Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-25

that minors are to be seen in drinking
places. and 1t is natural to infer that they
are there for no good If the law prohib-
tied them from entering such places some
good could be accomplished.
In Texas he stated. 1.-The law says that
minors must not enter and remain in a
saloon. This makes 1t incumbent upon the
saloonkeeper to order out the youngsters as
soon as they enter, or suffer the conse-
quences. In a recent case tried in that
state it was shown that plumbers appren-
tfce entered saloon and remained there
to do some work. There was no allegation
that he was furnished liquor, but the court
held that the letter of the law had been
violated, and imposed a penalty.
THAT may be going little too far"
said the temperance man. but such q law
In this city would certainly not operate
against the morals of the young men and
might be the means of improving many of
them If the law would apply to certain
adults it would greatly reduce the number
of loafers in saloons and prove q benefit
TO the saloonkeeper, well as to the men
VINO continually hang about saloons wait
ing 1or somebody to stop in and treat
X
IL Is well-known fact that few defend
ants before the courts of this country are
more cunning and versatile in connecting
schemes for escaping the disfavor of the
judges than Chinese who are trying to
remain here in spite of the charge that
they are native born Cinnamon and have
no right here under the existing exclusion
act. The novelty of the stories which are
advanced to show why certain China
men do not come within the ban of
the law is always amusing There are
lodges of almost every conceivable kind;
so many, in fact, that lawyers and judges
have about reached the conclusion that
nothing new in this line can ever be found.
But new plan has at last been found
by one enterprising Chinaman, whose case
has been before a local United States COM
missioner. He says he was born in Japan,
his mother being native of that country
and his father Chinaman. 1t is always
very difficult for a court to get at the
facts in such case, but many regard the
descent is always to be traced through the
father, according to law.
The real amusing part of the present
case, however is likely to be the sequel,
to deal with these cases. If the decision
is rendered adverse to this Chinaman, it
is said that it will be sure thing that in
the next case brought up here the defense
will be that the Chinaman was born in
Japan of japanese father ard a Chinese
mother.
Woe will be unto the judge who attempts
to decide by appearances whether this be
true or not. The races are too nearly alike
in this respect. What would be the out
come of this situation of affairs is a pretty
question for lawyers interested in Chinese
cases.
X X x * x
Have you any money with you" asked
a well-to-do citizen the other day of an
acquaintance he happened to be talking to.
Il don't know" was the reply, as he be-
gan a search through his clothes and then
after counting up some loose change and
few notes. he found he had in ready cash
a little over IS.
Il didn't suppose you had MUCH said
his friend in a resigned tone. You rich
fellows never do"
The man was rather impressed by this
last observation. 1t had called to his at
tention a subject that he had never con-
sidered He was perfectly well aware of
his own habits in this respect and knew
that he seldom carried large sums of, or
in fact actually handled the money con-
stantly employed in his business or for his
personal and household expenses.
His curiosity was aroused to know what
was the real condition of well-to-do men
among his acquaintance in this partcu-
lar. A little inquiry soon convinced him
that he was not singular and as he broad
ened out the field of his Investigations, he
came to the conclusion that the more
money a man controlled, the less he was
liable to have about his person.
The reputation of a man for wealth. he
concluded, had some influence. for in such
cases they have little need of cash In
other words their checks or, what is the
same thing, their credit takes the place of
the real money. Where the reputation is
not so well established. he thinks people
are obliged to have on hand the where
withal TO meet their obligations.
X X
"a chance meeting few days ago with
an old friend recalled to my mind memories
of the past that l had almost forgotten, ?"
remarked a man who is well and favorably
known TO the majority of the citizens of
the national capital. THE friend to whom
1 refer now resides in the west but is
here for the Inaugural ton. We were both
members of the Columbia Athletic Club
in it's palmiest days, and many of our
recollections were of occurrences in con-
nection with the club.
Eat one period in the career of the or
ganization the festive game of poker -four
ished to some extent. Finally the board
of governors determined to put an end to
gambling in every form at the club, and
issued a sort of proclamation that the
further playing of poker must cease COM
pletely and totally. AS may readily be
imagined this action did not meet with
favor among those addicted to the game,
and they showed their displeasure in an
entirely novel and most amusing way.
The evening of the day the anti-poker
proclamation went into effect the rank and
file of the members who CHANGED to be in
the club house were really startled at
first when they observed grown men, most
of them in evening attire, spinning tops,
running toy locomotives and playing mar
bles and jacks on the floor of the room
where the game of poker had heretofore
reigned absolutely supreme. The dis
gr'ntIed ones kept at their childish pas
times for perhaps an hour, and that even
ing, l verify believe. was the most laugh
able one of my life"