Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 168, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1918 — Gales of GOTHAM and other CITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Gales of GOTHAM and other CITIES

Gothamites Still Fair for the Bunk of “Magic” * . NEW YORK.—“Oom, the omnipotent,” has fallen afoul of the district attorney again. The law seems to have ah unkind, materialistic lack of sympathy toward this particular psychic who in flowing purple robes sat in hia

home in West End avenue and coaxed dollars from the credulous. “Oom” has before beep in the tolls. In appearance he looks like the flappocketed, silkshirted, pomaded parlor cobra of the prewar days. He Is a devil with She ladies who go in for the cosmic urge, the assorted purple vibrations, astral eccentricities, soul harmonies, luminous personalities, and the rest of the weird sisterhood of psychic catch words. There are many of these spiritual

magicians —who are to be prosecuted on crude,- Impolite material criminal charges. One in the Bronx collected a tangible ffve-doUar biU the other day from a worried and credulous woman who was persuaded that her purchase of a “cryptic name” would protect her son, who is an army aviator, from any harm. _ T The arrest of the diippdr “Oom” and of several others has shown New York that it has not progressed so very altltudinously above the cultural level of savage magic. The amulet has less potency tljan in the days of Alexander Trallianus, yet there Is still a good market for it. The wonder of the faking psychic Is the class of people he attracts. Many of his patrons are high up in the social world, hard-headed business men fall and one famous writer was bitten by the psychic bug. The rendezvous or retreats are In the most select neighborhoods. Doors are opened softly, heavy carpets deaden all footfalls and queer Egyptian odors spoil perfectly good atmosphere. Many of the victims fall into stupors after going through the weird practices of the various cults. One actress recently stated at a drug investigation that she became addicted to drugs by visiting these mystic parlors.

Isaak Walton Coppers Land Big Alcoholic Catch

CHICAGO.— The welkin rang right merrily upon the Isle of Joy, some hundred feet or so off the shore of Lake Calumet. It was but one o’clock of a Sunday afternoon, and already there were many good fishermen and true

absorbing the good cheer and other things that were to be had, for a price, within the fishermen’s lodge. James D. Vorak, mine host, counted his shekels and grinned. A muddy sloop grounded on the sandy shore. Two fishermen stepped therefrom. “We’re hungry and —thirsty,” the fishermen said. “Welcome to our city,” said mine host. “All’s w r ell here. Plenty to drink and not a cop in sight”

Thirty-five minutes after three and 71 men and a few women we« betaking of Mine Host Vorak’s hospitality, when up spake the fisherman oi the muddy sloop. “You’re pinched,” they said. “You bet you are,” chorused 12 other fishermen, displaying police stars. Joy departed from the isle. Several fancily dressed young men departed, also via the lake. The lake’s trusty mud held. The fancily dressed bucks stuck tight till hauled out by the grinning coppers. Boats were requisitioned and an hour later 76 men and four women were lodged-ta the Kensington police station. One' of these was Vorak, who was charged with selling liquor without a license, operating a public nuisance, and contributing to the delinquency of children. The others were charged with being Inmates of a public, nuisance.

Gallant Old Skipper and His Sixty Young Girls

NEW YORK. —The skipper of a well-known tug was-seen hanging around the Battery at a very late hour the other night. He strolled up and down and occasionally went over to the Eastern to gargle his throat and have a

confab with Hoboken John. As this particular skipper was seldom seen about after hours, the curiosity of the “regulars” at the Battery and South Ferry was thoroughly aroused. Bobby Peach, the clam sage of South street, and the Battery Dolphin held .a conference and ’lowed as how sumpin’ was up, while Joe Mury, the Battery’s family policeman, shook his head and said maybe Captain was going to sow some wild oats In his old age. So Bill Quigley Just went right

up to Captain and asked him how about it. Just like that. “Can’t a man (have a date with some girls without you fish getttn’ all het up about it? demanded the skipper. . “Girls!” gasped Bill. “Girls I Ain’t one enough for an old barnacle like you? How many y’gonna meet, anyhow?" “Oh, ’bout 00,” replied the tugboat captain, complacently. That was too much for Bill. He went away and told the rest of the bunch and a close watch was kept on the skipper. “Guess the pore oF feller’s lost one of his oarlocks or sumpin, sighed (Bobby Peach, sympathetically. _ ~ „ Then the girls showed up. Sixty of them. And they all cried, Hello, (Cap! Greetings, skipper!" Then they climbed aboard the old man’s tug and mailed out into the night. The explanation is that they were all Red Cross nurses (and pretty ones, itoo), living on Ellis island while awaiting transportation to France. Some(body had given them a theater party and Captain was delegated to see (that they got back to the Island, the regular ferry—that most frivolous of (vessels —having broken down. ~

Riverside Drive Attracts Visitors in New York

NEW YORK.—Riverside drive Is the mecca for visitors these beautiful days. Its delightful, shady walks are crowded with strangers, both civilians and men In uniform, who represent every nation in the scrap on the side of the

allies, while the drives stream with (vehicles of all descriptions from the flivver to the big sightseeing cars, all come to view the picturesque Hudson river and get a glimpse of the foreign warshlpfe. This spot is one of New (York’s most beautiful avenues and few, jif any, thoroughfares in America surpass it in natural beaqty and attractiveness. The charms of the scenery (have been enhanced by the landscape (gardener and the roadway, as it now exists, is a triumph of engineering

aklli. Vast rams have been expended in Its construction and maintenance. Long before the Revolution this portion of Manhattan was occupied, by the euburban residences of wealthy New Yorkers, and the banks of the Hudson -were dotted with country villas and estates. In most cases these homes were 00 situated that when' the drive was opened they either had to be removed to make way for the roadbed or were set so far back as to be entirely oft the lane. The plan of this magnificent roadway was conceived by William M. Tweed when he was in the height of his political power, but it was not opened until 1880. Thp drive first gained a national repute tlonlnnSSSwheo General Grant was buried there. In. spite of its natural beauty and pure air, Riverside driye has never approached Fifth avenue as a fashionable residence thoroughfare. v . . When improvements began it was freely predicted that the Drive would rival, If not surpass, Fifth avenue, but this prophecy failed of fulfillment.