BPNE GS 
NORTH SHORE BREEZE | 11 | 
On The Road To Old Broadway 
(With Kipling many miles away dreaming of his Mandalay.) 
On a wave-washed cliff of sandstone looking eastward out to sea 
There’s a summer girl a-sitting and I know she thinks of me. 
As I sit here in my office 
I can hear my check-book say: 
**Come you back, you summer girlie; come you back to old 
Broadway.’’ 
Come you eae to old Broadway 
Where the men are making hay 
While the summer sun is shining so you girls can stay away. 
Come you back to old Broadway 
Where us hubbies have to stay °* 
While the bills run up like thunder in the ‘‘yacht club’’ ’cross 
the way. 
I took her to the seashore—to a right swell summer place— 
Just to bring the red of roses blushing back into her face. 
And I left her there a-smokin’ 
Of a perfumed cigarette 
With a ribbon counter dandy fetchin’ ices to my pet. 
Name was Percy; tie was red; 
College hat on back of head. 
Plaguey lot she cared for Percy when she needed cash from Fred. 
Darling Fred back on Broadway 
Earning coin with which to pay 
Girlie’s hotel bills that added to the ‘‘yacht club’s’’ 
the way. ss 
’eross 
While the crowds are surging homeward and the sun is sink- 
ing low 
Down behind the sparkling sign lights on the Jersey side, I go 
To the telephone to answer 
Call from girlie at the shore: 
‘*Honeybunch, I’m out of money; please, dear, send a hundred 
more.’? 
LINES 
To Accompany Gift of Ice Cream Set. 
Dear Friend, the token that we give 
Of our affection warm, 
May possibly to you appear 
- Of most peculiar form, 
Suggesting that ’twixt us and you, 
Ir time a coldness may ensue. 
But love like ours can never cool 
Nor change its present tense 
Through slander’s breath or icy touch 
Of cold indifference. 
So please accept the trifling boon 
And Heaven will send the cream and spoon. 
THE REFORMED WITCH 
Response to Gift of Witch Spoon. 
Thanks for the Spoon! 
A precious boon, 
All I hear above the roar 
Of the clanging street-cars—MORE!— 
From the girl I left with Percy of the big department store, 
When I came back to Broadway 
So my wife could stay away 
While I spend my indoor outing in the ‘‘yacht club’’ ’cross 
the way. 
I‘m sick of clubs and show-girls and of taxi-cabs and such; 
And when ‘‘wife’s gone to the country’’ hoorays.don’t-amount . 
to much. Per ee ee 
I have lobstered chorus ladies Mask ae | 
From every foreign land. ; 
And we ’ve talked a lot of lovin’, but what do they understand? : 
Winning face and touching hand— 
Lor’ what do they understand? 
I’ve a more expensive lady in a more expensive land; 
Far away from old Broadway 
Running up more bills to pay, 
While I try to drown my sorrows in the ‘‘yacht club? Cross 
the way. 
Take me to our flat in-Harlem where the best is like the worst— 
Where a man can rush the growler when he wants to kill a thirst. 
For the autumn leaves are falling 
And it’s time to come away 
From the seashores and the Percys back to lonely old Broadway. 
Back to wintertime Broadway— 
Back to hubby and the play, 
And the taxi and the theatre and the table d’hote cafe: 
Come you back to old Broadway 
And the flat up Harlem way, 
So your ies "11 shake the girlies and-the ‘‘ yacht elu” ’eross 
Of olden days a dear reminder, 
When witches old 
And Satan-sold 
Each with a broomstick trailed behind her, 
Did strangely fare 
Through midnight air 
On errands wicked or mischievous Se eager 
Who made afraid - aan Hwee.) 
Both man and maid 
And plagued with pains and pinches grievous. 
No more astride MR caer Seat Sea te 
Of sticks they ride, zt 
They have abandoned the broom handle ; 
In grander state 
But a slower rate 
They’re mounted on a fine spoon handle. 
With nose and chin 
As sharp and thin, oS : 
But through the air less lofty whirring, . ” 
They’re active still 
But not for ill— 
Their mission to be always stirring. 
_ —Josepy A, Torrey. 
