Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-02
AROUND THE CITY

A flock Of young ducks as white as
drifted snow waddled along in the middle
of street near oath street.
woman who had stopped to watch the
unusual parade was joined by an old man
whose interest had also been captured.
"They must have been Matched out by a
hen," suggested the woman. TT doesn't
seem fair to make dry land fowl out Of q
duck, does it,
mo, ma'am. It's agin' nature That's why
there's so much trouble in this world, be-
cause we amt born into what naturally
suits US. That white squadron ought to be
riding water instead of trying to act like
chicks" -. ...---
And as he walked on the woman won
dered whether she had been talking to a
philosopher or a sailor man.
Maybe he was both.
A shabby old couple stood entranced be-
fore that pink myrtle tree in the White
House grounds AS they stood on the ave-
nue. side of the ratings with their backs to
the world, this is what was overheard:
1T looks like it might have been rooted
up from the garden and planted here" said
the old man. ~s--~se a-=,H-s
Don't it? Maybe it's because of the
ours" objected the old woman.
Don't believe they are-this poor thing
doesn't get the sweep of fresh air from the
fields nor the salt breezes from the bay"
wouldn't 1t be beautiful If we could go
back and sit on the old porch again-most
forty years since we done it,
And the old house has been torn down
for over thirty-f1ve years"
The person who had overheard, remem-
bered that adage about three being a
crowd, and walked on.
A colored man, blind, who sells matches
around the treasury, was stationed at a
corner, while the scrap Of brown boy who
always accompanies him acted as barker"
for the trade.
A white man in passing had ignored the
blue-he box thrust at him by the ire
pressible youngster. but stopped to ask the
senior member Of the firm how he sold his
matches.
Three boxes for Nickel sir, same as in
the stores
Make much at this sort of business?"
my profit, sir, is seven cents on every
gross Sometimes l sell as many as four
crosses day. and then. again, don't sell
one. The rainy spell about ruined me, but
business will pick up now the sun is a Shin
ing" -
"This your only way of making a living ?''
Eyes, sir. blind man like me don't
have much Of chance. I can't pick and
choose my work. I has to be thankful for
what can do without eyes"
Hard luck, being blind, chr"
Eyes, sir; finds 1t right hard"
II should think so-too bad"
And the white man. having found out
what he wanted to know about the blind
vendor, went his way down the avenue
But hesdidn't buy match.
A crowd had gathered around a small
frame house on side street way down
town. While they waited the sounds inside
that had attracted them ceased and man
with shield came outside and shut the
door. 49,
What was the rumpus about?" asked one
of the excited outsiders.
"Oh, just a man beating his wife" he
answered. with smile that showed SPLEEN
did white teeth.
What makes you laugh about it?" in
qufred another.
Because, when started In to take a
hand she waived me OF and licked him
from start to finish. She's little. thin
woman. but she's champion, all right
When she had laid him out she told me
that as 1t was his first and, most likely his
last, offense in the wife-beating line she
would be much obliged II the law would
overlook It; that she would guarantee to
keep the peace. And reckon she will"
When he had got that far the crowd