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

MHA
~~GZV

will meet with many complaints. For some
time 1 pondered over the problem OF MT
ting shoes to feet, and especially as to why
the left foot should be considered .he
standard by which to be governed. The
only rational theory I have been able 10
evolve Is a very simple one when you
come to consider 1t. Nine out OF ten peo-
pie you meet are right-handed, as we say.
About one person in ten, or perhaps the
per cent Is even less than that uses his
left hand. If you will observe person
who uses the right hand when she or he Is
standing and talking they invariably rest
their weight on the left foot, and vice
versa, a left-handed person will rest his
or her weight on the right foot. The re-
suit is that with right-handed people the
left foot Is probably fraction larger than
the right foot. and the shoe clerk must
inevitably find this to be fact sooner or
later. That, in my opinion Is the explana-
ton of the common belief that the left
foot Is the standard to go by in the fitting
of shoes But, as I have already said,
there Is no rule that is absolutely safe to
follow, and my plan is to always At both
feet before l let a customer leave tie
house."
* * * X
An interesting illustration of the excel
lent marksma nship of Uncle Sans men be-
hind the guns, as developed during the re-
cent inspection trip of the naval committee
men on the U. 8. 8. Dolphin mas just come
to light. Representative Roberts Of Massa-
chusetts was of the party. Approaching
Gunner's Mate Spoer of the ship, Mr.. Rob-
erts offered him a dollar to hit a sea gull.
Spoer took a forty-pound six-millimeter
Colts automatic gun, and after a trial shot
he popped sea gull on the fly at 400 yards.
One of the representatives was firm in his
declaration that the shot was an soc-
dental one. whereupon Spoer shot another
gull at $50 yards. The crowd Of aStoniShed
xxrity r..
conclusion that Spoer was the crack shot of
the ship This Spoer modestly disclaimed,
saying, We've a shipload of 'en, sir"
Spoer got his dollar.
X X X X X
Speaking of what the countrymen call
'yaller Jackets reminds me of one of the
most torturing experiences of my career
moral" said Col. L. S. Brown, the South
ern railway general agent. 'Since that
time have a bump of caution on my head
as big as a water bucket. AS the result
of a bit of foolish boyish within 1 had ex-
actly twelve bumps of caution on my head
at one time. but that is quite enough for
all practical purposes. l was living near
a lake at the time. and, like most boys,
had fondness for the water. I was not
happy unless Swimming along the surface
~ eiiS hnhO III q ohiAl, anu spent HULL VI
my time in rowing and padding. always,
of course, near the shore. There was a skiff
moored at the landing where 1 had estab-
lished loafing headquarters, and it was a
good-sized boat. There was the usual seat
In the bow Of the skiff with q hole in
the cross piece large enough to admit my
head. l do not know why l wanted to
look into that place. but was seized with
a sudden and uncomfortable impulse to run
tnf 10 hnI oy,1 ,Lok
going on inside In went my head What
happened to me was enough. 1 felt q
dozen needles pop through my scalp in
a second. 1t was all done SO quick that 1
did not know what was happening to me-
and when tried to Jerk my head out my
chin caught on the little partition and to
save my soul could not get my chin out.
In the meantime the needles kept popping
into my head. In a boyish way Of rea-
soning L concluded that my head was
swelling and there would be no chance in
the world for me to get 1t out. In the
meanwhile my feet and hands were busy
and ! was pulling to beat the band. Well,
L finally got my head out, and surveying
the situation. found that 1 had literally
stuck my head into hornets nest An
ammonia shower bath relieved me some
what. but since that time 1 have been
little shy of this thing of sticking my
head into places where 1t does not belong -