Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-06
AROUND THE CITY

She was a pathetically neat looking
woman with the white, worried face that
comes from forever trying to make both
ends meet and never succeeding. And
she had overtaken another woman who
had just left the newsstand.
Did you drop this? / picked 1t up, and
as you had just opened your purse I
thought, perhaps, 1t might be yours
The other woman glanced at her hand
bag. 1t was gaping wide. Then, remem-
bering she had heard jingling sound,
she slipped her finger in the side pocket
where she knew she ought to have just
one fifty-cent piece after paying for her
magazine. 1t was gone.
why, thank you. You are ever SO kind
butt isn't mine
The white face showed q human pink
and with the worried eyes flashed relief
| that to the other woman was more pitiful
than tears. The honesty of a hungry
woman is not joyous thing to see.
And when the finder of the money had
slipped away in the dusk, the one who
had lost 1t said to herself, because there
was no one else to say 1t to-and women
must talk, or die:
'Oh. well. 1t amt my first leland I
reckon 1t won't be my last
A shabby man stood in the doorway Of
a newsroom that was empty except for a
couple of cleaners, who were doing things
to the floor, and one kept-in reporter
who was writing at desk. The shabby
man had the brow Of a scholar and a
weak chin that told the story of his
failure. And in a voice that sounded
like an apology for living he said that
he would like to see the editor. The re-
porter explained that the paper had gone
the day. The man stared straight ahead
and said nothing. but to the reporter 1t
seemed as If he would have looked more
cheerful If he had simply moaned and
banged his head against the door-for
when it comes to diagnosing bottom-rock
misery the reporter is a wise old owl.
The shabby man turned to go back to
where he came from, when the other
| stopped him with the easy briskness that
comes from long experience in meddling
with other peoples affairs:
"Anything ! can do for you, sir?"
1t was a straw, and the man caught
at it.
why, If you would be SO kind-I have
an article here-it is short, but, trust.
to the point--if you possible could-any
effort-my necessities are very Urgent
may say critically urgent-a dollar-or
less"
The reporter ended his misery right
There Oy ItdCfilHS Oul 1UI Tic Copy.
"Tardy Justice to Nero''-I see-yes. OF
course, l have no authority whatever to-
you understand-don't go-I was thinking
might use this for-my own paper-of
course, my own personal paper-if you
think dollar will be enough"
The dollar was enough. Nero had done
one good turn. anyhow. If 1t was only
TO buy a meal for q shabby man with
scholarly brow and weak chin.
And when the reporter got back to her
| 1<xy,ey tn tn
herself, because there was no one else to
say 1t to-and women must talk, or die:
Two lies of the same kind in two days
and probably more a-coming'
Open confession is doubtless good for
the soul but the lone reason for the APP
pearance of these two fibs on the house
tops of publicity Is to present the sus-
picion that our goddess Prosperity may
be using her horn of plenty as mega
phone to toot her own praises. and that
she is not SO all-providing as she Is
cracked up to be.
Anybody might know that fate was a
woman, she is so unfair In her dealings
with other women. AS an instance:
A tall woman with splendid red hair
has a business office in the downtown
section, and on her wall Is a framed
panel made up of snap shots of grace
fully pretty girl And the gracefully
pretty girl is her niece, and her name is
standing knee deep in summer field Of
flower daisies with more daisies in her
arms. There is Daisy again in snow
shoes and furs, and Daisy In a launch
pouring tea, and Daisy at the piano, and
Daisy playing outdoor games, and Daisy
out for a walk. And In every picture
Daisy looks like the sweetest girl in the
world.
4 man came in the office. and after
studying the Photographic bouquet Of
Daisies. finally asked-everybody knows
how men are
"Married?'
The tall woman with the splendid red
hair admitted with pride that Daisy was
married. The man took a card from his
pocket and laid 1t on the counter.
Give her this. please and tell her IL
she's ever a widow. to remember me-.
That was one man. Pretty soon in
came another.
This is a mighty sweet little girl in
these pictures. Married?''
Daisy's marriage was confirmed
well. I'm sorry. but-here, send her
my name. please. and tell her to consider
me an applicant for number two. and ask
her to put me as near to the top of the
list as she can, won't you?"
And in that same Office sat dear
worthy old maid. who couldn't get hus-
band for love nor money.
Which goes to prove. doesn't it, that
fate is unfair in her dealings with
women
Sure.
An ostrich was parading down the
avenue when d well-dressed boy about
eleven years old, called out from the
crowd on the sidewalk:
Gee. look what a great big swan
The boy with him knew better.
THAT amt no swan. That's an old
he buZZard.
Which shows what a fine thing it is
for some boys to live where they can
have the advantages of public education
and ZOO.
London Terrors.
From Town and Country.