The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-03-28
How to Treat Washers.
fFrom the Pittsburg Leader)

ttTOfn lfte FlllsDufs LSdutI.D
WASHERS FOoLED-Lades. protect yourselves
from street insults; sure remedy, particulars
free. Address -.
The above penny a-liner" appeared
in a Pittsburg paper the other day. 1t
attracted the attention of at least one
young woman who clipped it out and
sat down and wrote to the advertiser
instanter. She had been sorely troubl-
ed by Washers in front of the promi-
nent hotels down town, and resolved to
rid herself of the annoyance il there
was any sure cure to be had. The
young lady is a stunning blonde. and is
employed as a stenographer in an es-
tablishment not a stones throw from
Fifth Avenue and Smithfield Street.
She ia obliged to make her way from
the Office in which she Is employed to
her home each evening at this season
of the year after the shades of night
have begun to fall. The avenue is lin
ed with flashily-attired young men
and the sidewalks in front of the four
hotels she must pass en- route to and
from her home are literally honeycom-
ed with professional "lady-killerS.
Through this maze of nglo-maniacism
she must thread her way in the shad-
ows of twilight
1t is the practice of these Washers to
carry on their conversations across the
sidewalks in language that raSps upon
the sensitive feelings of feminine pc
destrians and disgusts the male con-
tingent Frequently fiippant remarks
are passed; remarks couched in COW
ert language, but intended for the years
of any pretty girl who happens to be
passing Sometimes they presume, af-
ter they have seen the same girl pass
on several evenings in succession, to
force their attentions in a more for
midable fashion. One day not long ago
the stenographer encountered young
fellow, who tried to speak to her. She
snubbed him, but nothing daunted he
began to follow her down to the bridge.
Feyertsh with indignation, she hailed
a Manchester car and got aboard.
When she got inside she held news
paper she had purchased up to her face
to hide the crimson flush from her fell
low passengers. By one of those in
applicable condolences her eyes rested
upon the little ad. at the top of the col
umn. 1t Is hardly necessary to say
that she held firmly to that paper until
she reached home and indited a letter
to the advertiser.
In response to this inquiry she receiv-
ed picture and description of unique
Yankee invention" 1t consisted of
neat, silver-plated pocket pistol design
ed by. means of compressed air to dis
charge it's barrels loaded with any old
powder from facial enamel to red pep
per, with force that would make the
person into whose face 1t was shot feel
the effect keenly. 1t VS. also arranged
to discharge small shot or paper pellets.
! The typewriter girl sent for the inven-
| ton and when she received it loaded it
| clear to the muzzle with a certain roach
powder. the principal ingredient OF
which is cayenne pepper. Then she
stuck 1t In the pocket of her REFER and
sauntered forth to meet her Washers.
| 1t was in the twilight, as usual, that she
| started to walk over to Allegheny. Cur
| ious' things happen when you have a
gun! 1t WAS strange that she should