Date: Sun, 2 Feb 1997 00:09:47 -0500

From: "Barry A. Popik" Bapopik[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]AOL.COM

Subject: Herb Caen; Slang for a Saturday



HERB CAEN:

Herb Caen ("Mr. San Francisco") died yesterday. He coined the word

"beatnik."

Two years ago, I visited San Francisco and I wrote to Mr. Caen about the

title of his column, "Baghdad-by-the-Bay." He did indeed get it from O.

Henry's New York, which was "Baghdad-on-the-Subway." I also asked if he knew

of Audrey Munson, San Francisco's World's Fair girl in 1915 who modeled for

many famous Manhattan statues.

Caen wrote back.

When no one in New York City would write back to me--even with

SASEs!--a man of his age and stature wrote back. I mentioned this to a

friend who was from San Francisco.

"That's because Herb Caen is a Mensch," my friend said.



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