Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-12

Will never forget an experiences Hdu
in San Francisco said commercial trav-
eler. while passing away an idle hour at
downtown hotel a few days ago. Il
found myself in that city for day or two
with nothing to do 1 went down Market
street in an aimless way looking at the
people and into the shop windows. Finally
l came to the largest agency for fire and
burglar-proof safes it has ever been my for
tune to see. There was an immense show
room filled with these projections against
fire and burglars. looked into the window
while and then my curiosity led me to go
inside the door. 1 had inspected half
dozen safes when a clerk approached and
offered to show and explain the various
kinds of safes to me. 1 told him that 1
was an idle sightseer with no intention of
buying. who had been attracted by the
sight of such a great variety of steel safes.
He seemed quite willing to be of service
and we went from to the other of the
massive affairs, he explaining and l ask
ing questions. Finally l began to feel &C
Guainted with the subject sufficiently to
ask many rather intelligent questions, and
l asked him about how to temper steel and
how the burglars proceed to take the tenn
per out of them and to make their way to-
ward the valuables l had asked him
many questions ON that line when he looked
up at me with a sharp. suspicious look on
his face
Perhaps you can tell me more about
tempering steel than l tell your" he
remarked.
The situation dawned upon me. 1 was
an object of suspicion l was glad when
the opportunity came when 1 could excuse
myself and get out of that neighborhood.
Later in the day l told some of my
friends of the experience and of the sus-
picion / had aroused. They enjoyed a
hearty laugh at my expense and told me
that 1t was not uncommon for noted
cracksmen on the Pacific coast to go into
such places and inform themselves as to
the latest improvements in safe building in
order that they might operate the better.
The dealers, far from being unwilling
to give information to such men, were
rather pleased to talk with them. though
now and then a recognition led to an ar
rest on the spot.
From that day to this have never
sought Information on the subject of bur-
glar-proof safes.
There are many people who stay I'D
nights to study how they can beat a rail-
road company, and there are probably just
as many persons with conscientious scru-
pies who will go out of their way to see
that company gets all that Is justly due
it, observed a railroad passenger agent
yesterday to Star reporter
we of the railroad realm receive all
sorts of letters of other than a business ma
ture. the majority asking for free transpor-
tation, others for donations and an occa-
sional conscience communication The
latter are the most amusing of the lot
When say Conscience communication /
mean letter from some one to the effect
that he has at some time taken advantage
of the 'scalpers' rate and incloses the
amount to which he feels indebted to the
railroad.
Il received Just such a communication the
other day. 1t bore the post office mark of
Sydney. Australia, and was unsigned Ac-
cording to the letter the sender rode over our
line from Lexington KY. to Washng;o on
In 1895. on "scalper's' ticket The letter
went on to say that the sender was con-
science stricken. and. to ease his mind
sent 81 to make up the discrepancy be-
tween the price of regular ticket and the
amount he paid the 'scalper' for transpor-
tdtfon-"
\ x
The question of which foot to fit first
is an important one to u.s." said Penn
sylvania avenue shoe dealer as he tugged
to get small pair of oxfords on a large
foot 1T may seem strange to YOU but
II is rarely we do not experience some
trouble in fitting one foot while the other
Is easily covered. popular belief obtains
that the left foot Is the hardest to fit. and
consequently many clerks always try a
shoe on that foot first. 1t is not true how
ever. according to my observation, that
there is any infiexible rule as to which foot
TO try first. 1t is true. nevertheless that
IN majority of cases If you succeed in
fitting the left foot you will have no trou-
BILE with the right My practice is to try
both feet before 1 pronounce a pair OF
shoes a perfect fit. Then | am sure to
avoid any mistake growing out of foot
formation No two people have feet form
ed exactly alike. and the shoe salesman
who thinks and is governed accordingly