Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-19
THE UNUSUAL INCIDENT.
It is That Which Attracts the Atten-
fion

an large cities it is both astonishing and
amusing what trifles will attract attention
If they are out of the ordinary run of
events" remarked an observing Washing
tonian today. and a few instances which
have come under my observation recently
will be recognized as familiar examples.
Il was dining in an uptown restaurant
a few days ago when 1 noticed heavy-set,
middle aged man at an adjoining table fin
ish his dinner, RISE take his hat and cane,
and deliberately walk out of the place with
out paying his check, the cashiers back
being turned.
"One Of the other diners called the atten-
ton of a waiter to the man who had just
skipped out. While the waiter hurried after
him. the second guest rose and spoke to the
cashier. The man outside evidently said
something to the waiter which made him
feel very uncomfortable. as he returned much
crestfallen with flushed face. The cashier
in the meantime had left her desk, but.
upon going to the door. returned with the
remark that the supposed beat was reg
ular guest who boarded by the season.
when the man who had taken SO much
interest in the welfare of the restaurant
left the place. the first man was awaiting
him. and swatted him handsomely in the
face, backing his eye and putting his nose.
That much for his officiousness. He will
never again pay attention to the unusual
when he sees another man leave a restaur-
ant under apparently suspicious circum-
stances, for even money.
THE other morning at IL O'Clock a whistle
In the vicinity Of The Star Office blew a
sudden, loud and prolonged blast. People
stopped on Pennsylvania avenue and 18th
street, looked around the hot street expect
antly, then up at the windows of the ad-
jacent buildings. at the hands Of the big
clock In the tower OF the post Office build
ing, and finally up and down the street
for the fire engines. 1t was the unusual
and attention was attracted. An hour later
1t would have been unobserved. Some
gineer's clock was an hour ahead of time.
II was walking UP street the other af-
ternoon reading The Star so nterestedly
that both figuratfvely and literally walked
all over young thing In killing. trailing
summer gown. the first intimation of my
heinous crime coming to my ears when /
heard the gatherings rip with a heart
rending tearing sound like lot Of caps on
the street car track on the Fourth of July.
Did apologize? Did grow suddenly warm
and perspire profusely as 1 heard those
gatherings part. and looked down into the
1 had almost trampled to death? Did /
stammer and stutter. and wish myself q
thousand miles away? Well, didn't l!
And did she rip me up the back with
the usual remark, Careless bruei Can't
you see where you are walking? Why don't
You read The Star at home, instead OF on
the street. walking all over helpless women?
Ough! You have ruined my dress"
INSTEAD, she did the unusual and muir
INJURED accept your apology; 1t is unfor-
tunate. to be sure but my skirt is not en-
tirely ruined and she smiled with such
divine sweetness. emphasizing the word
entirely SO nicely. that l was restrained
only by the cOnventiOnalities from propos-
ing on the spot. and offering her a treas
ury note with which to buy a new skirt.
And all through life. on the streets, In
public and private places where people con-
gregate, 1t is the unusual incident that at
tracts our attention from the usual and
ordinary events in our existence which be-
come conventional by constant repetition.
Sometimes 1t is only a boy peeping down a
coal hole, or peering up to the sky: a kind
word where an angry retort is expected, or
vice versa: the least thing, in fact, SO curl
GUS is man and SO accustomed Is he to the
same old grind. will cause a revulsion of
feeling. and thus is the monotony of life
broken"