FAO Schwarz, West 24thSt. (1899). Museum of the City of New York. Archival print.
Above the famous toy store, White had a secret loft where he met young showgirls. Nondescript outside, the inside was, in the words of Nesbit, filled with velvet that was “a wonderful red.” Hanging from the ceiling was a swing on red velvet ropes. White found it arousing to have the girls swing upwards to puncture large Japanese parasols with their bare feet. Often it was more than their feet that were bare. Also in the apartment was a bedroom, entirely paneled with mirrors.
Christine Butterworth-McDermott 