Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-06
THAT VExED QUESTION

The man with a face like an interroga-
ton point bit off a large hunk of mince pie
COLD. washed it down with gulp of colo
| milk. and turned to the man standing
alongside Of him in the lunch room.
Say. my friend he inquired, do you
know when the twent-''
NO, you don't, stranger" said the man
addressed. Not this time. I'm in here to
rartake of a modest luncheon consisting OF
buttermilk and chocolate eclairs. and nc
mans going to get me on that subject while
I'm eating down town. I've got to stand
1t at my boarding house table: there's moth
ing else at that table. But l can't be
drawn into the argument down town.
What's more, 1 don't care darn when 1t
begins
The man with face like question mark
locked puzzled. but he wasn't easily
sauelched.
Il don't think you understand what I
was going to ask you" said he Il wanted
to know if the twent-''
But the man with the buttermilk and the
chocolate eclair moved off. The man with
the question pulled down "a large piece of
not gingerbread from the counter, grabbed
cup of coffee. and tackled another man
ongside of him
Excuse me-" he began, but I want to
Inquire when you think the twent-''
The man addressed smilingly interrlpte ed
NIX. old man; not today" he said, ami
ably. Too much brain flag about it. I'd
oe siad 10 accommodate you by going out
and hghtins dog for You. or saving a
couple Of cords of wood for Won or any
little chore like that-but, nay, nav, when i,
comes TO that que stion. I've passed that
problem along to my two boys In school
ANYHOW. They've got lots of time and en-
thusiasm. and it'll expand their minds
that is, if it doesn't and them in lunatic
asylum. The question doesn't make much
GlTerehce to me, anyhow. I'll live Just as
long. anyhow, won't I?''
But" eXpostulated the man with the
questioning eye, what l was going
me man he was addressing looked at his
Watcn hurriedly and ran to pay his check
however. and the man with the interroga-
terry physiosnomy had no recourse but to
turn to another man near by
Look here, my dear sir" he started, Il
want to ask you when the twent-'
Il don't know, and what's mere 1 don't
care was the testy reply. I've got some
thing else to do with my time than to fritz
ter it away on such idiotic calculations as
that"
You are in error was the interroga-
tory mans hasty interruption, ''as to what
Again he found that he was addressing
nc one in particular, for the testy man had
moved away.
Il wonder what ais all these people
quisitive countenance. when try to ask
them simple question they either GET
Just then he caught sight of d friend COM
ing away from the counter with big slab
OF pie and cup of coffee. He elbowed
through the crowd and corralled his friend
"Ha old man you're just the one I'm
looking for he said, joyfuly. Il wanted
to ask you when the twent-''
His friends face heightened Immediately.
Look here. Jorkins.' he said. expostuiat-
ingly. that's a great fault of yourS-pick-
ing up these COMPOUNDED fads and asking
questions about them. How the dickens
now. should l. man that sells hardware
for a livelihood. know " hen the twentieth
century begins? And what the deuce is the
difference to me. so long as l get three
square meals"
Just wait a minute" interrupted the
man with the inquiring mug. Il wasn't at
tempting to ask you anything about the be-
ginning of the twentieth century. i don't
care "A hurran about that question. one way
or the other What | wanted to ask you is.
when was tn twenty-cent piece withdrawn
from circulation? I've got a bet on the
date with a friend