Evening star., 1900-12-22
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AND W: !
J J SEEN \ /
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ings that would otherwise, like the family
| nave mentioned, be forced to resort to
such primitive methods to dispose of it,
x X X X X
The residents of Capitol Hill are today
aware that winter has indeed arrived In
creasing coal bills, occasional frozen
water pipe and other premonitory symp-
toms may have caused them to suspect the
approach of the winter season, but it was
not until this week that the Capitol Killers
became convinced of the fact. The cold
weather covering over the statue of George
Washington, facing the east front of the
Capitol, was placed in position this week.
BY this token the residents of East Wash
1ngton note the changing seasons.
When spring comes. when the birds break
forth in carols and ones fiannels begin to
tickle, the anxious residents watch the
wooden covering carefully. They dare not
shed their heavy clothing until George
Washington appears from his little house,
70. until that occurs they are not sure that
spring is here. or that belated snowstorm
may not slip up and catch them unawares.
Every one is familiar with the sight of the
semi-nude figure of the fater of his coun-
try. Roman toga or nineteenth cen
tury bath robe, as the case may be- draped
careleSsly over his form.
1t is not in satirization of this unclad con-
dtion that the frame house is erected over
the figure, but to keep the frost of winter
from chipping the marble.
x X X X X
The placing of a row of eight marble col
umns and a few slabs of ceiling and side
walls in the west entrance to the rotunda
of the Capitol started movement which
is likely to result in notable improvements
to that portion of the building.
1t is proposed to line the walls of the
rotunda with Sienna marble, similar to the
stone used in the reading room Of the
Library of Congress, and to pave the floor
in mosaic. 1t is said that with this change
the rotunda would become one OF the most
striking and beautiful interiors in the world.
When the recent additions to the commit
tee room mspace of the building were made
the architect of the Capitol made a strik-
iGgly beautiful piece of work out OF the
little hallway connecting the rOtunda with
the committee rooms. The contrast be-
tween the dirty, dingy, old rotunda and this
marble passageway was so sharp that every
one Immediately said the rotunda would
have to be renovated to match. 1t is the
Ole case of the man who bought gilt sofa
for his parlor and wound up by getting an
entirely new house to conform.
A committee of the House is now working
out a plan for the proposed Improvement,
and it is likely to carry. The summer re
cess would be utilized to do the work,
and it is said that by next December the
rotunda will be so improved that every one
will be delighted with the change.
x x x x X
Two or three persons of experience were
talking the other day about things that had
happened to them.
"A circus came to my town last summer,
said one. land friend of mine getting into
the crowd in front of the tent had his
pocket picked His gold watch was taken,
and he was anxious to recover 1t, but the
circus was making but a one-day stand,
and was gone in the morning, the smart
set presumably going with it. My friend
and two detectives followed the circus into
the next town. with the hope of running up
with the pickpockets and recovering the
watch. For the interest of the thing, l
went along. We saw two or three smart
looking chaps on the train. whom
marked as likely to be professional and
they got off just before we did, but we saw
no more of them after we had worked our
way into the circus crowd. We kept our
eyes about US pretty sharp, the detectives
close upon our trail. in hope that the pick
pocket might be tempted by rather con-
spicuous watch chain l wore. but we did
not see any one who excited our suspicion,
nor did any one appear disposed to molest
US. My friend and l were about expressing
our disappointment, when l noticed that
my watch and chain were gone. My friend
and myself and the detectives had been on
the alert every minute for just that thing.
yet the watch was taken without either of
seeing when it was done. Casting has
tily about us, there was no one in sight
against whom suspicion might properly be
directed. My curiosity and admiration were
excited by the skill or the thing, and hav-
ing no hope of being able to capture such a
cunning thief l determined at least to find
out how 1t had been done. though l might
have to pay we'll for it. l had about $500
with me-two -hundred-dollar bills and
a hundred in smaller bills. Addressing the
group about US, l declared that / would
give 800 for the return of my watch if the
man who took it would show me how 1t
was done, and that 1 would not have him
arrested. After l had called out this prop
osition two or three times well-dressed
alert young chap stepped up to me and
handed me my watch Restoring the watch
to my pocket and slipping the chain guard
safely through a buttonhole Of my vest l
demanded to know how the theft had been
accomplished without attracting my atten-
man again handed me my watch, having
relieved me OF it a second time while I
talked with him. Twice during the discus
sion he did this. and then. thinking he had
earned the money, according to my prom
ise took out my pocket book and gave
him one of the hundred-dolar bills, first
being sure that ] had my watch snugly in
my pocket. He smiled, thanking me with
an easy grace. and slipped away among
the circus crowd, while my friend, myself
and the detectives took our departure At
the end of the two or three minutes it took
us to get out of the crowd l discovered that
not only had my watch been again stolen
but that my pocket book also was gone"
He-"How I envy the man who just sang
the solo,
She-"Why, thought he had an excep-
tionally poor voice.
He-"Oh. 1t isn't his voice I envy; it's
his nerve. STRAY Stories.