Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-02
INFANT PRODIGY on A CAR
Trials of Fond Parents and Their In
feeling Fellow Passengers.


From the New York Times
They came into a 9th avenue south
bound surface car at 18th street, and,
with beacnng, satisfied countenances
seemed almost to speak a comprehensive
greeting TO all the other passengers That
they were sIburhanites bound for the Cort-
landt street ferry was made patent by the
fearful and wonderful assortment of pack
ages borne by the fond husband and father,
while the pretty little mother carried the
satchel and the only son and heir
1t was also perfectly apparent that the
youngest of the party the first baby.
because he wore an imperious frown his
face and began to bully and browbeat his
devoted parents as soon as they had been
seated and he was settled comfortably on
his mothers knee. To the casual observer
this child was not different from the ordi-
nary ei5hteen-months-o old infant. in a clean
white frock and red Shoes but its parents
lad observed that it possessed qualities
that exalted it far above any other baby
that ever born.
AS soon the youngster had been settled
facing the other passengers and his gar
nents smOothed down with infinite care, a
large stick of candy was handed to him by
the fond father, who then beamed on the
other passengers in an introductory way.
which sail plainly, Now, ladies and gen
tlemen, did you ever witness such wonder
full precocity in a child? We are proud of
him, of course. He is our first. You are
q / privileged to admire him as much as YOU
Ike. l am his father
The prodigy at this moment gave forth
some wonderful comment which sounded
ike 'Ye-da,' and began to squirm. Both
father and mother smiled on him indulgent-
ly, and the father, with a proud laugh,
forthwith handed him apple. 1t was APP
parently wrong guess. for the prodigy in
dignantly flung it across the aisle, hitting
in the stomach a stout gentleman in high
silk hat, who was reading a newspaper. The
missile rebounded and rolled under the seat
Il few feet away.
''Ah, what a badly boy he isl said the
proud father in q deprecatory way, as he
went forward. dived under two or three peo-
pie and recovered the rejected fruit
Would hit gentleman? 90 is not
mad at the gentleman? Go and shake hands
with re gentleman" And the mother with
a beam of proud proprietorship, put the
wonderful child down and started it across
toward the assaulted one-eviGently an old
bacheior-who glared at 1t, and then smiled
a sick y sort of smile.
The pro ligy started, and then, veerng to
the left, brought up against the knees of q
youth in immaculate apparel and wearing
spats. 1t stood moment pounding his knee
with the piece of sticky candy in a friendly
way. The parents watched in ecstasy
OF pride, the father looking as if about to
say, Did you ever see anything quite as
cute as that? Now. did you, really?' The
youth looked down in helpless horror for a
moment, smiling gloomily. until lurch of
the car threw the infant backward with
great force, its head striking the toe of a
middle-aged woman of angular build and
wearing glasses.
Both father and mother swooped down on
the PROSTATE and bowling infant just as the
woman with glasses stopped for it. The
TWO women's heads came together, and their
hats were knocked awry. There was a gen.
cral smile on the part of unfeeing Specta-
tors. The mother was pleased at the others
50 icitude for her child, and smiled cheer
fully as she recovered it. The other woman
straig htened herself up prinly and grimly
hHDnV family resented themselves
and the fond father looked about him
pleasantly, as If to assure everybody that
there was no cause for alarm
The child, who not hurt cried Justify
however, until the father pulled forth from
a package a small tin spade and a highly
colored trumpet, which he ratified and blew
and then handed over to the dissati sfied
one. The prodigy insisted upon standing up
in its mothers lap and, leaning carelessly
over toward a man in cape overcoat,
struck him in the eye with the trumpet at
the same time dropping the spade and
grasping the mans watch chain firmly with
the dsengaged hand. There was genera,
litter, and the proud father, realizing that
every body was now interested in his won
derful offspring, reached over to take the
latter from its mothers arms He did not
notice that the infant still retained a vice.
like grip on the watch chain, and the watch
would undoubtedly have been torn from its
owners pocket, had he not with wonderful
presence of mind, found his feet just as the
infant was being dragged away and fol-
loWeu IL up, reviewing the strain at a great
loss of dignity. He stood almost on Blended
knee while the fond father persuaded the
infant marauder to let go.
Deprived of his spoil, the infant became
furious. and refused to be handled on his
fathers knee, but howled, and, kicking out
his chubby feet bindly. beat a lively tattoo
on the chest of a Cinnamon who had taken
a seat the indulgept parents left
Cortland street, sang out the con-
Guctor. The prodigy was transferred to its
mother, bribed into quietude by another
huge stick of candy, with which he began
smearing her back hair. The father smil-
ingly gathered up the bundles. and the
happy family left the car. There was a
general sigh from many varied and con-
flicting motives the cheerful little COM
edy of everyday life was ended.