Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-30


But the labor-savinG business busted
me, Just as l thought l had got everything
my own way, along came a 1elloW WIN
suuirt-gun continuance and captuieu tiis
contract BY his arrangement ne couiu
squirt yard-wide thin sheet OF pant rom
the floor to the ceiling, and one machihe
could do the work Of many men
THAT Disguised me and L Went lul thui
west landing in a city where the repupli-
cans had just elected their full city ticket.
The democrats had used economy as tiieii
motto while their opponents hao proilnseu
to expend large amounts in street improve
ments. That caught the laboring element
and the democrats were showed under.
II got there just in time TO put IN a pa
with friend of mine on tat contract ior
grading and widening number Oh streets,
and things began to look exceedingly rosy
for me, but the labor-saving fiend got IN ms
work again, and quite number OF us were
left out in the cold.
This time it was a steam combination
plow shovel rake and roller on wheels and
each machine with two attendants, did the
work of about fifty men, but it took the en-
tire police force of the city to guard the
machines during the night after the first
days work. Then the city compromised by
swearing in every unemployed laborer as
special policeman. so the surplus funds We're
all expended in street Improvements, after
ALL"
X 4 = * x
You may get a girl to help you with
the refreshments tonight" said X street
lady to her colored servant last Tuesday
afternoon Little Harry, a 18th street clerk.
had told her that her daughter would be
given a masquerade surprise party that
night, and had arranged to come early and
admit the young people at the basement
door.
Wish you would find out how Minnie is
going to dress, so I will know her when she
comes" he said to his sister. His best girl
leased him by refusing to tell what char
acter she intended to represent at the
party.
The sister found out that Minnie was
going as a colored girl-would blacken her
face with burnt cork and wear black gloves
Aha" thought Harry, as he posted him
self in the area Tuesday evening. thlnk
I'll give her a little surprise not down in
the program
The young masqueraders commenced
gathering promptly at I, and few Mill
utes later Harry saw slim, girlish figure,
with ebony face, coming through the gate.
He pounced upon her as she came down
the steps.
Thought 1 wouldn't know you. didn't
you. smarty?" said Harry, gathering her IN
his arms and kissing her. Don't be in
hurry he said as the girl struggled to get
away from him. They haven't all got
here YETI and he gave her another smack
But just then couple came through the
gate, and he released her.
With ''tee-hee," she darted through the
door, and shortly after Harry came in with
the last of the party. Then they all
marched up into the parlor, Harry glancing
at the mirror in the hat-rack to see If there
were any telltale signs of burnt cork on his
face.
wonder where Minnie has hidden her
selfr' thought Harry, as he entered the
parlor. He saw her brother in corner,
and went over to him.
where's Minnie?" he whispered.
"Oh, 1 forgot to tell you. Min. has a bad
her he he fer
not come out tonight!'
Talk about mysteries" said Uncle John,
an old colored man, who lives on the Virgin
ia side of the river, 1.-The mes mysteriousest
thing IN the world happened to me last win
ter Member dat blizzard we had?'
The Star man was out in it, and remem-
tcred it distinctly.
well 1 walked over on the ice that day
to get some groceries an borrow two-inch
augur Coin back 1 happened to member
l hadn't any meat in the cabin, so l bored
a hole in the ice with the augur, an dropped
in my fshline. l caught heap of shad an
two of 'em weighed about ten pounds
apiece
Uncle john said The Star man, giving
him a severe lcok; ten pounds, and the hole
a two-inch augur lole!"
Yes, boss an dar.s jes where de mystery
comes in!''
;. ;. 4. K x
AS was passing along F street, horse
attached to street car stumbled and fell.
A crowd gathered around, and there were
many uncomplmentary remarks about the
drivers incapacity for handling horses. 1
spoke to him about it, and learned some
thing about street cars that l never knew
before.
You hear them say 1 must be new at the
street car horses for fifteen years, and be-
fore that l worked on a farm. A street car
driver is never without the fear, in damp or
cold weather, that horse will fall. The
car is not heavy to pull after it gets started
and the principal thing the horses have to
do is keep out of its way. When going down
grade, the momentum sends the car faster
than the horses can go, unless the brakes
hold well. The slightest misstep brings
horse down. He don't stumble and thus give
rotice, but falls as though he had been shot.
This is caused by the weight and momentum
of the car. 1t won't be long before the
horse cars will all be gone, and drivers will
gladly exchange the lines for the levers of
motors"
:: !. x * = G
A well-known Washingtonian wh6iaed to
be prominent as a stump speaker in Kan
sas tells of an experience he had a Topeka
during the rigid enforcement of the prohi-
bition law. He was at the Windsor Hotel
with Gov. Click, and both were to deliver
speeches that day. merchant in the din
ing room was asked if he intended to go to
the meeting, when he broke forth into {;
TRADE of abuse against the politicians for
taking the part of the saloons, and de-
nounced the opposition to the prohibition
law most bitterly. The mans store was not
far from the hotel, and as the speakers
passed it wagon load of boxes, marked as
containing crackers, was being emptied.
One of these fell, and breaking open, dis