Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-28

was watching the day before Christmas
the crowds blocking the streets and stores,
thinking of the spirit of st. Nicholas trans
forming he pagan festival of the winter
solstce into fitting commemoratton of
the birth of the Savior, VIXEN l heard
voice that sounded familiar to me, that of
the street car conductor who has charge of
the car IN which 1 usually ride down town
in mornings when don't feel like walking.
He was married about a year ago, and a
friend asked him: WELL are you buying
something handsome for your wife?'
NO" said he. 1--WE talked 1t over, and
she would rather have me lay off day
than to buy her present. l could not do
both, and l have never spent day with
her since we were married. l could never
afford It." And as mothers and fathers,
wives and husbands, sisters and brothers,
lovers and friends passed me with bundles
In their arms, could not help thinking of
the man W no could be happy that he was
able to make his wife glad with but one
present. and that only his compan.o nship
for one day of his married life. For he was
happy; every tone betokened that. as ne
spoke of his twenty-four hours cessation
of labor, and to me the genuineness of his
joy but increased the pathos. There are
lives that are but slow tragedies, without
climaxes or thrilling experiences enough to
live them.
/ walked down PENNSYLVANIA avenue on
Christmas morning as the stores were clos
ing for the day. noticed a young girl
who seemed almost too tired to move. I
had seen her before, and after a closer look
at the wan face with weary lines about the
mouth. 1 remembered where she stood be-
hind notion counter in one of the big
stores. The girl stopped. looked at a car.
then opening a little purse, counted its
opttr h-~tS
tion. she went to the corner. where a man
was selling balloons and walking alligators.
She bought the toys, then across the street
she walked and emptied her pocket book to
add some fruit and candy. Then she started
for her home, in Southeast Washington,
with the lines about her lips chased away
by Christmas smiles. for at the end Of her
long and tiresome Journey there were little
ones who would be made glad and who
would make her glad because of the sac
rtfice she had made.
I went out to the Soldiers Home Christ
mas afternoon. There is veteran there
who fought valiantly for his country from
the time Of the first call for troops until the
last gun was fred. After the war he en-
gagged in business successfully; bu. re-
verses came. his relatives died and the old
man found refuge in the home. He was
crying as he held gold locket in his hand
and told me the story. 1t had come from
soldier in Georgia who had fought on the
confederate side 1t was not an uncommon
incident that had brought it all about
There had been a skirmish and the confed-
crate was wounded. The veteran was also
wounded and lay near his enemy The
man who wore the gray moared for water,
and the soldier in blue divided the scant
contents of his canteen. And now, over
thirty years afterward, the Georgian heard
that the man who saved his life was a the
al npI IN 1ot4~
wanted him to go down and pass his re-
manning days upon the southern planta-
ton as an honored guest and member of
the family. The wife of the ex-confederate
also wrote in sweet, womanly way, and
tnclosed was the golden locket with pic
lures of mis- old-time enemy and his wife.
] don't know what the old veteran will do,
he does not know yet himself, but 1t is
probable that he and his friend who wore
the gray will before long again drink from
the same canteen and recount in friendship
the adventures of days when they were
enemies.
* x X \
met a man on the street yesterday who
had received liberation from the peniten-
tiary as a Christmas present from the gov
ernor of neighboring state. 1 had been
present at the time of his trial. but had
forgotten him. He accosted me and told
me who he was
Every hour during the three years 1
L
would do when 1 got out. 1 was going
home to Baltimore and live right. My
mother was there, and she had not heard
from me for long time tefore my arrest.
and had no idea where l was and when
received a pardon, which 1 did not expect,
I was the happiest man in the state. l went
to my old home, and found that my mother
was dead and my CID friends knew all
about my trouble and Stunned me- l could
not live there, and did not have money
nnn n 90 ia hon "csh
came here. No one knows me, but l have
Tot found work, and it seems that the free
dom for which 1 longed during the three
years was the worst thing that could have
befalle1 me-
X X 4 X
I was talking to florist the other day
about fashions in flowers and he made an
Interesting prediction.
Large flowers have very nearly had
their day." he said. while chrysanthe-
NUNS are used a great deal, the fad has
about died out, and there Is no further effort
being made to produce extra large speci-
mems. In fact, there Is growing feeling
that the old-fashioned small flowers are
the prettiest. looking more like flowers and
not so much like artificial products
Orchids will probably be popular but they
are by no means fashionable as they
We're. Even in roses the smaller blooms are
beginning to be preferred, and the very
large roses will not be popular long, BY
about next season florists will display the
flowers that were in vogue twenty-five years
ago. 'Four-o'clocks,' peoples and bach
elors buttons will be called for, and flower
raise RS will see what be developed out
of marigolds, which regard as more prom
Using than chrysanthemums were when they
first began to be studied with view to their
Improvement. Golden rod Is another that is
universally liked which can be made very
much finer. The fringe can be perfected so
that 1t VIII be regarded wonderful"
* X X x
This is the first time have paid visit
to Washington since the winter of $780,"
said Col. Chase from Carroll county, Va.
to Star reporter, at the Metropolitan
On my last visit 1 made the trip from
Richmond to Alexandria by stage. Extra
Billy Smith. afterwards the war governor
OF Virginia, was the proprietor of the route
1 think. ard by the way, it was for claims
of extra services to the general govern
ment in connection with his stage route
that he got the title of Extra Billy
ION the trip to which 1 allude there were
several members of Congress on the stage,
returning to their duties in Washington
after having spent the Christmas HOLIDAYS
at their homes.
between Richmond and Fredericksburg
our route lay across the Mat, Pc and Nv
rivers which form the head waters Of the