Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-21

81 don't want to do anything that will
lessen the hilarity of life observed man
who was on his way out to play a few
holes of golf. but 1t seems to me that
some witticisms are overworked. or course,
when they are good there Is no doubt that
q man ought to grow merry over their
repetition at least as often as once a year.
for. after all, there Is not an excess or
funny things In this life. STILL unless, as l
lave said they are genuinely humorous,
one is apt to become a trife tired when
such things are thrust upon him too fire.
Quently.
What suggested this to my mind was
hearing recently a revival of that ancient
witticism about the city of the traveller,
who in the early days. while passing
through it. or rather over its proposed site,
asked when 1t was expected that Wash
ington would be reached, was informed that
he was then in the city. AS originally
stated, this no doubt represented genu-
inc experience. For when the tide of GU
rious visitors turned toward the new city
its making had only begun, and there was
hardly 1000 inhabitants scattered over its
extended area. The site was one of woods
and fields and also SwampS. Even under
these circumstances it is hardly possible
that 1t would take an hour or more to
travel the three miles or that measures
the east and west length of the city. So
when the historic reply of the stage driver
to the impatient traveller is again served
up for the delectation of an audience 1T
would be more accurate IL perhaps not
quite effective, to report him as saying,
We have been going through the city for
some time, rather than one or two or three
hours"
The Burglar Is the nickname given to
a messenger boy employed by one of the
telegraph companies. He is a husky lad
Of about sixteen years. with nerve and
resourcefulness, and 1t is his duty to de-
liver messages late at night to distant and
suburban addresses. When one of the
smaller boys returns to the Office with the
tale that he could not find the house the
delivery clerk knows that the little fellow
became scared at the lonely streets or q
dark ominous-looking front yard. where
the wind walled among the trees and
shrubbery, and where the house stood
shattered and silent in the background.
Certainly there would be ghosts and kid
napers and might doctors and all kinds
of horrid things, so what could the little
chap do but "cut II out
So the delivery clerk sends out The
Burglar" He is never known to fail to
find the house and get the people up if it
is an important message. He must know
the streets and be able to count the num-
beers from the corner. for Washington
houses are notably deficient in illuminated
designations. The Burglar isn't afraid
Of bears, ghosts or might doctors" and
with his reflector lantern goes poking
around all sorts of places.
The other night he was given the wrong
address on telegram and found himself
at the gate of Oak Hill cemetery. Grave
as judge he reported when he came back:
Il ratified at the gate to beat the band,
but could not raise a soul.
x X 4 x
Mr. RalDh Given assistant To the JJp{tad
States attorney for the District. had some
experience recently with the servant girl
question and woke up one Sunday morning
to find that the articles which had been
purchased for dinner that day had disap-
peared. as had also the colored domestic.
For several weeks Mr.. Given had been
unsuccessful in his efforts to employ col
ored domestic who would give entire sat
isfaction in the various branches of house
hold duties Upon going home one evening
he was informed that a girl who seemed to
be capable of filling the vacancy in the
household had been employed, but he did
not see her until several days later. At
that time the first meeting between the girl
and her employer. the former stared at the
master of the household, who noticed a
queer look come across her face. 1t only
took one glance from the official, when he
became convinced that he had seen the girl
before, and on thinking the matter over he
decided that IL was in the dock of the Police
Court, he being detailed at the temple of
justice to assist In the prosecution of those
who violate the laws of the District AL
though he said nothing at the time. his
wife informed him later that the girl had
inquired what business he engaged in,
and, on being Informed. became quite ner-
vous. Nothing more was thought of the
matter until the next morning, Sunday,