MEET MR. ZZYZZ

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 734, 6 August 1929, Page 13

MEET MR. ZZYZZ

Last Name in New York Phone Directory

MR. ZZYX SECOND Mr. Zzyzz rested triumphantly today in last place in the New York telephone directory, says an American exchange. It was a hard fight and the worst of it was that Mr. Zzyzz was not here today to taste the fruits of victory. By ringing Murray Hill 9077 it w r as ascertained that Mr. Zzyzz had left the city and would not be back until July 23. Meanwhile, H. C. Zzyk was so chagrined at his failure to gain last place that he either left town, too, or w r as so immersed in grief that he did not care to answer his telephone. He had staked all on one brilliant coup d’etat and lost. Knowing that the new phone directory would come out soon, he changed his name from ZZyk to Zzyx, feeling confident the “X” would bring victory. Apparently lie had not reckoned with the formidable Mr. Zzyzz, w'ho could toss aw r ay one “Z” and still win without benefit of vow'el or consonant. The whole affair was simplified by the retirement from the lists of Mr. Zzyz, who reigned in last place for years and years. Mr. Zzyz is Lewis Browne Zzyz, rabbi and author, who writes under the name of Lewis Browne. Mr. Zzyz apparently became convinced he had gathered enough glory, for his phone was disconnected some time ago. Mr. Zzyzz is R. Cantarrana Zzyzz of 140 East Forty-sixth Street. The young lady who answered the telephone refused to comment upon whether Mr. Zzyzz was taking his newly-won honours modestly. She also was reluctant to venture an opinion on how Mr. Zzyzz pronounced his name. Nicholas Putnam Zzyn loomed for a while as a formidable contender, but at the last moment he weakened and his telephone number was given to August Fleckseher, the philanthropist. Meanwhile, it seemed, at the hour the new directories went to press, that the A. A. A. Aaron Charcoal Company had an impregnable hold on first place with the A. A. A. Accounting and Auditing Co., running second.