Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16

PEARSON" would 70 to the house OF another
subscriber. In another locality. and read
his paper.
Known a. "The Steamboat"
There was a department clerk known a.
the steamboat from his habit Of throwing
his head back and blowing 30 hard that
the noise made waS similar to escaping
steam. His habit was to reach the depart
ment some time before 0 o'clock. and get
ting the paper OF a fellow clerk would be
engrossed in the news when the subscriber
arrived. Tho gentlemanly disposition OF
the latter preeluded him from asking for
the paper. and the reader often did not
law 1t down for hours.
Finally q miSchievous employo, In the
interest OF the subscriber, procured a paper
OF the corresponding day Of the week and
month. and. by the aid OF printed figure
or two and the paste pot, made four-year-
old paper appear to be new. The conse-
quence was that the reader ives soon con-
WINGED that history was repeating itself.
but when at last he found that he had
been duped there was such an explosion as
to make his sobrtQuet moro appropriate
than ever.
When the story got out ''old steam boat"
was very chary Of meeting people familiar
with him. For years he was bound to be
asked "how many times the battles In
Mexico had been fought over"
There were some Of the old people who
were 1nveterate jekers, one Of whom was
a man whose head was as bare Of natural
hair as a billiard ball. but ordinarily was
covered by q fine wig. This gentleman was
one Of the old-timers who retained the
frtned shirt, the Jacksonian hat and the
manners and genial ways of the generation
which preceded him, and he knew almost
every man, woman and child In the Dis
trict- It was his habit when enjoying the
shade in his chair on the curb Of the ave-
nue. east Of 9Th street to watch for some
one to get a laugh on. When he saw an
acquaintance approaching he would take
off his wig and place 1t in his hat, Of course
becoming unrecognizable. People would
pass without speaking to him. but Wnen
turning, he having replaced his bought
hair. they would greet him with Fine
evening, colonel"
What do you mean by insulting me7'
the colonel would explain. I'm not to be
passed one minute unnoticed and be taken
up the next. What do you mean by II
sir?''
the response. This Is the first time I've
seen you today"
That's not true. I saw you ten minutes
ago." the colonel would say. who was
sitting in that chair when you walked
paSt?"
..Why, nobody but an old bald-headed
gentleman would be the reply.
would you recognize him?' would be
the next question of the colonel, raising his
hat with the wig attached AS may be sup
posed this would cause laugh which was
ended in some smiles. at a neighboring
bar or by smoking some of Harry Winter 8
cigars.
In Demand as Entertainer.
Few have forgotten q veritable every
lady's beau of those days, a descendant Of
Irish stock with the ready wit. genial dis
position and more than an ordinary educa-
ton. a fine singer and performer on the
flute, and a most graceful dancer as well
as story teller, whose fame extended be-
yond the District His employment brought
him In contact with the public, being one of
the clerks at the court house, and he had
the entire Of nearly every house in the Dis
trict, for his services were in demand as an
entertainer. Indeed, at the public balls the
ladies would inquire II "Charley'' was on
hand, and all would feel that without him
the ball would not be a success. Should a
lady fail in being his partner for dance
during the evening she felt that she was
Sighted. This genial character came from
Capitol Hill.
What Is now known as South Washing
ton, then simply THE Island" had some
what similar character, but In person he
was not so attractive, He was brought up
In the music business, was somewhat OF q
singer, and through him much of the en-
joyment of the young people in a musical
way was due, 1t is related that on one oc-
casion he was introduced to a company Of
young people in a distant part of the city,
and by his singing and conversation soon
became the life of the party. 1t was in the
warm summer time. and dusk when he
got there, and for fear of attracting mos
Quitoes the lamps were not lighted; conse-
quently his new acquaintance did not have
a look at his features till the party broke
up Then their appreciative sentiment was
expressed by an astonished Northern Lib
erty girl exclaiming: If that is Mr.. -
never was SO disappointed in my life. and
scarcely believe that so much entertainment
could come from one with plain a face :"
There was also a most fashionably dress
ed tailor in town who was quite beau
under the name of Leinkturndada.
There was scarcely & neighborhood In