Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-11

1t is imperative to sit a couple Of hours in a
pretty-waiter-girl beer cafe. chat with the
damSels in an airy fashion, treat them to
many DRINK. SO proving that you are no
longer mere schoolboy with the law
against minors hanging over your fair per-
son.
The great event of the day-to have ones
photograph taken. It is tintype, so that
you can take it Immediately to your moth
er, aunt or any other relative or lady friend
on whom you now will pay CALL Toward
evening you will stroll along the Grand
Boulevard wondering what in the world to
do next. Every one Is admiring the uni
form, of course. But you are lonely, and
the time grows long, because you are not
used to being out alone as yet, young man
Of twenty-one. In the omnibus. on your
miration of the public with increased salts
faction.
Fun With a Freshman.
It may be that some rougish middle-aged
man will slide up beside you, ask timidly:
Monsieur is doubt of the officers school
of Saint-Cyr"' You must theoretically pro-
test and appear slightly amused at the ig-
ncrance of YOUR neighbor. He thinks that
the Polytechnic School is only for the edu-
cation of tobacco inspectors! Rectify this
er ormous error for the honor of your class,
ard do not hesitate to run over the names
OF all the careers Of government service fed
by the observation-disclosures CT mines,
roads, artillery, naval construction, etc,
giving clear and full explanation and de-
tails on each division. That will make the
timid gentleman open his eyes with admira-
ton and you will have quiet laugh at his
expense.
Only it may happen to you that at the
moment you get out of the omnibus to-
scther he will turn and cry in a rude voice:
''Ras conscrit!' which, in the slang of the
Polytechnic, means Don't be late, school
boy: and 20 proved himself to be an old
student of the establishment who saw you
afar, followed you and listened to your
i'll ocent brag in order to amuse himself.
Console yourself. Take another branded
prime at Mother Leblanc's. reflect that you
will make the same joke some day, and
dream at night of future fame. Despite
full knowledge of this kind of hazng, near
ly every young Polytechnician gets caught
In this fashion some time during his first
of any graduate who catches a freshman
out to follow him and bunco him if it be
possible.
There is a great spirit of fraternity
among these students. One of their most
curious customs is the organizing of their
study halls into business corporations.
There are eight to ten students for each
study hall, and these take ND for a year
some one Of the various branches of COM
merce which are for the public utility.
The profit is not to be distributed in money
but 1t vs. to serve for festivity at the end
OF the year. One hall sells tobacco. An
ether, under the name of foie gras, sells
pies. chocolate and such like eatables. The
hall of liQueur5 Is the closest watched by
the management and has the merchandise
which is oftenost seized. The most original
of these halls has the German name
schicksal' destiny. 1t insures the stu
dents against the most dreaded form of
destiny while they are in the school,
namely, the being questioned by a pro-
fessor in full lecture hall. BY paying two
cents of insurance money before lecture
begins, the unlucky student stands
chance of receiving from two to four dol
lars which may console him If he has an
swered badly. STERLING HELLO.