Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-05
AROUND THE CITY

The big hole in the triangle fronting the
National Theater was full of colored labor
ers. each as busy as big brown bee. A
curious woman stopped to watch the dirt
fly and that she disapproved Of the wreck
ing of the grass and bushes was evident
by the way she called down to the nearest
laborer:
What are you doing here2"
The man poised his pickax in the air
long enough to answer;
Digging, ma am"
We'll l can see that much for myself
And the curious woman was hufiing Off
when old colored man, who was also
an onlooker said politely
"A man tole me dey gwine plant a
Stacher near
BEG pardon. madam" interrupted q
white man. They are laying sewer"
''WelI, l suppose they must have ex-
cuse of some sort. When they tore up the
park across the street they blamed 1t on
the building they are putting up
Yes. madam But consider the progress
we are makiRg-a municipal building worthy
the capital OF the nation, and a sewer to
insure the city's health"
Progress is all right for those who want
II, answered the curious woman, but
I've lived here for over sixty years. and
prefer green grass and flower beds"
well. the triangles will be sodded over
when the improvements are completed.
And by that time maybe III be sodded
over, too"
The curious woman smiled at her grim
suggestion. the man touched his hat and
the Interview was over
She was stylish young woman in white
linen and lace and carried a scarlet par
esol. As she walked along the White
House tagging she saw coming toward her
O. man friend. for whose benefit she put on
hn alluring smile. which someway missed
Ats mark. Instead of beaming IN return, he
stopped short and exclaimed
Great Scott. Miss Blank what's wrong
with you? Oh, l see; It's the parasoi
The stylish young woman replaced her al
Turing smile with coquettish pout.
There you go, as bad as mamma!
suppose you want to tell me that my par
asol is conspicuous and makes me look as
AZ ! was painted, but don't care"
We'll, l would care. then. II ! were in
your place" interrupted the man friend
with heartfelt frankness 1t doesn't make
you look il you were painted. II you
will excuse me, my dear girl. II makes you
look lke-well. the sun blazing down
through that red stuff turns your nose into
o regular beet
He laughd with the privilege of an old
friend. and after another word or two con-
tinued on his way.
The young woman closed the red parasol
and walked along unsheltered from the
Sun.
The alIurlng smile. the coduettish pour
and the parasol were put aside together
A man on a bicycle wheeled down F
street his arms filed with tfssue-wrapped
bouquets Behind him wheeled another
man half buried in white asters tied with
white ribbon bow. Behind him, again.
wheeled "A man almost hidden by set piece
OF blossoms mounted a wire stand. AS
the floral parade passed q certain point II
attracted the attention of two men lounging
on corner.
Looks like there was a debutante
around /" remarked the one with the cigar.
Anybody likely to be coming out this time
a Year,
with the corncob pipe.
And the corncob man was right, for the
set piece on the wire stand had the word
sleep letteEed In purple blossoms on a
pillow OF white peas
man and two mddle-aged women were
IN an open car. He was reveling In his i'm
portance as guide, and they accepted his
output of information with the strained
look Of interest characteristic of tagged out
tourists when they wishing to goodness
they were home.
'srhis is the White House Here we have
the treasury, where Uncle sam keeps his
cash That's the Washington Monument
below there This is the New Willard,
where Lincoln used 10 stop
wish he was like Lincoln whispered
the one middle-aged woman TO the other,
and the other smiled ruefully in re-
sponse. But the man kept up mis- flow Of
He was not like Lincoln He did not
stop.
1T wouldn't hurt any II they were to
scrub these carvings, ard just look AZ the
way that plaster Is peeling."
Which brief but direct criticism shows
that In the eyes OF at least one tourist lady
the Congressional Library has its flaws.