Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-04
COULDN'T PAY FIDDLER
But These Guided Youth Led
Such a Dance.
UNTIL POLICE NABBED EN-
Then They Pleaded So Hard to Be
Let Go This Once.
NOT TEN DOLLARS IN CROWD
Yet They Looked Like Real Sports.
But Unexpected Savior Works
Their Deliverance.
NOT TEN DOLLARS IN CROWD

OF course. a policeman must do his
duty when he sees it staring him i'm the
face.
AND when large. husky youth, with
the earmarks of sport upon him, knocks
over the showcase of a photographer on
r street. smashing the glass and scat
tering the contents. then il Is the duty
of the policeman on the beat to arrest
that youth.
So. with this preamble begins the heart
rending story of George Smith. That il
not his real name. but he would have an
swered to that in Police Court this morn
ing if things had not turned out as they
did.
George and a bunch of riotous friends
were out for a good time last night. The
last presidential election saw them in the
eighth grade with short pants. But now,
having won shoulder straps in the high
school and much knowledge of the world
in all sorts of odd corners, they felt it
the call of the blood to be downtown last
night
So. with horns and rattles. felt hats
turned up in front, elegant London-cut
trousers dangling smartly over shoes that
were of the very latest shape. ribbons
on canes, showing that no matter how
stormy the night was they would die fer
drous array the bunch descended on
Pennsylvania avenue and proceeded To
show everybody how the real hot tamales
act.
On Their Joysome Way.
Then some one suggested a little place
on F street Magic words, little place.
They brought visions of shining glass,
comfortable chairs and plenty of wet
goods So, after spending a sum of money
averaging five cents for each member OF
the crowd George and the boys went en-
again making night hdeous with raucous
jibes against the democratic party.
AS they would march down F street IN
single file, their hands on the shoulders
of the chap in front, some one would
shout:
whats the matter with Taft?
To which trite but altogether praise
worthy request for information the IN
dams would chortle:
Hes all right"
And then that classic remark. born
years and years ago when the repupllc
was young and polished up for use'regu-
larly every election:
who's all right?'
With roar of the express tram, WIN
the wild onrush of Boreas. who rides the
north wind, would come the answer:
Taft"
1t was during one of these joyful little
case. Thinking that he must do some
thing to show what a devil of a fellow he
is. he just pushed ii over.
And then he ran like a scared rabbit,
ran like kid who sees something in the
dark And George did see something in
the dark. 1t was 4 cop.
"I Got Yer, Ye Devil!"
Twas a short chase. When finally
George and the boys marched down tn
'No. l. precinct the sergeant had to take
off his hat and wonder what was coming
Off For the boys were just about the
sportiest lot that had ever begged
policeman to let 'em off and they'd never
do it again.
Honest, for while it looked like con-
vention of tailors' models, so splendid did
they look. So wondrous was the array
that professional criminals. who break in
once every week, stopped trying to con-
vince the cops they had made a mistake,
and Joined in the open-mouthed audience.
And did George plead? Did Georges
friends plead? From IL o'clock until
nearly 1 they argued. and dragged every
body into it. Cops who had no desire to
do anything but go home and sleep were
buttonholed.
And something like this was poured into
their ears:
Now, say, old man, you know how il
is yourself We were just going down
street when somebody fell into that show
case Now what's the USE
Tell it to the judge"
Unfeeling bluecoatS,