Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-20

shop girl who can get Off early.
the stenographer, the hard
worked young clerk; the newer
of wood and the drawer OF
water. all come forth to enjoy a few
short minutes of recreation before the
stores close The fashionable shops
have now pulled down the shades and
barred the DOORS the jeweer is busy fiE-
uring on tomorrow's business. But to
these shoppers the time allotted to them
makes tonight a grand and glorious
night where sorrow has no place and
fun and frolic reign supreme.
They wander up ana down the brightly
lighted streets, singing. whistling and
otherwise demeanins themselves like
children. Up and down Pennsylvania
avenue they parade; on 7th street they
are found in hordes. buying. chatterinR
and laughing. defying fate and the wolf
to do their worst.
and bulky packages (o1 various kinds,
are seen trying to board street cars.
Worried papas and grown sons wander
about helplessly in shops and seek to fnd
for a present Most of the ladies no
tons" are things of mystery to them.
Here is a part of a conversation over
heard between one of this species and q
clerk in department store Yesterday;
The Harassed Man-"She said gloves.
The Lady CLERK (calmly)-Kid?"
The Man (savagely)-I tod you they
were for my wife. If I wanted children's
gloves ! would have said so. do not
use slang, madam
Il mean do you wish kid gloves or silk
sloves?'
"Kid-no. silk-no. Oh. hang it all, 1
don't know which kind ! want"
A long pause followed.
Man Suddenly struck by happy thought
Oh. say, do you know what suede
glove is?
The Lady Clerk-suede: Oh. yes; we
''Ah, that is what I want"
What color?"
"Oh. let me see What colors do you
have?'
BLACK. tan. white"
Gimme half a dozen pairs of EACH
At this juncture the man was seen 10
smile compiacently. He would make a
ten strike this Christmas, he thought.
He reached in his pocket and prepared I"
plank down the money. when, like thun-
derbolt out Of clear sky Ito use per-
fectly proper and conventional express
SION the lady clerk sprang this ques-
ton
What size gloves does the wife wear"
The man looked at her with an express
sion of helpless agony.
Now see here. When hold her hand
in mine my fingers close just here. Can
you figure it out from that?'
And when the spectator moved along
the man and the lady clerk were trying
to work out by calculus the size OF
glove which should be worn by woman
whose husbands middle finger and thumb
touches while holding her hand. 1t was
really interesting.
There is something about the street
vender and faker singularly in keeping
with Christmas If We are to judge from
the delight with which they are greeted
by little boys and girls. Far down the
street is an old woman playing violin.
an Italian selling toy balloons or a ped
der in animated toys.
The child greets them with acclaim
and insists that he shall be presented
with an ante-Christmas gift or that the
old woman shall be compensated for her
trouble-and he usually has his way.
''The dear little thing" remark papa
and mama, as they dig down for the re-
u,ired coins What a beautiful lesson
Christmas is teaching him.
They are right In both respects. He, Is
a dear little thing and Christmas is
teaching him much of the frailties Of
human nature. inasmuch as he has sue
ceeded in having his own sweet way for
week.
The Americanized foreigner learns
much of the ways of Christmas soon
after he has been in this country. and
even though he be of a different religion
he does not fail to keep the traditions of
the day. He is fond OF celebration. is
the Americanized foreigner and a day
when a great people shut up shop and
rest is to him day promulgated for
similar purposes.