Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-10

splendid example of the mechanical
working OF the mind was offered in the Of
flee OF one of the big telegraph offices the
other night Two operators were side by
side separated only by the glass partition
running the width of the table. One had
charge of a line over which news dispatches
were received from certain sections of the
south The others territory embraced
a part II the west. Business was dull and
the two operators. leaning back In thelf
chairs were discussing the news or the DAY
when the sounder OF the southern wire De
gan to click The operator exchanged the
lew necessary preliminaries. then began 10
tvpewrite the message. The man on the
western wire listened idly at first. then MS
attention was riveted. as II was news
dispatch from his native town III the south
and the first words concerned an intimate
friend lust then his own wire got busy
and he was speedily immersed in MESSAGE
from Cleveland. Both operators hnished al
most at the same time, The man win ths
western wire leaned over the partition ana
said: What was that story about from
that Virginia town.
Hanged If / know, replied the man
who had received IT. II wasn't listening.
X X X i
.Fa.a Is q nature story that l heard up
In Nv. erik" said a Washington man the
=,
DR.. Long should be interested In. 1t seems
that the animal in question belongs to
gilded youth who has more money than he
knows what to do with. and consequently
spends it somewhat boyishly. His retriever
enjoys a scent bath every morning anu
is exceedingly particular as to where ne
dimes He is now growing rat ana iazy'
and although fond of sneaking out LOT a
morning stroll in Central Park. objects to
walking home again. His plan Is to watch
for hanson If going in his direction at
a walk and slip into 1t. When any attempt
is made to disodge him he simply displays
two rows of magnificent teeth ana wrinkles
his upper lip in curiousiy suggestive
smile Most of the park keepers know
him and give the cabmen his address.
Cabmen in the vicinity of the park Keep
lookout for him. and leave their doors IN
willingly open. When the dog reaches nome
he remains In the cab until the valet comes
out to pay the fare. Then he descends IN
a lelsurely manner and eats his luncheon
with appetite.
Last Thursday an enterprising book agent
met his match In a lawyers office on 9TH
street. The canvasser introduced himself
to the man of law and showed him an
elaborate sample of a work in twelve vol
umcs.
The price" he said. lis $500, but your
name has been especially given to me as
that of man who has a reputation as a
collector of books therefore, so that l may
be able to say that you are the owner OF
one of the sets, I shall reduce the price to
500
VERY tempting" replied the lawyer.
More than that. continued the can
vasser. ''if you would write me letter In
praise Of the books, saying that you are in
possession OF a set of the volumes, | will
reduce the price still further-to $3.50"
You are very generous" said the law
yer. II hate to see you lose money in that
way, so III tell you what I'll do Under
your plan. If your books are worth the
S260 you charge for them. you will be out
will be the letter. Now I'll write such a
letter for YOU: you can keep your books
and all youll he asked to do will be to give
$1OJ What do you say?'
But for once the book agent had no
ply ready, and turned silently from the
nerve greater than his own.
X
A Washington divine tells story of a
certain clergyman's family in which 1t was
the custom that each of his children re-
peat Bible verse at the beginning of every
meal in place of the more general formula
OF grace before meat.
One day one of his little girls had been
found out in some small sin. and had been
sentenced to d much curtailed dinner to be
eaten at q table quite by herself, that her
communicating presence s.lould be set apart
from the others. When the family was
seated around the dining room table the
usual little ceremonial performed, and
when her bothers and sisters had each re-
peated text her father called upon her.
sitting solitary at a wee table at the other
side of the room. At first she demurred on
the ground that being debarred from the
family circle she saw reason for joining
the family devotions. Her father insisted:
sho remained silent a moment thinking
then spoke out clearly:
Thou preparest table before me in the
presence of mine enemies.
s.
Washington society woman was enter
talning IA host of friends at a garden party
Among the guests was an Englishwoman of
rank. AS an Illustration of the difference
between American and English manners the
following incident should be interesting:
Dear Lady b. said the hostess, mere
are some sandwiches which i made with
my own hands particularly for you. You
know I've often told you about Ameri-
sandwiches, and how good they are;
here are different sorts. lettuce and cucum-
Der. II you care for grass. or If you like a
savOTy batter. try the cream cheese ones
with pmentoes I've some sweet ones too
ralsins and nuts chopped together-which
Will you Try trst?'
filled with The dalnty-lookng sandwiches
and they were extended invtingly toward
her guest VINO looked at them critically
then said In the clear. high pitched voice of
the we!I-hred Englshwoman:
ION: thank you. SO Kind of you-but do
you know. ! never touch the nawsty
things
Little Isabel had been so unfortunate as
TO have lived most Of her six years In
boarding houses Now the boarding h0usa