pushes along a baby carriage to carry home the provender. The baby carriage to “Little Italy" is what the automobile is to a chorus girl—it’s a luxury. At dusk you get the fumes of cooking garlic and then come the toil-stained men from the trenches and dark figures pushing street pianos, who disappear inside the houses to get on the outside of the unsavory odor. After the meal everybody retires to the street for the air. Then the fireworks begin. Although the police frisked every man in "Little Italy” some time ago - and took away about »,000 pistols, stilettos and other weapons, the supply is not exhausted. Maybe the storekeeper down the street did not come across when he was tagged by the “Black Hand.” Just to show him how badly they wanted the money they place a bomb under hiß store window and blow out the front of the building. Over in the next street there is a little shooting or stabbing affray. Perhaps a vendetta, or maybe a triangle love affair. After which “Little Italy" goes to bed. Then comes the funeral. Ah, Ifce. funeral! It is the only real enjoyment the Italians seem to have.