Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-20

I'VE gifts it comm en- we gifts 1t goin,
said the Old rotorman as he left the plat
form at the end of his days work and
passed from labor to refreshment in a
place not far from the car stable.
''Who gets it," some one in the place
quered
Me and the conductor" was the prompt
response. He gifts most of the jawing,
but we motormen gifts our share 1 almost
WISH said the old fellow. Il almost wish
/ could go back to my old perfession of
gravediggng.
''Wots eatin' you now, Aaron?" chimed
in the man with white jacket.
It's just this" said the motorman. You
know what a cold day it's been, and I'm
nearly froze through and through. It's
been cold enough to freeze the nose off a
pole bear Well, was goin' along street
near 9Th, and the little ice pebbles was
bliSteTing my face up, when | fellow
on the corner wavn' his umbrellar and
yellin for all he was worth. He was cold
II admit that-but | saw him all right
and stopped for him; but l couldn't help
saying. Why don't yer hOller murder?
We'll, l want to get on the car, he said,
'en I'm going to report you for imperti-
nence. he said And so he did, to the con-
ductor, who told me, and we both jess
laughed Would you believe it? Just a
few blocks further up there was a fellow
standin right on the rail. and stopped for
him, of course; and this other grump, says
he. What yer stoppin' fer, yer idgit? 1
don't want to get on your old ark And so
1t goes. Every day there's trouble. and
say | was far much happier when ] was
diggin graves than l am drivin' street
car.
''Thanky, I will take another These hot
beveridges are very soothing after about
fourteen hours in a blizzard"
= x
e
people who affected by fire." remarked
n member of the local fire department upon
his return from Baltimore. While the fire
was raging in Baltimore people were pick
ing up their effects and running from their
buildings with them. They seemed to
have but one thought, and that was to get
their effects out of their own building.
Once outside they were apparently salts
fed and had but little thought of what
they then did with them.
1T was not unusual sight to see
man deposit quantity of valuables near q
building that was burning. and where they
would almost certainly be destroyed. 1t
was for this reason that some of the small
losers failed to save anything. One man
ran from his house with mattress on his
back, and the covering was blazing He
was greatly excited that he refused to
pay any attention to the shouts of by
ISLANDERS. The mans life was really in
danger, and he became very much incensed
when stream OF water was turned upon
his blazing burden
If people would not get excited in time
of fire. the fireman said, they would be
able to save a great deal more property
But most people lose their heads entirely
throw Such things as china and glassware
from windows and then descend with
heavy material that will not break I re-
member one case in which woman threw
mirrors and fancy articles from a window
and then took shutter from a window
and walked down the steps with it,"
x x x X
''The Life of George Washington: With
Curious Anecdotes. Equally Honorable to
Himself and Exemplary to His Young Coun
trymen. By NJ. l. Weems, Formerly Rector
of Mount Vernon Parish. 1SOs' is the title
of rare old volume at the Library of
Congress. 1t will appeal to the sense of
humor of the present-day reader. In this
quaint unauthentic history he will find
amusement from cover to cover
The author begins with the boyhood of
the father of his country and the famous
Ratchet story is told. probably for the first
time in print, as Mr.. Weems says it was
related to him some years before by IAN
aged lady who was distant relative. and
when girl spent much of her time in the
washington family" 1T is" he adds
too valuable to be lost, and too true to be
doubted.
The story. with its original punctuation
is follows:
When George was about six years old he
was made the wealthy master of a hatchet!
OF which, like most boys, he was immoder-
ately fond; and was constantly going about
cEopping everything that came in his way
''One day in the garden where ne often
amused himself hacking his Mothers pea
sticks. he unluckily tried the edge of his
hatchet on the body of a beautiful English
cherry tree. which he barked so terribly
that | don't believe the tree ever got the
better of it.
Tie next morning the old gentleman
finding out what had befallen his tree