POLICE COMMISH LIKES THE LADIES (1915)
When Brooklyn’s Deputy Police Commissioner Godley laid eyes on the beauties in the newspaper spread, he couldn’t contain himself. He wrote to the Brooklyn Daily Eagle to offer them police protection. “It is unusual for us to offer police assistance, since we ordinarily have enough work to do for all of the policemen we have and a good many more, but I am sure that you will need it after publishing photographs of but four of the beautiful young women of Brooklyn.” So, he made the following offer: “We shall be glad to furnish whatever protection may be necessary even to the extent of calling out the entire force.” The Eagle, in response, offered a poem, the last two stanzas of which we offer here – the first of which comes in the voice of the Deputy Commissioner Godley himself, followed by an answer from the newspaper: “If harm seems to threaten those charming young misses; We’ll keep them in Brooklyn, where nothing but bliss is. But why publish four, when you know that is hardly Fair to other Brooklyn girls? – Yours truly, Godley.” “Dear Godley” – (The Eagle makes haste to respond) “We note your advice, so please don’t despond; Send us lots of photos of beauties – don’t stint ’em; Be assured that The Eagle will be glad to print ’em.” Five years later women would begin to be taken more seriously. No longer just beauties to be gawked at in newspaper spreads, in 1920 they would […]
