Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27
Mean Little Things.

To the Editor Of The Star:
There are some little things that are
mean. and they are mean because they
are little
occasionally one sees people possessed
of SUFFICIENT money to pay for a morning
drink or a well-scented cigar standing in
front of newsstand and deliberately
reading the contents of an unbought
paper which costs only one or two pen
MES. 1t is one of the petty offenses which
are unprovided for in the code. 1t is
sponging. 1t is theft. 1t is one of the
mean little things that are mean because
they are little.
One of the most significant cases of
mean little things in the catalogue came
under my notice recently. 1t was given
not for publication, but to show the in
gratitude and thoughtlessness of persons
who desire to be considered as prominent
members of the respectable class of So
ciety
poor widow in this city is conducting
lunchroom as means Of subsistence
for herself and family. Under the most
favorable conditions it affords but a
scanty livelihood. Some of her patrons
are members of her own sex. employees of
the government at salaries ranging from
500 to $1,000 per year. who are building
up handsome bank accounts. They would
be expected to be liberal in their expendi-
lures. Let US see.
One of these high-prced lady clerks
recently brought two of her friends to a
table. She had brought number Of stale
of economy. She called for large cup
Of strong coffee. costing 3 cents. This
she divided into three measures using two
smaller cups as aids. The mug OF cream
was not sufficient for the three cups: ac-
cordingly she helped herself to two addi-
tional mugs.
On another occasion seven ladies
grouped at one table and monopolized it.
Some of them brought their supplies and
spread them out as part of their lunch.
Cups of coffee were divided and dis
tributed. Sugar and cream were used
freely. When the meal was eaten the
proceeds from the seven persons amounted
to the enormous sum of 30 cents AS
the Door widow balanced her accounts at
the close of the day she was compelled
to struggle with several perplexing ques-
lions: Shall l become member of
some lunchroom syndicate?' Shall l
start a national bank on my own CAPT.
tal?" "Or shall 1. as matter of dire
necessity. betake myself over the hills
to the spoorhouse'
Nor were these the only difficulties con-
fronting the poor widow. Side dishes.
knives and forks and other articles of
her taDle OOtnt O1ten nave the power or
voluntary motion, and pass into various
rooms on number of floors. What is
strange is that while they easily pass
from the lunchroom they lack the power
of voluntarily returning. AS a result
new outfit has to be provided every few
weeks This experience adds but little to
the pleasure of conducting a public
Iunchroom
One other condition was reported. One
woman receiving a comfortable salary.
fell short every pay day in the settle
ment Of her account. These deficits in
the aggregate amounted to more than
S. and were carried over two years.
She was finally transferred to another
bureau of the department, which fact.
in her judgment, coupled with the addi
tional fact that she had fallen among
thieves" /. e., the ten percenters.' was
sufficient ground for ignoring the claim
against her. She was not as honest and
self-sacrificing as the man described in
the following paragraph:
''Bill had a billboard Bill also had
board bill The board bill bored Bill so
that Bill sold the billboard to pay the
board bill"
Bits generous act was not a mean lit
tie thing. ]. FRAISE RICHARD.