Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-09
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extent In preparing communications to for
elgn governments, to members of the dip
lomatic corps. governors of states and the
like the ornamental writer was quite a fac
tor. But this is history now, and the type
writing machine and operator are regarded
as good enough for everything that Is writ
ten and sent out.
There is nothing fanciful done any more
In the way of recording matters. opening
up books, ledgers, records and other things.
and ornamental writing is discouraged in
stead of otherwise. So also Is the ruling off
OF books and records with single or double
lines of red ink back number. In briefing
letters the work is now done with the idea
that everything that can be avoided shall
be avoided. and in all except two of the
departments there are no red lines allowed
In brief1ng. The practice up to twenty-five
years ago was to put two lines of red ink
under the name of the writer of each letter
briefed and one line under the date line
and under each line of the brief Red ink
played very important part in official life.
almost as much as red tape. But many of
the bureaus, and. indeed. some of the de-
partments. are now run without any red ink
whatever. though 1t will be some years yet
before red tape will be dispensed with. The
rubber band first. and then the typewrfting
machine, completely revolutionized depart
mental methods. The card system. by
which all things ar entered on cards in
stead of books. did the rest and completely
did away with the use of the ornamental
penman. There Is no room on the cards
now used for any ornaments"
K * * X
Because some men display no jewelry
upon their persons it does not signify that
they do not care for such things" said
leading New York jeweler to a writer for
The Star day or two ago. Indeed there
are plenty of men who are as passionately
fond of jewels as any woman who ever
lived, but they seem to regard the feeling
as weakness which they are half asham-
ed of. Some men will own right up. but
they don't like to display their treasures.
because it is not considered good taste to
wear much jewelry.
Il know of half dozen business men
and professional men who do not wear so
much as watch chain, yet they carry
about in their trousers pockets thousands
of dollars worth of unset Jewels This is
a little out of the ordinary. but 1t is a
TACT nevertheless. The late Henry Ward
Beecher. for instance. used to carry In his
pockets a number of beautiful diamonds
and othe.' precious stones which he would
sometimes take out in his hand and gaze
AT IN admiration for several minutes at q
time He explained his habit by saying
mat there was something so pure and
beautiful about the gems that they delight
ed and fascinated him. He used to say
tnat IT was one of the traits of our far
back barbarian orign-the innate fonduess
for bright gems
know of prominent physician up
town who. while riding about in his car
rage on SICK calls. entertains himself by
Jinsilng a lot of unset diamonds rubies
and emeralds in his hands. He sometimes
groups them in the seat opposite and looks
at them. while his face lit up with ad-
mrat1on and pleasure.
DO ladies have this habit? Well I think
not. l never met a woman who cared to
hide her jewels in her pockets. On the
contrary. they always like to have them set
and an, displayed as conspicuously possible.
They don't believe in hiding the light of
their gems under bushel''
x
Before l went to Japan said a promi-
nent western railroad official who has re-
Gently returned from a visit to the mikados
kingdom. Il used to think that our Ameri-
can reporters were the most inquisitive
class of men in the world. but this idea was
very soon dispelled from my mind when l
arrived in Toxic. Four interviewers for the
vernacuar press called upon me before l
had been five hours on Japanese soil, and
when 1 succumbed. after vainly pleading
privilege. 1t was to find that the alert
minded Japs had simply taken the Ameri-
can system of interviewing and reduced it
to its simplest terms, not to say ad absur-
dunn. With them interviewing is business
from the start, like pulling a tooth or Dor
ing hole. They waste no time over pleas
ant Introductory remarks ABOUT the
weather or your voyage.
The operation Is as follows: You receive
card bearing a series of cabalistic marks
and uncertain whether your visitor Is
minister of state or a guide in want of
job you go down stairs and discover dap
per little gentleman in appearance about
nineteen, dressed in faultless foreign fash
ion. tennis shoes. flannel trousers. white
vest. blue coat. flowing necktie. Spectacles
and pith helmet. and speaking English with
the accuracy and fmpressiveness CT a copy
book.
Good morning Are you Mr. Blank?'
Good morning. 1 am
Well. l am the reporter Of the So-and-
newspaper of Toxic VIII you permit
me to interview your
With pleasure
THE interviewer then takes a seat pro-
duces a notebook and pencil and begins
with the directness Of a census taker: How
old are you and where were you born?'
And when you tell him that you were born
of poor but respectable parents in the year
one let us say. he gravely commits the IN
familiar phrase to paper.
How long will you stay? How long
since you started? Where have you been?
What Is the circulation of your paper?
How do you like Japan? What do they
think of Japan in America? Will President
Mckinley be reelected? These are few
of the questions that are pressed upon one
with the relentless persistence of pile
driver.
''At last. when you have been compelled
to draw literally upon your imaginat ion
for your facts and the notebook Of the enc
my Of travelling mankind is full. you sup
pose that the interview is over. But MOTH
ing could be farther from the interviewer's
idea. for he settles himself in his chair,
resharpens his pencil, produces a new note
book and asks: If anything of interest has
ever befallen you upon your travels at
home OF abroad. please give me full infor-
nation now
The interview over. the japanese report
er takes his departure and never seems to
realize that to cross-question solitary and
ill-informed individual upon the policies Of
all nations and the details of his own OBJ
scure life is really huge joke. Next day
you receive copy of the SO-and-so news
paper containing the interview with top
Solemnly written on one side of 1t, so that
you may know which is the right way up
ward
yes said Mrs. Miningcamp: Il induced
my husband to go to Monte Carlo, and he
lost half his fortune. I'm very thankful"
Thankful"
Yes. He was bent on having himself
elected senator. Why. he wouldn't have
had dollar left!'-Puck.