Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-20
AROUND THE CITY

There was a tie-up on the 14th street
line the other evening, and the cars mace
an endless chain Of yellow light from 3
street way down to Thomas Circle.
The first cars to come to stop were
crowded with passengers, who took an
excited interest in the fire somewhere
near that had barred the tracks Win
sprawling hose. filled the street with
water and brought to the scene scat
tering of fire-puf1ing engines.
The passengers in the cars lower down
the line were fewer in numbers ana less
interested in aspect, the composite eN-
presslon being one of impatience at de-
lay without knowing or caring about the
cause. Then came cars that were prdc-
tically empty, one of them being entirely
at the disposal Of a young man and
girl.
Literally. they were couple OF people
waiting in a car that was halted on us
way. Figuratively, they were strollers In
that region down on the map of romance
as the seventh heaven OF dellght.
She was a pretty girl in white, win
black velvet banded leghorn slanted up
rakishly and stuck with an amber ball
pin Her teeth were the kind that haSh
as white as snoWpeaks at every part
ing of the lips, and there were PINK
flushed cheeks and sherry wine eyes, ano
ualC lIdt lldu iiioi NOiiSo iAiS" Wv
of cinnamon brown.
The young man showed by every WORD
and gesture that he was doubly conscious
of all these good points, and his air or
perfect bliss and ownership would nave
been ridiculous in so public place had
he not possessed along with those emo
tons the magnetic something that ever
since history was born has made all the
world love a lover.
Seated in the middle of the car, with
empty benches all around them, they
were as alone in the yellow radiance as
If they had been. say, revised edition
of Adam and Eve in new and partlc-
ularly appreciated Eden. They forgot
that there was a world beyond the yell
low lights, and they did not, of course.
know that out in the shadoWy asphalt
two shameless youngsters were grotes-
quing their every glance and motion for
the benefit of a snickering audience on the
bricks.
And they did not know-how could they?
that young man with camera who
had. possibly, been taking fash-light
shots at the fire stopped on his way down.
town to snap them three times.
Which small incident shows very for
chilly that where ignorance is bliss it is
even worse than folly to be wise.
An early morning shopper waited at
glove counter for several clerks to eX-
change the amenities OF the day. The
customer must have been in a hurry, for
she worked her fingers nervously. and In
her eyes was the worried expression that
comes from beinl late for a train. Finally
a sweet-faced, tired-eyed clerk in black
took notice.
Il want Isle thread short gloves to
match my gown"
The clerk looked casually at the GUS
toners brown cloth and took from shelf
a box of gloves containing every shade Of
brown except the one desired.
"These are al we have she explained
4.l,, 4
eyes.
The customer considered to herself and
then said. with protesting wrinkle be-
tween her eyes:
We'll. I'll have to take pair If you
have my size"
She doubled her hand and presented
her knuckles to the clerk, who measured
a pair Of gloves across them with wearl-
ness that showed she was bored to death.
Having announced that they were the
correct size, the customer paid for them
and began to draw one on.
The gloves were so much too large for
her that the fingers sprawled out Imply
and the back was in brown Isle waves.
The customer held up her hand and said
in a voice that might have been pleas
anter:
you see it will be impossible for me to
wear these. Can't you give me a better
fit ?'
She laid the gloves back on the counter:
the clerk took them over to another
clerk for consultation and then returned
will the gloves in a bag.
You'll have to take them to the eX-
change counter. and
Maybe the customer had been through
experiences of waiting in long lines be-
hind women vino were forever buying
things on impulse and then wanting to
swap their purchases for something else.
You can keep your gloves; L am too
hurried to walt
Then she walked out of the store On the
bricks she paused, and then returned to
the glove counter. The clerk who had
waited on her was talking to another with
perating from the effort Of her early
morning sale.
II have come back to ask your pardon
and to take the gloves"
The clerk passed over the parcel. with
out recognizing the apology. and the GUS
toner was az in on her way TO the door.
when another woman stopped her to say:
What made you ask that clerks par
| don?f wouldn't have done it
"Oh. she's nice girl and l reckon She 8
a good clerk. She might have been more
anxious TO suit me. but l might have
| been more patient-and. anyhow / can't
| afford to do ungracious things. l live
alone. and. having no folks to keep me
reminded of my shortcomings, l have to
| keep tab on myself to prevent my get
| ting cranky.
1t wasn't an ordinary reason to give.
| but it seemed a good one.
A crowd was swarming around small
| frame house side street. way down
| town Suddenly the sounds inside that
| had caused the connection ceased. and
| a policeman came out and shut the door.
whats the rumpus?" asked an eX-
| cited outsider.