Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-06
TROUBLES OF THE COP

The busiest man in America during tns
past couple of weeks of snow has been the
bulky park policeman, who sees that notn-
ing happens to the park space-it used to be
called Mount Vernon Square-surroundins
the Carnegie Library. There are no asphalt
paths through that park space. and lot
of folks seem to resent that fact. So. since
the beginning Of the SHOWS. these resentful
folks have been walking right through the
snow and making paths for the purpose at
the west end of the library. There are
couple of wellmarked and trodden snow
paths there now, as there have been ever
since snow began to fall this winter and
the bulky park policeman has been in an
explosive and violent state of eruption in
consequence from the time the path FIRST
appeared.
Don't you know" he yells hundred
one might almost say thousand-tlmeS a
day to people making use of those snow
paths, that it's forbidden to walk on the
grass of parks in this town.?
The park policeman doesn't appear 10
grasp the fact that the form of his ques-
ton gives the violators of the law to get
back at him.
II don't see any grass" is the almost in
variable reply of the people bawled at py
the park cop. where's there any grass?''
Fright under your feet" says the police
man.
rs it?"' the people ask. wonderingly.
THAT so2 L don't see any. thought II
was snow!
And they plod on ahead. The park COP
| hasn't seen his way to actually arresting
any of the violators of the law, but he just
pleads with and exhorts them.
Lady" he said to middle-aged woman
| with a market basket who was trudg1ne
along the snow path in the park the other
morning, you know. now, deed you know
| I know you know-that peoples not al
lowed to walk through the parks OF Wash
ington 'less'n there are walks PROVIDED
| Now, don't your
'Indade, then, why don't yeez provide
| the walks, thin?" calmly inquired the Wo-
man with the market basket. An what
| TIL ground for, 'ceptin' t walk on? An II
yeez don't want folks t. walk through W
old park, why don't yeez put barb wire
| fnce around it?'
People living in that neighborhood. who
have been overhearing lot of these col
| loquies, declare that the park cop hasn,t
won one of them up to date Everybody
warned by the park cop has got some an
swer ready to hand About three out OF
five of the young fellows who go racing
along the prohibited snow paths grin when
halted by the park cop. and tell him that
they're in hurry because they're running
to get a doctor"
"B'gee" the park cop was heard to muse
the other afternoon when about thirty OF
the young fellows had Informed him that
they were running for a doctor" there
must be sight of sickness in this man
town"
A little while after he had given utterance
to this reflection, a man tore along one of
the parks at top speed.
Hey. there YOU" the park policeman
called after him, going for the doctor, are
your
The man stopped in his tracks and looked
surprised and then sheepish.
Now, how the dickens did you know
that?' he asked the policeman. You must
be one of these here mind readers. That
where I'm running, all right enough. and.
say, if it's boy I'll stake you to the nnese
smoke you ever put in your face, just TOT
being such a good guesser!' and then ne
sped on his way.
the truth or just kidding me- the park
cop was heard to say to himself when the
man had disappeared around the corner OF
the library.
man yelled after a small boy who was kick
ing I'D the Ice clods on one of the paths the
other morning, where you going?
I'm going after my dawg," replied the
boy. pulling up trifie.
"Dog?' said the park cop. Il don't see
any dog Where is your dog?"
"Over in Swampoodle, mister" yelled the
boy, and then he took up a swift hike and
only hit the elevated places.
Miss said the park policeman to gay
young thing with a white boa who was
traipsing along one of the paths, "you
can't walk there, you know
She turned about and beamed radfantly
upon him. ..s
81 can't?" she said blitheiy. who says
I can't? You don't know me- l can walk
anywhere. That's my main hold. walking.
I've been walking ever since / was a year
old" and she tripped gaily on, while the
bulky cop scratched his left ear refectively
and looked puzzled.
"Say, who gave you permission to Walk
through that park?" the park policeman.
determined, somehow, to ask questions TO
which there is bound to be a come back, "
asked of boy with pair Of skates slung
over his shoulder.
Jim Hickey" the boy replied, in an of
hand way, and when the park cop took
after him he easily showed his superiority
in the sprinting business.
Now, look a-here, lady, I want to be re-
speetful, but this is the third time I have
warned you about walking through this
park the park cop said to a beshawled
woman, who had the general look of de-
partment charwoman, as she trudged
through the park the other afternoon.
Yes she replied. ralyingly, but don
believe in odd numbers
He is having a hard time of it, that park
policeman, but he is still keeping up his
determined efforts to enforce the law, with
such excellent results, too, that not more
than 14,517 persons walked along the paths
through the park yesterday, from am. to
pm.