Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-06-21
NOT so EASY AS lit SEEMS.
One May Have an Awful Time Losing
an Umbrella If One Wants to Lose 1t

an Umbrella If One Wants to Lose IL
a DUNG Noodles has often been heard to
M say that geptleman's umbrella should
n &always be, in its neatness and even in
the careful manner Of it's rolling. an out
49, ward and visible sign OF his own inward
and spiritual grace-that it should be re-
garded. in a word, as a most important article
of dress. On rainy days, 1T all events, the man
who is well booted and well gloved is not well
attired, notwithstanding the French saving,
unless he carries a proper psrspluie. Noodles
himself has been more than once seen 10 seek
shelter from a storm in a doorway, in order to
avoid undoing his umbrella and thus spelling
Its walking stick like symmetry.
The other day, however, while Fastening
down + street to meet an important engage
ment he was overtaken by a June sQusll, which
turned his umbrella inside out and transformed
II into hopeless wreck in less time than 1t takes
to tell the tale. He lodged into a shop and
waited there five minutes until the shower had
passed and the sun shone out again. While
thus delayed he wrapped the umbrella up into
some sort OF shape and stood it conspicuously
near the door; then he walked back 10 the rear
OF the store and looked over the stock.
II IL give somebody an opportunity to steal
1t, said Noodles to himself 1t would never
do for me to be seen walking down the street
with an umbrella like that"
But, to his disgust, the umbrella was still
there by the doorway when he came back. He
TOOK 1t reluctantly and walked out upon the
Sidewalk. very pretty girl Glanced to pass
py at the moment and bowed to him; he
sure that her eve fell upon the umbrella in his
hand and that she smiled slyly at il.
1T WOULD NOT LOSE.
II mustget rid OF it in some way" he thought
1.-THE best way will be to go into tins saloon and
leave it behind me-"
So Noodles turned into a place that was nd-
verused as gin mill by the word Cafe in big
letters on the outside. He took dose of whisky
with cracked ice in a champagne glass and
leaned the umbrella up against the bar while
he drank. Then having paid for the beverage
ne started to go out without the umbrella; but
unfortunately. he touched il with his foot as
ne turned to depart and it fell down with q
most embarrassing crash. The noise attracted
the attention of the next customer, who picked
the umbrella up and said politely:
lis this yours, sir?"
Noodles gritted his teeth and accepted the
umbrella with pretended thanks.
Il must dispose of this awful thing" he re-
nected, as he let hy the screen door OF the sa-
loon behind HIM. TO deposit it in the gutter is
not practicable. Perhaps the best plan will be
to abandon it in a BARRIERS shop. | have
missed my engagement already and may as
well get shaved"
80 Noodles descended into ''tonsorial par
lor and reposed his graceful person in n re-
Ginning CHAIR while the coored man in attend
ance tucked him IN with sheet fastened about
MS neck and few napkins. He had taken
care to leave the umbrella as he entered in the
rack by the door, believing that on such
showery day some one would be
SURE TO WALK OFF WITH IT.
While he underwent the scrapng operation
he kept stealthy eye upon it, but it remained
undiSturbed. The time came for the barber to
say, Bay rum, slr?' but no one had seemed to
care to appropriate that umbrella.
Give me hair cut" said Noodles, still
hopeful.
The shearing consumed half an hour more,
but still the umbrella had not found anybody
to steal it. So Noodles slid out of the chair,
tipped the barber with a silver quarter was
helped on with his coat, adjusted his necktie
paid his check, and had actually opened the
door half way to go when the colored razor
manipulation touched him on the shoulder and
remarked:
Don't fergit your umbrella. sah."
1T isn't my umbrella" replied Noodles in
desperation.
Dds am de one you brought in, sah"
Il tell you you're mistaken; had no UNI
brefla- never saw that thing before / don't
want It, and won't take it. To blazes with it,
anyway"
M sieu is in error, il he will allow me so to
say, interrupted the cashier. Eat umbrell
- 80 u %" NM SOiiiS III WIZ a lew
ago. We would not permit NJ sieu to rob him
self Of hees property"
Noodles didn't say another word He ius;
looked remarkably savage, and, taking the UNI
brella, marched out.
ANOTHER FAILURE.
In the first half block he walked he met three
OF his friends in succession, and he was con-
WINGED that each one of them took notice O.
| the umbrella. Then an inspiration seized him,
and standing the ill-omened article hastily and
unobtrusivelJ up against iron railing he
| strobe swiftly on. not looking behind. Just as
he was chuckling and cngratulating himself
that he had disposed of the Internal thing at
last he heard a small boys cry behind him Of
Hi, mister! You've left your humber
shuter'
And then there was Y .patter of feet. But
Noodles did not wait for Ne small boy to catch
up; he took to his own heels and ran like auy-
thing up a side street until the pursuer and
the umbrella were distanced. He was free of
| the incubus at last
Two hours and half later after spending a
| while at the club, he reached his home. He
found his sister in the drawing room and she
| looking up from her book, said:
what a careless fellow you are, Dollyl You
| lost your umbrella down town and if l hadn't
| myself sewn the name and address OIL the
| inside OF the silk you would never have seen
| 1t again. l gave the boy who brought il back
| gu cents for his honesty before l discovered
how torn to pieces 1t was. Pray, how on earth
| did it get SO damaged"