Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-22

possible that, although the free and en-
lightened westerner has abolished social
distinctions. he has not yet abolished them
TO that extent
Had he been commonplace German
hairdresser he would have understood Eng.
lish and all might have been easy But TO
the classy German hairoresSer English Is
not so necessary, and the American ladies
had reached as regards their German only
the improving" stage. In her excitement
she confused the subjGnctive and the I'M
perattve and told him that he might so.
But he had no wish 20 60. He assured
them, so they gathered. that his intention
was to devote the morning TO their service.
He must have been a stupid man. but IL IA
a type occasionally encountered. Two pref
~ women had greeted his advances with
apparent delight. They were Americans
and the American girl was VIGOROUSLY IN
conventional He knew himself To be a
good-looklng young fellow. 1t did not
occur TO him that In expressing willingness
to dispense with his attendance they could
be in earnest.
There was nothing for It, so IL seemed TO
the girls. but to request the assistance OF
the officer. who continued 10 skate round
and round them at a distance OF about ten
yards, So again the elder young lady. seiz-
ing her opportunity. made appeal I can
not. explained the officer who. having
been looking forward TO a morning VITA
two OF the pretttest girls In Dresden, was
also feeling mad. 81 dare not be seen
speaking to a hairdresser. You must get
rid of him.. But we can't" said the girl.
We w hoA hiAoW elNAEA ArEItNdAs ana re
can't or he won't understand Us. For
goodness sake, come and help US. Wen
be spending the whole morning with him
II you don't" The German officer said
he was desolate. Steps would be taken
later on in the week-the result OF which
would probably be 10 render that young
hairdresser prematurely bald. But mean
while, beyond skating round and round
them, for which they did not even feel
they wanted to thank him, the German
officer could do nothing for them. They
tried being rude 70 the halrdresser: he mis-
took 1t for American chic. They tried
joining hands and running away from him.
but they were not good skaters and he
thought they were trying 20 show him the
cakewalk. They both fell down and hurt
themselves, and It IS difficult to Re angry
with man, even hairdTesser, when he
Is doing his best 10 pick you up and COM
fort you. The chaperon was worse than
useless. She was very cold. She had been
promised her breakfast, but saw no signs
OF II. She could not speak German and
remembered somewhat late In the day that
two young ladies had no business to accept
breakfast at the hands OF German officers,
and. II they did. at least they might see
that they got 1t. She appeared to be will
ing TO talk about decadence OF modern man
ners to almost any extent. but the subject
of the hairdresser and how to get rid OF
him only bored her.
Their FIRST stroke Of luck occurred when
the hairdresser, showing them the dropped
three fell down and temporarily stunned
himself 1t was not kind OF them but
they were desperate. They fed for the
bank Just anyhow, and. scramblinE over
the grass. gained the restaurant. The off,
Ger, oyertaking them at the door, led them
to the table that had been reserved for
them, then FASTENED bac to hunt for the
chaperon. The girls thought their trouble
was over Had they glanced behind them
their joy would have been shorter lived
than even was the case. The hairdresser
had recovered consciousness In time 10 SEQ
them waddling over the grass. He thoGght
they were running to fetch him brandy.
When the officer returned with the chan
eron he found the hairdresser sitting oppo-
site to them explaining that he really was
not hurt. and suggested that. as they were
there, perhaps they would like something
to eat and drink. The girls made one last
frantic appeal to the man OF buckram and
pipe clay, but the etiquette OF the Saxon
army was memorable 1t TRANSFERRED that
he might kill the hairdresser. but nothing
else. He must not speak to him-not even
explain to the poor devil why IL was that
he was being killed. 1t did not seem quite
worth II. They had some sandwiches and
coree at the hairdresser's expense and went
home in a cab. while the chaperon had
breakfast with the officer of noble family
The American girl has succeeded in freeing
European socisi intercourse from many OF
its hide-bound conventions. There Is stIlI
much work for her to do, but have faith
In her.
JEROME K. JEROME