Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-19
WELL-BRED STEALING
A Modern Vice Sternly
Scored.
THE "SWIPING" FAD
AN INCIDENT AND THE SAD
ENDING.
The Blame and the Shame Point a
Strong Moral Les
Written for Tic Erenin- Star

Written for Tho Evening Star
have been sitting at dinner with COM
pany of thieves
ANA y, chey were pretty. and q, they were CAV,
But they carried the spoons in their pockets away
OF course, that about the pockets IS
poetic license. For there was not a woman
among them who had such a thing as a
pocket in her gown. But the rest is true
enough, and that is the worst of it.
1t was little party at one of the pretty
and fashionable restaurants down town,
and out of compliment to the bevy Of bright
women who were to dine there the host put
or all the bravery of his plate and china
closets, and served each course on rare and
beautiful wares, to the great delight of
every one present. The spirit of covetous-
ness showed its horrid form early. But
when ices came on in lilies of frosted silver.
fair faces became distorted with greed.
Il must steal one of those lovely things, A"
a woman said, laughing at a thought for
which she would have sent her waiting
maid to jail; and there were hysterical
whispers and abashed smiles when the
waiter bore down upon the things and took
them safely away. Then came the coffee in
cups fine as egg shells. with cunning lit
tie spoons of many shapes ornately dec
GRATED in colored enamels These trifies
were of value. and were doubtless priced by
their owner but the women who sat at
that board deliberately took them away as
souvenirs of the dinner and the day.
Mothers of young sons purloned trophies
to hang In the very room where they will
sit to teach the little ones the solemn
words, Thou shalt not steal"
1 believe measures to stop the astonishing
practice of pilfering are now being urged
by restaurant keepers and hotel men every
where, as their losses from that cause
alone are of appalling proportions. Women
are not alone in this way of tranSgreSSion.
Men carry off wine glasses and small ar
ticles which please their eyes, with no
thought but Of their cleverness in getting
them away. And 50 poor sometimes is our
humanity. many of these very men would
deal harshly with j father caught In such a
crime stealing bread.
A Strong Comparison.
If arson could be treated as a bit OF play
fitness, the towns would all be blazing, for
the imp of mischief did not die when Adam
moved. Somebody treated the matter OF
stealing spoons at a public dinner as a joke
and such is the influence of example when
one member of company shows a smiling
eagerness to appropriate what does not be
long to her another will follow without a
QUalm of conscience. Gently reared and
Christian ladies have gone out Of hotels
with the house linen in their trunks and
the house spoons in their sleeves, and all
because, through some false reasoning,
they think the landlord has been overpaid
Il have a perfect right to these things,
one may say. for 1 am paying so a day.
and it does not cost that to feed me,
know
But If she has a right to them. why hide
them? The excuse will not hold. If one
cannot afford to pay so a day and live in
honor, let her pay one dollar or ten cents
and keep her fingers from taking that
which is not her own.
I do not believe that women realize The