Strange Times 191: Ice Cream Soda Men
This week on I’ll Watch Anything, Henry and I tear into 2015’s Spotlight, a movie that won best picture despite being kind of dull. Since you’re reading this newsletter you’re probably interested in journalism. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or elsewhere and let me know in the comments if you think we hit the mark.
Today we have youth in revolt and youth in chains. Demand nickel sodas on…
July 10, 1921
An American motion picture crew, caught in wildfires while filming animals in Quebec, escapes thanks to the masterful skill of their indigenous guides.
De Valera warns of over-confidence as the Irish agree to the terms of a truce with the English.
The USS Bear, a famous Coast Guard ship that assisted in the rescue of the survivors of the Karluk, is dispatched from Alaska toward the Arctic circle in hopes of rescuing legendary explorer Roald Amundsen, whose ship the Maude has become stuck in the Arctic ice. I reviewed a book about the Karluk last year—it’s extremely good! I also reviewed this book last month—it has nothing to do with any of this but it’s also very good.
At the conference of the Third International, Lenin declares that “A proletariat dictatorship is a State sharpened by warfare,” telling the peasantry that “either you follow the proletariat…or you must choose the way of open civil war.”
Washington police officer Henry Darneille believes he has proved himself ready for a bout with Dempsey after besting as many as 250 residents in a free-for-all fistfight at a local carnival.
The Weather: Partly cloudy today; Monday fair, somewhat warmer; gentle variable winds.
Ignore the scare quotes in the headline, kiddos—you’re never too young to march on Borough Hall!
The young proletariat of the Bronx arose in its wrath yesterday and demanded justice. Only they know how little ice cream soda can be bought for a nickel when scorching days make sodas a necessity, and, smarting under their wrongs, they marched to the Borough Hall with a verbal bill of rights.
It happens that Henry R. Bruckner, Borough President of the Bronx, is a soda water manufacturer, so he proved a double target for their attack. The youthful petitioners read of huge profits made by ice cream soda men from the dimes and quarters which they had wrung from reluctant parents, hard-earned money, and verbally and in placards, and with all the vehemence 1,000 children could pack into their expressions, said it wasn’t right.
The demonstration was organized by Mrs. Anna Grant of 885 Brook Avenue, the Bronx. They gathered under her banners from street corners and left games to join in what seemed a lark and became a crusade when they learned of its purpose. They started from 161st Street and Brook Avenue and marched first to the Borough Hall.
Some of the placards were directed at Mr. Bruckner. “President Bruckner, help us cut down soda water prices by reducing your prices,” one of them read. “We are striking for a five-cent soda, refuse to pay more and help us,” was another. “Help the kids of the Bronx get nickel sodas.” “Why should we be soaked 200 per cent. profit on sodas?” and “President Bruckner aid us,” were others.
They were in high spirits when they reached Mr. Bruckner’s office. He was not in, but his secretary, Thomas Dolan, heard their protest, voiced by Mrs. Grant and vociferously seconded by some of the children, and promised to do what he could to relieve the youthful thirst. Mrs. Grant said the children were paying 20 and 23 cents a bottle for Mr. Bruckner’s soda, when they should only pay 10 or 12 cents. Mr. Dolan arranged for a hearing by the Borough President in both his public and private capacities tomorrow morning, and the children left, promising to come back several thousand strong.
After posing for cameras with their banners, the children paraded down Third Avenue. Two stores selling sodas at 11 cents were cheered. The parade stopped at the store of Peter Phillips at 4,030 Third Avenue, who told Mrs. Grant that he was getting 15 cents for a soda because of an agreement between the confectioners and Ice-Cream Manufacturers protective association.
“I’ll come down in price if the others do,” he said. “We stick together in the association. I will say, though, that overhead expenses are tremendous.”
Five boy pickets were assigned to walk up and down in front of Phillips’ place with placards on which were written: “We want nickel sodas. Don’t pay high prices.”
The parade disbanded at 161st Street and Third Avenue and will reassemble tomorrow. Mrs. Grant has sent out circulars asking all boys to be ready for the descent on President Bruckner.
This story is a puzzle. What is a child’s bank? What does a bank have to do with burglarizing an apartment? Why is the Times so obsessed with putting nicknames in scare quotes? Why?!
When detectives accused him yesterday of robbing a child’s bank, the remarkable defence of little “Red” Gardner, nine years old, broke down. He had been grilled for an hour and a half in connection with a burglary at the home of John Bliss at 935 St. Marks Avenue, Brooklyn.
Bliss reported to the police yesterday that burglars had broken through the skylight in the afternoon and stolen two lavallieres, a gold watch and chain, and a gold cigarette case, worth in all about $500. Detectives Fennelly and Seckinger found phonograph records smashed to small pieces covering the floor around a small bronze figure of a jockey on a racehorse, and decided that the burglary was children’s work.
When they learned that two boys, one red-haired, had been seen on the roof the detectives picked up Edward J. Gardner, known as “Red” Gardner, who expressed great indignation, and made an unusually fine defence until Fennelly told him that he had taken his finger prints from a toy bank. “Red,” they say, then implicated Earl C. Jeffs, ten years old, of 953 St. Marks Avenue, Brooklyn.
The “loot” was found, the police said, in the cellar of the Gardner boy’s home at 955 St. Marks Avenue. The boys declared that they did not intend to sell the jewelry, but only took it for fun. The boys are to be arraigned in children’s court in Brooklyn today.
I always enjoy these articles. Thank you William for doing this. MOM