Evening star., 1901-12-21
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their plans some time before and then get
off instead of OBTAINING the car for several
minutes while they determined in the first
ticular point and then in the second place
just how they will get off.
x X X y
The infreuuency of large evening recep-
tions as features of the social life here has
been noticeable for several years past. The
decadence of this form Of social intercourse
is attributed to the abuse which gradually
became associated with 1t, leading to ex-
tremely late hours. One who is familiar
with what is termed resident society as
distinguished from official, in speaking of
the evening reception as It existed when at
the height Of it's popularity. says that 1t
was not uncommon for the hostess at such
a function not to come down stairs until
after 10 o'clock There was no need of an
earlier appearance for the reason that the
guests who hadi been invited for s o'clock
or perhaps did not begin to come until
after TO-. The result was that it was l and
could get home. For men whose business
obliged them to be up betfmes In the morn
ing this sort of life was. wearing, and
hence quiet and determined revolt against
is believed to have -contrfbtrt ed more than
any other one cause to the practical aban-
donment of the evening reception.
X X %.k
The desire of some persons who appear
in tie Police Court to use big words, Of
which they are not quite certain as to the
meanings. frequently cause amusement or
the attaches Recently a colored man,
while under cross-exanlination, declared
that he heard the defendant use ''inflamma-
tory language"
Tha v1-I0
been In a court before, SAD 1t was ne
first time he had been on jury" He
meant that 1t was his first experience on
the witness stand
A day or two ago defendant denied to
the court that he had made Unframed re-
marks" A small colored boy was on trial
for the theft of some money yesterday,
and his mother, who was present, request
ed permission to make statement. Her
wish was granted and she informed the
Judge that she intended to tell the truth
tnat she would not for the world stand be-
fore the congregation present and tell
falsehood. -
Did I ever tell you how clouds Of dust
once saved Washington city from what
many people believe would have been Ger
tain capture at the hands of the confed-
erates?' asked a member of the old Vet
Grams Reserve Corps, which was on duty
at Fort Stevens during the war, to crowd
of companions in a downtown hotel the
other day. No one in the assemblage had
heard the story, and so the veteran con-
tinued.
1t was when the army OF northern Vir-
g1nia was Just outside the capital city.
You may remember that Gen. Early, who
was in command of this particular division
of the confederate forces, in writing to re-
flute statements published in northern pa
pers to the effect that he could easily have
marched into Washington, said: L knew
the defenses were weak when 1 arrived.
Dut my troops were so exhausted from
the enforced march that a halt was OBJ
solutely necessary, and the next morning
knew by clouds of dust that reinforce
ments had arrived
THAT dust. gentlemen, was raised by a
few men, not exceeding one hundred, of
the Veteran Reserve Corps. The tempo
rary commander of this company, a stout
man of medium height, whose name or
rank l did not learn. because he wore no
blouse or insignia, placed the men in line
in the rear of and between Fort Stevens
and Fort Slocum. After making a short
speech, in which he urged every man to do
his best, he directed us to march down
some distance on the grass past Fort
Stevens. Once there, he told us to break
ranks and right-about, returning In the
middle of the main road and kicking up all
lie uust we possibly could. we doubled
on the line, marching down on the grass
and coming back in the dusty road. 1t
was dry season, and we all had on broad
soled shoes. We made the dust fly, 1 tell
you. and 1t Is no wonder Gen. Early
thought reinforcements by the thousands
had come to the relief of the handful on
duty at the forts"
X X X X X
W. w. Haight, chief Of the draughting
division. patent Office is a very busy man
these days. all because he happened at one
time to live amid the a1kali deserts Of
New Mexico. That progressive territory
is now knocking loudly and persistently
at. the doors Of Congress for admission
into the sisterhood of states. which right
1t claims has been unreasonably denied for
a long time.
The territory's claim Is not only being
assiduously urged by it's delegate in Con-
gress. but q goodly delegation of native
New Mexicans are here to help push the
thing along. These gentlemen arrived in
Washington about ten days ago. wearing
large sombrero hats and other parapher-
MALTA characteristic Of the soil from which
they sprang. AS soon as they had shaken
off the alkali dust and gotten their bear
ings the delegation to q man sought
Haight
They urged his co-operation-aye, even
his fnfluence-to induce the legislators on
the Hill to harken unto their country's
cry for statehood. Haight did not falter.
to the flag and that star New Mexico,
he has been devoting his time and, Incl
dentally, some Of his hard-earned leave in
pushing the claims of his birthplace His
fellow-employes at the patent office have
enjoyed much fun at their chiefs first ex-
perience in lobbying, and are anxiously
awaiting to learn the result Of his labors
in the new field.